Category: Homework

Embryo a Year Younger than the Mother

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some couples are lucky to have children without needing any medical interventions but there are others whose dreams of having a child is a long shot. Luckily, with the help of science, their dreams could possibly come true.

Read the article and watch the video about the oldest frozen human embryo and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/19/health/snowbaby-oldest-embryo-bn/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on/reaction to this news?
  2. What do you think about embryo donation and adoption?
  3. Talk about other modern methods of conceiving that you know about.

Measles Outbreak in Europe

B1 – Intermediate

Measles is an infectious disease that has not been a very big problem in decades. However, there had been a huge increase in the number of people affected by this disease in Europe last year. 

Read this article about the new measles outbreak in Europe.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/health-medicine/new-measles-outbreak-in-europe.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why was there a massive outbreak of measles in Europe?
  2. How do you feel about the increase of measles cases in Europe?
  3. How can the government encourage parents to have their babies receive measles immunization?
  4. What other outbreaks have you had in your city/country the past few years? How did the ministry of health and/or the government manage the outbreak?
  5. What other vaccinations/immunizations do you know babies should get?

Teenagers Aren’t What They Used To Be

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whenever we hear the term teenager, we picture of a phase in someone’s life when one is making dumb choices while struggling to mature via trial and error.

The bulk of choices taken by adolescents are impacted by their peers and how others behave.

Let’s take a look at the article below to find out why teenagers aren’t what they used to be.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220124-why-teens-arent-what-they-used-to-be

Discussion Questions:

  1. Did you like being a teenager? Talk about that phase in your life.
  2. What are the best and worst things about being a teenager?
  3. Do you think today’s teens are the same as teenagers 20 years ago? Explain your point.
  4. Do you think parents look forward to their cute little children becoming teenagers? Why/why not?
  5. Why is it that teenagers tend to rebel so much?
  6. What impact do teenagers have on society?

Freedom

B1 – Intermediate

Freedom is the ability to live one’s life, doing what one wants, living where one wants, eating whatever one wants, and learning whatever one’s heart wishes.

This means that freedom should be enjoyed in various aspects of life and that it is not only an essential term.

Let’s have a look at the transcript and hear the audio about freedom.

https://listenaminute.com/f/freedom.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is freedom for you? How important is it to you? Would you fight for your freedom?
  2. Do you feel that you have as much freedom as you want in your life? Why/why not?
  3. Do men or women have more freedom in your country? Cite examples to prove your point.
  4. Can freedom damage a country? Explain your point.

Running a Successful Small Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Owning a business sounds like a dream: you are your own boss and you get a say on everything from top to bottom of things. A lot of people are enticed by the idea of a business where they own their time, earn their own money, and take charge of where the money goes or how it’s spent, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

Starting or owning a business takes a lot of responsibility and sacrifices. So many things happen behind the scenes that are tricky and challenging.

The tips laid out in the article below aims to help budding entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-to-be in setting up and running a small business successfully.

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you interested in having your own business? Why or why not? If yes, what kind of business would it be?
2. What sacrifices must be made to start a business? Are you willing to take them?
3. What are some challenges faced when starting a business?
4. What are some rewards of owning a business?
5. How do you keep yourself organized at work and in other aspects of your life?
6. What is good customer service?
7. What are other tips that you can add to the list?

A Dress with a QR Code

B1 – Intermediate

Fashion industry has always been built on creativity and stylish expression. From simple to bizarre fashion trends, we’ve seen it all. However, an Egyptian smart designer has come up with something a little out of the ordinary that combines fashion, technology, and tourism.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the smart dress with its own QR code.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-dress-with-a-qr-code-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe the smart dress this designer created.
  2. What do you think of this creation?
  3. Do you think this is helpful to tourists? Why/why not?
  4. As a tourist, how important are travel guides for you to know places to visit?
  5. How else can QR codes be used?

People Swim in Icy River

B1 – Intermediate

Every year, hundreds of people swim in the icy waters of Vltava River in Prague, Czech Republic. It is a part of their tradition to remember Alfred Nikodém, the athlete who made winter swimming popular.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about ice swimming tradition in the Czech Republic.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-swim-in-icy-river-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this tradition? Would you be interested to do this?
  2. Have you swum on icy water? How was it?
  3. Why do you think people go ice swimming?
  4. What are the good and bad things about winter swimming?
  5. What winter tradition/s do you have in your city/country?

McDonald’s Potato Shortage

B1 – Intermediate

Undoubtedly, one of McDonald’s most important products is their french fries. But nowadays, they are having problems getting enough supply of potatoes in Japan.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about McDonald’s Japan’s potato shortage and how they managed.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/mcdonalds-does-not-have-enough-potatoes-level-2

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on McDonald’s solution to their problem?
  2. What do you think would happen if you had the same potato shortage problem in your country? 
  3. Have you ever gone to a restaurant and they unfortunately do not have the dish you wanted? How was your experience then?
  4. Has there ever been a shortage of any produce or product in your city/country? What product was it and how long did it last? What did you do at the moment?
  5. How much do you like potatoes? How important are potatoes in your country’s cuisine?

Hainan Towers Building Permit

B1 – Intermediate

Evergrande Group is a big Chinese real estate company. They have built many buildings in Danzhou City, China including properties in a man-made resort island. 

However, there is a big problem. The government says the company does not have building permits so these buildings are illegal and they need to be demolished.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Evergrande Group’s building permit problems.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hainan-towers-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think will happen to the company?
  2. How can they resolve this problem?
  3. Would you buy a house in a man-made island? Why/why not?
  4. What problems do real estate companies have in your country?
  5. Do you know any buildings that had to be demolished? Why was it torn down?

Big Insect Problem

B1 – Intermediate

Insects are very important part of the ecosystem. However, a new study reveals their number is dramatically decreasing. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the problem with insects extinction and its effects on us.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/big-insect-problem-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are insects important?
  2. What is your reaction to this news about insects becoming extinct?
  3. How will this affect us/our planet?
  4. How interested are you in insects? Share interesting facts you know about them.
  5. Imagine the planet without insects. How would that be like?