Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Nicaragua Canal

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* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA male)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Reading
(100 - 300 wpm)

* Gap-fill

China to build Panama Canal alternative (9th June, 2013)

The new canal will be a very important trade route. Shipping companies will save time and money because it will be farther north than the Panama Canal. It will take companies ten years to finish the project, but the first ships will use it within six years. It will be 22 metres deep and 286 km long. Not all Nicaraguans are happy about the canal. Congressman Carlos Langrand said: "This project affects all Nicaraguans, the future of Lake Nicaragua, our environmental resources, and the economy." He complained that the government was not being honest with the people. He told the "Nicaragua Dispatch" newspaper that: "We have many more questions than answers about this project."

Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/nicaragua-china-panama-canal
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2013/06/chinese-firm-to-build-nicaraguan-panama-canal-rival/
http://www.ibtimes.com/chinese-firm-wins-bid-build-rival-panama-canal-nicaragua-1296965

WARM-UPS

1. CANALS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about canals. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

build / shipping route / contract / Atlantic Ocean / spokesman / waterway / secret / trade route / save time / project / environmental resources / complained / questions

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. ALTERNATIVES: What are the best alternatives to the things below? Complete the table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

	Alternative?	Better? / Worse?
Studying English
Mobile phones
Music
Cash
Cars
Hair

4. NICARAGUA CANAL: Students A strongly believe it's a great idea; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. TRANSPORT: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

ship
airplane
truck
taxi

helicopter
train
bicycle
motorbike

6. BUILD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'build'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	China will build the world's longest canal through Southern China.	T / F
b.	A Chinese company will build a canal that connects two oceans.	T / F
c.	The new canal will be 77 km long.	T / F
d.	Big ships will not be able to use the new canal.	T / F
e.	Shipping companies can reduce costs by using the new canal.	T / F
f.	The first ship will pass through the canal in ten years from now.	T / F
g.	A politician complained that the government is full of secrets.	T / F
h.	The politician said he had fewer answers than questions.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	build	a.	touches
2.	contract	b.	care for
3.	connect	c.	presently
4.	currently	d.	truthful
5.	maintain	e.	construct
6.	finish	f.	inside
7.	within	g.	protested
8.	affects	h.	agreement
9.	complained	i.	complete
10.	honest	j.	link

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	build a new shipping route	a.	important trade route
2.	a $40 billion contract	b.	through Nicaragua's canal
3.	two waterways to	c.	within six years
4.	much bigger ships would pass	d.	to construct a canal
5.	a 100-year contract to maintain	e.	questions than answers
6.	The new canal will be a very	f.	honest with the people
7.	Shipping companies will save	g.	through Central America
8.	the first ships will use it	h.	the project
9.	the government was not being	i.	time and money
10.	We have many more	j.	connect the two oceans

GAP FILL

A Chinese company is going to build a new shipping (1) ____________ through Central America. Nicaragua has given the company a $40 billion contract to (2) ____________ a canal across the country. It will join the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This (3) ____________ there will be two waterways to connect the two oceans. The (4) ____________ one is the Panama Canal, which opened in 1914. The new waterway in Nicaragua will be bigger and longer than the 77-km-long Panama Canal. A spokesman said (5) ____________ bigger ships would pass through Nicaragua's canal – (6) ____________ the size of those that currently use the Panama Canal. The name of the company that will build the canal is still a (7) ____________. However, it will have a 100-year contract to (8) ____________ the project.

means
secret
twice
route
other
construct
maintain
much

The new canal will be a very important (9) ____________ route. Shipping companies will save time and money because it will be (10) ____________ north than the Panama Canal. It will take companies ten years to finish the project, but the first ships will use it (11) ____________ six years. It will be 22 metres (12) ____________ and 286 km long. Not all Nicaraguans are happy about the canal. Congressman Carlos Langrand said: "This project (13) ____________ all Nicaraguans, the future of Lake Nicaragua, our environmental resources, and the economy." He (14) ____________ that the government was not being (15) ____________ with the people. He told the "Nicaragua Dispatch" newspaper that: "We have (16) ____________ more questions than answers about this project."

