Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Plant-Based Diet Helps the Heart

B1 – Intermediate

Your parents probably told you when you were young that you have to eat your vegetables because they’re good for you. However, a new study found that we may not be greatly reducing the risk of heart attacks by eating a lot of veggies because there are many other factors that may affect our heart.

Read more about the study on how plant-based diet helps our heart.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220310-plant-based-diet-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree that people should eat lots of vegetables? Explain.
  2. What are the other things that can affect our heart?
  3. Money and lifestyle also affect the heart. What is your opinion on this?
  4. How important is eating vegetables to you?
  5. What can you tell someone who doesn’t like eating vegetables too much/at all?

Bulletproof Backpack

B1 – Intermediate

In the US, schools may no longer be one hundred percent safe. Due to some shooting incidents in the past decade, there have been a couple of additional trainings and protocols for students in case such things happen in their schools.

In Israel, a company has created a special backpack to help with this situation. It is easy to use and offers protection from bullets.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about this bulletproof backpack.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/bulletproof-backpack-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think this backpack would be effective? Why or why not?
2. What would be some other good uses for this bag?
3. What should be some other measures that schools and the government take to prevent school shootings?
4. Are there similar inventions that you know of? What are they? Where are they used?
5. What does your city/country do to make sure schools are safe?

Ex Minister Gets a Knighthood

B1 – Intermediate

A knighthood is awarded to a Briton who has shown exemplary service to his country. It is considered as one of the highest honors one can ever receive. 

Gavin Williamson was a former minister and was fired twice. Despite this, he was still given the said title.

Read the article about about an ex minister who was fired from his positions twice and then proceeded to receiving a knighthood.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220307-uk-knighthood-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Williamson receiving a knighthood? Does he deserve the title?
  2. Do you think it’s true that the award is for Williamson staying quiet about allegations about Boris Johnson before? Explain your opinion.
  3. Should politicians who made mistakes be given another chance or awarded honors like this? Why or why not?
  4. If there was a similar title in your country, who do you think should get it now and why him?

Education

B1 – Intermediate

Education is a vital instrument for gaining knowledge and enhancing an individual’s existence. Depending on the quality of education, the process could include a few stages. Education is a crucial activity that has a considerable impact on humanity’s ethics and morals.

Let’s have a look at the transcript and listen to the audio about education.

https://listenaminute.com/e/education.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is good education?
  2. How important is education?
  3. Was there a high standard of education at your schools? Explain.
  4. Do you think the quality of education is slipping? Explain.
  5. What would you like to change about the education system in your country? Why?
  6. What do you think of the idea of lifelong education?

Selfie Damages Art

B1 – Intermediate

Taking selfies has made it much easier for all of us to record our daily activities. With just one click, we are able to capture important events and the simple joys in life. But is there such a thing as too much selfies?

Perhaps we should remember that certain spaces and events are sometimes not the proper place or moment for taking selfies. In Russia, an accident has resulted due to some serious damages.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about this unfortunate incident.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/selfie-damages-art-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What do you think of selfies? What are some of its pros and cons?
  3. Should selfies be limited or prohibited in public areas like museums? Why or why not?
  4. What other places should selfies be limited and why?
  5. Why do you think taking selfies is so popular?
  6. How have selfies changed self-expression and interactions?

Xenobots

B1 – Intermediate

Technology has come a long way. What once seemed impossible, now seem to be because of all the tools that are available to us. More inventions have been introduced including a new type of robot that can reproduce.

These “living” robots are currently being studied and they provide promising applications in different fields. Despite this, some people are still doubtful about the possibilities these robots can unleash.

Read the article below to learn more about xenobots.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2112/211202-xenobots-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this machine-animal hybrid?
  2. What might be the pros and cons of these robots?
  3. Where would these robots be most useful?
  4. Why are some people worried about these robots?
  5. What are some current applications of robots that are helpful?
  6. How should these experiments be monitored and evaluated?

Fast Fashion Harms the Environment

B1 – Intermediate

Fast fashion is the rapid production of inexpensive clothing because of high demand of the latest trends. Nowadays, fashion is getting cheaper and cheaper and we buy, use, and dispose of it faster than ever. Most people shop for clothes online since it is low-priced and convenient. Thus, making it easier for them to throw them away when they do not like it anymore. This is bad for the safety of the environment since most of these clothes end up in dumping grounds and only a very small percentage of it is upcycled or recycled.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about how fast fashion is bad for the environment.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2202/220210-fast-fashion.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about fast fashion?
  2. Why do you think fast fashion exist nowadays?
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of fast fashion?
  4. What would be the impact of fast fashion in the future if it continues to grow?
  5. What are some solutions to the problem with fast fashion and the problems it brings to the environment?

Birds Clean Streets

B1 – Intermediate

Sweden has a problem with litter. Smokers produce a huge amount of litter per year. The government has a plan to help solve this problem and to lessen the costs of cleaning the streets.

Swedish officials have decided to work with crows, partnered with a machine, to throw away these cigarette butts. They believe that they are easy to teach because they are smart.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript below to learn more about how these clever birds help with Sweden’s litter problem.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/birds-clean-streets-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some government mandates for smokers in your city?
  2. How is the general trash situation in your city/neighborhood?
  3. What are other birds/animals that can be used for a similar purpose?
  4. Does your government also have inventions or initiatives that help clean the city? What are they?
  5. What are some other special or unusual abilities that animals are capable of doing to help humans? Can some abilities be taught?

Why People Like Crime

B1 – Intermediate

Do you ever wonder why so many people enjoy bad things? They like watching and reading about or listening to crimes and other morbid events.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how much people like crimes.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/why-people-like-crime-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like crime stories? Why or why not?
  2. Why do you think a lot of people enjoy these kinds of stories/shows?
  3. What might be reasons more women are interested in crime stories than men?
  4. Experts say that women are more interested in a killer’s thoughts. Do you agree or disagree with this? Explain your side.
  5. What’s the most heinous crime do you know of? How did you know about it?

The New York Times Buys Wordle

B1 – Intermediate

There is a new craze in town. It’s Wordle, a web-based word game. The New York Times also owns some online games that their users can enjoy playing. It’s no surprise NYT wanted to add Wordle to their numerous games that can be found on their website.

Read this article to know more about The New York Times’ acquisition of Wordle.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2202/220203-wordle-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is this a good investment for The New York Times? Why or why not?
  2. Have you tried playing Wordle? If yes, what do you think of it? If not yet, would you try it now that you know about it?
  3. What other online word games have you tried playing?
  4. Why do you think Wordle became very famous in such a short time since its release in October 2021?
  5. Do you think people would continue playing this if it isn’t for free anymore? Why or why not?