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Saturday 18 August 2012

Spanish Robin Hood?


~Read the text and then use the words below to fill the gaps.

A mayor in a small Spanish town has become a hero (1) ____ helping steal food from supermarkets to give to the poor. The modern-(2) ____  Robin Hood is Juan Manuel Sanchez Gordillo, 59, the elected leader of the southern town of Marinaleda in Andalusia. Mayor Gordillo has (3) ____ from prosecution under Andalusian law and so can break the law without being arrested. He has so far (4) ____ several raids on supermarkets to hand out the stolen food to poor families. Unfortunately, those helping him are not immune from prosecution and seven have been arrested for (5) ____. Gordillo has been mayor for 30 years and his recent exploits have seen his popularity skyrocket, with crowds gathering to see his food (6) ____.
Many Spaniards are (7) ____ severe economic conditions. A quarter of Spain's workforce is jobless and austerity measures mean many now live (8) ____ poverty. Things are even worse in Andalusia where unemployment is over 30 per cent. Mr Gordillo defended his role in stealing food for the (9) ____ well-off. He said: "There are people who don't have enough to eat. In the 21st century, this is an (10) ____ disgrace." Spain's conservative government has criticised Gordillo, accusing him of (11) ____ part in publicity stunts to boost his own popularity. The mayor retaliated by saying he would happily accept being arrested. He is currently (12) ____ a three-week anti-austerity protest march to Spain's capital Madrid.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1.(a)ante(b)post(c)subsequent(d)after
2.(a)day(b)week(c)month(d)year
3.(a)immunizations(b)immunity(c)immune(d)immunizes
4.(a)composed(b)written(c)orchestrated(d)played
5.(a)cleft(b)bereft(c)theft(d)deft
6.(a)grubs(b)grabs(c)grids(d)grins
7.(a)heading(b)mouthing(c)nosing(d)facing
8.(a)in(b)up(c)at(d)on
9.(a)small(b)less(c)poor(d)more
10.(a)arrested(b)austerity(c)absolved(d)absolute
11.(a)raking(b)faking(c)taking(d)making
12.(a)leading(b)leads(c)leaders(dled


True or False?
a.The people in a small town are angry their mayor is stealing food.T / F
b.The mayor cannot be arrested for stealing the food.T / F
c.The mayor only organizes the stealing but does not actually steal it.T / F
d.The mayor said prices have skyrocketed for 30 years.T / F
e.Around 25% of Spain's workforce is unemployed.T / F
f.Unemployment in the mayor's region is double the national average.T / F
g.The mayor said he understood his actions were a disgrace.
T / F
h.The mayor is now on a three-week protest walk to Madrid.T / F

Synonym 
Match

1.modern-daya.robbery
2immunityb.shame
3.orchestratedc.experiencing
4.theftd.exemption
5.exploitse.total
6.facingf.contemporary
7.povertyg.hit back
8.absoluteh.deeds
9.disgracei.arranged
10.retaliatedj.destitution



Source: Breaking news English.

Follow link for full lesson plan and answers:

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1208/120817-robin_hood.html








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