Category: Homework

Eliminating Procrastination Habit

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The primary threat to productivity is procrastination. Procrastination is a terrible habit that can interfere with you achieving your objectives as well as create anxiety and negatively influence your health and quality of life, according to experts.

Despite the fact that it can be challenging to break the practice, it is very important to kick your procrastination habits to the curb.

Watch the video for some procrastination-busting advice.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”to live up to something” mean, “Do I feel like I need to live up to the previous work I’ve done in the past”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to dive deep/deeper into something” mean, “Take a moment to dive deep into your own thoughts and feelings about your work.”? Give 2 similar words or expressions to this and use them in your own sentences.
  3. What does “in one’s tracks” mean, “Stop your habit in its tracks.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on the link between procrastination and anxiety or depression.
  2. Explain the difference between procrastination and laziness.
  3. How can managers help team members who struggle with procrastination?
  4. What are some of your intrinsic motivation for what you do at work?
  5. What do you think is the relationship between procrastination and success in life?
  6. How do you feel/What are your thoughts about strictly sticking to a to-do list or schedule?

Signs You’re Experiencing Secondhand Stress

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It involves putting oneself in someone else’s shoes and feeling what they are feeling.

But are you aware that empathy can lead to secondhand stress, also known as compassion fatigue?

Secondhand stress and anxiety pertain to the feeling of being distressed or nervous because another individual is experiencing the same thing. Primarily, our thoughts and bodies are hardwired to detect significant hazards or vulnerabilities. When we witness another person experiencing anxiety or tension, we may unknowingly mimic it as an instinctual way to safeguard ourselves or the person involved; leading to feelings of stress and burnout.

We can detect secondhand stress by perceiving others’ facial gestures, hearing their voice frequency, and even picking up on certain scents or touches. Furthermore, we are more likely to encounter secondhand stress from people we are acquainted with than from random individuals, which means that our colleagues’ stress levels, as well as how they react to and demonstrate those stress feelings, can have implications for us.

So, how do you tell if someone is causing you stress?

To learn more, follow the link and read the full article.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/secondhand-stress-symptoms_l_63ed2231e4b0255caaefb9cd

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”mind is racing” mean, “You may find that your mind is racing and you’re constantly thinking about your loved one.”?Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”to get under the skin” mean, “It builds up as sort of tension, and that tension — the not talking about it, the not expressing it — that’s the piece that gets under the skin? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”to get swept up” mean, “It can be easy to get swept up in other people’s problems or in situations that are largely out of your control.”? Use this idiom in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you know if someone is stressing you out?
  2. How do you deal with second-hand stress especially at work?
  3. Can you sense someone else’s stress? In what way?
  4. Do you consider secondhand stress toxic empathy? Share your thoughts.
  5. What are the benefits and downsides of being empathetic?

Covid-19 Pandemic Changes Personality Traits

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness agreeableness, and openness are the five broad personality traits.

However, according to studies, not only personal grievances, but also global events like the COVID-19 pandemic can make one exhibit changes in their personality traits.

Read the article about how the COVID-19 pandemic had an effect of changes in our personality traits.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-pandemic-changes-in-personality-traits

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the personality traits agreeableness, openness, extraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Cite situations where you have demonstrated and (almost) lost them.
  2. What does ”impervious” mean, “It is quite significant from a theoretical perspective to know that global events, like the pandemic, might have the effect of changing personality, which is often thought to be fixed and impervious to change”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “upheaval” mean, “There were upheavals on the social, political, and economic fronts that could also have affected personality development during this time, especially in the young adults who appeared to change the most.“? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  4. What does “encompass” mean, “In the current study, the researchers categorized the period encompassing the pandemic into the acute phase and the adaptation phase.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What some of the best ways to overcome neuroticism?
  2. What might be reasons younger individuals were especially susceptible to changes in personality traits during the pandemic?
  3. How has the pandemic changed you/your personality traits? How did you manage such a change?
  4. What personality traits changed in you with age? Why do you think that happened?
  5. Share your thoughts on this: “Neuroticism, openness, and extraversion tend to decrease (with age).”.

