Community Must Support the Elderly, Says UK Minister

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. elderly [EL-der-lee] (n.) – a group of older people

Example: Most of the elderly in provinces stay in nursing homes after their children marry.

2. neglectful [ni-GLEKT-fuhl] (adj.) – not caring or not giving attention to something

Example: People should not be neglectful of their responsibilities to their parents to show gratitude.

3. dismal [DIZ-muhl] (adj.) – sad or depressing

Example:  Elderlies in nursing homes live a dismal life because they no longer see their families.

4. resilient [ri-ZIL-yuhnt, -ZIL-ee-uhnt] (adj.) – can easily recover

Example: Care and support from their neighbors make the elderly more resilient.

5. cap [kap] (n.) – a limit

Example: The care home put a $10,000 cap on its budget for this month.

Article
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Norman Lamb, UK’s Minister of State for Care and Support, is encouraging citizens to give more effort in taking care of the elderly to lessen the expenses for nursing homes. Over the years, British people have become more neglectful towards the elderly, leading old people to live a dismal life in nursing homes with lack of support from their families and community. Family separation also makes the elderly feel lonely and isolated. Being alone may then cause depression. Lamb said that rebuilding a resilient [ri-zil-yuhnt, -zil-ee-uhnt] neighborhood needs greater community support. With neighbors’ support, the elderly can stay and live independently in their own homes even without the presence of their families. Also to keep the elderly from spending a lot for nursing homes, the Dilnot Commission, a government agency, plans to put a cap on nursing home expenses, limiting costs between £25,000 and £50,000. Any excess in these expenses will be shouldered by tax payers. However, Lamb advised citizens that this cap would not entirely remove the elderly’s expenses for care services. More solutions should still be done to give the elderly a more meaningful existence. In addition, Lamb encouraged not only the citizens but also the local officials to play their roles in providing a friendly neighborhood for the elderly.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

         Do you agree that strong neighborhood ties can prevent the elderly from leaving their homes? Why or why not?

         How else can the government show support to the elderly?

Discussion B

         Why do you think some people leave their parents behind?

         How can family members show support to their parents even if they are apart?

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US Allows Women Soldiers in Direct Combat

Unlocking Word Meanings 

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. lift [lift] (v.) – to remove or to end something (such as a rule or policy)

Example:  The government decided to lift the law that prevented women from voting.

2. combat [KOM-bat, KUHM-] (adj.) – relates to a battle or a serious fight

Example: All soldiers wear combat boots during battles.

3. modernized [MOD-er-nahyzd] (adj.) – updated or modified to become new

Example: The soldiers will perform new exercises from the modernized training routine.

4. politically correct [puh-LIT-i-kuh-lee-kuh-REKT] (adj. phrase) – not offensive or insulting

Example: “Differently abled” is a politically correct term for people with handicaps or disabilities.

5. priority [prahy-AWR-i-tee, -OR-] (n.) – something or someone given importance or attention before anything else

Example: Public safety is one of the government’s top priorities. 

Article 
Read the text below.

Retiring US defense secretary Leon Panetta has lifted a military policy that had banned female soldiers from doing combat roles. The policy, which started in 1994, had prevented women from being a  part of direct fights during wars and highly dangerous missions. With the policy lifted last month, women can now fill around 237,000 military jobs, 5,000 positions of which are for US Marines in ground combat scenarios. In addition, female military pilots may be allowed to work for elite special flight operations.    Senate Armed Services Committee chairperson Carl Levin D-Mich supports the move, saying it clearly reflects modernized military systems. Senator Patty Murray also said the lifting of the ban is an important event in America’s history. However, Penny Nance, CEO of a conservative awareness group, commented that Panetta's   decision is just a politically correct social experiment. She said the military's priorities should be to protect the country and to be ready for combat situations instead of trying to be politically correct.  Last November, some female soldiers and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a case against the defense department because of the 1994 policy. They said many women are already doing combat roles, but these women are not given credit for their work. Around 15% of 1.4 million active US military members are women. The old rule will officially be changed in 2016, if allowing women in more military jobs   proves to be effective. However, women may still not be allowed in some Elite Special Operations groups such as the Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, and Delta Force.

Viewpoint Discussion 
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor

Discussion A 

         Do you agree with Panetta's decision to allow women to help fight in combat situations? Why or why not?

          Are there rules in your community that stop people from choosing jobs they like because of their gender? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

         Are men and women sometimes treated differently in your society? Why do you think so?

Do you think a person’s gender affects how they do a job? How so?

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Gold Tax Increases in India

Unlocking Word Meanings 

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. straits [streyts] (n.) – serious difficulty or problem

Example: The company experienced financial straits because of the bad economy.

2. profitable [PROF-i-tuh-buhl] (adj.) – able to produce many benefits, such as  money, for someone

Example: Mr. Mario, a jeweler, has a profitable business selling diamond rings and necklaces.

3. hike [hahyk] (n.) – a sudden increase of something

Example: The workers have requested for a salary raise after the recent tax hike.

4.  boom [boom] (v.) – to greatly develop; to have successful growth

Example: The gold industry boomed because of the high demand for gold jewelry.

5. asset [AS-et] (n.) – an important property owned by a person

Example: Having many assets such as cars and houses can increase a person’s yearly taxes.

