Sweden, a country known for high taxes and fairness, has seen more and more super-rich people. Even though Sweden is known for its left-leaning politics, it has become wealthier over the past 30 years. In 1996, there were only 28 billionaires in Sweden, but by 2021, there were 542 billionaires. This increase is because of things like the successful tech industry and helpful money policies. Sweden’s tech industry has created many successful start-up companies, like Skype and Spotify. Also, low interest rates have made it easy to borrow money, so people have been investing in property and risky ventures. Even though high earners in Sweden are taxed a lot, some taxes actually help the rich, like lower rates on capital gains and corporate taxes. Even though there are more rich people in Sweden, there isn’t as much talk about taxing them as there is in other countries. Most of the rich people in Sweden are still white men, even though there have been efforts to make things more equal for everyone.

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: In pairs, students will read the article and create a summary of the main points. They can then share their summaries with the class and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Students will be divided into small groups. Each group will discuss and share their opinions on the topic of wealth inequality in Sweden. They will then create a poll with questions related to the topic and survey their classmates. Finally, they will present the results of their poll to the class and analyze the findings.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will select key vocabulary words from the article and take turns drawing them on the board while the others guess the word. This activity will reinforce their understanding of the article and help them remember important vocabulary.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will brainstorm the pros and cons of Sweden’s increasing number of billionaires. They will then present their arguments to the class, promoting discussion and critical thinking.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Individually, students will write down their predictions for the future of wealth inequality in Sweden. They can consider factors such as government policies, societal attitudes, and economic trends. Afterward, they can share their predictions in pairs or small groups and discuss their reasoning.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How has Sweden become wealthier over the past 30 years?
2. What are some successful start-up companies that have come out of Sweden’s tech industry?
3. Why have people been investing in property and risky ventures in Sweden?
4. How do some taxes in Sweden actually benefit the rich?
5. Why isn’t there as much discussion about taxing the rich in Sweden compared to other countries?
6. Who are the majority of the rich people in Sweden?
7. What efforts have been made to make things more equal for everyone in Sweden?
8. Can you explain why low interest rates have made it easier for people to borrow money in Sweden?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

(1)______, a country (2)______ for high taxes and fairness, has seen more and more super-rich people. Even though Sweden is known for its left-leaning politics, it has become (3)______ over the past 30 years. In 1996, there were only 28 (4)______ in Sweden, but by 2021, there were 542 billionaires. This (5)______ is because of (6)______ like the (7)______ tech (8)______ and helpful money policies. Sweden’s tech industry has created many successful start-up companies, like Skype and Spotify. Also, low interest rates have made it easy to borrow money, so people have been investing in (9)______ and risky ventures. Even though high earners in Sweden are (10)______ a lot, some taxes actually help the rich, like (11)______ rates on capital gains and (12)______ taxes. Even though there are more rich people in Sweden, there isn’t as much talk about taxing them as there is in other countries. Most of the rich people in Sweden are still white men, even though there have been efforts to make things more equal for everyone.
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 do you think Sweden has become wealthier over the past 30 years?
3. Do you think it’s fair for high earners in Sweden to be taxed a lot? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you were a billionaire in Sweden?
5. Do you think it’s important for countries to have policies that support the tech industry? Why or why not?
6. What do you think are some advantages and disadvantages of low interest rates?
7. How do you think investing in property and risky ventures can make people wealthy?
8. Do you think it’s fair that some taxes in Sweden actually help the rich? Why or why not?
9. Why do you think there isn’t as much talk about taxing the rich in Sweden compared to other countries?
10. How do you feel about the fact that most of the rich people in Sweden are still white men?
11. Do you think efforts to make things more equal for everyone in Sweden are effective? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the presence of billionaires in Sweden affects the average person’s daily life?
13. What are some potential benefits and drawbacks of having more super-rich people in a country?
14. Do you think it’s important for a country to have a balance between wealth and equality? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the increasing number of billionaires in Sweden reflects the country’s values and priorities?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. fairness
2. super-rich
3. left-leaning
4. billionaires
5. policies
6. start-up
7. interest rates
8. investing
9. ventures
10. capital gains
11. corporate
12. efforts
13. equal
14. property
15. borrow

