Category: Homework

Weather and Tea

B1 – Intermediate

Tea is such an important drink all over the world. India is one of the main sources of it. However, due to the very unpredictable weather these days, tea farmers are having problems in growing tea in their plantations.

If this problem persists, it could cause a shortage in tea supply in the world. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the problems in tea production caused by extreme weather changes.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/weather-and-tea-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. Are there tea plantations in your country? How are their conditions nowadays?
  3. What agricultural problems do you have in your country that is caused by unpredictable weather?
  4. How important is tea in your country or for you?
  5. What are the health benefits of drinking tea?

Moderna Suing Pfizer over Patent Infringement

B2  – Upper Intermediate

When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, the pharmaceutical industry was put under a lot of pressure to immediately develop a vaccine that could hopefully stop the spread of this extremely contagious and deadly virus that was claiming millions of lives all over the world at that time. It was absolutely a race against time.

Top pharmaceutical firms have since developed the wonder vaccines that have helped curbed Covid-19 cases and societies transition back to normality. 

Fast forward to today, Moderna is filing a lawsuit against Pfizer for alleged patent disputes on the mRNA technology.

Read the article about Moderna’s lawsuit against Pfizer over patent infringement.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-62691102

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this case?
  2. How does your company protect itself from possible intellectual property and patent infringement?
  3. Talk about other patent infringement cases you know of.
  4. What do you know about mRNA and what are your thoughts on it?
  5. Which anti-Covid vax did you get and what side effects did you suffer from?

Social Media Bans Andrew Tate

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many people are social media-famous. They use them as a venue where they have the liberty to say or do whatever they want.

With so many fans or followers watching their every action and statements, they have the power to influence people’s thoughts on different issues. So it is important that they are careful with the contents they create and publish on their social media channels.

Read the article to know who Andrew Tate is and why he was removed and banned on major social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62602913

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this person’s attitude toward women?
  2. “Tate was dangerous because he could change men’s opinions on women.” Do you agree or disagree to this? Why or why not?
  3. His account was removed from major social media platforms Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Do you think it is necessary for these socmed sites to do that? Why or why not?
  4. Tate thinks it is women’s faults if they got sexually attacked. What are your thoughts on his opinion?
  5. How responsible are social media influencers/celebrities for the things they say and do on their social media platforms?

Flexible Working

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Perhaps, there is a debate on how much change the pandemic has brought about in the way we work. Is our newfound work flexibility a boon or a bane for workers and the management?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know more about being able to work with so much flexibility.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-210715

Discussion Questions:

  1. Personally, what are your thoughts on flexible working?
  2. What sort of flexibility do you have at work?
  3. Is it possible for the 9-to-5 jobs to become a thing of the past? Why or why not?
  4. What might be the benefits and downsides of flexible work for employers and employees alike?
  5. How has the pandemic changed your way of working or your company’s work policies?

Nuclear Annihilation is One Mistake Away

B1 – Intermediate

With all the global issues and political tensions we are facing these days, the possibility of a nuclear war is very high. The UN has warned that one little misunderstanding could potentially start a nuclear annihilation.

It is imperative to find a way that these nuclear weapons are eliminated so we are sure that they could never be used.

Read the article about how possible it is for a nuclear war to break any moment. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2208/220804-nuclear-annihilation-0.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to what the UN has said that “humanity is just one misunderstanding away from a nuclear war”?
  2. How can this be stopped?
  3. What national security issues is your country facing at the moment?
  4. Do you think countries with nuclear weapons would agree to eliminate them? Why or why not?

Thinking Makes Us Tired

B1 – Intermediate

When you think of tiring activities, you probably think of running a marathon, exercising at the gym, and swimming non-stop. You would probably not think of thinking as something that causes us to get tired.

However, a recent study proves that exerting too much mental effort actually drains us physically.

Read the article and find out why thinking makes us tired. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2208/220818-thinking-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to the result of this study?
  2. Does thinking make you tired? What do you do when you feel tired from thinking?
  3. Do you agree or disagree that a power nap is good for you/for your brain? Explain.
  4. What are some mentally-exhausting activities for you?
  5. How do you make sure your brain is healthy?

Cryotherapy

B1 – Intermediate

When are bodies need to heal, we find the best therapy. What do you think about a therapy wherein they put you inside a machine to freeze your whole body for a few minutes?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about cryotherapy.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/cryotherapy-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your opinion about this therapy.
  2. What are the good and bad things about this kind of therapy?
  3. Would you be interested to try it? Why or why not?
  4. What other therapies similar to cryotherapy do you know of?
  5. What other therapies similar to cryotherapy have you tried? Talk about its effects on you. 
  6. What other therapies similar to cryotherapy are you interested to try and why?

Free Period Products

B1 – Intermediate

For women, having their menstruation can be a nuisance. Nowadays, another problem they are facing is the high prices of these products that they use when they have their periods.

Scotland created a law that provides these types of products to women of all ages in their country for free.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Scotland providing free period products to its female citizens.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/free-period-products-in-scotland-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your reaction to this law. Is a law such as this necessary in every country? Why or why not?
  2. What is your reaction to this, “Some women have so little money that they can’t buy these products every month.”?
  3. What might be other problems women have with their physical hygiene?
  4. In your country, what other laws can the government create to help women in maintaining their health?

Clothes

B1 – Intermediate

Clothes are important because it protects us from the weather and provide us with warmth and cover. They also make us desirable in others’ eyes; making us wanted and even disliked.

Because clothes are important, do you buy too many of them?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about clothes.

https://listenaminute.com/c/clothes.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. About how much money do you spend on clothes a year?
  2. Can you be fashionable without spending money?
  3. Do you have clothes in your closet that you’ve never worn? Why haven’t you worn them?
  4. Do you always recycle your old clothes or give them to charity?
  5. What’s your favorite piece of clothing? Why?
  6. Do you buy clothes online? Why or why not?
  7. Is fashion a kind of art? Elaborate.

Beauty

B1 – Intermediate

Perfect hair, perfect teeth and a perfect smile is ones definition of beauty. Beauty is solely dependent on how a person looks in the outside. However, inner beauty is more important for others because it’s the beauty within which makes a person beautiful.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about beauty.

https://listenaminute.com/b/beauty.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes a person beautiful?
  2. What is better, to be physically attractive or intelligent? Why?
  3. Do you think beauty affects your self-confidence? Why or why not?
  4. Does beauty affect a person’s success in personal/ professional life? How?
  5. Do people spend too much money and time on their beauty? In what ways?
  6. “There should be equal rights for most of us “non-beautiful” people.” Do you agree or disagree with this? Why or why not?