The Reading / Listening - Wealth - Level 6

The world's richest people saw their wealth skyrocket in 2025. According to the investment bank UBS, the 500 richest people on Earth amassed an additional $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric earnings increased their collective net worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires topped the mega-rich list and accounted for a quarter of the gains. These included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "bolstered" by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities and metals".

Many organizations were less than impressed at the accumulation of the world's wealth in so few hands. The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity in wealth. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is stagnating, even declining, and debt distress is growing. Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens, sparking poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and instability." British climate scientist Bill McGuire warned that "if the monstrous political-economic system that is tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then humanity will be".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Wealth - Level 4  or  Wealth - Level 5

Sources
  • https://fortune.com/2025/12/31/worlds-richest-wealth-added-record-increase-american-dream-europe/
  • https://www.commondreams.org/news/billionaire-list-2025
  • https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/dec/31/billionaires-added-record-wealth-2025


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. RICH PEOPLE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about rich people. 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?
       rich people / investment / earnings / billionaire / newspaper / cryptocurrencies /metal
       impressed / wealth / charity / inequality / debt / opportunities / poverty / humanity
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SHARE: Students A strongly believe rich people should share all of their wealth; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BECOMING WEALTHY: What are pros of these ways to become wealthy? What are the risks? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Risks

Build a business

 

 

Equity investments

 

 

Win the lottery

 

 

Gambling

 

 

Become CEO

 

 

Property

 

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

  • The poor
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Climate change
  • Property
  • Building hospitals
  • Friends and family
  • Medical research
  • WWIII survival

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. skyrocket a. Go up very quickly.
      2. amassed b. Made stronger or better.
      3. stratospheric c. Collected a lot of something.
      4. net d. Money or value that increases.
      5. gains e. Extremely high.
      6. bolstered f. The final amount after taking away costs.
      7. equities g. Company shares people can buy and sell.

    Paragraph 2

      8. accumulation h. Causing something to start.
      9. disparity i. Money that must be paid back.
      10. stagnating j. The act of getting more and more over time.
      11. debt k. A feeling of anger because something is unfair.
      12. sparking l. A big difference between things.
      13. resentment m. Very bad or very cruel.
      14. monstrous n. Not growing, developing or changing.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says many billionaires bought a skyrocket in 2025.     T / F
  2. The 500 richest people in the world are worth almost $12 trillion.     T / F
  3. The eight richest people accounted for about 25% of the annual gains.    T / F
  4. Donald Trump's election victory is one reason for the huge gains.     T / F
  5. A charity said wealth should be in fewer people's hands.     T / F
  6. The charity said life opportunities are taken away by inequality.     T / F
  7. A climate scientist said billionaires were bad for the environment.     T / F
  8. The climate scientist said humanity needed to get on its knees.     T / F

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

  1. richest
  2. amassed
  3. earnings
  4. accounted for
  5. bolstered
  6. disparity
  7. deliberate
  8. stagnating
  9. resentment
  10. humanity
  1. imbalance
  2. boosted
  3. accumulated
  4. bitterness
  5. wealthiest
  6. doing nothing
  7. made up
  8. intentional
  9. the human race
  10. income

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

  1. The world's richest people saw
  2. stratospheric earnings increased their
  3. eight multi-billionaires topped the
  4. accounted for a quarter of
  5. booming markets
  6. Many organizations were less
  7. the growing
  8. rights from the majority of
  9. sparking
  10. brought to its
  1. the gains
  2. citizens
  3. in cryptocurrencies
  4. than impressed
  5. knees
  6. their wealth skyrocket
  7. collective net worth
  8. poverty
  9. mega-rich list
  10. disparity in wealth

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
gains
skyrocket
topped
additional
net
equities
bolstered
earnings

The world's richest people saw their wealth (1) _________________________________ in 2025. According to the investment bank UBS, the 500 richest people on Earth amassed an (2) _________________________________ $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric (3) _________________________________ increased their collective (4) _________________________________ worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires     (5) _________________________________ the mega-rich list and accounted for a quarter of the (6) _________________________________. These included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "(7) _________________________________ " by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies,           (8) _________________________________ and metals".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
stagnating
impressed
system
majority
humanity
few
instability
deliberate

