The Reading / Listening - Level 1

The BBC says the bank HSBC helped rich people hide money to not pay tax. The BBC looked at the details of thousands of bank accounts, worth $128 billion. An HSBC computer engineer in Geneva stole the details of more than 100,000 HSBC customers. The information shows that HSBC helped rich customers to hide their money from the taxman. A French banking team said 99.8% of French citizens on the list were probably hiding money.

HSBC said the bank has changed and it now has policies to stop rich people from hiding their money. A newspaper said HSBC knows it did not follow the law. A woman who complained when the bank did not change lost her job. Her job was to make sure HSBC followed the law. The BBC said that she complained so the bank fired her. The BBC said HSBC is now in court in the USA, France, Belgium and Argentina.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-31248913
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/hsbc-helped-rich-customers-dodge-tax-with-secret-swiss-bank-accounts-reports-says-10032594.html
  • http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/08/hsbc-files-expose-swiss-bank-clients-dodge-taxes-hide-millions


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

The BBC says the bank HSBC helped rich

a.

engineer

2.

the details of thousands of

b.

of French citizens

3.

computer

c.

100,000 HSBC customers

4.

stole the details of more than

d.

people hide money

5.

hide their money

e.

list

6.

A French banking

f.

bank accounts

7.

99.8%

g.

team

8.

on the

h.

from the taxman


MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

HSBC said the bank

a.

follow the law

2.

t now has policies to

b.

court in the USA

3.

HSBC knows it did not

c.

her job

4.

A woman who

d.

has changed

5.

lost

e.

the bank fired her

6.

Her job was to make

f.

complained

7.

she complained so

g.

stop rich people

8.

HSBC is now in

h.

sure

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The BBC says the bank HSBC (1) ___________________ hide money (2) ___________________. The BBC looked at the details of thousands of bank accounts, (3) ___________________. An HSBC computer engineer in Geneva (4) ___________________ of more than 100,000 HSBC customers. The information shows that HSBC helped rich customers (5) ___________________ money from the taxman. A French banking team said 99.8% of French citizens on the (6) ___________________ hiding money.

HSBC said the bank has changed (7) ___________________ policies to stop rich people from hiding their money. A newspaper said HSBC knows it (8) ___________________ the law. A woman who complained when the bank did not change (9) ___________________. Her job was (10) ___________________ HSBC followed the law. The BBC said that she complained so the (11) ___________________. The BBC said HSBC (12) ___________________ the USA, France, Belgium and Argentina.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheBBCsaysthebankHSBChelpedrichpeoplehidemoneytonotpaytax
.TheBBClookedatthedetailsofthousandsofbankaccounts,worth$128
billion.AnHSBCcomputerengineerinGenevastolethedetailsofmoreth
an100,000HSBCcustomers.TheinformationshowsthatHSBChelpedri
chcustomerstohidetheirmoneyfromthetaxman.AFrenchbankingtea
msaid99.8%ofFrenchcitizensonthelistwereprobablyhidingmoney.H
SBCsaidthebankhaschangedanditnowhaspoliciestostoprichpeoplefr
omhidingtheirmoney.AnewspapersaidHSBCknowsitdidnotfollowthe
law.Awomanwhocomplainedwhenthebankdidnotchangelostherjob.
HerjobwastomakesureHSBCfollowedthelaw.TheBBCsaidthatsheco
mplainedsothebankfiredher.TheBBCsaidHSBCisnowincourtintheUS
A,France,BelgiumandArgentina.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about banks for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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