Tag: Preliminary PET

Drunk Driving

B1 – Intermediate

Driving under the influence, or driving while impaired, is the crime or offense of operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or other drugs (including recreational drugs and those prescribed by physicians), to a level that renders the driver incapable of operating a motor vehicle safely.

Linda Hunt

In 1994, in the town of Barrie in central Canada, Linda Hunt, a part-time receptionist at Incentive Realty, got drunk at an office Christmas party. Her boss noticed what had happened and told her if she was going to drink any more she had to call her husband and ask him to come and pick her up. The boss had also told all the employees before the party began that, if they felt they were too drunk to drive home safely, the company would pay for a taxi.

But Linda ignored her boss’s warning. She felt all right. After the party, Linda and some of her co-workers went to P.J.’s pub in Barrie and continued drinking. By the time Linda left the pub and headed home, it was snowing—and Linda had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in her blood. Several of her friends offered her a ride but she refused. On the road she lost control of her car and hit a truck. She received serious head injuries, including brain damage. She was in hospital for several months and needed both physiotherapy and speech therapy. Seven years later, she was still suffering from pain and mild amnesia.

On February 6, 2001 an Ontario Superior Court judge announced that Linda’s company and P.J.’s pub had to pay Linda a large part of the money she had lost because she was not able to work after the accident. Together they were ordered to pay more that $300,000, but, because the pub was not in business anymore, the realty company where Linda worked had to pay the whole amount.

There have been at least two other cases in Canada where an employer was held partly responsible for an accident caused by a employee drinking on the job, but this decision was important because it was the first time in Canada that an employer of a drunken driver has been found partly responsible for an accident even though they had warned their employee not to drive.

Linda Hunt’s lawyer was interviewed after the decision was announced. He said that, because of this case, there is now a possibility that people who allow their friends to get drunk in their homes, and then allow them to drive home will be held responsible for an accident.

– information from: Globe and Mail (Toronto), 01.02.06, and Toronto Star, 01.02.06

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about drunk driving?

2. What are the penalties for drunk driving in your country?

3. Should the passengers/friends of a drunk driver also be punished?

4. Is drunk driving one of the biggest causes of road accidents in your country?

5. Is it fair to hold the employer responsible for an accident caused by a drunk employee?

Housing in Spain and Poverty

B1 – Intermediate

Housing generally refers to the social problem of ensuring that members of society have a home in which they can live in, whether this is a house, or some other kinds of dwelling, lodging, or shelter.

Watch the video below about housing in Spain and its connection to poverty.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the woman in the video?
  2. Do you know anything about your government’s housing policy?
  3. Does your government provide housing for people on low or no income?
  4. Is it easy to find good quality housing in your town?
  5. How can housing be made affordable for everyone?
  6. What issues will arise with housing of the future?

Commercial Airline Pilot – A Dream Job?

B1 – Intermediate

Every job has its pros and cons so before diving into something, we want to know everything about it – from pretty cool benefits that come with being an airline pilot to its pitfalls.

Read the article below to find out more about being a commercial airline pilot.

http://www.english-online.at/travel/airline-pilot/commercial-airline-pilot.htm

Discuss questions:

  1. Did you ever dream of becoming an airline pilot? Why or why not?
  2. What is your impression of having a job as a pilot?
  3. What are the pros and cons of being an airline pilot?
  4. Do you think you have what it takes to become a pilot?

Dutch Towns Tell Tourists How to Behave

B1 – Intermediate

It is often said that tourism can either be a boon or bane to a city or country.

Seems as though this little old Dutch town’s villagers have had enough of how touristic their village is.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1704/170414-tourism.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe Old Holland and how locals live there.
  2. Do you agree that those rules should be implemented to the tourists visiting Old Holland? Why or why not?
  3. What are the rules they talked about with local tour companies and what do you think about them? What rules for tourists would you add?
  4. What kind of bad behaviors have you observed tourists have when they visit your city/country?
  5. In general, what responsibilities do you think tourists have?

Egg Freezing Perk for Female Employees

B1 – Intermediate

Apple and Facebook are among the biggest tech firms known for giving their employees, some might call, “awesome” work perks.

Recently, some companies decided they will provide financial assistance to their female staff should they opt to go for egg-freezing in their 20s or 30s.

