The Reading / Listening - Life Expectancy - Level 6

People's life expectancy in Africa rose by nearly 10 years in the first two decades of this century. In the year 2000, the average African could expect to live to be 46. That rose to 56 in 2019. The World Health Organization said the rise was the best of any region in the world over the same period. However, the WHO said Africa was still considerably below the global average of 64 years. The statistics are from the WHO's State of Health in Africa report, which was issued on Thursday. It attributes the improvement to better maternal, newborn and child healthcare, advances in fighting infectious diseases (such as TB, malaria and HIV), and the easier access to essential health services.

The WHO report urged African nations to keep the momentum going to ensure life expectancy rates continue on their upward trend. It called for greater investment in health care systems so that they are better equipped to deal with the challenges ahead. These include an added strain on hospitals from a growing population, and the growth of non-communicable diseases like cancer. The WHO said there is a worrying spike in the numbers of Africans experiencing hypertension and diabetes. The WHO's Regional Director for Africa said: "The progress must not stall. Unless countries enhance measures...the health gains could be jeopardized."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Life Expectancy - Level 4  or  Life Expectancy - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.voanews.com/a/life-expectancy-in-africa-increases-nearly-10-years/6687204.html
  • https://africatimes.com/2022/08/05/african-life-expectancy-improves-by-10-years-from-2000-2019/
  • https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/08/1123972


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. LIFE EXPECTANCY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about life expectancy. 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?
       life expectancy / decade / century / average / global / statistics / malaria / health /
       Africa / momentum / trend / challenge / population / cancer / hypertension / diabetes
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LONGEVITY: Students A strongly believe it's OK for us to live a lot longer; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. LONGER LIFE: What would you do if you lived much longer? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What?

Why?

Language

 

 

Hobby

 

 

Friends

 

 

Travel

 

 

Health

 

 

Food

 

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

  • Diseases
  • Preventing war
  • Overpopulation
  • Global warming
  • Obesity
  • Hypertension
  • Cybercrime
  • Immigration

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. expectancy a. Short for tuberculosis - an infectious bacterial disease in the lungs.
      2. decade b. An area that has definable characteristics but not always fixed borders.
      3. region c. Regard something as being caused by.
      4. considerably d. The state of thinking or hoping that something (good) will happen.
      5. attribute e. Of a disease or disease-causing organism liable to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc. through the environment.
      6. infectious f. A period of ten years.
      7. TB g. By a notably large amount or to a notably large extent.

    Paragraph 2

      8. urged h. A damaging demand on the resources or abilities of someone or something.
      9. momentum i. A sudden and big increase in something.
      10. ensure j. Exposed to the danger of loss, harm, or failure.
      11. strain k. The driving force from the development of a process or course of events.
      12. spike l. Improve the quality, value, or extent of.
      13. enhance m. Make certain that something will happen or be the case.
      14. jeopardized n. Tried hard to persuade someone to do something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Life expectancy rose by 10 years in Africa in the past decade.     T / F
  2. No other region's life expectancy rates rose as much as Africa's.     T / F
  3. Life expectancy in Africa is 64.     T / F
  4. One reason for better life expectancy rates is reducing cases of TB.     T / F
  5. The WHO said African nations needed to invest more in healthcare.     T / F
  6. The WHO said growing populations will put a strain on healthcare.     T / F
  7. The rates of hypertension and diabetes in Africa have gone down.     T / F
  8. Health gains could be in jeopardy if African countries do not act.     T / F

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

  1. average
  2. region
  3. attributes
  4. infectious
  5. essential
  6. urged
  7. strain
  8. spike
  9. stall
  10. jeopardized
  1. stop
  2. credits
  3. contagious
  4. burden
  5. threatened
  6. typical
  7. rise
  8. necessary
  9. encouraged
  10. area

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

  1. in the first two decades
  2. the best of any region
  3. considerably below the
  4. advances in fighting infectious
  5. easier access to essential
  6. keep the momentum
  7. ensure life expectancy rates continue on
  8. they are better equipped to deal with the
  9. the growth of non-communicable
  10. the health gains could be
  1. in the world
  2. their upward trend
  3. health services
  4. going
  5. jeopardized
  6. of this century
  7. diseases
  8. global average
  9. diseases
  10. challenges ahead

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
period
statistics
century
essential
considerably
infectious
expect
attributes

