After 20 Years Message in a Bottle Is Picked Up

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Transcript

Audio Time: 29 Sec

Level: Intermediate

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Anniversary: a date that is remembered or celebrated because a special or notable event occurred on that date in a previous year.

Beachcombing: to walkalong beaches looking for things (such as seashells or items that can be sold).

To spy: to see or notice (someone or something).

To toss: to throw something quickly.

Adrift: floating on the water without being tied to anything or controlled by anyone.

Couple: two people who are married or who have a romantic or sexual relationship.

Honeymoon: a trip or vacation taken by a newly married couple.

To track down: to follow and find (someone or something) especially by looking at evidence.

To turn out: to happen, end, or develop in a particular way.

To discover:  to find  or learn something for the first time.

Discussion questions:

1. What kind of message would you put in a bottle to be tossed in the ocean?

2. Have you ever found something interesting adrift on the ocean or on the beach?

3. Where would you like to (or did you) go on your honeymoon?

4. What kind of anniversaries do you celebrate?

Newly-Married Couple Jump Into Chilly River

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Transcript

Audio Time: 29 sec

Level: pre-intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Couple: two people who are married or who have a romantic or sexual relationship.

Pennsylvania: A state in the northeastern part of the USA.

Definitely: without doubt: in a way that is certain or clear.

Wedding: a ceremony at which two people are married to each other.

Focus on: to cause (something, such as attention) to be directed at something specific — + on.

Aboard: on, onto, or within a train, a ship, an airplane, etc.

Wore: Simple past tense of to wear.

Pittsburgh: A city in western Pennsylvania.

Groom: a man who has just married or is about to be married.

Shorts: short pants that reach down to the knees.

Bride: a woman who has just married or is about to be married.

Swimsuit: special clothing worn for swimming.

Veil: a piece of cloth or net worn usually by women over the head and shoulders and sometimes over the face.

Ceremony: a formal act or event that is a part of a social or religious occasion.

Edge: the line or part where an object or area begins or ends.

Boat: a small vehicle that is used for traveling on water.

Discussion questions:

1.  What are some other examples of exciting and adventurous things a bride and groom have done at weddings? Would you want to do something like this?

2. Would you get married on a holiday?

3. Have you ever been in very cold water?

A 60,000-Pound Problem

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Transcript

Audio Time: 3 min 9 sec

Level: Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Pound: a unit of weight that is equal to 0.4536 kilograms

To examine: to look at (something) closely and carefully in order to learn more about it, to find problems, etc.

Dilemma: a situation in which you have to make a difficult choice.

To wash ashore: to be carried by the movement of water to the shore.

Whale: an often very large animal that lives in the ocean and that is a mammal rather than a fish. See a picture.

To decay: to be slowly destroyed by natural processes : to be slowly broken down by the natural processes that destroy a dead plant or body.

Plenty: a large number or amount of something : a number or amount of something that is enough for a particular purpose.

Fascination: to cause (someone) to be very interested in something or someone.

Stench: a very bad smell.

Carcass: the body of a dead animal.

Beached: When a large ocean animal, such as a whale, comes out of the water onto land and is unable to return to the water.

To tow: to pull (a vehicle) behind another vehicle with a rope or chain.

To bury: to put (a dead person or animal) in a grave.

Landfill: an area where waste is buried under the ground.

TNT: dynamite; a very powerful explosive.

Seagull: a large, common, usually gray and white bird that lives near the ocean. See picture.

Timeframe: a period of time that is used or planned for a particular action or project.

Nature to take its course: to allow something to happen without trying to control it.

Critters: (informal, US) a usually small creature or animal.

Niche: an environment that has all the things that a particular plant or animal needs in order to live.

Discussion questions:

1. Do you think they picked the right option to solve their problem?

2. Why do you think whales beach themselves?

3. What’s a difficult problem you had in your life and how did you solve it?

German Student Asks Government For Test Questions In Advance

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Transcript

Audio Time: 59 sec

Level: Upper Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

In advance: before a future event or time.

Standardized tests: a test that is given in the same form and way to students. Usually many 

students take this test in order to know the skill level of the students.

Highlight: something (such as an event or a detail) that is very interesting, exciting, or important : the best part of something.

Ahead of time: Before the appointed time.

Freedom of Information Request: A request to the government to gain access to governmental documents.

Submit: to give (a document, proposal, piece of writing, etc.) to someone so that it can be considered or approved.

Genius: (slang) a great idea.

A for effort: to receive praise for trying to do something.

For Art's Sake, Minneapolis Man Freezes His Pants

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Transcript

Audio Time: 1 min 13 sec

Level: Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Sake: (for…sake) the benefit of someone or something — used in phrases with for to say that something is done to help a particular person or thing.

Installation: a work of art that usually has several parts (such as a sculpture, lights, and sound) and that is usually shown in a large space.

Resident: someone who lives in a particular place.

Upright: positioned to be straight up: vertical.

Neighborhood: a section of a town or city.

Freezing your pants off: To feel very cold.

Yep: (informal) Yes.

Vignettes: a short written description, scene, or play.

Submerge: to make (someone or something) go under the surface of water or some other liquid: to cover (someone or something) with a liquid.

Shake: to move sometimes violently back and forth or up and down with short, quick movements.

Fellas: (informal) a male person: fellow.

Challenge: a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do.

Alongside: along or close at the side.

Questions:

1. What would you think if you saw this art installation?

2. Do you consider this to be art?

3. What is or isn’t art for you?

4.  What kind of art installation would you (or do you) create?

5. Why do people make art?

Falsetto Alarm: Neighbor's Screeches Warrant A Police Visit

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Transcript

Audio Time: 1 min 9 sec

Level: Intermediate and up

Police in Amsterdam responded to a call about screams in an apartment. After kicking in the door, they discovered a man singing along to an opera playing on his headphones. Instead of a false alarm, it turned out to be 'falsetto alarm'! 

Man Retires, Moves, Discovers his Doppelganger

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Transcript

Audio Time: 3 min 57 sec

Level: Intermediate and up

A man in Briton, retires, moves to a new town, and discovers his doppelganger (a person that looks and acts like another person) lives in this town too.