Read the following dialog and answer the questions!
Jonathan : Have you heard that the price of fuel oil was raised by the government yesterday afternoon?
Nita : Yes, I’ve heard it and regret it happened.
Jonathan : Why?
Nita : I feel sorry for the little people. They experienced a tremendous impact from the increase in the price of fuel oil.
Jonathan : I agree with you but I think the government must have considered it before deciding on that.
Nita : Even so it shouldn’t have happened. I totally disagree with the government’s decision.
Jonathan : Can you explain why you don’t agree?
Nita : Let’s think about it carefully. When the price of fuel oil rises, transportation costs also increase. Then all the basic needs of daily life will also go up. This will make it more difficult for people to get food at cheap prices.
Jonathan : You’re right. But doesn’t the government provide direct assistance subsidies to small people so that they can be helped in obtaining their daily needs?
Nita : In my view, the government’s decision to provide direct subsidies to the poor is an inappropriate action. I think there will be a lot of people who claim to be incapable or poor in order to get the subsidized assistance. If that does not happen then people who previously received similar assistance in the past will still get it for free. It is not impossible that the data regarding the recipients of the subsidized assistance does not change from year to year.
Jonathan : So what do you mean?
Nita : I mean the aid only benefits a few groups of people and harms the majority of the people of this country.
Jonathan : So what’s your solution?
Nita : I prefer if the price of fuel oil remains the same as before and the money that is planned to be allocated for the direct aid subsidy is not used but diverted to suppress existing inflation. That way everyone can still enjoy the price of basic daily necessities at a low price.
Jonathan: I see what you mean. Hopefully the government will notice it soon.
Questions
- What is the topic of their conversation?
- Who is the first giving the opinion?
- What does Jonathan think about the issue?
- Does Jonathan agree with her opinion?
- What does he say?
- How does Nita express her opinion?
- Why does Jonathan finally agree with her opinion?
- Is Nita’s opinion accepted?
- How does Jonathan express his opinion?
- What kinds of opinion do Nita and Jonathan express on the conversation above?