2024年2月4日「モバイル英語学習」第818号 (英語エッセイ): How is glass made

Notes:
see-through 透明な;
the Bronze Age 青銅器時代;
silica シリカ;
lime 石灰;
alkali アルカリ;
crystals 結晶

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Glass is an incredible material made from simple ingredients. It can be colored or clear, plain or decorated with many colors. Glass can be see-through, slightly see-through, or not see-through at all. It’s light and doesn’t let liquids through. It can be cleaned easily and used again. Glass is strong but can break easily, and it often looks very beautiful. It’s used in many ways – for drinking glasses, containers, in buildings, and for designing things. Glass has been used since the Bronze Age, about 3000 B.C. It was first made from silica, lime, and an alkali like soda or potash. Even today, these are still the main things used to make glass. When heated, these things get soft and can be shaped into many different shapes and sizes. Glass is different from metals because it doesn’t have crystals in it. Instead, it keeps a random liquid-like structure. This is why glass can break easily and why it changes over time, especially if it gets wet.
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2024年1月27日「モバイル英語学習」第817号 (英語ストーリー): Momotatro Story in English

Notes:
float 浮かぶ;
ogre 鬼;
pheasant キジ;
ever after 末永く幸せに:

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Once upon a time, an old man and woman found a big peach floating in the river. They took it home and cut it open. Inside, they found a baby boy! They named him Momotaro, which means “Peach Boy.”

Momotaro grew strong and brave. One day, he wanted to fight the ogres on a faraway island. His parents gave him dumplings for the journey.

On his way, Momotaro met a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. He shared his dumplings with them. They became his friends and helped him.

They went to the ogres’ island and fought the ogres. They won and took the treasure. Momotaro and his friends went home as heroes. They lived happily ever after.
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