The Reading / Listening - The Golden Age of America - Level 3

President Donald Trump has promised a "golden age" for America. He made his promise in his inauguration speech. He was sworn in as President on the 20th of January. He became the USA's 47th President. He was also the 45th, as he served in that role from 2017 to 2021. He made his acceptance speech at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. He promised to reshape America, stating: "The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation." He added that: "During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first."

President Trump said he was on a God-given mission. He spoke about surviving an assassination attempt in July. He said: "My life was saved…by God to make America great again." He made some huge promises. One of the biggest was to "launch American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars." He vowed to strengthen the US economy and cut inflation. He also said he would tap into America's fossil fuel resources. He said: "We will drill, baby, drill." He added: "America will be a manufacturing nation once again. We have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have – the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth. And, we are going to use it."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    The Golden Age of America - Level 0,  The Golden Age of America - Level 1   or  The Golden Age of America - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-faces-stiff-challenges-delivering-his-promised-golden-age-2025-01-20/
  • https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2025/01/21/donald-trump-executive-orders-inauguration/
  • https://www.ft.com/content/8e507320-d381-41b0-9513-cc97e2e9d4e9


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. DONALD TRUMP: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Donald Trump. 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?
       president / Donald Trump / golden age / America / inauguration / flourish / nation /
       assassination / God / promises / astronauts / the Stars and Stripes / fossil fuel / oil
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. A GOLDEN AGE: Students A strongly believe this is the start of a golden age for America (and the world); Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. GREAT AGAIN: What does your country need to do to be great (again)? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Problems Today

Solutions

Economy

 

 

Environment

 

 

Education

 

 

Health

 

 

Immigration

 

 

Equal rights

 

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

  • The Stars and Stripes
  • Apple Pie
  • The 4th of July
  • The Statue of Liberty
  • The dollar
  • The bald eagle
  • Baseball
  • Hollywood

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. promised a. A time in history, like a special time when something important happened.
      2. age  (noun) b. To make a serious promise when starting a new role / position to do your job.
      3. inauguration c. A group of people who manage or lead something, like a country or organization.
      4. sworn in d. A big event to start an important job, like becoming a leader.
      5. acceptance e. To grow or do very well.
      6. flourish f. To say you will do something and mean it.
      7. administration g. Saying “yes” to something or agreeing it is okay.

    Paragraph 2

      8. mission h. Staying alive after something very hard or dangerous.
      9. surviving i. Killing a very important person, usually for political reasons.
      10. assassination j. Making things in large amounts, usually in factories.
      11. launch  (verb) k. Made a strong and serious promise.
      12. vowed l. To start something new, like a project or sending a rocket into space.
      13. economy m. A special job or goal someone works to complete.
      14. manufacturing n. The system of money, jobs, and business in a country.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. President Trump made his golden age promise on the 21st of January.     T / F
  2. President Trump is the 45th and 47th U.S. President.     T / F
  3. President Trump was sworn in at the White House.     T / F
  4. President Trump said that he would put America first every day.     T / F
  5. President Trump survived an assassination attempt in June.     T / F
  6. President Trump wants to put a flag on Mars.     T / F
  7. President Trump wants babies to drill for oil.     T / F
  8. President Trump said the USA was the country with the most factories.    T / F

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

  1. age
  2. sworn in
  3. speech
  4. flourish
  5. administration
  6. assassination
  7. huge
  8. cut
  9. manufacturing
  10. amount
  1. reduce
  2. address
  3. government
  4. very big
  5. volume
  6. era
  7. grow
  8. mass production
  9. appointed
  10. killing

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

  1. He made his promise in his inauguration
  2. he served in that role
  3. The golden age of America
  4. We will be the envy
  5. I will very simply put
  6. President Trump said he was on
  7. surviving an assassination
  8. My life was saved by God to make
  9. plant the Stars and Stripes on
  10. the largest amount of
  1. begins right now
  2. America great again
  3. America first
  4. the planet Mars
  5. a God-given mission
  6. speech
  7. oil and gas
  8. from 2017 to 2021
  9. attempt
  10. of every nation

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
role
envy
simply
right
single
inauguration
reshape
flourish

