Mini Debates Worksheet Advanced Level PDF

Robert Taylor - Mini Debates

1 - Corporate Responsibility
2 - Banning Trans Fats
3 - Caring for the Elderly
4 - Euthanasia
5 - Banning Pit Bulls
6 - Animal Testing
7 - Cheating and Plagiarism
8 - Gun Control
9 - The Smoking Ban
10 - The Kyoto Protocol
11 - Banning Landmines
12 - Gene Patents
13 - The Live 8 Concerts
14 - Water Privatization
15 - File Sharing
16 - Video Game Violence
17 - Junk Food Sales in Schools
18 - Employee Tracking
19 - Botox Use by Teens
20 - Back Gold: The Movie
21 - Cell Phones in Class
22 - The Death Penalty
23 - English Globalization
Teachers’ Notes
Mini-Debates
About the Series

The Mini-Debates section is full of readings based on controversial topics from the news. Some of these topics
continue to be in the news, and others are based on single events from history. Our goal is to include topics that will
inspire teens and adults to express their opinions. Being able to express your opinion in a non-native language is a
difficult but important skill.
When using the Mini-Debates in class, don't feel you have to cover all of the suggested activities. Some teachers
just use the readings, or even only the debate topics. It is useful to pre-teach some expressions that can be used
when having a debate. You will find a page of useful expressions at the end of this guide that you can print out for
your students as a reference.
Debate Options
Sometimes you will want to let your students choose which side of a debate they are on. If most of the
class feels the same way about an issue, teach your students about being the Devil’s Advocate. It can be
fun to debate something from a perspective that you do not agree with. This can also help your students to
be more open-minded.
Here are some different ways to divide the students or assign roles for a debate:
• For/Against (assigned)
• For/Against (own opinion)
• Celebrities
• People with different jobs
• Males pretend to be females and vice versa
• People from different countries
• People of different age groups (children, teens, adults)
Tasks in the Mini-Debates Section
Pre-Reading Warm-Up Questions ☀
Before exploring the reading, find out if your class is interested in this topic. How much do they already know?
You can ask the four–five questions orally, or put students in small groups to discuss. Though some questions
are provided, you may want to add some more of your own.
Reading ☀
Each Mini-Debate lesson includes a vocabulary matching task. These 10–15 words are reviewed throughout the
lesson. Some teachers prefer to assign this task as a pair activity after the reading. Some prefer to do it as an
individual, pair, or class exercise before the reading. You can decide whether or not to allow your students to use
their dictionaries for this activity. Be sure to practice the pronunciation and spelling of the highlighted vocabulary
throughout the week.
Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use and photocopying by members of ESL-library.com only in accordance with membership terms. 1
Teachers’ Notes
Mini-Debates
Reading (continued)☀
The readings are about 400 words in length and are written at an intermediate level. Explore many options for
reading in class, including silent reading, reading aloud, shared reading, and reading with audio support. You can also
assign the reading for homework, or have students record the reading and send it to you!
Note that even though the readings are aimed at a lower to upper intermediate level, the lesson can certainly be used
for higher levels as well. Advanced students don’t mind reading a lower level lesson if it leads to a great discussion
and debate.
Comprehension Questions !
Each reading includes about five comprehension questions. You can use these questions, or have your students write
their own comprehension questions. You can also ask the questions orally and have students take turns offering the
answer. Make sure that your students give more than just one-word answers if they are writing them out.
(Encourage them to use the back of their lesson page to save paper! They can also email you the answers.)
Vocabulary Review !
Each Mini-Debate lesson includes two vocabulary review activities. If you don’t want to waste class time, you can
assign individual tasks for homework, and take them up the following day to check if your students have remembered
the new words. Example activities include fill in the blanks, matching, true/false, synonym/antonym.
Discussion and Writing

Before having a class debate, students have a chance to discuss the topic with a partner or in small groups. This will
give your students a chance to play with the new vocabulary and develop strong opinions. Listening to the opinions of
others will help your students in the debate section, especially if they are forced to debate from a perspective that they
do not agree with. You can set them up in small groups, have rotating pairs, or even schedule a chat about this topic
with students from another class or country. If your students have a blog or journal, these questions can also be writing
prompts.
Debate
Review some useful expressions that can be used in debates before holding a class debate on each topic (see reference
page). There are two debate topics provided in each lesson. If you only have time for one, allow your students to
choose which topic they want to debate. Hold a vote, or get someone to pick a number from one–two. The other topic
can be used for essay practice, a blog topic, or a quiz.
Decide how you want to divide the class. For large classes, you may want to have more than one debate going on at a
time. Decide whether or not your students can choose which side of the debate (for/against, agree/disagree) they are
on. If you are assigning your students a position, decide how you want to do this (see chart above for ideas). You can
also assign a few students to be the judges or audience.
After an informal debate, you can hold the debate again on another day. Give your students time to practice stating
opinions and forming rebuttals. They can deliberate and vote on who won the debate and why.
ANSWER KEY
We recommend that you print the teacher version with the answer key. You may not need to photocopy the answer
key for all of your students (unless they request it). Alternatively, you can print out a few answer keys and have
students share them around.
Teachers’ Notes
Mini-Debates
Mini-Debates Reference Page

Related Vocabulary
dispute (noun): a disagreement
argue (verb): to disagree in a verbal form
dispute (verb): to disagree
concluding remarks (noun): the final opportunity
interrupt (verb): to begin speaking when
to explain or summarize the main points of an
someone else is still talking
argument
consensus (noun): agreement objective (adjective): main goal
contention (noun): one main point in a debate or outcome (noun): the result
argument persuade (verb): to convince someone to
contest (verb): to challenge agree with you
contribute (verb): to add something to the debate prevail (verb): to win or succeed
or conversation reason (verb): to talk with someone in an
controversial (adjective): causing people to attempt to convince them that they are
express strong opinions wrong
controversy (noun): a subject that many people
rebuttal (noun): the argument against the
have strong and different opinions about
one you have just listened to
debate (noun): a discussion about a particular
reiterate (verb): to say again in order to
topic that usually has two main arguments
make sure a point is heard and
debate (verb): to formally argue one’s points and
opinions about a discussion topic or issue. understood
Debating helps you learn how to:
•state an opinion
•agree
•disagree
•interrupt
•ask for clarification
•persuade
•summarize
•clarify or rephrase
Teachers’ Notes
Mini-Debates
Useful Expressions and Transitions for Debating
Agreeing and Disagreeing Expressing an Opinion
•That doesn’t take away from the fact •In my honest opinion...
that... •It is my belief that...
•That’s besides the point. •From my experience...
•With all due respect... •From where I look at it...
•I agree with you there. •From my point of view...
•I agree with ---- (name).
•I see your point, but...
•That may be true, but... Clarifying/Rephrasing
•We’re going to have to agree to •Let’s be clear here...
disagree. •I think you misunderstood what I said.
•I get/see where you’re coming from, What I said was... (repeat a point that
but... was misunderstood or confused)
•I’m afraid I disagree entirely. •What I meant to say was... (rephrase
•I’m afraid I’d have to disagree. something in a way that is clearer)
•I agree to some extent, but... •In other words...
•I disagree with you there. •What I was trying to say before I was
•Pardon me for disagreeing, but ... interrupted is that...
Interrupting/Asking to Contribute
Summarizing/Concluding
•I hate to interrupt, but...
•So let me get this straight, you think...
•If I may come in here...
•To conclude...
•I’d like to add something.
•I’d just like to summarize by saying...
•Would you like to contribute
•Finally, I’d like to reiterate that...
something?
•It’s time to take stock of what we’ve heard
•I’d like to raise a point.
today.
•If I could speak for a moment...
•Both sides have some valid points.
•I’d like to cut in here.
•The stronger argument/team today is...
•You haven’t answered my question.
Persuading
•Can you see where I’m coming from?
•I challenge you to give this a try/chance.
•I want you to see it my way.
•Put yourself in my shoes.
•Am I getting through to you?
1 Corporate Responsibility Mini-Debates
Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

Corporate Responsibility
1. What is a corporation? What do you think is the
1. December 3, 2004, marked the 20th anniversary of a meaning of “corporate responsibility”?
disastrous chemical spill from a Union Carbide pesticide
2. Have you heard of any situations in which a company
plant in Bhopal, India. Up to 10,000 people died when 40 has been responsible for the injury or death of people
tonnes of poisonous gas leaked from the plant that night. in its community? If so, share the information with
The issue of corporate responsibility for this disaster has yet your classmates.
to be resolved.
3. Have there ever been any major oil or chemical spills
or other environmental disasters in the area in which
2. The Union Carbide plant sits empty today. Although the you live?
company declared that it cleaned up the site before
4. Have you heard of the environmental group
abandoning it, unused pesticides and toxic wastes were left
Greenpeace? What does this organization do?
behind and continue to contaminate Bhopal’s water supply.
Government officials have been responsible for cleaning up 5. Look at a world map. Find Bhopal, India. Do you
know anything about the disaster that occurred there?
the site since 1998, but they have done little, if anything.
The environmental group Greenpeace has estimated it
would take over $30 million to make the area safe again.
3. The people of Bhopal continue to suffer from the spill. It is

estimated that more than a half million people may have
become ill or died or suffered birth deformities from the
effects of Bhopal’s still contaminated water supply.
4. Union Carbide accepted some responsibility for the spill at

first, but then blamed an angry employee for causing the
disaster. After paying the government of India $470 million
in 1989, it felt that its corporate responsibility had been met.
However, this amount was far too little given the scope of
the disaster, and the Bhopal victims have never received COMPREHENSION !
enough money to pay for much-needed medical treatment or
1. When did the disastrous chemical spill occur in
rehabilitation services. Bhopal, India?
5. Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide in 2001. It refused to 2. What kind of factory did Union Carbide have in
Bhopal, India?
take any responsibility for either the ongoing suffering of
the people of Bhopal or for the condition of the abandoned 3. How many people have been affected by the
Union Carbide plant. chemical spill in Bhopal?
4. How much did Union Carbide pay the government

6. On the 20th anniversary of the disaster, environmental of India for the disaster? Was that amount enough
activists joined the people of Bhopal to demand that Dow for the people of Bhopal?
Chemical take full corporate responsibility for the 5. Why, after so many years, are the people of Bhopal
continuing horror in Bhopal. still suffering from the effects of the spill?
Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms. 1
1 Corporate Responsibility
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
_____ 1. disaster a. size or extent

_____ 2. pesticide b. continuing
_____ 3. resolved c. leave and not plan to return
_____ 4. abandon d. a great misfortune; a terrible situation
_____ 5. toxic e. a chemical used to kill insects
_____ 6. contaminate f. hold someone responsible for something bad
_____ 7. estimate g. treatment to bring back to good condition
_____ 8. deformity h. settled, decided
_____ 9. blame i. poisonous
_____ 10. scope j. give an approximate number
_____ 11. rehabilitation k. something that is not formed properly (ex. a part of the body)
_____ 12. ongoing l. make dirty
DISCUSS IT
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the
following sentences. Work with a partner or in small groups.
Discuss the following questions.
1. Please don’t ______________________ me for breaking the window. I
didn’t do it! 1. Give several examples of corporations that
2. Those cleaning supplies are ______________________. Keep the children have caused damage to the environment, to
away from them. the communities in which they operate, or to
3. The effects of the chemical spill in Bhopal are _____________________. individual consumers.
The people there are still suffering.
4. He broke both his legs in the car accident. He is going to need a lot of 2. List several reasons why companies may not
______________________ before he can walk again. be socially responsible.
5. There was a terrible earthquake last week. Over 100 people were killed in the
3. What are the advantages to a corporation of
______________________.
being socially responsible?
DEBATE IT 4. Do you think that the government of India

Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will bears any responsibility for the continuing
tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten suffering of the people of Bhopal?
minutes to prepare your arguments.
5. Do you think that governments should do
Topic #1: more to prevent companies from polluting or
The executives of Union Carbide should have been sent to prison for the damaging the environment or society?
disastrous chemical spill in Bhopal.
WRITE IT !
Topic #2:
Dow Chemical, the corporation which bought Union Carbide, should be forced
Choose one of the questions above and write
to pay for the clean-up of the contaminated site in Bhopal as well as the
medical treatment of the Bhopal victims. a paragraph stating your own opinion.
Banning Trans Fats
Mini-Debates

Banning Trans Fats 1. Do you read the label on a food item before you buy it?
1. In November 2004, the Parliament of Canada voted to

2. Do you feel that the food you buy at the supermarket is
take action on the use of artificial trans fats in food.
properly labeled?
The government had one year to develop new standards
for the food industry. Legislation forcing food 3. Are there any types of ingredients that you try to avoid when
producers to include trans fats on their product labels buying food?
was passed earlier and become law in 2006.
4. What nutritional facts are usually listed on the food you buy?
2. The consumption of trans fats is a serious health issue.

