Vocabulary focus:
- Tragedy
- Pedestrian
- Glance
- Budget
- Nimble
- Manipulate
- Reckless
- Horrid
- Rave
- Economical
- Lubricate
- Ingenious
The Challenge of the Small Car
The automakers in Detroit barely survived the tragedy of 1956. That was the year the consumer became aware of Volkswagen, and the auto market was forever altered. Once Americans got a glance at this low-priced, nimble, small car that one could manipulate so easily, they frequently refused those horrid Detroit monsters with eight cylinders and ten miles to each gallon of gasoline. Many pedestrians, previously uninterested in owning a car, began to purchase small foreign cars.
Conservative as well as reckless drivers found the price within their budget and became customers. Volkswagen owners rave about their economical cars, telling everyone how little gas they used and how infrequently they needed to be lubricated. Volkswagen, once one of the most popular small cars sold in America, has now fallen behind the autos of the ingenious Japanese manufacturers.
- Tragedy: Tragedi, bencana, malapetaka
- Pedestrian: Pejalan kaki, pengguna jalan kaki, biasa-biasa saja
- Glance: Pandangan sekilas, melirik, memandang cepat
- Budget: Anggaran, rencana keuangan, biaya
- Nimble: Cepat tanggap, lincah, gesit
- Manipulate: Memanipulasi, mengendalikan, mempengaruhi
- Reckless: Ceroboh, sembrono, gegabah
- Horrid: Mengerikan, mengerikan, mengerikan
- Rave: Memuji, memujikan, memuji dengan antusias
- Economical: Hemat, ekonomis, efisien
- Lubricate: Melumasi, mengolesi, meminyaki
- Ingenious: Cerdas, pintar, jenius.
Reckless Glance.
It was a tragedy that could have been avoided. He was just a pedestrian, crossing the street on his way to work. She was a reckless driver, speeding and texting on her phone. They only shared a brief glance before the impact, but it was enough to change their lives forever.
He suffered a severe brain injury and lost his memory. She escaped with minor scratches but was haunted by guilt and remorse. He had to relearn everything, from his name to his hobbies. She had to face the consequences of her actions, from the legal charges to the social stigma.
He was lucky to have a supportive family and friends, who helped him with his recovery. She was unlucky to have a horrid boss and a cheating boyfriend, who made her life miserable. He learned to be more nimble and creative, finding new ways to cope with his challenges. She learned to be more economical and responsible, cutting down on her expenses and debts.
He met a kind woman who loved him for who he was, not who he used to be. She met a cunning man who manipulated her for what she had, not what she needed. He found happiness in the simple things, like reading a book or playing with his dog. She found misery in the complex things, like lying to her friends or hiding from her creditors.
He never knew what he had lost, but he gained something new. She never appreciated what she had, but she lost everything. He was an ingenious survivor, who turned a curse into a blessing. She was a foolish sinner, who turned a mistake into a disaster.
He lived a life of joy and gratitude. She lived a life of sorrow and regret.
