STUDENT MATERIAL

Social Issues
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# SECTION A – LET’S TALK

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# SECTION B – GRAMMAR

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# SECTION C – VOCABULARY

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# SECTION D – EXCERCISES

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# SECTION E – READING
READING

Europe's biggest country has no minimum wage and some of the lowest
unemployment in the EU at a time of soaring jobless rates across the continent. But
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, best known in Greece or Ireland for taking the
axe to public services, budgets and jobs in response to the euro crisis, has suddenly
discovered a penchant for job creation. On Tuesday in Paris, in a rare recent
demonstration of Franco-German affection, both countries' finance ministers joined
forces to put Europe's youth back to work. The tone has shifted from austerity, a word
that Merkel hates, to handwringing about Europe's lost generation. But that the rhetorical
shift reflects a major policy shift is improbable. One might suspect there was an election
looming somewhere. Merkel is indeed seeking a third term and looks assured of winning
it in September. There will be more such cuddly gestures in the months ahead. As well
as the party in Paris, Merkel is summoning labour ministers, labour market experts and
unit labour cost analysts from all over the EU to bang heads about jobs for youth. She
wants to keep Brussels out of it, seeing no role for the European commission because
Berlin says it has no expertise whatsoever in this area. But the money, €6bn (£5.1bn) –
a pittance given the scale of the challenge – comes from the Brussels-administered
budget. The other funds foreseen are old wine in new bottles: EU structural funds.
Merkel's remedy looks singularly ill-adapted to treating the disease. It may sound like
Keynesian social democratic job creation scheming of the kind usually frowned upon in
Berlin and Frankfurt. But it will take more than €6bn to bring meaningful results. It will
not, however, damage her re-election prospects.

EXERCISE 2 Answer the questions

1. According to the text, what is one of Europe’s biggest problems nowadays?

2. Why did the two ministers join forces?

3. Why does the text say: “One might suspect there was an election looming
somewhere”?

4. Will the funds they are thinking on using to bring youth back to work be enough?

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# SECTION F – LISTENING

LISTENING
Personal issues are those that individuals deal with themselves and within a small range
of their peers and relationships. On the other hand, social issues threaten values
cherished by society. For example, the unemployment rate of 7.8 percent in the U.S. as
of October 2012 is a social issue.

The line between a personal issue and a public issue may be subjective; however, when
a large enough sector of society is affected by an issue, it becomes a social issue.
Although one person fired is not a social issue, the repercussions of 13 million people
being fired are likely to generate social issues.

EXERCISE 3 Answer the questions

1. What does the audio talk about?

2. What is the difference between a personal issue and a social issue?

3. How can a personal issue become a social issue?

4. Do you agree with the following statement: “social issues threaten values
cherished by society”?

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# SECTION G – SOLUTIONS

GRAMMAR

EXERCISE 1 Contrasting ideas: Rewrite the following sentences

using the word in parenthesis

1. Tom got his driving licence five years ago. He is still afraid of driving. (Although)
Although Tom got his driving license five years ago, Tom is still afraid of
diving.

2. Luisa promised to call after her class. She didn’t call me until 8pm. (However)
Luisa promised to call after her class; however, she didn’t call until 8pm.

3. Sandra has bought the latest iPod. She doesn’t know much about technology
(Even though)
Even though Sandra doesn’t know much about technology, she has
bought/bought the latest iPod.

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4. She didn’t have enough time. She finished her presentation. (Although)
Although she didn’t have enough time, she finished her presentation.

5. I helped Monica with her thesis project. She didn’t thank me. (In spite of)
In spite of helping Monica with her thesis, she didn’t thank me.

6. They had the funds for the project. They didn’t invest on it. (Although)
Although they had the funds for the project, they didn’t invest on it

7. The school promised they would grant my son a scholarship. They didn’t.
(Nevertheless)
The school promised they would grant my son a scholarship. Nevertheless,
they didn’t.

8. Jon doesn’t like Asian food. He came with us to the Korean restaurant.
(However)
Jon doesn’t like Asian food. However, he came with us to the Korean
restaurant.

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READING

EXERCISE 2 Answer the questions

1. According to the text, what is one of Europe’s biggest problems nowadays?

One of the biggest problems is youth unemployment.

2. Why did the two ministers join forces?

They joined forces to put Europe's youth back to work.

3. Why does the text say: “One might suspect there was an election looming
somewhere”?

Merkel is indeed seeking a third term and looks assured of winning it in

September.

4. Will the funds they are thinking on using to bring youth back to work be enough?

No, it will take more than €6bn to bring meaningful results.

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#SECTION C – LISTENING
LISTENING
Personal issues are those that individuals deal with themselves and within a small range
of their peers and relationships. On the other hand, social issues threaten values
cherished by society. For example, the unemployment rate of 7.8 percent in the U.S. as
of October 2012 is a social issue.

The line between a personal issue and a public issue may be subjective; however, when
a large enough sector of society is affected by an issue, it becomes a social issue.
Although one person fired is not a social issue, the repercussions of 13 million people
being fired are likely to generate social issues.

EXERCISE 3 Answer the questions

1. What does the audio talk about?
It talks about personal and social issues.

2. What is the difference between a personal issue and a social issue?

Personal issues are those that individuals deal with themselves and within
a small range of their peers and relationships. On the other hand, social
issues threaten values cherished by society.

3. How can a personal issue become a social issue?

When a large enough sector of society is affected by an issue, it becomes a
social issue.

4. Do you agree with the following statement: “social issues threaten values
cherished by society”?
Answer will depend on the student.

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