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! Warm Up Work with a partner.

• What current business story are you interested in?

" Vocabulary Building Read the two business stories. Did you match the cards correctly?

The Terrovian government has announced that sales tax

will rise to 20% from next January.

There have been worries that the Terrovian deficit is spi-

raling out of control, and international investors have
been calling on the government to take action to curb the
deficit.

The main opposition party has denounced the tax rise,

saying that the poorest will be the hardest hit.

However, the tax rise has been applauded by G20 lead-

ers. It is expected that the government will soon make an
announcement regarding the thorny issue of reining in
public sector pay.

Hopes have risen for an end to the dispute between

Unisteel and its union.

The dispute has entered its sixth week, with union lead-
ers earlier threatening to ballot members on a second
walkout.

However, Unisteel management has put a fresh offer on

the table, which guarantees a two-percent pay rise for
the next three years, and a promise to consult with the
union over any future changes to working conditions.

Bob Drinkwater, Unisteel's union leader, described the

offer as a breakthrough. He added that it was now un-
likely that union members would be balloted on taking
further strike action.

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❸ Reading Comprehension Are these sentences true or false?

A) Tax Rises in Terrovia

1. Many people think that the Terrovian economy is getting much worse.
2. Investors have asked the government to reduce the country's national debt.
3. Everyone in Terrovia supports the tax rise.
4. The G20 leaders are not pleased with the tax announcement.
5. The government will make an announcement about public workers' salaries.

B) Industrial Dispute at Unisteel

1. People think that the problems between Unisteel and the company's management could finish soon.
2. Union members have gone on strike twice.
3. Unisteel has made a new offer to the union.
4. Management will talk to the union if there are any future changes to workers' jobs.
5. Unisteel's union leader is disappointed by management's new offer.

# Vocabulary Building Match the two halves of these expressions.

1. to spiral its sixth week

2. to call on strike action
3. to be the hardest its members
4. to reign in hit
5. the dispute has entered public sector pay
6. the union will ballot the government to (do something)
7. put an offer out of control
8. to take on the table

$ Vocabulary Check

Rewrite these sentences using a collocation from exercise four. Make grammatical changes, if necessary.

1. Doctors have asked the government to raise duty on cigarettes.

2. The strike has been happening for three months.

3. Management has made a new offer.

4. Crime rates are getting worse and worse.

5. The union will ask its members to vote.

6. The government wants to bring inflation under control.

7. The union may go on strike next week.

8. Retired people will suffer the most because of the income tax rise.

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Answer Key (Other answers are possible, particularly in exercise five.)

Ž 1. TRUE: (...the deficit is spiralling out of control)

2. TRUE: (…call on the government to take action to curb the deficit)
3. FALSE: (…the main opposition party has denounced the tax rise)
4. FALSE: (…the tax rise has been applauded by G20 leaders)
5. TRUE: (…the government will soon make an announcement regarding reining in public sector pay)

1. TRUE: (…hopes have risen for an end to the strike)

2. FALSE (…union leaders are threatening…a second walkout)
3. TRUE (…management has put a fresh offer on the table)
4. TRUE (…a promise to consult with the union over any future changes)
5. FALSE (…described the offer as a breakthrough)

 1. to spiral out of control

2. to call on the government to (do something)
3. to be the hardest hit
4. to reign in public sector pay
5. the dispute has entered its sixth week
6. the union will ballot its members
7. put an offer on the table
8. to take strike action

 1. Doctors have called on the government to raise duty on cigarettes.

2. The strike has entered its sixth month.
3. Management has put a new offer on the table.
4. Crime rates are spiraling out of control.
5. The union will ballot its members.
6. The government wants to rein in inflation.
7. The union may take strike action next week.
8. Retired people will be hit the hardest by the income tax rise.

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9/21/2011

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