The Reading / Listening - Bankruptcy - Level 6

The car rental company Hertz has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US after plummeting rentals. Hertz is the world's second largest car rental company and is a household name. It operates over 10,200 franchises in 150 countries on six continents. It is one of the highest-profile companies to file for bankruptcy because of COVID-19. It had already furloughed or laid off more than 20,000 of its employees as rentals dried up worldwide. This is about half of its global workforce. It said: "The impact of the pandemic on travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the company's revenue and future bookings." Hertz had $18.8 billion of debt on its books as of March the 31st.

Hertz was founded in 1923 when John Hertz of the Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company bought a small car rental company. He pioneered what he called a "drive yourself" system, making available just a dozen Model T Ford cars to customers. His mission was, "to be the most customer-focused, cost-efficient vehicle and equipment rental company in every market." CNN wrote about how the pandemic has impacted Hertz and the entire car rental industry. It said rentals have been "devastated by the plunge in travel since the pandemic hit earlier this year". It added: "Nearly two-thirds of its revenue comes from rentals at airport locations, and air travel has fallen sharply."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Bankruptcy - Level 4  or  Bankruptcy - Level 5

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/22/business/hertz-bankruptcy/index.html
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52780841
  • https://www.marketwatch.com/story/hertz-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-as-coronavirus-crisis-slams-car-rental-business-2020-05-22


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BANKRUPTCY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about bankruptcy. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       car / rental / bankruptcy / protection / household / furloughed / global / workforce /
       cab / drive / system / dozen / equipment / pandemic / industry / revenue / airports
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CAR RENTAL: Students A strongly believe renting a car is better than buying one; Students B strongly believe buying one is better. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HOUSEHOLD NAMES: What do you know about these household names? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Want to Know

Hertz

 

 

Sony

 

 

Louis Vuitton

 

 

Nivea

 

 

BBC

 

 

Evian

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. CAR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "car". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. RENT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to rent at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Cars
  • Apartments
  • CDs
  • Friends
  • Bicycles
  • Parking space
  • Clothes
  • An allotment

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. file a. A business given a license to operate and use the name, branding and services of a parent company.
      2. bankruptcy b. Sent or submitted a document or application to an official or legal office.
      3. plummeting c. Falling or dropping straight down at high speed.
      4. franchise d. Sudden and unexpected.
      5. furloughed e. Something, usually money, that is owed or due.
      6. abrupt f. The state of (in law) not having enough money to be able to pay off debts.
      7. debt g. Laid off (not employed temporarily) workers because of a shortage of work.

    Paragraph 2

      8. founded h. Had a strong effect on someone or something.
      9. pioneered i. Fell suddenly and uncontrollably.
      10. mission j. Destroyed or ruined.
      11. impacted k. An important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes.
      12. entire l. With no part left out; whole.
      13. devastated m. Established or started a business, organisation or other institution.
      14. plunge n. Developed or was the first to use or apply a new method, area of knowledge, or activity.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Hertz has filed for bankruptcy protection because it cannot buy cars.     T / F
  2. Hertz is the world's largest car rental company.     T / F
  3. Hertz furloughed or laid off over half its workers because of COVID-19.    T / F
  4. Hertz said it has no debt but has to file for bankruptcy.     T / F
  5. Hertz was founded by Mr Hertz in 1923.     T / F
  6. The Hertz company started with just 12 cars.     T / F
  7. Hertz wanted to be the most cost-efficient car rental company.     T / F
  8. Almost two-thirds of Hertz's revenue comes from airport locations.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. filed
  2. plummeting
  3. dried up
  4. sudden
  5. bookings
  6. founded
  7. pioneered
  8. impacted
  9. devastated
  10. locations
  1. unexpected
  2. destroyed
  3. reservations
  4. nosediving
  5. affected
  6. sites
  7. submitted
  8. established
  9. dwindled
  10. developed

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Hertz has filed for bankruptcy
  2. a household
  3. It had already furloughed
  4. The impact
  5. Hertz had $18.8 billion of debt
  6. customer-
  7. cost-
  8. how the pandemic has
  9. devastated by the plunge
  10. air travel has
  1. efficient
  2. of the pandemic
  3. on its books
  4. in travel
  5. or laid off
  6. fallen sharply
  7. protection
  8. focused
  9. name
  10. impacted Hertz

