One Stop English Weekly Lessons 100-160

‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
Fill the gaps in the sentences using these key words from the text.
hacker extradition naive bail disproportionate
nerd lenient appellant contention intolerable
1. If something is ___________________, it is much bigger (or smaller) than it should be.

2. If something is ___________________, it is impossible to bear or deal with.
3. If a law is ___________________, it punishes someone less severely than it could.
4. A ___________________ person is one who lacks experience of life and tends to believe things too easily.
5. An ___________________ is someone who appeals against the decision of a court of law.
6. ___________________ is money that is given to a court as a guarantee when someone is allowed to stay out
of prison until their trial.
7. ___________________ is the process of sending a criminal back to the country where a crime was committed
for a trial.
8. A ___________________ is an opinion or statement that something is true.
9. A ___________________ is someone who uses a computer to connect to other people’s computers illegally.
10. A ____________ is a boring person who is excessively interested in technical subjects, especially computers.
2 What do you know?
Decide whether these sentences are True (T) or False (F). Then check your answers in the text.
1. The Pentagon is the home of the US government’s department of defence.
2. The European court of human rights is in Brussels.
3. The attacks on the Word Trade Centre and the Pentagon took place in 2002.
4. The UK has much tougher computer crime laws than the USA.
5. One UK pound is worth approximately two US dollars.
6. Terrorist suspects held at Guantanamo Bay are known as ‘enemy combatants’.

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© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

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NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
‘Bumbling nerd’ who broke into the same category applied to terrorist suspects
Pentagon computers loses battle interned at Guantánamo Bay. McKinnon’s lawyer,
against extradition Karen Todner, said her client had now exhausted
• British hacker could face 70-year jail term in US his options in the UK and would be taking his
• Hope that European court will overturn Lords ruling case to the European court of human rights in
Strasbourg. “Gary McKinnon is neither a terrorist
Bobbie Johnson, technology correspondent
nor a terrorist sympathizer,” she said. “His case
July 31, 2008
could have been properly dealt with by our own
1 A British hacker who broke into the Pentagon’s prosecuting authorities. Instead, we believe that
computer systems said he was disappointed the British government declined to prosecute
and angry after the House of Lords yesterday him to enable the US government to make an
dismissed his appeal against extradition to the example of him. American officials involved in
US. Gary McKinnon – called “the world’s most this case have stated that they want to see him
dangerous hacker” by the American authorities ‘fry’. The consequences he faces if extradited
– could face trial in the US for his actions, are both disproportionate and intolerable and we
but vowed to continue fighting his case in the will be making an immediate application to the
European courts. European court to prevent his removal.”
2 “I’m very disappointed and very angry, but not 5 McKinnon, an unemployed IT worker from
too surprised,” he told the Guardian. “It might be north London, has consistently argued that he
naive of me but, perversely, I think I might have was merely a ‘bumbling computer nerd’ who
more chance in Europe than I do in my own caused no damage but was merely searching
country.” McKinnon said the Home Office had for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Between
delayed extraditing him by two weeks to allow 2001 and 2002 he scanned thousands of US
him time to lodge a higher appeal. After that, the government computers from his bedroom,
case could take two years to reach the courts. looking for loopholes which would help him
“Right now I’d be quite glad of a two-year delay,” get inside their networks in order to prove his
he said. “It’s better than being handed over to US contention that the existence of aliens had been
marshals and being put on a plane straight away.” covered up by the CIA.
He said the case had proved devastating in the
six years since he was arrested. With his bail 6 He left messages on the desktops of computers
conditions barring him from using the Internet, he had hacked into, a mistake that allowed the
his previous work in IT is near-impossible, while authorities to trace him. “It got a bit silly,” he told
potential employers are scared off. “I’ve lost two the Guardian in 2005. “I suppose it means I’m
jobs because of this – my bosses just didn’t want not a secretive, sophisticated, checking-myself-
to be associated with the publicity,” he said. every-step-of-the-way type of hacker.”
3 The 42-year-old hacked into 97 computers 7 McKinnon’s lawyers have argued that he should
belonging to the US military shortly after the face trial in the UK as the hacking raids were
attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon conducted in Britain. If the courts supported such
in 2001, using the codename ‘Solo’. American a decision it would mean he would face a much
officials claim he infiltrated systems belonging to smaller sentence under the UK’s more lenient
the department of defence, the US armed forces computer crime laws. The defence argued he
and even Nasa – causing $700,000 (£354,000) was being unfairly targeted because his work
damage and threatening national security. embarrassed the US security services.
4 If extradited, McKinnon faces up to 70 years 8 They also argued that an attempt by US

