Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Breast Cancer Screening Scandal Outrages Spain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A major scandal has erupted in the southern Spanish region of Andalucía, where thousands of women were reportedly never informed that their mammograms showed inconclusive or abnormal results, preventing crucial follow‑up tests. 

The fallout has triggered mass protests, the resignation of the regional health minister, and a national investigation into cancer‑screening programmes. Authorities say about 2,000 women may have been affected, and legal action is now being pursued. 

Read this article to know more about Andalusian health authorities failing to inform thousands of female patients about the results of their breast cancer screening.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251008-breast-cancer-screening-scandal-outrages-spain?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to bow to the pressure” mean? “Andalusia’s leader Juanma Moreno bowed to the pressure and announced the resignation of his health minister on Wednesday evening.” Use the word in a sentence. 
  2. What does “to lash out at someone” mean? “Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also lashed out at conservative leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo in parliament over the scandal, saying his party “defended the interests of private healthcare”.” Use the word in a sentence. 
  3. What does the phrase “to spill over into something” mean? “But the scandal spilt over into the national arena, with far-left Health Minister Monica Garcia saying on social media she had required all the regions to submit cancer screening data “to strengthen surveillance”.”  Use the phrase in a sentence. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the news that thousands of women were not informed about their breast cancer screening results?
  2. Why is it important for patients to receive timely information about medical tests?
  3. How might such a scandal affect public trust in the healthcare system?
  4. If it were you, would you go and join the protest? Why or why not?
  5. How do protests and public outrage influence government actions in healthcare scandals?

Spain Orders Poultry Indoors As Bird Flu Spreads

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Spain has ordered all high-risk areas to keep their poultry indoors starting November 10, 2025, after a surge in bird flu cases across Europe. The government said the move is a precaution to prevent farmed birds from coming into contact with infected wild birds.

The order affects several regions in the southwest, center, and north of Spain. While it may temporarily impact free-range farming, officials stress that keeping poultry indoors is necessary to protect animal health and prevent major outbreaks.

Read this article to know more about this restriction amid rising avian flu cases.

https://phys.org/news/2025-11-spain-poultry-indoors-bird-flu.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to confine something indoors” mean? “Spain will confine poultry indoors in several regions starting Monday in response to escalating cases of avian influenza across Europe, the agriculture ministry said Wednesday.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to prompt concern” mean? “The virus can spread through bird droppings and saliva, as well as contaminated food and water, prompting concern among farmers and health authorities.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “free-range” mean?  “Free-range poultry farming will be banned in these zones starting November 10, save for exceptional cases. No end date has been set.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is avian flu? What are all the information you know about it?
  2. What are some effects of avian flu on humans?
  3. What do you think about Spain’s decision to keep poultry indoors?
  4. How might this rule affect poultry farmers and industry?
  5. In your opinion, how important is it to balance food production with animal health and safety?

Free Gym Membership for Young People in Malta

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Malta has seen a rise in youth obesity and inactivity rates over the past years. 

As part of a government-backed push for a fitter generation, starting 2026, young people ages 16-21 can avail of a free 6-month gym membership. No catch, no lottery.

The objective is not only to promote fitness among the youths, but to start building the habit among youngsters from a very young age.

In the long run, this won’t just be another policy, but a means of prevention against future national health crisis.

Read the article about Malta’s national health initiative.

https://timesofmalta.com/article/free-gym-membership-young-people-officially-launched.1109164

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is a “gym enthusiast”?  “Abela, a gym enthusiast himself, said around 12,000 young people can benefit from the initiative, in which the government will be investing €2 million.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to seize an opportunity” mean? “Abela encouraged eligible youngsters to seize this opportunity.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to echo someone’s sentiments” mean? “Sports Minister Clifton Grima echoed Abela’s sentiments, saying the measure demonstrates how investing in sport and youth can unite the community around a healthy and positive lifestyle.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Malta’s free gym membership for people ages 16-21?
  2. Should other countries consider adopting the same initiative? Why or why not?
  3. What could be the impacts of this initiative in the citizens’ heath and wellness long term?
  4. Share your insights about this: We want to bring about a change in mentality – in how we view physical activity from an early age.
  5. How does the government in your own country encourage and support physical activity as part of the citizens’ lifestyle? What health and fitness programs do you have in your country?

