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Day 20 · Society & Culture · B2 Level

The Rise of the Gig Economy

Daily Reading Practice · Nonfiction passage

⏱ Time target: 8-9 minutes 📖 Reading + Vocabulary ✅ 10 True / False questions
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Reading Passage

In recent years, a new way of working has become increasinglyincreasingly (adverb)More and more as time passes.≈ Synonym: more and more🇺🇿UZ: tobora🇷🇺RU: всё более common around the world. It is known as the gig economygig economy (noun)A labour market of short-term, flexible jobs.≈ Synonym: freelance economy🇺🇿UZ: gig iqtisodiyoti🇷🇺RU: гиг-экономика. In the gig economy, people do short-termshort-term (adj)Lasting for only a limited time.≈ Synonym: temporary🇺🇿UZ: qisqa muddatli🇷🇺RU: краткосрочный or flexibleflexible (adj)Able to change or adapt easily.≈ Synonym: adaptable🇺🇿UZ: moslashuvchan🇷🇺RU: гибкий jobs rather than working for one employeremployer (noun)A person or company that employs workers.≈ Synonym: company🇺🇿UZ: ish beruvchi🇷🇺RU: работодатель in a long-termlong-term (adj)Lasting for a long period.≈ Synonym: lasting🇺🇿UZ: uzoq muddatli🇷🇺RU: долгосрочный, full-time positionposition (noun)A job within an organisation.≈ Synonym: role🇺🇿UZ: lavozim🇷🇺RU: должность. The name comes from the idea of a "gig" — a term musicians use for a single performanceperformance (noun)An act of presenting a show or piece of work.≈ Synonym: show🇺🇿UZ: chiqish, ijro🇷🇺RU: выступление or job. Today, millions of people work in this way, from driving for ride-sharingride-sharing (noun)A service connecting drivers with passengers, via app.≈ Synonym: car-hailing🇺🇿UZ: taksi ilovalari xizmati🇷🇺RU: сервис совместных поездок (такси через приложение) services to designing websites or deliveringdeliver (verb)Taking goods to a destination.≈ Synonym: bringing🇺🇿UZ: yetkazib bermoq🇷🇺RU: доставлять food.

There are several reasons why the gig economy has grown so quickly. One reason is technology. Apps and websites now make it easy for people to find work and for companies to find workers. For example, platformsplatform (noun)Online systems used to provide a service.≈ Synonym: apps🇺🇿UZ: platforma🇷🇺RU: платформа like Uber, Deliveroo, and Upwork connect people who need services with those who can provide them. With just a few clicks on a phone, someone can start working or hirehire (verb)To employ someone for a task.≈ Synonym: employ🇺🇿UZ: yollamoq🇷🇺RU: нанимать a worker.

Another reason is that both workers and companies often like the flexibilityflexibility (noun)The quality of adapting easily to change.≈ Synonym: adaptability🇺🇿UZ: moslashuvchanlik🇷🇺RU: гибкость of gig work. Many workers enjoy choosing when and where they work. A gig worker might drive in the morning, deliver food in the afternoon, and take a freelancefreelance (adj)Working independently for different clients.≈ Synonym: self-employed🇺🇿UZ: frilanser🇷🇺RU: фрилансерский writing job in the evening. This kind of work can fit around other responsibilitiesresponsibility (noun)Duties that one is required to deal with.≈ Synonym: duties🇺🇿UZ: mas'uliyat, majburiyat🇷🇺RU: обязанность, ответственность, such as studying or caring for family. Companies also benefitbenefit (from) (verb)To gain an advantage from something.≈ Synonym: profit🇺🇿UZ: foyda ko'rmoq🇷🇺RU: получать выгоду because they can hire workers only when they need them, saving money on costs like offices, equipment, or employee benefitsbenefit (noun)Advantages provided as part of employment.≈ Synonym: perks🇺🇿UZ: imtiyoz (ish joyida)🇷🇺RU: льгота.

