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IKEA 'deeply regrets' forced prison labour (17th November, 2012)

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DICTATION

* 26-page lesson
* 2-page MINI lesson

  

LISTEN

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA 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

  

READING

  * Speed Reading

One of Sweden's most famous companies has apologised for selling products made in communist prisons. The furniture giant IKEA said it "deeply regrets" buying furniture that was made using forced labour in prisons in East Germany over twenty years ago. IKEA is famous for its modern, clean designs and reasonable prices. However, few people knew about a dark period in its history. The company now admits that political prisoners in communist East Germany were forced to make some of the furniture sold in IKEA stores across the world. This was before the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Germany was split in two. IKEA manager Jeanette Skjelmose told reporters: "We deeply regret that this could happen."

IKEA said it checks working conditions at its suppliers very carefully. They also checked suppliers 20 to 30 years ago, but their checks did not find the use of forced labour in prisons. Ms Skjelmose said: "The use of political prisoners for manufacturing was at no point accepted by IKEA….[30 years ago] we didn't have the well-developed control system that we have today. We clearly did too little to [stop those] methods." Many of the prisoners now want compensation – they want IKEA to pay them for their work. Human rights campaigner Rainer Wagner said many western companies used cheap, forced, prison labour in East Germany. He said: "IKEA is only the tip of the iceberg."

Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ikea-regrets-use-of-forced-prison-labor-by-suppliers-in-communist-east-germany/2012/11/16/8bfce15a-300e-11e2-af17-67abba0676e2_story.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20356945

WARM-UPS

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1. IKEA: Walk around the class and talk to other students about forced furniture. 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.

 

Sweden's most famous companies / communist / prisons / furniture / Berlin Wall / regret / working conditions / manufacturing / compensation / human rights / icebergs

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

3. REGRETS: Do you have any? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

 

Regret (~ing) …

Regret not (~ing) …

Don't regret (~ing) …

Shopping

 

 

 

Studying

 

 

 

Internet

 

 

 

Hobbies

 

 

 

Relationships

 

 

 

Hairstyles

 

 

 

4. FORCED LABOUR: Students A strongly believe forced labour will disappear in the coming decades should pay a lot of compensation to the former prisoners; Students B strongly believe it will never disappear.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

5. FURNITURE: What's most important? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • framed paintings
  • bed
  • bookcase
  • desk
  • mirror
  • closet / wardrobe
  • coffee table
  • carpet

6. PRISON: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'prison'. 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.

IKEA has said sorry for selling its furniture in communist prisons.

T / F

b.

Two decades ago, IKEA bought from suppliers who used forced labour.

T / F

c.

The furniture in the story was made in Bulgarian prisons in the 1980s.

T / F

d.

IKEA's CEO told reporters of the deep regret this could happen.

T / F

e.

IKEA said checks on working conditions did not find the forced labour.

T / F

f.

A manager said IKEA never accepted work from political prisoners.

T / F

g.

IKEA has promised to pay the prison workers compensation.

T / F

h.

A human rights worker said more companies used forced prison labour.

T / F

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

1.

most famous

a.

is sorry about

2.

prisons

b.

production

3.

regrets

c.

divided

4.

admits

d.

obviously

5.

split

e.

best known

6.

checks

f.

accepts

7.

manufacturing

g.

system

8.

clearly

h.

jails

9.

methods

i.

activist

10.

campaigner

j.

examines

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

1.

One of Sweden's most

a.

split in two

2.

furniture that was made

b.

stop those methods

3.

few people knew about a

c.

regret that this could happen

4.

when Germany was

d.

conditions at its suppliers

5.

We deeply

e.

famous companies

6.

IKEA said it checks working

f.

of the iceberg

7.

The use of political prisoners

g.

using forced labour

8.

We clearly did too little to

h.

want compensation

9.