Unesco Adopts Global Standards on Neurotechnology

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

The field of neurotechnology often described as a bit of a “wild west” for lack of regulations governing the said technology at present.

Chief of bioethics at UNESCO Dafna Feinholz said people have to be informed about neurotechnology’s potential benefits and risks, and the options they have.

UNESCO has adopted some guidelines governing the protection of our neural data.

Read the article about UNESCO’s set of global standards on the ethics of neurotechnology.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/06/unesco-adopts-global-standards-on-wild-west-field-of-neurotechnology

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “burgeoning” mean? “It is the latest move in a growing international effort to put guardrails around a burgeoning frontier – technologies that harness data from the brain and nervous system.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “wild west” mean here: “Unesco has adopted a set of global standards on the ethics of neurotechnology, a field that has been described as “a bit of a wild west”.” Use the expression in a sentence in the same context. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “bugbear” mean?  “The current frontier of neurotechnology lies in improving brain-computer interfaces, which despite recent breakthroughs are in their infancy – and in the proliferation of consumer-oriented devices, which Mathews said could raise privacy concerns, a bugbear of the Unesco standards.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your thoughts on the two recent developments in neurotechnology: artificial intelligence (AI) which offers vast possibilities in decoding brain data and the proliferation of consumer-grade neurotech devices.
  2.  What are your thoughts on the possibility of companies using neurotechnology to subliminally market to people during their dreams in the future?
  3. Share your insights on this: Neurotechnology has the potential to define the next frontier of human progress, but it is not without risks.
  4. Share anything you know about neurotechnology.

Workers Adopt Corporate Jargon

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

In the modern world of the workplace, corporate jargons such as “ICE”, “ping”, “circle back”, and “double click” abound. 

Employees, despite being overwhelmed with such business lexicon, just resort to adopting it and using them in their day-to-day correspondences at work.

Read the article about workers capitulating to this word salad of corporate jargon.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240202-the-animal-instinct-that-drives-workers-to-adopt-corporate-jargon

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “boots on the ground” mean? “The sales team has boots on the ground. They visit customers directly, attend trade shows, or be present at industry events to build relationships.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to double click on something” mean here: “We need to double-click on the data to understand the root cause”? Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to run something up the flagpole” mean here: “The company first ran the idea up the flagpole last year.”? Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the importance of corporate jargon?
  2. What are all the things wrong with it?
  3. What are your thoughts on all this work parlance these days? Do you think they are necessary? Explain.
  4. Share your insights on this: But as employees have come to understand office jargon, and even rely on it, Cooper cautions companies use these words to make processes opaque.
  5. Express your opinion on this: Cooper and Brown agree the popularity of corporate jargon has a fairly simple explanation: the desire for status in the workplace, or “human peacocking”.
  6. Cite at least three (3) industry-specific shorthands you use in your line of work and explain what they stand for and/or what they mean.

Should You Work for a Big or Small Company?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When choosing a job, people often wonder whether it’s better to work for a small company or a large one.

In this video, a career coach explains that small companies usually give you more hands-on experience because you handle many tasks. However, your career growth may depend on how fast the company grows.

On the other hand, large companies offer more structure, stability, and clear paths for promotion, but progress may be slow.

The speaker suggests that switching between small and large companies can actually help you grow faster and gain more diverse experience.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “clear path forward” mean in the sentence, “You have the safety of a large organization that is going to have opportunities for you to grow and a clear path forward.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “bounce between the ladders” mean in the sentence, “You can move up the ladder by bouncing between the ladders.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “risk taker” mean in the sentence, “Or whether you’re a little bit more of a risk taker and like those smaller companies”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which do you prefer: a big job in a small company or a small job in a big company? Why?
  2. Have you ever worked for a small or large company? What were the advantages and disadvantages?
  3. Do you agree that switching between small and large companies helps your career grow faster? Why or why not?

