Tag: health

Machine Makes Books Safe

B1 – Intermediate

Libraries in Japan have installed machines that disinfect books using ultraviolet light. This will ensure the health and safety of borrowers and visitors, especially the elderly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Listen to the audio and be able to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/machine-makes-books-safe-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the article?
  2. What do you think of these machines that sterilize books in libraries?
  3. Would you want these machines to be installed in all libraries and other public places?
  4. What are some other ways to avoid bringing the virus to homes and families?
  5. Do you enjoy going to libraries? Why or why not?

What It Takes to Crush a Pandemic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

COVID is exposing all of us to the same challenges. That’s why it’s necessary for all the countries to be able to fight this pandemic in sync. How do we do that? Finding an effective tool is just one step in this big fight because we still have to consider the existence of the product and access to that product.

Watch as global health strategist Johanna Benesty talks about how to find the arsenal tools to fight COVID and why we need to make them accessible to all.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the COVID19 vaccine? Do you think it’s going to be effective?

2. What will happen if there is not enough vaccines for everyone?

3. What has COVID/the pandemic taught you?

4. How strong is the health care system in your country?

People Can Test for COVID-19 at Home

B1 – Intermediate

Testing for COVID-19 is very important. Scientists are working round- the-clock to establish programs that will ensure access to and acceptance of rapid and reliable testing around the country.

Testing can help people determine if they are infected with SARS-CoV-2 – regardless of whether they have symptoms – and whether they are at risk of spreading the infection to others. Taking measures to prevent the spread of infection will be the most effective strategy for getting us safely back to work and school.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about this special test for COVID-19.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/people-can-test-for-covid-19-at-home-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about this special test for COVID-19?
  2. Would you prefer to go to the doctor or take the test at home?
  3. What do you think you can personally do to reduce your chance of being infected in a pandemic?
  4. Do you think that vaccinations are useful or dangerous?
  5. Would you have the vaccine?
  6. How will life in your country change if there is a vaccine?

Are Intermittent Workouts the Best Exercise for 2020?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As another year draws to a close, thoughts turn to starting the following year right. We long to forge good habits that will continue into the next twelve months. Among the top resolutions people commonly make is to develop a fitter lifestyle through healthy diet and exercise. With 2020 being an atypical year, fitting in regular workouts proved especially problematic. Perhaps intermittent workouts are the answer. Read the article below to learn more about this trend.

Intermittent Workouts Might Be The Best Exercise for 2020

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, what is an intermittent workout? What are its benefits?
  2. Do you think intermittent workouts could be good substitutes for “regular” workouts when the pandemic ends?
  3. What are your own strategies for reminding yourself to get enough exercise?

More Women Drinking Alcohol

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Alcohol use disorder or most commonly known as alcoholism is the inability to manage one’s drinking habits. People struggling with alcoholism may impact relationships, personal matter, work life, and problems with one’s overall health. Nowadays, with the restriction of doing outdoor activities, more and more people especially women are drinking alcohol at home.

Let’s listen to the audio below to learn more.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/more-women-drinking-alcohol/5620265.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is alcoholism a problem in your country?
  2. What are the usual reasons why people drink?
  3. What are the impacts of alcohol in our body?
  4. Why do you think more and more women have been drinking?
  5. How can people overcome alcohol abuse?

Poor Diet Creates 20cm Height Gap in Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Human growth is affected by complex interactions among various factors, including gene, race, birth weight, hormone, nutrition, and environment.
Eating behaviours evolve during the first years of life; children learn what, when, and how much to eat through direct experiences with food and observing the eating behaviours of others.

But how can poor diet and nutrition affect a child’s health?

Let’s read the article below to learn more about diet and height.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2011/201111-diet-and-height.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What two things did the article see were behind the height gap?
  2. What did the article warn people against?
  3. What is the average height of children and also men and women in your country?
  4. Do you think you had a healthy lifestyle when you were a child? Is it possible to have a healthy lifestyle in this modern world?
  5. How could we improve the eating habits of children?

Awake at 3 a.m.? What to Do

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We’ve all had to burn the midnight oil at some point. Perhaps it was for that all-important presentation at work, or maybe we’ve had to pore over notes for that university examination that loomed the next day.

However, it’s a different thing altogether when we have the opportunity to get a full night’s sleep, but our body clock seemingly refuses to cooperate.

The following article has some nifty tips to have you snoozing your way to dreamland sooner and brimming with energy when the alarm clock finally rings.

Awake at 3 A.M.? What to Do

Discussion Questions:

  1. On an average evening, what time do you usually find yourself tucked up in bed? Do you sleep soon after or much later? What do you see as the ideal sleep schedule for you?
  2. Having read the article, what would you say are the things that keep you from falling asleep? How can you manage these factors to enjoy blissful slumber?
  3. Which of the tips do you find most useful? Which tips can you implement immediately to improve the quality of your sleep? Which would be difficult to put into practice?

Taking a Look At Extreme Exercise

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Eating a healthy diet and getting sufficient exercise have long been considered the power tandem of habits to reach a ripe, old age.

In this short segment from CNN10, we are given some key ideas on how to break a sweat effectively and maximize our workouts.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of regular physical exercise?
  2. On average, how many hours do you exercise in a week? Would you describe the intensity as mild, moderate, or vigorous?
  3. How do you squeeze in your fitness routine into your daily grind?
  4. What activities comprise your workouts? Why do you prefer these forms of exercise over others?
  5. If you don’t get much exercise, what are the obstacles to your fitness goals? What changes can you make to accommodate this vital habit?
  6. What is your opinion about High Intensity Interval Training?

New Alzheimer’s Drug

B1 – Intermediate

Are you recently having some senior moments? Hold your horses and keep calm because as it turns out, you are not alone! It is estimated that around 5 million Americans of all ages suffer from Alzheimer’s.

Thankfully, Science is not sleeping. A US company is claiming that they are already close to getting their Alzheimer’s drug approved for use.

Click the link below and listen to the audio to know more about this new development.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/new-alzheimers-drug-level-1/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this new drug?
  2. What are your thoughts on the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease?
  3. How important are your memories to you?
  4. How would you feel if you wake up one day and realize that you have lost all your memories?

Scientists Develop COVID-19 Vaccine

B1 – Intermediate

Coronavirus has definitely changed the way we live, work, and connect. We are all coping up with the new normal situation which includes wearing of masks in public places, social distancing, daily disinfection, taking vitamins, and many more.

When will there be a COVID-19 vaccine? Let’s read the article below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2011/201113-covid-19-vaccine-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. Should we be worried about the side effects of this new vaccine? Why or why not?
  3. How has COVID-19 changed your life? How has COVID-19 affected your country’s economy?
  4. What are you going to do once the COVID-19 crisis is over?
  5. What can the world learn from the COVID-19 pandemic?