Society
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World marks International Day of Happiness
What makes people happy? Wednesday is the International Day of Happiness! Many people disagree about exactly what makes us feel happy. What do you think?
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World celebrates the power of women and girls
Is it harder to be a girl than a boy? Today is International Women’s Day. It is a time to celebrate the achievements of amazing women, while campaigning for more gender equality.
- Society
- Reading Band 11
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More people are in slavery than ever before
Can modern slavery be stopped? More than 40 million people around the world are living in some form of modern slavery, according to the latest figures. Around a quarter of these are children.
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Airbrushing on Instagram ‘harms self-esteem’
Is it really harmful? More people are using apps to change how they look in selfies. Doctors say this makes us wrongly think we have to look perfect all the time.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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The smiling boy who is set to be a saint
Do we need more modern-day saints? Carlo Acutis was a teenager and computer programmer who spent his life doing good. He died in 2006. Now he is on his way to becoming a Catholic saint.
- Society
- Reading Band 8
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Nine-year-old masters world’s hardest game
What is it like to be a child genius? Sumire Nakamura has become the youngest ever professional player of Go, the world’s hardest board game, aged just nine.
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New year, new you? Millions set goals for 2019
Are New Year’s resolutions worth it? Around a third of British people are trying to keep pledges like eating well or learning a new skill this month. However, few are likely to be successful.
- Society
- Reading Band 11
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School tries (and fails) to ban Christmas
Is the true meaning of Christmas lost? The holiday is a “stressful” and “lonely” time says one teacher at a school in Yorkshire. However, her students do not agree…
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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Grandparents know best, say experts
Do grandparents give the best advice? There is a good reason why we say people get “older and wiser”. Scientists think older people make good decisions because they have lots of experience.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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‘The American festival we all should celebrate’
Should Britain have Thanksgiving? At this time of year, American families come together to eat turkey and say what they are thankful for. Some British people are celebrating Thanksgiving Day...
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The incredible story of triplets split at birth
Does nature or nurture decide who we are? Three triplets were separated at birth and raised by very different families. Years later, the identical strangers met for the first time.
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Half of public says Charles should not be king
Who should be the next King of England? Prince Charles is now 70 years old. He is next in line for the throne. Over half of Britons say they want his son to be king instead.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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Schools in Finland say no to classrooms
Should schools get rid of classrooms? This is what some schools in Finland have done. Children there are taught in one big space instead. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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Obsession with ‘likes’ bad for you, says Meghan
Is she right? During an event with mental health workers in New Zealand, the Duchess said that “filtered” social media is making young people feel bad about themselves.
- Technology
- Society
- Reading Band 11
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Cumberbatch describes fighting off muggers
Is it brave to confront criminals? Last November, the actor stepped in when he saw a delivery driver being mugged in the street. Cumberbatch now says his actions were “a bit foolhardy”.