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Remove Equestrian Sports from the Olympics

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Equestrian sports have been in the Olympics for over a hundred years, highlighting the bond between the rider and their horse.

More recently, there has been a debate on whether these events should stay in the Games, with concerns about horse welfare, accessibility, and how well they fit with current Olympic values.

Read this article to know about the case for the removal of equestrian sports from the Olympics.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/31/the-horses-dont-choose-to-take-part-should-equestrian-sports-be-removed-from-the-olympics

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the idiom “to go out of the window” mean? ““We know that whenever animals are treated as commodities and exploited for human gain, their best interests go out of the window,” says White.” Give a synonym and make a sentence with this expression.
  2. What is an “outcry”? “Having been hailed as the “golden girl” of dressage and widely tipped for a damehood, Dujardin has been banned from the Paris Olympic Games amid public outcry and a pending investigation by the sport’s governing body.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘outcry’ in your own sentence.
  3. Define “to put one’s foot down”. “We are trying to do everything we can to find out about unethical behaviour and put our foot down wherever it happens.” Give a similar expression and create a sentence using this idiom.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on removing equestrian sports from the Olympics?
  2. Have you ever watched equestrian sports in the Olympics? If so, what was your impression of them?
  3. How do you think the inclusion of equestrian sports in the Olympics reflects or challenges our views on animal welfare?
  4. Are equestrian sports popular in your country? What other sports do you think might harm animals?
  5. What’s your opinion on the statement, “Whenever there’s a lot of money or glory involved, people may exploit animals to make them perform a certain way.”?

EU Rejects Alzheimer’s Drug Lecanemab

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Since its discovery in 1906, scientists have come a long way when it comes to the study and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists have been working round the clock to gain more, if not full, understanding of how this disease affects the brain. As a result of extensive researches over time, some drugs have been used to treat it and new ones are consistently being discovered. One of which is lecanemab, a drug that had shown to slow cognitive decline.

However, despite it getting approved in the US last year, the European Medicines Agency or EMA believes that the risk of lecanemab’s adverse side effects such as bleeding and swelling in the brain outweighs its benefits.

Read the article about EMA rejecting a license for the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crgm0v1ne08o

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “underlying mechanism” mean? “Alzheimer’s researchers hailed the trial results as “historic” because no previous drug had convincingly shown that the underlying mechanism of the disease could be slowed.”  Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘underlying mechanism’ in your own sentence.
  2. What does “value for money” mean? “Even if the drug was to be approved in the UK, it would then be up to health bodies – such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) – to decide whether the drug represents value for money and should be recommended to patients.”Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘value for money’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “a turning point” mean? “In the programme, broadcast earlier this year, Prof Cath Mummery, consultant neurologist and head of clinical trials at the Dementia Research Centre at UCL, said although the benefits of the drugs were small, they represented a “turning point”.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘a turning point’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Talk about the benefits and risks associated with lecanemab.
  2. Share your opinion on EMA’s decision to reject lecanemab’s license.
  3. “Prof Tara Spires-Jones, president of the British Neuroscience Association, said the EMA’s decision will come as “a disappointment to many”.” Share your thoughts on this.

UK’s 22-year-old Member of Parliament

B1 – Intermediate 

Sam Carling won a seat as a Member of Parliament or MP in the recent UK general election. He is 22 years old, one of the youngest MPs the UK has ever had.

With his win, he hopes more young people will go into politics and serve the people.

Read this article about UK’s young MP.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2407/240708-member-of-parliament-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “beat” mean here, “Mr Carling, from the Labour Party, narrowly beat his Conservative Party rival by 39 votes.”? Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘beat’ in this context in your own sentence.
  2. What does “a deprived area” mean? “He grew up in “a deprived area” in the north of England.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘a deprived area’ in your own sentence.
  3. What does “an economic powerhouse” mean? “The Conservative Party promised to turn it into an economic “powerhouse”.” Give one (1) synonym or similar expression and use ‘an economic powerhouse’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think Sam Carling meant when he described his victory as a “political earthquake”?
  2. How can growing up in “a deprived area” help Sam Carling represent the interests of the people?
  3. Should young people enter politics? Share your opinion.
  4. What are the good and bad things about very young politicians?
  5. How much interest do you think young people in your country have in politics?
  6. Talk about a very young politician from your country.

Reasons You Wake Up Tired

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We often find ourselves sacrificing sleep in order to complete assignments, study for exams, work, or participate in social activities. The prevailing belief is that the less hours of sleep we get, the more energetic we will feel. However, recent research has shown that this may not necessarily be the case.

Sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining our energy levels and overall well-being. It is during sleep that our bodies repair and regenerate, allowing us to wake up feeling refreshed and revitalized. Inadequate sleep can lead to feelings of fatigue, decreased cognitive function, and a weakened immune system.

Read the article and learn why sometimes we feel more tired after getting a really good night’s sleep.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/10/health/waking-up-tired-reasons-solutions-wellness/index.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is “sleep inertia”? “This discrepancy is often due to a heightened state of sleep inertia, a circadian process that modulates memory, mood, reaction time and alertness upon waking.” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does the idiom “to toss and turn” mean? “Maybe your bed partner has a sleep disorder and snores or tosses and turns.” Use this idiom in your own sentence.
  3. What does “shift-based” mean? “Sometimes our schedules differ on weekdays versus weekends. Schedules can also fluctuate for people with shift-based jobs.” Use this adjective in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What have you learned from the article?
  2. Are you the type of person who can function with very little sleep? Why or why not?
  3. Do you think you regularly get enough sleep? If not, how can you maintain good performance throughout the day?
  4. Dr. Kashani said that “The most important sleep habit is to sleep. To sleep as much to sleep as much as your body needs and when your body needs it.” Do you agree? Elaborate on your answer.
  5. Would you consider seeing a sleep specialist or going to a sleep clinic should the need arise? Explain.
  6. What’s your sleep environment and routine like?
  7. Have you ever had any sleep problems? What did you do to fix it?

Doctor Wants Social Media Health Warnings

B1 – Intermediate 

A survey in 2022 revealed that young people between the ages of 13 to 17 use at least one out of five social media platforms more than several times every day. There are several effects of massive social media use on teenagers. The most alarming effect is the negative impact on their mental health.

Read the article and know more about the proposal by a top US doctor for social media platforms to put mental health warnings on their websites.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2406/240620-social-media-health-warnings.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of the verb “address” in this context? “This is something the USA’s top doctor wants to address.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
  2. Define the word “youngster“.”He said algorithms lead youngsters to extreme sexual and violent content.” Use it in a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of the word “profound“? In 2023, he warned that social media presented, “a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents”. Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about Dr. Murthy’s idea?
  2. What are the long-term and short-term negative effects of social media on teens?
  3. What are the positive effects of social media on teens?
  4. How does a display of mental health warnings on social media platform help reduce these negative effects?
  5. Do you think ‘healthy social media’ exists? If yes, how can we have it?

Electric Salt Spoon

B1 – Intermediate 

According to the World Health Organization, a person should only consume less than 5 grams of salt per day. Very high amounts of salts can cause health issues like heart problems, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Now, if you are trying to be healthy, salt is probably one thing that you need to cut down on. How can we do it if food taste like nothing without it?

A new invention in Japan could be the solution. 

Read this article to know more about the Electric Salt Spoon.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2406/240613-electric-salt-spoon-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to cut down on something” mean? “They hope their spoon will help people to cut down on the amount of salt they eat.” Use this expression in a sentence.
  2. What does “to tend to favour someone/something” mean? “Japan has a food culture that tends to favour salty tastes.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
  3. What does “intake” mean? “The World Health Organization recommends a daily salt intake of less than 5 grams.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What could be the good and bad things about the Electric Salt Spoon?
  2. Would you be interested to buy and use it? Why or why not?
  3. This electric salt spoon costs about $99. What do you think of this price? 
  4. Do you think this electric spoon will sell well in the future? Why or why not?
  5. How can we reduce our salt intake?

Elon Musk Wins Record Pay Deal 

B1 – Intermediate 

Elon Musk has received the biggest pay deal in history amounting to $56 billion. This pay is 3,000 times the normal salary for CEOs in America. As a point of reference, the average income in US is $59,384.

Earlier this year, Musk’s pay deal was blocked by a court. According to the judge, that amount was not fair. However, Tesla shareholders thought the opposite and said Musk has shown incredible business expertise. They believe this is for the good of the company. They also considered that this pay deal is fair considering what Musk has done for the business.

Read this article about Elon Musk’s record-breaking pay deal.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2406/240617-record-breaking-pay-deal-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “shareholder” mean? “The judge said the size was unfair. However, over 70 per cent of shareholders said it was in Tesla’s best interests.” Use this term in a sentence.
  2. What does “base” mean in this context? “We have the most awesome shareholder base.” Use this word in a sentence with the same meaning.
  3. What does “a ringing endorsement” mean? “He said the vote was “a pretty ringing endorsement“.” Use this term in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your opinion about Elon Musk’s huge pay deal.
  2. Do you think CEO’s and higher management should be paid an incredibly huge amount of money? Why or why not?
  3. Do you agree with the court when they tried to block his pay deal saying it was unfair? Share your opinion.
  4. How can a huge pay deal of the CEO impact a company? 

