EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• Allied Powers: the countries that fought against Nazi Germany in World War II
• region: an area inside a country
• defect: to leave a country for political reasons
• border: the division between two regions
• diplomat: a person who represents their country in negotiations
• checkpoint: a place where people are verified by security
• signify: to show that something is happening

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:17 — 1.2MB)

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Gapfill exercise

The Berlin Wall was a barrier that separated West Berlin from the rest of East Germany during the Cold War. After World War II, the Allied Powers divided Germany into four regions. The Soviet Union the eastern region, and the United States, Britain, and France controlled the western regions. The communist of East Germany built the Berlin Wall in 1961 to stop people from defecting. The only people who could cross the border were diplomats, and they had to go through special checkpoints. In 1989, East Germany finally declared that people would be able to cross the border . Over 2 million people arrived at the border. Some brought to tear the wall down. The of the wall came to signify the beginning of the end of the Cold War. 

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. The wall was built by the government of
   a. Russia
   b. East Germany
   c. West Germany
   
2. The purpose of the wall was to
   a. stop people from immigrating to the country
   b. protect the country from military advances
   c. stop people from defecting
   
3. The wall came down in
   a. 1961
   b. 1968
   c. 1989

Discussion/essay questions

1. The Berlin Wall was one structure that represented a major political divide across Europe. Why do you think it is so easy to divide people?

Transcript

The Berlin Wall was a barrier that separated West Berlin from the rest of East Germany during the Cold War. After World War II, the Allied Powers divided Germany into four regions. The Soviet Union controlled the eastern region, and the United States, Britain, and France controlled the western regions. The communist government of East Germany built the Berlin Wall in 1961 to stop people from defecting. The only people who could cross the border were diplomats, and they had to go through special checkpoints. In 1989, East Germany finally declared that people would be able to cross the border freely. Over 2 million people arrived at the border. Some brought tools to tear the wall down. The fall of the wall came to signify the beginning of the end of the Cold War. 

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2c 3c

Pre-listening vocabulary

• conflict: a fight between people or groups
• dictator: a ruler with unlimited political power
• invasion: a forced entry into a country with the goal of gaining power over it
• regime: the government of a country
• concentration camp: a place where Jews were imprisoned and killed during World War II

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:22 — 1.3MB)

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Gapfill exercise

World War II was a conflict that began in 1939. The war began when German dictator Adolf Hitler an invasion of Poland. Hitler’s goal was to take over Europe entirely. He also believed that the German race was , and began to order the deaths of anyone who he didn’t think was “pure”. The main victims of Hitler’s regime were Jews. Immediately after the invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Later, the United States and the Soviet Union declared war as well. They became known as the Allied Powers. Germany’s allies were Italy and Japan, and they became known as the Axis Powers. For six years, Allied soldiers tried to regain land and concentration camps. The war’s end came in 1945, after Allied overpowered the German army and Hitler died by suicide. Over 60 million people died in World War II, making it the worst conflict in history.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20184″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. World War I ended in 1918, only 21 years before World War II began. Why do you think conflict was so common in Europe at the time?
2. Do you think another world war could happen in the future? Why or why not?
3. One of the most tragic events of World War II was the Holocaust, or the genocide of European Jews. Why is it so important to remember and learn from this tragedy?

Transcript

World War II was a global conflict that began in 1939. The war began when German dictator Adolf Hitler ordered an invasion of Poland. Hitler’s goal was to take over Europe entirely. He also believed that the German race was superior, and began to order the deaths of anyone who he didn’t think was “pure”. The main victims of Hitler’s regime were Jews. Immediately after the invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Later, the United States and the Soviet Union declared war as well. They became known as the Allied Powers. Germany’s allies were Italy and Japan, and they became known as the Axis Powers. For six years, Allied soldiers tried to regain land and liberate concentration camps. The war’s end came in 1945, after Allied forces overpowered the German army and Hitler died by suicide. Over 60 million people died in World War II, making it the worst conflict in history.