5. What other nutritional facts would you like to see on a food
Trans fats raise levels of bad cholesterol, and because label?
the body cannot rid itself of these fats, they collect in
the arteries and may lead to heart attacks and strokes.
The new legislation was aimed at trans fats found in
processed foods such as margarine, doughnuts, instant
soups, cake mixes, and frozen pizzas.
3. A task force made up of people from the food industry,

universities, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation was
set up to suggest ways to remove or reduce trans fats
from Canadians’ diets.
4. Not everyone was in favor of this action. Some

parliamentarians think that the government should not
decide what people can or cannot eat. Food industry
spokespeople say that trans fats may have to be
replaced with other, perhaps equally unhealthy, COMPREHENSION !
substances. Others were concerned that current levels of 1. What did the Canadian parliament do in November 2004?
these foods might be disturbed because, without trans
fats, they could not stay on grocery shelves for as long.
2. What did the legislation aim to do?
5. However, several food manufacturers, such as

3. What do some food industry spokespeople say about
Voortman Cookies, Kellogg’s, and McCain’s, began to banning trans fats?
reduce or remove trans fats from their products
voluntarily. This was mainly due to pressure from 4. Why is the consumption of trans fats a serious health issue?
consumers and health authorities.
Banning Trans Fats
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
1. ____ parliament a. Sudden interruption of the supply of blood to the heart

2. ____ vote b. A member of a parliament
3. ____ artificial c. A condition due to a lack of oxygen to the brain
4. ____ trans fats d. Tubes that carry blood from our heart to our cells and organs
5. ____ legislatio e. A proposed or enacted law or group of laws
6. ____ arteries f. An unsaturated fatty acid
7. ____ stroke g. Made in imitation of something natural
8. ____ parliamentarians h. To express one’s preference for a proposed resolution of an issue
9. ____ heart attack i. A legislative assembly in certain countries
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete
the following sentences.
1. Jim recently suffered a ___________________. The doctors said
the blood supply to his brain was interrupted. DISCUSS IT

2. Sara lost her leg in a car accident. Now she has an
Work with a partner or in small groups.
____________________ leg.
3. The Canadian ________________ recently _______________ to
1. Do you think food manufacturers are doing
ban trans fats from all foods sold in Canada.
enough to warn people about the risks of
certain ingredients?
2. Do you feel that it has become easier or

DEBATE IT
harder to find healthy foods at the
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your
supermarket?
teacher will tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea.
You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments. 3. What do you think the responsibilities are
of food manufacturers?
Topic #1:
Governments should have the right to ban any food ingredients that WRITE IT !
may pose a health risk to the consumers. Choose one of the questions above and write
a paragraph stating your own opinion.
Topic #2:
It is the individuals decision, not that of the government’s, to decide
what constitutes a healthy diet.
Caring for the Elderly
Mini-Debates

Caring for the Elderly 1. Is the population of senior citizens getting bigger or
smaller in your country?
1. The elderly are becoming the fastest growing population 2. What are the advantages of people living to an older age?
in Canada. The improvements in health care and diet are
3. What are the disadvantages of people living longer?
helping people to have longer and better lives.
Sometimes senior citizens are able to live normal lives 4. Do you think that the quality of life is better now than it
was fifty years ago?
and care for themselves until a very old age - but as
most people age - they need care takers at some point. 5. How are most elderly people taken care of in your
community?
As a result, more middle-aged adults are responsible for
taking care of their aging parents. These people are
often called “parent-sitters”.
2. Parent-sitters often have their elderly parents move in

with them. The parent-sitters usually have busy lives
raising their own children, going to school or going to
full-time jobs. It is especially difficult to take care of a
parent when they are ill with diseases, such as
blindness, Alzheimer’s or arthritis.
3. Sometimes a parent-sitter will decide to put a parent in a

nursing home, especially if the parent becomes very ill
and requires 24-hour care. This decision is very difficult
and often leaves the child feeling guilty and ashamed
for not taking care of the parent at home. Many people
COMPREHENSION !
feel it is the young person’s duty to take care of their
1. What group of people is becoming the fastest growing
elder family member. population in Canada?
4. Nowadays, people are living much longer, often into 2. Why are people living longer lives?
their 90s, so it is sometimes not possible for family 3. Who are the parent-sitters?
members to care of these people at home. The choice of
4. Why is it difficult for parent-sitters to take care of their
caring for aging parents at home or putting them in a parents?
nursing home has become a very difficult one.
5. Why is it a difficult decision for a child to put their
parent into a nursing home?
Caring for the Elderly
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
_____1. nursing home a. older people
_____2. parent-sitter b. the usual food and drink that a person consumes Work with a partner or in small
groups. Discuss the following
_____3. guilty c. people who are between the ages of 40-60
questions.
_____4. Alzheimer’s d. being unable to see
_____5. diet e. a person who takes care of one or both of their parents 1. Do you think it is wrong to put a
_____6. blindness f. special hospital where older people live until they die parent into a nursing home?
_____7. middle-aged g. feeling that one has done something wrong 2. Who is responsible for caring
_____8. duty h. feeling bad about something that one has done for the elderly?
_____9. ashamed i. a responsibility or obligation
3. Do you think that only the oldest
_____10. elderly j. a disease that causes a person to lose their memory
child in a family is responsible
and ability to move
for caring for the elderly parent?
4. Should an elderly parent be put

in a nursing home?
following sentences.
5. What do you think is the best
1. John took $25 from his sister’s purse. Now he feels way to care for the elderly?
____________________ and _____________________.
6. Do you think that it is better that
2. Susan’s mother is 90 years old. She has ________________________
people are living longer lives?
disease and can’t remember very much any more.
3. My friend only eats fruits and vegetables. She has a very healthy WRITE IT !
________________________ .
Choose one of the questions
4. My grandmother lives in a ________________________ . She is taken
above and write a paragraph
care of by nurses because she has become ill. stating your own opinion.
5. People who are 50 years old are called ________________________ .
DEBATE IT
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea.
You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments.
Topic #1:
Adult children are always responsible for taking care of an elderly parent at home.
Topic#2
Elderly parents should live in a nursing home.
Euthanasia
Mini-Debates

Euthanasia
1. Can you think of a situation where a person would want
an assisted suicide?
1. The number of assisted deaths continues to increase in
Britain. It is estimated that 20,000 people die a year 2. Have you heard of any cases of euthanasia in your state/
country/province?
according to one of Britain’s leading authorities on
euthanasia. This is apparently the first statement of its kind 3. Do you approve of assisted suicide?
from a credible expert. According to Dr. Hazel Biggs,

4. Does your country have any laws about assisted suicide?
approximately 18,000 people a year are helped to die by a
5. Would you want to be “helped to die” if you were
doctor who is treating them for a terminal illness. terminally ill?
Currently, in Britain, the maximum sentence for helping
someone commit suicide is 14 years.
2. Dr. Biggs is trying to have a new law created that allows

medical staff to help conscious, terminally ill patients end
their lives. She claims that doctors in many countries
already help patients to die, even though it is not legal or
regulated. Dr. Biggs wants a law created in the UK so that
patients can give voluntary consent to die and also, so that
the practice will be more closely controlled.
3. As the population ages, more doctors are secretly making

private decisions to aid the early death of patients by
increasing drug doses. Sometimes the patient does not give COMPREHENSION !
their consent and the doctor secretly makes the decision. 1. In Britain, approximately how many people a year are
helped to die by a doctor?
So, a law is needed to decrease the risk of abuse.
2. What kind of law is Dr. Biggs trying to create?

4. Although many people support the new law, the ProLife
party and other religious groups are against it. The Church
3. Why does Dr. Biggs want to have the law created in the UK?
of England and Roman Catholic bishops said, “It is deeply
misguided to propose a law by which it would be legal for 4. How are the doctors secretly causing the death of the
terminally ill patients?
terminally ill people to be killed or assisted in suicide by
those caring for them, even if there are safeguards to ensure
5. Do the patients always agree to having an assisted early
that only the terminally ill would qualify.” death? Explain.
Euthanasia
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
______ 1. euthanasia a. to willingly do something
______ 2. assisted b. bad treatment or behavior Work with a partner or in small groups.
______ 3. credible c. controlled by laws or rules Discuss the following questions.
______ 4. expert d. helped, made easier
1. Do you think that doctors should help
______ 5. terminal e. going to die
terminally ill patients die?
______ 6. suicide f. a person who has special knowledge
______ 7. conscious g. helping to end the life of a terminally ill person 2. Should doctors be able to decide when to
______ 8. regulated h. believable, reliable increase a patient’s drug dosage so that the
______ 9. voluntary i. to agree or give permission to do something patient will die?
______ 10. consent j. to kill oneself 3. Do you think a law should be passed so that
______ 11. abuse k. aware of what’s happening a terminally ill patient can sign a consent
form requesting assisted suicide?
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the 4. What kind of abuse can happen if a law isn’t
following sentences. created to regulate and control assisted
suicide?
1. Hitting children is often considered a form of _______________________.
Many people think it is wrong to hit children. 5. Do you think that people should go to jail for
2. Paying taxes is not ____________________ . People have no choice, they assisting in a terminally ill patient’s death?
must pay taxes.
WRITE IT !
3. Cancer is not always ___________________ . Often people continue to
live after having cancer.
4. Most of the time when you have an operation, you are not a paragraph stating your own opinion.
____________________ . You are usually given medication that will
cause you to sleep.
5. Unfortunately, that man committed __________________________ . He
decided to kill himself.
DEBATE IT
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will tell you if you will
be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments.
Topic #1:
Doctors should be able to help terminally ill patients in assisted suicide.
Topic #2:
People should die naturally without any interference or assistance.
Banning Pit Bulls
Mini-Debates

Banning Pit bulls
1. Do you have a dog? If so, what kind of dog is it?
1. In October, 2004, the province of Ontario, Canada announced that it
would ban pit bull dogs. When the law passed it became illegal to 2. Are you afraid of any kind of dog? If so, what
own, buy, sell, breed, or import this kind of dog. kind of dog scares you?
2. The law allowed people who currently owned pit bulls to keep 3. Have you ever been bitten by a dog?
their dogs, but only under very strict rules. These dogs had to be
muzzled and on leashes. New ownership was completely banned 4. Have you ever seen anyone attacked by a dog?
throughout the province. The law will also placed severe
5. Do you think that different breeds of dogs have
restrictions and penalties on irresponsible owners of all breeds.
different temperaments? Are some more gentle
Dog owners who break the new law may have to pay fines of and some more vicious?
$10,000 or spend up to six months in jail.
3. A number of very serious pit bull attacks in Ontario caused the

government to take this action. In one situation a man was attacked
by two pit bulls and it was necessary for the police to fire over a
dozen bullets before the attack stopped. According to Michael
Bryant, the Attorney General of Ontario, the man was “practically
eaten alive from the ankles up”. In another recent case, a three year
old child needed over 200 stitches to close the wounds he suffered
in a pit bull attack.
4. Before reaching its decision to ban pit bulls, the Ontario

government spent several months meeting with different groups on
opposite sides of the debate. Since the government made its
announcement, there has been mixed reaction among the people of
Ontario. Many people were delighted with the law. However, pit
bull owners as well as many other dog owners were not happy. They COMPREHENSION !
believed that the problem was not the breed of dog. They say that
dogs only become vicious when they have irresponsible owners. 1. Why did the Ontario government decide to
ban pit bulls?
5. While Ontario was the first province in Canada to ban pit bulls,
some cities had already done so. In 1990, Winnipeg, Manitoba 2. What did current pit bull owners have to do?
became the first Canadian city to ban pit bulls. According to a
Winnipeg city official, the number of pit bull attacks decreased from 3. What will the punishment be for irresponsible
29 in 1989 to zero the following year. There are similar bans in dog owners?
France, Britain, and Germany.
4. What was the reaction to the law?
6. According to some studies that were done in the United States, pit
bulls make up only one to three percent of the overall dog population, 5. What other places have banned pit bulls?
but they cause more than fifty percent of all serious dog attacks.
Banning Pit Bulls
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
_____ 1. ban a. very happy

_____ 2. illegal b. now
_____ 3. import c. money paid as a penalty or punishment
_____ 4. currently d. very cruel, savage, wild
_____ 5. strict e. against the law
_____ 6. muzzle f. injury to the body, cut
_____ 7. leash g. not allow, forbid, prohibit
_____ 8. restrictions h. bring into the country
_____ 9. fine i. including everything, total
_____ 10. breed (noun) j. mouth cover to stop an animal from biting
_____ 11. stitches k. harsh, severe, hard DISCUSS IT
_____ 12. wound l. medical sewing to close a cut
_____ 13. delighted m. limitations
_____ 14. vicious n. a leather strap for leading a dog
_____ 15. overall o. a kind of animal 1. Should dogs be allowed to run freely
(without a leash) in public parks?
2. If a dog attacks someone, do you think the
dog owner should be punished?
1. He drove through a red light and had to pay a $100 ___________________ . 3. If a dog attacks someone, do you think the
2. When I cut my hand, I had to go to the hospital to get _________________ . dog should be destroyed?
3. I want to take the dog for a walk but first I must find the _______________ .
4. Do you think that any breed of dog can
4. Do you think the government should _______________________ smoking
become vicious if it is not properly cared
in all public places? for?
5. He was _______________________ when he learned that he had won the
lottery. 5. Do you think that it should be against the
law to own any kind of dangerous pet? (ex.
snakes, spiders, etc.)
DEBATE IT
6. Do you think that letter carriers should have
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will
to deliver the mail to a home if there is a
tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten
minutes to prepare your arguments. dangerous dog present?
Topic #1: WRITE IT !

