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Pre-1 Writing Sample 1 (親記事) - Takeshi

(1) Quiet Cars

Although noise from car engines is usually considered a nuisance, hybrid cars may be too
quiet. Research shows that pedestrians and cyclists often do not hear a hybrid car until it is
dangerously close, especially when the car is running in electric mode at lower speeds.

Automobile manufacturer Lotus Engineering believes it has found a solution to the problem. It has produced a sound generator that recreates the sound of a gas-driven engine. When fitted to a hybrid car, the sound generator turns on if the car is in electric mode. To limit noise pollution, the system adjusts the sound it produces based on surrounding noise. It switches off automatically when the car makes enough sound by itself.

A further benefit is that the sound generator produces noise only where pedestrians and cyclists need to hear it, directly in front of and behind the car.

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Hybride cars may be so quiet in electric mode that people in the traffic may not hear them coming dangerously close to them. The solution to the problem is to install a sound generator which produces the sound of a driving car. This sound generator adjusts the volume automatically and turns on only when people need to hear it.

[No.2035] 2024/04/30(Tue) 11:58:20

Pre-1 Writing Sample 2 (No.2035への返信 / 1階層) - Takeshi

(2) Sports Stressing Out Kids

Many parents are getting their children intensively involved in sports at a young age. As a result, injuries among children under 15 have increased dramatically. Injuries that used to be seen only at the college or professional level are now common in grade-school students.

One problem is that young players often focus on a single sport and train all year round. Some sports trainers argue that such intense and specialized physical activity puts children at greater risk of injury.

High expectations from parents may also cause emotional stress for children. This is especially true when parents become too involved in their children’s athletic careers.
Pushing children too hard may take away the traditional benefits of sports for kids, such as having fun and learning teamwork skills. Children’s overall well-being should always be more important than their parents’ desire for them to reach the top.

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The number of young children who suffer from injuries due to playing sports has risen significantly. This is because young athletes specialize in one sport at an early age and train themselves throughout the year. In addition, children feel a lot of stress because their parents expect them to work hard, which takes away overal benefits for children to play sports. [ 60 words ]

[No.2036] 2024/04/30(Tue) 19:36:33

Pre-1 Writing Sample 3 (No.2036への返信 / 2階層) - Takeshi

( 3 ) Asian Carp
Asian carp is the collective name given to several carp species introduced into the U.S from Asia. These fish have caused concern among conservationists as they reproduce rapidly and drive out native fish species. To control Asian carp numbers, U.S. authorities are trying to promote the fish as a tasty delicacy.

Unfortunately, carp has a negative image in the U.S. Many Americans are familiar with common carp, which are said to taste like mud because of their habit of searching for food in the mud at the bottom of lakes. Authorities emphasize,
however, that in contrast to common carp, Asian Carp feed in open water.

The first step in marketing Asian carp was a name change. They are now sold as silver fin. This strategy has worked for other unpopular fish. The Patagonian toothfish, for example, was renamed Chilean sea bass and became so popular that it is now overfished.

[No.2037] 2024/05/20(Mon) 15:07:14

Pre-1 Writing Sample 4 (No.2037への返信 / 3階層) - Takeshi

( 4 ) Art in the Mission District
The neighborhood known as the Mission District in San Francisco has changed dramatically in recent years. It was once poor and neglected, but now has trendy cafes and art galleries. However, it remains most famous for the graffiti that can be seen painted on many of the buildings. While some residents see this as an art form that provides a way to express opinions about social issues, many property owners see it as simple criminal damage.

In an effort to give artists a legal outlet for their art, the San Francisco Arts Commission worked alongside the city’s Department of Public Works to create a program called StreetSm ARTS. Through this program, artists receive property owners’ consent to create large-scale artworks that decorate the urban landscape.

Not all property owners welcome StreetSmARTS. While many accept that the difference between art and vandalism is having permission, others argue the program may encourage
unauthorized graffiti.

[No.2038] 2024/05/20(Mon) 15:15:07

Pre-1 Writing Sample 5 (No.2038への返信 / 4階層) - Takeshi

( 5 ) Cholera in Britain

Although the water-borne disease cholera is now rare in developed countries, it killed many people before the 1900s. In Britain, for example, there were three major cholera outbreaks between 1830 and 1860, each causing over 20,000 deaths. Cholera was widely believed to be caused by “miasma,” or bad air.

During the 1854 cholera outbreak in London, British doctor John Snow studied the pattern of deaths in the city. He noticed that many households in one street became ill while those in the next street were unaffected. At that time, most Londoners got their water from public wells, and people on different streets often used different wells.

Snow concluded that the common factor in the deaths was in fact dirty water. After Snow convinced city authorities
that his theory was correct, a water and sewage system was created that improved hygiene and eventually resulted in the disappearance of cholera in Britain.

[No.2039] 2024/05/20(Mon) 15:20:26

Pre-1 Writing Sample 6 (No.2039への返信 / 5階層) - Takeshi

( 6 ) Going Local
In many parts of the U.S. recently, websites that specialize in providing local news have become popular. These are known as hyper-local websites. As well as news, these websites
provide information about local events and include advertising and listings for businesses in the area.

Hyper-local websites employ journalists, but also depend heavily on local residents to upload material such as photos, maps, and information about their area. They also allow readers to design and place their own ads online. Such localparticipation provides content not offered by national news websites.

The number of people who access hyper-local websites is growing rapidly. One reason is that the sites help readers decide which events to attend and which businesses to use in their local area. This is impossible with national news websites, which focus on national and international news and events.

[No.2040] 2024/05/20(Mon) 15:24:23

Pre-1 Writing Sample 7 (No.2040への返信 / 6階層) - Takesshi

( 7 ) Internal Fat
It is well known that taking a regular walk can decrease your waistline. Recent studies, however, indicate that it also decreases the risk of heart disease by reducing what is known as internal fat.

When people gain weight, they are usually most concerned about the unattractive fat that
collects just under the skin. However, internal fat, which lies deeper within the body and
surrounds vital organs, is far more damaging to the health. Unlike fat on the hips or thighs, internal fat releases unhealthy chemicals directly into the organs. The effects of this are especially harmful to the heart.

Recent studies show that even a walk of just 30 minutes a day can reduce internal fat by 10 to 20 percent. While this is good news for everyone, it is especially welcome for elderly and severely overweight people, who may not be suited to more intense exercise.

[No.2041] 2024/07/28(Sun) 15:56:46

Pre-1 Writing Sample 8 (No.2041への返信 / 7階層) - Takesshi

( 8 ) Snakebites
The death adder of Australia and New Guinea is one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. It kills animals by biting them and injecting venom, a type pf poison that causes breathing to stop.

In Australia, humans rarely die from death adder bites these days. This is because a medicine known as anti-venom is widely available. This medicine is produced from venom
taken from the snakes themselves. Anti-venom helps save the lives of some 300 Australians annually.

Fewer snakebite victims are so lucky in New Guinea, where a lack of anti-venom means 50 percent of those bitten die. Anti-venom, which is imported from Australia, is too expensive to be stocked at many clinics. A further problem is that the number of death adders is dropping in Australia. This means anti-venom for snakebite victims in New Guinea will become even scarcer. Ironically, it may be necessary to protect these snakes to save their victims.

[No.2042] 2024/07/28(Sun) 16:00:39