The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is in trouble again following revelations about his tax returns. The New York Times said Mr Trump's 1995 tax returns showed he reported over $900 million in business losses. This has enabled him to not pay nearly a billion dollars in income tax over the past 19 years. The Times suggests Trump is being hypocritical, as he has constantly criticized the tax system for being unfair. The Times wrote: "Trump is right when he says the system is rigged. What he doesn't say is that it’s rigged in his favor and in the favor of people like him, and against regular people - those of us who earn money, pay income tax on it, and financially support the country in which we live."

Mr Trump has spent years on social media attacking high-profile people for not paying enough tax. He attacked President Obama for paying a "paltry" tax rate of 20.5 per cent. Former New York mayor and Trump campaign advisor Rudy Giuliani said Mr Trump had done nothing illegal and called him a "genius" for not paying tax and turning around his loss-making business. He likened Trump to Winston Churchill, Britain's leader during World War II. Mr Trump tweeted: "I know our complex tax laws better than anyone who has ever run for president and am the only one who can fix them." When Hillary Clinton accused Mr Trump of not paying taxes, he replied: "That makes me smart."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/02/the-most-shocking-part-of-donald-trumps-tax-records-isnt-the-916-million-loss-everyones-talking-about/
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/03/us/politics/trump-taxes-twitter.html
  • http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUSKCN1220P5


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. DONALD TRUMP: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Donald Trump. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       presidential / nominee / revelations / tax returns / income tax / hypocritical / support
       social media / tax rate / mayor / illegal / genius / leader / loss-making business / smart

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. PRESIDENT: Students A strongly believe Donald Trump would be a great president; Students B strongly believe he would be a disaster.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. TAXES: What new rules should there be on these taxes? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Income tax
  • Sales tax
  • Profits tax
  • Inheritance tax
  • Property tax
  • Import tax
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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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5. SMART: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "smart". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. GENIUS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest geniuses at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Paul McCartney
  • J.K. Rowling
  • Oprah Winfrey
  • Hayao Miyazaki
  • Donald Trump
  • Mark Zuckerberg
  • Lionel Messi
  • Serene Williams

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The Washington Post made revelations about Donald Trump's tax.     T / F
  2. Mr Trump's business lost over $900 million in the 1990s.     T / F
  3. Donald Trump has not paid tax for 19 years.     T / F
  4. A newspaper said the tax system favors people like Mr Trump.     T / F
  5. Donald Trump attacked president Obama for paying too little tax.     T / F
  6. A former mayor of New York called Mr Trump a fool.     T / F
  7. The former mayor likened Donald Trump to George Washington.     T / F
  8. Mr Trump said he cannot fix America's tax system.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. nominee
  2. revelations
  3. hypocritical
  4. rigged
  5. regular
  6. attacking
  7. paltry
  8. genius
  9. complex
  10. smart
  1. mastermind
  2. fraudulent
  3. clever
  4. disclosures
  5. criticizing
  6. complicated
  7. candidate
  8. small
  9. ordinary
  10. holier-than-thou

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. presidential nominee Donald Trump is in
  2. revelations
  3. he has constantly
  4. it's rigged in
  5. those of
  6. attacking high-profile people for
  7. a "paltry"
  8. turning around his loss-
  9. He likened Trump
  10. better than anyone who
  1. us who earn money
  2. criticized the tax system
  3. has ever run for president
  4. about his tax returns
  5. making business
  6. tax rate of 20.5 per cent
  7. his favor
  8. to Winston Churchill
  9. not paying enough tax
  10. trouble again

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
income
nominee
financially
losses
constantly
regular
revelations
rigged

