B1 – Intermediate
Hundreds of people have died because of ongoing heatwaves in Spain. It is imperative to find ways to save energy to help with the climate change crisis. At this point, every action is important, no matter how little it is.
Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez appears at a press conference not wearing a necktie and he encourages everyone to do the same.
Read the article about not wearing a tie as a way to save energy and be ready to answer the questions that follow.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2208/220801-necktie-4.html
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think of this measure? Do you like this idea or not? Explain.
- What are some other energy-saving measures you know of or are you doing?
- “Mr Sanchez’s government has already restricted the use of air conditioners and heaters.” What is your opinion on this measure?
- “Spain has introduced a relief package of $9.2 billion to help people with energy bills.” In your opinion, is this helpful? Why or why not?
- How do you feel about wearing a tie to work everyday?
4 replies on “No Necktie, Save Energy”
1. What do you think of this measure? Do you like this idea or not? Explain.
I don’t think that not wearing a tie is a big measure to save energy to be honest.
In my opinion, it is an insignificant action and I consider that it is a political decision related with the principles of the party.
2. What are some other energy-saving measures you know of or are you doing?
I really think that there are other important measures like to stimulate the use of renewable energies, public transports and limit the use of particular vehicules
3. “Mr Sanchez’s government has already restricted the use of air conditioners and heaters.” What is your opinion on this measure?
Probably it could save some energy but, I would prefer another actions related to the cause of the problem instead of reactive decisions trying to mitigate it in a short-term
4. “Spain has introduced a relief package of $9.2 billion to help people with energy bills.” In your opinion, is this helpful? Why or why not?
Yes absolutely, I believe that it is a very helpful decision because if the government awards aids then it will reduce the costs of poor families
5. How do you feel about wearing a tie to work everyday?
Personally I prefer not to wear tie every day because it is uncomfortable
Good to have you on the Phoneenglish blog! Hope this exercise helps in achieving your goals of further improving your writing skills.
Take a look at this sentence and see how you can write it a bit better:
Continue doing this exercise to further improve.
1. What do you think of this measure? Do you like this idea or not? Explain.
I heard this new on newscast some weeks ago and, after a while thinking about it, the only reason that I can achieve to understand it, it’s that wearing off neckties you’re going to be more fresh at the office, because government doesn’t let the companies put the air conditioning lower than 27ºC degrees and it’s a little bit hot at the office. Really, I don’t uderstand the measure, I don’t know how can this measure to help us to save energy, and now, I see that spanish government hasn’t let indiferent to the rest of the world either.
2. What are some other energy-saving measures you know of or are you doing?
I don’t have air conditioning and I don’t use the ventilator many. In sumeer I try to spend my time in fresh sites, like the swimming pool or my habitable basement.
3. “Mr Sanchez’s government has already restricted the use of air conditioners and heaters.” What is your opinion on this measure?
I don’t like it, the situation at the office is a little bit hot and sometimes it’s better to stay at open air that at the office. At least, at open air sometimes is windy, and at big offices you can’t open the windows.
4. “Spain has introduced a relief package of $9.2 billion to help people with energy bills.” In your opinion, is this helpful? Why or why not?
I don’t know, we will see it in the next few months… Nowadays, every thing you can justify by the Ucranian war, so if this measure helps it will be a goverment triumph, and if not, it will be by Ucranian war.
5. How do you feel about wearing a tie to work everyday?
I don’t wear a tie because in Spain women don’t usually wear it.
Well done sharing your two cents on this topic.
Here is a sentence you can revise for the idea to be expressed a bit better:
Keep going with your writing practice to continue improving.