Reworded Worksheet: Cooperation, Competition and Consumer Cooperatives (Age 16)

A clear rephrasing of questions about cooperation and competition, a simple definition of a cooperative, and the correctly ordered steps showing how a consumer cooperative operates in Vanuatu, written for a 16-year-old.

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Rewritten worksheet and clear explanations

1) Explain the terms and give real-life examples

Rewrite A: Define each term in your own words and give one real example from your daily life for each.

a) Cooperation (rephrased): Working together with other people to reach a shared goal.
Short example answer: Helping classmates plan and prepare a group project so the work gets done on time.

b) Competition (rephrased): When people or groups try to do better than others to win or gain an advantage.
Short example answer: Trying to get the highest score in a class test to earn the top position or praise.

How to write your answers

  • Start with a one-sentence definition in simple words.
  • Follow with a short, specific daily-life example (school, sports, family chores, part-time work).

2) What is a cooperative? (reworded)

Rewrite B: Describe what a cooperative is and give one short example of a cooperative you might know or imagine.

Simple definition: A cooperative is a business or organization owned and run by its members. Members buy shares, make decisions together, and share benefits like profits or services.
Example: A local grocery cooperative where community members are owners and vote on store decisions.

3) Order the steps: how a consumer cooperative in Vanuatu works

Rewrite C: Put these events in the correct order to show how the cooperative starts and runs its store. Then explain each step briefly.

  1. People buy shares and become members.
    Explanation: Members provide the initial capital by purchasing shares, which gives them ownership and voting rights.
  2. A committee is elected from among the members of the society.
    Explanation: Members choose representatives to manage the cooperative’s affairs and make decisions between meetings.
  3. The committee appoints a secretary or manager.
    Explanation: The committee hires someone to handle day-to-day operations and oversee the store.
  4. A secretary or manager operates the store.
    Explanation: The manager runs purchases, sales, staff, and daily administration.
  5. The store makes a profit.
    Explanation: If sales exceed costs, the cooperative earns a surplus (profit).
  6. The annual general meeting of the shareholders, committee and cooperative inspector is held. Decisions are made about how to use the profits.
    Explanation: At the yearly meeting, members review performance and decide on profit distribution, reinvestment, or other uses.
  7. Some of the profits are put back into the store. The rest are divided equally among the members.
    Explanation: Part of the surplus is reinvested to improve the business; the remainder is shared among members, often according to their purchases or equally.

Quick tips for answering on your worksheet

  • Keep definitions short and in your own words (1–2 sentences).
  • Use specific, everyday examples so answers sound real and relatable.
  • When ordering steps, think logically: money and members come first, management next, then running the store, profit, meeting, and finally profit use.

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