Tag: Reading

Midlife Crisis

B2- Upper Intermediate 

Midlife crisis is defined as a period of psychological stress and emotional turmoil, typically occurring in middle age when someone is around 40 to 60 years old. It is “characterized by a strong desire for change and a reevaluation of one’s life choices and identity”.

For many people, reaching their midlife could be a very stressful and confusing period in their lives.

Read the article about signs and causes of midlife crisis and learn some tips on how to overcome it. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.helpguide.org/aging/healthy-aging/midlife-crisis

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to not hold much weight” mean? “While the idea of a midlife crisis being an inevitable reality doesn’t hold much weight, some of us do face new stressors as we enter these years.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “to subscribe to something” mean? “It’s worth keeping in mind that not all cultures subscribe to the concept of a midlife crisis, or even midlife.” Use this expression in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “to paint something in a negative light” mean? “Western society, though, tends to paint physical aging in a negative light, while glorifying youth.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “midlife”?
  2. What do you think life’s like during midlife crisis?
  3. What might be the pros and cons of being middle-aged?
  4. What are ways one can prepare for and cope with midlife crisis?
  5. Share your view on this, “The idea of midlife crisis might be partially or mostly shaped by cultural views.”
  6. Do you know anyone who went through midlife crisis and how did they overcome it? Share.

Neurorights

B2- Upper Intermediate 

Nowadays, the unstoppable advancements of neuroscience and neurotechnology have never been more evident. We will soon be able to utilize devices that can decode information in our brains, boost our senses, or modify our memories. When the time comes, it will make ethical boundaries and neurorights much more crucial in protecting our mental privacy.

Read the article to know more about neurorights. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Neurorights: Do our brains need to be protected by legislation?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to blur the border between two things” mean? “Massive reliance on virtual communication technologies such as VR can blur the border between desire and reality and contribute to isolating individuals even more.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “when the bonds of solidarity break” mean? “And when the bonds of solidarity break, societies can easily collapse and are more susceptible to attacks.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “sense of agency” mean? “Neurorights are based on fundamental human rights, but must go beyond them to effectively protect the right to have a personality, the right to have a private sphere, to have a sense of agency, among other topics.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do we need legislation to protect our brains? Explain your insights.
  2. Why are neurorights needed and what makes them so important?
  3. What are the gaps in existing legislation of human rights? Can the EU’s privacy framework, including the EU AI act, accommodate neurorights? 
  4. How can we achieve responsible innovation in neurotechnology? 
  5. How could new neurotechnologies governance alleviate risks of external manipulation, but also bring new opportunities such as mental empowerment?

Women Are Less Interested in AI than Men

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Artificial intelligence faces a gender-related challenge, which extends beyond the content it generates or any embedded biases within models. According to a recent survey, a significant gender gap exists in AI adoption, particularly among younger workers. The report revealed that Gen Z men are 25% more likely to experiment with AI tools than their female counterparts.

Let’s read the article to understand the reasons behind women’s lower interest in using AI compared to men.

https://theconversation.com/women-are-less-interested-in-ai-than-men-but-using-it-would-help-them-advance-at-work-233511#:~:text=It%20reported%20that%2059%20per%20cent%20of%20male,cent%2C%20compared%20with%2059%20per%20cent%20of%20women.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “see the glass as half empty or half full” mean? “In this area, as in so many others, you can see the glass as half empty or half full, depending on how optimistic you are.” Provide two synonyms or similar idioms.
  2. What does the phrase “increase sixfold” mean? “More specifically, between 2023 and 2032, the percentage of jobs with high exposure points to AI could increase sixfold, from eight per cent to 52 per cent.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the verb “deplore“? “While we already deplore the fact that women are generally underrepresented in senior management in organizations, this phenomenon is apparently even more marked in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and consequently, in AI.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you find it surprising that men use generative AI more than women? Why or why not?
  2. Do you incorporate AI into your work tasks? If so, which software do you rely on?
  3. Have you undergone any AI training? If yes, was it helpful? If not, would you be open to participating in such training?
  4. Is AI prevalent in your industry, and do you anticipate its usage to evolve over time?
  5. Do you feel more optimistic or apprehensive about what the future holds for AI?

Why Can’t We Remember Our Early Years?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you ever find it puzzling that you can’t recall moments from your earliest years? It’s a shared experience, and there’s a term for it in psychology: childhood amnesia. This refers to the fact that most adults have little to no memory of events from their first 3-4 years of life.

