The money people in the UK make together went down a little bit from July to September. Before, people thought it did not change. If the money people make goes down two times in a row, it can mean a big problem called a recession. People are worried because the money people make is not growing much. They think this problem might not go away until after 2024.

When the money people make does not grow, it can be hard for everyone. People might lose their jobs, and new people trying to get jobs might not find one. Next year, there will be a big meeting where people choose leaders, and they will talk a lot about money problems. One leader says things will get better, but another leader says the big boss did not do a good job making more money for everyone.

The people who count money say that when it costs more to borrow money, people spend less. This can make it hard for the money people make to grow. They also found out that some jobs like making movies and working with phones did not do as well as they thought. Small jobs, like in restaurants and computers, also had a hard time.

Original news source: UK at risk of recession after economy shrinks (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. recession, leaders, borrowing money). One person from each group will act out a word without speaking, while the rest of the group tries to guess the word. Rotate roles within the group until all the words have been acted out.

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the class read the article individually or in pairs. Then, ask each student to write a brief summary of the article in their own words. Afterward, have students share their summaries with a partner and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a list of statements related to the article (e.g. “I think the money people make will increase next year”). Students should discuss the statements and indicate whether they agree or disagree, then tally the responses within their group. Finally, have each group share their results with the class and facilitate a brief discussion on the different opinions.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a selection of vocabulary words from the article on individual notecards or pieces of paper. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. One person from each group will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it, while the rest of the group tries to guess the word. Rotate roles within the group until all the words have been used.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Discuss with the class the potential positive and negative impacts of a recession. Write “Pros” and “Cons” on the board. Allow students to share their ideas and write them under the appropriate category. Encourage students to use vocabulary and phrases from the article to support their arguments. Finally, facilitate a class discussion on the topic, encouraging students to express their opinions and respond to each other’s points.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to the money people make in the UK from July to September?
2. What can it mean if the money people make goes down two times in a row?
3. Why are people worried about the money people make?
4. What can happen when the money people make does not grow?
5. What will happen next year that is important for talking about money problems?
6. What does one leader say about things getting better?
7. What did the people who count money find out about jobs like making movies and working with phones?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The money people in the UK make together went down a little bit from July to September. Before, people thought it did not change. If the money people make goes down two times in a row, it can (1)______ a big problem called a (2)______. People are worried because the money people make is not (3)______ much. They think this problem might not go away until after 2024.

When the money people make does not grow, it can be hard for everyone. People might lose their jobs, and new people trying to get jobs might not find one. (4)______ year, there will be a big (5)______ where people choose (6)______s, and they will talk a lot about money problems. One leader says things will get better, but another leader says the big boss did not do a good job making more money for everyone.

The people who count money say that when it costs more to borrow (7)______, people spend less. This can (8)______ it hard for the money people make to grow. They also found out that some jobs like making movies and working with phones did not do as well as they thought. Small jobs, like in restaurants and computers, also had a hard time.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What does it mean if the money people make goes down two times in a row?
2. How do you think people feel when they lose their jobs?
3. Do you think it’s important for people to have jobs? Why or why not?
4. How do you think the leaders can make more money for everyone?
5. Do you like going to the movies? Why or why not?
6. What kind of job do you think is hard?
7. How do you think people feel when they can’t find a job?
8. Do you think it’s good or bad if it costs more to borrow money? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever been to a restaurant? Did you like it? Why or why not?
10. What do you think is the most important thing about having a job?
11. How do you think people feel when they can’t make more money?
12. Do you think the money problems will go away soon? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. recession
2. worried
3. growing
4. jobs
5. leaders
6. meeting
7. borrow
8. spend
9. movies
10. restaurants

Meanings:
(A) When you feel something might not be okay.
(B) Getting bigger or taller, like when you water a plant.
(C) When you take something from someone and say you will give it back later.
(D) Places where you go to eat food that someone else makes.
(E) A big problem when there is not enough money for everyone.
(F) The people who make big decisions and tell others what to do.
(G) When you use your money to get things you want or need.
(H) Work that people do to earn money.
(I) When people come together to talk and listen.
(J) Stories you watch on a screen with pictures that move.
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What can happen if the money people make goes down two times in a row?
(a) A recession
(b) A celebration
(c) A vacation
(d) A party

2. Why are people worried about the money people make?
(a) It is growing a lot
(b) It is staying the same
(c) It is not growing much
(d) It is decreasing rapidly

3. What can happen when the money people make does not grow?
(a) People might get new jobs
(b) People might go on vacation
(c) People might lose their jobs
(d) People might win the lottery

