1. Place the heading you will find below the text above the correct sections of the text.

[1]

People once thought the Cold War would never end. Sometimes they feared nuclear bombs would
blow up the world. Now the Cold War has faded to a distant memory.

The Cold War was a conflict primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union. Each power
brought other countries into the conflict on its side. The Cold War lasted more than 40 years, from the
mid-1940s to the end of the 1980s.

Why was the war “cold”? Because the United States and the Soviet Union never got into armed
combat-a shooting or “hot” war-with each other.

[2]

The Cold War began soon after World War II ended in 1945. The United States and the Soviet Union
had been allies in defeating Nazi Germany in that war. The Soviet army had invaded Germany from
the east.

After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries in Eastern Europe that it had freed from
German control. Those countries included Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

An iron curtain fell across Europe. That’s how Winston Churchill, Britain’s leader during World War II,
described the division of Europe. There was no actual curtain, but there were strong barriers between
Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and largely democratic Western Europe. The Soviet Union insisted
on that.

Barbed wire and armed soldiers at borders kept Eastern Europe separate from Western Europe
during the Cold War. Defeated Germany was split into East Germany under Soviet control, and West
Germany. Berlin, Germany’s former capital, was a divided city. In 1961, a concrete wall went up in
Berlin, along the dividing line. Broken glass on top of the Berlin Wall kept people from going over it and
escaping to West Germany.

[3]

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States had different political and economic
systems. The Soviet system was called communism. The United States and its allies feared that the
Soviet Union wanted to spread communism to the rest of the world. They disliked this system.
English Plus Podcast -2-

The goal of communism was to end private ownership of property. Under communism, the people
would own everything communally. They would make decisions as a group.

But things didn’t work out that way in the Soviet Union. Instead, the country became a dictatorship
under the control of the Communist Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of people who disagreed
with the Communist Party were arrested and sent to prison camps.

The United States and most of the countries of Western Europe had democratic governments rather
than dictatorships. They valued freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet Union. Their economic
system-capitalism-was based on private ownership and on individual rather than group effort.

At times during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms because of fear of communism.
During the 1950s, many Americans who were suspected of sympathy for communism lost their jobs.

[4]

During the Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, especially nuclear weapons-atomic
bombs and hydrogen bombs. These weapons could destroy cities and kill hundreds of thousands of
people. Each side was afraid the other would start a nuclear war first.

A nuclear arms race began. Each side said it needed more weapons to retaliate in case of a nuclear
attack. Both sides believed that if they had enough weapons the other side wouldn't dare start a nuclear
war. If it did, it would face total destruction in retaliation.

[5]

The Soviet Union had put Communist governments in power in Eastern Europe. Communist leaders
had come to power in China. The Soviet Union and China backed groups that tried to take power in
other countries. Wars broke out. The United States entered wars to stop the spread of communism.

With the Korean War (1950-1953), the Cold War reached Asia. China backed North Korea, and the
United States supported South Korea. Korea was still divided when fighting stopped in 1953, and it
remains divided today.

In 1962, the Cold War brought the world to the edge of nuclear war. The United States discovered that
the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed at the United
States. War seemed certain, but the Soviet Union backed down and removed the missiles.

The United States fought the spread of communism in the Vietnam War (1959-1975). The U.S.
government feared that if one Asian country fell to communism, the rest of Asia would become
communist as well. The war ended with a communist victory in Vietnam. But communism did not
spread throughout Asia.

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English Plus Podcast -3-

[6]

The Soviet Union nearly went broke as a result of the Cold War weapons race. The Soviet people had
given up hope of a better life ahead. In the mid-1980s, a new leader came to power in the Soviet
Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev was determined to improve life in his country. In the process, he
helped bring the Cold War to an end.

Gorbachev called for more freedom for his people. He and U.S. president Ronald Reagan agreed to
destroy many of the weapons their countries had built. Gorbachev encouraged change in Eastern
Europe, and he said that Soviet troops would no longer keep communist governments in power there.

One after another, the countries of Eastern Europe got rid of their communist leaders. In 1989, the
Berlin Wall came down. Europe was no longer divided. Finally, parts of the Soviet Union declared their
independence. The Cold War ended with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, and
the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

A. COLD WAR
B. HOW DID THE COLD WAR BEGIN?
C. WHAT WAS THE ARMS RACE?
D. HOW DID THE COLD WAR END?
E. WHAT WAS THE CONFLICT ABOUT?
F. HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREAD?

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English Plus Podcast -4-

Listed below are the keywords included in this episode.

2. conflict ______ is serious disagreement and argument about something important. If two people or
groups are in ______, they have had a serious disagreement or argument and have not yet
reached agreement.

3. ally A country's ______ is another country that has an agreement to support it, especi______ in
war.

4. invade To ______ a country means to enter it by force with an army.

5. division The ______ of a large unit into two or more distinct parts is the act of separating it into these
parts.

6. barrier A ______ is something such as a rule, law, or policy that makes it difficult or impossible for
something to happen or be achieved.

7. separate If one thing is ______ from another, there is a barrier, space, or division between them, so
that they are clearly two things.

8. communism ______ is the political belief that all people are equal and that workers should control the
means of producing things.

9. communal You use ______ to describe something that is shared by a group of people.

10. dictatorship A ______ is a country which is ruled by a dictator or by a very strict and harsh government.

11. capitalism ______ is an economic and political system in which property, business, and industry are
owned by private individuals and not by the state.

12. suspect You use ______ when you are stating something that you believe is probably true, in order
to make it sound less strong or direct.

13. arsenal An ______ is a large collection of weapons and military equipment held by a country, group,
or person.

14. retaliate If you ______ when someone harms or annoys you, you do something which harms or
annoys them in return.

15. collapse If a building or other structure ______s, it falls down very suddenly.

For each question below a number of similar words appear, but only one is spelled
correctly and matches the clue that is provided. Write the letter of the correctly
spelled word in the space by the question number.

16. a. COLLAPS b. COLLLAPSE c. COLLAPSE d. COLLAPSSE

If a building or other structure ______s, it falls down very suddenly.

17. a. SEPARATEE b. SEPARATE c. SEPAREAT d. CEPARATE

If one thing is ______ from another, there is a barrier, space, or division between them,
so that they are clearly two things.

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English Plus Podcast -5-

18. a. INVADE b. INQADE c. ENVADE d. INVAD

To ______ a country means to enter it by force with an army.

19. a. DIVISION b. DIVITION c. DIVISSION d. DIVISIEN

The ______ of a large unit into two or more distinct parts is the act of separating it into
these parts.
20. a. COYMUNISM b. KOMMUNISM c. COMUNISM d. COMMUNISM
______ is the political belief that all people are equal and that workers should control the
means of producing things.
21. a. CONNFLICT b. CONFLIKT c. KONFLICT d. CONFLICT
______ is serious disagreement and argument about something important. If two people
or groups are in ______, they have had a serious disagreement or argument and have
not yet reached agreement.
22. a. ALLE b. ALY c. ALLY d. ALLYE
A country's ______ is another country that has an agreement to support it,
especi______ in war.
23. a. ARSENEL b. ARSENNAL c. ARSENAL d. ARSENALL
An ______ is a large collection of weapons and military equipment held by a country,
group, or person.
24. a. CAPITALISM b. CEPITALISM c. KAPITALISM d. CAPITALASM
______ is an economic and political system in which property, business, and industry
are owned by private individuals and not by the state.
25. a. KOMMUNAL b. COMUNAL c. CEMMUNAL d. COMMUNAL
You use ______ to describe something that is shared by a group of people.

