Category: Homework

Sick Houses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We are living under the notion that staying indoors could shield us from outdoor pollutants. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when most people around the world were confined to their homes, we felt safer. However, being indoor isn’t tantamount to pollution-free condition. There are homes with level of air pollution that is as high or even exceeds the legal outdoor limits.

Let’s read the article and know more about what makes a sick house.

http://headsupenglish.com/index.php/advanced-english-students/advanced-mini-lessons/173-sick-houses

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define the adverb “adversely“. “Did you know that your house could adversely affect your health?” Give two synonyms and use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “malaise“? “It’s a home that contributes to or brings about allergies, malaise, migraines, and/or colds.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does “solitary” mean? “And although it doesn’t come down to a solitary factor, the pollutants accumulate…” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are sick houses?
  2. Aside from health risks, what other effects could sick houses have on its dwellers?
  3. How do you keep your home free from indoor pollution?
  4. In your opinion, which areas in your country have more sick houses?

Birth Order

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the 1900’s, Austrian psychotherapist Alfred Adler formed a theory that the development of our personalities is influenced by our birth order within our families. He proposed that due to this personality development, consequential life outcomes could follow.

Let’s read the article and know more about birth order and its possible effects on one’s personality.

http://headsupenglish.com/index.php/advanced-english-students/advanced-mini-lessons/160-birth-order

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the adverb “profoundly” mean? “The order in which a person is born profoundly affects development.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does the word “indelible” mean in this context? “ It leaves an indelible impression which influences how the individual deals with love…” Use it in a sentence.
  3. Define “hogwash“. “Quite a number of psychologists view birth order and its effects on personality as utter hogwash.” Give two synonyms and use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is birth order? What is your birth order?
  2. According to the article, how does birth order affect one’s development?
  3. In your opinion, what shapes one’s personality?
  4. Share your thoughts on this statement, “It’s often said that first-borns tend to be more conservative, as well as focus on achievement. The youngest sibling tends towards rebelliousness.”

The End of Hustle Culture

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Hustle culture has been quite popular among the working class. However, some believe that this long-glorified culture may be coming to an end. This kind of culture has a huge impact on people’s work-life balance and mental well-being. As the world becomes more competitive, the pressure to constantly hustle intensifies.

Read this article to learn more about hustle culture.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230417-hustle-culture-is-this-the-end-of-rise-and-grind

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “go-getter“? “…this is the way go-getters get what they want.” Use this in a sentence.
  2. What does “fair shot” mean? “Everyone has a fair shot at success.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
  3. Define “coupled with“. “And because that time was coupled with the stress of financial uncertainty, experts say some people came to find hustle culture more exhausting than empowering.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on hustle culture?
  2. How does hustle culture impact work-life balance and individuals’ well-being?
  3. Have you ever experienced burnout or exhaustion due to adopting a “rise and grind” mentality?
  4. How do you prioritize work-life balance while still striving for success in your career?
  5. Have you ever felt pressure to conform to hustle culture from your peers or workplace?

Healthcare

B1 – Intermediate

Access to free healthcare is a basic human right. However, even in rich countries, they are not provided. Because people can’t afford it, they have no choice but to not go to a hospital to get treated.

In an ideal world, everyone should get free medical treatments and medicines. The question is, is this ever possible?

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about healthcare.

https://listenaminute.com/h/healthcare.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “healthcare” mean? “Every country must provide free healthcare to its citizens.” Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “afford” mean here, “He went with lots of Americans who couldn’t afford healthcare in America.” Use ‘afford’ in this context in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”treat” mean here, “Amazingly, the Cuban hospitals treated them all for free and gave them medicine.” Use ‘treat’ in this context in your own sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with this, “Every country must provide free healthcare to its citizens.”? Explain your point.
  2. Is it possible to provide everyone with free healthcare? Why or why not?
  3. Why do you think rich countries don’t provide free healthcare to everyone?
  4. Talk about the healthcare system in your country.
  5. What are the most important health care issues in your country?

Family Influences Career Choice

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some say that young people nowadays are not willing to follow in their parents’ footsteps in business or lifestyle. 

Read the article to know why some young people choose to follow their parents’ advice when choosing their career and others don’t.

https://medium.com/elizabethsblog/how-family-influences-your-career-choice-75ff9452cd21

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does steer away from someone/something mean? “When children are exposed to their parents’ beliefs, this can result in the individual steering away from certain career choices and following their guardian’s ideals and beliefs.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does peer influence mean? “Other factors such as church and peer influences are generally overridden by home and school.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does nurturing mean? “Another factor of how a parent can influence a child’s career choice may depend on how nurturing the parents are.” Give a synonym and use ‘nurturing’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree that families have a large impact on what career path their children might choose? Explain your stand.
  2. Why do you think parents want their children to follow a certain career path?
  3. Who influenced the career path that you are in now? What impact did they make on you or your decision to take up a degree/profession in this field?
  4. In your opinion, why are young people reluctant to follow their parents’ career advice?
  5. What career advice would you give your children (children of your friends or relatives)?

