Category: Homework

Airports on High Alert after Bomb Warning

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There’s no denying that practically everyone aspires to travel as much as possible.

An airport bomb threat is a grave concern that poses a significant risk to the safety and security of air travel. With the increasing number of terrorist activities around the world, airports have become prime targets for such threats. The consequences of an airport bomb threat are far-reaching, not only causing panic and chaos among passengers, but also disrupting the entire aviation industry.

Read the article to see how airport security procedures are impacted by bomb threats.

https://www.voanews.com/a/philippine-airports-on-high-alert-after-anonymous-bomb-warning-/7299417.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the idiom “to beef up”? “On Friday the aviation regulator released to media a Wednesday memo of the order given to airport security managers to beef up security, thoroughly inspect baggage and conduct round-the-clock surveillance after receiving the email threat.” Give 2 similar expressions and use “to beef up” in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the idiom  “round-the-clock”? “On Friday the aviation regulator released to media a Wednesday memo of the order given to airport security managers to beef up security, thoroughly inspect baggage and conduct round-the-clock surveillance after receiving the email threat.”  Give 2 similar expressions and use “round-the-clock” in a sentence.
  3. What does “flag carrier” mean in aviation, “A source at Philippines Airlines, who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to media, said the flag carrier was operating “business as usual.“? Make a sentence using this phrase.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What happened after the airports received a bomb threat?
    2. If you are an avid traveler yourself, how does this news make you feel?
    3. When you are at an airport, do you always feel safe? Why or Why not?
    4. How do airports in your country handle safety and security?
    5. Talk about any untoward incident you’ve encountered while at an airport..

    The End of the Mediterranean Beach Holiday

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    The beach is one of the most visited places during the holidays. A summer getaway seems incomplete without taking a trip to the coast.

    As the years pass, the climate has been noticeably getting worse. That said, staying under the sun may be more harmful to us as heat waves have been recurring. Hence, beach travels to the Mediterranean might come to an end.

    Read the article to learn more about the possible end of the Mediterranean beach holiday.

    https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231016-is-this-the-end-of-the-mediterranean-beach-holiday

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. What does “tighten one’s belt” mean? “Part of this could be down to consumers tightening their belts, with the ETC finding that nearly a quarter of respondents expressed concern about the rise of travel costs.” Use this in a sentence.
    2. Define “driven by something“. “We believe it’s partly driven by the cooler climate, which makes walking and cycling delightful rather than a sweat.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
    3. What does “fare” mean in this context? “Other regions fare better: the same climate scenario would see a 16% annual rise in tourism to west Wales, for example.” Give two synonyms and make a sentence with this word.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. How do you feel about the potential decline of the Mediterranean beach holiday and what impact might it have on your future travel plans?
    2. In what ways might over-tourism be contributing to the decline of the Mediterranean beach holiday experience?
    3. What measures can be taken to ensure the sustainability and longevity of the Mediterranean beach holiday industry?
    4. What factors do you consider when choosing a beach holiday destination? Are environmental concerns a priority for you?
    5. Have you ever been on a Mediterranean beach holiday? If so, which destination did you visit and how was your experience?

    Mushrooms: Medicine or Myth

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    Though they are neither plant nor animal, mushrooms never fail to fascinate and strike with wonder.

    Aside from being a great ingredient for cooking, mushrooms have also long been considered best for human health. Perhaps the key factor in the medicinal mushroom industry’s boom in the recent years.

    Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the benefits of mushrooms as medicine.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-231012

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. Explain what ”have a moment” means. “I think these mushrooms are very much having a moment right now, they’re kind of labelled as ‘super brain drugs’, so things are gonna potentially help with lessening anxiety, improving potentially depression.” Give 2 similar expressions and use this idiom in a sentence.
    2. What does the word “overblown” mean? “Dr. Leeming thinks some of the claims made about mushrooms are overblown.” Give 2 similar expressions and use this word in a sentence.
    3. What does “a fair amount” mean, “Lots of people absolutely want there to be scientific proof for health claims on food and drink because there still is a fair amount of scepticism, distrust, and general confusion around functionality.”? Give 2 similar expressions and use this phrase in a sentence.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What might be the reasons mushrooms are having a moment right now?
    2. Are medicinal mushrooms becoming more and more common in your country too? Why do you think this is the case?
    3. Cite some benefits of medicinal mushrooms.
    4. What are your thoughts on the health claims on mushrooms?
    5. Would you give medicinal mushrooms a go? Why or why not?
    6. Should ancient knowledge about medicinal plants be kept alive? Explain your stance.
    7. Share your thoughts on this, “Some trust this [ancient knowledge about medicinal plants] wisdom more than modern medicine.”.

    What Multitasking Does to Your Brain

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    Ever wondered what happens to your brain when you’re multitasking? It turns out, our brains are more like jugglers than seamless multitasking machines.

