The Reading / Listening - Trade War - Level 3

The world is waiting to see if a trade war breaks out between the USA and China. Stock markets in Asia did badly in Friday's trading because investors are worried about U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to hit Chinese companies with trade tariffs. A tariff is a tax a country puts on goods and services coming in from other countries. President Trump has warned China he will issue tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese imports. China said it would issue its own tariffs in reply to Mr Trump. Tokyo's Nikkei share index fell by more than 4 per cent on Friday, Shanghai's market was down more than 3 per cent, and stocks and shares in Seoul fell by 3 per cent. There was also a fall on New York's Wall Street stock exchange.

Experts on world trade are worried that the import tariffs could be the start of a global trade war. Trade researcher Robert Carnell said: "If the tariffs go ahead as planned, then we believe China will retaliate. It is impossible to imagine that they cannot. And then we expect the U.S. to retaliate further. This can turn ugly on a global scale very quickly." President Trump says he wants to protect U.S. workers and companies. Mr Trump is not happy with the trade imbalance between the USA and China. Experts believe that the USA buys $385 billion more goods from China than China buys from the USA. Trump wants to try and reduce this imbalance by at least $100 billion with his tariffs.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Trade War - Level 0,  Trade War - Level 1   or  Trade War - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-markets-slump-as-fears-of-trade-war-mount/2018/03/23/f641e906-2e0b-11e8-8dc9-3b51e028b845_story.html
  • https://sg.news.yahoo.com/asian-markets-plunge-wall-street-trump-sparks-trade-020817042--finance.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43510802


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. TRADE WAR: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about trade war. 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?
       waiting / trade / war / tariffs / goods / services / imports / shares / stock exchange /
       experts / researcher / planned / retaliate / ugly / global / imbalance / China / USA
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NO WINNERS: Students A strongly believe there are no winners in a trade war; Students B strongly believe there are. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WARS: Why are countries fighting over these things? How can we stop them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Why? What? Why?

How Can We Stop Them?

Trade

 

 

Religion

 

 

Water

 

 

Drugs

 

 

The Internet

 

 

Land

 

 
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. MARKET: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "market". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CHINESE GOODS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best Chinese goods at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Chopsticks
  • Silk
  • Jade
  • Dresses
  • Tea sets
  • Ceramics
  • Fans
  • Electronics

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. breaks out a. A tax on a particular class of imports.
      2. trading b. Starts (especially a fight, war, etc.).
      3. investors c. People or companies who put money into financial schemes, property, etc. to try and make a profit (more money).
      4. tariffs d. Give out.
      5. goods e. The shares of a particular company, type of company, or industry.
      6. issue f. The action of buying and selling goods and services.
      7. stocks g. Things that are sold.

    Paragraph 2

      8. experts h. Think will happen.
      9. import i. When two things are not equal.
      10. retaliate j. Keep safe from harm or danger.
      11. expect k. Hit back in return for an attack on you.
      12. further l. Additional to what already exists or has already taken place, been done.
      13. protect m. A person who has a lot of knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
      14. imbalance n. Things, goods and services brought into a country from another country.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Asian stock markets recovered well on Friday.     T / F
  2. The article said investors are worried about China's actions.     T / F
  3. A tariff is a tax a country puts on goods from other countries.     T / F
  4. Shanghai's stock market fell by over 4% on Friday.     T / F
  5. An expert on world trade said China would not retaliate against the US.   T / F
  6. The expert said a trade war could quickly get ugly.     T / F
  7. Donald Trump is unhappy that the US imports so much from China.     T / F
  8. Mr Trump wants to cut the trade imbalance with China by $100bn.     T / F

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

  1. breaks out
  2. did
  3. worried
  4. reply
  5. fell
  6. start
  7. retaliate
  8. protect
  9. quickly
  10. at least
  1. response
  2. safeguard
  3. beginning
  4. performed
  5. not less than
  6. dropped
  7. starts
  8. rapidly
  9. concerned
  10. fight back