People's life expectancy in Africa rose by nearly 10 years in the first two decades of this (1) _____________________. In the year 2000, the average African could (2) _____________________ to live to be 46. That rose to 56 in 2019. The World Health Organization said the rise was the best of any region in the world over the same (3) _____________________. However, the WHO said Africa was still (4) _____________________ below the global average of 64 years. The (5) _____________________ are from the WHO's State of Health in Africa report, which was issued on Thursday. It (6) _____________________ the improvement to better maternal, newborn and child healthcare, advances in fighting (7) _____________________ diseases (such as TB, malaria and HIV), and the easier access to (8) _____________________ health services.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
cancer
trend
jeopardized
momentum
spike
strain
stall
deal

The WHO report urged African nations to keep the (9) _____________________ going to ensure life expectancy rates continue on their upward (10) _____________________. It called for greater investment in health care systems so that they are better equipped to (11) _____________________ with the challenges ahead. These include an added (12) _____________________ on hospitals from a growing population, and the growth of non-communicable diseases like (13) _____________________. The WHO said there is a worrying (14) _____________________ in the numbers of Africans experiencing hypertension and diabetes. The WHO's Regional Director for Africa said: "The progress must not (15) _____________________. Unless countries enhance measures...the health gains could be (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  rose by nearly 10 years in the first two decades ______
     a.  of this country
     b.  of this sentry
     c.  of this century
     d.  of this cent tree
2)  The World Health Organization said the rise was the best ______
     a.  of any lesion
     b.  of any region
     c.  of any legion
     d.  of any liaison
3)  the WHO said Africa was still considerably below ______
     a.  the globule over age
     b.  the globe all average
     c.  the global average
     d.  the glow ball average
4) statistics are from the WHO's State of Health in Africa report, which was ______
     a.  is sued on Thursday
     b.  issue don Thursday
     c.  issued don Thursday
     d.  issued on Thursday
5)  better maternal, newborn and child healthcare, advances in ______
     a.  fighting infection diseases
     b.  fighting infectious diseases
     c.  fighting infections diseases
     d.  fighting infectiously diseases

6)  The WHO report urged African nations to keep ______
     a.  the momentum gone
     b.  the momentum goon
     c.  the momentum gown
     d.  the momentum going
7)  to ensure life expectancy rates continue on ______
     a.  their upward friend
     b.  their up word trend
     c.  their upwind trend
     d.  their upward trend
8)  It called for greater investment in health care systems so that they ______
     a.  are better equipped
     b.  and better equipped
     c.  are bettered equipped
     d.  are butter quipped
9) a worrying spike in the numbers of Africans experiencing ______
     a.  hi pert tension and diabetes
     b.  hypo tension and diabetes
     c.  hypertension and diabetes
     d.  hypertension and dire betas
10)  Unless countries enhance measures the health gains ______
     a.  could be jeopardy
     b.  could be jeopardy aid
     c.  could be jeep polarized
     d.  could be jeopardized

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

People's (1) ____________________ Africa rose by nearly 10 years in the first two decades of this century. In the year 2000, the average African could (2) ____________________ to be 46. That rose to 56 in 2019. The World Health Organization said the rise was the best of any region in the world over the same period. However, the WHO said Africa was still considerably below (3) ____________________ of 64 years. The statistics are from the WHO's State of Health in Africa report, which was issued on Thursday. It attributes the improvement to (4) ____________________ and child healthcare, advances in fighting (5) ____________________ as TB, malaria and HIV), and the easier (6) ____________________ health services.

The WHO report urged African nations to keep (7) ____________________ to ensure life expectancy rates continue on (8) ____________________. It called for greater investment in health care systems so that they are better (9) ____________________ with the challenges ahead. These include an (10) ____________________ hospitals from a growing population, and the growth of non-communicable diseases like cancer. The WHO said there is a worrying spike in the numbers of Africans experiencing (11) ____________________. The WHO's Regional Director for Africa said: "The progress must not stall. Unless countries enhance measures...the health gains (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. Within what timeframe did the life expectancy of Africans rise?
  2. What was the average life expectancy of people in Africa in 2000?
  3. What is the average life expectancy of people around the world?
  4. Who issued the State of Health in Africa report?
  5. What does the article say there have been advances in fighting?
  6. What did the WHO report urge African countries to keep going?
  7. What did the WHO say there should be greater investment in?
  8. What does the article say a growing population would put a strain on?
  9. What are Africans experiencing more of besides hypertension?
  10. What might be jeopardized if countries do not enhance measures?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Within what timeframe did the life expectancy of Africans rise?
a) 2000-2020
b) 2000-2019
c) 2001-2020
d) 2001-2019
2) What was the average life expectancy of people in Africa in 2000?
a) 65
b) 56
c) 64
d) 46
3) What is the average life expectancy of people around the world?
a) 65
b) 56
c) 64
d) 46
4) Who issued the State of Health in Africa report?
a) the WHO
b) the African Union
c) Medicine Sans Frontieres
d) the UN
5) What does the article say there have been advances in fighting?
a) wars
b) infectious diseases
c) cancer
d) pandemics