    In this brief exploration, we’ll uncover the effects of multitasking on our cognitive functions and delve into why it might not be the brain’s favorite act.

    Watch the video to learn more and be able to answer the questions that follow.

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. What does the idiom “under one’s nose” mean, “Being able to filter out irrelevant detail is an amazingly useful tool, but it means we can miss things that are right under our noses.” Write a sentence using this expression.
    2. What does “to miss something” mean? “When attention is overloaded, we miss things, and the result is nearly always that we perform tasks less well than we would doing them one at a time.” Use the phrase in a sentence.
    3. What does the expression “to make it through to something” mean, “Not everything will make it through to conscious awareness.” Use the phrase in a sentence.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. Do you believe that multitasking enhances or hinders your overall productivity and efficiency? Explain.
    2. Do you think our brains are naturally wired to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, or is it a skill that can be developed over time? Share your insights.
    3. How would you weigh the importance of focus and concentration against the allure of multitasking in a fast-paced work environment?
    4. In your experience, do you find that multitasking helps or hampers your ability to retain information and learn effectively?
    5. What consequences do the pressure to multitask in today’s society has long-term?

    Artificial Intelligence to Become Sentient

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    In 2022, software engineer Blake Lemoine was fired from Google after blowing the whistle on the firm’s artificially intelligent chatbot “LaMDA”. He thought the AI ‘has come to life’. 

    But Google was quick to respond saying Lemoine’s claims that the advanced AI chatbot was sentient were nothing short of baseless.

    The question remains, though. Will computers eventually become sentient?

    Watch this video and find out about computers gaining consciousness.

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. Explain what ”reframe” means. “We have to be very careful about how we talk about that and reframe these things as tools.” Use this word in a sentence.
    2. What does the expression “state of affairs” mean? “It’s a sad state of affairs for us.” Use it in a sentence.
    3. What does “means to an end” mean, “We must treat others as ends in and of themselves rather than means to our own end.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What are your thoughts on how the AI describes itself and how it has started having a sense of a soul at the beginning of the video?
    2. How about the app that lets you chat with what seems to be a girlfriend?
    3. Share your views about the possibility of AI gaining consciousness.
    4. What does David Chalmer mean when he said “subjective experience” instead of “consciousness”?
    5. What are the pros and cons of sentient AIs?

    Conscious Consumerism

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    Conscious consumerism is a mindful approach to shopping and spending, emphasizing awareness of the social, environmental, and ethical implications of one’s purchases.

    It’s about making intentional choices that align with personal values, supporting products and companies that prioritize sustainability, ethics, and social responsibility.

    By being a conscious consumer, individuals play a role in fostering positive change and influencing businesses to adopt more ethical and sustainable practices.

    Watch the video and be able to answer the questions below.

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. What does the expression “to jump on the trend” mean, “A lot of people are jumping on the trend right now.” Make one sentence.
    2. What does the phrase “a sense of community” mean, “The greatest benefit for the women we help employ is that they get to work in an environment that promotes dignity, pays them a wage that is a livable wage that can provide for their families, and give them a sense of community and access to healthcare and education for their children.” Use the phrase in a sentence.
    3. What is the meaning of “cycle of poverty“, “It’s a holistic approach that really will break a cycle of poverty and be sustainable for those women.” Make one sentence using this phrase.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. How do you prioritize conscious consumerism in your daily shopping habits?
    2. What factors influence your decision to support a particular brand or product from a conscious consumer perspective?
    3. In your opinion, how can conscious consumerism contribute to positive societal and environmental change?
    4. Do you believe that businesses have a responsibility to adopt more sustainable and ethical practices, and how does this impact your purchasing choices?
    5. How do you handle situations where there’s a conflict between a product you want and the ethical considerations associated with its production or sourcing?

    Why Do We Binge-Watch?

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    Binge-watching has become a cultural phenomenon in recent years, transforming the way we consume television shows and other media.

    The allure of binge-watching can be attributed to a combination of factors. The convenience of streaming platforms allows us to access entire seasons of our favorite shows instantly. The immersive nature of many series creates a sense of attachment to characters and storylines, making it difficult to resist the urge to keep watching. Also, binge-watching also offers a temporary break from reality, providing a relaxing and enjoyable way to unwind. Ultimately, the rise of binge-watching reflects our changing media consumption habits and the evolving nature of entertainment in the digital age.

    Watch the video to learn more and be able to answer the questions below.

