ENS

A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.

Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 4 / B2
Published
Title
On Trial for Racism
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-05-03-on-trial-for-racism/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up
  • Vocab List
  • Reading and Audio
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Discussion Builder Choose connecting expressions for discussion ideas.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?

a) A judge could send a tourist to prison.

b) New rules against racism in Brazil.

c) Bar workers invent a new cocktail.

A tense scene inside a busy Rio bar, where a female tourist argues with bar workers near a table with glasses and receipts.
Argument over a bill.

Ask: (1) What kinds of problems can happen when people travel? (2) How should a person prepare for visiting another country?

VOCAB LIST

trial (n.) — An official court process to decide if someone is guilty.
argument (n.) — An angry disagreement.
racist (adj.) — Showing the belief that one race is better or worse than another.
court (n.) — The place or system where legal cases are decided.
gesture (n.) — A movement of the hand or body that shows an idea or feeling.
guilty (adj.) — Responsible for a crime or other serious wrong act.
debate (n.) — a serious discussion in which people express different opinions.
compensation (n.) — Money paid to someone because they suffered loss or harm.
official (n.) — A person with an important job in government.
threat (n.) — A statement or sign that someone may cause harm.
imitate (v.) — To copy someone's action or behavior.
justice (n.) — Fair treatment according to the law.

Reading

An Argentine tourist is on trial in Brazil after she was filmed making a racist gesture at workers in a bar in Rio. The case began in January, but it is still drawing attention because it has started a wider debate about race, law, and personal responsibility in both Brazil and Argentina. Newspapers and TV programs in both countries have followed each step in the case closely since the video first appeared online in early January.

Brazilian officials say Agostina Paez, 29, imitated a monkey during an argument about a bill. A bar worker recorded the moment, and the video spread quickly online. Paez later told Argentine media that she had not intended to be racist. “It was an emotional reaction,” she said. She apologized, but the case still went forward.

A court in Rio started hearing the case last month and is expected to decide soon. If the judge finds her guilty, she could receive two to five years in prison, although the final punishment may be shorter. The court is also considering compensation for the bar workers. Paez has already paid money to the court so she can wait in Argentina.

The trial has led to strong debate in both countries. In Brazil, many people think racist acts should have consequences. Racism has been a crime there for many years, but such cases have not always reached trial. For that reason, some people believe this case is about more than one tourist.

In Argentina, however, some politicians and media voices say Brazilian authorities have treated Paez too severely. They point to her claims that she received threats after the case became public. Brazilian officials reject that view. They say the aim is justice for the bar workers, and that foreign visitors must respect Brazilian law.

On Trial for Racism

Level 4 Article Source: nytimes.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A tense scene inside a busy Rio bar, where a female tourist argues with bar workers near a table with glasses and receipts.
Argument over a bill.

An Argentine tourist is on trial in Brazil after she was filmed making a racist gesture at workers in a bar in Rio. The case began in January, but it is still drawing attention because it has started a wider debate about race, law, and personal responsibility in both Brazil and Argentina. Newspapers and TV programs in both countries have followed each step in the case closely since the video first appeared online in early January.

Brazilian officials say Agostina Paez, 29, imitated a monkey during an argument about a bill. A bar worker recorded the moment, and the video spread quickly online. Paez later told Argentine media that she had not intended to be racist. “It was an emotional reaction,” she said. She apologized, but the case still went forward.

A court in Rio started hearing the case last month and is expected to decide soon. If the judge finds her guilty, she could receive two to five years in prison, although the final punishment may be shorter. The court is also considering compensation for the bar workers. Paez has already paid money to the court so she can wait in Argentina.

The trial has led to strong debate in both countries. In Brazil, many people think racist acts should have consequences. Racism has been a crime there for many years, but such cases have not always reached trial. For that reason, some people believe this case is about more than one tourist.

In Argentina, however, some politicians and media voices say Brazilian authorities have treated Paez too severely. They point to her claims that she received threats after the case became public. Brazilian officials reject that view. They say the aim is justice for the bar workers, and that foreign visitors must respect Brazilian law.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 2:04  YouTube

Ideas for using this audio: , .
Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

An Argentine tourist is on (1) in Brazil after she was filmed making a racist gesture at workers in a bar in Rio. The case began in (2) , but it is still drawing attention because it has started a wider debate about race, law, and personal responsibility in both Brazil and Argentina. Newspapers and TV programs in both countries have followed each step in the case closely since the video first appeared online in early January.

