The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Britain will soon ban smoking in cars with children. Britain's government wants to reduce the harm cigarette smoke does to children. New laws will cut the chances of children passive smoking. This is when someone breathes in the smoke from a cigarette. Many studies say passive smoking can almost be as harmful as actually smoking a cigarette. The British government said it looked at research that found children who sat in smoke-filled cars had health problems. Britain's leader David Cameron said the problem is particularly bad in cars because there is so little space, so the car fills with smoke very quickly. The new law will make it illegal for anyone to smoke in a car that has a child in it.

Not everyone agrees with the new law. Some lawmakers say it takes away the freedom for people to smoke in their own car. They believe people should be able to smoke in their car because there are so many public places where smoking is not allowed. A few lawmakers said they were worried the government might make the ban wider in the future, so no one could smoke in a car. However, Britain's health minister said the health of children was more important than the freedom to smoke. He told reporters: "The liberty to smoke in your car in front of a child doesn't seem to me that important and protecting a child's health does seem to me to be incredibly important."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/11/us-britain-smoking-ban-idUSBREA1A1EL20140211
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26131044
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/smoking-in-cars-with-children-present-will-be-made-illegal-before-2015-elections-9121351.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. SMOKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about smoking. 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.

 

ban smoking / harm / cigarettes / smoke / passive smoking / research / space / illegal / lawmakers / freedom / public places / the future / health minister / important

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

3. IN PUBLIC: What do you think of banning these things in public? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Smoking

 

 

Alcohol

 

 

Music players

 

 

Eating

 

 

Swearing

 

 

Wearing flags

 

 

4. SMOKERS: Students A strongly believe smokers should pay higher medical bills; Students B strongly believe that's very unfair.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. CHILD HEALTH: Rank these with your partner. Put the unhealthiest for children at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • passive smoking

  • cola / soda

  • television

  • pollution

  • lack of exercise

  • arguing parents

  • candy

  • bullying

6. FREEDOM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "freedom". 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.

A ban on smoking in a car with children began last week in the UK.

T / F

b.

The UK government wants to reduce the harm passive smoking does.

T / F

c.

The article says passive smoking is worse than really smoking.

T / F

d.

It will be illegal in Britain to smoke in a car in which there is a child.

T / F

e.

Everyone in Britain agrees with the new in-car smoking ban.

T / F

f.

There are many public places in Britain where you cannot smoke.

T / F

g.

The article says a few lawmakers want a total ban on smoking in cars.

T / F

h.

Britain's health minister said child health was most important.

T / F

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

1.

ban

a.

especially

2.

harm

b.

permitted

3.

harmful

c.

removes

4.

particularly

d.

dangerous

5.

law

e.

looking after

6.

takes away

f.

prohibit

7.

allowed

g.

broader

8.

wider

h.

damage

9.

protecting

i.

appears to be

10.

seems

j.

legislation

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

1.

Britain will soon ban

a.

smoke from a cigarette

2.

reduce the harm cigarette

b.

is not allowed

3.

when someone breathes in the

c.

it illegal

4.

passive

d.

for people to smoke

5.

The new law will make

e.

smoking in cars

6.

lawmakers say it takes away the freedom

f.

important

7.

public places where smoking

g.

a child's health

8.

make the ban wider

h.

smoke does to children

9.

protecting

i.

in the future

10.

incredibly

j.

smoking

GAP FILL

Britain will (1) ____________ ban smoking in cars with children. Britain's government wants to reduce the (2) ____________ cigarette smoke does to children. New laws will cut the chances of children (3) ____________ smoking. This is when someone breathes in the smoke from a cigarette. Many studies say passive smoking can almost be as harmful as (4) ____________ smoking a cigarette. The British government said it looked at (5) ____________ that found children who sat in smoke-filled cars had health problems. Britain's leader David Cameron said the problem is (6) ____________ bad in cars because there is so little space, so the car (7) ____________ with smoke very quickly. The new law will make it (8) ____________ for anyone to smoke in a car that has a child in it.

 

 

particularly
passive
soon
harm
illegal
research
fills
actually

Not everyone (9) ____________ with the new law. Some lawmakers say it takes away the freedom for people to smoke in their (10) ____________ car. They believe people should be able to smoke in their car because there are so many public (11) ____________ where smoking is not allowed. A few lawmakers said they were worried the government might make the ban (12) ____________ in the future, so no one could smoke in a car. However, Britain's health minister said the (13) ____________ of children was more important than the freedom to smoke. He told reporters: "The (14) ____________ to smoke in your car in front of a child doesn't seem to me that important and (15) ____________ a child's health does seem to me to be (16) ____________ important."