4. What will people talk about at the big meeting next year?
(a) Money problems
(b) Vacation plans
(c) Sports events
(d) Movie reviews

5. What does one leader say about the money problems?
(a) Things will get worse
(b) Things will get better
(c) Things will stay the same
(d) Things will never change

6. What did the people who count money find out about borrowing money?
(a) When it costs more to borrow money, people spend more
(b) When it costs less to borrow money, people spend less
(c) When it costs less to borrow money, people spend more
(d) When it costs more to borrow money, people spend less

7. Which jobs did not do as well as they thought?
(a) Working in restaurants and computers
(b) Making movies and working with phones
(c) Making movies and working in restaurants
(d) Working with phones and computers

8. Why did the money people make have a hard time growing?
(a) People spent less money
(b) Some jobs did not do well
(c) All of the above
(d) It cost more to borrow money

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The money people in the UK made less money from July to September.
2. People are worried because the money people make is not growing much.
3. People might lose their jobs if the money people make does not grow.
4. Some jobs, like making movies and working with phones, exceeded expectations.
5. Next year, there will be a small gathering where people choose leaders, and they will discuss various issues, not just money problems.
6. If the money people make goes down two times in a row, it has no relation to a recession.
7. The problem might cease to exist before 2024.
8. When the money people make does not grow, it can be hard for everyone.
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. Did the money people in the UK make go up or down from July to September?
2. What can happen if the money people make goes down two times in a row?
3. Why are people worried about the money people make?
4. What might happen if the money people make does not grow?
5. What did the people who count money find out about jobs like making movies and working with phones?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to the money people make in the UK from July to September?
The money people make in the UK went down a little bit from July to September.

2. What can it mean if the money people make goes down two times in a row?
If the money people make goes down two times in a row, it can mean a big problem called a recession.

3. Why are people worried about the money people make?
People are worried because the money people make is not growing much, and this problem might not go away until after 2024.

4. What can happen when the money people make does not grow?
When the money people make does not grow, people might lose their jobs, and new people trying to get jobs might not find one.

5. What will happen next year that is important for talking about money problems?
Next year, there will be a big meeting where people choose leaders, and they will talk a lot about money problems.

6. What does one leader say about things getting better?
One leader says things will get better.

7. What did the people who count money find out about jobs like making movies and working with phones?
The people who count money found out that jobs like making movies and working with phones did not do as well as they thought.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) mean
(2) recession
(3) growing
(4) Next
(5) meeting
(6) leader
(7) money
(8) make
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. recession
Answer: (E) A big problem when there is not enough money for everyone.

2. worried
Answer: (A) When you feel something might not be okay.

3. growing
Answer: (B) Getting bigger or taller, like when you water a plant.

4. jobs
Answer: (H) Work that people do to earn money.

5. leaders
Answer: (F) The people who make big decisions and tell others what to do.

6. meeting
Answer: (I) When people come together to talk and listen.

7. borrow
Answer: (C) When you take something from someone and say you will give it back later.

8. spend
Answer: (G) When you use your money to get things you want or need.

9. movies
Answer: (J) Stories you watch on a screen with pictures that move.

10. restaurants
Answer: (D) Places where you go to eat food that someone else makes.
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What can happen if the money people make goes down two times in a row?
Answer: (a) A recession

2. Why are people worried about the money people make?
Answer: (c) It is not growing much

3. What can happen when the money people make does not grow?
Answer: (c) People might lose their jobs

4. What will people talk about at the big meeting next year?
Answer: (a) Money problems

5. What does one leader say about the money problems?
Answer: (b) Things will get better

6. What did the people who count money find out about borrowing money?
Answer: (d) When it costs more to borrow money, people spend less

7. Which jobs did not do as well as they thought?
Answer: (b) Making movies and working with phones

8. Why did the money people make have a hard time growing?
Answer: (d) It cost more to borrow money
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The money people in the UK made less money from July to September. (Answer: True)
2. People are worried because the money people make is not growing much. (Answer: True)
3. People might lose their jobs if the money people make does not grow. (Answer: True)
4. Some jobs, like making movies and working with phones, exceeded expectations. (Answer: False)
5. Next year, there will be a small gathering where people choose leaders, and they will discuss various issues, not just money problems. (Answer: False)
6. If the money people make goes down two times in a row, it has no relation to a recession. (Answer: False)
7. The problem might cease to exist before 2024. (Answer: False)
8. When the money people make does not grow, it can be hard for everyone. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