Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on European Union Budget

My 1,000 Ideas e-Book	Breaking News English HOME \| HELP MY SITE \| 000s MORE FREE LESSONS	My 1,000 Ideas e-Book

European Union wastes billions of euros (7th November, 2012)

PRINT

20 ONLINE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES

DICTATION

* 26-page lesson
* 2-page MINI lesson

LISTEN

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (US female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

READING

A spokesperson from the EU told reporters that the spending mistakes were under 4 per cent of the total EU budget. He added this was better than the 7 per cent error rate from five years ago. Some of the mistakes were very big. The EU spent money on the wrong things. One example was they gave money for training electronics employees to other kinds of workers. Another was giving money to forestry projects instead of farming programmes. Mr Caldeira said that only two areas of the EU budget had no mistakes. Marta Andreasen of the UK Independence Party said the mistakes showed the EU was seriously mismanaged. She also said this problem should "set alarm bells ringing".

WARM-UPS

SHARE THIS LESSON:

E-Mail

RSS

1. WASTING MONEY: Walk around the class and talk to other students about wasting money. Change partners often. Share your findings with your first partner.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

wasted / annual report / five billion euros / careless / hitting the target / financial crisis / spending mistakes / budget / electronics / employees / independence / alarm bells

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. BUDGET: How is yours? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change and share again.

Spending on…	% of budget	How necessary?	Anything a waste of money?
English
Fashion
Hobby
Snacks
Internet/Phone
Going out

4. SPENDING: Students A strongly believe governments are a waste of money; Students B strongly believe governments are not a waste of money. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

5. WHAT A WASTE!!!: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the biggest waste of money at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Another pair of jeans
Theme park souvenirs
Newspapers
Tissues

Alcohol
Beauty products
Video games
Cars

6. WASTE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'money'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	A new report came out about EU spending in 2008-2009.	T / F
b.	A report said the European Union wasted round 6.4 billion euros.	T / F
c.	A report spokesman, Vitor Caldeira, said the EU did not hit its target.	T / F
d.	Caldeira suggested the EU should spend as carefully as Europeans.	T / F
e.	The spending mistakes were just over 4% of the EU budget.	T / F
f.	Five years ago, the EU misspent 7% of its budget.	T / F
g.	The EU gave money to forestry that should have gone to farming.	T / F
h.	The EU spent too much money on projects for alarm bells in the UK.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	waste	a.	make a difference
2.	annual	b.	mistake
3.	careless	c.	yearly
4.	target	d.	representative
5.	matter	e.	misspend / misuse
6.	spokesperson	f.	badly
7.	error	g.	goal
8.	rate	h.	slack
9.	seriously	i.	warning signs
10.	alarm bells	j.	percentage

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	The European Union (EU) wasted	a.	money better
2.	the Union misspent almost	b.	were very big
3.	look after its	c.	than ever
4.	financial	d.	mismanaged
5.	These problems matter more	e.	had no mistakes
6.	under 4 per cent of the total	f.	a lot of money
7.	Some of the mistakes	g.	bells ringing
8.	only two areas of the EU budget	h.	EU budget
9.	the EU was seriously	i.	five billion euros
10.	set alarm	j.	crisis

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

The European Union (EU) (1) ____________ a lot of money last year. The annual report on EU spending said the Union misspent almost five billion euros ((2) ____________ US$6.4 billion). The boss of the European Court of Auditors, the group that made the (3) ____________, said the EU was very careless and should look after its money better. He said his team "found too many (4) ____________ of EU money not hitting the target". Vitor Caldeira, the Court's president, said that many Europeans have to be (5) ____________ with their money because of the financial (6) ____________. He said the EU should take greater care with its budget because of the (7) ____________ economies in Europe: "These problems matter more than (8) ____________," he added.

crisis
report
weak
around
cases
wasted
ever
careful

A spokesperson from the EU told reporters that the (9) ____________ mistakes were under 4 per cent of the total EU (10) ____________. He added this was better than the 7 per cent error rate from five years ago. Some of the mistakes were very (11) ____________. The EU spent money on the wrong things. One example was they gave money for training electronics (12) ____________ to other kinds of workers. Another was giving money to forestry projects (13) ____________ of farming programmes. Mr Caldeira said that only two (14) ____________ of the EU budget had no mistakes. Marta Andreasen of the UK Independence Party said the mistakes showed the EU was (15) ____________ mismanaged. She also said this problem should "set alarm bells (16) ____________ ".

