Category: Homework

How Green Is Your Money

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

We keep our money in the bank. The bank uses our money to invest in or fund other businesses.

Now, the question is, do you have any idea as to what your money is being used for or are you just very green about it?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how banks invest our money to fund other business, at times, even dirty practices and find out how our money can help save the environment.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-231019

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “green” mean in this context, Neil: “So, do you know if your money is funding dirty practices like oil drilling?” || Beth: “No, I don’t. I have to admit I’m very green about money, and I don’t mean green as in environmentally friendly.”? Give 2 synonyms and use “green” in this context in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to jump on the bandwagon” mean, “It was always viewed, I think, as a niche thing, something for those that had very clear views on the world, social views. That’s now broadened hugely, and there’s great concern about greenwashing so who’s jumping on the bandwagon? – that’s a huge concern amongst investors.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”to put the spotlight on someone/something” mean, ”This in turn puts the spotlight on how pension funds are being used, for example whether they support large oil corporations or renewable energy companies.”? Use this idiom in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be reasons public interest in ethical banks has ballooned in recent years?
  2. Are you aware about where your bank invest your money in? Talk about it.
  3. How common are ethical banks in your country? Why do you think this is the case?
  4. What are your thoughts on Richard Curtis’ campaign “Make My Money Matter” which is essentially doing one simple thing, moving your pension to an environmentally sustainable fund? Would you consider doing such financial move? Why or why not?
  5. They say that the most effective way to fight climate change is to move your pension into ethical investments. Share your opinion on this.
  6. Share your thoughts on this, “Luckily, the customer is always right, and by managing our money ethically, we can all help a little.”.

Popular Water Bottle

B1 – Intermediate 

In the middle of many environmental problems we have today, people are becoming more and more sustainability-conscious. One of things we want to reduce is the single use of plastics. A solution is using less plastic cups and bottles for drinks or water. 

Then, a new trend started with people using reusable tumblers. 

One of the most famous water tumbler brands is Stanley that is well-known for its durability and double-walled vacuum insulation.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the popular water bottle brand Stanley cups.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/popular-water-bottle-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sought-after” mean, “Stanley cups, particularly limited editions, have become highly sought after and are re-selling for hundreds of dollars.” Give 2 synonyms or similar expressions and use the word ‘sought after’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “word-of-mouth” mean, “Marketing expert Camille Moore emphasizes that Stanley succeeded by creating a great product, relying on word-of-mouth and social media rather than traditional advertising.”? Use this expression in a sentence.
  3. What does the verb “to skyrocket” mean? “Despite being around since 1913, Stanley’s fortunes skyrocketed after the introduction of the 1.2-liter ‘Quencher’ tumbler in 2016.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are Stanley cups very popular?
  2. What is your opinion about Stanley’s strategy to promote its products/brand by creating a great product, using word-of-mouth and social media instead of traditional advertising? 
  3. Do you own a reusable water bottle? Why or why not?
  4. What are the good things about using reusable water bottles?
  5. Do you think that they are a solution to our environmental problems? Explain.

Connect Better with Your Coworkers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After the isolation we had to go through during the pandemic, some employees had difficulties reconnecting. This brings a new problem that plagues the workplace — employees feeling disconnected from their company, their jobs, and their coworkers.

Not surprisingly though, the kind of relationship we have with the people we work with every single day is proportionally linked to our success at work.

Watch this TED video on ways to help you connect better with your colleagues. 

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the adjective “disconnected” mean here, “People feel pretty disconnected at work right now – disconnected from their organizations, from their jobs, and especially from their colleagues.”? Give 2 synonyms or similar expressions and use the word ‘disconnected’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”social butterfly” mean, ”I have a few tips and you don’t have to be a social butterfly to give them a try.”? Give 2 synonyms or similar expressions and use the idiom ‘social butterfly’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to open up” mean? “Build trust by opening up.” Give 2 synonyms or similar expressions and use the phrasal verb ‘to open up’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What might be reasons “people feel pretty disconnected at work”?
  2. “Our relationships with our coworkers play a huge role in determining how successful, innovative, and happy we’ll be at work.” What are your thoughts on this statement?
  3. Explain the ‘vulnerability loop’. Share some personal insights on/personal experiences with this concept. 
  4. What are your thoughts on Mark T. Rivera’s “T-shirt experiment” during onboarding? Would this work in your team/company?
  5. Do you agree or disagree? Share your opinion. “People who had many weak ties that connected different groups in a large organization were more likely to have high performance scores, more likely to be promoted, and even more likely to say they were a part of a creative breakthrough.”
  6. How do you make meaningful connections with your coworkers? 

