Reprinted with permission from the BBC (bbc.co.uk)
Pre-Reading Questions: Keep a look out for these details when reading! Then, after you’ve read, fill in the answers.
What exactly has Strauss-Kahn been accused of?
What is the case known as in France, and why does it have this name?
Strauss-Kahn is facing two other charges: what are they?
Reading Comprehension Questions: Now that you’ve read the piece, answer these questions!
When did Strauss-Kahn resign and from what job did he resign?
February 2012; he was the International Monetary Fund boss
October 2010; he was the Prime Minister of France
May 2011; he was a prostitute.
May 2011; he was the International Monetary Fund boss.
What penalties could Strauss-Kahn face if convicted?
30 years in prison and a 100,000 euro fine.
15 years in prison and a 20,000 euro fine.
20 years in prison.
The death penalty.
In addition to Mr. Strauss Kahn, how many other people are under investigation?
6
8
1
0
What has Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s response to these accusations been?
He claims that he never met the women in question
He claims that he is not guilty of these acts and had no idea the women were prostitutes
He claims that he is guilty of hiring prostitutes but not of the rapes
He claims that he is not guilty of raping the prostitutes.
Why might Strauss-Kahn be exempt from the charges in New York?
Because there is definite proof he did not rape her
Because he was not in New York at the time in question
Because he was protected by diplomatic immunity at the time of the crime in question
Because she is willing to settle outside of the court
- Now that you’ve answered the questions, use them to compile a summary. Remember, you want to hit on the main ideas, explaining who (or what) did what when and where, as well as (if possible) why they did it. After that, explain what’s happened as a result and what might happen in the future.
Vocabulary: define the following words using context clues. Explain how you arrived at the definition from the surrounding information.