All dogs must be kept on a leash in all public places within the city.
Topic #2: a paragraph stating your own opinion.
Pit bulls are a vicious breed and should be banned from our city.
Animal Testing
Mini-Debates
Animal Testing Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀
After ten years of discussion and debate, the European parliament voted to 1. Do you use cosmetic products on a regular basis?
ban the use of animal testing for cosmetic products. The act was passed
with a huge majority. The ban took effect in March, 2009.
2. Do you feel the cosmetic products you use are safe?
Prior to the ban, approximately 38,000 animals in the European Union

(EU) were used to test the toxicity in new cosmetic products each year. The 3. Do you know how cosmetic products are tested
before they reach the market?
large majority of cosmetic products are tested on animals before reaching
the market. Products include toothpaste, shampoo, make-up, hair dye, and
nail polish and many more. 4. Can you guess how many animals were being used
to test cosmetics each year in the European Union
prior to 2009?
In 2013, the EU took the ban one step further by including their trading
partners. Cosmetic companies worldwide who want to sell cosmetics in the
EU now have to prove their cosmetics are safe without animal testing. The
EU wanted to set an example for the rest of the world.
There are many different types of experiments conducted on animals to test

the benefits and risks of cosmetic products. Some of these tests include:
- Skin penetration
The skin penetration tests are used to determine how deep cosmetic
ingredients might penetrate the skin.
- Eye irritation
In this test, substances are dropped into the eyes of albino rabbits, to
determine how irritating they may be.
COMPREHENSION !
- Skin irritation
1. What did the European parliament vote to do?
A substance is smeared over the shaved back of a group of animals, usually
rabbits or guinea pigs.
2. Prior to 2009, roughly how many animals were used
- Oral toxicity each year to test new cosmetics in the EU?
Animals are force fed a substance once or repeatedly to determine the toxic
effects. 3. When did the ban on animal testing take effect?
Though there has been great concern over the use of animals to test
cosmetics, many feel it is the most effective way to protect the consumers 4. Why does the cosmetic industry feel that testing on
animals is important?
who use them. The cosmetic industry insists that animal testing is the best
way by far to test for cancer-causing and allergy-causing chemicals. The
industry also feels that it is involved not only in the development of vanity 5. How did the 2013 ban change the rules in the EU?
products, but also health products such as toothpaste and sunscreen.
Animal Testing
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
_____ 1. ban a. matter, material

_____ 2. cosmetics b. advantages, assets
_____ 3. toxicity c. dangers
_____ 4. experiments d. the degree to which something is poisonous
_____ 5. substances e. entering into or through something
_____ 6. benefits f. products used to beautify the body
_____ 7. risks g. to cause pain or annoyance
_____ 8. penetration h. to disallow, make illegal
_____ 9. irritate i. observations or tests
1. Recently many cities have decided to ___________________________ DISCUSS IT

smoking in restaurants and bars.
2. There are many ___________________________ in eating healthy foods.
3. She got sunscreen in her eye. It’s starting to
___________________________ her. 1. Do you think that animal testing can be
4. The pharmaceutical industry conducts a lot of justified for certain cosmetic products?
___________________________ before releasing a new drug.
2. Do you think it’s right to conduct animal
testing for products that only serve to
enhance our beauty?
DEBATE IT
3. Do you think there should be any
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will limitation on the animal testing for
health products such as pharmaceuticals?
Topic #1: WRITE IT !

Cosmetic companies should have the right to test all of their products on
animals before they are released to the public. Choose one of the questions above and
write a paragraph stating your own
Topic #2: opinion.
Animal testing should be banned for all products other than health-related
products.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Mini-Debates

Cheating and Plagiarism in Schools
1. What was the punishment for cheating in your high school?
2. What happens to students who cheat in university in your
1. There is growing evidence that cheating is becoming
country?
more common and more accepted among North
3. Do you know anyone who has ever been caught cheating?
American high school students.
4. Have you ever cheated on any tests?
5. What does plagiarism mean?

2. A recent national survey conducted by Rutgers’
Management Education Center found that 75% of the
4,500 students questioned had participated in serious
cheating. In addition, more that 50% admitted they had
plagiarized work from the Internet.
3. Perhaps the most disturbing finding of the study is that

many respondents don’t see anything wrong with
cheating. In fact, for many students, cheating has
become a survival technique in high school. There is
increasing pressure on students to achieve high marks
and it is becoming more difficult to get accepted into
good colleges and universities.
4. According to some students, cheating is an efficient

way to cut corners and more and more students are
using this shortcut. Others do not think that copying
questions and answers from a test is even cheating. COMPREHENSION !
1. Who conducted a recent survey about cheating in high schools?
5. Many students believe that getting good grades is more

2. How many students participated in the survey?
important than being honest. They think that better
grades lead to better colleges and universities and
3. What percentage of students admitted to cheating?
better universities lead to better careers and better lives.
4. What was a disturbing finding of the study?

6. As one student stated, “What’s important is getting
ahead. It’s not how moral you were in getting there.” 5. Why do many students say they cheat?
Cheating and Plagiarism
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
_____ 1. evidence a. staying alive

_____ 2. survey b. grade, score, evaluation of a student’s work
_____ 3. plagiarize c. questioning a large number of people
_____ 4. disturbing d. honest, truthful, having good values
_____ 5. survival e. proof
_____ 6. technique f. confess, say you did something wrong
_____ 7. mark g. do something in a faster, easier or cheaper way
_____ 8. efficient h. copy or steal someone else’s ideas or words
_____ 9. cut corners i. upsetting, bothersome
_____ 10. moral j. person answering questions
_____ 11. respondent k. able to do something well without wasting time
_____ 12. admit l. way, method
DISCUSS IT
1. When you write an essay, you must not ____________________ or you will
1. Do you think cheating is always wrong?
fail.
2. He studied very hard for his math test and got an excellent _______________. 2. Do you think that cheating can hurt a
3. She is a very ____________________ worker. She always gets her work done student’s chance of succeeding in life?
quickly.
4. If a company tries to ____________________ when they manufacture a 3. What should the punishment be for students
product, the quality of the product may not be as good. who cheat?
5. If you are the one who broke the window, you should _________________ it.
4. Why do you think so many students cheat?
5. If your son or daughter were caught

DEBATE IT cheating, what would you want the school
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will punishment to be?
minutes to prepare your arguments. 6. If you were taking a test and saw another
person cheating , would you tell the
Topic #1:
teacher? Why or why not?
All students caught cheating in high school should automatically fail the course
and be required to repeat the entire course the following year.
WRITE IT !
Topic #2:
The only punishment for cheating will be as follows: The name of a cheater Choose one of the questions above and write
will be announced to the entire school over the PA and the name and picture of a paragraph stating your own opinion.
the cheater will be on display in all classrooms with the caption: I am a cheater.
Gun Control
Mini-Debates
PRE-READING WARM-UP QUESTIONS
1. What does “the right to bear arms” mean?
2. Is it legal to carry a handgun in your state / province / country?
3. Should schools be “gun-free” zones?
4. Is it difficult to get a permit to carry a gun in the place where you live?
VOCABULARY PREVIEW !
Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
_____ 1. penal colony a. required
_____ 2. massacre b. to be the one to lead something
_____ 3. initiate c. a person or group on the other side of a conflict or debate
_____ 4. crackdown d. a serious regulation to prevent future crime
_____ 5. swift e. uncontrollable violent behavior
_____ 6. retrieve f. to suddenly go up in numbers
_____ 7. skyrocket g. a remote place for prisoners that is difficult to escape from
_____ 8. easy access h. not difficult to get/find and use
_____ 9. mental illness i. to get something back that you had before
_____ 10. opponent j. sickness that affects one’s thinking and emotions
_____ 11. rampage k. quick
_____ 12. mandatory l. the violent killing of many
Gun Control
Mini-Debates
Gun Control
On April 28, 1996, in a café in Tasmania, a young man pulled a
semi-automatic weapon out of his bag and began shooting
tourists and staff at the historic Port Arthur penal colony. By the
time he was finished, he had killed 35 people. This was just one
of several mass shootings in Australia between the ’70s and ’90s.
Following the 1996 massacre, Prime Minister Howard initiated

a serious crackdown on gun ownership. Howard worked
together with the Australian government. They made a swift
decision to restrict gun ownership. The government also
COMPREHENSION !
organized a program to buy back weapons that had already been
sold. Over 600,000 guns were retrieved. Fifteen years later, 1. What caused Prime Minister Howard to crack
there were still no new mass shootings to report in Australia. down on gun ownership in Australia?
It’s a different story in the US. Since the 1980s, mass shootings 2. What does the reading say about murder rates
and gun ownership?
have occurred in several public places, including malls, schools,
and places of worship. After a mass shooting, the sale of guns 3. What do gun-control opponents have to say
always skyrockets. Though studies prove that easy access to about gun-free zones at schools?
guns results in high murder rates, surveys show that many
Americans still believe in the right to bear arms. 4. What always happens in the US after a mass
shooting?
One of the worst massacres in US history took place at Virginia
5. What happened at an elementary school in
Tech University in 2007. A student suffering from mental illness Connecticut?
killed 35 students. Opponents of gun control argued that the
students and staff couldn’t protect themselves because they were 6. How did Obama’s reaction to the Sandy Hook
massacre compare to Howard’s in the penal
in a gun-free “safe zone.”
colony massacre?
In 2012, a week before Christmas, a young man entered Sandy
Hook Elementary school in Connecticut and went on a shooting
rampage. He killed six staff members and 20 first-graders with a Did you know?
legally purchased gun. US President Obama broke down in tears
Following the Sandy Hook school
as he addressed the union. He called it the worst day in his shooting, the National Rifle
presidency. Association (NRA) proposed that
there should be armed police in
Like Prime Minster Howard, Obama immediately organized a schools. President Obama disagreed
team to address gun-control laws. His proposals called for a ban that more guns was the answer. The
on assault weapons, and mandatory background checks for all NRA then put out an ad calling the
gun buyers. Within one month of the school shooting, 1,000 president a hypocrite because his
daughters have the protection of the
more Americans had been killed by guns.
Secret Service when they go to school.
The Smoking Ban
Mini-Debates

The Smoking Ban 1. Does anyone in your family smoke? If so, how long has he/
she smoked?
1. A law in the state of Idaho forbids smoking in all state-
owned buildings and within 20 feet of their entrances 2. Do you think it is easy to quit smoking?
and exits. This Clean Indoor Air Law had an

3. Does second-hand smoke bother you?
unintended effect on a special group of senior citizens.
4. Do you know anyone who has tried to quit smoking?
2. Dozens of smokers who lived at the Idaho State

5. Is smoking allowed in public buildings in your community?
Veterans’ Homes in Boise, Pocatello and Lewiston were
forced to start smoking outside. Prior to the passing of
the law, these veterans had not been allowed to smoke
in their own rooms. However, each home had provided a
specially designed, well-ventilated, smoking room for
the residents to use. These smoking rooms were
separated from other rooms in the homes to protect non-
smokers from second-hand smoke.
3. In the past, public nursing homes, including veterans’

homes, had been exempt from environmental laws
banning smoking in public places. However, according
to Richard Jones, the administrator of Veterans’
Services, the law overlooked the situation of senior
citizens. Mr. Jones was very worried about what would
happen when winter arrived and the veterans had to
COMPREHENSION !
leave the building to smoke.
1. Why were some veterans from Idaho very angry?
4. Many of the old soldiers living in the State Veterans’

2. What is the Clean Indoor Air Law in Idaho?
Homes were very angry about the way they were being
treated in the final years of their lives. They felt that 3. Before this law was passed, where were veterans in
they fought hard for their country and deserved the state-owned homes allowed to smoke?
right to smoke inside their buildings. They planned to
consult with the Attorney General’s Office and ask the 4. What was the administrator of Veterans’ Services
particularly concerned about with this law?
legislature to give the same exemption as in the past.
5. What did the veterans plan to do?

