Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Is there a Costco warehouse in your city?
- Have you been to the grocery recently?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- strain /streyn/
- struggle /STRUHG-uhl/
- panic /PAN-ik/
- brand /brand/
- potential /puh-TEN-shuhl/
[noun] – a force or influence that stretches, pulls, or puts pressure on something, sometimes causing damage
His rudeness caused a strain on his relationship with his co-workers.
[verb] – to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something
Cora is struggling with her paperwork.
[noun] – a sudden strong feeling of fear that prevents reasonable thought and action:
The whole town was in panic because of the storm.
[noun] – a type of product made by a particular company
Nestlé is a trusted food brand in Asia.
[adjective] – possible when the necessary conditions exist
The project we are working on has potential risks.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
American sportswear company Nike and wholesale corporation Costco both say that they are currently dealing with product shortages and delays following a major strain on the world’s supply chains. As it struggles with shipping delays and worker shortages in Asia, Nike’s production and delivery of footwear will be affected until next spring. Meanwhile, customers of Costco are stockpiling goods again, which forced the company to set limits on its products. On September 23, 2021, Nike reported that it had to slash its sales outlook for the year following the crisis.
As more people participate in panic buying, Costco struggles to find trucks, drivers, and shipping containers to deliver products to its stores. Meanwhile, local lockdowns have affected Nike’s factories in Vietnam and Indonesia, which produce three quarters of its footwear. Currently, it takes around 40 to 80 days for products to arrive from Asia to North America. The shortage crisis has also been affecting the production of toys and pet food. Other brands like toymaker Hasbro and sportswear brand Adidas have warned of potential supply issues to enter the holiday season.
As more people participate in panic buying, Costco struggles to find trucks, drivers, and shipping containers to deliver products to its stores. Meanwhile, local lockdowns have affected Nike’s factories in Vietnam and Indonesia, which produce three quarters of its footwear. Currently, it takes around 40 to 80 days for products to arrive from Asia to North America. The shortage crisis has also been affecting the production of toys and pet food. Other brands like toymaker Hasbro and sportswear brand Adidas have warned of potential supply issues to enter the holiday season.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What problems are Nike and Costco facing?
- What forced Costco to set limits on its products?
- What is Costco struggling to find?
- How many days does it take for products to arrive from Asia to North America?
- What other companies could be facing a supply issue during the holiday season?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you witnessed people participating in panic buying?
- When was the last time you were not able to buy a product because it was out of stock?
- If you were the CEO of Costco, would you choose to re-impose limits on products during the pandemic?
- Do you think product shortages and delays are problems that all countries should prioritize?
- In your opinion, how can product shortages and delays affect holiday shopping around the world? Give examples.