Tag: Reading

Best Accounting Skills

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Being an accountant seems to be a challenging job. When accountants report financial data, they have to follow specific rules. These rules are also called accounting principles.

Read the article to know the principles and skills of an accountant. 

https://www.ottawa.edu/online-and-evening/blog/july-2021/10-best-accounting-skills

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the word “diverse”? ” While they analyze and report on a wide range of data, accountants also interact with diverse clientele and break down financial information into language that the average person can understand.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of the word “tangible” “Employers are also looking for soft skills, or the less tangible abilities that help you excel on the job.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the “compliance”? “Other types of software with which the general accountant should have expertise include database reporting, financial reporting and analysis, financial statements, compliance, and project management. ” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What skills do you think are the most important for an accountant?
  2. Which of the mentioned skills do you have?
  3. What skills would you like to gain or develop?

Restaurant Charges Parents Extra for Rowdy Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Restaurants always value and prioritize a calm and peaceful dining experience for their diners. As easy as it may seem to achieve this, there are still some factors that hinder them. One of those would be rowdy children. As a result, a restaurant has taken an unusual step of charging parents for misbehaving kids, in order to ensure a pleasant environment for the rest of their patrons.

Read this article to learn about this restaurant’s new policy.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/restaurant-surcharge-bad-parenting_l_6543c278e4b0cde80b8bfd95

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Define “at one’s disposal“. “Of course, we all have at our disposal at least one device capable of successfully pacifying our children, whether they’re stuck on an airplane or waiting for their chicken tenders.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
  2. What does “on the verge of” mean? “A kid who hasn’t had a nap and is basically on the verge of meltdown” isn’t going to be able to handle the demands of a restaurant as well as a contentedly well-rested child.” Make a sentence with this.
  3. What does “to mind one’s manners” mean? “Perhaps you remember being instructed as a child to “mind your manners.” Make a sentence with this idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this restaurant’s idea? If you were a restaurant owner, would you implement a similar policy to maintain a peaceful atmosphere? Why/why not?
  2. How do you think can this policy affect the restaurant?
  3. Share other ridiculous rules that some places of business you know of have.
  4. Do you think the practice of charging extra for unruly children helps or hinders the overall dining experience for families? Explain.
  5. What alternative approaches could restaurants consider to address disruptive behavior by children?
  6. What other solutions can you think of to maintain a peaceful dining experience for all patrons without implementing such a policy?

Parentifying Your Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Parenting is a complex and demanding role that comes with its own set of challenges. As parents, it’s only natural to want the best for our children, but sometimes, in our pursuit of nurturing, protecting, and equipping them for what lies ahead, we may unintentionally engage in a phenomenon known as “parentification.”

Click on the link provided to learn more about the term.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/parentification-parentified-children_l_6536b883e4b0689b3fbd8ac2

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “extreme end of this spectrum” mean in the sentence, “On the more extreme end of this spectrum, they might be facing serious poverty or war or living under a violent regime or in a neighborhood where kids have to grow up too fast.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What does “to be born out of something” mean in the sentence, “Other ways in which parentification comes about is born out of a parent’s need for emotional support.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to be not afforded something” mean in the sentence, “They may struggle with being assertive and advocating for themselves, feelings of guilt, depression, and a sense of loss and grief over the childhood they were not afforded the opportunity to experience.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is parentification and how does it manifest in parenting?
  2. Why is parentification considered a problematic phenomenon in child development?
  3. What are some common signs that a child may be experiencing parentification? Tell me more.
  4. Are there specific strategies parents can employ to avoid unintentionally parentifying their children? Please share.
  5. How can parents strike a balance between nurturing their children and allowing them to develop age-appropriate independence?

Laser Pointer Incidents on the Rise

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Laser pointers are typically used in business and school presentations. It is a pointing device that makes it easier for the audience to follow what the speaker is discussing.

Unfortunately, some people tend to use it for other purposes that could be fatal to a lot of people travelling by plane.