Many of the prisoners now

i.

dark period in its history

10.

the tip

j.

for manufacturing

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

One of Sweden's most famous companies has apologised (1) ____________ selling products made in communist prisons. The furniture (2) ____________ IKEA said it "deeply regrets" buying furniture that was made (3) ____________ forced labour in prisons in East Germany over twenty years ago. IKEA is famous for its modern, clean (4) ____________ and reasonable prices. However, few people knew about a (5) ____________ period in its history. The company now admits that political prisoners in communist East Germany were (6) ____________ to make some of the furniture sold in IKEA stores across the world. This was before the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Germany was (7) ____________ in two. IKEA manager Jeanette Skjelmose told reporters: "We (8) ____________ regret that this could happen."

 

 

 

forced
dark
using
deeply
for
designs
giant
split

IKEA said it checks working (9) ____________ at its suppliers very carefully. They also checked suppliers 20 to 30 years ago, but their checks did not (10) ____________ the use of forced labour in prisons. Ms Skjelmose said: "The use of political prisoners for manufacturing was at no (11) ____________ accepted by IKEA….[30 years ago] we didn't have the well-developed control system that we have today. We (12) ____________ did too little to [stop those] methods." Many of the prisoners now want (13) ____________ – they want IKEA to (14) ____________ them for their work. Human rights campaigner Rainer Wagner said many (15) ____________ companies used cheap, forced, prison labour in East Germany. He said: "IKEA is only the (16) ____________ of the iceberg."

 

 

pay
tip
find
compensation
conditions
western
point
clearly

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

One of Sweden's most famous companies has …

 

a.  apology.

b.  apologizing.

c.  apologized.

d.  apologies.

2)

… furniture that was made using forced labour in prisons in East Germany …

 

a.  over twenty years earlier.

b.  over twenty-one years ago.

c.  over twenty years ago.

d.  more than twenty years before.

3)

However, few people knew about ______ in its history.

 

a.  a dark period

b.  a dark peer rid

c.  dark periods

d.  a darkness

4)

This was ______ the Berlin Wall

 

a.  before the felling of

b.  after the fall of

c.  before the falling of

d.  before the fall of

5)

IKEA manager Jeanette Skjelmose told reporters:

 

a.  "We deeply regret that this could happen."

b.  "That this could happen, we deeply regret."

c.  "We regret deeply that could happen this."

d.  "We could regret that this happen deeply."

6)

IKEA said ______ at its suppliers very carefully.

 

a.  working conditions check it

b.  it checks working conditions

c.  it conditions its working checks

d.  it works its check conditions

7)

their checks ______ forced labour in prisons

 

a.  found a lot of

b.  found absolutely no use of

c.  did not find the use of

d.  did not fund any use of

8)

We _______ to [stop those] methods.

 

a.  clearly did too little

b.  did clearly too little

c.  clearly too little did

d.  cleverly did too little

9)

Rainer Wagner said many western companies ______ labour in East Germany.

 

a.  used cheap prison, forced,

b.  used cheap, forced, prison

c.  used forced, cheap, prison

d.  cheap, forced, prison used

10)

He said: "IKEA is only ______."

 

a.  the trap of the ice shelf

b.  the drip of the ice cream

c.  the tip of the iceberg

d.  the top of the ice cube

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

One of Sweden's most famous companies (1) ____________________ selling products made in communist prisons. The furniture giant IKEA said it "deeply regrets" buying furniture that was (2) ____________________ labour in prisons in East Germany over twenty years ago. IKEA is famous for its (3) ____________________ and reasonable prices. However, few people knew about (4) ____________________ its history. The company now admits that political prisoners in communist East Germany were forced to make some of (5) ____________________ IKEA stores across the world. This was before the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Germany (6) ____________________. IKEA manager Jeanette Skjelmose told reporters: "We deeply regret that this could happen."

IKEA said it (7) ____________________ at its suppliers very carefully. They also checked suppliers 20 to 30 years ago, but their checks did not find the use (8) ____________________ prisons. Ms Skjelmose said: "The use of political prisoners for manufacturing was (9) ____________________ by IKEA….[30 years ago] we didn't have the well-developed control system that we have today. We (10) ____________________ to [stop those] methods." Many of the prisoners (11) ____________________ – they want IKEA to pay them for their work. Human rights campaigner Rainer Wagner said many western companies used (12) ____________________ labour in East Germany. He said: "IKEA is only the tip of the iceberg."

