Tag: business and business english

Ferrari Shares Slump After Unveiling First Fully Electric Car

B2 — Upper Intermediate 

Luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari has launched its first fully electric vehicle, the Luce, priced at $640,000 (£474,320). 

In their efforts to take on Chinese EVs, they have been faced with serious backlash. Luce was highly criticized because some think that it betrays the brand’s legacy.

Consequently, shares of the company declined by over 8% on the Milan market and more than 5% on the New York market.

Read this article about Luce, Ferrari’s first ever electric car.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy22rddy5no

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning if something is “made in-house”? ”The firm said that all of the components are made in-house, so that the car can be repaired by the company well into the future, protecting the Luce’s resale value.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “a masterclass in something” mean? “Responses on social media to the launch ranged from describing it as “straight to the junkyard trash” to an “absolute masterclass in design”.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “to scale back on something” mean? “Supercar rivals like Lamborghini and Porsche have scaled back on their EV plans due to poor demand and intense competition from Chinese brands.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think about Ferrari’s electric car Luce? What are its promises and pitfalls?
  2. What is your opinion on Lamborghini and Porsche scaling back on their EV plans due to poor demand and intense competition from Chinese brands.
  3. What are some major obstacles of companies like Ferrari facing in shifting to EVs?
  4. Ferrari’s chief design officer Flavio Manzoni believes that critics are part of the innovation process. What is your insight on this?
  5. Do you think that the concept of an electric Ferrari with a new design is “polarising”? Will people eventually come to appreciate it? Share your views.
  6. What are your insights on this, “Yet Ferrari’s shares have dropped by more than 30% over the past year, mirroring a wider slump across luxury brands as inflation around the world has shaken demand for high-end goods.”?

Swatch Royal Pop Watch

B1 — Intermediate 

Swatch and Audemars Piguet made a new watch collection. The watches are much cheaper than usual. Many people wanted to buy them. A lot of people gathered outside stores. Some stores had problems because of the crowds. Swatch said the watches are not limited and will still be available later.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about Swatch’s Royal Pop watches.

https://newsinlevels.com/products/royal-pop-watch-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is the meaning of “frenzy”? ”The Swiss watchmaker Swatch has experienced global frenzy after the launch of its new Royal Pop collection.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “to break out” mean here, “In Paris, local police had to use tear gas to control the crowds, and physical fights broke out in Milan as soon as the doors opened.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “to outpace” mean? “Because demand outpaced the supply, chaos started in many locations.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think so many people wanted to buy these watches? Would you buy one of these watches if you had the chance? Why or why not?
  2. Would you wait in line for a product you really wanted? Why or why not?
  3. Do you think the chaos at the stores could have been prevented? How?
  4. Is it important for companies to limit the number of products people can buy? Explain your opinion.
  5. What is your opinion about luxury brands making cheaper products?

Shoulder Season

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Shoulder season is the period between a destination’s peak tourist season and off-peak season. During this time, travel demand is moderate, so hotel prices and airfare are usually lower than during peak season, but higher than during off-peak periods.

Travel rates often differ during peak, off-peak, and shoulder seasons, so successful hotels prepare for these fluctuations and adjust their strategies accordingly. 

Read the article about shoulder season and how hotels can avoid losing business during these periods.

https://www.cvent.com/en/blog/hospitality/what-is-shoulder-season

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. Differentiate “peak season”, “off-peak season” and “shoulder season”. “From peak season to off-peak season to shoulder season, successful hotels anticipate the fluctuations that are likely to happen and strategize accordingly.” Use the terms in sentences.
  2. What does “to leave a stone unturned” mean? “Leaving any stone unturned can leave revenue on the table.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “to simmer down” mean? “Restaurants, area attractions, and local tourism booms in the area, and then simmers down.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of traveling during shoulder season?
  2. Talk about a time when you traveled during shoulder season.
  3. Share your insights on this, “Seasonal travel grows in proportion to the general growth of tourism in an area.”
  4. What challenges do hotels face during shoulder season?
  5. Do you think discounts and promotions are effective during shoulder season? Why or why not?
  6. Should hotels lower their prices significantly during shoulder season? Explain your opinion.

