Category: Homework

Black Death

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Terrified of COVID-19? Did you know that there was a far worse disease that bedeviled the lands during the middle of the 13th century. This catastrophic plague is known as the Black Death. This fatal disease wiped out almost one-third of Europe’s population.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/history/black-death/black-death-in-the-middle-ages.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. How clueless were the medical experts on the cause of Black Death? What perceptions and speculations did people have back then?
  2. What were the symptoms of Black Death?
  3. What strange methods did people use to fight against this plague?
  4. How would you compare the situation then and now with the COVID-19 pandemic?
  5. Throughout the history of your country, have there been other diseases that afflicted many people? Talk about it and that moment.

Air Force One – A Special Plane for the American President

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is the most notable plane in the world and probably the most secure one too. It’s called the ‘Air Force One’. It is actually just a call sign for any Air Force where the president of the United States of America is aboard.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/technology/air-force-one/air-force-one-plane-american-president.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the ‘Air Force One’? What special features does it have?
  2. Does the leader of your country have something similar to this? Is there a special name for it? Who uses it? Is it strictly for the president or the head of the state?
  3. Is this kind of transport means necessary or merely a special privilege? Support your stand.
  4. Do you think country leaders should fly commercially too? Why/why not?

Movie Theaters Are Reopening

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After five months of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a popular chain of movie theaters, AMC Theatres, reopened its doors in certain locations. The chain said it would take all measures to enforce social distancing between seats, will mandate wearing masks and upgrade the theater air filters. However, is it worth the risk?

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. Were you a moviegoer before the Covid-19 pandemic? How often did you use to see a movie?
  2. How do you feel about the reopening of movie theaters amidst the pandemic?
  3. If the movie theater provides adequate safeguards against the coronavirus, would you likely visit the cinema to see a movie again soon? Why or why not?

Why Fake Meat Is the Future

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Plant-based meat are becoming a more popular choice for many consumers even for the non-vegetarians. Over the last few years, the number of meat alternatives available on the market has been increasing with the rise in vegetarian and vegan eaters. As a result, the sales of meat alternatives are growing as well.

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

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you tried plant-based meat before? What do you think about these meat alternatives?
  2. What do you think are the reasons why some non-vegetarians or non- vegan consume plant-based meat?
  3. What do you think is the impact of consuming plant-based meat on our health and our world?
  4. Do you think fake meat will be the future food of the world? Why or why not?

Digital Nomad Work Visa in Caribbean Islands

B1 – Intermediate

Digital nomads are workers who often work remotely from places to places. They do not have a permanent base. Because of technology and globalization, this kind of work style and lifestyle has become more popular. 

One problem that digital nomads have is sometimes, they can’t stay for as long as they want in one place because of visa restrictions.

But, in some Caribbean Islands, this won’t be a problem anymore. They have a new visa program for digital nomads.

Know more about it from the article below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2010/201004-digital-nomad-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about this work visa for digital nomads in the Caribbean?
  2. What are the benefits of countries from giving digital nomads a visa to stay long-term?
  3. What do you think are the good and hard things about being a digital nomad?
  4. One of the requirements for the digital nomad visa is a minimum annual income of $50,000. Do you think this amount is high or low? Share your thoughts.
  5. Would you like to try the digital nomad life? Why or why not?

Face To Replace Bank Card

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Face recognition is a technology capable of identifying or verifying a subject through an image, video, or any audiovisual element of his face. It simply requires any device that has digital photographic technology to generate and obtain the images and data necessary to create and record the biometric facial pattern of the person that needs to be identified.

Unlike other identification solutions such as passwords, verification by email, selfies or images, or fingerprint identification, Biometric facial recognition uses unique mathematical and dynamic patterns that make this system one of the safest and most effective. But are there data security and privacy issues that we should be worried about?

Let’s read the article to know more about facial recognition payment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55748964

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this new technology?
  2. Would you use facial recognition when making payments?
  3. What is your preferred way of paying for things?
  4. How important are notes and coins?
  5. What are the benefits of cashless payments? How about its dangers?
  6. How will facial recognition affect our data security and privacy?

Signal App

B1 – Intermediate

Messaging apps are applications that we can use for instant messaging. Many of such apps have been developed and are used by many around the world. The popularity of these apps greatly differs between countries.

Just like other messaging apps, Signal lets users send messages, make audio and video calls with their friends, and share photos, videos, and links. But how different is it from the leading apps like WhatsApp and Skype?

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about this new messaging app.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/signal-app-level-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you heard of this app? What do you think about it?
  2. Why do you think Signal app is becoming popular?
  3. What is the most popular messaging app in your country? What are its features? Why is it popular?
  4. What feature is important for you in a messaging app?
  5. Why are this kind of apps necessary?

People Eat Less Chocolate

B1 – Intermediate

Chocolate is the most popular sweet treat in the world, thanks to its delicious and sweet taste. People around the world consume a lot of cocoa beans a year.

Although it has many health benefits, chocolate still has a bad reputation for causing weight gain and other illnesses.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about people consuming less and less chocolates.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-eat-less-chocolate-level-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. How will the change of people’s mindset affect the chocolate business, especially the chocolate farmers?
  2. Is the Spanish society affected by this issue? If so, what are the reasons?
  3. Do you like chocolates? Why or why not? Which kind of chocolate is your favorite?
  4. Do you think chocolate is healthy or not? Support your answer.

Better Future for Businesses

B1 – Intermediate

Coronavirus has impacted not only the public health system and the economy. The pandemic caused massive disruption among businesses. Many businesses closed due to lower demands and employee health concerns.

Some businesses have been successful in adapting to the new situation, but many still wait for the vaccine so they can go back to their usual operations.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about better future for businesses.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/better-future-for-businesses-level-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. How has COVID-19 affected businesses in your country?
  2. How have businesses adapted to the ‘new normal’?
  3. How will the vaccine change the current situation?
  4. How will the vaccine change the mindset of the people?
  5. What do you think will be the future of businesses in your country?

People Have Zoom Fatigue

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Before the COVID-19 pandemic happened, only very few people have heard about Zoom. According to its executives, Zoom’s downloads rose more than 1000% from 10 million in December 2019 to up to 200 million in March 2020. The sudden increase in the number of users also happened to other video conferencing software as more and more people started telecommuting.

As good as it may sound, telecommuting is not for everybody. As more and more people are dreading the routine of looking at the screen in order to interact with colleagues, ‘zoom fatigue’, or the overuse of video conferencing, is becoming a bitter pill to swallow for some.

Click the link and read the article to know more about zoom fatigue.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55320156

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you use any video conferencing software for work? Tell us more about its upsides and downsides.
  2. Are you currently telecommuting? If yes, how is it going for you?
  3. Do you think telecommuting is here to stay? Why or why not?
  4. Have you experienced zoom fatigue? If yes, how did you deal with it?
  5. Is there any feature that you wish video conferencing software has that is not available at the moment?