26. a. DICTATORCHIP b. DICTATORSHIP c. DIDTATORSHIP d. DICTATORSHP

A ______ is a country which is ruled by a dictator or by a very strict and harsh
government.
27. a. RATALIATE b. RTALIAT c. RETALIEAT d. RETALIATE
If you ______ when someone harms or annoys you, you do something which harms or
annoys them in return.
28. a. BARIER b. BARRIER c. BARRIR d. BARRIIR
A ______ is something such as a rule, law, or policy that makes it difficult or impossible
for something to happen or be achieved.
29. a. SESPECT b. SUSPECCT c. SUSPECT d. SUSKECT
You use ______ when you are stating something that you believe is probably true, in
order to make it sound less strong or direct.

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English Plus Podcast -6-

Choose the best option the completes the sentences below:

30. If you ______, you suddenly faint or fall down because you are very ill or weak.
a. capitalism b. conflict c. barrier d. invade e. collapse

31. ______ could be seen to represent the western culture and as a market dynamism for
the rising China.
a. capitalism b. ally c. suspect d. communal e. communism

32. If someone or something ______s your privacy, they interfere in your life without your
permission.
a. invade b. arsenal c. retaliate d. dictatorship e. collapse
33. You can use ______ to refer to a large number of tools, methods, or resources that
someone has available to help them achieve what they want to do.
a. division b. collapse c. separate d. communal e. arsenal

34. A ______ is a significant distinction or argument between two groups, which causes the
two groups to be considered as very different and separate.
a. arsenal b. invade c. ally d. dictatorship e. division

35. A ______ is something such as a fence or wall that is put in place to prevent people
from moving easily from one area to another.
a. retaliate b. suspect c. conflict d. barrier e. communism

36. If you ______ people or things that are together, or if they ______, they move apart.
a. capitalism b. division c. separate d. barrier e. arsenal

37. They may ______ with sanctions on other products if the bans are disregarded.
a. capitalism b. barrier c. retaliate d. dictatorship e. conflict

38. The authoritarian ______ in China is exactly what people are trying so hard to avoid in
the West.
a. suspect b. retaliate c. collapse d. communism e. invade
39. A ______ is a serious difference between two or more beliefs, ideas, or interests. If two
beliefs, ideas, or interests are in ______, they are very different.
a. division b. conflict c. ally d. separate e. communism
40. An ______ is someone who supports people who are in a minority group or who are
discriminated against, even though they do not belong to that group themselves.
a. arsenal b. communism c. dictatorship d. ally e. communal

41. Under Caesar's ______ Cicero abstained from politics.

a. separate b. communal c. collapse d. dictatorship e. invade

42. Romans has a tribunal of commerce and a ______ college.

a. suspect b. communal c. division d. barrier e. retaliate

43. A ______ is a person who the police or authorities think may be guilty of a crime.
a. dictatorship b. conflict c. capitalism d. arsenal e. suspect

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English Plus Podcast -7-

44. Using the Across and Down clues, write the correct words in the numbered grid
below.
1 2 3 4
P
5
R
6 7 8 9
O
S
D
10 11
R
12
O S

13
F
14
A

ACROSS DOWN
1. In that scheme the rise and growth of ______ was 2. An ______ is a building where weapons and
considered to be a necessary preliminary to social military equipment are stored.
revolution, and it was thought that Russia had 3. If you say that people or animals ______ a place,
hardly entered that stage: therefore, it was not ripe you mean that they enter it in large numbers, often
for a social upheaval. in a way that is unpleasant or difficult to deal with.
6. ______ is government by a dictator. 4. A ______ is a problem that prevents two people or
10. If you describe someone as your ______, you groups from agreeing, communicating, or working
mean that they help and support you, with each other.
especi______ when other people are opposing 5. If you ______ that something dishonest or
you. unpleasant has been done, you believe that it has
11. The militia responded by saying it would ______ probably been done. If you ______ someone of
against any attacks. doing an action of this kind, you believe that they
12. A new era was brought on by the fall of ______. probably did it.
13. ______ is a state of mind in which you find it 7. ______ means relating to particular groups in a
impossible to make a decision. country or society.
14. If something, for example a system or institution, 8. If you refer to ______ things, you mean several
______s, it fails or comes to an end completely different things, rather than just one thing.
and suddenly. 9. The ______ of something among people or things
is its separation into parts which are distributed
among the people or things.

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English Plus Podcast -8-

45. Beginning with the circled letter, use the clues to find and mark the trail of letters of all
the connected words through the maze to the last letter. The path can wander up,
down, left, right, and diagonally.

U D B G L H C B M T B S X B K V D M G Q
X B H P O A F D V I D Y P K P Z S H J W
N I O O U N N S I I P J Z Q Z E K Z J H
Z U D S W M O I S H R L C Y C X J M S E
U A Y Q D S C O R D O X Q X A A S Z G C
Q F P O N K V T A W L P R P Z N Y V K K
A S D H R I E R T S Z D Z V U L C F D Q
H V M O R A O C C T C E P S F N O V H G
M M O M L B M M I D M R S U Y X D Z F Q
I Z C M A N Z U N I S E E L L A E T I M
P L L U N N P A L A I T D Y J M S A R J
N Y A S R S R L G T L A A I I S E P A E
C O N E A W M X W E C O V N L A B G N E
B N S C T V F M W E C L P S E T I I N A
Y F L I U Z Y U W W C L A Y C A P A F M
1. ______ is a state of mind in which you find 6. If you ______ when someone harms or
it impossible to make a decision. annoys you, you do something which
2. You can use ______ to refer to a large harms or annoys them in return.
number of tools, methods, or resources 7. If something, for example a system or
that someone has available to help them institution, ______s, it fails or comes to an
achieve what they want to do. end completely and suddenly.
3. ______ means relating to particular groups 8. ______ could be seen to represent the
in a country or society. western culture and as a market dynamism
4. A ______ is a problem that prevents two for the rising China.
people or groups from agreeing, 9. If you refer to ______ things, you mean
communicating, or working with each several different things, rather than just
other. one thing.
5. ______ is the political belief that all people 10. A country's ______ is another country that
are equal and that workers should control has an agreement to support it,
the means of producing things. especi______ in war.

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English Plus Podcast -9-

11. If you say that people or animals ______ a 13. ______ is government by a dictator.
place, you mean that they enter it in large 14. The ______ of a large unit into two or more
numbers, often in a way that is unpleasant distinct parts is the act of separating it into
or difficult to deal with. these parts.
12. A ______ is a person who the police or
authorities think may be guilty of a crime.

46. Find the hidden words. The words have been placed horizontally, vertically, or
diagonally. When you locate a word, draw a circle around it.

I Y J H K D B R R E T A L I A T E H Q C
R A K J J R L O E X H E C F K V O M C L
C L H K C C R T D I V I S I O N R S O X
E O U J H C A P I T A L I S M Q Q I L S
I P M B X R C O N F L I C T W N K N L N
T A D M A J E D W E W P S P Q F Z U A G
A P I P U R S L E X C G G U Q M E M P U
P N E Z A N R A R S E N A L S D A M S Y
N S A L L Y A I J Y S N O B A P A O E Y
T S A K S B P L E H N V Y V I W E C X X
C N R C O I Q O P R G L N W C W V C D K
D D I C T A T O R S H I P Y I O G F T T
division communism communal suspect ally
collapse dictatorship arsenal invade capitalism
separate retaliate barrier conflict

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English Plus Podcast - 10 -

47. Fill in the blanks while you listen to the episode.

COLD WAR

People once thought the Cold War would never end. Sometimes they feared nuclear bombs would
blow up the world. Now the Cold War has faded to a distant memory.

The Cold War was a conflict primarily between the [1] States and the Soviet Union.
Each power brought other countries into the conflict on its side. The Cold War lasted more than 40
years, from the mid-1940s to the end of the 1980s.

Why was the war “cold”? Because the United States and the Soviet Union never got into armed
combat-a shooting or “hot” war-with each other.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR BEGIN?

The Cold War began soon after World War II ended in 1945. The [2]
[3] and the Soviet Union had been allies in [4] Nazi Germany in
that war. The [5] army had [6] Germany from the east.