Many organizations were less than (9) _________________________________ at the accumulation of the world's wealth in so (10) _________________________________ hands. The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity in wealth. It said: "Inequality is a (11) _________________________________ policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is (12) _________________________________, even declining, and debt distress is growing. Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the (13) _________________________________ of citizens, sparking poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and (14) _________________________________." British climate scientist Bill McGuire warned that "if the monstrous political-economic (15) _________________________________ that is tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then (16) _________________________________ will be".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The world's richest people saw their wealth ______
     a.  skyrocket on 2025
     b.  skyrocket tin 2025
     c.  skyrocket in 2025
     d.  skyrocketing 2025
2)  Their stratospheric earnings increased their ______
     a.  collective met worth
     b.  collective net worth
     c.  collective net worthy
     d.  collect if net worth
3)  eight multi-billionaires topped the mega-rich list and accounted for a quarter ______
     a.  offer gains
     b.  of the grains
     c.  of a gains
     d.  of the gains
4)  ...newspaper said the gains were "bolstered" by Donald Trump's ______
     a.  2024 election victory
     b.  2024 elective victory
     c.  2024 elect shun victory
     d.  2024 election victorious
5)  booming markets in cryptocurrencies, ______
     a.  inequities and metals
     b.  equities and metallic
     c.  equities and metals
     d.  equities end metals

6)  less than impressed at the accumulation of the world's wealth in ______
     a.  so phew hands
     b.  so few hand
     c.  so few hands
     d.  Sophie hands
7)  The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing ______
     a.  disparity on wealth
     b.  this parity in wealth
     c.  disparity in wealth
     d.  disparity in wealthy
8)  public wealth is stagnating, even declining, and debt ______
     a.  distress is grown
     b.  distress is growing
     c.  distress is grow in
     d.  distresses growing
9)  Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the ______
     a.  majority off citizens
     b.  majority of citizen
     c.  major it of citizens
     d.  majority of citizens
10)  Bill McGuire warned that if the monstrous political-economic system that is ______
     a.  tearing your planet
     b.  tear in our planet
     c.  tear ring our planet
     d.  tearing our planet

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world's richest people saw (1) _______________________________________________ in 2025. According to the investment bank UBS, the 500 richest people on Earth (2) _______________________________________________ $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric earnings increased their (3) _______________________________________________ to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires topped the mega-rich (4) _______________________________________________ for a quarter of the gains. These included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. The Guardian newspaper said the gains (5) _______________________________________________ Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies, (6) _______________________________________________".

Many organizations were less (7) _______________________________________________ the accumulation of the world's wealth in so few hands. The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing (8) _______________________________________________. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is stagnating, even declining, (9) _______________________________________________ is growing. Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the (10) _______________________________________________, sparking poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and instability." British climate scientist Bill McGuire warned that "if (11) _______________________________________________-economic system that is tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then (12) _______________________________________________".

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say happened to the wealth of the richest people?
  2. Which bank said the richest people's riches grew by $2.2 trillion in 2025?
  3. How much are the world's 500 richest people worth?
  4. How many billionaires accounted for a quarter of the increased wealth?
  5. What were there booming markets in besides equities and metals?
  6. What did the charity Oxfam highlight a disparity in?
  7. What did Oxfam say was growing?
  8. What did Oxfam say inequality sparked?
  9. Who is Bill McGuire?
  10. What did Mr McGuire say could bring humanity to its knees?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say happened to the wealth of the richest people?
a) It broke all records.
b) It plateaued.
c) It skyrocketed.
d) It fired.
2) Which bank said the richest people's riches grew by $2.2 trillion in 2025?
a) UBS
b) SUB
c) BUS
d) USB
3) How much are the world's 500 richest people worth?
a) $11.8 trillion
b) $11.9 trillion
c) $11.2 trillion
d) $11.5 trillion
4) How many billionaires accounted for a quarter of the increased wealth?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
5) What were there booming markets in besides equities and metals?
a) copper
b) futures
c) cryptocurrencies
d) rare Earths

