The Reading / Listening - Doomsday Clock - Level 3

Scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BPA) have said the end of the world has come a little closer in the past year. BPA scientists are experts on nuclear weapons, disarmament, the changing energy landscape, climate change, and emerging technologies. It is responsible for setting the Doomsday Clock, which was started in 1947 to symbolize how close the world is to catastrophe. The BPA has just moved the clock's minute hand from three minutes to midnight to two-and-a-half minutes to midnight. This is the closest it has been to midnight (the Apocalypse) since 1953. Then, the minute hand was moved to two minutes to midnight after hydrogen bomb tests by the USA and Russia.

The BPA's latest report said President Donald Trump's recent statements on climate change, building nuclear weapons, immigration and terrorism have added to the global risk. The BPA warned that: "The probability of global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon." BPA chief Dr Rachel Bronson called on people around the world to make sure their leaders do the right things for the world. She said: "I hope the debate [created] by the 2017 setting of the Clock raises the level of conversation, promotes calls to action, and helps citizens around the world hold their leaders responsible for delivering a safer and healthier planet."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Doomsday Clock - Level 0,  Doomsday Clock - Level 1   or  Doomsday Clock - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-38760792
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/01/26/the-doomsday-clock-just-moved-again-its-now-two-and-a-half-minutes-to-midnight/
  • http://thebulletin.org/sites/default/files/Final%202017%20Clock%20Statement.pdf


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. THE WORLD TODAY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the world today. 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?

       scientists / closer / the past year / nuclear weapons / climate change / midnight /
       report / immigration / terrorism / catastrophe / do the right things / conversation

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

3. SAFER: Students A strongly believe the world is safer today than ever before; Students B strongly believe it is more dangerous.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. RISKS: What are the risks and how can we reduce them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What are the risks?

How can we reduce them?

Global warming

 

 

Nuclear weapons

 

 

Terrorism

 

 

Immigration

 

 

World leaders

 

 

Racism

 

 
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5. WORLD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "world". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. DANGERS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest dangers to the world at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • terrorism
  • overpopulation
  • war
  • viruses
  • world leaders
  • global warming
  • nuclear weapons
  • racism

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists say the end of the world has come much closer.     T / F
  2. The scientists are experts on nuclear weapons and climate change.     T / F
  3. The Doomsday Clock first started in 1974.     T / F
  4. The article said Russia and the USA tested hydrogen bombs in 1952.     T / F
  5. The BPA said Donald Trump's statements have made the world safer.     T / F
  6. The BPA said the chances of global catastrophe are high.     T / F
  7. The head of the BPA asked people to make sure their leaders act.     T / F
  8. The BPA head hopes the resetting of the clock will mean a safer planet.   T / F

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

  1. close
  2. experts
  3. responsible for
  4. catastrophe
  5. after
  6. latest
  7. probability
  8. reduce
  9. debate
  10. delivering
  1. most recent
  2. disaster
  3. following
  4. likelihood
  5. nearer
  6. lower
  7. discussion
  8. specialists
  9. bringing
  10. in charge of

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

  1. the end of the world has come
  2. BPA scientists are
  3. emerging
  4. This is the closest it has been
  5. hydrogen bomb
  6. climate
  7. The probability of global catastrophe
  8. make sure their leaders
  9. raises the level
  10. hold their leaders
  1. change
  2. tests
  3. responsible
  4. experts
  5. do the right things
  6. a little closer
  7. of conversation
  8. technologies
  9. to midnight
  10. is very high

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
moved
nuclear
symbolize
tests
past
midnight
hand
emerging

Scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BPA) have said the end of the world has come a little closer in the (1) ____________ year. BPA scientists are experts on (2) ____________ weapons, disarmament, the changing energy landscape, climate change, and (3) ____________ technologies. It is responsible for setting the Doomsday Clock, which was started in 1947 to (4) ____________ how close the world is to catastrophe. The BPA has just moved the clock's minute (5) ____________ from three minutes to midnight to two-and-a-half minutes to midnight. This is the closest it has been to (6) ____________ (the Apocalypse) since 1953. Then, the minute hand was (7) ____________ to two minutes to midnight after hydrogen bomb (8) ____________ by the USA and Russia.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
recent
debate
risks
responsible
global
level
terrorism
right

