Tag: Government

Fight for Alaska Oil

B1 – Intermediate

Oil and gas extraction is one of the most profitable industries in the world. It’s no wonder many companies fight for drilling rights in oil reserves around the world.

The US is one of the most oil-rich countries in the world. Now, multi-billion dollar companies are competing against each other to get oil drilling rights in Alaska.

Click and read this short article to know more about this issue and its possible consequences.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/fight-for-alaska-oil-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree with Biden’s plans?
  2. What are the environmental impacts of oil drilling?
  3. What can you say about the world’s dependence on oil resources?
  4. What are the sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternatives to oil?

Bin Bag Dress

B1 – Intermediate

It is not easy being a woman in business and politics. Sometimes, they suffer from discrimination. A young female politician in Australia experienced this. She has received criticism that are based on her gender or as simple as the way she dresses.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/bin-bag-dress-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to Nicolle Flint wearing a garbage bag dress?
  2. Is it important for politicians to dress nicely? Why or why not?
  3. What are your thoughts on your politicians’ public image?

Basic Income for Poor Could Slow COVID-19 Spread

B1 – Intermediate

The United Nations has thought of a way to slow the spread of COVID-19 down. It is to give poor people a temporary basic income. They said that if about 3 billion people would receive this help, they would not need to go out of their homes anymore. It would decrease the possibility of them spreading the virus even further. 

Read this lesson on temporary basic salary for poor people during the pandemic.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200724-basic-income-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How can this help to poor people help slow the spread of Covid-19?
  2. Do you agree to giving the money to poor people? Why or why not?
  3. What other plans does your country/government have to  slow the spread of COVID-19?

Man Spent Five Years Too Long in Prison

B1 – Intermediate

A huge mistake caused a man to spend longer in prison than his supposed sentence. Instead of being released in 2015, Sio Agafili ended up being imprisoned for another five years.

The mistake was spotted and Sio Agafili is now free and fighting for his rights after suffering from this injustice.

Read about this news and find out more about this wrongful jail sentence in Samoa. 

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200710-jail-sentence-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this error?
  2. What should be the compensation for people who suffer this kind of injustice?
  3. How would you feel if you were Agafili and you were imprisoned unlawfully?
  4. Has anything like this happened in Spain? What happened to person who experienced it and what happened after the mistake was discovered?
  5. What do you think of when you hear the word “prison”?

China and India Agree to Peace Over Border

B1 – Intermediate

Tensions between India and China are not new. These two countries have been in conflict for decades over territories and fought a bloody war in 1962 and have since engaged in several small skirmishes.

Both sides see the area as strategically important, economically and militarily.

Let’s read the article below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2006/200610-border-dispute-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about the skirmishes on the China-India border? What would have happened if the skirmishes led to a war?
  2. How do you think the China-India relationship should develop?
  3. Has there ever been any trouble along your country’s borders? Talk about this dispute.
  4. What sources of tension are there between your country and others?
  5. Can all border disputes be resolved cordially?

Leader’s Health

B1 – Intermediate

Depending on the type of government, countries use different titles to address their leader. They go by different titles such as president, prime minister, chief executive, chancellor, and many more. These leaders play very vital roles in all aspects of nation building. Hence, any issue on their health is a topic their people could not just shrug off.

Read the transcript and listen to the audio from the link below.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/leaders-health-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the speculations about North Korea’s leader’s health?
  2. Why is it difficult to verify these speculations?
  3. Do you agree that leaders should make frequent public appearances?
  4. Do you think that country leaders should release their medical records regularly? Why or why not?
  5. Should good state of health be an important qualification for aspiring politicians too?

Cubans Can Buy a Car More Easily

B1 – Intermediate

Owning a vehicle is like a rite of passage for everyone. Think about the time you had your first car or motorbike. How did it make you feel? In Cuba, the government decided to make it easier for its citizens to buy a car.

Read the lesson for more details on this story and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1312/131222-cuba-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this initiative by the Cuban government?
  2. What do you think are the good and bad things about making it easy for people to buy cars?
  3. Is it better to buy a car cash or by loan? Explain your opinion.
  4. Compare how you got your first ever car and the one you have now.
  5. Is the automobile industry lucrative in your country? Why or why not?

The End of New York’s Public Payphones

B1 – Intermediate

Public payphones are being removed on New York streets to give pedestrians more space and give this much needed sidewalk spaces to people with disabilities and those with little kids.

Let’s read the article to find out more about this news.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2003/200320-pay-phones-1.html

Discussion Questions :

  1. How important are pay phones?
  2. Should New York keep some pay phones for tourists’ use?
  3. Are there any public pay phones in your town? Do you use them?
  4. What would our lives be like without pay phones? Are they still important these days?
  5. What would your life be like without your mobile phone?

Does It Make Sense to Pay People to Have Kids?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Most European countries are struggling with population slowdown. Several countries are trying to provide financial inducements to deal with this problem and prevent imminent consequences in the future – but just how effective are these measures?

Read this article and watch the video to see all compelling points around this incentive.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20191017-does-it-make-sense-to-pay-people-to-have-kids

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the ‘baby bonus’?
  2. What do you think are the strong and weak points of this measure?
  3. Do you think this kind of bonus would soon be implemented in your country too? Why or why not? What are other good family policies do you have in your country?
  4. Do you agree or disagree that people’s attitudes to having children at all have changed over time? Cite situations to support your stand.
  5. What are other means to reverse shrinking population?

Maternity Leave

B1 – Intermediate

Parents in Finland can now enjoy seven months of parental leave. This new law will help new parents spend more time with their babies and enjoy this family benefit.

Let’s read the article and be ready to answer the discussion questions.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2002/200209-maternity-leave-2.html

Discussion Questions :

1. What do you think of seven months of paid leave for new parents?

2. How much leave should parents get?

3. Should parental leave be paid?

4. What are the laws on parental leaves in Spain?

5. How can governments reverse the problem with falling birthrate?