The City Tour

Vocabulary

At the Sepulveda Mini-Mall, you can find just about everything you need: a grocery store, and shops that sell clothes, shoes, household appliances, decorations, electronics and toys. It also contains several cafes, eateries and a bakery.

Located at the corner of Sepulveda and Van Nuys avenues, the mini-mall was founded by Bradley Seu. He also owns two other mini-malls in other parts of Los Angeles County.

However, Bradley had not always been an entrepreneur. Previously, he had worked as an engineer at an electric power station.

“Though I had been a professional with a technical career, I’ve always wanted to have my own business,” he says.

 

 
 
 
 
As a child, Bradley grew up in a working-class household; his parents had come as refugees from Laos. After working odds jobs, his parents opened a doughnut shop. Bradly was expected to help the family out — but he had other designs.

“As a kid in elementary school, I would mess around, goof off and had poor grades,” says Bradley.

This displeased his parents.

And so on numerous occasions, his father would take him in their car through the rough parts of town. “Dad knew it was risky, but he felt obliged to do so,” says Bradley.

 
Driving at a low speed, they would pass by derelict buildings, many scrawled with graffiti. Trash was strewn here and there.

Various residents were out and about like in any other community . . . but what grabbed Bradley’s attention the most were the assortment of gangs, winos, bums, tramps, hoodlums, vagabonds, pimps, whores and guys just hanging around.

It was indeed scary; he and his father feared they would be pounced upon at any moment.

Through it all, his father would tell him, “You see son, if you don’t get your act together; if you have NO ambition, drive, dedication, or motivation in life; if you are not serious about your future — this is how and where you’ll end up.”

“Those rides left an indelible impression on me — to this very day — and will remain with me for the rest of my life.”

 

Questions

Food Stand, Food Stall. The Sepulveda Mini-Mall contains a huge indoor mall that sells mostly clothes, shoes and accessories. True or false?

Convenience Store, Corner Store. Does a large holding own the Sepulveda Mini-Mall?

Grocery Store, Grocer’s. Bradley Seu had majored in business administration at university and had previously worked in the finance department of a company. Is this right or wrong?

Department Store. Bradley came from a White, Anglo-American family. Is this correct or incorrect? Was his father a carpenter?

Mini-Mall, Strip Mall. At school, Bradley was always an excellent, A-student. Do you agree?

Shopping Mall, Shopping Center. Did his father scold, shout and yell at him?

Discount Store. What is the moral or lesson of the story?
 
 
 
Cafe. Are there strip-malls or mini-malls in your town, city and country? Are they popular?

Diner, Restaurant. I know people who are entrepreneurs. Yes or no?

Hardware Store. Are there rough or run-down neighborhoods (slums or ghettos)?

Electronics Store. What did your parents tell you?

Bar, Nightclub, Disco. What could or should parents, teachers, students and the government do?

Bakery, Pastry Shop. What might happen in the future?