the billionaire elections

w w w . d v b e . b z

THE BILLIONAIRE ELECTIONS

Transcripts and Vocabulary

Business English with

Business Simulations

Copyright © 2008 - Dave Volek Publishing - All Rights Reserved DVBE.BZ™ is a wholly owned trademark of Dave Volek Publishing.

All other company and product names and logos are for identification purposes only and are the property of, and may be trademarks of, their respective owners.

About Dave Volek

Engineer. Businessman. ELT Instructor. Inventor. At the heart of the comprehensive suite of Dave Volek’s Business English (DVBE) modules lies my diverse expertise in business, engineering, and finance; my interest in people and education; and my passion for creating innovative solutions that bridge the inherent gaps of traditional business English instruction. My proven, unconventional approach helps business and technical professionals build strong, practical English skills for the dynamic workplace.

DVBE Modules

The Billionaires Your group will follow some instructions to determine which billionaire really controls the world. There’s lots of suspense to keep you guessing, but you need your business English to find out.

The Grocery Store You will communicate with big numbers and use “increase” and “decrease” a lot. There’s some good vocabulary for income statements.

The Tractor Deal You will either be a farmer looking to buy a tractor or a farm equipment dealer trying to sell a tractor. Lots of talk about “specs.” No experience with tractors is necessary: the buyer and seller worksheets will guide you.

Stan’s Tents You will follow an entrepreneur prepare his marketing plan and make a similar plan of your own. There’s lots of useful marketing words you need to learn.

Company Articles You will use about six pages of legal text to resolve various financial, accounting, and legal problems. You wanted some practice with legal English, didn’t you? Here it is!

Risk & Reward Your group will choose one of three risky investments. The group who makes the best choices wins the contest.

Credits• Designer & Writer: Dave Volek, B. Sc.

• EFL Advisor & Editor: Les Thompson, B. Ed., B.F.A.

• Illustrations: Tim Rotheisler

• Layout & Marketing Consultant: Third Stage Alliance www.ThirdStageAlliance.com

The Billionaire Elections: Transcripts and Vocabulary | i

Contents

InstruCtIons 1

exerCIse#1:432945CalIfornIaInC. 1

1-Introduction 1

exerCIse#2:PhIlIshoeDealersltD. 3

2-Introduction 3

exerCIse#3:GearlooseInDustrIesInC. 5

3-Introduction 5

exerCIse#4:BuGGyWhIPManufaCturInGltD. 7

4-Instructions 7

exerCIse#5:Koota-looMaCorP. 9

5-Introduction 9

exerCIse6:WollyhooDMovIesInC. 11

6-Introduction 11

voCaBulary 13

ansWerKey 15

The Billionaire Elections: Transcripts and Vocabulary | �

InstruCtIons

• First try to do the listening exercises without using these transcripts and vocabulary quiz.

• The bold words in the transcripts are vocabulary words.

exerCIse#1:432945CalIfornIaInC.

1-Introduction

This is Audio Exercise #1 for The Billionaires Elections. This exercise is similar to the elections of the classroom exercise. Listen to the instructions and put the right numbers in the right places on your worksheet as you determine the winner for control of 432945 California Inc. You can download the PDF worksheet by clicking the download link.

1-1• Put four-and-a-quarter million shares under Shalbotnik.

• Give him another four million.

• Aziz has three-and-a-half million shares.

• Parsley has two-and-three-quarter million shares.

• Put five million under Ling’s name.

• In LaNugget’s column, enter three-and-three-quarter million.

• Earl’s shares come to four million.

• Lastly, give two-and-a-half million to Mercedes.

• Add the totals where necessary.

1-2

Mercedes has the lowest shares. Divide these shares between Parsley and Earl. Total Parsley’s and Earl’s new share counts.


1-3

Aziz is now dropped from the list. He casts his votes to Parsley. Calculate the new share total for Parsley.

1-4

LaNugget is scratched off. He divides his shares between Ling and Earl. Work out the new totals.

1-5

Ling has the lowest number of shares. Parsley is an enemy of Ling, so she will cast her shares evenly to Shalbotnik and Earl.

1-6

Parsley is dropped because he has the lowest votes. He has no preference for either Shalbotnik or Earl, so his shares are not cast. Who won the election for 432?

1-Winner

Announcer: Shalbotnik won the election with about a million more votes than Earl. Joe Shalbotnik, do you have anything to say?

Shalbotnik: Yeah, sure. I really didn’t expect such a close battle. I would like thank my new good friend Ling Min for not casting all her votes to Earl. I’d’ve lost the election without those votes. She and the country of Taiwan will be given special favor if I continue to hold on to the World Corp.

