Breaking News English Lesson: Panama Papers

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Iceland leader quits over Panama Papers (7th April, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The prime minister of Iceland quit on Tuesday because of a new global financial scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson resigned because his name was in secret documents leaked from a Panama law firm. Journalists reported on the 11.5 million leaked e-mails and letters over the weekend. They contain information about how the world's richest and most famous people avoid paying tax. Thousands of the world's most powerful people appear in the documents. Iceland's leader is the first to resign because of the scandal. The Panama Papers name over 215,000 companies and 14,153 clients of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including many current and former world leaders.

Many governments and celebrities around the world are now trying to keep the scandal from hitting them. British prime minister David Cameron could be embarrassed because his father was one of the law firm's clients. Sports figures identified in the leaks include Lionel Messi and the new FIFA president Gianni Infantino. He 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 the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and companies in North Korea. A British tax expert said there is up to $32 trillion in untaxed financial wealth around the world.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. TAX: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about tax. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

Iceland / financial scandal / resigned / secret documents / tax / powerful / companies / celebrities / embarrassed / clients / leaks / honesty / journalists / sanctions / wealth

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

3. TAXES: What kind of taxes should these pay? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Tax?	Why?
Soldier
Business person
investor
Bank
Billionaire
Pensioner

4. TAX RATE: Students A strongly believe everyone should pay the same tax rate; Students B strongly believe this is unfair. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

5. SCANDALS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most interesting at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• financial

• political

• sporting

• family

• academic

• medical

• royal

• product safety

6. FINANCIAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "financial". 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.	Iceland's prime minister quit because of an academic scandal.	T / F
b.	Over 10 million documents were leaked from a law firm.	T / F
c.	Ten thousand of the world's most powerful people are in the papers.	T / F
d.	The Panama Papers name over 210,000 companies.	T / F
e.	The British prime minister's father was one of the law firm's clients.	T / F
f.	The soccer player Lionel Messi is one of those in the Panama Papers.	T / F
g.	The law firm worked with 333 people under international sanctions.	T / F
h.	There is $32 million of untaxed wealth in the world.	T / F

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

1.	quit	a.	keep away from
2.	documents	b.	recognised
3.	contain	c.	famous people
4.	avoid	d.	resigned
5.	former	e.	penalties
6.	celebrities	f.	past
7.	identified	g.	truthfulness
8.	honesty	h.	official papers
9.	sanctions	i.	specialist
10.	expert	j.	include

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

1.	a new global	a.	questioning his honesty
2.	people avoid	b.	Panamanian law firm
3.	the first to resign	c.	financial wealth
4.	14,153 clients of the	d.	from hitting them
5.	many current and	e.	because of the scandal
6.	trying to keep the scandal	f.	sanctions
7.	sports	g.	paying tax
8.	He is shocked that people are	h.	former world leaders
9.	international	i.	figures
10.	$32 trillion in untaxed	j.	financial scandal

GAP FILL

The prime minister of Iceland quit on Tuesday because of a new global financial (1) ____________. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson resigned because his name was in (2) ____________ documents leaked from a Panama law firm. Journalists reported on the 11.5 million (3) ____________ e-mails and letters over the weekend. They contain information about how the world's richest and most famous people (4) ____________ paying tax. Thousands of the world's most (5) ____________ people appear in the documents. Iceland's leader is the (6) ____________ to resign because of the scandal. The Panama Papers (7) ____________ over 215,000 companies and 14,153 clients of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including many current and (8) ____________ world leaders.

avoid
scandal
first
leaked
name
secret
former
powerful

Many governments and (9) ____________ around the world are now trying to keep the scandal from hitting them. British prime minister David Cameron could be (10) ____________ because his father was one of the law firm's (11) ____________. Sports figures identified in the leaks include Lionel Messi and the new FIFA president Gianni Infantino. He is (12) ____________ that people are questioning his honesty. Mossack Fonseca could also be in (13) ____________. Journalists say it worked with 33 people or companies that were (14) ____________ of international sanctions, including a (15) ____________ of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and companies in North Korea. A British tax (16) ____________ said there is up to $32 trillion in untaxed financial wealth around the world.

