The Reading / Listening - UK-USA Relations - Level 6

Relations between the UK and USA have soured after the leak of diplomatic cables from the UK's ambassador to the USA. The leaked memos were published in a British newspaper on Sunday. They contained highly negative and critical comments about President Trump's White House from Ambassador Kim Darroch. Mr Darroch wrote of the White House: "We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept." He characterized Mr Trump's policy on Iran as "incoherent" and "chaotic". Sir Winston Churchill's grandson called the leak an act of "unforgivable treachery".

The United States and the UK are traditionally strong partners on the international stage. They each describe their friendship as a "special relationship". The UK needs to nurture this friendship following its leaving the European Union after Brexit. It needs a trade deal with America. The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May said she had "full faith" in Sir Kim as ambassador but did not agree with his comments. Her spokesman described the leak as being "absolutely unacceptable". Donald Trump retaliated to the comments, saying Sir Kim "has not served the UK well." On Twitter, he wrote: "I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the US. We will no longer deal with him."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    UK-USA Relations - Level 4  or  UK-USA Relations - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/07/07/uks-ambassador-to-the-us-criticizes-trump-in-leaked-memos/23765073/
  • https://www.yahoo.com/news/top-uk-diplomat-usa-criticizes-103329034.html
  • https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/donald-trump-hits-back-at-leaked-memos-calling-white-house-inept-a4184331.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about international relations. 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?
       relations / leak / diplomatic / memos / critical / administration / clumsy / inept / policy
       international / relationship / trade deal / faith / ambassador / spokesman / retaliation
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: Students A strongly believe the UK cannot survive without the USA; Students B strongly believe it can.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. THE USA: How does the USA affect your country? Is this good or bad? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How?

Good or Bad?

Trade

 

 

Food

 

 

Music and film

 

 

Sport

 

 

Culture

 

 

History

 

 

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

  • Queen Elizabeth
  • democracy
  • Mr Bean
  • tea
  • food
  • music
  • football
  • London

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. soured a. A telegraph message sent by telegraphic wire.
      2. cable b. The term of office of a political leader or government.
      3. critical c. Made or became unpleasant or difficult.
      4. administration d. A small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics.
      5. dysfunctional e. Not operating normally or properly.
      6. faction f. Betrayal of trust; deceptive action or nature.
      7. treachery g. Expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments.

    Paragraph 2

      8. nurture h. Have relations with a person or organization.
      9. faith i. Totally.
      10. leak j. Made an attack or assault in return for a similar attack.
      11. absolutely k. Help or encourage the development of.
      12. retaliated l. Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
      13. served m. Performed duties or services for another person or an organization.
      14. deal with n. Secret information become known because someone made it available.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said UK-US relations have soared.     T / F
  2. Leaked memos were published in a US newspaper in Washington.     T / F
  3. The UK ambassador said Mr Trump's White House was dysfunctional.     T / F
  4. Sir Winston Churchill accused the ambassador of treachery.     T / F
  5. The article suggests the UK has to cultivate its relationship with the US.  T / F
  6. The ambassador has the backing of the UK Prime Minister.     T / F
  7. Donald Trump said the ambassador had not served the UK well.     T / F
  8. Donald Trump said he would deal with the ambassador more carefully.    T / F

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

  1. soured
  2. critical
  3. inept
  4. chaotic
  5. treachery
  6. stage
  7. nurture
  8. faith
  9. absolutely
  10. served
  1. attended to
  2. disorderly
  3. cultivate
  4. spoiled
  5. trust
  6. fault-finding
  7. totally
  8. setting
  9. betrayal
  10. incompetent

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

  1. Relations between the UK and USA
  2. The leaked memos were published
  3. clumsy and
  4. He characterized Mr Trump's policy on
  5. an act of unforgivable
  6. on the international
  7. The UK needs to nurture
  8. Theresa May said she had full
  9. Donald Trump retaliated
  10. We will no
  1. Iran as "incoherent"
  2. stage
  3. treachery
  4. this friendship
  5. longer deal with him
  6. inept
  7. to the comments
  8. have soured
  9. faith in Sir Kim
  10. in a British newspaper

