Category: Homework

Sneaky Ways Fast Food Restaurants Get You To Spend More

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fast food restaurants are a popular choice for a quick and affordable meal on-the-go. However, these establishments have become experts at getting customers to spend more money than they intended. From upselling and limited-time offers to product placement and loyalty programs, fast food restaurants employ a variety of sneaky tactics to increase the total cost of your order. In this age of convenience, it’s important to be aware of these tactics and make informed decisions when ordering at fast food restaurants.

Watch this video to learn more about how fast food restaurants get you to spend more. Be ready to able to answer the questions that follow.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “playbook“? Use it in a sentence. Ex. The fast food menu playbook has been around since the ’80s which has been centered on simplicity, cheap, and bold and bright.
  2. What does the expression “grab one’s attention” mean? Make one sentence. Ex. Fast food restaurants grab your attention with bright reds or oranges along with big appetizing photos of their food.
  3. What does “the pressure is mounting” mean? Ex. When it’s time to order, the pressure is mounting. Use this expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some psychological tricks mentioned in the video that get customers to spend more?
  2. Have you ever fallen for one of these psychological tricks? Share your experience.
  3. Do you enjoy eating fast food? How often do you eat it? What type of fast food menus do you usually buy?

Being Black and British

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Britain is a multicultural society. Despite the fact that Britain is supposed to be a society where ethnic minorities assimilate successfully, Britain’s Blacks – often known as Afro-Caribbeans – face some form of passive discrimination. And when circumstances are tough, things frequently grow worse.

Read the article about how it is to be Black in the UK and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://linguapress.com/intermediate/black-and-british.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “contingent” mean? “While a few came from Africa, the largest contingent of Black immigrants came from Jamaica and the other islands that make up the West Indies.” Make a sentence using the word.
  2. What does the word “overt” mean? “The overt racism of the National Front did not appeal to people in Britain.”. Give 1 synonym and use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “bigoted” mean? “Today, with all but a bigoted minority of fans, Britain’s great black footballers enjoy the same status as their white team-mates.”. Make another sentence using the word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the reason why there are so many black people in Britain?
  2. What are some of the reasons why people from other countries choose to immigrate to your country?
  3. What are some of the benefits of having a diverse immigrant population in a country?
  4. How does immigration impact the job market in a new country?
  5. What role do immigrants play in your country?

Can Fish ‘n’ Chips Survive

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fish and chips is a classic British fast food. It is the first “carry-out” meal, and it has been a part of British life for well over a century. Will it, however, last much longer? Perhaps only as a luxury for those with the means.

Read the article about fish and chips and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://linguapress.com/intermediate/fish-chips.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the phrase “quarter of a century”? “In the last quarter of a century, things have changed.”. Make a sentence using the phrase.
  2. What does “up-market” mean in this sentence: “Fish and chips, however, will survive as a specialty in pubs and restaurants, and in new up-market fish restaurants.”. Give 1 synonym and make a sentence.
  3. What does the phrase “spring up” mean? “Fish and chip shops were springing up all over the country.”. Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on how some traditional food become obsolete or forgotten or overthrown by other types of food?
  2. What are some traditional dishes that are important to your culture?
  3. How does the introduction of cuisine from another culture impact the culinary culture of a country?
  4. How have your food choices changed as you have assimilated into a different culture?

Filter Bubbles Isolate You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One could assume that when you visit a website, you’re getting the same stuff as everyone else. However, algorithms practically everywhere you go online keep note of the links you frequently engage on. These algorithms will continue to display your stuff based on what they believe you will enjoy until they are only presenting you with the material you are likely to consume. This procedure may result in the formation of a filter bubble.

Watch the video on how filter bubbles isolate you.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “curate” mean? “When you first think about algorithms personalizing and curating your online experience, it can sound like a good thing.” Give 2 synonyms.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “coin” in this sentence: “This is a term coined by Eli Pariser.”? Give 1 synonym and use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “definitive”? “There is no definitive solution.”. Give 2 synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is awareness of filter bubbles so critical?
  2. What strategies could you use to pop your filter bubble?
  3. What is the significance of filter bubbles?
  4. How does the filter bubble impact your life?
  5. How can we deal with algorithms?

New York’s Water System Is Complex

B2 – Upper Intermediate

While nature provides water, many of us depend on a sophisticated system of pipelines, pumps, and other equipment. An industrialized society depends on the services that a water supply system offers, including the delivery of water from sources to users. The economic health, security, and social cohesion of the communities are all closely related to water supply systems.

Watch the video about and uncover the secrets of New York’s complex water system.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “sizeable” mean in this sentence? “The water shortage is mostly due to lack of sizeable supply of fresh water.” Give 2 synonyms of the word.
  2. What does the term“tidal estuary” mean? “The East River is a tidal estuary.”. Make your own sentence using the term.
  3. In the sentence, “Two of the world’s longest and largest aqueducts were built to accomplish this.”, what does “aqueducts” mean?

