Tag: Text

Ride-On Suitcase

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As we travel, we want to take as many things as we need with us considering the hassles of carrying a heavy luggage on our way to the airport. For some, it may also be troublesome to find a ride to the airport if you are traveling during peak hours. Worry no more because a man from China made an invention that will make traveling even with a weighty suitcase a breeze.

Read more about this battery-powered scooter cum luggage through this article.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/take-a-ride-on-your-suitcase-and-honk-your-way-through/story-wtQoR5SXGzNyF58gxTHPYL.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did He Liangcai come up with this invention?
  2. What do you think of the suitcase scooter? Would you purchase it?
  3. How often do you travel by plane? Have you ever forgotten something on your way to the airport?
  4. What are your usual preparations prior to going to the airport?
  5. What are your must-haves when traveling?

Digital Marketing Trends for 2020

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We have fully immersed ourselves in all things digital these days. Internet is the best place to reach out to millions of people using different strategies. Let us familiarize ourselves with the current online marketing trends in 2020.

Read the article below.

5 Digital Marketing Trends for 2020?

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the different marketing trends mentioned in the article? Explain.

2. Do you have other marketing tactics that you use?

3. Have you embraced a more digital-minded business or digital strategies? What digital tools do you use?

4. How would you rate your skills and resources in digital marketing?

5. What other digital marketing trends or strategies do you foresee or would like to see in the coming days?

Wind Turbines Cause Bird Deaths

B1 – Intermediate

With our growing problem with the environment, we continue to find alternative sources of energy. One example of alternative energy source is wind. 

One good thing about wind turbines is that they produce green energy. However, one problem with them is the danger they bring to wildlife, especially birds.

Find out more about this environment concern and what the solution is to this problem.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200829-wind-turbine-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the good and bad things about wind turbines or wind farms?
  2. What are other common causes of death of birds that you know of?
  3. How is the scientists solution helpful?
  4. Are there a lot of wind turbines in your city/country? What do you think of them?
  5. What is your opinion on this statement: “wind farms should not be a risk to wildlife”?

India, Russia, and One Chess Gold Medal

B1 – Intermediate

In competitions, there is only one winner. But at the Olympiad 2020, that one gold medal went to two competing countries India and Russia. The chess match was done online due to Covid-19 but India had internet problems.

Read this lesson to find out more about two countries winning one gold medal in chess.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2009/200902-chess-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on giving the gold medal to both India and Russia despite India’s technical problems?
  2. What are the pros and cons of online competitions?
  3. Have you ever experienced Internet problems during an important online activity? What happened?
  4. Do you know how to play chess? How and when did you learn to play it? What can you say about this game/sport?
  5. Is there a game in your country that is similar to chess? Talk about it.

Brain-Hacking Computer Chip

B1 – Intermediate

Elon Musk, a tech pioneer, wants to develop a computer-to-brain technology in humans. An experiment has already been done on a pig. If this technology succeeds, we might be seeing superhuman powers in the near future.

Read this lesson more to find out more about putting a computer chip on human brains.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200831-superhuman-powers-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on the potential of this technology?
  2. How do you feel about such technology?
  3. How can it change our lives?
  4. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of this technology?
  5. Do you think it’s possible for AI to cause destruction to humans?

Natural Landscapes That Even Scientists Can’t Explain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Mysteries in this planet are everywhere. There are certain phenomena that even science cant’t explain.

These hard-to-explain phenomena led to myth-making. These are some of the wonders of our natural world. These natural landscapes roused some questions that remain unanswered.

Read this article to discover these natural landscapes that are unexplainable.

https://www.rd.com/list/natural-landscapes-scientists-cant-explain/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the article?
  2. Do you believe that there are mysteries happening on this planet?
  3. Among the featured landscapes in the article, which ones amaze you the most?
  4. Which ones do not astonish you?
  5. Is there a natural tourist attraction in your city or country that seems to be mysterious?

Social Distancing Through Wine Windows in Italy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In this pandemic that we are facing, one of the crucial rules in keeping safe is social distancing. Everyone should get used to it that even companies around the world have shifted their ways of doing business.

In Italy, most of them are using “buchetta del vino” or wine windows. to serve their customers.

Let’s read more about it here:
https://www.rd.com/article/italy-wine-windows/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do people in your city follow the social distancing rule?
  2. How do you feel about social distancing when meeting your friends and family? Is it really necessary?
  3. How have businesses in your city adjusted to the new normal?
  4. What can you say about the “wine windows” in Italy?
  5. Do you have any suggestions to business owners on how they should operate in this time of pandemic?

Places That Forbid Taking of Pictures

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Let’s admit, majority of us are hooked on taking photos. From the food that we are just about to eat, Outfit Of The Day (OOTD), our activities, and most specially the instagrammable places that we’ve been to, we can’t stop ourselves from taking snaps before anything else.

However, as much as we want to capture the scenery and view, there are places that do not allow this. Let us find out what are these places and their reasons why we need to ditch in our cameras in visiting them.

rd.com/list/places-forbid-taking-pictures/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you like taking pictures?
  2. What are the reasons you take photos?
  3. What are the things that you like to take pictures of?
  4. Is there a place in your country that forbids taking of pictures? What is the reason?
  5. In your own opinion, do you think the reasons mentioned in the article are valid?

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

B1 – Intermediate

Mosquitoes are little creatures who thirst for blood and cause many life-threatening diseases. It is determined that both genders are equally responsible for transmitting various diseases by breeding and increasing population size.

Let’s read the article below to learn more about genetically-modified mosquitoes.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200825-mosquitoes-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of releasing genetically-modified insects? What could go wrong with this experiment?
  2. How would you feel if the mosquitoes were released in your town?
  3. What do you know about mosquitoes? What do you do to avoid them?
  4. How dangerous are mosquitoes?
  5. Do you have any bad experiences with mosquitoes?

Transparent Toilets in Tokyo

B1 – Intermediate

Public toilets are places where one is obliged to ease oneself in unfamiliar surroundings. Almost all toilets in Japan are well-maintained and kept spotlessly clean to ensure the utmost comfort for all.

Let’s read the article below about public toilets in Japan.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200821-the-tokyo-toilet-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Should public toilets be well-designed? Why / Why not?
  2. What do you think of a toilet with transparent walls?
  3. Should cities spend money on designing toilets? Why / Why not?
  4. Why do public toilets have a negative image? How can we make public toilets better?
  5. What are public toilets like in your country? Describe.