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Give A Little

Give A Little

Date: Jan 02 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Let’s face it. The money of the world isn’t exactly spread around evenly. Compare the lives of most people in the US or Europe to the lives of people in Africa, for example. While some people live in luxury, others work their whole lives and can barely feed their families.

But even the US, where people enjoy a higher standard of living than in most places, has homeless people. The US also is home for many hungry children, and millions of people who do not have access to health care.

The US is also home to some of the richest people in the world. It just doesn’t seem fair. They have more money than they can ever spend. Why aren’t they a little more generous?

Listen to Amanda and Mason debate the obligations of the rich.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amanda

Amanda

Mason

Mason

Amanda:  So, right now, ‘tis the season. It’s the holidays.

Mason:  Yeah.

Amanda:  And there are a lot of charities, a lot of fund-raisers, and people are coming out to corporations and individuals to dig deeper into their pockets to give, right?

Mason:  Right, which is probably bad timing because everyone’s thinking, “I gotta spend all this money to buy presents for everybody I know” but…

Amanda:  That’s a good point. That’s a very good point.

Mason:  But let’s, let’s… you, know… Let’s not talk about the timing, let’s talk about the issue.

Amanda:  Right. What bothers me, um, in my… well, not my… a friend’s company. She happens to work on payroll, so she knows all the salaries. She said that what bothers her the most and what’s disappointing, that people that made the highest salaries, and I’m talking big bucks, were the ones that were opting not to give to these charities, these schools, these orphanages. How do you feel about that?

Mason:  Um. Honestly, I don’t feel anyone is obligated to give.

Amanda:  Right, nobody is.

Mason:  You know, right? So it’s your own moral standing. So maybe that is making a moral statement about the people that are making more money, but…

Amanda:  That could be.

Mason:  It also may mean, you know, they were raised, you know, in places, in higher income situations where they’re not used to dealing with the people that are in suffering or in need.

Amanda:  Could be.

Mason:  So they don’t have the strings attached that would make them want to give.

 

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Discussion


Amanda says that during the holidays, charities look for donations for their causes. She says that sometimes the people who make the most money are the ones who are the least generous.

Mason doesn’t think that the rich are obligated to give to the poor. He says it’s up to the individual.

Mason suggests that wealthy people may not understand the needs of the poor because they have never been exposed to the poor.

Should rich people be required to share their money with the poor?

Do you give money to charities?

 

Comments

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gongailian

China

Little bar

07:27 AM Aug 08 2011 |

gilbs76

gilbs76

Philippines

Everyone has the right to earn money. It's in our choice if we want to have cash in our pockets and wallets. Money can be earned without asking or begging it from others. Jobs are all around us. We can earn extra income if we only use our talents and skills wisely. I believe, if we do it a little bit harder, for sure our lives would run smoother and lighter someday!

07:38 AM Jul 20 2009 |

mayusheth

India

very good

10:56 AM Jun 12 2009 |

mayusheth

India

ya….....I give money to charities….....we should help poor people….....it's our duty to help peoples who don't have 2 times food to it…................ 

10:56 AM Jun 12 2009 |

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

good lesson, rich people don’t understand poor it’s true.

09:20 AM Jan 11 2009 |

Niht

Niht

United Arab Emirates

i don’t care about if am rich or poor but we must do our best and living happy with our family

04:34 PM Jun 20 2008 |

1 person likes this

ALIREZA

ALIREZA

United States

Hey,you're right.It's part of our job to make life equal for everybody.No matter how rich  we are.Try to do our best.Good luck

06:07 AM Jun 20 2008 |

didi2291

didi2291

Taiwan

I am not a rich, but I still willing to give charities some money. and I believe the rich had the obligation to support the poor, and I really hate these people who is rather wast their money  than help the poor.

04:51 AM Dec 26 2007 |

didi2291

didi2291

Taiwan

I am not a rich, but I still willing to give charities some money. and I believe the rich had the obligation to support the poor, and I really hate these people who is rather wast their money  than help the poor.

04:51 AM Dec 26 2007 |

didi2291

didi2291

Taiwan

I am not a rich, but I still willing to give charities some money. and I believe the rich had the obligation to support the poor, and I really hate these people who is rather wast their money  than help the poor.

04:51 AM Dec 26 2007 |

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