Tag: Reading

Two-fifths of World’s Plants at Risk of Extinction

B1 – Intermediate

Plants are everywhere. They provide us with so many resources to survive and most importantly, they maintain the atmosphere. Plants play an important role in the discovery of new drugs/medicines even for life-threatening diseases.

What will happen if all plants become extinct?

Let’s read the article below to learn more about plants extinction.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2010/201002-plant-extinction-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of plants? How useful are they?
  2. What will happen as more and more plants become extinct?
  3. How serious an issue is food insecurity?
  4. Should we spend more money on genetically modifying plants? Why/why not?
  5. What do you think world leaders will do about this problem?

Men Create All the Problems

B2 – Upper Intermediate

While great strides have been made in the fight for women’s rights, there are still a few places on the planet where even their most basic needs continue to be denied by their patriarchal society.

Read the article below and be ready to weigh in on this issue.

https://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/men-create-all-the-problems/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the article’s headline “Men Create All the Problems!”? Is it justified in the context of the information presented?
  2. What is your reaction to this story on the plight of Afghan women?
  3. Describe how you feel when you contrast the state of women’s rights in Spain to that of the women in Afghanistan.
  4. What improvements have you observed in Spanish society with regards to the treatment of women? What further actions can be done to ensure gender equality?

Things Making a Comeback During the Pandemic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of problems and drastic changes in many areas of the economy. However, amidst the crisis, some products and industries are reaping benefits from the massive changes in how we live, work, and shop.

Read the article and know the things making a huge comeback during the pandemic.

https://www.countryliving.com/life/inspirational-stories/g32631751/things-making-comeback-during-pandemic/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which ones on the list do you think are must-have items during the pandemic? Which ones do you think are not that important?
  2. What items have become in demand again during the pandemic in your country?
  3. What are the things you have bought during the pandemic and what made you buy them?
  4. What are some things you have stopped buying during the pandemic?

China’s Richest Man

B1 – Intermediate

Zhong Shanshan, the founder of the popular Chinese bottled water brand Nongfu Spring, is now the richest person in China. He worked as a construction worker before making it big in business of bottled water which is a huge industry in China.

Let’s read the article:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2009/200926-richest-man-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think it’s like to be rich?

2. How easy is it to start a company?

3. How happy are you with your level of wealth?

4. What things would you change if you were a multi-billionaire?

How Will Coronavirus Change the Way We Live?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

This year of upheaval has been very challenging to all of us not only because of the ongoing pandemic, but as well as the racial justice protests, the downturn of the economy without modern precedent and the unprecedented number of natural calamities experienced everywhere.

It seemed life is being flipped with this extreme turn of events. Many of us, if not complaining, have wondered why we have to face or suffer too much this year. For some, this is very perplexing to comprehend.

https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-52356136

Discussion Questions:

  1. How’s your experience been so far this year? Is it challenging or somehow manageable?
  2. What aspect of this year’s local, national, or global news was the most profound for you? Is it the pandemic? The new normal? Or the racial discrimination protest? Something else? Why?
  3. How will you answer the big question: “How has 2020 challenged or changed you?
  4. Have you been dealing with all this well or have you somehow struggled to get through it? Share your experiences and motivations to live life in this challenging times.

Thai Parks Mail Litter Back to Tourists

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Littering irritates everyone. It destroys the beauty of nature and our surrounding. People are sometimes too lazy to dump their rubbish in a bin and just throws them anywhere, making the area look dirty.

Read this lesson on an unusual punishment for littering.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2009/200920-litter-mail.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Thailand’s litter policy?
  2. What are the rules or laws on littering in your country?
  3. Should people pay a fine or go to prison for littering? Why or why not?
  4. What does littering say about someone’s character?
  5. Should we pick up other people’s litter? Why or why not?

When Adoption Is a Good Option For You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are couples who dream and desire to raise a child. When you adopt a child, you become a parent. One of the rewards that comes with it is the feeling of fulfillment in providing a home to a child and the joy of becoming a parent.

However, before venturing into this, there are some things you should consider if adoption is really a good option for you.

Read the article and be able to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.beingtheparent.com/when-adoption-is-a-good-option-for-you/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is adoption common in your country?
  2. Do you agree with the article? What do you think of adoption?
  3. Do you think parents who adopt, have the same kind of love for their adopted child as biological parents have with their child?

Young Adults Live With Parents

B1 – Intermediate

The advantage of living with your parents is that you don’t have to pay rent and you don’t have to worry about buying all those groceries every month. It can be very expensive if you eat out all the time. Most importantly, you don’t have to go through some problems alone because your parents will always be there for you no matter what.

Let’s read the article below to know more about it living with parents as a young adult.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2009/200908-young-adults-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad things about living with your parents?
  2. Should all young adults have to leave home? Why / Why not?
  3. Would you prefer to live at home or on your own?
  4. What advice do you have for young adults?
  5. How has Coronavirus affected young adults in your country financially?

Stop Hate for Profit Campaign Suspends Social Media Ads

B1 – Intermediate

A lot of businesses has either been suspended or paused for all of their social media advertisements because of hashtag “Stop Hate For Profit” from a campaign group. They demanded a stricter moderation for hate speech and misinformation. When the campaign skyrocketed, major brands paused their social media platform advertisements making Facebook lose a lot of money.

Read the article below to know more about it.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2007/200702-stop-hate-for-profit-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about Stop Hate For Profit campaign group asking advertisers to boycott Facebook and Twitter until they have stricter moderation of posts containing hate speech and misinformation?
  2. What do you think about this, “The value of Facebook fell by eleven percent as major brands paused their spending on (advertising) on the social media platform.”?
  3. How could an advertising boycott affect social media users and small businesses?
  4. How common are hate speech/contents and misinformation on social media in your country? Why do you think this is the case?
  5. What can people do on social media to stop the spread of hate speech and false information?

US-China Tech Firms Tension

B2 – Upper Intermediate

China claims that its tech companies have been victims of “naked bullying” by the US. The American government has taken restrictions measures on Chinese applications such as TikTok and WeChat. The hindering of the said apps was a result of issues with data security. Who are affected by these two largest economies’ trade war?

Let’s read more about China’s claim of naked bullying and USA’s The Clean Network through this article:

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54052765

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is naked bullying?
  2. What do you think of USA’s data privacy efforts? Do you have such policies in your country?
  3. Do you use any Chinese applications? Describe their use in your daily life.
  4. How is the trade war between US and China affecting the world?
  5. Do you think Chinese applications are danger to any country?
  6. How important is data security and privacy?