After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries in Eastern Europe that it had freed from
German control. Those countries included Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, [7] , Poland,
and Romania.

An iron curtain fell [8] Europe. That’s how Winston Churchill, Britain’s leader during
World War II, described the division of Europe. There was no actual curtain, but [9]
were strong barriers between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and largely democratic Western
Europe. The Soviet Union insisted on that.

Barbed wire and armed soldiers at borders kept Eastern [10] separate from
Western Europe during the Cold War. Defeated Germany was split into East Germany under Soviet
control, and West Germany. [11] , Germany’s former capital, was a
[12] city. In 1961, a concrete wall went up in Berlin, along the dividing line.
[13] glass on top of the [14] Wall kept people from going over it
and escaping to West Germany.

WHAT WAS THE CONFLICT ABOUT?

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States had [15] political and
economic systems. The Soviet system was [16] communism. The United States

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English Plus Podcast - 11 -

and its allies feared that the [17] Union [18] to spread
communism to the rest of the world. They disliked this system.

The goal of [19] was to end private ownership of property. Under communism, the
people would own everything communally. They would make decisions as a group.

But things didn’t work out that way in the Soviet [20] . Instead, the country became a
dictatorship under the control of the Communist Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of people
who disagreed with the Communist Party were [21] and sent to prison camps.

The United States and most of the countries of Western Europe had [22]
governments rather than [23] . They valued freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet
[24] . Their economic [25] based on [26]
ownership and on individual rather than group effort.

At times during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms because of fear of communism.
During the 1950s, many Americans who were suspected of sympathy for [27]
lost their jobs.

WHAT WAS THE ARMS RACE?

During the Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, especially nuclear weapons-atomic
bombs and [28] bombs. These weapons could destroy cities and kill hundreds of
thousands of people. Each side was afraid the [29] would start a nuclear war first.

A nuclear arms race began. Each side said it needed more weapons to retaliate in case of a nuclear
attack. Both sides [30] that if they had [31] weapons the other
side wouldn't dare start a nuclear war. If it did, it would face total destruction in retaliation.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREAD?

The Soviet [32] had put Communist governments in power in

[33] Europe. Communist leaders had come to power in China. The Soviet Union
and China backed groups that [34] to take power in other countries. Wars broke out.
The United States entered wars to stop the spread of communism.

With the Korean War (1950-1953), the Cold War reached Asia. China backed North Korea, and the
United States supported [35] Korea. Korea was still divided when fighting stopped
in 1953, and it remains divided today.

In 1962, the Cold War [36] the world to the edge of nuclear war. The United States
discovered that the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed at

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English Plus Podcast - 12 -

the United States. War seemed certain, but the Soviet [37] backed down and
removed the missiles.

The United States fought the spread of communism in the Vietnam War (1959-1975). The U.S.
government feared that if one Asian country fell to communism, the rest of Asia would become
communist as well. The war ended with a communist victory in [38] . But
[39] did not spread throughout Asia.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR END?

The Soviet Union nearly went broke as a result of the Cold War weapons race. The Soviet people had
given up hope of a better life ahead. In the mid-1980s, a new [40] came to
[41] in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev was determined to
improve life in his country. In the process, he helped bring the Cold War to an end.

Gorbachev called for more freedom for his people. He and U.S. president Ronald Reagan agreed to
destroy many of the weapons their countries had built. Gorbachev encouraged change in Eastern
Europe, and he said that Soviet troops would no longer keep communist governments in power there.

One after another, the countries of Eastern Europe got rid of their communist [42] . In
1989, the Berlin Wall came down. [43] was no longer divided. Finally, parts of the
Soviet Union declared their independence. The Cold War ended with the collapse of communism in
Eastern Europe in 1989, and the breakup of the Soviet [44] in 1991.

A. invaded B. Vietnam C. hydrogen

D. Berlin E. system-capitalism-was F. Berlin
G. democratic H. States I. United
J. Union K. believed L. Europe
M. leader N. United O. different
P. Europe Q. Union R. Soviet
S. Union T. other U. tried
V. Eastern W. called X. wanted
Y. Hungary Z. across AA. divided
BB. leaders CC. private DD. brought
EE. Broken FF. defeating GG. communism
HH. communism II. communism JJ. arrested
KK. South LL. there MM. Union
NN. Soviet OO. dictatorships PP. Union
QQ. power RR. enough

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48. Fill in the blanks while you listen to the episode.

COLD WAR

People once thought the Cold War would [1] end. Sometimes they
[2] [3] bombs would blow up the world. Now the Cold War has
[4] to a [5] memory.

The Cold War was a conflict primarily [6] the United States and the Soviet Union.
Each power brought [7] countries into the conflict on its side. The Cold War lasted
more than 40 years, from the mid-1940s to the end of the 1980s.

Why was the war “cold”? [8] the United [9] and the Soviet
Union [10] got into armed [11] shooting or “hot” war-with each
[12] .

HOW DID THE COLD WAR BEGIN?

The Cold War began soon after [13] War II [14] in 1945. The
United [15] and the Soviet [16] had been allies in defeating
Nazi [17] in that war. The Soviet army had [18] Germany
from the east.

After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries in Eastern Europe that it had
[19] from [20] control. Those countries included Bulgaria,
[21] , Hungary, [22] , and [23] .

An iron [24] fell [25] Europe. That’s how Winston Churchill,

Britain’s leader during World War II, described the division of Europe. There was no actual curtain, but
there were strong barriers between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and largely democratic
[26] [27] . The Soviet Union insisted on that.

Barbed wire and armed [28] at [29] kept Eastern

[30] separate from [31] [32] during the
Cold War. [33] Germany was split into East Germany under
[34] [35] , and West Germany. Berlin, Germany’s former capital,
was a [36] city. In 1961, a [37] wall went up in Berlin, along the
[38] line. Broken glass on top of the [39] Wall kept people from
[40] over it and escaping to West [41] .

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WHAT WAS THE [42] ABOUT?

[43] the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States had different political
and economic [44] . The Soviet system was called communism. The United States
and its allies [45] that the Soviet Union [46] to
[47] communism to the rest of the world. They [48] this
[49] .

The goal of [50] was to end [51] ownership of

[52] . Under communism, the [53] would own
[54] communally. They [55] make decisions as a
[56] .

But things didn’t work out that way in the [57] Union. Instead, the
[58] [59] a [60] [61] the
control of the Communist Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of [62] who
disagreed with the Communist Party were [63] and sent to [64]
camps.

The [65] [66] and most of the countries of

[67] [68] had [69] governments rather than
[70] . They valued freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet [71] .
[72] economic [73] based on private ownership and on
[74] [75] than [76] [77] .

At [78] during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms
[79] of fear of communism. During the 1950s, many [80] who
were suspected of [81] for communism lost their jobs.

WHAT WAS THE ARMS RACE?

[82] the Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, especially nuclear
weapons-atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs. These weapons could destroy cities and kill
[83] of thousands of people. Each side was [84] the other would
start a nuclear war first.

A nuclear arms race began. Each side said it [85] more weapons to retaliate in
case of a nuclear attack. Both sides believed that if they had enough [86] the other
side wouldn't dare [87] a [88] war. If it did, it would face total
destruction in retaliation.

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HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREAD?

The [89] Union had put [90] [91] in power in

Eastern Europe. Communist [92] had come to power in China. The Soviet Union
and China backed groups that tried to take power in other countries. Wars [93] out.
The [94] [95] entered wars to stop the [96]
of communism.

With the Korean War (1950-1953), the Cold War [97] Asia. China backed North
[98] , and the United [99] supported South Korea. Korea was
[100] divided when [101] [102] in 1953, and it
[103] divided [104] .

In 1962, the Cold War brought the world to the edge of nuclear war. The United States discovered that
the Soviet [105] had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed
at the United States. War seemed certain, but the Soviet Union backed down and
[106] the missiles.

