The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Hundreds of gay men eager to give blood in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting have been turned away by blood centers. Despite a major clinic urging people to donate blood, it was prevented by federal law from accepting donations from gay men who had been sexually active in the past year. The shooting on Sunday morning left 50 people dead and 53 injured, some seriously. The killer, Omar Mateen, 29, used a semi-automatic assault rifle to create the carnage, which is now the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Mateen, a New York native, supposedly targeted the LGBT community at the club after being angered at seeing two men kissing in Miami.

Many in the LGBT community are now protesting against the federal policy of barring gay men from donating blood unless they had been celibate in the previous year. Dr Ryan Stanton said donated blood must be tested for HIV and other infectious diseases before it could be used. The testing process typically takes about 24 hours. He said: "Anybody who meets the basic qualifications, whether homosexual or heterosexual, should be able to donate blood." The Atlantic said: "Even after the most deadly act against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in American history, the built-in homophobia of American public health keeps the country from mounting the most effective possible response."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/06/13/orlando-blood-bank-still-accepting-donations-wake-shooting-gay-club/85824564/
  • http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/13/health/orlando-shooting-gay-men-donate-blood/index.html
  • http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/homophobia-hiv-blood-ban-orlando-shooting/486818/


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. GIVING BLOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about giving blood. 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?

       eager / shooting / turned away / blood centers / donations / assault rifle / native /
       community / LGBT / HIV / diseases / qualifications / homosexual / homophobia

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

3. BLOOD: Students A strongly believe everyone should have to donate blood once a year; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. DONATING: How useful is donating these things? How can we get people to donate more (often)? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Blood
  • Money to charity
  • Body organs
  • Time
  • Food
  • Clothing
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. KISSING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "kissing". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. BANNED: Rank these with your partner. Put the thing to be banned first at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Nuclear weapons
  • Censorship
  • Selfie sticks
  • Fast food
  • Guns
  • Cigarettes
  • Pornography
  • Internet Pop-ups

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Community centers turned away gay men wanting to donate blood.     T / F
  2. U.S. federal law prevents sexually active men from donating blood.     T / F
  3. The killer was due to celebrate his 29th birthday next week.     T / F
  4. The killer was reportedly angry at two men kissing in Orlando.     T / F
  5. The LGBT want the federal law changed so gay men can donate blood.    T / F
  6. Testing blood for HIV usually takes around 24 hours.     T / F
  7. A doctor said anyone should be able to donate blood if they are fit to.     T / F
  8. The Atlantic website blamed homophobia for ineffective responses.     T / F

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

  1. eager
  2. despite
  3. urging
  4. carnage
  5. targeted
  6. barring
  7. infectious
  8. deadly
  9. mounting
  10. response
  1. prohibiting
  2. encouraging
  3. singled out
  4. contagious
  5. massacre
  6. keen
  7. reaction
  8. organizing
  9. regardless of
  10. lethal

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

  1. eager
  2. a major clinic urging
  3. federal
  4. a semi-automatic assault
  5. the deadliest mass
  6. Many in the LGBT
  7. infectious
  8. homosexual or
  9. transgender
  10. the most effective possible
  1. community
  2. rifle
  3. people
  4. people to donate blood
  5. diseases
  6. heterosexual
  7. to give blood
  8. response
  9. law
  10. shooting in U.S. history

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
active
carnage
supposedly
urging
eager
seriously
donations
mass

Hundreds of gay men (1) ____________ to give blood in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting have been turned away by blood centers. Despite a major clinic (2) ____________ people to donate blood, it was prevented by federal law from accepting (3) ____________ from gay men who had been sexually (4) ____________ in the past year. The shooting on Sunday morning left 50 people dead and 53 injured, some (5) ____________. The killer, Omar Mateen, 29, used a semi-automatic assault rifle to create the (6) ____________, which is now the deadliest (7) ____________ shooting in U.S. history. Mateen, a New York native, (8) ____________ targeted the LGBT community at the club after being angered at seeing two men kissing in Miami.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
infectious
typically
celibate
homophobia
protesting
effective
deadly
meets

