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Reports of doping cover-up in athletics (18th August, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

An article in the British newspaper The Sunday Times claims that around a third of the world's top athletes at a major event cheated by using drugs. The newspaper says a study was carried out during the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. It showed that 29-34 per cent of the 1,800 competitors had used performance-enhancing drugs in the previous 12 months. Reporters say that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) knew about the report but blocked its publication. The study was conducted by Germany's University of Tubingen. The IAAF said there were many things wrong with the report. It added that it is in discussions to help publish it one day.

The details in the report are a huge shock to the athletics world. The Sunday Times reports that one-third of the medals in endurance races at the Olympics and World Championships were won by athletes who had very unusual blood readings. The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that it would investigate the claims in the report. It said an independent commission has already started work on this. The lead author of the report, Dr Rolf Ulrich, told The Sunday Times that he and his colleagues were ordered not to discuss their research or the report. He said: "It's because the IAAF is blocking it. I think they are stakeholders with WADA and they just blocked the whole thing."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/athletics/33948924
http://espn.go.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/13439986/world-anti-doping-agency-investigates-ard-sunday-s-doping-allegations
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=9019182

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. ATHLETICS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about athletics. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

article / athletes / cheated / drugs / study / performance / publication / discussions / details / endurance / races / blood / independent / investigate / colleagues / blocked

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

3. PERFORMANCE: How can athletes perform better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Benefits	Problems
Food
Sleep
Computers
Training
Competition
Drugs

4. DRUGS: Students A strongly believe there will always be drugs in sport are very bad idea; Students B strongly believe that drugs in sport are OK if performances improve. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

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

• 100 metres

• javelin

• marathon

• high jump

• hammer throw

• 1,500 metres

• pole vault

• 400-metre relay

6. ATHLETE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "athlete". 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 British newspaper had an article about a drugs cover-up.	T / F
b.	The article claimed a third of athletes at an athletics event used drugs.	T / F
c.	The article said researchers looked at over 2,000 athletes.	T / F
d.	The IAAF said it does not want to publish the report.	T / F
e.	The details in the report were not a surprise to the athletics world.	T / F
f.	The article said a third of medal winners had unusual blood readings.	T / F
g.	The World Anti-Doping Agency will not act on the details in the report.	T / F
h.	The researcher thinks athletics chiefs are blocking the report.	T / F

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

1.	article	a.	obstructed
2.	top	b.	done
3.	carried out	c.	entire
4.	blocked	d.	very big
5.	wrong	e.	report
6.	huge	f.	strange
7.	unusual	g.	co-workers
8.	investigate	h.	best
9.	colleagues	i.	look into
10.	whole	j.	incorrect

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

1.	An article in the	a.	help publish it
2.	around a third of the world's	b.	enhancing drugs
3.	a major	c.	his colleagues
4.	performance-	d.	to the athletics world
5.	it is in discussions to	e.	British newspaper
6.	a huge shock	f.	of the report
7.	endurance	g.	claims in the report
8.	investigate the	h.	top athletes
9.	The lead author	i.	races
10.	he and	j.	event

GAP FILL

An (1) ____________ in the British newspaper The Sunday Times claims that around a (2) ____________ of the world's top athletes at a (3) ____________ event cheated by using drugs. The newspaper says a study was carried out (4) ____________ the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. It showed that 29-34 per cent of the 1,800 competitors had used (5) ____________ -enhancing drugs in the previous 12 months. Reporters say that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) knew about the report but (6) ____________ its publication. The study was (7) ____________ by Germany's University of Tubingen. The IAAF said there were many things (8) ____________ with the report. It added that it is in discussions to help publish it one day.

performance
major
article
conducted
third
wrong
blocked
during

The (9) ____________ in the report are a huge shock to the athletics world. The Sunday Times reports that one-third of the (10) ____________ in endurance races at the Olympics and World Championships were won by athletes who had very unusual (11) ____________ readings. The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that it would (12) ____________ the (13) ____________ in the report. It said an independent commission has already started work on this. The lead (14) ____________ of the report, Dr Rolf Ulrich, told The Sunday Times that he and his colleagues were (15) ____________ not to discuss their research or the report. He said: "It's because the IAAF is blocking it. I think they are (16) ____________ with WADA and they just blocked the whole thing."