Republican presidential (1) ____________ Donald Trump is in trouble again following (2) ____________ about his tax returns. The New York Times said Mr Trump's 1995 tax returns showed he reported over $900 million in business (3) ____________. This has enabled him to not pay nearly a billion dollars in (4) ____________ tax over the past 19 years. The Times suggests Trump is being hypocritical, as he has (5) ____________ criticized the tax system for being unfair. The Times wrote: "Trump is right when he says the system is (6) ____________. What he doesn't say is that it's rigged in his favor and in the favor of people like him, and against (7) ____________ people - those of us who earn money, pay income tax on it, and (8) ____________ support the country in which we live."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
genius
profile
complex
campaign
smart
paltry
fix
loss

Mr Trump has spent years on social media attacking high- (9) ____________ people for not paying enough tax. He attacked President Obama for paying a "(10) ____________ " tax rate of 20.5 per cent. Former New York mayor and Trump (11) ____________ advisor Rudy Giuliani said Mr Trump had done nothing illegal and called him a "(12) ____________ " for not paying tax and turning around his (13) ____________ -making business. He likened Trump to Winston Churchill, Britain's leader during World War II. Mr Trump tweeted: "I know our (14) ____________ tax laws better than anyone who has ever run for president and am the only one who can (15) ____________ them." When Hillary Clinton accused Mr Trump of not paying taxes, he replied: "That makes me (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is ______
     a.  in troubled again
     b.  on trouble again
     c.  on troubles again
     d.  in trouble again

2)  tax returns showed he reported over $900 million ______
     a.  in business losses
     b.  in business loses
     c.  in business lassos
     d.  in business lasses

3)  The Times suggests Trump is ______
     a.  being hypocritically
     b.  being hypocritical
     c.  being hype of critical
     d.  being hype of critically

4)  The Times wrote: "Trump is right when he says the ______"
     a.  cistern is rigged
     b.  sister is rigged
     c.  cyst turn is rigged
     d.  system is rigged

5)  regular people - those of us who earn money, pay income ______
     a.  tax in it
     b.  tax on it
     c.  tax of it
     d.  tax off it

6)  years on social media attacking high-profile people for not ______
     a.  pays enough tax
     b.  paid enough tax
     c.  pain enough tax
     d.  paying enough tax

7)  Giuliani said Mr Trump had done nothing illegal and called ______
     a.  him a "generous"
     b.  him a "genie us"
     c.  him a "genius"
     d.  him a "jeans nut"

8)  not paying tax and turning around his ______ business
     a.  gloss-making
     b.  floss-making
     c.  loss-making
     d.  lost-making

9)  I know our complex tax laws better than anyone who ______ president
     a.  has ever ran for
     b.  has ever run for
     c.  has ever ruin for
     d.  has ever rune for

10)  When Hillary Clinton accused Mr Trump of not paying taxes, he replied: "That ______."
     a.  makes me smarty
     b.  makes me smarts
     c.  makes me smarting
     d.  makes me smart

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (1) ___________________ following revelations about his tax returns. The New York Times said Mr Trump's 1995 tax (2) ___________________ reported over $900 million in business losses. This has enabled him to not pay nearly a billion dollars in income tax over the past 19 years. The Times suggests Trump is being hypocritical, as he has (3) ___________________ the tax system for being unfair. The Times wrote: "Trump is right when he says the system is rigged. What he doesn't say is that (4) ___________________ favor and in the favor of people like him, and (5) ___________________ people - those of us who earn money, pay income tax on it, and (6) ___________________ the country in which we live."

Mr Trump has spent years on social media (7) ___________________-profile people for not paying enough tax. He attacked President Obama for paying a (8) ___________________ of 20.5 per cent. Former New York mayor and Trump campaign advisor Rudy Giuliani said Mr Trump had done nothing illegal and called him (9) ___________________ not paying tax and turning around his loss-making business. He likened Trump to Winston Churchill, Britain's leader during World War II. Mr Trump tweeted: "I know (10) ___________________ laws better than anyone who has ever run for president and am the only (11) ___________________ them." When Hillary Clinton accused Mr Trump of not paying taxes, he replied: "That (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. Which newspaper made revelations about Donald Trump?
  2. How much money did Trump's tax returns say his businesses lost?
  3. For how many years has Donald Trump not paid tax?
  4. What word did Trump use to describe the tax system being unfair?
  5. What kind of people financially support the country?
  6. What kind of people has Mr Trump been attacking on social media?
  7. What was President Obama's tax rate?
  8. To whom did Rudi Giuliani liken Donald Trump?
  9. What did Mr Trump say he knew better than any presidential nominee?
  10. Who accused Mr Trump of not paying tax?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Which newspaper made revelations about Donald Trump?
a) The Baltimore Sun
b) The Los Angeles Times
c) The Washington Post
d) The New York Times

