Category: Homework

Blue Collar Workers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The student loan debt crisis is a social issue in the US. That’s why some students choose not to go to college. They want to avoid the consequences of being in debt. It includes having a bad credit score, the inability to buy a house or car, and accepting any available jobs regardless of the compensation and benefits. They take jobs indiscriminately because they want to start paying their student loans.

As a result, some young people tend to choose the alternative. They believe it is a better option to take an apprenticeship program, learn skills, and become a blue-collar worker.

Watch the video and get to know Michael Lauther, a man who refuses to go to college and is convinced that being a blue-collar worker is the best decision.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your takeaways from what’s being discussed in this video?
  2. The video highlights the advantages of being a blue-collar worker. Do you know any other benefits?
  3. What do people in your country think about blue-collar jobs?
  4. Can you talk about some high-paying blue-collar jobs?
  5. Would you like to be a white-collar or a blue-collar worker? And why?

The Chinese Exclusion Act

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the late 1800’s, many Americans held Chinese workers responsible for driving down wages and economic woes. This antagonism towards Chinese workers resulted to violence by the people and acts of injustices perpetrated by the government.

Let’s watch the video and learn more about the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on what you’ve learned from this video.
  2. What was the Chinese Exclusion Act and why was it created?Who were exempted from this act?
  3. Who was Chae Chan Ping and what happened to him upon his return to San Francisco?
  4. What is the Scott Act? Why did the U.S. Supreme court rule against Ping’s argument?
  5. What are recently passed immigration laws in your country? Do you find them reasonable?

A Unique Village Has No Locks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The second tier in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is safety. It includes having a roof over our heads so that we don’t need to sleep out on the street. Shelters give people a sense of protection during sleeping hours. They also serve as a safe place for our belongings that we cannot take with us when we leave for work or school. But what if these homes have no locks? Does it mean outsiders can just come and go? Are these homes still conducive to people’s well-being?

Watch this fascinating video to discover and explore a unique village in India.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this? How would you feel about leaving your house unlocked when you go out?
  2. In your understanding, how does tradition influence people’s decision not to have doors and locks in their homes?
  3. Is safety one of your top priorities? Explain why.
  4. Describe the safety measures you take in your own home.
  5. Describe your neighborhood and explain the safety practices in the community.

Sam Walton Biography

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have all heard of stories featuring different inspiring people from all kinds of industries. Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, is one of them. Sam encountered failures and challenges in his personal life, work, and business, but he never gave up.

Learn more about Sam Walton by watching the animated video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Sam Walton tried many jobs from a young age until he opened his first Walmart store. How do you think his experiences helped him succeed?
  2. What are some ways a person can take to escape poverty?
  3. Talk about one of your favorite success stories. Tell the person’s name, his profession, and journey to success.

Obesity: The Little Things

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is the little things that make up for weight gains. For instance, eating sugary desserts after a meal seems harmless, but when done regularly, it can boost the calorie level in the body. Choosing soda can make you drink less water, plus it has a lot of sugar, too. As a result, you get dehydrated and your body can interpret it as hunger. All of these can lead to weight gain, or worst, obesity.

Watch the video about obesity, and see if you are guilty of those bad habits.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Can you relate to any of the things mentioned in the video?
  2. Does your weight goes up and down quickly depending on your food consumption?
  3. How conscious are you about your weight?
  4. What tips do you have relative to maintaining a healthy weight?

Industrial Zones in Egypt

B1 – Intermediate

The Suez Canal in Egypt is an important way that connects Asia and Europe. Egypt is developing four new industrial zones along the canal and in one of them, a new city where workers can live and so they don’t have to travel far to get to work.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the new industrial zones in Egypt. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/new-industrial-zones-in-egypt-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of all the developments they are planning for the canal?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a new city near the industrial zones?
  3. Talk about the most important industrial area/s in your city/country. 
  4. How do these areas help your country’s economy?
  5. What are other things you know about the Suez Canal and Egypt?

Police Turn Criminal’s Ferrari into Patrol Car

B1 – Intermediate

Catching joyriders, illegal road racers, and more aggressive drivers could be a problem for the police. They drive too fast. Police won’t be able to catch up with these law breakers if they drive slow cars.

