Tag: B1 – Intermediate

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. Why do you think rich countries don’t provide free healthcare to everyone?
  3. Is it possible to provide everyone with free healthcare? Why or why not?
  4. Talk about the healthcare system in your country.
  5. What are the most important health care issues in your country?

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?

Bookstore Gets a Fine

B1 – Intermediate

Because they offer a wide selection of books, bookstores are the place to go to find good reads.

Bookstores need to be mindful about how they manage the books they sell because some of them may have topics that are sensitive in nature. Such books need to be handled with more care. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about one of Hungary’s biggest bookstore getting fined. Find out why they got penalized.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-bookstore-gets-a-fine-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “depict”? “The Hungarian government has fined the country’s second-largest bookstore, Lira, nearly 36,000 dollars for violating a law that bans depicting homosexuality to minors.” Give some synonyms of ‘depict’ and use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “vague” mean, “Lira’s creative director Krisztian Nyary says the law is vague and difficult to implement.” Give some synonyms of ‘vague’ and use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does ”appeal” mean in this sentence, “Despite using legal means, the fine can’t be appealed.”? Use ‘appeal’ in this context.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to Lira Bookstore getting a huge fine?
  2. What do you think of this law: “All books with LGBTQ themes to be wrapped and sold separately, at least 200 meters away from schools or churches.”?
  3. Will bookstores always exist? Why or why not?
  4. What problems do bookstores have nowadays?
  5. What is your favorite bookstore? Talk about it.

Pay People to Have Their Clothes Repaired

B1 – Intermediate

With so many trendy yet very cheap clothings now, people just keep buying them and replacing them with new ones immediately. This causes every country to produce tons of fashion wastes.

Something needs to be done about this. In France, an eco-organisation called Refashion manages a scheme to encourage people not to throw their clothes away so quickly.

Read the article about the new scheme in France that incentivizes people not to keep throwing their clothes away so fast.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2307/230717-clothes-repairs-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “cobbler”? “It will pay a “repair bonus” for taking clothes and shoes to be repaired at workshops or cobblers.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “run” mean in this sentence, “The scheme is run by the eco-organization Refashion.” Give some synonyms of ‘run’ and use this word in this context.
  3. What does ”synthetic” mean, “It uses a lot of synthetic materials which harm the environment.”? Give some synonyms and use ‘synthetic’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the ‘repair bonus’ in France?
  2. Do you think this should also be implemented in your country? Why or why not?
  3. What is your opinion on the amount of fashion trash we produce?
  5. How does fast fashion impact the environment?
  6. How can the problem with fashion wastes be reduced? 
  7. What do you do with your old or damaged clothes, bags, and shoes?

Children Cost a Lot of Money

B1 – Intermediate

Many believe that having children is probably the best thing that could ever happen to anyone. While this could be true, it is also not always easy.

As salaries remain the same and the cost of living keep increasing, it gets more and more expensive to raise a child.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how costly child-rearing is now.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/children-cost-a-lot-of-money-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “stagnant” mean? “Raising children in the United States has become increasingly expensive, with the cost of living rising while wages remain stagnant.” Give a synonym and use “stagnant” in your own sentence.
  2. What does “rear” mean, “A recent report has revealed the variations in child-rearing costs across different metro areas.” Give another meaning of ‘rear’ and use the word in that context.
  3. What does “household” mean, “By comparing the living costs of a household with one child to that of a childless household, the study found that the average annual cost to raise a child is approximately 20,813 dollars.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree that raising children has become increasingly expensive? Is it also the case in your own country? Talk about it.
  2. Why does child-rearing cost a lot of money?
  3. What do you think will be the effect of this on people’s opinion about having children?
  4. Is it true that the cost to raise a child depends on the location? Explain your opinion.
  5. Is it a good idea to raise children in smaller cities where the cost of living is lower? Explain your thoughts.

Climate Change Extends Allergy Season

B1 – Intermediate

Spring may be such a lovely season for most. But for some people who have pollen allergies, it is a nightmare. 

Due to climate change, spring could arrive weeks earlier and could be longer too. This means allergy or hay fever season will also last longer.

