Activism

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GENERAL ENGLISH · BREAKING NEWS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
ACTIVIST STICKS
HEAD TO ICONIC
PAINTING
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1 Warm up
Discuss the questions in pairs or small groups.
1. Can you think of any famous paintings? Why do you think they are famous?
2. Do you think that art should be protected from protests and wars, if possible?
3. Is it ever okay to damage something as part of a protest?
4. Do you think that people are generally aware of the dangers of climate change in your country?
5. Does the media in your country usually show protesters in a positive or negative way?
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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
ACTIVIST STICKS HEAD TO ICONIC PAINTING
2 Pre-listening task: vocabulary focus

Part A: Match words with the correct definitions.
1. bizarre (adj.) a. part of a film showing a particular event
2. execution (n) b. very strange or unusual
3. footage (n) c. the punishment of being killed that is used in some countries
for very serious crimes
4. the death penalty (n) d. a situation in which a plant, an animal, a way of life, etc.
stops existing
5. extinction (n) e. the act of killing somebody, especially as a legal punishment
Part B: Complete the sentences with the missing words from Part A. You may need to change the
form of the word.
1. The government is planning to introduce for crimes such as murder.
2. I thought their decision to have a wedding on top of a mountain was .
3. Humans could face if we don’t change our habits.
4. The was due to take place at 5pm, but it was delayed because of the protests.
5. My parents recently found the of a play I acted in as a child. When we watched

it together, I felt so embarrassed!
Part C: Look at the following sentence. In pairs, discuss the meaning of the underlined phrase. In
which context do you think this sentence may be used?
On the night in question, my client was at home with her husband watching television.
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3 Listening for specific information
Listen to the report. Match the items mentioned with the things they relate to.
1665 1964 1998 2 3
a. When the Girl with a Pearl Earring painting was created
b. The number of men who were arrested
c. The number of paintings involved in soup-based protests
d. When the UK banned the death penalty
e. When the last execution took place in the UK
4 Listening for comprehension
Listen to the report again. Answer the questions true (T), false (F) or not given (NG).
1. The incident took place in a Dutch museum.
2. Girl with a Pearl Earring is a painting by Vincent Van Gogh.
3. Footage of the incident was shared online.
4. Several paintings were badly damaged by protestors.
5. Other people in the gallery at the time of the incident seemed unhappy with the protestors.
6. Just Stop Oil have been involved in unpopular protests in the past.
7. The group said that not even the death penalty would stop them from their protests.

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5 Reading: general vocabulary
Part A: Match the words and phrases in bold with the correct definitions.
Group 1
1. The film was a satire – the President is presented as an actual clown. (n)
2. I encountered a strange building on my walk last night. It looked like an abandoned church, but I
could hear weird sounds coming from the walls. (v)
3. Our university’s attempt to organize a comedy night was met with apathy from the students. (n)
4. Online discourse often becomes angry very quickly if there are no moderators present. (n)
5. The wrath of the invading army resulted in many terrible war crimes. (n)
6. Elon Musk’s first acts as the new owner of Twitter have been met with widespread condemnation.
(n)
7. My weather app warns me of impending rain, so I know to take an umbrella with me when I leave
the house. (adj.)
a. a piece of writing, a film, etc. that criticizes people or ideas in a humorous way, especially in order
to make a political point
b. extreme anger
c. experience something, especially something unpleasant or difficult, while you are trying to do
something else
d. communication in speech or writing
e. the feeling of not being interested in or enthusiastic about something, or things in general
f. an expression of very strong disapproval
g. describing something (usually unpleasant) that is going to happen soon

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Group 2
1. The government lost control of the narrative when the photographs were published by the newspaper.
(n)
2. When I heard that my brother had been assaulted, I rushed to the hospital. (v)
3. The newspapers called the protest a dangerous stunt after several people were injured. (n)
4. I was offered a job at a mainstream newspaper, but I didn’t agree with their political views, so I
turned it down. (adj.)
5. Although I became ill the night after Halloween, my cold lingered until December. (v)
6. After the protest in the office, our bosses were left flailing, offering useless solutions. (v)
7. The journey from Copenhagen to Berlin was seemingly endless, with the bus stopping for over an
hour at one point. (adv.)
a. move or act without control
b. continue to exist for longer than expected
c. a way of explaining events to illustrate a set of aims or values
d. something that is done in order to attract people’s attention
e. the crime of attacking somebody or something physically
f. considered normal because it reflects what is done or accepted by most people
g. in a way that appears to be true but may in fact not be

