The Reading / Listening - Russia World Cup - Level 4

An ex-U.S. soccer player is supporting Mexico at the Russia World Cup. Landon Donovan, 35, played for the USA national team 157 times. People say he is the best American player ever. His calls for Americans to back Mexico have angered people. Ex-teammates criticized him for being paid to wear a Mexico soccer jersey. He tweeted a photograph of himself that read: "My other team is Mexico....So join me...to cheer on our other team - Mexico."

Donovan explained why he is cheering for Mexico. He grew up in California. He speaks fluent Spanish. He said his heart "bleeds red, white and blue" and that no one should question his love for Team USA. As a child, he loved the passion of his Mexican teammates and has a strong connection to and respect for Mexico. One U.S. player said Donovan was only doing this for money. A Mexican fan said Mexico fans love to hate two men - Donald Trump and Donovan.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Russia World Cup - Level 5 or  Russia World Cup - Level 6

Sources
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/18/landon-donovan-mexico-world-cup/710759002/
  • http://tv5.espn.com/football/united-states/story/3531891/landon-donovan-clarifies-supporting-mexico-in-world-cup-ad-campaign
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44528016


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. played for the USA national team
  2. he is the best American
  3. His calls for Americans
  4. Ex-teammates criticized
  5. paid to wear a Mexico
  6. He tweeted a photograph
  7. My other team
  8. cheer on our
  1. is Mexico
  2. to back Mexico
  3. player ever
  4. other team
  5. him
  6. soccer jersey
  7. 157 times
  8. of himself

Paragraph 2

  1. He grew
  2. He speaks fluent
  3. his heart
  4. no one should question
  5. the passion of his
  6. a strong
  7. only doing this
  8. fans love to
  1. Mexican teammates
  2. for money
  3. up in California
  4. hate two men
  5. bleeds
  6. his love
  7. Spanish
  8. connection

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An ex-U.S. soccer (1) ___________________ Mexico at the Russia World Cup. Landon Donovan, 35, (2) ___________________ USA national team 157 times. People (3) ___________________ the best American player ever. His calls for Americans to back Mexico (4) ___________________. Ex-teammates criticized him for being (5) ___________________ a Mexico soccer jersey. He tweeted a photograph of himself that read: "My other team is Mexico....So (6) ___________________ cheer on our other team - Mexico."

Donovan explained why (7) ___________________ for Mexico. He grew up in California. He speaks fluent Spanish. He said his (8) ___________________, white and blue" and that no (9) ___________________ his love for Team USA. As a child, he loved (10) ___________________ his Mexican teammates and has a strong connection (11) ___________________ for Mexico. One U.S. player said Donovan was only doing this for money. A Mexican fan said Mexico fans (12) ___________________ two men - Donald Trump and Donovan.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Anex-U.S.soccerplayerissupportingMexicoattheRussiaWorldCup.La
ndonDonovan,35,playedfortheUSAnationalteam157times.Peoplesa
yheisthebestAmericanplayerever.HiscallsforAmericanstobackMexic
ohaveangeredpeople.Ex-teammatescriticizedhimforbeingpaidtowe
araMexicosoccerjersey.Hetweetedaphotographofhimselfthatread:"
MyotherteamisMexico....Sojoinme...tocheeronourotherteam-Mexi
co."DonovanexplainedwhyheischeeringforMexico.HegrewupinCalif
ornia.HespeaksfluentSpanish.Hesaidhisheart"bleedsred,whiteandb
lue"andthatnooneshouldquestionhisloveforTeamUSA.Asachild,helo
vedthepassionofhisMexicanteammatesandhasastrongconnectionto
andrespectforMexico.OneU.S.playersaidDonovanwasonlydoingthisf
ormoney.AMexicanfansaidMexicofanslovetohatetwomen-DonaldTr
umpandDonovan.

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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