Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. invaluable (adj.) [in-val-yoo-uh-buhl] – something so important or valuable that it cannot be given a price; priceless
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. invaluable (adj.) [in-val-yoo-uh-buhl] – something so important or valuable that it cannot be given a price; priceless
Example: The man’s experience
on his business taught him invaluable lessons.
2. leave a bad taste in one’s mouth (idiom) [leev ey bad teyst in wuhns mouth] – to leave someone with a bad experience, feeling or memory
Example: The hotel’s poor
service and expensive rates left a bad
taste in the client’s mouth.
3. flourish (v.) [flur-ish, fluhr-] – to have success or growth
Example: His hard work made his
business flourish.
4. depend on (phrasal v.) [dih-pend on] – to need the support or help of someone or something
Example: Children depend on their parents for basic needs
such as food, clothes and shelter.
5. zealous (adj.) [zel-uhs] –having strong emotions about something; showing energetic and great support for something
Example: Zealous students dedicate a lot of time to their studies.
Article
Read the text below.
In a recent speech, President Obama emphasized that business owners are successful only because of invaluable help from the government. His speech, however, left a bad taste in the mouths of small business owners.
Obama said that without
systems and programs created by the government, businesses would not flourish. But several business owners
may prove him wrong.
Among them are the
Sutton sisters, 7–year-old Clara and 4-year-old Eliza, founders of a lemonade
stand in their neighborhood in Texas. Through their business, they learned
basic business skills like how to return customers’ change, serve customers and
advertise the business.
The Sutton sisters’
parents disagreed with Obama’s opinion and pointed out that they were the
only ones who helped their children put up the business without any
government assistance. Andrew Sutton, the girls’ father and owner of a music
instruction business, expressed his disappointment with Obama’s speech. He
said the president should have thanked businesses for supporting the economy,
instead of saying businesses should thank the government.
Jeff Brown, the
head of a group that teaches children about starting a business, was also
disappointed with the speech. While he agrees there should be a good
relationship between businesses and the government, he believes the two do
not depend on one another.
Nellie Akalp, who
provides legal service to small business owners, adds that her children are
learning business skills from her and her husband. She teaches her children to be zealous about working and to learn the
importance of working hard on their own and not depending on others for success.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do you think children
should be taught about business early in life? Why or why not?
·
How else can
adults teach children the importance of money or working hard for money?
Discussion B
·
Do you agree
that businesses cannot be successful without the government’s help? Please
explain your answer.
·
How can the
government help businesses to be successful?