Table of Contents
Farmers in Europe are angry about money, new rules and cheap products from other countries.
Farmers in Europe are protesting. In Poland, farmers drove on a long road to Germany. In Italy, they made big fires. Farmers in Greece, the Netherlands and Belgium blocked roads.
But in France, farmers stopped blocking roads. They stopped because the government will give them €400 million. This money is to help with their problems.
In Romania farmers and truck drivers also stopped protesting. They were angry about high costs. The government will help them, too.
Farmers have different problems in different countries. But many problems are the same everywhere. Farmers’ problems are they get less money, they have higher costs, there are too many rules, big stores are too powerful, climate change, and cheap products from other countries.
Vocabulary
- Farmer – a person who owns, manages or works on a farm
- Angry – Feeling mad or upset; 😠😤
- Rule – A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law; A guide that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do
- Product – something that is made to be sold or used by people; things you buy in a shop
- Protest – an event where people come together to show strong disapproval/disagreement about something; demonstration; rally; to fight against
- Block – to stop or prevent something from happening or moving forward; to prevent/stop someone or something from passing through
- Government – the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Million – 1,000,000 = one-million
- Costs – the amount of money needed for a business or to do a particular job; money spent to operate a business
- Climate change – the fast and dangerous change in weather happening around the world
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the farmers are worried about low pay, new rules, and cheap products from other countries?
- How do you feel about the different ways the farmers are protesting?
- Do you think the farmers are complaining too much or are their problems serious?
- How can climate change maybe affect farming, and what can be done to help it?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Farmers in _____ are angry about money, new rules and cheap products from other _____.
Farmers in Europe are _____. In Poland, farmers drove on a long road to Germany. In _____, they made big fires. Farmers in Greece, the Netherlands and Belgium _____ roads.
But in France, farmers _____ blocking roads. They stopped because the government will give them €_____ million. This _____ is to help with their problems.
In Romania farmers and _____ drivers also stopped protesting. They were angry about high _____. The government will help them, _____.
Farmers have _____ problems in different countries. But many problems are the _____ everywhere. Farmers’ problems are they _____ less money, they have higher costs, there are too many _____, big stores are too powerful, _____ change, and cheap products from _____ countries.
