Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

The Unfortunate Truth About GMOs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

All across the internet and on traditional outlets, Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs have been lambasted as dangerous, unnatural, and unhealthy. And in America, GMOs have to be labelled as such, painting these items in a further negative light. But is the negative reputation of GMOs actually true, or have they been unfairly treated?

Watch this video about

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “fear-mongering” mean? “Nah, all of that is nonsense. The real problem is that they need to fire their PR team. Because they’re a victim of a widely successful fear-mongering campaign.” Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “school of thought” mean? “Whenever I discuss GMOs online, there are two schools of thought that I frequently have to debunk.”  Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “best bet” mean? “If consuming fewer pesticides is your goal, then maybe reaching for the GMO might be your best bet.”  Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What were your thoughts on GMOs before and after this video?
  2. Why do you believe GMOs were viewed as dangerous despite the contrary scientific research?
  3. How does lack of information negatively affect people’s views about GMOs?
  4. Do you believe more people would buy GMOs if they were properly informed about them?

Taking a 5-Minute Walk Every Hour May Help Offset the Effects of Sitting

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A recent study suggests that taking a 5-minute walk every hour may help reduce the harmful effects of sitting for long periods. Participants who took regular walking breaks reported feeling less tired, having a better mood, and experiencing improved blood circulation.

Read the article to know how short walks can help people stay active. They also recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week for overall health.

https://www.health.com/five-minute-walk-every-hour-offsets-effects-of-sitting-12005804

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cardiometabolic” mean? “They tested five-minute walks because previous studies have found that this time frame yields better cardiometabolic, mood, and fatigue outcomes than shorter intervals, while still being a realistic goal.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “reset button” mean here: “
    Walking breaks serve as physiological reset buttons—they reactivate the muscles in your legs, improve circulation, and give your brain a much-needed break.”     Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “hidden cost” mean? “There is a hidden cost to our sedentary lifestyles.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of taking a 5-minute walk every hour?
  2. Why can sitting for long periods be harmful to our health?
  3. Do you usually take breaks while working or studying? Why or why not?
  4. What are some easy ways to stay active during a busy day?
  5. Do you think you could make this habit part of your daily routine? Why or why not?

Hydration Breaks at the World Cup 

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

A hydration break is a short pause during a World Cup match when play is temporarily stopped. During this time, players drink water and rest. This helps them maintain body temperature and prevent fatigue, especially in hot conditions.

However, many people have expressed dissatisfaction with the said water breaks.

Read the article about the controversial hydration breaks at the World Cup.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2606/260622-hydration-breaks-world-cup.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “hydration break”? ”Football fans worldwide are not happy about the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “jeering” mean? “Spectators in the stadiums have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the breaks in play by booing and jeering.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “consternation” mean? ”They are not the only ones to express their consternation.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad things about hydration breaks during a sports event such as football?
  2. Personally, what is your opinion about the hydration breaks at the World Cup?
  3. Do you agree or disagree, “The breaks disrupting the free-flowing nature and momentum of games.”?
  4. Share your opinion, “The breaks are mainly for commercial reasons.”
  5. What is your opinion on this, “Given the financial benefits, it is highly likely that the breaks will remain a long-term feature.”?

AI Uses Our Drinking Water

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Over one billion messages are sent to AI chatbots every day, and every interaction requires water to support the data centers that power these systems.

As AI use continues to grow, experts are raising concerns about its increasing demand for freshwater resources.

Watch the video to learn why AI uses water and why its water consumption is expected to increase in the future.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to chuck in” mean? “ChatGPT is just one AI bot. Chuck in Gemini, DeepSeek, Claude, and others.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “striking though it is” mean? ”Striking though it is, some experts are more than a little skeptical of Sam Altman’s estimate on water usage.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What do the terms “oriented task” and “backup-oriented task” mean in AI? ”Can we launch satellites that can at least do some more backup-oriented or other oriented tasks? ” Use the terms in sentences. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the potential environmental consequences of AI’s water consumption?
  2. Should tech companies be required to disclose how much water their AI systems use? Why or why not?
  3. What solutions could help reduce the water usage of AI technologies?
  4. How can governments balance technological innovation with environmental sustainability?
  5. Do you think the benefits of AI outweigh its environmental costs? Explain your reasoning. 

