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Snap-Judge People as Boring

B2 – Upper Intermediate

According to modern studies, people have various expectations with what characteristics define a stereotypical bore. These prejudices, like other varieties of categorizing, might not have been wholly accurate, but can have very harmful impacts. Before they have even spoken, people brutally assess those who fit “boring” stereotypes, assuming they are less kind and capable than the typical person and unjustly acknowledging them in social situations.

Why do people make snap judgments about others based on their passions and fields of work?

Let’s make time to read the entire article to learn more.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220422-why-we-snap-judge-some-people-as-boring

Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors contribute to a boring personality?
  2. How do you determine a person’s nature?
  3. What makes someone a good judge of character?
  4. How do you respond to a judgmental person?
  5. Is it a bad thing to be dull and uninteresting? How do you interact with boring people?
  6. Have you met someone you thought was a complete bore at first but you were entirely wrong about that person after you’ve known them better? Talk about this experience.
  7. What do you do in order to make sure you leave a very good impression on someone upon your first meeting?

Have People Forgotten How to Behave in the Office?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some people become somewhat tolerant of the nuisances that come with being surrounded by coworkers and more socially apprehensive after achieving full control over business settings at home. Others, on the contrary, could be so content to be in an office among coworkers that they end up breaking social norms that used to exist.

Have employees spent considerable time at home that they have neglected the workplace standards?

Let’s make time to read the entire article to learn more.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220627-have-people-forgotten-how-to-behave-in-the-office

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are you skeptical about returning to the office because of social anxiety?
  2. What can managers and employees do to help the transition go smoothly?
  3. Are there any complicating factors you’d be happy to disclose that might make returning to the office incredibly tough or troublesome for you?

Turn Off Lights in Heat Wave

B1 – Intermediate

Tokyo experienced its all-time high temperature last week. Because of too much heat, everyone wants to use their air conditioner. In this case, producing electricity is very difficult. So the government asked the people to try to conserve electricity as much as possible.

Read the article about energy-saving measures during a heat wave in Tokyo, Japan.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2206/220630-tokyo-energy-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What measures are implemented in your city/country during a heat wave in order to save energy?
  2. Would you mind turning your lights off from for a few hours during the day to save energy?
  3. Do you try and use less electricity during summer? Why or why not?
  4. What is your reaction when your city/country has the highest record temperature?
  5. Do you have power outages in your city during summer? If you do, what do you do during power cuts?

Octopuses and Humans Share Intelligence Gene

B1 – Intermediate

Some animals are known to be very intelligent. Marine biologists recently discovered that an octopus has short sequences of DNA that could make it also have remarkable intelligence.

Read the article about the intelligence gene that humans and octopuses have in common.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2207/220704-octopus-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on this story?
  2. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “intelligence”?
  3. What are the similarities and differences between humans and octopuses?
  4. Talk about other facts you know about octopuses.
  5. What other things about human intelligence do you want to understand more?

Toilet Paper Made from Ancient Forests

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) says that our choice of toilet paper has an impact on climate change. One example is the use of virgin wood pulp that drives deforestation in Canada’s boreal forest, which is one of the most ecologically important forests in the world.

Read the article to know more about it and be able to answer the questions below.

https://www.treehugger.com/is-your-favorite-toilet-paper-made-from-ancient-forests-5069744

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you feel after reading the article?
  2. How important is toilet paper for you? How often do you shop for it?
  3. What qualities do you look for when purchasing toilet papers?
  4. Do you prefer to purchase one brand of toilet paper or do you try/buy different brands? Why is that?
  5. What are some ways to protect and preserve our forests?

Going to Work in the Morning

B1 – Intermediate

Getting ready for work can be quite hectic. It takes a lot of steps before you finally get to the office. Sometimes, things don’t go the usual way.

With more cars out on the streets, traffic jams add to the stress of getting to the workplace on time. Getting home is another ordeal. These take away a lot of our precious time.