employees
ringing
spending
areas
budget
instead
seriously
big

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The European Union (EU) wasted
	a. loads of money b. a lot of cash c. billions and billions d. a lot of money
2)	the Union misspent almost
	a. five billion euros b. five billion dollars c. 6.4 billion euros d. 6.4 billion pounds
3)	the EU was very careless and should look after its money
	a. more b. better c. greater d. more wisely
4)	Europeans have to be careful with their money because of the
	a. global financial crisis b. financial problems c. finance crisis d. financial crisis
5)	These problems matter more
	a. than never b. than ever c. than before d. than now
6)	the spending mistakes were ______ of the total EU budget
	a. under 4 per cent b. over 4 per cent c. under 7 per cent d. over 7 per cent
7)	He added this was better than the ______ error rate from five years ago
	a. 17.5 per cent b. 17 per cent c. 70 per cent d. 7 per cent
8)	they gave money for training electronics employees to
	a. other kinds of workers b. other sorts of workers c. other types of workers d. other kind workers
9)	only two areas of the EU budget had
	a. new mistakes b. non-mistakes c. no mistakes d. not mistakes
10)	She also said this problem should set alarm bells
	a. clanging b. ringing c. sounding d. going off

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The European Union (EU) (1) _____________________ money last year. The annual report on EU spending said the Union misspent almost five billion euros ((2) _____________________). The boss of the European Court of Auditors, the group that made the report, said the EU (3) _____________________ should look after its money better. He said his team "found too many cases of EU money (4) _____________________". Vitor Caldeira, the Court's president, said that many Europeans have to be careful with their money because (5) _____________________. He said the EU should take greater care with its budget because of the weak economies in Europe: "These problems (6) ________________________," he added.

A spokesperson from the EU told reporters that the spending mistakes were under 4 per cent of (7) _____________________. He added this was better than the 7 per cent (8) _____________________ years ago. Some of the mistakes were very big. The EU spent (9) _____________________ things. One example was they gave money for training electronics employees to (10) _____________________. Another was giving money to forestry projects instead of farming programmes. Mr Caldeira said that only two areas of the (11) _____________________ mistakes. Marta Andreasen of the UK Independence Party said the mistakes showed the EU was seriously mismanaged. She also said this problem should "(12) __________________".

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	When did the EU waste a lot of money?
2.	How much money in US dollars is 5 billion euros?
3.	What did the EU not hit?
4.	Why do Europeans have to be more careful?
5.	What should the EU take greater care of?
6.	What was under 4% of the total EU budget?
7.	What was the error rate five years ago?
8.	What kind of employees should have got money?
9.	What got money instead of farms?
10.	What did a British woman say might start ringing?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1) When did the EU waste money?		6) What was the percentage of the spending mistakes?
	a) Since it began. b) Last year. c) Two years ago. d) Earlier this year.		a) Under 4% b) Over 7% c) Over 4% d) 4%
2) What kind of report is in the article?		7) When was the error rate 7%?
	a) A financial report. b) A terrible report. c) An unpublished report. d) An annual report.		a) Three years ago b) Four years ago c) Five years ago d) Six years ago
3) What were there too many cases of?		8) What programmes should have got money, but didn't?
	a) The EU ringing alarm bells. b) The EU not aiming properly. c) The EU not hitting the target. d) The EU not scoring.		a) Farming programmes b) Fishing programmes c) Fencing programmes d) Flooring programmes
4) Why are Europeans being careful?		9) How many areas of the budget had no mistakes?
	a) Because of the financial crisis. b) Because they are tired. c) Because they have no jobs. d) Because of the US economy.		a) Five b) Four c) Three d) Two
5) What kind of economies are there in Europe?		10) What should start ringing?
	a) recovering b) weak c) poorly d) half-dead		a) Church bells b) Wedding bells c) Alarm bells d) Jingle bells

ROLE PLAY

Role A – The EU boss

You are very happy that less than 4% of the EU budget is misspent. Think of three ideas why. Four per cent is very small. The EU makes fewer spending mistakes than most companies and people. You are tired of people who complain about the EU. It does a great, great, great job.

Role B – Vitor Caldeira

You are shocked that the EU wastes so much money. There are many useful things they could spend the five billion euros on. Think of three things. You think the EU boss should lose his/her job because of the mistakes. The boss is rich so he / she doesn't care about wasting money.

