Category: Homework

Your Productivity Needs More Breaks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the fast-paced and demanding world of work, it’s easy to get caught up in a constant cycle of tasks and responsibilities. However, amidst the hustle and bustle, one crucial element often gets overlooked – breaks.

Taking regular breaks throughout the workday is not a luxury, but rather a necessity for maintaining productivity, focus, and overall well-being.

Read the article to know more about how taking regular breaks during the workday help improve performance, concentration, and overall, one’s mood. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://lifehacker.com/your-productivity-needs-more-breaks-1850400649

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “decompress” as used in the article. “After a long day of work, I like to decompress by taking a relaxing bath.” Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does the phrase “stick to something” mean? “Despite facing challenges, she stuck to it and eventually achieved her fitness goals.” Use the phrase in a sentence.
  3. Explain the meaning of the expression “build the habit” as mentioned in the article. “By consistently practicing piano every day, she was able to build the habit of regular practice.” Use the expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, what is the prevailing belief about uninterrupted work and productivity?
  2. What are some of the negative consequences of not taking regular breaks at work?
  3. Do you agree with the article’s assertion that taking breaks can improve productivity? Why or why not?
  4. How do you personally prioritize and incorporate breaks into your work routine? What benefits have you experienced?
  5. Are there any challenges or barriers you face when trying to take breaks at work? How do you overcome them?

Animal Testing for Cosmetics to Restart

B1 – Intermediate

After being prohibited for 25 years, the United Kingdom will now be permitting animal testing for cosmetics again. Consequently, this decision has received many criticism.

Learn more about the resumption of animal testing for cosmetics in the U.K. in this article.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2305/230511-cosmetics-testing-on-animals.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “appalling” mean, “Allowing animal testing for cosmetics would be a devastating blow to the millions of people who have supported campaigns to end this appalling practice.“? Give a synonym of this word and make your own sentence.
  2. What does “carry out” mean, “She said that with today’s technology, testing could be carried out without using animals.“? Make your own sentence.
  3. What is a “devastating blow“, “Allowing animal testing for cosmetics would be a devastating blow to the millions of people who have supported campaigns to end this appalling practice.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the recent decision by the UK government to allow animal testing for cosmetics again?
  2. What are your thoughts on the use of animals in scientific research in general?
  3. “Testing could be carried out without using animals.” Do you agree or disagree with this? Explain.
  4. Is it possible for animals to be protected when they are part of testing for scientific purposes? Explain.
  5. Have you ever stopped purchasing products from a cosmetics brand because they test their products in animals? Why?

Paying Lonely People to Leave the House

B1 – Intermediate

“Hikikomori” is a Japanese term describing the total withdrawal of teens and young adults from the society. This social withdrawal started in Japan during the 1990’s. This is during the “employment ice age” in Japan when young people were unable to find stable jobs. This phenomenon seems to be affecting some young South Koreans at present.

Let’s read the article about the a new measure in South Korea to help solve this problem.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2304/230420-reclusiveness.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the noun “recluse“. “The number of recluses has gone up because of the pandemic.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the phrasal verb “shut (something/someone) off“? “The government said children shut themselves off from society for many reasons.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “noticeable” mean? “They have noticeable difficulty in living a normal life.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this new initiative by the South Korean government?
  2. What are the reasons young people become reclusive?
  3. What possible effects do social withdrawal have on young people?
  4. Have you had temporary moments of social withdrawal? If yes, how long did it take and why did you want to be isolated?
  5. Share your opinion on this, “Korea has an ageing society. It needs young people to work so they can help old people.”.

Nepal Bans Solo Mountain Climbers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

People take up the hobby of mountain climbing for a lot of reasons. Some do it for the thrill and sense of adventure, while others want to set new records or break the older ones. Regardless of the reason, safety should be the main priority in this activity.