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

  1. waiting to see if a trade war breaks
  2. plans to hit Chinese companies
  3. issue tariffs on up to $60 billion
  4. stocks and shares
  5. New York's Wall Street stock
  6. we believe China will
  7. And then we expect the U.S. to retaliate
  8. This can turn
  9. the trade imbalance between
  10. reduce this imbalance by at
  1. in Seoul fell by 3%
  2. ugly
  3. exchange
  4. further
  5. the USA and China
  6. with trade tariffs
  7. least $100 billion
  8. out
  9. retaliate
  10. of Chinese imports

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
issue
badly
shares
breaks
exchange
imports
hit
index

The world is waiting to see if a trade war (1) ______ out between the USA and China. Stock markets in Asia did (2) ______ in Friday's trading because investors are worried about U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to (3) ______ Chinese companies with trade tariffs. A tariff is a tax a country puts on goods and services coming in from other countries. President Trump has warned China he will (4) ______ tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese (5) ______. China said it would issue its own tariffs in reply to Mr Trump. Tokyo's Nikkei share (6) ______ fell by more than 4 per cent on Friday, Shanghai's market was down more than 3 per cent, and stocks and (7) ______ in Seoul fell by 3 per cent. There was also a fall on New York's Wall Street stock (8) ______.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
tariffs
retaliate
imbalance
start
reduce
ahead
protect
ugly

Experts on world trade are worried that the import tariffs could be the (9) ______ of a global trade war. Trade researcher Robert Carnell said: "If the tariffs go (10) ______ as planned, then we believe China will retaliate. It is impossible to imagine that they cannot. And then we expect the U.S. to (11) ______ further. This can turn (12) ______ on a global scale very quickly." President Trump says he wants to (13) ______ U.S. workers and companies. Mr Trump is not happy with the trade (14) ______ between the USA and China. Experts believe that the USA buys $385 billion more goods from China than China buys from the USA. Trump wants to try and (15) ______ this imbalance by at least $100 billion with his (16) ______.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The world is waiting to see if a trade war ______
     a.  break shout
     b.  breaks in
     c.  breaks out
     d.  breaks up
2)  A tariff is a tax a country puts on goods ______
     a.  end services
     b.  in services
     c.  sand services
     d.  and services
3)  China said it would issue its own tariffs ______ Mr Trump
     a.  on reply to
     b.  in reply to
     c.  up reply to
     d.  non-reply to
4)  Tokyo's Nikkei share index fell by more than ______ on Friday
     a.  4.4 per cent
     b.  4 per cent
     c.  0.4 per cent
     d.  0.44 per cent
5)  There was also a fall on New York's Wall Street ______
     a.  stock exchange
     b.  stock in change
     c.  stock exchanged
     d.  stock ex-changer

6)  Experts on world trade are worried that the import tariffs could ______
     a.  been the starting
     b.  be the start
     c.  being the start
     d.  be the starts
7)  If the tariffs go ahead as planned, then we believe China ______
     a.  will repatriate
     b.  will retaliation
     c.  will retaliate
     d.  will retaliates
8)  And then we expect the U.S. to retaliate further. This ______
     a.  can turns ugly
     b.  can turned ugly
     c.  can turn ugly
     d.  can turning ugly
9)  Mr Trump is not happy with the ______
     a.  trade in balance
     b.  trading balance
     c.  trading in balance
     d.  trade imbalance
10)  Trump wants to try and reduce this imbalance ______ $100 billion
     a.  by at lost
     b.  by at least
     c.  by at lest
     d.  by at last

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world is (1) ___________________ if a trade war breaks out between the USA and China. Stock markets in Asia (2) ___________________ Friday's trading because investors are worried about U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to hit Chinese companies (3) ___________________. A tariff is a tax a country puts on goods and services coming in from other countries. President Trump has warned China he will issue tariffs (4) ___________________ $60 billion of Chinese imports. China said it would issue its own tariffs in reply to Mr Trump. Tokyo's Nikkei (5) ___________________ by more than 4 per cent on Friday, Shanghai's market was down more than 3 per cent, and stocks and shares in Seoul fell by 3 per cent. There was (6) ___________________ on New York's Wall Street stock exchange.