Role C – A European farmer

You are very, very, very angry that the EU wastes so much money. Think of 3 reasons why. You needed the EU momey but it went to forests. Ask the EU boss why. Do NOT accept any of his/her answers. She/he is wrong, wrong, wrong. You think he/she should quit his/her job.

Role D – An EU budget worker

You work for the budget office of the EU. You understand why the EU misspent 4% of its budget. Think of 3 reasons why. You think the boss does a great job. However, you have found an EU memo that says a 10% misspending rate is OK. Ask the EU boss about this.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'waste' and 'spend'.

waste

spend

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

last
boss
group
careless
crisis
matter

4%
7%
wrong
workers
areas
bells

WASTING MONEY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about wasting money in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WASTING MONEY DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'waste'?
c)	Do you waste money?
d)	What was your biggest waste of money?
e)	What do you think of the EU wasting so much money?
f)	Do you think people in the EU should quit their jobs because of this waste?
g)	Why do you think the EU budget did not hit the target?
h)	Are you good at budgeting?
i)	Has the financial crisis changed your life?
j)	How is your country in the financial crisis?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What is the biggest waste of money in your country?
c)	How do you feel when you waste money?
d)	Is it natural for people to waste money?
e)	Is 4% waste OK / normal?
f)	What should the EU do about this waste?
g)	What do you think your country should spend its money on?
h)	Will the European economies be healthier next year?
i)	What kind of alarm bells might start ringing?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the boss of the EU?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

The European Union (EU) wasted (1) ____ money last year. The annual report on EU spending said the Union (2) ____ almost five billion euros (around US$6.4 billion). The boss of the European Court of Auditors, the group that made the report, said the EU was very (3) ____ and should look after its money better. He said his team "found too many cases of EU money not (4) ____ the target". Vitor Caldeira, the Court's president, said that many Europeans have to be careful with their money because of the financial (5) ____. He said the EU should take greater care with its budget because of the weak economies in Europe: "These problems matter more than (6) ____," he added.

A spokesperson from the EU told reporters that the spending mistakes were (7) ____ 4 per cent of the total EU budget. He added this was better than the 7 per cent error (8) ____ from five years ago. Some of the mistakes were very big. The EU spent money (9) ____ the wrong things. One example was they gave money for training electronics employees to (10) ____ kinds of workers. Another was giving money to forestry projects instead of farming programmes. Mr Caldeira said that only two areas of the EU budget had (11) ____ mistakes. Marta Andreasen of the UK Independence Party said the mistakes showed the EU was seriously mismanaged. She also said this problem should "set alarm (12) ____ ringing".

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	a lot of	(b)	lots	(c)	loads	(d)	a lot
2.	(a)	misspending	(b)	spenders	(c)	misspent	(d)	spending
3.	(a)	carelessly	(b)	carefully	(c)	careless	(d)	careful
4.	(a)	targeting	(b)	aiming	(c)	shooting	(d)	hitting
5.	(a)	crimes	(b)	crispy	(c)	crisis	(d)	critics
6.	(a)	never	(b)	ever	(c)	even	(d)	ever-so
7.	(a)	less	(b)	under	(c)	pre	(d)	before
8.	(a)	date	(b)	rate	(c)	gate	(d)	late
9.	(a)	in	(b)	at	(c)	on	(d)	by
10.	(a)	the others	(b)	others	(c)	another	(d)	other
11.	(a)	none	(b)	not	(c)	non-	(d)	no
12.	(a)	bills	(b)	balls	(c)	bell	(d)	bells

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	The European Union stwade a lot of money
2.	the Union psenmsti almost five billion euros
3.	the EU was very aersslce
4.	… because of the fainilcan crisis
5.	the EU should take rreegta care with its budget
6.	These psrolbem matter more than ever
Paragraph 2
7.	A snskooeepspr from the EU
8.	7 per cent orerr rate
9.	money for training electronics eeloysmpe
10.	giving money to forestry projects ndeasit of farming
11.	the EU was surisloey mismanaged
12.	set alarm bells igrnnig