2) How much money did Trump's tax returns say his businesses lost?
a) just under $900 million
b) over $900 million
c) around $900 million
d) exactly $900 million

3) For how many years has Donald Trump not paid tax?
a) 17
b) 21
c) 19
d) 18

4) What word did Trump use to describe the tax system being unfair?
a) rigged
b) rigid
c) ragged
d) rigor

5) What kind of people financially support the country?
a) the riches 1%
b) bankers
c) regular people
d) soldiers

6) What kind of people has Mr Trump been attacking on social media?
a) minorities
b) high-profile people
c) women
d) everyone

7) What was President Obama's tax rate?
a) 20%
b) 25.5%
c) 22%
d) 20.5%

8) To whom did Rudi Giuliani liken Donald Trump?
a) Winston Churchill
b) George Washington
c) Leonardo da Vinci
d) Einstein

9) What did Mr Trump say he knew better than any presidential nominee?
a) money
b) success
c) tax laws
d) how to win popularity contests

10) Who accused Mr Trump of not paying tax?
a) his accountant
b) Hillary Clinton
c) his wife
d) Barack Obama

Role play

Role A — Donald Trump

You think Donald Trump is the biggest genius. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why there people are not geniuses. Also, tell the others which is the least intelligent of these (and why): Serena Williams, Hayao Miyazaki or J.K. Rowling.

Role B — Serena Williams

You think Serena Williams is the biggest genius. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why there people are not geniuses. Also, tell the others which is the least intelligent of these (and why): Donald Trump, Hayao Miyazaki or J.K. Rowling.

Role C — Hayao Miyazaki

You think Hayao Miyazaki is the biggest genius. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why there people are not geniuses. Also, tell the others which is the least intelligent of these (and why): Serena Williams, Donald Trump or J.K. Rowling.

Role D — J.K. Rowling

You think J.K. Rowling is the biggest genius. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why there people are not geniuses. Also, tell the others which is the least intelligent of these (and why): Serena Williams, Hayao Miyazaki or Donald Trump.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'tax'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'return'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • high
    • 20.5
    • nothing
    • during
    • better
    • fix
    • again
    • 1995
    • nearly
    • constantly
    • regular
    • support

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Donald Trump under fire for not paying tax

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'tax'?
    3. What do you think of Donald Trump?
    4. What do you think about what you read?
    5. How much will this hurt Mr Trump's bid to be president?
    6. Should Mr Trump run a country if his business lost over $900 million?
    7. Why should people trust a billionaire businessman who doesn't pay tax?
    8. In what ways is Mr Trump being hypocritical?
    9. What do you think U.S. tax payers think of Mr Trump not paying tax?
    10. What advice do you have for Mr Trump?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. Why did Mr Trump attack President Obama for paying 20.5% tax?
    3. Why is this big news if Mr Trump has not broken any laws?
    4. Is Mr Trump a genius? Why or why not?
    5. Why do we pay tax?
    6. What do you think of Mr Trump being likened to Winston Churchill?
    7. What kind of President would Donald Trump be?
    8. How would Mr Trump change America?
    9. Why is Mr Trump popular with many voters?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Trump about his tax?

