Category: Homework

What’s the Point of Blood Types?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

I don’t think we are consciously aware of why we have different types of blood. For some cultures, it could be a determiner of how you possess your personality.

Scientifically, our blood types are most likely to exist to fend off some infectious diseases such as the one that the world is currently facing. They say that the one that defines blood types are the genes that were inherited.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the personality type associated with your blood type mentioned in the audio?
  2. How important is it to know our blood types? How does knowing it been helpful to you so far?
  3. Are different blood types related to different personalities? Support your stand.
  4. When did you know your blood type? What was the situation you were in that led to you knowing your blood type?
  5. Talk about the unique beliefs in your country related to blood types?

No More Bosses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Holacracy is a method of removing job titles and hierarchy. In this system, decision-making is distributed among self-managing teams. In this method, certain positions in the business hierarchy such as managers are dissolved.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of having a boss/manager? Can you think of any disadvantages in the absence of one?
  2. Do you agree with holacracy? Are there companies in your country that practice holacracy?
  3. Describe your relationship with your former and current bosses. How helpful were they to you?

Water on the Moon

B1 – Intermediate

The moon is nearest to the earth. It has no light of its own but shines at night by the reflected light of the sun. Several craters are found on the surface of the moon made by impact events.

NASA found out that the moon may have more amounts of water than we thought.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about this amazing news about water in the moon.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2010/201030-water-on-the-moon-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What things do you know about the moon?
  2. What experiments might take place on the moon?
  3. Why might permanent moon bases be important?
  4. What do you think about water existing on the moon?
  5. How important is space exploration?

Diet Drinks As Unhealthy As Sugary Ones

B1 – Intermediate

Diet soda is addictive. Many people think that diet soda is healthy because diet soda contains no fat, low or no calories, and no sugar. Yet, it doesn’t really mean that drinking it won’t lead to weight gain.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about diet drinks.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2011/201101-diet-soda-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Should we be eating or drinking anything artificial? Why/why not?
  2. What do you think of artificial sweeteners?
  3. What kinds of food would you like to remove from your diet?
  4. How good or bad is your daily diet? Describe your diet.
  5. What can we do to prevent obesity?

What Kids Can Teach Adults about Asking for Help

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Most of the time while we are busy telling our children all about life, our children teach us what life is really all about. Being asked for help is a privilege but there is also happiness and joy that can come from leaning on those you love in times of need.

Watch the video to find out why you should start asking for help in times of need.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is it important to ask help when you need it?
  2. Who usually helps you at your worst? Tell your experience.
  3. Why are some people afraid to ask for help?
  4. Have you helped someone during their most difficult times? How so?

Coronavirus: Dealing with Mass Unemployment

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A lot of people have been stressing about being permanently or temporarily laid off from their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic. It has caused financial problems to a lot of people. Some started finding jobs that are not in their fields of expertise and some have been trying to survive by the money that the government has given them. They say that we are not yet in a place where we can talk about recovery and the ripple effect will come in the future.

Let’s listen to the audio below to learn more.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200924

Discussion Questions:

  1. Has the pandemic caused mass unemployment in your country?
  2. What would be the ripple effect of mass unemployment?
  3. Would upskilling or reskilling be the answer to our problem?
  4. What are your thoughts about not having a job for life?
  5. What do you think are other ways to deal with mass unemployment?

How to Practice Effectively

B2 – Upper Intermediate

You may have heard the old saying that “practice makes perfect”. Mastery, repetition, and habits are concepts often heard in self-development circles. Some have even tried to reduce the attainment of mastery to a matter of focused repetition on a task for a period of 10,000 hours or roughly ten years.

However, as we will see in the following video, effective practice may be more about neural tissue than actual muscle.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what role does the brain play in mastery?
  2. What myths about mastery does the video debunk?
  3. What are some tips in making practice time more effective?
  4. What skills are you currently working on? Do you feel that you are on your way to mastering them?

Las Vegas Casinos

B1 – Intermediate

For some, gambling is a way to entertain themselves but for others, it becomes a part of their routine. There are certain things you can remember in order to gamble wisely.

Watch this video on some tips when you go to a casino to gamble.

Las Vegas Casinos

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to Randall, what are the things you should remember when you gamble? Do you agree or disagree with his tips?
  2. What do you think of gambling?
  3. Is gambling a part of culture in your country? What are the most common forms of gambling in your country? Is there an area in your country famous for gambling?
  4. Do you believe in ‘beginner’s luck’?
  5. What does the expression ‘the house always wins’ mean? Do you think this is true or not?

Eating Jellyfish Could Save Endangered Fish

B1 – Intermediate

Endangered species are very common nowadays. It is because humans everything from their homes and even the animals too. They are so small in number. They are at a very high risk of extinction. We need to take some actions in order to preserve them.

Let’s read the article below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2010/201024-jellyfish-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How serious is the problem of food shortage?
  2. What do you think of people fishing for endangered species?
  3. Do you think eating jellyfish would help the world? Why/Why not?
  4. What would happen if many fish became extinct?
  5. Do you worry that fish are in danger of being extinct? Why/Why not?

A Man Collects Old Phones

B1 – Intermediate

Hassan al-Tourky has a fascination for old phones. This is his unusual past-time. He and his children have the same passion for old telephones. They even have a small business for it.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio to find out more about Hassan al-Tourky’s unusual hobby.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-man-collects-old-phones-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your hobbies? What are your unusual hobbies?
  2. What thing/things do you collect? Why do you love them?
  3. If you could collect any old thing what would it be and why?
  4. What thing do you want to own from a famous person?
  5. Do you want your children to have the same hobby as you? Why or why not?
  6. Why is having a hobby important?