Overprotective Parenting Style

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you see the difference between how parents controlled their kids in the past and how they do it now?

Read the article and discuss parental control and better parenting options.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/overprotective_parenting_style

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does overindulge mean? “According to leadership expert Tim Elmore, when we rescue too quickly and overindulge our children with “assistance,” we remove the need for them to navigate hardships and solve problems on their own.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does swoop in mean? “Help them develop coping skills by not swooping in to save them every time they are in distress.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is a role model? “This is a mom or dad who sets carefully defined limits for children, the one who is a good role model and praises children for their efforts.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you know any family that control their kids too much? What do they do?
  2. What are the parenting styles mentioned in the article?
  3. Do you think you will allow your children to use the Internet without controlling them?
  4. What are the negative effects of overprotective parenting style?

Secrets to a Happy Marriage

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Marriage won’t work if you neglect each other’s desires and needs. Do you know how to maintain a happy married life?

Let’s watch the video where truly experienced ladies share their secrets to happy and successful marriages.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sassy” mean? ” I know that she can be sassy, but I try not to take it seriously.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “anticipate” mean? “I know for me, there’s been a lot of care-taking, that my husband has had to do, that you never anticipate.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “stigma“ mean? “It doesn’t really hold a stigma now.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the key to a long, successful marriage? Explain.
  2. Do you agree that the new generation has an absolutely different attitude to marriage? Why (not)?
  3. If people are unhappy in marriage, should they stay together? Why (not)? And what if they have children?
  4. How can people maintain romantic relationship through the years?

Artificial Intelligence to Create Jobs in Gaming

B1 – Intermediate

Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped the gaming sector advance so much. If AI can put an end to many jobs, works in gaming are not one of them.

Read this article about how the gaming sector can benefit from the advancements in AI.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2307/230724-ai-gaming-jobs-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “body” mean in this context, “A UK games body said gaming is always at “the cutting edge of technology”.” Use the word in this context in your own sentence.
  2. What does “safeguard” mean, “Hollywood actors are on strike demanding safeguards against AI.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does ”cutting edge” mean, “A UK games body said gaming is always at “the cutting edge of technology”.”? Give a synonym and use ‘cutting edge’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is AI beneficial or not? Explain.
  2. How is AI helpful to the gaming sector?
  3. What do you think of a profession in the gaming sector?

Talking to Yourself

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When someone catches you talking to yourself, it can be rather embarrassing. However, self-talk is absolutely normal. Doing so, the right way, that is, can actually be very beneficial to your well-being.

Watch the video and discover the psychological benefits and drawbacks of self-talks.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “mutter” mean, As your morning alarm blares, you mutter to yourself, “Why did I set it so early?” Give a synonym of ‘mutter’ and use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “facet” mean, “Specifically, psychologists define self-talk as verbalized thoughts directed toward yourself or some facet of your life.” Give a synonym of ‘facet’ and use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does “ruminate” mean, “And those who constantly blame themselves for their problems and ruminate on those situations, typically experience more intense feelings of depression.”? Give a synonym and use ‘ruminate’ in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on talking to one’s self?
  2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of making inner speeches?
  3. How does self-talk benefit you?
  4. Does what we say to ourselves matter? Why or why not?
  5. Explain what CBT is and share what you think about it.
  6. Share you thoughts on this, “The way you treat people is what they become.”.

Should We Fear Chatbots

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Chatbots have become more and more popular these days. We encounter a lot of chatbots when we do certain transactions on the internet. However, there is this existing fear that chatbots might surpass the level of information stored in human brains.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to learn more about chatbots.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-230706

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “on guard” mean? “…we need to be on guard against that because what’s coming out of ChatGPT is none of that.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What is a “sentient entity“? “You can provoke it to say things that sound like what a sentient entity would say.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
  3. Define “primed“. “We are really primed to imagine a mind behind language whenever we encounter language.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of chatbots?
  2. In your opinion, are chatbots helpful? Why or why not?
  3. Should we fear chatbots? Why or why not?
  4. What are the potential reasons that people might be afraid of chatbots?
  5. What do you think are the pros and cons of using a chatbot?