6) What did the WHO report urge African countries to keep going?
a) momentum
b) testing
c) research
d) development
7) What did the WHO say there should be greater investment in?
a) technology
b) nurses
c) health care systems
d) doctors
8) What does the article say a growing population would put a strain on?
a) hospitals
b) clinics
c) the economy
d) people's finances
9) What are Africans experiencing more of besides hypertension?
a) stress
b) pandemics
c) viruses
d) diabetes
10) What might be jeopardized if countries do not enhance measures?
a) hospital beds
b) hospital universities
c) health gains
d) health industry profits

Role play

Role  A – Dealing with Diseases
You think dealing with diseases is the biggest challenge. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their challenges aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least challenging of these (and why): preventing war, overpopulation or immigration.

Role  B – Preventing War
You think preventing war is the biggest challenge. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their challenges aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least challenging of these (and why): dealing with diseases, overpopulation or immigration.

Role  C – Overpopulation
You think overpopulation is the biggest challenge. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their challenges aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least challenging of these (and why): preventing war, dealing with diseases or immigration.

Role  D – Immigration
You think immigration is the biggest challenge. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their challenges aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least challenging of these (and why): preventing war, overpopulation or dealing with diseases.

After reading / listening

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

'life'

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

    • and 'Africa'.

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

    • • 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:

    • nearly
    • 46
    • region
    • statistics
    • attributes
    • access
    • urged
    • called
    • added
    • growth
    • numbers
    • gains

    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 - Life Expectancy

    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 'life'?
    3. How long would you like to live?
    4. What should people's life expectancy be?
    5. If life expectancy rises, will there be problems of overpopulation?
    6. What helps people to live longer?
    7. What do you think of the WHO?
    8. How is healthcare in your country?
    9. What are the biggest health problems in your country?
    10. How easy is it to access healthcare in your country?

    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 'Africa'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should we retire later if we live longer?
    5. What health challenges are there ahead?
    6. Why are more Africans getting hypertension and diabetes?
    7. What would you do with your life if you lived longer?
    8. What three adjectives best describe this article?
    9. What will healthcare be like in 100 years?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the WHO?

    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)

    People's life expectancy in Africa rose by nearly 10 years in the first two decades of this century. In the year 2000, the (1) ____ African could expect to live to be 46. That rose to 56 in 2019. The World Health Organization said the rise was the best of (2) ____ region in the world over the same period. However, the WHO said Africa was still (3) ____ below the global average of 64 years. The statistics are from the WHO's State of Health in Africa report, which was issued on Thursday. It (4) ____ the improvement to better (5) ____, newborn and child healthcare, advances in fighting infectious diseases (such (6) ____ TB, malaria and HIV), and the easier access to essential health services.

    The WHO report urged African nations to keep the momentum (7) ____ to ensure life expectancy rates continue on their upward trend. It called for greater investment in health care systems so that they are better equipped (8) ____ deal with the challenges ahead. These include an added (9) ____ on hospitals from a growing population, and the growth of non-communicable diseases like cancer. The WHO said there is a worrying spike (10) ____ the numbers of Africans experiencing hypertension and diabetes. The WHO's Regional Director for Africa said: "The progress must not (11) ____. Unless countries enhance measures...the health gains could be (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     average     (b)     averages     (c)     averaging     (d)     averaged    
    2. (a)     many     (b)     same     (c)     any     (d)     much    
    3. (a)     infallibly     (b)     instability     (c)     considerably     (d)     reluctantly    
    4. (a)     appropriates     (b)     constitutes     (c)     contributes     (d)     attributes    
    5. (a)     maternal     (b)     eternal     (c)     paternal     (d)     fraternal    
    6. (a)     example     (b)     as     (c)     was     (d)     like    
    7. (a)     pacing     (b)     shooting     (c)     travelling     (d)     going    
    8. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     by     (d)     at    
    9. (a)     stain     (b)     sprain     (c)     strain     (d)     slain    
    10. (a)     of     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    11. (a)     instill     (b)     still     (c)     install     (d)     stall    
    12. (a)     jabbed     (b)     jeopardized     (c)     jeered     (d)     jargon

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the first two eacedds of this century
    2. neabdsroclyi below the global average
    3. The asscttstii are from the WHO
    4. It atuesitrbt the improvement
    5. advances in fighting nucesoftii diseases
    6. easier access to saensliet health services

