An Australian politician changed his name to Austin Trump. He did this to show he is unhappy with the government in Western Australia. His real name is Ben Dawkins, but now he is called “Aussie Trump” on the official website. He thinks the government is not doing a good job.

Dawkins uses social media to share his thoughts. He changed his account name to “Hon. Aussie Trump MLC.” He tells people to vote against the Labor Party. He likes some ideas from Donald Trump, especially about energy.

Dawkins wants to talk to Donald Trump. He hopes Trump will support him. This shows how politicians sometimes use big actions to get noticed. It also shows how people in one country can be influenced by leaders from another country.

Original news source: Australian politician changes his name to ‘Aussie Trump’ (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will act out the main ideas from the article without speaking while the rest of the class guesses what they are. For example, one student can act out changing a name or using social media.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Have students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates if they think changing a name for political reasons is a good idea or not. They can tally the responses and share the results with the class.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Students will think about how they feel about politicians using social media. They will first think individually, then pair up to discuss their thoughts, and finally share their ideas with the class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a catchy headline for the article. They can be creative and use humor or puns, and then share their headlines with the class.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (such as “politician,” “government,” “influence”) and have students draw pictures to represent these words. Other students will guess the word based on the drawing.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the real name of the Australian politician who changed his name?
2. Why did he change his name to Austin Trump?
3. What does Dawkins think about the government in Western Australia?
4. What name does he use on his social media account?
5. Which political party does Dawkins want people to vote against?
6. What does Dawkins like about Donald Trump?
7. Why does Dawkins want to talk to Donald Trump?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

An Australian (1)______ changed his name to Austin Trump. He did this to (2)______ he is unhappy with the government in Western Australia. His (3)______ name is Ben Dawkins, but now he is called “Aussie Trump” on the official website. He thinks the government is not (4)______ a (5)______ job.

Dawkins uses social media to share his thoughts. He changed his (6)______ name to “Hon. Aussie (7)______ MLC.” He (8)______ people to vote against the Labor Party. He likes some (9)______ from Donald Trump, especially about energy.

Dawkins wants to talk to Donald Trump. He hopes Trump will support him. This (10)______ how politicians sometimes use big actions to get noticed. It also shows how (11)______ in one country can be (12)______ by leaders from another country.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a politician?
2. Do you think it is good for someone to change their name for a reason? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you were unhappy with your government?
4. Do you like using social media? Why or why not?
5. What is a good way to share your thoughts with others?
6. Do you think it is important to vote? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever changed something important about yourself? What was it?
8. How would you feel if a famous person supported you?
9. Do you think leaders from other countries can influence your country? Why?
10. What is something you would like to change in your country?
11. Do you think it is okay for politicians to copy ideas from other leaders? Why or why not?
12. How would you feel if you met a famous politician?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. politician
2. government
3. official
4. account
5. vote
6. energy
7. support
8. actions
9. noticed
10. influenced
11. leaders
12. country

Meanings:
(A) Something that is approved or recognized by authority
(B) Seen or paid attention to
(C) To choose someone or something in an election
(D) Power that makes things work, like electricity
(E) A group of people who make rules and run a place
(F) A nation or area of land with its own government and rules
(G) A person who works in politics and makes decisions for a group
(H) A profile or page on social media
(I) People who guide or direct others
(J) Things people do
(K) Changed by someone or something else
(L) To help or back someone up
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the new name of the Australian politician?
(a) Ben Dawkins
(b) Donald Trump
(c) Austin Trump
(d) Labor Party

2. Why did he change his name?
(a) To become famous
(b) To show he is unhappy with the government
(c) To make more money
(d) To travel the world

3. What does he call himself on social media?
(a) Hon. Aussie Trump MLC
(b) Ben Dawkins
(c) Australian Leader
(d) Trump Supporter