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

( )	on EU spending said the Union misspent almost five billion euros (around US$6.4 billion). The boss of
( )	target". Vitor Caldeira, the Court's president, said that many Europeans have to be careful with their money because of the financial
( )	mistakes. Marta Andreasen of the UK Independence Party said the mistakes showed the EU was seriously
( )	big. The EU spent money on the wrong things. One example was they gave money for training electronics employees
( )	A spokesperson from the EU told reporters that the spending mistakes were under 4 per
( )	cent of the total EU budget. He added this was better than the 7 per cent error rate from five years ago. Some of the mistakes were very
( )	crisis. He said the EU should take greater care with its budget because of the weak
( 1 )	The European Union (EU) wasted a lot of money last year. The annual report
( )	to other kinds of workers. Another was giving money to forestry projects instead of farming
( )	programmes. Mr Caldeira said that only two areas of the EU budget had no
( )	after its money better. He said his team "found too many cases of EU money not hitting the
( )	economies in Europe: "These problems matter more than ever," he added.
( )	mismanaged. She also said this problem should "set alarm bells ringing".
( )	the European Court of Auditors, the group that made the report, said the EU was very careless and should look

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	year Union lot last European a money The wasted of.
2.	EU money not hitting the target Too many cases of.
3.	careful Europeans with have their to money be.
4.	take with should care budget EU greater its The.
5.	more ever These matter than problems.
6.	spending per mistakes cent were under The 4.
7.	was better than the 7 per cent error rate This.
8.	money on The the EU wrong spent things.
9.	of the EU budget had no mistakes Only two areas.
10.	alarm set should problem This ringing bells.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The European Union (EU) wasted / wasting a lot of money last year. The annual report on / in EU spending said the Union misspent most / almost five billion euros (around US$6.4 billion). The boss of the European Court of Auditors, the group that made the report, said the EU was very carelessly / careless and should look after its money better / good. He said his team "found too many cases of EU money not / no hitting the target". Vitor Caldeira, the Court's president, said what / that many Europeans have to be careful with their money because of the financial / finances crisis. He said the EU should take greater careful / care with its budget because of the weak economies in Europe: "These problems matter more than ever / never," he added.

A spokesperson from / by the EU told reporters that the spending mistakes were under / less 4 per cent of the total EU budget. He added this was better than the 7 per cent error date / rate from five years ago. Some of the mistakes were very bigger / big. The EU spent money in / on the wrong things. One example was they gave money for training electronics employees to other / another kinds of workers. Another were / was giving money to forestry projects instead for / of farming programmes. Mr Caldeira said that only two areas of the EU budget had no / not mistakes. Marta Andreasen of the UK Independence Party said the mistakes showed the EU was seriously mismanaged. She also said this problem should "set / let alarm bells ringing".

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ __r_p__n _n__n (__) w_st_d _ l_t _f m_n_y l_st y__r. Th_ _nn__l r_p_rt _n __ sp_nd_ng s__d th_ _n__n m_ssp_nt _lm_st f_v_ b_ll__n __r_s (_r__nd _S$6.4 b_ll__n). Th_ b_ss _f th_ __r_p__n C__rt _f __d_t_rs, th_ gr__p th_t m_d_ th_ r_p_rt, s__d th_ __ w_s v_ry c_r_l_ss _nd sh__ld l__k _ft_r _ts m_n_y b_tt_r. H_ s__d h_s t__m "f__nd t__ m_ny c_s_s _f __ m_n_y n_t h_tt_ng th_ t_rg_t". V_t_r C_ld__r_, th_ C__rt's pr_s_d_nt, s__d th_t m_ny __r_p__ns h_v_ t_ b_ c_r_f_l w_th th__r m_n_y b_c__s_ _f th_ f_n_nc__l cr_s_s. H_ s__d th_ __ sh__ld t_k_ gr__t_r c_r_ w_th _ts b_dg_t b_c__s_ _f th_ w__k _c_n_m__s _n __r_p_: "Th_s_ pr_bl_ms m_tt_r m_r_ th_n _v_r," h_ _dd_d.