The BPA's latest report said President Donald Trump's (9) ____________ statements on climate change, building nuclear weapons, immigration and (10) ____________ have added to the global risk. The BPA warned that: "The probability of (11) ____________ catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to reduce the (12) ____________ of disaster must be taken very soon." BPA chief Dr Rachel Bronson called on people around the world to make sure their leaders do the (13) ____________ things for the world. She said: "I hope the (14) ____________ [created] by the 2017 setting of the Clock raises the (15) ____________ of conversation, promotes calls to action, and helps citizens around the world hold their leaders (16) ____________ for delivering a safer and healthier planet."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  the end of the world has come a little closer ______ year
     a.  in the past
     b.  on the past
     c.  in the paste
     d.  on a paste

2)  the changing energy landscape, climate change, ______ technologies
     a.  and emerging
     b.  and emergency
     c.  and emerge in
     d.  and immersing

3)  started in 1947 to symbolize how close the world ______
     a.  is to catastrophic
     b.  is to catastrophes
     c.  is to catastrophe
     d.  is to catastrophically

4)  The BPA has just moved the clock's minute hand from three ______
     a.  minutes two midnight
     b.  minutes too midnight
     c.  minutes to midnight
     d.  minutes through midnight

5)  the minute hand was moved to two minutes to midnight after hydrogen ______
     a.  bomb test
     b.  bomb testers
     c.  bomb tested
     d.  bomb tests

6)  building nuclear weapons, immigration and terrorism have added ______
     a.  to the globally risk
     b.  to the global risks
     c.  to the globalism risks
     d.  to the global risk

7)  the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be ______
     a.  take in very soon
     b.  takes very soon
     c.  taken very soon
     d.  takes in very soon

8) Bronson called on people around the world to make sure their leaders ______
     a.  do the rights things
     b.  do the right things
     c.  do the righted things
     d.  do the righting things

9) debate created by the 2017 setting of the Clock raises the ______
     a.  level of consternation
     b.  level of contribution
     c.  level of conservation
     d.  level of conversation

10)  hold their leaders responsible for delivering a safer and ______
     a.  healthier planetary
     b.  healthier planet
     c.  healthier planetarium
     d.  healthier plan it

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BPA) have said the end of the world has come a little (1) ___________________ past year. BPA scientists are experts on nuclear weapons, disarmament, the changing (2) ___________________, climate change, and emerging technologies. It is responsible for setting the Doomsday Clock, (3) ___________________ in 1947 to symbolize how close (4) ___________________ catastrophe. The BPA has just moved the clock's minute hand from three minutes to midnight to two-and-a-half (5) ___________________. This is the closest it has been to midnight (the Apocalypse) since 1953. Then, the minute hand was moved to two minutes to midnight after hydrogen (6) ___________________ the USA and Russia.

The BPA's (7) ___________________ President Donald Trump's recent statements on climate change, building nuclear weapons, immigration and terrorism (8) ___________________ the global risk. The BPA warned that: "The probability of global catastrophe is very high, and (9) ___________________ to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon." BPA chief Dr Rachel Bronson (10) ___________________ around the world to make sure their leaders do the right things for the world. She said: "I hope the debate (11) ___________________ 2017 setting of the Clock raises the level of conversation, promotes calls to action, and helps citizens around the world hold their leaders responsible (12) ___________________ safer and healthier planet."

