Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 22 November 2011
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Cigarette Giant Sues Australian Government
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- sue: to take a person or group to court about a legal issue
- graphic: very detailed
- font: the size or style of type
- fake: not real
- flood: to fill up
- legislation: law (or proposed law)
Comprehension Questions
- What is Philip Morris?
- What will happen in Australia at the end of next year?
- What is currently illegal at Australian shops?
Discussion Question: In 2005, the World Health Organization asked countries to adopt plain packaging for tobacco products. Do you think other countries will follow in Australia’s footsteps? Do you think plain packaging will reduce smoking in the countries that pass this law?
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Cigarette Giant Sues Australian Government
Philip Morris, one of the world’s largest tobacco companies, is suing the Australian government for its plain cigarette packaging law. By December 2012, all tobacco products in Australia will be sold in plain brown packaging. Cigarette packages will have graphic images warning of health concerns related to smoking. No logos or trademarks will be allowed, and brand names will be noted in plain font. Philip Morris claims that fake brands will flood the market and billions of dollars will be lost due to the plain packaging. According to the tobacco giant, the Australian government has passed the legislation without proving that it will be effective in reducing smoking. In Australia it is already illegal to smoke in public buildings and to display tobacco products publicly in shops.
- Philip Morris is a tobacco company.
- All tobacco products in Australia will be sold in plain packaging (with no logos or trademarks) by the end of next year.
- It is currently illegal to publicly display tobacco products in Australian shops.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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