Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

The Future of Fitness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As we step into 2026, healthy living is evolving beyond the basics of diet and exercise into a more integrated, mindful, and sustainable approach.

Read the article to know why recent research by American College of Sports Medicine, the top trend in fitness is not just movement it’s how movement, technology, rest, and recovery work together.

The Future of Fitness: ACSM Announces Top Trends for 2026

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “outpace” mean? “Although guidelines exist for evaluating wearables, rapid innovation often outpaces validation.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “wearable” mean? “When applied with intention, wearables enhance individualized coaching and help reinforce healthy habits over time. ” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “reinforce” mean? “Exercise professionals should consistently reinforce the unique role of exercise in sustainable weight outcomes and position themselves as trusted partners in this process. ” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s one healthy habit you’d like to start or improve this 2026?
  2. Do you think using fitness trackers really helps people stay consistent with exercise? Why or why not?
  3. How do you usually take care of your mental health or manage stress?
  4. Which do you find harder to maintain, eating healthy or getting enough sleep?
  5. How do you balance living healthy with enjoying your favorite comfort foods or lazy days?

NEO The Home Robot

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Are you sick of doing household chores? Your dreadful days of doing them might soon be over. NEO Home Robot is here!

Watch the video to find out more about NEO, the first humanoid robot for home use.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “human-level dexterity” mean? “But safe doesn’t mean limited. NEO’s hardware comes packed with features like human-level dexterity and a 55-pound carrying capacity so that it can handle all of your chores reliably.” Use the term in a sentence.
  2. What does “corrective intervention” mean? “If there is something that your NEO has not learned how to do, you can use expert mode where someone from 1X will supervise the session and provide corrective intervention to help NEO complete any task.” Use the term in a sentence. 
  3. What does “gesture” mean? “The gestures and the light rings express NEO’s intentions.” Use the word in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can NEO do? What are its limitations for the moment?
  2. What do you think about humanoid home robots like NEO that has autonomy, can do chores, and function as a companion?
  3. Are you ready to have your very own NEO at your house? Why or why not?
  4. What are your thoughts on letting NEO take care of tasks around your house so you can focus on what matters to you? Do you think it can really do this for you?
  5. How do you feel about this: If there is something that your NEO has not learned how to do, you can use expert mode where someone from 1X will supervise the session and provide corrective intervention to help NEO complete any task.

Main Character Energy

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

These days, there are many social media terminologies that shape how people express themselves, connect with others, and interpret the world around them. From catchy phrases to trending hashtags, these terms often reflect deeper ideas about identity, confidence, and belonging in the digital age. One such phrase centers around the idea of placing yourself at the heart of your own story embracing your experiences, choices, and presence as central to how your life unfolds.

Let’s read the article and find out more about how this idea influences self-image, mental health, and personal growth.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/un-numb/202508/what-does-main-character-energy-actually-mean?msockid=3e823237b7b86c5f2f8f21e1b6ac6ddf

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “on the verge of something” mean? “You’re always on the verge of cinematic transformation, with a deeply aesthetic sense of self, perfectly timed lighting, and a killer soundtrack.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. Define the phrase “algorithmic invisibility“. “It speaks to the desire to be seen, to feel visible and desirable in a culture shaped by algorithmic invisibility.” Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “coping strategy“. “In part, it’s affirmation. In part, a coping strategy. In part, it’s an online presence.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘main character energy’?
  2. Who in your life gives off strong main character energy, and what makes them stand out?
  3. In what ways could embracing a ‘main character’ perspective help someone feel more confident or grounded?
  4. Do you think it’s important to see yourself as the main character sometimes? Why or why not?
  5. How do social media trends shape the way people express or perform main character energy?

X to Sell Inactive Usernames

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Social media is changing how it handles old or unused accounts. One big platform now plans to sell inactive usernames, which has people talking about who really owns a name online, how it affects personal branding, and what it means for digital identity.