The United States fought the [107] of communism in the [108]

War (1959-1975). The U.S. government feared that if one Asian [109] fell to
[110] , the rest of Asia would [111] communist as well. The
war ended with a communist victory in [112] . But communism did not spread
throughout Asia.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR END?

The Soviet [113] nearly went broke as a [114] of the Cold War
weapons race. The Soviet people had given up hope of a better life ahead. In the mid-1980s, a new
leader came to power in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. [115] was
determined to improve life in his country. In the process, he helped [116] the Cold
War to an end.

Gorbachev [117] for more freedom for his people. He and U.S. president Ronald
[118] agreed to destroy many of the weapons their [119] had
built. [120] [121] change in Eastern Europe, and he said that
Soviet troops would no longer keep [122] governments in power there.

One after another, the countries of [123] Europe got rid of their communist leaders.
In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. [124] was no [125]
divided. Finally, parts of the Soviet [126] declared [127]

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English Plus Podcast - 16 -

[128] . The Cold War [129] with the collapse of

[130] in [131] Europe in 1989, and the breakup of the
[132] Union in 1991.

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English Plus Podcast - 17 -

49. In each line of text below there is one word that has been misspelled. Circle the
misspelled word and then write the correct spelling of the word on the line on the right
side of the page.

COLD WAQ 1.
People once thowght the Cold War would never end. Sometimes they 2.
feared nucleer bombs would blow up the world. Now the Cold War has 3.
faded too a distant memory. 4.
The Cod War was a conflict primarily between the United States and the 5.
Soviet Union. Each power brought other countries into tha conflict on 6.
its side. The Colld War lasted more than 40 years, from the mid-1940s to 7.
sehe end of the 1980s. 8.
Why was the whar “cold”? Because the United States and the Soviet 9.
Union never got into armed combat-a shoting or “hot” war-with each 10.
othre. 11.
HOW DID THE COLR WAR BEGIN? 12.
Th Cold War began soon after World War II ended in 1945. The United 13.
States and the Soveit Union had been allies in defeating Nazi Germany 14.
in that war. The Soviet army had invaded Germany from the easte. 15.
After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries inn Eastern 16.
Europe that it had freed frome German control. Those countries included 17.
Bulgarie, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. 18.
An iron curtain fell across Europe. Thate’s how Winston Churchill, 19.
Britain’s leadir during World War II, described the division of Europe. 20.
There was no actual curtain, but there were strong barriers betwean 21.
Soviet-controlled Eastetn Europe and largely democratic Western 22.
Europe. The Soviet Union insisted one that. 23.
Barbed wire and armed soldiers at borders keppt Eastern Europe 24.
separate from Westirn Europe during the Cold War. Defeated Germany 25.
was split intwo East Germany under Soviet control, and West Germany. 26.
Berlin, Germany’s former capital, was a divided city. Un 1961, a concrete 27.
wall went up in Berlin, along tha dividing line. Broken glass on top of the 28.
Berlin Wall kept people from going ovir it and escaping to West 29.
Germani. 30.
WHAT WAS THE CONFLICX ABOUT? 31.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United Stated had 32.
differant political and economic systems. The Soviet system was called 33.

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17
English Plus Podcast - 18 -

communism. The United States and its allies feard that the Soviet 34.
Union wanted to spread communism to the reste of the world. They 35.
disliked this sistem. 36.
Th goal of communism was to end private ownership of property. 37.
Under communism, the people wood own everything communally. 38.
Thee would make decisions as a group. 39.
But thinggs didn’t work out that way in the Soviet Union. Instead, the 40.
country became an dictatorship under the control of the Communist 41.
Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of people whoe disagreed with 42.
the Comunist Party were arrested and sent to prison camps. 43.
The United States and moste of the countries of Western Europe had 44.
democratic governments rathir than dictatorships. They valued 45.
freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet Unien. Their economic 46.
systemcapitalismwas based on private ownership and on individual 47.
rather than growp effort. 48.
At tymes during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms 49.
because of feir of communism. During the 1950s, many Americans who 50.
were suspected of sympathy for communism loste their jobs. 51.
WHAT WAS THE ORMS RACE? 52.
During tha Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, 53.
especially neclear weapons-atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs. These 54.
weipons could destroy cities and kill hundreds of thousands of people. 55.
Each side was afraid the other would start a nucleir war first. 56.
A nuclear arms race began. Eache side said it needed more weapons to 57.
retaliate in case of an nuclear attack. Both sides believed that if they had 58.
enough weapons the other side wouldn't dare start a nuclear war. If et 59.
did, it would face total destruction inn retaliation. 60.
HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREADE? 61.
The Soviet Uniun had put Communist governments in power in Eastern 62.
Europe. Communist leaders had com to power in China. The Soviet 63.
Union and China backed groups thet tried to take power in other 64.
countries. Wars broke out. The United States entered wars to stop tha 65.
spraid of communism. 66.
With the Korean War (1950y1953), the Cold War reached Asia. China 67.
backed North Korea, end the United States supported South Korea. 68.
Korea was still divided when fighting stopped inn 1953, and it remains 69.
devided today. 70.
In 1962, the Cold War brought the world to the edge of nucleir war. The 71.

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18
English Plus Podcast - 19 -

United States discovered that the Soviet Union had enstalled nuclear 72.
missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed at the United States. Wir 73.
seemed certain, but the Soviet Unien backed down and removed the 74.
misssiles. 75.
The United Sxates fought the spread of communism in the Vietnam War 76.
(1959-1975). The U.S. government feared that if one Asian country fel 77.
to communism, the rest of Acie would become communist as well. The 78.
war ended with a communist victery in Vietnam. But communism did 79.
not spread throghot Asia. 80.
HOW DIZ THE COLD WAR END? 81.
The Soviet Union neirly went broke as a result of the Cold War weapons 82.
race. The Soviet people had given up hope of a better life ahead. Ib the 83.
mid-1980s, a now leader came to power in the Soviet Union, Mikhail 84.
Gerbachev. Gorbachev was determined to improve life in his country. In 85.
the process, he helped bring the Cold War to an and. 86.
Gorbachev called for more freedom for his people. H and U.S. 87.
president Ronald Reagan agreed to destroy many of the weapons they're 88.
countries had built. Gorbachev encouraged chang in Eastern Europe, 89.
and he said that Soviet troops would no longr keep communist 90.
governments inn power there. 91.
One after another, the countries of Eastern Europe gote rid of their 92.
communist leaders. In 1989, the Berlin Wall cam down. Europe was no 93.
longer divided. Finallly, parts of the Soviet Union declared their 94.
independence. Th Cold War ended with the collapse of communism in 95.
Eastern Europe inn 1989, and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. 96.

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

19
1. Place the heading you will find below the text above the correct sections of the text.

[1] COLD WAR

People once thought the Cold War would never end. Sometimes they feared nuclear bombs would
blow up the world. Now the Cold War has faded to a distant memory.

The Cold War was a conflict primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union. Each power
brought other countries into the conflict on its side. The Cold War lasted more than 40 years, from the
mid-1940s to the end of the 1980s.

Why was the war “cold”? Because the United States and the Soviet Union never got into armed
combat-a shooting or “hot” war-with each other.

[2] HOW DID THE COLD WAR BEGIN?

The Cold War began soon after World War II ended in 1945. The United States and the Soviet Union
had been allies in defeating Nazi Germany in that war. The Soviet army had invaded Germany from
the east.

After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries in Eastern Europe that it had freed from
German control. Those countries included Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

An iron curtain fell across Europe. That’s how Winston Churchill, Britain’s leader during World War II,
described the division of Europe. There was no actual curtain, but there were strong barriers between
Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and largely democratic Western Europe. The Soviet Union insisted
on that.

