When the Canal Stopped the World
Grammar: contrast language
A Business English English lesson exploring business.
What's in this lesson
A Business English ESL lesson on business, practising contrast language. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary and discussion questions.
From the reading: When the Canal Stopped the World
On 23 March 2021, the Ever Given — a container ship roughly as long as the Empire State Building is tall — ran aground in the Suez Canal and blocked one of the world's busiest trade routes for six days. At the time, around 12% of global trade passed through that narrow waterway, carrying everything from electronics and clothing to oil and car parts. The incident cost an estimated $9.6 billion in delayed cargo per day, according to Lloyd's List, and exposed a structural weakness that logistics experts had warned about for years.
Vocabulary
- just-in-time
- across
- against
- at
- on
- adopted
- delayed
- exposed
- halted
- ran aground
Discussion questions
- Have you ever experienced a supply shortage that affected your work?
- Is it better for a business to save money or to protect itself from risk?
- Which industries do you think are most vulnerable to global disruption?
When the Canal Stopped the World
Grammar: contrast language
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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