Let’s read the article to find out how this decision might change the way we think about online identity, who owns usernames, and how social media works.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/general/x-will-start-selling-inactive-usernames-soon/ar-AA1OPISp?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “handle” in this context? “According to a recent post on the website formerly known as Twitter, the company will soon start selling “handles that are no longer in use” to paying subscribers.” Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does the word “pithy” mean? “Generally, paid handles will be pithy, one word, “culturally significant names,” like @Pizza or @Tom.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What does the idiom “to play it safe” mean? “X’s inactive account policy says that users should log in “at least every 30 days” to keep their accounts active, though, so if you’re concerned about your username being taken, it’s best to play it safe.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your take on X’s decision to sell unused usernames?
  2. Do you use X? If so, what prompted you to create your account and when did that happen?
  3. What would make a social media username valuable enough for you to consider paying for it?
  4. Can you recall a time when your ideal username wasn’t available, how did you handle it?
  5. How do you decide what username to use across different platforms?

Resurgence of Preventable Diseases Threatens Children in East Asia and the Pacific

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that declining immunization coverage and delays in vaccination are putting children at serious risk.

Read the article to know a sharp rise in cases of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.

https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/item/28-05-2025-resurgence-of-preventable-diseases-threatens-children-in-east-asia-and-the-pacific?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “t0 miss out on something” mean? ” In the first months of 2025, countries like Cambodia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Viet Nam have reported a sharp rise in measles cases compared with the same period last year, signalling that far too many children are missing out on life-saving vaccines.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What is an “underserved community”? “It highlights the vulnerable children who are being left behind — those who haven’t received even a single dose of vaccine, living in underserved communities, missed by routine immunization and vaccination campaigns.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “systemic failure” mean? “The resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in East Asia and the Pacific reflects deeper, systemic failures.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Did you hear that some preventable diseases are making a comeback in East Asia?
  2. Can you guess how many measles cases were reported in the Philippines earlier this year?
  3. What other diseases do you think the article mentioned besides measles?
  4. Why do you think more kids are getting these diseases again?
  5. How do you feel about the fact that fewer children are getting vaccinated nowadays?

Social Media and Screen Time Limits for Minors in China

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

China is considering limiting the amount of time young people spend online and on social media sites.

On the other side are those who believe that the only way to deal with today’s internet addiction of the youths is to lessen their burdens that impact the quality of their lives offline.

Read the article and also watch the video about limits on internet access for young people in China.

https://www.voanews.com/a/chinese-officials-look-to-limit-social-media-and-screen-time-in-china-/8010657.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “circumvent” mean? “However, all of these regulations can be circumvented through using or creating accounts belonging to adults, who are not subject to the restrictions.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “phone check-in” mean? “Schools should assign less homework that requires phone check-ins and online research.” Use the term in a sentence. 
  3. What does “a rare space for something” mean? “Amid the busy academic and personal lives of young Chinese, the internet provides them with a rare space for privacy, which Wang said is fueling high levels of internet use.” Use the idiom in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on these regulations? 
  2. Do you think it is necessary to implement these limits in your own country too? How would the youths in your country react to internet access limits? 
  3. Do you think young people in your country use internet excessively? Why do you think this is? If so, what can be done to help them be less dependent on the internet or social media?
  4. Share your thoughts on this: Amid the busy academic and personal lives of young Chinese, the internet provides them with a rare space for privacy, which is fueling high levels of internet use.
  5. What is opinion on this: The real way forward is to lessen burdens impacting the quality of minors’ lives offline such as intense academic pressure.? 

What Makes a Good Citizen?

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Most of us hope for the best for our cities or countries, but often times, it feels so difficult to know what we can do to help spark changes in our own communities. Many people feel disconnected from politics and politicians. 

Perhaps it is worth understanding what it really takes to be an upstanding citizen in order for us to know our roles and duties. This way, we might be able to start the changes that we long for.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about what it means to be a good citizen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251009

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “erosion in the trust” mean? “We have seen a quick erosion in the trust of the population in the democratic institutions, such as the National Parliament, such as the government in office.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “to hold someone accountable” mean? “MyPolis mirrors the political activities that children will need as adult citizens – things like voting and holding politicians accountable.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “the thing that strikes someone” mean? “It’s good to know that this is happening in other places, but the thing that also really strikes me here is that politicians are actually listening to these kids and taking them seriously, giving them answers, because politicians, as we know, can be hard to pin down.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your own opinion, what makes a good citizen?  How do you try to be one?
  2. What do you think will happen if the gap between democratic institutions and young people continues to grow?
  3. Share your thoughts on this: Being a good citizen goes beyond following the rules and paying taxes. It is to improve the place where you live. 
  4. What do you think about Portugal’s MyPolis? Do you think other countries should follow suit, including yours?
  5. In your country, what projects does the government have to help young people re-engage with their citizenship? 

