ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

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

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Put Events in Order, Multiple Choice

Language: Words That Go Together

Use It: Discussion Builder, Sentence Unscramble, Discussion Questions

Answers

(1) What kinds of problems can happen when people travel?

(2) How should a person prepare for visiting another country?

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.

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 → or → 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

Listen Closely

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.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

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:
Use It

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

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.

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