In many wealthy countries, there are more homeless people than ever.

What is the cause of this?

What could be done to solve this problem?

manual labour

wealthy countries:

rich countries/nations

affluent countries

developed countries (不好意思录音里面说错了)

industrialized countries

homeless people:

the homeless population

people who do not have a permanent dwelling

housing

homelessness

the unemployment rate

the jobless rate

the job-loss rate

offshoring

outsourcing

to outsource manual labour overseas

to move jobs/positions/operations/plants overseas/across borders

Some employers think that formal academic qualifications are more important than life experiences and personal qualities when they look for an employee.

Why is this the case?

Is it a positive or negative development?

formal academic qualifications:

university degrees

college degrees

high qualifications 

personal qualities:

character traits 

professional knowledge 

expertise 

perform

social skills 

soft skills

C12T7

In a number of countries, some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. Others believe the money should be spend on improving existing public transport. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

in a number of: several

countries: nations 

spend money on:

invest money in

investment 

devote money to

allocate money for

railway lines for very fast trains:

high-speed railway lines

high-speed rail

high-speed trains 

high-speed rail networks

high-speed rail systems 

high-speed rail projects 

improve:

improvement 

upgrade 

upgradation

reduce/relieve traffic congestion

the decrease in traffic 

to travel in comfort

high standards of living 

The chart below shows information about changes in average house prices in five different cities between 1990 and 2002 compared with the average house prices in 1989.

lower than

decrease

higher than

increase

house prices: 

housing prices

home prices

house values

home values 

A person’s worth nowadays seems to be judged according to social status and material possessions. Old fashioned values such as honor, kindness, and trust no longer seem important. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

worth:

value 

be valued 

judge :

judgement

measure

assess

social status: 

prestige and power 

Old fashioned values:

traditional values

respect

respectful 

disrespect 

disrespectful

impolite 

rude

honest

honesty 

unethical 

immoral

integrity 

leaking confidential information 

stealing other people's idea

run through 

flow through 

in the north of 

on the north side of 

to the east of