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
furloughed
debt
workforce
plummeting
bookings
filed
sudden
household

The car rental company Hertz has (1) ____________ for bankruptcy protection in the US after (2) ____________ rentals. Hertz is the world's second largest car rental company and is a (3) ____________ name. It operates over 10,200 franchises in 150 countries on six continents. It is one of the highest-profile companies to file for bankruptcy because of COVID-19. It had already (4) ____________ or laid off more than 20,000 of its employees as rentals dried up worldwide. This is about half of its global (5) ____________. It said: "The impact of the pandemic on travel demand was (6) ____________ and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the company's revenue and future (7) ____________." Hertz had $18.8 billion of (8) ____________ on its books as of March the 31st.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
pioneered
vehicle
plunge
mission
sharply
founded
revenue
impacted

Hertz was (9) ____________ in 1923 when John Hertz of the Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company bought a small car rental company. He (10) ____________ what he called a "drive yourself" system, making available just a dozen Model T Ford cars to customers. His (11) ____________ was, "to be the most customer-focused, cost-efficient (12) ____________ and equipment rental company in every market." CNN wrote about how the pandemic has (13) ____________ Hertz and the entire car rental industry. It said rentals have been "devastated by the (14) ____________ in travel since the pandemic hit earlier this year". It added: "Nearly two-thirds of its (15) ____________ comes from rentals at airport locations, and air travel has fallen (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The car rental company Hertz has filed for ______
     a.  bankruptcy protective
     b.  bankruptcy protecting
     c.  bankruptcy protect shun
     d.  bankruptcy protection
2)  Hertz is the world's second largest car rental company and is ______
     a.  a householder name
     b.  a housework name
     c.  a household name
     d.  a homework name
3)  It operates over 10,200 franchises in 150 countries ______
     a.  on sick incontinence
     b.  on six continents
     c.  on six incontinence
     d.  in six contents
4) impact of the pandemic on travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing ______
     a.  an abrupt decline
     b.  an abruptly decline
     c.  an corrupt decline
     d.  an adept decline
5)  revenue and future bookings." Hertz had $18.8 billion of debt ______
     a.  on its hooks
     b.  on its books
     c.  on its looks
     d.  on its nooks

6)  He pioneered what he called a "drive yourself" system, making available ______
     a.  adjust a dozen
     b.  juice a dozen
     c.  just a dozen
     d.  gest a dozen
7)  to be the most customer-focused, ______
     a.  cost-efficiency vehicle
     b.  cost-efficient vehicle
     c.  costly-efficient vehicle
     d.  costed-efficient vehicle
8)  CNN wrote about how the pandemic has impacted Hertz and the entire ______
     a.  car rental industry
     b.  car rental industrial
     c.  car rental industries
     d.  car rental industrious
9)  It said rentals have been "devastated by the ______
     a.  plunger in travel
     b.  plunged in travel
     c.  plunges in travel
     d.  plunge in travel
10)  its revenue comes from rentals at airport locations, and air travel ______
     a.  has fall on sharply
     b.  has falling sharply
     c.  has fallen sharply
     d.  has fall in sharply

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The car rental company Hertz (1) ___________________ bankruptcy protection in the US after plummeting rentals. Hertz is the world's second largest car rental company and is (2) ___________________. It operates over 10,200 franchises in 150 (3) ___________________ continents. It is one of the highest-profile companies to file for bankruptcy because of COVID-19. It had already (4) ___________________ off more than 20,000 of its employees as rentals dried up worldwide. This is about half of its global workforce. It said: "The impact of the (5) ___________________ demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the company's (6) ___________________ bookings." Hertz had $18.8 billion of debt on its books as of March the 31st.