    Paragraph 2

    1. keep the tummeonm going
    2. better dupqpeie to deal with the challenges
    3. a worrying ipesk in the numbers
    4. hypertension and ietdasbe
    5. Unless countries ehcaenn measures
    6. the health gains could be deopreizjda

    Put the text back together

    (...)  equipped to deal with the challenges ahead. These include an added strain on hospitals from a growing
    (...)  spike in the numbers of Africans experiencing hypertension and diabetes. The WHO's
    (...)  countries enhance measures...the health gains could be jeopardized."
    (...)  this century. In the year 2000, the average African could expect to live to be 46. That rose
    (...)  population, and the growth of non-communicable diseases like cancer. The WHO said there is a worrying
    (...)  to 56 in 2019. The World Health Organization said the rise was the best of any region in the world over the same
    (...)  the improvement to better maternal, newborn and child healthcare, advances in fighting infectious
    (...)  diseases (such as TB, malaria and HIV), and the easier access to essential health services.
    (  1  ) People's life expectancy in Africa rose by nearly 10 years in the first two decades of
    (...)  Regional Director for Africa said: "The progress must not stall. Unless
    (...)  from the WHO's State of Health in Africa report, which was issued on Thursday. It attributes
    (...)  period. However, the WHO said Africa was still considerably below the global average of 64 years. The statistics are
    (...)  The WHO report urged African nations to keep the momentum going to ensure life expectancy rates
    (...)  continue on their upward trend. It called for greater investment in health care systems so that they are better

    Put the words in the right order

    1. years   .   by   10   Africa   in   Life   expectancy   rose
    2. best   the   in   region   any   The   of   world   .
    3. average   .   considerably   Africa   was   still   the   below   global
    4. improvement   healthcare   .   the   maternal   better   to   It   attributes
    5. as   TB   .   fighting   Advances   infectious   diseases   in   such
    6. trend   .   their   rates   continue   Life   expectancy   on   upward
    7. It   health   for   care   .   in   greater   called   investment
    8. to   with   challenges   equipped   deal   the   ahead   .   Better
    9. hospitals   growing   An   on   from   populations   .   added   strain
    10. a   in   is   numbers   .   worrying   the   There   spike

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    People's life expectancy in Africa rose / arose by nearly 10 years in the first two decades of / at this century. In the year 2000, the averaged / average African could expect to live to be 46. That rose to 56 in 2019. The World Health Organization said the rise was the best of any region / regional in the world over the same period. However, the WHO said Africa was still considerable / considerably below the global average of 64 years. The statistics / statisticians are from the WHO's State of Health in Africa report, which was issued on Thursday. It attributes the improvement to / at better maternal, newborn / born and child healthcare, advice / advances in fighting infectious diseases (such as TB, malaria and HIV), and the easier access to essential / essentials health services.

    The WHO report purged / urged African nations to keep the momentum going to assure / ensure life expectancy rates continue on their upward trend / trendy. It called for greater investment in healthy / health care systems so that they are better equipped to deal for / with the challenges ahead. These include an added strain on / by hospitals from a growing population, and the growth of non-communicable diseases like cancer. The WHO said there is a worrying spoke / spike in the numbers of Africans experiencing hypertension and diabetics / diabetes. The WHO's Regional Director for Africa said: "The progress must not stall / still. Unless countries enhance measures...the health gains could be jeopardy / jeopardized."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    P__pl_'s  l_f_  _xp_ct_ncy  _n  _fr_c_  r_s_  by  n__rly  10  y__rs  _n  th_  f_rst  tw_  d_c_d_s  _f  th_s  c_nt_ry.  _n  th_  y__r  2000,  th_  _v_r_g_  _fr_c_n  c__ld  _xp_ct  t_  l_v_  t_  b_  46.  Th_t  r_s_  t_  56  _n  2019.  Th_  W_rld  H__lth  _rg_n_z_t__n  s__d  th_  r_s_  w_s  th_  b_st  _f  _ny  r_g__n  _n  th_  w_rld  _v_r  th_  s_m_  p_r__d.  H_w_v_r,  th_  WH_  s__d  _fr_c_  w_s  st_ll  c_ns_d_r_bly  b_l_w  th_  gl_b_l  _v_r_g_  _f  64  y__rs.  Th_  st_t_st_cs  _r_  fr_m  th_  WH_'s  St_t_  _f  H__lth  _n  _fr_c_  r_p_rt,  wh_ch  w_s  _ss__d  _n  Th_rsd_y.  _t  _ttr_b_t_s  th_  _mpr_v_m_nt  t_  b_tt_r  m_t_rn_l,  n_wb_rn  _nd  ch_ld  h__lthc_r_,  _dv_nc_s  _n  f_ght_ng  _nf_ct___s  d_s__s_s  (s_ch  _s  TB,  m_l_r__  _nd  H_V),  _nd  th_  __s__r  _cc_ss  t_  _ss_nt__l  h__lth  s_rv_c_s. 

