2/17 Talk about the debate over offering free meals at schools.

One hotly-debated issue in the last elections was free school meals.
* hotly-debated issue: 주요 쟁점
* free meal: 무상 급식
ex> The issue is still hotly-debated up until now.

Scools provide free meals for students from families in the low income bracket.
* low income bracket: 저소득층
cf> bracket: (1) each of a pair of marks ( ) [ ] { } used to enclose words or figures,  (2) a category of people or things that are similar or fall between specified limits
ex> Most of the residents in the area are in the high income bracket.

Many students in need of free meals aren't coming forward out of embarrassment.

Politicians running for office pledged to provide free meals for all students.
* run for office: 공직에 출마하다.
* pledge: 공약하다.
ex> He made it clear that he doesn't have any interest to run for public office.
ex> Many candidates pledged to make life better for working class families.

Some agreed that providing free balanced meals for all students would cut down health problems down the road.
* cut down problems: 문제를 줄이다.
* down the road: in the long term, future, 장기적으로
ex> Regluar exercise and balanced meals will help cut down health problems.

Others argued that it was a waste of taxpayers' money to give away free meals to students who didn't need it.

They also noted that such a policy is unrealistic due to budget constraints.
* budget constraint: 예산상의 제약, limit, obstracle
ex> The recreational center was closed due to budget constraints. 문화센터가 예산상의 제약으로 문을 닫았다.

@ My head went blank.  머리가 멍해졌어.


1. How to address global warming is a hotly-debated issue.
2. Almost half of the students in this area are from families in the low income bracket.
3. He decided not to run for office this year.
4. You should eat a well-balanced meal to stay healthy.