President Donald Trump has promised a "golden age" for America. He made his promise in his (1) ______________________________________________ speech. He was sworn in as President on the 20th of January. He became the USA's 47th President. He was also the 45th, as he served in that (2) ______________________________________________ from 2017 to 2021. He made his acceptance speech at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. He promised to (3) ______________________________________________ America, stating: "The golden age of America begins (4) ______________________________________________ now. From this day forward, our country will (5) ______________________________________________ and be respected again all over the world. We will be the (6) ______________________________________________ of every nation." He added that: "During every (7) ______________________________________________ day of the Trump administration, I will very (8) ______________________________________________ put America first."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
nation
mission
fossil
attempt
saved
vowed
amount
plant

President Trump said he was on a God-given (9) ______________________________________________. He spoke about surviving an assassination (10) ______________________________________________ in July. He said: "My life was (11) ______________________________________________ …by God to make America great again." He made some huge promises. One of the biggest was to "launch American astronauts to (12) ______________________________________________ the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars." He (13) ______________________________________________ to strengthen the US economy and cut inflation. He also said he would tap into America's (14) ______________________________________________ fuel resources. He said: "We will drill, baby, drill." He added: "America will be a manufacturing (15) ______________________________________________ once again. We have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have - the largest (16) ______________________________________________ of oil and gas of any country on Earth. And, we are going to use it."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) He made his promise in ______
     a.  his inauguration speak
     b.  his in awe graduation speech
     c.  his inauguration speech
     d.  his in awe graduated speech
2)  He was also the 45th, as he served in that ______
     a.  roll from 2017
     b.  role from 2017
     c.  rule from 2017
     d.  reel from 2017
3)  at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. He promised ______
     a.  to reshape America
     b.  to reshaped America
     c.  to reshapes America
     d.  to resharpen America
4)  From this day forward, our ______
     a.  country will flowery
     b.  country will finish
     c.  country will fourish
     d.  country will flourish
5)  During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply ______
     a.  puts America first
     b.  putt America first
     c.  put America first
     d.  putting America first

6)  President Trump said he was on a ______
     a.  God-given mission
     b.  God-given fission
     c.  God-given missing
     d.  God-given mish on
7)  He spoke about surviving an assassination ______
     a.  attempting July
     b.  attempt on July
     c.  attempt in July
     d.  a tempting July
8)  launch American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on ______
     a.  the planned Mars
     b.  the plan it Mars
     c.  the plant Mars
     d.  the planet Mars
9)  He also said he would tap into America's ______
     a.  fossil fuel resource
     b.  fossil fuel resources
     c.  fossil fuel resource is
     d.  fossil fuel re-sauces
10)  no other manufacturing nation will ever have - the largest amount of ______
     a.  oily and gas
     b.  oil and gas
     c.  oil and gassy
     d.  oils and gasses

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

President Donald Trump has promised a "golden age" for America. He made his promise in his inauguration speech. He was (1) __________________________________________________ President on the 20th of January. He became the USA's 47th President. He was also the 45th, as (2) __________________________________________________ that role from 2017 to 2021. He made his acceptance speech at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. He (3) __________________________________________________ America, stating: "The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country (4) __________________________________________________ be respected again all over the world. We will be the (5) __________________________________________________ nation." He added that: "During every single day of the Trump administration, I will (6) __________________________________________________ America first."

President Trump said he was on a (7) __________________________________________________. He spoke about surviving an assassination attempt in July. He said: "My life was saved…by God to make America great again." He made (8) __________________________________________________. One of the biggest was to "launch American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars." (9) __________________________________________________ strengthen the US economy and cut inflation. He also said he would tap into America's (10) __________________________________________________. He said: "We will drill, baby, drill." He added: "America will be a manufacturing nation once again. We have something (11) __________________________________________________ manufacturing nation will ever have - the largest amount of oil and gas of (12) __________________________________________________ Earth. And, we are going to use it."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did President Trump make during his inauguration speech?
  2. Where in Washington, D.C. was President Trump inaugurated?
  3. When did President Trump say the golden age of the USA would begin?
  4. Who did President Trump say the USA would be the envy of?
  5. What did President Trump say he would put first?
  6. In what month did someone try to assassinate President Trump?
  7. What does President Trump hope to put on Mars?
  8. What does President Trump want to cut?
  9. What does President Trump want to tap into?
  10. What does the USA have more of than any other nation?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did President Trump make during his inauguration speech?
a) a success
b) a promise
c) many jokes
d) a mistake
2) Where in Washington, D.C. was President Trump inaugurated?
a) the Lincoln Memorial
b) the White House
c) the Senate
d) the Capitol
3) When did President Trump say the golden age of the USA would begin?
a) right now
b) 3:43 am
c) January 31
d) next year
4) Who did President Trump say the USA would be the envy of?
a) Europe
b) Canada
c) every nation
d) Mexico
5) What did President Trump say he would put first?
a) the people
b) America
c) children
d) the middle class

