Tag: Science and Technology

Space Travel Changes Astronauts’ DNA

B1 – Intermediate

With the growing interest in both commercial space flights and space exploration, many companies and countries have entered into space industry. This means more astronauts are being sent to space more frequently than in the past. A new study found that astronauts’ DNA have higher level of mutation.

What exactly does this imply?

Let’s read the article and know more about the DNA mutation of astronauts who have traveled to space.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2209/220908-astronauts-dna-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the health risks due to DNA mutation for astronauts?
  2. What are the implications of this new study for commercial space exploration?
  3. What measures should countries and companies have to avoid or minimize such health risks?
  4. Given these major health risks, do you think going to space is still worth it?

Bees Like Playing with Balls

B1 – Intermediate

Bees are small flying insects, buzzing around with its painful stings which always make people afraid and annoyed. They are renowned in facilitating pollination for most plant life. Without bees, there would be a huge decrease in pollination, which later result in reduce in plant growth and food supplies.

Let’s read the article below and learn more about bees.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2211/221103-bees-and-balls-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about bees? How do you think bees might play?
  2. What are you thoughts on the results of study?
  3. What do you associate bees with?
  4. Do you like being busy? When are you as busy as a bee?
  5. What are the benefits of bees?
  6. How do you relax after a busy day?

Computers

B1 – Intermediate

A computer is a machine that can store and process data and information. It is one of the best inventions of modern technology nowadays. People from all walks of life use computers to make our jobs easier, and more convenient and effective.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about computers.

https://listenaminute.com/c/computers.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How useful are computers for you?
  2. What do you do with a computer? How did you learn these skills? Which software can you work with?
  3. What would happen if all of the world’s computers suddenly stopped forever?
  4. Do you control computers or do they control you? Explain.
  5. What is the worst thing about computers? Why?

Is Marijuana Bad for Your Brain?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The United States categorized marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance in 1970, which was the harshest classification imaginable and meant that it was fully banned and had no accepted medicinal use. The medicinal advantages of marijuana are now generally recognized, but this does not provide an answer to the question of whether marijuana usage for recreational purposes is harmful to the brain or not.

Watch the video to find out whether marijuana is really bad for your brain.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the view on marijuana in your country?
  2. Should marijuana be made legal? Why or why not?
  3. How would our society change if marijuana was legalized?
  4. Other than marijuana, what are known illegal drugs in your country?
  5. What penalties are imposed if someone is found selling or using illegal drugs?

Are GMOs Good or Bad?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For centuries, farmers have been selectively breeding animals and plants for better results, this is a form of GMO. Yet this hasn’t faced scrutiny like scientific GMOs, and we ask, “why is that?”.

GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms have been criticized heavily by the general public due to many reasons, but is this skepticism justified or do GMOs actually help us live a better life?

What are their pros and cons from a scientific point of view?

To find out more, let’s watch this video.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the expression “get to the bottom of something” mean? Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What is “yield“? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does “pronounced” mean? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. From your point of view, are GMOs good or bad? Elaborate on your stand.
  2. Can you think of any other pros and cons of GMOs? Cite all of them.
  3. Do you believe that there is a type of GMO that can help stop climate change? Explain your point.
  4. In your opinion, is there a way to help GMOs have a better reputation? How?
  5. What are some ways that you know GMOs are used?

What Did Dinosaurs look like?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Although humans have lived on Earth for a long, long time, there are still many species of animals that go undiscovered and may be lurking in the shadows for long.

Therefore, consider how many myths from the past still exist now. For instance, how did dinosaurs actually look like?

As a result of movies like Jurassic Park, people have compared dinosaurs to lizards, crocodiles, and other animals, which has shaped our concept of these prehistoric creatures.

Recently, scientists have discovered that dinosaurs are actually more feathery than reptilians, and although this information has been spread a lot more recently, many still think dinosaurs are scaly beasts.

What other aspects of the past are unknown to us if many people are mistaken about what they believe dinosaurs to be?

To find out more, let’s watch this video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How many animals or species do you think we’ll never discover?
  2. Based on the information from this video, would we know if humans were to go extinct?
  3. What other animals do you think would disappear from history if they went extinct?
  4. How do you imagine the world would be like if we shared one environment with these extinct animals?

Emotions of Dogs

B1 – Intermediate

Dogs are highly social animals. They have emotions just like people do. They experience feelings such as happiness, anger, fear, joy, and anxiety. It is also known that part of a dog’s ability to understand human emotions comes from the long-established relationship between humans and canines.

Let’s listen to the audio and read the transcript below to know more about the emotions of dogs.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/emotions-of-dogs-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have or have you ever had a dog for a pet? Talk about your experience being a dog owner.
  2. What are the good and bad things about having a dog?
  3. Do you agree that dogs have emotions? Why or why not?
  4. In what ways are dogs helpful to humans?
  5. What do you think of dog hotels, dog cafes, and poodle parlors?

Boy Dies After TikTok Challenge

B1 – Intermediate

TikTok is a popular video-sharing social network especially among young people. At the beginning, users normally shared their dance moves videos. In recent years, there have been a variety of contents that users can share; including challenges that have proven to be not just dangerous but also fatal.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript to know more about a young boy who lost his life for taking on a TikTok challenge.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/a-boy-dies-after-tiktok-challenge-level-1/

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does ‘blackout‘ mean here, “He is in a TikTok challenge called the “blackout challenge”. Use it in your own sentence.
  2. What does ‘to be against something‘ mean, “Archie’s family is against the change.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
  3. What does it mean ‘to switch off the machines‘ mean here, “Last Sunday, doctors switch off the machines.” Use this expression in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have a TikTok account? How is it different from other social media platforms?
  2. What is the “blackout challenge” in Tiktok? What are your thoughts on it?
  3. Have you heard of other dangerous TikTok challenges? What are some of them?
  4. Should TikTok be held legally accountable for incidents like this?
  5. How do you think TikTok could improve its safety measures?

Strongest Robot in the World

B1 – Intermediate

A Japanese company has created the world’s strongest robot. It is supposed to be able to lift 2 small cars. It’s made so strong that it is almost impossible to destroy it.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the strongest robot in the whole world.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/strongest-robot-in-the-world-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe the M-20001A/1700L. What do you think of this machine?
  2. How will this machine change everything in factory automation?
  3. What are the advantage and disadvantages of automation?
  4. What kind of robot or machine would you like to be invented? Why?
  5. How advanced is robotics in your country in comparison to Japan/to other European countries?

Octopuses and Humans Share Intelligence Gene

B1 – Intermediate

Some animals are known to be very intelligent. Marine biologists recently discovered that an octopus has short sequences of DNA that could make it also have remarkable intelligence.

Read the article about the intelligence gene that humans and octopuses have in common.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2207/220704-octopus-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this story?
  2. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “intelligence”?
  3. What are the similarities and differences between humans and octopuses?
  4. Talk about other facts you know about octopuses.
  5. What other things about human intelligence do you want to understand more?