Category: Homework

Is MSG Bad for You?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a controversial food-additive mostly used in Asian countries. It enhances the flavor of food. Some people claim that it could cause headaches, chest pains, or even brain damage. On the other hand, sources such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claim that it is safe for consumption.

Let’s watch the video below to know more about MSG and find out if it’s actually bad for us.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the use of Monosodium glutamate (MSG) How do you usually season your food?
  2. Do you like eating Asian food? If yes, what’s your favorite?
  3. How conscious are you of the food that you eat and the ingredients you use for cooking?
  4. Do you think food nowadays is becoming more or less safe to eat? Explain your opinion.
  5. Should the government do more to regulate food safety?

Traffic Ticket

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being a good driver starts with the knowledge of all traffic laws and it should be followed by obedience to all traffic laws. Hence, the rigorous driving examination drivers have to take in order to get a license. There are times when drivers are tempted to willingly violate a traffic rule just because no one is looking. But what happens when you are caught? Do you fight it or just pay the fine?

Listen to the audio about getting a traffic ticket and how to get away with it.

Traffic Ticket

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why was the driver pulled over by the traffic police?
  2. How did he try to get out of a traffic ticket? Did it work?
  3. Have you ever been pulled over by a traffic officer before? Talk about your experience.
  4. Have you ever had traffic violations in before? What were they for? If not, why do you think that is?
  5. What is the usual process upon receiving a traffic ticket in your country?

Sweatshops

B1 – Intermediate

Big businesses always want to find ways to cut their costs. One of them is to employ the goods and services from and of sweatshops. The labor cost is extremely cheap but the ugly truth is, the labor condition of people working there is horrible.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about sweatshops.

https://listenaminute.com/s/sweatshops.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion of sweatshops?
  2. What are sweatshops for?
  3. Why are sweatshops a horrible place?
  4. Do you agree or disagree that big multinational companies have a big responsibility to make sure their goods do not come from sweatshops? Explain your opinion.
  5. Is it possible to end businesses such as sweatshops? Explain.

Venice to Charge Tourists for Entry

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The city of Venice is going to impose an entrance fee for tourists in order to prevent a massive influx of visitors arriving in the city for various reasons. This decision have been met with different reactions from locals and tourists.

Watch the video and know more about this measure.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this measure set by the Venice local government?
  2. What reasons do they have for imposing this measure?
  3. How can this affect businesses?
  4. Do you agree with the price they set simply for entering the city? Would this discourage tourists from going to Venice? Why or why not?
  5. Are there similar touristic sites in your country that have been degraded because of over-tourism? Talk about it/them.

Keeping Secrets from Your Partner

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Did you know that an average person keeps roughly 13 secrets? Let’s be honest. Everyone keeps secrets. But sometimes, the burden of having secrets can affect us in ways we might have never considered.

One of the significant concerns in many relationships involves secrets. But when does keeping a secret from your partner go from harmless to hurtful?

Let’s watch the video below to know how secrets affect a relationship.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like knowing about and finding out secrets of your partner? Why or why not?
  2. Are you good at keeping secrets? Why or why not?
  3. How do secrets affect relationships? Is it healthy to keep secrets in a relationship?
  4. What’s the difference between privacy and secrets in a relationship?
  5. What kinds of secrets are dangerous?

Sky Lantern Causes Fire

B1 – Intermediate

A sky lantern is basically a small hot hair balloon that is made out of paper. It’s simple, festive, and lovely, but it can also be dangerous. Some countries have banned the use of sky lanterns because they can be very dangerous.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript below about the catastrophic fire that happened in Brazil.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/sky-lantern-causes-fire-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the purpose of sky lanterns? Which celebration/s are sky lanterns used?
  2. Why are they dangerous?
  3. What festivals in Spain use light, fire, and/or lanterns? Describe it/them.
  4. What are other ways to celebrate festivals/events safely?
  5. What do you like doing during the festival in your city?

Nike Workers Get a Week Off to De-stress

B1 – Intermediate

It almost seem like the world has gone crazy! It is quite a very stressful time for everyone. 

When we are stressed at work, we usually take a day off to relax and disconnect. But, has your company ever offered you days off to do that? Nike did it for their workers. 

Read the lesson on Nike giving its workers one week off to help them de-stress. Then, be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2109/210903-de-stressing-at-nike-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this initiative from Nike?
  2. Is it possible for your company to do the same? Why or why not?
  3. What does your company do to help workers who are very stressed out?
  4. What do you usually do to de-stress?
  5. “Taking time for rest and recovery is key to performing well.” Do you agree or disagree? Share your opinion.

Methane and the World’s Temperature

B1 – Intermediate

Methane is a natural gas commonly found and used in big oil and gas fields. Small quantities of it can also be found in Earth’s atmosphere. Methane is one of those gases that makes the planet warmer.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about methane gas and its contribution to the problem of increasing temperatures on Earth.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/methane-and-the-worlds-temperature-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are other things you know about methane?
  2. What other things do you know make the problem with global warming worse?
  3. What are some solutions to this problem with methane gas?
  4. Do you think oil companies will do what they are supposed to do to solve this problem? Why or why?
  5. Are you worried about global warming at all? Why or why not?

Snow in Bolivia and Peru

B1 – Intermediate

Bolivia and Peru are South American countries and as we all know, the weather in these countries is usually always warm. Hearing that it is snowing in these countries is a bit unusual.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about snowing in warm countries like Bolivia and Peru.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/snow-in-bolivia-and-peru-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. Why do you think it snowed in these countries?
  3. What weather changes have occurred in your country?
  4. Have you ever had any problems during winter or because of too much snow? Talk about it.

Sinkhole in China

B1 – Intermediate

It’s basic knowledge that you have to look in front when driving to prevent accidents. A motorcyclist eyes weren’t on the road and he didn’t notice a big sinkhole and fell into it.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about a sinkhole.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/sinkhole-in-china-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. Have you ever seen a sinkhole? What was your impression of it?
  3. Why do you think sinkholes appear?
  4. Do you sometimes get distracted when driving? What causes you to lose focus?
  5. What do you do to stay focused while on the road?