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Part B: Discuss these questions in pairs.
1. Why do you think so many governments are flailing or failing to act on climate change?
2. Can you think of a film or book you would describe as a satire?
3. Do you get most of your news from mainstream newspapers and websites?
4. Is apathy more of a problem among younger people than older generations?
5. Can you think of a protest which led to condemnation around the world?
6. Do people often get assaulted in your hometown, or is it quite safe?
7. Do you find news stories about impending climate disaster depressing? Do you usually avoid
reading them?
6 Pre-reading task: reading for general understanding
You are going to read a text about climate activism. Scan the text quickly and match the headings
with the correct paragraphs. One heading cannot be matched to any of the paragraphs in the text
and should be marked Not given.
1. Twin disasters threaten a movement
2. Extinction Rebellion: the group that started it all
3. Somebody has to lead the way
4. A film that reflects our reality
5. Controversial methods
6. A new generation takes up the struggle

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Is it time to look up?

The protesters challenging the narrative
A.
The 2021 film Don’t Look Up managed to upset people on both sides of the political divide. The film is about two
scientists who discover, firstly, that an asteroid is about to destroy the planet, and secondly, that nobody cares.
Many on the right felt personally attacked by the movie’s message, while those on the left felt that the satire didn’t
go far enough. The asteroid in the film serves as a metaphor for climate change, with the complete apathy the
scientists encounter chillingly recognizable. The viewer is left identifying with the lead characters as they scream
into the void, seemingly unable to get their warnings across. For many of us around the world, a similar scenario
is playing out as headline after headline warns of impending climate breakdown, only to be met with a complete
lack of action from those who might be able to prevent it.
B.
With governments either flailing or directly aiding fossil fuel companies – tax breaks in some countries have
resulted in huge profits and bonuses for oil bosses – it has fallen to regular citizens to act. Environmental activism
has been around for decades, with Greenpeace and others occasionally making the news, but, until fairly recently,
it was seen as a fringe concern, with protestors depicted as technophobes or worse by the mainstream media.
Thanks to a new generation of activists – led by Greta Thunberg – environmentalism has become a familiar topic,
and, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, it appeared as though public pressure brought about by activism may finally
result in some real change.
C.
Then Covid hit, followed swiftly by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Public discourse shifted from "how do we prevent
climate change?" to "how do we put food on the table?". With the war threatening energy supplies in Europe and
beyond, we began to realize just how dependent we are on fossil fuel, and how difficult it might be to cut our ties
with oil for good. Against this backdrop, the emergence of the group Just Stop Oil just ten days before Russia’s
invasion began would appear to be rather bad timing. With the threat of escalation between nuclear powers and
the pandemic lingering, how would the activists regain control of the narrative?
D.
The answer, it seemed, was an increasingly divisive series of stunts aimed at shocking the public and media into
response. Targets chosen include petrol stations and the headquarters of a climate change denial group, but
also roads around London and well-known artworks. By the time Just Stop Oil had assaulted one of Van Gogh’s
Sunflowers paintings with tomato soup, the British public had turned on the protestors, tired of blockades that,
in the eyes of many, inconvenienced the wrong people entirely. The art attacks – with household name artist and
paintings chosen for maximum attention – led to widespread condemnation around the world.
E.
Has the group managed to focus this newfound attention on climate change itself, or are we more concerned with
the actions of these individuals? Does art matter in a world that may soon be uninhabitable? Conversations
have been started, but with anti-protest laws picking up pace in the United Kingdom and abroad, have the
environmentalists shot themselves in the foot? Whether we agree with their methods or not, these protestors –
many of whom are young – have put themselves in harm’s way, facing the wrath of the government, the oil industry
and the public, as well as lengthy prison sentences. They have taken up arms in the battle against extinction, a
battle that we’re all in together. Perhaps, with the right direction, they will be at the forefront of a much-needed
change in the way we live.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian, CNN