Hertz was founded in 1923 when John Hertz of the Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company bought a small car rental company. He (7) ___________________ called a "drive yourself" system, making available just a dozen Model T Ford cars to customers. His (8) ___________________ be the most customer-focused, (9) ___________________ and equipment rental company in every market." CNN wrote about how the (10) ___________________ Hertz and the entire car rental industry. It said rentals have been "devastated by (11) ___________________ travel since the pandemic hit earlier this year". It added: "Nearly two-thirds of its revenue comes from rentals at airport locations, and air travel (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of protection has Hertz filed for?
  2. How many franchises does Hertz have?
  3. How many workers did Hertz furlough or lay off?
  4. What did the article say dried up worldwide?
  5. How much was Hertz in debt?
  6. When was Hertz founded?
  7. What system did John Hertz pioneer?
  8. How many cars did Hertz have when it started?
  9. What news agency commented on Hertz?
  10. How much of Hertz's revenue is from rentals at airport locations?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of protection has Hertz filed for?
a) police protection
b) security protection
c) debtor protection
d) bankruptcy protection
2) How many franchises does Hertz have?
a) around 10,200
b) over 10,200
c) exactly 10,200
d) just under 10,200
3) How many workers did Hertz furlough or lay off?
a) exactly 20,000
b) less than 20,000
c) more than 20,000
d) around 20,000
4) What did the article say dried up worldwide?
a) rentals
b) water
c) demand
d) petrol
5) How much was Hertz in debt?
a) $19.8 billion
b) $18.9 billion
c) $18.8 billion
d) $19.9 billion

6) When was Hertz founded?
a) 1932
b) 1923
c) 1928
d) 1982
7) What system did John Hertz pioneer?
a) reversing
b) gears
c) online reservations
d) a drive-yourself system
8) How many cars did Hertz have when it started?
a) 12
b) 13
c) 14
d) 15
9) What news agency commented on Hertz?
a) Al Jazeera
b) BBC
c) CNN
d) Fox News
10) How much of Hertz's revenue is from rentals at airport locations?
a) 80%
b) nearly two-thirds
c) half
d) a bit

Role play

Role  A – Cars
You think cars are the best things to rent. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these to rent (and why): CDs, clothes or friends.

Role  B – CDs
You think CDs are the best things to rent. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these to rent (and why): cars, clothes or friends.

Role  C – Clothes
You think clothes are the best things to rent. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these to rent (and why): CDs, cars or friends.

Role  D – Friends
You think friends are the best things to rent. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these to rent (and why): CDs, clothes or cars.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'car'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'rental'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • filed
    • name
    • laid
    • half
    • sudden
    • debt
    • 1923
    • drive
    • mission
    • entire
    • plunge
    • sharply

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Bankruptcy

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'car'?
    3. What do you know about the company Hertz?
    4. How does a company become bankrupt?
    5. What would you do if you went bankrupt?
    6. What things do you rent?
    7. How are companies doing in your country during the pandemic?
    8. What's the difference between 'laid off' and 'furloughed'?
    9. What is the future of car rental companies?
    10. How can Hertz pay off its debts?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'rental'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should governments protect companies with a long history?
    5. What do you know about Ford Model T cars?
    6. How has the pandemic impacted the travel industry?
    7. How do you feel about travelling overseas?
    8. How is your country's economy doing?
    9. What other companies can you see going bust?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the bosses of Hertz?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The car rental company Hertz has filed for bankruptcy (1) ____ in the US after plummeting rentals. Hertz is the world's second largest car rental company and is a (2) ____ name. It operates over 10,200 (3) ____ in 150 countries on six continents. It is one of the highest-profile companies to file for bankruptcy because of COVID-19. It had already (4) ____ or laid off more than 20,000 of its employees as rentals dried up worldwide. This is about half of its global workforce. It said: "The impact of the pandemic (5) ____ travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the company's revenue and future bookings." Hertz had $18.8 billion of (6) ____ on its books as of March the 31st.

    Hertz was (7) ____ in 1923 when John Hertz of the Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company bought a small car rental company. He (8) ____ what he called a "drive yourself" system, making available just a dozen Model T Ford cars to customers. His mission was, "to be the most customer-focused, (9) ____-efficient vehicle and equipment rental company in every market." CNN wrote about how the pandemic has impacted Hertz and the (10) ____ car rental industry. It said rentals have been "devastated (11) ____ the plunge in travel since the pandemic hit earlier this year". It added: "Nearly two-thirds of its revenue comes from rentals at airport locations, and air travel has fallen (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     protects     (b)     protection     (c)     protected     (d)     protecting    
    2. (a)     housework     (b)     household     (c)     homework     (d)     housing    
    3. (a)     chases     (b)     purchases     (c)     friendships     (d)     franchises    
    4. (a)     furrowed     (b)     furloughed     (c)     ploughed     (d)     trough    
    5. (a)     by     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    6. (a)     cost     (b)     payback     (c)     debt     (d)     burden    
    7. (a)     founded     (b)     floundered     (c)     foundry     (d)     fondant    
    8. (a)     ratcheted     (b)     zoomed     (c)     pioneered     (d)     expected    
    9. (a)     purchase     (b)     pay     (c)     spend     (d)     cost    
    10. (a)     entire     (b)     all     (c)     every     (d)     holy    
    11. (a)     by     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    12. (a)     sharply     (b)     bluntly     (c)     unwisely     (d)     invisibly

