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What is a Strike?
You may have heard the word ‘strike’ talked
about lately. Maybe you have even been
affected by some of the strikes taking place.
Some Royal Mail workers are striking today
and tomorrow. But people in other jobs, such as
bin collectors, railway workers and barristers,
have been striking, too.
Unions that represent NHS workers and
teachers have also said they’re thinking about
striking.
So, what is a strike, why do people strike and
why are lots of people striking now?
What is a strike?
A strike is when a group of workers choose to
stop working.
They say that they won’t do their jobs for a
certain period of time until they are listened to.
By refusing to work, they hope to force their
employer to make a change.
Why do people strike?
Workers might strike for many different
reasons. However, it’s common for people to
strike over pay and work conditions.
People might strike over pay because they
don’t want a pay cut or because they think they
deserve more money.
People might strike over work conditions if
they want to change something about where
they work, such as if they want to make their
workplace safer.
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8th September 2022
What is a union?
• Trade unions are organisations of
workers. They speak on behalf of those
workers and try to improve things for
them. There are lots of different unions
representing people who do different jobs.
• If a union thinks that the only way to
improve things is for a strike to happen,
they will ask their members to vote on
whether or not to have a strike. This is
called a ballot.
Why are lots of people striking now?
One of the reasons many people are striking
now is because of pay.
The coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine and inflation have all caused the prices
of things to go up. In the UK, prices are going up
faster than at any time in the last 40 years.
It means more people are struggling to pay for
things like food and heating. This has led some
workers to go on strike demanding higher wages.
Glossary
representing Helping a person or group by
speaking or acting on their behalf.
barristers Lawyers who represent people in
the higher courts of law.
employer The organisation or person
someone works for.
inflation The increase in the price of things
over time.
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 What is a Strike?

Questions
1. Find and copy two of the job roles mentioned in the article.

1. 

2. 

2. Using information from the article, fill in the missing words to complete the sentence.
Some people are going on in the UK. Many of them want
more .

3. Number the statements from 1-4 to show the order in which they appear in the text. One
has been done for you.

Prices of things in the UK are rising at their fastest rate for 40 years.
Some people strike over pay and conditions.
1 Some Royal Mail workers are on strike.
Some people who work on the railways have been on strike.

4. Look at the final paragraph. Find and copy a word which is similar in meaning to
‘pay; salary’.


5. Tick to show whether the statement is true or false according to the article.
True False
Teachers are on strike.
Some bin collectors have been on strike.
All Royal Mail workers are on strike.
Because of rising prices, some people are struggling to pay for food.

6. In your own words, explain what a strike is.





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 Severe Floods in Pakistan

Answers
1. What has caused the flooding in Pakistan?
Accept any answer which suggests large rainfall during the monsoon season.

2. Name two things the UN are sending to Pakistan to help.

Accept any two of the following: food, shelter, clean water.

3. Find and copy one other way people are helping those in need.
Accept any of the following: Pakistan’s army are rescuing people and sending aid or
the DEC are setting up an appeal to help those in need.

4. Tick each of these statements to show whether they are true or false.
True False
The DEC are raising money to send to Pakistan. 
Monsoons are rare in Pakistan. 
The floods have flooded around a third of Pakistan. 
Millions of people have been affected by the floods. 

5. Which large rivers have burst their banks?

Indus and Kabul

6. Find and copy one way that people are helping those in need.
Accept any reasonable answer which summarises the information in 15 words or fewer,
e.g. People are helping after sever floods in Pakistan.

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 Liz Truss Becomes Prime Minister

Answers
1. Where was Liz Truss born?
Oxford

2. In the sentence Liz Truss will take up residence at 10 Downing Street, what is meant by
the word ‘residence’?
Accept any reasonable answer which suggests that it means to make a home
somewhere, e.g. It means that they will now live there.

3. Tick each statement to show whether it is true or false.

True False
Liz Truss studied at Oxford University. 
Liss Truss is the leader of the Conservative Party. 
Liss Truss has been an MP since 2006. 
Liss Truss will now live at Buckingham Palace. 

4. Why do you think the Conservative Party members get to choose who the next prime
minister is?
Accept any reasonable answer which suggests that the party is the largest in
parliament so they get to choose their leader who will become the next prime minister.

5. Who did Liz Truss beat to become prime minister?

Rishi Sunak

6. Summarise the key information in the article in 15 words or fewer.

Accept any reasonable answer which summarises the key information in 15 words or
fewer, e.g. Liz Truss has become the new prime minister of the United Kingdom.

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 Can You Spot the Fake News Story?

Answers
1. According to the text, how long was Duane Hansen sailing his pumpkin down the
Missouri river?
11 hours

2. According to the text, why were the schoolgirl and her father not allowed to board the
plane at first?
Accept any reasonable answer referring to a lost passport.

3. According to the text, how is the new Pied Uno powered?

Accept any reasonable answer referring to it being powered by walking, running, feet,
legs or people.

4. Give one example of the use of humour in one of the stories.

Accept any reasonable answer, e.g. It says that the man really squashed the record
which is a pun on pumpkins being a type of squash.

5. Which story, or stories, do you think are made up? (tick all that apply)

Man Paddles Pumpkin into the Record Books

 Car Company Develops Vehicle Powered by Walking
Pilot Turns Plane around and Goes Back to Get Schoolgirl

Why do you think that?

Accept any reasonable answer, e.g. An adult-sized car that people power with their legs
would probably be too heavy. It would also be dangerous to drive on the road with other
cars going much faster.

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 What is a Strike?

Answers
1. Find and copy two of the job roles mentioned in the article.
Accept any two from: Royal Mail workers, bin collectors, railway workers, barristers,
NHS workers or teachers.

2. Using information from the article, fill in the missing words to complete the sentence.
Some people are going on strike in the UK. Many of them want
more pay/money/salary/wages .

3. Number the statements from 1-4 to show the order in which they appear in the text. One
has been done for you.

4 Prices of things in the UK are rising at their fastest rate for 40 years.
3 Some people strike over pay and conditions.
1 Some Royal Mail workers are on strike.
2 Some people who work on the railways have been on strike.

4. Look at the final paragraph. Find and copy a word which is similar in meaning to
‘pay; salary’.
wages

5. Tick to show whether the statement is true or false according to the article.
True False
Teachers are on strike. 
Some bin collectors have been on strike. 
All Royal Mail workers are on strike. 
Because of rising prices, some people are struggling to pay for food. 

6. In your own words, explain what a strike is.

Accept any reasonable answer referring to someone withholding their labour, e.g. It’s
when someone refuses to work until something changes.

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