Announcer: How about your second place finish, Duke Earl?

Duke Earl: Melvis Parsley had the chance to throw out this despot Shalbotnik, and he sat on the fence. Well, when Melvis needs help, he’d better not come crawling to me.

Announcer: And the last word goes to you Dave Volek—inventor of this exercise.

Dave Volek: You can take this great business English listening exercise to a great business English conversation practice. Ask your favorite business English instructor or language school to present THE BILLIONAIRES in your class.


exerCIse#2:PhIlIshoeDealersltD.

2-Introduction

This is the Audio Exercise #2 for The Billionaires Elections. Download the worksheet, and listen to the instructions and put the right numbers in the right boxes as you determine the winner for control of the Phili Shoe Dealers Ltd.

2-1• In the center column of your worksheet, enter 43.8

million shares.

• In the far left column, enter 40.2 million shares.

• In the column just right of the center, enter 36.6 million shares.

• Third from the left, enter 25.5 million shares.

• Second from the right, enter 33 million shares.

• Under 43.8 million, enter 29.9 million shares.

• Two columns to the right of center, enter 48.3 million shares.

• In the extreme right, enter 42.0 million shares.

• Add up all the columns.

2-2

Take the lowest number and divide it evenly to all billionaires except LaNugget.

Numbers English

The Grocery Store


2-3

The billionaire with the lowest shares now casts his shares evenly to the billionaires on his immediate left and immediate right.

2-4

The billionaire with the lowest shares now casts her shares evenly to the billionaires on her immediate left and immediate right.

2-5

The lowest billionaire casts his votes to the billionaire with the second highest total.

2-6

The lowest billionaire casts his votes against the second lowest.

2-Winner

Announcer: Leroy LaNugget has just taken control of Phili Shoe Dealers. Leroy, what do you have to say?

Leroy: We sure whipped that computer boy Smith. . . . . by a hundred million votes. . . . . I betcha he wished he was eaten by an angry alligator instead of takin’ on me.

Taking control of this company is just the first step in getting my international lottery corporation up and runnin’. I sure hope Mercedes and Shalbotnik don’t expect no big favors from this little fat guy from Louisiana ‘cuz they sure ain’t gettin’ none!

Announcer: JD Smith, you came in second place. What a loss it must have been be for you!

JD Smith: I……uh…….don’t know…….uh……..what happened. I started out so strong……….uh……….I guess I didn’t………uh……..make the right friends. These billionaires……….uh……….are always……..picking on me.


exerCIse#3:GearlooseInDustrIesInC.

3-Introduction

This is Audio Exercise #3 for The Billionaires Elections. Listen to the instructions and put the right numbers in the right boxes as you determine the winner for control of the Gearloose Industries Inc. You can download the worksheets to help organize your numbers.

3-1• Put twelve-and-a-half million in the second left column.

• Put eight-and-a-quarter million in the same column.

• Two columns to the right of that, put five million.

• Five columns to the right, put eleven-and-three-quarter million.

• Three columns to the left, put fifteen-and-a-quarter million.

• Two columns to the left, place ten-and-a-quarter million.

• To the immediate left, put twelve-and-a-quarter million.

• Four to the right, put fifteen million.

• Total the columns.

3-2

Mercedes puts his votes to the billionaire to the left of Aziz.

Following Complicated Instructions

The Billionaires


3-3

Aziz casts his votes to Parsley and Novak: Fifty-fifty.

3-4

LaNuggett gives all his votes to the billionaire with just over 15 million votes.

3-5

Novak has no preference for Parsley or Ling.

3-Winner

Announcer: Melvis Parsley has taken control of Gearloose Industries. Melvis, how did you do it?

Melvis: Well, you have to start off strong (Uh-huh). Y’ have to have good friends (uh-huh) to help you along the way (oh-yeah).

Announcer: Ling Min, second place got you nothing today. With this defeat, how do you expect to win World Corp.?

Ling Min: First, I no longer friend of Miss Novak. She not share her votes for me. She go away. I very angry. Second, when I mad, watch out!

Legal English

Company Articles


exerCIse#4:BuGGyWhIPManufaCturInGltD.

4-Instructions

This is Audio Exercise #4 for The Billionaires Elections. Listen to the instructions and put the right numbers in the right boxes as you determine the winner for control of Buggy Whip Manufacturing Ltd.

4-1• Just left of center, enter 6.24 million shares.

• Two places right* of Mercedes, enter 7.11 million shares.

• One column to the left of Parsley, enter 5.12 million.

• Just left of the 6.24 million, enter 8.76 million.

• Under the 6.24 million, enter 7.81 million.

• Put 6.51 million in the center.

• Under LaNugget, enter another 10.16 million.