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is the water supply abundant in your country?
  2. Where does your city get its water from?
  3. Are there laws regulating the usage of water in your country?
  4. Do you worry about the future availability of water?
  5. What do you think will happen if the water supply in your country or city gets cut off?

Money Traditions from Around the World

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As they say, money is the fuel that keeps the world turning. A country’s cultural beliefs are frequently mirrored in how they view its currency because money is such an integral element of that nation’s identity. But how much do we really know about global beliefs, customs, and superstitions around money?

Watch the video about money customs from all over the world.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “tight-knit” mean? Most of these customs involve generosity within a family or tight-knit community. Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “pay it forward” mean? “If someone had a good day, they can pay it forward with an anonymous free coffee to an unknown person.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “sneak” mean in this sentence, “The elf sneaks in to take the tooth and leaves money behind.”? Give 2 synonyms of the word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What unique money traditions do you have in your country?
  2. Which of the traditions from the video is practiced similarly in your country?
  3. Do you know of any superstitions involving money?
  4. How important is money to you?

UK Public Alert System

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Natural or man-made disasters and major events could disrupt people’s everyday life. The dissemination of news of such events is usually communicated through mainstream and social media, but not everyone is on these platforms. The UK will be be testing a new alert system to inform its citizens about such events by mobile phone.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about this new public alert system.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/uk-public-alert-system-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “vibrate” mean? “…millions of phones in the UK will make a loud noise and vibrate.” Give two synonyms and use this word in a sentence.
  2. Define the word “warning“. “It will be a warning sound“. Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the word “marathon” mean? “For example the London Marathon or football matches.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the new UK public alert system work?
  2. What are the pros and cons of this new alert system?
  3. What public alert system do you have in your country? In what situations, do you receive such an alert?
  4. Do you find this public alert system helpful or distracting? Why or why not?
  5. How do you prefer to be alerted about emergencies or natural disasters? Why is this your choice?

Bulletproof Rooms in US Schools

B1 – Intermediate

Mass shooting frequently happens in the US each year, especially in schools. It’s difficult to predict when and where these tragic incidents may occur. Therefore, a security company creates a safe room for students and teachers.

Read the article to learn more about these bulletproof rooms:

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/bulletproof-rooms-in-us-schools-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “mass shooting“, “In the United States, there are many mass shootings.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “lawmaker” mean, “But lawmakers work slowly.“? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “put something up” mean, “People can put it up quickly in the corner of a classroom.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about these bulletproof rooms?
  2. Do you think bulletproof rooms in schools is the solution to the problem of gun violence in the US? Why or why not?
  3. What might be potential negative sides to the bulletproof rooms in schools?
  4. Should this idea be a priority for public spending or should funds be used on other things? Explain your opinion.

The Difference between Strong and Weak AI

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is safe to say that advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have made our lives easier today. As it becomes an integral part of our lives more and more, we stand at the cusp of realizing the true power of AI technology.

Read the article and understand the key differences between a strong AI and a weak AI.

https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/strong-ai-weak-ai

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “threshold“, “As artificial intelligence continues to grow more advanced, the threshold of what can be considered true intelligence continues to get more complicated to define.”. Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. Define “settle” here, “Until then, we will have to settle for the type of artificial intelligence that exists today: weak AI, which operates under far more constraints and limitations than even the most basic human intelligence in order to perfect very specific tasks.” Use ‘settle’ in your own sentence in this context. Give 2 other definitions of this word.
  3. What does “to far exceed someone/something” mean, “And it is setting a foundation for AI’s potential to not only mimic and match human intelligence, but far exceed it.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the difference between weak, general, and super AI?
  2. In which sectors has AI been widely used?
  3. What benefits do the industries described in the video get when AI is used?
  4. Share your thoughts on this statement, “People have no idea how much of their lives is actually governed by weak AI, or specialized AI.”.
  5. For you, what does it mean to be intelligent?

Strengths and Weaknesses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Imagine being asked about your strengths and weaknesses at a job interview. What would you say?

Read the article and find out some tips on how to talk about strengths and weaknesses at a job interview.

https://www.betterteam.com/strengths-and-weaknesses

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “frame” here, “Use the job description to frame your answer.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “hard skill” mean, “Your weaknesses can include a hard skill set out in the job description, provided that you emphasize your desire to acquire this skill through a course or program.“? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  3. Define “note” here, “I struggle with negative criticism and can become obsessed with perfecting my work after receiving notes from a supervisor.” Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What should you consider when listing your weaknesses?
  2. Can your weakness affect your hiring? How can you avoid this?
  3. What are some examples of weaknesses that you can mention during an interview depending on the job profile?
  4. What should you consider when listing your strengths?
  5. What are some examples of strengths that you can mention during an interview?