Let’s read the article and know more details as to why we have little to no recollection of our early years.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/29/why-cant-we-remember-our-early-years-do-babies-make-memories-at-all

Vocabulary Discussions:

  1. What does “episodic memory” mean? “The findings suggest that episodic memory – the kind of memory that helps us remember specific events and the context in which they took place – begins to develop earlier than scientists previously believed.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “to take place“? “This is the first time scientists have directly observed how a memory begins to take shape in an awake baby’s brain. ” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “to bury deep in something“? “Psychoanalysts such as Sigmund Freud believed that early childhood memories are not lost, but buried deep in the unconscious, and that psychotherapy might help bring them to the surface by changing mental states.“. Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the outcomes presented in this study?
  2. Do you find it intriguing that we begin forming memories at such a young age?
  3. Can you share some of the first memories you have from childhood?
  4. If it were an option, would you choose to unlock all your early childhood memories? Why or why not?
  5. Do you know anyone who possesses an incredible ability to remember things?

Trump Defends Sweeping Tariffs

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The implementation of reciprocal tariffs by Donald Trump in 2025 marked a significant shift in U.S. trade policy, aimed at addressing perceived inequities in international trade relationships. In response to persistent goods trade deficits, Trump’s administration declared a national emergency, citing the lack of reciprocity and unfair economic practices by trading partners as primary concerns. The administration’s approach involved conducting extensive investigations to identify these disparities and proposed tariffs ranging from 10% to 50%, contingent upon bilateral trade deficits.

Critics argue that the methodology underpinning these tariffs is fundamentally flawed. The Tax Foundation contends that Trump’s calculations fail to account for actual tariff rates or non-tariff barriers imposed by other nations, leading to economically detrimental outcomes. Furthermore, FactCheck.org highlights discrepancies between the tariffs proposed by Trump and the World Trade Organization’s average rates, suggesting that this misrepresentation could exacerbate tensions with trading partners. Consequently, while intended as a corrective measure for trade imbalances, Trump’s reciprocal tariffs may have far-reaching negative implications for both domestic consumers and international relations.

Read this article to know more on how Trump defended sweeping tariffs on imports.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2093qgx14po

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to play something down” mean? “Trump’s top officials stressed that the tariffs – announced last week – would be implemented as planned, playing down recession fears.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.
  2. What does “S&P 500” stand for and what is it? “On Friday, all three major stock indexes in the US fell more than 5%, while the S&P 500 dropped almost 6% in the worst week for the US stock market since 2020.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “reciprocal tariff” mean? “Lutnick went on say the steeper reciprocal tariffs were still on track.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on Donald Trump’s approach to tariffs during his presidency? Do you think they helped or hurt the US economy?
  2. Trump’s tariff policies were often criticized for starting trade wars. Do you think this strategy was sustainable in the long run?
  3. Share your insights on this, “There was ‘no reason’ to expect a recession as a result. This is an adjustment process.”
  4. What do you think about Trump’s statement, “I think your question is so stupid,” he told the reporter. “I don’t want anything to go down. But sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.“?
  5. What is your country’s official opinion on this situation?

Noise-Cancelling Headphones Cause Hearing Problems

B1 – Intermediate

A BBC report highlights concerns that noise-cancelling earphones, popular among young people, may be contributing to hearing problems. Experts suggest that prolonged use could affect listening skills and make it harder to process important sounds.

Read the article to know more.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2502/250220-noise-cancelling-headphones.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “complain” mean? “She said there was an increase in the number of young people complaining about poor hearing.” Use this word in a sentence.
  2. What does “filter out” mean? “Our ears must filter out sounds we don’t think are important.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What is “audiologist”? “Another audiologist suggested that headphones can lead to bad listening habits.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you noticed any hearing issues from using earphones or headphones? Talk about it.
  2. Do you prefer using regular earphones or noise-cancelling ones? Why?
  3. Do you think hearing tests should be done to people who use headphones frequently? Explain.
  4. What will happen if we forget to hear important sounds?

Korean Air Wins Best Airline

B1 – Intermediate

AirlineRatings.com named Korean Air the top airline of 2025 for its focus on passenger comfort and modern aircraft. Qatar Airways won best business class, while Singapore Airlines took the best first-class award. Changi Airport was named the best airport, and AirAsia was recognized as the best low-cost airline for its service offerings.

Read the article to find out more.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2503/250313-worlds-best-airlines.html

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “thoughtful touch” mean? “The site added: “Korean Air’s thoughtful touches, such as slippers and generous meal portions on long-haul flights, enhanced its appeal. ” Use this phrase in a sentence.

2. What does “rigorous” mean? “Airlines must also meet rigorous safety standards.” Give a synonym of this word and use it in a sentence.

