Death threats over new Banksy painting

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A painting by the "guerilla artist" Banksy is the focus of a big argument in England. It appeared overnight on a building. A man discovered it could be worth up to $150,000. He took it off the wall and kept it in his youth club. He wants to sell it to raise money for the club. The city mayor said the painting was on a city-owned building so it should be put back. The man said it would be damaged if it was put back. He has since received death threats.

The painting is called "Mobile Lovers" and shows a man and woman hugging while checking their mobile phones over their shoulder. Many people all over the world want art from the mysterious artist, only known by the fake name Banksy. Wikipedia says Banksy's work combines "dark humour with graffiti". The paintings describe politics and society. People believe it is "against the spirit of Banksy and street art" to remove the paintings.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-27050321
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/apr/15/banksy-mobile-lovers-bristol-youth-club
http://www.metro.co.uk/2014/04/16/gym-boss-in-banksy-mural-row-receives-death-threats-4701634/

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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	guerilla	a.	it was put back
2.	the focus	b.	money
3.	sell it to raise	c.	artist
4.	the painting was on a city-	d.	death threats
5.	it would be damaged if	e.	owned building
6.	He has since received	f.	of a big argument

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

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	a man and woman	a.	humour with graffiti
2.	checking their	b.	the paintings
3.	known by the fake	c.	hugging
4.	Banksy's work combines dark	d.	name Banksy
5.	it is against the spirit	e.	mobile phones
6.	remove	f.	of Banksy

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A painting by (1) ___________________ Banksy is the focus of a big argument in England. It (2) ___________________ on a building. A man discovered it could (3) ___________________ $150,000. He took it off the wall and kept it in his youth club. He wants to (4) ___________________ for the club. The city mayor said the painting was (5) ___________________ building so it should be put back. The man said it would be damaged if it was put back. He has since (6) ___________________.

The painting is called "Mobile Lovers" (7) ___________________ and woman hugging while checking their mobile phones (8) ___________________. Many people all over the world want art from (9) ___________________, only known (10) ___________________ Banksy. Wikipedia says Banksy's work combines "(11) ___________________ graffiti". The paintings describe politics and society. People believe it is "(12) ___________________ Banksy and street art" to remove the paintings.

STREET ART SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about street art 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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