Tag: Text

Airlines Suffer Pandemic-Driven Losses

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Perhaps one of the most hard-hit industries during the pandemic is the aviation sector. With traveling immediately getting banned in many countries, the world saw airlines struggle to stay afloat amidst pandemic-driven losses.

Read the article about how airlines cut costs to aid in pandemic recovery.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-united-arlns-results-idUSKBN29P2SN

Discussion Questions:

  1. What things has United Airlines done in order to manage through all their losses?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of furloughs?
  3. What are your thoughts on travel bans during the pandemic?
  4. International traveling is arguably one sector hardest hit by the pandemic and the one likely to be the slowest to recover. Do you agree or disagree? Elaborate. 
  5. Did your company have to employ cost-cutting measures during the pandemic? What were they?

Biodegradable Plastic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Sad to say but humans have been continuously contributing to the environment’s degradation. For one, our excessive use of plastic materials pollute the earth so much. It might be high time to reconsider our actions and pay more attention to this environmental issue and start finding ways to resolve this problem before it’s too late.

Find out more about the new technology that could make plastic material compostable and degradable.

A new technique could make some plastic trash compostable at home

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the new technique that could make biodegradable plastic decompose? What do you think of this new technique?
  2. Why is this breakthrough important? 
  3. What are other ways to resolve our problem with plastic wastes?
  4. Do you practice composting? Why or why not?
  5. How much plastic do you think you consume? How can you reduce your plastic use?

Noise Pollution Bad for the Heart

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Noise pollution happens when there is an excessive amount of unwanted sound. It is something we can’t see, but it is present – from planes taking off and landing, machines, road vehicles, construction noise, etc. It is an invisible danger and has potential health effects.

But how exactly does noise affect our physical health?

Let’s read the article to know more about it.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210315-why-noise-pollution-is-bad-for-your-heart

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of noise pollution and its effects on our heart?
  2. What are some noises that disturb you the most? Why?
  3. How bad is noise pollution in your city?
  4. Would you describe your workplace as noisy? What about your home or neighborhood?
  5. In your opinion, will the level of noise increase in the future? Why or why not?
  6. What can you do personally to reduce your own noise pollution?

Antibiotic Resistance

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Antibiotics are medications that are supposed to fight the bacteria that attack one’s body. When they are not administered properly, organisms that are supposed to be killed by the antibiotic thrive and it makes it difficult or even impossible to treat the infection.

Antibiotic resistance is growing at an alarming rate. It is a global health crisis and experts are saying it could potentially lead to the next pandemic.

Read more about antibiotic resistance.

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you know about antibiotic resistance?
  2. What are your thoughts on what experts say that the next pandemic could stem from antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
  3. Why is it important to grow awareness about this problem as soon as possible?
  4. What information about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance are available to you at the moment?
  5. Would you say that this is a looming problem in your country as well?

Combat Staff Shortages by Relaxing Brexit Immigration Rules

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Some British companies are faced with the problem of shortage in workers. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is pushing for the government to relax post-Brexit immigration rules if the government wishes to prevent putting the UK’s economic recovery from the pandemic in jeopardy.

Read about how changes in the Brexit immigration rules can help combat staff shortages in the UK.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jun/28/combat-staff-shortages-by-relaxing-brexit-immigration-rules-says-cbi

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this solution to staff shortages in the UK? 
  2. Has your country struggled with the same problem especially because of the pandemic? What has the government done to address it?
  3. What are other ways to prevent a big problem with occupation shortages?
  4. What roles do you think belong to your country’s shortage occupation list?
  5. Would you consider working abroad after the pandemic? Why or why not?

Four-Day Workweek’s Overwhelming Success

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Throughout the years, governments and employers have been spending loads of effort to improve employees’ work-life balance.

One of the ideas is the four-day workweek that has been around for years even before the pandemic started. It is in which workers work fewer numbers of hours or days while still being paid the same amount. This concept is starting to gain international attention. In fact, some countries have started experimenting with it, one of which is Iceland.

Click the article and read how the four-day workweek experiment turned out in Iceland.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57724779

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction and thoughts on this news? What does it mean for all workers around the world?
  2. How did the four-day workweek experiment turn out in Iceland?
  3. Do you think a four-day workweek at your office would affect your productivity?
  4. What are some effects of a good work-life balance?
  5. Do you think a four-day workweek will become the norm in the future? Why or why not?

New Blood Test May Be Able to Detect Cancer

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Researchers have announced a major breakthrough for cancer patients that could help detect common and frequent cancer forms including lung, breast, colon, and stomach cancer. The main goal of this new blood test is to help patients detect cancer at an early stage so they can be treated accordingly and immediately.

Getting the right treatment quickly can help patients avoid further complications. Could this promising medical breakthrough really find signs and symptoms of cancer even before they become a problem?

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/health-medicine/new-blood-test-may-be-able-to-detect-cancer.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can CancerSEEK  do? Despite the promising results, what problems do they still need to deal with?
  2. How can CancerSEEK affect the lives of cancer patients?
  3. What can you say about the healthcare facilities and services dedicated to oncology in your city/country? How innovative are the hospitals in your country when it comes to cancer treatments?
  4. What other medical breakthroughs in oncology do you know of?

How Billionaires Avoid Paying Federal Income Tax

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We’re all familiar with this principle that “With great power comes great responsibility”. Same goes for wealth. Safe to say, with great wealth comes great financial burdens. One of them is taxes.

Read the article to find out how exactly do billionaires avoid paying federal income tax.

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-billionaires-avoid-paying-federal-income-tax-2021-6

Discusion Questions:

  1. How are wealthy people able to dodge federal income taxes?
  2. What are your thoughts on billionaires getting away with not paying federal income taxes?
  3. What are other ways to avoid paying taxes?

EU Economy Forecast to Rebound Faster

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the economy reopens and vaccine rollouts continues, Europe is now on its way back to its economic level before the pandemic happened. The EU economy is predicted to bounce back faster compared to previous economic downturns.

Read the article about forecasts on EU’s economic recovery.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/12/eu-economy-forecast-rebound-faster-vaccine-covid-coronavirus-europe-economics

Discusion Questions:

  1. What are the driving forces to EU’s economic growth post-pandemic? Discuss each one.
  2. Do you think these forecasts are accurate? Support your point.
  3. How badly has your country’s economy suffered because of the pandemic?
  4. How is your country’s economic recovery going so far?
  5. What are some things that the government’s done to aid businesses from getting hit hard by the economic crisis?
  6. What has your company done to cope with the economic crisis brought about by the pandemic?

Adults Don’t Want Children

B1 – Intermediate

To have or not to have children is one of the most important decisions that someone can make. There are certain factors to take into consideration when choosing between parenting and living a child-free life such as financial security, own interest/desire for having children, and partner’s interest/desire for having children.

Let’s read the article below to find out why views on having children are changing.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2106/210621-child-free-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does having children change someone’s life?
  2. Do you want to have children? If so, when do you want to have them and how many do you want to have?
  3. Why do people decide not to have children?
  4. Do you think it is better to have children when you are older or younger?
  5. Most families in wealthy countries are having fewer and fewer children. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
  6. Is it a good reason to have children to avoid being lonely later in life?