A car company in Italy got in trouble for lying about where their cars were made. DR Automobiles said their cars were made in Italy, but they were actually made in China. The Italian government fined them $6.4 million for this. DR Automobiles puts together cheap cars using parts made by Chinese car companies. They only do a little bit of work in Italy. The government said this lying helped the company sell more cars in Italy.

This is part of a bigger problem in Italy and the European Union (EU). They are trying to stop cars made outside of the EU from being sold there. Last month, they took away Italian flags from Fiat cars made in Morocco. The EU also wants to put taxes on Chinese electric cars because they think they are hurting the car industry in Europe. China says this is not fair and goes against the rules of international trade.

The fine that DR Automobiles got shows how important it is for companies to be honest about where their products come from. People need to know this information so they can make good choices when buying things. If companies lie, it can hurt people and make the company look bad. The car industry is very competitive, so it’s really important for companies to follow the rules and be clear about where their products come from.

DR Automobiles is going to fight against the fine and say they never said their cars were completely made in Italy. The decision on this will show if the company will get in more trouble for lying. For now, this is a reminder to all companies that they need to be honest about where their products come from. This is important so people can trust them and so they can follow the rules.

Original news source: Firm fined for selling China-made cars as Italian (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and summarize the main points in their own words. They should focus on the car company in Italy lying about where their cars were made, the fine they received, and the broader issue of cars made outside the EU being sold there.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss their opinions on whether it is important for companies to be honest about where their products come from. They should provide reasons to support their opinions and be prepared to share their group’s consensus with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns selecting vocabulary words from the article and drawing a picture to represent the word. Their partner must guess the word based on the drawing. This activity will help reinforce understanding of the article’s vocabulary.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss the pros and cons of putting taxes on Chinese electric cars, as mentioned in the article. They should consider the impact on the car industry in Europe, the fairness of the tax, and any other relevant factors. Each group will share their conclusions with the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, students will discuss and make predictions about the potential consequences for DR Automobiles and the car industry as a whole following the fine for lying about where their cars were made. They should consider factors such as public perception, sales, and industry regulations. Each pair will share their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did DR Automobiles get in trouble with the Italian government?
2. How much money did the Italian government fine DR Automobiles?
3. What kind of cars does DR Automobiles make?
4. What did the Italian government say about DR Automobiles’ lying?
5. What is the bigger problem in Italy and the European Union?
6. What did the EU do to Fiat cars made in Morocco?
7. Why does the EU want to put taxes on Chinese electric cars?
8. Why is it important for companies to be honest about where their products come from?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A car company in (1)______ got in trouble for lying about where their cars were made. DR Automobiles said their cars were made in Italy, but they were actually made in China. The Italian (2)______ (3)______ them $6.4 million for this. DR Automobiles puts together cheap cars using parts made by Chinese car (4)______. They only do a little bit of work in Italy. The government said this lying helped the company sell more cars in Italy.

This is part of a (5)______ problem in Italy and the (6)______ Union (EU). They are trying to stop cars made outside of the EU from being sold there. Last month, they took away (7)______ flags from Fiat cars made in Morocco. The EU also wants to put taxes on Chinese electric cars because they (8)______ they are hurting the car industry in Europe. China says this is not fair and goes against the rules of international trade.

The fine that DR Automobiles got (9)______ how important it is for companies to be honest about where their products come from. People need to know this (10)______ so they can make good choices when buying things. If companies lie, it can hurt (11)______ and make the company look bad. The car industry is very competitive, so it’s really important for companies to follow the rules and be (12)______ about where their products come from.