 

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What kind of prisons was the furniture made in?

2.

When was the furniture made?

3.

What is IKEA famous for?

4.

What kind of prisoners did IKEA say made the furniture?

5.

What is Jeanette Skjelmose's job?

6.

What did IKEA check very carefully?

7.

What did IKEA's checks not find 20 years ago?

8.

What does IKEA have now that it didn't have 20 years ago?

9.

What do the prisoners want now?

10.

What is IKEA only the tip of?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

Ikea is one of Sweden's ______ companies.

6.

What does IKEA check very carefully at its suppliers?

 

a) must famous

b) least famous

c) last famous

d) most famous

 

a) working hours

b) the quality of wood

c) working conditions

d) waiting time

2.

When was the furniture in East Germany made?

7.

What did IKEA's checks not find?

 

a) Over 10 years ago.

b) Over 20 years ago.

c) Over 30 years ago.

d) Over 40 years ago.

 

a) stolen money

b) the leader of the prison

c) many missing nuts and bolts

d) the use of forced labour in prisons

3.

What kind of prices does IKEA charge?

8.

What does IKEA have now that was missing 20 years ago?

 

a) unreasonable ones

b) treasonable ones

c) reasonable ones

d) reasoned ones

 

a) a well-developed control system

b) good labour lawyers

c) award-winning furniture

d) a store next to the Berlin Wall

4.

What kind of period does the article say people knew little of?

9.

What do the former prisoners want?

 

a) A dark one.

b) A dusty one.

c) A dangerous one.

d) A dear one.

 

a) commemoration

b) condensation

c) compensation

d) competition

5.

What did all this happen before?

10.

Rainer Wagner said IKEA was just …

 

a) people found out

b) 1980

c) the fall of the Berlin Wall

d) eight o'clock

 

a) the tip of the ice shelf

b) the tip of the iceberg

c) the top of the iceberg

d) the drip of the ice shelf

 

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Former prisoner

You made a lot of furniture in an East German prison 30 years ago. Your "crime" was writing about human rights. You worked long hours making IKEA beds. You now have bad eyesight. IKEA made a lot of money from the beds. You want a lot of compensation. Think of three reasons why.

Role  B – IKEA CEO

Apologise very deeply to everyone for what happened. You think IKEA has done enough – it has admitted its suppliers used forced labour. BUT… the suppliers should pay compensation. They are the ones who were wrong. You will NOT pay compensation. NEVER! Think of three reasons why.

Role  C – An IKEA customer

You are angry about IKEA selling furniture made by forced labour. Think of three reasons why. Tell the CEO just an apology is not good enough. You will start a global Internet campaign to ask people not to shop at IKEA if the CEO does not pay compensation. You hate the IKEA worker's ideas.

Role  D – An IKEA store worker

You love working for IKEA. Think of three reasons why. You are worried that the company might be hurt by this news story. Try to get the worker to accept secret compensation (he/she must never tell reporters). Tell the IKEA boss he has to pay something to keep IKEA's good image.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

prison

labour

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • most
  • giant
  • clean
  • some
  • fall
  • reporters
  • checks
  • ago
  • point
  • little
  • pay
  • tip

FORCED LABOUR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about forced labour 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.

IKEA STORY 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 'furniture'?

c)

What do you think about IKEA selling furniture that was made using forced labour?

d)

What do you know about the communist countries of Europe before the fall of the Berlin wall?

e)

What do you think of IKEA?

f)

What kind of furniture do you have / like?

g)

Do you think all companies have dark histories?

h)

Do you think IKEA is a better company because it apologized about its past?

i)

Have you ever been to an IKEA store? What did you think of it?

j)

Why do you think IKEA is more famous than other furniture companies?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Do you think companies should check their suppliers more?

c)

Do companies care about profits more than working conditions?

d)

What other companies do you know about that have been in the news about working conditions?

e)

Should past IKEA employees go to court for not spotting the use of forced labour?

f)

What do you know about the fall of the Berlin wall?

g)

How much compensation should IKEA pay the workers?

h)

Are governments around the world doing enough to make sure workers' human rights are respected?

i)

Do you think other companies will apologise for using forced labour?

j)

What questions would you like to ask human rights campaigner Rainer Wagner?

