Category: Homework

Paris Olympics Start

B1 – Intermediate

The Paris Olympics have begun, marking the start of a global celebration of sports and athletic excellence. Athletes from around the world are competing in various events, showcasing their skills and striving for medals.

The city of Paris is alive with energy and excitement as it hosts this major international event, drawing attention and enthusiasm from fans everywhere.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the start of Paris Olympics.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/paris-olympics-start-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does iconic mean? “It featured international stars like Lady Gaga and Céline Dion, who performed at iconic Parisian landmarks.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does landmark mean? “It featured international stars like Lady Gaga and Céline Dion, who performed at iconic Parisian landmarks.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does act mean here, “Lady Gaga performed ‘Mon Truc En Plumes’ in a Moulin Rouge-style act, while Céline Dion made an emotional return with ‘I’Hymne à l’Amour’ from the Eiffel Tower.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Question:

  1. What did you think about the Paris Olympics opening ceremony?
  2. How important are landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Moulin Rouge in showcasing a city’s culture during an event? Explain.
  3. In what ways do you think showcasing national symbols and values (like the French motto) helps in promoting a country during international events?
  4. How do you think the success of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony will influence future Olympic events?
  5. What are some other famous events or ceremonies around the world that highlight local culture?

European Roads Are Full of Holidaymakers

B1 – Intermediate

Summer is peak travel season and due to this, European roads become congested with so many people going on their holidays. Families, tourists, and travelers from various countries take to the roads to enjoy their vacations, leading to heavy traffic and busy routes.

This increase in road activity can create challenges such as longer travel times and traffic jams. Understanding this seasonal trend helps in planning trips and managing travel expectations during busy periods.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about traffic jams in Europe this summer.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/european-roads-are-full-of-holidaymakers-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does traffic jam mean? “Traffic jams are causing problems in Europe as people go on summer holidays.” Use it in a senence.
  2. What does motorway mean? “In Bavaria, tourists are traveling to Italy and Austria. Last weekend, they caused 14 kilometers of traffic jams on the A8 motorway.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does toll plaza mean? “The Croatian Tourist Board is giving water bottles and car air fresheners to tourists at toll plazas and ferry ports.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do traffic jams affect travelers’ experiences and plans?
  2. What do you think drivers can do to make long trips during busy times easier?
  3. Why do traffic jams become more common during the summer holidays in Europe? Elaborate.
  4. Why is it important to take breaks and drink water during long drives?
  5. Talk about your own experience with traffic jams during peak season in your city/country.

Expensive Trains in England 

B1 – Intermediate

Train travel in England can be quite expensive, with ticket prices often surprising passengers. High costs for both short and long journeys can make rail travel a significant expense. In this case, you need to explore alternative options to save money.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about expensive train tickets in the UK.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/expensive-trains-in-england-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cost-conscious” mean? “A cost–conscious teen wanted to travel from Sheffield in northern England to Essex, which was around 300 kilometres from his location.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to save a few pennies” mean? “All those extra 1,600 kilometres saved Brian a few pennies, but took him 13 hours from door-to-door.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “door-to-door”mean? “All those extra 1,600 kilometres saved Brian a few pennies, but took him 13 hours from door-to-door.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think the teen found the journey to be a “great experience” despite the extra distance and time?
  2. How do you think the price of train tickets could impact travel decisions for others?
  3. Can you think of any other situations where taking a longer or more complicated route might be cheaper or more beneficial?
  4. How important is it for you to save money on travel? Would you consider taking a longer route just to save money?

Missing Australian Sub Finally Found

B1 – Intermediate

A long-lost Australian submarine has finally been discovered after years of mystery. The submarine, which went missing during World War I, has been located, providing closure to one of the country’s enduring maritime enigmas.

The discovery marks a significant moment in naval history and brings resolution to the families of the crew who have waited for answers for over a century.

