Spain's Government Works to Align Ministers' Differing Accounts
Spain's government has a problem. Two ministers gave different stories about the same event.
The ministers are Margarita Robles and Fernando Marlaska. Robles is the Defence Minister. Marlaska is the Interior Minister.
Their stories do not match. This made a division inside the government.
Moncloa is the name for Spain's government office. Moncloa gave an order.
The order says the two versions must become compatible. This means they must not be different anymore.
The goal is to stop the division. The government wants to look united.
People are asking a simple question: which minister told the truth?
This story shows tension inside the Spanish government.
Vocabulary6 words
- Defence Minister
- the government person who controls the army
- Interior Minister
- the government person who controls the police
- division
- when people do not agree; a split
- order
- when someone tells others what they must do
- compatible
- able to work together without problems
- united
- together as one; not divided
Quiz
Answer key
1. Robles and Marlaska 2. To make the two versions compatible 3. To stop division in the government
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Spain's government has a problem. Two ministers gave different _____ about the same event.
The ministers are Margarita Robles and Fernando Marlaska. Robles is the _____ Minister.
Their stories do not match. This made a _____ inside the government.
Moncloa is the name for Spain's government office. Moncloa gave an _____.
The order says the two versions must become _____.
The goal is to stop the division. The government wants to look _____.
People are asking a simple question: which minister told the _____?