Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What are some toys that can only be found in your country?
- What is the most popular toy brand in your country?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- earnings /UR-ningz /
- capacity /kuh-PAS-i-tee /
- construction /kuhn-STRUHK-shuhn/
- significant /sig-NIF-i-kuhnt /
- roughly /ruh-flee/
[noun] – the amount of money that someone is paid for working
Rupert has spent all his earnings.
[noun] – the total amount that can be contained or produced
We need to maximize the machine’s productive capacity.
[noun] – the work of building or making something, especially buildings, bridges, etc.
My new store is still under construction.
[adjective] – important or noticeable
Their change of plan is significant.
[adjective] – approximately, not exactly
There were roughly 300 people at the park.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Danish Toymaker Lego announced on December 8, 2021, its plans to develop a new production facility in Vietnam to meet the rising demand for its products among children across Asia. The $1 billion project will be the toy brand’s second Asian factory after it opened one in China in 2016. Lego has doubled its earnings in the region since 2019. “Growth in China and Asia is fantastic and we can see that over time that we will need more capacity,” said Chief Operations Officer Carsten Rasmussen. “It gives us shorter delivery time to our customers and make us able to react quickly on demand but it of course also makes us more resilient,” he added.
The factory will be Lego’s first carbon-neutral facility, powered by solar energy. Construction is scheduled to start in 2024. According to Rasmussen, the company will employ more than 4,000 workers, a “significant addition” to the company’s yearly production of roughly 100 billion bricks. Although Lego still makes bricks out of oil-based plastic, it has promised to use environmentally friendly materials by the end of 2030.
The factory will be Lego’s first carbon-neutral facility, powered by solar energy. Construction is scheduled to start in 2024. According to Rasmussen, the company will employ more than 4,000 workers, a “significant addition” to the company’s yearly production of roughly 100 billion bricks. Although Lego still makes bricks out of oil-based plastic, it has promised to use environmentally friendly materials by the end of 2030.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What did Lego announce on December 8, 2021?
- What did Carsten Rasmussen say about Lego’s growth in Asia?
- When will the construction of the new factory start?
- How many workers will the company employ?
- What did Lego promise to do by the end of 2030?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What was the most popular toy when you were a kid? Is it still on the market?
- How would you describe the toy stores in your country?
- If you were to create a toy, what would it be like? Please describe it.
- What are some factors parents should consider before buying a toy for their children?
- In your opinion, is playing with Lego bricks good for children? Why or why not?