News by Levels · Level 2 · For teachers

Teacher guide & answers

In this lesson: Explain retained national control and the planned start of gradual connections.

EU proposal aimed to connect national emergency networks

How to use these two pages

Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.

Student worksheet

A simple 15–20-minute lesson

Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 2 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.

Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.

Answers to the 2 questions

The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.

What would countries retain under the proposal?
Correct answer: C — Control of their national networks
Why: National control would remain while networks became interconnected.
Clue in the story: Broadband and satellite backup were planned features. Member States would retain national-network control while their systems became interconnected.
When were gradual connections planned from?
Correct answer: A — 2030
Why: The paragraph gives 2030 as the planned start of gradual connections.
Clue in the story: Parliament and Council still had to adopt the regulations, with gradual connections planned from 2030. The announcement described a proposed capability and legislative process, not a fully operational system or proof that future outages would be eliminated.

The open question: accept different answers

Ask learners: What would stay under national control, and when were connections planned to begin?

One possible answer: Member States would keep control of their national networks. Connections were planned gradually from 2030, after the required adoption process.

This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.

Grammar to discuss

Despite + noun phrase

despite incompatible national systems

“Despite” introduces a contrasting circumstance and takes a noun phrase or -ing form. Example: “Despite the rain, we left.”