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of changing landscape are BPA scientists experts on?
  2. What is the BPA responsible for setting?
  3. When was the Doomsday Clock started?
  4. When was the Doomsday Clock closest to midnight?
  5. What did the USA and Russia test?
  6. Whose statements did the BPA say added to the global risk?
  7. How high did the BPA say the probability of global catastrophe was?
  8. When did the BPA say action needed to be taken to reduce risks?
  9. Who is Dr Rachel Bronson?
  10. Who did the BPA say people should hold responsible for a safer planet?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of changing landscape are BPA scientists experts on?
a) bleak
b) cold
c) energy
d) green

2) What is the BPA responsible for setting?
a) the Doomsday Clock
b) records
c) the scene
d) hair

3) When was the Doomsday Clock started?
a) 1935
b) 1953
c) 1974
d) 1947

4) When was the Doomsday Clock closest to midnight?
a) 1974
b) 1953
c) 1935
d) 1947

5) What did the USA and Russia test?
a) scientists
b) their people
c) hydrogen bombs
d) theories

6) Whose statements did the BPA say added to the global risk?
a) bank statements
b) Donald Trump's
c) the chief of the BPA
d) the head of the UN

7) How high did the BPA say the probability of global catastrophe was?
a) not so high
b) about 20%
c) 30
d) very high

8) When did the BPA say action needed to be taken to reduce risks?
a) in the next day or two
b) very soon
c) next year
d) immediately

9) Who is Dr Rachel Bronson?
a) chief of the BPA
b) the inventor of the Doomsday Clock
c) a world leader
d) a debate expert

10) Who did the BPA say people should hold responsible for a safer planet?
a) the U.N.
b) other countries
c) themselves
d) leaders

Role play

Role A — World Leaders

You think world leaders are the biggest danger to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): global warming, terrorism or war.

Role B — Global Warming

You think global warming is the biggest danger to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): world leaders, terrorism or war.

Role C — Terrorism

You think terrorism is the biggest danger to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): global warming, world leaders or war.

Role D — War

You think war is the biggest danger to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): global warming, terrorism or world leaders.

After reading / listening

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

'global'

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

    • and 'risk'.

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

    • • 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:

    • latest
    • added
    • needed
    • right
    • level
    • safer
    • little
    • energy
    • setting
    • 1947
    • 1953
    • bomb

    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 - Scientists say end of world is 30 seconds closer

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'world'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How dangerous do you think the world is?
    5. What does the leader of your country do to make the world safer?
    6. What do you think of countries having nuclear weapons?
    7. How dangerous is climate change?
    8. Do you think the world is heading for catastrophe?
    9. How worried are you about the future?
    10. What advice do you have for President Donald Trump?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'nuclear weapons'?
    3. What are the biggest dangers to the world?
    4. Will President Donald Trump make the world a safer place?
    5. What would you do for the world if you were President?
    6. What can we do to make terrorism go away?
    7. How can social media help bring change to the world?
    8. What do you want your country's leader to do for the world?
    9. What can ordinary people do to make the world safer?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    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)

    Scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BPA) have said the end of the world has come a little closer in the (1) ____ year. BPA scientists are experts (2) ____ nuclear weapons, disarmament, the changing energy landscape, climate change, and emerging technologies. It is responsible (3) ____ setting the Doomsday Clock, which was started in 1947 to symbolize (4) ____ close the world is to catastrophe. The BPA has just moved the clock's minute hand from three minutes to midnight to two-and-a-half minutes to midnight. This is the closest it has been to midnight (the Apocalypse) (5) ____ 1953. Then, the minute hand was moved to two minutes to midnight after hydrogen bomb tests (6) ____ the USA and Russia.

    The BPA's latest report said President Donald Trump's (7) ____ statements on climate change, building nuclear weapons, immigration and terrorism have (8) ____ to the global risk. The BPA warned that: "The probability of global catastrophe is very high, and the actions (9) ____ to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon." BPA chief Dr Rachel Bronson called (10) ____ people around the world to make sure their leaders do the right things for the world. She said: "I hope the debate [created] by the 2017 setting of the Clock (11) ____ the level of conversation, promotes calls to action, and helps citizens around the world hold their leaders responsible for (12) ____ a safer and healthier planet."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. a)     passed     (b)     parsed     (c)     past     (d)     pasted    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     to    
    3. (a)     for     (b)     at     (c)     as     (d)     by    
    4. (a)     how     (b)     what     (c)     that     (d)     when    
    5. (a)     for     (b)     in     (c)     then     (d)     since    
    6. (a)     as     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     by    
    7. (a)     recent     (b)     resent     (c)     recant     (d)     recently    
    8. (a)     adds     (b)     add     (c)     adding     (d)     added    
    9. (a)     needed     (b)     needing     (c)     needs     (d)     needy    
    10. (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     from     (d)     at    
    11. (a)     rises     (b)     raises     (c)     arises     (d)     risen    
    12. (a)     delivering     (b)     delivery     (c)     delivered     (d)     delivers