The solution – the Czech Republic police have used a criminal’s Ferrari into a patrol car. Now this high-powered sports car can help police during high-speed chase. In Dubai, the police also drive fast cars to ensure their citizens’ safety.

Read the article about the police using a criminal’s Ferrari as patrol car. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2207/220728-patrol-car-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with police using seized supercars as patrol cars? Explain your point.
  2. Do you think police presence on streets make people feel safe? Why or why not?
  3. What do you think about high-powered cars? Would you like to own one? Why or why not?
  4. Do you enjoy watching car races? Why or why not?

Woman Saves Dogs

B1 – Intermediate

They say dogs are man’s best friend. But in countries like China, they are nothing but juicy meat. Eating them is normal there.

A retired Chinese woman who also is a known animal activist does everything she can to save dogs from being killed and eaten. She takes care of many dogs in her home. Many people support her but there are also a lot who don’t because they think that eating dogs is a normal part of their tradition.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about a woman who rescues dogs.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/woman-saves-dogs-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of what this woman does for these dogs? Would you support her? 
  2. What do you think of some people taking advantage of her and selling her dogs to make money?
  3. What is your opinion on eating dogs as a tradition in some countries?
  4. If you could save an animal and take care of a lot of them, what would it be and why?
  5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet?

Fake News

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Every day we come face to face with fake news. It has been there for centuries, but with the advent of social media, it has become more prevalent these days. It could affect someone personally or impact the society on a global scale. There are obviously several disadvantages to fake news and these include the following:

Change in Public Opinion

This is blatant within the political sphere where fake news is used to manipulate the public’s opinion for profit, public support, or to change the public’s mind about a rival political party.

Defamation

Despite everyone enjoying the right to self-expression, there are those who misuse this right to defame well-known global personalities. Fake news is a great way of spreading false information beyond the internet. Two common examples are when one hears about a celebrity’s affair or when a celebrity experiences their own death through a death hoax.

 False Insight  

Regardless of whether they are true or misleading, people tend to blindly believe the words of an influential person. Most people choose not to dig deeper and find it out for themselves. Therefore, negatively changing their perception about someone or something in the news.

Amazingly, there is a silver lining. We may notice some positive things about fake news as well.

 Recreation Consider satire or works of parody that are meant to be for fun. Just think of all the celebrity gossips or the fact that some people think that reptiloids are among us! Everyone, whether offline or on the internet, loves a good laugh.

Improvement in Memory According to the journal Psychological Science, the ability to recall a time when you heard or read fake news helps your brain to remember true information. A research team conducted two experiments on 96 participants. Throughout the experiments, their memory was tested to check whether recollections were true or based on misinformation. They read both factual and made-up statements from news sites and then read statements that corrected the fake news. It turned out that misinformation reminders helped the participants see the cracks in their memories and promoted better memory recollection. Also, individuals that face fake news head-on have a raised awareness of disparities between what is fact and what is fiction and have better memory updating. Clearly, regardless of the kind of fake news, there is some usefulness to it.

Now you know that there’s a break in the clouds and there might be an upside to dealing with disinformation. But be careful and don’t let fake news determine what you think or who you are.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What other pros and cons can you add to this list?
  2. Do you think the pros of fake news justify distributing it? Why or why not)?
  3. Is it worth trying to fight such fake news in an attempt to stop blatant disinformation?
  4. How would you explain to your grandmother that she shouldn’t believe everything she reads and that hoaxes are published everyday?
  5. Where do you get your news from and why do you choose these sources?
  6. Have you ever encountered an internet hoax that you actually believed but later on found out wasn’t true?

Man Saves a Driver

B1 – Intermediate

Hundreds of car accidents happen every single day. Human errors and external factors have been associated with collisions on the roads. Getting into a car accident can lead to several unwanted consequences that is why road safety is something that road users must keep in mind at all times.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how a courageous man saved a driver who was having a seizure.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/man-saves-a-driver-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. Are road accidents a major cause of death in your country?
  3. Have you ever been involved in a traffic accident? If yes, what happened?
  4. What do you do when you see an accident on the road? Do you stop to watch/help or do you pass?
  5. How strict are the traffic laws in your country?
  6. Are there any groups of people more likely to have car accidents than others? Who and why?