The Reading / Listening - Cyberattacks - Level 3

The French government has blamed Iran for a cyberattack on supermarket freezers and refrigerators across France. The attacks happened last month. They hit around 700 supermarkets and shops. Hackers took control of the cooling systems in the fridges and freezers. Temperatures increased to more than 50 degrees Celsius. Thousands of tons of frozen food melted. Stores had to throw the food away because it was no longer safe to eat. The French Foreign Minister said the attack was on a level never seen before. France believes an Iranian cyber unit carried out the attack. Iran has strongly denied it was involved in the attacks and blamed the French government for them.

Security experts have warned that cyberattacks could be more dangerous in the future. Similar attacks have already affected other European countries. A French blood bank has also been hit. Fortunately, workers stopped the blood products from being damaged. Cybersecurity expert Gerome Billois stated: "At the moment, they are attacking easy equipment, but we should be prepared to see attacks on other systems like water or electricity." Weak computer security can let hackers attack places and services, such as hospitals, airports, public transport and banks. This can put people's lives in danger. European officials have said that a strong response is needed.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Cyberattacks - Level 0,  Cyberattacks - Level 1   or  Cyberattacks - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261109-iran-revolutionary-guards-behind-cyberattacks-on-supermarket-fridges-says-french-fm-barrot
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/09/france-blames-irans-revolutionary-guards-for-cyber-attacks-on-supermarket-fridges
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/france-iran-behind-refrigerator-freezer-hack-cyberattack/


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. CYBERSECURITY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about cybersecurity. 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?
       France / Iran / cyberattack / supermarket / refrigerators / hackers / frozen food /
       security experts / the future / blood bank / cybersecurity / hospitals / airports / banks
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. INTERNET-CONNECTED: Students A strongly believe it is dangerous to link everything to the internet; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HIDDEN DANGERS: How dangerous is it to connect these things to the internet? What could go wrong? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Dangerous?

What Could Go Wrong?

Security cameras

 

 

Smart door locks

 

 

Smart speakers

 

 

Internet-connected cars

 

 

Medical devices

 

 

Payment apps

 

 
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. SUPERMARKET: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "supermarket". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. INFRASTRUCTURE: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that are riskiest if they were cyberattacked at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Hospitals
  • Data centres
  • Banks
  • Dams
  • Railway networks
  • TV stations
  • Water treatment plants
  • Electricity grids

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. blamed a. Machines that keep food and drinks cold.
      2. freezers b. Said that someone did something wrong.
      3. refrigerator c. How hot or cold something is.
      4. temperatures d. A way to measure weight. One ton is 1,000 kilograms.
      5. tons e. Machines that keep food very, very cold or frozen.
      6. melted f. The person or group that did something.
      7. responsible g. Changed from ice or something hard to liquid.

    Paragraph 2

      8. expert h. Had an effect on someone or something.
      9. affected i. Ready to do something.
      10. blood bank j. A person who knows a lot about a subject.
      11. equipment k. A place where blood is kept for people who need it.
      12. prepared l. For everyone to use or know about.
      13. public m. Tools and machines used for a particular job.
      14. response n. An answer or action after something happens.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The French government believes Iran hacked supermarket fridges.     T / F
  2. Hackers hacked into 700 freezers in French supermarkets.     T / F
  3. A lot of frozen food melted because of the hack.     T / F
  4. The French Foreign Minister said there had been worst attacks before.     T / F
  5. Hackers attacked a blood bank in France and destroyed all the blood.     T / F
  6. A security expert said the hackers were going after easy targets.     T / F
  7. The expert warned hackers could target electricity and water systems.     T / F
  8. European officials said no response was necessary.     T / F

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

  1. across
  2. hit
  3. increased
  4. safe to eat
  5. carried out
  6. warned
  7. fortunately
  8. prepared
  9. such as
  10. response
  1. rose
  2. ready
  3. did
  4. cautioned
  5. reply
  6. edible
  7. all over
  8. like
  9. struck
  10. luckily

