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Reading economic texts
1. Headlines and subheadlines
2. Lexis (too many unknown words, specialist vocabulary, idioms, collocations)
3. Grammar (passives, conditionals, tenses, complex noun phrases)
1. Find “trough” and highlight it. What does it mean? (see www.investopedia.com or
www.economist.com)
2. How do you think it is pronounced?
3. Please classify: Is it a noun/ adjective/ verb/ adverb? How can you tell? Does this help
you understand the meaning? (Hint: Look at the endings, -s, -ed, -ing, -ly, or
determiners: “a”, “the”. Is “trough” at the beginning, middle or end of the sentence?)
4. Circle or highlight other words always close to/ before/ after “trough” in the sentence.
Do these words help you understand the meaning?
Group A
Colloquial Usage of Trough
By the end of the decade, more than 1,200 had their snouts in the trough.
Britain is not keen to lose its rebate, or even to allow other snouts into its trough.
Eurobuzz: Snouts to the trough/ Who will be in the new European Commission?
A feeding trough for big government, cried the conservatives.
…they became a feeding trough for companies and lobby groups.
Group B
Technical/Economic Usage of Trough
The peak-to-trough decline in the Tokyo stock-market last year was 48%.
The total peak-to-trough fall in GNP in America may be as little as 1.2%.
Japan’s industrial production plunged 13.5% from peak to trough.
Economists reckon that America’s recession has now reached its trough.
GDP actually reached its trough in the second quarter of 1992.
Group A
Colloquial Usage of Trough
By the end of the decade, more than 1,200 had their snouts in the trough.
Britain is not keen to lose its rebate, or even to allow other snouts into its trough.
Eurobuzz: Snouts to the trough/ Who will be in the new European Commission?
A feeding trough for big government, cried the conservatives.
…they became a feeding trough for companies and lobby groups.
Group B
Technical/Economic Usage of Trough
The peak-to-trough decline in the Tokyo stock-market last year was 48%.
The total peak-to-trough fall in GNP in America may be as little as 1.2%.
Japan’s industrial production plunged 13.5% from peak to trough.
Economists reckon that America’s recession has now reached its trough.
GDP actually reached its trough in the second quarter of 1992.
Group A
Colloquial Usage of Trough
By the end of the decade, more than 1,200 had their snouts in the trough.
Britain is not keen to lose its rebate, or even to allow other snouts into its trough.
Eurobuzz: Snouts to the trough/ Who will be in the new European Commission?
A feeding trough for big government, cried the conservatives.
…they became a feeding trough for companies and lobby groups.
Group B
Technical/Economic Usage of Trough
The peak-to-trough decline in the Tokyo stock-market last year was 48%.
The total peak-to-trough fall in GNP in America may be as little as 1.2%.
Japan’s industrial production plunged 13.5% from peak to trough.
Economists reckon that America’s recession has now reached its trough.
GDP actually reached its trough in the second quarter of 1992.
1. Find “trough” and highlight it. What does it mean? (see www.investopedia.com or
www.economist.com) (Czech: koryto – colloquial usage, dno hospodářské aktivity –
economic usage)
2. How do you think it is pronounced? [trof]
3. Please classify: Is it a noun/ adjective/ verb/ adverb? How can you tell? Does this help
you understand the meaning? (Hint: Look at the endings, -s, -ed, -ing, -ly, or
determiners: “a”, “the”. Is “trough” at the beginning, middle or end of the sentence?)
(a countable noun)
4. Circle or highlight other words always close to/ before/ after “trough” in the sentence.
Do these words help you understand the meaning?
Collocations
Match the expressions in column A with those from column B
A
1. prices
2. the demands
3. to keep pace
4. the stockmarket
5. to secure
6. sustained
7. the price
B
a) supply
b) have surged
c) growth
d) plunged
e) has tumbled by two thirds
f) could be met
g) with inflation
Key: 1b, 2f, 3g, 4d, 5a, 6c, 7e
Synonyms
When people agree, they may repeat the same thing in different words and possibly add. Find
and highlight the five ways they repeat below:
Japan’s economy is looking up: According to the Economist, household spending in Japan is
up by 5.2%, year on year, in February this year.
1. That’s a good point. I agree things are looking up. The Bank of Japan’s governor
declared spending was ‘edging higher’.
2. I suppose so. The economy may be improving. More people seem eager to travel
abroad for Golden Week.
3. Exactly. Japan’s economy is on the move. Ito Yokado is boasting bumper profits.
4. Absolutely. Things are definitely looking up. Japan’s big manufacturers have boosted
profits by combining deep cost cuts with rapidly growing exports to China.
5. You may be right, there, the economy does look more positive. According to the most
recent Tankan survey, small and mid-sized firms were feeling cheerier.
2. Which agree strongly, which agree mildly? Please rank from 1-5. What is the difference in
the words and verbs used? Please fill in the table below.
Strongest agreement=1, Mild agreement=5
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
A-E
Beginning phrase
Following sentences: Key verbs