Sweden is known for having high taxes and being fair to everyone. But now, more super-rich people live there. In 1996, there were only 28 billionaires, but by 2021, there were 542. This happened because of the growing tech industry, low interest rates, and tax rules that help the rich.

Sweden’s tech industry is very successful and is called the Silicon Valley of Europe. Companies like Skype and Spotify started there. This has brought in lots of money and made many people rich. Low interest rates also made it easy for people to borrow money and invest in tech start-ups, making them even richer.

Even though Sweden has high taxes, some tax rules help the rich. They got rid of taxes on wealth and inheritance in the 2000s. Taxes on money from investments are lower than taxes on salaries. There is not much talk about taxing the super-rich, which has helped more billionaires to appear in Sweden.

Original news source: The rise of Sweden’s super rich (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Have each group read the article.
3. Instruct the groups to summarize the main points of the article in a few sentences.
4. Have each group share their summary with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board.
2. Divide the class into pairs.
3. Give each pair a vocabulary word.
4. Instruct one student to draw a picture representing the word, while the other student guesses what the word is.
5. Set a time limit for each round.
6. After each round, have the pairs switch roles and continue with a new word.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs.
2. Give each pair a copy of the article.
3. Set a timer for 2 minutes.
4. Instruct one student to summarize the article as quickly as possible, while the other student listens and takes notes.
5. After 2 minutes, have the pairs switch roles and repeat the process.
6. Encourage the students to use their notes to help them summarize accurately.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Write a list of discussion questions related to the article on the board.
2. Divide the class into small groups.
3. Instruct each group to choose a question to discuss.
4. Give the groups time to discuss their chosen question and share their opinions.
5. After the discussion, have each group present their opinions to the class.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
1. Begin by asking the class a question related to the article.
2. Instruct the students to think silently about their answer for a minute.
3. Pair the students up and have them share their answers with each other.
4. After a few minutes, ask for volunteers to share their answers with the whole class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Sweden known for?
2. How many billionaires were there in Sweden in 1996?
3. Why are there more billionaires in Sweden now?
4. What is Sweden’s tech industry called?
5. Can you name two companies that started in Sweden’s tech industry?
6. Why did low interest rates make people richer?
7. What are some tax rules that help the rich in Sweden?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Sweden is (1)______ for (2)______ high (3)______ and being fair to everyone. But now, more super-rich people live there. In 1996, there were only 28 billionaires, but by 2021, there were 542. This happened because of the growing tech industry, low interest (4)______, and tax rules that (5)______ the rich.

Sweden’s tech industry is very successful and is called the Silicon Valley of Europe. Companies like Skype and Spotify (6)______ there. This has brought in lots of money and made many (7)______ rich. Low (8)______ rates also made it easy for people to borrow money and (9)______ in tech start-ups, making them even richer.

Even though Sweden has high taxes, some tax rules help the rich. They got rid of taxes on wealth and inheritance in the 2000s. (10)______ on (11)______ from investments are lower than taxes on (12)______. There is not much talk about taxing the super-rich, which has helped more billionaires to appear in Sweden.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a billionaire?
2. How would you feel if you were a billionaire?
3. Do you think it’s fair for some people to have more money than others? Why or why not?
4. What is the tech industry?
5. Do you like technology? Why or why not?
6. How do you think low interest rates help people become rich?
7. What is a start-up?
8. How would you feel if you started your own successful company?
9. Do you think it’s fair for taxes on money from investments to be lower than taxes on salaries? Why or why not?
10. What is wealth?
11. How would you feel if you inherited a lot of money?
12. Do you think it’s important to tax the super-rich? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. billionaires
2. industry
3. interest rates
4. invest
5. inheritance
6. salaries
7. successful
8. borrow
9. start-ups
10. wealth
11. tax rules
12. appear

Meanings:
(A) The rules about how much money people have to pay to the government
(B) Doing very well and achieving goals
(C) Money or things you get from someone when they die
(D) The money you earn from working
(E) People who have a billion dollars or more
(F) New businesses that are just beginning
(G) To put money into something to try to make more money
(H) To take and use something that belongs to someone else, with permission
(I) To come into view or become known
(J) A large amount of money or valuable things
(K) The cost of borrowing money, shown as a percentage
(L) A group of businesses that make the same kind of products or services
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are more super-rich people living in Sweden?
(a) The high taxes and fair treatment for everyone.
(b) The elimination of taxes on wealth and inheritance.
(c) The success of companies like Skype and Spotify.
(d) The growing tech industry, low interest rates, and tax rules that help the rich.

2. What is Sweden’s tech industry often called?
(a) The Land of Billionaires.
(b) The Wealthy Tech Hub.
(c) The Silicon Valley of Europe.
(d) The Home of Skype and Spotify.

3. How did low interest rates contribute to the increase in billionaires in Sweden?
(a) They made it difficult for people to borrow money and invest in tech start-ups.
(b) They made it easy for people to save money and avoid investing in tech start-ups.
(c) They made it easy for people to borrow money and invest in tech start-ups.
(d) They made it difficult for people to save money and avoid investing in tech start-ups.

4. What happened to taxes on wealth and inheritance in Sweden in the 2000s?
(a) They were increased.
(b) They were eliminated.
(c) They were reduced.
(d) They were unchanged.

5. How do taxes on money from investments compare to taxes on salaries in Sweden?
(a) Taxes on money from investments are lower.
(b) Taxes on money from investments are higher.
(c) Taxes on money from investments are the same.
(d) Taxes on money from investments are not mentioned in the article.