5. These old soldiers said they had one last battle to fight.
The Smoking Ban
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
_____ 1. forbid a. not notice, fail to see Discuss the following questions.
_____ 2. unintended b. free from, not part of
_____ 3. effect c. ban, not permit 1. Do you think there should be special indoor
_____ 4. veteran d. discuss with smoking rooms in senior citizens’ care
_____ 5. prior to e. not planned homes?
_____ 6. allowed f. before
2. Do you think restaurants should have
_____ 7. ventilated g. fight
smoking sections? Why or why not?
_____ 8. resident h. result
_____ 9. exempt i. permitted 3. Do you think pubs and bars should be
_____ 10. overlook j. former soldier smoke-free? Give your reasons.
_____ 11. deserve k. person living in a certain place
_____ 12. consult l. earn the right to do something 4. Should employers be allowed to ask job
_____ 13. battle m. having good air movement applicants if they smoke?
5. Should cigarette advertising be banned on

B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the television and in magazines?
6. What should the punishment be for retailers
1. ____________________________ moving to New York, he lived in who sell cigarettes to under-aged teenagers?
Toronto for three years.
7. Should teenagers who are caught smoking
2. In many countries, you are not ____________________________ to buy
on school property be expelled from the
cigarettes if you are under 18. school?
3. They have studied very hard this term. They
____________________________ to get good marks. WRITE IT !
4. If your medical problem continues, you should
____________________________ with your doctor.
5. You may be ____________________________ from paying sales tax if
you are from another country.
DEBATE IT
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will tell you if you will
be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments.
Topic #1:
Doctors should have the right to refuse to treat patients who will not quit smoking.
Topic #2:
Cigarettes should be in the same category as other drugs like heroin and cocaine and all cigarette
sales should be banned.
The Kyoto Protocol
10 Mini-Debates
The Kyoto Protocol Pre-Reading Warm-Up Questions ☀
1. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that deals with 1. Do you usually use public transit or drive a
car?
global warming. Global warming is caused by an increase in greenhouse
2. What is global warming? Do you know
gases in the earth’s atmosphere.
what causes global warming?
2. Greenhouse gases are produced by the industrial activities of developed 3. Why is global warming a problem? Do you
nations, mainly from burning oil, gas, and coal. When these gases collect worry about global warming and other
in the atmosphere, they trap heat near the earth’s surface and cause the environmental problems?
global temperature to rise. This increase in temperature can produce 4. Do you think many governments are trying
changes in wind patterns and precipitation. These changes can lead to to deal with global warming?
severe weather such as droughts, floods, or powerful hurricanes that can 5. Have you heard of the Kyoto Protocol, the
have devastating social and economic consequences. international agreement that deals with global
warming?
3. The Kyoto Protocol was created to encourage countries to reduce the
amount of greenhouse gases they produce and to become more energy
efficient and socially responsible. To be legally binding, the protocol had
to be signed by 55 countries that produced 55% of the industrialized
world’s greenhouse gases in 1990.
4. Several countries including Canada, Japan, and the European Union

signed the protocol, but there was concern that the required numbers to
make it legally binding would not be reached. However, Russia’s decision
to sign the protocol in September 2004 ensured it would take effect. In
return, the European Union pledged to support Russia’s application to
join the World Trade Organization. Russia’s signature was crucial because
both the United States and Australia refused to ratify the protocol.
5. In February 2005, 30 industrialized countries started to limit or reduce

their greenhouse emissions to meet the scientific targets set out for them
by the protocol. The goal was to reduce greenhouse gases by 5% by 2012.
Countries that had not produced significant amounts of greenhouse gases COMPREHENSION !
in the past, including India and China, would be expected to participate in 1. How are greenhouse gases produced and
the protocol as they become more industrialized. how do they cause global warming?
6. While Canada was one of the first to sign the protocol, its greenhouse gas 2. What problems can global warming cause?
emissions rose significantly. In 2011, prior to the expiry of Kyoto,
3. Why was the Kyoto Protocol created?
Canada pulled out of its commitment. In 2012, Australia, the European
Union, and several developing nations agreed to work towards a 4. What was required to make the agreement
replacement treaty. The proposed goal was to prevent global temperatures legally binding?
from ever rising more than 2 degrees Celsius. However, Canada, the US,
5. Which industrialized countries did not sign
Japan, and Russia refused to sign on to Kyoto’s extension. the agreement?
The Kyoto Protocol
10 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
_____ 1. trap a. goal, objective

_____ 2. precipitation b. promise
_____ 3. drought c. required according to the law
_____ 4. devastating d. results, effects
_____ 5. reduce e. lessen, decrease
_____ 6. legally binding f. necessary, critical, very important
_____ 7. pledge g. catch
_____ 8. crucial h. terrible
_____ 9. target i. continuous period of no rain
_____ 10. consequences j. rain or snow
DISCUSS IT
1. We have had no _________________________ for two months. The
1. Why do you think Russia finally agreed to
land is very dry.
sign the Kyoto Protocol?
2. The destruction from the earthquake was _________________________.
3. Governments are trying to _________________________ the amount of 2. Do you think governments should do more
industrial pollution. to prevent industries from polluting the
4. If there is another serious _________________________ in Africa, environment?
many people will die.
5. It is _________________________ for everyone to recycle in order to 3. If companies are not forced by law to reduce
cut down on pollution. pollution and harmful emissions, do you
think they will do so voluntarily?
4. Why do you think the United States and

DEBATE IT
Australia refused to sign the Kyoto
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher
Protocol?
will tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will
have ten minutes to prepare your arguments.
5. What new technological developments are
Topic #1: helping to reduce pollution?
To reduce automobile pollution, governments should substantially increase
taxes on cars that are not energy efficient. WRITE IT !

Topic #2:
Governments should increase environmental restrictions on industry, even
if this leads to increased unemployment.
Banning Landmines
11 Mini-Debates

Landmines
1. What is a landmine?
1. Landmines are weapons of war that kill or maim soldiers
and civilians indiscriminately. The United Nations 2. How many landmines do you think have been planted
estimates that more than 100 million landmines have been around the world?
planted in 70 countries, most of which are poor and
underdeveloped. 3. Which parts of the world do you think have the largest
number of landmines?
2. Children are often the victims of landmines; for example,

4. Why do landmines continue to be a problem long after
8,000 Angolan children have lost limbs after stepping on wars have ended?
landmines. Fitting victims with artificial limbs is very
costly, so most victims do not receive rehabilitation 5. Which countries do you think are the largest producers
of landmines?
services and are left physically unable to work and support
themselves. As well, land cannot be used to produce food
until mines have been cleared, and removing them is a slow
and expensive process.
3. In 1997, a treaty to ban the production and use of

landmines was signed by 133 countries in Ottawa, Canada.
Of the countries who have yet to sign the treaty, the most
significant are the three largest producers and users of
landmines – the United States, China, and Russia. All three
have said they need landmines to defend themselves. Critics
of this policy think that landmines are more likely to kill or
maim their own soldiers than to scare off their enemies.
COMPREHENSION !
4. Since the treaty was signed, more than 40 million landmines
have been destroyed and only 15 countries still produce 1. How are innocent civilians affected by landmines?
them (compared to 50 before the treaty). The United States
has provided funds to pay for the removal of many of these 2. How else are countries with large numbers of
landmines affected economically?
mines at the same time as it continues to produce them.
3. What kind of treaty was signed in 1997 in Ottawa,

5. In December 2004, the first World Summit on a Mine Free Canada?
World was held in Kenya. Participants demanded that the
United States, China, and Russia sign the 1997 treaty. 4. What has happened as a result of this treaty?
Clearly, without their co-operation, the total elimination of
landmines will not be possible. However, neither Russia nor 5. Why did United States, Russia, and China refuse to
sign this treaty?
the United States sent delegates to the conference.
Banning Landmines
11 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
_____ 1. maim a. not allow, prohibit

_____ 2. indiscriminately b. not natural
_____ 3. victim c. injure so that part of the body is useless
_____ 4. artificial d. money
_____ 5. limb e. without care
_____ 6. rehabilitation f. getting rid of, not having anymore
_____ 7. ban g. treatment to bring back to good condition
_____ 8. significant h. a person not in the army
_____ 9. provide i. a person who is hurt or suffers a loss
_____ 10 elimination j. important
_____ 11. civilian k. give, supply
DISCUSS IT
_____ 12. funds l. arm or leg

B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the Discuss the following questions.
1. Why are landmines different from other
1. You don’t need to water those plants. They are ______________________. conventional weapons used in war?
2. Many city governments now ___________________________ smoking in
2. Why do you think United States helps pay
all public places. for the removal of landmines but at the
3. He had a lot of ___________________________ after his car accident so same time continues to produce landmines?
now he can walk again.
4. Let’s have a party on Saturday. I’ll ___________________________ the 3. Do you think that the total worldwide
food if you bring the drinks. elimination of landmines is possible in

your lifetime? Why or why not?
5. There are many innocent civilians who are ____________________ in wars.
4. What can individual nations do to help

eliminate landmines around the world?
DEBATE IT
5. What can be done to educate children
about the dangers of landmines in countries
where landmines exist?
Topic #1:
The United Nations should impose economic sanctions on countries that con- WRITE IT !
tinue to produce landmines.
Topic #2:
United States, Russia, and China’s claims of self-defense as their explanation
for not banning the production and use of landmines are reasonable.
Gene Patents
12 Mini-Debates

Gene Patents
1. What does a biotechnology company do? Have you
1. Monsanto Canada, a biotechnology company, produces canola heard of the company, Monsanto? If so, what do you
seed that contains a gene that protects the seed from the effects know about it?
of Roundup, a weed killer also produced by Monsanto. Farmers 2. What are genes? Have you heard of genetically
who buy and plant Roundup Ready canola seed can use the modified food or genetically modified organisms
herbicide to kill the weeds in their fields without damaging (GMO’S)? If not, can you guess the meaning of these?
their canola crop. They must agree to buy new seed every year, 3. What do modern day farmers do to protect their
instead of saving seeds from previous crops to plant new ones. plants from insects and weeds?
Monsanto argues this is the only way to recover the money it
4. What does it mean to sue someone in a court of law?
spends on researching and developing genetically improved
seeds. 5. If a company invents something, what can it do to
protect this invention and prevent others from
stealing this idea?
2. In the late 1990s, Monsanto sued Saskatchewan farmer Percy
Schmieser for growing Roundup Ready canola without having 6. Explain the meaning of the following idioms: by
bought the seed. Schmieser said the seeds had blown into his accident and on purpose.
field by accident, either from his neighbors’ fields or off passing
farm equipment.
3. Lower courts ruled against Schmieser’s “by accident” argument

and ordered him to turn over the profits from his 1998 crop to
Monsanto. He then took his fight to the Supreme Court of
Canada to argue that a company should not be allowed to
patent, or control, the use of a plant.
4. In May 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that Monsanto could not
patent a plant, but it could patent the gene that it had developed
and the process for inserting it into the seeds. It means that
farmers who do not buy seed directly from Monsanto each year
have to remove any crop from their land that originated from COMPREHENSION !
Monsanto seed, no matter how it got there. 1. What is Roundup?
5. Earlier, in 2003, a government biotechnology advisory council 2. What is Roundup Ready canola seed?
had recommended that, in some cases, higher life forms such as
plants could be patented; that farmers should have a limited right 3. Why does Monsanto make farmers agree to buy
new seeds every year, instead of letting them use
to save and use seeds from patented plants; and that those who
seeds from previous years?
accidentally violate patents should have some legal protection.
4. Why did Monsanto sue farmer Percy Schmeiser?
6. Given the Supreme Court’s decision, and the committee’s
recommendations, the Federal Patent Act needs to be updated to 5. What did Percy Schmeiser argue in the Supreme
Court of Canada?
make the rules for gene patenting clearer.
Gene Patents
12 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
_____ 1. contain a) put inside

_____ 2. herbicide b) legal protection of one’s invention
_____ 3. damage c) break a law or agreement
_____ 4. previous d) come from
_____ 5. recover e) hold within itself
_____ 6. research f) hurt, injure, cause destruction
_____ 7. insert g) take to court and ask to be paid for suffering DISCUSS IT
_____ 8. profit h) chemical used to kill harmful weeds and plants
_____ 9. patent i) get back
_____ 10. originate j) gain; money earned
_____ 11. violate k) from before 1. Do you believe Percy Schmeiser’s
_____ 12. sue l) study argument that the canola seeds had blown
onto his land by accident?
2. Did Percy Schmeiser win or lose his court
case? Do you agree with the court’s
1. You promised to pay your ex-wife $1000 every month. If you decision? Why or why not?
_____________________ the divorce agreement, you will have to go back
to court. 3. The article mentioned three
2. His business is only two years old, but he is already making a huge recommendations that the Canadian
_____________________. government’s biotechnology advisory
3. You have to _____________________ a quarter into the parking meter to council made in 2003. Do you support
park for one hour. these recommendations?
4. He is going to the library to do some _____________________ for his
university project. 4. Does the 2004 decision made by the
5. If you don’t wear your reading glasses, you will _____________________ Supreme Court support or contradict the
your eyesight. recommendations of the advisory council?
Explain your answer.
DEBATE IT 5. What do you think about genetically

Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will modified food? Discuss the advantages
tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten and disadvantages of genetically modified
food? Do you think that all genetically
Topic #1: modified foods should be labeled as such?

