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Anger as work starts on Machu Picchu airport (14th June, 2019)

The Reading / Listening - Machu Picchu - Level 3

The world-famous Inca site Machu Picchu in Peru is going to get an airport. Peru's government started preparing the ground for the airport earlier this week. Around one million tourists visit Machu Picchu every year. Government officials hope the new Chinchero International Airport will make it easier for tourists to reach the site. Getting to Machu Picchu currently takes time and requires a bus and train. The nearest airport is 120 kilometers away in the city of Cuzco. The new airport will allow direct international flights into the heart of the Machu Picchu area. The government says this will be a boost for the country's tourism industry. More than 7 million passengers a year may use the airport.

Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century by the Inca people. They built it 2,430 meters up on a misty peak in the Andes Mountains. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Many people are unhappy about the building of the new airport. Conservationists say it will cause a lot of damage to Machu Picchu and its surrounding rural communities. Peruvian archaeologist Abel Traslaviña said: "The airport...endangers the conservation of one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the world. An airport in the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will affect the integrity of a complex Inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage due to noise, traffic and uncontrolled urbanization."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Machu Picchu - Level 0, Machu Picchu - Level 1 or Machu Picchu - Level 2

Sources

https://www.npr.org/2019/06/11/731798477/international-protests-mount-as-peru-moves-ahead-with-new-airport-near-machu-pic
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/may/15/archaeologists-outraged-over-plans-for-machu-picchu-airport-chinchero
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/06/11/archaeologists-protest-new-machu-picchu-airport

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. MACHU PICCHU: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Machu Picchu. 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?
world-famous / airport / tourists / officials / international / flights / boost / passengers
century / peak / heritage / conservationist / communities / valley / integrity / damage
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NO DEVELOPMENT: Students A strongly believe the area around World Heritage sites should not be developed; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WORLD HERTIAGE SITES: What do you know about these World Heritage sites? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	What I Want To Know
Machu Picchu
Great Barrier Reef
The Pyramids
The Acropolis
Petra
Mount Fuji

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. GROUND: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "ground". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TOURISM: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest problems of tourism at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

ill-mannered tourists
noise
no privacy for locals
traffic
overcrowding
litter
higher prices
damage to sites

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	site	a.	An area of economic activity, such as car making, health, tourism, electronics, movie making, etc.
2.	tourist	b.	An area of ground on which a town, building, place of history or monument is built.
3.	currently	c.	Moving from one place to another by the shortest way without changing direction or stopping.
4.	allow	d.	A person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.
5.	direct	e.	Give someone permission to do something.
6.	boost	f.	At the present time.
7.	industry	g.	Help or encourage something to increase or improve.

Paragraph 2

8.	century	h.	A period of 100 years.
9.	peak	i.	Cars, trucks, buses, etc. moving along a road.
10.	conservationist	j.	The very top of something, especially a mountain.
11.	surrounding	k.	About the study of human history and pre-history through the digging of sites and looking at historic things and where there used to be buildings.
12.	rural	l.	A person who acts or fights for the protection and preservation of the environment and wildlife.
13.	archaeological	m.	All around a place or thing.
14.	traffic	n.	In or about the countryside rather than the town and city.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

Over 10 million tourists visit Machu Picchu every year. T / F
The nearest airport to Machu Picchu is currently 120 km away. T / F
The new airport will only be for domestic flights. T / F
Around 70 million passengers a year could use the airport. T / F
Machu Picchu was built in the 1500s. T / F
Machu Picchu became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. T / F
An archaeologist is worried the airport will damage rural communities. T / F
The archaeologist said uncontrolled urbanization would damage the site. T / F

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

preparing
visit
requires
reach
boost
built
cause
surrounding
integrity
irreparable

involves
irreversible
increase
go to see
constructed
neighboring
getting ready
stability
arrive at
bring about

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

preparing the ground
make it easier for tourists
direct international
this will be a boost for the country's
More than 7 million passengers a year
Machu Picchu was built in the
Conservationists say it will cause
rural
the most important historical and
cause irreparable

15th century
tourism industry
communities
flights
damage
to reach the site
for the airport
archaeological sites
may use the airport
a lot of damage