blood
author
details
stakeholders
investigate
ordered
medals
claims

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Around a third of the world's top athletes at a major event ______ drugs.
	a. cheated buy using b. cheated but using c. cheated bet using d. cheated by using
2)	It showed that 29-34 per cent of the 1,800 competitors had used ______ drugs
	a. performance-enhance in b. performance-enhancer c. performance-enhancing d. performance-enhanced
3)	the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ______ report
	a. new about the b. know about the c. knew about the d. news about the
4)	The IAAF said there were many things ______ report.
	a. wrong with the b. wrong within the c. wrong with a d. wrong within a
5)	It added that it is in discussions to help publish ______
	a. it once a day b. it once day c. it one day d. it one daily
6)	The details in the report are a huge shock ______ world
	a. too the athletics b. to the athletics c. two the athletics d. thru the athletics
7)	races at the Olympics and World Championships were won by athletes ______ blood readings
	a. who had very unusually b. who had very unusual c. who had very an use all d. who had very an use you all
8)	The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that it would investigate ______ report
	a. the claims in the b. the clams in the c. the cranes in the d. the calms in the
9)	he and his colleagues were ordered not to discuss their ______ report
	a. research or the b. research for the c. research more the d. researcher the
10)	I think they are stakeholders with WADA and they just blocked ______
	a. the hole thing b. the whole thing c. the hold thing d. the foal thing

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

(1) ___________________ British newspaper The Sunday Times claims that around a third of the world's top athletes (2) __________________ cheated by using drugs. The newspaper says a study (3) ___________________ during the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. It showed that 29-34 per cent of the 1,800 competitors had used performance-enhancing drugs (4) ___________________ 12 months. Reporters say that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) knew about the report (5) ___________________ publication. The study was conducted by Germany's University of Tubingen. The IAAF said there were many things wrong with the report. It added that it is in discussions (6) ___________________ day.

The details in the report (7) ___________________ the athletics world. The Sunday Times reports that one-third (8) ___________________ endurance races at the Olympics and World Championships were won by athletes who had (9) ___________________ readings. The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that it would investigate (10) ___________________ report. It said an independent commission has already started work on this. The lead (11) ___________________, Dr Rolf Ulrich, told The Sunday Times that he and his colleagues were ordered not to discuss their research or the report. He said: "It's because the IAAF is blocking it. (12) ___________________ stakeholders with WADA and they just blocked the whole thing."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What is the name of the newspaper?
2.	What year's athletics event did researchers look into?
3.	How many competitors did researchers look at?
4.	What kind of drugs did reporters say the athletes had taken?
5.	From which country is the university that did the research?
6.	Who is the report a huge shock to?
7.	What kind of blood readings does the article say some athletes had?
8.	What organisation will investigate the claims?
9.	Who is Rolf Ulrich?
10.	Who does Mr Ulrich think is blocking the publication of the report?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is the name of the newspaper?	6.	Who is the report a huge shock to?
	a) The New York Times b) The Monday Times c) The Sunday Times d) The Athletics Times		a) the IAAF b) the athletics world c) The Sunday Times d) WADA
2.	What year's athletics event did researchers look into?	7.	What kind of blood readings does the article say some athletes had?
	a) 2011 b) 2012 c) 2013 d) 2014		a) unusual b) poor c) standard d) dangerous
3.	How many competitors did researchers look at?	8.	What organisation will investigate the claims?
	a) 1,800 b) 1,900 c) 2,000 d) 1,700		a) IOC b) UNESCO c) WADA d) IAAF
4.	What kind of drugs did reporters say the athletes had taken?	9.	Who is Rolf Ulrich?
	a) run-faster drugs b) performance-enhancing drugs c) class-A drugs d) semi-legal drugs		a) a journalist b) head of the IAAF c) an athlete d) the lead researcher
5.	From which country is the university that did the research?	10.	Who does Mr Ulrich think is blocking the publication of the report?
	a) Guatemala b) Ghana c) Georgia d) Germany		a) the IAAF and WADA b) the IMF and WHO c) The Sunday Times d) athletes

ROLE PLAY

Role A – 100 metres

You think the 100-metres is the best athletics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): marathon, the pole vault or the javelin.