6) What did the charity Oxfam highlight a disparity in?
a) investments
b) wealth
c) bonds
d) education
7) What did Oxfam say was growing?
a) despair
b) homelessness
c) the number of poor
d) debt distress
8) What did Oxfam say inequality sparked?
a) riots
b) poverty
c) misogyny
d) fires
9) Who is Bill McGuire?
a) a poverty economist
b) a climate scientist
c) a market analyst
d) a charity boss
10) What did Mr McGuire say could bring humanity to its knees?
a) the monstrous political-economic system
b) the global elite
c) a pandemic
d) greed

Role play

Role  A – The Poor
You think it is best to spend billions of dollars on the poor. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): property, medical research or family.

Role  B – Property
You think property is the best thing to spend billions of dollars on. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): the poor, medical research or family.

Role  C – Medical Research
You think medical research is the best thing to spend billions of dollars on. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): property, the poor or family.

Role  D – Family
You think family is the best thing to spend billions of dollars on. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): property, medical research or the poor.

After reading / listening

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

'rich'

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

    • and 'wealth'.

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

    • • 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:

    • skyrocket
    • additional
    • net
    • quarter
    • 2024
    • booming
    • less
    • disparity
    • record
    • rips
    • climate
    • knees

    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 - Wealth

    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 'rich'?
    3. What do you think of super-rich people?
    4. What would you do with $1 trillion?
    5. How often do you dream about being rich?
    6. How might money make you happy?
    7. What do you think of the billionaires mentioned in the article?
    8. What do you know about cryptocurrencies?
    9. What's the best way to become super-rich?
    10. What advice do you have for multi-billionaires?

    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 'wealth'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What is wrong with so much wealth being in so few hands?
    5. What problems does a great disparity in wealth create?
    6. Why don't billionaires give away their fortunes to end world poverty?
    7. How dangerous is poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust and instability?
    8. What do you think wealth distribution will be like in the future?
    9. How is 'the monstrous political-economic system' hurting people?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a multi-billionaire?

    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 world's richest people saw their (1) ____ skyrocket in 2025. According to the investment bank UBS, the 500 richest people on Earth (2) ____ an additional $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric earnings increased their collective (3) ____ worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires (4) ____ the mega-rich list and accounted for a quarter of the gains. These included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "(5) ____" by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies, (6) ____ and metals".

    Many organizations were less than impressed at the accumulation of the world's wealth in so few (7) ____. The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity (8) ____ wealth. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is stagnating, even declining, and debt distress is (9) ____. Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens, (10) ____ poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and instability." British climate scientist Bill McGuire warned that "if the (11) ____ political-economic system that is tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then humanity will (12) ____".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     wealthy     (b)     wealthier     (c)     wealth     (d)     wealthiest    
    2. (a)     amassed     (b)     aghast     (c)     attaches     (d)     abashed    
    3. (a)     net     (b)     cloth     (c)     final     (d)     trap    
    4. (a)     topped     (b)     tapped     (c)     tipped     (d)     trumped    
    5. (a)     blistered     (b)     cloistered     (c)     holstered     (d)     bolstered    
    6. (a)     inequities     (b)     antiques     (c)     antiquities     (d)     equities    
    7. (a)     hands     (b)     fingers     (c)     palms     (d)     knuckles    
    8. (a)     by     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    9. (a)     growing     (b)     grown     (c)     glowing     (d)     glowering    
    10. (a)     sparkling     (b)     sparking     (c)     stoking     (d)     spanking    
    11. (a)     demon     (b)     monstrous     (c)     ghostly     (d)     ogre    
    12. (a)     be     (b)     have     (c)     do     (d)     live

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. people saw their wealth esokcrkyt
    2. emsdaas an additional $2.2 trillion
    3. pracittssohre earnings
    4. releodstb by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory
    5. booming markets in ctucrprsoiyceren
    6. uqetiesi and metals

