Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Success

B1 – Intermediate

Success is much more than money, rank, or popularity. For some, success is just the thought of fulfillment and joy that comes from living a certain way of life or engaging in a certain activity.

But what does it take to get ahead in any career, in love, and in life? And how meaningful is success really?

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about success.

https://listenaminute.com/s/success.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you define success? How important is success to you?
  2. How do you view failing or losing?
  3. What is your formula or recipe for success?
  4. What is your biggest success in life?
  5. What part does luck play in success?
  6. What small wins do you have everyday?

Indonesia Bans Palm Oil Exports

B1 – Intermediate

Due to global food inflation, Indonesia has decided to take some measures to ensure the availability of food products in their country. One of them is to stop the export of palm oil.

More than half of the palm oil supply in the world comes from Indonesia.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Indonesia’s plans to ban export of palm oil.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/indonesia-bans-palm-oil-exports-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons Indonesia is banning palm oil export?
  2. What is your opinion about this economic decision?
  3. How is this going to impact other countries?
  4. How has your country been affected by the recent crisis?
  5. What are some economic decisions that your country has made amidst the recent crisis?

People Have No Money to Boil Potatoes

B1 – Intermediate

The war between Russia and Ukraine has substantially affected everyone around the world. The cost of living in United Kingdom has increased so much since the oil and gas prices have increased.

They now have this dilemma of “heating or eating”, parents have to choose between heating up and feeding their children. The basic necessity prices of food, heating, and transport have become quite unreasonable that even boiling potatoes is now a problem for some people.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about the worsening cost of living in the UK.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220328-cost-of-living-crisis-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How has the war between Russia and Ukraine affect other countries?
  2. What do you think will happen if this war continues?
  3. Has this war affected you and your country in some way? Explain how.
  4. Talk about your own lifestyle and the cost of living in the city you live in.
  5. How can we prevent poverty? Can the government help?

UK’s Help for Ukraine Refugees a Disgrace

B1 – Intermediate

Nick Ferrari, one of Britain’s most popular radio hosts, shames United Kingdom in their treatment of the refugees from Ukraine. Despite the fact that more than 79,800 Ukrainians applied for a visa, 40,900 visas only were issued and 12,000 refugees at most were accepted. A number of people say that United Kingdom is setting up the process of getting a visa too complicated for refugees to fail.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about UK’s refugee crisis response.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220411-uk-refugee-response-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why did Nick Ferrari call the government’s response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis “a disgrace”?
  2. What are some of the struggles of the Ukrainian refugees in applying for a visa in United Kingdom?
  3. Do you think that UK is setting up the process of getting a visa too complicated for refugees to fail? Explain.
  4. Is Spain accepting refugees from Ukraine? What is the process to become a refugee in your country?
  5. Are you open to accepting refugees in your own home? Why or why not?
  6. How can we help Ukrainians in our own ways?

Unpunished Crimes at UK Royal Palaces

B1 – Intermediate

There are a lot of Royal Palaces in United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace is the most well-known and visited of all the royal residences since it is located in the heart of the capital.

A shocking news has been revealed that even though the London’s royal palaces has the highest of security measures, there were still plenty of crimes that were committed in these palaces and loads of those culprits were not unpunished.

As of today, Elizabeth II is the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Next to the throne would be Charles, Prince of Wales.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about how many crimes committed at the Royal Palaces have been left unpunished.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220425-royal-palaces-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What kind of crimes happened in UK Royal Palaces?
  2. Why did these crimes happen there even though these places are supposed to have the highest security measures in London?
  3. Why are majority of those people who committed the crime left unpunished?
  4. Are there some reports of any crime near or at the Royal Palace of Madrid or any Royal Palace in Spain? Name some.
  5. What are the usual crimes in Spain and how are they punished? Are most of the guilty people punished?

What Fans Want These Days

B1 – Intermediate

Fans love and suppor their celebrity idols so much. They would do anything for them, even to buy or pay for things that would remind them of their favorite stars.

Cameo, a US company founded a website where a fan can message a celebrity and get selfies and videos from them directly.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the website Cameo.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/what-fans-want-these-days-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the website ‘Cameo’? Talk about the good and bad things about it.
  2. How is this website helpful to celebrities and their fans?
  3. Would you like to be a member of this platform? Which celebrity/celebrities would you like to a get a selfie or personalized videos from?
  4. How would you feel about getting a personalized greeting from your idol say, on your birthday or Christmas?
  5. If there is something your idol owns and could give to you, what would would it be and why?
  6. Why do you think fans spend so much time, money, and efforts for their favorite celebrities?

Brains Do Not Slow Down Until After 60

B1 – Intermediate

The brain is the most important organ in the human body. It controls our movement and everything that we do. It helps us think, makes us well focused and also helps us analyze problems.

But as we grow older, our brain processing starts slowing down.

Let’s read the article below and learn more about human brain processing speed and age.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2202/220221-mental-processing-speed-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does it take you a long time to make decisions? Why?
  2. When is the most active your brain has ever been?
  3. How would you likely feel when your brain starts deteriorating?
  4. What do you do to take care of your brain?
  5. How forgetful are you? Cite situations when you suffer forgetting things.
  6. How impulsive are you? Cite situations when you became impulsive in your decisions.

Posting Selfies on Social Media and Narcissism

B1 – Intermediate

Social media is a form of electronic communication where one can exchange messages, upload and download photos and/or videos, and also share information and ideas with other users. However, posting too many pictures and too much personal information about yourself can lead to narcissism.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about how posting too many selfies can result to narcissism.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1811/181113-social-media-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that posting selfies on social media can increase narcissism? Explain.
  2. What are the good things and bad things about social media?
  3. How could social media sites be beneficial for people?
  4. Does your personality change when you are on social media? Elaborate.
  5. People who post their selfies want attention and likes from other people. What is your opinion on this statement?

Flying Taxis

B1 – Intermediate

A taxi is a reliable source of transportation. All you need to do is tell the driver the destination you are headed to and he’ll take you there. What if taxis nowadays are also upgraded and can fly? What do you think will happen?

Let’s read the article below to learn more about flying taxis.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2202/220217-flying-taxis-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of flying taxis?
  2. How could flying taxis be good for the environment?
  3. What traffic rules would flying taxis need to follow?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of flying taxis?
  5. Would you like your town to have flying taxis? Why or why not?

104-Year-Old Woman Learns to Read and Write

B1 – Intermediate

Reading and writing helps us analyze, understand, and communicate well with others. These skills are useful for school, work, and in our daily lives. Literacy is important. No matter what your age is, it’s never too late to learn to read and write.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about the old woman who learns to read and write at the age of 104.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2112/211206-learning-to-read-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Kuttiyamma and her achievement?
  2. How important is literacy?
  3. What advice do you have to improve your reading and writing skills?
  4. We can do anything if we put our minds to it. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
  5. Do you think you would start learning something you do not know about when you are very very old? Why or why not?