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

One of Sweden's most famous companies has apologised for (1) ____ products made in communist prisons. The furniture giant IKEA said it "deeply regrets" buying furniture that was made (2) ____ forced labour in prisons in East Germany over twenty years ago. IKEA is famous (3) ____ its modern, clean designs and reasonable prices. However, (4) ____ people knew about a dark period in its history. The company now admits that (5) ____ prisoners in communist East Germany were forced to make some of the furniture sold in IKEA stores across the world. This was before the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Germany was (6) ____ in two. IKEA manager Jeanette Skjelmose told reporters: "We deeply regret that this could happen."

IKEA said it checks working conditions (7) ____ its suppliers very carefully. They also checked suppliers 20 to 30 years ago, but their (8) ____ did not find the use of forced labour in prisons. Ms Skjelmose said: "The use of political prisoners for manufacturing was at (9) ____ point accepted by IKEA….[30 years ago] we didn't have the (10) ____-developed control system that we have today. We clearly did  (11) ____ little to [stop those] methods." Many of the prisoners now want compensation – they want IKEA to pay them for their work. Human rights campaigner Rainer Wagner said many western companies used cheap, forced, prison labour in East Germany. He said: "IKEA is only the (12) ____ of the iceberg."

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

1.

(a)

sales

(b)

sold

(c)

sell

(d)

selling

2.

(a)

usage

(b)

uses

(c)

used

(d)

using

3.

(a)

by

(b)

for

(c)

of

(d)

on

4.

(a)

little

(b)

small

(c)

few

(d)

tiny

5.

(a)

politics

(b)

politicians

(c)

political

(d)

politically

6.

(a)

split

(b)

spilled

(c)

spoilt

(d)

splatted

7.

(a)

to

(b)

at

(c)

as

(d)

if

8.

(a)

checks

(b)

checked

(c)

cheques

(d)

checkmates

9.

(a)

not

(b)

no

(c)

neither

(d)

none

10.

(a)

good

(b)

nice

(c)

well

(d)

perfect

11.

(a)

enough

(b)

such

(c)

too

(d)

not

12.

(a)

bottom

(b)

shelf

(c)

ice

(d)

tip

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

One of Sweden's most famous paisncoem

2.

csdoturp made in communist prisons

3.

The uunfreirt giant IKEA

4.

clean designs and oasrleenab prices

5.

piiollcta prisoners

6.

when Germany was tpsli in two

Paragraph 2

7.

working iocistdnon

8.

the well-pdoeldeve control system

9.

We elyarlc did too little

10.

Many of the prisoners now want tcsomnaionpe

11.

human ihrsgt campaigner

12.

the tip of the ebgcire

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

1  )

One of Sweden's most famous companies has apologised for selling products

(    )

made in communist prisons. The furniture giant IKEA said it "deeply regrets" buying furniture that was made using

(    )

prices. However, few people knew about a dark period in its history. The company now admits that political prisoners in

(    )

across the world. This was before the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Germany was split

(    )

developed control system that we have today. We clearly did too little to [stop those]

(    )

them for their work. Human rights campaigner Rainer Wagner said many western companies used

(    )

in two. IKEA manager Jeanette Skjelmose told reporters: "We deeply regret that this could happen."

(    )

IKEA said it checks working conditions at its suppliers very carefully. They also checked suppliers 20

(    )

to 30 years ago, but their checks did not find the use of forced labour in prisons. Ms Skjelmose said: "The use

(    )

forced labour in prisons in East Germany over twenty years ago. IKEA is famous for its modern, clean designs and reasonable

(    )

cheap, forced prison labour in East Germany. He said: "IKEA is only the tip of the iceberg."

(    )

methods." Many of the prisoners now want compensation – they want IKEA to pay

(    )

communist East Germany were forced to make some of the furniture sold in IKEA stores

(    )

of political prisoners for manufacturing was at no point accepted by IKEA….[30 years ago] we didn't have the well-

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

has    Sweden's    apologized   most    famous    One   companies     of.    

2.

was     made     Buying     using     furniture     forced     that     labour.    