Experts on world trade (7) ___________________ the import tariffs could be the start of a global trade war. Trade researcher Robert Carnell said: "If the tariffs go (8) ___________________, then we believe China will retaliate. It is impossible to imagine that they cannot. And then (9) ___________________ U.S. to retaliate further. This can (10) ___________________ a global scale very quickly." President Trump says he (11) ___________________ U.S. workers and companies. Mr Trump is not happy with the trade imbalance between the USA and China. Experts believe that the USA buys $385 billion more goods from China than China buys from the USA. Trump wants to try and reduce this imbalance (12) ___________________ $100 billion with his tariffs.

Comprehension questions

  1. How did stock markets do in Asia on Friday?
  2. What is the name of a tax put on imports?
  3. What is the value of Chinese goods Mr Trump wants to put tariffs on?
  4. By how much did the Nikkei fall on Friday?
  5. In which non-Asian stock market was there a fall in share prices?
  6. What does Robert Carnell believe China will do if the US uses tariffs?
  7. How did a researcher say things could turn?
  8. Who does President Trump want to protect?
  9. What is the value of the trade imbalance between the USA and China?
  10. By how much does President Trump want to reduce the trade imbalance?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How did stock markets do in Asia on Friday?
a) disastrously
b) OK
c) brilliantly
d) badly
2) What is the name of a tax put on imports?
a) charge
b) tariff
c) levy
d) Bob
3) What is the value of Chinese goods Mr Trump wants to put tariffs on?
a) around $60 billion
b) exactly $60 billion
c) over $60 billion
d) up to $60 billion
4) By how much did the Nikkei fall on Friday?
a) 0.4%
b) just less than 4%
c) over 4%
d) exactly 4%
5) In which non-Asian stock market was there a fall in share prices?
a) The Paris DAX
b) London's Stock Exchange
c) Dubai's stock market
d) New York's Wall Street exchange

6) What does Robert Carnell believe China will do if the US uses tariffs?
a) block U.S. goods
b) nothing
c) retaliate
d) laugh
7) How did a researcher say things could turn?
a) ugly
b) slowly
c) quickly
d) turn out nicely
8) Who does President Trump want to protect?
a) global investors
b) himself
c) U.S. workers
d) the people of the world
9) What is the value of the trade imbalance between the USA and China?
a) $358 billion
b) $385 billion
c) $835 billion
d) $583 billion
10) By how much does President Trump want to reduce the trade imbalance?
a) not less than $100 billion
b) 4% of $100 billion
c) not more than $100 billion
d) $100 billion a year

Role play

Role  A – Tea Sets
You think tea sets are the best things China makes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): fans, silk dresses or electronics.

Role  B – Fans
You think fans are the best things China makes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): tea sets, silk dresses or electronics.

Role  C – Silk Dresses
You think silk dresses are the best things China makes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): fans, tea sets or electronics.

Role  D – Electronics
You think electronics are the best things China makes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  fans, silk dresses or tea sets.

After reading / listening

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

'trade'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'war'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • start
    • ahead
    • imagine
    • ugly
    • buys
    • least
    • waiting
    • investors
    • tax
    • reply
    • 4
    • fall

    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 - Fears over USA-China trade war

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'trade'?
    3. What do you know about trade wars?
    4. How serious would a trade war between the USA and China be?
    5. How would a trade war affect you?
    6. How good is your country at global trade?
    7. What are your country's biggest exports?
    8. What imported goods do you buy?
    9. Why do countries want to put tariffs on goods?
    10. What happens when stock market values fall?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'war'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do countries have trade wars?
    5. How do trade wars start?
    6. How ugly could this trade war be?
    7. Is President Trump right to protect U.S. workers?
    8. Who would win a trade war between the USA and China?
    9. Should China buy more from the USA?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the leaders?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The world is waiting to (1) ____ if a trade war breaks out between the USA and China. Stock markets in Asia did (2) ____ in Friday's trading because investors are worried about U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to (3) ____ Chinese companies with trade tariffs. A tariff is a tax a country puts on goods and services coming in from (4) ____ countries. President Trump has warned China he will issue tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese imports. China said it would issue its own tariffs (5) ____ reply to Mr Trump. Tokyo's Nikkei share index fell by more than 4 per cent on Friday, Shanghai's market was down more than 3 per cent, and stocks and (6) ____ in Seoul fell by 3 per cent. There was also a fall on New York's Wall Street stock exchange.