_ sp_k_sp_rs_n fr_m th_ __ t_ld r_p_rt_rs th_t th_ sp_nd_ng m_st_k_s w_r_ _nd_r 4 p_r c_nt _f th_ t_t_l __ b_dg_t. H_ _dd_d th_s w_s b_tt_r th_n th_ 7 p_r c_nt _rr_r r_t_ fr_m f_v_ y__rs _g_. S_m_ _f th_ m_st_k_s w_r_ v_ry b_g. Th_ __ sp_nt m_n_y _n th_ wr_ng th_ngs. _n_ _x_mpl_ w_s th_y g_v_ m_n_y f_r tr__n_ng _l_ctr_n_cs _mpl_y__s t_ _th_r k_nds _f w_rk_rs. _n_th_r w_s g_v_ng m_n_y t_ f_r_stry pr_j_cts _nst__d _f f_rm_ng pr_gr_mm_s. Mr C_ld__r_ s__d th_t _nly tw_ _r__s _f th_ __ b_dg_t h_d n_ m_st_k_s. M_rt_ _ndr__s_n _f th_ _K _nd_p_nd_nc_ P_rty s__d th_ m_st_k_s sh_w_d th_ __ w_s s_r___sly m_sm_n_g_d. Sh_ _ls_ s__d th_s pr_bl_m sh__ld "s_t _l_rm b_lls r_ng_ng".

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the european union (eu) wasted a lot of money last year the annual report on eu spending said the union misspent almost five billion euros (around us$64 billion) the boss of the european court of auditors the group that made the report said the eu was very careless and should look after its money better he said his team "found too many cases of eu money not hitting the target" vitor caldeira the court's president said that many europeans have to be careful with their money because of the financial crisis he said the eu should take greater care with its budget because of the weak economies in europe "these problems matter more than ever" he added

a spokesperson from the eu told reporters that the spending mistakes were under 4 per cent of the total eu budget he added this was better than the 7 per cent error rate from five years ago some of the mistakes were very big the eu spent money on the wrong things one example was they gave money for training electronics employees to other kinds of workers another was giving money to forestry projects instead of farming programmes mr caldeira said that only two areas of the eu budget had no mistakes marta andreasen of the uk independence party said the mistakes showed the eu was seriously mismanaged she also said this problem should "set alarm bells ringing"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheEuropeanUnion(EU)wastedalotofmoneylastyear.TheannualreportonEU
spendingsaidtheUnionmisspentalmostfivebillioneuros(aroundUS$6.4
billion).ThebossoftheEuropeanCourtofAuditors,thegroupthatmadethereport,
saidtheEUwasverycarelessandshouldlookafteritsmoneybetter.Hesaid
histeam"foundtoomanycasesofEUmoneynothittingthetarget".VitorCaldeira,
theCourt'spresident,saidthatmanyEuropeanshavetobecarefulwiththeirmoney
becauseofthefinancialcrisis.HesaidtheEUshouldtakegreatercarewithitsbudget
becauseoftheweakeconomiesinEurope:"Theseproblemsmattermorethanever,"
headded.AspokespersonfromtheEUtoldreportersthatthespendingmistakes
wereunder4percentofthetotalEUbudget.Headdedthiswasbetterthanthe7per
centerrorratefromfiveyearsago.Someofthemistakeswereverybig.TheEUspent
moneyonthewrongthings.Oneexamplewastheygavemoneyfortrainingelectronics
employeestootherkindsofworkers.Anotherwasgivingmoneytoforestryprojects
insteadoffarmingprogrammes.MrCaldeirasaidthatonlytwoareasoftheEUbudget
hadnomistakes.MartaAndreasenoftheUKIndependencePartysaidthemistakes
showedtheEUwasseriouslymismanaged.Shealsosaidthisproblemshould"set
alarmbellsringing".

FREE WRITING

Write about wasting money for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

People spend too much money on things they don't need. They should give the money to charity instead. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about wasting money. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. WASTING MONEY: Make a poster about wasting money. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. BUDGET: Write a magazine article about budgets. Include imaginary interviews with people who are good at making them.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to the boss of the EU. Ask him/her three questions about the EU wasting money. Give him/her three of your opinions on this. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	waste	a.	misspend / misuse
2.	annual	b.	yearly
3.	careless	c.	slack
4.	target	d.	goal
5.	matter	e.	make a difference
6.	spokesperson	f.	representative
7.	error	g.	mistake
8.	rate	h.	percentage
9.	seriously	i.	badly
10.	alarm bells	j.	warning signs

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Last year
2.	Around US$6.4 billion
3.	The target
4.	Because of the financial crisis
5.	Its budget
6.	Spending mistakes
7.	7%
8.	Training electronics employees
9.	Forests / Forestry
10.	Alarm bells

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

10.

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

European Union wastes billions of euros (7th November, 2012)

* 26-page lesson * 2-page MINI lesson

LISTEN

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (US female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Text Jumble

* Missing words

* No letters

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

* Initials only

* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

* No spaces

* Gap-fill

* 10 sentences

* Spelling