In some places, people give extra money called a “tip” to say thank you for good service. In England, Scotland, and Wales, a new rule makes sure workers get all their tips. This helps about three million workers. Sometimes, tips are shared with everyone who works there. It’s nice to think about how good the service was before deciding how much to tip.

In the UK, some places add a “service charge” to the bill, and others let you decide. Many people suggest giving 10% to 15% as a tip. In the US, people often tip more, sometimes over 20%. Some people say thank you by writing nice things online instead of giving money. It’s important to show thanks to people who work hard, whether with money or kind words.

Original news source: Should you tip even if the service wasn’t worth it? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down key words from the article (e.g. tip, service charge, thank you, good service) on separate cards. Have students pick a card and act out the word without speaking while the rest of the class guesses what it is.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and share their opinions on tipping. Have them come up with reasons to support their opinions. After a few minutes, conduct a poll by asking each group to share their opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down vocabulary words from the article (e.g. tip, service charge, thank you) on separate pieces of paper. Have students take turns drawing the word on the board while the rest of the class tries to guess what it is. This will help reinforce vocabulary learning in a fun way.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask students to work in pairs or small groups to create a catchy headline related to the article about tipping. Encourage them to use key words from the article in their headlines. After a few minutes, have each group share their headline with the class.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have each student come up with two true statements and one false statement related to tipping or the article. For example, “In the UK, people often tip over 30%.” The class must guess which statement is the lie. This activity encourages speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What do some people give to say thank you for good service?
2. What new rule in England, Scotland, and Wales helps workers get all their tips?
3. How many workers does the new rule help?
4. What can sometimes happen with tips in some places?
5. How much do many people suggest giving as a tip in the UK?
6. How do some people say thank you instead of giving money?
7. Why is it important to show thanks to people who work hard?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In some places, people (1)______ extra money called a “tip” to say thank you for good service. In England, Scotland, and Wales, a new rule (2)______ sure workers get all their tips. This helps about three million workers. Sometimes, tips are shared with everyone who works there. It’s nice to (3)______ about how good the service was before (4)______ how much to tip.

In the UK, some places add a “service charge” to the bill, and others let you decide. (5)______ people suggest (6)______ 10% to 15% as a tip. In the US, people often tip more, sometimes over 20%. Some people say thank you by writing nice things online instead of giving money. It’s (7)______ to show thanks to people who (8)______ hard, whether with money or kind words.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a tip?
2. Do you like to say thank you for good service?
3. How would you feel if you didn’t get all your tips at work?
4. Do you think it’s important to show thanks to people who work hard?
5. What do you think about sharing tips with everyone who works there?
6. Why do you think some people prefer to write nice things online instead of giving money?
7. How do you decide how much to tip?
8. Do you like when places add a service charge to the bill?
9. What do you think about giving 10% to 15% as a tip?
10. Why is it nice to think about how good the service was before deciding how much to tip?
11. How do you feel when someone gives you a tip?
12. Do you think it’s good that the new rule in the UK makes sure workers get all their tips? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. tip
2. service
3. rule
4. charge
5. bill
6. suggest
7. decide
8. important
9. share
10. online

Meanings:
(A) To give a part of something to others
(B) Something that matters a lot
(C) A piece of paper that shows how much you need to pay
(D) To make a choice
(E) Using the internet or computer to do things
(F) To give an idea or advice
(G) Extra money you give to say thank you
(H) Money you have to pay for something
(I) Helping or doing something for someone
(J) A guideline that tells you what to do
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the extra money called that people give to say thank you for good service?
(a) Gift
(b) Bonus
(c) Tip
(d) Salary

2. Which countries have a new rule to make sure workers get all their tips?
(a) France, Italy, and Spain
(b) China, Japan, and India
(c) England, Scotland, and Wales
(d) Australia, Canada, and Brazil

3. How many workers does the new rule in the UK help?
(a) About one million
(b) About five million
(c) About ten million
(d) About three million