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7 Reading comprehension
Read the article again. Complete the sentences with between one to three words from the article.
1. Don’t Look Up, a 2021 film about an asteroid set to managed to upset people on
both sides of the political divide.
2. The asteroid in the film can be seen as a for climate change.
3. In some countries, governments have given fossil fuel companies rather than acting
against them.
4. Environmentalism has become much more widespread, thanks to a of activists.
5. With Covid and then the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conversation from climate
change to the cost-of-living crisis.
6. Just Stop Oil appeared with somewhat , forming just ten days before the war in
Ukraine broke out.
7. Over time, the group’s stunts have become , with the apparent aim of shocking
both the public and media into responding.
8. After road blocks in London and art attacks, appeared to turn on the protesters.
9. The group has certainly started , but have they also damaged their own cause?
10. The protesters may have employed unusual methods, but they are fighting the
that we all must fight if we want to prevent our own extinction.
8 Reading: idioms and expressions
Part A: Using the text above for reference, complete the definitions of the idioms and expressions
below by filling in the gaps with the correct words from the list.
conditions fight leading listening trouble
1. against a/the/this backdrop: the general in which an event takes place, which
sometimes help to explain that event
2. to shoot yourself in the foot: to do or say something that will cause you a lot of
or harm, especially when you are trying to get an advantage for yourself
3. to scream into the void: to feel as if nobody is to you
4. at the forefront of something: in an important or position in a particular group

or activity
5. to take up arms: to prepare to

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Part B: Complete the sentences with the correct word or phrase from Part A.
1. My grandfather was of research into allergies.
2. The rebels promised to against the government if the new law was implemented.
3. of climate change, it might be a bad idea to purchase a house by the sea.
4. Jim when he ordered business cards with an embarrassing photo of himself on

the front.
5. It’s common for new mothers to feel as though they’re , so it’s important that they
are offered support by friends and family.
9 Talking Point
In pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions.
1. Why do you think the two paintings were targeted for a protest?
2. Were the Just Stop Oil protesters wrong to deface the paintings mentioned in the recording?
3. Given that the news story was reported around the world, was the protest effective?
4. Can you think of some alternative ways of protesting against oil companies?
5. Why do you think people like Billy decide to take part in protests that may get them in trouble
with the police?
6. Do you think that the right to protest is an important part of democracy?
7. In the UK, the presenter of a TV show recently destroyed a painting by Hitler. Do you think this
was the right thing to do? Why/why not?

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10 Extended activity/writing homework

Write an opinion essay on the topic below. Your essay should agree with or disagree with the statement,
and should be between 260 – 320 words.
1. A painting, no matter how beautiful, is just an object. Our survival is more important, and so the
protesters were right to target the two paintings in order to raise awareness about climate change.
2. Art must be protected ahead of all else, as it is the story of our civilization.
Alternative extended activity:
In groups, think of some alternative ways of protesting against climate change. You might want to
think of something less controversial, in order to get more support from the public – or you may wish
to plan a more controversial act, with the aim of getting people to talk about climate change. Present
your ideas to the class, with an explanation of your methods and what you hope to achieve.
Homework: Complete the dialogue below with ten of the words and phrases from exercise five. You
may need to change the tense of the word or phrase. After completing the dialogue, read it out with
a partner, focusing on pronouncing the key vocabulary correctly.
apathy assaulted condemnation discourse encountered

lingering mainstream narrative satire seemingly
1
Felicity: I a worrying story in the newspaper earlier.
Mary: Was it the one about the new anti-protest laws?

2
Felicity: Yes, how did you guess? The strange thing is, even though it was a
3
newspaper, the report seemed to favor the government’s that protesting
should be banned.
4
Mary: Are you sure it wasn’t ? I can’t believe they would support the
government on this matter!
5
Felicity: The article was genuine, but I suppose it might have been. I used to
like that newspaper!
6
Mary: My nephew tells me that the online is a little more balanced. In fact,
7
there’s been a great deal of on social networks. He did say that there’s
8
a lot of about the new laws among his generation, though. I suppose
they’re more interested in video games and the like!
Felicity: I think that’s a little unfair. I know of at least two young people who take part in protests
9
regularly – one was during a demonstration last month. She still has
10
some problems from the attack, but she told me she’s planning on
protesting tonight.
Mary: Maybe there’s hope yet!

