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Hi, I'm Ken. I'm 13 years old. I live in Tokyo with my family. Last Saturday, a new student came to our school. Her name is Mary. She is from Australia. She doesn't speak Japanese well, so she looked sad.
②
I said to her, "Hi, I'm Ken. Welcome to our school!" She smiled and said, "Thank you. Nice to meet you."
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At lunch time, I sat next to her. We ate lunch together. I taught her some Japanese words. She taught me some English words. We talked about our favorite sports and music.
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After school, we played soccer in the park. Mary is very good at soccer. Now Mary and I are good friends. I'm happy that she came to our school.
①
Last summer, my family went to the beach. It was a hot and sunny day. My father drove the car for three hours. My little sister Emi was very excited. She had never seen the sea before.
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When we arrived, Emi ran to the water. "Wow! It's so big!" she said. My mother smiled and said, "Be careful, Emi." Emi played in the water for a long time. I built a sandcastle with my father.
③
At noon, we ate sandwiches that my mother made. They were delicious. After lunch, I taught Emi how to swim. She was a little afraid at first, but soon she could float on the water.
④
In the evening, we watched the sunset together. The sky turned red and orange. Emi said, "This is the best day of my life!" I will never forget that day. I want to come back to this beach with my family next year.
①
Tom is a tourist from America. He is visiting Tokyo. He wants to go to Asakusa, but he doesn't know the way. He sees a young woman at the station.
②Tom: Excuse me. Could you tell me how to get to Asakusa? Yuki: Sure. Take the Ginza Line from this station. It's the orange line. Tom: How many stops is it? Yuki: It's about eight stops. You don't need to change trains. Tom: How long does it take? Yuki: About twenty minutes.
③Tom: Thank you so much. By the way, what should I see in Asakusa? Yuki: You should visit Senso-ji Temple. It's the oldest temple in Tokyo. You can also try traditional Japanese food at the small shops near the temple. Tom: That sounds great. Thank you for your help! Yuki: You're welcome. Enjoy your trip!
(c)("You can also try traditional Japanese food at the small shops near the temple.")
L3 ここまで記録待ち
L4 プラスチックごみ問題 — Plastic Waste
中3レベル|約280語|説明文(受動態・現在完了・関係代名詞)
①
Plastic is used in many things around us. Plastic bottles, bags, and toys are everywhere. Plastic is cheap and strong. However, plastic is also a big problem for the earth.
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Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean. Many sea animals eat the plastic by mistake. They think it is food. Some animals die because of this. Scientists say that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.
③
What can we do? First, we should use fewer plastic bags. We can bring our own bag to the store. Second, we should use a reusable bottle. We don't need to buy a new plastic bottle every day. Third, we should recycle plastic that we use.
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Small actions can make a big difference. If everyone does a little, we can protect the ocean and the animals that live in it. It is important for us to start now.
(b)(第2段落 "Many sea animals eat the plastic by mistake. They think it is food.")
L4 ここまで記録待ち
L5 日本のお正月 — Japanese New Year
中3レベル|約340語|説明文(関係代名詞・現在完了・形式主語)
①
In Japan, New Year is the most important holiday of the year. It is called Oshogatsu. Many people go back to their hometowns and spend time with their families. Schools and many shops are closed for a few days.
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On New Year's Eve, December 31st, many people eat soba noodles. The long noodles mean a long life. At midnight, temples ring their bells 108 times. This is called Joya no Kane. Japanese people believe that this can clean the bad things from the old year.
③
On January 1st, families eat special food called osechi. Each dish has a meaning. For example, black beans mean health, and shrimp mean a long life. People also visit a shrine or a temple. This is called Hatsumode. They pray for a good year.
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Children look forward to New Year for one special reason: Otoshidama. It is money that adults give to children. Some children get a lot of money from their parents, grandparents, and uncles. They save it or buy something they want.
⑤
Japanese New Year is a quiet and warm time. It is a time to think about the past year and to hope for a good new year. If you visit Japan in January, you can experience this special tradition.