Meanings:
(A) Related to large companies or businesses
(B) The cost of borrowing money, usually shown as a percentage
(C) People who have a net worth of at least a billion dollars
(D) Using money to buy something in order to make more money
(E) A new business, usually small, that is just beginning
(F) New and risky projects or businesses
(G) Supporting political ideas that are more liberal or progressive
(H) Plans or actions taken by a government or organization
(I) To take and use something belonging to someone else with the intention of returning it
(J) Buildings or land that someone owns
(K) Attempts to achieve something
(L) Treating people in a way that does not favor some over others
(M) Being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value
(N) The profit made from selling investments like stocks or property
(O) People who have a lot of money and wealth
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why has Sweden seen an increase in the number of billionaires?
(a) The successful tech industry and helpful money policies
(b) The implementation of higher taxes on the rich
(c) The decrease in interest rates for borrowing money
(d) The efforts to make things more equal for everyone

2. Which industry in Sweden has created successful start-up companies like Skype and Spotify?
(a) Fashion industry
(b) Automotive industry
(c) Tech industry
(d) Food industry

3. What has made it easy for people in Sweden to borrow money?
(a) High interest rates
(b) Strict borrowing regulations
(c) Limited access to loans
(d) Low interest rates

4. How have some taxes in Sweden actually helped the rich?
(a) Higher rates on capital gains and corporate taxes
(b) Elimination of all taxes on capital gains and corporate taxes
(c) Lower rates on capital gains and corporate taxes
(d) Equal rates on capital gains and corporate taxes

5. What is the main reason there isn’t as much talk about taxing the rich in Sweden compared to other countries?
(a) The government has implemented strict tax laws for the rich
(b) Most of the rich people in Sweden are still white men
(c) The rich in Sweden are not as wealthy as in other countries
(d) Sweden has a smaller population compared to other countries

6. What has Sweden been known for in terms of its politics?
(a) Right-leaning politics
(b) Left-leaning politics
(c) Centrist politics
(d) Non-political stance

7. How many billionaires were there in Sweden in 1996?
(a) 542 billionaires
(b) 30 billionaires
(c) 500 billionaires
(d) 28 billionaires

8. What has contributed to Sweden’s increase in wealth over the past 30 years?
(a) Successful tech industry and helpful money policies
(b) Decrease in interest rates and higher taxes
(c) Limited access to loans and strict borrowing regulations
(d) Efforts to make things more unequal for everyone

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Sweden has experienced a rise in the number of super-rich individuals over the past few decades.
2. Despite the decrease in wealthy individuals, there is more discussion about taxing them compared to other countries. However, the majority of Sweden’s rich population still consists of white men, despite efforts for greater equality.
3. The growth in the number of billionaires can be attributed to the success of Sweden’s tech industry and favorable money policies.
4. In 1996, Sweden had only 28 billionaires, but by 2021, the number had decreased to 542.
5. Despite being known for right-leaning politics, Sweden has become wealthier.
6. While high earners in Sweden face significant taxes, certain tax policies actually benefit the rich, such as lower rates on capital gains and corporate taxes.
7. Swedish tech companies like Skype and Spotify have contributed to the country’s economic success.
8. High interest rates have made it harder for people to borrow money, leading to decreased investments in property and risky ventures.
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 has Sweden become wealthier over the past 30 years?
2. What are some successful start-up companies that have come out of Sweden’s tech industry?
3. How have low interest rates in Sweden affected people’s borrowing habits?
4. How do some taxes in Sweden actually benefit the rich?
5. What efforts have been made in Sweden to promote equality among rich people?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How has Sweden become wealthier over the past 30 years?
Sweden has become wealthier over the past 30 years due to factors like a successful tech industry and helpful money policies.

2. What are some successful start-up companies that have come out of Sweden’s tech industry?
Some successful start-up companies that have come out of Sweden’s tech industry are Skype and Spotify.

