Reading Practice – Who Needs Cities When We All Work From Home?

Part 1 – Key Vocabulary

Driver: In this story, driver means something that has an influence or effect on other things.

  • Consumer demand is one of the main drivers of the economy.
  • There are several drivers of climate change including using gasoline vehicles and throwing away non-recycling waste, like plastic.

Remotely: From a far away place (imagine the remote control for your TV or air conditioner).

  • Many people are working remotely during the pandemic.
  • Improvements in technology allow us to work and meet people remotely.

Satellite office: A small office that is part of a large company and located far away from the main office.

  • The company will open a satellite office in the suburbs.
  • I go to my company’s satellite office once every two weeks for a meeting.

Telecommute: means to work from home using a computer which is connected to the company’s network.

  • Jack stays home to take care of the kids and to telecommute.
  • Telecommuting is the future of office work.

Retailer: This means a business that sells items to customers, usually in a store.

  • Macy’s is one of New York Cities largest retailers.
  • Online shops are a major competitors for small retailers.

Practice the Vocabulary

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    Part 2 – Read the Story

    Who Needs Cities When We All Work From Home?

    *You can listen to the article above, at both a slow speed and fast speed

    Covid-19 could change the idea of cities. Historically, cities have been the drivers of business and innovation. When people and companies gathered near each other, they were able to quickly meet each other’s needs while sharing ideas. But communications technology has progressed and workers have become better at using it, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Companies now have learned that they can work effectively without having everybody in a physical office, and this is a lesson that many companies won’t be able to unlearn.

    Here is an example. Five years ago, Ms. Christy Johnson founded Artemis Connection, a 35-person consulting firm and from the start, everybody has worked remotely. Christy found a number of benefits to this. Not only the fact that she does not have to pay for expensive office space, but she has the ability to find talent no matter where they are.

    In addition, companies also need to consider that employee loyalty happens when people work together. In particular, younger workers desire to live and work where they can meet and be with others. Perhaps some companies will set up satellite offices out of the cities to satisfy the needs of those workers too.

    Having workers telecommute from home a couple of days a week could be another lasting change in the business world. So, people who only go to office a few days a week, for example, will be more willing to live far from the city, affecting property values. It also would lower the demand for commercial office space and hurt sales at downtown restaurants and retailers. Cities might have to reinvent themselves all over again.

    Original Article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/who-needs-cities-when-we-all-work-from-home-11591394516

    Speaking Practice

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