A Sinking City

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As global warming becomes worse year by year, the Indonesian capital Jakarta is on the verge of sinking. The city has sunk by a few meters in the past decade.

Read the article to learn more about why this city is sinking.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/world/asia/jakarta-a-sinking-city.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “torrential” mean, “Torrential rainfall in the monsoon season causes flooding on a regular basis.”? Give 2 synonyms and make your own sentences.
  2. What does “densely” mean, “Jakarta is one of the most densely populated cities in the world – home to about 10 million people.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “draw something out” mean, “Many people draw water out of the ground for drinking and other purposes.”? Make a sentence with this phrase in this context.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. According to the article, why is Jakarta sinking?
  3. In what ways can people contribute to slowing down the sinking of this city?
  4. Do you think it’s possible to stop global warming? Why or why not?
  5. What other cities do you know are in danger of sinking?
  6. Do you think your city will also be in danger of sinking? Why or why not?

Market Boom for Fake Tanks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Russia-Ukraine War has boosted the need for heavy military weapons and vehicles. Such military supplies cost an arm and a leg, though. This most probably the reason fake army equipment makers have seen a rise in demand for their products.

These equipment are more cost-effective, yet still pretty much gets the job done when it comes to tricking and intimidating the enemy.

Read the article about the rise in demand for inflatable military decoys worldwide.

https://www.voanews.com/a/czech-company-sees-boom-in-market-for-fake-tanks-himars/6992819.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”decoy” mean, “The company has added HIMARS to its fleet of over 30 types of inflatable real-size decoys it sells to customers worldwide, Chief Executive Vojtech Fresser said Monday.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does the expression “to find one’s way somewhere” mean, “Inflatech would not confirm Ukraine is among the destinations, but Fresser said he would expect them to find their way there.“? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “reconnaissance” mean, “The decoys are made from synthetic silk and, apart from misleading the adversary visually, have a thermal footprint and appear on radars to fool enemy reconnaissance.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on placing life-size inflatable decoys on the front lines to deceive the enemy?
  2. What are the pros and cons of using fake military equipment?
  3. Share your opinion on this: “Inflatech would not confirm Ukraine is among the destinations, but Fresser said he would expect them to find their way there.”

Supermarkets Ration Fruits and Vegetables

B1 – Intermediate

In the UK, there have been a shortage in the supply of fruits and vegetables. Customers are having difficulties finding places to buy fruits and vegetables from. The big supermarkets said there are many reasons for this shortage in their supplies. As a result, most of their shelves are left almost empty.

Due to this, supermarkets have no choice but to ration some produces in the middle of this problem with low fruits and vegetables supply in the country.

Read the article about the fruits and vegetables shortage in the UK and how the supermarkets started rationing the supply to their customers.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2303/230306-uk-vegetable-rationing-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”bare” mean here, “The big chains have given various reasons for the shortfall in supply and why shelves are bare in supermarket aisles.”? Give 2 synonyms of the word ‘bare’ in this context and use them in sentences.
  2. What does the expression “to play a part” mean, “An industry analyst said Brexit has also played a part.”? Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does “war-torn” mean, “Many shoppers are shocked at seeing photos on social media of supermarket shelves in Europe, and in war-torn Ukraine, full of fresh produce.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news? Has something similar happened in your country too?
  2. What are the reasons for the lack of supply in fruits and vegetables in the UK?
  3. Is it a good solution to limit how much fruits and veggies each customer can buy? Explain your opinion.
  4. Do you agree or disagree to this, “If there are shortfalls in production in the EU, then it makes sense for EU producers to serve their local demand first.”? Share your thoughts.
  5. Talk about some products or produces that became low in supply in your country. How did that shortage affect you?