US Supreme Court Rejects End to Birthright Citizenship

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Birthright citizenship in the United States means that most people born on U.S. soil automatically become U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ citizenship. It is based on the Fourteenth Amendment and has been a key part of American law, though it remains the subject of ongoing legal and political debate.

President Donald Trump has sought to end or limit birthright citizenship through executive action, arguing that the Constitution should not automatically grant citizenship to every child born in the United States. His efforts have faced legal challenges, with opponents arguing that the Fourteenth Amendment protects birthright citizenship and that changing it would require a constitutional amendment or a different interpretation by the courts.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected former President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship, ruling that his executive order violated the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision reaffirmed that nearly all children born on U.S. soil are automatically U.S. citizens, preserving a constitutional principle that has been in place for more than 150 years.

Watch the video about US Supreme Court rejects one of Trump’s signature anti-immigration policies which is to end to birthright citizenship.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “birthright citizenship” mean? “It was on his very first day when Donald Trump returned to the White House that he signed an executive order trying to end birthright citizenship.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “enshrine” mean? ”This is a right enshrined in the Constitution, it’s difficult to see how he can overturn the US Supreme Court’s ruling.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “ruling” mean? ”After the ruling today, it can never be enforced.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the main arguments for and against birthright citizenship?
  2. What is your opinion about Trump trying to abolish birthright citizenship and the U.S. Supreme Court deciding to uphold it? 
  3. Should birthright citizenship apply to all children born in a country? Why or why not? What are the rules in your country regarding this?
  4. Do you think birthright citizenship reflects a country’s values? Explain how so.
  5.   How could changing birthright citizenship affect immigrants and their families?

MIT Predicts Societal Collapse

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

The general quality of life for the average person has become equal to or better than that of the rulers of history’s greatest empires.

However, the sustainability of our modern society is fragile, and the future remains uncertain.

According to one of MIT’s most influential prediction models, if current global trends continue, our society could collapse within the next 14 years.

Watch the video

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “too much weight given to something” mean? “Is the fact that this report is ahead of schedule actually something to be worried about or is this all just a case of too much weight being given to statistical correlations?” Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “to hedge one’s bets” mean? “Like good economists, the researchers hedged their bets.”  Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “a fool’s errand” mean? “Predicting the future exactly is a fool’s errand.” Use this idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors does the MIT model identify as contributing to a possible societal collapse?
  2. Do you think the prediction is realistic? Why or why not?
  3. What actions could governments, businesses, and individuals take to help prevent such an outcome?
  4. How important is sustainable development in ensuring the long-term stability of society?
  5. What are the potential consequences if current global trends continue unchanged?
  6. How should scientific predictions like this influence public policy and personal decision-making?

Tips to Budget, Invest, and Retire Early

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Financial experts recommend starting to invest as early as possible, even with small amounts. They also encourage creating a realistic budget, avoiding unnecessary debt, and planning for retirement based on personal goals rather than following traditional expectations.

Read the article to know why consistent financial habits are more important than trying to get rich quickly.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/28/expert-personal-finance-money-tips?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “index fund” mean? ” Letting go of that belief and investing in low-cost index funds instead allowed her to pay off loans and retire early.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “financial freedom” mean? “Money coach Bernadette Joy emphasizes creating a personalized vision for financial freedom, noting that most people have never defined what “enough” means to them.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “nest egg” mean? “Ask family to help build your kids’ nest egg.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you usually make a budget? Why or why not?
  2. What is one money habit you would like to improve?
  3. Do you think it’s important to start investing at a young age? Why?
  4. Have you ever saved money for a big goal? What was it?
  5. What is the best financial advice you have ever received?

