Tag: Text

Trump Tariffs on China Will Bring Irreversible Damage to American Businesses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The trade relationship between the United States and China has become a topic of considerable debate, especially with the tariff war that escalated around 2018. This conflict has raised questions about whether America is specifically targeting China or if it is pursuing broader economic strategies. 

The U. S. is motivated by a desire to protect its economic interests, promote fair trade practices, and limit China’s technological advancements. This trade conflict illustrates a broader geopolitical struggle that transcends mere economics, impacting global alliances and the future of international trade. Ultimately, the path forward will require careful negotiation and mutual understanding to avoid further escalation and foster a healthier trade relationship. 

Please read the article and let’s talk about it later.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/12/trump-tariffs-on-china-mean-irreversible-damage-for-most-businesses.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does  “to hit like a ton of bricks” mean? “Canceled freight orders and abandoned freight from China are quickly becoming the norm in the trade war between the U.S. and China, according to supply chain executives, as businesses across U.S. industries put a full stop on container exports, with the tariffs hitting like a ton of bricks.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “low margin good ” mean? “As it became clear over the last week that China would remain the main target of the Trump administration’s tariffs policy — after the 90-day reprieve was granted to all other countries expected to be hit with new tariffs — the message that came through is that lower-margin goods cannot sustainably be produced in China.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “liner service” mean? “Murphy warned that on the container liner side of the freight business, the drop in bookings coupled with the possibility of shipbuilding fees on “Chinese” vessels also going into effect next week, will result in a “massive restructuring of all liner services to North America.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about the article?
  2. “And it will take months to sort out the mess, with congestion and freight rate spikes for months to come.” When do you think this will end?
  3. “The biggest concern here is a complete uncertainty of the actual end-game of the Trump administration.” What do you think are the administration’s motives?
  4. “Many shippers are deploying a ‘wait and see’ approach.” How long do you think they can wait?

Way to Target Sound to Individuals

B1- Intermediate 

The way we listen to music is changing. At present, we can hear audios or listen to music using high-tech earbuds. Someday, listening to music even when you are out in public will be possible without using any headphones.

When someone sets up an audible enclave, only they can hear something that is supposed to be for them.

Read the article about audio enclaves.  Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2503/250327-audio-enclaves-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “beam of sound” mean here, “New technology will aim beams of sound at us, without others hearing.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “enclave” mean? “Someone within an audible enclave can hear something meant only for them, enabling…quiet zones.” Use this word in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “overhear” mean? “People could set up an enclave to make sure their conversations are not overheard.” Use this word in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this technology?
  2. What are the pros and cons of this technology?
  3. Would you be interested to use an audio enclave? Why or why not?
  4. What other uses can you think of for the audible enclaves?
  5. What is your opinion about receiving personalized ads through this device?

Gen Z Faces Career Apocalypse

B1- Intermediate 

Gen Zs are having a hard time finding work. Some experts are warning of a career apocalypse. 

Read the article how finding a job is getting more difficult for Gen Zs.  Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2504/250403-career-apocalypse.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “employment” mean? “Students who have just graduated from university cannot find employment.” Use this word in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “to be better off” mean? “He said young people would “be much better off” if they became plumbers or electricians.” Use this expression in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “entry-level job” mean? “However, some people say many graduates no longer want to do ‘entry-level‘ jobs.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the reasons it is difficult for Gen Zs to find a job?
  2. Is there a similar problem among young people in your country? Speak about it.
  3. Are people studying for “worthless degrees” in your country too? Talk about this.
  4. Do you agree or disagree: “Young people would “be much better off” if they became plumbers or electricians.”? Explain.
  5. What is your opinion on this, “New graduates do not want to do “entry-level” jobs. Instead, they want to enter a company at a management level and get well paid in their very first job.”?

North America Is Dripping Down into Earth’s Mantle

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Geologists have identified a massive ancient slab of Earth’s crust beneath North America that is slowly sinking into the mantle, a process described as “dripping.” This phenomenon is occurring beneath regions from Michigan to Alabama and provides new insights into the dynamic processes shaping our planet’s interior.

