Category: Homework

Solar Panel Sales Boom

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the saying goes, “When one man fails, another man rises in his shadows”. As the whole world falls to its knees due to the sharp increase in energy prices, the solar industry booms.

Read the article about the boost in solar panel sales. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-62524031

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What might be the good and bad things about using solar energy?
  3. Do you think solar panels are good investment? Why or why not?
  4. How does the solar energy sector fare in your country and why is this the case?
  5. What are your thoughts on using solar panels to generate energy in homes and buildings more in the foreseeable future?

Chip Shortage

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Technological products run because of computer chips, also known as semiconductors. However, there has been chip shortage nowadays. Because of this, there is a problem with the supply of some popular tech items.

Read the article to find out the reasons for this chip shortage, how tech firms are addressing this crisis, and how it affects us. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58230388

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is there a chip shortage? What is reaction to/thoughts on this?
  2. How are tech firms dealing with this problem?
  3. How does this impact us? How does this affect you?
  4. Some tech firms stockpiled and ordered the chips in advance as the pandemic was beginning in 2020 which lead to the other companies to have problems acquiring the components. Share your opinion on what big tech firms did back there.
  5. How often do you buy new electronic gadgets or appliances?

Curiosity Behind Open Relationships

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Staying faithful to your partner or spouse is probably the oldest trick in the book when it comes to keeping a happy and harmonious relationship.

However, through the years, along with all the progressive changes that we have embraced as a society, perhaps our definition of a romantic relationship has also been evolving.

Open relationships are still not openly acceptable by everyone in the world, but it has been considered less and less obscure over the years. Furthermore, people’s interest in it has been gaining traction.

Read the article about the rising curiosity behind open relationships and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220725-the-rising-curiosity-behind-open-relationships

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on open relationships? What do you think about it becoming more and more mainstream?
  2. What might be reasons why open relationships interest a lot of people these days?
  3. Cite the advantages and disadvantages of being in a monogamous and non-monogamous relationship.
  4. Do you agree or disagree that “Dating-app trends and the pandemic effect help highlight the rise in interest in open relationships”? Explain your point.
  5. What is your reaction to this statement: “attitudes toward consensual non-monogamy are mostly negative overall”?

Warm Banks Spread

B1 – Intermediate

The prices of electricity and gas have increased a lot. As a result, more and more people, especially in the UK, are probably won’t be able to use their heating systems in their homes.

To solution this problem, several non-government groups have opened heat banks across the UK. A heat bank is a place where people can stay warm without having to pay for anything.

Read the lesson on the increase of heat banks in the UK and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2208/220815-warm-banks-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on heat or warm banks? Do they help poor people or not? Explain.
  2. Is this a problem that some people in your country also suffer from? What do you think of it?
  3. What measures are you taking to save money and decrease your energy and gas consumption?
  4. Are you also angry about the higher and higher profits oil companies are making each year? Why or why not?
  5. “Each year in the UK, cold weather kills around 11,400 people.” What is your reaction to this?

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?