4. Which party does he want people to vote against?
(a) Liberal Party
(b) Green Party
(c) National Party
(d) Labor Party

5. What does he like about Donald Trump?
(a) Ideas about energy
(b) His hairstyle
(c) His family
(d) His country

6. Who does Dawkins want to talk to?
(a) Joe Biden
(b) Barack Obama
(c) Tony Abbott
(d) Donald Trump

7. What does this situation show about politicians?
(a) They always tell the truth
(b) They do not care about people
(c) They use big actions to get noticed
(d) They never change their names

8. How can people in one country be influenced?
(a) By their friends only
(b) By leaders from another country
(c) By movies and TV shows
(d) By books only

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. He dislikes some ideas from Donald Trump.
2. He is content with the government in Western Australia.
3. His real name is Daniel Dawkins.
4. He uses social media to share his thoughts.
5. This shows how politicians try to get noticed with big actions.
6. An Australian politician changed his name to Austin Trump.
7. He wants people to vote against the Labor Party.
8. Dawkins does not want to talk to Donald Trump.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. Why did the Australian politician change his name to Austin Trump?
2. What was the politician’s real name before he changed it?
3. How does Dawkins share his thoughts with other people?
4. What does Dawkins want people to do about the Labor Party?
5. Why does Dawkins want to talk to Donald Trump?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the real name of the Australian politician who changed his name?
His real name is Ben Dawkins.

2. Why did he change his name to Austin Trump?
He changed his name to show he is unhappy with the government in Western Australia.

3. What does Dawkins think about the government in Western Australia?
He thinks the government is not doing a good job.

4. What name does he use on his social media account?
He uses the name “Hon. Aussie Trump MLC” on his social media account.

5. Which political party does Dawkins want people to vote against?
He wants people to vote against the Labor Party.

6. What does Dawkins like about Donald Trump?
He likes some ideas from Donald Trump, especially about energy.

7. Why does Dawkins want to talk to Donald Trump?
He hopes Trump will support him.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) politician
(2) show
(3) real
(4) doing
(5) good
(6) account
(7) Trump
(8) tells
(9) ideas
(10) shows
(11) people
(12) influenced
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. politician
Answer: (G) A person who works in politics and makes decisions for a group

2. government
Answer: (E) A group of people who make rules and run a place

3. official
Answer: (A) Something that is approved or recognized by authority

4. account
Answer: (H) A profile or page on social media

5. vote
Answer: (C) To choose someone or something in an election

6. energy
Answer: (D) Power that makes things work, like electricity

7. support
Answer: (L) To help or back someone up

8. actions
Answer: (J) Things people do

9. noticed
Answer: (B) Seen or paid attention to

10. influenced
Answer: (K) Changed by someone or something else

11. leaders
Answer: (I) People who guide or direct others

12. country
Answer: (F) A nation or area of land with its own government and rules
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the new name of the Australian politician?
Answer: (c) Austin Trump

2. Why did he change his name?
Answer: (b) To show he is unhappy with the government

3. What does he call himself on social media?
Answer: (a) Hon. Aussie Trump MLC

4. Which party does he want people to vote against?
Answer: (d) Labor Party

5. What does he like about Donald Trump?
Answer: (a) Ideas about energy

6. Who does Dawkins want to talk to?
Answer: (d) Donald Trump

7. What does this situation show about politicians?
Answer: (c) They use big actions to get noticed

8. How can people in one country be influenced?
Answer: (b) By leaders from another country
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. He dislikes some ideas from Donald Trump. (Answer: False)
2. He is content with the government in Western Australia. (Answer: False)
3. His real name is Daniel Dawkins. (Answer: False)
4. He uses social media to share his thoughts. (Answer: True)
5. This shows how politicians try to get noticed with big actions. (Answer: True)
6. An Australian politician changed his name to Austin Trump. (Answer: True)
7. He wants people to vote against the Labor Party. (Answer: True)
8. Dawkins does not want to talk to Donald Trump. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