 

places
own
protecting
health
agrees
incredibly
liberty
wider

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

Britain's government wants to reduce the harm ______

 

a.  cigarette smoke has
b.  cigarette smoke does
c.  cigarette smoke makes
d.  cigarette smoke is

2)

New laws will cut the chances of children ______

 

a.  passively smoking
b.  pass if smoking
c.  massive smoking
d.  passive smoking

3)

children who sat in smoke-filled cars ______

 

a.  had health problem
b.  had health problems
c.  had health problematic
d.  had health probably

4)

Britain's leader David Cameron said the problem ______

 

a.  is particularly bad
b.  is peculiarly bad
c.  is precautionary bad
d.  is proactively bad

5)

The new law will ______

 

a.  make it illegally
b.  make it a legal
c.  make if illegal
d.  make it illegal

6)

Some lawmakers say it takes ______

 

a.  away a freedom
b.  away the freedom
c.  away all freedom
d.  away that freedom

7)

there are so many public places where smoking ______

 

a.  is not all owed
b.  is not all awed
c.  is not allowed
d.  is not allowable

8)

A few lawmakers said they were worried the government might make ______

 

a.  the ban wilder
b.  the ban wider
c.  the ban widen
d.  the ban wide

9)

the health of children was more important than the ______

 

a.  freedom to smoke
b.  freedom for smoke
c.  freedom of smoke
d.  freedom in smoke

10)

protecting a child's health does seem to me to be ______

 

a.  incredible important
b.  incredibly importance
c.  incredible importance
d.  incredibly important

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Britain will (1) ___________________ in cars with children. Britain's government wants to reduce the harm cigarette smoke does to children. New laws will (2) ___________________ of children passive smoking. This is when someone breathes in the smoke from a cigarette. Many studies say passive smoking can almost (3) ___________________ actually smoking a cigarette. The British government said it looked at research that found children who sat (4) ___________________ cars had health problems. Britain's leader David Cameron said the problem (5) ___________________ in cars because there is so little space, so the car fills with smoke very quickly. The new law will (6) ___________________ anyone to smoke in a car that has a child in it.

Not everyone (7) ___________________ law. Some lawmakers say it takes away the freedom for people to smoke (8) ___________________. They believe people should be able to smoke in their car because there are so many public places where smoking is not allowed. (9) ___________________ they were worried the government might (10) ___________________ in the future, so no one could smoke in a car. However, Britain's health minister said the health of children was more important than the freedom to smoke. He told reporters: "The (11) ___________________ your car in front of a child doesn't seem to me that important and protecting a child's health does seem to me to (12) ___________________."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

When will Britain introduce a smoking ban?

2.

What does Britain hope the new law will cut?

3.

Who/What said passive smoking may be as bad as actually smoking?

4.

Who said a problem was "particularly bad"?

5.

What fills with smoke quickly?

6.

Who disagrees with the new law?

7.

What do some people think the law takes away?

8.

What are some people worried about?

9.

Who said the health of children was more important than smokers?

10.

How important did someone say it was to protect a child's health?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

When will Britain introduce a smoking ban?

6.

Who disagrees with the new law?

 

a) next week
b) soon
c) at the end of the year
d) March 2016

 

a) the boss of Rolls Royce
b) all smokers
c) some lawmakers
d) most people in Britain

2.

What does Britain hope the new law will cut?

7.

What do some people think the law takes away?

 

a) tax
b) pollution
c) health costs
d) children passive smoking

 

a) safety
b) health
c) money
d) freedom

3.

Who/What said passive smoking might be as bad as actually smoking?

8.

What are some people worried about?

 

a) many studies
b) a child
c) the head of a tobacco company
d) a health expert

 

a) a total ban on smoking in cars
b) their health
c) their money
d) the environment

4.

Who said a problem was "particularly bad"?

9.

Who said the health of children was more important than smokers?

 

a) a health expert
b) Ban Ki-moon
c) David Cameron
d) a doctor

 

a) Britain's health minister
b) a child doctor
c) the boss of Toyota
d) a child

5.

What fills with smoke quickly?

10.

How important did someone say it was to protect a child's health?