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

  1. a cyberattack on supermarket freezers
  2. Hackers took control of the cooling
  3. Temperatures increased to more than
  4. Thousands of tons of
  5. Iran has strongly denied
  6. blood
  7. workers stopped the blood products
  8. at the
  9. This can put people's lives
  10. officials have said that a strong
  1. in danger
  2. 50 degrees Celsius
  3. it was involved
  4. from being damaged
  5. frozen food melted
  6. systems
  7. moment
  8. response is needed
  9. and refrigerators
  10. bank

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
melted
blamed
strongly
degrees
refrigerators
carried
control
level

The French government has (1) ______________________________________________ Iran for a cyberattack on supermarket freezers and (2) ______________________________________________ across France. The attacks happened last month. They hit around 700 supermarkets and shops. Hackers took (3) ______________________________________________ of the cooling systems in the fridges and freezers. Temperatures increased to more than 50 (4) ______________________________________________ Celsius. Thousands of tons of frozen food (5) ______________________________________________. Stores had to throw the food away because it was no longer safe to eat. The French Foreign Minister said the attack was on a (6) ______________________________________________ never seen before. France believes an Iranian cyber unit (7) ______________________________________________ out the attack. Iran has (8) ______________________________________________ denied it was involved in the attacks and blamed the French government for them.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
lives
moment
bank
prepared
response
affected
hackers
products

Security experts have warned that cyberattacks could be more dangerous in the future. Similar attacks have already (9) ______________________________________________ other European countries. A French blood (10) ______________________________________________ has also been hit. Fortunately, workers stopped the blood (11) ______________________________________________ from being damaged. Cybersecurity expert Gerome Billois stated: "At the (12) ______________________________________________, they are attacking easy equipment, but we should be (13) ______________________________________________ to see attacks on other systems like water or electricity." Weak computer security can let (14) ______________________________________________ attack places and services, such as hospitals, airports, public transport and banks. This can put people's (15) ______________________________________________ in danger. European officials have said that a strong (16) ______________________________________________ is needed.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) a cyberattack on supermarket freezers and ______
     a.  refrigerators a cross France
     b.  refrigerators a crossed France
     c.  refrigerators across France
     d.  refrigerators crossing France
2)  Thousands of tons of ______
     a.  freezing food melt it
     b.  frozen food melded
     c.  freezing food melted
     d.  frozen food melted
3)  The French Foreign Minister said the attack was on a level ______
     a.  never seen before
     b.  never seeing before
     c.  never seen afore
     d.  never seen be four
4)  France believes an Iranian cyber unit carried ______
     a.  out a attack
     b.  doubt the attack
     c.  at the attack
     d.  out the attack
5)  Iran has strongly denied it was involved in the attacks and ______
     a.  blamed the France
     b.  blame the French
     c.  blamed the French
     d.  blamed a French

6)  warned that cyberattacks could be more dangerous ______
     a.  on the future
     b.  in the future
     c.  inner future
     d.  in a future
7)  Fortunately, workers stopped the blood products ______
     a.  from be in damaged
     b.  from being damaged
     c.  from being damage
     d.  from been damaged
8)  they are attacking easy equipment, but we should be prepared to see attacks ______
     a.  on over systems
     b.  another systems
     c.  on another systems
     d.  on other systems
9)  Weak computer security can let hackers attack ______
     a.  place is and services
     b.  places and service is
     c.  places and services
     d.  place and service
10)  European officials have said that a strong ______
     a.  response is needed
     b.  response is needy
     c.  response is needing
     d.  response is kneaded

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The French government has blamed Iran for a cyberattack on supermarket freezers (1) __________________________________________________ France. The attacks happened last month. They hit around 700 supermarkets and shops. Hackers (2) __________________________________________________ the cooling systems in the fridges and freezers. Temperatures increased to more than 50 degrees Celsius. Thousands of tons of (3) __________________________________________________. Stores had to throw the food away because it was no (4) __________________________________________________ eat. The French Foreign Minister said the attack was on a level never seen before. France believes an Iranian cyber (5) __________________________________________________ the attack. Iran has strongly denied it (6) __________________________________________________ the attacks and blamed the French government for them.

