Category: Class

Revenge Bedtime Procrastination

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many people choose to stay up late even when they know it will leave them tired the next day. This habit often reflects a desire to reclaim personal time or control after a busy schedule, highlighting the tension between daily demands, rest, and self‑care.

Let’s read the article and explore how this behavior affects our health, productivity, and daily routines.

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/revenge-bedtime-procrastination

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the concept “revenge bedtime procrastination“. “After a jam-packed day, do you stay up late for some “me” time rather than go to bed a reasonable hour? If you’re in the habit of doing that, it could be a sign of revenge bedtime procrastination.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to raise one’s odds ” mean? “A long-term lack of sleep might also raise your odds of dying early from any cause.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “at the expense of”? “Also known as sleep procrastination, it means you get “revenge” for your busy daytime schedule by fitting in leisure time at the expense of shut-eye.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think some people deliberately stay up late even when they know they’ll be tired the next day?
  2. How might modern lifestyles and technology contribute to revenge bedtime procrastination?
  3. In what ways can delaying sleep affect someone’s work, relationships, or overall well‑being?
  4. Do you see revenge bedtime procrastination as an act of control, rebellion, or simply poor time management?
  5. What strategies could individuals use to resist the urge to stay up late for “me time”?

ChatGPT to Carry Adverts

B2 – Upper Intermediate

AI tools are becoming central to daily life, and companies are exploring new ways to keep them accessible and sustainable. One approach is adding advertising, which raises important questions about user experience, business models, and the future of digital interaction.

Let’s read the article together to explore this new approach in AI services.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgjn012k3do

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “subscription tier” mean? “In addition to the new Go subscription tier, it already has Plus and Pro tiers, which cost $20 and $200 respectively per month in the US.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. Define the phrase “last resort“. “OpenAI isn’t the only AI firm considering this business model, despite boss Sam Altman once saying he hated ads and describing them as “a last resort“.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “synthetic media“. “Henry Ajder, an expert in AI, Deepfakes and synthetic media, said OpenAI’s decision to explore ad revenue was not a surprise.” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about advertisements appearing in ChatGPT?
  2. Share your insights on this, “AI sector has been over-valued by keen investors and hype, and has yet to actually demonstrate much in the way of profit.“
  3. What is your opinion on this, “OpenAI says they [the ads] will not influence ChatGPT’s responses and the firm will not share data about conversations with advertisers.“?
  4. Are you currently using ChatGPT, and if so, what subscription tier do you have?
  5. If given the option, would you consider paying extra to use ChatGPT without ads? Why or why not?
  6. In your opinion, will other tech companies adopt a similar approach to ads in AI tools?

Risk-Taking in Young Chimpanzees and Teens Is Similar

B1 – Intermediate 

Teenagers want to try new and risky things. They think they have the freedom to do so because their parents or carers do not supervise them or tell them what to do as much as when they were little.

A research looks at the reason children and young chimpanzees take more risks.

Read the article about a research on how young chimpanzees’ thrill-seeking behavior is similar to that of human children.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2601/260115-risky-behaviour.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “supervise” mean? “She believes it is because they are at an age when parents supervise them less.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “old-fashioned” mean? “The website ScienceAlert said that “some anthropologists argue for increasing children’s access to thrill-seeking play, including the old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength”.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “thrill-seeking” mean? “The website ScienceAlert said that “some anthropologists argue for increasing children’s access to thrill-seeking play, including the old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength”.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “risk”?
  2. In your own words, explain why teenagers like taking risks.
  3. Do you agree or disagree that “Teenagers are well known for doing crazy things.”? Explain.
  4. Did you also have a risky behavior as a teenager? Talk about some crazy or risky things you did at that age.
  5. How can teenagers’ risky behavior be controlled?

Trump Pushing Ahead to Acquire Greenland

B1 – Intermediate 

Greenland is important for the USA’s Golden Dome missile defense system. This is why President Donald Trump continues to make efforts so the US can acquire Greenland.

People from Greenland are against Trump’s plans.

Read the article about Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2601/260119-greenland-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to go along with” mean? “He has announced 10 per cent tariffs on several European countries if they do not “go along with Greenland”.” Use the phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “levy” mean? “The tariffs will start next month. The levy could increase to 25 per cent in June.” Use the word in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “at stake” mean? “He stressed that “the national security of the United States and the world at large is at stake.” Use the idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why has acquiring Greenland been a high priority for President Trump?
  2. What are your thoughts about Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland?
  3. What is your opinion on this, “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO is completely wrong.”
  4. What is your opinion about Trump’s statement, “The national security of the United States and the world at large is at stake. In order to protect global peace and security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation ends quickly.”
  5. How do people from Greenland feel about US trying to acquire their country?