 

a) the atmosphere
b) cars
c) rooms
d) lungs

 

a) very important
b) incredibly important
c) somewhat important
d) not that important

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Passive smoking

You think passive smoking is the worst thing for children. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): soda, a lack of exercise or television.

Role  B – Soda

You think soda is the worst thing for children. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): passive smoking, a lack of exercise or television.

Role  C – A lack of exercise

You think a lack of exercise is the worst thing for children. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): soda, passive smoking or television.

Role  D – Television

You think television is the worst thing for children. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): soda, a lack of exercise or passive smoking.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

smoking

ban

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • soon
  • harm
  • actually
  • found
  • bad
  • illegal
  • agrees
  • believe
  • few
  • minister
  • liberty
  • incredibly

SMOKING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about smoking 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.

SMOKING 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 'smoking'?

c)

What do you think of smoking?

d)

Why do people smoke?

e)

Should people be allowed to smoke in their car if they want to?

f)

What do you think of someone else's cigarette smoke?

g)

What do you think of passive smoking?

h)

How can the government get more people to stop smoking?

i)

What would you do if you were in a car and someone smoked?

j)

What should happen to people who smoke in a car in front of kids?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Do you agree with the new law?

c)

Is smoking a freedom that a government should protect?

d)

Would you like to see smoking banned in all public places?

e)

Are cigarettes similar to drugs?

f)

What smoking laws are there in your country?

g)

From what age is it OK for someone to start smoking?

h)

Do you think smoking will disappear forever one day?

i)

What other things should be banned in cars?

j)

What questions would you like to ask a car-driving smoker?

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.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Britain will soon ban smoking in cars with children. Britain's government wants to (1) ____ the harm cigarette smoke does to children. New laws will (2) ____ the chances of children passive smoking. This is when someone breathes (3) ____ the smoke from a cigarette. Many studies say passive smoking can almost be as harmful as actually smoking a cigarette. The British government said it looked at research that found children who sat in smoke-(4) ____  cars had health problems. Britain's leader David Cameron said the problem is (5) ____ bad in cars because there is so little space, so the car fills with smoke very quickly. The new law will (6) ____ it illegal for anyone to smoke in a car that has a child in it.

Not everyone agrees (7) ____ the new law. Some lawmakers say it takes away the freedom for people to smoke in their own car. They believe people should be (8) ____ to smoke in their car because there are so many public places where smoking is not allowed. A few lawmakers said they were worried the government might make the ban (9) ____ in the future, so no one could smoke in a car. However, Britain's health minister said the health of children was (10) ____ important than the freedom to smoke. He told reporters: "The liberty to smoke in your car in front of a child doesn't (11) ____ to me that important and protecting a child's health does seem to me to be (12) ____ important."

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

1.

(a)

induce

(b)

deduce

(c)

reduce

(d)

juice

2.

(a)

cut

(b)

chop

(c)

dice

(d)

slice

3.

(a)

in

(b)

out

(c)

up

(d)

down

4.

(a)

filled

(b)

filling

(c)

filler

(d)

fills

5.

(a)

particular

(b)

peculiarly

(c)

peculiar

(d)

particularly

6.

(a)

have

(b)

do

(c)

create

(d)

make

7.

(a)

with

(b)

for

(c)

by

(d)

at

8.

(a)

could

(b)

ability

(c)

can

(d)

able

9.

(a)

wider

(b)

widened

(c)

width

(d)

widest

10.

(a)

most

(b)

more

(c)

many

(d)

much

11.

(a)

seen

(b)

seem

(c)

theme

(d)

teem

12.

(a)

incredibly

(b)

incredible

(c)

inedible

(d)

illegibly

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

edrceu the harm cigarette smoke does

2.

cut the chances of children ssepavi smoking

3.

someone ehrbesta in the smoke from a cigarette

4.

it looked at rrehcase

5.

the problem is lalycparutri bad in cars

6.

The new law will make it llaigle

Paragraph 2

7.

Not everyone aeserg with the new law

8.

public places where smoking is not wdloael

9.

the egternnvom might make the ban wider

10.

The ylbtrie to smoke in your car

11.

enigrpotct a child's health

12.

beicnrldyi important

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

minister said the health of children was more important than the freedom to smoke. He told

(    )

harm cigarette smoke does to children. New laws will cut the chances of children passive

(    )

freedom for people to smoke in their own car. They believe people should be able to smoke in their car because there are so

(    )

Not everyone agrees with the new law. Some lawmakers say it takes away the

(    )

reporters: "The liberty to smoke in your car in front of a child doesn't seem to

(    )

the problem is particularly bad in cars because there is so little space, so the car fills

(    )

might make the ban wider in the future, so no one could smoke in a car. However, Britain's health

(    )

harmful as actually smoking a cigarette. The British government said it looked at research that

(    )

me that important and protecting a child's health does seem to me to be incredibly important."

