16th August 2013
|Episode 116|
Sales Tax on the Rise
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広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
Contents Pages
Part 1 | Warm Ups
Odd-One-Out Page 3
Brainstorm Page 3
Animal Flags Page 3
Value Added? Page 4
Country Names Page 4
Part 2 | Before Listening / Reading
Jumbled Paragraph Page 5
True or False Page 5
Vocabulary |Synonyms Page 5
Part 3 | Listening / Reading
The News Story |345 Words Page 6
What Do You Think..? Page 6
Part 4 | After Listening / Reading
Q & A Page 7
A & Q Page 7
Part 5 | Extra Stuff
Extra English I Page 8
7 to Chinwag Page 8
Writing Activity Page 9
And Finally….
Did You Know? Page 9
TV Links Page 10
The Answers Pages 10-12
| A1 This symbol = Listening activity in the podcast.
| A1 ポッドキャストに含まれているリスニング演習。
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
[201310-01] Sales Tax on the Rise | August 23rd 2013
| PART 1 | Warm Ups |
Warm Up | 1 Odd 1 Out
Look at the four words below, which word is different from the other three?
Write your reason in the box underneath. Check your answer later.
a) Escalate b) Increase c) Upsurge d) Deflate
My Reason… _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Warm Up | 2 Brainstorm
How many different words can you connect to the word in the box? Can you think of at least 10 words? Why do you think this?
|Tax|
Warm Up | 3 Value Added?
Sales Tax, Consumption tax or VAT is used many countries.
Match the correct sales tax rate with the correct country on page 4!
One answer has been done for you!
Country Sales Tax% Country Sales Tax%
1 35% 6 10%
2 25.5% 7 7%
3 Argentina 21% 8 5%
4 17% 9 2.9%
5 14% 10 0%
[*USA = The state of Colorado. Each US State can set their own sales-tax rate. California is the highest with 7.9%]
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
Robotics | From Which Movie..?
Each flag has an animal on it. Match them with the place name on page 3.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
Warm Up | 4 | A1 Quiz
Read the questions about this week’s news story –
Remember if you don’t know – use the internet to help or GUESS!
1: What is Japan’s current sales tax rate? a: 3% b: 5% c: 8%
2: What will the new sales tax rate in Japan be from April 2014? a: 5% b: 8% c: 12%
3: Which country in the Middle-East has the highest sales tax rate in the world? a: Cyprus b: Israel c: Syria
4: Which European nation was the first to introduce sales tax in 1954? a: U.K. b: Germany c: France
5: What is the highest rate of personal taxation in Japan? a: 25% b: 30% c: 40%
6: Aruba has the highest personal tax rate in the world – what is it? a: 58.95% b: 69.95% c: 78.95%
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
E1: Which small country has the lowest personal tax rate in the world? a: Andorra b: Timor-Leste c: Latvia
E2: What year did Japan first introduce sales tax? a: 1989 b: 1999 c: 2009
E3: Which photo is the current Japanese Prime Minister?
a: b: c:
END OF PART 1
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
| PART 2 | Before Listening |
Pre-Listening / Reading | 1 Jumbled Sentence
The sentences below are from one of the paragraphs in the news story. Read the title and decide what the correct order of the sentences is.
8% Sales Tax to Combat National Debt
A Japan has the most rapidly aging society in the world – more than 25% of a
population of 127 million is already over 65 years-old.
B Mr Miyagawa said, “There is no real progress on containing welfare spending, so even
if you raise the sales tax, the country’s finances won’t improve”.
C However there are concerns that the new sales tax hike will actually damage the
Japanese economy.
D Senior economist Norio Miyagawa of Mizuho Securities is concerned that 8% sales
tax rate will achieve little.
Correct Order: 1: / 2: / 3: / 4: /
Pre-Listening / Reading | 2 | A2 True or False
Read the headline of News Story ~ 8% Sales Tax to Combat National Debt?
Look at the 5 statements. Guess if you think 1 – 5 are True or False!
1: The current sales-tax rate in Japan is 5%. [T] [F]
2: Shinzo Abe has been Japanese Prime Minister twice. [T] [F]
3: Japan has a very low national public debt. [T] [F]
4: 35% of the Japanese population is over 65. [T] [F]
5: The average sales-tax rate in the E.U. is 20%. [T] [F]
Pre-Listening / Reading | 3 Synonyms
A synonym is a word with a similar meaning.
Match the 10 words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
All the synonyms in black are from the News Story.
1: Speculation 6: Damage A: Inertia F: Rumour
2: Increase 7: Spending B: Industrialised G: Failure
3: Massive 8: Developed C: Hurt H: Cut
4: Decline 9: Incredible D: Raise I: Outlay
5: Reduce 10: Stagnation E: Gigantic J: Unbelievable
END OF PART 2
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
| PART 3 | Listening |
Listening / Reading | | Listening 8% Sales Tax to Combat Japanese Debt?
Gap Fill? | Help
Listen / Read the news story below and check your understanding. Write the correct word in each missing space.