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. What does “in bulk” mean? “Netflix had realized that loads of people are gravitating towards watching shows in bulk.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
    2. What’s the meaning of the word “to be caught up about something“? “I think there is an anxiety about being caught up about this content, which is forcing people to binge more.” Make a sentence using the expression.
    3. What does the phrase “to shovel” mean here, “Bingeing is to shovel yourself.“? Use it in a sentence.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What factors contribute to the rise of binge-watching as a popular way of consuming television content?
    2. How has the availability of streaming platforms influenced the binge-watching trend?
    3. In your opinion, what psychological or emotional aspects make binge-watching so appealing to audiences?
    4. Do you think binge-watching has changed the way we perceive and engage with TV shows compared to traditional weekly releases?
    5. Are there any potential negative effects of binge-watching on individuals, such as health or social implications?

    Tattoos Enter the Beauty Pageant World

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    Beauty pageants have long been associated with elegance, grace, and traditional standards of beauty. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of contestants with visible tattoos participating in these competitions. This shift has sparked debates about the impact of tattoos on the perception of beauty and whether they should be allowed in such events.

    Some may view tattoos as incompatible with traditional beauty pageants, others see them as an expression of personal identity. The inclusion or exclusion of tattooed individuals in these competitions will continue to be debated as society’s perception evolves further towards acceptance and appreciation for diverse forms of beauty.

    Read the article to learn how the pageant world is changing along with our beauty standards.

    https://celebrityink.com/tattoos-enter-the-beauty-pagent-world/

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. What does the word “enrich” mean? “Their aim is to create role models who enrich the perception of beauty while positively impacting communities.”  Use it in a sentence.
    2. What does “recurring theme” mean, “However, the idea of natural, unaltered beauty is still a frequently recurring theme throughout many modern beauty pageants, with tattoos being considered unladylike.”?  Use it in a sentence.
    3. What does the word “allure” mean? “Beauty pageants, like Miss World and Miss Universe, have moved with the evolving beauty standards and recognised the allure of tattoos on women.” Use it in a sentence.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What are your thoughts on beauty pageants?
    2. Share your opinion on having a visible tattoo as grounds for disqualification from a beauty pageant.
    3. Are there any tattoos anywhere on your body? If so, could you kindly describe what one means; if not, could you please explain why not?
    4. Do you believe that getting tattoos diminishes your beauty? Explain your answer.
    5. Have you ever had an experience of someone judging your beauty? In what way did it occur?

    Boys Do Bad at School in the Persian Gulf

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    Globally, girls are more likely to get no education at all than boys. In some countries, girls are seen as second class citizens and their main role is to get married and bear children. In the Persian Gulf, it is the other way around.

    Let’s read the article and find out why boys in the Persian Gulf are not doing so well academically.

    https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/education/boys-do-bad-at-schools-in-persian-gulf.htm

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. Define the verb “rely on someone/something“. “They rely on them to do everything they would otherwise have to do themselves.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
    2. What does “push” mean in this context? “The rest go to private schools where teachers are not only better but more interested in pushing children towards a higher education.” Use it in your own sentence and give two synonyms..
    3. What is the meaning of the expression “to pour something into“? “Authorities are convinced that just pouring money into the school system won’t achieve the desired results.” Use it in a sentence.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. According to the article, what are the reasons boys are not doing well at school in the Persian Gulf?
    2. Share your opinion on this statement, “In an oil-rich region such as the Persian Gulf, families are so wealthy that their children do not need to study hard.“.
    3. How do private and public school differ in this region?
    4. What could be the outcome if this trend continues?
    5. In your opinion, what measures or changes could help resolve this problem?

    Smishing – The Latest Texting Scam

    B2 – Upper Intermediate

    All forms of scams are very rampant nowadays. It could be through phone calls, phone texts, social media messages, and so on. One of the latest scams is “smishing”. Everyone needs to be on the lookout for these schemes to avoid falling victim to them.

    Read this article to learn about “smishing” and how to spot it.

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/smishing-phone-scam_l_6554dd0be4b0998d699e5c0f

    Vocabulary Questions:

    1. What does “innocuous” mean? “In package smishing scams, the suspicious message can seem innocuous and read: “USPS: Since your package address does not have a house number, we are unable to arrange home delivery for you. Please update online,” the FTC shared as an example.” Give two synonyms and make a sentence with this word.
    2. Define “bogus”. “It is better to contact the company from their original website or phone number than to provide account information and login and password information from a bogus link.” Provide two synonyms and make a sentence with this word.
    3. What does “telltale”? “A ‘smishing’ message can seem like any other text message, but there are a few telltale signs that will warn you that something’s off.” Make a sentence with this phrase.

    Discussion Questions:

    1. What is ‘smishing,’ and how does it differ from other forms of online scams?
    2. How can individuals identify potential ‘smishing’ attempts and distinguish them from legitimate messages?
    3. In what ways can raising awareness about ‘smishing’ and educating the public contribute to reducing the success of these scams?
    4. What measures do you currently take to protect yourself from phishing attempts or scams via text messages?
    5. Have you or anyone you know fallen victim to a text message scam and what was the outcome?