The Reading / Listening - Locust Invasion - Level 6

The livelihood of farmers and other food growers in East Africa is under attack from locusts. Authorities say swarms of millions of locusts are ravaging large swathes of farmland and vegetation. Millions of people are at risk after the insects destroyed crops in Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. The swarms of locusts are spreading and could affect the agriculture, bushland and forests of neighbouring countries. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report that some swarms have been sighted as far afield as Yemen and Oman in the Gulf. It is the worst locust invasion in 70 years and some say it is reaching Biblical proportions.

The locust invasion is seriously affecting the lives of over 12 million people. Many of these were already experiencing food insecurity due to poor harvests from a lack of rain. The swarms of locusts will only worsen the plight of people living in the region. Locusts are extremely voracious pests. One locust can eat its entire body weight in just 24 hours. A small swarm could chomp its way through enough food to feed 35,000 people in just one day. Esther Kithuka, a farmer in Kenya, expressed her concern about the invasion. She said: "We depend a lot on this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest and we will end up remaining hungry through the rest of the year [until] next cropping season."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Locust Invasion - Level 4  or  Locust Invasion - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/scienceandhealth/Locust-swarms-threaten-more-countries-in-eastern-Africa-FAO/3073694-5443824-vpesa1/index.html
  • https://news.sky.com/story/worst-locust-invasion-in-70-years-threatens-countries-in-eastern-africa-11925606
  • https://www.ecowatch.com/locusts-somalia-national-emergency-2645027649.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. LOCUSTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about locusts. 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?
       livelihood / farmers / locusts / farmland / at risk / agriculture / invasion / Biblical /
       food / insecurity / harvest / lack of rain / plight / voracious / pest / concern / season
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. INSECTS: Students A strongly believe insects are not a threat to humans; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. INVASION: How bad would it be if these things invaded? What would happen? What could we do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Bad?

What Would Happen?

What Could We Do?

Aliens

 

 

 

Locusts

 

 

 

Our enemy

 

 

 

Zombies

 

 

 

Killer ants

 

 

 

Micro-organisms

 

 

 
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. FARMER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "farmer". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PESTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst pests at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • cold callers
  • people on trains
  • cockroaches
  • annoying bosses
  • rats
  • weeds
  • termites
  • children

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. livelihood a. Very great; on a large scale.
      2. swarm b. Causing severe and extensive damage to.
      3. ravaging c. Plants that are grown as food, especially a grain, fruit, or vegetable.
      4. swathe d. A way of securing and buying the necessities of life.
      5. crops e. To or at a distance.
      6. afield f. A large or dense group of insects, especially flying ones.
      7. Biblical g. A broad strip or area of something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. insecurity h. A destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, livestock, etc.
      9. plight i. With no part left out; whole.
      10. voracious j. The process or period of gathering in crops.
      11. pest k. A dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.
      12. entire l. Need or require for financial or other support.
      13. depend m. Wanting or devouring great quantities of food.
      14. harvest n. The state of being open to danger or threat; lack of protection.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said locusts are physically attacking farmers.     T / F
  2. There are billions of locusts in one swarm.     T / F
  3. Locust swarms have been spotted in Oman and Yemen.     T / F
  4. The invasion is like a scene from the Bible.     T / F
  5. The invasion has affected the lives of nearly 10 million people.     T / F
  6. Too much rain has made the locust numbers increase.     T / F
  7. A locust can eat its own body weight in 24 hours.     T / F
  8. A Kenyan farmer is worried the invasion could last for many years.     T / F

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

  1. livelihood
  2. ravaging
  3. at risk
  4. sighted
  5. proportions
  6. lack
  7. plight
  8. entire
  9. depend
  10. remaining
  1. in peril
  2. whole
  3. magnitude
  4. staying
  5. difficult situation
  6. source of income
  7. rely
  8. absence
  9. ruining
  10. spotted

