Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Beauty

B1 – Intermediate

Perfect hair, perfect teeth and a perfect smile is ones definition of beauty. Beauty is solely dependent on how a person looks in the outside. However, inner beauty is more important for others because it’s the beauty within which makes a person beautiful.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about beauty.

https://listenaminute.com/b/beauty.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes a person beautiful?
  2. What is better, to be physically attractive or intelligent? Why?
  3. Do you think beauty affects your self-confidence? Why or why not?
  4. Does beauty affect a person’s success in personal/ professional life? How?
  5. Do people spend too much money and time on their beauty? In what ways?
  6. “There should be equal rights for most of us “non-beautiful” people.” Do you agree or disagree with this? Why or why not?

Why We Say “God Bless You”

B1 – Intermediate

When someone sneezes, some people immediately respond with “God bless you!”. Just why people respond to this is not really crystal clear. There have been numerous beliefs as to its logic and origin.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know some of the reasons people use this expression.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/why-we-say-god-bless-you-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you use this response when someone sneezes? Why or why not?
  2. Do you know other interpretation of this expression?
  3. Do you think this is considered a polite gesture? Why or why not?
  4. What other polite gestures are common in your country?

Boy Dies After TikTok Challenge

B1 – Intermediate

TikTok is a popular video-sharing social network especially among young people. At the beginning, users normally shared their dance moves videos. In recent years, there have been a variety of contents that users can share; including challenges that have proven to be not just dangerous but also fatal.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know more about a young boy who lost his life for taking on a TikTok challenge.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-boy-dies-after-tiktok-challenge-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ‘blackout‘ mean here, “He is in a TikTok challenge called the “blackout challenge”. Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does ‘to be against something‘ mean, “Archie’s family is against the change.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does it mean ‘to switch off the machines‘ mean here, “Last Sunday, doctors switch off the machines.” Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have a TikTok account? How is it different from other social media platforms?
  2. What is the “blackout challenge” in Tiktok? What are your thoughts on it?
  3. Have you heard of other dangerous TikTok challenges? What are some of them?
  4. Should TikTok be held legally accountable for incidents like this?
  5. How do you think TikTok could improve its safety measures?

Town Has Strange Records

B1 – Intermediate

Every town is known for something. This small Czech town are famous for having some of the most unusual world records.

Setting new records is a way to make your town well-known. It is also something that can make everyone come together.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Czech town with some strange records.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/town-has-strange-records-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this town and their unusual records?
  2. Why are such records so important to some people or for some cities/countries?
  3. What records does your city hold?
  4. Would you participate in an event to set a record for your city/country? Why or why not?
  5. If you could set a record for doing something, what would it be?

Special Emergency Landing

B1 – Intermediate

Plane accidents are rare. Well, they should be! Because surviving it could be very difficult, in fact, almost impossible.

It is always a relief to hear a plane making a safe emergency landing and hearing that no one died or got badly injured.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about an emergency plane landing.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/special-emergency-landing-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. Do you get afraid about being in a plane accident? Why or why not?
  3. What is the most incredible plane accident you’ve ever heard of? Talk about it.
  4. Did you ever dream about learning to fly a plane? Why or why not?

No Necktie, Save Energy

B1 – Intermediate

Hundreds of people have died because of ongoing heatwaves in Spain. It is imperative to find ways to save energy to help with the climate change crisis. At this point, every action is important, no matter how little it is.

Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez appears at a press conference not wearing a necktie and he encourages everyone to do the same.

Read the article about not wearing a tie as a way to save energy and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2208/220801-necktie-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this measure? Do you like this idea or not? Explain.
  2. What are some other energy-saving measures you know of or are you doing?
  3. “Mr Sanchez’s government has already restricted the use of air conditioners and heaters.” What is your opinion on this measure?
  4. “Spain has introduced a relief package of $9.2 billion to help people with energy bills.” In your opinion, is this helpful? Why or why not?
  5. How do you feel about wearing a tie to work everyday?

History for Sale

B1 – Intermediate

When you think of history, you probably think that important things related to them belong to a museum. However, some very important and historical items are auctioned off. The public can bid and buy them and keep them for themselves.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about historical items being sold on an auction.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/history-for-sale-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think these items should be sold to the public? Why or why not?
  2. Which historical piece would you like to buy from this auction and why?
  3. Which historical piece would you like to have and why?
  4. Have you ever participated in an auction? Talk about your experience.
  5. What thing do you have do you want to sell on an auction? Describe it and how much it costs.

South Africa’s Women’s Soccer Team Wins

B1 – Intermediate

South Africans have recently experienced so much hardships. South Africa’s women’s soccer team Bafana Bafana finally winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations makes this an important victory.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about South Africa’s women’s soccer team’s important win.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/soccer-team-wins-important-award-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. Why is this an important win for South Africans?
  3. What is your favorite sports team from your country? How about from other countries? And why?
  4. How do you feel when sports teams from your country wins? How about when they lose?
  5. How important are sports teams for every country?

Industrial Zones in Egypt

B1 – Intermediate

The Suez Canal in Egypt is an important way that connects Asia and Europe. Egypt is developing four new industrial zones along the canal and in one of them, a new city where workers can live and so they don’t have to travel far to get to work.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the new industrial zones in Egypt. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/new-industrial-zones-in-egypt-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of all the developments they are planning for the canal?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a new city near the industrial zones?
  3. Talk about the most important industrial area/s in your city/country. 
  4. How do these areas help your country’s economy?
  5. What are other things you know about the Suez Canal and Egypt?

Police Turn Criminal’s Ferrari into Patrol Car

B1 – Intermediate

Catching joyriders, illegal road racers, and more aggressive drivers could be a problem for the police. They drive too fast. Police won’t be able to catch up with these law breakers if they drive slow cars.

The solution – the Czech Republic police have used a criminal’s Ferrari into a patrol car. Now this high-powered sports car can help police during high-speed chase. In Dubai, the police also drive fast cars to ensure their citizens’ safety.

Read the article about the police using a criminal’s Ferrari as patrol car. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2207/220728-patrol-car-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with police using seized supercars as patrol cars? Explain your point.
  2. Do you think police presence on streets make people feel safe? Why or why not?
  3. What do you think about high-powered cars? Would you like to own one? Why or why not?
  4. Do you enjoy watching car races? Why or why not?