Brazilian officials say Agostina Paez, 29, imitated a (3) during an argument about a bill. A bar worker recorded the moment, and the video spread quickly online. Paez later told Argentine media that she had not intended to be racist. “It was an emotional reaction,” she said. She apologized, but the case still went forward.

A court in Rio started hearing the case last month and is expected to decide soon. If the judge finds her (4) , she could receive two to five years in prison, although the final punishment may be shorter. The court is also considering (5) for the bar workers. Paez has already paid money to the court so she can wait in Argentina.

The trial has led to strong (6) in both countries. In Brazil, many people think racist acts should have consequences. Racism has been a crime there for many years, but such cases have not always reached trial. For that reason, some people believe this case is about more than one tourist.

In Argentina, however, some politicians and media voices say Brazilian authorities have treated Paez too severely. They point to her claims that she received threats after the case became public. Brazilian officials reject that view. They say the aim is (7) for the bar workers, and that foreign visitors must respect Brazilian law.

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • The story focuses on whether an apology should reduce punishment in a public racism case.
  • A tourist's racism trial in Brazil has become a wider debate about justice and respect for local law. Correct answer
  • Bars in Rio are dealing with too many arguments over payment.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • A bar worker recorded the gesture, and the video spread quickly online.
  • Paez has already been found guilty and sent to prison in Brazil.
  • Some politicians and media voices in Argentina say Brazilian authorities have treated Paez too severely.

True or False

1. A bar worker recorded the gesture, and the video spread quickly online. TRUEFALSE True

2. Paez has already been found guilty and sent to prison in Brazil. TRUEFALSE False

3. Some politicians and media voices in Argentina say Brazilian authorities have treated Paez too severely. TRUEFALSE True

Put Events in Order

Put the events in the order they happened, from first to last.

  • 1 Paez made the gesture during an argument about a bill in a Rio bar.
  • 2 A bar worker recorded the moment, and the video spread quickly online.
  • 3 Paez said she had not intended to be racist and later apologized.
  • 4 A court in Rio started hearing the case.
  • 5 The judge is expected to decide soon while debate continues in Brazil and Argentina.

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • A court in Rio started hearing the case.
  • A bar worker recorded the moment, and the video spread quickly online.
  • The judge is expected to decide soon while debate continues in Brazil and Argentina.
  • Paez made the gesture during an argument about a bill in a Rio bar.
  • Paez said she had not intended to be racist and later apologized.
  1. Paez made the gesture during an argument about a bill in a Rio bar.
  2. A bar worker recorded the moment, and the video spread quickly online.
  3. Paez said she had not intended to be racist and later apologized.
  4. A court in Rio started hearing the case.
  5. The judge is expected to decide soon while debate continues in Brazil and Argentina.
Multiple Choice

Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • What brought the case wide attention after the argument in the bar?
  • What could happen if the judge finds Paez guilty?
  • Why do some people in Brazil think this case is about more than one tourist?
  • What do Brazilian officials say is the aim of the case?

Multiple Choice

1. What brought the case wide attention after the argument in the bar?

   a) Her apology to the workers

   b) A court hearing in Rio

   c) A video that spread onlineCorrect

2. What could happen if the judge finds Paez guilty?

   a) She could receive two to five years in prison.Correct

   b) She could avoid any punishment.

   c) She could wait in Brazil while the case continues.

3. Why do some people in Brazil think this case is about more than one tourist?

   a) Because it may become an important example of how racism cases are treated.Correct

   b) Because tourists often argue about bills in Rio bars.

   c) Because the workers want the trial moved to Argentina.

4. What do Brazilian officials say is the aim of the case?

   a) To get justice for the bar workers and require respect for Brazilian lawCorrect

   b) To stop newspapers from discussing the case

   c) To prove that tourists should not argue about bills

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Reachg) trial

2. Makef) a racist gesture

3. Starte) a wider debate

4. Followd) the case

5. Havec) an argument

6. Considerb) compensation

7. Receivea) threats

a) threats

b) compensation

c) an argument

d) the case

e) a wider debate

f) a racist gesture

g) trial

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: How important is it to learn local rules before you travel?

