97. A Phone App

Ralph is a waiter at a taco restaurant. He likes his job because the customers are really friendly; his co-workers are funny; the pay is pretty good.

He does not want to work at the taco restaurant for the rest of his life though. He wants to use his money to start his own company. He wants to create a phone app that allows people to talk to friends internationally.

Ralph has all the plans for his app, but he just needs the money. If the app goes big, he could make millions. The people who came up with apps like Snapchat and Groupme are extremely successful. 

Apps are a modern invention. It's pretty amazing what one good idea can do. Ralph notices a customer come in and serves him. Ralph compliments the man's watch.

 "Thank you! The truth is, I hate wearing it, but I need it because I have such a hectic schedule," he says. Ralph asks what he does for a living. The man explains that he buys apps from young entrepreneurs. Ralph jumps up and down with excitement. 

He tells the man about his app. He likes Ralph's idea and sets up a business conference meeting with him.

Vocabulary Words

                                                           

No.	Word	Definition	Example Sentence
1	waiter	a man who serves food and drink at a restaurant	Ralph is a waiter at a taco restaurant.
2	friendly	kind and pleasant	The customers are really friendly.
3	co-workers	people with whom one works	His co-workers are funny.
4	start	to set up or establish an enterprise, organization, or action	He wants to use his money to start his own company.
5	company	a commercial business	He wants to start his own company.
6	phone app	a self-contained program or piece of software designed to fulfill a particular purpose on a smartphone	He wants to create a phone app.
7	internationally	across national borders; globally	The app allows people to talk to friends internationally.
8	plans	detailed proposals for achieving something	Ralph has all the plans for his app.
9	goes big	becomes very popular or successful	If the app goes big, he could make millions.
10	extremely	to a very great extent; very much	The people who came up with apps like Snapchat are extremely successful.
11	successful	having achieved fame, wealth, or respect	They are extremely successful.
12	modern	relating to the present or recent times	Apps are a modern invention.
13	invention	the action of inventing something, typically a process or device	Apps are a modern invention.
14	serves	presents food or drink to someone in a restaurant or bar	Ralph notices a customer come in and serves him.
15	compliments	expresses admiration or praise to someone	Ralph compliments the man's watch.
16	hectic	full of intense and hurried activity	I need it because I have such a hectic schedule.
17	for a living	as one's job or way of earning money	Ralph asks what he does for a living.
18	entrepreneurs	people who organize and operate a business or businesses, taking on financial risk to do so	He buys apps from young entrepreneurs.
19	business conference	a formal meeting between two or more parties to discuss business matters	He sets up a business conference meeting with him.
20	excitement	a state of great enthusiasm and eagerness	Ralph jumps up and down with excitement.

Comprehension Questions

                                                   

Question	Answer
1. What is Ralph's current job?	He is a waiter at a taco restaurant.
2. What are three things Ralph likes about his job?	The customers are friendly, his co-workers are funny, and the pay is good.
3. Why does Ralph continue to work as a waiter?	He is saving money to start his own company.
4. What kind of company does Ralph want to start?	A company that creates a phone app.
5. What is the purpose of the app Ralph wants to create?	It allows people to talk to friends internationally.
6. What is the one thing Ralph needs to get his app started?	Money.
7. What is the potential financial success of the app?	If the app goes big, he could make millions.
8. What two popular apps are mentioned as examples of success?	Snapchat and Groupme.
9. What item did Ralph compliment on the customer?	The man's watch.
10. Why did the customer say he needed to wear the watch?	He said he needed it because he has a hectic schedule.
11. What question did Ralph ask the customer?	He asked what he did for a living.
12. What does the customer do for a living?	He buys apps from young entrepreneurs.
13. How did Ralph react when he heard the man's job?	He jumped up and down with excitement.
14. Did the man like Ralph's idea?	Yes, he liked Ralph's idea.
15. What did the man set up with Ralph?	A business conference meeting.
16. Does Ralph intend to be a waiter permanently?	No, he does not want to work at the taco restaurant for the rest of his life.
17. What kind of invention are apps considered?	A modern invention.
18. What did the man admit about the watch?	He admitted he hated wearing it.
19. What is an entrepreneur?	A person who organizes and operates a business, taking on financial risk.
20. How did Ralph get the opportunity to present his app idea?	By complimenting a customer and asking about his job.