Barbed wire and armed soldiers at borders kept Eastern Europe separate from Western Europe
during the Cold War. Defeated Germany was split into East Germany under Soviet control, and West
Germany. Berlin, Germany’s former capital, was a divided city. In 1961, a concrete wall went up in
Berlin, along the dividing line. Broken glass on top of the Berlin Wall kept people from going over it and
escaping to West Germany.

[3] WHAT WAS THE CONFLICT ABOUT?

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States had different political and economic
systems. The Soviet system was called communism. The United States and its allies feared that the
Soviet Union wanted to spread communism to the rest of the world. They disliked this system.
English Plus Podcast -2-

The goal of communism was to end private ownership of property. Under communism, the people
would own everything communally. They would make decisions as a group.

But things didn’t work out that way in the Soviet Union. Instead, the country became a dictatorship
under the control of the Communist Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of people who disagreed
with the Communist Party were arrested and sent to prison camps.

The United States and most of the countries of Western Europe had democratic governments rather
than dictatorships. They valued freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet Union. Their economic
system-capitalism-was based on private ownership and on individual rather than group effort.

At times during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms because of fear of communism.
During the 1950s, many Americans who were suspected of sympathy for communism lost their jobs.

[4] WHAT WAS THE ARMS RACE?

During the Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, especially nuclear weapons-atomic
bombs and hydrogen bombs. These weapons could destroy cities and kill hundreds of thousands of
people. Each side was afraid the other would start a nuclear war first.

A nuclear arms race began. Each side said it needed more weapons to retaliate in case of a nuclear
attack. Both sides believed that if they had enough weapons the other side wouldn't dare start a nuclear
war. If it did, it would face total destruction in retaliation.

[5] HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREAD?

The Soviet Union had put Communist governments in power in Eastern Europe. Communist leaders
had come to power in China. The Soviet Union and China backed groups that tried to take power in
other countries. Wars broke out. The United States entered wars to stop the spread of communism.

With the Korean War (1950-1953), the Cold War reached Asia. China backed North Korea, and the
United States supported South Korea. Korea was still divided when fighting stopped in 1953, and it
remains divided today.

In 1962, the Cold War brought the world to the edge of nuclear war. The United States discovered that
the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed at the United
States. War seemed certain, but the Soviet Union backed down and removed the missiles.

The United States fought the spread of communism in the Vietnam War (1959-1975). The U.S.
government feared that if one Asian country fell to communism, the rest of Asia would become
communist as well. The war ended with a communist victory in Vietnam. But communism did not
spread throughout Asia.

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

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English Plus Podcast -3-

[6] HOW DID THE COLD WAR END?

The Soviet Union nearly went broke as a result of the Cold War weapons race. The Soviet people had
given up hope of a better life ahead. In the mid-1980s, a new leader came to power in the Soviet
Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev was determined to improve life in his country. In the process, he
helped bring the Cold War to an end.

Gorbachev called for more freedom for his people. He and U.S. president Ronald Reagan agreed to
destroy many of the weapons their countries had built. Gorbachev encouraged change in Eastern
Europe, and he said that Soviet troops would no longer keep communist governments in power there.

One after another, the countries of Eastern Europe got rid of their communist leaders. In 1989, the
Berlin Wall came down. Europe was no longer divided. Finally, parts of the Soviet Union declared their
independence. The Cold War ended with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, and
the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

A. COLD WAR
B. HOW DID THE COLD WAR BEGIN?
C. WHAT WAS THE ARMS RACE?
D. HOW DID THE COLD WAR END?
E. WHAT WAS THE CONFLICT ABOUT?
F. HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREAD?

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

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English Plus Podcast -4-

Listed below are the keywords included in this episode.

2. conflict ______ is serious disagreement and argument about something important. If two people or
groups are in ______, they have had a serious disagreement or argument and have not yet
reached agreement.

3. ally A country's ______ is another country that has an agreement to support it, especi______ in
war.

4. invade To ______ a country means to enter it by force with an army.

5. division The ______ of a large unit into two or more distinct parts is the act of separating it into these
parts.

6. barrier A ______ is something such as a rule, law, or policy that makes it difficult or impossible for
something to happen or be achieved.

7. separate If one thing is ______ from another, there is a barrier, space, or division between them, so
that they are clearly two things.

8. communism ______ is the political belief that all people are equal and that workers should control the
means of producing things.

9. communal You use ______ to describe something that is shared by a group of people.

10. dictatorship A ______ is a country which is ruled by a dictator or by a very strict and harsh government.

11. capitalism ______ is an economic and political system in which property, business, and industry are
owned by private individuals and not by the state.

12. suspect You use ______ when you are stating something that you believe is probably true, in order
to make it sound less strong or direct.

13. arsenal An ______ is a large collection of weapons and military equipment held by a country, group,
or person.

14. retaliate If you ______ when someone harms or annoys you, you do something which harms or
annoys them in return.

15. collapse If a building or other structure ______s, it falls down very suddenly.

For each question below a number of similar words appear, but only one is spelled
correctly and matches the clue that is provided. Write the letter of the correctly
spelled word in the space by the question number.

16. c a. COLLAPS b. COLLLAPSE c. COLLAPSE d. COLLAPSSE

If a building or other structure ______s, it falls down very suddenly.

17. b a. SEPARATEE b. SEPARATE c. SEPAREAT d. CEPARATE

If one thing is ______ from another, there is a barrier, space, or division between them,
so that they are clearly two things.

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English Plus Podcast -5-

18. a a. INVADE b. INQADE c. ENVADE d. INVAD

To ______ a country means to enter it by force with an army.

19. a a. DIVISION b. DIVITION c. DIVISSION d. DIVISIEN

The ______ of a large unit into two or more distinct parts is the act of separating it into
these parts.
20. d a. COYMUNISM b. KOMMUNISM c. COMUNISM d. COMMUNISM
______ is the political belief that all people are equal and that workers should control the
means of producing things.
21. d a. CONNFLICT b. CONFLIKT c. KONFLICT d. CONFLICT
______ is serious disagreement and argument about something important. If two people
or groups are in ______, they have had a serious disagreement or argument and have
not yet reached agreement.
22. c a. ALLE b. ALY c. ALLY d. ALLYE
A country's ______ is another country that has an agreement to support it,
especi______ in war.
23. c a. ARSENEL b. ARSENNAL c. ARSENAL d. ARSENALL
An ______ is a large collection of weapons and military equipment held by a country,
group, or person.
24. a a. CAPITALISM b. CEPITALISM c. KAPITALISM d. CAPITALASM
______ is an economic and political system in which property, business, and industry
are owned by private individuals and not by the state.
25. d a. KOMMUNAL b. COMUNAL c. CEMMUNAL d. COMMUNAL
You use ______ to describe something that is shared by a group of people.

26. b a. DICTATORCHIP b. DICTATORSHIP c. DIDTATORSHIP d. DICTATORSHP

A ______ is a country which is ruled by a dictator or by a very strict and harsh
government.
27. d a. RATALIATE b. RTALIAT c. RETALIEAT d. RETALIATE
If you ______ when someone harms or annoys you, you do something which harms or
annoys them in return.
28. b a. BARIER b. BARRIER c. BARRIR d. BARRIIR
A ______ is something such as a rule, law, or policy that makes it difficult or impossible
for something to happen or be achieved.
29. c a. SESPECT b. SUSPECCT c. SUSPECT d. SUSKECT
You use ______ when you are stating something that you believe is probably true, in
order to make it sound less strong or direct.