6) In what month did someone try to assassinate President Trump?
a) July
b) June
c) August
d) May
7) What does President Trump hope to put on Mars?
a) a city
b) his signature
c) the Stars and Stripes (flag)
d) U.S. factories
8) What does President Trump want to cut?
a) inflation
b) unemployment
c) immigration
d) ties
9) What does President Trump want to tap into?
a) America's fossil fuel resources
b) the energy of the people
c) data
d) creativity
10) What does the USA have more of than any other nation?
a) tech companies
b) lakes
c) hope
d) oil and gas

Role play

Role  A – The Stars and Stripes
You think the Stars and Stripes flag is the best symbol of the USA. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their symbol isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least American of these (and why): Statue of Liberty, baseball or Hollywood.

Role  B – The Statue of Liberty
You think the Statue of Liberty is the best symbol of the USA. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their symbol isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least American of these (and why): the Stars and Stripes, baseball or Hollywood.

Role  C – Baseball
You think baseball is the best symbol of the USA. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their symbol isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least American of these (and why): Statue of Liberty, the Stars and Stripes or Hollywood.

Role  D – Hollywood
You think Hollywood is the best symbol of the USA. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their symbol isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least American of these (and why): Statue of Liberty, baseball or the Stars and Stripes.

After reading / listening

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

'golden'

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

    • and 'age'.

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

    • • 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:

    • sworn
    • 47
    • 2017
    • shape
    • forward
    • single
    • surviving
    • life
    • launch
    • tap
    • again
    • oil

    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 - The Golden Age of America

    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 'America'?
    3. What do you know about President Donald Trump?
    4. How will President Trump get America to enter a golden age?
    5. What do you know about the current problems in the USA?
    6. What do you think of the leader of your country?
    7. How will President Trump change the world?
    8. What are President Trump's strengths?
    9. What promises to make America great again do you know of?
    10. What advice would you give to President Trump?

    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 phrase 'golden age'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think about President Donald Trump?
    5. How important is the USA?
    6. Do you think Donald Trump will get an American to Mars?
    7. Do you think President Trump will end wars?
    8. What three adjectives best describe President Trump?
    9. What will the USA be like in four years' time?
    10. What questions would you like to ask President 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)

    President Donald Trump has promised a "golden age" for America. He (1) ____ his promise in his inauguration speech. He was sworn (2) ____ as President on the 20th of January. He became the USA's 47th President. He was also the 45th, as he served in (3) ____ role from 2017 to 2021. He made his acceptance speech at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. He promised (4) ____ reshape America, stating: "The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and (5) ____ respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation." He added that: "During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very (6) ____ put America first."

    President Trump said he was (7) ____ a God-given mission. He spoke about surviving an assassination attempt in July. He said: "My life was (8) ____ …by God to make America great again." He made some huge promises. One of the biggest was to "launch American astronauts to (9) ____ the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars." He vowed to strengthen the US economy and cut inflation. He also said he would (10) ____ into America's fossil fuel resources. He said: "We will drill, baby, drill." He added: "America will be a manufacturing nation (11) ____ again. We have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have - the largest amount of oil and gas of any country (12) ____ Earth. And, we are going to use it."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     went     (b)     did     (c)     was     (d)     made    
    2. (a)     of     (b)     out     (c)     up     (d)     in    
    3. (a)     what     (b)     that     (c)     a     (d)     for    
    4. (a)     for     (b)     over     (c)     to     (d)     that    
    5. (a)     be     (b)     have     (c)     say     (d)     do    
    6. (a)     simply     (b)     simple     (c)     simplicity     (d)     simplify    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     to     (c)     as     (d)     on    
    8. (a)     saved     (b)     saving     (c)     save     (d)     saves    
    9. (a)     seed     (b)     plant     (c)     flower     (d)     branch    
    10. (a)     tip     (b)     top     (c)     tap     (d)     atop    
    11. (a)     twice     (b)     only     (c)     once     (d)     that    
    12. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     to

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. inauguration speech
    2. He was sworn in as President
    3. He made his acceptance speech
    4. our country will flourish
    5. We will be the envy of every nation
    6. the Trump administration

