B2 reading · Upper Intermediate

علم العادات

Researchers estimate that around 40 percent of what we do every day is not the result of conscious decisions, but of habits. From the way we brush our teeth to the route we take to work, much of our behaviour runs on autopilot.

التكلفة الخفية للموضة السريعة

Twenty years ago, most clothing brands released two main collections a year. Today, some companies launch new styles every week. This business model, known as fast fashion, has made trendy clothes more affordable than ever — but at a significant cost to the planet.

هل تستطيع المدن التغلب على الحر؟

On a summer afternoon, the centre of a large city can be several degrees hotter than the countryside around it. Scientists call this the urban heat island effect. Concrete, asphalt and glass absorb the sun's energy during the day and release it slowly at night, while cars and air conditioners pump out even more heat.

الدماغ ثنائي اللغة

More than half of the world's population speaks at least two languages. For a long time, however, bilingualism was viewed with suspicion. In the early twentieth century, some researchers even claimed that learning two languages confused children and slowed their development.

اقتصاد العمل الحر

If you have ever ordered food through an app or booked a ride with a driver using their own car, you have taken part in the gig economy. The term describes a labour market in which people work on short-term tasks, or "gigs", rather than in permanent jobs.