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
highly
faction
policy
soured
treachery
cables
inept
wrote

Relations between the UK and USA have (1) ____________ after the leak of diplomatic (2) ____________ from the UK's ambassador to the USA. The leaked memos were published in a British newspaper on Sunday. They contained (3) ____________ negative and critical comments about President Trump's White House from Ambassador Kim Darroch. Mr Darroch (4) ____________ of the White House: "We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less (5) ____________ riven; less diplomatically clumsy and (6) ____________." He characterized Mr Trump's (7) ____________ on Iran as "incoherent" and "chaotic". Sir Winston Churchill's grandson called the leak an act of "unforgivable (8) ____________ ".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
faith
retaliated
nurture
thought
stage
served
deal
leak

The United States and the UK are traditionally strong partners on the international (9) ____________. They each describe their friendship as a "special relationship". The UK needs to (10) ____________ this friendship following its leaving the European Union after Brexit. It needs a trade (11) ____________ with America. The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May said she had "full (12) ____________ " in Sir Kim as ambassador but did not agree with his comments. Her spokesman described the (13) ____________ as being "absolutely unacceptable". Donald Trump (14) ____________ to the comments, saying Sir Kim "has not (15) ____________ the UK well." On Twitter, he wrote: "I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well (16) ____________ of within the US. We will no longer deal with him."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Relations between the UK and USA have soured after the leak of ______
     a.  diplomatic cables
     b.  diplomatic cabals
     c.  diplomatic clay balls
     d.  diplomatic key balls
2)  They contained highly negative and ______
     a.  critical comments
     b.  crucial comments
     c.  cry tickle comments
     d.  collateral comments
3)  We don't really believe this administration is going to become ______ normal
     a.  substantial more
     b.  substantially more
     c.  subs tangentially more
     d.  sub standardly more
4)  less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically ______
     a.  clumsy and inapt
     b.  clumsy and unkempt
     c.  clumsy and inert
     d.  clumsy and inept
5)  Sir Winston Churchill's grandson called the leak an act of "______"
     a.  unforgivable drudgery
     b.  unforgivable treasury
     c.  unforgivable treachery
     d.  unforgivable tetchy

6)  The United States and the UK are traditionally strong partners on the ______
     a.  international assuage
     b.  international strange
     c.  international stagger
     d.  international stage
7)  They each describe their friendship as a "______"
     a.  specially relationship
     b.  specials relationship
     c.  special relationship
     d.  specialty relationship
8)  Prime Minister Theresa May said she had "______" in Sir Kim
     a.  full faith
     b.  pull faith
     c.  hole faith
     d.  fail faith
9)  Donald Trump retaliated to the comments, saying Sir Kim has not ______ well
     a.  serviced the UK
     b.  served up the UK
     c.  served the UK
     d.  saved the UK
10)  he is not liked or well thought of within the US. We will no longer ______
     a.  deal within him
     b.  deal with him
     c.  deal wither him
     d.  deal without him

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Relations between the UK and USA (1) ___________________ the leak of diplomatic cables from the UK's ambassador to the USA. The (2) ___________________ published in a British newspaper on Sunday. They contained highly (3) ___________________ comments about President Trump's White House from Ambassador Kim Darroch. Mr Darroch wrote of the White House: "We don't really believe this administration is going (4) ___________________ more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically (5) ___________________." He characterized Mr Trump's policy on Iran as "incoherent" and "chaotic". Sir Winston Churchill's grandson called the leak (6) ___________________ "unforgivable treachery".