    Paragraph 2

    1. surviving an assassination attempt
    2. He made some huge promises
    3. American astronauts
    4. strengthen the US economy and cut inflation
    5. fossil fuel resources
    6. America will be a manufacturing nation

    Put the text back together

    (...)  Mars." He vowed to strengthen the US economy and cut inflation. He also said he would tap into America's fossil
    (...)  45th, as he served in that role from 2017 to 2021. He made his acceptance speech at the United States Capitol,
    (...)  promises. One of the biggest was to "launch American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet
    (...)  right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected
    (...)  fuel resources. He said: "We will drill, baby, drill." He added: "America will be a manufacturing nation once
    (...)  again. We have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have - the largest
    (...)  President Trump said he was on a God-given mission. He spoke about surviving an assassination
    (...)  Washington, D.C. He promised to reshape America, stating: "The golden age of America begins
    (...)  speech. He was sworn in as President on the 20th of January. He became the USA's 47th President. He was also the
    (...)  again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation." He added that: "During every single day of the Trump
    (...)  amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth. And, we are going to use it."
    (...)  administration, I will very simply put America first."
    (...)  attempt in July. He said: "My life was saved…by God to make America great again." He made some huge
    (  1  )  President Donald Trump has promised a "golden age" for America. He made his promise in his inauguration

    Put the words in the right order

    1. for   age   golden   promised   has   a   Trump   America   .
    2. his   in   inauguration   speech   .   his   He   made   promise
    3. this   flourish   .   forward,   day   From   country   our   will
    4. of   envy   be   will   We   nation   .   every   the
    5. very   first   .   simply   will   America   I   put
    6. spoke   assassination   attempt   .   He   about   surviving   an
    7. on   Plant   Stripes   and   Stars   the   Mars   .   flag
    8. cut   economy   the   Strengthen   and   US   inflation   .
    9. tap   would   resources   .   fossil   He   into   fuel   America's
    10. be   once   a   manufacturing   will   again   .   America   nation

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    President Donald Trump has promised a "golden age" for America. He made his promised / promise in his inauguration speech. He was swear / sworn in as President on the 20th of January. He became the USA's 47th President. He was also the 45th, as he served in that role / roll from 2017 to 2021. He made his acceptance speech / speak at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. He promised to / for reshape America, stating: "The golden age of America begins right known / now. From this day backward / forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over a / the world. We will be the envy / envious of every nation." He added that: "During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simple / simply put America first."

    President Trump said he was on / at a God-given mission. He spoke about surviving / survival an assassination attempt in July. He said: "My life / live was saved…by God to make America great again." He made some huge / tiny promises. One of the biggest was to "launch American astronauts to flower / plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars." He wowed / vowed to strengthen the US economy and cut inflation. He also said he would tap / top into America's fossil / power fuel resources. He said: "We will drill, baby, drill." He added: "America will be a manufacturing nation once / twice again. We have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have - the largest amount of oil and gas of any country in / on Earth. And, we are going to use it."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Pr_s_d_nt  D_n_ld  Tr_mp  h_s  pr_m_s_d  _  "g_ld_n  _g_"  f_r  _m_r_c_.  H_  m_d_  h_s  pr_m_s_  _n  h_s  _n__g_r_t__n  sp__ch.  H_  w_s  sw_rn  _n  _s  Pr_s_d_nt  _n  th_  20th  _f  J_n__ry.  H_  b_c_m_  th_  _S_'s  47th  Pr_s_d_nt.  H_  w_s  _ls_  th_  45th,  _s  h_  s_rv_d  _n  th_t  r_l_  fr_m  2017  t_  2021.  H_  m_d_  h_s  _cc_pt_nc_  sp__ch  _t  th_  _n_t_d  St_t_s  C_p_t_l,  W_sh_ngt_n,  D.C.  H_  pr_m_s_d  t_  r_sh_p_  _m_r_c_,  st_t_ng:  "Th_  g_ld_n  _g_  _f  _m_r_c_  b_g_ns  r_ght  n_w.  Fr_m  th_s  d_y  f_rw_rd,  __r  c__ntry  w_ll  fl__r_sh  _nd  b_  r_sp_ct_d  _g__n  _ll  _v_r  th_  w_rld.  W_  w_ll  b_  th_  _nvy  _f  _v_ry  n_t__n."  H_  _dd_d  th_t:  "D_r_ng  _v_ry  s_ngl_  d_y  _f  th_  Tr_mp  _dm_n_str_t__n,  _  w_ll  v_ry  s_mply  p_t  _m_r_c_  f_rst."