in prison and his lawyers have argued that he prosecutors to make a deal with McKinnon – in
could even be given ‘enemy combatant’ status, which he would be offered a six-month sentence
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Level 3 Advanced
for his co-operation – constituted an unfair US is making a clear stand that anyone making
derailment of British legal procedures. That any attempts to compromise its computers and
contention was rejected by the law lords, who data will face the consequences,” said Graham
said that granting the appeal would “endanger Cluley, of IT security company Sophos.
the integrity of the extradition process”. In the
written judgment they said: “The difference © Guardian News & Media 2008
between the American system and our own First published in The Guardian, 31/07/08
is not perhaps so stark as the appellant’s
argument suggests.”
9 Computer security experts said it was unlikely

US prosecutors would give up their pursuit. “The
3 Comprehension check
Choose the best answer according to the text.
1. Gary McKinnon hacked into thousands of US government computers…

a. ... in order to show how easy it was to do so.
b. ... in order to prove the CIA was hiding evidence about the existence of aliens.
c. ... in order to protest about the treatment of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay.
2. Mr McKinnon’s lawyers believe that…

a. ... the US government wants to make an example of him.
b. ... the European courts will be fairer than the British ones.
c. ... his appeal will endanger the integrity of the extradition process.
3. Mr McKinnon describes himself as…

a. ... a thoroughly professional computer expert.
b. ... a clumsy amateur.
c. ... an enemy combatant.
4. Why do Mr McKinnon’s lawyers argue that he should be tried in Britain?

a. Because they believe he will receive a more lenient sentence.
b. Because the actual offences were committed in Britain.
c. Because they believe he will not receive a fair trial in the USA.
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Find the word
Look in the text and find the following words and phrases. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
1. A verb meaning to promise that you will do something. (para 1)

2. An adjective meaning causing a lot of harm or damage. (para 2)
3. A verb meaning to officially say that someone must not do something. (para 2)
4. A verb meaning (in American English) to kill someone as a punishment using the electric chair. (para 4)
5. An adjective meaning behaving in a way that is confused an not properly organized. (para 5)
6. A phrasal verb meaning to hide the truth about something. (para 5)
7. A noun meaning the prevention of something from continuing in the way it was planned. (para 8)
8. An adjective meaning extreme and obvious. (para 8)
5 Verb + noun collocations
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns and noun phrases in the right-hand column to
make collocations from the text.
1. face a. damage
2. lodge b. national security
3. dismiss c. all one’s options
4. threaten d. an appeal
5. exhaust e. the consequences
6. make f. a message
7. cause g. an application
8. leave h. an appeal
6 Phrasal verbs
Complete the phrasal verbs from the text using these particles.
into up with over off up
1. scare __________________ 4. give __________________

2. deal __________________ 5. hand __________________
3. cover __________________ 6. break __________________
7 Discussion
Do you think hackers like Gary McKinnon should be prosecuted? Why? Why not?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1 Key words 4 Find the word
1. disproportionate 1. vow
2. intolerable 2. devastating
3. lenient 3. bar
4. naive 4. fry
5. appellant 5. bumbling
6. bail 6. cover up
7. extradition 7. derailment
8. contention 8. stark
9. hacker
10. nerd
2 What do you know? 1. e

2. d/h
1. T 3. d/h
2. F 4. b
3. F 5. c
4. F 6. g
5. T 7. a
6. T 8. f
3 Comprehension check 6 Phrasal verbs
1. b 1. off
2. a 2. with
3. b 3. up
4. b 4. up
5. over
6. into
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
nerd hacker extradition bail appeal

trial delay sympathizer fry sophisticated
1. A ___________________ is someone who uses a computer to connect to other people’s computers illegally.
2. An ___________________ is a formal request to a court of law to change its decision.

