Notes:
originally もとは；
moving company　引っ越し業者；
landslide　地すべり；
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My family was originally planning to move out from Hiroshima City to a neighboring city on Saturday, July 7, so that I could help on the weekend. However, we changed the day from Saturday because the moving company offered a 50% discount if we did it on Wednesday. That makes a big difference! On Friday, July 6, it rained heavily and the rivers overflowed. The roads were blocked by landslides. If we had kept to our original plan, not only would we have been unable to move out, but we would have also had to live without electricity or gas for a while. We had a narrow escape. (by a reader)
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Notes:
pass away 亡くなる；
gospel　福音；
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A great American singer died last week. Aretha Franklin passed away at the age of 76. I remember hearing my first Aretha Franklin song in the 1960s when I was a high school student. That was a great time for American music because black musicians like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder were bringing new sounds into pop. Aretha started as a gospel singer in her father’s church, but she decided to become a professional singer. During her career, she won 18 Grammy Awards and had many hits, but I still think her best song is “Respect,” the song I first remember hearing. (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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