Tag: B1 – Intermediate

Europe’s Most-Wanted Criminals

B1 – Intermediate

A website of Europe’s most wanted shows that women can commit serious crimes too. In fact, 21 of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives are members of the fair sex.

Read more on this through this article and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191022-most-wanted-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was your reaction to this news?
  2. What is your comment on the statement, “Crime has no gender”?
  3. Are women equally as capable of committing serious crimes as men?

Living By the Sea Makes Us Happier

B1 – Intermediate

They say, ‘home is where the heart is‘. Who lives happier lives – is it the people who live by the beach or the ones who reside in the inland?

Read the article and find out how living near the coast helps with mental health.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191004-living-by-the-sea-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the result of the study?
  2. In which place do you want to live that could make you happier?
  3. What might be reasons living near the beach helps improve our mental health?

Food and Drinks on Public Transport

B1 – Intermediate

Public transport is used for going from one point to another. Some people use them for other things. They do other things while on the bus or train.

Read the article and find out what the UK government is planning to ban on public transport.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191012-public-transport-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the UK government thinking about doing?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this ban?
  3. Do you agree or disagree with this ban? Explain your position.
  4. What is your opinion on prohibiting fast food at football games?
  5. Do you ever eat or drink while on public transport? Why or why not?
  6. What other things do you do or see other people do while on public transport?

TripAdvisor To Stop Selling Animal Attractions Tickets

B1 – Intermediate

TripAdvisor, a famous travel website, will stop selling tickets to animal attractions.

Read more about the company’s new initiative.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1910/191006-trip-advisor-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why did TripAdvisor stop the sales of tours that involve animals?
  2. What is your opinion on this news?
  3. Describe your experience going to animal attractions.

City for Walking

B1 – Intermediate

Taking or going a walk is a good way to improve our health and also the best way to see the city. It is truly nice to go around our cities on foot. But the question is, is your city suitable for walking?

Read and listen to this story.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/city-for-walking-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion about Pontevedra?
2. Do you like walking? Why or why not?
3. Why is it important to have cities that are good for walking?
4. What are the benefits of walking?
5. Is your city good for walking?

Longest Luxury Cruise Sets Sail

B1 – Intermediate

One way of enjoying your holiday is going on a cruise. There are many things to love about cruise travel.

The Ultimate World Cruise, a 245-day trip has started, stopping at 111 ports in 51 countries on six continents.

Read about the longest luxury cruise below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1909/190902-luxury-cruise-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of the longest luxury cruise? Would you like to go on this cruise?
2. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so, talk about your experience. If not, would you like to go one day? Why or why not?
3. What is your ideal/dream holiday?
4. Talk about your most memorable trip.

Amazon Alexa Answers Health Questions

B1 – Intermediate

Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistants can listen to, answer questions, and follow commands. But should it give health advice too?

Read about AI assistants answering health questions from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1907/190712-alexa-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the good and bad things about an AI assistant answering questions about health?
2. Why are some people worried about this new feature of Alexa?
3. Would you use this feature to ask about your health questions?

Pet Dogs Lower Stress in Kids

B1 – Intermediate

It is believed that dogs play an important role in children’s development. A new study finds that dogs actually help stressed children.

Read about how having pet dogs help relieve children from stress from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1512/151204-anxiety-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the benefits of having a pet dog for children?
2. Do you believe in the idea that dogs help reduce children’s stress?
3. What might be reasons very young kids get stressed out?
4. What did your parents do when you were being anxious when you were little? / What do you do to help your children relax when they seem stressed out?
5. What would be the best pet for you? Why?

The West Outsources More IT Jobs to Eastern Europe

B1 – Intermediate

Every company wants to reduce its costs. Some Western European companies outsource jobs to Eastern Europe because its cheaper and workers there are highly qualified.

Read about outsourcing in Europe from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/business-economy/west-outsources-jobs-to-eastern-europe.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on outsourcing?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing?
3. Do you think outsourcing to other countries is positive or negative for a country’s economy?
4. Does your company outsource some of its functions to other countries?
5. What are ways companies lower their expenses?

Mobile Banking on the Increase

B1 – Intermediate

Only a little percentage in underdeveloped countries has access to banks but a lot of people have mobile phones. Nowadays, mobile banking is on the rise in these countries.

Read about the rise of mobile banking in underdeveloped countries from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/business-economy/mobile-banking-in-developing-countries.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is mobile banking growing in underdeveloped countries?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of mobile banking?
3. Do you do mobile banking? Why or why not?
4. How popular is mobile banking in your country?
5. What do you think are the future trends in banking?