The Reading / Listening - Robert Mugabe - Level 1

Thousands of people are in the streets in Zimbabwe. They want President Robert Mugabe to resign. The army removed him from power on Wednesday after Mr Mugabe fired his deputy. It wanted to remove the "criminals" around him. Mugabe wanted his wife to be the next president. Members of Mr Mugabe's party asked Mr Mugabe to quit. Veterans of Zimbabwe's war for independence also asked him to step down.

Robert Mugabe is 93 years old. He is the oldest leader of any country. Mr Mugabe fought in Zimbabwe's war for independence against British rule, when Zimbabwe was called Rhodesia. In 1980, Mugabe and his party won Zimbabwe's elections. He became leader. Now, people are happy he may no longer be leader. A 34-year-old man said: "I've been waiting all my life for this day. Free at last. We are free at last."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Robert Mugabe - Level 0,  Robert Mugabe - Level 2   or  Robert Mugabe - Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42035981
  • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics-harare/party-set-to-sack-mugabe-zimbabweans-celebrate-expected-downfall-idUSKBN1DI08B
  • https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/18/565050178/thousands-march-through-zimbabwes-capital-to-urge-mugabe-to-step-down


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. Thousands of people are
  2. The army removed him
  3. remove the "criminals"
  4. Mugabe wanted his wife to be
  5. Members of Mr Mugabe's
  6. asked Mr Mugabe
  7. Zimbabwe's war for
  8. asked him to step
  1. to quit
  2. the next president
  3. down
  4. from power
  5. independence
  6. in the streets
  7. party
  8. around him

Paragraph 2

  1. He is the oldest leader
  2. Zimbabwe's war for
  3. against British
  4. Zimbabwe was
  5. his party won Zimbabwe's
  6. he may no longer be
  7. I've been waiting all my life
  8. We are free at
  1. rule
  2. called Rhodesia
  3. last
  4. independence
  5. for this day
  6. elections
  7. of any country
  8. leader

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Thousands of people are (1) ___________________ in Zimbabwe. They want President Robert Mugabe to resign. (2) ___________________ him from power on Wednesday after Mr Mugabe (3) ___________________. It wanted to remove the "criminals" around him. Mugabe (4) ___________________ to be the next president. Members of Mr Mugabe's (5) ___________________ Mugabe to quit. Veterans of Zimbabwe's war for independence also asked him (6) ___________________.

Robert Mugabe is 93 years old. He is (7) ___________________ of any country. Mr Mugabe fought in Zimbabwe's war for independence (8) ___________________, when Zimbabwe was called Rhodesia. In 1980, Mugabe and (9) __________________ Zimbabwe's elections. (10) ___________________. Now, people are happy he may no (11) ___________________. A 34-year-old man said: "I've been waiting (12) ___________________ for this day. Free at last. We are free at last."

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ThousandsofpeopleareinthestreetsinZimbabwe.TheywantPresident
RobertMugabetoresign.ThearmyremovedhimfrompoweronWednes
dayafterMrMugabefiredhisdeputy.Itwantedtoremovethe"criminals"
aroundhim.Mugabewantedhiswifetobethenextpresident.Memberso
fMrMugabe'spartyaskedMrMugabetoquit.VeteransofZimbabwe'swa
rforindependencealsoaskedhimtostepdown.RobertMugabeis93year
sold.Heistheoldestleaderofanycountry.MrMugabefoughtinZimbabw
e'swarforindependenceagainstBritishrule,whenZimbabwewascalled
Rhodesia.In1980,MugabeandhispartywonZimbabwe'selections.He
becameleader.Now,peoplearehappyhemaynolongerbeleader.A34-
year-oldmansaid:"I'vebeenwaitingallmylifeforthisday.Freeatlast.W
earefreeatlast."

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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