WHO Warns Antibiotic Resistance Is a Global Threat

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The WHO warns that roughly one in six laboratory confirmed bacterial infections globally are now resistant to antibiotic treatments. From data collected between 2016 and 2023 across more than 100 countries, around 40 % of samples showed antibiotic resistance. It signals that investments in new antibiotics, better diagnostics and stronger stewardship of existing ones are becoming ever more critical.

Read the article to know why antibiotic resistance threatens to make common infections difficult or impossible to treat.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-27204988

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain what the term “post-antibiotic era” means. “Without urgent, coordinated action by many stakeholders, the world is headed for a post-antibiotic era.” Use the term in a sentence.
  2. What does “last-resort drug” mean? “One of them – carbapenem – is a so-called “last-resort” drug used to treat people with life-threatening infections such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and infections in newborns, caused by the bacteria K.pneumoniae.” Use the term in a sentence.
  3. What does “wake-up call” mean here, “Ultimately, WHO’s report should be a wake-up call to governments to introduce incentives for industry to develop new, affordable antibiotics that do not rely patents and high prices and are adapted to the needs of developing countries.” Use the phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever heard of antibiotic resistance before? What do you think it means?
  2. Why do you think some countries are experiencing higher levels of resistance than others?
  3. Do you think people are aware of the proper way to use antibiotics? Why or why not?
  4. How do you feel knowing that common infections may become harder to treat in the future?
  5. What steps do you think individuals or governments can take to help solve this problem?

Digital Price Tags Are Changing Food Shopping

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the world continues developing in this day and age, digital devices and tools become more and more common. Recently, electronic shelf labels have begun spreading more rapidly in North American grocery stores, increasing consumers’ concerns about dynamic pricing.

If companies can change the price of their products easily with digital price tags, will prices of products become higher for certain individuals, or will it be used to lower the prices of products near expiry?

To learn more, watch the video below.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “dynamic pricing” mean? “Some lawmakers fear that electronic shelf labels (ESLs) will lead to dynamic pricing that could hurt consumers.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “year over year growth” mean? “It’s definitely an industry that is looking at significant double digit year over year growth for the foreseeable future.”  Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What is “a devil’s advocate”? “There’s definitely a strong devil’s advocate argument to be made that having some sort of surge pricing in those kind of contexts would actually be useful because it discourages hoarding.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the promises and pitfalls of electronic shelf labels? Do you believe that electronic shelf labels and digital price tags will influence companies to use dynamic pricing?
  2. How is dynamic pricing good and bad? You may cite examples.
  3. Do you think consumers are more likely to benefit or suffer from ESLs? Share your insights.
  4. In your opinion, should more big companies be switching to electronic shelf labels? Why or why not?

Lower Rates Supposed to Bring Homebuyers Back

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The housing market plays a vital role in the economy, influencing everything from household wealth to consumer confidence. In recent years, it has faced dramatic shifts driven by rising mortgage rates, limited housing supply, and affordability challenges. While many hoped that lower interest rates would spark renewed activity and ease pressure on homebuyers, that rebound has yet to arrive. Despite the decline in rates, high property prices and economic uncertainty continue to hold buyers back.

This article takes a closer look at the forces shaping today’s housing landscape — and what might come next. Keep reading to gain a clearer picture of where the market is headed and what it could mean for future homeowners.

https://www.aol.com/articles/lower-rates-were-supposed-bring-113001462.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to come/pull off the sidelines” mean? “The narrative: Mortgage rates at 11-month lows and hype around the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cutting plans would finally convince buyers to come off the sidelines.” Make your own sentence using the idiom. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “year-to-date low” mean? “Mortgage rates averaged 6.27% this week through Wednesday, near year-to-date lows, and down from the 6.6%-6.7% range they were stuck in most of this spring.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. Define “stalemate“. “Today’s market suggests an ongoing stalemate between buyers and sellers.” Give a synonym of this word and use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do high home prices continue to affect potential buyers?
  2. What role does affordability play in the current housing situation?
  3. Do you think lowering interest rates alone can solve the housing affordability problem? Why or why not?
  4. In your country, what other factors besides mortgage rates might be discouraging buyers?
  5. How might current trends in the housing market affect younger generations trying to buy their first home?