    Pr_s_d_nt  Tr_mp  s__d  h_  w_s  _n  _  G_d-g_v_n  m_ss__n.  H_  sp_k_  _b__t  s_rv_v_ng  _n  _ss_ss_n_t__n  _tt_mpt  _n  J_ly.  H_  s__d:  "My  l_f_  w_s  s_v_d…by  G_d  t_  m_k_  _m_r_c_  gr__t  _g__n."  H_  m_d_  s_m_  h_g_  pr_m_s_s.  _n_  _f  th_  b_gg_st  w_s  t_  "l__nch  _m_r_c_n  _str_n__ts  t_  pl_nt  th_  St_rs  _nd  Str_p_s  _n  th_  pl_n_t  M_rs."  H_  v_w_d  t_  str_ngth_n  th_  _S  _c_n_my  _nd  c_t  _nfl_t__n.  H_  _ls_  s__d  h_  w__ld  t_p  _nt_  _m_r_c_'s  f_ss_l  f__l  r_s__rc_s.  H_  s__d:  "W_  w_ll  dr_ll,  b_by,  dr_ll."  H_  _dd_d:  "_m_r_c_  w_ll  b_  _  m_n_f_ct_r_ng  n_t__n  _nc_  _g__n.  W_  h_v_  s_m_th_ng  th_t  n_  _th_r  m_n_f_ct_r_ng  n_t__n  w_ll  _v_r  h_v_  -  th_  l_rg_st  _m__nt  _f  __l  _nd  g_s  _f  _ny  c__ntry  _n  __rth.  _nd,  w_  _r_  g__ng  t_  _s_  _t."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    president donald trump has promised a golden age for america he made his promise in his inauguration speech he was sworn in as president on the 20th of january he became the usas 47th president he was also the 45th as he served in that role from 2017 to 2021 he made his acceptance speech at the united states capitol washington dc he promised to reshape america stating the golden age of america begins right now from this day forward our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world we will be the envy of every nation he added that during every single day of the trump administration i will very simply put america first

    president trump said he was on a godgiven mission he spoke about surviving an assassination attempt in july he said my life was savedby god to make america great again he made some huge promises one of the biggest was to launch american astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet mars he vowed to strengthen the us economy and cut inflation he also said he would tap into americas fossil fuel resources he said we will drill baby drill he added america will be a manufacturing nation once again we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have  the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on earth and we are going to use it

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    PresidentDonaldTrumphaspromiseda"goldenage"forAmerica.Hema
    dehispromiseinhisinaugurationspeech.HewassworninasPresidenton
    the20thofJanuary.HebecametheUSA's47thPresident.Hewasalsothe
    45th,asheservedinthatrolefrom2017to2021.Hemadehisacceptance
    speechattheUnitedStatesCapitol,Washington,D.C.Hepromisedtores
    hapeAmerica,stating:"ThegoldenageofAmericabeginsrightnow.Fro
    mthisdayforward,ourcountrywillflourishandberespectedagainallove
    rtheworld.Wewillbetheenvyofeverynation."Headdedthat:"Duringev
    erysingledayoftheTrumpadministration,IwillverysimplyputAmericaf
    irst."PresidentTrumpsaidhewasonaGod-givenmission.Hespokeabo
    utsurvivinganassassinationattemptinJuly.Hesaid:"Mylifewassaved
    …byGodtomakeAmericagreatagain."Hemadesomehugepromises.O
    neofthebiggestwasto"launchAmericanastronautstoplanttheStarsan
    dStripesontheplanetMars."HevowedtostrengthentheUSeconomyan
    dcutinflation.HealsosaidhewouldtapintoAmerica'sfossilfuelresource
    s.Hesaid:"Wewilldrill,baby,drill."Headded:"Americawillbeamanufac
    turingnationonceagain.Wehavesomethingthatnoothermanufacturin
    gnationwilleverhave-thelargestamountofoilandgasofanycountryon
    Earth.And,wearegoingtouseit."

    Free writing

    Write about golden age of America for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    America will enter a golden age. 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. AMERICA: Make a poster about America. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. A GOLDEN AGE: Write a magazine article about all governments aiming for a golden age. 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 America. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on America. 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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