Many in the LGBT community are now (9) ____________ against the federal policy of barring gay men from donating blood unless they had been (10) ____________ in the previous year. Dr Ryan Stanton said donated blood must be tested for HIV and other (11) ____________ diseases before it could be used. The testing process (12) ____________ takes about 24 hours. He said: "Anybody who (13) ____________ the basic qualifications, whether homosexual or heterosexual, should be able to donate blood." The Atlantic said: "Even after the most (14) ____________ act against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in American history, the built-in (15) ____________ of American public health keeps the country from mounting the most (16) ____________ possible response."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Despite a major clinic urging people to _____
     a.  donates blood
     b.  donate blood
     c.  donating blood
     d.  donation blood

2)  prevented by federal law from accepting donations from gay men who had ______
     a.  been sexually actively
     b.  been sexually inactive
     c.  been sexually proactive
     d.  been sexually active

3)  The shooting on Sunday morning left 50 people dead and 53 injured, ______
     a.  some seriously
     b.  sum seriously
     c.  same seriously
     d.  some serious

4)  The killer, Omar Mateen, 29, used a semi-automatic assault rifle to ______
     a.  create the carnage
     b.  create the carriage
     c.  create the car niche
     d.  create the damage

5)  targeted the LGBT community at the club after being angered at seeing ______
     a.  two men kissed
     b.  two women kissing
     c.  two women kiss in
     d.  two men kissing

6)  Many in the LGBT community are now protesting against ______
     a.  the federalist policy
     b.  the federal policies
     c.  the federal policy
     d.  the federalist policies

7)  Dr Ryan Stanton said donated blood must be tested for HIV and other ______
     a.  infection disease
     b.  infectiously diseases
     c.  infectious disease
     d.  infectious diseases

8)  The Atlantic said: "Even after the ______
     a.  most deadly acts
     b.  most deadly act
     c.  most deadly action
     d.  most dead act

9)  the built-in homophobia of American ______
     a.  publics health
     b.  publicly health
     c.  public health
     d.  public healthy

10)  keeps the country from mounting the most effective ______
     a.  possible response
     b.  possibly response
     c.  possible responses
     d.  possible responsive

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Hundreds of (1) ___________________ give blood in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting have been turned away by blood centers. Despite a major clinic (2) ___________________ donate blood, it was prevented by federal law from accepting donations from gay men who had been (3) ___________________ the past year. The shooting on Sunday morning left 50 people dead and 53 injured, (4) ___________________. The killer, Omar Mateen, 29, used a semi-automatic assault rifle to create the carnage, which is now the deadliest (5) ___________________ U.S. history. Mateen, a New York native, supposedly targeted the LGBT community at the club after (6) ___________________ seeing two men kissing in Miami.

Many in the LGBT community are now protesting (7) ___________________ policy of barring gay men from donating blood unless they had been celibate in (8) ___________________. Dr Ryan Stanton said donated blood must be tested for HIV and other (9) ___________________ before it could be used. The testing process typically takes about 24 hours. He said: "Anybody who meets the (10) ___________________, whether homosexual or heterosexual, should be able to donate blood." The Atlantic said: "Even after the most (11) ___________________ gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in American history, the built-in homophobia of American public health keeps the country from mounting the (12) ___________________ response."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who turned away hundreds of gay men wanting to donate blood?
  2. How old was Mateen?
  3. Which state was Mateen a native of?
  4. Who did the killer target?
  5. What was the killer reported to be angry at seeing?
  6. What are people in the LGBT community protesting against?
  7. How long does it usually take to test blood for HIV?
  8. What did a doctor say people had to meet to be able to give blood?
  9. Who called the attack the most deadly act against the LGBT community?
  10. What was said to hold back, "the most effective possible response"?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who turned away hundreds of gay men wanting to donate blood?
a) nurses
b) the LGBT community
c) blood centers
d) the police

2) How old was Mateen?
a) 29
b) 39
c) 34
d) 24

3) Which state was Mateen a native of?
a) Washington
b) New York
c) Florida
d) Texas

4) Who did the killer target?
a) gay men
b) lesbians
c) transgender people
d) the LGBT community

5) What was the killer reported to be angry at seeing?
a) the nightclub
b) a magazine
c) two men kissing
d) two women kissing

6) What are people in the LGBT community protesting against?
a) guns
b) a federal law
c) inequality in the workplace
d) the killer

7) How long does it usually take to test blood for HIV?
a) 1 ½ days
b) 18 hours
c) 24 days
d) 24 hours

8) What did a doctor say people had to meet to be able to give blood?
a) pain
b) basic qualifications
c) a doctor
d) a certain level of income

9) Who called the attack the most deadly act against the LGBT community?
a) The Baltic
b) The Atlantic
c) The Pacific
d) The Arctic

10) What was said to hold back, "the most effective possible response"?
a) homophobia in U.S. public health
b) traffic
c) laws
d) a lack of blood

Role play

Role A — Guns

You think guns are the top things to be banned. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these should not be banned (and why): pornography, nuclear weapons or fast food.