A company should not be allowed to patent or control the use of a plant.
WRITE IT !
Topic #2:
Biotechnology companies like Monsanto will help solve the problem of world a paragraph stating your own opinion.
hunger with their genetically modified plants and foods.
The Live 8 Concerts
13 Mini-Debates

The Live 8 Concerts
1. Who organized the Live 8 concerts?
1. This set of free, live concerts was held on July 2, 2005, at
locations throughout the G8 nations - Canada, France, 2. Name some of the performers at the Live 8 concerts.
Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States,
3. Where did the Live 8 concerts take place and how
and Russia - the world’s richest countries. many people attended them?
2. The concerts were organized by rock star Bob Geldof and 4. What was the goal of the Live 8 concerts?
leaders of the Make Poverty History coalition. Paul
5. Why did some people criticize the Live 8 concerts?
McCartney, Bono, Madonna, and Elton John were among the
170 acts that performed for about 2 billion concert-goers and
television viewers.
3. The goal was to pressure the G8 leaders, who were meeting in

Scotland a few days later, to do more to end world poverty,
especially in Africa. Concert organizers demanded that the
debt of the world’s poorest nations be cancelled and that aid to
them be increased. More than 26 million people worldwide
sent messages of support for their demands.
4. Many people praised Live 8 for focusing the world’s attention

on poverty, but other people questioned the goals of Live 8.
5. Some people believe that rich nations should not decide what
is best for poor nations. Others criticized the Live 8 concerts
because they feel that in the past, debt relief has provided
corrupt African governments with more money to buy more COMPREHENSION !
weapons to maintain power. These people do not think that
1. Who organized the Live 8 concerts?
ordinary Africans will benefit from debt relief and increased
aid until their governments are less corrupt and more 2. Name some of the performers at the Live 8 concerts.
democratic. They say that war-torn areas of Africa, such as
Darfur, the Congo, and northern Uganda, need peace first. 3. Where did the Live 8 concerts take place and how
many people attended them?
Without peace, debt relief and increased aid will do little to
help those suffering and dying in these regions. 4. What was the goal of the Live 8 concerts?
6. In spite of these criticisms, the Make Poverty History coalition 5. Why did some people criticize the Live 8 concerts?
continues to work towards eliminating world poverty.
The Live 8 Concerts
13 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
Work with a partner or in small
_____ 1. coalition a. give
groups. Discuss the following questions.
_____ 2. goal b. dishonest
_____ 3. debt c. get rid of, abolish 1. The goal of the Live 8 concerts was the
_____ 4. aid d. instrument that can harm someone; ex. knife, gun elimination of world poverty. Do you
_____ 5. praise e. aim, objective, purpose
think that holding a benefit concert is a
_____ 6. criticize f. a union or group with a shared purpose
good way to focus public attention on
_____ 7. corrupt g. put attention on something
certain issues? What are some other
_____ 8. relief h. lessening, reducing
reasons that benefit concerts are held?
_____ 9. provide i. say something positive; compliment
_____ 10. eliminate j. help
2. Have you heard of the Live Aid concert
_____ 11. weapon k. money owing
that was held in 1985? What was the
_____ 12. focus l. say something negative; disapprove of
goal of that concert? Was that concert a
success?
following sentences. 3. Explain the meaning of the following
saying: Give a man a fish and he will
1. If you bring the drinks to the party, we will _____________________ the food. eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and
2. It is difficult to _____________________ an accent when you learn a foreign he will eat for a lifetime.
language.
How does this proverb relate to the
3. Mary studies for three hours every night. Her _____________________ is to
issue of world poverty?
become a doctor.
4. He has a lot of _____________________. He owes over twenty thousand dollars. 4. Do you think that the Live 8 concerts
5. If you want _____________________ of pain from your headache, take two helped influence world leaders to take
action to eliminate world poverty?
aspirins.
Explain your answer.
DEBATE IT 5. Do you think that most people who

Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will attended the Live 8 concerts did so
tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten because they wanted to help
eliminate world poverty or because
Topic #1: they wanted to see a free concert?
Rich nations should not give aid to poor countries with corrupt governments
because the aid will not reach the people. 6. Name some other organizations around
the world that try to help poorer
Topic #2: nations. What are their goals?
The United Nations, not individual nations, should take responsibility for
eliminating world poverty.
WRITE IT !
Topic #3: Choose one of the questions above and
Giving money alone is not the solution to eliminating world poverty. write a paragraph stating your own
opinion.
Water Privatization
14 Mini-Debates

Water Privatization
1. Look at a world map and locate Cochabamba,
1. In recent years, private companies have taken over municipal Bolivia. Have you ever heard of this city?
water supplies in a number of poor countries. The World Bank
2. Have you heard of the World Bank and the
and the International Monetary Fund are accused of forcing
International Monetary Fund? Do you know what
countries with large debt loads to allow this in exchange for these organizations do?
loans.
3. Is the water supply in your community publicly
owned?
2. In late 1999, a company called Aquas del Tunaria, owned by
Bechtel, an American multinational corporation, was given a 40- 4. Do you know how much your monthly water bill is?
year contract to increase the water supplies and services of
5. How can citizens protest against government action
Cochabamba, Bolivia, a city of 600,000.
in non-violent ways?
3. Shortly after taking over in January 2000, the company raised 6. What is the meaning of globalization?
water rates substantially. Many people had to choose between
feeding their family and paying their water bill. To protest the
increase, residents took part in a four-day general strike, which
shut down the city. La Coordinador, an organization of
community activists and labor leaders, led the protest. The strike
ended when the government agreed to cancel the rate increases.
4. By mid-February, the government had not lived up to the

agreement. A peaceful protest march was organized, but riot
police used tear gas to stop the marchers, many of whom were
injured. The people did not give up though. In March, activists
demanded that the government cancel the privatization contract
and return the water system to public ownership. They also
released the Cochabamba Declaration, which called for the
protection of the water rights of people around the world. COMPREHENSION !
1. What has been happening in recent years to the
5. When the government once again refused their demands,
municipal water supplies in many poor countries?
residents shut down the city on April 4. Other Bolivians came to
support them. The government arrested the leaders of the 2. What happened in Cochabamba, Bolivia in late 1999?
protest and stopped the media from reporting on it. Police
attacked and injured many protesters and, on April 8, killed a 3. Why were the residents of Cochabamba so upset by
young protester. On April 10, however, the government backed this situation?
down and agreed to all of the protesters’ demands.

4. How did the residents protest?
6. The people of Cochabamba had won. They said no to the 5. Who won the fight over water rights in Cochabamba,
economics of globalization and gave hope to many others around Bolivia?
the world.
Water Privatization
14 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
_____ 1. take over a) legal agreement

_____ 2. municipal b) do what is expected
_____ 3. debt load c) take by the police and charge with a crime
_____ 4. contract d) take control
_____ 5. residents e) methods of communication; T.V., radio, press
_____ 6. strike f) relating to a city or town
_____ 7. protest g) give up
_____ 8. riot h) amount of money owing
_____ 9. arrest i) stopping work as a means of protest
_____ 10. media j) people living in a particular place
_____ 11. live up to k) noisy, uncontrolled, behavior of a group
_____ 12. back down l) demonstrate to show disagreement
DISCUSS IT
following sentences. Work with a partner or in small groups.
1. There will be a ________________________ election in our city next fall.
2. If the president dies, the vice-president will ________________________ 1. What do you think of the World Bank’s
for him. decision to force poor countries to privatize
3. When the bus drivers went on ________________________ , we had to their water supplies in exchange for loans?
walk to work.
2. Why do you think the residents of
4. Make sure to read the ________________________ very carefully before Cochabamba were able to make the
you sign it. government back down?
5. The ________________________ in that apartment building are very angry
about the increase in rent. 3. Do you think that general strikes are
effective ways to get governments to
respond to citizens’ complaints?
DEBATE IT
4. Why do peaceful demonstrations often turn
tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten into rioting?
5. What means can police use to stop rioting
Topic #1: without injuring demonstrators?
Water, the most important substance of life, should always remain a public
utility: in other words, water rights should never be privatized. WRITE IT !
Topic #2: Choose one of the questions above and write

If Bechtel had been allowed to continue its control of the water supply of a paragraph stating your own opinion.
Cochabamba, the lives of the residents would have improved.
File Sharing
15 Mini-Debates

File-sharing
1. Do you have a computer in your home? If so, how
much time do you spend on the computer everyday?
1. Downloading music or movies from the Internet onto your
personal computer is called file sharing. New high-speed Internet 2. What do you use the computer for?
services have made file sharing easier and faster than ever before.
3. What is the meaning of downloading?
Many universities have an extremely fast Internet network for
research purposes, but students also use it to download music 4. Do you ever download movies or music for free?
and movies for free. The Internet2 system lets students download 5. What is the meaning of copyright?
a movie in five minutes and a song in twenty seconds.
6. Have you ever noticed the warning that appears at
the beginning of every video or DVD that you rent?
2. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) argues
If so, what is the warning?
that several file-sharing networks that provide music and the
people who download it for free are breaking the law. The
performers and the music producers should get money every time
a copy of their songs is downloaded. In June 2005, the U.S.
Supreme Court agreed with them. The RIAA has sued and shut
down some of the illegal file-sharing networks, but not all of
them. The association has also sued more than 400 students at
several U.S. universities for using their university’s computer
network to download music without paying for it.
3. Universities in California have decided to do something about

this problem. They have signed an agreement with Cdigix, a
music download service, which will allow students to download
music and videos legally from their university’s high-speed
computer network. Students will pay a small fee for the service,
COMPREHENSION !
likely as part of their student fees.
1. What is file sharing?
4. Not everyone is in favor of this agreement, though. Some people
2. Why has file sharing become easier and faster than
think that the new service will not provide enough variety of
ever before?
music and videos, and students will continue to download them
illegally. Others think that universities have much more important 3. Why is the Recording Industry Association of
issues to deal with and should not be using their time and America against file sharing?
resources on this issue. Finally, some people believe that the
4. What have some universities done to deal with the
music industry should allow people to download songs for free
problem of illegal file sharing?
because it will introduce new songs and new performers to far
more people and result in increased sales of music CDs. 5. What are some of the objections to this solution?
File Sharing
15 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
_____ 1. research a. an entertainer (singer, dancer, etc.)
_____ 2. provide b. against the law Work with a partner or in small groups.
_____ 3. sue c. very Discuss the following questions.
_____ 4. illegal d. study, investigation
1. Do you think authors should be paid a fee
_____ 5. fee e. use
every time a person photocopies something
_____ 6. likely f. give
from their books? If so, should this fee
_____ 7. in favor of g. money, wealth, supply of goods
apply to teachers who photocopy material
_____ 8. variety h. go to court of law and ask for compensation
for their students? Explain your answer.
_____ 9. resources i. probably
_____ 10. performer j. a number of different things 2. Have you ever heard of the term
_____ 11. purpose k. a payment for a service intellectual property? What do you think it
_____ 12. extremely l. agreeing with, supporting means? What does it mean when we say
that writers and composers receive a
royalty payment for their work?
following sentences. 3. Do you think that downloading music and
movies for free is a kind of stealing? Do
1. We’ll ____________________ the food for the party if you bring the drinks. you think that people who download music
2. There is a $200 ________________________ to join that sports club. and movies for free should be punished?
3. The weather in winter in northern Canada is _____________________ cold.