3. To __________________ someone is an American expression meaning to kill someone using the electric chair.
4. A terrorist ___________________ is someone who supports terrorists.
5. A ___________________ is the process of examining a case in a court of law and deciding whether someone
is guilty or innocent.
6. ___________________ is the process of sending a criminal back to the country where a crime was committed
for a trial.
7. ___________________ is money that is given to a court as a guarantee when someone is allowed to stay out
of prison until their trial.
8. If you are ___________________, you know and understand a lot about a subject.
9. If you ___________________ something, you make it late or slow it down.
10. A ____________________ is a boring person who is excessively interested in technical subjects, especially
computers.
2 Find the information
Look in the text and find the following information as quickly as possible.
1. How many computers did Gary McKinnon hack into?
2. What was Gary McKinnon’s codename?
3. How much damage did he cause?
4. How much time could he spend in prison?
5. Where is the European court of human rights?
6. When did he hack into the US government computers?

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NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
‘Bumbling nerd’ who broke into lawyer, Karen Todner, said he would now take
Pentagon computers loses battle his case to the European court of human rights in
against extradition Strasbourg. “Gary McKinnon is neither a terrorist
• British hacker could face 70-year jail term in US nor a terrorist sympathizer,” she said. “The
• Hope that European court will overturn Lords ruling British authorities could easily deal with his case.
Instead, we believe that the British government
Bobbie Johnson, technology correspondent
did not prosecute him so that the US government
July 31, 2008
could make an example of him. American officials
involved in this case have said that they want
1 A British computer nerd who broke into the
to see him ‘fry’. We will make an immediate
Pentagon’s computer systems said he was
application to the European court to stop
disappointed and angry after a British court
his extradition.”
decided that he could be extradited to the United
States. Gary McKinnon – who the American 6 McKinnon, an unemployed IT worker from north
authorities called “the world’s most dangerous London, has always said that he was just a
hacker” – could face trial in the US for his ‘computer nerd’. He said he didn’t cause any
actions, but he has said he will continue to fight damage but was just searching for evidence
in the European courts. of extraterrestrial life. Between 2001 and 2002
he scanned thousands of US government
2 “I’m very disappointed and very angry, but not
computers from his bedroom. He said he was
too surprised,” he said. “I think I might have more
trying to find evidence for his belief that the CIA
success in Europe than I do in my own country.”
was covering up the existence of aliens.
McKinnon said the British authorities had delayed
his extradition by two weeks to allow him time to 7 He left messages on the desktops of computers
appeal to a higher court. After that, it could be he hacked into. This was a mistake that allowed
two years before the case comes to court. “Right the authorities to find him. “It was a bit silly,” he
now I’d be quite happy with a two-year delay,” he told a newspaper in 2005. “I suppose it means
said. “It’s better than being put on a plane and I’m not a secretive, sophisticated type of hacker.”
sent to the US today.”
8 McKinnon’s lawyers have argued that he
3 He said the case had caused him terrible should face trial in the UK because the hacking
problems in the six years since he was arrested. happened in Britain. If the courts supported
His bail conditions prevented him from using such a decision he would face a much shorter
the Internet, so his previous work in IT is almost sentence because the UK’s computer crime
impossible and employers just don’t want to laws are not as strict as the laws in America.
hire him. “I’ve lost two jobs because of this – my His lawyers also argued that he was a target
bosses didn’t want to be associated with the because his work embarrassed the US
publicity in this case,” he said. security services.
4 Mr McKinnon hacked into 97 US military 9 Computer security experts said it was unlikely
computers soon after the attacks on the World US prosecutors would give up their attempts to
Trade Centre and Pentagon in 2001, using the extradite Mr McKinnon. “The US is clearly saying
codename ‘Solo’. American officials say he broke that anyone trying to hack into its computers and
into systems belonging to the department of data will face the consequences,” said Graham
defence, the US armed forces and even Nasa Cluley, of IT security company Sophos.
– causing $700,000 (£354,000) damage and
putting American national security in danger. © Guardian News & Media 2008
First published in The Guardian, 31/07/08
5 If he is extradited to the US, McKinnon could
spend up to 70 years in prison. McKinnon’s
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Level 1 Elementary
Match the beginnings and endings to make sentences about the text.
1. The American authorities call Gary McKinnon “the world’s most dangerous hacker” because…
2. Mr McKinnon’s lawyers say he should face trial in the UK because…
3. Mr McKinnon says he hacked into the computers because…
4. Mr McKinnon says he is disappointed and angry but…
5. Mr McKinnon’s lawyers…
6. Mr McKinnon’s lawyers believe the British government did not prosecute him…
a. … want to stop his extradition to the United States.
b. … not too surprised at the court’s decision.
c. … so the Americans could make an example of him.
d. … the hacking happened in Britain.
e. … he hacked into 97 US military computers.
f. … he wanted to find evidence of the existence of aliens.
4 Chunks
Rearrange these words to make phrases from the text. Check your answers in the text.
1. year a delay two
2. in to prison up years 70
3. human the of European rights court
4. from IT an worker London unemployed north
5. a just nerd computer
6. in not as laws America as strict the