3.

dark    period    in     its    history    Few    people     knew    about     a.    

4.

of     Wall     was     fall     Berlin     This     the     the     before.    

5.

regret     deeply     We     happen     could     this     that.    

6.

said    working    its    IKEA    checks    at     it   conditions     suppliers.    

7.

did    not     find    the     use    of     forced    labour     Their     checks.    

8.

the     developed     have     -    system    didn't    well     control     We.    

9.

the     of     Many     compensation     want     now     prisoners.    

10.

the    the    IKEA    said    iceberg    tip    is    :    ."    of    only    "   He

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

One of Sweden's most / must famous companies has apologised for selling products made in communist prisons. The furniture monster / giant IKEA said it "deeply regrets" buying furniture that was made using forces / forced labour in prisons in East Germany over / more twenty years ago. IKEA is famous  of / for its modern, clean designs and reasons / reasonable prices. However, few people knew about a dark / darken period in its history. The company now admits what / that political prisoners in communist East Germany were forced to make some of the furniture sold in IKEA stores across the world. This was before the fell / fall of the Berlin Wall, when Germany was split in two. IKEA manager Jeanette Skjelmose told reporters: "We deeply / deepest regret that this could happen."

IKEA said it checks / chucks out working conditions at its suppliers very carefully / careful. They also checked suppliers 20 to 30 years ago / past, but their checks did not find the use of forced labour in prisons. Ms Skjelmose said: "The use of political prisoners as / for manufacturing was at no point / pointing accepted by IKEA….[30 years ago] we didn't have the well-developed / development control system that we have today. We clear / clearly did too little to [stop those] methods." Many of the prisoners now want compensates / compensation – they want IKEA to pay them for their work. Human rights / writes campaigner Rainer Wagner said many western companies used cheap, forced, prison labour in East Germany. He said: "IKEA is only the tip of the iceberg / ice shelf."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

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

_n_ _f Sw_d_n's m_st f_m__s c_mp_n__s h_s _p_l_g_s_d f_r s_ll_ng pr_d_cts m_d_ _n c_mm_n_st pr_s_ns. Th_ f_rn_t_r_ g__nt _K__ s__d _t "d__ply r_gr_ts" b_y_ng f_rn_t_r_ th_t w_s m_d_ _s_ng f_rc_d l_b__r _n pr_s_ns _n __st G_rm_ny _v_r tw_nty y__rs _g_. _K__ _s f_m__s f_r _ts m_d_rn, cl__n d_s_gns _nd r__s_n_bl_ pr_c_s. H_w_v_r, f_w p__pl_ kn_w _b__t _ d_rk p_r__d _n _ts h_st_ry. Th_ c_mp_ny n_w _dm_ts th_t p_l_t_c_l pr_s_n_rs _n c_mm_n_st __st G_rm_ny w_r_ f_rc_d t_ m_k_ s_m_ _f th_ f_rn_t_r_ s_ld _n _K__ st_r_s _cr_ss th_ w_rld. Th_s w_s b_f_r_ th_ f_ll _f th_ B_rl_n W_ll, wh_n G_rm_ny w_s spl_t _n tw_. _K__ m_n_g_r J__n_tt_ Skj_lm_s_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "W_ d__ply r_gr_t th_t th_s c__ld h_pp_n."

_K__ s__d _t ch_cks w_rk_ng c_nd_t__ns _t _ts s_ppl__rs v_ry c_r_f_lly. Th_y _ls_ ch_ck_d s_ppl__rs 20 t_ 30 y__rs _g_, b_t th__r ch_cks d_d n_t f_nd th_ _s_ _f f_rc_d l_b__r _n pr_s_ns. Ms Skj_lm_s_ s__d: "Th_ _s_ _f p_l_t_c_l pr_s_n_rs f_r m_n_f_ct_r_ng w_s _t n_ p__nt _cc_pt_d by _K__….[30 y__rs _g_] w_ d_dn't h_v_ th_ w_ll-d_v_l_p_d c_ntr_l syst_m th_t w_ h_v_ t_d_y. W_ cl__rly d_d t__ l_ttl_ t_ [st_p th_s_] m_th_ds." M_ny _f th_ pr_s_n_rs n_w w_nt c_mp_ns_t__n – th_y w_nt _K__ t_ p_y th_m f_r th__r w_rk. H_m_n r_ghts c_mp__gn_r R__n_r W_gn_r s__d m_ny w_st_rn c_mp_n__s _s_d ch__p, f_rc_d pr_s_n l_b__r _n __st G_rm_ny. H_ s__d: "_K__ _s _nly th_ t_p _f th_ _c_b_rg."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