within
complained
many
trade
affects
farther
honest
deep

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A Chinese company is going to build a new shipping route ______
	a. through Centre all America b. through Centered America c. through Centrality America d. through Central America
2)	Nicaragua has given the company a $40 billion ______ a canal
	a. construct to contract b. contract to construct c. contact to construct d. contract two construct
3)	This means there will be two waterways to ______
	a. connect the two oceans b. connect the two oceans c. connect the two oceans d. connect the two oceans
4)	A spokesman said much bigger ships ______ Nicaragua's canal
	a. would pass though b. would pass trough c. would pass throughout d. would pass through
5)	it will have a 100-year contract to ______
	a. maintain the project b. main tame the project c. main train the project d. maintenance the project
6)	The new canal will be a very ______
	a. important trade root b. important trade route c. important trade loot d. important trade road
7)	It will take companies ten years to ______
	a. finish all project b. finish the project c. finish a project d. finish this project
8)	It will be 22 metres deep and ______
	a. 286 km longer b. 286 km longish c. 286 km long d. 286 km wrong
9)	He complained that the government was not ______ the people
	a. being honest with b. being honest within c. being honest without d. being honest wither
10)	We have many more questions ______ this project
	a. than answer about b. than answered about c. than answers about d. than answering about

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A Chinese company (1) ______________________ new shipping route through Central America. Nicaragua has given the company a $40 billion (2) ______________________ across the country. It will join the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This means there will be (3) ______________________ the two oceans. The other one is the Panama Canal, which opened in 1914. The new waterway in Nicaragua will be bigger and longer than the 77-km-long Panama Canal. A spokesman (4) ______________________ would pass through Nicaragua's canal – (5) ______________________ that currently use the Panama Canal. The name of the company that will build (6) ______________________. However, it will have a 100-year contract to maintain the project.

The new canal will be a very (7) ______________________. Shipping companies will save time and money because (8) _____________________ than the Panama Canal. It will take companies ten years to finish the project, but the first ships (9) ______________________ years. It will be 22 metres (10) ______________________ long. Not all Nicaraguans are happy about the canal. Congressman Carlos Langrand said: "This project affects all Nicaraguans, the future of Lake Nicaragua, our environmental (11) ______________________." He complained that the government was not being honest with the people. He told the "Nicaragua Dispatch" newspaper that: "(12) ______________________ questions than answers about this project."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What is the value of the contract to build the canal?
2.	What oceans will the canal link?
3.	What opened in 1914?
4.	How much bigger are ships that will use the new canal?
5.	What's the name of the Chinese company?
6.	What two things will shipping companies save?
7.	How long will it take to build the canal?
8.	What will the length of the new canal be?
9.	What did a politician complain about?
10.	How many questions does the congressman have?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is the value of the contract to build the canal?	6.	What two things will shipping companies save?
	a) $400 billion b) $40 billion c) $44 billion d) $14 billion		a) lives and livelihoods b) coupons and vouchers c) money and time d) power and energy
2.	What oceans will the canal link?	7.	How long will it take to build the canal?
	a) Indian and Arctic b) Indian and Pacific c) Atlantic and Indian d) Atlantic and Pacific		a) 6 years b) 8 years c) 9 years d) 10 years
3.	What opened in 1914?	8.	What length will the new canal be?
	a) The Panama Canal b) The Suez Canal c) The Great Canal of China d) The Venice Canals		a) 286 km b) 77 km c) 22 km d) 1,914 km
4.	How much bigger are ships that will use the new canal?	9.	What/Who did a politician complain about?
	a) 10 times bigger b) a little c) twice the size of those using the Panama Canal d) 42,000		a) government honesty b) his bad back c) not having a high salary d) the boss of the company
5.	What's the name of the Chinese company?	10.	How many questions does the congressman have?
	a) Lenovo Canal Construction b) no one knows c) COSCO d) China Zhongwang		a) one or two b) more than the number of answers c) 87 d) none

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Nicaragua Canal boss

You think the Nicaragua Canal is the most important project. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their project. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the USA-Europe Bridge, the Moon Highway or the North-To-South Pole Railway.

Role B – USA-Europe Bridge boss

You think the USA-Europe Bridge is the most important project. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their project. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the Nicaragua Canal, the Moon Highway or the North-To-South Pole Railway.

Role C – Moon Highway boss

You think the Moon Highway is the most important project. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their project. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the USA-Europe Bridge, the Nicaragua Canal or the North-To-South Pole Railway.

