One Minute English for Advanced Learners - Level C1

Elisabeth / USA flaf

What is a company that went bankrupt?

Lesson Activities

Hi, my name is Elizabeth and I'm from the United States. And my question is, what is a company that went bankrupt?

So one company that comes to mind is Toys "R" Us, and this was a huge toy retailer in the US, UK, several other countries. Now, this company went bankrupt in 2018. I used to love going to it as a kid. It had everything fun you could possibly imagine: games, balls, stuffed animals, Barbies, you name it. It was a kid paradise.

But the company really went bankrupt because of its inability to innovate or keep up with the times. So it really got taken over by companies like Amazon, Amazon Prime, as more people turn to online shopping and not an in-store experience. And also, I think it reflects that children today really aren't playing with physical toys. They're playing online video games, they're playing games on their phones. And yeah, again, Toys "R" Us just really went bankrupt because it just did not keep up with the changing times.

Answer the following questions about the interview.

How to Practice Vocabulary

  • Review the vocabulary.
  • Complete the blanks below with correct words.
  • Check your answers. Correct any wrong answers!

went bankrupt

Meaning: Lost all its money and closed.

Examples:

  1. Toys R Us went bankrupt in 2018.
  2. The company went bankrupt after years of losses.

huge

Meaning: Very big.

Examples:

  1. Toys R Us was a huge toy store.
  2. They made a huge mistake in their business plan.

you could possibly imagine

Meaning: Everything you can think of.

Examples:

  1. It had every toy you could possibly imagine.
  2. There was more food than you could possibly imagine.

you name it

Meaning: Anything you can think of.

Examples:

  1. They sold dolls, bikes, puzzles—you name it.
  2. He’s tried every sport—soccer, basketball, tennis—you name it.

paradise

Meaning: A perfect place.

Examples:

  1. Toys R Us was a kid’s paradise.
  2. The island felt like paradise.

inability to

Meaning: Not being able to do something.

Examples:

  1. The company failed due to its inability to change.
  2. His inability to focus caused problems.

innovate

Meaning: Create new ideas or products.

Examples:

  1. They failed to innovate.
  2. Successful companies always innovate.

keep up with the times

Meaning: Stay modern and current.

Examples:

  1. They didn’t keep up with the times.
  2. You need to keep up with the times in tech.

taken over by

Meaning: Replaced or defeated by something stronger.

Examples:

  1. Toys R Us was taken over by online stores.
  2. Small stores were taken over by supermarkets.

in-store experience

Meaning: The feeling of shopping in a physical store.

Examples:

  1. Many people stopped caring about the in-store experience.
  2. They focused on improving the in-store experience.

Vocabulary Quiz

Complete the sentences with the vocabulary above.
bankrupt • huge • possibly
inability • innovate • taken
  1. His to change was his downfall.
  2. He had a influence on my life.
  3. All companies need to to survive.
  4. They have every thing you could imagine
  5. The company went and closed operations.
  6. They were over by competitors.

What is the correct word? Listen to the audio to hear the answer!

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