Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 04 October 2011
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
Amanda Knox Acquitted
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- convict: to find someone guilty of a crime
- appeal: a request for review of a final judgement
- verdict: the decision about a criminal case
- confident: a strong feeling of certainty
- overturned: to change the previous court ruling
Comprehension Questions
- What was unique about Amanda Knox’s plea?
- What was the jury’s verdict?
- How long did Amanda Knox spend in prison?
Discussion Question: The term “Amanda Knox” has been one of the most popular search terms online throughout the trials. Some people say that the media helped wrongly convict Amanda Knox and also helped set her free. Why would a case like this become an “obsession” for people to follow?
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Amanda Knox Acquitted
Amanda Knox, an American student convicted of murdering her British roommate in Italy in 2007, addressed the jury in her appeal trial on October 3rd. Knox begged for her life back, and claimed she did not kill, rape, or steal. She spoke in fluent Italian, which she learned while spending four years in jail in Italy. Her former boyfriend, also convicted of the murder of Meredith Kercher, claimed he had never hurt anyone. While waiting for the verdict, Knox reportedly felt confident that she would be acquitted. Hours later the jury overturned the murder conviction and Amanda Knox and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were set free. One man remains in prison for the murder of the British exchange student.
- Amanda Knox spoke to the jury in fluent Italian, which she learned while she was in jail.
- The jury overturned the murder charges for Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito.
- Amanda Knox spent four years in prison.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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