trouble
celebrities
clients
cousin
part
expert
embarrassed
shocked

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The prime minister of Iceland quit on Tuesday because of a new global ______
	a. financially scandal b. financial scandal c. financial scandals d. financially scandals
2)	resigned because his name was in secret documents leaked from a ______
	a. Panama laws firm b. Panama raw firm c. Panama lower firm d. Panama law firm
3)	information about how the world's richest and most famous people ______
	a. avoids paying tax b. avoid paying taxes c. avoid paying tax d. avoids paying taxes
4)	Thousands of the world's most powerful people appear ______
	a. in the document b. in the documents c. in the documented d. in the documentary
5)	clients of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including many current and ______
	a. former world leaders b. firmer world leaders c. farmer world leaders d. framer world leaders
6)	celebrities around the world are now trying to keep the scandal ______
	a. from biting them b. from hitting them c. from pitting them d. from quitting them
7)	Cameron could be embarrassed because his father was one of the ______
	a. law firm's clientele b. law firm's client c. law firm's clients d. law firm's clienteles
8)	He is shocked that people are questioning ______
	a. this honesty b. his honestly c. his honesty d. him honestly
9)	Journalists say it worked with 33 people or companies that were part ______
	a. of international sanctions b. of international sections c. of international suctions d. of international stations
10)	A British tax expert said there is up to $32 trillion in ______ wealth
	a. in taxed financial b. untaxed financial c. non-taxed financial d. untaxes financial

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The prime minister of Iceland quit on Tuesday (1) ___________________ global financial scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson resigned because his (2) ___________________ documents leaked from a Panama law firm. Journalists reported on the 11.5 million (3) ___________________ letters over the weekend. They contain information about how the world's richest and most famous people (4) ___________________. Thousands of the world's most powerful people appear in the documents. Iceland's leader is (5) ___________________ because of the scandal. The Panama Papers name over 215,000 companies and 14,153 clients of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including many (6) ___________________ world leaders.

Many governments and celebrities around the world (7) ________________ to keep the scandal from hitting them. British prime minister David Cameron could (8) ___________________ his father was one of the law firm's clients. Sports (9) ___________________ the leaks include Lionel Messi and the new FIFA president Gianni Infantino. He is shocked that people are (10) ___________________. Mossack Fonseca could also be in trouble. Journalists say it worked with 33 people or companies that were part of international sanctions, (11) ___________________ of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and companies in North Korea. A British tax expert said there is up to $32 trillion (12) ___________________ wealth around the world.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Who is Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson?
2.	How many documents were leaked as part of the Panama Papers?
3.	What did many people avoid doing?
4.	How many companies are named in the Panama Papers?
5.	What kind of world leaders are in the Panama Papers?
6.	Whose father was one of the law firm's clients?
7.	What is Gianni Infantino shocked about?
8.	What could the law firm Mossack Fonseca be in?
9.	Which family member of Syria's president did the law firm work with?
10.	How much untaxed wealth might there be around the world?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who is Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson?	6.	Whose father was one of the law firm's clients?
	a) the boss of Mossack Fonseca b) the previous leader of Iceland c) a journalist d) FIFA's president		a) David Cameron b) Lionel Messi c) Gianni Infantino d) Bashar al-Assad
2.	How many documents were leaked as part of the Panama Papers?	7.	What is Gianni Infantino shocked about?
	a) one-and-a-half million b) 15 million c) 11,500,000 d) 1,150,000		a) FIFA b) the law firm c) paying tax d) people questioning his honesty
3.	What did many people avoid doing?	8.	What could the law firm Mossack Fonseca be in?
	a) leaking information b) reading the Panama Papers c) going to Panama d) avoid paying tax		a) a journal b) a song c) trouble d) the USA
4.	How many companies are named in the Panama Papers?	9.	Which family member of Syria's president did the law firm work with?
	a) around 215,000 b) more than 215,000 c) exactly 215,000 d) just fewer than 215,000		a) his brother b) his wife c) his father d) his cousin
5.	What kind of world leaders are in the Panama Papers?	10.	How much untaxed wealth might there be around the world?
	a) current and former leaders b) corrupt ones c) dictators d) dead ones		a) up to $32,000,000,000 b) up to $32,000,000,000,000 c) up to $32,000,000, d) up to $320,000

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Financial

You think a financial scandal is the most interesting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so interesting with their scandals. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a sporting scandal, an academic scandal or a royal scandal.