    Experts on world trade are worried that the (7) ____ tariffs could be the start of a global trade war. Trade researcher Robert Carnell said: "If the tariffs (8) ____ ahead as planned, then we believe China will retaliate. It is impossible to imagine that they cannot. And then we (9) ____ the U.S. to retaliate further. This can turn (10) ____ on a global scale very quickly." President Trump says he wants to protect U.S. workers and companies. Mr Trump is not happy with the (11) ____ imbalance between the USA and China. Experts believe that the USA buys $385 billion more goods from China than China buys from the USA. Trump wants to try and reduce this imbalance by at (12) ____ $100 billion with his tariffs.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     see     (b)     seen     (c)     seeing     (d)     sees    
    2. (a)     bad     (b)     bladder     (c)     badly     (d)     baldly     
    3. (a)     whack     (b)     punch     (c)     hit     (d)     wallop    
    4. (a)     the others     (b)     another     (c)     others     (d)     other    
    5. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     in     (d)     up    
    6. (a)     shapes     (b)     shares     (c)     shaves     (d)     shades    
    7. (a)     report     (b)     import     (c)     port     (d)     sport    
    8. (a)     come     (b)     go     (c)     do     (d)     take    
    9. (a)     except     (b)     excerpt     (c)     expect     (d)     exact    
    10. (a)     stunning     (b)     plain     (c)     pretty     (d)     ugly    
    11. (a)     trad     (b)     tread     (c)     tirade     (d)     trade    
    12. (a)     last     (b)     lost     (c)     lest     (d)     least

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. nvsioters are worried
    2. A ratiff is a tax
    3. Chinese piromts
    4. China said it would siuse its own
    5. Tokyo's Nikkei share niedx
    6. New York's Wall Street stock hceaxgne

    Paragraph 2

    1. perexts on world trade
    2. the start of a lbogal trade war
    3. we believe China will eiatalter
    4. ptcetor U.S. workers
    5. not happy with the trade aicamelnb
    6. the USA buys $385 bniolil more goods

    Put the text back together

    (...)  scale very quickly." President Trump says he wants to protect U.S. workers and companies. Mr Trump is not
    (...)  countries. President Trump has warned China he will issue tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese
    (...)  hit Chinese companies with trade tariffs. A tariff is a tax a country puts on goods and services coming in from other
    (  1  ) The world is waiting to see if a trade war breaks out between the USA and China. Stock markets in Asia did
    (...)  retaliate. It is impossible to imagine that they cannot. And then we expect the U.S. to retaliate further. This can turn ugly on a global
    (...)  trade war. Trade researcher Robert Carnell said: "If the tariffs go ahead as planned, then we believe China will
    (...)  and shares in Seoul fell by 3 per cent. There was also a fall on New York's Wall Street stock exchange.
    (...)  Experts on world trade are worried that the import tariffs could be the start of a global
    (...)  USA buys $385 billion more goods from China than China buys from the USA. Trump
    (...)  imports. China said it would issue its own tariffs in reply to Mr Trump. Tokyo's Nikkei share index fell
    (...)  wants to try and reduce this imbalance by at least $100 billion with his tariffs.
    (...)  happy with the trade imbalance between the USA and China. Experts believe that the
    (...)  by more than 4 per cent on Friday, Shanghai's market was down more than 3 per cent, and stocks
    (...)  badly in Friday's trading because investors are worried about U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to

    Put the words in the right order

    1. trade   see   if   to   war   Waiting   out   .   breaks   a
    2. tariffs   .   issue   China   warned   has   Trump   will   he
    3. own   reply   .   issue   its   tariffs   in   It   would
    4. market   was   3%   .   Shanghai's   than   down   more
    5. Seoul   by   fell   and   Stocks   3%   .   in   shares
    6. Tariffs   global   could   trade   war   .   a   start
    7. U.S.   We   the   retaliate   further   .   to   expect
    8. on   turn   ugly   global   This   a   can   scale   .
    9. not   is   Mr   imbalance   .   Trump   trade   with   happy   the
    10. try   imbalance   .   and   to   wants   Trump   reduce   this

