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Innovation in Learning
A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
Fidel Castro
Lesson code: NFHA-95FA-C53I UPPER INTERMEDIATE
1 Warm-up
What do you know about Fidel Castro?
2 Key words
Match the terms on the left to the definitions on the right.
1. iconic a. a country that gives help and support to another, often during a war
2. a bulletin b. a member of an unofficial military group that attacks government forces
3. a slogan c. an easy to remember phrase that is used by a group to show their beliefs
4. defy d. a person who was not elected and uses force to stay in power
5. cremate e. a short news programme or statement about something that just happened
6. ashes f. the grey powder that is left when a dead person's body has been burned
7. a dictator g. to burn a dead person's body as part of a ceremony
8. a guerrilla h. to refuse to obey someone or something
9. an ally i. very famous and representing a particular idea or time
3 Find the information
You are going to read an article about the life and death of Fidel Castro. Choose the best answers for
the questions below and then scan the text on page three to check.
1. How old was Castro when he died?
a. 90 b. 95 c. 105
2. Who announced his death on state television?
a. his eldest son
b. his brother
c. the First Vice President
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Fidel Castro
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
3. How many times did people reportedly try to kill him but failed?
a. 556 b. 638 c. 721
4. Where did he give a rare public speech?
a. at a Communist party meeting
b. at his recent birthday celebrations
c. at a trade relations conference
5. Who described Fidel Castro as 'a reliable and sincere friend'?
a. the French president Francois Hollande
b. the Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto
c. the Russian president Vladimir Putin
6. What has Cuba been doing to try to help its citizens?
a. investing in new technologies
b. getting more investment into the country
c. creating economic links with other Caribbean countries
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Fidel Castro
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
Fidel Castro Dies
5 December 2016
1 Fidel Castro, Cuba's former president and one of 90," adding that this was "something I'd never
the world's most iconic leaders, died on the 25th imagined. Soon I'll be like all the others," he said,
of November, aged 90. hinting that his "turn" to pass away was coming.
Some people were shocked at the news. "I always
2 Raul Castro, his younger brother and the current said it couldn't be," said one woman, a
president, announced the news on state television government employee. "Even though they said it
in an unexpected late night bulletin. "The now, I say it can't be."
commander in chief of the Cuban revolution died
at 22:29 hours this evening," he said. He ended 7 Castro was a thorn in the side of Washington
the broadcast by shouting the revolutionary during the Cold War. The military leader Fulgencio
slogan: "Towards victory, always!" Batista was overthrown in 1959 by Castro's small
army of guerrilla soldiers, which gained him a lot
3 Castro was cremated and an official period of of support. After taking power, he declared that
mourning was declared on the island for nine the country should be an ally of the Soviet Union.
days. His ashes were taken across the country
and the funeral took place in the south-eastern 8 Even with the threat of an invasion from the US
city of Santiago de Cuba on the 4th of December. and an economic embargo on the island, Castro
managed to continue his revolution. He created a
4 Born on the 13th of August 1926, Castro was the one-party state, executing hundreds of supporters
longest serving non-royal leader of the 20th of the Batista government. Thousands of Cubans
century. His dramatic history makes his long life fled the country, as political opponents were put in
even more remarkable. He brought down the prison and the independent media were silenced.
government in Cuba in 1959, starting a
Communist revolution. He defied the US for 9 World leaders were quick to pay their tributes to
decades and apparently survived 638 Castro. Russian President Vladimir Putin
assassination plots, many of which were planned described him as a "reliable and sincere friend".
by the CIA. He gave Cuba back to the people, his French President Francois Hollande said he was a
supporters said, but critics called him a dictator. representation of the revolution's "hopes" and its
later "disappointments". But Donald Trump, who
5 Even after his death, the Cuban leader divided has threatened to reverse Obama's work to build
opinion. In Havana, flags were at half-mast, and ties with Cuba, simply tweeted: "Fidel Castro is
TV and radio stations only broadcast about Fidel's dead!"
life. The vibrant Cuban capital turned down the
volume of salsa beats that normally fill its streets 10 People are now wondering what Cuba's political
day and night. In contrast, in some parts of Miami direction will be. Raul Castro has already been
where there is a large Cuban community, people implementing economic changes to attract
celebrated Castro's death by banging pots and investment and ease the restrictions on average
pans. Cubans. Castro's death is unlikely to overturn the
work done to strengthen ties between Cuba and
6 Castro had practically retired from political life in the US, and the country will probably keep its
recent years, but occasionally wrote a newspaper one-party political system.
column. He gave a rare speech in April at the
Communist Party congress saying: "I'll soon be Sources: BBC, The Guardian
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Fidel Castro
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
4 Checking understanding
Read the text again and put T (True) or F (False) next to each statement below. Explain why the `False'
answers are false.
1. Raul Castro is to become the president of Cuba after Fidel's death.
2. Castro is going to be buried in nine days time.
3. The CIA tried to assassinate Castro many times.
4. Castro was still very politically active before his death.
5. Some people didn't believe that Castro could die.
6. The country will develop a new political system after Castro's death.
5 Find the words
Find a word or phrase in the text which means ...
1. a length of time that an authority gives for people to show their sadness for a dead person (phrase,
P.3):
2. secret plans to kill someone famous or important (collocation - plural , P.4):
3. partially lowered to show respect for someone who has died (noun phrase , P.5):
4. almost (adverb, P.6):
5. something or someone that causes continuous problems (idiom, P.7):
6. a legal order to stop trading with an area or country (collocation, P.8):
6 Collocations
Put the collocations from the text into the sentences below in the correct form.
attract investment build ties divide opinion ease restrictions
gain support implement changes pay tribute
1. People around the world to the president for the charitable work he had done.
2. The country wants to on trade so that its economy can grow.
3. The revolution as many people were dissatisfied with the government.
4. The president had worked hard to with other nations to strengthen political
relationships.
5. The business because it had a good product.
6. The leader will continue to even after his death.
7. It is not easy to . There are many factors that can make this difficult for a new prime
minister.
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Fidel Castro
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
7 Talking point
Discuss any of the questions below in pairs or groups.
1. Would you like to visit Cuba? Why/why not?
2. What do you think will change in Cuba after Castro's death?
3. What characteristics do you think a great leader should have?
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Fidel Castro - Key
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
1- Warm-up
Encourage a short discussion.
2- Key words
Give examples of each word where necessary. Students can work alone and check in pairs.
1. i 2. e 3. c 4. h 5. g 6. f 7. d 8. b 9. a
3- Find the information
Students can work alone and check in pairs. Have students scan the article quickly. Go through the answers.
1. a 2. b 3. b 4. a 5. c 6. b
4- Checking understanding
1. F - He is already the president of Cuba.
2. F - His body has already been cremated.
3. T
4. F - He had practically retired.
5. T
6. F - They are unlikely to change their one-party system.
5- Find the words
1. an official period of mourning 2. assassination plots 3. at half-mast
4. practically 5. a thorn in the side 6. an economic embargo
6- Collocations
1. paid tribute 2. ease restrictions 3. gained support 4. build ties
5. attracted investment 6. divide opinion 7. implement changes
7- Talking point
Monitor the activity. Make a note of any typical errors and write up useful language on the board.
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i
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You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex
Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
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