Part 62

Today the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a (1)________ to American business and
an equally sweeping defeat to American workers.

The (2)_______ upheld and extended the growing practice adopted by American
businesses, namely requiring workers to agree as a condition of employment not to
go to court over wage and hour disputes but to instead submit their claims to
(3)______ individually.

Lawyer Ron Chapman, who represents management in (4)_________, said he

expects small and large businesses alike to immediately move to impose these
binding arbitration contracts in order to eliminate the fear of costly class-action
(5)_______ from juries.

The lead (6)__________ in the case was an IT worker at Epic, the giant health care
software development company.

That law guarantees the rights of workers to engage in activities for the purpose of
(7)________ or any other concerted activities.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in a (8)_________ from the bench, called out the
majority for what she said was an egregiously wrong decision.

Labor law experts said today's decision likely will present increasing problems for
the #MeToo movement and for other civil rights class actions claiming
discrimination based on (9)________. There's no transparency in most binding
arbitration agreements, and they often include (10)_________. Yale law professor
Judith Resnik observes that today's decision applies to all manner of class actions.

VOCABULARY
1. sweeping (adj): [usually before noun] having an important effect on a large part of
something
E.g. sweeping reforms/changes
2. green light (n): permission for a project, etc. to start or continue = go-ahead
E.g. The government has decided to give the green light to the plan.
3.  bar somebody from (doing) something (v): to ban or prevent somebody from doing
something
E.g. The players are barred from drinking alcohol the night before a match.
E.g.The curfew has effectively barred migrant workers from their jobs.
- bar something: The new law bars smoking in all public places.
- be barred to somebody: Certain activities are still barred to women.
5. class action (n): a type of lawsuit that is started by a group of people who have the
same problem
6. uphold something: to support something that you think is right and make sure that it
continues to exist
E.g. We have a duty to uphold the law. / The regime has been criticized for failing to
uphold human rights.
7. dispute (n): an argument between two people, groups or countries; discussion about a
subject on which people disagree
E.g. industrial/pay disputes
- dispute between A and B: a dispute between the two countries about the border
- dispute over/about something: the latest dispute over fishing rights
- in dispute with somebody/something: The union is in dispute with management over
working hours.
- in/under dispute: The cause of the accident was still in dispute (= being argued
about).
-  beyond dispute: The matter was settled beyond dispute by the court judgment (= it
could no longer be argued about).
- open to dispute: His theories are open to dispute (= can be disagreed with).
8. arbitration /ˌɑːrbɪˈtreɪʃn/ [uncountable]: the official process of settling an argument or
a disagreement by somebody who is not involved
E.g. Both sides in the dispute have agreed to go to arbitration.
9. binding (on/upon somebody) /ˈbaɪndɪŋ/ (n): that must be obeyed because it is
accepted in law
E.g. a binding promise/agreement/contract
10. elated /ɪˈleɪtɪd/ (at/by something): very happy and excited because of something
good that has happened, or will happen
E.g. They were elated at the result. / I was elated by the prospect of the new job ahead.
11. verdict /ˈvɜːrdɪkt/(n): an official judgement made in court
E.g. Has the jury reached a verdict?
→ verdict on something/somebody (n): a decision that you make or an opinion that you
give about something, after you have tested it or considered it carefully
E.g. The panel will give their verdict on the latest album releases.
12. at the stroke of a pen (idm): If something is done at the stroke of a pen, it is
done quickly and easily by someone:
E.g. Politicians know they cannot create a lawful society simply at the stroke of a pen.
13. waive something: to choose not to demand something in a particular case, even
though you have a legal or official right to do so = forgo
E.g. He waived his right to appeal against the verdict.
13. plaintiff /ˈpleɪntɪf/ = complainant (n): a person who makes a formal complaint
against somebody in court
E.g. The court upheld the plaintiff’s claim for damages.
14. contend that…: (formal) to say that something is true, especially in an argument =
maintain
E.g. I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed (not perfect or correct) on this
point.
15. concerted /kənˈsɜːrtɪd/ [only before noun]: done together by more than one person,
government, country, etc.
E.g. a concerted approach/attack/campaign
16. side with somebody (against somebody/something): to support one person or group
in an argument against somebody else
E.g. The kids always sided with their mother against me.
17. trump (v): to beat someone or something by doing or producing something better
E.g. Their $60 million bid for the company was trumped at the last moment by an offer
for almost twice as much from their main competitor.
18. provisions [countable]: a condition or an arrangement in a legal document
- under the provisions of something: Under the provisions of the lease, the tenant is
responsible for repairs.
19. rest on/upon somebody/something: to depend or rely on somebody/something
E.g. All our hopes now rest on you.
20. dissent /dɪˈsent/ (formal): [uncountable] the fact of having or expressing opinions that
are different from those that are officially accepted
E.g. political/religious dissent
E.g. Voices of dissent began to rise against the established authority in the 1950s and
1960s.
21. egregious /ɪˈɡriːdʒiəs/ (formal): extremely bad
E.g. egregious behaviour
22. endorse /ɪnˈdɔːrs/ something: to say publicly that you support a person, statement or
course of action
E.g. I wholeheartedly endorse his remarks.
23. avail yourself of something: (formal) to make use of something, especially an
opportunity or offer
E.g. Guests are encouraged to avail themselves of the full range of hotel facilities.
24. retaliation /rɪˌtæliˈeɪʃn/[uncountable]: action that a person takes against somebody
who has harmed them in some way = reprisal /rɪˈpraɪzl/
- retaliation against somebody: retaliation against UN workers
- retaliation for (doing) something: She may face retaliation for speaking out.
- in retaliation: He never said a single word in retaliation.
- in retaliation for something: The shooting may have been in retaliation for the arrest
of the terrorist suspects.
25. transparency /trænsˈpærənsi/: [uncountable] the quality of something, such as a
situation or an argument, that makes it easy to understand / the quality of being done in
an open way without secrets
E.g. We want more transparency in government.
Part 63