6. What has helped more billionaires to appear in Sweden?
(a) The high taxes and fair treatment for everyone.
(b) The lack of discussion about taxing the super-rich.
(c) The elimination of taxes on wealth and inheritance.
(d) The success of companies like Skype and Spotify.

7. How many billionaires were there in Sweden in 1996?
(a) 28
(b) 542
(c) 2000
(d) The article does not mention the number.

8. What are some factors that contributed to the increase in billionaires in Sweden?
(a) The high taxes and fair treatment for everyone.
(b) The elimination of taxes on wealth and inheritance.
(c) The success of companies like Skype and Spotify.
(d) The growing tech industry, low interest rates, and tax rules that help the rich.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sweden has a reputation for having low taxes and being unfair to everyone.
2. Low interest rates have made it easier for people to borrow money and invest in tech start-ups, leading to even more wealth creation.
3. Despite the high taxes in Sweden, some tax rules actually benefit the rich, such as the elimination of taxes on wealth and inheritance in the 2000s.
4. Successful companies like Skype and Spotify have originated from Russia, bringing in a little money and creating poverty for many individuals.
5. There is extensive discussion about taxing the super-rich in Sweden, which has led to a decrease in the number of billionaires in the country.
6. Taxes on money earned from investments are lower than taxes on salaries in Sweden.
7. The growth of the tech industry in Sweden, often referred to as the Silicon Valley of Europe, has contributed to the increase in billionaires.
8. The number of billionaires in Sweden has remained stagnant over the years, from 28 in 1996 to 542 in 2021.
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. How many billionaires were there in Sweden in 1996?
2. What are some reasons why more super-rich people are living in Sweden now?
3. What is the tech industry in Sweden known as?
4. Can you name two companies that started in Sweden and became successful?
5. Why do some tax rules in Sweden help the rich?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is Sweden known for?
Sweden is known for having high taxes and being fair to everyone.

2. How many billionaires were there in Sweden in 1996?
There were only 28 billionaires in Sweden in 1996.

3. Why are there more billionaires in Sweden now?
There are more billionaires in Sweden now because of the growing tech industry, low interest rates, and tax rules that help the rich.

4. What is Sweden’s tech industry called?
Sweden’s tech industry is called the Silicon Valley of Europe.

5. Can you name two companies that started in Sweden’s tech industry?
Two companies that started in Sweden’s tech industry are Skype and Spotify.

6. Why did low interest rates make people richer?
Low interest rates made people richer because it made it easier for them to borrow money and invest in tech start-ups.

7. What are some tax rules that help the rich in Sweden?
Some tax rules that help the rich in Sweden include getting rid of taxes on wealth and inheritance, and having lower taxes on money from investments compared to salaries.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) known
(2) having
(3) taxes
(4) rates
(5) help
(6) started
(7) people
(8) interest
(9) invest
(10) Taxes
(11) money
(12) salaries
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. billionaires
Answer: (E) People who have a billion dollars or more

2. industry
Answer: (L) A group of businesses that make the same kind of products or services

3. interest rates
Answer: (K) The cost of borrowing money, shown as a percentage

4. invest
Answer: (G) To put money into something to try to make more money

5. inheritance
Answer: (C) Money or things you get from someone when they die

6. salaries
Answer: (D) The money you earn from working

7. successful
Answer: (B) Doing very well and achieving goals

8. borrow
Answer: (H) To take and use something that belongs to someone else, with permission

9. start-ups
Answer: (F) New businesses that are just beginning

10. wealth
Answer: (J) A large amount of money or valuable things

11. tax rules
Answer: (A) The rules about how much money people have to pay to the government

12. appear
Answer: (I) To come into view or become known
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are more super-rich people living in Sweden?
Answer: (d) The growing tech industry, low interest rates, and tax rules that help the rich.

2. What is Sweden’s tech industry often called?
Answer: (c) The Silicon Valley of Europe.

3. How did low interest rates contribute to the increase in billionaires in Sweden?
Answer: (c) They made it easy for people to borrow money and invest in tech start-ups.

4. What happened to taxes on wealth and inheritance in Sweden in the 2000s?
Answer: (b) They were eliminated.

5. How do taxes on money from investments compare to taxes on salaries in Sweden?
Answer: (a) Taxes on money from investments are lower.

6. What has helped more billionaires to appear in Sweden?
Answer: (b) The lack of discussion about taxing the super-rich.

7. How many billionaires were there in Sweden in 1996?
Answer: (a) 28

8. What are some factors that contributed to the increase in billionaires in Sweden?
Answer: (d) The growing tech industry, low interest rates, and tax rules that help the rich.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sweden has a reputation for having low taxes and being unfair to everyone. (Answer: False)
2. Low interest rates have made it easier for people to borrow money and invest in tech start-ups, leading to even more wealth creation. (Answer: True)
3. Despite the high taxes in Sweden, some tax rules actually benefit the rich, such as the elimination of taxes on wealth and inheritance in the 2000s. (Answer: True)
4. Successful companies like Skype and Spotify have originated from Russia, bringing in a little money and creating poverty for many individuals. (Answer: False)
5. There is extensive discussion about taxing the super-rich in Sweden, which has led to a decrease in the number of billionaires in the country. (Answer: False)
6. Taxes on money earned from investments are lower than taxes on salaries in Sweden. (Answer: True)
7. The growth of the tech industry in Sweden, often referred to as the Silicon Valley of Europe, has contributed to the increase in billionaires. (Answer: True)
8. The number of billionaires in Sweden has remained stagnant over the years, from 28 in 1996 to 542 in 2021. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