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. BPA scientists are perstex
    2. elcanru weapons
    3. the changing eegnyr landscape
    4. how close the world is to ctehpaators
    5. three minutes to mtginhdi
    6. hondreyg bomb tests

    Paragraph 2

    1. Donald Trump's ecnret statements
    2. cmtaiel change
    3. reduce the risks of irestdas
    4. raises the level of rnteovnasico
    5. helps sinctzie around the world
    6. a safer and healthier nptale

    Put the text back together

    (    )     of global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very

    (    )     moved to two minutes to midnight after hydrogen bomb tests by the USA and Russia.

    (    )     level of conversation, promotes calls to action, and helps citizens around the

    (    )     been to midnight (the Apocalypse) since 1953. Then, the minute hand was

    (    )     The BPA's latest report said President Donald Trump's recent statements on climate change, building nuclear

    (    )     soon." BPA chief Dr Rachel Bronson called on people around the world to make sure their leaders do the right

    (    )     weapons, immigration and terrorism have added to the global risk. The BPA warned that: "The probability

    (  1  )     Scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BPA) have said the end of the world has come a little

    (    )     hand from three minutes to midnight to two-and-a-half minutes to midnight. This is the closest it has

    (    )     world hold their leaders responsible for delivering a safer and healthier planet."

    (    )     1947 to symbolize how close the world is to catastrophe. The BPA has just moved the clock's minute

    (    )     change, and emerging technologies. It is responsible for setting the Doomsday Clock, which was started in

    (    )     closer in the past year. BPA scientists are experts on nuclear weapons, disarmament, the changing energy landscape, climate

    (    )     things for the world. She said: "I hope the debate [created] by the 2017 setting of the Clock raises the

    Put the words in the right order

    • closer   of   has   little   end   world   a   The   the   come   .
    • for   responsible   is   It   Clock   Doomsday   the   setting   .
    • is   world   the   close   how   Symbolize   catastrophe   to   .
    • just   hand   moved   The   the   BPA   clock's   has   minute   .
    • tests   Russia   by   After   the   hydrogen   USA   bomb   and   .
    • and   the   terrorism   global   have   risk   added   Immigration   to   .
    • The   high   very   is   catastrophe   global   of   probability   .
    • needed   of   to   disaster   reduce   The   the   actions   risks   .
    • world   leaders  right   the   their   the   for   sure   do   things   Make   .
    • for   Responsible   planet   healthier   and   safer   a   delivering   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BPA) have said the end of the world has come / coming a little closer in the passed / past year. BPA scientists are experts on nuclear weapons, disarmament, the changing energy / energetic landscape, climate change, and emerge / emerging technologies. It is responsible / responsibility for setting the Doomsday Clock, which was started in 1947 to symbolize what / how close the world is to catastrophe. The BPA has just moved the clock's minute hands / hand from three minutes to midnight to / from two-and-a-half minutes to midnight. This is the closest it has been to midnight (the Apocalypse) for / since 1953. Then, the minute hand was moved to two minutes to midnight after / post hydrogen bomb tests by the USA and Russia.

    The BPA's latest report said President Donald Trump's recently / recent statements on climate change, building / built nuclear weapons, immigration and terrorism have addition / added to the global risk. The BPA warned that: "The probability of / by global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to / for reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soonish / soon." BPA chief Dr Rachel Bronson called in / on people around the world to make sure their leaders do the right / left things for the world. She said: "I hope the debate [created] by the 2017 setting of the Clock raises / rises the level of conversation, promotes calls to action, and helps citizens around the world hold their leaders responsible for deliver / delivering a safer and healthier planet."