4. Do you ever borrow audio tapes or CD’s
4. It is ____________________ to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. from friends and make copies for yourself?
5. That sweater comes in a ________________________ of colors. Which Do you think that there is anything wrong
color would you prefer? with this? Why or why not?
5. Making illegal copies of videos, DVD’s

and CD’s is sometimes called pirating. In
DEBATE IT some countries, it is very easy to buy
pirated copies. Do you think this really
hurts the movie and music industry and
individual performers? If so, how can the
Topic #1: industries deal with the problem?
Both individuals who download free music and the Internet companies that
provide the free services should be punished for file sharing. WRITE IT !

Topic #2:
It is impossible to prevent file sharing, so the music and film industries should
stop trying to do so.
Video Game Violence
16 Mini-Debates
Video Game Violence PRE-READING WARM-UP QUESTIONS ☀
1. Do you ever play video games? If so, how often do

1. Many school-age children in the United States play video games for
you play?
close to an hour a day. Almost 90% of the most popular video games
contain violence, and much of it is extremely violent. In the US, the 2. Do you have children? Do they play video games,
and if so, how often do they play?
video game industry rates games that contain violence or sexual images
as “M” for mature audiences. Researchers have discovered, though, 3. What do you think the average amount of time
school age children in America play video games
that children as young as seven years old have played these games. every day is?
2. In July 2005, the state of Illinois passed a law that made it illegal to sell 4. Do you think the most popular video games
contain violence?
or rent a video game containing violence or sexual images to anyone
under 18 years of age. Those who broke the law would face a year in 5. Is there a law in your country (city, state, province,
etc.) restricting the sale or rental of violent video
prison or a $5,000 fine. The video game industry was told to label these
games?
games as “violent” or “sexually explicit.” In 2006, this state law was
thrown out. 6. Who do you think might support this kind of law
and who do you think might oppose it?
3. For several years, lawmakers in the US tried to get video game labeling
acts passed. They wanted violent video games to have a warning like
cigarettes. The warning would say, “WARNING: Exposure to violent
video games has been linked to aggressive behavior.” Many parents
and researchers support these efforts. They argue that children who play
violent video games may act more violently in real life.
4. Many bills related to video game violence have been rejected by

American courts on the basis of free speech. Those who sell or rent
video games fight the bills and win. They think that parents, not video
stores, should be responsible for what their children are doing or seeing.
In addition, no scientific study in the US has proven that video games
lead to aggressive behavior.
COMPREHENSION !
5. Despite the lack of proof, many people blame gun violence in America
on the video game industry. They think that violent gaming causes 1. How can someone in the US know if a video game
contains violence or sexual images?
antisocial behavior that may lead to mass shootings. In 2012, after the
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, a US senator said that video 2. What kind of law did the state of Illinois pass in
games are a bigger problem than guns. The National Rifle Association 2005 regarding video games?
(NRA) agreed. President Obama argued that there was no proof to this; 3. Why do many parents support bills related to
however, he asked Congress to approve funding to conduct further restricting and labeling violent video games?
studies. The president stated, “Congress should fund research on the
4. What do many people who rent or sell video games
effects violent video games have on young minds. We don’t benefit think about bills related to video game violence?
from ignorance.”
5. What did President Obama propose after the Sandy
Hook elementary school shooting?
Video Game Violence
16 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
_____ 1. rate a. be against, not support

_____ 2. mature b. facts that reveal the truth
_____ 3. illegal c. not social, spends most time alone
_____ 4. researcher d. estimate the value, classify
_____ 5. aggressive e. sum of money paid as a penalty or punishment
_____ 6. image f. against the law
_____ 7. fine g. a proposal for a new law
_____ 8. label h. fully grown or developed, adult DISCUSS IT
_____ 9. explicit i. clearly and fully shown or expressed Work with a partner or in small groups.
_____ 10. antisocial j. someone who studies and looks for answers Discuss the following questions.
_____ 11. bill k. picture
1. Children’s TV programs, comic books, and
_____ 12. reject l. put a name or description on something
movies often contain violence. Do you think
_____ 13. proof m. violent, full of anger
that violent video games have any different
_____ 14. ignorance n. not knowing
impact on children than these other forms of
entertainment?
2. Do you think that a future study will prove
that video game violence leads to aggression
1. The child with the _________________ behavior got into a fight at school. and antisocial behavior?
2. When he drove through the red traffic light, the police gave him a $100
3. Do you think that the video game industry
___________________.
3. If she doesn’t love him anymore, she will _____________________ his has any interest in protecting children from
marriage proposal. the harmful effects of watching violent or
4. He is _____________________, so most kids don’t even know his name. adult sexual images?
5. His instructions were very ___________________. I understood them well.
4. Do you think most parents carefully monitor
the TV programs their children watch and
DEBATE IT video games they play?
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your
teacher will tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. 5. Most countries have classifications for
You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments. movies such as Family Entertainment,
General Admission, Parental Guidance,
Topic #1:
Restricted Adult, etc. Do you think that
It is the responsibility of parents, not lawmakers, to decide which video
games their children can play. Therefore, there should be no laws video games should have a similar type of
restricting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. classification system? Why or why not?
Topic #2:
WRITE IT !
Violent video games have a very harmful effect on children and
contribute to the increase in violence in our society. Choose one of the questions above and write
Junk Food Sales in Schools
17 Mini-Debates

Junk Food Sales in Schools 1. What is “junk food”? Give some examples of
junk food?
1. Over the last 15 years, many high schools and middle schools in the
United States have allowed snack foods such as soft drinks, candy, 2. Do you eat a lot of junk food?
and potato chips to be sold in vending machines in their buildings.
3. Do you think that children nowadays eat too
Expensive advertising campaigns, paid for by the makers of these much junk food?
products, have encouraged students to snack on junk food instead
4. What is a vending machine? Are there vending
of healthy food such as fruits and vegetables. machines in public schools in your city? If so,
what kind of products do they sell?
2. As a result, many students eat junk food for lunch and during the
5. How do schools in your area pay for things
day. Federal and state rules that restrict vending machine products
such as sports equipment, musical instruments,
from being sold at lunchtime are simply ignored. computer equipment, field trips, etc.?
3. Students who eat junk food every day are likely to become obese or
to suffer from tooth decay. As adults, they may develop serious
diseases, like diabetes, which add to the country’s health care costs.
4. Yet schools continue to make junk food easily available to students.

They do this because their government-funded budgets only cover
basic school services. The money they receive from junk food
manufacturers can add $50,000 or more to their budgets each year.
Schools that allow only one particular brand of soft drink, such as
Coke, to be sold in vending machines can make much more money.
This money is used to pay for things like computer equipment, field
trips, special activities, and marching bands.
5. The more junk food students buy from the vending machines, the
more money the schools make. COMPREHENSION !
1. Why are American students eating more junk
6. Since 2001, many U.S. lawmakers, parent groups, and communities food in schools nowadays?
have tried to change this situation. They believe that schools should
sell nothing but nutritious food at lunchtime. They also believe that 2. What is the danger to children who eat a lot of
junk food?
corporations should not be offering schools large sums of money to
ignore the health risks of junk food. However, many schools have 3. Why do many schools make junk food easily
opposed their actions because they do not want to lose the money available to students?
they make from junk food sales. 4. How is the money obtained from the sale of
junk food often used?
7. Many people believe that, instead of being safe places, schools
5. What are many parent groups and
today are unhealthy places for students.
communities trying to do about this situation?
Junk Food Sales in Schools
17 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
______ 1. snack a) danger
______ 2. advertising campaign b) very fat
______ 3. encourage c) company 1. Why do you think so many children are
______ 4. restrict d) paid for obese today? What can parents and society
______ 5. ignore e) a light meal do to prevent children from becoming
______ 6. obese f) limit obese?
______ 7. decay g) good for health (as in food)
______ 8. budget h) be against; not support or agree with 2. How have schools changed in the past forty
or fifty years? Do you think it is the
______ 9. funded i) series of activities for selling something
______ 10. nutritious j) not pay attention to responsibility of public schools to provide
______ 11. corporation k) get in bad condition extra-curricular activities to students or
should this be the responsibility of parents?
______ 12. risk l) a plan of income and spending
______ 13. oppose m) give hope or confidence; support
3. Do you think public school budgets should
include funding for sports programs, music,
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the arts, field trips, etc. or should they just cover
following sentences. basic educational services?
1. Eating a lot of candy will make your teeth __________________________. 4. Do you think that public schools should ask
2. A ____________________________ diet includes a lot of fresh fruits and more big corporations to provide funding for
vegetables. the schools in exchange for endorsing
3. The toy company is planning a very big ____________________________ (supporting) their products? Explain your
before Christmas. answer.
4. If you ____________________________ the doctor’s advice, you will not
get better. 5. Do you think that big corporations such as
5. If you ____________________________ the government, you can vote for Coca-Cola could be persuaded to change the
someone else in the next election. products they sell in the vending machines?
For example, many soft drink producers also
make healthier products such as fruit juices,
DEBATE IT
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will bottled water, etc.
minutes to prepare your arguments. 6. If schools decide to ban the sale of junk food
in their schools, what are some other ways
Topic #1: they could raise money?
Schools should promote healthy lifestyles for children and therefore, no junk
food should be sold in school cafeterias, snack bars, vending machines or
WRITE IT !
anywhere else on school property.

Topic #2:
Schools should never be allowed to make arrangements with big corporations to a paragraph stating your own opinion.
support, sell, or advertise their products no matter how much money they receive.
Employee Tracking
18 Mini-Debates

Employee Tracking
1. Can you explain the idiom, “keep track of”?
1. Employers can now use technology to watch over their
employees’ e-mail, Internet use, telephone calls, and job-related 2. What do you think employee tracking means?
travel.
3. Do you think that many companies have problems with
2. The British company Followus is one of a number of companies their employees using the Internet, cell-phones, e-mail,
that help businesses keep track of their employees, their vehicles, etc. for personal use during office hours?
and their merchandise.
4. If employers have this problem, what do you think they
can do to solve it?
3. Businesses can use this tracking information to operate more
efficiently. For example, a business that delivers goods can have 5. Do you know what it means to submit a travel expense
more flexible delivery schedules and one that employs sales staff to an employer?
or trades people can provide better customer service.
6. What does a civil rights group do?
4. Employees are tracked through their cell phones, using a
computer with an Internet connection. Their phone acts as a
mobile electronic device and the service provider’s Web site can
locate its approximate location.
5. More and more businesses are interested in using cell-phone

tracking technology. Since starting up in 2003, Followus had
gained 50,000 subscribers by 2005 and was adding 5,000 more
each month. Verilocation, another British company, had 60,000
subscribers as of 2005.
6. Most of these subscribers are small businesses wanting to reduce

their operating costs. They do this by checking that employees
take the shortest route to a job, that they are actually on the job
when they are supposed to be, and that they submit accurate
travel expense claims for each job.
COMPREHENSION !
7. A British civil rights group known as Liberty believes that the use
of electronic tracking may threaten employees’ rights to privacy. 1. What are some employers now doing to watch over
However, a spokesperson for Followus says this is not true their employees?
because tracking companies must obey strict government
regulations. Employees must agree to have their phones tracked, 2. Name two companies that provide this kind of service.
and every phone that is tracked must give out random alerts so
that employees know their phone tracking device is still operating. 3. Why are companies subscribing to these services?
8. Even though employees must agree to being tracked, some people 4. What is the main concern of the civil rights group,
believe they may lose their job if they don’t agree. Liberty, regarding these services?
9. Liberty is working to ensure that employers continue to comply 5. How does the company, Followus, respond to this
with these regulations. concern?
Employee Tracking
18 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
_____ 1. vehicles a) lower, lessen

