Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- chronic /KRON-ik/
- reliant /ri-LAHY-uhnt/
- scarcity /SKAIR-si-tee/
- fundamental /fuhn-duh-MEN-tl/
- reform /ri-FAWRM/
[adjective] – (especially of a disease or something bad) continuing for a long time
There is a chronic shortage of teachers.
[adjective] – needing a particular thing or person in order to continue, to work correctly, or to succeed
The project’s success is reliant on success.
[noun] – a situation in which something is not easy to find or get
There is a scarcity of skilled workers in the company.
[adjective] – forming the base, from which everything else develops
We must make a big fundamental approach to the environment.
[noun] – an improvement, especially in a person’s behavior or in the structure of something
There will be certain system reforms required.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Members of Parliament (MPs) warn that chronic labor shortages in the agricultural and farming industries might lead to price increases and the UK becoming increasingly reliant on imported food. COVID and Brexit, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Committee’s study, had a significant influence on the sector. MPs want ministers to make it easier for skilled employees to communicate in English and broaden the seasonal worker visa program. The DEFRA said it will continue to work with the industry.
A rapid drop in offshore labor resulted in more than half a million job openings in the food and farming sector last year, out of a workforce of four million. Almost a fourth of the daffodil crop in the United Kingdom was left unpicked. Fruit growers were obliged to leave their crops to decay in the fields. A shortage of competent butchers and abattoir employees resulted in the incineration or rendering of 35,000 pigs planned for sausages, bacon, and chops, reducing them to fat. When a scarcity of employees and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers jeopardized the supply of Christmas turkeys, the government stepped in and established a temporary immigration scheme. Industry members had been warning the government since April 2021, according to the committee, and this was too little, too late. It has a significant impact on animal welfare, food security, and worker mental health. While the report praised some of the government’s efforts, it warned that without fundamental reform, the UK would face a chain reaction of wage increases, price hikes, and food exports.
A rapid drop in offshore labor resulted in more than half a million job openings in the food and farming sector last year, out of a workforce of four million. Almost a fourth of the daffodil crop in the United Kingdom was left unpicked. Fruit growers were obliged to leave their crops to decay in the fields. A shortage of competent butchers and abattoir employees resulted in the incineration or rendering of 35,000 pigs planned for sausages, bacon, and chops, reducing them to fat. When a scarcity of employees and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers jeopardized the supply of Christmas turkeys, the government stepped in and established a temporary immigration scheme. Industry members had been warning the government since April 2021, according to the committee, and this was too little, too late. It has a significant impact on animal welfare, food security, and worker mental health. While the report praised some of the government’s efforts, it warned that without fundamental reform, the UK would face a chain reaction of wage increases, price hikes, and food exports.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you worked on a project where there was a shortage of workers? Could you tell me something about it?
- Does your country import products? Please expand your answer.
- If you had the authority, how would you address the problem of labor shortage?
- Do you agree with reformation?
- Why is agriculture important? Please elaborate on your answer.
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- shortage
- influence
- skilled
- competent
- immigration