Let’s read the article and know more about the threats this kind of incidents pose to planes.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/technology/laser-pointer-incidents-on-the-rise.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “shine into” mean? “In February, a Virgin Atlantic flight to New York JFK had to return to London Heathrow because a laser light had been shone into the cockpit.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  2. What does “to target a particular person or thing” mean? “Pope Franciscus’ flight from Cuba to Mexico was targeted by a laser beamer during landing.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What does the phrasal verb “carry something out” mean? “Most attacks are carried out by young men or boys, who are often not aware of the dangers of laser instruments.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. How does laser pointing affect aviation safety?
  3. Given the possible danger laser pointing pose to aircrafts, do you think the selling of this item should be strictly regulated?
  4. What might be airline measures for pilots to reduce the severity of this incident?
  5. How can these incidents be stopped?
  6. Have you heard of laser pointing incidents involving aircrafts in your country? How did it end?
  7. Share your thoughts on this: “According to psychologists, playing around with guns and other weapons is something that typically attracts males.“.

Supporting vs. Enabling

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Distinguishing “supporting” and “enabling” is crucial in relationships and personal growth. Both of these ideas involve lending a hand to others but they have different outcomes.

Read this article to learn the difference between supporting and enabling.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supporting-enabling-difference_l_64c004ffe4b00356919b39ae

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cross the line”mean? “People often do not realize that they are crossing the fine line between support and enabling.” Give a synonym and write a sentence using “cross the line”.
  2. What does “teeter into” mean? “But sometimes people’s attempts at support teeter into more harmful territory: enablement.” Give a synonym and write a sentence using “teeter into”.
  3. What does “swoop into” mean? “It sends the signal that life is perfect, that everyone else will swoop into clean up the mess and reinforces entitled behavior.” Give a synonym and write a sentence using “swoop into”.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the key difference between supporting and enabling when it comes to helping someone in need?
  2. Are there situations where enabling might be necessary or justified, and if so, what distinguishes them from situations where support is more appropriate?
  3. How does setting healthy boundaries play a role in differentiating between support and enabling?
  4. What are some instances of enabling actions that might be misinterpreted as support?
  5. How do you find a balance between giving support and letting a friend or family member to face the repercussions of their actions when faced with constant mistakes or poor choices?

Thalidomide Malformed Children

B2 – Upper Intermediate

An Australian doctor named William McBride published a letter in The Lancet in 1961. This letter indicated the connection between thalidomide and its impact on the development of an unborn child. This was the first public findings on the harmful effects of this drug.

Let’s read the article and know more about this drug and how it devastated tens of thousands of families in the past.

https://www.english-online.at/health_medicine/thalidomide/thalidomide-victims.htm

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the adjective “malformed“. “Thousands of other babies survived but their limbs, eyes, ears and internal organs were severely malformed.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. Define the word “lawsuit“. “After a series of lawsuits Thalidomide was withdrawn from the market.” Use it in your own sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What does the word “withdraw” mean here? “After a series of lawsuits Thalidomide was withdrawn from the market.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is thalidomide and what was it used for?
  2. How did it affect the offspring of the mothers who took them?
  3. According to the article, what is the drug used for at present?
  4. Given the enormity of its ill-effects, do you think it should be completely banned? Why or why not?
  5. Talk about a drug that had been withdrawn from the market due to its adverse effects on patients.

Examples of Employee Incentives

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Incentives come as form of reward employers provide to their employees to recognize their invaluable contributions to the organization.

These professional development opportunities are intended to boost workers’ morale, motivation, and consequently, productivity at work.

Read the article and check out some examples of employee incentives. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/examples-of-incentives

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the difference between ”tangible reward” and “intangible reward”? ”The promise of an incentive—from an intangible reward like recognition to a tangible reward can motivate employees to work harder and use their time at work productively.” Use these words in sentences.
  2. What is a ”top talent”? “In a competitive marketplace, workplaces that reward employees with comprehensive benefits are better able to attract top talent and make sure they stay.” Use this term in a sentence.
  3. What does “well-rounded” mean, “Many offices include in-house amenities as a way to provide their employees with a more well-rounded workplace.”? Give 2 synonyms and use “well-rounded” in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are employee incentives important?
  2. Is it okay to accept a job because of the incentives it offers? Share your thoughts.
  3. Name incentives (compensation, activities, perks) your company offers its employees.
  4. What incentives (compensation, activities, perks) would you like to receive?
  5. What professional development opportunities would you look for in your next company?

