英語学習：Neighbors

   One family, which had emigrated from Japan and settled at the turn of the century near San Francisco, had established a business in which they grew roses and trucked them into San Francisco three morning a week.
   The other family was a naturalized family from Switzerland who also marketed roses, and both families became modestly successful, as their roses were known in the markets of San Francisco for their long vase-life.
   For almost four decades the two families were neighbors, and the sons took over the farms, but then on December 7th, 1941, Japan attached Pearl Harbor. Although the rest of the family members were Americans, the father of the Japanese family had never been naturalized. In the turmoil and the questions about internment camps, his neighbor made it clear that, if necessary, he would look after his friend`s nursery. It was something each family had learned in church: Love thy neighbor as thyself. "You would do the same for us," he told his Japanese friend.
   It was not long before the Japanese family was transported to a barren landscape in Granada, Colorado. The relocation center consisted of tar-paper-roofed barracks surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards.
   A full year went by. Then two. Then three. While the Japanese neighbors were in internment, their friends worked in the greenhouses, the children before school and on Saturdays; and the father`s work often stretched to 16 and 17 hours a day. And then one day, when the war in Europe had ended, the Japanese family packed up and boarded a train. They were going home.
   What would they find? The family was met at the train depot by their neighbors, and when they got to their home, the whole Japanese family stared. There was the nursery, intact, scrubbed and shining in the sunlight - neat, prosperous and healthy.
   So was the balance in the bank passbook handed to the Japanese father. And the house was just as clean and welcoming as the nursery.
   And there on the dining room table was one perfect red rosebud, just waiting to unfold - the gift of one neighbor to another.

naturalized: 帰化した
modestly: 控えめな
vase-life: 
decades: 数十年
turmoil: 混乱
internment: 抑留
nursery: 育児所
thy: 汝
thyself: 汝自身
barren: 不毛の
tar-paper-roofed: タール屋根
intact: 
scrubbed: 
neat: 
prosperous: 豊かな
rosebud: バラのつぼみ
unfold: 展開する

Becoming friends with English

20110922_1
It has recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer








20110922_2
You have decided to give several hours of your time each month to improve the community where you live. What is one thing you will do to improve your community? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.






20110922_3
What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important.






20110922_4
A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or to protect the environment. Which do you think the company should choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.