Role B — Pornography

You think pornography is the top thing to be banned. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these should not be banned (and why): guns, nuclear weapons or fast food.

Role C — Nuclear weapons

You think nuclear weapons are the top things to be banned. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these should not be banned (and why): pornography, guns or fast food.

Role D — Fast food

You think fast food is the top thing to be banned. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these should not be banned (and why): pornography, nuclear weapons or guns.

After reading / listening

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

'blood'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'donation'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • many
    • tested
    • used
    • able
    • built
    • effective
    • hundreds
    • major
    • seriously
    • rifle
    • mass
    • seeing

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Gay men refused as blood donors after Orlando shooting

    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 term 'blood donor'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should the law be changed so gay men can give blood?
    5. What do you think of donating blood?
    6. Should people get paid for donating blood?
    7. When will shootings like this stop?
    8. Have you ever (or would you) give blood?
    9. How important is it to be a blood donor?
    10. Would you donate other parts of your body for medical purposes?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What can people do to protest against the blood donation ban?
    3. Is it unfair that gay men cannot donate blood?
    4. Do you agree with what Dr Stanton said about anyone giving blood?
    5. Should Florida have let gay men donate blood for the Orlando victims?
    6. Why does homophobia exist?
    7. What can society do to reduce homophobia?
    8. What do you know about blood?
    9. Why is the ban in place if all blood is tested for HIV and other diseases?
    10. What questions would you like to ask an expert on blood donation?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Hundreds of gay men (1) ____ to give blood in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting have been turned away by blood centers. (2) ____ a major clinic urging people to donate blood, it was prevented by federal law from accepting donations from gay men who had been sexually (3) ____ in the past year. The shooting on Sunday morning (4) ____ 50 people dead and 53 injured, some seriously. The killer, Omar Mateen, 29, used a semi-automatic assault rifle to create the carnage, which is now the deadliest (5) ____ shooting in U.S. history. Mateen, a New York native, supposedly targeted the LGBT community at the club after being angered (6) ____ seeing two men kissing in Miami.

    Many in the LGBT community are now protesting against the federal policy of (7) ____ gay men from donating blood unless they had been (8) ____ in the previous year. Dr Ryan Stanton said donated blood must be tested (9) ____ HIV and other infectious diseases before it could be used. The testing process typically takes about 24 hours. He said: "Anybody who (10) ____ the basic qualifications, whether homosexual or heterosexual, should be able to donate blood." The Atlantic said: "(11) ____ after the most deadly act against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in American history, the built-in homophobia of American public health keeps the country from mounting the most effective (12) ____ response."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     eager     (b)     eagerly     (c)     eagerness     (d)     egger    
    2. (a)     In Spite     (b)     Spite     (c)     Despite     (d)     Dispute    
    3. (a)     inactive     (b)     actively     (c)     active     (d)     activate    
    4. (a)     departed     (b)     remained     (c)     stayed     (d)     left    
    5. (a)     mess     (b)     miss     (c)     mass     (d)     moss    
    6. (a)     as     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     of    
    7. (a)     bared     (b)     barring     (c)     barred     (d)     baring    
    8. (a)     celebrity     (b)     celibate     (c)     celery     (d)     celebrate    
    9. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     for     (d)     by    
    10. (a)     attends     (b)     learns     (c)     rules     (d)     meets    
    11. (a)     Event     (b)     Ever     (c)     Eventually     (d)     Even    
    12. (a)     possibilities     (b)     possibly     (c)     possibility     (d)     possible

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a major clinic iunrgg people to donate blood
    2. prevented by federal law from iccatngep donations
    3. 53 durejni, some seriously
    4. a semi-automatic sasutla rifle
    5. a New York ivnaet
    6. syupodsepl targeted the LGBT community

    Paragraph 2

    1. federal yocilp
    2. other etocsinufi diseases
    3. Anybody who meets the basic ictuilqsoinaaf
    4. edartrgnesn people
    5. the built-in bihhoopoma
    6. the most effective possible respeons