116 8% Sales Tax to Combat National Debt?
1
Finally after many months of 1: ______, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has
this week confirmed reports that the Japanese government will 2: ______ the sales
tax rate to 8% The new sales tax level is an increase of 3% and will be introduced
in 3: ______ 2014 with the hope that the enlarged tax revenue will help to
decrease Japan’s massive national debt – the biggest in the developed world.
5
10
The new increase in the sales tax rate will be the first rise in 15 years when the
4: ______ level of 5% was introduced. Since returning as prime minister in late
2012, Mr Abe’s 5: _______ policies have started to slowly improve the Japanese
economy after more than a decade of decline. The new sales tax rate of 8% is
predicted to 6: _______ around ￥8 trillion or $81.5 billion which in turn will help
to reduce Japan’s public debt which in 2013 went past ￥1,000 trillion, or $10.18
trillion – twice the size of the entire Japanese economy.
14
However there are concerns that the new sales tax 7: ______ will actually damage
the Japanese economy. Japan has the most rapidly aging 8: ______ in the world –
more than 25% of a population of 127 million is already over 65 years-old. Senior
economist Norio Miyagawa of Mizuho Securities is concerned that the 8% sales
tax rate will 9: ______ little. Mr Miyagawa said, “There is no real progress on
containing welfare spending, so even if you raise the sales tax, the country’s finances
won’t improve”.
21
25
Despite some concerns over Japan’s increased sales tax rate, the new level of 8%
(with a possibility of a 10: _______ increase to 10% in 2015) is still amongst the
lower rates in the developed world. Most of the European Union member-
countries have sales tax rates of 20% - more than 11: _______ Japan, whilst war-
torn Syria has an incredible 35% rate. With an ageing population and a decade-
long economic stagnation Japan hopes that the latest “Abe-nomics” policy will
really help to 12: ______ the third-biggest economy in the world.
[341 Words]
What Do You Think? | Sales Tax
Do you think sales-tax is fair? Would you abolish / retain it? Why? ________________________________________________
END OF PART 3
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
| PART 4 | After Listening |
Post-Listening / Reading | 1 | A3 Q & A
How much can you remember from News Story?
Read / Listen to the questions below and choose the correct answer.
If you can’t remember any answers, guess!
Q1 When did Shinzo Abe return as Japanese Prime Minister?
Q2 What is the current level of Japanese public debt?
Q3 What is Syria’s sales-tax rate?
Q4 What is the name of the Japanese economist?
Q5 What year was the 5% sales-tax rate introduced?
Q6 Which country has the 3rd largest economy in the world?
E1 What percentage of Japan’s population is over 65 years-old?
E2 How many countries are in the news story?
Post-Reading | 2 A & Q
How much can you remember from the news story?
Read the answers below and write the correct question.
There is more than one possible correct question for each one!
A1 127 million. ______________________________________________?
A2 ￥8 trillion. ______________________________________________?
A3 3%. ______________________________________________?
A4 European Union ______________________________________________?
A5 “Abe-nomics” ______________________________________________?
END OF PART 4
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
| PART 5 | Extra Stuff |
English Extra I Easy Idioms Using Money
There are many expressions, phrases and idioms in English that explain
money.
Examples: A money spinner = A business that makes a lot of money
Easy money = Money you earn with little work / effort.
Match the phrases with their correct meaning or situation!
One answer has been done for you!
Violence Phrases The Meanings
1: A run for your money. A: Fake, not real.
2: For love nor money! B: Too much money is bad for a person.
3: Funny money. C: You are very, very rich.
4: Money to burn. D: Prove that you have money to buy.
5: Hush money. E: You cannot afford to waste money.
6: Money talks. F: Economise – make your money last.
7: Money the root of all evil G: To completely refuse to do something
8: Money no object. H: If you’re rich you have power/influence.
9: Not made of money. I: To buy many things you don’t need.
10: Rolling in money. J: A bribe to keep someone quiet.
11: See the colour of money. K: To challenge someone to do something.
12: To stretch your money. L: Whatever the price – you will pay.
7 to Chinwag Turmoil
ENW Podcast Topic | Turmoil in China, Egypt & Australia Ask / Answer the questions below on this week’s ENW Podcast Topic!
1 What did you think when you read this week’s ENW podcast title?
2 Do you think an 8% sales-tax increase is fair? Why?
3 What do you think governments should spend tax income on?
4 What percentage of personal income tax is fair for a salary of $100,000?
5 Do you think students should be exempt from paying income tax?
6 What types of tax do you think are unfair?
7 If you were prime minister / president – what laws would you change?
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
Writing A Tax Bonus
Imagine you have been given a tax rebate of around US$1,000 / €733 / ￥98,000.
What would you spend the money on? Why?
You can spend it on any item(s) you wish – or even give some away to
charity. Give your reasons why.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
END OF PART 5
And Finally | X & Z | A4 Did You Know…?