Let’s read the article below to know more about finding the lost Australian submarine.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/history/missing-australian-sub-finally-found.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does in one piece mean? ” It appears to be well-preserved and in one piece.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  2. What does enemy fire mean? “Experts are now trying to examine the wreck and find out why the sub sank. They think it was probably an accident and not because of enemy fire.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. Explain the term “commemorative service” in this sentence, “When the submarine was found navy officials held a commemorative service for the crew that the Australian navy had lost. Families were contacted and told that the oldest naval mystery in Australian history had finally been solved.” Use the phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you think the discovery of the AE-1 submarine might affect future historical research and exploration?
  2. What impact do you think the finding of the AE-1 will have on the families of the crew members?
  3. How important is it to commemorate and honor the lost crew members of historical military vessels? Explain.

Cloud Computing

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Cloud computing is a technology that delivers various computing services over the internet, including storage, processing power, databases, networking, software, analytics, and more. These services are provided by cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and others.

Read the lesson and learn a bit more about cloud computing.

https://www.english-online.at/technology/cloud-computing/cloud-computing-applications.htm#google_vignette

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is cloud computing? “Cloud computing allows people from different parts of the world to work on a project together. ” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does back and forth mean? “Companies around the world can work together on a single computer and do not have to send data back and forth.” Use phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does to march forward mean? “In any case, cloud computing is marching forward and in a few years we may only be having a web browser running on our PCs.” Use this expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain the things you know about cloud computing.
  2. How does cloud computing provide flexibility to users?
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using cloud computing?
  4. How does cloud computing support remote work? Elaborate.
  5. Why do you think cloud computing is the future?

Concerns Over the Future of Community Pharmacies

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Community pharmacies are an important stop that many make in every town and city. However, some concerns have been raised about the possible disappearance of community pharmacies lately. Part of the reason is because more patients are now choosing to get their medicines online.

Read the article to know more about some of the concerns over what the future holds for community pharmacies in the UK.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmj25466j87o

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “the heartbeat of something” mean? “We are the heartbeat of the community when it comes to healthcare because we are easily accessible to people.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “the first port of call” mean? “Ifesi Anyamene runs Godstone Pharmacy, and said it is the “first port of call” for many in the village.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  3. What does “family-run business” mean? “Ms Anyamene said many independent pharmacies were family-run businesses and “not about profit”.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. “The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) previously warned of 10 closures a week and said more than 1,400 pharmacies had closed in England in the last 10 years.” What is your reaction to and your thoughts on this?
  2. Is it really possible for a family-run pharmacies to be “not about the money”? Share your insights.
  3. In your country, there similar concerns about the problems community pharmacies are currently facing? Share about it.
  4. What do you know about the community pharmacies in your country?
  5. Is it alright for the government to squeeze community pharmacies’ fundings? Express your opinion about this.

Sustainable Cork

B1 – Intermediate 

Cork is used to so many things. For example, as alcoholic beverage bottles stopper or a material for insulation. 

Portugal produces and exports the highest amount of cork in the world. It is a very important part of their economy.

However, despite its many purposes, there had been some problems with growing cork trees.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about sustainable cork.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/sustainable-cork-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to pass down through generations” mean? “In Portugal, cork harvesting is a skilled tradition passed down through generations.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “sustainable alternative” mean? “Researchers, like Miguel No at the University of Aveiro, are exploring cork as a sustainable alternative to synthetic materials.” Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does “eco-friendly” mean? “The long growth cycle of cork trees shows the patience required in this eco-friendly industry.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘eco-friendly’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the problem in the cork industry in Portugal? What is a solution to it?
  2. What do you suppose will happen to the cork industry in Portugal in the future?
  3. What do you think about a cork harvesting job?
  4. Give benefits and uses of cork.
  5. In Portugal, cork harvesting is a skilled tradition passed down through generations. In your country, what is a skilled tradition that is passed down from generation to generation? Are there less people interested in joining this industry, too? Talk all about it.

UK Doctors to Treat Eco-Anxiety

B1 – Intermediate 

In the recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people affected by ecological anxiety or eco-anxiety. This is a relatively new medical condition. A person suffers from it when all the extreme weather and climate changes and other environmental issues make them feel nervous or anxious.

Perhaps it is time to start acknowledging that this condition is real and affects many people. Medical experts need to be prepared to offer help to people with this condition. 