A Trillion Humans in the Solar System

B1 – Intermediate

With all the space explorations being done these days, is it crazy to think that one day, humans would eventually populate space? Could this be the answer to our growing problem with overpopulation on this planet?

Billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk want to turn this into reality.

Read the article about Jeff Bezos’ vision to have a trillion people live in space.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2312/231225-a-trillion-humans-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “at any given time” mean? “He said if that happened, “we would have at any given time 1,000 Mozarts and 1,000 Einsteins.” Use this expression in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”collapse” mean in this context, ”Population collapse due to low birth rates is a bigger risk to civilization than global warming.”?Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “resource” mean? “He said they could get resources from asteroids instead of from Earth.” Give two synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using ‘resource’.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on Jeff Bezos’ ambition?
  2. What do you think about living in giant space stations?
  3. What could be the good and bad things about it?
  4. Will it be possible for humans to live in space? Explain your thoughts.

Seniors in the Workforce: Benefits and Challenges

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The question of whether it is acceptable to hire seniors to work is a topic that has continued to bewilder companies. Some argue that seniors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the workplace, making them valuable assets. Others believe that some cases of hiring seniors could lead to age discrimination.

Learn about the advantages and difficulties of recruiting a senior employee by reading the article.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/seniors-workforce-benefits-challenges-lee-a-mccue/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “minted” mean? “Even if a senior is starting a job in a new field, he or she has already had years of work experience to help them be more professional and poised than many of the newly minted job prospects coming fresh out of high school or college.”  Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “open to the idea” mean? “Employers should be open to the idea of hiring senior citizens for their companies.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to hop from one thing to another” mean? “This is because they are not looking to advance their careers and they are less likely to hop from one job to another for higher salaries or better benefits.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of hiring senior citizens that the article mentioned?
  2. What is your opinion on continuing to work during your supposed retirement years?
  3. For how long are you going to work and why?
  4. Does age discrimination in hiring practices occur in your country? How can you tell?
  5. What aspects of becoming a senior employee do you look forward to?

Muggers Target Luxury Winter Coats

B1 – Intermediate

Among all the types of crimes, the incidence of mugging has recently increased in some countries, among them, the UK. A new crime trend is emerging, though.

More victims have reported being robbed of their branded coats that cost thousands of pounds.

Read the article about the latest muggings wherein people’s luxury coats were stolen from them. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2401/240108-winter-coat-muggings-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “mugging” mean? “A criminologist in the U.K. warned that the muggings were the start of a new “luxury crime trend”.” Give two synonyms or similar expressions and  use ‘mugging’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does ”knifepoint” mean in this context, ”In recent weeks, people have had their coats stolen at knifepoint.”? Use this expression in a sentence in the same context.
  3. What does it mean when something is “a real concern”? “A London Transport spokesperson said the muggings were “a real concern“.” Give two synonyms or similar expressions and make a sentence using the expression ‘a real concern’.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news about this current luxury crime trend?
  2. Is this crime trend also happening in your country? Talk about it.
  3. What might be the reasons the incidence of this type of crime is increasing? How can it be prevented or stopped?
  4. What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘mugging’?
  5. Have you any experience getting mugged? What happened, what was stolen from you, and what did you do?

Stop Seeing Laziness as a Bad Thing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Laziness has always been considered negative. However, from a totally different perspective, being lazy isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Having lazy bones can, in fact, foster efficiency, creativity, and prioritization. Embracing occasional laziness promotes rest, mindfulness, and quality over quantity, preventing burnout, and encouraging adaptability.

Striking a balance allows for a more thoughtful and effective approach to life’s demands.

