Notes:
organic vegetables 有機野菜（農薬を使わないで育てた野菜）
preservatives 防腐剤
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Do you like dogs and cats? Do you have a pet? Some people treat their pet like it is a member of the family. For example, they buy birthday cakes made with strawberries, blueberries, eggs and sour cream. Each cake, which costs 2000 yen, includes a message from the owner. Some owners even take their pets to a special, expensive restaurant. The pets eat a dinner that includes organic vegetables, grilled hamburgers, and apple pie with fresh cream. It sounds delicious, even for us. But, the food doesn’t have salt, sugar, or preservatives, so we probably wouldn’t like it. Some owners think cakes and special dinners are reasonable if they make their pets happy. But don’t you wonder: can dogs read? Do they understand what a birthday is? Do they appreciate the expense of organic vegetables? (by Prof. Carmella Lieske)
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Notes：
green 環境に優しい;
the Space Solar Power System　宇宙太陽熱システム
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Scientists all over the world are trying to find ways to make “green energy”, energy that is made from sources that don’t run out. Also called “green power”, it can be made from such things as the wind, the sun, and the movement of the ocean. Japan, however, has an idea, called the Space Solar Power System (SSPS), that seems like it is out of a movie. Sun energy will be collected in space, where it is five times stronger than on Earth. They will do this with dishes several square kilometers in size. Then, the energy will be sent to Earth. There are problems, though, like how to take everything to space and how to collect the energy safely. No one knows the future, but with time and luck, maybe Japan’s space agency will succeed. (by Prof. Lieske Carmella)
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