In this episode of “English Vibes,” we explore NASA’s recent $843 million contract awarded to SpaceX to develop a vehicle for the decommissioning and safe return of the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth. We delve into the history and significance of the ISS, SpaceX’s pivotal role, and the challenges ahead. The episode includes a vocabulary review and discussion questions to enhance your English learning experience. Tune in for an engaging mix of space exploration and language practice!

English Vibes

SpaceX Given Contract to Destroy Space Station

In today's episode,we will  delve into the strategies and techniques to help you excel in the speaking section of the IELTS exam. Whether you're a student preparing for the test or simply looking to improve your English-speaking skills, this episode is packed with valuable insights.


IELTS Podcast 雅思博客

IELTS speaking tips 

元の記事/ Original Article↓
https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/618218

☆目次
0:00 オープニング
0:48「Introduction」
1:47 スプラトゥーン
2:54「対戦のストレスを嫌うプレーヤーもいる」
5:27 一人でも遊べる
7:37「仲間とシャケ狩りのバイトをする「サーモンラン」」
9:38 いろいろなモード
11:30「驚くほど充実した飾り付け要素」
12:52 世界観が好きな人に
14:20「発売直後からさまざまな不具合が発生」
15:10 ゲームのバグ

☆語彙
イケてる
くやしい
操作（そうさ）
仕掛（しか）け
視点（してん）
世界観（せかいかん）
ならでは
つきもの
充実（じゅうじつ）
配信（はいしん）
〜をとりまく環境（かんきょう）
反射神経（はんしゃしんけい）
動体視力（どうたいしりょく）
敬（うやま）う


☆引用記事
渡邉卓也. “｢スプラトゥーン3｣過去最高の売れ行きに納得の訳”. 東洋経済ONLINE. 2022-09-14. https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/618218

"After 5" by Japanese Teacher

“The reason why Splatoon3 is popular”「｢スプラトゥーン3｣過去最高の売れ行きに納得の訳」

要不是亲眼所见，我简直不能相信：I couldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes:
这些争奇斗艳的贡品不是道具，它们都是“真“的：These competing tributes are not props, they are "real".
真正的面食、真正的民间艺人手工制作。Real flour, handmade by real folk artists.
它们叫做“面贡”。They are called "tributes made of flour".


新鲜事儿（Anecdote）

关帝庙里的面贡

Richard Floyd McCoy, arrested six months after the DB Cooper hijacking, displayed striking similarities in his own hijacking, demanding $500,000 and parachutes in a manner reminiscent of Cooper. However, McCoy's escape was short-lived as the FBI found him with cash and parachutes, leading to a 45-year prison sentence. Some believe McCoy and Cooper may be the same person. Sheridan Peterson, a Boeing employee and skilled skydiver, drew suspicion due to a physical resemblance and remained a suspect until his death in 2021. Eric Ulis, an amateur sleuth, was 98% convinced of Peterson's involvement. Another suspect, Robert Rackstraw, an army veteran and helicopter pilot, became a late '70s suspect but never explicitly denied being Cooper. However, Rackstraw's age in 1971 contradicts the reported age of Cooper at the time.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

THE CURIOUS CASE OF DB COOPER P2

İngilizçe - selamlar

House

wū yā hē shuǐ
乌鸦喝水
yì zhī wū yā kǒu kě le，
一只乌鸦口渴了，
dào chù zhǎo shuǐ hē。
到处找水喝。
tā fēi shànɡ shù shāo，
它飞上树梢，
kàn jiàn bù yuǎn de dì shànɡ yǒu yí ɡè pínɡ zi，
看见不远的地上有一个瓶子，
pínɡ zi li yóu shuǐ， 
瓶子里有水，
wū yā ɡāo xìnɡ de fēi le ɡuò qù。 
乌鸦高兴地飞了过去。
kě shì shuǐ tài shǎo le， 
可是水太少了，
wū yā de zuǐ shēn jìn qù，méi hē dào， 
乌鸦的嘴伸进去，没喝到，
tā wú kě nài hé de pāi le pāi chì bǎnɡ，zhǔn bèi lí kāi。 
它无可奈何地拍了拍翅膀，准备离开。
hū rán，tā kàn jiàn pánɡ biān yǒu yì xiē xiǎo shí zi， 
忽然，它看见旁边有一些小石子，
jiù xiǎnɡ chū lái yí ɡè hǎo bàn fǎ。 
就想出来一个好办法。
wū yā diāo qǐ yì kē kē xiǎo shí zi， 
乌鸦叼起一颗颗小石子，
fànɡ jìn pínɡ zi li。 
放进瓶子里。
pínɡ zi li de shuǐ jiàn jiàn de shēnɡ ɡāo le， 
瓶子里的水渐渐地升高了，
wū yā hē dào shuǐ le。
乌鸦喝到水了。

CHINESE STORY中文故事

乌鸦喝水

Fewer young people in the US are vaping this year than at any point in the last decade, government officials have reported.

The latest survey numbers show the teen vaping rate fell to under 6% this year, down from 7.7% in 2023. More than 1.6 million students aged between 11 and 18 reported vaping in the previous month — about one-third the number in 2019, when underage vaping peaked.

Brian King from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the decline was good news but added: "There's clearly more work to do to further reduce youth use."

It is illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product to anyone aged under 21.

King and other officials noted that the drop in vaping hasn't led to an increase in the use of other tobacco industry products, such as nicotine pouches.

Sales of small, flavored pouches like Zyn have increased among adults. The pouches come in flavors like mint and cinnamon and slowly release nicotine when placed behind the lips. This year's US survey shows 1.8% of teens are using them, which is about the same percentage as last year.

The survey involved more than 29,000 students, who completed an online questionnaire in the spring.

Officials from the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributed the big drop in vaping to recent age restrictions and more aggressive enforcement against retailers and manufacturers, including Chinese vaping companies who have sold their e-cigarettes illegally in the US for years.

Use of the most popular e-cigarette among teens, Elf Bar, fell 36% in the wake of FDA warning letters to stores and distributors selling the brightly colored vapes, which come in flavors like watermelon ice and peach mango.

Nearly 90% of the students who vape used flavored products, with fruit flavors the most popular.

In 2020, FDA regulators banned fruit and candy flavors from reusable e-cigarettes like Juul. 

Number of US Teens Vaping at 10-Year Low

👉If you plan to visit Montenegro🛫, here are some restaurants 🍷 you MUST VISIT:
4. STARI MLINI (Dobrota)
5. RESTORAN GALION (Kotor)
6. KONOBA FERAL (Herceg Novi)
For B1 learners and above.
Срећно учење! / Srećno učenje! 📚
See you in class!👋
