Category: Homework

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?

Non-Fungible Tokens

B1 – Intermediate

Non-fungible means there is only one of that thing. Non-fungible token is an item or a product that has no copy. When you buy an NFT, you get a certificate even though it only exists in the digital world. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on non-fungible tokens or NFTs.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-like-non-fungible-tokens-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of NFTs?
  2. Would you be interested to buy an NFT? Why or why not?
  3. What might be the reasons people buy NFTs?
  4. What are the good and bad things about NFTs?
  5. What is one thing you would like to be non-fungible and only you own it? Talk about it.

Alcohol-Free Bars

B1 – Intermediate

Drinking is probably one of the most social things we humans do. However, more and more people are becoming uninterested in drinking. Then alcohol-free spirits and bars increase their popularity.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript on alcohol-free bars.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/alcohol-free-bars-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be reasons people prefer alcohol-free spirits?
  2. Would you enjoy going to an alcohol-free bar? Why or why not?
  3. Talk about your favorite bar. What do you like most about this particular bar?
  4. What are the most common alcoholic drinks people drink in your country?
  5. Do you think people will drink alcohol less and less in the future? Why or why not?

New Zealand Apologizes for Immigration Raids

B1 – Intermediate

In the 1970s, there was a shortage of workers in New Zealand. Thousands of people from the South Pacific islands of Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji moved there to work.

But then, police raided the Islanders’ homes who they suspect were illegally overstaying in the country. They were then deported back to their respective countries. Their families who were left behind in NZ were placed in government care homes.

Read the lesson on the New Zealand government’s apology to Pacific Islanders for the inhumane raids that happened in the 70s. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2108/210804-dawn-raids-0.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to the discriminatory immigration rules in NZ in the past?
  2. Has anything similar ever happened in your country too? Talk about that time.
  3. What can you say about the NZ government’s apology to the Islanders? How is this going to impact the Islanders?
  4. What normally happens to people who illegally stay in your country when they are caught by the police? What about their families?
  5. Given a chance, which country would you like to immigrate to?

Seizures

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The first detailed account of a neurological disorder related to epilepsy was dated back in the Babylonian era. In the olden days, with the absence of scientific authority, there were different beliefs and treatments used to treat this medical condition.

Let’s watch the video and find out more about the history and scientific evolution of seizure treatments.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is Miqtu? What are its symptoms?
  2. What belief did Babylonians have about it and what treatments did they and ancient Greeks recommend?
  3. What causes seizures? Do all seizure treatments/medication available at present effective for all patients experiencing them?
  4. What do modern scientists recommend when you encounter someone experiencing seizures?