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

  1. swarms of
  2. Millions of people are
  3. locusts are spreading and could affect
  4. swarms have been sighted as
  5. some say it is reaching Biblical
  6. Many of these were already experiencing
  7. swarms of locusts will only worsen the
  8. Locusts are extremely voracious
  9. We depend a lot
  10. we will end up
  1. at risk
  2. on this season
  3. proportions
  4. plight of people
  5. millions of locusts
  6. remaining hungry
  7. pests
  8. far afield as Yemen
  9. food insecurity
  10. the agriculture

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
affect
swarms
proportions
livelihood
invasion
risk
ravaging
sighted

The (1) ____________ of farmers and other food growers in East Africa is under attack from locusts. Authorities say(2) ____________ of millions of locusts are (3) ____________ large swathes of farmland and vegetation. Millions of people are at (4) ____________ after the insects destroyed crops in Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. The swarms of locusts are spreading and could (5) ____________ the agriculture, bushland and forests of neighbouring countries. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report that some swarms have been (6) ____________ as far afield as Yemen and Oman in the Gulf. It is the worst locust (7) ____________ in 70 years and some say it is reaching Biblical (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
chomp
plight
season
insecurity
depend
entire
voracious
concern

The locust invasion is seriously affecting the lives of over 12 million people. Many of these were already experiencing food (9) ____________ due to poor harvests from a lack of rain. The swarms of locusts will only worsen the (10) ____________ of people living in the region. Locusts are extremely (11) ____________ pests. One locust can eat its (12) ____________ body weight in just 24 hours. A small swarm could (13) ____________ its way through enough food to feed 35,000 people in just one day. Esther Kithuka, a farmer in Kenya, expressed her (14) ____________ about the invasion. She said: "We (15) ____________ a lot on this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest and we will end up remaining hungry through the rest of the year [until] next cropping (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The livelihood of farmers and other food growers in East Africa ______
     a.  is under attacker
     b.  is under a tack
     c.  is under attack
     d.  is under attacked
2)  Authorities say swarms of millions of locusts are ravaging ______
     a.  large swathe
     b.  large sways
     c.  largest ways
     d.  large swathes
3)  Millions of people are at risk after the insects ______ Eritrea
     a.  destroyed clops in
     b.  destroyed crops in
     c.  destroyed claps in
     d.  destroyed copse in
4)  report that some swarms have been sighted as ______ Yemen
     a.  far a field as
     b.  far afield as
     c.  far afford as
     d.  far a fee as
5)  and some say it is reaching ______
     a.  Biblical proportions
     b.  Biblical proportional
     c.  Biblical propositions
     d.  Biblical pre-portions

6)  Many of these were already experiencing food insecurity ______ harvests
     a.  due to poor
     b.  dew to poor
     c.  do to poor
     d.  duo to poor
7)  The swarms of locusts will only ______
     a.  worse the plight
     b.  worse and the plight
     c.  worse on the plight
     d.  worsen the plight
8)  Locusts are extremely ______
     a.  various pests
     b.  voracity pests
     c.  vicarious pests
     d.  voracious pests
9)  Esther Kithuka, a farmer in Kenya, ______
     a.  expressed her concerned
     b.  expressed her cons earn
     c.  expressed her con scene
     d.  expressed her concern
10)  on this season and we worry that the locusts will ______
     a.  destroy flower harvest
     b.  destroy flour harvest
     c.  destroy our harvest
     d.  destroy flora harvest

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The livelihood of (1) ___________________ food growers in East Africa is under attack from locusts. Authorities (2) ___________________ millions of locusts are ravaging large swathes of farmland and vegetation. Millions of people are at risk after the insects (3) ___________________ Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. The swarms of locusts are spreading and (4) ___________________ agriculture, bushland and forests of neighbouring countries. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report that some swarms have been sighted (5) ___________________ as Yemen and Oman in the Gulf. It is the worst locust invasion in 70 years and some say it is (6) ______________________.