However, the gig economy also has disadvantagesdisadvantage (noun)Unfavourable circumstances or conditions.≈ Synonym: drawbacks🇺🇿UZ: kamchilik🇷🇺RU: недостаток, especially for workers. One of the biggest challenges is job securityjob security (noun)Confidence in keeping one's job.≈ Synonym: employment stability🇺🇿UZ: ish barqarorligi🇷🇺RU: гарантия занятости. Gig workers usually have no long-term contractcontract (noun)A formal agreement about work or terms.≈ Synonym: agreement🇺🇿UZ: shartnoma🇷🇺RU: контракт. This means they may not know when their next job will come. They often do not receive paid holidays, sick leavesick leave (noun)Paid time off work due to illness.≈ Synonym: medical leave🇺🇿UZ: kasallik ta'tili🇷🇺RU: больничный, or health insurancehealth insurance (noun)A plan covering medical costs.≈ Synonym: medical insurance🇺🇿UZ: tibbiy sug'urta🇷🇺RU: медицинская страховка. In some cases, gig workers earn less than people doing similar work as full-time employees.

There is also the issue of rightsright (noun)Legal or moral entitlements.≈ Synonym: entitlements🇺🇿UZ: huquq🇷🇺RU: право and protections. Because gig workers are often classedclass (as) (verb)Categorised or classified as something.≈ Synonym: categorised🇺🇿UZ: (...deb) tasniflamoq🇷🇺RU: классифицировать (как) as independent contractorsindependent contractor (noun)Self-employed people who provide services under contract.≈ Synonym: freelancers🇺🇿UZ: mustaqil pudratchi🇷🇺RU: независимый подрядчик rather than employees, they may have fewer legallegal (adj)Relating to the law.≈ Synonym: lawful🇺🇿UZ: huquqiy; qonuniy🇷🇺RU: юридический; законный rights. For example, they might not be able to join a trade uniontrade union (noun)An organisation representing workers' interests.≈ Synonym: labour union🇺🇿UZ: kasaba uyushmasi🇷🇺RU: профсоюз or claim unfair dismissalunfair dismissal (noun)Being wrongfully removed from a job.≈ Synonym: wrongful termination🇺🇿UZ: noqonuniy ishdan bo'shatish🇷🇺RU: незаконное увольнение. Some governments and courts have started to look at these issues and have ruledrule (verb)Made an official legal decision.≈ Synonym: decided officially🇺🇿UZ: qaror chiqarmoq (sud)🇷🇺RU: постановлять (о суде) that certain gig workers should be treated as employees, with the same rights as other workers.

The rise of the gig economy has led to much debatedebate (noun)A formal discussion involving opposing views.≈ Synonym: discussion🇺🇿UZ: munozara🇷🇺RU: дебаты. Supporters say it offers new opportunitiesopportunity (noun)Chances to do something good or useful.≈ Synonym: chances🇺🇿UZ: imkoniyat🇷🇺RU: возможность and allows people to work in ways that suitsuit (verb)To be convenient or appropriate for someone.≈ Synonym: fit🇺🇿UZ: mos kelmoq, to'g'ri kelmoq🇷🇺RU: подходить, устраивать their lifestyleslifestyle (noun)The way in which a person lives.≈ Synonym: way of life🇺🇿UZ: turmush tarzi🇷🇺RU: образ жизни. They argue that it helps people earn extra money and that it can reduce unemploymentunemployment (noun)The state of being without a job.≈ Synonym: joblessness🇺🇿UZ: ishsizlik🇷🇺RU: безработица. Critics warn that it creates insecureinsecure (adj)Not firm or stable; uncertain.≈ Synonym: unstable🇺🇿UZ: beqaror, ishonchsiz🇷🇺RU: ненадёжный, нестабильный jobs and increases inequalityinequality (noun)Unfair differences between groups.≈ Synonym: unfairness🇺🇿UZ: tengsizlik🇷🇺RU: неравенство. They call for new laws to protect gig workers and ensure fair pay and conditionscondition (noun)Circumstances affecting how something is done.≈ Synonym: circumstances🇺🇿UZ: sharoit🇷🇺RU: условия.

In conclusion, the gig economy is changing the world of work. It offers freedom and flexibility, but it also brings new challenges that society will need to addressaddress (verb)To deal with a problem or issue.≈ Synonym: tackle🇺🇿UZ: hal qilishga kirishmoq🇷🇺RU: решать, заниматься (проблемой). As the gig economy continues to grow, it will be important to find a balancebalance (noun)A state where different things are in proper proportion.≈ Synonym: equilibrium🇺🇿UZ: muvozanat🇷🇺RU: баланс between flexibility for workers and fairnessfairness (noun)The quality of treating people equally.≈ Synonym: justice🇺🇿UZ: adolatlilik🇷🇺RU: справедливость in the workplace.

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      Every highlighted word from this story with its meaning in Uzbek 🇺🇿 and Russian 🇷🇺, and an example. Tap 🇬🇧 or 🇺🇸 to hear the word or the sentence in a British or American accent.