    Th_  WH_  r_p_rt  _rg_d  _fr_c_n  n_t__ns  t_  k__p  th_  m_m_nt_m  g__ng  t_  _ns_r_  l_f_  _xp_ct_ncy  r_t_s  c_nt_n__  _n  th__r  _pw_rd  tr_nd.  _t  c_ll_d  f_r  gr__t_r  _nv_stm_nt  _n  h__lth  c_r_  syst_ms  s_  th_t  th_y  _r_  b_tt_r  _q__pp_d  t_  d__l  w_th  th_  ch_ll_ng_s  _h__d.  Th_s_  _ncl_d_  _n  _dd_d  str__n  _n  h_sp_t_ls  fr_m  _  gr_w_ng  p_p_l_t__n,  _nd  th_  gr_wth  _f  n_n-c_mm_n_c_bl_  d_s__s_s  l_k_  c_nc_r.  Th_  WH_  s__d  th_r_  _s  _  w_rry_ng  sp_k_  _n  th_  n_mb_rs  _f  _fr_c_ns  _xp_r__nc_ng  hyp_rt_ns__n  _nd  d__b_t_s.  Th_  WH_'s  R_g__n_l  D_r_ct_r  f_r  _fr_c_  s__d:  "Th_  pr_gr_ss  m_st  n_t  st_ll.  _nl_ss  c__ntr__s  _nh_nc_  m__s_r_s...th_  h__lth  g__ns  c__ld  b_  j__p_rd_z_d."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    peoples life expectancy in africa rose by nearly 10 years in the first two decades of this century in the year 2000 the average african could expect to live to be 46 that rose to 56 in 2019 the world health organization said the rise was the best of any region in the world over the same period however the who said africa was still considerably below the global average of 64 years the statistics are from the whos state of health in africa report which was issued on thursday it attributes the improvement to better maternal newborn and child healthcare advances in fighting infectious diseases such as tb malaria and hiv and the easier access to essential health services

    the who report urged african nations to keep the momentum going to ensure life expectancy rates continue on their upward trend it called for greater investment in health care systems so that they are better equipped to deal with the challenges ahead these include an added strain on hospitals from a growing population and the growth of noncommunicable diseases like cancer the who said there is a worrying spike in the numbers of africans experiencing hypertension and diabetes the whos regional director for africa said the progress must not stall unless countries enhance measures the health gains could be jeopardized

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    People'slifeexpectancyinAfricarosebynearly10yearsinthefirsttwode
    cadesofthiscentury.Intheyear2000,theaverageAfricancouldexpectt
    olivetobe46.Thatroseto56in2019.TheWorldHealthOrganizationsaid
    therisewasthebestofanyregionintheworldoverthesameperiod.Howe
    ver,theWHOsaidAfricawasstillconsiderablybelowtheglobalaverageo
    f64years.ThestatisticsarefromtheWHO'sStateofHealthinAfricarepor
    t,whichwasissuedonThursday.Itattributestheimprovementtobetter
    maternal,newbornandchildhealthcare,advancesinfightinginfectious
    diseases(suchasTB,malariaandHIV),andtheeasieraccesstoessential
    healthservices.TheWHOreporturgedAfricannationstokeepthemome
    ntumgoingtoensurelifeexpectancyratescontinueontheirupwardtren
    d.Itcalledforgreaterinvestmentinhealthcaresystemssothattheyareb
    etterequippedtodealwiththechallengesahead.Theseincludeanadded
    strainonhospitalsfromagrowingpopulation,andthegrowthofnon-co
    mmunicablediseaseslikecancer.TheWHOsaidthereisaworryingspike
    inthenumbersofAfricansexperiencinghypertensionanddiabetes.The
    WHO'sRegionalDirectorforAfricasaid:"Theprogressmustnotstall.Unl
    esscountriesenhancemeasures...thehealthgainscouldbejeopardize
    d."

    Free writing

    Write about life expectancy for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All countries should aim to greatly increase the life expectancy of citizens. 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. LIFE EXPECTANCY: Make a poster about life expectancy. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. HEALTH CARE: Write a magazine article about making countries spend most of their money on health care. 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 life expectancy. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to improve 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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