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English Plus Podcast -6-

Choose the best option the completes the sentences below:

30. e If you ______, you suddenly faint or fall down because you are very ill or weak.
a. capitalism b. conflict c. barrier d. invade e. collapse

31. a ______ could be seen to represent the western culture and as a market dynamism for
the rising China.
a. capitalism b. ally c. suspect d. communal e. communism

32. a If someone or something ______s your privacy, they interfere in your life without your
permission.
a. invade b. arsenal c. retaliate d. dictatorship e. collapse
33. e You can use ______ to refer to a large number of tools, methods, or resources that
someone has available to help them achieve what they want to do.
a. division b. collapse c. separate d. communal e. arsenal

34. e A ______ is a significant distinction or argument between two groups, which causes the
two groups to be considered as very different and separate.
a. arsenal b. invade c. ally d. dictatorship e. division

35. d A ______ is something such as a fence or wall that is put in place to prevent people
from moving easily from one area to another.
a. retaliate b. suspect c. conflict d. barrier e. communism

36. c If you ______ people or things that are together, or if they ______, they move apart.
a. capitalism b. division c. separate d. barrier e. arsenal

37. c They may ______ with sanctions on other products if the bans are disregarded.
a. capitalism b. barrier c. retaliate d. dictatorship e. conflict

38. d The authoritarian ______ in China is exactly what people are trying so hard to avoid in
the West.
a. suspect b. retaliate c. collapse d. communism e. invade
39. b A ______ is a serious difference between two or more beliefs, ideas, or interests. If two
beliefs, ideas, or interests are in ______, they are very different.
a. division b. conflict c. ally d. separate e. communism
40. d An ______ is someone who supports people who are in a minority group or who are
discriminated against, even though they do not belong to that group themselves.
a. arsenal b. communism c. dictatorship d. ally e. communal

41. d Under Caesar's ______ Cicero abstained from politics.

a. separate b. communal c. collapse d. dictatorship e. invade

42. b Romans has a tribunal of commerce and a ______ college.

a. suspect b. communal c. division d. barrier e. retaliate

43. e A ______ is a person who the police or authorities think may be guilty of a crime.
a. dictatorship b. conflict c. capitalism d. arsenal e. suspect

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English Plus Podcast -7-

44. Using the Across and Down clues, write the correct words in the numbered grid
below.
1 2 3 4
C A P I T A L I S M B
5
S R N A
6 7 8 9
U D I C T A T O R S H I P V S D R
S O E A E I R
P M N D P V I
10 11
E M A L L Y R E T A L I A T E
12
C O M M U N I S M L R S R
T N A I
13
A C O N F L I C T O
14
C O L L A P S E E N

ACROSS DOWN
1. In that scheme the rise and growth of ______ was 2. An ______ is a building where weapons and
considered to be a necessary preliminary to social military equipment are stored.
revolution, and it was thought that Russia had 3. If you say that people or animals ______ a place,
hardly entered that stage: therefore, it was not ripe you mean that they enter it in large numbers, often
for a social upheaval. in a way that is unpleasant or difficult to deal with.
6. ______ is government by a dictator. 4. A ______ is a problem that prevents two people or
10. If you describe someone as your ______, you groups from agreeing, communicating, or working
mean that they help and support you, with each other.
especi______ when other people are opposing 5. If you ______ that something dishonest or
you. unpleasant has been done, you believe that it has
11. The militia responded by saying it would ______ probably been done. If you ______ someone of
against any attacks. doing an action of this kind, you believe that they
12. A new era was brought on by the fall of ______. probably did it.
13. ______ is a state of mind in which you find it 7. ______ means relating to particular groups in a
impossible to make a decision. country or society.
14. If something, for example a system or institution, 8. If you refer to ______ things, you mean several
______s, it fails or comes to an end completely different things, rather than just one thing.
and suddenly. 9. The ______ of something among people or things
is its separation into parts which are distributed
among the people or things.

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

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English Plus Podcast -8-

45. Beginning with the circled letter, use the clues to find and mark the trail of letters of all
the connected words through the maze to the last letter. The path can wander up,
down, left, right, and diagonally.

U D B G L H C B M T B S X B K V D M G Q
X B H P O A F D V I D Y P K P Z S H J W
N I O O U N N S I I P J Z Q Z E K Z J H
Z U D S W M O I S H R L C Y C X J M S E
U A Y Q D S C O R D O X Q X A A S Z G C
Q F P O N K V T A W L P R P Z N Y V K K
A S D H R I E R T S Z D Z V U L C F D Q
H V M O R A O C C T C E P S F N O V H G
M M O M L B M M I D M R S U Y X D Z F Q
I Z C M A N Z U N I S E E L L A E T I M
P L L U N N P A L A I T D Y J M S A R J
N Y A S R S R L G T L A A I I S E P A E
C O N E A W M X W E C O V N L A B G N E
B N S C T V F M W E C L P S E T I I N A
Y F L I U Z Y U W W C L A Y C A P A F M
1. ______ is a state of mind in which you find 6. If you ______ when someone harms or
it impossible to make a decision. annoys you, you do something which
2. You can use ______ to refer to a large harms or annoys them in return.
number of tools, methods, or resources 7. If something, for example a system or
that someone has available to help them institution, ______s, it fails or comes to an
achieve what they want to do. end completely and suddenly.
3. ______ means relating to particular groups 8. ______ could be seen to represent the
in a country or society. western culture and as a market dynamism
4. A ______ is a problem that prevents two for the rising China.
people or groups from agreeing, 9. If you refer to ______ things, you mean
communicating, or working with each several different things, rather than just
other. one thing.
5. ______ is the political belief that all people 10. A country's ______ is another country that
are equal and that workers should control has an agreement to support it,
the means of producing things. especi______ in war.

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

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English Plus Podcast -9-

11. If you say that people or animals ______ a 13. ______ is government by a dictator.
place, you mean that they enter it in large 14. The ______ of a large unit into two or more
numbers, often in a way that is unpleasant distinct parts is the act of separating it into
or difficult to deal with. these parts.
12. A ______ is a person who the police or
authorities think may be guilty of a crime.

46. Find the hidden words. The words have been placed horizontally, vertically, or
diagonally. When you locate a word, draw a circle around it.

I Y J H K D B R R E T A L I A T E H Q C
R A K J J R L O E X H E C F K V O M C L
C L H K C C R T D I V I S I O N R S O X
E O U J H C A P I T A L I S M Q Q I L S
I P M B X R C O N F L I C T W N K N L N
T A D M A J E D W E W P S P Q F Z U A G
A P I P U R S L E X C G G U Q M E M P U
P N E Z A N R A R S E N A L S D A M S Y
N S A L L Y A I J Y S N O B A P A O E Y
T S A K S B P L E H N V Y V I W E C X X
C N R C O I Q O P R G L N W C W V C D K
D D I C T A T O R S H I P Y I O G F T T
division communism communal suspect ally
collapse dictatorship arsenal invade capitalism
separate retaliate barrier conflict

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

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English Plus Podcast - 10 -

47. Fill in the blanks while you listen to the episode.

COLD WAR

People once thought the Cold War would never end. Sometimes they feared nuclear bombs would
blow up the world. Now the Cold War has faded to a distant memory.

The Cold War was a conflict primarily between the [1] United States and the Soviet Union.
Each power brought other countries into the conflict on its side. The Cold War lasted more than 40
years, from the mid-1940s to the end of the 1980s.

Why was the war “cold”? Because the United States and the Soviet Union never got into armed
combat-a shooting or “hot” war-with each other.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR BEGIN?

The Cold War began soon after World War II ended in 1945. The [2] United
[3] States and the Soviet Union had been allies in [4] defeating Nazi Germany in
that war. The [5] Soviet army had [6] invaded Germany from the east.

After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries in Eastern Europe that it had freed from
German control. Those countries included Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, [7] Hungary , Poland,
and Romania.

An iron curtain fell [8] across Europe. That’s how Winston Churchill, Britain’s leader during
World War II, described the division of Europe. There was no actual curtain, but [9] there
were strong barriers between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and largely democratic Western
Europe. The Soviet Union insisted on that.

Barbed wire and armed soldiers at borders kept Eastern [10] Europe separate from
Western Europe during the Cold War. Defeated Germany was split into East Germany under Soviet
control, and West Germany. [11] Berlin , Germany’s former capital, was a
[12] divided city. In 1961, a concrete wall went up in Berlin, along the dividing line.
[13] Broken glass on top of the [14] Berlin Wall kept people from going over it
and escaping to West Germany.