• Two places to the right of that number, enter 6.99 million.

• Sum the columns.

* The actor should have said “left”, not “right”. And the director (Dave Volek) should have paid a little more attention when recording. Sorry for any confusion, but this was the most practical way to fix this problem.

Practice Using Specs

The Tractor Deal


4-2

Shalbotnik has the lowest number of votes. He decides to cast his votes against LaNugget, dividing his votes evenly among the remaining contenders.

4-3

The billionaire with just under eight million shares is dropped. Give his votes the billionaire on his left.

4-4

The billionaire with just over eight million shares is dropped. He has no allies among the contenders, so his shares are dropped from the tally.

4-5

Give the lowest votes to the billionaire with the most votes.

4-Winner

Announcer: Elaine Novak has just won the chair of BWM. Ms. Novak, what is the secret of your success?

Novak: To win a Billionaires election, you must have the right friends in the right places. Mr. Aziz and Mr. Smith are very, very good friends of mine.

Announcer: Leroy, you won PSD, but you lost BWM. What went wrong with your game plan today?

Leroy: It’s a case of no one likes a winner. Did you notice how no one voted for me? It’s a conspiracy against the South, you see. You can’t trust them Yankees!


exerCIse#5:Koota-looMaCorP.

5-Introduction

This is Audio Exercise #5 for The Billionaires Elections. We are now doing the Koota-Looma elections. Listen to the instructions and put the right numbers in your worksheet as you determine the winner.

5-1• Four columns to the right of center, put 33,531,000.

• Two columns right of Shalbotnik, put 25,560,000.

• Two to the left of that column, put 24,070,000.

• Novak gets 23,738,000.

• Put 24,158,000 just to the right of Novak.

• To the immediate right of that column, put in 19,256,000.

• Three columns from the right side, put in 16,766,000.

• One column to the right of that column, put in 31,184,000.

• Add up the totals.

5-2

The billionaire with the lowest votes casts 50% of his votes to Ling and 50% to Earl.

5-3

Novak is now out. She splits her votes between Aziz and Smith.

5-4

Shalbotnik is now forced out of the race. He gives his votes to his good friend, Ling Min.

5-5

Last place gives his votes to Earl.

The Billionaire Elections: Transcripts and Vocabulary | �0

5-6

Smith is knocked out. He gives his votes to the billionaire on his right.

5-7

Aziz doesn’t care whether Ling or Earl wins. He drops his votes from the tally.

5-Winner

Announcer: Ling Min, you now control the great soft-drink company, Koota Looma. What next?

Ling Min: Choe Shalbotnik, he good friend. I helping him next time.

Announcer: But what are your plans?

Ling Min: Firs, I drink lotsa Koota Looma. All men women make much better business leader. Then I take control of the world. No more Koota Looma in country not like Ling Min.

Announcer: Duke Earl, This is the second time you’ve come in second place. Is there any chance for the aristocracy regaining control of the world?

Duke Earl: I think it’s time we sell more castles to buy more shares. We can always confiscate the castles when we gain power again. The peasants don’t deserve them anyways!

The Billionaire Elections: Transcripts and Vocabulary | ��

exerCIse6:WollyhooDMovIesInC.

6-Introduction

This is Audio Exercise #6 for The Billionaires Elections. Listen to the instructions and put the right numbers in the right boxes as you determine the winner for control of Wollyhood Movies.

6-1• Put 11,931,000 two columns left of center.

• Put 10,332,900 in the far right column.

• Put 12,785,700 two columns left of LaNugget.

• Put 22,262,100 two columns from the far right side.

• Put 19,187,700 under 11,931,000.

• Put 17,968,400 under 10,332,900

• Put 16,729,600 in the far left column.

• Total everything up.

6-2

Smith has to leave. He doesn’t like Mercedes, so he divides his shares up among the other remaining contenders.

6-3

Joe Shalbotnik doesn’t want to see LaNugget advance any further. He gives half his votes to Aziz and half to Mercedes.

6-4

LaNugget doesn’t like Aziz. He gives all his votes to the other contender.

6-Winner

Announcer: Manuel Mercedes, the Great El Toro. You have just taken control of the world’s biggest movie studio. What are your plans?


Mercedes: No more movies in English! All movies now in Spanish! Americans will have to read subtitles or listen to dubbed voices.

Announcer: How do you see this playing into your quest for World Corp.?

Mercedes: It is just one small but important step. As you know, I---El Toro---never give up. Just watch me! Soon Spanish will be the number one world language! That Dave Volek had better change the name to Dave Volek’s Business Spanish! Ha! Ha!

Announcer: Sheik Aziz, this is the closest you have come to winning an election. What do you have to say?