Let’s read the article and find out about this law in Nepal to minimize the risks for mountaineers.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/travel/nepal-bans-solo-mountain-climbers.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “amputee“?” The new law also prohibits blind and double amputee climbers from trying to reach the top peaks.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the word “acute” mean? “Although mountaineers die for a number of reasons, almost every fifth death is caused by acute mountain sickness.” Give two synonyms and use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “peak” mean in this context? “Nepal has banned solo mountaineers from climbing Mount Everest and other peaks.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is the Nepalese government imposing stricter rules on mountaineers?
  2. How does this new law benefit the locals and the mountaineers alike?
  3. Do you agree with this law? Why or why not?
  4. What is your opinion on the prohibition of physically handicapped people from climbing the Mount Everest?

Your Brain When Someone Breaks Your Heart

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Someone breaking your heart can have an enormously detrimental impact on your mental wellbeing. Heartbreak can cause a variety of responses and physical sensations, whether it’s brought on by the conclusion of an intimate connection or a major loss. Heartbreak itself is primarily an emotional experience, but it also has an assortment of neurological consequences.

Gain deeper insights into the impact of heartbreak on the brain through this informative video.

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/health/2023/04/28/brain-heartbreak-rejection-lbb-orig.cnn

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “into tomorrow” mean in the sentence, “Find the right partner and send your DNA into tomorrow.”? Use this in a sentence.
  2. What does “time does heal” mean in the sentence, “We’ve been able to prove that time does heal.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does “jeopardize” mean in the sentence, “This jeopardized your ability to send you DNA on into tomorrow.”? Give 2 synonyms for this word and use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your stance on this matter?
  2. Are there specific regions of the brain that are more active or less active when someone has their heart broken? Tell me more.
  3. Can heartbreak lead to changes in cognitive functions, such as attention and memory? Explain.
  4. Are there differences in brain activity between individuals who experience intense heartbreak versus those who handle it better? Elaborate.
  5. Can heartbreak have long-term effects on brain health and emotional well-being? Explain.

Internet Use Lowers Risk of Dementia

B1 – Intermediate

Excessive usage of technology, especially, our gadgets can be harmful to our health. However, a recent study suggests that spending time online may be beneficial to the mental health of older people.

Read the article to learn more about this new research on how internet use reduces the risk of dementia in older people.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2305/230508-daily-internet-use.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “a plethora of” mean, “There is a plethora of research on the potential harm of the Internet.“? Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “exacerbate” mean, “The research also found that excessive Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) may exacerbate the risks of developing dementia.“? Give 2 synonyms of this word and use them in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “to compensate for” in this context, “Online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reserve, which can in turn compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia.“”? Use it in a sentence in the same context.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, what are some of the benefits of using the internet frequently?
  2. Do you think that older people should use the Internet as a way to maintain cognitive function? Explain.
  3. Do you believe that spending time online can benefit your mental health? Explain.
  4. What steps do you take to balance your online and offline activities to ensure optimal mental health?
  5. How do you think society as a whole is affected by the prevalence of internet use?

Future of Jobs

B1 – Intermediate

The future of jobs is a big topic now. Many people want to know what jobs will be available in the coming years. Technology is changing fast and it will impact the job market a lot.

Some jobs that are easy and routine may soon be done by robots or computers. This means that some jobs may disappear. But, new jobs will also be created such as those that require knowledge of technology like robots and artificial intelligence.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the future of jobs.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/future-of-jobs-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cut” mean in this sentence, “According to the report, technology and digitalization will both create and cut jobs.“? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to keep up with something“ mean, “Companies will need to adapt to new technologies and increase their digitalization to keep up with the changing job market.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. “All this means that the job market will see big changes in the coming years.” What is “job market“? Define and use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some technological advancements that are changing the job market?
  2. What skills do you think will be most important for workers in the future job market?
  3. How might the increase in teleworking impact the job market in the future?
  4. What are some problems related to the job market changes and how can they be solved?
  5. How might advancements in artificial intelligence impact the job market in the future?