_____ 2. merchandise b) do as one is told; comply with rules or orders
_____ 3. efficiently c) able to be moved
_____ 4. flexible d) warning
_____ 5. mobile e) cars
_____ 6. subscribers f) correct
_____ 7. reduce g) done well and without wasting time
_____ 8. accurate h) done by chance, without a specific order or time
_____ 9. threaten i) goods or products for sale DISCUSS IT
_____ 10. obey j) people who agree to take a service
_____ 11. random k) can change easily
_____ 12. alert l) about; near to
_____ 13. approximate m) make a sign of danger to come 1. Do you think many employees use the
Internet for personal use during office
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the hours? What do you think they use the
following sentences. Internet for? How much office time do you
think is wasted on this everyday?
1. Our city newspaper has over 100,000 _____________________.
2. A lot of the store __________________ goes on sale after Christmas. 2. Do you think employers should have the
3. A soldier in the army must _______________ his officer’s orders. right to read all employees’ e-mails that are
4. The main shopping street is closed to _________________ today because written during office hours?
there is a street fair taking place all afternoon. The street is only open to pe-
3. Do you think many employees submit false
destrians.
or exaggerated travel expense claims to
5. The robber planned to use a gun to __________________ the bank employee
their employers?
if she wouldn’t give him the money right away.
4. Do you think employee tracking leads to a
loss of trust between employees and
DEBATE IT
employers? If so, what is a more effective
way of monitoring employees’ use of time?
5. If your employer asked you to agree to
Topic #1: have your cell phone tracked, would you
Employee tracking is an effective management tool and leads to increased do so? Why or why not?
productivity and efficiency for companies.
WRITE IT !
Topic #2:
There is no reason for an employee who is working efficiently in the work- Choose one of the questions above and write
place to feel threatened by tracking devices. a paragraph stating your own opinion.
Botox Use by Teens
Mini-Debates

Botox Use by Teens 1. Do you ever worry about getting wrinkles and starting
to look older?
1. In 2005, nearly three million American women and men had
Botox injections to help them look younger. Since 2000, 2. How do many movie stars and other famous celebrities
keep their youthful appearances?
though, a new trend has been emerging: the use of Botox by
teenagers just out of high school. 3. Are cosmetic surgeries and other cosmetic treatments
to maintain youthful looks common in your country?
2. Botox is a chemical substance that is injected into a person’s 4. Have you ever heard of Botox injections to get rid of
face to smooth facial wrinkles. It works by paralyzing the wrinkles?
muscles that cause wrinkles to form. Botox injections usually
5. How much do you think a Botox injection costs and
cost about $300 and last about four months. how long do you think it lasts?
3. Botox can be used to treat serious medical conditions, but most

people only know about its ability to prevent wrinkles. The
government approved its cosmetic use about 10 years ago, and
doctors think it is safe and effective.
4. Teenagers who decide to use Botox have accepted society’s

view that only the young and those who look young are
beautiful. Magazines and movies have convinced them and
many others that they must look young and beautiful to succeed
in the world. They also see their mothers, their older sisters, and
even their fathers using Botox as a way to stay younger looking.
5. These teenagers think that Botox will help them look young for
a longer time. They save their money from part-time jobs or ask
their parents for money to pay for the injections, which can add
COMPREHENSION !
up to over $1,000 a year.
1. What is Botox and what is it widely used for
nowadays?
6. Other people believe that society’s obsession with youth is not
good for anyone. They believe that too many of today’s 2. How long has Botox been used for cosmetic purposes?
teenagers think more about how they look than about how they
3. Why have many teenagers started to use Botox?
can contribute to society. They also worry that using Botox
will soon be as common as getting a haircut or going shopping. 4. Why are many people opposed to the use of Botox by
teenagers?
7. As long as society views staying young as the highest form of 5. How many Americans used Botox for cosmetic
self-improvement, more and more young people will turn to purposes in the year 2005?
Botox to keep looking young.
Botox Use by Teens
19 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
_____ 1. injection a) opinion
_____ 2. trend b) overly preoccupied with; thinking about too much Work with a partner or in small groups.
_____ 3. emerge c) stop something from happening Discuss the following questions.
_____ 4. wrinkles d) putting something into the skin with a needle
1. Besides Botox injections, list several other
_____ 5. paralyze e) style which others follow
types of cosmetic treatments or surgeries
_____ 6. prevent f) cause a loss of feeling or movement in the body
that are common today. Do you know
_____ 7. cosmetic g) give help, money, ideas, etc.
anyone who has had such a treatment?
_____ 8. effective h) treatment or substance used to beautify the skin
Was she/he happy with the results?
_____ 9. view i) appear
_____ 10. convince j) make someone think or believe or do something 2. Do you think teenagers today are too
_____ 11. obsession k) able to bring about a good result obsessed with physical appearance?
_____ 12. contribute l) lines in the skin that show aging
3. Do you think that movies and the media
(T.V., magazines, etc.) put too much
emphasis on beauty and youthful
appearance? Explain your answer.
1. There is never a spot of dirt in her house. She has an ___________________
about cleaning. 4. All forms of surgery carry some degree of
2. She doesn’t look her age. She is almost 70, but has very few risk. Do you think that children under the
______________________. age of 18 should be allowed to have any
3. We have a doctor’s appointment because the baby needs an form of cosmetic surgery?
______________________.
5. For years, women have been using dyes to
4. She wants to ______________________ to society by becoming a doctor.
cover grey hair and change hair color. Do
5. The firemen tried to ______________________ anyone from entering the
you think that this action is any different
burning building.
from using Botox injections?
6. Have you ever heard the expression, “to

DEBATE IT grow old gracefully”? What do you think
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will it means?
minutes to prepare your arguments. WRITE IT !
Topic #1: Choose one of the questions above and write
Physical appearance is a very important factor in determining one’s success in life. a paragraph stating your own opinion.
Topic#2
There is nothing wrong with teenagers using Botox or other cosmetic
treatments to improve their appearance.
Black Gold: The Movie
Mini-Debates

Black Gold: The Movie 1. Do you enjoy watching documentary films? Have you
heard of the British documentary called Black Gold?
1. Black Gold is a recent British documentary film about the
international coffee industry. It exposes a situation in which 2. Are you a coffee drinker? If so, do you go to cafes such
as Starbucks very often?
small coffee farmers in developing countries receive very little
for their back-breaking labor, while international coffee 3. How much do you usually pay for a cup of coffee? Do
corporations make huge profits selling the farmers’ coffee to you know how much a specialty coffee such as a
consumers in rich nations. cappuccino or latte costs?
4. How much do you think a coffee farmer makes from a

2. The film focuses on the efforts of Ethiopia’s Tadesse Meskela cup of coffee sold in the West?
to teach the world’s coffee drinkers about the plight of small
coffee farmers in Ethiopia, who make as little as three cents for 5. How much profit do you think international coffee
companies make each year?
each cup of coffee sold in the West. Meskela manages the
Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, which represents 6. Do you know what a “co-operative farm” is?
about 70,000 farmers. He wants farmer cooperatives like his to
be able to negotiate better and fairer prices for their product.
3. The film follows Meskala as he journeys to wealthy countries

like the United States and England to try to convince coffee
drinkers and those involved in the coffee trade to buy Ethiopian
coffee for which Ethiopian farmers have been fairly paid.
Although some argue that civil unrest in Ethiopia also affects
its small coffee farmers, the film does not address this issue.
4. Viewers learn that the price paid to small coffee producers has
fallen sharply since 1989, when coffee began to be traded on
the New York commodity market. In 2001, coffee prices were
the lowest in 30 years. In Ethiopia, some farmers either gave up
COMPREHENSION !
farming or stopped growing coffee and started growing “chat”,
a narcotic, in order to feed and clothe their families. Yet, over 1. What situation is exposed in the film, Black Gold?
the last five years, international coffee corporations together
have profited by as much as $80 billion a year. 2. What is Tadesse Meskela trying to do?
5. Although the international price of coffee has risen in the last 3. What happened in 1989 that affected the price of coffee
few years, small coffee farmers like those in Ethiopia are still paid to coffee producers?
poor and the coffee corporations are getting richer. The film’s
4. What did some Ethiopian coffee farmers do when
message is that it will take consumer education, political
coffee prices fell sharply?
advocacy by ordinary citizens in rich nations, and the
willingness of coffee corporations to change their policies to 5. What will it take to improve the plight of the world’s
improve the plight of the world’s small coffee growers. poor coffee farmers?
Black Gold: The Movie
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
_____ 1. expose a) rich

_____ 2. labor b) put attention on
_____ 3. profit c) a drug that can cause addiction
_____ 4. consumer d) discuss in order to reach an agreement
_____ 5. focus e) show, uncover
_____ 6. effort f) persuade; make someone want or believe something
_____ 7. plight g) working in support of someone or something
_____ 8. negotiate h) trying hard to do something
_____ 9. wealthy i) speak about; deal with DISCUSS IT
_____ 10. convince j) a person who uses something
_____ 11. address k) a very serious and difficult condition Work with a partner or in small groups.
_____ 12. narcotic l) work Discuss the following questions.

_____ 13. advocacy m) money gained in business
1. Why do you think coffee companies such as
Starbucks have grown so rapidly in recent
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the years?
2. Why do you think coffee is referred to as
1. He is a very ________________________ man. He owns four very expen- “Black Gold”?
sive cars and a large boat.
2. Their business lost money the first year, but they hope to make a 3. Have you seen coffee that is labeled “fair
________________________ soon. trade”? What do you think this means? Do
3. Heroin is a powerful ________________________ that is illegal in most you usually buy this kind of coffee? Why or
countries. why not?
4. My neighbor is planning to buy my old car. He is coming over this afternoon
to ________________________ a price. 4. Are you willing to pay more for coffee that
5. Mary is trying to ________________________ her husband to go to Hawaii you know is registered “fair trade”? If so,
for their vacation, but but he would rather go skiing. how much more are you willing to pay?
5. What measures can individuals in the West

DEBATE IT take to help improve the plight of poor
tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will have ten coffee farmers around the world?
6. What measures can large coffee corporations
Topic #1: take to help improve the plight of poor
Individuals in the West will improve the plight of the world’s poor coffee coffee farmers around the world?
farmers if they boycott coffee companies that refuse to buy and sell “fair
trade” coffee.
WRITE IT !
Topic #2:
Coffee companies in the West should be required by law to only buy and sell Choose one of the questions above and write
“fair trade coffee”. a paragraph stating your own opinion.
21Cell Phones in Class Mini-Debates

Cell Phones in Class
1. Have you heard of the website called YouTube? If
so, do you look at it regularly or have you ever
1. Whether students should be allowed to have personal electronic posted anything on it?
devices in the classroom became an issue in Gatineau, Quebec,
after an October 2006 incident in a secondary school. 2. Do you know if cell phones are allowed in
classrooms in public schools in your city?
2. Two 13-year-old girls provoked their teacher into yelling at one of
3. Do you own a cell phone? Does it have a camera?
them while the other used her cell phone camera to secretly film Do you use it very often?
him. The girls then posted their video on the Internet on the
YouTube website. 4. Do you text message your friends on your cell
phone very often?
3. The teacher was so upset and embarrassed by the video that he 5. Do you know anyone who has had his/her picture
took stress leave. The school suspended the two students and taken on a cell phone in an embarrassing situation?
banned all students from bringing any type of personal electronic If so, what was his/her reaction?
device into the classroom.
6. Do you worry about ever finding a secretly
obtained picture of yourself on the Internet?
4. Their teacher’s reaction to the YouTube posting and his absence
from school left all his students feeling badly about what had
happened and they asked that the video be removed from YouTube.
The students would not be searched but the ban on taking devices
like cell phones into class would be strictly enforced.
5. Teachers were concerned about how easily a person’s image can be

distorted. The Gatineau teacher had taught for 32 years and had
spent many years working with students with discipline problems.
Shouting at students was not a true picture of his work as a teacher.
The teachers’ union was lobbying for personal electronic devices
to be banned from all schools in Western Quebec.
6. The teachers also believed that they must be able to discipline

COMPREHENSION !
students without fear of being publicly exposed. In other words,
what happens in the classroom should stay within the classroom. 1. What became an important issue in Quebec high
Some parents, however, were dismayed by the teachers’ view on schools in 2006?
privacy. Parents worried that students with serious complaints
2. What situation led to this becoming an important
about a teacher’s behavior would not be believed. They expected issue?
teachers to act responsibly and be able to justify their actions in
their classroom. 3. How did the teacher involved react to this incident?
4. What did the school do in response to this incident?