     

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Republican presidential (1) ____ Donald Trump is in trouble again following revelations about his tax returns. The New York Times said Mr Trump's 1995 tax returns showed he reported over $900 million (2) ____ business losses. This has enabled him to not pay nearly a billion dollars (3) ____ income tax over the past 19 years. The Times suggests Trump is being hypocritical, (4) ____ he has constantly criticized the tax system for being unfair. The Times wrote: "Trump is right when he says the system is rigged. What he doesn't say is that it's rigged (5) ____ his favor and in the favor of people like him, and against regular people - those of us who earn money, pay income tax on it, and (6) ____ support the country in which we live."

    Mr Trump has spent years on social media attacking high-profile people for not (7) ____ enough tax. He attacked President Obama for paying a "(8) ____" tax rate of 20.5 per cent. Former New York mayor and Trump campaign advisor Rudy Giuliani said Mr Trump had done nothing illegal and called him a "genius" for not paying tax and turning around his (9) ____-making business. He (10) ____ Trump to Winston Churchill, Britain's leader during World War II. Mr Trump tweeted: "I know our complex tax laws better than anyone who has ever (11) ____ for president and am the only one who can fix (12) ____." When Hillary Clinton accused Mr Trump of not paying taxes, he replied: "That makes me smart."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     numeral     (b)     nominee     (c)     nominal     (d)     gnome    
    2. (a)     by     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    4. (a)     has     (b)     as     (c)     was     (d)     that's    
    5. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    6. (a)     finances     (b)     financial     (c)     financially     (d)     finance    
    7. (a)     paid     (b)     payment     (c)     paying     (d)     payee    
    8. (a)     pantry     (b)     plenty     (c)     paltry     (d)     pretty    
    9. (a)     losing     (b)     lost     (c)     loser     (d)     loss    
    10. (a)     likened     (b)     liked     (c)     likelihood     (d)     licked    
    11. (a)     run     (b)     vaulted     (c)     swept     (d)     finished    
    12. (a)     us     (b)     it     (c)     them     (d)     that

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Republican presidential nmeione Donald Trump
    2. following aelivrntoes about his tax returns
    3. This has lbneeda him to…
    4. Trump is being piltrchaociy
    5. he has scanloytnt criticized the tax system
    6. the system is grdgie

    Paragraph 2

    1. attacking high-eolprif people
    2. paying a "lpatyr" tax rate of 20.5 per cent
    3. called him a "nesuig"
    4. He kledein Trump to Winston Churchill
    5. I know our mexpolc tax laws
    6. Clinton cueadsc Mr Trump of not paying taxes

    Put the text back together

    (    )     Winston Churchill, Britain's leader during World War II. Mr Trump tweeted: "I know our complex tax laws

    (    )     them." When Hillary Clinton accused Mr Trump of not paying taxes, he replied: "That makes me smart."

    (    )     paying enough tax. He attacked President Obama for paying a "paltry" tax rate of 20.5 per cent. Former New York mayor

    (    )     better than anyone who has ever run for president and am the only one who can fix

    (    )     and Trump campaign advisor Rudy Giuliani said Mr Trump had done nothing illegal and called him a

    (    )     money, pay income tax on it, and financially support the country in which we live."

    (    )     say is that it's rigged in his favor and in the favor of people like him, and against regular people - those of us who earn

    (    )     Mr Trump has spent years on social media attacking high-profile people for not

    (    )     "genius" for not paying tax and turning around his loss-making business. He likened Trump to

    (    )     19 years. The Times suggests Trump is being hypocritical, as he has constantly criticized the tax

    (    )     returns. The New York Times said Mr Trump's 1995 tax returns showed he reported over $900 million in business

    (    )     system for being unfair. The Times wrote: "Trump is right when he says the system is rigged. What he doesn't

    1  )     Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is in trouble again following revelations about his tax

    (    )     losses. This has enabled him to not pay nearly a billion dollars in income tax over the past

