Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Dentist Visits an Elephant

B2 – Upper intermediate

Dental care is necessary. Good teeth doesn’t only make you look good, but also encourages appetite.

Read the article and watch the video to know about an elephant who needed a dental check-up.

Dentist visits an elephant

Discuss:

1. Do zoo animals in your country get ample treatment and care?
2. When was the last time you went to a zoo or an attraction with animals?
3. How do you feel about dentists? When was the last time you paid a visit to your dentist?
4. What are some dental procedures you’ve had?

Food Theft ‘Not a Crime’

B2 – Upper Intermediate

An Italian court has ruled that stealing a small amount of food due to starvation is not a crime. A man’s sentence was overturned because his lawyer argued that he only committed the crime out of desperation.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36190557

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with this Italian court ruling? Why or why not?
  2. What are the good things and consequences of the said ruling?
  3. What should be done with people who are caught stealing food?
  4. What do people in your country do when they are starving and don’t have any money to buy food?

Growing Organic Food ‘Sin Fronteras’

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Organic food and organic products have increased its popularity in the last years.

Click the title below and watch the video. Be ready to share your thoughts and talk about health.

Discussion Questions:

1. What has farming taught Eduardo Rivera?
2. Why is he very interested in organic farming? What is his goal?
3. How does he promote his products?
4. How are organic products fairing in your country?

Dinosaurs Already Decreasing Before Asteroid Hit

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B2 – Upper intermediate

Has the existence of dinosaurs crossed your mind yet? What if we co-exist with them? Whatever your answer may be, there sure is some discussion on the existence of dinosaurs.

Let’s learn more about this through the research made by a Japanese paleontologist.

Dinosaurs Already Decreasing Before Asteroid Hit

Discuss:

1. What evidences prove the existence of dinosaurs in the past?
2. Why do you think the dinosaurs have lost their place on earth?
3. Explain the beliefs of scientists why the dinosaurs became extinct.
4. Have you ever been to a natural museum?

Instagramming Your Food Makes It Taste Better

B2 – Upper Intermediate

It is often said that “we eat with our eyes“. Do you agree with this saying?

This article will show you the truth about the relationship between taking a photo of your food and how it can taste better.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/food-porn-instagram-psychology/

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, how does food become more delicious when you take a photo of it first before you actually eat it? Do you agree with this?
  2. Do you follow any food-related accounts on Instagram? Why or why not? If yes, talk about the interesting thing about that page/account.
  3. How do you feel about people’s addiction of taking pictures of their food before they eat it? Are you guilty of this habit?

First Human Head Transplant

B2 – Upper intermediate

Organ transplants have saved many lives. But, an Italian neurosurgeon wants to take a few steps further with his first human head transplant.

Read the article below to learn more about Dr. Canavero and his potential patient.

First Human Head Transplant Planned for 2017

Discuss:

1. Is Dr. Sergio Canavero’s idea worth a try?
2. Do you believe that the current technology we have is well- equipped for this attempt?
3. Would you volunteer for a medical experiment for greater and good intentions?

Doctors Say No to Tackling in Rugby

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B2 – Upper intermediate

Rugby has got to be one of the toughest and testosterone-filled sport out there. There’s beauty and strength in the game, but also danger.

Click on the title below and be ready to express your thoughts about the sport.

Doctors say no to tackling in rugby

Discuss:

1. What are the two sides discussed in this article?
2. How do you feel about contact sports like rugby or American football?
3. Do you agree with what the article is saying?
4. Aside from rugby, what do you think are other sports that can be physically dangerous?

Fear Over Eating Disorder Care

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There is a commonly held view that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. Eating disorders are considered serious illnesses that can affect a person’s eating behaviors. Some people, mostly young girls, go too far with their aspiration to become slim.

Watch the video and read the article on how Japan is tackling the issue of eating disorders.

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36095287

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are causes of eating disorders and how do they affect people who have them?
  2. What should be done to prevent this from happening and to help those suffering from it?
  3. Why is there a stigma around eating disorders and their families and what are the consequences of these to them?
  4. Who should be held responsible for illnesses like eating disorders? Explain your point.
  5. Why is it important to spread awareness about this health issue?

3D Printing: Turn Your Head into Chocolate Lollipops

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Imagine your head as a chocolate. Now, you can actually have it done and enjoy watching your friends eating a candied version of your head.

Click on the link below and express your thoughts about this start-up company and their sweet idea.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35040661

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the process of making the 3D chocolate heads.
2. What do you think of this start-up company?
3. What is your opinion of 3D printing? Do you think it has its own limitations?
4. If you were throwing a party, would you give out chocolate heads as sweets or souvenirs?
5. Would you like a candy version of yourself on a stick?

Getting Paid to Play

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We’ve all seen ads of odd jobs for big bucks. Getting paid to watch videos or to answer surveys. But most of them turn out to be hoaxes. Too good to be true.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

David Storey of Australia purchased a private island for $26,500. The sum may sound like a ridiculously cheap price. However, the island cannot be reached by any boat or plane because it’s virtual. In other words, the place doesn’t exist in the real world. It’s part of a computer program for players in the role-playing game, Entropia. The island was recently recognized as the priciest virtual object ever purchased with real money by Guinness World Records.

You now may wonder if Storey is a little bit crazy. However, don’t judge him so quickly because the twenty-seven-year-old graduate student currently earns more than $100,000 per year from the game. He is able to mix recreation and work. He runs the island like a rare game preserve, where hunters are taxed to use the land. He then exchanges the virtual money, known as Entropian dollars, for real cash. There are similar businesses online, like an asteroid space resort and a space station. If either of these properties were sold, they could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars!

People who are unfamiliar with online role-playing games may see the whole concept as ridiculous. Yet you have to give kudos to the gamers who have been able to succeed in an often competitive virtual world. David Storey and others like him don’t just live from paycheck to paycheck. If they did so, then the money would suddenly dry up if they quit playing to take a vacation or deal with a personal crisis. Instead, these individuals are making a lot of money. Even the most cynical individual has to respect the money earned. Gamers like Storey are getting paid to play.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you want to get paid for playing a video game? Why/not?
2. Would you want to get paid for doing something you really love? Why/not?
3. How is buying a virtual object different from buying luxury goods you don’t really need?
4. Are people like Storey just very lucky, or do they have some special quality?
5. If someone you knew wanted to make money online, what sort of advice would you give?