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

easier
boost
allow
site
currently
preparing
heart
tourists

The world-famous Inca (1) ____________ Machu Picchu in Peru is going to get an airport. Peru's government started (2) ____________ the ground for the airport earlier this week. Around one million (3) ____________ visit Machu Picchu every year. Government officials hope the new Chinchero International Airport will make it (4) ____________ for tourists to reach the site. Getting to Machu Picchu (5) ____________ takes time and requires a bus and train. The nearest airport is 120 kilometers away in the city of Cuzco. The new airport will (6) ____________ direct international flights into the (7) ____________ of the Machu Picchu area. The government says this will be a (8) ____________ for the country's tourism industry. More than 7 million passengers a year may use the airport.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

important
damage
traffic
built
building
complex
peak
surrounding

Machu Picchu was (9) ____________ in the 15th century by the Inca people. They built it 2,430 meters up on a misty (10) ____________ in the Andes Mountains. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Many people are unhappy about the (11) ____________ of the new airport. Conservationists say it will cause a lot of (12) ____________ to Machu Picchu and its (13) ____________ rural communities. Peruvian archaeologist Abel Traslaviña said: "The airport...endangers the conservation of one of the most (14) ____________ historical and archaeological sites in the world. An airport in the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will affect the integrity of a (15) ____________ Inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage due to noise, (16) ____________ and uncontrolled urbanization."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The world-famous Inca site Machu Picchu in Peru is going to ______
     a. bet an airport
     b. let an airport
     c. set an airport
     d. get an airport
2) make it easier for tourists to ______
     a. retch the site
     b. roach the site
     c. reach the site
     d. leech the site
3) allow direct international flights into the ______ Machu Picchu area
     a. heart of the
     b. heat of the
     c. hearth of the
     d. hearty of the
4) The government says this will be a boost for the country's ______
     a. touring industry
     b. tourism industry
     c. tour ins industry
     d. tourist's industry
5) More than 7 million passengers a year ______ airport
     a. may lose the
     b. may use the
     c. may ruse the
     d. may youths the

6) They built it 2,430 meters up on a ______
     a. misty peak
     b. musty peak
     c. miss tea peak
     d. mist tea peak
7) Many people are unhappy about the building of ______
     a. then new airport
     b. the new airport
     c. their new airport
     d. they new airport
8) cause a lot of damage to Machu Picchu and its surrounding ______
     a. loyal communities
     b. rival communities
     c. rule communities
     d. rural communities
9) the conservation of one of the most important historical and ______
     a. archaeology sites
   b. archaeologically sites
     c. archaeological sites
     d. arc air logical sites
10) An airport in the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will affect the integrity ______
     a. off a complex
     b. offer complex
     c. oaf a complex
     d. of a complex

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world-famous Inca site Machu Picchu in Peru is (1) ___________________ an airport. Peru's government started preparing the ground for the airport earlier this week. (2) ___________________ tourists visit Machu Picchu every year. Government (3) ___________________ new Chinchero International Airport will make it easier for tourists to (4) ___________________. Getting to Machu Picchu currently takes time and requires a bus and train. The nearest airport is 120 kilometers away in the city of Cuzco. The new airport (5) ___________________ international flights into the heart of the Machu Picchu area. The government says this will be a boost for the country's tourism industry. More than 7 million passengers a year may (6) ___________________.

Machu Picchu (7) ___________________ the 15th century by the Inca people. They built it 2,430 meters up (8) ___________________ peak in the Andes Mountains. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Many people (9) ___________________ the building of the new airport. Conservationists say it will cause a (10) ___________________ to Machu Picchu and its surrounding rural communities. Peruvian archaeologist Abel Traslaviña said: "The airport...endangers the conservation of one of the (11) ___________________ and archaeological sites in the world. An airport in the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will affect the integrity of a complex Inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage (12) ___________________, traffic and uncontrolled urbanization."

Comprehension questions

What has Peru's government started preparing?
How many tourists visit Machu Picchu each year?
How far away is the nearest airport to Machu Picchu?
Where will the airport be in relation to Machu Picchu?
How many passengers a year might use the new airport?
When was Machu Picchu built?
When did Machu Picchu become a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Who is Abel Traslaviña?
What is the name of the valley the new airport will be built in?
What two things will damage the site besides urbanization?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What has Peru's government started preparing?
a) tickets
b) a new tourist site
c) plans for a new airline
d) the ground
2) How many tourists visit Machu Picchu each year?
a) over a million
b) around one million
c) exactly 1,000,000
d) just under 100,000
3) How far away is the nearest airport to Machu Picchu?
a) 130km
b) 110km
c) 140km
d) 120km
4) Where will the airport be in relation to Machu Picchu?
a) just below it
b) next to it
c) the heart of the Machu Picchu area
d) 50km away
5) How many passengers a year might use the new airport?
a) just under seven million
b) exactly seven million
c) around 7 million
d) over 7,000,000