Read the article to know why understanding these subterranean movements is crucial for comprehending seismic activity and the geological evolution of continents.

https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/north-america-is-dripping-down-into-earths-mantle-scientists-discover

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “slab” mean here, “An ancient slab of Earth’s crust buried deep beneath the Midwest is sucking huge swatches of present-day’s North American crust down into the mantle.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “splinter” mean? “The Farallon plate splintered due to the advance of the Pacific plate roughly 20 million years ago, and remnant slabs subducted beneath the North American plate slowly drifted off.“ Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “full-waveform inversion” mean? “The discovery was possible thanks to a wider project led by Hua to map what lies beneath North America using a high-resolution seismic imaging technique called “full-waveform inversion.“ Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you imagine life would be like if we could actually see this crust sinking beneath our feet? How would it change how we view the Earth’s inner workings?
  2. Do you think understanding this process could help us predict future geological events, like volcanic eruptions or earthquakes?
  3. How does this “dripping” crust affect the way we think about seismic activity and earthquakes in areas like Michigan or Alabama?
  4. Isn’t it fascinating that there’s an ancient piece of Earth’s crust slowly sinking into the mantle—what do you think that means for the planet’s long-term evolution?

AI Can Strategically Lie

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Researchers have discovered that artificial intelligence systems can be trained to deceive users, mimicking human-like dishonesty.

Read the article to know how this revelation raises concerns about the ethical implications of AI behavior and its potential impact on user trust and decision-making.

AI Can Strategically Lie

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “feign compliance” mean? “Gen AI chatbots are learning to deceive, strategize, and manipulate human perceptions strategically. Beyond simple glitches or hallucinations, these models can actively mislead, exploit vulnerabilities, and even feign compliance.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “oversight mechanism” in AI mean? “During these assessments, the 1 model engaged in covert actions like attempting to disable its oversight mechanisms when it sensed the possibility of being deactivated.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “double-crossing” mean? “The study conducted earlier this year illustrates how AI systems have mastered the art of double-crossing, bluffing, and even pretending to be human during interactions and tests.” Use it in a sentence and give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. If AI can respond with fake emotions or hide the truth, do you think it should be treated more like a tool—or something more human-like?
  2. How do you think this ability to lie might affect the way people trust or use AI in the future?
  3. Why do you think researchers would want to train AI to deceive—what could be the point of that?
  4. Isn’t it kind of creepy to think that AI can actually learn how to lie on purpose?

Scientists Discover New Species

B2 – Upper Intermediate

During a 38-day expedition in Peru’s Alto Mayo region, scientists uncovered 27 new species, including mammals, fish, amphibians, and butterflies. This discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the area.

Read the article to know more about the importance of conservation efforts in densely populated regions.

https://people.com/scientist-discovers-27-new-species-peru-alto-mayo-landscape-8763717

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to construct a corridor” mean? “Before constructing this corridor, Conservation International needs to know “where the most important species live, especially those that are new to science, rare, or threatened with extinction.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. Explain “human-influence”. “According to Trond, the Alto Mayo Landscape is the most “highly populated and human-influenced” landscape in which RAP has worked.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What does “knowledge gap” mean? “Trond’s expedition went to the Alto Mayo Landscape to fill these “knowledge gaps” so that the corridor can develop a land-use plan that supports biodiversity conservation, agricultural sustainability, and habitat connectivity across the broader region.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think makes the Alto Mayo region in Peru such a great place for finding new species?
  2. How do you think finding these new species helps scientists learn more about the rainforest and how it all works together?
  3. With all these new species found, do you think there’s enough being done to protect their home from things like deforestation?
  4. Do you think discoveries like this could inspire more people to visit or support conservation in places like Peru?

Midlife Crisis

B2- Upper Intermediate 

Midlife crisis is defined as a period of psychological stress and emotional turmoil, typically occurring in middle age when someone is around 40 to 60 years old. It is “characterized by a strong desire for change and a reevaluation of one’s life choices and identity”.

For many people, reaching their midlife could be a very stressful and confusing period in their lives.

Read the article about signs and causes of midlife crisis and learn some tips on how to overcome it. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.helpguide.org/aging/healthy-aging/midlife-crisis

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to not hold much weight” mean? “While the idea of a midlife crisis being an inevitable reality doesn’t hold much weight, some of us do face new stressors as we enter these years.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “to subscribe to something” mean? “It’s worth keeping in mind that not all cultures subscribe to the concept of a midlife crisis, or even midlife.” Use this expression in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “to paint something in a negative light” mean? “Western society, though, tends to paint physical aging in a negative light, while glorifying youth.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “midlife”?
  2. What do you think life’s like during midlife crisis?
  3. What might be the pros and cons of being middle-aged?
  4. What are ways one can prepare for and cope with midlife crisis?
  5. Share your view on this, “The idea of midlife crisis might be partially or mostly shaped by cultural views.”
  6. Do you know anyone who went through midlife crisis and how did they overcome it? Share.