Role B – Sporting

You think a sporting scandal is the most interesting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so interesting with their scandals. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a financial scandal, an academic scandal or a royal scandal.

Role C – Academic

You think an academic scandal is the most interesting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so interesting with their scandals. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a sporting scandal, a financial scandal or a royal scandal.

Role D – Royal

You think a royal scandal is the most interesting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so interesting with their scandals. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a sporting scandal, an academic scandal or a financial scandal.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

financial

scandal

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:

global
11.5
powerful
first
name
former

trying
father
sports
shocked
33
32

TAX SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about tax 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.

TAX DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'tax'?
3)	What do you know about the Panama Papers?
4)	What do you know about WikiLeaks?
5)	What do you think about Iceland's prime minister quitting?
6)	What do you think about what you read?
7)	How interested are you in the leaked documents?
8)	What do you think of very rich people avoiding tax?
9)	What do you think of very poor people avoiding tax?
10)	What should happen to people who avoid tax?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Is money the root of all evil?
13)	Why do the rich and powerful get away with breaking laws?
14)	Should David Cameron resign?
15)	Should FIFA's new president resign?
16)	What are the effects on society of rich people avoiding tax?
17)	What should happen to the law firm?
18)	What do you think of tax?
19)	What could the $32 trillion in untaxed financial wealth be used for?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the boss of the law firm?

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.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The prime minister of Iceland quit on Tuesday because of a new (1) ____ financial scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson (2) ____ because his name was in secret documents leaked from a Panama law firm. Journalists reported on the 11.5 million leaked e-mails and letters (3) ____ the weekend. They contain information about how the world's richest and most famous people avoid (4) ____ tax. Thousands of the world's most powerful people appear in the documents. Iceland's leader is the first to resign because of the scandal. The Panama Papers (5) ____ over 215,000 companies and 14,153 clients of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including many current and (6) ____ world leaders.

Many governments and (7) ____ around the world are now trying to keep the scandal from hitting them. British prime minister David Cameron could be embarrassed because his father was (8) ____ of the law firm's clients. Sports figures identified in the leaks include Lionel Messi and the new FIFA president Gianni Infantino. He is shocked that people are (9) ____ his honesty. Mossack Fonseca could also be (10) ____ trouble. Journalists say it worked with 33 people or companies that were part of international sanctions, (11) ____ a cousin of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and companies in North Korea. A British tax expert said there is up to $32 trillion (12) ____ untaxed financial wealth around the world.

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

1.	(a)	globes	(b)	globe	(c)	globally	(d)	global
2.	(a)	rescued	(b)	rescinded	(c)	restrained	(d)	resigned
3.	(a)	to	(b)	over	(c)	on	(d)	from
4.	(a)	pays	(b)	paid	(c)	paying	(d)	pay
5.	(a)	name	(b)	call	(c)	label	(d)	handle
6.	(a)	former	(b)	firmer	(c)	framer	(d)	farmer
7.	(a)	celebrity	(b)	celebrants	(c)	celebrations	(d)	celebrities
8.	(a)	one	(b)	some	(c)	many	(d)	in
9.	(a)	questioned	(b)	questioning	(c)	questions	(d)	question
10.	(a)	at	(b)	on	(c)	in	(d)	by
11.	(a)	concluding	(b)	receding	(c)	including	(d)	proceeding
12.	(a)	by	(b)	in	(c)	as	(d)	such

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	his name was in secret nuemoctds
2.	11.5 million ldeeka e-mails
3.	They icnoatn information
4.	oviad paying tax
5.	14,153 tnsciel
6.	many nuertcr and former world leaders
Paragraph 2
7.	governments and eerebtislic
8.	sports sugirfe
9.	questioning his nthoyes
10.	a osicun of the Syrian president
11.	A British tax xrteep
12.	fcnlaanii wealth