The United States and the UK (7) ___________________ partners on the international stage. They each describe their friendship as a "special relationship". The UK (8) ___________________ this friendship following its leaving the European Union after Brexit. It needs (9) ___________________ with America. The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May said she had "full faith" in Sir Kim (10) ___________________ did not agree with his comments. Her spokesman described the leak as being "absolutely unacceptable". Donald Trump (11) ___________________ comments, saying Sir Kim "has not served the UK well." On Twitter, he wrote: "I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the US. We will no (12) ___________________ him."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say had happened to UK-US relations?
  2. Where were the leaked memos published?
  3. What did the ambassador say would not become more normal?
  4. What did the ambassador describe as being "incoherent" and "chaotic"?
  5. What did Sir Winston Churchill's grandson say the leak was an act of?
  6. What is the friendship between the USA and UK often called?
  7. What did the article say it needed from the USA?
  8. What did the UK Prime Minister say she had in the ambassador?
  9. Who called the leak as being "absolutely unacceptable"?
  10. What did Donald Trump say the ambassador had not done?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What did the article say had happened to UK-US relations?
a) they had seared
b) they had soured
c) they had soared
d) they had sired
2)  Where were the leaked memos published?
a) in a Washington newspaper
b) in a Russian newspaper
c) on Wikileaks
d) in a British newspaper
3) What did the ambassador say would not become more normal?
a) the US administration
b) UK-US relations
c) diplomacy
d) comments
4) What did the ambassador describe as being "incoherent" and "chaotic"?
a) UK-US relations
b) diplomacy
c) Mr Trump's Iran policy
d) Washington
5) What did Sir Winston Churchill's grandson say the leak was an act of?
a) spying
b) unforgiveable treachery
c) rogue nation interference
d) contrition

6) What is the friendship between the USA and UK often called?
a) the "Special Relationship"
b)  the "Best Relationship"
c)  the "Super Relationship"
d)  the "Atlantic Relationship"
7) What did the article say it needed from the USA?
a) cash
b) support
c) a trade deal
d) friendship
8) What did the UK Prime Minister say she had in the ambassador?
a) full faith
b) money
c) confidence
d) hopes
9) Who called the leak as being "absolutely unacceptable"?
a) the UK Prime Minister's spokesman
b) Donald Trump's son-in-law
c) the US ambassador to the UK
d) Theresa May
10) What did Donald Trump say the ambassador had not done?
a) anything wrong
b) his homework
c) respected the USA
d) served the UK well

Role play

Role  A – Food
You think food is the best thing about the U.K. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): London, music or democracy.

Role  B – London
You think London is the best thing about the U.K. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): food, music or democracy.

Role  C – Music
You think music is the best thing about the U.K. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): London, food or democracy.

Role  D – Democracy
You think democracy is the best thing about the U.K. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): London, music or food.

After reading / listening

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

'diplomacy'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'ambassador'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • strong
    • special
    • needs
    • full
    • served
    • within
    • soured
    • published
    • believe
    • faction
    • policy
    • grandson

    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 - UK ambassador to US says White House is inept

    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 'diplomacy'?
    3. What are your country's relations with the USA like?
    4. Would you make a good ambassador?
    5. What do you think of Sir Kim's comments?
    6. What do you think of such sensitive memos being leaked?
    7. What is the job of an ambassador?
    8. Should Sir Kim have been so negative and critical?
    9. Do you think the White House administration is 'inept'?
    10. Do you think President Trump's policy on Iran is 'chaotic'?

    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 'ambassador'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How will this incident change relations between the UK and USA?
    5. Should the British ambassador resign?
    6. Is Theresa May correct to say she has 'full faith' in the ambassador?
    7. What advice do you have for the ambassador?
    8. Is President Trump correct in his comments on the ambassador?
    9. What do you think of Donald Trump's Twitter diplomacy?
    10. What questions would you like to ask US President Donald Trump?