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The world is waiting / waited to see if a trade war breaks up / out between the USA and China. Stock markets in Asia did bad / badly in Friday's trading because investors are worried around / about U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to hit Chinese companies at / with trade tariffs. A tariff is a tax a country puts on goods / good and services coming in from other countries. President Trump has warned China he will issue / tissue tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese imports. China said it would issue its own tariffs in / on reply to Mr Trump. Tokyo's Nikkei share index fell by more than 4 per cent on Friday, Shanghai's market was down most / more than 3 per cent, and stocks and shares in Seoul fell by 3 per cent. There was also a fall on New York's Wall Street stock  change / exchange.

    Experts on worldly / world trade are worried that the import tariffs could be the start for / of a global trade war. Trade researcher Robert Carnell said: "If the tariffs go / come ahead as planned, then we believe China will repatriate / retaliate. It is impossible to imagine that they cannot. And then we expect the U.S. to retaliate farther / further. This can turn ugly on a global / globally scale very quickly." President Trump says he wants to protect U.S. workers and companies. Mr Trump is not happy with the trade / traded imbalance between the USA and China. Expats / Experts believe that the USA buys $385 billion more goods from China that / than China buys from the USA. Trump wants to try and reduce / reduction this imbalance by at least $100 billion with his tariffs.

    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)

    T h_  w_r l d  _s   w__ t_n g   t_  s__  _f  _  t r_d_  w_r   b r__ k s  __ t   b_t w__ n   t h_  U S A  _n d   C h_n_.   S t_c k   m_r k_t s  _n   A s__   d_d   b_d l y  _n   F r_d_y ' s   t r_d_n g   b_c__ s_ _n v_s t_r s  _r_  w_r r__ d  _b__ t   U . S .   P r_s_d_n t   D_n_l d   T r_m p ' s   p l_n s   t_  h_t   C h_n_s_  c_m p_n__ s   w_t h   t r_d_  t_r_f f s .   A   t_r_f f  _s  _  t_x  _  c__ n t r y   p_t s  _n   g__ d s  _n d   s_r v_c_s   c_m_n g  _n   f r_m  _t h_r   c__ n t r__ s .   P r_s_d_n t   T r_m p   h_s   w_r n_d   C h_n_  h_  w_l l  _s s__   t_r_f f s  _n  _p   t_  $ 6 0   b_l l__ n  _f   C h_n_s_ _m p_r t s .   C h_n_  s__ d  _t   w__ l d  _s s__  _t s  _w n   t_r_f f s  _n   r_p l y   t_  M r   T r_m p .   T_k y_' s   N_k k__   s h_r_ _n d_x   f_l l   b y   m_r_  t h_n   4   p_r   c_n t  _n   F r_d_y ,   S h_n g h__ ' s   m_r k_t   w_s   d_w n   m_r_  t h_n   3   p_r   c_n t ,  _n d   s t_c k s  _n d   s h_r_s  _n   S___l   f_l l   b y   3   p_r   c_n t .   T h_r_  w_s  _l s_ _  f_l l  _n   N_w   Y_r k ' s   W_l l   S t r__ t   s t_c k  _x c h_n g_.