DR Automobiles is going to (13)______ against the fine and say they never said their cars were completely made in Italy. The decision on this will show if the company will get in more (14)______ for (15)______. For now, this is a (16)______ to all companies that they need to be honest about where their products come from. This is important so people can trust them and so they can follow the rules.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think about companies lying about where their products are made?
2. How would you feel if you found out that a company had lied about where their products come from?
3. Do you think it’s important for companies to be honest about where their products are made? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are the consequences of companies lying about where their products come from?
5. How do you think lying about where products are made can hurt people?
6. Do you think it’s fair for the Italian government to fine DR Automobiles for lying about where their cars are made? Why or why not?
7. What do you think about the EU’s plan to stop cars made outside of the EU from being sold there?
8. How do you think the car industry in Europe is being affected by Chinese electric cars?
9. Do you think it’s fair for the EU to put taxes on Chinese electric cars? Why or why not?
10. How important is it for you to know where products come from when you are buying something?
11. What kind of information do you think is important for consumers to know when buying a product?
12. Do you think companies should face consequences if they lie about where their products are made? Why or why not?
13. How can companies gain trust from consumers when it comes to where their products are made?
14. What do you think about DR Automobiles fighting against the fine they received for lying about where their cars are made?
15. How do you think this situation with DR Automobiles will affect their reputation in the car industry?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. fined
2. competitive
3. international
4. industry
5. government
6. dishonest
7. products
8. company
9. trade
10. electric
11. taxes
12. information
13. choices
14. important
15. trust

Meanings:
(A) Belief that someone or something is reliable or honest
(B) Very necessary or of great value
(C) Trying to be better than others
(D) Facts or details about something
(E) Made to pay money as a punishment
(F) Not telling the truth
(G) Things that are made to be sold
(H) Money paid to the government based on income, sales, etc.
(I) A group of businesses that make similar things
(J) Powered by electricity
(K) The buying and selling of goods between countries
(L) A business that sells goods or services
(M) Involving more than one country
(N) The group of people who run a country
(O) The act of picking between different options
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did DR Automobiles get in trouble for?
(a) Selling cars in Italy
(b) Making cars in China
(c) Putting together cheap cars
(d) Lying about where their cars were made

2. How much was DR Automobiles fined by the Italian government?
(a) $1 million
(b) $10 million
(c) $100,000
(d) $6.4 million

3. What did the Italian government say about DR Automobiles’ lying?
(a) It didn’t affect the company’s sales
(b) It helped the company sell more cars in Italy
(c) It made the company look good
(d) It was not a big deal

4. What is the European Union (EU) trying to stop?
(a) Cars made inside the EU from being sold there
(b) Cars made in Italy from being sold outside of Italy
(c) Cars made outside of the EU from being sold there
(d) Cars made in China from being sold in Italy

5. What did the EU do to Fiat cars made in Morocco?
(a) Took away Italian flags from them
(b) Put taxes on them
(c) Banned them from being sold in the EU
(d) Fined Fiat for lying about where their cars were made

6. Why does the EU want to put taxes on Chinese electric cars?
(a) They think it hurts the car industry in Europe
(b) They want to encourage people to buy European cars
(c) They want to support the Chinese car industry
(d) They want to make money from the taxes

7. Why is it important for companies to be honest about where their products come from?
(a) So the company can make more money
(b) So people can make good choices when buying things
(c) So the company can sell more cars
(d) So the government can fine the company

8. What will the decision on DR Automobiles’ fight against the fine show?
(a) If the company will be forgiven for lying
(b) If the company will have to pay a higher fine
(c) If the company will get in more trouble for lying
(d) If the company will be allowed to continue lying

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. DR Automobiles plans to accept the fine and admit that they did claim their cars were entirely made in Italy.
2. Italy and the European Union are trying to prevent cars made outside of the EU from being sold there.
3. False Version:
4. The EU is considering imposing taxes on Chinese electric cars, as they believe these cars are harming the European car industry.
5. DR Automobiles assembles expensive cars using parts made by Chinese car companies, with most of the work done in Italy.
6. A car company in Italy was fined $6.4 million for lying about where their cars were made.
7. Last month, Italian flags were added to Fiat cars made in Morocco as part of this effort.
8. The Italian government imposed the fine because they believed the company’s transparency helped them sell more cars in Italy.
9. The company, DR Automobiles, claimed their cars were made in Italy, but they were actually made in China.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why did the Italian government fine DR Automobiles?
2. What did DR Automobiles say about where their cars were made?
3. Why is the European Union trying to stop cars made outside of the EU from being sold there?
4. What does the EU want to do with Chinese electric cars?
5. Why is it important for companies to be honest about where their products come from?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did DR Automobiles get in trouble with the Italian government?
DR Automobiles got in trouble with the Italian government because they lied about where their cars were made.