Security (7) __________________________________________________ that cyberattacks could be more dangerous in the future. Similar attacks have already affected other European countries. A French (8) __________________________________________________ also been hit. Fortunately, workers stopped the blood products from being damaged. Cybersecurity expert Gerome Billois stated: "(9) __________________________________________________, they are attacking easy equipment, but we should be prepared to see attacks on (10) __________________________________________________ water or electricity." Weak computer security can let hackers attack places and (11) __________________________________________________ hospitals, airports, public transport and banks. This can put people's lives in danger. European officials have said that (12) __________________________________________________ is needed.

Comprehension questions

  1. What two things did hackers hack in French supermarkets?
  2. How many supermarkets did the hackers target?
  3. What happened to tons of frozen food?
  4. What did the French Foreign Minister say about the level of the attack?
  5. Who blamed France for the attack?
  6. What did security experts warn could be more dangerous in the future?
  7. What kind of bank was attacked in France?
  8. Who is Gerome Billois?
  9. What can allow hackers to attack places like hospitals and airports?
  10. What did European officials say was needed?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What two things did hackers hack in French supermarkets?
a) door locks and security cameras
b) freezers and refrigerators
c) computers and servers
d) frozen food and fresh fruit
2) How many supermarkets did the hackers target?
a) just fewer than 700
b) more than 700
c) exactly 700
d) around 700
3) What happened to tons of frozen food?
a) It exploded.
b) It was stolen.
c) It melted.
d) It was eaten.
4) What did the French foreign minister say about the level of the attack?
a) It had never seen before.
b) It was at a crazy level.
c) It was low.
d) It was at a dangerous level.
5) Who blamed France for the attack?
a) freezer makers
b) Iran
c) frozen food makers
d) French shoppers

6) What did security experts warn could be more dangerous in the future?
a) cyberattacks
b) frozen food
c) refrigerators
d) supermarkets
7) What kind of bank was attacked in France?
a) a savings bank
b) a riverbank
c) a blood bank
d) an investment bank
8) Who is Gerome Billois?
a) a cybersecurity expert
b) a supermarket boss
c) a frozen food maker
d) a shopper
9) What can allow hackers to attack places like hospitals and airports?
a) a special key
b) passwords
c) money
d) weak security
10) What did European officials say was needed?
a) bigger computers
b) bigger freezers
c) a strong response
d) less frozen food

Role play

Role  A – Banks
You think banks would be the worst things to be attacked by hackers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which of these would cause the fewest problems if they were hacked (and why): dams, TV stations or electricity grids.

Role  B – Dams
You think dams would be the worst things to be attacked by hackers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which of these would cause the fewest problems if they were hacked (and why): banks, TV stations or electricity grids.

Role  C – TV Stations
You think TV stations would be the worst things to be attacked by hackers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which of these would cause the fewest problems if they were hacked (and why): dams, banks or electricity grids.

Role  D – Electricity Grids
You think electricity grids would be the worst things to be attacked by hackers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as risky. Also, tell the others which of these would cause the fewest problems if they were hacked (and why): dams, TV stations or banks.

After reading / listening

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

'supermarket'

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

    • and 'freezer'.

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

    • • 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:

    • freezers
    • 700
    • cooling
    • melted
    • level
    • strongly
    • warned
    • affected
    • stopped
    • prepared
    • weak
    • lives

    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 - Cyberattacks

    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 'cyberattack'?
    3. What do you think of cyberattacks?
    4. Should fridges and freezers be connected to the internet?
    5. What dangers are there to being online?
    6. Have you ever had any problems online?
    7. How can supermarkets keep their food safe?
    8. What should governments do to stop cyberattacks?
    9. What things in your house are connected to the internet?
    10. What advice do you have for the supermarkets?