    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)

    Relations between the UK and USA have (1) ____ after the leak of diplomatic cables from the UK's ambassador (2) ____ the USA. The leaked memos were published in a British newspaper on Sunday. They contained contain (3) ____ negative and critical comments about President Trump's White House from Ambassador Kim Darroch. Mr Darroch wrote (4) ____ the White House: "We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less (5) ____ riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept." He characterized Mr Trump's policy on Iran as "incoherent" and "chaotic." Sir Winston Churchill's grandson called the leak an act of "unforgivable (6) ____".

    The United States and the UK are traditionally strong partners on the international (7) ____. They each describe their friendship as a "special relationship". The UK needs to (8) ____ this friendship following its leaving the European Union after Brexit. It needs a trade deal with America. The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May said she had "(9) ____ faith" in Sir Kim as ambassador but did not agree with his comments. Her spokesman described the leak (10) ____ being "absolutely unacceptable". Donald Trump (11) ____ to the comments, saying Sir Kim "has not served the UK well." On Twitter, he wrote: "I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the US. We will no longer (12) ____ with him."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     scolded     (b)     scored     (c)     scoured     (d)     soured    
    2. (a)     as     (b)     such     (c)     by     (d)     to    
    3. (a)     heighten     (b)     highly     (c)     height     (d)     highest    
    4. (a)     as     (b)     up     (c)     of     (d)     down    
    5. (a)     fiction     (b)     fraction     (c)     faction     (d)     friction    
    6. (a)     treachery     (b)     trenches     (c)     tranche     (d)     tortured    
    7. (a)     leg     (b)     stage     (c)     podium     (d)     catwalk    
    8. (a)     nurture     (b)     natural     (c)     nature     (d)     naturist    
    9. (a)     wholly     (b)     full     (c)     entirety     (d)     utterly    
    10. (a)     was     (b)     has     (c)     as     (d)     thus    
    11. (a)     sentenced     (b)     militarised     (c)     retaliated     (d)     provoked    
    12. (a)     seal     (b)     veal     (c)     meal     (d)     deal

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Relations between the UK and USA have oursed
    2. the leak of plmodaiitc cables
    3. highly negative and ticiracl comments
    4. more normal; less suytncidnofal
    5. Trump's policy on Iran as "incoherent" and "oahtcic"
    6. an act of unforgivable rectehary

    Paragraph 2

    1. dtoitaranilly strong partners
    2. The UK needs to urtnrue this friendship
    3. Sir Kim as mbsaasador
    4. agree with his mcemonts
    5. soulatbley unacceptable
    6. Donald Trump tailraeetd to the ...

    Put the text back together

    (...)  to the comments, saying Sir Kim "has not served the UK well." On Twitter, he wrote: "I do not
    (...)  describe their friendship as a "special relationship". The UK needs to nurture this friendship following its
    (...)  to the USA. The leaked memos were published in a British newspaper on Sunday. They contained highly
    (...)  know the Ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the US. We will no longer deal with him."
    (...)  of the White House: "We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less
    (...)  with his comments. Her spokesman described the leak as being "absolutely unacceptable". Donald Trump retaliated
    1  ) Relations between the UK and USA have soured after the leak of diplomatic cables from the UK's ambassador
    (...)  Prime Minister Theresa May said she had "full faith" in Sir Kim as ambassador but did not agree
    (...)  negative and critical comments about President Trump's White House from Ambassador Kim Darroch. Mr Darroch wrote
    (...)  The United States and the UK are traditionally strong partners on the international stage. They each
    (...)  leaving the European Union after Brexit. It needs a trade deal with America. The United Kingdom's
    (...)  dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction riven; less diplomatically clumsy and
    (...)  grandson called the leak an act of "unforgivable treachery".
    (...)  inept." He characterized Mr Trump's policy on Iran as "incoherent" and "chaotic". Sir Winston Churchill's