    Put the words in the right order

    1. nominee   presidential   Republican   trouble   in   is   Trump   Donald   .
    2. enabled   him   to   not   pay   nearly   a   billion   dollars   This   has   .
    3. suggests   is   hypocritical   Times   Trump   being   The   .
    4. for   He   criticized  system   unfair  constantly   tax   being   has  the   .
    5. say   is   that   it's   rigged   in   his   favor   What   he   doesn't   .
    6. enough   high   people   paying   Attacking   profile   not   tax   -   for   .
    7. tax   'paltry'   a  paying   for  Obama   President   attacked   He   rate   .
    8. his   making   tax   around  -  Paying   turning   loss   business   and   .
    9. tax   complex   our   know   "I   tweeted:   Trump   Mr      .   laws"
    10. president   has   Better   ever   than   run   anyone   for   who   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Republican presidential nominee / nomination Donald Trump is in trouble again following revelations about his tax returned / returns. The New York Times said Mr Trump's 1995 tax returns showed he reported higher / over $900 million in / on business losses. This has enabled him to not pay nearly a billion dollars in income tax among / over the past 19 years. The Times suggests Trump is being hypocritical, as he has constant / constantly criticized the tax system for being unfair / unfairly. The Times wrote: "Trump is right when he says the system is rigged. What he doesn't say is that it's rigged on / in his favor and in the favor of people like him, and against regular people - those of us / them who earn money, pay income tax in / on it, and financially support the country in which we live."

    Mr Trump has spent years on social media attacking high-profile people for not paid / paying enough tax. He attacked President Obama for paying a "paltry" / "party" tax rate of 20.5 per cent. Former New York mayor and Trump campaign advises / advisor Rudy Giuliani said Mr Trump had done nothing / none illegal and called him a "genius" for not paying tax and turning around / abound his loss-making business. He likened Trump to Winston Churchill, Britain's leader during / while World War II. Mr Trump tweeted: "I know our complexion / complex tax laws better than anyone who has ever run / ran for president and am the only one who can fix / fixate them." When Hillary Clinton accused Mr Trump of not paying taxes, he replied: "That makes me smarty / smart."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    R_p_bl_c_n pr_s_d_nt__l n_m_n__ D_n_ld Tr_mp _s _n tr__bl_ _g__n f_ll_w_ng r_v_l_t__ns _b__t h_s t_x r_t_rns. Th_ N_w Y_rk T_m_s s__d Mr Tr_mp's 1995 t_x r_t_rns sh_w_d h_ r_p_rt_d _v_r $900 m_ll__n _n b_s_n_ss l_ss_s. Th_s h_s _n_bl_d h_m t_ n_t p_y n__rly _ b_ll__n d_ll_rs _n _nc_m_ t_x _v_r th_ p_st 19 y__rs. Th_ T_m_s s_gg_sts Tr_mp _s b__ng hyp_cr_t_c_l, _s h_ h_s c_nst_ntly cr_t_c_z_d th_ t_x syst_m f_r b__ng _nf__r. Th_ T_m_s wr_t_: "Tr_mp _s r_ght wh_n h_ s_ys th_ syst_m _s r_gg_d. Wh_t h_ d__sn't s_y _s th_t _t's r_gg_d _n h_s f_v_r _nd _n th_ f_v_r _f p__pl_ l_k_ h_m, _nd _g__nst r_g_l_r p__pl_ - th_s_ _f _s wh_ __rn m_n_y, p_y _nc_m_ t_x _n _t, _nd f_n_nc__lly s_pp_rt th_ c__ntry _n wh_ch w_ l_v_."

