Notes:
New Year’s resolution 新年の誓い・抱負;
windsurfing ウインドサーフィン 《波乗り板にマストと帆をつけて行なう波乗り》;
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Do you know what a New Year’s resolution is? It is a promise that you make to yourself at the New Year. This year, for example, I promised myself that I would do exercises every morning before breakfast. So far, so good; I have kept it up for five days, but I find it difficult to continue more than one week. Here are the readers’ resolutions. One junior high school teacher wants to improve his English and start windsurfing. Another teacher is going to read 20 minutes a day and practice writing an essay once a week in order to pass the first grade of the Eiken. Still another teacher will study to pass the pre-first Eiken test. One reader has a wife who is very careful with money, so he is going to use a special app to keep track of his spending. One reader is going to read Jaremaga five times a day. (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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It’s the end of 2016, and everyone in my neighborhood is getting ready for 2017. Drivers are lining up at the nearby gas station to get their cars washed. People are outside their houses washing their windows, and some have already hung New Year’s decorations above their doors. People are throwing away things that they no longer need and things that don’t work. Dry cleaners are also doing a great business because everyone wants their clothes cleaned before next year. How are you are preparing for the New Year? (by Douglas Jarrell)
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