There’s been a fake phone call going around pretending to be President Joe Biden. It’s telling people in New Hampshire not to vote in the primary election. The call is thought to be made by a computer, and we don’t know who’s behind it. The Trump campaign says they had nothing to do with it. The message in the call says that Republicans are trying to trick Democratic voters into not participating in the primary, but that’s not true. People can vote in both the primary and general elections. The New Hampshire attorney general’s office says the voice in the call sounds like President Biden’s, but the message is fake. They say it’s an illegal attempt to mess with the election, and they’re telling people to ignore it.

The fake calls were made to look like they were coming from the phone of Kathy Sullivan, a former leader of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire. She’s part of a group that supports Biden. Sullivan is really mad that her personal phone number was used without her permission. She says it’s a clear attempt to interfere with the election. An app that stops robocalls called Nomorobo thinks the calls were made between 5,000 and 25,000 times.

The White House has confirmed that the audio in the calls is fake, and Biden’s campaign manager is criticizing them. They say it’s an effort to stop people from voting and mess up fair elections. In the New Hampshire primary, people from both the main parties are choosing who they want to be their candidate in the general election. Biden’s name won’t be on the primary ballot, but some Democrats in the state are telling people to write in his name. They made this decision after Biden changed the voting schedule and New Hampshire isn’t the first state to have a primary anymore. It’s very likely that Biden will win in New Hampshire and become the Democratic nominee for president again.

Original news source: Fake Biden robocall tells voters to skip New Hampshire primary election (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article or read it aloud to the class.
3. Instruct the groups to summarize the main points of the article in their own words.
4. Give them a specific time limit (e.g. 5 minutes) to complete the task.
5. After the time limit, have each group share their summary with the class.
6. Encourage a brief discussion about the article and any opinions or questions that arise.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Assign each group a specific question related to the article (e.g. “Do you think fake phone calls can influence elections?”).
3. Instruct the groups to discuss their opinions on the question and come to a consensus.
4. Give them a specific time limit (e.g. 10 minutes) to discuss.
5. After the time limit, have each group share their opinions with the class.
6. Encourage a respectful and open discussion, allowing students to share their thoughts and respond to others.

– Sketch It
Instructions:
1. Provide each student with a piece of paper and a pen/pencil.
2. Instruct the students to choose a specific scene or aspect of the article and sketch it on their paper.
3. Give them a specific time limit (e.g. 5 minutes) to complete their sketches.
4. After the time limit, have students share their sketches with a partner or small group.
5. Encourage students to describe their sketches and explain why they chose that particular scene or aspect.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board or on a handout.
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Instruct each group to take turns selecting a word from the list and drawing a picture to represent it.
4. The other members of the group must guess the word based on the drawing.
5. Encourage students to use their English vocabulary skills to describe and guess the words.
6. Continue until all the words have been drawn and guessed.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Instruct each group to discuss the pros and cons of using technology to make fake phone calls.
3. Give them a specific time limit (e.g. 10 minutes) to discuss.
4. After the time limit, have each group share their points with the class.
5. Encourage a respectful and balanced discussion, allowing students to present different perspectives on the topic.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the fake phone call pretending to be?
2. Who is being targeted by the fake phone call?
3. Who is suspected to be behind the fake phone call?
4. What does the message in the call say about Republican and Democratic voters?
5. How does the New Hampshire attorney general’s office describe the phone call?
6. Whose phone number was used without permission in the fake calls?
7. What does the White House say about the audio in the calls?
8. Why are some Democrats in New Hampshire telling people to write in Biden’s name on the primary ballot?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There’s been a fake phone call going around pretending to be (1)______ Joe (2)______. It’s telling people in New Hampshire not to vote in the primary election. The call is thought to be made by a (3)______, and we don’t know who’s behind it. The Trump (4)______ says they had nothing to do with it. The message in the call says that Republicans are trying to trick Democratic voters into not participating in the primary, but that’s not true. People can vote in both the primary and general elections. The New Hampshire attorney general’s office says the voice in the call sounds like President Biden’s, but the message is fake. They say it’s an (5)______ attempt to mess with the election, and they’re telling people to (6)______ it.

The fake calls were made to look like they were (7)______ from the phone of Kathy Sullivan, a former leader of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire. She’s part of a group that (8)______ Biden. Sullivan is really mad that her (9)______ phone number was used without her permission. She says it’s a clear attempt to interfere with the (10)______. An app that stops robocalls called Nomorobo thinks the calls were made between 5,000 and 25,000 times.