6) When was Machu Picchu built?
a) in the 1600s
b) 1600
c) in the 15th century
d) in the 1500s
7) When did Machu Picchu become a UNESCO World Heritage site?
a) 1983
b) 1982
c) 1981
d) 1980
8) Who is Abel Traslaviña?
a) a Machu Picchu tour guide
b) an Inca campaigner
c) a Peruvian archaeologist
d) the airport CEO
9) What is the name of the valley the new airport will be built in?
a) Machu Valley
b) the Sacred Valley
c) the Valley of the Inca
d) Picchu Valley
10) What two things will damage the site besides urbanization?
a) noise and traffic
b) floods and winds
c) pollution and airplanes
d) tourism and litter

Role play

Role A – Traffic
You think traffic is the biggest problem caused by tourism. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the smallest of these problems (and why): noise, litter or higher prices.

Role B – Noise
You think noise is the biggest problem caused by tourism. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the smallest of these problems (and why): traffic, litter or higher prices.

Role C – Litter
You think litter is the biggest problem caused by tourism. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the smallest of these problems (and why): noise, traffic or higher prices.

Role D – Higher Prices
You think higher prices is the biggest problem caused by tourism. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the smallest of these problems (and why): noise, litter or traffic.

After reading / listening

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

'world'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'heritage'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

15

unhappy

damage

most

affect

traffic

famous

visit

reach

bus

allow

boost

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 - Anger as work starts on Machu Picchu airport

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'world'?
What do you know about Machu Picchu?
What is the best sight in your country, and why?
Should there be more airports in the world?
How does a place change if it comes a World Heritage site?
What do you think of an airport being built near Machu Picchu?
Why is Machu Picchu so important?
What happens if the airport damages Machu Picchu?
What modern buildings today will become World Heritage sites?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'airport'?
What do you think about what you read?
Should there be airports next to ancient sights?
How important is UNESCO?
Which famous places would you like to visit?
Would you prefer to visit Machu Picchu or the Pyramids?
How could Peru boost tourism with the airport?
What advice do you have for local people near Machu Picchu?
What questions would you like to ask Peru's government?

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)

The world-famous Inca site Machu Picchu in Peru is (1) ____ to get an airport. Peru's government started preparing the ground for the airport (2) ____ this week. Around one million tourists visit Machu Picchu every year. Government officials hope the new Chinchero International Airport will make it easier for tourists to (3) ____ the site. Getting to Machu Picchu currently takes time and requires a bus and train. The nearest airport is 120 kilometers (4) ____ in the city of Cuzco. The new airport will allow direct international flights into the (5) ____ of the Machu Picchu area. The government says this will be a (6) ____ for the country's tourism industry. More than 7 million passengers a year may use the airport.

Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century by the Inca people. They built it 2,430 meters up on a (7) ____ peak in the Andes Mountains. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Many people are unhappy about the (8) ____ of the new airport. Conservationists say it will cause a lot of damage to Machu Picchu and its surrounding (9) ____ communities. Peruvian archaeologist Abel Traslaviña said: "The airport...endangers the conservation of (10) ____ of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the world. An airport in the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will (11) ____ the integrity of a complex Inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage (12) ____ to noise, traffic and uncontrolled urbanization."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) going (b) growing (c) grown (d) gone
(a) earliest (b) earlies (c) earlier (d) earl
(a) retch (b) roach (c) reach (d) ratchet
(a) around (b) about (c) abound (d) away
(a) head (b) foot (c) heart (d) stomach
(a) beast (b) boost (c) baste (d) bust
(a) meaty (b) misty (c) musty (d) mast
(a) builds (b) building (c) build (d) built
(a) rival (b) oval (c) rural (d) aural
(a) on (b) once (c) only (d) one
(a) effect (b) reflect (c) infect (d) affect
(a) because (b) but (c) how (d) due

Spelling

Paragraph 1

started egrpanpri the ground
Government ioclfasif
rueresqi a bus and train
allow dcriet international flights
boost for the country's tourism urnsydti
7 million npssrseeag a year

Paragraph 2

Machu Picchu was built in the 15th uecrytn
2,430 meters up on a mytis peak
its surrounding rrlua communities
lcrhiotsia and archaeological sites
affect the tirgeyint
damage due to noise, fftacir and...

