The Reading / Listening - Finland - Level 1

Finland's government has resigned. It wanted to make welfare and healthcare reforms. However, politicians voted against the reforms. Finland's leader Juha Sipila was "hugely disappointed". He said he would stay in a "caretaker" government until elections in April. The reforms were because Finland's population is aging. It is under financial pressure. The government's planned reforms would save $3.4 billion over the next ten years.

Politicians think the government resigning is a mistake. They want the government to stay in power until the elections. Mr Sipila said it had no support. He said: "My government has no choice but to [resign]. I'll shoulder my responsibility." Sipila's colleagues said it was right the government resigned. One senior member said: "If anyone asks what political responsibility means, then I would say that this resignation is an example".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Finland - Level 0 Finland - Level 2   or  Finland - Level 3

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47496326
  • https://www.foxnews.com/world/finlands-entire-government-resigns-after-breakdown-of-agreement-on-welfare-state-reform
  • http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/politics/16248-finnish-government-hands-in-resignation-after-collapse-of-care-reform.html


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. make welfare and healthcare
  2. politicians voted against
  3. stay in a "caretaker"
  4. until elections
  5. Finland's population is
  6. It is under financial
  7. reforms would
  8. over the next
  1. government
  2. save $3.4 billion
  3. aging
  4. the reforms
  5. ten years
  6. in April
  7. reforms
  8. pressure

Paragraph 2

  1. They want the government
  2. power until
  3. it had no
  4. My government has no choice
  5. I'll shoulder my
  6. it was right the government
  7. political
  8. this resignation is
  1. resigned
  2. support
  3. responsibility
  4. the elections
  5. an example
  6. to stay
  7. responsibility
  8. but to resign

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Finland's government has resigned. (1) ___________________ make welfare (2) ___________________. However, politicians voted against the reforms. Finland's leader Juha Sipila was "hugely disappointed". (3) ___________________ would stay in a "caretaker" government until (4) ___________________. The reforms were because Finland's population is aging. (5) ___________________ financial pressure. The government's planned reforms would save $3.4 billion (6) ___________________ ten years.

Politicians think the government (7) ___________________ mistake. They want the government to stay in power until the elections. Mr Sipila said it (8) ___________________. He said: "My government has no (9) ___________________ [resign]. I'll shoulder my responsibility." Sipila's colleagues said (10) ___________________ the government resigned. One senior member said: "If (11) ___________________ political responsibility means, then I would say that this resignation (12) ___________________".

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Finland'sgovernmenthasresigned.Itwantedtomakewelfareandhealt
hcarereforms.However,politiciansvotedagainstthereforms.Finland'
sleaderJuhaSipilawas"hugelydisappointed".Hesaidhewouldstayina"
caretaker"governmentuntilelectionsinApril.Thereformswerebecaus
eFinland'spopulationisaging.Itisunderfinancialpressure.Thegovern
ment'splannedreformswouldsave$3.4billionoverthenexttenyears.P
oliticiansthinkthegovernmentresigningisamistake.Theywantthegov
ernmenttostayinpoweruntiltheelections.MrSipilasaidithadnosuppor
t.Hesaid:"Mygovernmenthasnochoicebutto[resign].I'llshouldermyr
esponsibility."Sipila'scolleaguessaiditwasrightthegovernmentresig
ned.Oneseniormembersaid:"Ifanyoneaskswhatpoliticalresponsibilit
ymeans,thenIwouldsaythatthisresignationisanexample".

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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