2011年11月14日「モバイル英語学習」第116号(エッセイ): Pensioner Riots

Notes :
pensioner《英》年金受給者;
riot 暴動;
frustrated with~ ~に失望した,いらいらした;
vandalise(芸術作品・公共物など)を(故意)に破壊する;
spoof video パロディービデオ;
anti-social 反社会的な;
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In July 2011 the London Riots showed how young people have become frustrated with lack of job opportunities. But does rioting help their cause? Well, a gang of pensioners in London were shown on video getting drunk, spraying graffiti and vandalising cars after drinking. They were also shown throwing eggs at houses. It was a spoof video by police in the UK to show how pointless and silly anti-social behaviour really is. One of the actors in the video said; “Hopefully people will look at it and see how silly rioting and bad behaviour really is.” The video can be seen on You Tube and shows how humour can teach us many things about ourselves. (by Prof. Simon Smith)
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2011年11月10日「モバイル英語学習」第115号(エッセイ): Big Family

Notes :
storey (story)(建物の)階;
to be exact 厳密に言えば;
sect(宗教上の)分派,宗派;
orphan 孤児;
pluck(羽毛など)を引き抜く,むしり取る;
lb ポンド《重量の単位》(約454g);
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Ziona Chana 67 is no ordinary man. He lives in South India in a four-storey house with his family. But this is not your ordinary family – it is the largest family in the world – 181 members to be exact. Ziona belongs to a sect which allows men to have multiple wives. He now has 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law and 33 grandkids! The house has 100 rooms and is run like a military camp. According to Ziona he is the luckiest man in the whole world. His reason for getting married was so he could look after poor and orphaned village women. One meal can see them pluck 30 chickens, peel 132lb of potatoes and boil up to 220lb of rice – and that’s just dinner! (by Prof. Simon Smith)
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