Inflation

B1 – Intermediate

Inflation is one of the most important economic issues in the world. It can be defined as the price of goods and services rising over monthly or yearly. Inflation leads to a decline in the value of money, it means that we cannot buy something at a price that same as before. This situation will increase our cost of living.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about inflation.

https://listenaminute.com/i/inflation.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “inflation rate“? “Zimbabwe once had an inflation rate of trillions of percent.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “to keep something under control” mean, “Many countries around the world are fighting to keep inflation under control.”? Use this in a sentence.
  3. What does “to lose the battle against something” mean, “Sometimes you read about countries that lose the battle against inflation.” Use this in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is inflation important to economists?
  2. Have you changed your spending or your habits because of the rising prices?
  3. Do you think your government should do more to help people manage in the middle of this problem with inflation? Share your opinion.
  4. What will happen to the world if prices keep rising?
  5. What will happen to your lifestyle if prices keep rising?
  6. What hurts you more, increase in fuel prices or food prices? Why?

Reasons Unemployment Is Scary

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Unemployment always sounds familiar to each and every one of us. Due to the fact that it is an issue that many people can relate to, it has long been one of society’s most pressing problems and a top concern for many governments all over the world.

Please watch the video below to find out why unemployment is so scary.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “scarce resource” mean, “All of this is done with the aim of allocating scarce resources.” Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What does “inner workings” mean, “Behind this definition, there is something much bigger going on, something that teaches us about the inner workings of the economy.” Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What is “free market“? “Free market economics does miraculously work quite well to get people paired up with jobs all over this country and world.” Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of unemployment? Should we be concerned about it?
  2. Is unemployment one of your nation’s most pressing societal issues? Why or why is it not the case?
  3. Explain ‘natural unemployment’. Share your thoughts on it.
  4. Have you ever been without a job? Talk about this situation.
  5. How does unemployment impact our lives and the country’s economy?

Gambling

B1 – Intermediate

Gambling is defined as placing money or betting in a game to win even more money depending on luck without working really hard. Gambling is a kind of a shortcut to getting a lot of money. Everyone would like to follow an easy way to make money. Even rich people gamble to become even richer. However, it is a game of chance. Many people also end up losing a lot of money to it.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about gambling.

https://listenaminute.com/g/gambling.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “nothing good comes out of something” mean, “I don’t think much good comes [out] of gambling.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “odds to be against someone” mean, “The odds are always against you.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.
  3. What does “to get fed up with someone/something” mean, “They must get fed up with throwing their money away.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever won or lost money from gambling? Share that situation.
  2. Do you think buying lottery tickets is a form of gambling? Why or why not?
  3. Why do you think so many people like gambling?
  4. How can someone stop from gambling too much?
  5. What damage does gambling do to an individual and the society?
  6. How different do you think the world would be if gambling didn’t exist? Explain.

Unusual Jobs You Might Not Know Exist

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It’s not unusual now to have a job that can be difficult to explain to people who are used to more common ones such as a teacher or a manager.

Read the article and learn from the stories of representatives with some unusual professions.

https://studyworkgrow.com.au/2021/01/12/13-more-unusual-jobs-you-might-not-know-exist/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “confidant” mean, “Friend for hire, organizer, confidant, non-complaining member of the wedding party  – if you get along well with people and want to help a bride’s wedding day run smoothly, then this could seriously be a job to consider.“? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does “side hustle” mean, “If you’re patient or perhaps you just enjoy people watching, and you don’t mind being out in the elements, you could make line standing a side hustle that could earn you money.”? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does “strike a chord” mean, “You never know what’s going to strike a chord and be the spark that ignites a career you’ll love.”? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever had an unusual job? What about your friends or relatives? Have they? Why or why not?
  2. Are there any other professions that are hard to understand or explain for you? What are they and try explaining them.
  3. What are the pros and cons of having a bizarre job?
  4. Why do you think people might choose such professions?
  5. How do you explain to others what your job is about?