    Put the text back together

    (    ).....act against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in American history, the built-in homophobia

    (    ).....law from accepting donations from gay men who had been sexually active in the past year. The shooting

    (    ).....away by blood centers. Despite a major clinic urging people to donate blood, it was prevented by federal

    (    ).....about 24 hours. He said: "Anybody who meets the basic qualifications, whether homosexual or

    (    ).....automatic assault rifle to create the carnage, which is now the deadliest mass

    (  1  )     Hundreds of gay men eager to give blood in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting have been turned

    (    ).....heterosexual, should be able to donate blood." The Atlantic said: "Even after the most deadly

    (    ).....Many in the LGBT community are now protesting against the federal policy of barring gay men from

    (    ).....donating blood unless they had been celibate in the previous year. Dr Ryan Stanton said donated blood must be

    (    ).....on Sunday morning left 50 people dead and 53 injured, some seriously. The killer, Omar Mateen, 29, used a semi-

    (    ).....of American public health keeps the country from mounting the most effective possible response."

    (    ).....tested for HIV and other infectious diseases before it could be used. The testing process typically takes

    (    ).....shooting in U.S. history. Mateen, a New York native, supposedly targeted the LGBT

    (    ).....community at the club after being angered at seeing two men kissing in Miami.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. accepting   by   donations   federal   It   law   was   from   prevented   .
    2. people   Sunday   dead   morning   The   left   shooting   50   on   .
    3. carnage   rifle   semi   assault   create   the -  automatic   Used  a  to   .
    4. .   history   Now   the   deadliest   mass   shooting   in   U.S.
    5. at  after  Targeted  community  club  angered   LGBT  the  being   the  .
    6. LGBT now  the  The  are  against  policy community  protesting  federal  .
    7. from  donating  blood  unless  they  had  been  celibate  Barring  gay  men  .
    8. testing   The   hours   24   about   takes   typically   process   .
    9. American   -   public   in   health   homophobia   The   of   built   .
    10. effective   most   the   Mounting   response   possible   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Hundreds of gay men eager / eagerly to give blood in the woke / wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting have been turned away / up by blood centers. Despite a major clinic urging / surging people to donate blood, it was prevented by federal law from accepting donations from gay men who had been sexually active in the passed / past year. The shooting on Sunday morning left 50 people dead and 53 injury / injured, some seriously. The killer, Omar Mateen, 29, used a semi-automatic assault rifle to / for create the carnage, which is now the deadliest mess / mass shooting in U.S. history. Mateen, a New York native / novice, supposedly targeted the LGBT community at the club after being angered / anger at seeing two men kissing in Miami.

    Many in the LGBT community are now protecting / protesting against the federal policy of barring gay men from donating blood unless / until they had been celibate in the previous year. Dr Ryan Stanton said donated blood must be tested as / for HIV and other infectious diseases after / before it could be used. The testing process typically / typical takes about 24 hours. He said: "Anybody who meets the basically / basic qualifications, whether homosexual or heterosexual, should be ability / able to donate blood." The Atlantic said: "Even after the most deadly / death act against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in American history, the built-in homophobic / homophobia of American public health keeps the country from mounting the most effective / effect possible response."

    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)

    H_ndr_ds _f g_y m_n __g_r t_ g_v_ bl__d _n th_ w_k_ _f th_ _rl_nd_ n_ghtcl_b sh__t_ng h_v_ b__n t_rn_d _w_y by bl__d c_nt_rs. D_sp_t_ _ m_j_r cl_n_c _rg_ng p__pl_ t_ d_n_t_ bl__d, _t w_s pr_v_nt_d by f_d_r_l l_w fr_m _cc_pt_ng d_n_t__ns fr_m g_y m_n wh_ h_d b__n s_x__lly _ct_v_ _n th_ p_st y__r. Th_ sh__t_ng _n S_nd_y m_rn_ng l_ft 50 p__pl_ d__d _nd 53 _nj_r_d, s_m_ s_r___sly. Th_ k_ll_r, _m_r M_t__n, 29, _s_d _ s_m_-__t_m_t_c _ss__lt r_fl_ t_ cr__t_ th_ c_rn_g_, wh_ch _s n_w th_ d__dl__st m_ss sh__t_ng _n _.S. h_st_ry. M_t__n, _ N_w Y_rk n_t_v_, s_pp_s_dly t_rg_t_d th_ LGBT c_mm_n_ty _t th_ cl_b _ft_r b__ng _ng_r_d _t s___ng tw_ m_n k_ss_ng _n M__m_.