Amsterdam Bans Public Ads for Meat and Fossil Fuels

B1 – Intermediate 

Amsterdam has banned public advertisements for meat and fossil fuel products, including burgers, chicken, petrol cars, and airline travel.

The Dutch Meat Association and Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators disagree with the prohibition. On the other hand, environmental activists support the decision.

Read the article about Amsterdam’s public advertisements ban for meat and fossil fuel products.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2605/260507-public-advertisement-ban.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “carbon neutral” mean? “The ban is to help move Amsterdam towards its target of being carbon neutral by 2050.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “consumer behaviour” mean? “The Dutch Meat Association says ban is an undesirable way to influence consumer behaviour.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “to set a global standard” mean? “By becoming the first capital to legally ban fossil fuels and meat advertising, Amsterdam is setting a global standard.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the ban on public ads for meat and fossil fuel products in Amsterdam?
  2. What might be the pros and cons of this ban?
  3. The Dutch Meat Association says that the ban is an undesirable way to influence consumer behaviour. What is your opinion on this?
  4. Should other cities or countries follow Amsterdam’s example? Why or why not?
  5. Should governments have the power to restrict ads for products they consider harmful? Explain your view.
  6. How do you think advertising influences people’s food choices and travel habits?

Japan’s Snack Packaging Turns Black and White

B1 – Intermediate 

The Iran war caused problems for food companies in Japan. There is a shortage of ink materials. This affects food packaging.

Calbee will use black-and-white packaging for some potato chips. The company will add a message saying it is saving oil materials.

Sanae Takaichi said Japan has enough naphtha for now. Japan will also increase local production and imports from other countries. However, Calbee warned that more problems may happen later.

Read the article about the change in the designs of some snack manufacturers’ food packaging.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2605/260518-food-packaging-ink.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “in a bid to do something” mean? “Meanwhile, food and beverage maker Kagome will make some of the wrapping for its popular ketchup transparent in a bid to deal with the ink shortage.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “countermeasure” mean? “She said countermeasures would be taken to ensure a supply of the liquid.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “ramp up” mean? “These countermeasures include a ramping up of domestic production, and a threefold increase in naphtha imports from countries outside the Middle East. ” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about the changes in these Japanese snack products’ designs?
  2. What lessons can other companies learn from this situation?
  3. Do you think simple packaging is a good idea during shortages? Why or why not?
  4. How might customers react to changes in product packaging? How would you react if your favorite products’ packaging suddenly turns black and white?
  5. What is your opinion about transparent packaging?

Apple Maps Was a Big Mistake

B1 –  Intermediate 

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, will step down in September. He said Apple Maps was a big mistake because it gave wrong directions when it launched in 2012. He even told users to try other map apps.

Cook became CEO in 2011 after Steve Jobs. He grew Apple’s value from $350 billion to $4 trillion. He said the Apple Watch is his best achievement, especially for health and fitness.

Read the article about outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook’s tenure at Apple and his thoughts on Apple Maps.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2604/260427-tim-cook-apple-maps.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “to bow out” mean here, “Mr. Cook will bow out as Apple boss in September.”? Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “tenure” mean? “During his tenure, Cook transformed Apple from a $350 billion company into a $4 trillion company.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does a “superlative lifestyle choice” mean? “Cook has ensured Apple’s brand represents a superlative lifestyle choice.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on Tim Cook calling Apple Maps a “big mistake”?
  2. What can other companies learn from Apple’s mistakes with Apple Maps?
  3. What is your opinion on this, “Apple’s greatest contribution will be in the health and wellness area.”?
  4. What is your opinion about people seeing Apple a superlative lifestyle choice?
  5. What is your company’s CEO’s greatest achievement?

Snap Inc Blames AI as It Lays Off 1,000 Workers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, plans to cut about 1,000 jobs as it tries to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The move follows pressure from an activist investor and reflects the company’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence, which it says is helping smaller teams work faster and handle more tasks.