2. How much money did the Italian government fine DR Automobiles?
The Italian government fined DR Automobiles $6.4 million.

3. What kind of cars does DR Automobiles make?
DR Automobiles makes cheap cars using parts made by Chinese car companies.

4. What did the Italian government say about DR Automobiles’ lying?
The Italian government said that DR Automobiles’ lying helped the company sell more cars in Italy.

5. What is the bigger problem in Italy and the European Union?
The bigger problem in Italy and the European Union is the issue of cars made outside of the EU being sold there.

6. What did the EU do to Fiat cars made in Morocco?
The EU took away Italian flags from Fiat cars made in Morocco.

7. Why does the EU want to put taxes on Chinese electric cars?
The EU wants to put taxes on Chinese electric cars because they believe it is hurting the car industry in Europe.

8. Why is it important for companies to be honest about where their products come from?
It is important for companies to be honest about where their products come from so that people can make informed choices when buying things and so that companies can follow the rules.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Italy
(2) government
(3) fined
(4) companies
(5) bigger
(6) European
(7) Italian
(8) think
(9) shows
(10) information
(11) people
(12) clear
(13) fight
(14) trouble
(15) lying
(16) reminder
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. fined
Answer: (E) Made to pay money as a punishment

2. competitive
Answer: (C) Trying to be better than others

3. international
Answer: (M) Involving more than one country

4. industry
Answer: (I) A group of businesses that make similar things

5. government
Answer: (N) The group of people who run a country

6. dishonest
Answer: (F) Not telling the truth

7. products
Answer: (G) Things that are made to be sold

8. company
Answer: (L) A business that sells goods or services

9. trade
Answer: (K) The buying and selling of goods between countries

10. electric
Answer: (J) Powered by electricity

11. taxes
Answer: (H) Money paid to the government based on income, sales, etc.

12. information
Answer: (D) Facts or details about something

13. choices
Answer: (O) The act of picking between different options

14. important
Answer: (B) Very necessary or of great value

15. trust
Answer: (A) Belief that someone or something is reliable or honest
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did DR Automobiles get in trouble for?
Answer: (d) Lying about where their cars were made

2. How much was DR Automobiles fined by the Italian government?
Answer: (d) $6.4 million

3. What did the Italian government say about DR Automobiles’ lying?
Answer: (b) It helped the company sell more cars in Italy

4. What is the European Union (EU) trying to stop?
Answer: (c) Cars made outside of the EU from being sold there

5. What did the EU do to Fiat cars made in Morocco?
Answer: (a) Took away Italian flags from them

6. Why does the EU want to put taxes on Chinese electric cars?
Answer: (a) They think it hurts the car industry in Europe

7. Why is it important for companies to be honest about where their products come from?
Answer: (b) So people can make good choices when buying things

8. What will the decision on DR Automobiles’ fight against the fine show?
Answer: (c) If the company will get in more trouble for lying
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. DR Automobiles plans to accept the fine and admit that they did claim their cars were entirely made in Italy. (Answer: False)
2. Italy and the European Union are trying to prevent cars made outside of the EU from being sold there. (Answer: True)
3. False Version: (Answer: False)
4. The EU is considering imposing taxes on Chinese electric cars, as they believe these cars are harming the European car industry. (Answer: True)
5. DR Automobiles assembles expensive cars using parts made by Chinese car companies, with most of the work done in Italy. (Answer: False)
6. A car company in Italy was fined $6.4 million for lying about where their cars were made. (Answer: True)
7. Last month, Italian flags were added to Fiat cars made in Morocco as part of this effort. (Answer: False)
8. The Italian government imposed the fine because they believed the company’s transparency helped them sell more cars in Italy. (Answer: False)
9. The company, DR Automobiles, claimed their cars were made in Italy, but they were actually made in China. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