Put the text back together

(...) of the Machu Picchu area. The government says this will be a boost for the country's tourism
(...) and will cause irreparable damage due to noise, traffic and uncontrolled urbanization."
(...) world. An airport in the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will affect the integrity of a complex Inca landscape
(...) year. Government officials hope the new Chinchero International Airport will make it easier for tourists to
(...) is 120 kilometers away in the city of Cuzco. The new airport will allow direct international flights into the heart
(...) ground for the airport earlier this week. Around one million tourists visit Machu Picchu every
(...) reach the site. Getting to Machu Picchu currently takes time and requires a bus and train. The nearest airport
(...) Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century by the Inca people. They built it 2,430 meters
(...) "The airport...endangers the conservation of one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the
(...) damage to Machu Picchu and its surrounding rural communities. Peruvian archaeologist Abel Traslaviña said:
(...) up on a misty peak in the Andes Mountains. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Many people are
(...) unhappy about the building of the new airport. Conservationists say it will cause a lot of
(...) industry. More than 7 million passengers a year may use the airport.
( 1 ) The world-famous Inca site Machu Picchu in Peru is going to get an airport. Peru's government started preparing the

Put the words in the right order

get Machu going to airport . Picchu is an
the Make easier to it reach site .
will new The allow airport flights . international direct
industry . boost A tourism country's the for
a airport . passengers year Seven the million use may
in built Picchu 15th Machu the was century .
It Heritage World became 1983 . a in site
building . about Many people the are unhappy
sites . The most archaeological important historical and
a of the complex Inca landscape . Affect integrity

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The world-famous Inca site Machu Picchu in Peru is growing / going to get an airport. Peru's government started prepare / preparing the ground for the airport earlier / earliest this week. Around one million tourists visit Machu Picchu every year. Government officials / officially hope the new Chinchero International Airport will make them / it easier for tourists to reach the site. Getting to Machu Picchu currently / currency takes time and requires a bus and train. The nearest / nearly airport is 120 kilometers away in the city of Cuzco. The new airport will allow direct international flights into the lungs / heart of the Machu Picchu area. The government says this will be a boost / boast for the country's tourism industry. More than 7 million passengers a year may use / usual the airport.

Machu Picchu was building / built in the 15th century by the Inca people. They built it 2,430 meters up on a musty / misty peak in the Andes Mountains. It became / becomes a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Many people are unhappily / unhappy about the building of the new airport. Conservationists say it will because / cause a lot of damage to Machu Picchu and its surrounding rural / royal communities. Peruvian archaeologist Abel Traslaviña said: "The airport...engenders / endangers the conservation of one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the world. An airport in / on the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will affect the integrity of a complex / complexity Inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage due to noise, traffics / traffic and uncontrolled urbanization."

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)

T h_ w_r l d - f_m__ s I n c_ s_t_ M_c h_ P_c c h_ _n P_r_ _s g__ n g t_ g_t _n __ r p_r t . P_r_' s g_v_r n m_n t s t_r t_d p r_p_r_n g t h_ g r__ n d f_r t h_ __ r p_r t __ r l__ r t h_s w__ k . A r__ n d _n_ m_l l__ n t__ r_s t s v_s_t M_c h_ P_c c h_ _v_r y y__ r . G_v_r n m_n t _f f_c__ l s h_p_ t h_ n_w C h_n c h_r_ I n t_r n_t__ n_l A_r p_r t w_l l m_k_ _t __ s__ r f_r t__ r_s t s t_ r__ c h t h_ s_t_. G_t t_n g t_ M_c h_ P_c c h_ c_r r_n t l y t_k_s t_m_ _n d r_q__ r_s _ b_s _n d t r__ n . T h_ n__ r_s t __ r p_r t _s 1 2 0 k_l_m_t_r s _w_y _n t h_ c_t y _f C_z c_. T h_ n_w __ r p_r t w_l l _l l_w d_r_c t _n t_r n_t__ n_l f l_g h t s _n t_ t h_ h__ r t _f t h_ M_c h_ P_c c h_ _r__ . T h_ g_v_r n m_n t s_y s t h_s w_l l b_ _ b__ s t f_r t h_ c__ n t r y ' s t__ r_s m _n d_s t r y . M_r_ t h_n 7 m_l l__ n p_s s_n g_r s _ y__ r m_y _s_ t h_ __ r p_r t .