Read the article about how climate change extends allergy season.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2303/230320-allergies-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “hay fever”? “This is because pollen from flowers bring allergies like hay fever.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “trajectory” mean, “The scientists said this was not surprising, given the trajectory our planet is on.”? Give a synonym and use “trajectory” in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to act on something” mean, “Acting on climate change will help people’s health.”? Give a synonym and use “to act on something” in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this news about climate change making allergy season last longer?
  2. What are other allergies that you know of? Talk about them.
  3. Do you or anyone you know suffer from any kind of allergies? Speak about how you or they feel during an allergy attack.
  4. What other health problems do people have during spring?
  5. How else does weather / climate change affect people’s health?
  6. How else does weather / climate change affect your health?

Government Bans Phones in Schools

B1 – Intermediate

At present, mobile phones have clearly become a very important device for everyone. However, is it something that should be allowed to be used by students in schools?

The Dutch government plans to prohibit gadgets in the classrooms by 2024.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Dutch government’s plan to prohibit mobile phones in schools.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/dutch-government-bans-phones-in-schools-level-2/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to do something in one’s way” mean, “Schools have the flexibility to implement the ban in their way.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “outcome” mean,  “If the desired outcomes are not achieved by the summer of 2024, legal rules will be enforced.”? Give 2 synonyms and use “outcome” in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”enforce” mean, “If the desired outcomes are not achieved by the summer of 2024, legal rules will be enforced.”? Give 2 synonyms and use “enforce” in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this prohibition?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that gadgets aren’t suitable for classrooms? Explain.
  3. What are the pros and cons of letting students use devices in the classroom?
  4. How would people react if this ban was implemented in your country?
  5. Talk about an issue in education that you think the government should focus on.

Switzerland Imports More Cheese 

B1 – Intermediate

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you hear ‘Switzerland’ is cheese. The country is very famous for making cheese. It is a very important product from this nation.

However, for the first time, Switzerland is importing cheese more than exporting it.

Read the article about the Swiss cheese import-export trade.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2307/230713-swiss-cheese-2.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “open up” mean, “The reason is that Switzerland opened up its milk market.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.
  2. What does “compete” mean,  “This means it is difficult for Swiss farmers to compete with cheaper, imported milk.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “a big part of one’s life” mean, “Cheese is a big part of life in Switzerland.”? Use this phrase in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was your reaction to this news about Switzerland importing cheese more than exporting it?
  2. Why are dairy farms disappearing in Switzerland?
  3. What products does your country import and export?
  4. Are there any industries that are disappearing in your country? What are they and why is it happening?
  5. Do people in your country eat a lot of cheese? Why or why not?

Baby Boards Bus Alone

B1 – Intermediate

In a surprising turn of events, a bus ride took an unexpected twist when an unanticipated passenger made their presence known. This incident caught both passengers and the bus driver off guard, creating a moment of intrigue and curiosity.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about a baby who rode a bus alone.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/baby-boards-a-bus-alone-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “track down” mean in this sentence, “Officers managed to track down his parents an hour later with the mother saying that her little boy was playing outside her cell phone store when she realized that he had gone off somewhere.” Give a synonym and use “track down” in a sentence.
  2. What does “pull over” mean in this sentence “Neither the passengers or the bus driver could see if an adult was taking care of the toddler, and the bus driver pulled over and called police for help.” Give a synonym and use “pull over” in a sentence.
  3. What does “volunteer” mean in this sentence, “Passengers volunteered to take care of the baby until the police got there.” ” Give a synonym and use “volunteered” in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did the passengers and the bus driver react to the situation? How would you react if you were also on that bus?
  2. What are some measures that can be taken to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future?
  3. What are some lessons that can be learned from this incident to improve child safety measures in public spaces?

Lucky Bus Driver

B1 – Intermediate

If you are driving a public transport vehicle, the lives of many people’s is your responsibility.

A bus was hit by a truck. The bus driver was not wearing a seatbelt. Fortunately, there was no passenger in the bus and the bus driver was not seriously hurt.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the accident a bus driver luckily survived.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/lucky-bus-driver-level-3/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “graze” mean, “Miraculously, the bus driver only suffered cuts and grazes, and fortunately, there were no passengers onboard the bus.”? Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to run a red light” mean,  “A bus driver in New Mexico was not wearing his seat belt when a pickup truck allegedly ran a red light, sending the driver through the windscreen.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does ”footage” mean, “The city transit department released the dramatic footage of the incident.”? Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was your reaction to this news?
  2. What lesson/s do you think the bus driver learned from this incident?
  3. What is your opinion about the driver not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident?
  4. What do you think about the truck that ran a red light?
  5. What do you do to be safe on the road?