Vocabulary
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- lease /lees/
- subsidy /SUBH-si-dee/
- existential /eg-zi-STEN-shuh/
- disruption /dis-RUHP-shuhn/
- real estate /REE-uhl ih-STEYT/
[verb] – to make a legal agreement by which money is paid in order to use land, a building, a vehicle, or a piece of equipment for an agreed period of time
This year, my lease will expire on September 30.
[noun] – money given as part of the cost of something, to help or encourage it to happen
There will be a reduction in the amount of farmer subsidies.
[adjective] – relating to existence or being alive
The invention of the electric light had significant existential consequences.
[noun] – an interruption in the usual way that a system, process, or event works
The storm caused disruption to the flights.
[noun] – property in the form of land or buildings
We’re going to purchase some real estate.
Article reading
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The Singaporean government has begun leasing out rooftop farms since 2020 as part of its initiatives to boost domestic food production. Currently, more than 90 percent of the country’s food is imported. These rooftop farms have now appeared all across the Southeast Asian city state, numbering at least a dozen. The majority of the nation’s domestically grown food is produced in high-tech facilities that receive significant government subsidies. Official records indicate that, as of 2020, it had 238 permitted farms. “Food security is an existential issue for Singapore. As a globally connected small city-state with limited resources, Singapore is vulnerable to external shocks and supply disruptions. This is why it is important that we continuously take steps to secure our essential resources,” a Singapore Food Agency (SFA) spokesperson says.
Urban farmer Eyleen Goh manages a farm from the top deck of a parking garage. Workers were seen picking, trimming, and packing choy sum, a leafy green vegetable used in Chinese dishes. Another worker was repotting seedlings at the opposite end of the building. “We are harvesting every day. Depending on the vegetables we are growing, it can range from 100kg to 200kg to 400kg per day,” says Goh. But Singapore has some of the most expensive real estate in the world, so rooftop farmers are also looking for alternative sources of income. One farmer claims that by charging visitors a monthly fee to harvest vegetables at his urban farm, he has been able to make a profit. According to him, the concept is especially well-liked by local families since “it is a community kind of approach, rather than a commercial approach.”
Urban farmer Eyleen Goh manages a farm from the top deck of a parking garage. Workers were seen picking, trimming, and packing choy sum, a leafy green vegetable used in Chinese dishes. Another worker was repotting seedlings at the opposite end of the building. “We are harvesting every day. Depending on the vegetables we are growing, it can range from 100kg to 200kg to 400kg per day,” says Goh. But Singapore has some of the most expensive real estate in the world, so rooftop farmers are also looking for alternative sources of income. One farmer claims that by charging visitors a monthly fee to harvest vegetables at his urban farm, he has been able to make a profit. According to him, the concept is especially well-liked by local families since “it is a community kind of approach, rather than a commercial approach.”
Discussion Questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Are there many farms in your country? Please tell me more about them.
- What types of crops are grown in your country?
- If given the chance, would you like to own a rooftop farm? Why or why not?
- Are rooftop farms effective in increasing food production?
- Aside from rooftop farms, what else can the government do to increase food production in a country with expensive land?
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.
- initiative
- domestic
- significant
- vulnerable
- repot