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Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, won the recent election. He will stay the president of Russia until 2030.
Putin got 87% of the votes.
Some countries criticized the Russian election.
The British said Putin stops people who don’t agree with him. They said Putin controls the news and removes people who are against him.
The US said the election was not fair. They said some people who don’t like Putin were put in jail or could not run in the election.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not congratulate Putin. Germany also does not trust the election in Russia.
After winning, Putin gave a speech at a celebration. He knew some countries would not like the election. He also celebrated 10 years of Russia controlling Crimea.
Some people say that government workers and students had to go to the celebration.
Some countries, like China, North Korea and Iran, congratulated Putin.
Vocabulary
- President – A person who is in charge of a country or a company; the top person/leader of a company or country
- Recent – not long ago;
- Election – a process or event in which people vote to choose a leader or winner
- Stay – to continue; to remain;
- Vote – a choice that someone makes in an election or meeting especially by writing a mark on an official paper or by raising their hand; an act of giving or registering a vote; the official choice that you make in an election; the result of voting;
- Criticize – to judge; to find mistakes or problems with something; to complain or say bad things about
- British – Something or someone from the United Kingdom (UK)
- Agree – To have the same opinion or feeling as someone else; to say “yes” to something
- Control – to have power over something; to rule; to regulate
- Against – in opposition to something; to fight; to resist; to try to stop; the opposite of support
- Fair – to follow or go by the rules or standards; honorable; proper; agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable;
- Jail – a place where people are held/kept as punishment for a crime; a building for bad people
- Run in an election – To try to get elected in an election; to promote yourself and try to win an election;
- Chancellor – The main leader in some countries, like a president but with a different title
- Congratulate – To tell someone you’re happy for their success; to tell someone “good job”
- Trust – To believe/think that someone or something is good and honest
- Speech – When someone talks to a group of people; a message that someone reads or tells to a group of people
- Celebration – A big happy party or event
- Celebrate – To do something special or enjoyable for an important event; to party
- 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
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think some countries criticized the election?
- What do you think about the idea that Putin controls the news and removes people against him? Do you think your government controls the news in your country?
- Why do you think some countries congratulated Putin on his win and other countries did not?
- Why do you think government workers and students had to go to the celebration?
- 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
Vladimir Putin, the _____ of Russia, won the recent election. He will stay the president of Russia until _____.
Putin got _____% of the votes.
Some countries criticized the Russian _____.
The British said Putin stops _____ who don’t agree with him. They said Putin _____ the news and removes people who are _____ him.
The US said the election _____ not fair. They said some people who don’t like Putin _____ put in jail or could not run in the election.
_____ Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not congratulate Putin. Germany also does not _____ the election in Russia.
After winning, Putin _____ a speech at a celebration. He knew some countries _____ not like the election. He also celebrated 10 years of Russia _____ Crimea.
Some people say that _____ workers and students had to go to the _____.
Some countries, like China, North Korea and Iran, _____ Putin.
