Tag: First Certificate FCE

Priced Out of Traditional Housing, More Americans Live in RVs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As housing prices continue to rise across the United States, more Americans are turning to an unconventional solution: living in recreational vehicles (RVs). Once seen primarily as a vacation option, RV living is increasingly becoming a full-time lifestyle for people seeking affordable and flexible housing alternatives.

Read this article or watch this video to learn more.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/americans-choose-rv-life-economy-challenges-housing-market-cost-rcna231942

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “makeshift“. “The RV doesn’t have any tables or chairs, so he sat on a makeshift bed covered by a SpongeBob blanket with a cutting board on his lap, chopping peaches, apples and kiwis while his mom cooked hamburger patties on the RV’s small gas range.” Use this in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “cordon off” mean? “Now, living out of a roughly 175-square-foot RV with his mom and 6-year-old sister, Dante’s space is limited to a twin bed wedged under a loft, cordoned off with privacy curtains.” Use this in a sentence and give a synonym.
  3. What’s the meaning of “to leave someone underwater“? “Loan terms can be spread out over long periods to lower monthly payments, but that can quickly leave borrowers underwater — owing more on their loan than their RV is worth.” Use this in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your opinion on this: It estimated 342,000 people were living in an RV, boat or van, an increase of 41% from 2019.
  2. Could RV living become a long-term solution for housing crises, or is it just a temporary trend? Why?
  3. How can RV/van living be a debt trap?
  4. Do you think the same problem in housing affordability and rising cost-of-living also exist in your country? Share what you know about this issue.
  5. Do you believe living in a motorcoach is worth it especially if housing costs were very high in your city? Why or why not?

Parisians Take a Historic Plunge into the Seine River after 100 Years

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After a century-long ban, swimming is finally returning to the Seine River in Paris. Once considered too polluted for safe recreational use, the iconic river has now been cleaned enough to allow residents and tourists to take a dip, marking a historic moment for the city and its waterways.

Read the article or watch video to learn more.

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/paris-swimming-seine-100-years-rcna217021

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to ring out” mean? “Cries of “It is warm!” rang out across the Seine on Saturday morning as Parisians jumped into the river — legally — for the first time in more than 100 years.” Give a synonym and make a sentence.
  2. What’s the meaning of “to skim something away“? “Before sunrise, a municipal officer skimmed away the last few patches of algae with a fishnet. Soon after, a line of eager Parisians formed, towels in hand, waiting for their chance to jump in.” Give a synonym and make a sentence.
  3. Define “threshold“. “Environmental authorities confirmed bacteria levels were well below official thresholds.” Give a synonym and make a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your reaction to this news.
  2. Do you think swimming in urban rivers should be encouraged in other cities? Why or why not?
  3. How might cleaning and maintaining rivers affect local communities and tourism?
  4. How can governments balance environmental preservation with public recreation?
  5. How could this initiative inspire other cities to focus on sustainable urban development?
  6. How would you feel if a polluted body of water in your city/country became safe for activities like swimming again?

Denmark Welcomes Return of Banned South Korean Noodles

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Spicy South Korean ramen noodles are back on Danish supermarket shelves, delighting fans who had missed the fiery instant noodles. The popular Buldak line from Samyang Foods was pulled from stores in June after authorities warned that its high capsaicin levels could pose health risks. Following a partial reversal of the ban, shoppers in central Copenhagen were able to get their hands on the hot noodles once again.

Read the article or watch the video to learn more.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/denmark-welcomes-return-banned-south-korean-noodles-rcna166391

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “contested” mean in this context? “Samyang, which sells the products worldwide, had contested the ban, and on Thursday celebrated the reversal by feeding its noodles to social media influencers, gathered on a ferry adorned in the firm’s bright-red colors on Copenhagen’s harbor.” Make a sentence with this. Give a synonym.
  2. What’s the meaning of “to exceed critical level“? “But the ban was lifted last month for two of the three variants after further examination of the spicy noodles showed that they did not exceed the critical capsaicin level.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What’s the meaning of “to pose risk“? “Stores in Denmark in June removed three variants of South Korean Samyang Foods’ Buldak instant ramen line after the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration found the noodles’ high capsaicin level posed a serious health risk.” Create a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think the partial reversal of the ban was a good decision? Why or why not?
  2. How might cultural differences influence the popularity of spicy foods in different countries?
  3. What might be reasons foods and drinks could be prohibited in a country?
  4. Do you think Europe is an untapped market for spicy food products? Explain.
  5. How do you think food regulations should balance public safety and consumer choice?
  6. Talk about other food bans that you know of.
  7. What would you do if a food you loved was temporarily banned—would you wait for it to return or switch to alternatives?

Office Etiquette Tips

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many companies have asked employees to return to the office after years of remote work. But with open office spaces becoming more common, employees need to be mindful of how their behavior affects others. Small things like keeping your voice down, eating neutral-smelling food, and keeping your desk clean can make the workplace more pleasant for everyone.


To learn more tips from corporate etiquette expert Thomas Farley, watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “to keep one’s volume down” mean in the sentence, “If you’re on the telephone, you really should keep your volume down.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to reflect on someone/something” mean in the sentence, “If you’ve got the desk that looks like Pig Pen works there, it really reflects on the company very poorly.”? Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to be taken the wrong way” mean in the sentence, “You don’t want to have any calendars that might be taken the wrong way or might offend some other people in the workplace.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. How do you feel about open office setups? Do they make work easier or more stressful?
  2. What office habits do you find most distracting?
  3. Why is it important to keep your workspace clean and organized?
  4. How can workers politely remind others to be mindful of noise or smells?
  5. What are some examples of office behavior that could be “taken the wrong way”?

What Does Resilience Mean

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this short video, some people are asked what resilience means to them.

To see how people define resilience and why they consider it important, watch the full video.

Vocabulary Questions

  1. What does “to push through something” mean in the sentence? “Resilience is about pushing through through life’s hardships even when you don’t want to or you feel like you can’t.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “to keep one’s head up” mean in the sentence? “To me, resiliency is the ability to keep your head up when things aren’t looking great.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “to work through something” mean in the sentence? “If we don’t talk about it, then we can never bond over things. We can never work through problems.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions

  1. For you, what does resilience mean?
  2. Can you think of a time when you had to “bounce back” from a problem?
  3. Why do you think it’s important to teach resilience to young children?
  4. How can adults demonstrate resilience?
  5. What other examples can you think of that show resilience in everyday life?

Is It still Worth Going to University?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, many are rethinking the value of a university education. AI tools can now perform tasks once done only by highly educated professionals, raising questions about the role of traditional learning. Some believe university is still important for developing critical thinking and specialized knowledge, while others argue that practical experience and digital skills may now matter more than a degree.

Watch the video to know more and be able to answer the questions below.


Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the phrase “worth doing something”? “With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, many are rethinking if it’s worth going to university.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “to go far”? “One thing is for sure: a student with a variety of skills, a lifelong desire to learn, and a good attitude will go far.“ Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does the phrase “plug the gap” mean? “Online courses can help plug the gaps in what students don’t learn at university.” Make you own sentence. Give a synonym or similar expression.


Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe a university degree is still necessary to succeed in the age of AI? Why or why not?
  2. Should students focus more on developing practical digital skills instead of pursuing a traditional degree?
  3. In what ways do you think artificial intelligence is changing the skills that students need to learn in university?
  4. How can universities adapt their programs to stay relevant in an AI-driven world?

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?