Read the article below and have a better understanding as to why being lazy isn’t always bad and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90416439/why-being-lazy-isnt-always-a-bad-thing

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “to fall off the agenda” mean in the sentence, “Today, mere survival has fallen off the agenda, and it is long-term vision and commitment that lead to the best outcomes?” Use it in your sentence.
  2. What does the idiomatic expression “written into our genes” mean in the sentence, “But it could be that laziness is written into our genes?” Give a sentence using the expression.
  3. What does the expression “rat race” mean in the sentence, “But strategic idleness is a high art and hard to pull off—not least because we are programmed to panic the moment we step out of the rat race?” Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Can laziness be seen as a form of self-preservation, especially in today’s world where burnout is a prevalent concern? Explain.
  2. How does the connection between laziness and poverty impact the understanding of an individual’s work ethic?
  3. How do psychological factors like fear and hopelessness contribute to the manifestation of laziness in individuals?
  4. How does the modern concept of busyness, even when imposed, affect our perception of self-worth and happiness?
  5. Can laziness, in certain cases, be a manifestation of a deeper existential dilemma, as suggested by Albert Camus and others? Share your opinion.

The Ethical Dilemma of Self-Driving Cars

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The arrival of self-driving cars presents numerous opportunities and challenges, leading to a significant dilemma in the fields of transportation and technology.

As we explore the exciting world of cars that can drive themselves, we must address questions about safety, ethics, and how it affects society.

This investigation into the self-driving car dilemma focuses on finding the right balance between creating new and innovative technology and being responsible, while also examining the ethical aspects of this transformative change.

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

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “thought experiment“? “This is a thought experiment. Let’s say at some point in the not so distant future, you’re barreling down the highway in your self-driving car, and you find yourself boxed in on all sides by other cars.” Give 2 synonyms or similar expressions and use “thought experiment” in a sentence.
  2. What does “to barrel down” mean? “Let’s say at some point in the not so distant future, you’re barreling down the highway in your self-driving car, and you find yourself boxed in on all sides by other cars.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. Explain what “to remove something from the equation” means. “Now, to be fair, self-driving cars are predicted to dramatically reduce traffic accidents and fatalities by removing human error from the driving equation.” Make your own sentence using this expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe that the widespread adoption of self-driving cars will present significant ethical dilemmas? Why or why not?
  2. In your opinion, should self-driving cars prioritize the safety of their occupants over pedestrians and other drivers, or should all lives be treated equally in ethical decision-making algorithms?
  3. What ethical principles should guide the programming of self-driving cars in situations where there is a risk of harm? How can these principles be balanced?
  4. Do you think society is adequately prepared for the ethical challenges posed by self-driving cars, or are there aspects that need more attention and discussion?

Maximizing the Value of Your Business Trip

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the fast-paced world of sales, every business trip presents a unique opportunity for growth, networking, and closing deals. Understanding how to make the most of these trips can be the difference between a mediocre sales period and a record-breaking one. 

Read the article to help you maximize the value of your next business trip.

Maximizing the Value of Your Business Trip

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to miss out on something” mean? “While these trips are primarily about work, it’s essential not to miss out on the opportunities to explore and enjoy the destination you’re visiting.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to mix business with pleasure” mean? “After all, mixing business with pleasure can lead to a more fulfilling and productive experience.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “pocket of something” mean? “While business trips can be demanding, they often come with pockets of free time, such as evenings or weekends.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think it is a good idea to mix business with pleasure? Share your thoughts/experiences.
  2. How do you ensure that you are able to maximize the value of your work travels?
  3. What are the benefits and drawbacks of business travels?
  4. What do you like doing in your free time on business trips?
  5. How do you take advantage of your business trips for networking opportunities?
  6. How do you document your work travels both on a personal and professional level?

Detecting Lack of Trust in a Team

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A lack of trust in the workplace is the virus that can create a diseased workplace culture.

It often begins with leadership and spreads throughout the team, leading to a cycle of unhealthy responses that affect engagement and productivity.

Read the article to learn ways to detect lack of trust in a team.

7 Ways to Detect Lack of Trust in a Team

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “underpinning” mean? “Underpinning the ability to take risks in teams is psychological safety.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to put forward” mean? “This is the belief team members have that they will not be ridiculed or punished if they put forward new ideas, concerns or questions.” Give 2 synonyms and use ‘to put forward’ in a sentence.
  3. What does “silo” mean? ” Closely related to a lack of communication is the formation of silos“ Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on this, “Trust is a key ingredient for high performance teams.“.
  2. Do you agree or disagree with this, “If they do not trust each other, team mates will avoid spending any time together that they do not absolutely have to.” Explain.
  3. Is there enough trust among team members in your team? How can you tell? If not, why do you think this is the case?
  4. What does a lack of trust in a team lead to?
  5. What can management do to help foster trust among teams and employees?