The White House has confirmed that the audio in the calls is fake, and Biden’s campaign manager is criticizing them. They say it’s an effort to stop (11)______ from (12)______ and mess up fair elections. In the New Hampshire primary, people from both the main parties are (13)______ who they want to be their candidate in the (14)______ election. Biden’s name won’t be on the primary ballot, but some (15)______ in the state are telling people to write in his name. They made this decision after Biden changed the voting (16)______ and New Hampshire isn’t the first state to have a primary anymore. It’s very likely that Biden will win in New Hampshire and become the Democratic nominee for president again.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a fake phone call?
2. How would you feel if someone used your personal phone number without your permission?
3. Do you think it’s fair to interfere with an election? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the purpose of the fake phone calls?
5. How do you think the people who received the fake calls felt?
6. Do you like the idea of robocalls? Why or why not?
7. What do you think should happen to the person or group behind the fake calls?
8. How would you react if you received a fake phone call like this?
9. Do you think it’s important for people to participate in elections? Why or why not?
10. What do you think can be done to prevent fake phone calls like this in the future?
11. How do you think the fake calls could affect the election results?
12. Do you think it’s fair for some Democrats to write in Biden’s name in the primary election? Why or why not?
13. How do you think the fake calls could impact people’s trust in the election process?
14. What do you think could be the consequences of interfering with an election?
15. How would you feel if you were the person responsible for making the fake calls?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. pretending
2. primary
3. campaign
4. participate
5. attorney
6. illegal
7. interfere
8. robocalls
9. confirmed
10. criticizing
11. effort
12. fair
13. ballot
14. nominee
15. schedule

Meanings:
(A) Just, honest, and free from cheating
(B) To take part or be involved in an activity
(C) Verified or established as true
(D) A series of actions aimed at achieving a particular goal, often in politics
(E) Expressing disapproval or finding faults in something or someone
(F) To get in the way of something or cause problems
(G) An initial election where a party chooses its candidate
(H) A lawyer or a legal officer who represents the government
(I) A person chosen to represent a political party in an election
(J) A plan that lists events and the times at which they will happen
(K) A serious attempt or try to do something
(L) Automated phone calls that deliver a recorded message
(M) A piece of paper or list used to vote for candidates in an election
(N) Against the law or not allowed
(O) Acting like something you’re not or faking an action
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is being impersonated in the fake phone calls?
(a) President Joe Biden
(b) Former President Donald Trump
(c) Kathy Sullivan
(d) The New Hampshire attorney general

2. What is the purpose of the fake phone calls?
(a) To encourage Republican voters to participate in the primary election
(b) To discourage Democratic voters from participating in the primary election
(c) To promote fair elections in New Hampshire
(d) To support Kathy Sullivan’s group

3. Who is Kathy Sullivan?
(a) A former leader of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire
(b) President Joe Biden’s campaign manager
(c) The New Hampshire attorney general
(d) The person responsible for the fake phone calls

4. How many times were the fake calls estimated to have been made?
(a) Less than 1,000 times
(b) More than 50,000 times
(c) Exactly 10,000 times
(d) Between 5,000 and 25,000 times

5. What does the New Hampshire attorney general’s office say about the voice in the call?
(a) It sounds like Kathy Sullivan’s
(b) It sounds like President Biden’s
(c) It sounds like a computer-generated voice
(d) It sounds like former President Donald Trump’s

6. What is the White House’s response to the fake phone calls?
(a) They deny any involvement in the calls
(b) They support the message in the calls
(c) They confirm that the audio in the calls is fake
(d) They criticize Kathy Sullivan’s group

7. Why won’t Biden’s name be on the primary ballot in New Hampshire?
(a) Because he is not eligible to run for president
(b) Because he is already the Democratic nominee
(c) Because he changed the voting schedule
(d) Because he is supporting Kathy Sullivan’s group

8. What is the likely outcome of the New Hampshire primary?
(a) Trump will win and become the Democratic nominee for president
(b) Kathy Sullivan will win and become the Democratic nominee for president
(c) The primary election will be canceled
(d) Biden will win and become the Democratic nominee for president again

