A company that makes drinks, called Thatchers, is not happy with a store named Aldi. They think Aldi made a drink that looks and tastes like their lemon drink. They are in a special place where people decide who is right, in a city called London. The Thatchers people say Aldi’s drink is too much like theirs. But Aldi says their drink is different because it has a different name and picture on it.

Thatchers made their lemon drink in 2020, and Aldi made theirs in 2022. The Thatchers person said to the judge, “Let’s try the drinks without looking, to see if they are the same.” Thatchers spent a lot of money to make people like their drink. They think that’s why Aldi is selling a lot of their drink. Aldi had another problem before when they made a Christmas drink that was too much like another store’s drink. Now, we are waiting to see who the judge thinks is right.

Original news source: Judge invited to taste test cider in Aldi row (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into teams. Give each team a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. Thatchers, Aldi, lemon drink). One person from each team must act out the word or phrase without speaking, while their teammates guess what it is.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pen. Choose a word from the article (e.g. judge, drink, lemon) and ask the students to draw a picture that represents that word. The rest of the class must guess what word the drawing represents.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students to form pairs. Give each pair a question related to the article (e.g. Do you think Aldi’s drink is too similar to Thatchers’ drink?). Each student must take turns sharing their opinion and explaining their reasoning. After both students have shared their opinions, they must come to a consensus and present their joint opinion to the class.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Write a list of words from the article on the board (e.g. happy, different, judge). Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a different word from the list. The students must take turns giving synonyms for their assigned word. The pair that comes up with the most synonyms within a time limit wins.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Instruct each group to create a catchy newspaper headline related to the article (e.g. “Drink Dispute: Thatchers vs. Aldi”). Each group must present their headline to the class and explain why they chose it. The class can then vote on the best headline.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why is the company Thatchers not happy with the store Aldi?
2. What is the special place where people decide who is right?
3. How did Thatchers and Aldi say their drinks are different?
4. When did Thatchers make their lemon drink? When did Aldi make theirs?
5. What did Thatchers suggest to the judge to see if the drinks are the same?
6. Why does Thatchers think Aldi is selling a lot of their drink?
7. What problem did Aldi have before with a Christmas drink?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A (1)______ that makes drinks, called Thatchers, is not (2)______ with a store named Aldi. They think Aldi made a drink that looks and tastes like their lemon drink. They are in a special place where people decide who is right, in a city called London. The Thatchers people say Aldi’s drink is too (3)______ like theirs. But Aldi says their drink is different because it has a different name and (4)______ on it.

Thatchers made their lemon drink in 2020, and Aldi made theirs in 2022. The Thatchers person said to the judge, “Let’s try the drinks without looking, to see if they are the same.” Thatchers spent a lot of (5)______ to (6)______ people like their drink. They think that’s why (7)______ is (8)______ a lot of their drink. Aldi had another problem before when they made a Christmas drink that was too much like another store’s drink. Now, we are waiting to see who the judge thinks is right.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a company?
2. How do you think Thatchers feels about Aldi making a drink that looks and tastes like theirs?
3. Do you like lemon drinks? Why or why not?
4. How do you think Aldi’s drink is different from Thatchers’ drink?
5. What do you think it means to “try the drinks without looking”?
6. Why do you think Thatchers spent a lot of money to make people like their drink?
7. Have you ever had a drink that you really liked? What was it?
8. How would you feel if someone made a drink that looked and tasted just like your favorite drink?
9. Do you think Aldi should stop selling their drink if it’s too much like Thatchers’ drink? Why or why not?
10. Have you ever had a problem with someone copying something you made or did?
11. What do you think the judge will decide in this case?
12. Do you think it’s fair for companies to sue each other over similar products? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. company
2. drinks
3. store
4. lemon
5. judge
6. money
7. Christmas
8. problem

Meanings:
(a) A holiday in December with presents and a tree
(b) A place where people make things to sell
(c) Someone who decides who is right or wrong
(d) A place where you can buy things
(e) A fruit that is sour and yellow
(f) Things you can drink, like water or juice
(g) Something that is difficult or not good
(h) Something you use to buy things
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is not happy with Aldi?
(a) Coca-Cola
(b) Pepsi
(c) Sprite
(d) Thatchers

2. Where is the special place where people decide who is right?
(a) Paris
(b) Berlin
(c) Tokyo
(d) London

3. What is Thatchers’ problem with Aldi’s drink?
(a) It has a different name and picture on it
(b) It looks and tastes like their lemon drink
(c) It was made in 2022
(d) It is too expensive

