Fake News and Media Literacy | Elementary ESL Reading Worksheet PDF

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Every day, people read news on their phones and computers. News tells us about things that happen in the world. Most news is true, but some news is not. Some stories are fake. Fake news is not real. People make fake news to trick us or to get more clicks.

It can be hard to know what is real. A fake story can look just like a real one. It may have a big title and a nice picture. But the words inside may be wrong. We need to be careful and think before we believe a story.

One good idea is to look at the source. The source is the place where the news comes from. Big, well-known news groups are often safe. A strange website that you never heard of may not be safe. Always ask, “Who wrote this?”

Another good idea is to check the story. You can look for the same news on other websites. If many trusted places say the same thing, it is more likely true. If only one strange page has the story, be careful.

Do not share a story before you check it. When we share fake news, we help it spread. Media literacy means we learn to read the news in a smart way. With practice, we can all find the truth.

1. news ____
2. fake ____
3. source ____
4. fact ____
5. check ____
6. share ____
7. online ____
8. headline ____
9. trust ____
10. spread ____

• a. information about recent events in the world
• b. look at something to see if it is correct
• c. believe someone or something is honest
• d. send or show something to other people
• e. place where information comes from
• f. title of a news story in big letters
• g. something true that can be proven
• h. on the internet
• i. move to more and more places or people
• j. not real or not true