Before you read: some questions to help you think about the topic and the words you might need.
If Korea had a huge financial crisis, would you consider moving to the countryside to live a simple life?
What do you know about the financial crisis in Greece?
Over the past 100 years we have seen people all over the world move from the country to live in cities. But in some parts of the world this trend is reversing.
Greece has been in its worst financial crisis since World War Two. Amongst the youth there is 58% unemployment, shops in the cities are closing their doors and social benefits are being reduced or are almost impossible to get. But with hard times it causes creativity and some who are being forced to go back to live in the countryside are finding a new and interesting life. In fact some have no intention to ever go back and live in the city with all its stresses again.
However, it’s not all bad news. Those who have returned to the country are finding new and creative ways to live and face the hand they have been dealt. In the foothills of Mount Telaithrion on the Greek island of Evia, Mr Sianos and three other like-minded Athenians set up an eco-community.
The idea was to live in an entirely sustainable way, free from the ties of money and cut off from the national electricity grid. They now survive by bartering and swapping what they make and grow. Those in communities support each other and they hardly rely on national amenities such as power.
Some say that they now have a simpler life free from all the trappings and sophistication of a stressed city life they once knew.
Guessing meaning from context (the words around that word or phrase).
Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. The answers are below the table.
|
trend is reversing |
A |
1 |
Similar thinking people |
|
the hand they have been dealt |
B |
2 |
The situation people have received, (the term comes from card games where you have a good or a bad group of playing cards) |
|
like-minded |
C |
3 |
Not free, needing to earn and pay for things |
|
sustainable |
D |
4 |
Things that we think make our life better that everyone else has such as big screen televisions and other possessions |
|
ties of money |
E |
5 |
Able to maintain and keep |
|
bartering |
F |
6 |
complex |
|
trappings |
G |
7 |
Things going in the opposite direction than previous |
|
sophistication |
H |
8 |
Exchanging of goods and services without the use of money |
A=7, B=2, C=1, D=5, E=3, F=8, G=4, H=6
Some example sentences using the new words to help you to better understand their meaning.
1. Prices have been rising for two years, but finally the trend is reversing as prices are coming down again.
2. Our grandparents did not have much money, so they had to learn to live with the hand that they had been dealt.
3. Like-minded people who care about health tend to go to gymnasiums.
4. High food prices are not sustainable; finally people will not pay them.
5. People who live in the cities need a job with a high salary because they have the ties of money.
6. The government doesn’t like the bartering system because they can’t get taxes.
7. The trappings of living in the city are a nice apartment, expensive clothing and the need to have some expensive items.
8. Living in the countryside is not sophisticated; it is a simple life.
Some discussion questions using the new words to help you better understand the word meaning and how to use them correctly. Try to use the words in your answer.
1. Could you see the Korean trend of living in Seoul reversing in the future? Why or why not?
2. If you had been dealt the hand that these Greek people had, what would you do?
3. What is your opinion of this like-minded community in Greece?
4. Do you think an eco-community like the one in Greece is sustainable in Korea? Why or why not?
5. How tied are you to money and the trappings of city life?
6. Did Korea have a bartering system like these people have now?
7. Would you ever consider giving up a sophisticated city life for a simple one in the country?
ECK Education