Role D – North-To-South Pole Railway boss

You think the North-To-South Pole Railway is the most important project. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their project. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the USA-Europe Bridge, the Moon Highway or the Nicaragua Canal.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'trade' and 'route'.

trade

route

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

company
across
connect
77
size
100

save
ten
deep
happy
honest
questions

CANALS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about canals in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

CANALS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'canal'?
c)	What's the difference between a canal and a river?
d)	What is your experience on canals?
e)	What do you think of the Nicaragua Canal?
f)	Does the world need an alternative to the Panama Canal?
g)	How will we benefit from the new canal?
h)	Why do you think the company's name is a secret?
i)	Will the project be better for China or America?
j)	What do you know about Nicaragua?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What other important trade routes do you know about?
c)	What do you know about the Suez, Panama and Venetian canals?
d)	How will Nicaragua benefit from the canal?
e)	Why are Nicaraguans unhappy about the canal?
f)	How might your country benefit from a huge canal?
g)	How much damage might the canal do to the environment?
h)	What other huge transportation project does the world need?
i)	What questions do you think the congressman has?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the canal boss?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

A Chinese company is going to build a new shipping (1) ____ through Central America. Nicaragua has given the company a $40 billion contract to (2) ____ a canal across the country. It will join the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This means there will be two waterways to (3) ____ the two oceans. The other one is the Panama Canal, (4) ____ opened in 1914. The new waterway in Nicaragua will be bigger and longer than the 77-km-long Panama Canal. A spokesman said much bigger ships would pass (5) ____ Nicaragua's canal – twice the size of those that currently use the Panama Canal. The name of the company that will build the canal is (6) ____ a secret. However, it will have a 100-year contract to maintain the project.

The new canal will be a very important trade route. Shipping companies will save time and money (7) ____ it will be farther north than the Panama Canal. It will take companies ten years to finish the project, but the first ships will use it (8) ____ six years. It will be 22 metres deep and 286 km long. Not all Nicaraguans are happy about the canal. Congressman Carlos Langrand said: "This project (9) ____ all Nicaraguans, the (10) ____ of Lake Nicaragua, our environmental resources, and the economy." He complained (11) ____ the government was not being honest (12) ____ the people. He told the "Nicaragua Dispatch" newspaper that: "We have many more questions than answers about this project."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	lout	(b)	route	(c)	loot	(d)	root
2.	(a)	restrict	(b)	construct	(c)	contact	(d)	restructure
3.	(a)	connected	(b)	connections	(c)	connects	(d)	connect
4.	(a)	when	(b)	which	(c)	this	(d)	it
5.	(a)	though	(b)	through	(c)	thorough	(d)	throughout
6.	(a)	remain	(b)	calm	(c)	still	(d)	about
7.	(a)	so	(b)	but	(c)	because	(d)	although
8.	(a)	without	(b)	with	(c)	within	(d)	wither
9.	(a)	effects	(b)	reflects	(c)	defects	(d)	affects
10.	(a)	future	(b)	past	(c)	present	(d)	perfect
11.	(a)	that	(b)	what	(c)	all	(d)	much
12.	(a)	all	(b)	as	(c)	with	(d)	at

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	a new shipping route ogtuhrh Central America
2.	a $40 billion trtancco
3.	the Atlantic and Pacific saocen
4.	onetcnc the two
5.	those that ucyntrelr use the Panama Canal
6.	nnitiama the project
Paragraph 2
7.	it will be hfraret north
8.	use it iinwth six years
9.	This project acfsfet all Nicaraguans
10.	environmental orecrseus
11.	He epcidlmano
12.	the government was not being shotne

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	all Nicaraguans, the future of Lake Nicaragua, our environmental resources, and the economy." He complained
( 1 )	A Chinese company is going to build a new shipping route through Central America. Nicaragua has given the
( )	long Panama Canal. A spokesman said much bigger ships would pass through Nicaragua's canal – twice
( )	newspaper that: "We have many more questions than answers about this project."
( )	the canal is still a secret. However, it will have a 100-year contract to maintain the project.
( )	that the government was not being honest with the people. He told the "Nicaragua Dispatch"
( )	finish the project, but the first ships will use it within six years. It will be 22 metres deep and 286 km long. Not all
( )	the size of those that currently use the Panama Canal. The name of the company that will build
( )	and Pacific oceans. This means there will be two waterways to connect the two oceans. The other one is the Panama Canal, which
( )	The new canal will be a very important trade route. Shipping companies will save time and
( )	company a $40 billion contract to construct a canal across the country. It will join the Atlantic
( )	Nicaraguans are happy about the canal. Congressman Carlos Langrand said: "This project affects
( )	opened in 1914. The new waterway in Nicaragua will be bigger and longer than the 77-km-
( )	money because it will be farther north than the Panama Canal. It will take companies ten years to

