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Story:
Chrysler Sold to Private Investment Firm, 05/16/07
Reading Comprehension Questions: 1. Why is American car company Chrysler in the news this week?
2. What setbacks have Chrysler and other American car companies suffered recently?
3. Why does Cerberus think it can improve Chrysler when other companies have failed?
4. How much will Cerberus pay for Chrysler? What is going to be one of their biggest expenses moving forward?
5. How have some workers at Chrysler reacted to the buyout?
Discussion Activity (more research might be needed): 1. What are the advantages or disadvantages of making cars in the United States? Explain how these impact the car business. What role does the cost of health insurance and pensions play in this business? 2. If you could buy a car today what are the factors that you would take into account when making that decision? How important is it to you to consider where a car is made when buying it? Do you consider things like the cost of fuel and fuel efficiency? 3. Research the impact that closing car factories or laying off hundreds or thousands of workers have on the communities where they are located. Where have communities been successful after a big closure? How were they able to succeed? What happens in communities where they are not successful? 4. What are the differences between publicly and privately owned companies?
Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site. |