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Level 1 Elementary
5 Prepositions
Complete the phrases from the text using prepositions. Check your answers in the text.
1. soon ______________ the attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon
2. he broke ______________ the Pentagon’s computer systems
3. prevented him ______________ using the Internet
4. associated ______________
5. up ______________ 70 years in prison
6. searching ______________ evidence
7. covering ______________ the existence of aliens
8. give ______________ their attempts
6 Word building
Complete the table using words from the text.
verb noun
1. hack
2. apply
3. exist
4. defend
5. sympathize
6. extradite
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Key words 4 Chunks
1. hacker 1. a two-year delay

2. appeal 2. up to 70 years in prison
3. fry 3. the European court of human rights
4. sympathizer 4. an unemployed IT worker from north London
5. trial 5. just a computer nerd
6. extradition 6. not as strict as the laws in America
7. bail
8. sophisticated
5 Prepositions
9. delay
10. nerd
1. after
2. into
2 Find the information 3. from
4. with
1. 97 5. to
2. ‘Solo’ 6. for
3. $700,000 (£354,000) 7. up
4. up to 70 years 8. up
5. Strasbourg
6. in 2001
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. hacker/hacking

2. application
1. e 3. existence
2. d 4. defence
3. f 5. sympathizer
4. b 6. extradition
5. a
6. c
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Level 2 Intermediate
1 Key words
nerd hacker extradition bail bumbling
lenient intolerable appeal endanger disproportionate
1. __________________ is money that is given to a court as a guarantee when someone is allowed to stay out of
prison until their trial.
2. __________________ is the process of sending a criminal back to the country where a crime was committed
for a trial.
3. A ________________ is a boring person who is excessively interested in technical subjects, especially computers.
4. If something is __________________, it is impossible to bear or deal with.
5. If something is __________________, it is much bigger (or smaller) than it should be.
6. A __________________ is someone who uses a computer to connect to other people’s computers illegally.
7. If you __________________ something, you put it in a position where it might be harmed.
8. A __________________ person is one who behaves in a way that is confused an not properly organized.
9. An __________________ is a formal request to a court of law to change its decision.
10. If a law is __________________, it punishes someone less severely than it could.
1. How many computers did Gary McKinnon hack into?
2. How much damage did he cause?
3. How much time could he spend in prison?
4. When did he hack into the US government computers?
5. Where is the European court of human rights?
6. What was Gary McKinnon’s codename?

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NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Intermediate