    Paragraph 2

    1. the cumiulntaaoc of the world's wealth
    2. the growing asriitydp in wealth
    3. Inequality is a liabereted policy choice
    4. public wealth is gaaingtnts
    5. nmtnetsree, distrust, and instability
    6. the msonrsuot political-economic system

    Put the text back together

    (    )   $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric earnings increased their collective net
    (    )   and instability." British climate scientist Bill McGuire warned that "if the monstrous political-economic system that is
    (    )   bank UBS, the 500 richest people on Earth amassed an additional
    (    )   by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities and metals".
    (    )   Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "bolstered"
    (    )   hands. The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity in
    (    )   Many organizations were less than impressed at the accumulation of the world's wealth in so few
    (    )   opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens, sparking poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust,
    (    )   stagnating, even declining, and debt distress is growing. Inequality rips away life
    (    )   tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then humanity will be".
    (    )   the mega-rich list and accounted for a quarter of the gains. These included
    (  1  )   The world's richest people saw their wealth skyrocket in 2025. According to the investment
    (    )   wealth. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is
    (    )   worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires topped

    Put the words in the right order

    1. world's   The   people   richest   their   saw   skyrocket   wealth   .
    2. The   richest   500  amassed   people  additional   an   $2.2 trillion  .
    3. Their  earnings  stratospheric  their   increased  net   collective  worth  .
    4. accounted   They   a   for   of   quarter   gains   the   .
    5. The   were   gains   by   bolstered   election   Trump's   victory   .
    6. were   Organizations   than   less   at   impressed   accumulation   the  .
    7. Oxfam   the   highlighted   disparity   growing   wealth   in   .
    8. It   inequality   said   a   is   policy   deliberate   choice   .
    9. destroys   Inequality   from   rights   majority   the   citizens   of   .
    10. The   system   political-economic   is   that   our   tearing   planet   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The world's richest people saw their wealth skylight / skyrocket in 2025. According of / to the investment bank UBS, the 500 richest people / peoples on Earth amassed an additional $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric earnings / earrings increased their collective net / nets worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires tapped / topped the mega-rich list and accounted for the / a quarter of the grains / gains. These included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "bolstered" of / by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming / blooming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities and metals".

    Many organizations were lesser / less than impressed at the accumulation of the world's wealth in so few hand / hands. The international charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity on / in wealth. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy chosen / choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is staggering / stagnating, even declining, and debt distress is growing. Inequality lips / rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens, sparking / sparkling poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and instability." British climate scientist Bill McGuire warned that / what "if the monstrous political-economic system that is tearing / steering our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then humanity will been / be".

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

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

    Th_  w_rld's  r_ch_st  p__pl_  s_w  th__r  w__lth  skyr_ck_t  _n  2025.  _cc_rd_ng  t_  th_  _nv_stm_nt  b_nk  _BS,  th_  500  r_ch_st  _p__pl_  _n  __rth  _m_ss_d  _n  _dd_t__n_l  $2.2  tr_ll__n  l_st  y__r.  Th__r  str_t_sph_r_c  __rn_ngs  _ncr__s_d  th__r  c_ll_ct_v_  n_t  w_rth  t_  $11.9  tr_ll__n.  Th_  Bl__mb_rg  B_ll__n__r_s  _nd_x  r_p_rts  th_t  __ght  m_lt_-b_ll__n__r_s  t_pp_d  th_  m_g_-r_ch  l_st  _nd  _cc__nt_d  f_r  _  q__rt_r  _f  th_  g__ns.  Th_s_  _ncl_d_d  _l_n  M_sk,  J_ff  B_z_s,  L_rry  _ll_s_n,  _nd  L_rry  P_g_.  Th_  G__rd__n  n_wsp_p_r  s__d  th_  g__ns  w_r_  "b_lst_r_d"  by  D_n_ld  Tr_mp's  2024  _l_ct__n  v_ct_ry,  "_nd  b__m_ng  m_rk_ts  _n  crypt_c_rr_nc__s,  _q__t__s  _nd  m_t_ls".

