Two brothers, Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, who went to MIT, got arrested for stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency. They did this in just 12 seconds. They used their math and computer skills to trick the system. If they are found guilty, they could go to prison for over 20 years.

A top lawyer, Lisa Monaco, said the brothers planned this for months. The IRS helped find out what they did. The theft makes people worry about how safe cryptocurrency is. When asked to give the money back, the brothers refused and tried to hide it.

This arrest shows that stealing cryptocurrency is a big problem. It also shows that smart people can find ways to break into these systems. The quick theft of $25 million makes people question if current security is good enough. What happens in this case might change how we protect cryptocurrency in the future.

Original news source: US brothers allegedly stole $25m in 12 seconds (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students read the article and summarize the main points in their own words. Then, they take turns sharing their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In small groups, students discuss their opinions on the safety of cryptocurrency and whether they think current security measures are sufficient. Each group chooses a spokesperson to share their group’s opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Students work in pairs. Each pair is given a vocabulary word from the article (e.g. cryptocurrency, theft, security). One student must draw a picture to represent the word while the other student tries to guess the word. They can use English words or phrases to describe the picture.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Students individually think about and write down their predictions on how this case might change the way cryptocurrency is protected in the future. Then, they pair up with a partner to share their predictions and discuss their reasoning. Finally, pairs share their predictions with the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, students take turns making predictions about how cryptocurrency and its security might develop in the future. Each student should make at least two predictions. After all students have shared their predictions, the group discusses and debates the likelihood and impact of each prediction.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the two brothers who got arrested for stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency?
2. How long did it take for the brothers to steal the money?
3. What skills did the brothers use to trick the system?
4. How long could the brothers go to prison for if they are found guilty?
5. Who helped find out what the brothers did?
6. Did the brothers give the money back when asked?
7. What does this arrest show about stealing cryptocurrency?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Two brothers, Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, who went to MIT, got arrested for (1)______ $25 million in cryptocurrency. They did this in just 12 seconds. They (2)______ their (3)______ and computer skills to trick the system. If they are (4)______ guilty, they could go to prison for over 20 years.

A top (5)______, Lisa Monaco, said the brothers planned this for months. The IRS helped find out what they did. The theft makes people (6)______ about how (7)______ cryptocurrency is. When asked to give the money back, the brothers (8)______ and tried to hide it.

This arrest (9)______ that stealing cryptocurrency is a big problem. It also shows that smart people can find (10)______ to break into these systems. The quick theft of $25 million (11)______ people (12)______ if current security is good enough. What happens in this case might change how we protect cryptocurrency in the future.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is cryptocurrency?
2. How would you feel if you lost $25 million?
3. Do you think stealing cryptocurrency is a serious crime? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever heard of someone using their math and computer skills to trick a system? What do you think about it?
5. Do you like the idea of using cryptocurrency instead of regular money? Why or why not?
6. What do you think the punishment should be for stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency?
7. How do you think the IRS helped in finding out what the brothers did?
8. Do you think the brothers should give the money back? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever worried about the safety of your money? Why or why not?
10. Do you think current security measures for cryptocurrency are good enough? Why or why not?
11. What do you think should happen to the brothers if they are found guilty?
12. How do you think this case might change how we protect cryptocurrency in the future?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. arrested
2. cryptocurrency
3. trick
4. guilty
5. prison
6. lawyer
7. planned
8. IRS
9. theft
10. refused
11. systems
12. security

Meanings:
(A) Having done something wrong or illegal
(B) Said no to something
(C) Organized ways of doing things
(D) A place where criminals are kept
(E) Measures to keep something safe
(F) To fool or deceive someone
(G) Taken by the police for doing something wrong
(H) Thought about and decided in advance
(I) A person who helps people with legal problems
(J) Digital money used online
(K) The act of stealing something
(L) A government agency that collects taxes
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How much money did Anton and James Peraire-Bueno steal?
(a) $10 million
(b) $50 million
(c) $5 million
(d) $25 million

2. How long did it take the brothers to steal the money?
(a) 1 minute
(b) 12 seconds
(c) 1 hour
(d) 1 day

3. What skills did the brothers use to trick the system?
(a) Math and computer skills
(b) Art and music skills
(c) Cooking and gardening skills
(d) Sports and writing skills

4. How long could the brothers go to prison for if they are found guilty?
(a) 5 years
(b) 10 years
(c) Over 20 years
(d) 1 year

