The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The leader of Iceland quit on Tuesday because of a new financial scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson quit because of secret documents leaked from a Panama law firm. There are over 11.5 million leaked e-mails and letters. They contain information about how thousands of the world's richest and most powerful people avoid paying tax. The documents name over 215,000 companies and 14,153 clients of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including many present and past world leaders. Iceland's leader is the first to resign because of the scandal.

Many governments and celebrities are now trying to keep the scandal from hitting them. British leader David Cameron's father was one of the law firm's clients. Sports figures in the leaks include the new FIFA president, who is shocked that people are questioning his honesty. Mossack Fonseca could also be in trouble. Journalists say it worked with 33 people or companies that were part of international sanctions, including a cousin of Syria's president, and companies in North Korea. A tax expert said there is up to $32 trillion in untaxed financial wealth around the world.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/06/world/europe/panama-papers-iceland.html?_r=0
  • http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/05/473115334/fallout-from-panama-papers-echoes-around-the-world
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1673379/fifa-boss-dismayed-over-panama-files-claims


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 leader of Iceland quit

a.

leaked e-mails

2.

a new financial

b.

past world leaders

3.

over 11.5 million

c.

215,000 companies

4.

avoid paying

d.

on Tuesday

5.

The documents name over

e.

of the scandal

6.

14,153 clients of

f.

scandal

7.

present and

g.

tax

8.

the first to resign because

h.

the Panamanian law firm



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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

trying to keep the scandal

a.

the law firm's clients

2.

Cameron's father was one of

b.

be in trouble

3.

sports

c.

sanctions

4.

shocked that people are

d.

from hitting them

5.

Mossack Fonseca could also

e.

questioning his honesty

6.

international

f.

wealth

7.

up to

g.

figures

8.

financial

h.

$32 trillion

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The leader of Iceland quit on Tuesday (1) ___________________ financial scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson quit because of secret documents (2) ___________________ Panama law firm. There are over 11.5 (3) ___________________ and letters. They contain information about how thousands of the world's richest and most powerful people (4) ___________________. The documents name over 215,000 companies and 14,153 clients of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including (5) ___________________ past world leaders. Iceland's leader is the (6) ___________________ because of the scandal.

Many governments and (7) ___________________ trying to keep the scandal (8) ___________________. British leader David Cameron's father was one of the law firm's clients. Sports figures in the (9) ___________________ new FIFA president, who is shocked that people are (10) ___________________. Mossack Fonseca could also be in trouble. Journalists say it worked with 33 people or companies (11) ___________________ international sanctions, including a cousin of Syria's president, and companies in North Korea. A tax expert said there is up to $32 trillion in untaxed (12) ___________________ the world.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheleaderofIcelandquitonTuesdaybecauseofanewfinancialscandal.
SigmundurGunnlaugssonquitbecauseofsecretdocumentsleakedfro
maPanamalawfirm.Thereareover11.5millionleakede-mailsa
ndletters.Theycontaininformationabouthowthousandsoftheworld'sr
ichestandmostpowerfulpeopleavoidpayingtax.Thedocumentsname
over215,000companiesand14,153clientsofthePanamanianlawfirm
MossackFonseca,includingmanypresentandpastworldleaders.Icela
nd'sleaderisthefirsttoresignbecauseofthescandal.Manygovernment
sandcelebritiesarenowtryingtokeepthescandalfromhittingthem.Brit
ishleaderDavidCameron'sfatherwasoneofthelawfirm'sclients.Sports
figuresintheleaksincludethenewFIFApresident,whoisshockedthatpe
oplearequestioninghishonesty.MossackFonsecacouldalsobeintroubl
e.Journalistssayitworkedwith33peopleorcompaniesthatwerepar
tofinternationalsanctions,includingacousinofSyria'spresident,andco
mpaniesinNorthKorea.Ataxexpertsaidthereisupto$32trillioninuntax
edfinancialwealtharoundtheworld.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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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 tax for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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