    M_ny  _rg_n_z_t__ns  w_r_  l_ss  th_n  _mpr_ss_d  _t  th_  _cc_m_l_t__n  _f  th_  w_rld's  w__lth  _n  s_  f_w  h_nds.  Th_  _nt_rn_t__n_l  ch_r_ty  _xf_m  h_ghl_ght_d  th_  gr_w_ng  d_sp_r_ty  _n  w__lth.  _t  s__d:  "_n_q__l_ty  _s  _  d_l_b_r_t_  p_l_cy  ch__c_.  D_sp_t_  r_c_rd  w__lth  _t  th_  t_p,  p_bl_c  w__lth  _s  st_gn_t_ng,  _v_n  d_cl_n_ng,  _nd  d_bt  d_str_ss  _s  gr_w_ng.  _n_q__l_ty  r_ps  _w_y  l_f_  _pp_rt_n_t__s  _nd  r_ghts  fr_m  th_  m_j_r_ty  _f  c_t_z_ns,  sp_rk_ng  p_v_rty,  h_ng_r,  r_s_ntm_nt,  d_str_st,  _nd  _nst_b_l_ty."  Br_t_sh  cl_m_t_  sc__nt_st  B_ll  McG__r_  w_rn_d  th_t  "_f  th_  m_nstr__s  p_l_t_c_l-_c_n_m_c  syst_m  th_t  _s  t__r_ng  __r  pl_n_t..._nd  _ts  p__pl_  _p_rt  _sn't  br__ght  t_  _ts  kn__s,  th_n  h_m_n_ty  w_ll  b_".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the worlds richest people saw their wealth skyrocket in 2025 according to the investment bank ubs the 500 richest people on earth amassed an additional 22 trillion last year their stratospheric earnings increased their collective net worth to 119 trillion the bloomberg billionaires index reports that eight multibillionaires topped the megarich list and accounted for a quarter of the gains these included elon musk jeff bezos larry ellison and larry page the guardian newspaper said the gains were bolstered by donald trumps 2024 election victory and booming markets in cryptocurrencies equities and metals

    many organizations were less than impressed at the accumulation of the worlds wealth in so few hands the international charity oxfam highlighted the growing disparity in wealth it said inequality is a deliberate policy choice despite record wealth at the top public wealth is stagnating even declining and debt distress is growing inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens sparking poverty hunger resentment distrust and instability british climate scientist bill mcguire warned that if the monstrous politicaleconomic system that is tearing our planetand its people apart isnt brought to its knees then humanity will be

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theworld'srichestpeoplesawtheirwealthskyrocketin2025.According
    totheinvestmentbankUBS,the500richestpeopleonEarthamassedan
    additional$2.2trillionlastyear.Theirstratosphericearningsincreasedt
    heircollectivenetworthto$11.9trillion.TheBloombergBillionairesInd
    exreportsthateightmulti-billionairestoppedthemega-richlistandac
    countedforaquarterofthegains.TheseincludedElonMusk,JeffBezos,L
    arryEllison,andLarryPage.TheGuardiannewspapersaidthegainswer
    e"bolstered"byDonaldTrump's2024electionvictory,"andboomingma
    rketsincryptocurrencies,equitiesandmetals".Manyorganizationswer
    elessthanimpressedattheaccumulationoftheworld'swealthinsofewh
    ands.TheinternationalcharityOxfamhighlightedthegrowingdisparity
    inwealth.Itsaid:"Inequalityisadeliberatepolicychoice.Despiterecord
    wealthatthetop,publicwealthisstagnating,evendeclining,anddebtdis
    tressisgrowing.Inequalityripsawaylifeopportunitiesandrightsfromth
    emajorityofcitizens,sparkingpoverty,hunger,resentment,distrust,a
    ndinstability."BritishclimatescientistBillMcGuirewarnedthat"ifthem
    onstrouspolitical-economicsystemthatistearingourplanet...anditsp
    eopleapartisn'tbroughttoitsknees,thenhumanitywillbe".

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    The world's rich should give most of their money to the poor. 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. RICH PEOPLE: Make a poster about rich people. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SHARE THE WEALTH: Write a magazine article about rich people sharing all their wealth to end world poverty. 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 rich people. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how the rich can help the world. 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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