    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 'freezer'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What cyberattacks do you know about?
    5. How worried are you about cybersecurity?
    6. How dangerous could cyberattacks become?
    7. What would you do if banks were attacked?
    8. What would you do if public transport was attacked?
    9. Should children at school have lessons on stopping cyberattacks?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a cybersecurity expert?

    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 French government has (1) ____ Iran for a cyberattack on supermarket freezers and refrigerators across France. The attacks happened last month. They (2) ____ around 700 supermarkets and shops. Hackers took control of the cooling systems in the fridges and freezers. Temperatures increased (3) ____ more than 50 degrees Celsius. Thousands of tons of frozen food melted. Stores had to throw the food (4) ____ because it was no longer safe to eat. The French Foreign Minister said the attack was on a level (5) ____ seen before. France believes an Iranian cyber unit carried out the attack. Iran has strongly denied it was involved in the attacks and blamed the French government (6) ____ them.

    Security experts have warned that cyberattacks could be more dangerous (7) ____ the future. Similar attacks have already affected (8) ____ European countries. A French blood bank has also been hit. Fortunately, workers stopped the blood products from (9) ____ damaged. Cybersecurity expert Gerome Billois stated: "At the moment, they are attacking easy equipment, but we should be prepared to see attacks on other systems (10) ____ water or electricity." Weak computer security can let hackers attack places and services, such (11) ____ hospitals, airports, public transport and banks. This can put people's lives in danger. European officials have said that a strong response is (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     blames     (b)     blaming     (c)     blamed     (d)     blame    
    2. (a)     hit     (b)     smashed     (c)     whacked     (d)     punched    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     up    
    4. (a)     away     (b)     far     (c)     up     (d)     into    
    5. (a)     even     (b)     ever     (c)     every     (d)     never    
    6. (a)     as     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     for    
    7. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     up    
    8. (a)     others     (b)     another     (c)     the others     (d)     other    
    9. (a)     being     (b)     doing     (c)     having     (d)     freezing    
    10. (a)     liking     (b)     like     (c)     liked     (d)     likes    
    11. (a)     was     (b)     as     (c)     has     (d)     is    
    12. (a)     needed     (b)     needy     (c)     needing     (d)     needs

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. freezers and eraigrrftreos
    2. hackers took onrtclo
    3. lconiog systems
    4. tons of frozen food tdeeml
    5. the attack was on a lleev never seen before
    6. denied it was ovnlvdei in the attacks

    Paragraph 2

    1. security xeprets
    2. fefaedct other European countries
    3. dlboo products
    4. water or ecclirytiet
    5. public artornpts
    6. a strong orseespn is needed

    Put the text back together

    (    )   affected other European countries. A French blood bank has also been hit. Fortunately, workers stopped the blood
    (    )   and shops. Hackers took control of the cooling systems in the fridges and freezers. Temperatures increased to more
    (    )   as hospitals, airports, public transport and banks. This can put people's lives in
    (    )   away because it was no longer safe to eat. The French Foreign Minister said the attack was on a
    (    )   danger. European officials have said that a strong response is needed.
    (    )   denied it was involved in the attacks and blamed the French government for them.
    (    )   level never seen before. France believes an Iranian cyber unit carried out the attack. Iran has strongly
    (    )   moment, they are attacking easy equipment, but we should be prepared to see attacks on other
    (    )   products from being damaged. Cybersecurity expert Gerome Billois stated: "At the
    (    )   refrigerators across France. The attacks happened last month. They hit around 700 supermarkets
    (    )   Security experts have warned that cyberattacks could be more dangerous in the future. Similar attacks have already
    (    )   systems like water or electricity." Weak computer security can let hackers attack places and services, such
    (    )   than 50 degrees Celsius. Thousands of tons of frozen food melted. Stores had to throw the food
    (  1  )   The French government has blamed Iran for a cyberattack on supermarket freezers and

