Tag: Reading

Embryo a Year Younger than the Mother

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some couples are lucky to have children without needing any medical interventions but there are others whose dreams of having a child is a long shot. Luckily, with the help of science, their dreams could possibly come true.

Read the article and watch the video about the oldest frozen human embryo and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/19/health/snowbaby-oldest-embryo-bn/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on/reaction to this news?
  2. What do you think about embryo donation and adoption?
  3. Talk about other modern methods of conceiving that you know about.

Measles Outbreak in Europe

B1 – Intermediate

Measles is an infectious disease that has not been a very big problem in decades. However, there had been a huge increase in the number of people affected by this disease in Europe last year. 

Read this article about the new measles outbreak in Europe.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/health-medicine/new-measles-outbreak-in-europe.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why was there a massive outbreak of measles in Europe?
  2. How do you feel about the increase of measles cases in Europe?
  3. How can the government encourage parents to have their babies receive measles immunization?
  4. What other outbreaks have you had in your city/country the past few years? How did the ministry of health and/or the government manage the outbreak?
  5. What other vaccinations/immunizations do you know babies should get?

Teenagers Aren’t What They Used To Be

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whenever we hear the term teenager, we picture of a phase in someone’s life when one is making dumb choices while struggling to mature via trial and error.

The bulk of choices taken by adolescents are impacted by their peers and how others behave.

Let’s take a look at the article below to find out why teenagers aren’t what they used to be.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220124-why-teens-arent-what-they-used-to-be

Discussion Questions:

  1. Did you like being a teenager? Talk about that phase in your life.
  2. What are the best and worst things about being a teenager?
  3. Do you think today’s teens are the same as teenagers 20 years ago? Explain your point.
  4. Do you think parents look forward to their cute little children becoming teenagers? Why/why not?
  5. Why is it that teenagers tend to rebel so much?
  6. What impact do teenagers have on society?

Running a Successful Small Business

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Owning a business sounds like a dream: you are your own boss and you get a say on everything from top to bottom of things. A lot of people are enticed by the idea of a business where they own their time, earn their own money, and take charge of where the money goes or how it’s spent, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

Starting or owning a business takes a lot of responsibility and sacrifices. So many things happen behind the scenes that are tricky and challenging.

The tips laid out in the article below aims to help budding entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-to-be in setting up and running a small business successfully.

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/make-money-in-business.asp

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you interested in having your own business? Why or why not? If yes, what kind of business would it be?
2. What sacrifices must be made to start a business? Are you willing to take them?
3. What are some challenges faced when starting a business?
4. What are some rewards of owning a business?
5. How do you keep yourself organized at work and in other aspects of your life?
6. What is good customer service?
7. What are other tips that you can add to the list?

Australia’s Aboriginal Flag

B1 – Intermediate

Every country has its own national flag. A flag is not just an ordinary piece of fabric but a symbol of freedom, dignity, and one’s country.

Read the lesson on Australia’s Aboriginal flag below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2201/220127-aboriginal-flag-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why are national flags important?
  2. Should everyone have a flag of their country in their house? Explain.
  3. Talk about your national flag. What do you know about the history of your country’s flag?
  4. Can people freely display and use flags to celebrate certain cultures or communities? Explain your opinion.
  5. Have there ever been any controversies revolving a flag/flags in your country? Talk about it.

Tonga Cleans Up After Tsunami and Volcanic Eruption

B1 – Intermediate

Tonga is known as the “Friendly Island” because of the welcoming attitude and hospitality locals show their tourists. Most of the islands are classified as high islands because they have been raised above sea level by repeated volcanic activity. Other islands were formed by more explosive volcanoes.

Let’s read the article below to know more about Tonga’s efforts in cleaning up after the undersea volcano eruption.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2201/220120-tonga-tsunami-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How long do you think it will take Tonga to recover?
  2. What can you do to help the people of Tonga?
  3. What would life be like with no Internet in a country?
  4. Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? How would you cope if a natural disaster hit your town?
  5. Talk about helping in cleaning up a city or a place after a disaster.

Boredom and Sadistic Behavior

B2 – Upper Intermediate

What brings about sadism? A study made by a team of researchers at Aarhus University has found evidence that people who are bored behave more sadistically to reduce the effects of being indifferent.

Read the article below about how boredom leads to setting off sadistic behavior and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-01-boredom-factor-sadistic-behavior.html#:~:text=A%20team%20of%20researchers%20at,in%20setting%20off%20sadistic%20behavior.&text=A%20closer%20look%20showed%20that,others%20more%20often%20when%20bored.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the results of this study?
  2. What do you think of trolling behavior of people online because they are bored?
  3. What bores you? How does boredom make you feel? What do you do when you get bored?
  4. What was the strangest thing you did out of boredom?
  5. How would you help someone who says they are bored?

Recycling and Reusing COVID Tests and Masks

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The use of face masks is the most important weapon that we have against the COVID-19 virus. Even before the pandemic, wearing of face masks was already customary in some parts of Asia such as China, Japan, and Korea. People wear it to protect themselves from illness, allergies, pollution, and more.

While beneficial, it generates millions tons of plastic wastes and it is causing a lot of environmental problems. So people came up with some recycling initiatives to reduce COVID plastic wastes.

Let’s read the article below to find out more about these recycling initiatives.

https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/01/28/can-covid-tests-and-masks-be-recycled-and-reused-these-people-have-found-a-way

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on COVID tests and masks being recycled and reused? Do you think it is safe to do this?
  2. How do you safely dispose your used masks and test kits?
  3. Do you agree that “hygiene theatre” should be stopped? Is it really effective in providing additional protection against the spread of Covid-19?
  4. Are there recycling points in your city/country? If not, do you think you should have one?
  5. What are other ways to manage all our pandemic wastes?

Minister Swims for Hours after Helicopter Crash

B1 – Intermediate

A Madagascar police minister was lucky enough to be one of the few to survive after their helicopter crashed into the Indian Ocean. He was one of only two men to survive the accident by swimming for so many hours.

Read the lesson about Serge Gelle’s incredible story of survival. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2112/211227-survival-swim-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. What do you think about the two men?
  3. Have you ever been involved in an accident? Share your experience.
  4. Share an experience where you have ‘beaten the odds’.
  5. When a situation is very difficult and hopeless, what do you try to do?

Health Checks at Certain Age

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the past years, people only used to go the doctor when they were sick or dying. It is necessary to go for a regular medical check-up as it can identify early signs of health issues and can result in a healthier life. “Prevention is better than cure” could not be any truer.

Let’s read the article below about the importance of health checks depending on our life age.

https://theconversation.com/im-approaching-a-milestone-birthday-what-health-checks-should-i-have-at-my-age-172047

Discussion Questions:

  1. How often do you get a medical check-up? How often should people get a check-up?
  2. What might be reasons people do not get checked up as regularly as they should?
  3. Are you a healthy person? How often do you get sick?
  4. What health changes have you noticed as you’ve begun to age?
  5. Do you consider yourself a hypochondriac? Do you know anybody who might be considered one?
  6. What steps are you taking to ensure you prevent chronic disease down the track?