The locust invasion (7) ___________________ the lives of over 12 million people. Many of these were already experiencing food (8) ___________________ poor harvests from a lack of rain. The swarms of locusts will only (9) ___________________ of people living in the region. Locusts are extremely voracious pests. One locust can eat its entire body weight in just 24 hours. A small swarm could (10) ___________________ through enough food to feed 35,000 people in just one day. Esther Kithuka, a farmer in Kenya, expressed her concern about the invasion. She said: "We (11) ___________________ on this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest and we will (12) ___________________ hungry through the rest of the year [until] next cropping season."

Comprehension questions

  1. Whose livelihoods are locusts attacking besides those of farmers?
  2. What did the article say swarms of locusts were ravaging?
  3. Which countries could the locusts affect next?
  4. How far afield have swarms of locusts been spotted?
  5. What kind of proportions did the article describe the invasion as being?
  6. How many people are affected by the locust invasion?
  7. What has worsened food insecurity besides a lack of rain?
  8. What did the article say about the appetite of locusts?
  9. How much can a locust eat in one day?
  10. What did a Kenyan farmer say she is worried the locusts will destroy?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Whose livelihoods are locusts attacking besides those of farmers?
a) restaurant owners
b) other food growers
c) ordinary people
d) florists
2)  What did the article say swarms of locusts were ravaging?
a) whole countries
b) everything in sight
c) forests and deserts
d) swathes of farmland
3) Which countries could the locusts affect next?
a) neighbouring countries
b) those in southern Africa
c) those in the Middle east
d) European countries
4) How far afield have swarms of locusts been spotted?
a) India and Sri Lanka
b) Seychelles and Mauritius
c) Oman and Yemen
d) India and Bangladesh
5) What kind of proportions did the article describe the invasion as being?
a) geometric ones
b) Biblical proportions
c) unreal ones
d) two-by-four

6) How many people are affected by the locust invasion?
a) over 12 million
b) over 22 million
c) 2 million
d) 10,000,000
7) What has worsened food insecurity besides a lack of rain?
a) global warming
b) no pesticides
c) poor harvests
d) El Nino
8) What did the article say about the appetite of locusts?
a) they are extremely voracious
b) they are fussy eaters
c) they are hungry at night
d) they eat three meals a day
9) How much can a locust eat in one day?
a) its own body weight in food
b) 10% of its body weight
c) 2kg
d) 300 leaves
10) What did a Kenyan farmer say she is worried the locusts will destroy?
a) her land
b) Kenya
c) her way of life
d) her harvest

Role play

Role  A – People on Trains
You think people on trains are the biggest pests. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people are not pests. Also, tell the others which are the most likeable of these (and why): annoying bosses, cold callers or children.

Role  B – Annoying Bosses
You think annoying bosses are the biggest pests. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people are not pests. Also, tell the others which are the most likeable of these (and why): people on trains, cold callers or children.

Role  C – Cold Callers
You think cold callers are the biggest pests. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people are not pests. Also, tell the others which are the most likeable of these (and why): annoying bosses, people on trains or children.

Role  D – Children
You think children are the biggest pests. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people are not pests. Also, tell the others which are the most likeable of these (and why): annoying bosses, cold callers or people on trains.

After reading / listening

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

'locust'

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

    • and 'invasion'.

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

    • • 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:

    • other
    • large
    • risk
    • affect
    • far
    • 70
    • 12
    • poor
    • worsen
    • 24
    • concern
    • rest

    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 - Locust Invasion

    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 'locust'?
    3. What do you know about locusts?
    4. What damage can locusts do?
    5. Are locusts harmful to humans in any other way?
    6. Would you eat dishes made from locusts?
    7. Why do you think this invasion is happening?
    8. How serious could this invasion become?
    9. What can the FAO do to help people in the region?
    10. What does 'Biblical proportions' mean for the region?

    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 'invasion'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What adversely affects agriculture in your country?
    5. What are the biggest pests in your country?
    6. How can an insect eat its own body weight in just one day?
    7. What would happen if there were food shortages in your country?
    8. What technology could we use to stop the locusts?
    9. What advice do have for the people in the region?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the FAO?

