Tag: Science and Technology

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?

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?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are many types of birds that exist in our world and one of them are parrots. They are some of the most famous birds to ever exist. There are many reasons as to why this is the case, but the most significant is the fact that parrots can speak the human language.

Monkeys and humans are very similar creatures with very similar physical features. However, monkeys cannot speak the human language, so why and how can a bird, more specifically, parrots speak like us?

To find out more, let us watch this video.

Discussion Questions:

1. If other birds were to start using their tongue while speaking, do you think they would be able to speak the human language as well?
2. Do you think that parrots could imitate other animals as well as they speak human language?
3. In the future, do you think we could fully teach parrots our language? How about other animals?
4. What are your thoughts on animals having the capability to perform human-like skills?
5. Would you like to own a talking pet/animal? Why or why not?