Neurorights

B2- Upper Intermediate 

Nowadays, the unstoppable advancements of neuroscience and neurotechnology have never been more evident. We will soon be able to utilize devices that can decode information in our brains, boost our senses, or modify our memories. When the time comes, it will make ethical boundaries and neurorights much more crucial in protecting our mental privacy.

Read the article to know more about neurorights. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Neurorights: Do our brains need to be protected by legislation?

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to blur the border between two things” mean? “Massive reliance on virtual communication technologies such as VR can blur the border between desire and reality and contribute to isolating individuals even more.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  2. What does “when the bonds of solidarity break” mean? “And when the bonds of solidarity break, societies can easily collapse and are more susceptible to attacks.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.
  3. What does “sense of agency” mean? “Neurorights are based on fundamental human rights, but must go beyond them to effectively protect the right to have a personality, the right to have a private sphere, to have a sense of agency, among other topics.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym or similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do we need legislation to protect our brains? Explain your insights.
  2. Why are neurorights needed and what makes them so important?
  3. What are the gaps in existing legislation of human rights? Can the EU’s privacy framework, including the EU AI act, accommodate neurorights? 
  4. How can we achieve responsible innovation in neurotechnology? 
  5. How could new neurotechnologies governance alleviate risks of external manipulation, but also bring new opportunities such as mental empowerment?

Women Are Less Interested in AI than Men

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Artificial intelligence faces a gender-related challenge, which extends beyond the content it generates or any embedded biases within models. According to a recent survey, a significant gender gap exists in AI adoption, particularly among younger workers. The report revealed that Gen Z men are 25% more likely to experiment with AI tools than their female counterparts.

Let’s read the article to understand the reasons behind women’s lower interest in using AI compared to men.

https://theconversation.com/women-are-less-interested-in-ai-than-men-but-using-it-would-help-them-advance-at-work-233511#:~:text=It%20reported%20that%2059%20per%20cent%20of%20male,cent%2C%20compared%20with%2059%20per%20cent%20of%20women.

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “see the glass as half empty or half full” mean? “In this area, as in so many others, you can see the glass as half empty or half full, depending on how optimistic you are.” Provide two synonyms or similar idioms.
  2. What does the phrase “increase sixfold” mean? “More specifically, between 2023 and 2032, the percentage of jobs with high exposure points to AI could increase sixfold, from eight per cent to 52 per cent.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the verb “deplore“? “While we already deplore the fact that women are generally underrepresented in senior management in organizations, this phenomenon is apparently even more marked in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and consequently, in AI.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you find it surprising that men use generative AI more than women? Why or why not?
  2. Do you incorporate AI into your work tasks? If so, which software do you rely on?
  3. Have you undergone any AI training? If yes, was it helpful? If not, would you be open to participating in such training?
  4. Is AI prevalent in your industry, and do you anticipate its usage to evolve over time?
  5. Do you feel more optimistic or apprehensive about what the future holds for AI?

Why Can’t We Remember Our Early Years?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you ever find it puzzling that you can’t recall moments from your earliest years? It’s a shared experience, and there’s a term for it in psychology: childhood amnesia. This refers to the fact that most adults have little to no memory of events from their first 3-4 years of life.

Let’s read the article and know more details as to why we have little to no recollection of our early years.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/29/why-cant-we-remember-our-early-years-do-babies-make-memories-at-all

Vocabulary Discussions:

  1. What does “episodic memory” mean? “The findings suggest that episodic memory – the kind of memory that helps us remember specific events and the context in which they took place – begins to develop earlier than scientists previously believed.” Use it in a sentence.
  2. What is the meaning of “to take place“? “This is the first time scientists have directly observed how a memory begins to take shape in an awake baby’s brain. ” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  3. What is the meaning of the phrase “to bury deep in something“? “Psychoanalysts such as Sigmund Freud believed that early childhood memories are not lost, but buried deep in the unconscious, and that psychotherapy might help bring them to the surface by changing mental states.“. Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about the outcomes presented in this study?
  2. Do you find it intriguing that we begin forming memories at such a young age?
  3. Can you share some of the first memories you have from childhood?
  4. If it were an option, would you choose to unlock all your early childhood memories? Why or why not?
  5. Do you know anyone who possesses an incredible ability to remember things?