  

Article 
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India, the world’s highest gold importer, has increased gold import taxes to reduce people’s demand for gold. Gold accessories have long been traditional gifts during Indian weddings and festivals. People in India own about 20,000 tons of varied gold products. However, high gold imports have put the country in financial straits. India spends $56 billion for around 700 tons of imported gold, equal to 11% of the country’s total imported products. India’s finance minister, P. Chidambaram, said that the country could no longer afford more imports and has asked people to lessen their demand for gold. N. Bhanumurthy, a professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, also commented that gold is not a profitable investment nor does it help save money. To reduce gold imports, the government raised import taxes thrice last year, and gold prices increased by 13%. Gold has become even more expensive since the most recent 4% to 6% tax hike. The current price of gold in India is about $540 for every 10 grams. However, jewelers believe gold businesses may still do well, as demand for gold will likely continue to boom despite the price hikes.   Indian marriages are increasing, and gold will likely remain a common gift. Additionally, 2/3 (two-thirds) of Indians live in rural areas, and many people from these places still consider gold an asset because of the lack of banking facilities near them.

Viewpoint Discussion 
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor

Discussion A 

• Why do you think a lot of people value gold?
• Are gifts only special if they are expensive like gold? What makes you say so?

Discussion B

• Can you think of things that are very expensive in your country? Why do you think they are so expensive? 
• If an item you really like suddenly became expensive, would you still try to buy it? Why or why not? 

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Fans Petition for Post-Super Bowl Holiday

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

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.

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?

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Working Age Population in China Decreases

Unlocking Word Meanings 

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. diminish [dih-MIN-ish] (v.) – to reduce or to decrease

Example:  People expect the population to diminish because of strict family planning policies.

2. immense [ih-MENS] (adj.) – really big or extremely great

Example: The immense spending by the government angered the people.

3. predominantly [pri-DOM-uh-nuhnt-lee] (adv.) – mostly or mainly

Example: In developing countries, people are predominantly poor.

4. constitute [KON-sti-toot, -tyoot] (v.) – to make up or consist of something

Example: People aged 65 and above constitute 35% of Japan’s population.

5. outnumber [out-NUHM-ber] (v.) – to be greater or bigger in number

Example: China’s high population outnumbers other countries.

Article 
Read the text below.

China is facing a big problem as its working population, people aged 15 to 59, diminished to just 937 million in 2012. Meanwhile, 194 million people in China are now over 60 years old.   According to the director of the National Bureau of Statistics, Ma Jiantang, the fall on the working population is likely to continue until 2030. Despite this problem, China still has the highest population in the world, rising to 1.354 billion last year. In late 1970s, China implemented the one-child policy because of immense population growth. However, recent data revealed that people aged 60 and above now constitute 14.3% of China’s population, up from 5% in 1982. In addition, China’s population is predominantly male. Around 118 boys for every 100 girls are born yearly in China. Because the working population is aging fast, older workers may soon outnumber younger workers. The small number of younger workers could also have difficulty supporting the needs of the elderly in the future. Liang Zhongtang, a researcher from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, mentioned that rural areas especially have a great lack in workers, but lawmakers seem to be unaware of this problem. Population in cities has reached 712 million while there are only 642 million people living in the countryside. Zhongtang said that the government seems unwilling to address the population problem because issues such as the one-child policy need to be handled very carefully to avoid angering people.

Viewpoint Discussion 
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

         What could happen to a country if its working population decreases?

         Why do you think China should worry about its working population?

Discussion B

         Do you think younger employees perform better than older employees? Why or Why not?

         How can age be an advantage when doing a job?

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Nomophobia, the New Fear Troubling Phone Users

Unlocking Word Meanings 

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. dependent (adj.) [dih-pen-duhnt] – needing something or someone for support, help or comfort

Example: Babies are dependent on their parents for food.

2.  phobia (n.) [foh-bee-uh] – very strong fear of something

Example: Shy people have a phobia of talking in front of many people. 

3. anxious (adj.) [angk-shuhs, ang-] –worried or afraid about what may happen in the future

Example: Mothers are often anxious when their children are out late at night.

4. security blanket (idiom) [si-kyoor-i-tee][blang-kit] – something or someone that makes one feel safe and comfortable

Example: Credit cards can be a security blanket to people who are afraid of running out of cash.

5. prevalent (adj.) [prev-uh-luhnt] – common or happening in a lot of places, experienced by a lot of people

Example: The use of English in business meetings has become prevalent these days.

Article 
Read the text below.

Today’s technology-dependent world has created a new mental illness called “nomophobia.” Nomophobia is a shortened term for “no mobile phone phobia,” or in other words, the fear of being without a phone. A recent online survey conducted by Internet security company SecurEnvoy confirms a rise in the number of nomophobes or people who have nomophobia. Out of the 1,000 participants in the UK study, 66% were found to be nomophobic. The highest number of nomophobes came from the 18 to 24 age group. Psychologist Michael Gregg-Carr says that nomophobes get very worried or scared when they lose their phones. Some people get so anxious that they skip school or work just to look for their misplaced phones. For some, mobile phones have become security blankets that assure connection with friends 24 hours a day. Others even go to bed with their mobile phones beside them, treating phones like teddy bears children sleep with at night. But dependence on mobile phones can be dangerous. A study of university students in India revealed that 25% of nomophobes have gotten into minor accidents while using their phones. Students reported suffering from lack of sleep and thumb pain from too much texting. Experts say this kind of phone addiction likely leads to nomophobia. While nomophobia is not yet officially recognized as a mental illness, it has become so prevalent that experts in countries like India, the world’s largest phone market, are doing more scientific research on it.

Viewpoint Discussion 
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

         What gadget can’t you live without? What makes it so important?

         How can people be less dependent on technology?

Discussion B 

         Do you have a phobia? What are you most afraid of?

         What are good ways of getting over one’s fear?

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