Blog
Word of the Week: Myth
“Did Paul Bunyan really carve the Grand Canyon with an axe? He must have been huge!” “No, it’s only a myth.” A myth is a fantastical story that has been passed down through the generations. They often give explanations for the natural world (like the Grand Canyon, or...
Picture of the Week: Cumulus Clouds
Cumulus clouds are big fluffy clouds. They look like piles of cotton and are not as high in the sky as some other kinds of clouds. Cumulus clouds don’t usually rain, but they can develop into or other clouds that do....
Phrase of the Week: Fed Up
“I’m fed up with this rain! When will it stop?” When we are tired of something or have had enough of something, we say we’re “fed up” with it. It sounds like we’ve eaten a lot of it and can’t eat anymore. Are you feeling fed up with anything? 「雨はもうたくさんだ！いつになったら止むのか？」...
TOEIC Practice Question of the Week
“We are pursuing ____ avenues to resolve this situation.” Fill in the blank. A. multiply B. multiple C. many D. mutual 「この問題に対して複数の解決方法を続行しております」 「複数」という意味ではCの「many」は意味的に合っていますが、もっと自然な答えがあります。Dは「お互い」なので関係ないです。Aは「掛け算する」「増える」という意味の動詞なので使えません。答えは「複数」という意味のBです。 Do more...
Trivia of the Week: Dog Days
The dog days are hot days in summer, during July and August in the Northern Hemisphere. The name comes from the Dog Star, Sirius. During the dog days, Sirius rises over the horizon at about the same time as the sun....
Idiom of the Week: The Shoe is on the Other Foot
“Could you quiet down a bit? I’m trying to study.” “Ah, but did you listen when I asked you to keep it quiet before my big test last week? Now the shoe is on the other foot!” When a situation has reversed and someone is experiencing something that another person...
Word of the Week: Literally
“I was so startled, I literally jumped a foot in the air!” The word “literally” means “without exaggeration”. If you literally jumped a foot in the air, that means that if someone were holding a ruler by your feet and measured the height of your jump, it would be at...
Picture of the Week: Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in England. Scientists think it is 4 or 5000 years old. What’s the oldest structure you’ve ever visited?...
Phrase of the Week: It Depends
“When are you going to go?” “It depends on the weather.” This is a useful phrase when you can’t answer without more information. Sometimes the necessary information is unknown, like tomorrow’s weather. Remember, learning a language is a big job. It takes a lot of...
TOEIC Practice Question of the Week
“We have narrowed the options to these two choices.” Find the mistake. A. narrowed B. options C. these D. choices 「この２択まで絞りました。」 間違いはどこでしょうか？ 「Narrow」には「狭くなる」という意味がありますが、これだけでは「絞る」という意味になりません。この意味で使うなら「narrow (something) down」ですので、「We have narrowed it...