This time of year, a lot of (1) _________ are trying to answer the question, am I
going to college?

Matt Dickinson is wearing safety goggles and a sweatshirt that says the word
college on it, inspired by the movie "(2)_________"

Dickinson is 21 years old. He already tried the (3)_________ at a state university.

He says he's not worried about finding a job when he's done. (4)_________ in the
Seattle area make about $53,000 a year.

Chris Cortines works in the (5)_________. He co-authored a recent report that

found students are getting funneled into college because it's the default. Some
struggle and drop out.

Things like trade schools, (6)__________ and __________. Of course a college

degree still gives you a leg up in earning power, but there are lots of fields where
you don't need a bachelor's.

Kate Kreamer says the problem is there's still a (7)________ around vocational
programs.

Where it was for kids that, you know, weren't "college material," quote-unquote, or
weren't academically prepared and were really a (8)__________.

At 41, Jessica Bruce is training to become an iron worker. Bruce and the other
apprentices are getting timed on how fast they can secure a (9)__________ into
place.

Bruce says no one told her the (10)________ were an option when she was
growing up.

VOCABULARY
1. goggle /ˈɡɑːɡl/ (at somebody/something): to look at somebody/something with your
eyes wide open, especially because you are surprised or shocked
2.  sweatshirt /ˈswetʃɜːrt/ (n): a piece of clothing for the upper part of the body, with
long sleeves, usually made of thick cotton and often worn for sports
3. Associate’s degree = one that is given after completing two years of study at a junior
college
4.  be funnelled /ˈfʌnl/ into ((figurative)): to move or make something move through a
narrow space, or as if through a funnel
E.g. Some $10 million in aid was funnelled into the country through government
agencies.
5. default /dɪˈfɔːlt/: [uncountable, countable] failure to do something that must be done
by law, especially paying a debt
- in default (on something): The company is in default on the loan
6. have/get a leg-up on somebody: (informal) to have/get an advantage over somebody
E.g. They are trying to get a leg-up on the competition.
7. stigma /ˈstɪɡmə/ [uncountable, countable, usually singular]: negative feelings that
people have about particular circumstances or characteristics that somebody may have
E.g. the social stigma of alcoholism / There is no longer any stigma attached to being
divorced.
8. the case [singular]: the true situation
-  be the case If that is the case (= if the situation described is true), we need more staff.
-  it's the case that… It is simply not the case that prison conditions are improving.
E.g. It remains the case that not enough graduates are going into teaching.