Embedded Questions

B1 – Intermediate

An embedded question is a question that is used as a part of another question or a statement.

Uses

1. Part of another question

It’s called an indirect question and is often used to be polite.

Normal question: Where is the supermarket?

Indirect question (with an embedded question): Could you tell me where the supermarket is?

2. Part of a statement

The embedded question is a noun clause and functions as a noun. It can be used as the subject or the object of the main clause.

Normal question: Where did he travel to?

Embedded question in a statement (noun clause is the subject): Where he traveled to was Japan.

Normal question: Where did he travel to?

Embedded question in a statement (noun clause is the object): I don’t know where he traveled to.

Forms

The same rules are applied to embedded questions in statements the same way it is used with embedded questions in indirect questions.

  1. If there is a question word, it is retained. 

Ex. Do you know what time the train leaves?

2. If there is no question word, ‘if’ or ‘whether’ is used.

Ex. Do you know if the movie starts at 5:00?

3. We use normal sentence grammar so “do”, “does”, or “did” is not necessary.

Ex. Can you tell me what she said?

Not: Can you tell me what did she say?

4. We use normal sentence word order which is: subject + verb; and not verb + subject.

Ex: Can you explain to me what this means? 

Not: Can you explain to me what means this?

5. A full stop is used instead of a question mark at the end of the sentence.

Ex. I don’t know where the office is. 

Not: I don’t know where the office is?

Verbs Used with Embedded Questions

  1. Wonder: He wonders why it rains a lot in April.
  2. Know: You don’t know what you’re saying.
  3. Remember: She doesn’t remember where her mobile phone is.
  4. Be sure: They are sure when the wedding will be.
  5. Find out: Let’s find out what their specialty is.
  6. Think about: I’m thinking about how he’s going to travel without any money.
  7. Forget: I forgot why I did that.

Subject Questions

If the sentence starts with a subject question, there is no need to change the grammar that much because it is almost like a statement.

Normal subject question: Who likes pizza?

Embedded subject question: I don’t know who likes pizza.

Normal subject question: What happened?

Embedded subject question: I am trying to find out what happened.

Test 384

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Modal – Have To

“Have to” is used in expressing that something is required by rules, duty, or situation. It functions as a verb that is conjugated as “I have to”, “he has to”, “we had to”, “they will have to” in different tenses. 

Put “do” or “does” before “have to” to form a question and the negative. For example, “Do you have to go?” “She doesn’t have to talk.” 

“Have to” works in present, past, and future.

Present: 

She has to eat.

It has to play.

They have to travel.

Past:

He had to send the email.

We had to sing.

Future: 

I will have to see.

We will have to try.

Have to vs Must

“Have to” often signifies external rules or requirements. 

“Must”, on the other hand, is more an internal obligation, and is more versatile for past and future uses. 

“Have to” (or “have got to”) is used for general duties, rules, and necessities.

The negative form “don’t have to” means “not necessary,” and “mustn’t” means “prohibited”. 

Test 383

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Nouns That Can Be Both Countable and Uncountable

Countable vs Uncountable

A noun is a word that is used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things, etc. It can either be countable or uncountable.

A countable noun is something that can be counted individually.

An uncountable noun is a substance, an abstract idea, or a thing that is treated as a whole and cannot be counted.  

Nouns That Can Be Both Countable and Uncountable

There are nouns that can be countable and uncountable at the same time. Usually, they each mean differently.

Here are just a few examples of nouns that can be both countable and uncountable:

hairUncountablestrands growing on a person’s headShe has blonde hair. 
Countablesingle strand of hairThere is a strand of hair in my soup.
chickenUncountablefoodI love chicken.
CountableanimalThey have more than 50 chickens.
roomUncountablespaceI know you are full, but make room dessert.
Countablea part of a house or buildingThere are three big meeting rooms in our office.
memoryUncountablethe brain’s ability to encode, store, and retrieve informationDoes your grandmother still have a good memory?
Countablesomething remembered from the pastIt is a memory that she has of her childhood.
timeUncountableconcept of duration as measured by clocksTime is gold.
Countablenumber of instancesThe debt collector called us three times.
fireUncountablecombustion or burningFirefighters extinguish fires.
Countablean incident of destructive burningThere had been three fires in this neighborhood this week!
experienceUncountableskill or knowledgeHe doesn’t have a lot of experience in programming.
CountableeventVisiting Paris was an unforgettable experience for our family.

Remember: 

Usage is determined by context. As a general rule, if “a/an” or a number is before it, it can be considered as a countable noun. On the other hand, if it is a substance or concept, then it is an uncountable noun. 

Test 350

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