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	route Build through a Central new America shipping.
2.	contract $40-billion a company the given has Nicaragua.
3.	connect the 2 oceans There will be 2 waterways to.
4.	The secret a still is canal the build will that company.
5.	the A year maintain - to project 100 contract.
6.	a trade new be important The will very route canal.
7.	Panama It farther the be than Canal will north.
8.	will take companies ten years to finish the project It.
9.	people government being the The not with was honest.
10.	answers than questions more many have We.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A Chinese company is going to build a new shipping route throughout / through Central America. Nicaragua has gave / given the company a $40 billion contract to construction / construct a canal across the country. It will join / joint the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This means / meant there will be two waterways to connect the two oceans. The other / another one is the Panama Canal, which opened in 1914. The new waterway in Nicaragua will be bigger and lengthier / longer than the 77-km-long Panama Canal. A spokesman said lots / much bigger ships would pass through Nicaragua's canal – twice the / a size of those that currently use the Panama Canal. The name of the company that will build the canal is still a secret / secretive. However, it will have a 100-year contract to maintain the project.

The new canal will be a very important trade route. Shipping companies will save / saving time and money because / so it will be farther north than the Panama Canal. It will take / make companies ten years to finish the project, but the first ships will use it within / without six years. It will be 22 metres deep and 286 km length / long. Not all / every Nicaraguans are happy about the canal. Congressman Carlos Langrand said: "This project effects / affects all Nicaraguans, the future of Lake Nicaragua, our environmentally / environmental resources, and the economy." He complained that the government was not being honest / honesty with the people. He told the "Nicaragua Dispatch" newspaper that: "We have many / much more questions than answers about this project."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_ Ch_n_s_ c_mp_ny _s g__ng t_ b__ld _ n_w sh_pp_ng r__t_ thr__gh C_ntr_l _m_r_c_. N_c_r_g__ h_s g_v_n th_ c_mp_ny _ $40 b_ll__n c_ntr_ct t_ c_nstr_ct _ c_n_l _cr_ss th_ c__ntry. _t w_ll j__n th_ _tl_nt_c _nd P_c_f_c _c__ns. Th_s m__ns th_r_ w_ll b_ tw_ w_t_rw_ys t_ c_nn_ct th_ tw_ _c__ns. Th_ _th_r _n_ _s th_ P_n_m_ C_n_l, wh_ch _p_n_d _n 1914. Th_ n_w w_t_rw_y _n N_c_r_g__ w_ll b_ b_gg_r _nd l_ng_r th_n th_ 77-km-l_ng P_n_m_ C_n_l. _ sp_k_sm_n s__d m_ch b_gg_r sh_ps w__ld p_ss thr__gh N_c_r_g__'s c_n_l – tw_c_ th_ s_z_ _f th_s_ th_t c_rr_ntly _s_ th_ P_n_m_ C_n_l. Th_ n_m_ _f th_ c_mp_ny th_t w_ll b__ld th_ c_n_l _s st_ll _ s_cr_t. H_w_v_r, _t w_ll h_v_ _ 100-y__r c_ntr_ct t_ m__nt__n th_ pr_j_ct.

