Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. petition [puh-TISH-uhn] (n.) – any formal request to a higher authority
1. petition [puh-TISH-uhn] (n.) – any formal request to a higher authority
Example: The students made a petition to cancel classes a week before college entrance exams.
2. championship [CHAM-pee-uhn-ship] (n.) – the final contest that determines the winner or champion
Example: The semi-finalists will compete in the championship.
3. camaraderie [kah-muh-RAH-duh-ree, -RAD-uh-, kam-uh-] (n.) – friendship among people
Example: The interschool sports event promotes camaraderie among students from different schools.
4. productive [pruh-DUHK-tiv] (adj.) – capable of doing work or producing goods or services
Example: Employees with enough sleep are more productive at their job.
5. digital [DIJ-i-tl] (adj.) – relating to the use of electronic data
Example: People can now make digital signatures with the use of online programs.
Article
Read the text below.
Football fans in the United States made a petition to the White House asking that the Monday after the Super Bowl be made a national holiday.
The Super Bowl is the yearly American football championship game held by the National Football League. More than 1/3 of the American population, or 111.3 million people, watch the Super Bowl, making it the most watched event in the US.
The Super Bowl is traditionally held on a Sunday night. But because of the excitement, parties, and heavy eating and drinking held while watching the game, most people have a hard time getting out of bed and going to work the next day.
To address this problem, fans made a petition last month asking to declare the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday. They posted the petition on the “We the People” website of White House, a site where people post petitions and wait for a reply from the government.
The petitioners said that the holiday would promote camaraderie among fans, public safety during the game night, and would allow employees to be more productive at work the day after. In addition, the holiday would also be a way of honoring the most popular event in modern American culture.
However, the White House will only review and respond to the petition if it gets at least 100,000 digital signatures by February 23.
So far, the post-Super Bowl holiday petition has gathered only a little over 17,000 signatures.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Do you think it is reasonable to make the day after the Super Bowl an American holiday? Why or why not?
- Why do you think some days are especially made into holidays?
Discussion B
- Is it important for a government to pay attention to petitions? Why or why not?
- If you were to make a petition to your government, what would it be about? Why?
