Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- rugged / ˈrʌg ɪd / (adj.) – (of land) having a rough surface, not easy to travel over
Example:The trucks were made for rugged roads in the countryside.
- terrain / təˈreɪn / (n.) – a particular area of land or ground, especially when talking about the kind of surface it has
Example:Farmers work on different types of terrain, including hills and flat land.
- asset / ˈæs ɛt / (n.) – something valuable or useful that helps a person, group, or place
Example:Her strong speaking skills are a big asset to the team.
- mobility / moʊˈbɪl ə t̬i / (n.) – the ability to move from one place to another easily
Example:To improve mobility in the city, people need good roads and reliable public transport.
- penetrate / ˈpen əˌtreɪt / (v.) – to enter a new area or market and begin to have an effect or presence there
Example:The company is penetrating the international market to grow its business and increase sales.
Article
Read the text below.
Health workers in Uganda and people in the rural communities they serve say they’re enjoying the benefits of having bikes especially designed for rugged terrain.
The Buffalo Bicycles are distributed by a non-profit organization which says they’ve been built to be stronger and simpler than recreational alternatives, to meet the needs of workers traveling long distances in harsh conditions.
Retailing for roughly $200, it is three times more expensive than the cheapest regular bicycle. Many people haven’t heard of it or can’t afford it. It’s promoted by World Bicycle Relief, which says its durability in rough terrain results in fewer trips to the mechanic, also meaning fewer maintenance costs.
The bicycle is also seen as a community asset. Susan Apio, a health worker, is using the new Buffalo bike. In the village where she lives, anyone can show up and ask to use it.
“It has helped me because when I am moving within the community, I don’t take long, even I also don’t take time. It also helps me to cover a number of households within the community and also our facility is far. We used to walk like for one and half hour reaching the facility, the health center, but when they gave us this bicycle, really it has helped me a lot to move to the facility,” explains Apio.
Hamuza Ali, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for World Bicycle Relief, says the organization is aiming to widen the distribution of the bikes into other poor and rural settings, some areas with refugees.
He says, “By solving mobility challenges that are within these areas, we are also aimed at reducing the poverty levels, also equipping the people here with a solution to see that their household incomes are increased. However, we are now penetrating in other regions and you can hear that we have been in Fort Portal, we have been in Kabale, we have also been in West Nile, that is Yumbe, in the refugee settings that is Bidibidi, and Adjumani.”
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- The article describes the Buffalo bike as a “community asset” because it can be used by anyone in the village. In your neighborhood, is there something that people share or benefit from together, like a space, service, or item? Why do you think shared resources like this matter in a community? Discuss.
- Do you think people take better care of something when they know it’s shared by many, or when it’s their own personal property? Why? What are the advantages and disadvantages of sharing something in your community? Discuss.
Discussion B
- In the article, some health workers walked for over an hour to reach their clinic. What does this tell you about how hard they work and how serious they are about their job? Do you think seeing someone work hard can inspire others or change how people feel about that kind of work? Why or why not? What do you think keeps people going when their work is difficult or tiring? Discuss.
- Do you think health workers are respected and supported enough in your country or community? What kinds of support—besides money—do you think they need to do their jobs well? Discuss.
