The Reading / Listening - Level 4

"Forbes" magazine said Vladimir Putin is the world's most powerful person. Barack Obama is second. "Forbes" makes lists of the rich and famous. This list asked if "the autocratic leader of a former superpower" had more power than "the handcuffed commander-in-chief" of the world's most dominant country. It said Obama is a "lame duck" president. This is because of the recent government shutdown, Syria, and spying and security leaks scandals.

Forbes said it showed 72 of the people who matter the most. These are heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs "who truly run the world." Forbes looked at four things. One is who has power over lots of people; second is the person's wealth; third is if the person has power in different areas; and finally, how much he or she "actively uses their power". The U.N. Secretary-General was 22 places behind the CEO of retail giant Wal-Mart.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 5 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2013/10/30/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2013/
  • http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2013/10/30/ranking-the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2013/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)



The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

the rich

a.

a former superpower

2.

the autocratic leader of

b.

president

3.

the world's most

c.

and famous

4.

a lame duck

d.

leaks

5.

the recent government

e.

dominant country

6.

security

f.

shutdown

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

the people who

a.

over lots of people

2.

philanthropists and

b.

uses their power

3.

power

c.

giant

4.

how much he or she actively

d.

behind

5.

22 places

e.

matter the most

6.

retail

f.

entrepreneurs

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

"Forbes" magazine said Vladimir Putin is the world's most powerful person. Barack Obama is second. "Forbes" (1) ___________________ rich and famous. This list asked if " (2) ___________________ of a former superpower" had more power than "the (3) ___________________ " of the world's most (4) ___________________. It said Obama is a (5) ___________________. This is because of the recent government shutdown, Syria, and (6) ___________________ leaks scandals.

Forbes said it showed 72 of the people (7) ___________________. These are heads of state, (8) ___________________ and entrepreneurs "who truly run the world." Forbes looked at four things. One (9) ___________________ lots of people; second is (10) ___________________; third is if the person has power (11) ___________________ finally, how much he or she "actively uses their power". The U.N. Secretary-General (12) ___________________ the CEO of retail giant Wal-Mart.

POWERFUL PEOPLE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about powerful people 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about powerful people for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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