(    )

found children who sat in smoke-filled cars had health problems. Britain's leader David Cameron said

1  )

Britain will soon ban smoking in cars with children. Britain's government wants to reduce the

(    )

with smoke very quickly. The new law will make it illegal for anyone to smoke in a car that has a child in it.

(    )

many public places where smoking is not allowed. A few lawmakers said they were worried the government

(    )

smoking. This is when someone breathes in the smoke from a cigarette. Many studies say passive smoking can almost be as

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

cigarette    the    smoke    Someone    from    breathes    a    in.   

2.

smoking    be    passive    almost    harmful    say    can    as    Studies.   

3.

health   had   cars   filled  -  smoke   in   sat   who   Children  problems.    

4.

is    space    in    there    little    Bad    because    so    cars.   

5.

anyone   a   to   child  smoke  in  in  it  a   car   Illegal   that    for   has.

6.

Not    law    new    the    with    agrees    everyone.   

7.

people    away    for    smoke    takes    freedom    to    It    the.   

8.

allowed    where    smoking    Many    is    public    not    places.   

9.

ban    government    wider    might    make    Worried    the    the.   

10.

smoke    The    a    in    in    liberty    child    front    your    to   of   car.   

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Britain will sooner / soon ban smoking in cars with children. Britain's government wants to reduce / deduce the harm cigarette smoke do / does to children. New laws will cut the opportunities / chances of children passive smoking. This is when someone breathes in the smoke from a cigarette. Many studies say impassive / passive smoking can almost be as harmful as actually smoking / smokes a cigarette. The British government said it looked at research that found children who sat in smoke-filled / smoke-filling cars had health problems / problem. Britain's leader David Cameron said the problem is peculiar / particularly bad in cars because there is so little space, so the car fills with smoke very quickly. The new law will do / make it illegal for anyone to smoke in a car that has a child in it.

Not everyone agreeing / agrees with the new law. Some lawmakers say it takes off / away the freedom for people to smoke in their now / own car. They believe people should be able to smoke in their car because there are so many public / publicly places where smoking is not / non allowed. A few lawmakers said they were worried the government might make the ban width / wider in the future, so / as no one could smoke in a car. However, Britain's health minister said the health of children were / was more important than the freedom to smoke. He told reporters: "The library / liberty to smoke in your car in front of a child doesn't seem / seen to me that important and protecting a child's health is / does seem to me to be incredibly important."

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)

Br_t__n w_ll s__n b_n sm_k_ng _n c_rs w_th ch_ldr_n. Br_t__n's g_v_rnm_nt w_nts t_ r_d_c_ th_ h_rm c_g_r_tt_ sm_k_ d__s t_ ch_ldr_n. N_w l_ws w_ll c_t th_ ch_nc_s _f ch_ldr_n p_ss_v_ sm_k_ng. Th_s _s wh_n s_m__n_ br__th_s _n th_ sm_k_ fr_m _ c_g_r_tt_. M_ny st_d__s s_y p_ss_v_ sm_k_ng c_n _lm_st b_ _s h_rmf_l _s _ct__lly sm_k_ng _ c_g_r_tt_. Th_ Br_t_sh g_v_rnm_nt s__d _t l__k_d _t r_s__rch th_t f__nd ch_ldr_n wh_ s_t _n sm_k_-f_ll_d c_rs h_d h__lth pr_bl_ms. Br_t__n's l__d_r D_v_d C_m_r_n s__d th_ pr_bl_m _s p_rt_c_l_rly b_d _n c_rs b_c__s_ th_r_ _s s_ l_ttl_ sp_c_, s_ th_ c_r f_lls w_th sm_k_ v_ry q__ckly. Th_ n_w l_w w_ll m_k_ _t _ll_g_l f_r _ny_n_ t_ sm_k_ _n _ c_r th_t h_s _ ch_ld _n _t.