    Put the words in the right order

    1. control   cooling   Hackers   of   systems   the   took   .
    2. food   frozen   melted   of   of   Thousands   tons   .
    3. away   had   food   Stores   the   throw   to   .
    4. a   before   It   level   never   on   seen   was   .
    5. denied   has   involved   Iran   it   strongly   was   .
    6. be   could   Cyberattacks   dangerous   future   in   more   the   .
    7. affected  already   attacks  countries   European   have  other  Similar  .
    8. being   blood   damaged   from   products   stopped   the   Workers   .
    9. attack   can   computer   hackers   let   places   security   Weak   .
    10. danger   in   lives   people's   put   This   can   of   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The French government has blaming / blamed Iran for a cyberattack on supermarket freezers and refrigerators across France. The attacks happened last month / monthly. They hit around 700 supermarkets and shops. Hackers took / gave control of the cooling systems in the fridges and freezes / freezers. Temperatures increased to more than 50 agrees / degrees Celsius. Thousands of tons of frozen food melted / melting. Stores had to throw the food away because it was no long / longer safe to eat. The French Foreign Minister said the attack was on / in a level never seen before. France believes an Iranian cyber unit carried out / in the attack. Iran has strongly denied it was involved in the attacks and blamed the French government for / to them.

    Security experts have warned that cyberattacks could be / being more dangerous on / in the future. Similar attacks have already affected another / other European countries. A French blood bank has also been hit. Fortunately, workers stopped the bloody / blood products from being damaged. Cybersecurity expert Gerome Billois stated: "Of / At the moment, they are attacking easy equipment, but we should do / be prepared to see attacks on other systems like water or / nor electricity." Weak computer security can let hackers attack places and services, such was / as hospitals, airports, public transport and banks. This can put people's lives on / in danger. European officials have said that a strong response is needed / need.

    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)

    Th_  Fr_nch  g_v_rnm_nt  h_s  bl_m_d  _r_n  f_r  _  cyb_r_tt_ck  _n  s_p_rm_rk_t  fr__z_rs  _nd  r_fr_g_r_t_rs  _cr_ss  Fr_nc_.  Th_  _tt_cks  h_pp_n_d  l_st  m_nth.  Th_y  h_t  _r__nd  700  s_p_rm_rk_ts  _nd  sh_ps.  H_ck_rs  t__k  c_ntr_l  _f  th_  c__l_ng  syst_ms  _n  th_  fr_dg_s  _nd  fr__z_rs.  T_mp_r_t_r_s  _ncr__s_d  t_  m_r_  th_n  50  d_gr__s  C_ls__s.  Th__s_nds  _f  t_ns  _f  fr_z_n  f__d  m_lt_d.  St_r_s  h_d  t_  thr_w  th_  f__d  _w_y  b_c__s_  _t  w_s  n_  l_ng_r  s_f_  t_  __t.  Th_  Fr_nch  F_r__gn  M_n_st_r  s__d  th_  _tt_ck  w_s  _n  _  l_v_l  n_v_r  s__n  b_f_r_.  Fr_nc_  b_l__v_s  _n  _r_n__n  cyb_r  _n_t  c_rr__d  __t  th_  _tt_ck.  _r_n  h_s  str_ngly  d_n__d  _t  w_s  _nv_lv_d  _n  th_  _tt_cks  _nd  bl_m_d  th_  Fr_nch  g_v_rnm_nt  f_r  th_m.