Fewer Gen Z Rely on Family for Financial Assistance

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A recent study by the Bank of America (BofA) found that fewer young adults rely on financial help from their families than in previous years. However, many still live paycheck to paycheck due to rising housing costs, student debt, and everyday expenses.

Watch the video and read the article to know why many Gen Z adults are openly discussing budgeting and saving money, a trend known as “loud budgeting.”

https://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/content/newsroom/press-releases/2026/05/bofa-study-finds-fewer-gen-z-rely-on-family-for-financial-assist.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “side hustle” mean? “Redefining what it means to take control of their finances in early adulthood, nearly 70% of Gen Z have taken concrete steps in the past year to manage rising costs, including cutting back on dining out (40%), passing on events with friends (24%) and picking up a side hustle (16%).” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to weigh on someone” mean? “However, housing costs still weigh heavily on this generation, with nearly 30% of those surveyed pointing to housing and rent as top barriers to financial success, a figure that has remained consistent in recent years.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “loud budgeting” mean? “From $0 date nights to loud budgeting, Better Money Habits® Survey reveals how Gen Z is managing through affordability challenges and social spending pressure.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, why are many young adults still living paycheck to paycheck?
  2. What are your thoughts on loud budgeting?
  3. What are some of the biggest financial challenges facing young adults today?
  4. How has financial support from families changed compared to previous years?
  5. What can young adults do to improve their financial situation despite rising living costs?

The Rise of Long-Term Unemployment

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Google is facing challenges as more people use AI tools and social media instead of traditional search. As search habits change and users rely on direct answers, concerns are growing about the future of web traffic, online content, and Google’s search dominance.

Watch the video and find out about how AI search is changing the web, why fewer users are visiting websites, how Reddit has benefited from the shift, and what it could mean for the future of online information.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cold lead” mean? “I think I banged on every person’s door in my LinkedIn connections. I had found every single connection I had and there was just cold lead and a no.”Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “low hire, low fire” mean? ”The rising amount of long-term unemployed people is the sign of the low hire, low fire environment, with companies reluctant to increase head counts amid higher interest rates and the rise of artificial intelligence.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “non-farm payroll” mean? ”That’s exemplified by the hiring rate for US non-farm payrolls, which stood at 3.5% in March.” Use the term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think long-term unemployment is primarily an individual issue or a societal one? Why?
  2. What are the benefits of long-term unemployment? How about its hidden tolls?
  3. What’s the labor market conditions like in your own country at present?
  4. What are some of the biggest structural challenges facing your country’s labor market today?
  5. What are your thoughts on this, “Economists are interested in this group of (long-term unemployed) people because their experience can help determine the health of the American labor market.“?
  6. What role should the government play in reducing unemployment and improving job security?

Google Just Killed Websites

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Google is facing challenges as more people use AI tools and social media instead of traditional search. As search habits change and users rely on direct answers, concerns are growing about the future of web traffic, online content, and Google’s search dominance.

Watch the video and find out about how AI search is changing the web, why fewer users are visiting websites, and what it could mean for the future of online information.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “closed-loop” mean? “Google is transforming from a gateway to the internet into a closed-loop answer machine.”Use the word in a sentence.
  2. What does “feedstock” mean? ”Publishers created content, Google helped people find it, and the traffic flowed back to the source. Now, that relationship has shifted. The web is less a partner than a feedstock.” Use the word in a sentence.
  3. What does “paywall” mean? ”Doubt and cynicism become the default. That’s not how human knowledge is supposed to develop. Now, curiosity is run by gatekeepers and paywalls.” Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of AI providing answers directly in search results?
  2. Do you think it is fair for AI search tools to use information from websites without sending users to those sites? Why or why not?
  3. How could the decline in website revenue impact the quality and availability of online information?
  4. How might AI-powered search change the future of the internet and online publishing?
  5. What responsibility do technology companies have in protecting the sustainability of the online content ecosystem?
  6.   Do you prefer getting quick AI-generated answers or visiting websites for more detailed information? Why?