Role B – Marathon

You think the marathon is the best athletics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): 100-metres, the pole vault or the javelin.

Role C – Pole vault

You think the pole vault is the best athletics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): marathon, 100-metres or the javelin.

Role D – Javelin

You think the javelin is the best athletics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): marathon, the pole vault or 100-metres.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

cover

up

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:

article
cheated
2011
12
knew
day

details
medals
investigate
started
colleagues
whole

ATHLETICS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about athletics 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.

ATHLETICS DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'athletics'?
3)	How much do you like athletics?
4)	What were you like at athletics at school?
5)	What is your favourite athletics event?
6)	What do you think of people who cheat in sports?
7)	How difficult is it to stop people cheating in sports?
8)	Should medal winners return their medals if they used drugs?
9)	How easy is it to believe in world records?
10)	What is wrong with performance-enhancing drugs in sport?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Which is best, track or field?
13)	What should happen to athletes who are caught cheating?
14)	Is it more exciting if athletes take drugs and break records?
15)	Why do you think the IAAF don't want the report to be published?
16)	Which is better, athletics or other sports?
17)	Would you like to be an athlete?
18)	Why are some people good at athletics and others aren't?
19)	Which is better – the 110 metres or the marathon?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the boss of IAAF?

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

An article in the British newspaper The Sunday Times claims that around a (1) ____ of the world's top athletes at a (2) ____ event cheated by using drugs. The newspaper says a study was carried (3) ____ during the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. It showed that 29-34 per cent of the 1,800 competitors had used performance-enhancing drugs in the (4) ____ 12 months. Reporters say that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) knew about the report but blocked its publication. The study was (5) ____ by Germany's University of Tubingen. The IAAF said there were many things wrong with the report. It added that it is (6) ____ discussions to help publish it one day.

The details in the report are a (7) ____ shock to the athletics world. The Sunday Times reports that one-third of the medals in endurance races at the Olympics and World Championships were won by athletes who had very (8) ____ blood readings. The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that it would investigate the claims in the report. It said an independent commission has already started work (9) ____ this. The (10) ____ author of the report, Dr Rolf Ulrich, told The Sunday Times that he and his colleagues were (11) ____ not to discuss their research or the report. He said: "It's because the IAAF is blocking it. I think they are stakeholders with WADA and they just blocked the (12) ____ thing."

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

1.	(a)	thirdly	(b)	thirds	(c)	three	(d)	third
2.	(a)	majorly	(b)	majors	(c)	majority	(d)	major
3.	(a)	up	(b)	out	(c)	in	(d)	away
4.	(a)	previously	(b)	prevent	(c)	previous	(d)	prevents
5.	(a)	predicted	(b)	reflected	(c)	conducted	(d)	inducted
6.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	up	(d)	at
7.	(a)	hugs	(b)	huge	(c)	hugging	(d)	hugged
8.	(a)	unusual	(b)	unlimited	(c)	unnerving	(d)	unraveling
9.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	at	(d)	up
10.	(a)	load	(b)	lied	(c)	lead	(d)	lad
11.	(a)	ordering	(b)	orders	(c)	ordered	(d)	order
12.	(a)	realistic	(b)	really	(c)	hole	(d)	whole

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	An leictra in the British newspaper
2.	the world's top tealsthe
3.	oereanfpmrc-enhancing drugs
4.	in the poureivs 12 months
5.	etdccnodu by Germany's University of Tubingen
6.	it is in sondsisucsi to help
Paragraph 2
7.	The atislde in the report
8.	medals in dunerneca races
9.	very uuulsna
10.	it would snteaeitvig the claims
11.	The lead artohu of the report
12.	discuss their cheserar