3. What is “redefine”? “The reviewers said the airline has redefined luxury.” Use this term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think makes an airline the best in terms of customer service?
  2. What’s the most important factor for you when booking a flight—price, comfort, or service? Why?
  3. How do you feel about airlines offering extra services like wi-fi, meals, and entertainment? Are they worth the extra cost?
  4. Do you think low-cost airlines offer a good value for money, or do you prefer a more premium experience? Explain.
  5. Talk about one of your best experiences with an airline.

World’s First Artist Robot

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, it is now making its mark in the world of art. The development of the world’s first artist robot raises questions about creativity, originality, and the role of human intuition in artistic expression. Can AI generate truly meaningful art, or is it merely replicating human techniques? As machines push the boundaries of creativity, they challenge our understanding of what it means to be an artist.

Read this article to learn more about Ai-Da, the world’s first robot artist.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/04/mind-blowing-ai-da-becomes-first-robot-to-paint-like-an-artist

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “eye-watering” mean in this context? “We haven’t spent eye-watering amounts of time and money to make a very clever painter.” Use this in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  2. Define “encroach“. “Titled Leaping into the Metaverse, Ai-Da Robot’s Venice exhibition will explore the interface between human experience and AI technology, from Alan Turing to the metaverse, and will draw on Dante’s concepts of purgatory and hell to explore the future of humanity in a world where AI technology continues to encroach on everyday human life.” Use this in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What does “stilted” mean? “ I have been seeing different things to humans as I do not have consciousness,’ she responded in stilted fashion.” Use this in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In what ways is artificial intelligence transforming the art world?
  2. Should AI-generated artwork hold the same value as human-created art? Why or why not?
  3. Can AI-generated art carry true meaning, or is it just the result of complex algorithms? What are your thoughts?
  4. What ethical dilemmas arise from AI’s growing presence in the art industry?
  5. How do you interpret this statement? “Soon, with the amount of data we freely give about ourselves, and through talking to our phones, computers, cars and even kitchen appliances, AI algorithms ‘are going to know you better than you do’, Meller warned. We are entering a world, he said, ‘not understanding which is human and which is machine’.”
  6. How comfortable are you going to be with a world where we no longer can understand which is human and which is machine?

Spain’s 100% Tax for Homes for Non-EU Residents

B2- Upper Intermediate 

Spain is to impose a tax that is up to 100% of the value of the property on non-EU residents, UK citizens included. This measure is believed to be one of the ways to address the country’s increasing housing crisis.

Read the article about Spain’s plans to impose 100% property tax on foreigners from outside of EU.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr7enzjrymxo

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to lose sight of something” mean? “Here in the UK, we also have problems with landlords buying multiple properties and driving up the rest, but this policy is losing sight of those of us who want to spend money in the country.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “a drop in the ocean” mean? “But this will be a drop in the ocean in my opinion and there will be other alternatives that will have a higher impact on the housing market.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What is “retrospective tax”? “I definitely wouldn’t consider trying to get in before this tax, because who knows what else they could do, a retrospective tax.” Use this term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Put your two cents in on this plan by the Spanish government. Are pro or against it? Do you think it could help solve the country’s housing problem? Explain.
  2. How might this impact Spain?
  3. How else can the purchase of homes by non-EU foreigners be limited?
  4. Do you think foreigners buying homes in another country actually adds to the local economy? Share your opinion.
  5. Do you agree with Spain’s “golden visa” scheme being abolished? Elaborate.
  6. If you were a non-EU resident, would you still consider buying a property in Spain now? Why or why not?

Get Kidney Stones by Following Carnivore Diet 

B1- Intermediate 

Nowadays, we see all kinds of diets that are being promoted by influencers on social media. We need to be very cautious not to just follow any of them. It is important to know more information about it and best that we first consult with our doctor or nutritionist if we plan to go on some kind of diet.

Read the article about the influencer who developed kidney stones after following the carnivore diet.

Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2503/250320-carnivore-diet.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Explain the “carnivore diet”. “A 23-year-old woman followed the carnivore diet and ended up in hospital.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. What are “kidney stones”? “She explained in a TikTok video how the high-protein diet gave her kidney stones.” Use the term in a sentence.
  3. What does “to pass blood” mean? “She was horrified after she passed blood in her urine.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What is your opinion about the carnivore diet?
  3. What are the good and bad things about the carnivore diet? 
  4. What might be the other effects of the carnivore diet on our body/health? 
  5. Share your thoughts on this, “The carnivore diet has been growing in popularity on social media. Many influencers and content creators are promoting its benefits.”.