Listen&Learn: Kamala Harris

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock
Learn about the first woman elected vice president in the U.S.

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • attorney: a person who practices law
  • position: a job or occupation
  • elect: to vote someone into public office
  • campaign: an effort to gain political support
  • rival: a person who competes with another person to reach the same goal
  • candidate: a person who is nominated to run for public office

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

Kamala Harris is an American , attorney, and the vice president-elect of the United States. She was born in 1964 in Oakland, California. In , Harris studied political science and economics, before moving on to law school. Throughout her career in law, Harris worked her way up to becoming the attorney general of California. She held this position from 2010 until 2016, when she was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 2020, Harris started a campaign for the , but she dropped out of the race early on because she didn’t have enough . However, when her former rival Joe Biden became an official presidential candidate, he decided to pick Harris to be his running mate. Biden and Harris were elected in November 2020. This made Harris both the first and the first person of colour ever elected vice president in the U.S.

Comprehension questions

1. During Harris's career in law, she worked towards

Correct! Wrong!

During Harris's career in law, she worked towards becoming the attorney general for California.

2. Harris started a campaign for the presidency in

Correct! Wrong!

Harris started a campaign for the presidency in 2020.

3. Before they were running mates, Biden and Harris were

Correct! Wrong!

Before they were running mates, Biden and Harris were rivals.

Discussion/essay questions

  1. Kamala Harris has received much more media attention than most vice presidents have in the past. Why is her election so significant?

Transcript

Kamala Harris is an American politician, attorney, and the vice president-elect of the United States.  She was born in 1964 in Oakland, California. In university, Harris studied political science and economics, before moving on to law school. Throughout her career in law, Harris worked her way up to becoming the attorney general of California. She held this position from 2010 until 2016, when she was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 2020, Harris started a campaign for the presidency, but she dropped out of the race early on because she didn’t have enough support. However, when her former rival Joe Biden became an official presidential candidate, he decided to pick Harris to be his running mate. Biden and Harris were elected in November 2020. This made Harris both the first woman and the first person of colour ever elected vice president in the U.S.

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub
© EnglishClub.com

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