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Innovation in Learning
A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
The UK election
Lesson code: N9HD-D5FD-3CNE UPPER-INTERMEDIATE+
1 Warm-up
What do you know about the recent UK election and UK political parties?
2 Key election vocabulary
Match the words on the left to the definitions on the right.
1. a snap election a. an activity in which people ask how you voted when you leave a
polling station
2. an exit poll b. an official area of country that elects a representative to a parliament
3. a seat c. an official position as a member of parliament
4. a majority d. a plan to achieve something over a period of time
5. a mandate e. a situation where no party wins enough seats to get control
6. a strategy f. authority given to someone to do something
7. a hung parliament g. a vote that is held earlier than expected
8. a constituency h. more than half of the votes cast in an election
3 Find the information
You are going to read an article about the result of the recent UK general election. Guess the answers
to the questions below and then check your answers by reading the text on the next page.
1. How many people were entitled to vote in the UK general election?
a. 36.7 million b. 46.8 million c. 50.9 million
2. How many MPs (Members of Parliament) can be elected to the UK parliament?
a. 650 b. 700 c. 750
3. What percentage of the vote did the Labour Party win?
a. 37.3% b. 38.2% c. 40.0%
4. How much did the pound fall by when the exit poll was announced?
a. 0.5% b. 2% c. 4%
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The UK election
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
Conservatives lose majority in UK
election
9th of June 2017
1 Britain's Conservative party have lost their government to continue Brexit talks without
majority after the snap general election, resulting rethinking its strategy.
in a hung parliament.
7 The EU Budget Commissioner told German radio
2 The prime minister, Theresa May, wants to strike he was unsure if Brexit talks could start later this
a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), month as planned. He said that discussions with a
the largest party in Northern Ireland. She visited UK negotiating partner who was weak might lead
Buckingham Palace on Friday to request the to a bad outcome.
Queen's permission to form a government,
8 When the election exit poll was announced, the
despite a growing backlash from some of her own
pound immediately dropped by 2% as investors
MPs (Members of Parliament).
took the position that a hung parliament was a
3 The leader of Labour, (who are the main possible outcome, wrote BBC's Economics Editor
opposition party), Jeremy Corbyn, has urged her Kamal Ahmed. The fall was because the
to resign, adding that he was `ready to serve.' government's direction on Brexit is now less
Senior Conservatives have confirmed that she has certain, and vital negotiations will become even
no intention of resigning, and she has reinforced more difficult.
the idea that her party will "ensure" stability in the
9 Nervousness in financial markets is likely to
UK.
increase, as investors could decide to move their
4 The turnout for the election was the highest in 25 money to more attractive places, such as the
years, at around 70% of the 46.8 million that were Eurozone. Growth has picked up here and political
entitled to vote. A total of 650 Westminster MPs risk has reduced, says Ahmed.
have been elected, and 326 seats were needed to 10 The other parties involved in the election had
get an overall majority. The Conservatives won mixed fortunes. The DUP, who now have ten
318 seats, Labour 262. The Conservatives won seats in parliament, are now in a position to ask
42.4% of the vote, Labour 40.0%, the Liberal for a boost to public spending in Northern Ireland,
Democrats 7.4%, the Scottish National Party and will also seek assurance that they won't be
(SNP) 3.0%, UKIP 1.8% and the Green Party 1.6%. treated any differently to the rest of the UK when
Brexit negotiations start.
5 The result is seen as humiliating for the PM, who
called the snap general election with the hope of 11 The Liberal Democrats, (who are traditionally the
gaining a strong personal mandate from the third largest party in the UK), won 12 seats, three
British public. However, the high turnout among more than in the last general election. However,
young voters and a positive campaign fought by their former leader, Nick Clegg, lost his seat in his
Jeremy Corbyn at rallies up and down the country constituency.
deprived the Conservatives of their majority.
12 The UK Independence party (UKIP), who are the
6 Experts are now saying that Britain's exit from the party that pushed for Brexit, did not win any seats.
EU has been plunged into uncertainty. Theresa Their leader, Paul Nutall, resigned as a result.
May did not secure the mandate she wanted for
her Brexit plan, making it difficult for the Sources: BBC News, The Guardian, The Telegraph
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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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lingua house
TM
The UK election
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
4 Checking understanding
Put T (true) or F (false) next to each statement. Say why the 'false' statements are not true.
1. The Conservative Party will form a government with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party.
2. The election turnout was higher than it was at the last general election.
3. Not many young people voted.
4. The Green Party won a large share of the vote.
5. The Scottish National Party were unhappy with the number of seats they won.
6. The UK Independence Party's leader will continue to do his job.
5 Find the words
Find a word or phrase in the article which means ...
1. a strong reaction against a recent event (noun, P.2):
2. embarrassing (adj., P.5):
3. public meetings of large groups of people that share the same opinion (noun - plural, P.5):
4. took something pleasant away from someone (verb - ed, P.5):
5. result of an action (noun, P.7):
6. allowed to do something (verb - past participle form, P.4):
7. a feeling of anxiety (noun - uncountable, P.9):
8. an increase in amount (noun, P.10)
6 Collocations
Match the verbs on the left to the words on the right to form collocations from the text.
1. strike a. a (big) defeat
2. form b. a deal
3. request c. a government
4. call d. an election
5. suffer e. assurance
6. seek f. permission
Now make your own sentences using the phrases.
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The UK election
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
7 Talking point
Discuss any of the questions below in pairs or small groups.
1. Has a coalition government ever been formed in your country? If so, what did people think about it?
2. Do you think that coalition governments are a good or a bad idea? Why?
3. Do you think that the result of the UK election is positive or negative for Europe? Why?
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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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lingua house
TM
The UK election - Key
Innovation in Learning
A A A A BREAKING NEWS ENGLISH
1- Warm-up
Encourage a short discussion.
2- Key election vocabulary
Give examples of each word where necessary. Students can work alone and check in pairs.
1. g 2. a 3. c 4. h 5. f 6. d 7. e 8. b
3- Find the information
Students can work alone and check in pairs.
1. b 2. a 3. c 4. b
4- Checking understanding
Students can work alone and check in pairs. Have students scan the article quickly. Go through the answers.
1. T
2. T - It was the highest for 25 years.
3. F - There was a high turnout among young people.
4. F - They only won a small share of the vote - 1.6%
5. T
6. F - He has resigned after his party failed to win any seats at the election.
5- Find the words
Students can work in pairs and check with the teacher.
1. a backlash 2. humiliating 3. rallies 4. deprived
5. outcome 6. entitled 7. nervousness 8. a boost
6- Collocations
1. b 2. c 3. f 4. d 5. a 6. e
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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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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