レッスンを予約する
Step 1
Read the Article
Read the article to understand the main idea.
記事を読んで、おおよその内容をつかみましょう。
Think you know mosquitoes? Four facts that might surprise you
1. Why do mosquito bites itch so much? Prepare for a gross reason!
Mosquitoes don’t just bite you and suck your blood — they inject saliva into your skin. Yuck! This saliva contains special proteins that prevent your blood from clotting. It can also numb the area, so you don’t feel the bite right away. The itch comes from an allergic reaction to their spit, which causes swelling and inflammation. No matter how itchy the bites are, it’s best not to scratch them — doing so can make the inflammation worse and may even lead to skin infections.
2. They are the deadliest creatures on Earth.
Mosquitoes spread dangerous diseases such as malaria, Zika virus, and dengue fever. According to some estimates, these bloodsuckers cause around one million deaths each year, making them the deadliest animals in the world.
3. Only female mosquitoes bite.
While both male and female mosquitoes feed on fruit and plant nectar, only females bite people and animals. They need a special protein found in blood to develop their eggs. A female mosquito can lay anywhere from 100 to 200 eggs at a time, depending on the species.
4. They prefer Type O blood.
Blood type affects how attractive you are to mosquitoes. A 2004 study found they prefer Type O nearly twice as much as Type A.
(The Japantimes Alpha)
Step 2
Check the Vocabulary and Phrases
Check the following vocabulary and phrases.
以下の単語やフレーズの発音、意味、使い方を確認しましょう。
suck
吸う
To take liquid, air, etc. out of something
The calf sucked milk from its mother.
子牛は母牛からミルクを吸いました。
saliva
唾液
The liquid that is produced in your mouth that helps you to swallow food
Saliva helps break down food in the mouth before you swallow it.
唾液は、食べ物を飲み込む前に口の中で分解するのを助けます。
clotting
凝固
To the process by which a liquid — usually blood — changes into a thick, semi-solid mass called a clot
Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting.
ビタミンKは血液の凝固に重要な役割を果たします。
inflammation
炎症
A localized physiological response to injury, infection, or irritation, typically marked by redness, heat, swelling, and pain
Prolonged inflammation can lead to chronic pain and requires medical attention.
長引く炎症は慢性的な痛みを引き起こし、医療の対応が必要です。
feed on
～を餌にする
To eat something as a main source of food or to get strength, energy, or advantage from something
Many bats feed on insects that they catch at night.
多くのコウモリは、夜に捕まえた昆虫を食べます。
Step 3
Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions based on the article.
理解度問題に挑戦しましょう。
Why is it better not to scratch mosquito bites?
How do male and female mosquitoes differ in their feeding habits?
Step 4
Discussion
Share your opinions on the following questions.
以下の質問について、自分の考えを述べてみましょう。
Do you often get bitten by mosquitoes?
When you get a mosquito bite, how do you deal with the itchiness?
Are there any products or methods in your country to prevent mosquito bites? How effective are they?
Do you think climate change will increase the number of mosquitoes in your country? Why or why not?
If scientists could remove all mosquitoes from the world, do you think they should? Why or why not?