    A:

  2. Q: Does it matter that Paez says she didn't intend to be racist?

    A:

  3. Q: Why might people in two countries see the same case very differently?

    A:

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: How important is it to learn local rules before you travel?

    A: learning local rules before a trip is just basic respect.

    To me, / For example, / Because of that, / But,

    To me, learning local rules before a trip is just basic respect.

  2. Q: Does it matter that Paez says she didn't intend to be racist?

    A: It matters that she says she didn't mean it, the gesture still had a real effect.

    because / so / but / and

    It matters that she says she didn't mean it, but the gesture still had a real effect.

  3. Q: Why might people in two countries see the same case very differently?

    A: People can focus on different parts of the same case. the reaction in each country may not match.

    Also, / Because of that, / For example, / But,

    People can focus on different parts of the same case. Because of that, the reaction in each country may not match.

Sentence Unscramble

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. accepts responsibility. B. may be C. and D. if E. Two to five years F. the person apologizes G. too much

    Two to five years may be too much if the person apologizes and accepts responsibility.

  2. A. but B. they can also make C. public shame D. Videos can reveal E. harmful behavior, F. too strong.

    Videos can reveal harmful behavior, but they can also make public shame too strong.

  3. A. can help B. and schools. C. clear rules D. and quick action E. I would say F. in workplaces G. people feel respected

    I would say clear rules and quick action can help people feel respected in workplaces and schools.

Discussion Questions
  1. How important is it to learn local rules before you travel?
  2. How serious should a racist gesture be treated?
  3. Does it matter that Paez says she didn't intend to be racist?
  4. Can an apology solve most conflicts?
  5. Should people be excused for harmful actions if they say they acted emotionally?
  6. Is two to five years in prison an appropriate punishment for Paez?
  7. Do videos of public incidents help more than they harm?
  8. Have social media made public shame too powerful, or is it often necessary?
  9. Why might people in two countries see the same case very differently?
  10. What can bars, schools, or workplaces do to make people feel respected?

Discussion Questions

  1. How important is it to learn local rules before you travel?
  2. How serious should a racist gesture be treated?
  3. Does it matter that Paez says she didn't intend to be racist?
  4. Can an apology solve most conflicts?
  5. Should people be excused for harmful actions if they say they acted emotionally?
  6. Is two to five years in prison an appropriate punishment for Paez?
  7. Do videos of public incidents help more than they harm?
  8. Have social media made public shame too powerful, or is it often necessary?
  9. Why might people in two countries see the same case very differently?
  10. What can bars, schools, or workplaces do to make people feel respected?

Answers On Trial for Racism / Level 4

Think Ahead: a

Listening: (1) trial, (2) January, (3) monkey, (4) guilty, (5) compensation, (6) debate, (7) justice

Main Idea: A tourist's racism trial in Brazil has become a wider debate about justice and respect for local law.

True or False:

  1. True. The article says a bar worker recorded the moment and the video spread quickly online.
  2. False. The court is still hearing the case and is expected to decide soon.
  3. True. The last paragraph says some people in Argentina believe Brazilian authorities have treated her too severely.

Multiple Choice: c, a, a, a

Put Events in Order:

  1. Paez made the gesture during an argument about a bill in a Rio bar.
  2. A bar worker recorded the moment, and the video spread quickly online.
  3. Paez said she had not intended to be racist and later apologized.
  4. A court in Rio started hearing the case.
  5. The judge is expected to decide soon while debate continues in Brazil and Argentina.

Vocabulary:

  1. Reach: trial
  2. Make: a racist gesture
  3. Start: a wider debate
  4. Follow: the case
  1. Have: an argument
  2. Consider: compensation
  3. Receive: threats

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Contrast. 3) Result.

  1. To me,
  2. but
  3. Because of that,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. Two to five years may be too much if the person apologizes and accepts responsibility.
  2. Videos can reveal harmful behavior, but they can also make public shame too strong.
  3. I would say clear rules and quick action can help people feel respected in workplaces and schools.

eslnewsstories.com