In the UK, if you go for a health consultation related to eco-anxiety, the doctor could give you a medical diagnosis, some advice on what to do to reduce your negative impact on the environment, and some tips on how to manage eco-anxiety.

Read the article about how doctors in the UK have been advised to start treating eco-anxiety patients.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2407/240722-eco-anxiety.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hidden in plain sight” mean? “The United Nations has described eco-anxiety as an emergency crisis hidden in plain sight.” Use the phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to raise a topic” mean? “Doctors in the UK have been advised to raise the topic of climate change during consultations with patients.” Use the expression in a sentence.
  3. What does “distressed” mean? “A UN survey found that 59 per cent of young people in a study were distressed about the climate.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘distressed’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, who suffers more from climate anxiety? Is it young or older people? Explain your idea.
  2. How can we help people who have eco-anxiety?
  3. What is an extreme weather event that you are scared of? Why?
  4. Should eco-anxiety given more attention by the health ministry of every country now? Share your opinion.
  5. Should your government focus on this problem more now? Why or why not?
  6. What other health problems do you think your government should focus on? Talk about the disease or condition and why is it not given so much attention by the government?

Remove Equestrian Sports from the Olympics

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Equestrian sports have been in the Olympics for over a hundred years, highlighting the bond between the rider and their horse.

More recently, there has been a debate on whether these events should stay in the Games, with concerns about horse welfare, accessibility, and how well they fit with current Olympic values.

Read this article to know about the case for the removal of equestrian sports from the Olympics.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/31/the-horses-dont-choose-to-take-part-should-equestrian-sports-be-removed-from-the-olympics

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “to go out of the window” mean? ““We know that whenever animals are treated as commodities and exploited for human gain, their best interests go out of the window,” says White.” Give a synonym and make a sentence with this expression.
  2. What is an “outcry”? “Having been hailed as the “golden girl” of dressage and widely tipped for a damehood, Dujardin has been banned from the Paris Olympic Games amid public outcry and a pending investigation by the sport’s governing body.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘outcry’ in your own sentence.
  3. Define “to put one’s foot down”. “We are trying to do everything we can to find out about unethical behaviour and put our foot down wherever it happens.” Give a similar expression and create a sentence using this idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on removing equestrian sports from the Olympics?
  2. Have you ever watched equestrian sports in the Olympics? If so, what was your impression of them?
  3. How do you think the inclusion of equestrian sports in the Olympics reflects or challenges our views on animal welfare?
  4. Are equestrian sports popular in your country? What other sports do you think might harm animals?
  5. What’s your opinion on the statement, “Whenever there’s a lot of money or glory involved, people may exploit animals to make them perform a certain way.”?

EU Rejects Alzheimer’s Drug Lecanemab

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Since its discovery in 1906, scientists have come a long way when it comes to the study and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists have been working round the clock to gain more, if not full, understanding of how this disease affects the brain. As a result of extensive researches over time, some drugs have been used to treat it and new ones are consistently being discovered. One of which is lecanemab, a drug that had shown to slow cognitive decline.

However, despite it getting approved in the US last year, the European Medicines Agency or EMA believes that the risk of lecanemab’s adverse side effects such as bleeding and swelling in the brain outweighs its benefits.

Read the article about EMA rejecting a license for the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgm0v1ne08o

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “underlying mechanism” mean? “Alzheimer’s researchers hailed the trial results as “historic” because no previous drug had convincingly shown that the underlying mechanism of the disease could be slowed.”  Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘underlying mechanism’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “value for money” mean? “Even if the drug was to be approved in the UK, it would then be up to health bodies – such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) – to decide whether the drug represents value for money and should be recommended to patients.”Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘value for money’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “a turning point” mean? “In the programme, broadcast earlier this year, Prof Cath Mummery, consultant neurologist and head of clinical trials at the Dementia Research Centre at UCL, said although the benefits of the drugs were small, they represented a “turning point”.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘a turning point’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the benefits and risks associated with lecanemab.
  2. Share your opinion on EMA’s decision to reject lecanemab’s license.
  3. “Prof Tara Spires-Jones, president of the British Neuroscience Association, said the EMA’s decision will come as “a disappointment to many”.” Share your thoughts on this.