In 2016, a group in Europe said that Apple didn't have to pay as much money in taxes as other companies because of special treatment from Ireland. This was part of a bigger plan to stop big companies from not paying enough taxes. Ireland says it's okay for Apple not to pay because it helps bring big companies to Ireland.
Apple says it didn't get any special help and that it shouldn't have to pay the money. This new advice could mean that the case might be looked at again. This is important for Apple and for the rules about big companies and taxes.
Original news source: Apple should pay €13bn Irish tax, argues EU lawyer (BBC)
📖 Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Students will be asked to read the article silently. After reading, they will work in pairs to summarize the article in their own words, focusing on the main points. Each pair will then share their summary with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Before reading the article, the teacher will write a statement on the board: "Big companies should pay the same amount of taxes as other companies." Students will stand on a line in the classroom according to their opinion: one end for "strongly agree," the other for "strongly disagree," and the middle for "neutral." Afterward, they will read the article and discuss whether their position has changed.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: After reading the article, students will work individually to create a catchy headline that could be used for the story. They will then share their headlines with the class and explain why they think their headline is effective.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: The teacher will select key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., advice, decision, taxes, treatment, companies). Students will be divided into two teams. A member from each team will take turns drawing the vocabulary word on the board without speaking or writing letters, while their team guesses the word.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: After discussing the article, students will write a short paragraph predicting what will happen next in the story. Will the court follow Giovanni's advice? What will be the impact on Apple and Ireland? They will share their predictions with a partner and discuss the possible outcomes.
🤔 Comprehension Questions:
Giovanni, a person who gives advice to a big court in Europe, said the decision should be changed.
Giovanni thought the first decision was wrong because it didn't notice some mistakes.
No, Giovanni's advice isn't the final step. The big court usually listens to this advice but makes its own decision.
The group said Apple got special treatment from Ireland, which made it so they didn't have to pay as much money in taxes.
Ireland says it's okay for Apple to pay less in taxes because it helps bring big companies to Ireland.
Apple thinks it did not get any special help and that it should not have to pay the money.
The new advice is important because it could make the court look at the case again, and it matters for Apple and the rules about big companies and taxes.
🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A person who gives advice to a big court in Europe said that a decision about a lot of money that Apple didn't to pay should be changed. This person, Giovanni, thinks the first decision that Apple was wrong because it didn't look at some mistakes. This isn't the final say, but the big court usually to this kind of advice. In 2016, a group in said that Apple didn't have to pay as much money in taxes as other companies because of special treatment from . This was part of a bigger to stop big companies from not paying taxes. Ireland says it's okay for Apple not to pay because it helps bring big companies to Ireland. Apple says it didn't get any special help and that it shouldn't have to pay the money. This new advice could that the case might be at again. This is important for Apple and for the about big companies and taxes.
💬 Discussion Questions:
1. What is advice? Can you give an example?
2. How would you feel if someone gave you advice that you didn't agree with?
3. Do you like it when people help you make decisions? Why or why not?
4. What is a tax? Why do people have to pay taxes?
5. Do you think big companies should pay more taxes than small companies? Why?
6. If you had a big company, would you want to pay less money in taxes? Why or why not?
7. What is special treatment? Is it fair to give special treatment to some people or companies?
8. How would you feel if your friend got a special treat but you didn't?
9. Do you think it's good for a country to have big companies? Why?
10. If you were the boss of a country, would you let a company pay less taxes to stay in your country?
11. What would you do if you found a mistake in a big decision you made?
12. Do you think it's important to follow rules about money? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:
🕵️ True or False Questions:
📝 Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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