The Reading / Listening - Level 5

The business magazine "Forbes" said Russia's Vladimir Putin is the world's most powerful person. He knocks Barack Obama from the top. "Forbes" is well known for making lists comparing the rich and famous. This list asked: "Who’s more powerful: the autocratic leader of a former superpower or the handcuffed commander-in-chief of the most dominant country in the world?" Forbes gives several reasons why Obama is now number two, and has become a "lame duck" president. These include the recent government shutdown, Syria, and spying and security leaks scandals.

Forbes wrote: "There are nearly 7.2 billion people on the planet. These are the 72 that matter the most." It said its list showed the top heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs "who truly run the world." Forbes' editors looked at four things. One is who has power over lots of people; second is the financial resources each person controls; third is if the person has power "in multiple spheres"; and finally, how much he or she "actively uses their power". The editors put the U.N. Secretary-General 22 places behind the CEO of retail giant Wal-Mart.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 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.

He knocks Barack Obama

a.

why

2.

autocratic

b.

from the top

3.

commander-

c.

shutdown

4.

the most dominant

d.

leader

5.

Forbes gives several reasons

e.

duck president

6.

a lame

f.

leaks

7.

the recent government

g.

country in the world

8.

security

h.

in-chief

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

the 72 that

a.

over lots of people

2.

the top heads of

b.

person controls

3.

philanthropists and

c.

the world

4.

truly run

d.

matter the most

5.

who has power

e.

giant

6.

the financial resources each

f.

state

7.

how much he or she actively

g.

entrepreneurs

8.

retail

h.

uses their power

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

(1) ___________________ "Forbes" said Russia's Vladimir Putin is the world's most powerful person. He knocks Barack Obama from the top. "Forbes" (2) ___________________ making lists comparing the rich and famous. This list asked: "Who's more powerful: (3) ___________________ of a former superpower or the handcuffed commander-in-chief of the most (4) ___________________ world?" Forbes gives several reasons why Obama is now number two, and has become (5) ___________________. These include the recent government shutdown, Syria, (6) ___________________ leaks scandals.

Forbes wrote: "There are nearly 7.2 billion people on the planet. These are the 72 (7) ___________________." It said its list showed the top heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and (8) ___________________ run the world." Forbes' (9) ___________________ four things. One is who has power over lots of people; second is the financial resources each person controls; third is if the person has power "(10) ___________________"; and finally, how much he or she " (11) ___________________ power". The editors put the U.N. Secretary-General 22 (12) ___________________ 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.

 

 

 

 

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)

________________________________________________________

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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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