Signs You’re Working for a Failing Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many people believe that having a regular 9-to-5 job ensures stability, but the truth is that no job is ever completely stable. As the article below explains, whether it’s due to company mismanagement, a lack of demand, or even illegal activities, a failing business usually shows several warning signs. Read the full article, and if you’ve noticed any of the following at your place of employment, it might be time to restart your job search.

https://vocal.media/journal/10-signs-you-re-working-for-a-failing-business

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “no fault of one’s own” mean in the sentence, “We may arrive on time every day, do our very best, and even take on extra tasks without being asked, yet we could still be unemployed tomorrow through no fault of our own.”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  2. What does “read between the lines” mean in the sentence, “Those who can read between the lines, however, would be more than wise to plan their own escape”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
  3. What does “down the drain” mean in the sentence, “Company morale has gone down the drain”? Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions

  1. What do you think are the first signs that a company is failing?
  2. Have you ever worked for a company that showed some of these warning signs?
  3. How can employees protect themselves when a business starts to struggle?
  4. Do you think loyalty to a company is important even when things are going downhill?
  5. Which of the ten signs in the article do you think is the most alarming, and why?

Meaningless Jobs and Modern Slavery

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this talk, psychologist Jordan Peterson warns about how bureaucratic systems can slowly destroy your motivation and integrity.

He explains that when people are told to follow foolish or pointless rules, they often pretend to agree just to fit in.

Over time, this weakens both their character and their happiness. Peterson advises people to speak up early when asked to do something clearly unreasonable.

Watch the video to learn more about this topic.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “object” mean in the sentence, “You should object at the earliest possible point”? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “resentful” mean in the sentence, “It’ll make you resentful and irritated, and that will also undermine your motivation”? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “escape route” mean in the sentence, “You should always have an escape route planned, and it should be active”?
    Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think people sometimes follow rules they know are wrong or foolish?
  2. How can speaking up early prevent bigger problems later in the workplace?
  3. What are some healthy ways to deal with a toxic or overly controlling work environment?

The Most Toxic Person In The Workplace

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Simon Sinek shares a valuable lesson he learned from working with the Navy SEALs. He explains that while performance is important, trust is what truly defines a strong team. The SEALs value those who are not only capable but also reliable and supportive, the ones others know they can depend on.

Want to know who the most toxic person in the workplace is? Watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “lopsided” mean in the sentence, “The problem in business is we have lopsided metrics.”? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “got one’s back” mean? “Who’s always got your back and will be there with you when the chips are down.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What does “when the chips are down” mean in the sentence, “Who’s always got your back and when the chips are down, they will always be there with you?”? Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you think companies should prioritize trust as much as performance when promoting employees? Why or why not?
  2. Have you ever worked with someone who was high-performing but difficult to trust? How did it affect the team?
  3. What do you think makes a person trustworthy at work?

How to Work with an Insecure Boss

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Even in professional environments, not every boss leads with confidence. Some managers struggle with insecurity, which can show up as micromanaging, defensiveness, or taking credit for others’ work.

This video by Amy Gallo from Harvard Business Review explains how to recognize an insecure boss and offers practical ways to handle the situation without escalating conflict.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “to rile someone up” mean? “If your boss is riling you up, excuse yourself for a moment to take time to compose yourself and calm down.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to downplay” mean? “Don’t, in anyway downplay your efforts, but highlight the partnership.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “to set the tone” mean? “It’s never too late to reset the tone of your relationship.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions

  1. Have you ever worked or studied under someone who seemed insecure or controlling? How did it affect your performance?
  2. Why do you think some people become insecure after being promoted to leadership positions?
  3. Which of Amy Gallo’s tips (patience, teamwork, flattery, reassurance) do you think is most effective? Why?
  4. What are the possible effects of working for an insecure boss in the long term?
  5. If you were the manager, how would you prevent your own insecurities from affecting your team?