4. In the UK, what do some places add to the bill as a tip?
(a) Service charge
(b) Tax
(c) Discount
(d) Fine

5. How much do many people suggest giving as a tip in the UK?
(a) 5% to 10%
(b) 20% to 25%
(c) 30% to 35%
(d) 10% to 15%

6. In which country do people often tip over 20%?
(a) US
(b) UK
(c) Canada
(d) Australia

7. How do some people say thank you instead of giving money?
(a) Giving a hug
(b) Writing nice things online
(c) Singing a song
(d) Buying a gift

8. Why is it important to show thanks to people who work hard?
(a) Because they are rich
(b) Whether with money or kind words
(c) Because they don’t need it
(d) Because they are famous

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. About three million workers benefit from this new rule.
2. Sometimes, tips are shared with everyone who works at a place.
3. In some places, people give extra money to criticize poor service.
4. It’s not important to show thanks to people who work hard, whether with money or kind words.
5. In the UK, some places waive a “service charge” to the bill.
6. A new rule in England, Scotland, and Wales helps workers get all their tips.
7. In the US, people often tip more than 20%.
8. Many people suggest giving 5% to 10% as a tip in the UK.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What do people sometimes give to workers to say thank you for good service?
2. How many workers does the new rule in England, Scotland, and Wales help?
3. How can people show thanks to workers besides giving money?
4. How much do many people suggest giving as a tip in the UK?
5. Why is it important to show thanks to people who work hard?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What do some people give to say thank you for good service?
Some people give extra money called a “tip” to say thank you for good service.

2. What new rule in England, Scotland, and Wales helps workers get all their tips?
A new rule makes sure workers get all their tips in England, Scotland, and Wales.

3. How many workers does the new rule help?
The new rule helps about three million workers.

4. What can sometimes happen with tips in some places?
Sometimes, tips are shared with everyone who works at the place.

5. How much do many people suggest giving as a tip in the UK?
Many people suggest giving 10% to 15% as a tip in the UK.

6. How do some people say thank you instead of giving money?
Some people say thank you by writing nice things online instead of giving money.

7. Why is it important to show thanks to people who work hard?
It is important to show thanks to people who work hard to make them feel appreciated and happy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) give
(2) makes
(3) think
(4) deciding
(5) Many
(6) giving
(7) important
(8) work
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. tip
Answer: (G) Extra money you give to say thank you

2. service
Answer: (I) Helping or doing something for someone

3. rule
Answer: (J) A guideline that tells you what to do

4. charge
Answer: (H) Money you have to pay for something

5. bill
Answer: (C) A piece of paper that shows how much you need to pay

6. suggest
Answer: (F) To give an idea or advice

7. decide
Answer: (D) To make a choice

8. important
Answer: (B) Something that matters a lot

9. share
Answer: (A) To give a part of something to others

10. online
Answer: (E) Using the internet or computer to do things
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the extra money called that people give to say thank you for good service?
Answer: (c) Tip

2. Which countries have a new rule to make sure workers get all their tips?
Answer: (c) England, Scotland, and Wales

3. How many workers does the new rule in the UK help?
Answer: (d) About three million

4. In the UK, what do some places add to the bill as a tip?
Answer: (a) Service charge

5. How much do many people suggest giving as a tip in the UK?
Answer: (d) 10% to 15%

6. In which country do people often tip over 20%?
Answer: (a) US

7. How do some people say thank you instead of giving money?
Answer: (b) Writing nice things online

8. Why is it important to show thanks to people who work hard?
Answer: (b) Whether with money or kind words
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. About three million workers benefit from this new rule. (Answer: True)
2. Sometimes, tips are shared with everyone who works at a place. (Answer: True)
3. In some places, people give extra money to criticize poor service. (Answer: False)
4. It’s not important to show thanks to people who work hard, whether with money or kind words. (Answer: False)
5. In the UK, some places waive a “service charge” to the bill. (Answer: False)
6. A new rule in England, Scotland, and Wales helps workers get all their tips. (Answer: True)
7. In the US, people often tip more than 20%. (Answer: True)
8. Many people suggest giving 5% to 10% as a tip in the UK. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