N_t _v_ry_n_ _gr__s w_th th_ n_w l_w. S_m_ l_wm_k_rs s_y _t t_k_s _w_y th_ fr__d_m f_r p__pl_ t_ sm_k_ _n th__r _wn c_r. Th_y b_l__v_ p__pl_ sh__ld b_ _bl_ t_ sm_k_ _n th__r c_r b_c__s_ th_r_ _r_ s_ m_ny p_bl_c pl_c_s wh_r_ sm_k_ng _s n_t _ll_w_d. _ f_w l_wm_k_rs s__d th_y w_r_ w_rr__d th_ g_v_rnm_nt m_ght m_k_ th_ b_n w_d_r _n th_ f_t_r_, s_ n_ _n_ c__ld sm_k_ _n _ c_r. H_w_v_r, Br_t__n's h__lth m_n_st_r s__d th_ h__lth _f ch_ldr_n w_s m_r_ _mp_rt_nt th_n th_ fr__d_m t_ sm_k_. H_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "Th_ l_b_rty t_ sm_k_ _n y__r c_r _n fr_nt _f _ ch_ld d__sn't s__m t_ m_ th_t _mp_rt_nt _nd pr_t_ct_ng _ ch_ld's h__lth d__s s__m t_ m_ t_ b_ _ncr_d_bly _mp_rt_nt."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

britain will soon ban smoking in cars with children britain's government wants to reduce the harm cigarette smoke does to children new laws will cut the chances of children passive smoking this is when someone breathes in the smoke from a cigarette many studies say passive smoking can almost be as harmful as actually smoking a cigarette the british government said it looked at research that found children who sat in smoke-filled cars had health problems britain's leader david cameron said the problem is particularly bad in cars because there is so little space so the car fills with smoke very quickly the new law will make it illegal for anyone to smoke in a car that has a child in it

not everyone agrees with the new law some lawmakers say it takes away the freedom for people to smoke in their own car they believe people should be able to smoke in their car because there are so many public places where smoking is not allowed a few lawmakers said they were worried the government might make the ban wider in the future so no one could smoke in a car however britain's health minister said the health of children was more important than the freedom to smoke he told reporters "the liberty to smoke in your car in front of a child doesn't seem to me that important and protecting a child's health does seem to me to be incredibly important"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Britainwillsoonbansmokingincarswithchildren.Britain'sgovernmen
twantstoreducetheharmcigarettesmokedoestochildren.Newlawswi
llcutthechancesofchildrenpassivesmoking.Thisiswhensomeonebre
athesinthesmokefromacigarette.Manystudiessaypassivesmokingc
analmostbeasharmfulasactuallysmokingacigarette.TheBritishgov
ernmentsaiditlookedatresearchthatfoundchildrenwhosatinsmoke-
filledcarshadhealthproblems.Britain'sleaderDavidCameronsaidthe
problemisparticularlybadincarsbecausethereissolittlespace,sothec
arfillswithsmokeveryquickly.Thenewlawwillmakeitillegalforanyone
tosmokeinacarthathasachildinit.Noteveryoneagreeswiththenewla
w.Somelawmakerssayittakesawaythefreedomforpeopletosmokein
theirowncar.Theybelievepeopleshouldbeabletosmokeintheircarbe
causetherearesomanypublicplaceswheresmokingisnotallowed.Afe
wlawmakerssaidtheywereworriedthegovernmentmightmaketheba
nwiderinthefuture,sonoonecouldsmokeinacar.However,Britain'sh
ealthministersaidthehealthofchildrenwasmoreimportantthanthefr
eedomtosmoke.Hetoldreporters:"Thelibertytosmokeinyourcarinfr
ontofachilddoesn'tseemtomethatimportantandprotectingachild'sh
ealthdoesseemtometobeincrediblyimportant."

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Smoking should be banned everywhere. Discuss.

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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 smoking. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. NO SMOKING IN CARS: Write a magazine article about a ban on smoking in cars. 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 a child-health expert. Ask him/her three questions about passive smoking and children. Give him/her three of your thoughts on this. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

ban

a.

prohibit

2.

harm

b.

damage

3.

harmful

c.

dangerous

4.

particularly

d.

especially

5.

law

e.

legislation

6.

takes away

f.

removes

7.

allowed

g.

permitted

8.

wider

h.

broader

9.

protecting

i.

looking after

10.

seems

j.

appears to be

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Soon

2.

The chances of children passive smoking

3.

Many studies

4.

Britain's leader David Cameron

5.

Cars

6.

Some lawmakers

7.

Freedom

8.

A future ban on smoking in cars

9.

Britain's health minister

10.

Incredibly important

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

10.

b

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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