Topical News Lessons

particular, the fact that childcare is now an 
important political issue. They also mention 
several other successful policies, in particular 
parental leave. 
The Guardian Weekly 
2004-12-10, page 11 
* 
Note: In the UK, so-called ‘public’ schools are not 
public at all. They are private schools for the children 
of rich parents. 

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©
Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2005 
Taken from the news section in 
www.onestopenglish.com
Choose the best answer according to the text: 
1. 
Why do women MPs feel really angry? 
a. because male MPs make sexist remarks. 
b. because there are more men than women in the House of Commons. 
c. because they often do not get any recognition for their successes. 
2. 
Why do some male MPs react negatively? 
a. because they don’t like it when women MPs get a more senior position. 
b. because they don’t believe such young women could be members of 
parliament. 
c. because they don’t like the new working hours. 
3. 
Why did the Conservative MP call all the women Betty? 
a. because he didn’t know their real names. 
b. because he didn’t like them. 
c. because it was easier for him. 
4. 
What problem did Yvette Cooper have? 
a. people made sexist remarks to her. 
b. House of Commons officials did not believe she was an MP. 
c. she didn’t get any recognition for her successes. 
Find the opposites of these words in the text: 
 
1. decrease ____________ 2. female ____________ 
3. modern ____________ 4. difficult ____________ 
5. 
sober 
____________ 
6. 
junior 
____________ 
7. private ____________ 8. unsuccessful 
____________ 

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©
Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2005 
Taken from the news section in 
www.onestopenglish.com