B2 – Upper Intermediate
The pandemic’s lingering consequences can now be felt even in the arms industries. Despite demonstrating growth in the past year, this boost was still greatly stunted by worldwide issues in supply difficulties.
Read the article to know more about how supply chain issues has severely limited the growth in arms trade.
https://www.voanews.com/a/growth-in-arms-trade-stunted-by-supply-issues-report/6862357.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “sourcing” mean? “Disruptions from both labor shortages and difficulties in sourcing raw materials were slowing down the companies’ ability to produce weapons systems and deliver them on time.” Use it in your own sentence.
- What does “gauge” mean? “By how much was at the same time harder to gauge, Tian said pointing to two factors that would impact demand.” Use it in your own sentence.
- What does “hamper” mean in this sentence, “With the supply crunch expected to worsen, it could hamper these efforts.”? Use it in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on this news about the stunted growth of the arms trade due to supply chain issues?
- “The top 100 arms companies sold weapons and related services totaling $592 billion in 2021, 1.9% more than the year before.”. Share your reaction to this statement.
- “The worsening security environment means “countries are looking to procure more weapons.” What is your opinion on/reaction to this?
- What will be the result of the trend of private equity firms buying up arms companies?