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: 25 August 2015
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN π
Deleted Tweet Collectors Blocked
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- delete: to erase digitally
- deny access: to not allow one to enter or use
- distinguish: to find a difference between
- preserve: to save for long-term purposes
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Deleted Tweet Collectors Blocked
Comprehension Questions
- Which type of Twitter accounts were blocked?
- How did Twitter defend itself for this decision?
- Why do some people disapprove of Twitter’s decision?
Discussion Questions: Should politicians and government organizations be held accountable for what they publish on social media, or do they deserve the right to delete and edit just as any other individual?
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Deleted Tweet Collectors Blocked
Up to 30 Twitter accounts whose sole purpose was to save and publish deleted tweets by politicians have been denied access to Twitter. The Twitter account for Politwoops, the US website, was blocked in June, and 30 other related Twitter accounts from other countries were banned this weekend. Twitter defended its decision, saying it does not distinguish between politicians and other individuals and that every individual deserves the right to edit or delete a tweet. Those who disagree with Twitter’s decision say that tweets are part of the public record and should be preserved.
- Twitter accounts like Politwoops were blocked because they save and publish deleted tweets by politicians and government agencies.
- Twitter has denied access to these accounts because Twitter feels that all individuals deserve the right to edit or delete a tweet. Twitter does not distinguish between politicians and individuals.
- Some people disapprove of Twitter’s decision because they feel that tweets by politicians are public record.
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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