Australia: Treasurer Warns of Rate Rises as Shark Alert Hits Perth Beach
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Big news happened in Australia today. Jim Chalmers is the country's treasurer. He talked about money around the world.
Chalmers said many people now expect interest rates to go up. He called this a 'near universal expectation'. This means almost everyone thinks the same thing.
Interest rates affect how much people pay for loans. When rates go up, loans cost more money. Many countries may see this happen soon.
In other news, there was a problem at a beach in Perth. Perth is a city in Australia. A dead whale was found in the water.
The whale's body is called a carcass. When a whale dies, sharks often come to eat it. This can be dangerous for people.
Because of the whale, officials gave a shark warning. This means people should be careful near the beach. Swimmers were told to stay safe.
The warning helps protect people from sharks. Sharks may come close to the beach to find food. People should listen to safety warnings at beaches.
Vocabulary15 words
- treasurer
- a person who controls a country's money
- interest rates
- extra money you pay back on a loan
- carcass
- the dead body of an animal
- shark warning
- a message telling people sharks are near
- expectation
- a strong belief that something will happen
- official
- a person who has an important job for the government
- global
- happening all over the world
- swimmer
- a person who swims
- loan
- money you borrow and pay back later
- safety
- being free from danger
- warning
- words that tell people about danger
- beach
- the land next to the sea
- country
- a place with its own government
- dangerous
- able to hurt someone
- protect
- to keep someone safe
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Global interest rate rises 2. A whale carcass 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Jim Chalmers is the country's _____.
Chalmers said many people now expect _____ to go up.
He called this a 'near universal _____'.
In other news, there was a problem at a _____ in Perth.
A dead whale was found in the _____.
The whale's body is called a _____.
When a whale dies, _____ often come to eat it.
Officials gave a shark _____.
People should listen to safety warnings at _____.
Sharks may come close to the beach to find _____.
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