    Mr Tr_mp h_s sp_nt y__rs _n s_c__l m_d__ _tt_ck_ng h_gh-pr_f_l_ p__pl_ f_r n_t p_y_ng _n__gh t_x. H_ _tt_ck_d Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_ f_r p_y_ng _ "p_ltry" t_x r_t_ _f 20.5 p_r c_nt. F_rm_r N_w Y_rk m_y_r _nd Tr_mp c_mp__gn _dv_s_r R_dy G__l__n_ s__d Mr Tr_mp h_d d_n_ n_th_ng _ll_g_l _nd c_ll_d h_m _ "g_n__s" f_r n_t p_y_ng t_x _nd t_rn_ng _r__nd h_s l_ss-m_k_ng b_s_n_ss. H_ l_k_n_d Tr_mp t_ W_nst_n Ch_rch_ll, Br_t__n's l__d_r d_r_ng W_rld W_r __. Mr Tr_mp tw__t_d: "_ kn_w __r c_mpl_x t_x l_ws b_tt_r th_n _ny_n_ wh_ h_s _v_r r_n f_r pr_s_d_nt _nd _m th_ _nly _n_ wh_ c_n f_x th_m." Wh_n H_ll_ry Cl_nt_n _cc_s_d Mr Tr_mp _f n_t p_y_ng t_x_s, h_ r_pl__d: "Th_t m_k_s m_ sm_rt."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    republican presidential nominee donald trump is in trouble again following revelations about his tax returns the new york times said mr trump's 1995 tax returns showed he reported over $900 million in business losses this has enabled him to not pay nearly a billion dollars in income tax over the past 19 years the times suggests trump is being hypocritical as he has constantly criticized the tax system for being unfair the times wrote "trump is right when he says the system is rigged what he doesn't say is that it's rigged in his favor and in the favor of people like him and against regular people - those of us who earn money pay income tax on it and financially support the country in which we live"

    mr trump has spent years on social media attacking high-profile people for not paying enough tax he attacked president obama for paying a "paltry" tax rate of 205 per cent former new york mayor and trump campaign advisor rudy giuliani said mr trump had done nothing illegal and called him a "genius" for not paying tax and turning around his loss-making business he likened trump to winston churchill britain's leader during world war ii mr trump tweeted "i know our complex tax laws better than anyone who has ever run for president and am the only one who can fix them" when hillary clinton accused mr trump of not paying taxes he replied "that makes me smart"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    RepublicanpresidentialnomineeDonaldTrumpisintroubleagainfollow
    ingrevelationsabouthistaxreturns.TheNewYorkTimessaidMrTrump'
    s1995taxreturnsshowedhereportedover$900millioninbusinesslosse
    s.Thishasenabledhimtonotpaynearlyabilliondollarsinincometaxover
    thepast19years.TheTimessuggestsTrumpisbeinghypocritical,asheh
    asconstantlycriticizedthetaxsystemforbeingunfair.TheTimeswrote:
    "Trumpisrightwhenhesaysthesystemisrigged.Whathedoesn'tsayist
    hatit'sriggedinhisfavorandinthefavorofpeoplelikehim,andagainstre
    gularpeople-thoseofuswhoearnmoney,payincometaxonit,andfinanc
    iallysupportthecountryinwhichwelive."MrTrumphasspentyearsonso
    cialmediaattackinghigh-profilepeoplefornotpayingenoughtax.Heatt
    ackedPresidentObamaforpayinga"paltry"taxrateof20.5percent.For
    merNewYorkmayorandTrumpcampaignadvisorRudyGiulianisaidMrT
    rumphaddonenothingillegalandcalledhima"genius"fornotpayingtax
    andturningaroundhisloss-makingbusiness.HelikenedTrumptoWins
    tonChurchill,Britain'sleaderduringWorldWarII.MrTrumptweeted:"Ik
    nowourcomplextaxlawsbetterthananyonewhohaseverrunforpreside
    ntandamtheonlyonewhocanfixthem."WhenHillaryClintonaccusedMr
    Trumpofnotpayingtaxes,hereplied:"Thatmakesmesmart."

    Free writing

    Write about Donald Trump for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Donald Trump would make a good U.S. President. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Donald Trump's taxes. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. DONALD TRUMP: Make a poster about Donald Trump. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. PRESIDENT: Write a magazine article about Donald Trump as President of the USA. Include imaginary interviews with his supporters and critics.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Donald Trump. Ask him/her three questions about Mr Trump. Give him/her three pieces of advice on what Mr Trump needs to do from now to win the Presidency. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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