The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Iceland's leader quit on Tuesday because of a financial scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson quit because of documents leaked from a Panama law firm. Over 11.5 million leaked e-mails and letters contain information about how the world's rich and powerful people avoid paying tax. The documents name over 215,000 companies and 14,000 clients of the law firm Mossack Fonseca. They include many present and past world leaders.

Many governments and celebrities are now worried about the scandal. The new FIFA president is shocked that people are questioning his honesty. Journalists say also Mossack Fonseca worked with 33 people or companies that were part of international sanctions. These include a cousin of Syria's president, and companies in North Korea. There is up to $32 trillion in untaxed money around the world.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   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.

because of a financial

a.

powerful people

2.

documents leaked

b.

firm

3.

Over 11.5 million leaked

c.

tax

4.

the world's rich and

d.

world leaders

5.

avoid paying

e.

scandal

6.

215,000 companies and 14,000

f.

from a Panama law firm

7.

the law

g.

clients

8.

present and past

h.

e-mails and letters


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.

celebrities are

a.

questioning his honesty

2.

The new FIFA

b.

sanctions

3.

shocked that people are

c.

with 33 people

4.

worked

d.

now worried

5.

part of international

e.

to $32 trillion

6.

These include a cousin

f.

money

7.

There is up

g.

president

8.

untaxed

h.

of Syria's president

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Iceland's (1) ___________________ Tuesday because of a financial scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson (2) ______________ documents leaked from a Panama law firm. (3) ___________________ leaked e-mails and letters contain information about how (4) ___________________ and powerful people (5) ___________________. The documents name over 215,000 companies and 14,000 clients of the law firm Mossack Fonseca. They (6) ___________________ and past world leaders.

Many governments and celebrities (7) ___________________ about the scandal. The new FIFA president (8) ___________________ people are questioning his honesty. Journalists also say Mossack Fonseca (9) ___________________ people or companies that (10) ___________________ international sanctions. These (11) ___________________ of Syria's president, and companies in North Korea. There is up to $32 trillion in (12) ___________________ around the world.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Iceland'sleaderquitonTuesdaybecauseofafinancialscandal.Sigmund
urGunnlaugssonquitbecauseofdocumentsleakedfromaPanamalawfi
rm.Over11.5millionleakede-mailsandletterscontaininformationab
outhowtheworld'srichandpowerfulpeopleavoidpayingtax.Thedocum
entsnameover215,000companiesand14,000clientsofthelawfirmMo
ssackFonseca.Theyincludemanypresentandpastworldleaders.Many
governmentsandcelebritiesarenowworriedaboutthescandal.Thene
wFIFApresidentisshockedthatpeoplearequestioninghishonesty.Jour
nalistsalsosayMossackFonsecaworkedwith33peopleorcompaniesth
atwerepartofinternationalsanctions.TheseincludeacousinofSyria
'spresident,andcompaniesinNorthKorea.Thereisupto$32trillioninun
taxedmoneyaroundtheworld.

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)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You