    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 livelihood of farmers and other food (1) ____ in East Africa is under attack from locusts. Authorities say swarms of millions of locusts are (2) ____ large swathes of farmland and vegetation. Millions of people are (3) ____ risk after the insects destroyed crops in Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. The swarms of locusts are (4) ____ and could affect the agriculture, bushland and forests of neighbouring countries. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report that some swarms have been sighted as far (5) ____ as Yemen and Oman in the Gulf. It is the worst locust invasion in 70 years and some say it is reaching Biblical (6) ____.

    The locust invasion is seriously (7) ____ the lives of over 12 million people. Many of these were already experiencing food insecurity (8) ____ to poor harvests from a lack of rain. The swarms of locusts will only worsen the plight of people living in the region. Locusts are extremely (9) ____ pests. One locust can eat its entire body weight in just 24 hours. A small swarm could (10) ____ its way through enough food to feed 35,000 people in just one day. Esther Kithuka, a farmer in Kenya, expressed her concern about the invasion. She said: "We depend a lot (11) ____ this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest and we will (12) ____ up remaining hungry through the rest of the year [until] next cropping season."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     growers     (b)     growths     (c)     grows     (d)     growls    
    2. (a)     lavishing     (b)     raging     (c)     ravaging     (d)     lathering    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    4. (a)     spreads     (b)     spread-eagled     (c)     spearheading     (d)     spreading    
    5. (a)     fields     (b)     fielder     (c)     afield     (d)     fielded    
    6. (a)     shares     (b)     proportions     (c)     ratios     (d)     fractions    
    7. (a)     affective     (b)     affecting     (c)     effecting     (d)     effective    
    8. (a)     duel     (b)     due     (c)     duel     (d)     dues    
    9. (a)     vociferous     (b)     verification     (c)     voracious     (d)     virtuous    
    10. (a)     chump     (b)     champ     (c)     chimp     (d)     chomp    
    11. (a)     at     (b)     to     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    12. (a)     terminate     (b)     close     (c)     last     (d)     end

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The oeoivlhdil of farmers
    2. mwrass of millions of locusts
    3. ravaging large seahstw of farmland
    4. farmland and ettvoeangi
    5. sighted as far aidfel as Yemen and Oman
    6. it is reaching Biblical proportions

    Paragraph 2

    1. experiencing food ytsrneiicu
    2. Locusts are extremely caoiuosvr pests
    3. eat its irtnee body weight in just 24 hours
    4. omchp its way through enough food
    5. epserxeds her concern about the invasion
    6. the locusts will destroy our atreshv

    Put the text back together

    (...)  and forests of neighbouring countries. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report
    (...)  The locust invasion is seriously affecting the lives of over 12 million people. Many of these were already
    (...)  vegetation. Millions of people are at risk after the insects destroyed crops in Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South
    (...)  that some swarms have been sighted as far afield as Yemen and Oman in the Gulf. It is the worst
    (...)  a lot on this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest and we will end
    (...)  Sudan and Uganda. The swarms of locusts are spreading and could affect the agriculture, bushland
    (...)  entire body weight in just 24 hours. A small swarm could chomp its way through enough food to feed 35,000 people in just one
    (...)  locust invasion in 70 years and some say it is reaching Biblical proportions.
    (...)  locusts. Authorities say swarms of millions of locusts are ravaging large swathes of farmland and
    (...)  up remaining hungry through the rest of the year [until] next cropping season."
    (  1  ) The livelihood of farmers and other food growers in East Africa is under attack from
    (...)  day. Esther Kithuka, a farmer in Kenya, expressed her concern about the invasion. She said: "We depend
    (...)  experiencing food insecurity due to poor harvests from a lack of rain. The swarms of locusts will only
    (...)  worsen the plight of people living in the region. Locusts are extremely voracious pests. One locust can eat its