    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)

    Sc__nt_sts fr_m th_ B_ll_t_n _f th_ _t_m_c Sc__nt_sts (BP_) h_v_ s__d th_ _nd _f th_ w_rld h_s c_m_ _ l_ttl_ cl_s_r _n th_ p_st y__r. BP_ sc__nt_sts _r_ _xp_rts _n n_cl__r w__p_ns, d_s_rm_m_nt, th_ ch_ng_ng _n_rgy l_ndsc_p_, cl_m_t_ ch_ng_, _nd _m_rg_ng t_chn_l_g__s. _t _s r_sp_ns_bl_ f_r s_tt_ng th_ D__msd_y Cl_ck, wh_ch w_s st_rt_d _n 1947 t_ symb_l_z_ h_w cl_s_ th_ w_rld _s t_ c_t_str_ph_. Th_ BP_ h_s j_st m_v_d th_ cl_ck's m_n_t_ h_nd fr_m thr__ m_n_t_s t_ m_dn_ght t_ tw_-_nd-_-h_lf m_n_t_s t_ m_dn_ght. Th_s _s th_ cl_s_st _t h_s b__n t_ m_dn_ght (th_ _p_c_lyps_) s_nc_ 1953. Th_n, th_ m_n_t_ h_nd w_s m_v_d t_ tw_ m_n_t_s t_ m_dn_ght _ft_r hydr_g_n b_mb t_sts by th_ _S_ _nd R_ss__.

    Th_ BP_'s l_t_st r_p_rt s__d Pr_s_d_nt D_n_ld Tr_mp's r_c_nt st_t_m_nts _n cl_m_t_ ch_ng_, b__ld_ng n_cl__r w__p_ns, _mm_gr_t__n _nd t_rr_r_sm h_v_ _dd_d t_ th_ gl_b_l r_sk. Th_ BP_ w_rn_d th_t: "Th_ pr_b_b_l_ty _f gl_b_l c_t_str_ph_ _s v_ry h_gh, _nd th_ _ct__ns n__d_d t_ r_d_c_ th_ r_sks _f d_s_st_r m_st b_ t_k_n v_ry s__n." BP_ ch__f Dr R_ch_l Br_ns_n c_ll_d _n p__pl_ _r__nd th_ w_rld t_ m_k_ s_r_ th__r l__d_rs d_ th_ r_ght th_ngs f_r th_ w_rld. Sh_ s__d: "_ h_p_ th_ d_b_t_ [cr__t_d] by th_ 2017 s_tt_ng _f th_ Cl_ck r__s_s th_ l_v_l _f c_nv_rs_t__n, pr_m_t_s c_lls t_ _ct__n, _nd h_lps c_t_z_ns _r__nd th_ w_rld h_ld th__r l__d_rs r_sp_ns_bl_ f_r d_l_v_r_ng _ s_f_r _nd h__lth__r pl_n_t."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists from the bulletin of the atomic scientists (bpa) have said the end of the world has come a little closer in the past year bpa scientists are experts on nuclear weapons disarmament the changing energy landscape climate change and emerging technologies it is responsible for setting the doomsday clock which was started in 1947 to symbolize how close the world is to catastrophe the bpa has just moved the clock's minute hand from three minutes to midnight to two-and-a-half minutes to midnight this is the closest it has been to midnight (the apocalypse) since 1953 then the minute hand was moved to two minutes to midnight after hydrogen bomb tests by the usa and russia

    the bpa's latest report said president donald trump's recent statements on climate change building nuclear weapons immigration and terrorism have added to the global risk the bpa warned that "the probability of global catastrophe is very high and the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon" bpa chief dr rachel bronson called on people around the world to make sure their leaders do the right things for the world she said "i hope the debate [created] by the 2017 setting of the clock raises the level of conversation promotes calls to action and helps citizens around the world hold their leaders responsible for delivering a safer and healthier planet"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Write about the world today for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    The world is safer today than ever before. 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 this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. THE WORLD TODAY: Make a poster about the world today. What are the risks the world faces? Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. GLOBAL SAFETY: Write a magazine article about how safe or dangerous the world is today. Include imaginary interviews with people who think it is very safe and with people who think it is very dangerous.

    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 global security. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make the world a safer place. 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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