    Put the words in the right order

    1. from   the   of   The   ambassador   .   leak   diplomatic   cables
    2. a   Leaked   newspaper   published   memos   British   were   in
    3. contain   They   contained   and   highly  critical   comments  .  negative
    4. become   is   normal   .   to   going   administration   more   This
    5. on   He   Iran   characterized   as   policy   Trump's   incoherent   .
    6. the   strong   stage   .   partners   Traditionally   on   international
    7. "special   a   as   their   describe   relationship"   .   friendship   They
    8. being   absolutely   described   the   He   as   unacceptable   .   leak
    9. not   has   Sir   served   Kim   the   UK   well   .
    10. will   no   longer   We   with   deal   him   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Relations between the UK and USA have soured / scoured after the leak of diplomatic cables / ropes from the UK's ambassador to the USA. The leaked memos were publication / published in a British newspaper on Sunday. They contained highly / heighten negative and critical comments about President Trump's White House from Ambassador / Embassy Kim Darroch. Mr Darroch wrote of the White House: "We don't really belief / believe this administration is gone / going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction / fraction riven; less diplomatically clumsily / clumsy and inept." He characterized Mr Trump's policy on Iran as "incoherent" / "incontinent" and "chaotic". Sir Winston Churchill's grandson called the leak an act of "unforgivable treachery".

    The United States and the UK are traditionally strengthen / strong partners on the international stage / stagger. They each describe their friendship as a "special relationship". The UK needs to nature / nurture this friendship following its leaving the European Union after Brexit. It needs a traded / trade deal with America. The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May said she had "full faith / faithful" in Sir Kim as ambassador but did not agreement / agree with his comments. Her spokesman described the leak as being "absolutely unacceptable". Donald Trump retaliated / retailed to the comments, saying Sir Kim "has not saved / served the UK well." On Twitter, he wrote: "I do not know the Ambassador, but he is not liked / liken or well thought of within the US. We will no longer deal / dealt with him."

    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)

    R_l_t__ n s b_t w__ n t h_ U K _n d U S A h_v_ s__ r_d _f t_r t h_ l__ k _f d_p l_m_t_c c_b l_s f r_m t h_ U K ' s _m b_s s_d_r t_ t h_ U S A . T h_ l__ k_d m_m_s w_r_ p_b l_s h_d _n _ B r_t_s h n_w s p_p_r _n S_n d_y . T h_y c_n t__ n_d h_g h l y n_g_t_v_ _n d c r_t_c_l c_m m_n t s _b__ t P r_s_d_n t T r_m p ' s W h_t_ H__ s_ f r_m A m b_s s_d_r K_m D_r r_c h . M r D_r r_c h w r_t_ _f t h_ W h_t_ H__ s_: " W_ d_n ' t r__ l l y b_l__ v_ t h_s _d m_n_s t r_t__ n _s g__ n g t_ b_c_m_ s_b s t_n t__ l l y m_r_ n_r m_l ; l_s s d y s f_n c t__ n_l ; l_s s _n p r_d_c t_b l_; l_s s f_c t__ n r_v_n ; l_s s d_p l_m_t_c_l l y c l_m s y _n d _n_p t . " H_ c h_r_c t_r_z_d M r T r_m p ' s p_l_c y _n I r_n _s "_n c_h_r_n t " _n d " c h__ t_c . " S_r W_n s t_n C h_r c h_l l ' s g r_n d s_n c_l l_d t h_ l__ k _n _c t _f "_n f_r g_v_b l_ t r__ c h_r y " .

