News Exercise #149

1. Why are they so hungry?
2. How has the Venezuelan government made the problem worse in the past decade?
3. What other factor has damaged the economy?
4. How is the government trying to help the situation?
5. How have some people taken unfair advantage of this?

Answers:
1. Why are they so hungry?
There have been recent shortages and hyperinflation of over 700%.
2. How has the Venezuelan government made the problem worse in the past decade?
There has been unsustainable public spending.
3. What other factor has damaged the economy?
Falling oil prices have left this nation “almost on its knees”, which means that they are in severe trouble.
4. How is the government trying to help the situation?
Some food is being sold at a government-regulated price, for which people have to queue.
5. How have some people taken advantage of this?
Some people have given up their jobs to queue up for this food and then sell it for up to one-hundred times the price.