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‘Bumbling nerd’ who broke into could even be given ‘enemy combatant’ status,
Pentagon computers loses battle the same category applied to terrorist suspects
against extradition interned at Guantánamo Bay. McKinnon’s
lawyer, Karen Todner, said her client had now
• British hacker could face 70-year jail term in US
used up all his options in the UK and would
• Hope that European court will overturn Lords ruling
take his case to the European court of human
Bobbie Johnson, technology correspondent rights in Strasbourg. “Gary McKinnon is neither
July 31, 2008 a terrorist nor a terrorist sympathizer,” she said.
“His case could have been properly dealt with
1 A British hacker who broke into the Pentagon’s by our own authorities. Instead, we believe that
computer systems said he was disappointed and the British government did not prosecute him to
angry after a British court rejected his appeal enable the US government to make an example
against extradition to the US. Gary McKinnon of him. American officials involved in this case
– called “the world’s most dangerous hacker” have said that they want to see him ‘fry’. If he
by the American authorities – could face trial in is extradited, he faces disproportionate and
the US for his actions, but he has said he will intolerable consequences and we will be making
continue fighting his case in the European courts. an immediate application to the European court
to prevent his extradition.”
2 “I’m very disappointed and very angry, but not too
surprised,” he told the Guardian. “I think I might 6 McKinnon, an unemployed IT worker from north
have more chance in Europe than I do in my own London, has always argued that he was simply
country.” McKinnon said the Home Office had a ‘bumbling computer nerd’ who caused no
delayed extraditing him by two weeks to allow damage but was just searching for evidence
him time to lodge a higher appeal. After that, the of extraterrestrial life. Between 2001 and 2002
case could take two years to reach the courts. he scanned thousands of US government
“Right now I’d be quite glad of a two-year delay,” computers from his bedroom, looking for ways to
he said. “It’s better than being handed over to US get inside their networks in order to find evidence
marshals and being put on a plane straight away.” for his belief that the existence of aliens had
been covered up by the CIA.
3 He said the case had caused him terrible
problems in the six years since he was arrested. 7 He left messages on the desktops of computers
His bail conditions prevented him from using he had hacked into, a mistake that allowed the
the Internet, so his previous work in IT is almost authorities to find him. “It got a bit silly,” he told
impossible and potential employers don’t want to the Guardian in 2005. “I suppose it means I’m not
hire him. “I’ve lost two jobs because of this – my a secretive, sophisticated type of hacker.”
bosses just didn’t want to be associated with the
publicity,” he said. 8 McKinnon’s lawyers have argued that he should
face trial in the UK because the hacking took
4 The 42-year-old hacked into 97 computers place in Britain. If the courts supported such a
belonging to the US military soon after the decision it would mean he would face a much
attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon smaller sentence under the UK’s more lenient
in 2001, using the codename ‘Solo’. American computer crime laws. The defence argued he
officials say he broke into systems belonging to was being unfairly targeted because his work
the department of defence, the US armed forces embarrassed the US security services.
and even Nasa – causing $700,000 (£354,000)
damage and endangering national security. 9 They also argued that an attempt by US
prosecutors to make a deal with McKinnon – in
5 If he is extradited, McKinnon faces up to 70 years which he would be offered a six-month sentence
in prison and his lawyers have argued that he for his co-operation – was unfair interference in
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British legal procedures. That argument was attempts to extradite Mr McKinnon. “The US
rejected by the court, which said that allowing is clearly saying that anyone trying to hack
his appeal would “endanger the extradition into its computers and data will face the
process”. In a written judgment the court said: consequences,” said Graham Cluley, of IT
“The difference between the American system security company Sophos.
and our own is not perhaps as great as Mr
McKinnon’s argument suggests.” © Guardian News & Media 2008
10 Computer security experts said it was
unlikely US prosecutors would give up their
Are these statements True (T) or False (F) according to the text?
1. Gary McKinnon hacked into US government computers to steal military secrets.
2. Mr McKinnon believed the CIA was hiding information about the existence of aliens.
3. He was very careful not to leave any traces on the computers he hacked into.
4. His lawyers believe the trial should be in the UK because the crime was committed there.
5. They believe the US government wants to make an example of him.
6. The court believed that the extradition process would not be endangered if they allowed Mr McKinnon’s appeal.
4 Find the word
Look in the text and find the following words and expressions. The paragraph numbers are given to
help you.
1. A verb meaning to formally make something such as a claim or a complaint. (para 2)

2. A verb meaning to put someone in prison without officially accusing them of a crime. (para 5)
3. A two-word expression meaning someone who approves of and supports terrorists. (para 5)
4. A verb meaning (in American English) to kill someone as a punishment using the electric chair. (para 5)
5. An adjective meaning relating to things that exist on planets other than Earth. (para 6)
6. A phrasal verb meaning to hide the truth about something. (para 6)
7. A verb meaning to try to attack someone. (para 8)
8. A four-word expression meaning reach an agreement with. (para 9)
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5 Phrasal verbs
Complete the phrasal verbs from the text using these particles.
into up with over into up
1. hack __________________
2. break __________________
3. cover __________________
4. give __________________
5. hand __________________
6. deal __________________
6 Word building
Complete the table with words from the text.
verb noun
1 extradite
2 appeal
3 apply
4 exist
5 defend
6 prosecute
7 argue
8 employ
7 Discussion
Should hacking be classified as a crime?