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	paying tax. Thousands of the world's most powerful people appear in the documents. Iceland's leader is the first
( )	of the law firm's clients. Sports figures identified in the leaks include Lionel Messi and the new FIFA
( )	firm. Journalists reported on the 11.5 million leaked e-mails and letters over the weekend. They contain
( )	in trouble. Journalists say it worked with 33 people or companies that were part of international
( )	sanctions, including a cousin of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and companies in North Korea. A British
( )	information about how the world's richest and most famous people avoid
( )	president Gianni Infantino. He is shocked that people are questioning his honesty. Mossack Fonseca could also be
( )	to resign because of the scandal. The Panama Papers name over 215,000 companies and 14,153 clients
( )	of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including many current and former world leaders.
( )	Many governments and celebrities around the world are now trying to keep the scandal from hitting
( )	them. British prime minister David Cameron could be embarrassed because his father was one
( )	tax expert said there is up to $32 trillion in untaxed financial wealth around the world.
( 1 )	The prime minister of Iceland quit on Tuesday because of a new global financial
( )	scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson resigned because his name was in secret documents leaked from a Panama law

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	Iceland The quit prime on minister Tuesday of .
2.	his documents name was Resigned in because secret .
3.	world's richest and most famous people avoid paying tax The .
4.	people powerful most world's the of Thousands .
5.	Papers 215,000 companies Panama over The name , .
6.	keep them the scandal Trying from to hitting .
7.	law was the clients father of firm's His one .
8.	questioning are people that Shocked honesty his .
9.	companies international part People sanctions that or of were .
10.	tax is expert A $32 up said British trillion to there .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The prime minister of Iceland quite / quit on Tuesday because of a new global financial scandal. Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson resigned / signed because his name was in secret / secretly documents leaked from a Panama law firm / farm. Journalists reported on the 11.5 million leaked e-mails and letters over the weekend. They content / contain information about how the world's richest and most famous people avoid / avoidance paying tax. Thousands of the world's most power / powerful people appear in the documents. Iceland's leader is the first to resign because for / of the scandal. The Panama Papers name / naming over 215,000 companies and 14,153 clients of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, including many current and former / farmer world leaders.

Many governments and celebrity / celebrities around the world are now trying to keep the scandal from hitting / slapping them. British prime minister David Cameron could be embarrassment / embarrassed because his father was one of the law firm's clients / client. Sports figures identified on / in the leaks include Lionel Messi and the new FIFA president Gianni Infantino. He is shocking / shocked that people are questioning his honesty / honestly. Mossack Fonseca could also be in / on trouble. Journalists say it worked with 33 people or companies that were part of international sections / sanctions, including a cousin of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, and companies in North Korea. A British tax expert / expat said there is up to $32 trillion in untaxed financial wealth around the world.

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)

Th_ pr_m_ m_n_st_r _f _c_l_nd q__t _n T__sd_y b_c__s_ _f _ n_w gl_b_l f_n_nc__l sc_nd_l. S_gm_nd_r G_nnl__gss_n r_s_gn_d b_c__s_ h_s n_m_ w_s _n s_cr_t d_c_m_nts l__k_d fr_m _ P_n_m_ l_w f_rm. J__rn_l_sts r_p_rt_d _n th_ 11.5 m_ll__n l__k_d _-m__ls _nd l_tt_rs _v_r th_ w__k_nd. Th_y c_nt__n _nf_rm_t__n _b__t h_w th_ w_rld's r_ch_st _nd m_st f_m__s p__pl_ _v__d p_y_ng t_x. Th__s_nds _f th_ w_rld's m_st p_w_rf_l p__pl_ _pp__r _n th_ d_c_m_nts. _c_l_nd's l__d_r _s th_ f_rst t_ r_s_gn b_c__s_ _f th_ sc_nd_l. Th_ P_n_m_ P_p_rs n_m_ _v_r 215,000 c_mp_n__s _nd 14,153 cl__nts _f th_ P_n_m_n__n l_w f_rm M_ss_ck F_ns_c_, _ncl_d_ng m_ny c_rr_nt _nd f_rm_r w_rld l__d_rs.

