venezuela mourns president hugo chavez (teacher handout) · 2013. 3. 21. · hugo chavez dreamed of...
TRANSCRIPT
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Venezuela Mourns President Hugo Chavez (Teacher Handout)
1. Story
Venezuelans are remembering President Hugo Chavez, who died after a heart attack
earlier this week. The president had not been seen in public since December. For the past two
years, Hugo Chavez battled pelvic cancer. He returned to Venezuela last month following
medical treatment in Cuba. He was unable to attend swearing-in ceremonies for another term in
office in January. On Tuesday, Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced the death
of President Chavez.
"We're going to miss him until the last day of our lives but we carry on his legacy here
and we will carry it on with strength. May our people know that the democratic, revolutionary,
anti-imperialist and socialist legacy of our Comandante is carried on with firmness, with absolute
loyalty.''
Mr. Maduro said the leader’s body will be treated so people can see it for many years to
come. He accused Venezuela’s enemies of attacking the president with cancer. He did not say
how that could have been done.
Hugo Chavez dreamed of playing major league baseball in the United States, but instead
chose to join the Venezuelan army. He was jailed in 1992 for leading an unsuccessful attempt to
oust then-president Carlos Andres Perez. In 1998, Hugo Chavez was himself elected president
after promising to end poverty and corruption.
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To help finance social programs, he nationalized, or seized control of, major businesses,
including oil companies. Millions of Venezuelans loved him for using the country’s oil wealth to
provide low-cost food, free medical care and other programs. However, the United States and
much of Latin America criticized President Chavez for his social policies and for nationalizing
companies. They also disapproved of his ties with Cuba, Iran and Libya.
Observers are wondering what will happen to relations between Venezuela and the
United States in the coming months. After the Venezuelan leader’s death, President Obama said
the United States was re-confirming its support for the Venezuelan people. President Chavez
repeatedly accused the United States of working against his socialist revolution. In 2002, the
Bush administration supported an effort to oust the Venezuelan leader. The overthrow attempt
failed.
Over the years, Venezuela has remained a major supplier of oil to the United States. It
also provides free heating oil to poor Americans through a non-profit group. Philip Brenner is
with American University in Washington. He says relations between the nations would be better
if the United States recognized Venezuela’s actions and not symbolic speech.
"I think the important thing to remember about Venezuela is that they have never even
threatened to cut off our oil. Venezuela has done nothing to actually harm U.S. interests except
to challenge U.S. dominance."
Shortly after the death of President Chavez, Vice President Maduro announced the
expulsion of two American diplomats. He said they were planning to weaken the Venezuelan
government. The United States has rejected his claim.
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2. Vocabulary
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Question #1
Correct Choice
X Giving your money to your children when you die
Eating an ice-cream sandwich
Losing money on the stock market
Moving to another country with no furniture
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Question #2
Correct Choice
X True
False
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Question #3
Correct Choice
accuse say someone did wrong
oust force someone out
nationalize state takes control
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3. Comprehension
Question #1
Correct Choice
Hugo Chavez was elected president of Venezuela
Venezuela is cutting off oil supply to the U.S.
President Chavez died of cancer
X Hugo Chavez is being remembered by many
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Question #2
Correct Choice
X True
False
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Question #3
Correct Choice
Played major league baseball
Was president of Cuba
X Used money from oil to help people
Made great advancements in solar power
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4. Listening
Question #1
Read: “For the past two years, Hugo Chavez battled pelvic cancer. He returned to Venezuela last
month following medical treatment in Cuba.”
Correct Choice
True
X False
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Question #2
Read: “Millions of Venezuelans loved him for using the country’s oil wealth to provide low-cost
food, free medical care and other programs.”
Correct Choice
X Free medical care
X Low-priced food
Cheap gas
Free tacos
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Question #3
Read: “Over the years, Venezuela has remained a major supplier of oil to the United States.”
Correct Choice
True
X False