The Difference between Nice and Kind

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We often describe someone as “nice or kind” rather than “nice and kind”, primarily due to the common perception of these two words being synonymous. According to researchers, one represents a significantly superior quality compared to the other, though.

Read this article to learn the difference between nice and kind.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nice-kind-difference_l_650b53ffe4b0d75184692b0e

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to go to great lengths” mean? “While a nice person might go to great lengths to gain approval from others (potentially even causing harm in the process), a kind person engages in generous acts built on a foundation of self-love.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
  2. Define “fall short”. “By contrast, he believes niceness falls short of deep impact, perhaps in part due to its roots in notions of ignorance.” Use this in a sentence.
  3. What does “to let someone down” mean? “Sometimes being kind may mean letting someone down in the short term…” Make a sentence with this phrase.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do “nice” and kind” differ from each other according to the article?
  2. How do you personally set the difference between being “nice” and being “kind” and which quality do you value more in your interactions with others?
  3. In your opinion, which is more valuable in building meaningful relationships – niceness or kindness?
  4. Can you recall a time when someone’s kindness had a significant impact on your life and how did it make you feel?
  5. According to Plante, “Our world is so fractured. We are very quick to be mean to each other and even cruel.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The Hidden Meaning Behind Dress Codes

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Dress codes are implemented in many places, may it be at school, in the office, or in a swimming pool. These guidelines serve to mold the social atmosphere and uphold standards of attire. However, it prompts the question, “Why do we concern ourselves with what anyone chooses to wear?”.

Read this article to learn about the hidden meaning behind dress codes.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-do-we-care-what-anyone-wears-experts-reveal-the-hidden-meaning-behind-dress-codes_l_6515c2c8e4b0e237dcdfa77b

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to size someone/something up” mean? “In reality, within seconds, all of us size someone up based on their appearance and determine what level of respect they should receive based on that finding.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  2. Define “boom” in this context. “Participants who opted for formal business attire reported feeling more powerful and experienced a boom of “enhanced abstract thinking.” Use this in a sentence.
  3. What does “to ruffle someone’s feather” mean? “His recent look, deemed too casual by senators from both parties and “inappropriate” by fashion critics on Reddit, ruffled some feathers.” Make a sentence with this idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In your opinion, do dress codes contribute to a more organized and structured society or do they stifle personal expression and creativity?
  2. Why do dress codes matter so much and why should we care? Share your insights.
  3. Share your views on this, “In reality, within seconds, all of us size someone up based on their appearance and determine what level of respect they should receive based on that finding.“.
  4. Do you agree or disagree to this, “Dress codes in the business world essentially function as signals of power.”? Explain your thoughts.
  5. What is your personal fashion style and how does it reflect your individuality and self-expression?
  6. Have you ever felt restricted or uncomfortable due to a dress code or clothing expectation in a specific environment? Share about that experience.

The 5 A.M. Productivity Trend

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Because of a growing trend on social media sites like TikTok, the early morning hours have taken center stage in the world of modern productivity. Many people display their “5-to-9s” with pride before starting their typical 9 to 5 workday. However, as enticing as this early morning routine may seem, it’s important to recognize that it isn’t a one-size-fits-all routine. In fact, there are specific groups for whom this regimen might not be the best fit.

Click on the link provided to know more about the sunrise productivity crowd.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-am-productivity-trend_l_652575d8e4b09f4b8d4203e9

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to carve out something” mean in the sentence, “Beginning the day with personal interests sounds healthy, but carving out extra time is not easy, especially for those who have young kids or work long hours.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  2. What does “bad rap” mean in the sentence, “The pathway to world-class is hard. I think suffering’s got a bad rap.”? Use this in your own sentence.
  3. What does “to tack on something” mean, “Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy liked to tack on extra sleep during their presidencies with naps.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Tell me about the 5 A.M. productivity trend and why has it gained popularity, particularly on platforms like TikTok.
  2. How do individuals typically structure their mornings during the 5 A.M. productivity trend, and what are the perceived benefits?
  3. Can you explain some potential drawbacks or concerns associated with following the 5 A.M. productivity trend?
  4. Have you entertained the thought of becoming a part of this trend? Tell me more.
  5. What time do you wake up and what is your pre-work/shift routine?
  6. Discuss some tips or guidelines for individuals who want to experiment with early rising, while still prioritizing their overall health and well-being.