VOCABULARY SET 28: TAX ON FAST FOOD

Vocabulary:
1. average (adj): trung bình
2. average-income working people: người đi làm có thu nhập trung bình
3. burden (n): gánh nặng
4. counterproductive (adj): phản tác dụng, đi ngược lại
5. decisive (adj): mang yếu tố quyết định
6. expenditure (n): chi phí, tiêu dùng
7. for the sake of (idioms): vì lợi ích gì đó
8. hazards (n): mối nguy hiểm
9. on a regular basis (collocation) = regularly (adv): thường xuyên
10. opt for (phr.v): lựa chọn
11. prevalent (adj): phổ biến
12. sacrifice (v): hi sinh
13. scheme (n): khung, kế hoạch
14. senseless (adj): vô nghĩa
15. switch (v): chuyển sang
16. the ease of (collocation): sự dễ dàng, đơn giản, thoải mái
Exercises:
Task 1: Write sentences from given cues. Make changes to the cues when needed.
1. government / annual / expenditure / arms / reduce.

2. it / clear / that / consumer / opt for / low price / good.

3. many / woman / sacrifice / their / own / ambitions / put / their family / first.

4. Sweden / know as / nation / ridden / suicide and alcoholism / but / those problems / no / more prevalent
/ here / than / most / European country.

5. buy / house / often / place / large financial burden / young couples.

6. economy / regard / as / decisive factor / which / will / determine / outcome / general election.

7. his / uncontrollable / anger / very / counterproductive / his attempt / save / his marriage.
8. average / woman / live / long / than / man.

9. the sake / those / who / already / read / the chapter /I/ not / go / it / too much detail.

10. after / bank / rob / gang / switch / cars.

Task 2: Fill in the blanks with suitable words/phrases

average (adj) on a regular basis (collocation) opt for (phr.v)
average-income working people prevalent
burden (n)
(adj) sacrifice (v) scheme (n) senseless (adj) switch (v)
counterproductive (adj) decisive
the(adj)
easeexpenditure
of (collocation)
(n)
for the sake of (idiom)
hazards (n)

In some countries, an increasing number of people are suffering from health problems as a result
of eating too much fast food. It is therefore necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this
kind of food.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Recently, the increasing presence of fast food has caused many policymakers to consider specific
taxation 1 that may fundamentally reduce the consumption of this type of food. However, I
contend taxation may not be an effective solution for the following reasons.
Despite the increased prices because of tax, consumers may still 2 fastfood for
3 it brings. In a world with a busy lifestyle, there could be extremely few customers willing to
wait for fifteen minutes in their lunch time to be served with a healthy meal. In other words, food quality
can sometimes be 4 saving time. Convenience, on the other hand, is perhaps the most
significant 5 factor when the majority of the population choose what to eat 6 .This
is an absolute advantage of fast food, due to 7 value of being 'fast', making it the
8 choice regardless of the health 9 it brings.
From thefinancial perspective, increased taxon fastfood could even bea 10 solution to the
problem. This is primarily because fast food is an economical choice for a large number of
11 . If such a tax policy is introduced, those who are on a limited food budget will be the ones
who will suffer. It will not, therefore, mean that they 12 to healthier food, which still remain
relatively more expensive. As a result, a fast food tax alone may only place a financial 13 on
the average tax-payers.
To conclude, it seems 14 to convey the idea that a higher tax on harmful precooked food is
an appropriate measure, as it may lead to heavier routine 15 .
283 words, written by Tu Pham
Key:
Task 1
1. The government's annual expenditure on arms has been reduced.
2. It is clear that consumers will opt for low-priced goods.
3. Many women sacrifice their own ambitions to put their family first.
4. Sweden is known as a nation ridden by suicide and alcoholism, but those problems are no more
prevalent here than in most European countries.
5. Buying a house often places a large financial burden on young couples.
6. The economy is regarded as the decisive factor which will determine the outcome of the general
election.
7. His uncontrollable anger is very counterproductive to his attempt at saving his marriage.
8. On average, women live longer than men.
9. For the sake of those who have already read the chapter, I won't go into it in too much detail.
10. After the bank robbery, the gang switched cars.
Task 2
Recently, the increasing presence of fast food has caused many policymakers to consider specific
taxation (1) schemes that may fundamentally reduce the consumption of this type of food. However, I
contend taxation may not be an effective solution for the following reasons.
Despite the increased prices because of tax, consumers may still (2) opt for fast food for (3) the ease
of life it brings. In a world with a busy lifestyle, there could be extremely few customers willing to wait
for fifteen minutes in their lunch time to be served with a healthy meal. In other words, food quality can
sometimes be (4) sacrificed for the sake of saving time. Convenience, on the other hand, is perhaps the
most significant (5) decisive factor when the majority of the population choose what to eat (6) on a
regular basis. This is an absolute advantage of fast food, due to its (7) intrinsic value of being 'fast',
making it the (8) prevalent choice regardless of the health (9) hazards it brings.
From the financial perspective,increased tax on fast food could even be a(10) counterproductive
solution to the problem. This is primarily because fast food is an economical choice for a large number of
(11) average-income working people. If such a tax policy is introduced, those who are on a limited food
budget will be the ones who will suffer. It will not, therefore, mean that they (12) switch to healthier
food, which still remain relatively more expensive. As a result, a fast food tax alone may only place a
financial (13) burden on the average tax-payers.
To conclude, it seems (14) senseless to convey the idea that a higher tax on harmful precooked food is
an appropriate measure, as it may lead to heavier routine (15) expenditure.
283 words, written by Tu Pham