Lawyers & Donations

Shady Abuyusuf

Sun, 08 Sep 2024

537

Joke

The local United Way office realized that it had never received a donation from the town's most successful lawyer. The volunteer in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute. "Our research shows that out of a yearly income of more than $600,000 you give not a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give back to the community in some way?"

The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied, "First, did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness, and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?"

Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbled, "Um... No."

"Second, that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair?" The stricken United Way rep began to stammer out an apology but was put off. "Third, that my sister's husband died in a traffic accident," the lawyer's voice rising in indignation, "Leaving her penniless with three children?"

The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, said simply, "I had no idea..." On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again, "...And I don't give any money to them, so why should I give any to you?!"

Vocabulary Analysis:

·  Donation

• Meaning: A gift or contribution given to support a cause or organization.
• Pronunciation: /doʊˈneɪʃən/
• Form: Noun
• Usage: "The local United Way office realized that it had never received a donation from the town's most successful lawyer."

·  Persuade

• Meaning: To convince someone to do something through reasoning or argument.
• Pronunciation: /pərˈsweɪd/
• Form: Verb
• Usage: "The volunteer in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute."

·  Charity

• Meaning: An organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need.
• Pronunciation: /ˈtʃærɪti/
• Form: Noun
• Usage: "Our research shows that out of a yearly income of more than $600,000 you give not a penny to charity."

·  Mull over

• Meaning: To think about something deeply and at length.
• Pronunciation: /mʌl ˈoʊvər/
• Form: Phrasal verb
• Usage: "The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied..."

·  Illness

• Meaning: A disease or period of sickness affecting the body or mind.
• Pronunciation: /ˈɪlnəs/
• Form: Noun
• Usage: "Did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness..."

·  Medical bills

• Meaning: Expenses incurred for medical treatment and services.
• Pronunciation: /ˈmɛdɪkəl bɪlz/
• Form: Noun phrase
• Usage: "...and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?"

·  Embarrassed

• Meaning: Feeling self-conscious, shame, or awkwardness.
• Pronunciation: /ɪmˈbærəst/
• Form: Adjective
• Usage: "Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbled, 'Um... No.'"

·  Stammer

• Meaning: To speak with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words.
• Pronunciation: /ˈstæmər/
• Form: Verb
• Usage: "The stricken United Way rep began to stammer out an apology..."

·  Blind

• Meaning: Unable to see; sightless.
• Pronunciation: /blaɪnd/
• Form: Adjective
• Usage: "That my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair?"

·  Indignation

• Meaning: Anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.
• Pronunciation: /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/
• Form: Noun
• Usage: "...the lawyer's voice rising in indignation..."

·  Penniless

• Meaning: Without money; very poor.
• Pronunciation: /ˈpɛnɪlɪs/
• Form: Adjective
• Usage: "Leaving her penniless with three children?"

·  Humiliated

• Meaning: Made to feel ashamed or foolish.
• Pronunciation: /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪd/
• Form: Adjective
• Usage: "The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten..."

·  On a roll

• Meaning: Experiencing a period of continuous success or progress.
• Pronunciation: /ɒn ə roʊl/
• Form: Idiom
• Usage: "On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again..."

·  Give back

• Meaning: To return something; in this context, to contribute to the community.
• Pronunciation: /ɡɪv bæk/
• Form: Phrasal verb
• Usage: "Wouldn't you like to give back to the community in some way?"

·  Cut off

• Meaning: To interrupt someone while they are speaking.
• Pronunciation: /kʌt ɔf/
• Form: Phrasal verb
• Usage: "...the lawyer cut him off once again..."

If you are a teacher and you want to use the previous joke in a speaking lesson with your students, click on the following link and you will find a mini-lesson plan, a language analysis sheet and an activity.

Mini-lesson Plan + Language Analysis Sheet + Activities