Republicans and Obama in debt crisis talks

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

President Barack Obama and a Republican leader have finally sat down for talks about the partial U.S. government shutdown and the possible debt crisis. They didn't come up with any answers, but people are positive that talks are happening. A senior Republican said the talks were "very useful" and "clarifying". Hopefully, the two sides will agree to increase the $16.7 trillion U.S. debt limit. Failure to do this by October 17 could be very bad for the global economy.

A poll found 53 per cent of people blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 31 per cent blamed Obama. Other countries can't understand what is going on. An Indian newspaper said it was "chilling" that US politicians were playing a dangerous game with the economy. A UAE businessman said there was something badly wrong with a system that leaves a country without direction, without a budget and perhaps unable to pay its debts.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-encouraged-by-offer-of-debt-limit-deal/1767272.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-2448301
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24467534

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.	finally sat down	a.	will agree
2.	the partial	b.	up with any answers
3.	They didn't come	c.	the global economy
4.	positive that	d.	U.S. government shutdown
5.	the two sides	e.	talks are happening
6.	be very bad for	f.	for talks

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	53 per cent of	a.	game with the economy
2.	Other countries can't understand	b.	people blamed Republicans
3.	politicians were playing a dangerous	c.	without direction
4.	there was something badly	d.	what is going on
5.	a system that leaves a country	e.	its debts
6.	unable to pay	f.	wrong

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

President Barack Obama and a Republican (1) ___________________ sat down for (2) ___________________ U.S. government shutdown and the possible debt crisis. They didn't (3) ___________________ answers, but people are (4) ___________________ are happening. A senior Republican said the talks were "very useful" and "clarifying". Hopefully, the two sides will (5) ___________________ the $16.7 trillion U.S. debt limit. Failure to do this by October 17 could be very bad (6) ___________________.

A poll found 53 per (7) ___________________ Republicans for the shutdown, while 31 per cent blamed Obama. (8) ___________________ understand what is going on. An Indian newspaper (9) ___________________ that US politicians were playing a dangerous game (10) ___________________. A UAE businessman said there (11) ___________________ wrong with a system that leaves a country (12) ___________________, without a budget and perhaps unable to pay its debts.

U.S. POLITICS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about U.S. politics 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)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about U.S. politics for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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