Before you read: some questions to help you think about the topic and the words you might need.
If you have a smartphone, what kind do you have and what do you like about it?
What is your opinion of the latest Samsung Galaxay smartphone?
The latest iPhone looks much the same as the first iPhone, which came out more than five years ago. That hasn't been a problem for Apple until, now.
The amount of iPhone sales has slowed, Apple revealed last week. Part of the problem is that the competition has found a successful formula: thinner phones with big screens that make the iPhone look small and chubby.
If iPhone owners want to feel envy then, they just need to look at the Samsung phones, the number-one maker of smartphones in the world. Its newest flagship phone, the Galaxy S III, is sleek and thin.
By comparison, the iPhone "is getting a bit long in the tooth," says Ramon Llamas, an analyst with research firm IDC.
Apple has become the world's most valuable company on the back of the iPhone, which makes up nearly half of its revenue. iPhone sales are still growing, but the question of how fast they're growing is of keen interest to investors. The iPhone certainly has ability to grow: only one in six smartphones sold globally in the second quarter had an Apple logo on its back.
When Apple reported financial results for its latest quarter last week, a new phenomenon was revealed: Buyers started pulling back on iPhone purchases just six months after the launch of the latest iPhone model.
Apple executives blamed the tepid sales on "rumors and speculation" that may have caused some consumers to wait for the next iPhone, which is due in the fall. But in the past, iPhone sales have stayed strong nine months after the new model is launched, then dipped as people began holding off, waiting for the new model.
Guessing meaning from context
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.
|
chubby |
A |
1 |
The first and usually most important product or shop for a company, it’s main product or shop |
|
flagship |
B |
2 |
Nice design, not big, slim, thin but stylish |
|
sleek |
C |
3 |
One time event, unusual happening |
|
bit long in the tooth |
D |
4 |
To begin, to start |
|
keen interest |
E |
5 |
A little fat |
|
phenomenon |
F |
6 |
Withdraw, retreat |
|
pulling back |
G |
7 |
Being careful, staying away |
|
launch |
H |
8 |
Very warm but not hot or exciting |
|
tepid |
I |
9 |
Like very much, want to know more about something |
|
holding off |
J |
10 |
old |
A=5, B=1, C=2, D=10, E=9, F=3, G=6, H=4, I=8, J=7
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. Do you think that Apple should design a sleek iPhone like the Galaxy, and do you think that the iPhone looks chubby these days?
2. Why do you think Apple only has a flagship phone and not other designs like Samsung?
3. Did Samsung ever have phones that seemed a bit long in the tooth, what did they do?
4. What could Apple do to create keen interest in their phones but not be the same as Samsung?
5. Why was the pulling back of buying iPhones a new phenomenon for Apple?
6. Why are buyers waiting for the launch of a new iPhone model?
7. Can tepid sales of the iPhone be totally blamed on people holding off for a new iPhone model?
Some example sentences using the new words to help you to better understand their meaning.
1. Drinking too much beer can make you chubby.
2. think Hyundai Motor’s flagship car is the Hyundai Sonata.
3. Many people say the new Genesis model is much sleeker than previous cars Hyundai.
4. In electronic products it doesn’t take long for a product to become a bit long in the tooth.
5. There is keen interest in the Olympic Games.
6. She is one of the most phenomenal women I have ever seen because of her beauty and interesting conversation.
7. have pulled back on spending money because of the debt problems.
8. The fashion designer will be launching some new shoes in the spring.
9. I returned the coffee because the temperature was tepid.
10. The company is holding off making a decision on investing.
ECK Education