Crooked Teeth Our Ancestors Didn’t Have

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to studies, ancient people had all of their teeth, including their wisdom teeth, and they were all perfectly aligned, even though orthodontic braces didn’t exist back then. This seems to be in contrast with modern humans’ crowded, crooked teeth.

As a matter of fact, this led to dental conundrum because of the increased demand for braces and tooth extractions, which are among the most current advancements in dentistry.

Kindly watch the video below to learn more about this topic.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “subsistence” mean? ” A couple million years ago, the ancestors of modern humans lived a subsistence lifestyle.” Make your own sentence using this word.
  2. How about “vye“? “…while teeth stayed roughly the same size, meaning they’re left vying for limited space.” Construct a sentence using this word.
  3. Do you know what “jostle” means? “When they grow in, they may displace others and get jostled into some eccentric positions. ” Use this in your words.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the findings of this study on teeth? Explain.
  2. What do you think about this statement, “Dental crowding has been caused by people’s less chewy foods, smaller jaws, and dental crookedness”?
  3. How important are teeth to a person?
  4. How can we take care of our teeth?
  5. Talk about your experience visiting the dentist.

Cultivate Life Transforming Habits

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all want to become better but sometimes it can be very overwhelming when we don’t know how or where to start. We easily get intimidated by the amount of effort we need to put in in order to change ourselves. Thus, we never get around to doing it.

Read the article on how doing a habit trial can challenge you and help you become a better version of you.

https://personalexcellence.co/blog/21-day-trial/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “age-old”, “The 21-day trial is based on the age-old belief that it takes 21 days to fully form a new habit.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “cloud” mean in this sentence, “Firstly, breaking the habit for one day will affect your experience of the activity, which subsequently clouds your findings.“? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “chuck”, “. Since you are not committing to this habit beyond 21 days, you can chuck it aside if you don’t like it.“? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is it usually difficult for people to form a new habit?
  2. How can the 21-Day Habit Challenge help people?
  3. What activities can people do when they complete the 21-Day Habit Challenge?
  4. Would you like to try this program? Why (not)?

ASEAN Tackles Regional Crises at Tropical Resort

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The ASEAN 2023 is hosted by Indonesia. The summit’s agenda include the ongoing violent civil conflicts in Myanmar and the intensifying territorial disputes in the South China Sea among its member states.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo believes hosting the ASEAN Summit is a ‘good moment’ for his country and the perfect opportunity to put the rustic harbor town Labuan Bajo on the map.

In spite of the many challenges they are facing in pushing for the success of the Summit, Indonesian officials say they would do everything they can in order to host the ASEAN in the safest and most successful way possible.

Read the article about the ASEAN meeting and its agenda peppered with controversial issues; and some hitches to holding the Summit in the picturesque town of Labuan Bajo.

https://www.voanews.com/a/asean-leaders-to-tackle-regional-crises-st-tropical-resort-/7083266.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “rein in” mean? “ASEAN has failed to rein in the violence in its member state.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What is a “strife“? “These include the continuing bloody civil strife in Myanmar and the escalating territorial conflicts in the South China Sea between fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.” Give 1-2 synonym/s of ‘strife’ and use the word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “megaphone diplomacy approach” mean? “Colleagues certainly know that in the early stages of its leadership, Indonesia decided to take a non-megaphone diplomacy approach.” Use this term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on President Widodo’s choice of the ASEAN Summit venue? Do you think it will really help put Labuan Bajo “under the global tourism spotlight”? Share your thoughts.
  2. What are some problems with holding the ASEAN meeting in this town?
  3. What is your opinion on this: “The sunshiny setting is a stark contrast to the seriousness of their agenda.”?
  4. Discuss your thoughts on this: “U.S. President Joe Biden has been reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China over Taiwan and the long-seething territorial conflicts in the strategic South China Sea which involve four ASEAN members: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.”.
  5. Do you agree or disagree with Indonesia’s non-megaphone diplomacy approach when it comes to how they tackled the Myanmar crisis?