One person shares what they go through each work day. Read about their experience through this link:

https://lingua.com/english/reading/going-to-work/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your morning routine like?
  2. Is it important to have a routine? Why or why not?
  3. What’s the worst morning you’ve ever had?
  4. Do you like going to work in the morning? Why or why not?
  5. How are the morning and evening rush hours in your city?
  6. What are some fun things you do while in traffic jams?
  7. How is the public transport service in your city?
  8. Do you still have time to enjoy your hobbies, even with a busy schedule? Please share.

Parents Face Fines in New School Rules

B1 – Intermediate

The government, parents, and teachers must work together to make sure students perform well at their schools.

With the new laws in Britain, parents could be penalized if their children do not behave properly at their schools. This is just one of the new laws that the British government wants to implement. 

Read the article about Britain’s new laws that aim to improve discipline in schools.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/0906/090630-school_rules.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Should parents pay fines or go to prison for their children’s actions at their schools? Explain your stand.
  2. What is your opinion on implementing strict laws to improve discipline in schools?
  3. What do you think about parents attending parenting courses?
  4. How should a misbehaving student be disciplined? How are they disciplined at schools in your country?
  5. What are parents’ involvement in making schools better in your country?

Paper Books Better than E-books for Bedtime Stories

B1 – Intermediate

Reading to babies and small children before they go to bed is not only a way to help them feel sleepy but also a moment to spend quality time with your children. It is also an opportunity to teach them some things from the stories that you read to them.

A study found that reading traditional books for bedtime stories are still better than using technological devices.

Read the article about how paper books are still better than e-books.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1903/190328-paper-books-4.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you agree or disagree that “Technology and digital devices can’t replace traditional, paper bedtime books.”? Explain your opinion on this.
  2. What are the benefits of reading bedtime stories to children?
  3. How was your childhood bedtimes like?
  4. Compare and contrast paper books and e-books. What are the good and bad things about the two?
  5. Do you prefer printed or e-books? Why?

Hot Weather Lowers Exam Results

B1 – Intermediate

Exams are an important part of a person’s school life. Taking tests can make us feel tensed. It is necessary to have the best environment possible in order to make sure students get excellent results.

A study found that hot weather may affect students’ learning and lower their results in tests. 

Read the article about how hot weather affects exam results and learning.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1806/180601-exam-results.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this story?
  2. If global temperatures kept increasing, it could affect the future income of students because of lower test scores. What is your opinion on this?
  3. How does the weather affect you in terms of learning or doing something?
  4. How did/do you prepare for exams? 
  5. How was your classroom like? / How is your work space like? Was/Is it the perfect place for learning/working for you?

Uncommon Parasite Blamed for Illnesses

B1 – Intermediate

A parasite called Cyclospora is affecting a lot of people’s health in some states in America like Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas. They suffer from some symptoms caused by this nasty microorganism.

Read to learn more about an illness-causing parasite in the US.

A single-celled parasite, know as Cyclospora , has been causing illnesses in several states. The states reporting the highest number of cases are Texas, Nebraska and Iowa.

The disease causes flu-like symptoms such as nausea , fatigue and diarrhea . Cyclospora is normally found in more tropical climates and scientists are not sure why it is in the US.

Health authorities report that a total of 353 patients have been diagnosed with the disease , but that there are probably more cases than that as it is difficult to spot the parasite. Though not life threatening, without treatment the disease can hang around for up to two months. It is easily treated with antibiotics .

The source of the outbreak has yet to be determined , but is believed to be food-borne . Luckily , it does not appear to spread from person to person.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is causing the illness to some people in some US states and what are the symptoms?
  2. What comes to you mind when you hear the word ‘parasite’?
  3. What do you think of this outbreak?
  4. Have you ever had a similar problem in your city/country? Talk about it.
  5. Have you ever been ill because of some bad microorganisms? How can we prevent getting sick due to these microorganisms?