Tag: B2 – Upper intermediate

Compulsory Voting

 B2 – Upper intermediate

There are currently 32 countries with compulsory voting around the world. They include Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Singapore, Cyprus, Greece, and others. Of these 32 countries, 12 aggressively enforce their mandatory voting laws with penalties of varying kinds, including nominal penalties and small fees of as low as $15 and the deprivation of government services or the freezing of one’s bank account.

Listen to this podcast to know more about exercising our right to vote:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-150813

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you a voter? Why is important to vote? Should it be made compulsory?

2. Does compulsory voting contradict the concept of free will?

3. Do you agree with some people who choose not to vote as a form of political expression?

Why Do We Dream?

B2 – Upper intermediate

Dreaming is a part of our everyday lives and yet we don’t know much about it. While we don’t fully understand its purpose, a couple of theories might shed some light on this matter.

Watch the video below to find out why we dream.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what are the possible purposes of dreaming?
  2. What do you usually dream about?
  3. What do you think the usual things you dream of mean?
  4. Do you think dreams can be interpreted? Explain.

Why Do We Age?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Aging is a natural process that we are very well aware of. However, the process itself is still poorly understood. How and why exactly do we age?

Watch the video to find out.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the factors that contribute to aging?
2. Like Jeanne Louise Calment, would you like to live for 122 years? Why or why not?
3. How long do you think is the ideal lifespan?
4. Do you think it is possible for people to not age at all?

The Pros and Cons of Pesticides

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For many years, people have relied on using pesticides in order to prevent agricultural catastrophes. However, it is not without consequences. What are the negative effects of using pesticides?

Watch the video below to find out.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using pesticides?
2. After banning DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), do you think Paul Hermann Müller’s Nobel Prize should have been revoked?
3. Are there strict regulations regarding the use of pesticides in your country?
4. What do you think will happen in the event of an agricultural catastrophe?
5. Can you think of alternatives to chemical pesticides not mentioned in the video?

Olive Oil Protects Brain from Alzheimer’s

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Extra-virgin olive oil is said to “protect memory and learning ability and reduce the formation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain – classic markers of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Read more about the results of this study on the benefits our brains get from olive oil.

https://www.voanews.com/a/mht-olive-oil-protects-brain-from-alzheimers-study/3911487.html

Discussion Questions:

1. In your own words, define and describe Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Aside from Alzheimer’s disease, what other conditions exhibit cognitive decline?
3. What are the other benefits of olive oil?
4. Does olive oil have any negative effect on the body?

Mediterranean Sea Acidification

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Research shows that a portion of the Mediterranean Sea’s acidity has reached an almost 7-percent increase. This phenomenon poses a threat on sea creatures like oysters and mussels.

https://www.voanews.com/a/rising-temperatures-acidification-threaten-mediterranean-sea-species/3913767.html

Discussion Questions:

1. In your own words, describe the cause/s and effect/s of ocean acidification.
2. Based on the article, what caused the acidification of the Mediterranean Sea, and what are its effects?
3. In your opinion, what will be the impact of this phenomenon on countries like Italy, France and Spain?

Students in Amsterdam Share Housing With Refugees

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are at least two biggest problems in every European country. They are: the influx of refugees and the increasing prices of apartments. Amsterdam might have a solution to this problem. They have introduced a new concept called “Startblok” where university students can live in a low-priced good quality apartments with refugees.

Watch the video, listen to the audio, and read the transcript to know more about this integration project between university students and refugees.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/students-amsterdam-share-housing-refugees/3695391.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the students and refugees expected to do in exchange for the cheap housing?
  2. What are your thoughts on the “Startblok” project? Do you see this succeeding in your country?
  3. What is the general attitude towards refugees in your country? Do you think that refugees find it difficult to integrate into your local community?
  4. Is housing cheap in your country? Would you ever consider moving abroad in exchange for lower housing costs?

Spanish Smart City

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The fast advent of technology has helped improve our lives in a tremendous way. Have you ever heard of the term “Smart City” before? A Smart City uses technology to help locals live conveniently and comfortably. Apps are developed to aid locals in doing things such as finding a parking space, checking your favorite shop’s business hours, among others.

Watch the video and read the article to learn more about how Santander is becoming a smart city.

https://www.voanews.com/a/spanish-smart-city-project-saves-time-money/3274146.html

Discussion Questions:

1. How can drivers in Santander find out where they can find available parking spots?
2. What made all these innovations possible?
3. What do you think about the technological innovations in Santander?
4. Do you know of any other “smart” cities in the world?
5. What do you think big cities would look like in 100 years?
6. How do you think public transportation will change in the future?

Generation Vacation: Holiday with Our Parents

B2 – Upper Intermediate

I bet you have heard of the word “quarter-life crisis” wherein at the age of 25, you are no longer too young to be an adult and you are already too old to be a teenager. Nowadays, it’s becoming more common to stay living with your parents because it’s too expensive to rent on your own. Sometimes, because of generation gap, we experience misunderstanding with our parents.

Here’s a unique article about a boy’s experience traveling with his mom and how this memorable trip changed how he thinks about her.

Read the interesting story below and let’s answer the questions together!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/relationships/generation-vacation-happens-millennials-like-go-holiday-parents/

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever traveled with your parents before? If yes, how was it and where did you go?
2. Can you tell me one of your most memorable trips abroad with your parents?
3. Talk about the difference between traveling with friends and family. What are the advantages and disadvantages when you travel with your family?
4. Do you prefer to travel with friends, relatives, or alone? Why?
5. What do you think it was like traveling for our parents “during their time”?

Slow Aging

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Getting older is inevitable, but our diet and lifestyle play a huge role in how we look and feel along the way. Aging doesn’t necessarily mean getting sick or feeling less than our best — if we pay attention to a few key factors and make a few important shifts, we can age healthfully and feel as optimal as possible.

Read the article and be able to answer the following questions.

Specific social behaviors and lifestyle choices affect aging. For example, if you smoke, then you will likely get dry, rough skin. There are wrinkles around the lips that come with smoking too. Or if you frequently suntan, then your skin will eventually become leathery. You’ll also develop much deeper wrinkles around the eyes. Stress can lead to dark circles beneath the eyes too. And that’s just your physical appearance, as smoking, sun, and stress affect your unseen inside. However, scientists could only guess how large the effects might be, at least until now.

Scientists have turned to identical twins. They are closely examining the lifestyles of the siblings to determine and better measure which social behaviors affect physical and mental health. These twins start as exact copies of one another, yet differences accumulate through the years. Photos show just how obvious lifestyle choices affect the outward appearance of the body. There are internal differences too. The study is currently examining 186 pairs of twins.

It should be noted that positive lifestyle choices are also being recorded. Diets with a lot of fruits and vegetables are compared to less healthy diets, for example. Scientists are also looking at the amount of exercise the twins get, the amount of stress in their lives, and if their outlook is positive or negative. Each adds or subtracts years from a person’s life, as well as their overall healthfulness.

The ultimate goal is to one day discover the fountain of youth. This would allow humankind to double or triple their lifespan. In all likelihood, the near-future breakthroughs will add a decade or two. Twins may hold an important piece to an immense and very difficult puzzle.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

  1. How concerned are you with aging? Please explain.
  2. Do members of your family live long and healthy lives? Please explain.
  3. What lifestyle choices have you made that have had negative effects?
  4. What lifestyle choices have you made that have had positive effects?
  5. If humans could double their lifespan, would it be a good idea? Why/not?