    Put the words in the right order

    1. East   food   other   and   in   growers   Africa   .   Farmers
    2. at   after   crops   .   are   insects   People   destroyed   risk
    3. spreading   Locusts   the   affect   and   are   agriculture   .   could
    4. as   Swarms   were   far   afield   sighted   as   Yemen   .
    5. reaching   Some   say   is   Biblical   it   proportions   .
    6. locust   invasion   their   is   affecting   lives   .   seriously   The
    7. poor   insecurity   due   to   Experiencing   food   harvests   .
    8. in   the   plight   of   the   region   .   Worsen   people
    9. 35,000   through   to   enough   food   people   .   Chomp   feed
    10. rest   hungry   through   Remaining   the   year   .   of   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The livelihood / lively of farmers and other food growers in East Africa is over / under attack from locusts. Authorities say swarms of millions of locusts are lavishing / ravaging large swathes of farmland and vegetative / vegetation. Millions of people are at / to risk after the insects destroyed crops in Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda. The swarms of locusts are spread-eagled / spreading and could affect the agriculture, bushland / bushy and forests of neighbouring countries. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report that some swarms have been sighted / envisioned as far afield as Yemen and Oman in the Gulf. It is the worst locust invasion at / in 70 years and some say it is reaching Biblical preparations / proportions.

    The locust invasion is seriously / serious affecting the lives of over 12 million people. Many of these were already experiencing food insincere / insecurity due to poor / poverty harvests from a slack / lack of rain. The swarms of locusts will only worsen the blight / plight of people living in the region. Locusts are extremely voracious pests. One locust can eat its entire / entirety body weight in just 24 hours. A small swarm could chimp / chomp its way through enough food to feed 35,000 people in just one day. Esther Kithuka, a farmer in Kenya, expressed her concerned / concern about the invasion. She said: "We depend a lot on / to this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest and we will end up remaining hungry through the restive / rest of the year [until] next cropping season."

    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_ l_v_l_h__ d _f f_r m_r s _n d _t h_r f__ d g r_w_r s _n E_s t A f r_c_ _s _n d_r _t t_c k f r_m l_c_s t s . A_t h_r_t__ s s_y s w_r m s _f m_l l__ n s _f l_c_s t s _r_ r_v_g_n g l_r g_ s w_t h_s _f f_r m l_n d _n d v_g_t_t__ n . M_l l__ n s _f p__ p l_ _r_ _t r_s k _f t_r t h_ _n s_c t s d_s t r_y_d c r_p s _n E r_t r__ , K_n y_, E t h__ p__ , S_m_l__ , S__ t h S_d_n _n d U g_n d_. T h_ s w_r m s _f l_c_s t s _r_ s p r__ d_n g _n d c__ l d _f f_c t t h_ _g r_c_l t_r_, b_s h l_n d _n d f_r_s t s _f n__ g h b__ r_n g c__ n t r__ s . T h_ U n_t_d N_t__ n s ' F__ d _n d A g r_c_l t_r_l O r g_n_s_t__ n ( F A O ) r_p_r t t h_t s_m_ s w_r m s h_v_ b__ n s_g h t_d _s f_r _f__ l d _s Y_m_n _n d O m_n _n t h_ G_l f . I t _s t h_ w_r s t l_c_s t _n v_s__ n _n 7 0 y__ r s _n d s_m_ s_y _t _s r__ c h_n g B_b l_c_l p r_p_r t__ n s .

