Tag: Science and Technology

How Venus Fly Traps Developed a Liking for Meat

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that depends on meals of insects for them to survive in the soil where they are ingrained. They are very unique because of how they attract prey to draw closer and eventually get trapped as meals for these kind of plants. They are known to be plants with medicinal attributes as well. They were found out to be cure for stomach pain and eye troubles.

Read the article below and learn more about Venus Fly Traps.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2005/200517-venus-fly-trap.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about Venus fly traps?
  2. What do you think of carnivorous plants?
  3. Do you think carnivorous plants are useful?
  4. What are your favorite plants?
  5. What are other strange plants you know of?

Google Meet Video Conferencing Platform Improved

B1 – Intermediate

Video conferencing technology gives us the opportunity to communicate with our co-workers, friends, and family. It is changing rapidly over the past few years. Video conferencing is not only for business but also for education and healthcare. It boosts productivity, saves time, and reduces travel expenses.

Let’s read the article below.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2004/200429-google-meet.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How is Google Meet helpful in education and healthcare and at work?
  2. What are some improvements in the Google Meet platform?
  3. What are your experiences video conferencing?
  4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of video conferencing?
  5. How did you communicate with your family and friends during lockdown? How has it changed since things went back to normal?

Hotel Guests Information Hacked

B1 – Intermediate

Hotels are your home away from home. You book hotels when you are on holiday or business trip. To do that, you need to give them your personal information including your credit card information. But what if those information were stolen from them?

Read the transcript and listen to the audio about a hotel chain’s hacking incident.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/hotel-guests-information-level-2/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. What can businesses do to protect themselves from hacking?
  3. Talk about other people or companies whose accounts/systems have been hacked.
  4. When is hacking good and bad?
  5. If you were to hack a person or company’s account or system, who or which would it be and why? What information would you like to see?

Scientists Start Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life

B1 – Intermediate

E.T. stands for Extra-Terrestrial. Back in the 80s, a film became very famous. It is a story of an alien who was left behind on Earth, found by a little human boy and the two eventually become the best of friends.

More than three decades later, scientists have started working on finding more signs of alien life. 

Read the article below to know why scientists are interested to know more about the possibility of life in space.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2002/200217-extraterrestrial-life-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on the fact that scientists are spending time and money on this subject?
  2. What are your thoughts on E.T?
  3. What pieces of evidence that aliens exist do you know of?
  4. What would you do if you found out aliens really exist?
  5. Talk about films about aliens you know about or have watched.

Stress Causes Graying Hair

B1 – Intermediate

It is said that our hair is our crowning glory. Sooner or later, that crown will start to gray and we face a decision whether to dye it or maintain that silver hair color.

Read the article below to know what causes our hair to turn gray and be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2001/200126-grey-hair-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree that stress is one of the main causes of going gray?
  2. Do you have gray hair? If so, are you worried about it? What are you going to do when all your hair turn gray?
  3. How do you keep your hair looking good and at its best?
  4. How do you deal with stress?

This Device Fights Phone Addiction

B1 – Intermediate

Some students at the University of Indonesia are working on an iteration of a device that monitors signs of smartphone addiction.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to learn more about “Nettox”.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/indonesians-make-device-to-fight-phone-addiction/5156493.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does Nettox work? What do you think of this device?
  2. Why are smartphones and mobile apps addictive?
  3. Is it possible to live without a smartphone and social media in this day and age? Why or why not?
  4. In your opinion, at what age should a child be given their first smartphone?
  5. What are other ways to avoid phone addiction?

Satellites for Worldwide Internet

B1 – Intermediate

A company has launched satellites to make Internet accessible in more places in the world. This can change many people’s lives. However, not everyone is happy about this news.

Read on this news for more information on this satellite project.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1903/190304-worldwide-internet-4.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about this news?
2. Why are some countries not happy with this?
3. Why is it necessary to be connected to the internet?
4. What do you use the internet for?
5. Should everyone be connected to the internet? Why or why not?

Night Vision

B1 – Intermediate

Scientists have given mice the ability to see in the dark. Cells found in mice’s retinas are also found in humans. Researchers hope that one day humans may be able to see in the dark.

Let’s read the article to know how these rodents were able to see better in the dark.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1903/190306-night-vision.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What did scientists inject into the mice’s eyes?
2. How long did the effects of injections last?
3. What do you think of this research?
4. Would you like to be able to see in the dark? Why or why not?
5. What is your opinion on technologies like this that give humans abilities that are beyond what’s normal?

Throw in the Towel

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When things don’t turn out the way you wanted them to be despite your hard work and determination, quitting is probably something you would consider to do next. For some, quitting is not in their vocabulary. Is it really that bad to just give up? Are some dreams just aren’t worth chasing?

Read this lesson about the expression “throw in the towel”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-181119

Discussion Questions:

1. What does “throw in the towel” mean?

2. When is it right to give up? Do you think twice before doing so?

3. What do you do when you feel like giving up?

4. Share your own experience wherein you had to throw in the towel.

How Do Vampire Bats Survive on Blood?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever wondered how vampire bats live? Scientists have recently discovered how these “flying mice” can survive on a blood-only diet.

Watch the video to find out more about these creatures and also learn some vocabulary associated with their “bloody” lifestyle.

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the video, how do vampire bats live only on blood?

2. What comes to mind when you hear the words “vampire”, “bats” and “blood”?

3. Do you know of any vampire legends/folk stories from your country? Tell us about them.