Discussion Point: US Election 2016

The truth is...there was no-one to vote for. John Pilger

Practise your listening and comprehension skills by watching award-winning Australian journalist and film-maker John Pilger discuss Trump’s election victory. You can check your understanding by doing the quiz below.

John Pilger’s views are quite controversial, so you should think about what he says and decide if you agree. If you’d like to share your opinions on his views, or add your own, feel free to comment.

The interview was broadcast on RT UK’s Going Underground, with Afshin Rattansi asking the questions. He begins by asking Pilger if he was surprised by Trump’s victory.

Interview

Quiz

Click the button next to the correct answer.

Beside each question you can see the section of the interview where the answer is found.

1. Who does Pilger say was surprised by Trump’s victory? (1:32 -> 2:50)

those who support the status quo
those who support Donald Trump
a) those who support the status quo b) those who support Donald Trump

2. What do you think he means by "the status quo"? (2:51 -> 3:04)

the US government and its battlefields
the candidate for sanity and women
a) the US government and its battlefields b) the candidate for sanity and women

3. Who does he say embodied the US government’s "warmongering system"? (3:05 -> 4:40)

Donald Trump
Hillary Clinton
a) Donald Trump b) Hillary Clinton

4. Does Pilger think Trump will oppose the US establishment? (4:41 -> 5:02)

Yes, because he supports Russia
Unlikely, because he’s a product of it
a) Yes, because he supports Russia b) Unlikely, because he’s a product of it

5. Pilger said "there was no-one to vote for". This means (5:03 -> 5:55)

he didn’t like either candidate
he liked both of the candidates
a) he didn’t like either candidate b) he liked both of the candidates

6. People voted for Trump because he didn’t represent a system they blamed for (5:56 -> 6:49)

improving their lives, jobs and towns
destroying their lives, jobs and towns
a) improving their lives, jobs and towns b) destroying their lives, jobs and towns

7. He says most journalists and media opposed Trump because (6:50 -> 10:55)

Clinton represented their views
Trump represented their views
a) Clinton represented their views b) Trump represented their views

8. He also says the media played a major role in supporting (10:56 -> 14:25)

the refugees coming from Africa
the invasions of Iraq and Libya
a) the refugees coming from Africa b) the invasions of Iraq and Libya

9. Does he think Trump will stop US interventions and invasions? (14:26 -> 15:56)

Not sure, as the US is run by a national security machine
Yes, because many Republicans were his enemies
a) Not sure, as the US is run by a national security machine b) Yes, because many Republicans were his enemies

10. He says the US sold Saudi Arabia weapons even though (15:57 -> 18:27)

the US knew Saudi Arabia was funding ISIS
the US knew Saudi Arabia was fighting ISIS
a) the US knew Saudi Arabia was funding ISIS b) the US knew Saudi Arabia was fighting ISIS

11. Does he think Trump will go along with NATO’s provocation of Russia? (18:28 -> 22:35)

No, because Trump wants to be friends with Putin
Probably, because Trump likes the US military
a) No, because Trump wants to be friends with Putin b) Probably, because Trump likes the US military

12. Pilger says the risk of nuclear war has been increased by (22:36 -> 27:55)

pressure from Russia and China on the West
pressure from the West on Russia and China
a) pressure from Russia and China on the West b) pressure from the West on Russia and China

Your score is:

Correct answers:

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