M_c h_ P_c c h_ w_s b__ l t _n t h_ 1 5 t h c_n t_r y b y t h_ I n c_ p__ p l_. T h_y b__ l t _t 2 , 4 3 0 m_t_r s _p _n _ m_s t y p__ k _n t h_ A n d_s M__ n t__ n s . I t b_c_m_ _ U N E S C O W_r l d H_r_t_g_ s_t_ _n 1 9 8 3 . M_n y p__ p l_ _r_ _n h_p p y _b__ t t h_ b__ l d_n g _f t h_ n_w __ r p_r t . C_n s_r v_t__ n_s t s s_y _t w_l l c__ s_ _ l_t _f d_m_g_ t_ M_c h_ P_c c h_ _n d _t s s_r r__ n d_n g r_r_l c_m m_n_t__ s . P_r_v__ n _r c h___l_g_s t A b_l T r_s l_v_ñ_ s__ d : " T h_ __ r p_r t . . ._n d_n g_r s t h_ c_n s_r v_t__ n _f _n_ _f t h_ m_s t _m p_r t_n t h_s t_r_c_l _n d _r c h___l_g_c_l s_t_s _n t h_ w_r l d . A n __ r p_r t _n t h_ s_r r__ n d_n g s _f t h_ S_c r_d V_l l_y w_l l _f f_c t t h_ _n t_g r_t y _f _ c_m p l_x I n c_ l_n d s c_p_ _n d w_l l c__ s_ _r r_p_r_b l_ d_m_g_ d__ t_ n__ s_, t r_f f_c _n d _n c_n t r_l l_d _r b_n_z_t__ n . "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the world famous inca site machu picchu in peru is going to get an airport perus government started preparing the ground for the airport earlier this week around one million tourists visit machu picchu every year government officials hope the new chinchero international airport will make it easier for tourists to reach the site getting to machu picchu currently takes time and requires a bus and train the nearest airport is 120 kilometers away in the city of cuzco the new airport will allow direct international flights into the heart of the machu picchu area the government says this will be a boost for the countrys tourism industry more than 7 million passengers a year may use the airport

machu picchu was built in the 15th century by the inca people they built it 2430 meters up on a misty peak in the andes mountains it became a unesco world heritage site in 1983 many people are unhappy about the building of the new airport conservationists say it will cause a lot of damage to machu picchu and its surrounding rural communities peruvian archaeologist abel traslavia said the airport endangers the conservation of one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the world an airport in the surroundings of the sacred valley will affect the integrity of a complex inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage due to noise traffic and uncontrolled urbanization"

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Theworld-famousIncasiteMachuPicchuinPeruisgoingtogetanairpo
rt.Peru'sgovernmentstartedpreparingthegroundfortheairportearlier
thisweek.AroundonemilliontouristsvisitMachuPicchueveryyear.Gov
ernmentofficialshopethenewChincheroInternationalAirportwillmak
eiteasierfortouriststoreachthesite.GettingtoMachuPicchucurrentlyt
akestimeandrequiresabusandtrain.Thenearestairportis120kilomete
rsawayinthecityofCuzco.Thenewairportwillallowdirectinternationalf
lightsintotheheartoftheMachuPicchuarea.Thegovernmentsaysthisw
illbeaboostforthecountry'stourismindustry.Morethan7millionpasse
ngersayearmayusetheairport.MachuPicchuwasbuiltinthe15thcentu
rybytheIncapeople.Theybuiltit2,430metersuponamistypeakintheA
ndesMountains.ItbecameaUNESCOWorldHeritagesitein1983.Many
peopleareunhappyaboutthebuildingofthenewairport.Conservationi
stssayitwillcausealotofdamagetoMachuPicchuanditssurroundingrur
alcommunities.PeruvianarchaeologistAbelTraslaviñasaid:"Theairpo
rt...endangerstheconservationofoneofthemostimportanthistoricala
ndarchaeologicalsitesintheworld.AnairportinthesurroundingsoftheS
acredValleywillaffecttheintegrityofacomplexIncalandscapeandwillc
auseirreparabledamageduetonoise,trafficanduncontrolledurbanizat
ion."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Airports should never be built near World Heritage sites. 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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MACHU PICCHU: Make a poster about Machu Picchu. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. WORLD HERITAGE SITES: Write a magazine article about airports being built near World Heritage sites. 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. MACHU PICCHU: Write a letter to an expert on Machu Picchu. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to protect it. 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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Breaking News English Lesson on Machu Picchu

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