    T h_ l_c_s t _n v_s__ n _s s_r___s l y _f f_c t_n g t h_ l_v_s _f _v_r 1 2 m_l l__ n p__ p l_. M_n y _f t h_s_ w_r_ _l r__ d y _x p_r__ n c_n g f__ d _n s_c_r_t y d__ t_ p__ r h_r v_s t s f r_m _ l_c k _f r__ n . T h_ s w_r m s _f l_c_s t s w_l l _n l y w_r s_n t h_ p l_g h t _f p__ p l_ l_v_n g _n t h_ r_g__ n . L_c_s t s _r_ _x t r_m_l y v_r_c___s p_s t s . O n_ l_c_s t c_n __ t _t s _n t_r_ b_d y w__ g h t _n j_s t 2 4 h__ r s . A s m_l l s w_r m c__ l d c h_m p _t s w_y t h r__ g h _n__ g h f__ d t_ f__ d 3 5 , 0 0 0 p__ p l_ _n j_s t _n_ d_y . E s t h_r K_t h_k_, _ f_r m_r _n K_n y_, _x p r_s s_d h_r c_n c_r n _b__ t t h_ _n v_s__ n . S h_ s__ d : " W_ d_p_n d _ l_t _n t h_s s__ s_n _n d w_ w_r r y t h_t t h_ l_c_s t s w_l l d_s t r_y __ r h_r v_s t _n d w_ w_l l _n d _p r_m__ n_n g h_n g r y t h r__ g h t h_ r_s t _f t h_ y__ r [_n t_l ] n_x t c r_p p_n g s__ s_n . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the livelihood of farmers and other food growers in east africa is under attack from locusts authorities say swarms of millions of locusts are ravaging large swathes of farmland and vegetation millions of people are at risk after the insects destroyed crops in eritrea kenya ethiopia somalia south sudan and uganda the swarms of locusts are spreading and could affect the agriculture bushland and forests of neighbouring countries the united nations food and agricultural organisation fao report that some swarms have been sighted as far afield as yemen and oman in the gulf it is the worst locust invasion in 70 years and some say it is reaching biblical proportions

    the locust invasion is seriously affecting the lives of over 12 million people many of these were already experiencing food insecurity due to poor harvests from a lack of rain the swarms of locusts will only worsen the plight of people living in the region locusts are extremely voracious pests one locust can eat its entire body weight in just 24 hours a small swarm could chomp its way through enough food to feed 35000 people in just one day esther kithuka a farmer in kenya expressed her concern about the invasion she said we depend a lot on this season and we worry that the locusts will destroy our harvest and we will end up remaining hungry through the rest of the year until next cropping season

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThelivelihoodoffarmersandotherfoodgrowersinEastAfricaisunderatt
    ackfromlocusts.Authoritiessayswarmsofmillionsoflocustsareravagi
    nglargeswathesoffarmlandandvegetation.Millionsofpeopleareatrisk
    aftertheinsectsdestroyedcropsinEritrea,Kenya,Ethiopia,Somalia,So
    uthSudanandUganda.Theswarmsoflocustsarespreadingandcouldaff
    ecttheagriculture,bushlandandforestsofneighbouringcountries.The
    UnitedNations'FoodandAgriculturalOrganisation(FAO)reportthatso
    meswarmshavebeensightedasfarafieldasYemenandOmanintheGulf
    .Itistheworstlocustinvasionin70yearsandsomesayitisreachingBiblic
    alproportions.Thelocustinvasionisseriouslyaffectingthelivesofover1
    2millionpeople.Manyofthesewerealreadyexperiencingfoodinsecurit
    yduetopoorharvestsfromalackofrain.Theswarmsoflocustswillonlyw
    orsentheplightofpeoplelivingintheregion.Locustsareextremelyvorac
    iouspests.Onelocustcaneatitsentirebodyweightinjust24hours.Asma
    llswarmcouldchompitswaythroughenoughfoodtofeed35,000peoplei
    njustoneday.EstherKithuka,afarmerinKenya,expressedherconcern
    abouttheinvasion.Shesaid:"Wedependalotonthisseasonandwewor
    rythatthelocustswilldestroyourharvestandwewillendupremaininghu
    ngrythroughtherestoftheyear[until]nextcroppingseason."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We need to prepare for locust invasions everywhere as the world warms up. 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. 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. LOCUSTS: Make a poster about locusts. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. MASS KILLING: Write a magazine article about the mass killing of locusts. 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 locusts. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to deal with the insects. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

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

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