Category: Homework

Get Out of a Mental Rut

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

There are many reasons to feel as if you are operating on autopilot. Being mentally stuck can cause one to lack motivation and happiness. However, stress no more. One thing to know about mental rut is that it is momentary and there are ways to deal with it.

Watch this video about mental rut and how to get out of it if you find yourself in this state.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “mental rut” mean? “What happened is you’ve entered a mental rut.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘mental rut’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “something feels like a chore” mean? “Just going through your daily routine is a struggle and it feels like a chore.”Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘something feels like a chore’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “ebb and flow” mean? “Our moods are in constant ebb and flow.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘ebb and flow’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which advice from the video resonates to you and why?
  2. What other ways can you think of on how an individual can get out of a mental rut?
  3. Talk about a moment of being stuck and talk about the ways you were able to overcome it.
  4. “Often, mental rut happens to the most ambitious people.” Talk about your thoughts on this statement.

The Sunk Cost Fallacy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever made a bad decision and felt the need to correct or fix your mistake? Everyone in this world has experienced lapses in judgment from time to time but the way they cope with their errors varies from person to person. Unfortunately, not all of these methods are heathy or even beneficial, such as the sunk cost fallacy.

Watch the video to learn more about the sunk cost fallacy.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ”sunk cost” mean? “I know that there are plenty of other reasons why people stay together, but sunk cost is definitely up there.” Use this term to make your own sentence.
  2. Explain the meaning of the idiom “to call it quits“. “It’s better to call it quits now and save yourself from future misery.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and create a sentence using this phrase.
  3. What does “to dig a bigger hole” mean? “If you continue to pour more resources into a failing project, you’re just digging a bigger hole for yourself.” Use ‘to dig a bigger hole” in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts about sunk cost fallacy?
  2. Give other examples of the sunk cost fallacy.
  3. Talk about your personal experience with the sunk cost fallacy.
  4. Does the sunk cost influence your decisions? Explain.

Hoverbikes for American Soldiers 

B1 – Intermediate

Hoverbikes are some of the stuff we see in science fiction. It is a one-person transport that flies above the ground. This dream could soon be a reality thanks to a few British developers and American engineers working on it.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the prototype hoverbike for the American Department of Defense.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hoverbikes-for-american-soldiers-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “running cost” mean? “The aircraft would replace many of the jobs a helicopter is currently used for, with the advantages being safety, price and running costs.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “on-board” mean in this context? “It also has on-board sensors and autopilot features, which allow the hoverbike to act like a drone.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. Define the adjective “unmanned“. “The US Department of Defence is interested in hoverbike technology because of its versatility – a hoverbike can be used to transport supplies, fly unmanned and operate as a surveillance platform“. Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your own words, describe this state-of-the-art hoverbike.
  2. What are the practical uses of this modern hoverbike in law enforcement and infrastructure?
  3. What do you think are the risks associated with hoverbikes being used and sold commercially?

UK’s 22-year-old Member of Parliament

B1 – Intermediate 

Sam Carling won a seat as a Member of Parliament or MP in the recent UK general election. He is 22 years old, one of the youngest MPs the UK has ever had.

With his win, he hopes more young people will go into politics and serve the people.

Read this article about UK’s young MP.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2407/240708-member-of-parliament-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “beat” mean here, “Mr Carling, from the Labour Party, narrowly beat his Conservative Party rival by 39 votes.”? Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘beat’ in this context in your own sentence.
  2. What does “a deprived area” mean? “He grew up in “a deprived area” in the north of England.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘a deprived area’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “an economic powerhouse” mean? “The Conservative Party promised to turn it into an economic “powerhouse”.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘an economic powerhouse’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think Sam Carling meant when he described his victory as a “political earthquake”?
  2. How can growing up in “a deprived area” help Sam Carling represent the interests of the people?
  3. Should young people enter politics? Share your opinion.
  4. What are the good and bad things about very young politicians?
  5. How much interest do you think young people in your country have in politics?
  6. Talk about a very young politician from your country.

IQ Is Not the Same as Intelligence

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Intelligence is a complex quality involving different abilities like thinking, problem-solving, emotions, and creativity. IQ tests, which measure some cognitive skills such as reasoning and math, only give a partial picture of how smart someone is. They don’t capture everything about a person’s intelligence because they focus on specific areas and use standard questions and scoring.

Watch the video to know more about it and be able to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “remedial help” mean? “Alfred Binet was asked by the government to develop a test that could determine whether people needed remedial help with their education.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “innate” mean? “American Psychologists decide that I.Q. is innate, that you were born with it, and there’s nothing you can do to change it.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘innate’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “multifaceted” mean? “Intelligence is a multifaceted thing and multifaceted things can’t really be measured in terms of a single number.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘multifaceted’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe that IQ tests accurately reflect someone’s overall intelligence? Why or why not?
  2. In your opinion, what other factors besides cognitive abilities should be considered when defining intelligence?
  3. How important is it for society to recognize and value different forms of intelligence beyond what is typically measured by IQ tests?
  4. In what ways can emotional intelligence and creativity be important aspects of intelligence that are not fully captured by traditional IQ tests?

