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: 09 December 2014
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
Snowden Accepts Award via Video
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- alternative: not the usual one; a substitute
- surveillance: observance of people via camera and other devices; often secretive
- livelihood: related to the ability to live well
- leak: to release private or secret information
- publication: the release of information to the public
- dub: to call or give a name
- fund: to provide financial help
Comprehension Questions
- Who is Edward Snowden?
- How did he accept his award?
- Who did Snowden share the award with, and why?
Discussion Questions: Do you think Snowden will ever be granted a pardon and be able to return to the US?
show Answershide Answers
Snowden Accepts Award Via Video
Edward Snowden, the American programmer who leaked secret information about US government surveillance, accepted an award this week. The award, from Swedish-based foundation the Right Livelihood, is dubbed the “alternative” to the Nobel Prize. Snowden accepted it from Moscow via video. During the awards ceremony, Snowden expressed hope that future citizens would become partners with the government rather than subjects of it. Snowden shared his award with Alan Rusbridger. Rusbridger was the editor of the Guardian who allowed the publication of the secret information that Snowden found. Instead of providing prize money, the foundation plans to help fund legal support for Snowden.
- Edward Snowden is the American programmer who leaked documents about US government surveillance.
- He accepted his award via video in Moscow.
- Snowden shared the award with Alan Rusbridger, the editor of the Guardian. Rusbridger allowed the publication of information from the leaked documents.
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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