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The call is considered a legal attempt to interfere with the election, and people are advised to pay attention to it.
2. The fake calls were made to appear as if they were coming from the phone of Kathy Sullivan, a former leader of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire, who is upset that her personal phone number was used without permission.
3. The New Hampshire attorney general’s office has confirmed that the voice in the call does not sound like President Biden’s, but the message is fake.
4. There is a authentic phone call circulating in New Hampshire pretending to be President Joe Biden.
5. The call is believed to be computer-generated, and the identity of the person behind it is unknown.
6. The call falsely claims that Republicans are trying to deceive Democratic voters into not participating in the primary election.
7. The Trump campaign has accepted involvement with the fake call.
8. However, it is true that people can vote in both the primary and general elections.
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. What is the fake phone call pretending to be?
2. Who is being targeted by the fake phone call in New Hampshire?
3. What is the message in the fake phone call?
4. How does Kathy Sullivan feel about her personal phone number being used?
5. Why are some Democrats in New Hampshire telling people to write in Biden’s name on the primary ballot?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The fake phone call is pretending to be President Joe Biden.
2. The fake phone call is targeting people in New Hampshire.
3. The person or group behind the fake phone call is unknown.
4. The message in the call falsely claims that Republicans are trying to trick Democratic voters into not participating in the primary.
5. The New Hampshire attorney general’s office describes the phone call as an illegal attempt to interfere with the election.
6. The phone number of Kathy Sullivan, a former leader of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire, was used without her permission in the fake calls.
7. The White House has confirmed that the audio in the calls is fake and criticized them as an effort to stop people from voting and disrupt fair elections.
8. Some Democrats in New Hampshire are telling people to write in Biden’s name on the primary ballot because Biden changed the voting schedule, and New Hampshire is no longer the first state to have a primary.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) President
(2) Biden
(3) computer
(4) campaign
(5) illegal
(6) ignore
(7) coming
(8) supports
(9) personal
(10) election
(11) people
(12) voting
(13) choosing
(14) general
(15) Democrats
(16) schedule
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. pretending
Answer: (O) Acting like something you’re not or faking an action

2. primary
Answer: (G) An initial election where a party chooses its candidate

3. campaign
Answer: (D) A series of actions aimed at achieving a particular goal, often in politics

4. participate
Answer: (B) To take part or be involved in an activity

5. attorney
Answer: (H) A lawyer or a legal officer who represents the government

6. illegal
Answer: (N) Against the law or not allowed

7. interfere
Answer: (F) To get in the way of something or cause problems

8. robocalls
Answer: (L) Automated phone calls that deliver a recorded message

9. confirmed
Answer: (C) Verified or established as true

10. criticizing
Answer: (E) Expressing disapproval or finding faults in something or someone

11. effort
Answer: (K) A serious attempt or try to do something

12. fair
Answer: (A) Just, honest, and free from cheating

13. ballot
Answer: (M) A piece of paper or list used to vote for candidates in an election

14. nominee
Answer: (I) A person chosen to represent a political party in an election

15. schedule
Answer: (J) A plan that lists events and the times at which they will happen
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is being impersonated in the fake phone calls?
Answer: (a) President Joe Biden

2. What is the purpose of the fake phone calls?
Answer: (b) To discourage Democratic voters from participating in the primary election

3. Who is Kathy Sullivan?
Answer: (a) A former leader of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire

4. How many times were the fake calls estimated to have been made?
Answer: (d) Between 5,000 and 25,000 times

5. What does the New Hampshire attorney general’s office say about the voice in the call?
Answer: (b) It sounds like President Biden’s

6. What is the White House’s response to the fake phone calls?
Answer: (c) They confirm that the audio in the calls is fake

7. Why won’t Biden’s name be on the primary ballot in New Hampshire?
Answer: (c) Because he changed the voting schedule

8. What is the likely outcome of the New Hampshire primary?
Answer: (d) Biden will win and become the Democratic nominee for president again
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The call is considered a legal attempt to interfere with the election, and people are advised to pay attention to it. (Answer: False)
2. The fake calls were made to appear as if they were coming from the phone of Kathy Sullivan, a former leader of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire, who is upset that her personal phone number was used without permission. (Answer: True)
3. The New Hampshire attorney general’s office has confirmed that the voice in the call does not sound like President Biden’s, but the message is fake. (Answer: False)
4. There is a authentic phone call circulating in New Hampshire pretending to be President Joe Biden. (Answer: False)
5. The call is believed to be computer-generated, and the identity of the person behind it is unknown. (Answer: True)
6. The call falsely claims that Republicans are trying to deceive Democratic voters into not participating in the primary election. (Answer: True)
7. The Trump campaign has accepted involvement with the fake call. (Answer: False)
8. However, it is true that people can vote in both the primary and general elections. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