Th_ n_w c_n_l w_ll b_ _ v_ry _mp_rt_nt tr_d_ r__t_. Sh_pp_ng c_mp_n__s w_ll s_v_ t_m_ _nd m_n_y b_c__s_ _t w_ll b_ f_rth_r n_rth th_n th_ P_n_m_ C_n_l. _t w_ll t_k_ c_mp_n__s t_n y__rs t_ f_n_sh th_ pr_j_ct, b_t th_ f_rst sh_ps w_ll _s_ _t w_th_n s_x y__rs. _t w_ll b_ 22 m_tr_s d__p _nd 286 km l_ng. N_t _ll N_c_r_g__ns _r_ h_ppy _b__t th_ c_n_l. C_ngr_ssm_n C_rl_s L_ngr_nd s__d: "Th_s pr_j_ct _ff_cts _ll N_c_r_g__ns, th_ f_t_r_ _f L_k_ N_c_r_g__, __r _nv_r_nm_nt_l r_s__rc_s, _nd th_ _c_n_my." H_ c_mpl__n_d th_t th_ g_v_rnm_nt w_s n_t b__ng h_n_st w_th th_ p__pl_. H_ t_ld th_ "N_c_r_g__ D_sp_tch" n_wsp_p_r th_t: "W_ h_v_ m_ny m_r_ q__st__ns th_n _nsw_rs _b__t th_s pr_j_ct."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a chinese company is going to build a new shipping route through central america nicaragua has given the company a $40 billion contract to construct a canal across the country it will join the atlantic and pacific oceans this means there will be two waterways to connect the two oceans the other one is the panama canal which opened in 1914 the new waterway in nicaragua will be bigger and longer than the 77-km-long panama canal a spokesman said much bigger ships would pass through nicaragua's canal – twice the size of those that currently use the panama canal the name of the company that will build the canal is still a secret however it will have a 100-year contract to maintain the project

the new canal will be a very important trade route shipping companies will save time and money because it will be farther north than the panama canal it will take companies ten years to finish the project but the first ships will use it within six years it will be 22 metres deep and 286 km long not all nicaraguans are happy about the canal congressman carlos langrand said "this project affects all nicaraguans the future of lake nicaragua our environmental resources and the economy" he complained that the government was not being honest with the people he told the "nicaragua dispatch" newspaper that "we have many more questions than answers about this project"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AChinesecompanyisgoingtobuildanewshippingroutethroughCentralAmerica.
Nicaraguahasgiventhecompanya$40billioncontracttoconstructacanalacross
thecountry.ItwilljointheAtlanticandPacificoceans.Thismeanstherewillbetwo
waterwaystoconnectthetwooceans.TheotheroneisthePanamaCanal,which
openedin1914.ThenewwaterwayinNicaraguawillbebiggerandlongerthanthe77
-km-longPanamaCanal.Aspokesmansaidmuchbiggershipswouldpassthrough
Nicaragua'scanal–twicethesizeofthosethatcurrentlyusethePanamaCanal.The
nameofthecompanythatwillbuildthecanalisstillasecret.However,itwillhavea
100-yearcontracttomaintaintheproject.Thenewcanalwillbeaveryimportant
traderoute.Shippingcompanieswillsavetimeandmoneybecauseitwillbefarther
norththanthePanamaCanal.Itwilltakecompaniestenyearstofinishtheproject,
butthefirstshipswilluseitwithinsixyears.Itwillbe22metresdeepand286kmlong.
NotallNicaraguansarehappyaboutthecanal.CongressmanCarlosLangrand
said:"ThisprojectaffectsallNicaraguans,thefutureofLakeNicaragua,our
environmentalresources,andtheeconomy."Hecomplainedthatthegovernment
wasnotbeinghonestwiththepeople.Hetoldthe"NicaraguaDispatch"newspaper
that:"Wehavemanymorequestionsthananswersaboutthisproject."

FREE WRITING

Write about canals for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

It is wrong to destroy trees and rivers to make a long canal. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about the new canal. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CANALS: Make a poster about canals. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. CANAL: Write a magazine article about the new Nicaragua Canal. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to the leader of Nicaragua. Ask him/her three questions about the canal. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	build	a.	construct
2.	contract	b.	agreement
3.	connect	c.	link
4.	currently	d.	presently
5.	maintain	e.	care for
6.	finish	f.	complete
7.	within	g.	inside
8.	affects	h.	touches
9.	complained	i.	protested
10.	honest	j.	truthful

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	$40 billion
2.	The Atlantic and Pacific oceans
3.	The Panama Canal
4.	Twice the size of those using the Panama Canal
5.	It's a secret - no one knows
6.	Time and money
7.	10 years
8.	286 km
9.	The honesty of the government
10.	More than the number of answers

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

10.

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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* 26-page lesson (40 exercises)

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* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA male)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation - (10 sentences)

* Speed Reading (100 - 300 wpm)

* Text jumble 15

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* No spaces

* Text Jumble

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

* Initials only

* No letters

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

* 2-page MINI
lesson (PDF)

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Reading
(100 - 300 wpm)