That they have been some rather odd ways to raise taxation from people. In 1705 in Russia there was a x: _____ on beards, whilst in 1784 the English government introduced a tax on hats! Perhaps the strangest tax in history was in Ancient Roman when in 1 AD the Roman Emperor Vespasian introduced a tax on z: _______ urine. The urine was very important for use in washing and making sure Romans’ togas always remained white!
The End
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
Visual | TV Links
Reuters | (UK) 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk9JcbradRY [1:48]
Japan to Increase Sales Tax
Duksacopy TV| (Switzerland) 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYkKu1mLXYM [2:29]
Abe to Increase Sales Tax
BBC News | (UK) 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdrtagQHvXU [2:35]
Japan’s Sales Tax Rise - Recovery
Podcast | Key
| A1 These activities are audio and can be listened to on the podcast.
Answers | Part 1 Warm Up 1-4
Warm Up 1 | Odd-1-Out
B – DEFLATE A / C / D – DON’T MEAN ‘TO RAISE’
Warm Up 3 | Animal Flags
Name Name
1 C SYRIA 6 B AUSTRALIA
2 G HUNGARY 7 I SINGAPORE
3 D ARGENTINA 8 E JAPAN
4 F PR CHINA 9 A USA (COLORADO)
5 J SOUTH AFRICA 10 H VATICAN CITY
Warm Up 4 | Quiz
1 – A 2 – B 3 – C 4 – C 5 – C 6 - A
E1 – B E2 – A E3 – C
Answers | Part 2 Pre Listening / Reading
Jumbled Sentences
C – A – D – B
True or False
1 – T 2 – T 3 – F 4 – F 5 – T
Synonyms
1 – F 2 – D 3 – E 4 – G 5 – H
6 – C 7 – I 8 – B 9 – J 10 – A
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
Answers | Part 3 Listening
116 8% Sales Tax to Combat National Debt
1
Finally after many months of 1: speculation, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has this week confirmed
reports that the Japanese government will 2: increase the sales tax rate to 8% The new sales tax level is an
increase of 3% and will be introduced in 3: April 2014 with the hope that the enlarged tax revenue will
help to decrease Japan’s massive national debt – the biggest in the developed world.
2
The new increase in the sales tax rate will be the first rise in 15 years when the 4: current level of 5% was
introduced. Since returning as prime minister in late 2012, Mr Abe’s 5: economic policies have started to
slowly improve the Japanese economy after more than a decade of decline. The new sales tax rate of 8% is
predicted to 6: raise around ￥8 trillion or $81.5 billion which in turn will help to reduce Japan’s public
debt which in 2013 went past ￥1,000 trillion, or $10.18 trillion – twice the size of the entire Japanese
economy.
3
However there are concerns that the new sales tax 7: hike will actually damage the Japanese economy.
Japan has the most rapidly aging 8: society in the world – more than 25% of a population of 127 million is
already over 65 years-old. Senior economist Norio Miyagawa of Mizuho Securities is concerned that the
8% sales tax rate will 9: achieve little. Mr Miyagawa said, “There is no real progress on containing welfare
spending, so even if you raise the sales tax, the country’s finances won’t improve”.
4
Despite some concerns over Japan’s increased sales tax rate, the new level of 8% (with a possibility of a
10: further increase to 10% in 2015) is still amongst the lower rates in the developed world. Most of the
European Union member-countries have sales tax rates of 20% - more than 11: double Japan, whilst war-
torn Syria has an incredible 35% rate. With an ageing population and a decade-long economic stagnation
Japan hopes that the latest “Abe-nomics” policy will really help to 12: boost the third-biggest economy in
the world.
[340 Words]
Answers | Part 4 Post-Listening / Reading
Q & A
1 – 2012 5 – 1998 2 – 1,000 trillion yen 6 – Japan 3 – 35% E1 – 25% 4 – Norio Miyagawa E2 – 2 countries
A & Q | Example Questions
A1 – What is the population of Japan? A2 – How much money will the new sales-tax rate hope to raise? A3 – What is the new sales-tax increase? A4 – What is the E.U.? A5 – What is PM Abe’s economic policies called in Japan?
English Extra
1 – K 2 – G 3 – A 4 – I 5 – J 6 – H
7 – B 8 – L 9 – E 10 – C 11- D 12 – F
広島大学 | English News Weekly Podcast.
2013 | Ep. 116| Sales Tax on the Rise
And Finally X & Z
X –tax / Z – male
References Episode 116
MAIN PHOTO:
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/06/japan_sales_tax_could_cause_gr.html
LINKS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_added_tax#Tax_rates http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2206.html http://www.therichest.com/expensive-lifestyle/lifestyle/the-10-countries-with-the-lowest-tax-rates/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_prime_minister http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/24/us-japan-economy-welfare-idUSBRE98N17A20130924 http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/104680.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24343540 http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/24/us-japan-economy-welfare-idUSBRE98N17A20130924 http://www.efile.com/unusual-strange-funny-taxes-throughout-the-world-and-history/ http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/money