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TEACHER MATERIALS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
Transcripts
3. Listening for specific information
Newsreader: A climate protestor has attempted to glue his own head to a famous painting at the
Mauritshuis museum in The Netherlands.
Newsreader: The painting in question – Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, dating to 1665
– was targeted by the group known as Just Stop Oil. Three men were arrested following
the protest, with footage of the incident showing one man appear to empty a can of
tomato soup over the head of the other.
Newsreader: Just Stop Oil have previously used tomato soup in another bizarre protest, with
activists pouring the contents of a can over Vincent Van Gough’s The Arles Sunflowers.
Although both paintings were protected by glass, the group has been heavily criticized
for their actions.
Newsreader: Visitors who witnessed the incident at the Mauritshuis also reacted with anger,
shouting “get away from there” at the protestors.
Newsreader: For Just Stop Oil, a splinter group of Extinction Rebellion, the controversy will be
welcome. The activist group has a history of unpopular acts of protest, such as blocking
major roads around London in order to draw attention to the climate crisis. Despite
public anger, the group has said that only the death penalty would stop them from
continuing their actions. The death penalty has been banned in the UK since 1998,
with the last execution taking place in 1964.
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Key
1. Warm up
5 mins.
Tell the students they will be listening to a report about a man who tried to glue his head to a painting as an act
of protest and reading an article offering the opinions of four members of the on the news story. The discussion
activity is suitable for pairs or small groups.
2. Pre-listening task: vocabulary focus
10 mins.
Part A
Ask students to match the words with the correct definitions. For the second part, students should fill in the gaps
in the sentences in pairs or individually. Ensure students know how to pronounce target vocabulary. For Part
C, elicit the answer from students: "in question" means "that is being discussed". You may wish to give further
examples. The sample sentence would be used in a courtroom context.
1. → b. 2. → e. 3. → a. 4. → c. 5. → d.
Part B
1. the death penalty 2. bizarre 3. extinction 4. execution 5. footage
3. Listening for specific information
5 mins.
Individually or in pairs, ask students to listen to the report and match the items they hear mentioned with the
correct answer.
Glossary:
execution: the act of killing somebody, especially as a legal punishment
a. 1665 b. 3 c. 2 d. 1998 e. 1964
4. Listening for comprehension
5 mins.
Students should answer the questions true, false or not given. Ask them to provide an explanation for their answer.
1. True. It took place in the Mauritshuis museum in The Netherlands.

2. False. The painting is by Johannes Vermeer.
3. Not given. Although true, the recording doesn’t mention the footage being shared or uploaded.
4. False. Neither of the two paintings mentioned were damaged, as they were both protected by glass.
5. True. Visitors who witnessed the incident reacted with anger.
6. True. They have blocked major roads in London.
7. False. They said that only the death penalty will stop them from continuing their actions.
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5. Reading: general vocabulary
10 mins.
Part A
Students should match the words and phrases in bold with the correct definitions. Ensure students know how to
pronounce target vocabulary. For Part B, students should read through the short dialogue and choose the most
suitable word or phrase for each space. Students may need to change the form of the word or phrase. For the
discussion activity, students can complete the task in pairs or groups.
1. → a. 2. → c. 3. → e. 4. → d. 5. → b. 6. → f. 7. → g.
1. → c. 2. → e. 3. → d. 4. → f. 5. → b. 6. → a. 7. → g.
6. Pre-reading task: reading for general understanding
5 mins.
Ask students to skim through the text quickly to match the headings to the correct paragraphs. You may want to
do this as a strictly-timed exercise.
A. A film that reflects our reality