Florida’s Free Prison Labor

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the Sunshine State, Florida, the issue of prison labor raises significant ethical and economic questions, as a majority of incarcerated individuals are compelled to work without compensation. This practice, deeply ingrained in the state’s penal system, sparks debate over labor rights, rehabilitation, and the broader implications for justice and society.

Learn more about this issue by reading this article.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/21/florida-unpaid-prison-labor

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to turn a blind eye” mean? ““Is it shocking that Florida is seeming to turn a blind eye to prison slavery? No, not at all,” said Bianca Tylek.” Make a sentence with this.
  2. Define “in the wake of something”. “No criminal charges were filed against the officers involved and no reforms were enacted in the wake of the incident.” Use this in a sentence.
  3. What does “unabated” mean? “Kimber Tough, an organizer with Florida Prisoner Solidarity based in Gainesville, Florida, helped with efforts to get Alachua county, Florida, in 2019 and the University of Florida in 2020 to stop using prison labor, which included numerous protests and advocacy efforts. But across the state, the practice still continues unabated.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘unabated’ in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you personally feel about the practice of unpaid labor by incarcerated individuals in Florida’s prisons?
  2. In your opinion, should inmates be properly compensated for their labor while incarcerated? Why or why not?
  3. How can individuals and communities advocate for changes in the treatment and compensation of incarcerated workers in Florida?
  4. State your insights on this statement, “Florida charges prisoners debt, with prisoners levied $50 a day for their incarceration, which can often leave people trapped in debt once they are released.“.
  5. Talk about the prison labor system in your country.

Brazilian Women Protest Bill Equating Late Abortions with Homicide

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Hundreds of demonstrators assembled outside Brazil’s National Congress in Brasilia on Wednesday to protest against a bill aimed at further criminalizing abortions. This proposed legislation has sparked outrage and mobilized activists across the country, highlighting deep divisions over women’s reproductive rights.

Learn more about this protest by reading this article.

https://apnews.com/article/brazil-abortion-bill-protests-rape-21ee9a590cafdaa11108b54029660ba8

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “to take to the streets”? “Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Sao Paulo on Saturday as protests sweep across Brazil in opposition to a bill that would further criminalize abortions.” Use this in a sentence.
  2. Define “to be whipped from all sides” in this context. “We are being whipped from all sides, us women. It’s past time we do something.” Use this in a sentence in this context.
  3. What does “emblazoned” mean? “Placards, stickers and banners emblazoned with the slogan have abounded during demonstrations.” Make a sentence with this expression.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel about equating late abortions with homicide?
  2. In your opinion, how should the government respond to the concerns raised by the protesters?
  3. How do you think international attention could impact the debate over this bill in Brazil?
  4. How does the abortion law in your country compare to the proposed legislation in Brazil?
  5. What is your insight on this, “Late access to abortion reflects inequalities in health care.“?

World’s Strangest Levies

B2 – Upper Intermediate

From blueberries to piercings, junk food to baby name approval taxes, the world is full of unusual levies that go beyond the standard income, property, and sales taxes we’re all familiar with. Imagine being taxed on the junk food you eat or the number of times you flush the toilet. These peculiar taxes not only reflect the diverse strategies of local governments but also ignite debates on their fairness and effectiveness.

Read this article to know the most unconventional taxes implemented across the globe.

https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/06/21/what-a-taxing-thought-where-in-the-world-you-find-the-strangest-levies

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to draw the purse strings tight” mean? “These and several more odd taxes might make you pause and draw the purse strings tight again.” Use this expression in a sentence.
  2. Define “eating away at something”. “It cites rising interest rates, labour costs and inflation which are all eating away at blueberry profit margins.“ Make a sentence.
  3. What is the meaning of “to face the brunt of something”? “I fear that in the not-so-distant future, lesser skilled employees will face the brunt of redundancies as their jobs are taken by robots.” Use this in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Which of the levies in the article do you think are the most and least reasonable?
  2. How do you personally feel about governments using taxes to influence people’s behavior, such as with junk food taxes or carbon emission taxes?
  3. In your opinion, what are the potential benefits and drawbacks of implementing a robot tax in industries that rely heavily on automation?
  4. If you could propose a new tax to address a pressing issue in your country or community, what would it target and why?
  5. Should taxes be used as a tool to address environmental issues, such as reducing carbon emissions or promoting sustainable practices? Why or why not?