    S_c_r_ty  _xp_rts  h_v_  w_rn_d  th_t  cyb_r_tt_cks  c__ld  b_  m_r_  d_ng_r__s  _n  th_  f_t_r_.  S_m_l_r  _tt_cks  h_v_  _lr__dy  _ff_ct_d  _th_r  __r_p__n  c__ntr__s.  _  Fr_nch  bl__d  b_nk  h_s  _ls_  b__n  h_t.  F_rt_n_t_ly,  w_rk_rs  st_pp_d  th_  bl__d  pr_d_cts  fr_m  b__ng  d_m_g_d.  Cyb_rs_c_r_ty  _xp_rt  G_r_m_  B_ll__s  st_t_d:  "_t  th_  m_m_nt,  th_y  _r_  _tt_ck_ng  __sy  _q__pm_nt,  b_t  w_  sh__ld  b_  pr_p_r_d  t_  s__  _tt_cks  _n  _th_r  syst_ms  l_k_  w_t_r  _r  _l_ctr_c_ty."  W__k  c_mp_t_r  s_c_r_ty  c_n  l_t  h_ck_rs  _tt_ck  pl_c_s  _nd  s_rv_c_s,  s_ch  _s  h_sp_t_ls,  __rp_rts,  p_bl_c  tr_nsp_rt  _nd  b_nks.  Th_s  c_n  p_t  p__pl_'s  l_v_s  _n  d_ng_r.  __r_p__n  _ff_c__ls  h_v_  s__d  th_t  _  str_ng  r_sp_ns_  _s  n__d_d.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the french government has blamed iran for a cyberattack on supermarket freezers and refrigerators across france the attacks happened last month they hit around 700 supermarkets and shops hackers took control of the cooling systems in the fridges and freezers temperatures increased to more than 50 degrees celsius thousands of tons of frozen food melted stores had to throw the food away because it was no longer safe to eat the french foreign minister said the attack was on a level never seen before france believes an iranian cyber unit carried out the attack iran has strongly denied it was involved in the attacks and blamed the french government for them

    security experts have warned that cyberattacks could be more dangerous in the future similar attacks have already affected other european countries a french blood bank has also been hit fortunately workers stopped the blood products from being damaged cybersecurity expert gerome billois stated at the moment they are attacking easy equipment but we should be prepared to see attacks on other systems like water or electricity weak computer security can let hackers attack places and services such as hospitals airports public transport and banks this can put peoples lives in danger european officials have said that a strong response is needed

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheFrenchgovernmenthasblamedIranforacyberattackonsupermark
    etfreezersandrefrigeratorsacrossFrance.Theattackshappenedlastm
    onth.Theyhitaround700supermarketsandshops.Hackerstookcontro
    lofthecoolingsystemsinthefridgesandfreezers.Temperaturesincreas
    edtomorethan50degreesCelsius.Thousandsoftonsoffrozenfoodmelt
    ed.Storeshadtothrowthefoodawaybecauseitwasnolongersafetoeat.
    TheFrenchForeignMinistersaidtheattackwasonalevelneverseenbefo
    re.FrancebelievesanIraniancyberunitcarriedouttheattack.Iranhasst
    ronglydenieditwasinvolvedintheattacksandblamedtheFrenchgover
    nmentforthem.Securityexpertshavewarnedthatcyberattackscouldb
    emoredangerousinthefuture.Similarattackshavealreadyaffectedoth
    erEuropeancountries.AFrenchbloodbankhasalsobeenhit.Fortunatel
    y,workersstoppedthebloodproductsfrombeingdamaged.Cybersecur
    ityexpertGeromeBilloisstated:"Atthemoment,theyareattackingeas
    yequipment,butweshouldbepreparedtoseeattacksonothersystemsli
    kewaterorelectricity."Weakcomputersecuritycanlethackersattackpl
    acesandservices,suchashospitals,airports,publictransportandbanks
    .Thiscanputpeople'slivesindanger.Europeanofficialshavesaidthatas
    trongresponseisneeded.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We should not connect everything to the Internet.  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. CYBERSECURITY: Make a poster about cybersecurity. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. INTERNET-CONNECTED: Write a magazine article about not connecting everything in our lives to the internet. 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 cybersecurity. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to stay safe online. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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