      #🇬🇧🇺🇿🇷🇺Example
      1
      increasinglyadverb
      toboraвсё болееEnglish is becoming increasingly important for jobs.
      2
      gig economynoun
      gig iqtisodiyotiгиг-экономикаFood delivery couriers are part of the gig economy.
      3
      short-termadjective
      qisqa muddatliкраткосрочныйShe found a short-term job for the summer.
      4
      flexibleadjective
      moslashuvchanгибкийFreelancers have more flexible working hours.
      5
      employernoun
      ish beruvchiработодательMy employer pays for my English classes.
      6
      long-termadjective
      uzoq muddatliдолгосрочныйSmoking has long-term effects on your health.
      7
      positionnoun
      lavozimдолжностьShe applied for the position of manager.
      8
      performancenoun
      chiqish, ijroвыступлениеThe singer gave a wonderful performance.
      9
      ride-sharingnoun
      taksi ilovalari xizmatiсервис совместных поездок (такси через приложение)Ride-sharing apps like Yandex Go are very popular in Tashkent.
      10
      deliververb
      yetkazib bermoqдоставлятьHe earns money by delivering food on his bike.
      11
      platformnoun
      platformaплатформаUpwork is a platform for freelancers.
      12
      hireverb
      yollamoqнаниматьThe café is going to hire two more waiters.
      13
      flexibilitynoun
      moslashuvchanlikгибкостьI love the flexibility of working from home.
      14
      freelanceadjective
      frilanserфрилансерскийShe does freelance translation work.
      15
      responsibilitynoun
      mas'uliyat, majburiyatобязанность, ответственностьLooking after my little brother is my responsibility.
      16
      benefit (from)verb
      foyda ko'rmoqполучать выгодуEveryone will benefit from the new park.
      17
      benefitnoun
      imtiyoz (ish joyida)льготаThe job has good benefits, like free lunch and health insurance.
      18
      disadvantagenoun
      kamchilikнедостатокThe main disadvantage of the flat is the noise.
      19
      job securitynoun
      ish barqarorligiгарантия занятостиMany young people care more about job security than salary.
      20
      contractnoun
      shartnomaконтрактRead the contract carefully before you sign it.
      21
      sick leavenoun
      kasallik ta'tiliбольничныйShe's on sick leave this week.
      22
      health insurancenoun
      tibbiy sug'urtaмедицинская страховкаThe company pays for our health insurance.
      23
      rightnoun
      huquqправоWorkers have the right to paid holidays.
      24
      class (as)verb
      (...deb) tasniflamoqклассифицировать (как)Tomatoes are classed as fruit.
      25
      independent contractornoun
      mustaqil pudratchiнезависимый подрядчикMost couriers work as independent contractors.
      26
      legaladjective
      huquqiy; qonuniyюридический; законныйYou should get legal advice before signing.
      27
      trade unionnoun
      kasaba uyushmasiпрофсоюзThe teachers' trade union asked for higher pay.
      28
      unfair dismissalnoun
      noqonuniy ishdan bo'shatishнезаконное увольнениеShe took her company to court for unfair dismissal.
      29
      ruleverb
      qaror chiqarmoq (sud)постановлять (о суде)The judge ruled that the contract was illegal.
      30
      debatenoun
      munozaraдебатыThere's a lot of debate about school uniforms.
      31
      opportunitynoun
      imkoniyatвозможностьThe city offers many opportunities for young people.
      32
      suitverb
      mos kelmoq, to'g'ri kelmoqподходить, устраиватьDoes Friday suit you?
      33
      lifestylenoun
      turmush tarziобраз жизниA healthy lifestyle includes good food and exercise.
      34
      unemploymentnoun
      ishsizlikбезработицаUnemployment among young people is a big problem.
      35
      insecureadjective
      beqaror, ishonchsizненадёжный, нестабильныйMany gig workers have insecure incomes.
      36
      inequalitynoun
      tengsizlikнеравенствоThe gap between rich and poor shows growing inequality.
      37
      conditionnoun
      sharoitусловияThe workers complained about poor working conditions.
      38
      addressverb
      hal qilishga kirishmoqрешать, заниматься (проблемой)The government must address the housing problem.
      39
      balancenoun
      muvozanatбалансIt's hard to find a balance between work and family.
      40
      fairnessnoun
      adolatlilikсправедливостьPeople want fairness in how salaries are decided.