Tag: Business

World’s Largest Cruise Ship

B1 – Intermediate

A cruise ship is a large ship that stops at different ports and takes people to different destinations for means of travel and leisure.

The Royal Caribbean’s “Wonder of the Seas” is the largest cruise ship ever and it had set sail.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about the largest cruise ship ever.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220317-cruise-ship-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about the Wonder of the Seas? Would you like to go on a cruise on this ship? Why or why not?
  2. Have you ever gone on a cruise? Talk about your experience. If not, would you like to and where would you like to go?
  3. What do you think of the movie ‘Titanic’?
  4. What are the good and bad things about cruises?
  5. How environmentally-friendly are cruise ships? Explain.

Smartphone You Can Repair

B1 – Intermediate

Smartphones are now part of our young generation’s lives. By using it most of the time, it can easily get drained and damaged. Getting them fixed by repairing experts may cost so much money that’s why others prefer to fix it themselves. Luckily, there’s a company who lets us do this.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about smartphones that you can repair yourself.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2203/220321-smartphone-repairs-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel when your smartphone gets broken/damaged?
  2. Do you think it’s a good idea to repair your own mobile phone? Explain.
  3. How can the electronics industry reduce its waste?
  4. How can we reduce our e-wastes?
  5. How durable and long-lasting should smartphones be? Why?

Electric Scooter Speaker

B1 – Intermediate

Electric scooters have become very trendy nowadays. They are safe, eco-friendly, and most of all, very convenient to park. It’s fun, easy to ride, and takes little storage space. They are much more cheaper than cars and people can afford to buy and use them.

The electric scooter maker Segway made a speaker that could warn others about a scooter coming their way.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about Segway’s Engine Speaker.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220418-electric-scooters-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this speaker? In your opinion, how useful is it?
  2. What are the good and bad things about electric scooters?
  3. Should people be required a driving license to use an electric scooter? Why or why not?
  4. What do you think of being able to use a V12 engine sound?
  5. What causes noise pollution in your town?

Elon Musk Buys Twitter

B1 – Intermediate

Elon Musk is one of the most intelligent people alive as well as one of the richest with a net worth of around 20 billion dollars. Many know this man by his three highly successful companies; SolarCity, Tesla, and SpaceX.

Let us read the article below and learn more about Elon Musk buying Twitter.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2204/220428-twitter.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about Elon Musk’s decision to buy Twitter?
  2. Musk thinks Twitter has a lot of potential. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
  3. What do you know about Elon Musk?
  4. What are the good and bad things about social media websites?
  5. How important is free speech? Explain.

Illegal Ivory Business

B1 – Intermediate

In Africa, elephants are being illegally hunted for their tusks. These tusks contain ivory that are used in making expensive ornaments. Hunting elephants is illegal in Africa but sadly, this illegal activity is still ongoing. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the illegal ivory business.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/illegal-ivory-business-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that hunting elephant for ivory should be illegal? Why or why not?
  2. What illegal businesses do you know exist in your country? How do they operate?
  3. Who do you think should get a harder punishment – those who hunt elephants for ivory or those who buy the tusks/ivory? Why?
  4. Do you also think that if people who buy the tusks go to prison, the killings of elephants will stop? Explain.
  5. What are other ways to stop this illegal business?

Bulletproof Backpack

B1 – Intermediate

In the US, schools may no longer be one hundred percent safe. Due to some shooting incidents in the past decade, there have been a couple of additional trainings and protocols for students in case such things happen in their schools.

In Israel, a company has created a special backpack to help with this situation. It is easy to use and offers protection from bullets.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about this bulletproof backpack.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/bulletproof-backpack-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think this backpack would be effective? Why or why not?
2. What would be some other good uses for this bag?
3. What should be some other measures that schools and the government take to prevent school shootings?
4. Are there similar inventions that you know of? What are they? Where are they used?
5. What does your city/country do to make sure schools are safe?

The New York Times Buys Wordle

B1 – Intermediate

There is a new craze in town. It’s Wordle, a web-based word game. The New York Times also owns some online games that their users can enjoy playing. It’s no surprise NYT wanted to add Wordle to their numerous games that can be found on their website.

Read this article to know more about The New York Times’ acquisition of Wordle.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2202/220203-wordle-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is this a good investment for The New York Times? Why or why not?
  2. Have you tried playing Wordle? If yes, what do you think of it? If not yet, would you try it now that you know about it?
  3. What other online word games have you tried playing?
  4. Why do you think Wordle became very famous in such a short time since its release in October 2021?
  5. Do you think people would continue playing this if it isn’t for free anymore? Why or why not? 

McDonald’s Potato Shortage

B1 – Intermediate

Undoubtedly, one of McDonald’s most important products is their french fries. But nowadays, they are having problems getting enough supply of potatoes in Japan.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about McDonald’s Japan’s potato shortage and how they managed.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/mcdonalds-does-not-have-enough-potatoes-level-2

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on McDonald’s solution to their problem?
  2. What do you think would happen if you had the same potato shortage problem in your country? 
  3. Have you ever gone to a restaurant and they unfortunately do not have the dish you wanted? How was your experience then?
  4. Has there ever been a shortage of any produce or product in your city/country? What product was it and how long did it last? What did you do at the moment?
  5. How much do you like potatoes? How important are potatoes in your country’s cuisine?

Hainan Towers Building Permit

B1 – Intermediate

Evergrande Group is a big Chinese real estate company. They have built many buildings in Danzhou City, China including properties in a man-made resort island. 

However, there is a big problem. The government says the company does not have building permits so these buildings are illegal and they need to be demolished.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the Evergrande Group’s building permit problems.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hainan-towers-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think will happen to the company?
  2. How can they resolve this problem?
  3. Would you buy a house in a man-made island? Why/why not?
  4. What problems do real estate companies have in your country?
  5. Do you know any buildings that had to be demolished? Why was it torn down?

Fashion Faux Pas

B1 – Intermediate

Even the biggest and most successful brands make mistakes. They do things or create products that offend people. The Spanish clothing retailer Zara has been in the middle of such controversy recently. They have produced kids’ shirts with design that looks a lot like the uniform Jewish prisoners wore in Nazi concentration camps.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Zara’s and some other fashion brands’ faux pas.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/fashion-faux-pas-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to Zara’s faux pas?
  2. What was your reaction to the other brands like HM, Gucci, and Adidas’ faux pas?
  3. Why do you think these mistakes happen? How could companies let such thing occur?
  4. Do you think it is for marketing so people would talk about their brands? Share your opinion.
  5. Talk about other companies/brands that you know committed a faux pas.