II. SUMMARY WRITING

Part 1.
When we meet people for the first time, we often make decisions about them
based entirely on how they look. And of course, we too are being judged on our
appearance. Undoubtedly, it’s what’s inside that’s important but sometimes we can send
out the wrong signals and so get a negative reaction, simply by wearing inappropriate
clothing.
When selecting your clothes each day, it is therefore important to think about who
you’re likely to meet, where you are going to be spending most of your time and what
tasks you are likely to perform. Clearly, on a practical level, some outfits will be more
appropriate to different sorts of activity this will dictate your choice to an extent.
However, there’s no need to abandon your individual taste completely. After all, if your
dress to please somebody else’s idea of what looks good, you may end up feeling
uncomfortable and not quite yourself.
Some colors bring your natural coloring to life and others can give you a washed-
out appearance. Try out new ones by all means but remember that dressing in bright
colors when you really subtle neutral tones or vice versa will make you feel self-
conscious and uncomfortable. You know deep down where your taste boundaries lie. It
may be fun to cross these sometimes, but do take care not to go too far all at once.
Reappraising your image isn’t selfish because everyone who comes into contact
with you will benefit. You’ll look better and you’ll feel better person all round. And if in
doubt, you only need to read Professor Albert Mehrabian’s book Silent Messages, which
showed that the impact we make on each other depends 55 percent on how we look and
behave, 38 percent on how we speak, and only seven percent on what we actually say.
→ dictate: to tell somebody what to do, especially in an annoying way
- dictate something (to somebody): They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell
other people what to do).
→ dictate how, what, etc…/that… What right do they have to dictate how we live our
lives?
→ washed out /ˌwɑːʃt ˈaʊt/ (adj): (of cloth, clothes or colours) no longer brightly
coloured, often as a result of being washed many times
E.g. She didn't like jeans that looked too washed out. / a pair of washed-out old jeans
→ deep down: if you know something deep down, you know your true feelings about
something, although you may not admit them to yourself
E.g. Deep down I still loved him.
→ reappraise something/somebody /ˌriːəˈpreɪz/ (formal):  to think again about the
value or nature of something/somebody to see if your opinion about it/them should be
changed = reassess
E.g. The system needs to be continually reappraised.

Part 2.
Do you feel like your teenager is spending most of the day glued to a phone
screen? You're not too far off. A new survey from the Pew Research Center reveals the
surprising ways that technology intersects with teen friendships – and the results show
that 57 percent of teens have made at least one new friend online. Even more
surprisingly, only 20 percent of those digital friends ever meet in person.
While teens do connect with their friends face-to-face outside of school, they
spend 55 percent of their day texting with friends, and only 25 percent of teens are
spending actual time with their friends on a daily basis (outside of school hallways).
These new forms of communication are key in maintaining friendships day-to-day – 27
percent of teens instant message their friends every day, 23 percent connect through
social media every day, and 7 percent even video chat daily. Text messaging remains the
main form of communication – almost half of survey respondents say it's their chosen
method of communication with their closest friend.
While girls are more likely to text with their close friends, boys are meeting new
friends (and maintaining friendships) in the gaming world – 89 percent play with friends
they know, and 54 percent play with online-only friends. Whether they're close with their
teammates or not, online gamers say that playing makes them feel "more connected" to
friends they know, or garners they've never met.
When making new friends, social media has also become a major part of the
teenage identity – 62 percent of teens are quick to share their social media usernames
when connecting with a new friend (although 80 percent still consider their phone
number the best method of contact). Despite the negative consequences-21 percent of
teenage users feel worse about their lives because of posts they see on social media –
teens also have found support and connection through various platforms. In fact, 68
percent of teens received support during a challenging time in their lives via social media
platforms.
Just as technology has become a gateway for new friendships, or a channel to stay
connected with current friends, it can also make a friendship breakup more public. The
study reveals that girls are more likely to block or unfriend former allies, and 68 percent
of all teenage users report experiencing "drama among their friends on social media."
→ intersect with sth (v): if two things intersect, they come together and have
an effect on each other.
E.g. We need to pinpoint the place where maximum achievable conservation intersects
with the highest potential financial return.
→ far off /ˈfɑːr ɔːf/ [only before noun]: a long distance away / a long time ago = distant
E.g. memories of those far-off days
→ gateway to something (n): a means of getting or achieving something
E.g. A good education is the gateway to success.
→ ally /ˈælaɪ/ (plural allies) [countable]: a person who helps and supports somebody who
is in a difficult situation, especially a politician
E.g. a close ally and friend of the prime minister / His sister was his ally against their
grandparents.
Key 1

1. sweeping victory

2. conservative majority

3. binding arbitration

4. labor-management disputes

5. verdicts

6. plaintiff

7. collective bargaining

8. rare oral dissent

9. race, gender and religion

10. non-disclosure provisions