3. Why have people been investing in property and risky ventures in Sweden?
People have been investing in property and risky ventures in Sweden because low interest rates have made it easy to borrow money.

4. How do some taxes in Sweden actually benefit the rich?
Some taxes in Sweden benefit the rich because there are lower rates on capital gains and corporate taxes.

5. Why isn’t there as much discussion about taxing the rich in Sweden compared to other countries?
There isn’t as much discussion about taxing the rich in Sweden compared to other countries because even though there are more rich people, some taxes already benefit them.

6. Who are the majority of the rich people in Sweden?
The majority of the rich people in Sweden are still white men.

7. What efforts have been made to make things more equal for everyone in Sweden?
Efforts have been made in Sweden to make things more equal for everyone, although the article does not provide specific examples.

8. Can you explain why low interest rates have made it easier for people to borrow money in Sweden?
Low interest rates have made it easier for people to borrow money in Sweden because it means they have to pay less back in interest when they borrow money from banks or other lenders.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Sweden
(2) known
(3) wealthier
(4) billionaires
(5) increase
(6) things
(7) successful
(8) industry
(9) property
(10) taxed
(11) lower
(12) corporate
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. fairness
Answer: (L) Treating people in a way that does not favor some over others

2. super-rich
Answer: (O) People who have a lot of money and wealth

3. left-leaning
Answer: (G) Supporting political ideas that are more liberal or progressive

4. billionaires
Answer: (C) People who have a net worth of at least a billion dollars

5. policies
Answer: (H) Plans or actions taken by a government or organization

6. start-up
Answer: (E) A new business, usually small, that is just beginning

7. interest rates
Answer: (B) The cost of borrowing money, usually shown as a percentage

8. investing
Answer: (D) Using money to buy something in order to make more money

9. ventures
Answer: (F) New and risky projects or businesses

10. capital gains
Answer: (N) The profit made from selling investments like stocks or property

11. corporate
Answer: (A) Related to large companies or businesses

12. efforts
Answer: (K) Attempts to achieve something

13. equal
Answer: (M) Being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value

14. property
Answer: (J) Buildings or land that someone owns

15. borrow
Answer: (I) To take and use something belonging to someone else with the intention of returning it
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why has Sweden seen an increase in the number of billionaires?
Answer: (a) The successful tech industry and helpful money policies

2. Which industry in Sweden has created successful start-up companies like Skype and Spotify?
Answer: (c) Tech industry

3. What has made it easy for people in Sweden to borrow money?
Answer: (d) Low interest rates

4. How have some taxes in Sweden actually helped the rich?
Answer: (c) Lower rates on capital gains and corporate taxes

5. What is the main reason there isn’t as much talk about taxing the rich in Sweden compared to other countries?
Answer: (b) Most of the rich people in Sweden are still white men

6. What has Sweden been known for in terms of its politics?
Answer: (b) Left-leaning politics

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

8. What has contributed to Sweden’s increase in wealth over the past 30 years?
Answer: (a) Successful tech industry and helpful money policies
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Sweden has experienced a rise in the number of super-rich individuals over the past few decades. (Answer: True)
2. Despite the decrease in wealthy individuals, there is more discussion about taxing them compared to other countries. However, the majority of Sweden’s rich population still consists of white men, despite efforts for greater equality. (Answer: False)
3. The growth in the number of billionaires can be attributed to the success of Sweden’s tech industry and favorable money policies. (Answer: True)
4. In 1996, Sweden had only 28 billionaires, but by 2021, the number had decreased to 542. (Answer: False)
5. Despite being known for right-leaning politics, Sweden has become wealthier. (Answer: False)
6. While high earners in Sweden face significant taxes, certain tax policies actually benefit the rich, such as lower rates on capital gains and corporate taxes. (Answer: True)
7. Swedish tech companies like Skype and Spotify have contributed to the country’s economic success. (Answer: True)
8. High interest rates have made it harder for people to borrow money, leading to decreased investments in property and risky ventures. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