Business English Bits Issue 139
The 10-min homework newsletter that supports your advanced business and English language learning...
Good morning and welcome to this Saturday’s issue of Business English Bits.
Today’s highlighted Youtube video report, comes from a new channel and one with a Norwegian accent. The channel is a CGTN Europe which, after a little investigation, happens to be a Chinese state owned media outlet.
The report looks at the Norwegian EV car market which has reached a staggering* share of 94% of new vehicle sales versus traditional petrol based cars. This has been achieved through financial incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and financial disincentives for the buying of petrol/diesel fuel based cars.
*Staggering (adj) - Astonishing, overwhelming
Unlike the EU or the States, Norway has allowed Chinese EV manufacturers tariff-free access to its market, allowing Chinese brands to grow at extremely high rates. The arguments given in the report are that competition in the sector is welcome and that the electrification of transport is the main aim of both the country and suppliers.
What the report doesn’t cover, however, are details on the protection of a country’s manufacturing base, flooding markets with subsidised goods and other costs required to transform a nation’s transportation.
Norway is an interesting example of how it might be possible to evolve to a cleaner future. As always, I’ll try to include in Business English Bits, reports on this topic to create debate in class.
Focus on some key new nouns from the video …
VIDEO: - (3min) - Norway's car market is 94% EVs – and a quarter of them are Chinese
Key Words - (Smth = Something; Sb=Someone; Col=Colloquial)
Home stretch (ph) - Final stage
Remotely (adv) - In the slightest degree
Measure (n) - Plan taken to achieve a particular purpose
Lease (n) - Agreement where sb pays money for the use of an asset over time
Leap (n) - Quick movement forward
Dealership (n) - Establishment authorised to buy and sell specific goods, especially cars
Subsidy (n) - Money granted by authorities to help an industry keep prices low
Tariff (n) - Tax or duty paid on a particular class of import/export
Word of the Day … Guess the missing key word. Answer given below with examples!
Some phrasal verbs to review …
Word of the Day Answer:
Funnel (V/N) - Guide or channel smth through a process
Examples:
“Data was being secretly funnelled to a third party.”
“Should AI be taxed and that money funnelled back to the welfare state?”
ANSWERS TO WEDNESDAY’S PHRASAL VERB TEST
Hope this test has honed your advanced phrasal verb skills! ….
See you on Tuesday for the next Business English Bits!
Kevin