Read the article to know more about this egg freezing perk.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1704/170426-egg-freezing.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of this perk?
2. What are your thoughts on this statement: “When [IVF] is done purely to protect their job, I think it’s extraordinary that women think this is liberating.”?
3. What unique perks are given to employees at your company?
4. What perks do you want your company to start giving out to its employees?
5. What do you think is the best age to start having children. Tell some reasons why.

BBC Lingohack: 19 April 2017

B1 – Intermediate

Watch the video below to practice your listening skills and increase your vocabulary. Be ready to use the different vocabularies in sentences. You may also read the transcript below the video.

BBC Lingohack: 19 April 2017

Discuss:

1. Explain the word “camaraderie” and use it in a sentence.
2. Why are there dogs in the office of Brooke, Reggie, Max and Peggy?
3. What is a tunnelling machine? What are they going to do in the river Thames?
4. What is the new spin that a group put in their yoga class?
5. Have you tried yoga? What do you think about it?

Online Dating Scam

B1 – Intermediate

Online dating (or Internet dating) is a system that enables strangers to find and introduce themselves to new personal connections over the Internet, usually with the goal of developing relationships.

Read the lesson about online dating scams.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1704/170412-online-dating.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about meeting potential romantic partners virtually?
  2. Would you ever use an online dating service? Why or why not?
  3. Is online dating common in your country? Why or why not?
  4. What are the good things and bad things about online dating?
  5. Talk about some online dating experiences you’ve had/stories you’ve heard about.

Older Mothers Raise Happier Children

B1 – Intermediate

Women are usually encouraged to have children as early in life as possible. Yet a new study suggests that older mothers are more likely to raise happier and well-adjusted children.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1703/170331-older-mothers.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the average age of starting a family in your country?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having kids when you are older?

3. how would you describe your relationship with your parents? Do you think their age had an effect on this?

The Shorter Lives of Men Explained

B1 – Intermediate

People have done marvelous things in order to be able to live longer. But it is still a fact that women have a longer life expectancy that men.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Women live longer than men. It’s true in most countries, and has been a known fact since the 18th century. Studies to discover the possible reasons have been done, and there are many possible explanations. Some reasons include work habits, stress, diet, and bad genes. But a new idea suggests something different. Men have shorter life spans because attracting a partner takes a lot of energy, which reduces the number of years a man lives.

Daniel Kruger at the University of Michigan suggests that many animals advertise their suitability to females. For example, some animals butt heads. Other animals have beautiful feathers. Human males compete for money, property, and social status. If a man has money and social status, they show their ability to provide food, clothes, education, and so on for a future family.

But what about men with less money or power?

Another study explained that young, single men often take risks. They are also more aggressive and hold back their emotions. These actions have the same effect as money and social status.

Both studies conclude that women carefully select a partner, because of the survival and success of their children. All of the energy which is used to impress women means shorter life spans for men.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “suitability” mean? “Daniel Kruger at the University of Michigan suggests that many animals advertise their suitability to females.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does “hold back” mean? “They are also more aggressive and hold back their emotions.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “take a lot of something” mean? “Men have shorter life spans because attracting a partner takes a lot of energy, which reduces the number of years a man lives.” Use this expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree with the article’s findings? Why/not?
  2. Were you surprised by the article’s findings? Why/not?
  3. The lifespan of women has been decreasing recently. Why do you think so?
  4. Is it possible to limit the risks young men take? Why do / don’t you think so?
  5. Why do you think young men take so many risks?

How Romance Ruined Love

B1 – Intermediate

In movies, love stories usually end with the main characters getting together or more romantically, married. But what they don’t show us is the reality of it all — our jobs, problems, families, children. Everything that could really affect any romantic relationship.

Romanticism taught us ideas about love that are often times far from reality.

Listen to the podcast below then be ready to share your thoughts about how romanticism ruined love.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-170216

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the podcast, what is romanticism? How did it affect us?
  2. What did the podcast say about love today?
  3. Share your thoughts on this statement: “It’s one thing to enjoy romance, but it can be dangerous to judge your relationship against romantic ideals.“.
  4. Do you believe in ‘love at first sight’ ? Why or why not?
  5. They say, “A relationship is hard work.”. What is your opinion on this?