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	The details in the report are a huge shock to the athletics world. The Sunday Times reports that one-
( )	The Sunday Times that he and his colleagues were ordered not to discuss their research or the report. He said: "It's
( )	third of the medals in endurance races at the Olympics and World Championships were won
( )	by athletes who had very unusual blood readings. The World Anti-Doping Agency said on
( )	Friday that it would investigate the claims in the report. It said an independent
( )	blocked its publication. The study was conducted by Germany's University of Tubingen. The IAAF said there were many
( )	because the IAAF is blocking it. I think they are stakeholders with WADA and they just blocked the whole thing."
( )	12 months. Reporters say that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) knew about the report but
( )	commission has already started work on this. The lead author of the report, Dr Rolf Ulrich, told
( )	athletes at a major event cheated by using drugs. The newspaper says a study was carried
( 1 )	An article in the British newspaper The Sunday Times claims that around a third of the world's top
( )	that 29-34 per cent of the 1,800 competitors had used performance-enhancing drugs in the previous
( )	out during the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. It showed
( )	things wrong with the report. It added that it is in discussions to help publish it one day.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	athletes top world's the of third A event major a at .
2.	Used -enhancing drugs in the previous 12 months performance .
3.	blocked about its the publication report but Knew .
4.	report the with wrong things many were there said IAAF The .
5.	day It is in discussions to help publish it one.
6.	report huge The the a in are shock details.
7.	endurance One of in third medals races - the.
8.	athletes very readings by had blood Won who unusual.
9.	work started already has commission independent An.
10.	their His ordered discuss were to research colleagues not.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

An article / artistry in the British newspaper The Sunday Times claims that around a thirdly / third of the world's top athletes at a majority / major event cheated by / as using drugs. The newspaper says a study was conducted / carried out during the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. It showed / shown that 29-34 per cent of the 1,800 competitors had used / useful performance-enhancing drugs in the previously / previous 12 months. Reporters say that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) knew around / about the report but blocked its publication. The study was conducted by Germany's University of Tubingen. The IAAF said there were many things wrong with the report. It added that it is in discussions to help publication / publish it one day.

The details in the report are a hug / huge shock to the athletics world. The Sunday Times reports that one-third of the medals in endurance race / races at the Olympics and World Championships were winning / won by athletes who had very unusually / unusual blood readings. The World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that it would investigate / instigate the claims in the report. It said an independent commission has ready / already started work on this. The lead / iron author of the report, Dr Rolf Ulrich, told The Sunday Times that he and this / his colleagues were ordered not to discuss their research or the report. He said: "It's because the IAAF is booking / blocking it. I think they are stakeholders with WADA and they just blocked the hole / whole thing."

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)

_n _rt_cl_ _n th_ Br_t_sh n_wsp_p_r Th_ S_nd_y T_m_s cl__ms th_t _r__nd _ th_rd _f th_ w_rld's t_p _thl_t_s _t _ m_j_r _v_nt ch__t_d by _s_ng dr_gs. Th_ n_wsp_p_r s_ys _ st_dy w_s c_rr__d __t d_r_ng th_ W_rld _thl_t_cs Ch_mp__nsh_ps _n D__g_, S__th K_r__ _n 2011. _t sh_w_d th_t 29-34 p_r c_nt _f th_ 1,800 c_mp_t_t_rs h_d _s_d p_rf_rm_nc_-_nh_nc_ng dr_gs _n th_ pr_v___s 12 m_nths. R_p_rt_rs s_y th_t th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l _ss_c__t__n _f _thl_t_cs F_d_r_t__ns (___F) kn_w _b__t th_ r_p_rt b_t bl_ck_d _ts p_bl_c_t__n. Th_ st_dy w_s c_nd_ct_d by G_rm_ny's _n_v_rs_ty _f T_b_ng_n. Th_ ___F s__d th_r_ w_r_ m_ny th_ngs wr_ng w_th th_ r_p_rt. _t _dd_d th_t _t _s _n d_sc_ss__ns t_ h_lp p_bl_sh _t _n_ d_y.

