Media says Obama knew US spied on Merkel

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

German media is asking how much President Obama knows about the spying on Angela Merkel. One magazine said the USA started tapping Ms Merkel's mobile phone in 2002, under George W. Bush. It says Obama knew about the tap in 2010, before he visited Berlin to talk about the warm friendship between the US and Germany. Ms Merkel's SMS messages and phone calls went straight to the White House. The US Embassy in Berlin was used for the spying.

The spying began before Ms Merkel was in power. It started because Germany did not support the Iraq War. Obama told Ms Merkel that he knew nothing about the spying. However, one report said Mr Obama ordered the programme to continue. It warned of "grave damage for relations" if the programme was discovered. Ms Merkel is shocked that the USA could spy like it was the Cold War. This happened before the end of communism in Eastern Europe.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.dw.de/media-reports-suggest-obama-knew-nsa-spied-on-merkel/a-17185662
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24690055
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/517190/20131027/nsa-snowden-germany-obama-merkel-spy-phone.htm?fs=2d762

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	how much President Obama	a.	friendship
2.	the USA started tapping	b.	tap in 2010
3.	Obama knew about the	c.	knows
4.	talk about the warm	d.	used for the spying
5.	messages and phone calls went	e.	Ms Merkel's mobile phone
6.	The US Embassy in Berlin was	f.	straight to the White House

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	The spying began before	a.	knew nothing about the spying
2.	It started because Germany did not	b.	programme to continue
3.	Obama told Ms Merkel that he	c.	in Eastern Europe
4.	Mr Obama ordered the	d.	damage for relations
5.	It warned of grave	e.	Ms Merkel was in power
6.	before the end of communism	f.	support the Iraq War

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

German media (1) ___________________ President Obama knows about the spying on Angela Merkel. One magazine said the (2) ___________________ Ms Merkel's mobile phone in 2002, under George W. Bush. It says Obama (3) ___________________ 2010, before he visited Berlin to talk about the warm (4) ___________________ US and Germany. Ms Merkel's SMS messages and phone (5) ___________________ the White House. The US Embassy in Berlin was (6) ___________________.

The spying began before Ms Merkel (7) ___________________. It started because Germany did not support the Iraq War. Obama told Ms Merkel that he knew (8) ___________________ spying. However, one report said Mr Obama (9) ___________________ to continue. (10) ___________________ damage for relations" if the programme was discovered. Ms Merkel is shocked that the USA (11) ___________________ the Cold War. This happened before (12) ___________________ in Eastern Europe.

SPYING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about spying 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about spying for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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