A Man Tries to Kill Donald Trump

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many government agencies work together to secure major political events in the USA. Tight security is expected especially for political big shots. Despite all these, a security breach still ensued during Donald Trump’s political rally recently.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know more details on the assassination attempt of a U.S. presidential candidate.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-man-tries-to-kill-donald-trump-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “critically injured” mean? “The attack also resulted in the death of one spectator and critically injured two others. ” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘critically injured’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “subsequently neutralized” mean? “The Secret Service released a statement detailing how the gunman fired from an elevated position and was subsequently neutralized.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘subsequently neutralized’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to have no place for someone/something” mean? “President Biden condemned the attack, called it sick, and stated that there is no place for such violence in America.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use this idiom in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on the failed assassination attempt of Donald Trump?
  2. What other assassination attempts of popular personalities have you heard of? Share details about this incident.
  3. What security measures do you have in your country to keep political candidates safe?

The School that Puts the Kids in Charge

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this unique school in Thailand, teachers take a back seat. Students are given the responsibilities instead. From managing finances to volunteering, children are tasked to do things that adults are supposed to do in regular school environment.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about this out-of-the-box approach to rural Thai education.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240711

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the idiom “call the shots“? “In this programme we’ll be hearing about the Bamboo School, a unique school where the children call the shots – they have the power to make the decisions.” Give one synonym or similar expression and use ‘call the shots’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “real world experience” mean? “My old school wasn’t like this. It was just classes and then home. Here, I get to try so many things, gain real world experience, and work on my leadership skills with my friends.” Give one synonym or similar expression and use ‘real world experience’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to do something in return” mean? “Yes, we just heard that kids go to the Bamboo School for free but do something in return.” Give one synonym or similar expression and use ‘to do something in return’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the young students’ responsibilities in Bamboo School in Thailand?
  2. What do you think of a school where it’s the children who call the shots?
  3. What advantages do this school management system have on its young pupils? What are the disadvantages?
  4. What impact/effects could giving school children this kind/amount of trust have on them?
  5. Aside from this, how do you think children can gain real world experience?
  6. Do you think young kids should do community service? Share your insights.

7-Eleven Reinventing Its Food Business to Be More Japanese

B2 – Upper Intermediate

7-Eleven, a global convenience store giant, is undergoing a significant transformation by reinventing its $17 billion food business to align more closely with its Japanese origins. This strategic shift aims to enhance the brand’s culinary offerings and customer experience by incorporating the successful and distinctive elements of its Japanese operations.

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

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “double down” mean? “But now, as cigarette sales continue to decline and many expect gas sales to slow, many are racing to find other sources of revenue and doubling down on food.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘double down’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “major undertaking” mean? “Shifting a business this massive is a major undertaking.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘major undertaking’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does the term “wide array” mean? “7-Eleven Japan is known for its wide array of meal options.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on the “tanpin kari” business model.
  2. What specific elements of Japanese 7-Eleven stores could be most successfully integrated into other international markets, and why?
  3. Do you think the introduction of Japanese-inspired food will significantly improve 7-Eleven’s appeal and sales in your local area? Why or why not?
  4. In your opinion, what other international food practices could 7-Eleven adopt to further enhance its food business?
  5. Do you believe that the higher cost of sourcing better ingredients for Japanese-inspired food will be justified by increased customer satisfaction and sales? Why or why not?

South Koreans Flock to Blue-Collar Jobs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In recent years, South Korea has witnessed a notable shift in employment trends, with a growing number of young people opting for blue-collar jobs.

This trend challenges traditional views that prioritize white-collar careers as the path to success. Factors such as economic instability, high youth unemployment, and the rising cost of higher education are driving this change. Additionally, blue-collar jobs often offer stable employment, decent wages, and opportunities for skill development.

Watch the video to know the reasons behind this emerging trend and its implications for South Korean society and the economy.

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV11i421v75o/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What doe s the phrase “to be in full swing” mean? “More renovations are in full swing at this apartment.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the expression “has seen better days” mean? “Those taking the civil servant exams would normally flock to these food stalls for a cheap bite but with fewer people taking the test, the street has seen better days.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to pay off” mean? “Even though it is exhausting, the work is paying off as his current income is double his former salary.” Make a sentence using the expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this work trend?
  2. What economic conditions in South Korea might be contributing to the rise in young people seeking blue-collar jobs? How do these conditions compare your country?
  3. How has the saturation of certain job markets, such as those requiring higher education, affected the trend of young people moving towards blue-collar jobs?
  4. How are technological advancements in blue-collar industries making these jobs more attractive to the younger generation?
  5. How do the work-life balance and job security of blue-collar jobs compare to white-collar jobs in South Korea? How about in your country?
  6. How might these factors influence career choices?

Tidal Kites Harness Ocean Energy

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

The quest for sustainable renewable energy sources continues. The remote Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic had to find an alternative energy source. Marine energy firm Minesto’s “Dragons” utilize the powerful currents from the seas surrounding the whole archipelago to harness energy. 

Watch the video and discover how tidal kites work. 

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0j6gphs/tidal-kites-new-technology-harnessing-ocean-energy

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “untapped” mean? “Ocean energy is still largely untapped. So what are the barriers that have prevented it from taking off?” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to unlock the potential” mean? “If we can unlock the potential, it can really dramatically change the energy mix in the islands. Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does “a leap forward” mean? “Now, this Dragon has begun to fly and it’s sending energy to the grid. It’s just one machine, but potentially a big leap forward for harnessing energy from our seas.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your insights on “the Dragons”?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of tidal turbines and tidal power?
  3. What are some of the biggest renewable energy sources used in your country? Why might that be?
  4. Do you think tidal energy could be beneficial in your country? Explain.