The Reading / Listening - Level 5

After ten days of no talks in the U.S., things have begun to move. President Barack Obama and Republican leader, John Boehner, sat down for talks on Thursday about the partial U.S. government shutdown and the possible debt crisis. Their discussions didn't lead to any certain answers, but analysts are positive because talks are happening. Republican Eric Cantor said the talks were "very useful" and "clarifying". Hopes are that the two sides will agree on a temporary increase to 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 those surveyed blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 31 per cent blamed President Obama. Other countries can't understand what is going on in the U.S. The Times of India said it was "chilling" that US politicians are playing "a game of brinkmanship" that is similar to exploding a nuclear bomb over their economy. A UAE businessman commented that there was something badly wrong with a system that "leaves a country without direction, in stagnation, without a budget and potentially without the [ability to pay] its debts."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 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.

ten days of

a.

the possible debt crisis

2.

things have

b.

U.S. debt limit

3.

the partial U.S. government shutdown and

c.

begun to move

4.

analysts are

d.

and clarifying

5.

the talks were very useful

e.

no talks in the U.S.

6.

agree on a temporary

f.

the global economy

7.

the $16.7 trillion

g.

increase

8.

very bad for

h.

positive


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

1.

53 per cent of

a.

of brinkmanship

2.

31 per cent

b.

what is going

3.

can't understand

c.

to pay its debts

4.

a game

d.

blamed President Obama

5.

similar to exploding a nuclear

e.

wrong

6.

something badly

f.

those surveyed

7.

a system that leaves a

g.

bomb over their economy

8.

without the ability

h.

country without direction

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

After ten days (1) ___________________ U.S., things have begun to move. President Barack Obama and Republican leader, John Boehner, sat down for talks on Thursday (2) ___________________ U.S. government shutdown and the possible debt crisis. Their discussions didn't (3) ___________________ answers, but analysts are positive because talks are happening. Republican Eric Cantor said the talks were "very (4) ___________________". Hopes are that the two sides will (5) ___________________ increase to the $16.7 trillion U.S. debt limit. (6) ___________________ October 17 could be very bad for the global economy.

A poll found 53 per cent (7) ___________________ blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 31 per cent blamed President Obama. Other countries can't understand (8) ___________________ the U.S. The Times of India said it (9) ___________________ US politicians are playing "a game of brinkmanship" that is (10) ___________________ a nuclear bomb over their economy. A UAE businessman commented that there was something badly wrong with a system that "leaves a (11) ___________________, in stagnation, without a (12) ___________________ without the [ability 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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