    E x p_r t s  _n   w_r l d   t r_d_ _r_  w_r r__ d   t h_t   t h_ _m p_r t   t_r_f f s   c__ l d   b_  t h_  s t_r t  _f  _  g l_b_l   t r_d_  w_r .   T r_d_  r_s__ r c h_r   R_b_r t   C_r n_l l   s__ d :   " I f   t h_  t_r_f f s   g_ _h__ d  _s   p l_n n_d ,   t h_n   w_  b_l__ v_  C h_n_  w_l l   r_t_l__ t_.   I t  _s  _m p_s s_b l_  t_ _m_g_n_  t h_t   t h_y   c_n n_t .   A n d   t h_n   w_ _x p_c t   t h_  U . S .   t_  r_t_l__ t_  f_r t h_r .   T h_s   c_n   t_r n  _g l y  _n  _  g l_b_l   s c_l_  v_r y   q__ c k l y . "   P r_s_d_n t   T r_m p   s_y s   h_  w_n t s   t_  p r_t_c t   U . S .   w_r k_r s  _n d   c_m p_n__ s .   M r   T r_m p  _s   n_t   h_p p y   w_t h   t h_  t r_d_ _m b_l_n c_  b_t w__ n   t h_  U S A  _n d   C h_n_.   E x p_r t s   b_l__ v_  t h_t   t h_  U S A   b_y s   $ 3 8 5   b_l l__ n   m_r_  g__ d s   f r_m   C h_n_  t h_n   C h_n_  b_y s   f r_m   t h_  U S A .   T r_m p   w_n t s   t_  t r y  _n d   r_d_c_  t h_s  _m b_l_n c_  b y  _t   l__ s t   $ 1 0 0   b_l l__ n   w_t h   h_s   t_r_f f s .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the world is waiting to see if a trade war breaks out between the usa and china stock markets in asia did badly in fridays trading because investors are worried about us president donald trumps plans to hit chinese companies with trade tariffs a tariff is a tax a country puts on goods and services coming in from other countries president trump has warned china he will issue tariffs on up to 60 billion of chinese imports china said it would issue its own tariffs in reply to mr trump tokyos nikkei share index fell by more than 4 per cent on friday shanghais market was down more than 3 per cent and stocks and shares in seoul fell by 3 per cent there was also a fall on new yorks wall street stock exchange

    experts on world trade are worried that the import tariffs could be the start of a global trade war trade researcher robert carnell said if the tariffs go ahead as planned then we believe china will retaliate it is impossible to imagine that they cannot and then we expect the us to retaliate further this can turn ugly on a global scale very quickly president trump says he wants to protect us workers and companies mr trump is not happy with the trade imbalance between the usa and china experts believe that the usa buys 385 billion more goods from china than china buys from the usa trump wants to try and reduce this imbalance by at least 100 billion with his tariffs

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheworldiswaitingtoseeifatradewarbreaksoutbetweentheUSAandC
    hina.StockmarketsinAsiadidbadlyinFriday'stradingbecauseinvestor
    sareworriedaboutU.S.PresidentDonaldTrump'splanstohitChineseco
    mpanieswithtradetariffs.Atariffisataxacountryputsongoodsandservi
    cescominginfromothercountries.PresidentTrumphaswarnedChinah
    ewillissuetariffsonupto$60billionofChineseimports.Chinasaiditwoul
    dissueitsowntariffsinreplytoMrTrump.Tokyo'sNikkeishareindexfellb
    ymorethan4percentonFriday,Shanghai'smarketwasdownmorethan
    3percent,andstocksandsharesinSeoulfellby3percent.Therewasalso
    afallonNewYork'sWallStreetstockexchange.Expertsonworldtradear
    eworriedthattheimporttariffscouldbethestartofaglobaltradewar.Tra
    deresearcherRobertCarnellsaid:"Ifthetariffsgoaheadasplanned,the
    nwebelieveChinawillretaliate.Itisimpossibletoimaginethattheycann
    ot.AndthenweexpecttheU.S.toretaliatefurther.Thiscanturnuglyona
    globalscaleveryquickly."PresidentTrumpsayshewantstoprotectU.S.
    workersandcompanies.MrTrumpisnothappywiththetradeimbalance
    betweentheUSAandChina.ExpertsbelievethattheUSAbuys$385billio
    nmoregoodsfromChinathanChinabuysfromtheUSA.Trumpwantstotr
    yandreducethisimbalancebyatleast$100billionwithhistariffs.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    No one will win if there is a trade war. Discuss.

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    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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. TRADE WAR: Make a poster about trade wars. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WORLD TRADE: Write a magazine article about a world trade organization setting all the rules for world trade. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 trade wars. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how the USA and China can avoid a trade war. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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