Read this article to learn more about it.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/15/snap-inc-blames-ai-worker-layoffs

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What is an “activist investor“? “Cuts by Snapchat’s parent company come in response to a declining stock price and pressure from an activist investor.” Make a sentence with this. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “mass layoff” mean? “Snap, which owns the photo- and video-sharing app Snapchat, joins a host of other tech companies that have carried out mass layoffs amid the AI boom.” Use this in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. Define “murky” “Although Spiegel’s memo stated that the company had already seen productivity benefits from AI, many experts and workers believe that the reality of receiving gains from implementing AI is murkier.” Use it in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think companies like Snap are cutting jobs while investing more in AI?
  2. Do you think AI is truly replacing human work, or are companies using it as a reason to reduce costs? Share your insights.
  3. What are the possible benefits of running a company with smaller, AI-assisted teams?
  4. Do you think tech companies are moving too quickly toward AI-driven workplaces? Explain.
  5. If your company said that AI could now do part of your job, how would you respond?

Australia EV Sales Surge

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Electric vehicle sales in Australia increased sharply in March as more people looked for alternatives to petrol cars. With fuel prices rising and concerns about fuel shortages growing, many buyers are turning to EVs, although challenges such as charging access and affordability still remain.

Read this article to learn more about it.

http://abc.net.au/news/2026-04-07/australia-ev-sales-spike-amid-fuel-fears-rising-petrol-prices/106516598

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “iron out” mean? “But as fuel supply disruptions ripple through global markets and households look to lower their costs, experts are warning that now is the time to iron out existing roadblocks to that transition.” Use this in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  2. What does “ripple through” mean? “But as fuel supply disruptions ripple through global markets and households look to lower their costs, experts are warning that now is the time to iron out existing roadblocks to that transition.“ Use this in a sentence. Give a synonym.
  3. What does “bring something to the fore” mean? “But since the conflict in the Middle East brought global fuel vulnerability to the fore, consumer interest has spiked.” Use this in a sentence. Give a synonym.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think more Australians are buying electric vehicles now? Is it the same in your country?
  2. Do you think people are buying EVs mainly to save money or to help the environment? Explain your answer.
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning an electric vehicle?
  4. Do you think fuel shortages can change the way people buy cars? Why or why not?
  5. If you were planning to buy a car this year, would you choose an electric vehicle, a hybrid, or a petrol car? Why?

War in Middle East Creating Fertilizer Shortage

B1 –  Intermediate 

The war in Iran has raised fertilizer prices. Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. About 30–40% of fertilizer trade is affected. Farmers now pay more and may grow fewer crops. The United Nations warns of higher food prices and possible shortages.

Read the article about how the war in Middle East is creating fertilizer shortage.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2603/260330-fertilizer-shortages-5.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “yield” mean here, “In the worst case, this means lower yields and crop failures next season.”? Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What is “input cost”? “In the best case, higher input costs will be included in food prices next year.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “dual cost shock” mean? “Farmers are facing a dual cost shock.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain how the conflict in the Middle East affect global food prices.
  2. What could the United Nations or governments do to reduce the impact of this crisis?
  3. How can countries reduce their dependence on imported fertilizers?
  4. How could rising fertilizer prices affect farming in your country? 
  5. Do you think food prices will continue to rise in the future? Why or why not?
  6. Do you think consumers in your country would change their eating habits if food prices increase? Why or why not?

The Shoe Business Is Changing

B1 –  Intermediate 

The shoe market is changing quickly. Big brands now have strong competitors.

Nike is still the biggest. But it has problems. It focused too much on online sales. It did not make enough new products. Because of this, they lost some customers who looked for other brands.

All shoe brands have a new problem. High tariffs on shoes made from Vietnam could make the prices of sneakers much higher.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about how the shoe business is changing.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/the-shoe-business-is-changing-level-3

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “rival” mean? “The footwear market is changing fast as big brands like Nike and Crocs face new rivals.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  2. What does “to make a comeback” mean? “Meanwhile, Crocs has made a huge comeback.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a synonym. 
  3. What does “clever marketing” mean? “People used to think Crocs were ugly, but clever marketing and colorful charms called Jibbitz made them cool for young people.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the article, why are Nike and Crocs struggling?
  2. How can they recover from these problems?
  3. Share your opinion on this, “Nike made a mistake by focusing too much on selling online and not enough on making new, exciting products.“
  4. Share your thoughts on this, “All these brands face a new problem: high tariffs on shoes made in Vietnam, which could make sneakers much more expensive for everyone.”
  5. Give an example of a product or brand that you think uses clever marketing.
  6. What are some of the most important footwear brands in your country? Why are they very popular?