one of sweden's most famous companies has apologised for selling products made in communist prisons the furniture giant ikea said it "deeply regrets" buying furniture that was made using forced labour in prisons in east germany over twenty years ago ikea is famous for its modern clean designs and reasonable prices however few people knew about a dark period in its history the company now admits that political prisoners in communist east germany were forced to make some of the furniture sold in ikea stores across the world this was before the fall of the berlin wall when germany was split in two ikea manager jeanette skjelmose told reporters "we deeply regret that this could happen"

ikea said it checks working conditions at its suppliers very carefully they also checked suppliers 20 to 30 years ago but their checks did not find the use of forced labour in prisons ms skjelmose said "the use of political prisoners for manufacturing was at no point accepted by ikea…[30 years ago] we didn't have the well-developed control system that we have today we clearly did too little to [stop those] methods" many of the prisoners now want compensation – they want ikea to pay them for their work human rights campaigner rainer wagner said many western companies used cheap forced prison labour in east germany he said "ikea is only the tip of the iceberg"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

OneofSweden'smostfamouscompanieshasapologisedforsellingproductsmadein
communistprisons.ThefurnituregiantIKEAsaidit"deeplyregrets"buyingfurniture
thatwasmadeusingforcedlabourinprisonsinEastGermanyovertwentyyears
ago.IKEAisfamousforitsmodern,cleandesignsandreasonableprices.However,few
peopleknewaboutadarkperiodinitshistory.Thecompanynowadmitsthatpolitical
prisonersincommunistEastGermanywereforcedtomakesomeofthefurnituresold
inIKEAstoresacrosstheworld.ThiswasbeforethefalloftheBerlinWall,whenGermany
wassplitintwo.IKEAmanagerJeanetteSkjelmosetoldreporters:"Wedeeplyregret
thatthiscouldhappen."IKEAsaiditchecksworkingconditionsatitssuppliersvery
carefully.Theyalsocheckedsuppliers20to30yearsago,buttheirchecksdidnotfind
theuseofforcedlabourinprisons.MsSkjelmosesaid:"Theuseofpoliticalprisoners
formanufacturingwasatnopointacceptedbyIKEA….[30yearsago]wedidn'thave
thewell-developedcontrolsystemthatwehavetoday.Weclearlydidtoolittleto[stop
those]methods."Manyoftheprisonersnowwantcompensation–theywantIKEAto
paythemfortheirwork.HumanrightscampaignerRainerWagnersaidmanywestern
companiesusedcheap,forcedprisonlabourinEastGermany.Hesaid:"IKEAisonly
thetipoftheiceberg."

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Many companies care about profits more than working conditions for workers. These companies should be banned.  Discuss.

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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 this story on IKEA. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. FORCED LABOUR: Make a poster about forced labour. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. IKEA: Write a magazine article about IKEA. Include imaginary interviews with the IKEA CEO and a prisoner who was made to work in prison.

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 IKEA CEO. Ask him/her three questions about this story. Give him/her three ideas on how to apologise to the prisoners. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

most famous

a.

best known

2.

prisons

b.

jails

3.

regrets

c.

is sorry about

4.

admits

d.

accepts

5.

split

e.

divided

6.

checks

f.

examines

7.

manufacturing

g.

production

8.

clearly

h.

obviously

9.

methods

i.

system

10.

campaigner

j.

activist

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

communist ones

2.

over twenty years ago

3.

its modern, clean designs and reasonable prices

4.

political prisoners

5.

IKEA manager

6.

working conditions

7.

the use of forced labour

8.

a well-developed control system

9.

compensation

10.

the iceberg

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

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

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