photo Tara Benwell 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: 04 June 2013

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Protests Continue In Turkey

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

  • demonstration: a public display of opinion about an issue or group (often political)
  • redevelopment: the rebuilding (and sometimes repurposing) of a space
  • storm: to enter an area quickly and with strong force
  • sit-in: a peaceful demonstration in which protestors occupy an area with chairs and tents
  • step down: to resign; to leave a position of authority voluntarily
  • consecutive: one after another
  • authoritarian: a form of leadership in which the group or person in power has strict rules and citizens have little freedom

Protests Continue In Turkey

A peaceful demonstration to save a park in central Istanbul has escalated into a nationwide anti-government protest. The demonstration involved a small group of people in Gezi Park. They were protesting a redevelopment project that included the removal of one of Istanbul’s last remaining . When police stormed the sit-in, the activists used social media networks to call for support. Police began using tear gas and water cannons to break up the riot, which fuelled new protests all over Turkey. The protesters are Prime Minister Erdogan to step down. He has been for three consecutive terms, and many feel he has become too authoritarian.

Comprehension Questions

  1. What was the original reason for the demonstration?
  2. How did the sit-in turn into a nationwide anti-government protest?
  3. What do protestors in Turkey want the current prime minister to do?

Discussion Question:
In response to these recent protests, Turkey’s prime minister said this: “Social media is the worst menace to society.” Why do you think he said this? Do you agree or disagree?

show Answers

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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