B2 — Upper Intermediate
The general quality of life for the average person has become equal to or better than that of the rulers of history’s greatest empires.
However, the sustainability of our modern society is fragile, and the future remains uncertain.
According to one of MIT’s most influential prediction models, if current global trends continue, our society could collapse within the next 14 years.
Watch the video
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “too much weight given to something” mean? “Is the fact that this report is ahead of schedule actually something to be worried about or is this all just a case of too much weight being given to statistical correlations?” Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “to hedge one’s bets” mean? “Like good economists, the researchers hedged their bets.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “a fool’s errand” mean? “Predicting the future exactly is a fool’s errand.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- What factors does the MIT model identify as contributing to a possible societal collapse?
- Do you think the prediction is realistic? Why or why not?
- What actions could governments, businesses, and individuals take to help prevent such an outcome?
- How important is sustainable development in ensuring the long-term stability of society?
- What are the potential consequences if current global trends continue unchanged?
- How should scientific predictions like this influence public policy and personal decision-making?