    M_ny _n th_ LGBT c_mm_n_ty _r_ n_w pr_t_st_ng _g__nst th_ f_d_r_l p_l_cy _f b_rr_ng g_y m_n fr_m d_n_t_ng bl__d _nl_ss th_y h_d b__n c_l_b_t_ _n th_ pr_v___s y__r. Dr Ry_n St_nt_n s__d d_n_t_d bl__d m_st b_ t_st_d f_r H_V _nd _th_r _nf_ct___s d_s__s_s b_f_r_ _t c__ld b_ _s_d. Th_ t_st_ng pr_c_ss typ_c_lly t_k_s _b__t 24 h__rs. H_ s__d: "_nyb_dy wh_ m__ts th_ b_s_c q__l_f_c_t__ns, wh_th_r h_m_s_x__l _r h_t_r_s_x__l, sh__ld b_ _bl_ t_ d_n_t_ bl__d." Th_ _tl_nt_c s__d: "_v_n _ft_r th_ m_st d__dly _ct _g__nst g_y, l_sb__n, b_s_x__l, _nd tr_nsg_nd_r p__pl_ _n _m_r_c_n h_st_ry, th_ b__lt-_n h_m_ph_b__ _f _m_r_c_n p_bl_c h__lth k__ps th_ c__ntry fr_m m__nt_ng th_ m_st _ff_ct_v_ p_ss_bl_ r_sp_ns_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    hundreds of gay men eager to give blood in the wake of the orlando nightclub shooting have been turned away by blood centers despite a major clinic urging people to donate blood it was prevented by federal law from accepting donations from gay men who had been sexually active in the past year the shooting on sunday morning left 50 people dead and 53 injured some seriously the killer omar mateen 29 used a semi-automatic assault rifle to create the carnage which is now the deadliest mass shooting in us history mateen a new york native supposedly targeted the lgbt community at the club after being angered at seeing two men kissing in miami

    many in the lgbt community are now protesting against the federal policy of barring gay men from donating blood unless they had been celibate in the previous year dr ryan stanton said donated blood must be tested for hiv and other infectious diseases before it could be used the testing process typically takes about 24 hours he said "anybody who meets the basic qualifications whether homosexual or heterosexual should be able to donate blood" the atlantic said "even after the most deadly act against gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people in american history the built-in homophobia of american public health keeps the country from mounting the most effective possible response"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    HundredsofgaymeneagertogivebloodinthewakeoftheOrlandonightc
    lubshootinghavebeenturnedawaybybloodcenters.Despiteamajorcli
    nicurgingpeopletodonateblood,itwaspreventedbyfederallawfromac
    ceptingdonationsfromgaymenwhohadbeensexuallyactiveinthepast
    year.TheshootingonSundaymorningleft50peopledeadand53injured
    ,someseriously.Thekiller,OmarMateen,29,usedasemi-automatica
    ssaultrifletocreatethecarnage,whichisnowthedeadliestmassshootin
    ginU.S.history.Mateen,aNewYorknative,supposedlytargetedtheLG
    BTcommunityattheclubafterbeingangeredatseeingtwomenkissingin
    Miami.ManyintheLGBTcommunityarenowprotestingagainstthefeder
    alpolicyofbarringgaymenfromdonatingbloodunlesstheyhadbeenceli
    bateinthepreviousyear.DrRyanStantonsaiddonatedbloodmustbetes
    tedforHIVandotherinfectiousdiseasesbeforeitcouldbeused.Thetesti
    ngprocesstypicallytakesabout24hours.Hesaid:"Anybodywhomeetst
    hebasicqualifications,whetherhomosexualorheterosexual,shouldbe
    abletodonateblood."TheAtlanticsaid:"Evenafterthemostdeadlyacta
    gainstgay,lesbian,bisexual,andtransgenderpeopleinAmericanhistor
    y,thebuilt-inhomophobiaofAmericanpublichealthkeepsthecountryfr
    ommountingthemosteffectivepossibleresponse."

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    Everyone should have to give blood once a year. 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. BLOOD: Search the Internet and find out more about blood. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. BLOOD DONATION: Make a poster about blood donation. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. BANNING ALL GUNS: Write a magazine article about banning all guns. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    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 gun control. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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