5. Who helped find out what the brothers did?
(a) The FBI
(b) The CIA
(c) The IRS
(d) The NSA

6. What did the brothers do when asked to give the money back?
(a) They refused and tried to hide it
(b) They gave it back immediately
(c) They apologized and promised to return it later
(d) They said they didn’t have the money anymore

7. What does this arrest show about stealing cryptocurrency?
(a) It is not a problem at all
(b) It is a small problem
(c) It is a funny problem
(d) It is a big problem

8. What might change in the future because of this case?
(a) How we use cryptocurrency
(b) How we protect cryptocurrency
(c) How we create cryptocurrency
(d) How we buy cryptocurrency

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) helped to uncover what the brothers had done.
2. The theft has made people worried about how safe cryptocurrency really is.
3. A lawyer named Lisa Monaco, who is very inexperienced, said the brothers had planned this theft for many weeks.
4. If the brothers are found guilty, they could be sent to prison for less than 20 years.
5. This arrest highlights the big problem of cryptocurrency theft and shows that even smart people can find ways to break into these systems.
6. They managed to steal the money in just 12 seconds using their math and computer skills to trick the system.
7. When asked to return the money, the brothers refused and tried to hide it.
8. Two sisters named Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, who studied at MIT, were arrested for stealing $20 million in cryptocurrency.
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. Who are the two brothers that got arrested for stealing a lot of money?
2. How did the brothers use their skills to steal the money?
3. What could happen to the brothers if they are found guilty?
4. Who helped find out what the brothers did?
5. Why are people worried about the safety of cryptocurrency?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are the two brothers who got arrested for stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency?
The two brothers who got arrested for stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency are Anton and James Peraire-Bueno.

2. How long did it take for the brothers to steal the money?
It took the brothers just 12 seconds to steal the money.

3. What skills did the brothers use to trick the system?
The brothers used their math and computer skills to trick the system.

4. How long could the brothers go to prison for if they are found guilty?
If they are found guilty, the brothers could go to prison for over 20 years.

5. Who helped find out what the brothers did?
The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) helped find out what the brothers did.

6. Did the brothers give the money back when asked?
No, the brothers refused to give the money back when asked.

7. What does this arrest show about stealing cryptocurrency?
This arrest shows that stealing cryptocurrency is a big problem and that smart people can find ways to break into these systems. It also raises questions about the current security measures and may lead to changes in how we protect cryptocurrency in the future.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) stealing
(2) used
(3) math
(4) found
(5) lawyer
(6) worry
(7) safe
(8) refused
(9) shows
(10) ways
(11) makes
(12) question
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. arrested
Answer: (G) Taken by the police for doing something wrong

2. cryptocurrency
Answer: (J) Digital money used online

3. trick
Answer: (F) To fool or deceive someone

4. guilty
Answer: (A) Having done something wrong or illegal

5. prison
Answer: (D) A place where criminals are kept

6. lawyer
Answer: (I) A person who helps people with legal problems

7. planned
Answer: (H) Thought about and decided in advance

8. IRS
Answer: (L) A government agency that collects taxes

9. theft
Answer: (K) The act of stealing something

10. refused
Answer: (B) Said no to something

11. systems
Answer: (C) Organized ways of doing things

12. security
Answer: (E) Measures to keep something safe
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How much money did Anton and James Peraire-Bueno steal?
Answer: (d) $25 million

2. How long did it take the brothers to steal the money?
Answer: (b) 12 seconds

3. What skills did the brothers use to trick the system?
Answer: (a) Math and computer skills

4. How long could the brothers go to prison for if they are found guilty?
Answer: (c) Over 20 years

5. Who helped find out what the brothers did?
Answer: (c) The IRS

6. What did the brothers do when asked to give the money back?
Answer: (a) They refused and tried to hide it

7. What does this arrest show about stealing cryptocurrency?
Answer: (d) It is a big problem

8. What might change in the future because of this case?
Answer: (b) How we protect cryptocurrency
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) helped to uncover what the brothers had done. (Answer: False)
2. The theft has made people worried about how safe cryptocurrency really is. (Answer: True)
3. A lawyer named Lisa Monaco, who is very inexperienced, said the brothers had planned this theft for many weeks. (Answer: False)
4. If the brothers are found guilty, they could be sent to prison for less than 20 years. (Answer: False)
5. This arrest highlights the big problem of cryptocurrency theft and shows that even smart people can find ways to break into these systems. (Answer: True)
6. They managed to steal the money in just 12 seconds using their math and computer skills to trick the system. (Answer: True)
7. When asked to return the money, the brothers refused and tried to hide it. (Answer: True)
8. Two sisters named Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, who studied at MIT, were arrested for stealing $20 million in cryptocurrency. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