4. When did Thatchers make their lemon drink?
(a) 2010
(b) 2000
(c) 2020
(d) 1990

5. What did Thatchers suggest to the judge to prove their point?
(a) Trying the drinks without looking
(b) Trying the drinks with their eyes closed
(c) Trying the drinks with a blindfold
(d) Trying the drinks with the lights off

6. Why does Thatchers think Aldi is selling a lot of their drink?
(a) Because people like their drink
(b) Because it has a different name and picture
(c) Because it is too expensive
(d) Because it was made in 2022

7. What other problem did Aldi have before?
(a) They made a lemon drink that was too much like Thatchers’ drink
(b) They made a drink that tasted bad
(c) They made a Christmas drink that was too much like another store’s drink
(d) They made a drink that was too expensive

8. What are we waiting to see?
(a) What the judge will drink
(b) Who the judge thinks is right
(c) If Thatchers will make a new drink
(d) If Aldi will change their drink’s name and picture

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Thatchers is happy with a store called Aldi.
2. Thatchers thinks Aldi made a drink that looks and tastes like their lemon drink.
3. Thatchers made their lemon drink in 2020, and Aldi made theirs in 2022.
4. Aldi says their drink is the same because it has the same name and picture on it.
5. Thatchers and Aldi are waiting for a judge to decide who is right.
6. There is a company called Thatchers that doesn’t make drinks.
7. They are in a common place called London where people don’t decide who is right.
8. Thatchers says Aldi’s drink is too much like theirs.
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 is Thatchers not happy with Aldi?
2. Where are the people deciding who is right?
3. How did Thatchers and Aldi make their lemon drinks at different times?
4. What did Thatchers suggest to the judge to see if the drinks are the same?
5. What happened when Aldi made a Christmas drink that was too similar to another store’s drink?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why is the company Thatchers not happy with the store Aldi?
Thatchers is not happy with Aldi because they think Aldi made a drink that looks and tastes like their lemon drink.

2. What is the special place where people decide who is right?
The special place where people decide who is right is a city called London.

3. How did Thatchers and Aldi say their drinks are different?
Thatchers says Aldi’s drink is too much like theirs, but Aldi says their drink is different because it has a different name and picture on it.

4. When did Thatchers make their lemon drink? When did Aldi make theirs?
Thatchers made their lemon drink in 2020, and Aldi made theirs in 2022.

5. What did Thatchers suggest to the judge to see if the drinks are the same?
Thatchers suggested to the judge to try the drinks without looking, to see if they are the same.

6. Why does Thatchers think Aldi is selling a lot of their drink?
Thatchers thinks Aldi is selling a lot of their drink because Thatchers spent a lot of money to make people like their drink.

7. What problem did Aldi have before with a Christmas drink?
Aldi had a problem before when they made a Christmas drink that was too much like another store’s drink.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) company
(2) happy
(3) much
(4) picture
(5) money
(6) make
(7) Aldi
(8) selling
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. company
Answer: (b) A place where people make things to sell

2. drinks
Answer: (f) Things you can drink, like water or juice

3. store
Answer: (d) A place where you can buy things

4. lemon
Answer: (e) A fruit that is sour and yellow

5. judge
Answer: (c) Someone who decides who is right or wrong

6. money
Answer: (h) Something you use to buy things

7. Christmas
Answer: (a) A holiday in December with presents and a tree

8. problem
Answer: (g) Something that is difficult or not good
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is not happy with Aldi?
Answer: (d) Thatchers

2. Where is the special place where people decide who is right?
Answer: (d) London

3. What is Thatchers’ problem with Aldi’s drink?
Answer: (b) It looks and tastes like their lemon drink

4. When did Thatchers make their lemon drink?
Answer: (c) 2020

5. What did Thatchers suggest to the judge to prove their point?
Answer: (a) Trying the drinks without looking

6. Why does Thatchers think Aldi is selling a lot of their drink?
Answer: (a) Because people like their drink

7. What other problem did Aldi have before?
Answer: (c) They made a Christmas drink that was too much like another store’s drink

8. What are we waiting to see?
Answer: (b) Who the judge thinks is right
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Thatchers is happy with a store called Aldi. (Answer: False)
2. Thatchers thinks Aldi made a drink that looks and tastes like their lemon drink. (Answer: True)
3. Thatchers made their lemon drink in 2020, and Aldi made theirs in 2022. (Answer: True)
4. Aldi says their drink is the same because it has the same name and picture on it. (Answer: False)
5. Thatchers and Aldi are waiting for a judge to decide who is right. (Answer: True)
6. There is a company called Thatchers that doesn’t make drinks. (Answer: False)
7. They are in a common place called London where people don’t decide who is right. (Answer: False)
8. Thatchers says Aldi’s drink is too much like theirs. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