B. A new generation takes up the struggle
C. Twin disasters threaten a movement
D. Controversial methods
E. Somebody has to lead the way
Sources:
www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63254878
www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/14/just-stop-oil-activists-throw-soup-at-van-goghs-sunflowers
www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/27/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-vermeer-just-stop-oil-protest-mauritshuis-
the-hague
edition.cnn.com/style/article/just-stop-oil-protests-the-conversation/index.html
7. Reading comprehension
10 mins.
Students should complete the task individually or in pairs. Students should read the article again, and complete
the sentences with between one to three words from the text itself.
1. destroy the planet 2. metaphor

3. tax breaks 4. new generation
5. shifted 6. bad timing
7. increasingly divisive 8. the British public
9. conversations 10. battle
8. Reading: idioms and expressions
10 mins.
Ask students to complete the definitions of the target vocabulary items with the correct words and phrases from
the list. For Part B, they should complete the sentences with idioms and expressions.
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Please not that in American English "to take up arms" literally means to arm yourself with weapons
1. conditions 2. trouble 3. listening 4. leading 5. fight

Part B
1. at the forefront
2. take up arms
3. Against the backdrop
4. shot himself in the foot
5. screaming into the void
9. Talking Point
10 mins.
Ask students to discuss the questions in pairs or small groups.
10. Extended activity/writing homework
40 mins.+
For the first option, students should write an opinion essay on the topic below. Encourage students to choose a
side and address the topic from one position. For the second option, you may wish to run the activity as a class
discussion with a brainstorm on the board. Essays should be between 260 – 320 words.
1. encountered 2. mainstream 3. narrative 4. satire 5. seemingly

6. discourse 7. condemnation 8. apathy 9. assaulted 10. lingering
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HEAAADERLOGORIGHT

GENERAL ENGLISH · BREAKING NEWS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

QrrkoD Scan to review worksheet

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 1/10

ACTIVIST STICKS HEAD TO ICONIC PAINTING

2 Pre-listening task: vocabulary focus

1. bizarre (adj.) a. part of a ﬁlm showing a particular event

2. execution (n) b. very strange or unusual

1. The government is planning to introduce for crimes such as murder.

2. I thought their decision to have a wedding on top of a mountain was .

3. Humans could face if we don’t change our habits.

5. My parents recently found the of a play I acted in as a child. When we watched

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 2/10

ACTIVIST STICKS HEAD TO ICONIC PAINTING

3 Listening for specific information

1665 1964 1998 2 3

a. When the Girl with a Pearl Earring painting was created

b. The number of men who were arrested

c. The number of paintings involved in soup-based protests

d. When the UK banned the death penalty

e. When the last execution took place in the UK

4 Listening for comprehension

1. The incident took place in a Dutch museum.

2. Girl with a Pearl Earring is a painting by Vincent Van Gogh.

3. Footage of the incident was shared online.

4. Several paintings were badly damaged by protestors.

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ACTIVIST STICKS HEAD TO ICONIC PAINTING

5 Reading: general vocabulary

d. communication in speech or writing

f. an expression of very strong disapproval

g. describing something (usually unpleasant) that is going to happen soon

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ACTIVIST STICKS HEAD TO ICONIC PAINTING

a. move or act without control

b. continue to exist for longer than expected

c. a way of explaining events to illustrate a set of aims or values

d. something that is done in order to attract people’s attention

e. the crime of attacking somebody or something physically

f. considered normal because it reﬂects what is done or accepted by most people

g. in a way that appears to be true but may in fact not be

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ACTIVIST STICKS HEAD TO ICONIC PAINTING

Part B: Discuss these questions in pairs.

6 Pre-reading task: reading for general understanding

1. Twin disasters threaten a movement

2. Extinction Rebellion: the group that started it all

3. Somebody has to lead the way

4. A ﬁlm that reﬂects our reality

6. A new generation takes up the struggle

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ACTIVIST STICKS HEAD TO ICONIC PAINTING

Is it time to look up?

Sources: BBC, The Guardian, CNN

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ACTIVIST STICKS HEAD TO ICONIC PAINTING

2. The asteroid in the ﬁlm can be seen as a for climate change.

4. Environmentalism has become much more widespread, thanks to a of activists.

8 Reading: idioms and expressions

conditions ﬁght leading listening trouble

3. to scream into the void: to feel as if nobody is to you

4. at the forefront of something: in an important or position in a particular group

5. to take up arms: to prepare to

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