Aziz: I curse that American LaNugget! The man has no morals and no idea of his true friends.

Marketing English

Stan’s Tents


voCaBulary

For any word or phrase on the left, you need only search a little distance to find the correct definition. The correct answer is between two rows up and two rows down. You need not search the entire list.

1. come to a) the entire amount

2. total (noun) b) to reach an amount

3. lowest * c) to amount to

4. total (verb) d) to remove from a contest or list

5. count e) fewest *

6. drop f) to drop

7. cast g) amount (in number)

8. scratch off h) to assign a vote to someone

9. divide i) to separate into parts

10. work out j) to calculate

11. evenly k) the selecting of someone or something over another

12. preference l) I would have

13. about m) uniformly; dividing without giving an advantage

14. I’d’ve n) the position of competitors in a contest

15. hold on to o) approximately

16. place p) to not make a decision one way or another

17. despot q) to maintain a certain position

18. sit on the fence r) a king or ruler with unlimited power

19. had better s) to beg or behave with remorse

20. crawl t) should

21. enter u) to put in or insert data

22. far v) adjacent, with no space in between

23. extreme w) to defeat or beat by a wide margin

24. immediate x) the most distant location or place

25. whip y) the farthest from the middle or center

26. betcha z) operating, usually after a period of development or inactivity

27. take on a) bet you: to be almost certain of something

28. up and running b) to challenge to a contest

29. ‘cuz c) because

30. ain’t d) to tease or harass

31. pick on e) expression to indicate an even distribution between two parties.

* Dave’s Notes: For this online exercise, “fewest” is the better choice of words instead of “lowest”. I should have use “Mercedes has the fewest shares” rather than “Mercedes has the lowest shares”. To use “lowest” in a more grammatically correct way, I should have used “Mercedes has the lowest number of shares.”

Some English experts will be critical of my mistake, but “fewest” and “lowest” are often interchanged in common spoken English, which is why it didn’t sound bad to me when I was writing and recording this script. And since I didn’t pick up on this small mistake until after I made the recordings, I will continue to use “lowest”.

In your business writing, “fewer” and “fewest” are far better grammatically for plural countable nouns than “lower” and “lowest”.


32. that f) informal spoken contraction for “am not”, “are not”, or “is not”.

33. fifty-fifty g) “the previous column” (pronoun)

34. expect h) to regard something as probable or likely

35. watch out i) being left after the removal of something

36. remaining j) to be cautious

37. contender k) someone who supports or cooperates with another

38. ally l) a particular situation or example

39. game plan m) someone in a struggle or rivalry

40. case n) these, those (informal use in some English dialects)

41. them o) strategy for sports

42. Yankee p) to remove by force, rules, or excessive pressure

43. split q) to divide

44. force out r) Americans with historical roots in the northeastern part of the United States

45. last place s) the contender with the lowest standing in a contest

46. knock out t) to remove from a contest or list

47. tally u) a hereditary nobility holding power and privilege

48. chance v) the record of the score in a contest

49. aristocracy w) low ranking individuals in a society who are often poor, uneducated, and farm workers

50. confiscate x) possibility

51. peasant y) to take away by force and without compensation

52. side z) a line or surface defining the limit of a geometric figure

53. advance a) the bull (in Spanish)

54. further b) more

55. el toro c) to move or go forward

56. subtitle d) “your win for WHM” (pronoun)

57. dub e) the text of dialogue, speech, theatre, etc. translated into another language and printed on the bottom of a screen or stage

58. this f) to provide translated audio dialogue of a movie, TV show, newscast, etc.

59. play into g) to advance indirectly

60. quest h) to wish for misfortune for someone else

61. number one i) principles of right and wrong

62. curse j) a search for something, usually lengthy and of great reward

63. moral k) expression for “the best”, “the leader”, or “the most prominent”


ansWerKey

1-c, 2-a, 3-e, 4-b, 5-g, 6-d, 7-h, 8-f, 9-i, 10-j, 11-m, 12-k, 13-o, 14-l, 15-q, 16-n, 17-r, 18-p, 19-t, 20-s, 21-u, 22-x, 23-y, 24-v, 25-w, 26-a, 27-b, 28-z, 29-c, 30-f, 31-d, 32-g, 33-e, 34-h, 35-j, 36-i, 37-m, 38-k, 39-o, 40-l, 41-n, 42-r, 43-q, 44-p, 45-s, 46-t, 47-v, 48-x, 49-u, 50-y, 51-w, 52-z, 53-c, 54-b, 55-a, 56-e, 57-f, 58-d, 59-g, 60-j, 61-k, 62-h, 63-i,

Business Game for Your Classroom

Risk & Reward

the billionaire elections

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