Tag: Preliminary PET

Malaysia’s 92-year-old Leader

B1 – Intermediate

Mahathir Mohamad, 92, is Malaysia’s next prime minister and the world’s oldest elected leader.

He is known as one of Malaysia’s strongmen. He has ended 60 years of rule of the Barisan Nasional (BN) party.

Read about the oldest leader from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1805/180512-oldest-leader-4.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you agree or disagree that there should be an age at which all leaders must start with/retire from their political careers?
2. What are the most important things for a leader to have (e.g. experience, charisma, qualifications, youth, etc.)?
3. What is your opinion about having a 90-plus-year-old leader in your country?
4. How are younger/older leaders better leaders?
5. Would you be a good leader?

Child Grooms

B1 – Intermediate

UNICEF’s newest report finds that over 23 million young boys are forced to get married even before they turn 15. Most stories we hear about child marriages involve girls but in Africa, Latin America, Asia and nations in the Pacific, child grooms are very common.

Read about child grooms from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1906/190610-child-grooms-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this report?
  2. How does getting married at an early age affect an individual?
  3. What do you think is the best age to get married? Why?
  4. What are the best things about childhood?
  5. Do you know anyone who got married at a very young age?

Road Rage

B1 – Intermediate

Road rage means violent anger due to the stress of driving a vehicle in difficult conditions like traffic jams. Did you know that it is a mental disorder?

Read about road rage from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/society/road-rage/road-rage-aggressive-behaviour.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What causes road rage?
2. What can we do to prevent road rage?
3. What do you think about the software that can help prevent road rage?
4. Have you ever witnessed drivers in road rage?
5. Do you hear news about road rage in your country?

Ecotourism

B1 – Intermediate

Ecotourism is the alternative to mass tourism. It began in the 70s. At present, it is a fast-growing part of the tourism industry. It is because a lot of people are finding out about it.

Read about ecotourism from the link below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.english-online.at/travel/ecotourism/ecotourism-sustainable.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What is ecotourism?
2. What are the advantages of ecotourism?
3. What are examples of ecotourism in your country?
4. Talk about your experience going on an ecotouristic trip.

Global Population in 2100

B1 – Intermediate

The UN writes a report about the world’s population. The UN predicts that the number of people will grow in the future.

Read and watch the video about the global population.

Global Population in 2100 – level 1

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your own prediction on the world’s population?
2. What are the reasons the population will increase, decrease, or stop growing?
3. Talk about the population of your country.

Health Care Changes

B1 – Intermediate

In America, health companies must now tell patients how much their health care costs before anything. This way, patients can find places which would cost them the least.

Read and watch the video about some health care changes in the US.

Health Care Changes – level 1

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on this executive order?
2. What are some health care changes you’ve had in your country recently?
3. What changes do you hope to see soon?
4. How is health care like in your country?

Machu Picchu Airport

B1 – Intermediate

Machu Picchu is the most touristic place in Peru. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

An airport is being built near this landmark to help tourists reach it more easily. But not everyone agrees with this construction project.

Read more about it and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1906/190614-machu-picchu-2.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on the construction of this airport?
2. Would you like it if the same thing is done near a very historical place in your country?
3. What are the pros and cons of building this airport near Machu Picchu?
4. Have you been to Machu Picchu or any World Heritage Site or any of the 7 Wonders of the World? Kindly talk about that trip.
5. Why is it necessary to preserve historical places such as Machu Picchu?

WHO Says Burnout is a Medical Problem

B1 – Intermediate

Burnout is the state of mental exhaustion from too much stress usually because of work. The World Health Organization (WHO) now considers it a medical condition.

Find out more about it through the article below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1906/190602-burnout-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the signs of being burned-out?
2. Do you think it is really a medical condition?
3. Have you ever been burned-out or too stressed out at work?
4. What are some stressful situations that you have to face at work?
5. How do you manage burnout or too much work stress?

Japan University to Hire Non-smoking Staff Only

B1 – Intermediate

A university in Japan does not want to hire people who smoke. They have a reason for doing so.

Find out through the article below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190505-no-smoking-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on not hiring smoking staff?
2. Do you think companies should tell their workers to stop smoking?
3. What do you think about prohibiting smoking in public places?
4. What is your opinion about letting people smoke in schools or universities?
5. Do you think there are fewer people smoking in your country now than years ago?

San Francisco Bans Facial Recognition Software

B1 – Intermediate

Facial recognition is biometric technology. It works by getting a picture of a person and then using that photo to identify the individual through facial analytics. The results are then compared to existing photos in the database.

Facial recognition systems are commonly used for security purposes. But in San Francisco, the police cannot use it anymore.

Read the article below to know more about this ban on facial recognition software.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190517-big-brother-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Why was facial recognition software banned in San Francisco?
2. What are the pros and cons of facial recognition?
3. Do you agree or disagree that facial recognition software is Big Brother technology?
4. What is your opinion on prohibiting facial recognition technologies?
5. How does the police maintain security in your city?