Vocabulary Learning 1

Breathing new life into heartland shops

​Mom-and-pop shops and other small stores and businesses are so ubiquitous in the landscape of HDB towns that Singaporeans tend to take them for granted. In recent decades, these neighbourhood stalwarts have declined in popularity as shopping trends evolve. The pandemic, however, has put the spotlight back on such shops. They proved to be a lifeline, especially during the circuit breaker period when people's movements were curtailed. These shops literally bring goods and services to their customers' doorstep. The Ministry of National Development's move to invite public feedback on how to revitalise these shops thus comes at the right time. Some 15,000 such establishments are spread out across Singapore. While many people now shop at air-conditioned malls and well-stocked hypermarkets, heartland shops still play an essential role in offering affordability and accessibility. However, since many heartland shops are often old-fashioned enterprises, it will be a tall order to revive these shops. Nevertherless, it is worth making the effort, because these shops, embedded in the heartland for decades, have strong economic and social value. 

​Urban Life: Shopping in Singapore

Multiple Select

Mom-and-pop shops and other small stores and businesses are so ubiquitous in the landscape of HDB towns that Singaporeans tend to take them for granted.

What are possible synonyms of 'ubiquitous' in the context of this sentence? Choose TWO answers.

• prevalent

• commonly found

• unique

• hidden away

Open Ended

Mom-and-pop shops and other small stores and businesses are so ubiquitous in the landscape of HDB towns that Singaporeans tend to take them for granted.

 

What other things do you think are so ubiquitous in Singapore's urban landscape that we tend to take for granted? Write a sentence using the word 'ubiquitous'.

Multiple Select

The pandemic, however, has put the spotlight back on such shops.

What are possible synonyms of 'put the spotlight (back) on' in the context of this sentence? Choose TWO answers.

• exposed the failings of

• highlighted the situation of

• increased the scrutiny of

• brought fame and honour to

Open Ended

The pandemic, however, has put the spotlight back on such shops.

 

Write a sentence describing how SOMETHING / SOMEONE has 'put the spotlight on' on SOMETHING else recently.

Multiple Select

[The shops] proved to be a lifeline, especially during the circuit breaker period when people's movements were curtailed.

What are possible synonyms of 'curtailed' in the context of this sentence? Choose TWO answers.

• restricted

• tracked

• curbed

• shortened

Open Ended

[The shops] proved to be a lifeline, especially during the circuit breaker period when people's movements were curtailed.

 

Write a sentence using ONE of the following sentence structures:

________ proved to be a lifeline, especially ________

OR

When __________ is/are/was/were curtailed, _______

Multiple Select

However, since many heartland shops are often old-fashioned enterprises, it will be a tall order to revive these shops. Nevertherless, it is worth making the effort, because these shops, embedded in the heartland for decades, have strong economic and social value.

What are possible synonyms of 'a tall order' in the context of this passage? Choose TWO answers.

• a highly demanding task

• an extremely expensive project

• an unreasonable request

• an uphill struggle

Open Ended

However, since many heartland shops are often old-fashioned enterprises, it will be a tall order to revive these shops. Nevertherless, it is worth making the effort, because these shops, embedded in the heartland for decades, have strong economic and social value.

What is one goal you have in your life that feels like 'a tall order' to accomplish?