M_ny g_v_rnm_nts _nd c_l_br_t__s _r__nd th_ w_rld _r_ n_w try_ng t_ k__p th_ sc_nd_l fr_m h_tt_ng th_m. Br_t_sh pr_m_ m_n_st_r D_v_d C_m_r_n c__ld b_ _mb_rr_ss_d b_c__s_ h_s f_th_r w_s _n_ _f th_ l_w f_rm's cl__nts. Sp_rts f_g_r_s _d_nt_f__d _n th_ l__ks _ncl_d_ L__n_l M_ss_ _nd th_ n_w F_F_ pr_s_d_nt G__nn_ _nf_nt_n_. H_ _s sh_ck_d th_t p__pl_ _r_ q__st__n_ng h_s h_n_sty. M_ss_ck F_ns_c_ c__ld _ls_ b_ _n tr__bl_. J__rn_l_sts s_y _t w_rk_d w_th 33 p__pl_ _r c_mp_n__s th_t w_r_ p_rt _f _nt_rn_t__n_l s_nct__ns, _ncl_d_ng _ c__s_n _f th_ Syr__n pr_s_d_nt B_sh_r _l-_ss_d, _nd c_mp_n__s _n N_rth K_r__. _ Br_t_sh t_x _xp_rt s__d th_r_ _s _p t_ $32 tr_ll__n _n _nt_x_d f_n_nc__l w__lth _r__nd th_ w_rld.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the prime minister of iceland quit on tuesday because of a new global financial scandal sigmundur gunnlaugsson resigned because his name was in secret documents leaked from a panama law firm journalists reported on the 115 million leaked e-mails and letters over the weekend they contain information about how the world's richest and most famous people avoid paying tax thousands of the world's most powerful people appear in the documents iceland's leader is the first to resign because of the scandal the panama papers name over 215000 companies and 14153 clients of the panamanian law firm mossack fonseca including many current and former world leaders

many governments and celebrities around the world are now trying to keep the scandal from hitting them british prime minister david cameron could be embarrassed because his father was one of the law firm's clients sports figures identified in the leaks include lionel messi and the new fifa president gianni infantino he 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 the syrian president bashar al-assad and companies in north korea a british tax expert said there is up to $32 trillion in untaxed financial wealth around the world

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheprimeministerofIcelandquitonTuesdaybecauseofanewglobalfina
ncialscandal.SigmundurGunnlaugssonresignedbecausehisnamewa
sinsecretdocumentsleakedfromaPanamalawfirm.Journalistsreporte
donthe11.5millionleakede-mailsandlettersovertheweekend.Theyc
ontaininformationabouthowtheworld'srichestandmostfamouspeopl
eavoidpayingtax.Thousandsoftheworld'smostpowerfulpeopleappea
rinthedocuments.Iceland'sleaderisthefirsttoresignbecauseofthesca
ndal.ThePanamaPapersnameover215,000companiesand14,153clie
ntsofthePanamanianlawfirmMossackFonseca,includingmanycurren
tandformerworldleaders.Manygovernmentsandcelebritiesaroundth
eworldarenowtryingtokeepthescandalfromhittingthem.Britishprime
ministerDavidCameroncouldbeembarrassedbecausehisfatherwaso
neofthelawfirm'sclients.SportsfiguresidentifiedintheleaksincludeLio
nelMessiandthenewFIFApresidentGianniInfantino.Heisshockedthat
peoplearequestioninghishonesty.MossackFonsecacouldalsobeintro
uble.Journalistssayitworkedwith33peopleorcompaniesthatwerethe
partofinternationalsanctions,includingacousinoftheSyrianpresident
Basharal-Assad,andcompaniesinNorthKorea.ABritishtaxexpertsa
idthereisupto$32trillioninuntaxedfinancialwealtharoundtheworld.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tax? How much should people pay?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 tax avoidance. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TAX: Make a poster about tax. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. PANAMA PAPERS: Write a magazine article about the Panama Papers and people who avoid paying tax. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against paying tax.

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 an expert on tax. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on what to do to get people to pay tax. 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

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	quit	a.	resigned
2.	documents	b.	official papers
3.	contain	c.	include
4.	avoid	d.	keep away from
5.	former	e.	past
6.	celebrities	f.	famous people
7.	identified	g.	recognised
8.	honesty	h.	truthfulness
9.	sanctions	i.	penalties
10.	expert	j.	specialist

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Iceland’s previous prime minister
2.	11.5 million
3.	Paying tax
4.	215,000
5.	Current and former leaders
6.	David Cameron’s
7.	People questioning his honesty
8.	Trouble
9.	His cousin
10.	$32 trillion

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

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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Breaking News English Lesson: Panama Papers

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Iceland leader quits over Panama Papers (7th April, 2016)

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