Monday Morning English
TRAVEL NEWS WIRE…
The Battle of the Somme was fought 100 years ago between French and British forces on one side, and German forces on the other side. The trench warfare that took place over five months in 1916 led to more than 1,000,000 casualties. From July 1st to July 2nd alone, 60,000 soldiers died.
Battle of the Somme (noun): ソンムの戦い
HEALTH AND TECH NEWS
The first death in a self-driving car happened in Florida last week. Preliminary reports indicate that a man was driving a Tesla automobile in self-driving mode when the sensors failed to detect a large white truck crossing an intersection in strong sunlight. There is some suspicion that the sensors could not distinguish the white metal of the truck from the Sun’s glare. The investigation is ongoing.
THIS WEEK’S NATURAL PHRASE
spectator sport
Wyatt: Do you like to play American football?
Asher: No, I don’t like to spend so much time preparing uniforms and getting the teams together. But I like to sit in the bleachers and watch the game. For me, football is a great spectator sport.
Explanation: A “spectator sport” is a sport that people like to watch instead of actually playing.
bleachers (noun): 観覧席
THIS WEEK’S MEDICAL PHRASE
ongoing
Katie: I heard that there is a new arthritis medicine that is very effective. But is the drug safe to use?
Doctor Garcia: We don’t know yet. The clinical trials are ongoing. We will probably have to wait for two more years until the trials are finalized and the drug gains USFDA approval.
Explanation: When we say that something is “ongoing” we mean that people are still working to finish it. We use phrases such as “ongoing trials” and “ongoing investigation” or “ongoing debate.”
clinical trials: 治験
USFDA: 米国食品医薬品局
THIS WEEK’S BUSINESS/EMAIL PHRASE
rigorous testing
Hello Brett:
We are planning to release our new mobile phone batteries next year. But before we start selling them, the new batteries have to undergo rigorous testing. We need to know that they can withstand high temperatures, freezing, and water exposure.
Explanation: The term “rigorous testing” means very strict and hard testing. We use the term when discussing vehicle parts, batteries, children’s toys, and medical products.