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. mnmipgelut rentals
    2. It operates over 10,200 ainfcehsrs
    3. It had already lugfuroedh or laid off more
    4. half of its global ocrekrfow
    5. causing an rautbp decline
    6. Hertz had $18.8 billion of tedb on its books

    Paragraph 2

    1. He erndeoeip what he called a...
    2. to be the most customer-ecfusod
    3. cost-fnicfteei vehicle
    4. the eienrt car rental industry
    5. devastated by the nulegp
    6. Nearly two-thirds of its eneveur

    Put the text back together

    (...)  over 10,200 franchises in 150 countries on six continents. It is one of the highest-profile companies to file
    (  1  ) The car rental company Hertz has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US after plummeting
    (...)  Hertz was founded in 1923 when John Hertz of the Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company
    (...)  car rental industry. It said rentals have been "devastated by the plunge in travel since
    (...)  of the pandemic on travel demand was sudden and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the company's revenue and future
    (...)  bookings." Hertz had $18.8 billion of debt on its books as of March the 31st.
    (...)  bought a small car rental company. He pioneered what he called a "drive yourself" system, making available just a
    (...)  dozen Model T Ford cars to customers. His mission was, "to be the most customer-focused, cost-
    (...)  employees as rentals dried up worldwide. This is about half of its global workforce. It said: "The impact
    (...)  efficient vehicle and equipment rental company in every market." CNN wrote about how the pandemic has impacted Hertz and the entire
    (...)  rentals. Hertz is the world's second largest car rental company and is a household name. It operates
    (...)  comes from rentals at airport locations, and air travel has fallen sharply."
    (...)  for bankruptcy because of COVID-19. It had already furloughed or laid off more than 20,000 of its
    (...)  the pandemic hit earlier this year". It added: "Nearly two-thirds of its revenue

    Put the words in the right order

    1. 150   operates   over   It   franchises   countries   .   10,200   in
    2. is   half   about   of   its   global   This   workforce   .
    3. the   pandemic   on   impact   The   demand   .   travel   of
    4. in   decline   an   revenue   .   Causing   the   abrupt   company's
    5. Hertz   had   its   on   $18.8bn   debt   of   books   .
    6. pioneered   called   he   He   system   .   a   "drive-yourself"   what
    7. the   most   to   mission   be   His   was   customer-focused   .
    8. car   industry   .   the   entire   rental   Hertz   and   Impacted
    9. were   in   the   devastated   Rentals   plunge   by   travel   .
    10. rentals   .   from   its   of   revenue   two-thirds   Nearly   comes

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The car rental company Hertz has filed for bankruptcy detection / protection in the US after plummeting rentals. Hertz is the world's second largest car rental company and is a household / housing name. It operates over 10,200 franchises / friendships in 150 countries on six incontinence / continents. It is one of the highest-profile companies to file for bankruptcy because of COVID-19. It had already furrowed / furloughed or laid off more than 20,000 of its employees as rentals dried up / down worldwide. This is about half of its globally / global workforce. It said: "The impact of the pandemic on travel demand was sudden / suddenly and dramatic, causing an abrupt decline in the company's revenue and future books / bookings." Hertz had $18.8 billion of debt on its magazines / books as of March the 31st.

    Hertz was finding / founded in 1923 when John Hertz of the Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company purchase / bought a small car rental company. He pioneered what he called / terminology a "drive yourself" system, making available just / simple a dozen Model T Ford cars to customers. His mission be / was, "to be the most customer-focused, cost-efficient vehicle and equipment rental company in all / every market." CNN wrote about how the pandemic has compacted / impacted Hertz and the entire car rental industry. It said rentals have been "devastated by / of the plunge in travel since / for the pandemic hit earlier this year". It added: "Nearly two-thirds of its revenue comes from rentals at airport locations, and air travel has fallen sharply / bluntly."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

