The Reading / Listening - Japanese Emperor - Level 0

Japan's Emperor Akihito, 85, has abdicated. He was emperor for 30 years. He abdicated because of his health. He thinks his son, Naruhito, can do the emperor's duties better. People will remember Akihito for his kindness. He always visited people after earthquakes, tsunami and other natural disasters.

Emperor Naruhito, 59, is the 126th emperor of the world's oldest monarchy. He studied at Oxford University. His wife, the new Empress Masako, studied at Harvard University. Naruhito received a sword and a jewel that are thousands of years old. There was a special ceremony. Millions of Japanese watched the historic event.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Japanese Emperor - Level 1,  Japanese Emperor - Level 2   or  Japanese Emperor - Level 3

Sources
  • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/29/national/japans-peaceful-heisei-era-leaves-legacy-change-growth-tragedy/
  • https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/3008145/japans-emperor-akihito-abdicates-and-crown-prince-naruhito
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/29/world/asia/japan-emperor-women.html


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

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. Japan's Emperor Akihito, 85,
  2. He was emperor
  3. He abdicated because
  4. He thinks his son, Naruhito,
  5. do the emperor's duties
  6. People will remember Akihito for
  7. He always visited people
  8. natural
  1. can
  2. after earthquakes
  3. has abdicated
  4. disasters
  5. of his health
  6. better
  7. for 30 years
  8. his kindness

Paragraph 2

  1. Emperor Naruhito, 59, is
  2. the world's oldest
  3. studied at
  4. Naruhito received a sword
  5. thousands of
  6. There was a
  7. Millions of Japanese
  8. the historic
  1. special ceremony
  2. Harvard University
  3. monarchy
  4. event
  5. and a jewel
  6. watched
  7. years old
  8. the 126th emperor

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Japan's Emperor Akihito, (1) ___________________. He was emperor for 30 years. He abdicated (2) ___________________ health. He (3) ___________________, Naruhito, can do the emperor's duties better. (4) ___________________ Akihito for his kindness. He (5) ___________________ after earthquakes, tsunami and (6) ___________________.

Emperor Naruhito, 59, (7) ___________________ emperor of the world's oldest monarchy. (8) ___________________ Oxford University. His (9) ___________________ Empress Masako, studied at Harvard University. Naruhito (10) ___________________ and a jewel that (11) ___________________ years old. There was a special ceremony. Millions of Japanese (12) ___________________ event.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Japan'sEmperorAkihito,85,hasabdicated.Hewasemperorfor30years
.Heabdicatedbecauseofhishealth.Hethinkshisson,Naruhito,candoth
eemperor'sdutiesbetter.PeoplewillrememberAkihitoforhiskindness.
Healwaysvisitedpeopleafterearthquakes,tsunamiandothernaturaldi
sasters.EmperorNaruhito,59,isthe126themperoroftheworld'soldest
monarchy.HestudiedatOxfordUniversity.Hiswife,thenewEmpressM
asako,studiedatHarvardUniversity.Naruhitoreceivedaswordandaje
welthatarethousandsofyearsold.Therewasaspecialceremony.Million
sofJapanesewatchedthehistoricevent.

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 — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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