WHAT WAS THE CONFLICT ABOUT?

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States had [15] different political and
economic systems. The Soviet system was [16] called communism. The United States

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

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English Plus Podcast - 11 -

and its allies feared that the [17] Soviet Union [18] wanted to spread
communism to the rest of the world. They disliked this system.

The goal of [19] communism was to end private ownership of property. Under communism, the
people would own everything communally. They would make decisions as a group.

But things didn’t work out that way in the Soviet [20] Union . Instead, the country became a
dictatorship under the control of the Communist Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of people
who disagreed with the Communist Party were [21] arrested and sent to prison camps.

The United States and most of the countries of Western Europe had [22] democratic
governments rather than [23] dictatorships . They valued freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet
[24] Union . Their economic [25] system-capitalism-was based on [26] private
ownership and on individual rather than group effort.

At times during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms because of fear of communism.
During the 1950s, many Americans who were suspected of sympathy for [27] communism
lost their jobs.

WHAT WAS THE ARMS RACE?

During the Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, especially nuclear weapons-atomic
bombs and [28] hydrogen bombs. These weapons could destroy cities and kill hundreds of
thousands of people. Each side was afraid the [29] other would start a nuclear war first.

A nuclear arms race began. Each side said it needed more weapons to retaliate in case of a nuclear
attack. Both sides [30] believed that if they had [31] enough weapons the other
side wouldn't dare start a nuclear war. If it did, it would face total destruction in retaliation.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREAD?

The Soviet [32] Union had put Communist governments in power in

[33] Eastern Europe. Communist leaders had come to power in China. The Soviet Union
and China backed groups that [34] tried to take power in other countries. Wars broke out.
The United States entered wars to stop the spread of communism.

With the Korean War (1950-1953), the Cold War reached Asia. China backed North Korea, and the
United States supported [35] South Korea. Korea was still divided when fighting stopped
in 1953, and it remains divided today.

In 1962, the Cold War [36] brought the world to the edge of nuclear war. The United States
discovered that the Soviet Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed at

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English Plus Podcast - 12 -

the United States. War seemed certain, but the Soviet [37] Union backed down and
removed the missiles.

The United States fought the spread of communism in the Vietnam War (1959-1975). The U.S.
government feared that if one Asian country fell to communism, the rest of Asia would become
communist as well. The war ended with a communist victory in [38] Vietnam . But
[39] communism did not spread throughout Asia.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR END?

The Soviet Union nearly went broke as a result of the Cold War weapons race. The Soviet people had
given up hope of a better life ahead. In the mid-1980s, a new [40] leader came to
[41] power in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev was determined to
improve life in his country. In the process, he helped bring the Cold War to an end.

Gorbachev called for more freedom for his people. He and U.S. president Ronald Reagan agreed to
destroy many of the weapons their countries had built. Gorbachev encouraged change in Eastern
Europe, and he said that Soviet troops would no longer keep communist governments in power there.

One after another, the countries of Eastern Europe got rid of their communist [42] leaders . In
1989, the Berlin Wall came down. [43] Europe was no longer divided. Finally, parts of the
Soviet Union declared their independence. The Cold War ended with the collapse of communism in
Eastern Europe in 1989, and the breakup of the Soviet [44] Union in 1991.

A. invaded B. Vietnam C. hydrogen

D. Berlin E. system-capitalism-was F. Berlin
G. democratic H. States I. United
J. Union K. believed L. Europe
M. leader N. United O. different
P. Europe Q. Union R. Soviet
S. Union T. other U. tried
V. Eastern W. called X. wanted
Y. Hungary Z. across AA. divided
BB. leaders CC. private DD. brought
EE. Broken FF. defeating GG. communism
HH. communism II. communism JJ. arrested
KK. South LL. there MM. Union
NN. Soviet OO. dictatorships PP. Union
QQ. power RR. enough

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English Plus Podcast - 13 -

48. Fill in the blanks while you listen to the episode.

COLD WAR

People once thought the Cold War would [1] never end. Sometimes they
[2] feared [3] nuclear bombs would blow up the world. Now the Cold War has
[4] faded to a [5] distant memory.

The Cold War was a conflict primarily [6] between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Each power brought [7] other countries into the conflict on its side. The Cold War lasted
more than 40 years, from the mid-1940s to the end of the 1980s.

Why was the war “cold”? [8] Because the United [9] States and the Soviet
Union [10] never got into armed [11] combat-a shooting or “hot” war-with each
[12] other .

HOW DID THE COLD WAR BEGIN?

The Cold War began soon after [13] World War II [14] ended in 1945. The
United [15] States and the Soviet [16] Union had been allies in defeating
Nazi [17] Germany in that war. The Soviet army had [18] invaded Germany
from the east.

After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries in Eastern Europe that it had
[19] freed from [20] German control. Those countries included Bulgaria,
[21] Czechoslovakia , Hungary, [22] Poland , and [23] Romania .

An iron [24] curtain fell [25] across Europe. That’s how Winston Churchill,
Britain’s leader during World War II, described the division of Europe. There was no actual curtain, but
there were strong barriers between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and largely democratic
[26] Western [27] Europe . The Soviet Union insisted on that.

Barbed wire and armed [28] soldiers at [29] borders kept Eastern
[30] Europe separate from [31] Western [32] Europe during the
Cold War. [33] Defeated Germany was split into East Germany under
[34] Soviet [35] control , and West Germany. Berlin, Germany’s former capital,
was a [36] divided city. In 1961, a [37] concrete wall went up in Berlin, along the
[38] dividing line. Broken glass on top of the [39] Berlin Wall kept people from
[40] going over it and escaping to West [41] Germany .

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English Plus Podcast - 14 -

WHAT WAS THE [42] CONFLICT ABOUT?

[43] During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United States had different political
and economic [44] systems . The Soviet system was called communism. The United States
and its allies [45] feared that the Soviet Union [46] wanted to
[47] spread communism to the rest of the world. They [48] disliked this
[49] system .

The goal of [50] communism was to end [51] private ownership of

[52] property . Under communism, the [53] people would own
[54] everything communally. They [55] would make decisions as a
[56] group .

But things didn’t work out that way in the [57] Soviet Union. Instead, the
[58] country [59] became a [60] dictatorship [61] under the
control of the Communist Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of [62] people who
disagreed with the Communist Party were [63] arrested and sent to [64] prison
camps.

The [65] United [66] States and most of the countries of

[67] Western [68] Europe had [69] democratic governments rather than
[70] dictatorships . They valued freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet [71] Union .
[72] Their economic [73] system-capitalism-was based on private ownership and on
[74] individual [75] rather than [76] group [77] effort .

At [78] times during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms
[79] because of fear of communism. During the 1950s, many [80] Americans who
were suspected of [81] sympathy for communism lost their jobs.

WHAT WAS THE ARMS RACE?

[82] During the Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, especially nuclear
weapons-atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs. These weapons could destroy cities and kill
[83] hundreds of thousands of people. Each side was [84] afraid the other would
start a nuclear war first.

A nuclear arms race began. Each side said it [85] needed more weapons to retaliate in
case of a nuclear attack. Both sides believed that if they had enough [86] weapons the other
side wouldn't dare [87] start a [88] nuclear war. If it did, it would face total
destruction in retaliation.

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English Plus Podcast - 15 -

HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREAD?

The [89] Soviet Union had put [90] Communist [91] governments in power in
Eastern Europe. Communist [92] leaders had come to power in China. The Soviet Union
and China backed groups that tried to take power in other countries. Wars [93] broke out.
The [94] United [95] States entered wars to stop the [96] spread
of communism.

With the Korean War (1950-1953), the Cold War [97] reached Asia. China backed North
[98] Korea , and the United [99] States supported South Korea. Korea was
[100] still divided when [101] fighting [102] stopped in 1953, and it
[103] remains divided [104] today .