    T h_ U n_t_d S t_t_s _n d t h_ U K _r_ t r_d_t__ n_l l y s t r_n g p_r t n_r s _n t h_ _n t_r n_t__ n_l s t_g_. T h_y __ c h d_s c r_b_ t h__ r f r__ n d s h_p _s _ " s p_c__ l r_l_t__ n s h_p " . T h_ U K n__ d s t_ n_r t_r_ t h_s f r__ n d s h_p f_l l_w_n g _t s l__ v_n g t h_ E_r_p__ n U n__ n _f t_r B r_x_t . I t n__ d s _ t r_d_ d__ l w_t h A m_r_c_. T h_ U n_t_d K_n g d_m ' s P r_m_ M_n_s t_r T h_r_s_ M_y s__ d s h_ h_d " f_l l f__ t h " _n S_r K_m _s _m b_s s_d_r b_t d_d n_t _g r__ w_t h h_s c_m m_n t s . H_r s p_k_s m_n d_s c r_b_d t h_ l__ k _s b__ n g "_b s_l_t_l y _n_c c_p t_b l_" . D_n_l d T r_m p r_t_l__ t_d t_ t h_ c_m m_n t s , s_y_n g S_r K_m " h_s n_t s_r v_d t h_ U K w_l l . " O n T w_t t_r , h_ w r_t_: " I d_ n_t k n_w t h_ A m b_s s_d_r , b_t h_ _s n_t l_k_d _r w_l l t h__ g h t _f w_t h_n t h_ U S . W_ w_l l n_ l_n g_r d__ l w_t h h_m . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    relations between the uk and usa have soured after the leak of diplomatic cables from the uks ambassador to the usa the leaked memos were published in a british newspaper on sunday they contained highly negative and critical comments about president trumps white house from ambassador kim darroch mr darroch wrote of the white house we dont really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal less dysfunctional less unpredictable less faction riven less diplomatically clumsy and inept he characterized mr trumps policy on iran as incoherent and chaotic sir winston churchills grandson called the leak an act of unforgivable treachery

    the united states and the uk are traditionally strong partners on the international stage they each describe their friendship as a special relationship the uk needs to nurture this friendship following its leaving the european union after brexit it needs a trade deal with america the united kingdoms prime minister theresa may said she had full faith in sir kim as ambassador but did not agree with his comments her spokesman described the leak as being absolutely unacceptable donald trump retaliated to the comments saying sir kim has not served the uk well on twitter he wrote i do not know the ambassador but he is not liked or well thought of within the us we will no longer deal with him"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    RelationsbetweentheUKandUSAhavesouredaftertheleakofdiplomati
    ccablesfromtheUK'sambassadortotheUSA.Theleakedmemoswerep
    ublishedinaBritishnewspaperonSunday.Theycontainedhighl
    ynegativeandcriticalcommentsaboutPresidentTrump'sWhiteHousef
    romAmbassadorKimDarroch.MrDarrochwroteoftheWhiteHouse:"W
    edon'treallybelievethisadministrationisgoingtobecomesubstantially
    morenormal;lessdysfunctional;lessunpredictable;lessfactionriven;l
    essdiplomaticallyclumsyandinept."HecharacterizedMrTrump'spolic
    yonIranas"incoherent"and"chaotic".SirWinstonChurchill'sgrandson
    calledtheleakanactof"unforgivabletreachery".TheUnitedStatesandt
    heUKaretraditionallystrongpartnersontheinternationalstage.Theye
    achdescribetheirfriendshipasa"specialrelationship".TheUKneedston
    urturethisfriendshipfollowingitsleavingtheEuropeanUnionafterBrexi
    t.ItneedsatradedealwithAmerica.TheUnitedKingdom'sPrimeMiniste
    rTheresaMaysaidshehad"fullfaith"inSirKimasambassadorbutdidnot
    agreewithhiscomments.Herspokesmandescribedtheleakasbeing"a
    bsolutelyunacceptable".DonaldTrumpretaliatedtothecomments,say
    ingSirKim"hasnotservedtheUKwell."OnTwitter,hewrote:"Idonotkno
    wtheAmbassador,butheisnotlikedorwellthoughtofwithintheUS.Wew
    illnolongerdealwithhim."

    Free writing

    Write about UK-USA relations for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Ambassadors should never say anything bad about the country they work in. 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. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Make a poster about international relations. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. QUIT: Write a magazine article about the ambassador having to quit over his comments. 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 ambassadors. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on the role of an ambassador. 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

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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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