Th_ d_t__ls _n th_ r_p_rt _r_ _ h_g_ sh_ck t_ th_ _thl_t_cs w_rld. Th_ S_nd_y T_m_s r_p_rts th_t _n_-th_rd _f th_ m_d_ls _n _nd_r_nc_ r_c_s _t th_ _lymp_cs _nd W_rld Ch_mp__nsh_ps w_r_ w_n by _thl_t_s wh_ h_d v_ry _n_s__l bl__d r__d_ngs. Th_ W_rld _nt_-D_p_ng _g_ncy s__d _n Fr_d_y th_t _t w__ld _nv_st_g_t_ th_ cl__ms _n th_ r_p_rt. _t s__d _n _nd_p_nd_nt c_mm_ss__n h_s _lr__dy st_rt_d w_rk _n th_s. Th_ l__d __th_r _f th_ r_p_rt, Dr R_lf _lr_ch, t_ld Th_ S_nd_y T_m_s th_t h_ _nd h_s c_ll__g__s w_r_ _rd_r_d n_t t_ d_sc_ss th__r r_s__rch _r th_ r_p_rt. H_ s__d: "_t's b_c__s_ th_ ___F _s bl_ck_ng _t. _ th_nk th_y _r_ st_k_h_ld_rs w_th W_D_ _nd th_y j_st bl_ck_d th_ wh_l_ th_ng."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

an article in the british newspaper the sunday times claims that around a third of the world's top athletes at a major event cheated by using drugs the newspaper says a study was carried out during the world athletics championships in daegu south korea in 2011 it showed that 29-34 per cent of the 1800 competitors had used performance-enhancing drugs in the previous 12 months reporters say that the international association of athletics federations (iaaf) knew about the report but blocked its publication the study was conducted by germany's university of tubingen the iaaf said there were many things wrong with the report it added that it is in discussions to help publish it one day

the details in the report are a huge shock to the athletics world the sunday times reports that one-third of the medals in endurance races at the olympics and world championships were won by athletes who had very unusual blood readings the world anti-doping agency said on friday that it would investigate the claims in the report it said an independent commission has already started work on this the lead author of the report dr rolf ulrich told the sunday times that he and his colleagues were ordered not to discuss their research or the report he said "it's because the iaaf is blocking it i think they are stakeholders with wada and they just blocked the whole thing"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnarticleintheBritishnewspaperTheSundayTimesclaimsthataround
athirdoftheworld'stopathletesatamajoreventcheatedbyusingdrugs.
ThenewspapersaysastudywascarriedoutduringtheWorldAthleticsCh
ampionshipsinDaegu,SouthKoreain2011.Itshowedthat29-34perc
entofthe1,800competitorshadusedperformance-enhancingdrugsi
ntheprevious12months.ReporterssaythattheInternationalAssociati
onofAthleticsFederations(IAAF)knewaboutthereportbutblockeditsp
ublication.ThestudywasconductedbyGermany'sUniversityofTubing
en.TheIAAFsaidthereweremanythingswrongwiththereport.Itaddedt
hatitisindiscussionstohelppublishitoneday.Thedetailsinthereportare
ahugeshocktotheathleticsworld.TheSundayTimesreportsthatone-
thirdofthemedalsinenduranceracesattheOlympicsandWorldChampi
onshipswerewonbyathleteswhohadveryunusualbloodreadings.The
WorldAnti-DopingAgencysaidonFridaythatitwouldinvestigatethecla
imsinthereport.Itsaidanindependentcommissionhasalreadystarted
workonthis.Theleadauthorofthereport,DrRolfUlrich,toldTheSunday
Timesthatheandhiscolleagueswereorderednottodiscusstheirresearc
horthereport.Hesaid:"It'sbecausetheIAAFisblockingit.Ithinktheyar
estakeholderswithWADAandtheyjustblockedthewholething."

FREE WRITING

Write about athletics for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Drugs should never be used in sport to make performances better. 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 drugs and athletics. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. DOPING: Write a magazine article about athletics. 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 an expert on athletics. Ask him/her three questions about athletics. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to stop doping in athletics. 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

T

b

T

c

F

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	article	a.	report
2	top	b.	best
3.	carried out	c.	done
4.	blocked	d.	obstructed
5.	wrong	e.	incorrect
6.	huge	f.	very big
7.	unusual	g.	strange
8.	investigate	h.	look into
9.	colleagues	i.	co-workers
10.	whole	j.	entire

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The Sunday Times
2.	2011
3.	1,800
4.	Performance-enhancing drugs
5.	Germany
6.	The athletics world
7.	Unusual ones
8.	World Anti-Doping Agency
9.	The lead author of the report
10.	The IAAF and WADA

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

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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Reports of doping cover-up in athletics (18th August, 2015)

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