In 1962, the Cold War brought the world to the edge of nuclear war. The United States discovered that
the Soviet [105] Union had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed
at the United States. War seemed certain, but the Soviet Union backed down and
[106] removed the missiles.

The United States fought the [107] spread of communism in the [108] Vietnam
War (1959-1975). The U.S. government feared that if one Asian [109] country fell to
[110] communism , the rest of Asia would [111] become communist as well. The
war ended with a communist victory in [112] Vietnam . But communism did not spread
throughout Asia.

HOW DID THE COLD WAR END?

The Soviet [113] Union nearly went broke as a [114] result of the Cold War
weapons race. The Soviet people had given up hope of a better life ahead. In the mid-1980s, a new
leader came to power in the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. [115] Gorbachev was
determined to improve life in his country. In the process, he helped [116] bring the Cold
War to an end.

Gorbachev [117] called for more freedom for his people. He and U.S. president Ronald
[118] Reagan agreed to destroy many of the weapons their [119] countries had
built. [120] Gorbachev [121] encouraged change in Eastern Europe, and he said that
Soviet troops would no longer keep [122] communist governments in power there.

One after another, the countries of [123] Eastern Europe got rid of their communist leaders.
In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. [124] Europe was no [125] longer
divided. Finally, parts of the Soviet [126] Union declared [127] their

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English Plus Podcast - 16 -

[128] independence . The Cold War [129] ended with the collapse of
[130] communism in [131] Eastern Europe in 1989, and the breakup of the
[132] Soviet Union in 1991.

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English Plus Podcast - 17 -

49. In each line of text below there is one word that has been misspelled. Circle the
misspelled word and then write the correct spelling of the word on the line on the right
side of the page.

COLD WAQ 1. WAR

People once thowght the Cold War would never end. Sometimes they 2. thought
feared nucleer bombs would blow up the world. Now the Cold War has 3. nuclear
faded too a distant memory. 4. to
The Cod War was a conflict primarily between the United States and the 5. Cold
Soviet Union. Each power brought other countries into tha conflict on 6. the
its side. The Colld War lasted more than 40 years, from the mid-1940s to 7. Cold
sehe end of the 1980s. 8. s
Why was the whar “cold”? Because the United States and the Soviet 9. war
Union never got into armed combat-a shoting or “hot” war-with each 10. shooting
othre. 11. other
HOW DID THE COLR WAR BEGIN? 12. COLD
Th Cold War began soon after World War II ended in 1945. The United 13. The
States and the Soveit Union had been allies in defeating Nazi Germany 14. Soviet
in that war. The Soviet army had invaded Germany from the easte. 15. east
After the war, the Soviet Union kept control of countries inn Eastern 16. in
Europe that it had freed frome German control. Those countries included 17. from
Bulgarie, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. 18. Bulgaria
An iron curtain fell across Europe. Thate’s how Winston Churchill, 19. That
Britain’s leadir during World War II, described the division of Europe. 20. leader
There was no actual curtain, but there were strong barriers betwean 21. between
Soviet-controlled Eastetn Europe and largely democratic Western 22. Eastern
Europe. The Soviet Union insisted one that. 23. on
Barbed wire and armed soldiers at borders keppt Eastern Europe 24. kept
separate from Westirn Europe during the Cold War. Defeated Germany 25. Western
was split intwo East Germany under Soviet control, and West Germany. 26. into
Berlin, Germany’s former capital, was a divided city. Un 1961, a concrete 27. In
wall went up in Berlin, along tha dividing line. Broken glass on top of the 28. the
Berlin Wall kept people from going ovir it and escaping to West 29. over
Germani. 30. Germany
WHAT WAS THE CONFLICX ABOUT? 31. CONFLICT
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the United Stated had 32. States
differant political and economic systems. The Soviet system was called 33. different

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

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English Plus Podcast - 18 -

communism. The United States and its allies feard that the Soviet 34. feared
Union wanted to spread communism to the reste of the world. They 35. rest
disliked this sistem. 36. system
Th goal of communism was to end private ownership of property. 37. The
Under communism, the people wood own everything communally. 38. would
Thee would make decisions as a group. 39. They
But thinggs didn’t work out that way in the Soviet Union. Instead, the 40. things
country became an dictatorship under the control of the Communist 41. a
Party. Many freedoms were lost. Millions of people whoe disagreed with 42. who
the Comunist Party were arrested and sent to prison camps. 43. Communist
The United States and moste of the countries of Western Europe had 44. most
democratic governments rathir than dictatorships. They valued 45. rather
freedoms that had been lost in the Soviet Unien. Their economic 46. Union
systemcapitalismwas based on private ownership and on individual 47. system-capitalism-was
rather than growp effort. 48. group
At tymes during the Cold War, the United States lost some freedoms 49. times
because of feir of communism. During the 1950s, many Americans who 50. fear
were suspected of sympathy for communism loste their jobs. 51. lost
WHAT WAS THE ORMS RACE? 52. ARMS
During tha Cold War, each side built up its arsenal of weapons, 53. the
especially neclear weapons-atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs. These 54. nuclear
weipons could destroy cities and kill hundreds of thousands of people. 55. weapons
Each side was afraid the other would start a nucleir war first. 56. nuclear
A nuclear arms race began. Eache side said it needed more weapons to 57. Each
retaliate in case of an nuclear attack. Both sides believed that if they had 58. a
enough weapons the other side wouldn't dare start a nuclear war. If et 59. it
did, it would face total destruction inn retaliation. 60. in
HOW DID THE COLD WAR SPREADE? 61. SPREAD
The Soviet Uniun had put Communist governments in power in Eastern 62. Union
Europe. Communist leaders had com to power in China. The Soviet 63. come
Union and China backed groups thet tried to take power in other 64. that
countries. Wars broke out. The United States entered wars to stop tha 65. the
spraid of communism. 66. spread
With the Korean War (1950y1953), the Cold War reached Asia. China 67. -
backed North Korea, end the United States supported South Korea. 68. and
Korea was still divided when fighting stopped inn 1953, and it remains 69. in
devided today. 70. divided
In 1962, the Cold War brought the world to the edge of nucleir war. The 71. nuclear

Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com

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English Plus Podcast - 19 -

United States discovered that the Soviet Union had enstalled nuclear 72. installed
missiles in Cuba. The missiles were pointed at the United States. Wir 73. War
seemed certain, but the Soviet Unien backed down and removed the 74. Union
misssiles. 75. missiles
The United Sxates fought the spread of communism in the Vietnam War 76. States
(1959-1975). The U.S. government feared that if one Asian country fel 77. fell
to communism, the rest of Acie would become communist as well. The 78. Asia
war ended with a communist victery in Vietnam. But communism did 79. victory
not spread throghot Asia. 80. throughout
HOW DIZ THE COLD WAR END? 81. DID
The Soviet Union neirly went broke as a result of the Cold War weapons 82. nearly
race. The Soviet people had given up hope of a better life ahead. Ib the 83. In
mid-1980s, a now leader came to power in the Soviet Union, Mikhail 84. new
Gerbachev. Gorbachev was determined to improve life in his country. In 85. Gorbachev
the process, he helped bring the Cold War to an and. 86. end
Gorbachev called for more freedom for his people. H and U.S. 87. He
president Ronald Reagan agreed to destroy many of the weapons they're 88. their
countries had built. Gorbachev encouraged chang in Eastern Europe, 89. change
and he said that Soviet troops would no longr keep communist 90. longer
governments inn power there. 91. in
One after another, the countries of Eastern Europe gote rid of their 92. got
communist leaders. In 1989, the Berlin Wall cam down. Europe was no 93. came
longer divided. Finallly, parts of the Soviet Union declared their 94. Finally
independence. Th Cold War ended with the collapse of communism in 95. The
Eastern Europe inn 1989, and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. 96. in

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19