SONG OH HYUNG ONLINE TIME JANUARY 20, 2014 1
TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION Undoubtedly, social welfare services need to be provided at the state and local levels to eliminate poverty in specific areas because the social safety net is a critical part of economic development. But would government-subsidized programs suffice to lift the people out of poverty? If you think so, what makes you believe that it will help the people stand alone in the end? If you disagree, what is necessary for their ultimate self-sufficiency? Should government also do something for that cause? (MY OPINION) 2
VIEWPOINT (TIME, DATED JAN 20 2014, PAGE 39) A Bad Diet BY Michael Schuman VOCABULARY PREVIEW wrongheaded (adj.) perversely and obstinately adhering to a wrong opinion or course of action; contrary to sound judgment It is a profoundly wrongheaded approach to this problem. She s not just wrong, but wrongheaded about raising the kids. Your leaving school is a wrongheaded decision that you will surely regret. syn: foolish, unwise, idiotic; unreasonable, stubborn, perverse, obstinate; irrational, unthinking, mistaken ant: right, correct, reasonable, rational wipe out (v.) to destroy or be destroyed completely The large chains are wiping out the independent bookstores. The entire crew was wiped out in the plane crash. The gangsters threatened to wipe him and his family out. syn: abolish, annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, obliterate ant: augment, build up, construct, create, develop, foster, rebuild, shape subsidize (v.) to give money to somebody or an organization to help pay for something She's not prepared to subsidize his gambling any longer. The housing projects are subsidized by the government. The company subsidizes health insurance for its employees. syn: give money to, contribute to, sponsor, support, fund, finance 3
implement [in- "into, in, on, upon" + plere "to fill"] (v.) to make (something) active or effective; to put into practical effect The government implemented a series of reforms. Do you know how to implement the plans? It will take months to implement the new procedures. syn: execute, apply, put into effect, put into practice, carry out/through, perform, enact crutch (n.) a long stick with a padded piece at the top that fits under a person's arm; a person or thing that gives you help or support but often makes you depend on them too much After the accident I spent six months on crutches. High interest rates are merely a crutch for the country's ailing economy. He sees religion as an emotional crutch. callous [callosus hard-skinned ] (adj.) showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others His callous comments on murder made me shiver. I was shocked by his callous disregard for other people s feelings. We didn t expect such a callous refusal to help the poor. syn: heartless, unfeeling, uncaring, cold-hearted, insensitive, hard-bitten ant: kind, compassionate 4
bolster [bolster long, thick pillow ] (v.) to support or strengthen; to prop up Would you come with me to bolster my confidence? The argument was bolstered by the speaker s reputation. Even an occasional word of thanks can really bolster another s morale. syn: strengthen, reinforce, boost, fortify, sustain, shore up ant: undermine handout (n.) something (such as food, clothing, or money) that is given to someone who is poor He sat on the sidewalk asking for a handout. The family wasn't interested in government handouts. He's forty and still living on handouts from his parents. syn: charity, aid, financial support, donations, subsidies, welfare destitute [de- away from + statuere to place ] (adj.) extremely poor; without something that is needed or wanted His business failures left him destitute. The closing of the factory will leave many families destitute. He is a man destitute of mercy. syn: penniless, impoverished, impecunious, in straitened circumstances ant: rich, affluent, prosperous 5
voracious [vovare to swallow ] (adj.) having or showing a tendency to eat very large amounts of food; having a great and constant desire for a particular activity or pursuit The shark is a voracious predator. Kids can have voracious appetites. My brother is a voracious reader of mystery novels. syn: insatiable, unquenchable, prodigious, gluttonous, parapcious; enthusiastic, eager, keen throwback (n.) something that is similar to something that existed in the past, or belongs to the past; the reversion to an earlier type The band's music is a throwback to the 1980s. The car's design is a throwback to the 1960s. Her whole outfit was a throwback to the 1970s. largesse [largus copious ] (n.) generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others She relied on the largesse of friends after he lost his job. He is a philanthropist known for his largesse. The national theatre will be the main beneficiary of the millionaire's largesse. syn: donation, endowment, fund, assistance, benefaction 6
(A), (B) One of the more remarkable aspects of Asia s economic surge is how welfaresparse it has been. In their nation building, Singapore s leaders saw welfare as a (A) that would render the populace lazy, and targeted their programs only at society s most vulnerable. Responsibility for the rest was left to families and communities. That may sound callous, but it worked. Governments in Singapore, South Korea and other high-growth economies focused their resources on building the capacity for growth by constructing infrastructure and bolstering education. The plan wasn t to offer handouts, but to (B) jobs that would allow people to take care of themselves. Ending poverty in East Asia was, to a great degree, a private-sector phenomenon, did the work. Te results are beyond question. In the early 1960s, South Korea was one of the world s poorest nations; today it ranks among the most advanced. [ 1] (A) (B) (A) (B) (1) failure.. reduce (2) lever.. increase (3) tool boost (4) target. rotate (5) crutch.. create [ 2] (1) officials, not industrialists (2) average citizens, not governments (3) government, not citizens (4) entrepreneurs, not bureaucrats (5) private services, not public services 10
SPEAKING AND WRITING PRACTICE You just read a column about India s big challenge to eliminate nationwide hunger and malnutrition. Respond to the first two problems (1-2) by speaking and the final one (3) by writing an essay. 1. Summarize the article. 2. Do you agree or disagree with the author s viewpoint? Present your opinion with good reasons for or against it. 3. The author mentioned Indian people s understanding of private capital, especially foreign investors, as only helping big business and enriching the foreign multinational. What do you think about such attitude of Indians? Does that make sense? If so, why? If you don t think it makes sense, why do you disagree with the author? Present your opinion with convincing arguments, hopefully providing example cases in some emerging economies such as China, Vietnam, etc. Your argument of what happened in Korea during her growth will also hold water. 8