7. Posting secretly obtained videos of people on the Internet is an
ongoing privacy issue. 5. Why do many teachers want personal electronic
devices banned from all classrooms?
Cell Phones in Class
21 Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
____ 1. device a) greatly surprised with difficulty understanding

____ 2. incident b) statement of dissatisfaction
____ 3. embarrassed c) trying to make lawmakers pass certain laws
____ 4. ban d) piece of equipment for a special purpose
____ 5. distorted e) question for discussion; concern
____ 6. lobbying f) order that something must not be done; not allow
____ 7. dismayed g) give a good reason; show something is right
____ 8. complaint h) feeling mentally or socially uncomfortable DISCUSS IT
____ 9. justify i) giving a false or untrue picture of something
____ 10. issue j) situation, happening, event Work with a partner or in small groups.
1. Do you think there is any reason that

B. Find the words or expressions in the article that have the following
meanings. students should be allowed to take cell
phones into classrooms?
1. made angry; caused something to happen _________________
2. What problems may occur if cell phones
2. time off work because of mental or emotional difficulties
are allowed in classrooms?
_________________
3. didn’t allow students to attend school for a period of time, as a means of 3. If you were a teacher, would you be upset
punishment _________________ if students were videotaping you in the
4. being away from _________________ classroom?
5. an organization of workers _________________ 4. How have YouTube and other websites

6. give a set of rules; bring under control; punish _________________ been used by some students to bully or
intimidate other students?
DEBATE IT 5. Do you think that the punishment given to

the two students discussed in the article
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher
was fair? Explain your answer.
will tell you if you will be debating for or against the idea. You will
have ten minutes to prepare your arguments. 6. The teachers discussed in the article felt
that what happens in the classroom should
Topic #1: stay in the classroom. Do you agree with
There is no educational purpose for having cell phones in a classroom and their views on privacy in the classroom?
therefore they should be banned.
WRITE IT !
Topic #2:
Posting secretly obtained videos of people on the Internet should be a Choose one of the questions above and write
criminal offense. a paragraph stating your own opinion.
The Death Penalty
Mini-Debates

The Death Penalty
1. Does your country have the death penalty?
1. The death penalty, also called capital punishment, refers to the
killing or execution of a person as punishment for a crime. Half of 2. How many countries do you think use the death
the countries in the world have abolished this form of punishment. penalty?
About 30% of the countries in the world still use it as punishment
for crimes such as murder and treason. Each year, a few more 3. What are the arguments against the death penalty?
countries abolish the death penalty.
4. What are the arguments for the death penalty?
2. Capital punishment is used in 34 of the 50 states in the US. Does the
word “capital” seem odd? This term comes from the Latin word for 5. How are criminals typically treated in prisons?
head. Long ago, capital punishment referred to cutting off a person’s
head. In America, execution is now carried out by lethal injection.
While this method of killing is not as disturbing to watch, autopsies
show that the injections are not always quick and painless. The
procedure sometimes goes wrong, and the injections cause severe
pain. Medical professionals are often required to assist in the
executions. The UN has asked that all countries refrain from using
this cruel and unusual form of punishment.
3. Many opposed to the death penalty say that death row is a form of
torture. Death row is a section of a prison for those sentenced to
death. Some inmates spend years waiting for their execution date.
This happened to Manuel Valle, a Floridian man who killed a police
officer. He spent 33 years on death row before being executed. How
does death row differ from regular prison life? In some cases,
prisoners spend their days in solitary confinement. They are not
allowed to worship, exercise, or take part in group activities.
4. Amnesty International calls the death penalty the “ultimate denial of COMPREHENSION !
human rights”. In 2011, this human rights group defended an Read the article then answer these questions.
American prisoner named Troy Davis. Davis was convicted of
killing a police officer, but many doubted the evidence. The 1. What is another word for the death penalty and
why does it have this name?
executive director called this case a “catastrophic failure of the
justice system.” Troy Davis maintained his innocence until the
moment he died. 1000 people attended his funeral. 2. What percentage of countries have abolished the
death penalty?
5. Statistics show that minorities are more likely to face capital
punishment. Americans who murder a white male are at least three 3. What do autopsies of previous death row inmates
times more likely to be executed than those who kill a black male. In sometimes show?
addition, those who can’t afford a good lawyer are more likely to
face the death penalty. Studies also show that capital punishment 4. How does Amnesty International feel about the
does not deter criminals. Would you believe that a death penalty death penalty?
sentence costs tax payers more than a sentence of life imprisonment?
Some people think the death penalty is a less severe sentence than 5. Why are poor criminals more likely to face the
death penalty?
life in prison with no chance of parole.
The Death Penalty
Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
__1. capital punishment a. discontinued
Work with a partner or in small
__2. abolished b. the purposeful administration of a drug that kills
groups. Discuss the following
__3. treason c. a crime of betrayal against a country or its leaders questions.
__4. lethal injection d. prison area for people who have been sentenced to death
1. Is capital punishment a fair
__5. autopsy e. a form of cruel punishment that causes severe pain punishment for murder?
__6. death row f. the death penalty
2. How do prosecutors prove that
__7. torture g. a medical procedure to determine exactly how a person died a person is guilty “beyond a
__8. solitary confinement h. a chance to be free from jail based on good behavior reasonable doubt”?
__9. convicted i. punishment preventing prisoners from interacting with others 3. Do you know of any cases
__10. catastrophic j. to help prevent someone from doing something where a person “did time” for a
__11. deter k. causing great damage crime he or she did not commit?
__12. parole l. found to be guilty of a crime 4. What should happen if a victim

or victim’s family has forgiven
a criminal on death row?
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the following
5. Is killing a police officer worse
sentences. than killing a citizen? Should
the punishment be more harsh?
1. The murderer was sentenced to death and will now wait on _____________________.
2. The ________________________ showed that the lethal injection caused the heart to 6. What does race have to do with
the death penalty?
stop beating.
3. Burning someone in exchange for a guilty plea is a form of WRITE IT !
________________________ used in some prisons.
4. Statistics show that capital punishment does not _______________ murderers . Choose one of the questions
above and write a paragraph
5. The man was on ___________________ for good behavior when he killed his stating your own opinion.
neighbor.
DEBATE IT
Below are two topics to debate in small groups or pairs. Your teacher will tell you if you will be debating for or against the
idea. You will have ten minutes to prepare your arguments.
Topic #1:
A death penalty sentence is more severe than a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole.
Topic#2
All countries will have abolished capital punishment by the year 2020.
English Globalization Mini-Debates

English Globalization
1. What language do you speak at home?
1. Today, the English language is spoken as a second language by 2. When did you start to learn English?
more people than ever before. In 2006, for every native English
speaker, there were estimated to be three non-native English 3. Do you ever mix your native language with
speakers. English when you are speaking?
4. How many people around the world do you think

2. English is now the language of business, computer technology, and speak English as a second language?
skilled employment worldwide. Currently, hundreds of millions
of people, especially in China and India, are learning to speak 5. Have you ever heard the terms “Spanglish” or
“Hinglish”? What do you think these terms mean?
English, many of them in small local language schools. Experts
predict that 3 billion people will speak English as a second
6. What is the meaning of globalization?
language by 2016.
3. Many non-English-speaking countries now start to teach their

children English in school at a young age. This not only helps the
children to learn English but also to get better jobs when they are
older. A country that has workers who have both English and
computer skills is better able to compete in the global marketplace.
4. English is also the language of the Internet. Many people work in

the field of Internet technology, while many others use the Internet
to help them do their jobs or to improve their English skills.
5. As more non-native speakers have learned English, words from

local languages have become mixed with it. For example,
Spanglish, a mix of Spanish and English, is now spoken in the
COMPREHENSION !
United States and Mexico. Hinglish, a mix of Hindi and English, is
becoming more common in India. 1. In 2006, what was the ratio of non-native
English speakers to native English speakers?
6. In fact, some experts think that people could one day speak one
2. In what fields or industries is English spoken
kind of English at home, another at work or school, and a third around the world?
while traveling or talking to international visitors. Other experts
believe that countries should encourage local versions of English. 3. How many people will speak English as a
second language by 2016?
7. Some native English speakers are upset at these changes. However,
4. Why are many non-English speaking countries
they will have to adapt to them because the globalization of starting to teach their children English at a
English has become a fact of life. The highly lucrative English as a young age?
second language teaching industry and the demand for native
5. Give two examples of languages that have
English speakers will continue to grow for some time to come.
started to mix with English?
English Globalization Mini-Debates
VOCABULARY REVIEW !
DISCUSS IT
_____ 1. native a) worldwide
_____ 2. estimate b) change to fit a new use or situation Work with a partner or in small groups.
_____ 3. skill c) in the area Discuss the following questions.
_____ 4. currently d) give support or confidence to; help
1. At what age do you think children should
_____ 5. expert e) give an idea of the approximate size, number, etc.
begin to study a second language in school?
_____ 6. predict f) profitable; bringing money
_____ 7. compete g) now; at the present time 2. What do you think is the best way to teach
_____ 8. global h) a form that is different from the original English to children?
_____ 9. local i) born in or belonging to a certain place
_____ 10. encourage j) ability to do something 3. Why do you think English has become the
_____ 11. version k) say what will happen in the future global language?
_____ 12. adapt l) person with special knowledge or skill

4. Besides business and technology, what other
_____ 13. lucrative m) try to win or be better than someone else
industries function primarily in English?
B. Choose the right word(s) from the left column above to complete the 5. How is the spread of English throughout the
following sentences. world affecting local languages and local
cultures?
1. They _________________________ live in Canada, but they are planning
to move to England soon. 6. What can countries do to preserve their local
2. When you move to a new country, you have to ______________________ languages?
to new customs.
3. Thousands of athletes from around the world _______________________ 7. Do you think it is important for English
in the Olympic Games. language teachers around the world to try to
4. At first he lost money in his business, but now it is becoming very maintain a standardized form of English?
__________________________. Why or why not?
5. John has become a very good student because all his teachers
__________________________ him to work hard. 8. In what ways do languages change
throughout time? Give some examples.
DEBATE IT
9. Nowadays, many young people are traveling
to foreign countries to teach English as a
minutes to prepare your arguments. second language. Do you think this would be
a good job? Explain your answer.
Topic #1:
With English becoming the global language, the loss of national languages WRITE IT !
and cultures is inevitable.
Topic #2: a paragraph stating your own opinion.
In order to facilitate effective international communication, the mixing of
local languages with English should be discouraged and teachers everywhere
should use one global standard for English language instruction.

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Robert Taylor - Mini Debates

About the Series

Tasks in the Mini-Debates Section

Pre-Reading Warm-Up Questions ☀

Discussion and Writing

Mini-Debates Reference Page

Debating helps you learn how to:

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

3. The people of Bhopal continue to suffer from the spill. It is

4. Union Carbide accepted some responsibility for the spill at

4. How much did Union Carbide pay the government

_____ 1. disaster a. size or extent

DEBATE IT 4. Do you think that the government of India

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

1. In November 2004, the Parliament of Canada voted to

2. The consumption of trans fats is a serious health issue.

3. A task force made up of people from the food industry,

4. Not everyone was in favor of this action. Some

5. However, several food manufacturers, such as

1. ____ parliament a. Sudden interruption of the supply of blood to the heart

1. Jim recently suffered a ___________________. The doctors said

the blood supply to his brain was interrupted. DISCUSS IT

2. Do you feel that it has become easier or

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

2. Parent-sitters often have their elderly parents move in

3. Sometimes a parent-sitter will decide to put a parent in a

4. Should an elderly parent be put

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

from a credible expert. According to Dr. Hazel Biggs,

2. Dr. Biggs is trying to have a new law created that allows

3. As the population ages, more doctors are secretly making

2. What kind of law is Dr. Biggs trying to create?

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

3. A number of very serious pit bull attacks in Ontario caused the

4. Before reaching its decision to ban pit bulls, the Ontario

_____ 1. ban a. very happy

Topic #1: WRITE IT !

Animal Testing Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

Prior to the ban, approximately 38,000 animals in the European Union

There are many different types of experiments conducted on animals to test

_____ 1. ban a. matter, material

1. Recently many cities have decided to ___________________________ DISCUSS IT

Topic #1: WRITE IT !

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

5. What does plagiarism mean?

3. Perhaps the most disturbing finding of the study is that

4. According to some students, cheating is an efficient

5. Many students believe that getting good grades is more

4. What was a disturbing finding of the study?

_____ 1. evidence a. staying alive

5. If your son or daughter were caught

PRE-READING WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. What does “the right to bear arms” mean?

2. Is it legal to carry a handgun in your state / province / country?

3. Should schools be “gun-free” zones?

_____ 1. penal colony a. required

_____ 2. massacre b. to be the one to lead something

_____ 3. initiate c. a person or group on the other side of a conflict or debate

_____ 4. crackdown d. a serious regulation to prevent future crime

_____ 5. swift e. uncontrollable violent behavior

_____ 6. retrieve f. to suddenly go up in numbers

_____ 8. easy access h. not difficult to get/find and use

_____ 11. rampage k. quick