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    H_r t z w_s f__ n d_d _n 1 9 2 3 w h_n J_h n H_r t z _f t h_ Y_l l_w C_b _n d Y_l l_w T r_c k _n d C__ c h M_n_f_c t_r_n g C_m p_n y b__ g h t _ s m_l l c_r r_n t_l c_m p_n y . H_ p__ n__ r_d w h_t h_ c_l l_d _ " d r_v_ y__ r s_l f " s y s t_m , m_k_n g _v__ l_b l_ j_s t _ d_z_n M_d_l T F_r d c_r s t_ c_s t_m_r s . H_s m_s s__ n w_s , " t_ b_ t h_ m_s t c_s t_m_r - f_c_s_d , c_s t -_f f_c__ n t v_h_c l_ _n d _q__ p m_n t r_n t_l c_m p_n y _n _v_r y m_r k_t . " C N N w r_t_ _b__ t h_w t h_ p_n d_m_c h_s _m p_c t_d H_r t z _n d t h_ _n t_r_ c_r r_n t_l _n d_s t r y . I t s__ d r_n t_l s h_v_ b__ n " d_v_s t_t_d b y t h_ p l_n g_ _n t r_v_l s_n c_ t h_ p_n d_m_c h_t __ r l__ r t h_s y__ r " . I t _d d_d : " N__ r l y t w_- t h_r d s _f _t s r_v_n__ c_m_s f r_m r_n t_l s _t __ r p_r t l_c_t__ n s , _n d __ r t r_v_l h_s f_l l_n s h_r p l y . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the car rental company hertz has filed for bankruptcy protection in the us after plummeting rentals hertz is the worlds second largest car rental company and is a household name it operates over 10200 franchises in 150 countries on six continents it is one of the highestprofile companies to file for bankruptcy because of covid19 it had already furloughed or laid off more than 20000 of its employees as rentals dried up worldwide this is about half of its global workforce it said the impact of the pandemic on travel demand was sudden and dramatic causing an abrupt decline in the companys revenue and future bookings hertz had 188 billion of debt on its books as of march the 31st

    hertz was founded in 1923 when john hertz of the yellow cab and yellow truck and coach manufacturing company bought a small car rental company he pioneered what he called a drive yourself system making available just a dozen model t ford cars to customers his mission was to be the most customerfocused costefficient vehicle and equipment rental company in every market cnn wrote about how the pandemic has impacted hertz and the entire car rental industry it said rentals have been devastated by the plunge in travel since the pandemic hit earlier this year it added nearly twothirds of its revenue comes from rentals at airport locations and air travel has fallen sharply

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThecarrentalcompanyHertzhasfiledforbankruptcyprotectionintheU
    Safterplummetingrentals.Hertzistheworld'ssecondlargestcarrental
    companyandisahouseholdname.Itoperatesover10,200franchisesin
    150countriesonsixcontinents.Itisoneofthehighest-profilecompanie
    stofileforbankruptcybecauseofCOVID-19.Ithadalreadyfurloughedo
    rlaidoffmorethan20,000ofitsemployeesasrentalsdriedupworldwide.
    Thisisabouthalfofitsglobalworkforce.Itsaid:"Theimpactofthepande
    micontraveldemandwassuddenanddramatic,causinganabruptdeclin
    einthecompany'srevenueandfuturebookings."Hertzhad$18.8billion
    ofdebtonitsbooksasofMarchthe31st.Hertzwasfoundedin1923whenJ
    ohnHertzoftheYellowCabandYellowTruckandCoachManufacturingC
    ompanyboughtasmallcarrentalcompany.Hepioneeredwhathecalled
    a"driveyourself"system,makingavailablejustadozenModelTFordcar
    stocustomers.Hismissionwas,"tobethemostcustomer-focused,cost-
    efficientvehicleandequipmentrentalcompanyineverymarket."CNNw
    roteabouthowthepandemichasimpactedHertzandtheentirecarrental
    industry.Itsaidrentalshavebeen"devastatedbytheplungeintravelsin
    cethepandemichitearlierthisyear".Itadded:"Nearlytwo-thirdsofitsr
    evenuecomesfromrentalsatairportlocations,andairtravelhasfallens
    harply."

    Free writing

    Write about bankruptcy for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Governments should never let companies go bankrupt. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. BANKRUPTCY: Make a poster about bankruptcy. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. GOVERNMENTS: Write a magazine article about governments never letting companies go bankrupt. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on bankruptcy. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to help companies facing bankruptcy. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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