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KEY
1. bail 1. lodge
2. extradition 2. intern
3. nerd 3. terrorist sympathizer
4. intolerable 4. fry
5. disproportionate 5. extraterrestrial
6. hacker 6. cover up
7. endanger 7. target
8. bumbling 8. make a deal with
9. appeal
10. lenient
5 Phrasal verbs
2 Find the information 1. into

2. into
1. 97 3. up
2. $700,000 (£354,000) 4. up
3. up to 70 years 5. over
4. in 2001 6. with
5. Strasbourg
6. ‘Solo’
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. extradition

2. appeal
1. F 3. application
2. T 4. existence
3. F 5. defence
4. T 6. prosecutor
5. T 7. argument
6. F 8. employer
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Half of all primates face extinction
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
vulnerable bushmeat habitat extinct unprecedented

bleak fragment turmoil primate thriving
1. If something that happens is ________________, this means that it has never happened before.
2. If a business or trade is described as ________________, it is very successful.
3. A ________________ species is one that is easy to hurt or attack.

4. ________________ is a state of excitement or uncontrolled activity.
5. A ________________ is a small piece of a larger object.
6. ________________ is the meat of wild animals killed for food or commerce in tropical countries.
7. A ________________ is any animal belonging to the same group as humans, including monkeys and apes.
8. An ________________ animal, plant or language no longer exists.
9. An animal’s ________________ is the type of place that it normally lives in.
10. A ________________ outlook or prospect is one that does not offer people any reasons to feel happy or hopeful.
2 Correct the information
Each of these statements contains a factual error. Look in the text, find the relevant information and
correct the error.
1. IUCN stands for the International Union for the Consolidation of Nature.
2. The highest threat category is ‘vulnerable’.
3. In south-east Asia, 17% of all Asian primates are listed as threatened.
4. The mountain gorilla lives in central Asia.
5. The situation is less severe than scientists imagine.
6. The black lion tamarin is critically endangered.

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NEWS LESSONS / Half of all primates face extinction / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Nearly half of all the world’s primates and hunting to satisfy the Chinese medicine and
at risk of extinction pet trade. “What is happening in south-east Asia
• Study paints bleak picture for hundreds of species is terrifying,” said Dr Jean-Christophe Vié, the
• Loss of habitat and boom in bushmeat trade blamed deputy head of the IUCN species programme.
“To have a group of animals under such a high
James Randerson, science correspondent
level of threat is, quite frankly, unlike anything we
August 5, 2008
have recorded among any other group of species
to date.”
1 Nearly half of all primate species are now
5 In Africa, 11 of 13 kinds of red colobus monkey
threatened with extinction, according to an
have been listed as critically endangered or
evaluation by the International Union for the
endangered. Two may already be extinct.
Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The study, which
Overall, 69 species and sub-species (11% of
drew on the work of hundreds of scientists and
the total) are considered critically endangered,
is the most comprehensive analysis for more
including the mountain gorilla in central Africa,
than a decade, found that the conservation
a snub-nosed monkey in Vietnam and an Asian
outlook for monkeys, apes and other primates
langur. In the endangered category are another
has dramatically worsened. In some regions, the
137 species and sub-species (22%) including
thriving bushmeat trade means the animals are
the Javan gibbon from Indonesia, golden lion
being ‘eaten to extinction’.
tamarin from Brazil and Berthe’s mouse lemur
2 The 2007 IUCN ‘red list’ has 39% of primate from Madagascar.
species and sub-species in the three highest
6 Species are judged to be in these categories if
threat categories – vulnerable, endangered and
they have a small population size, are suffering
critically endangered. In today’s revised list, 303
rapid population declines and have a limited
of the 634 species and sub-species – 48% – are
geographic range. The apparent jump in the
in these most threatened categories.
numbers of threatened primates from 39% to
3 The biggest threats faced by primates are 48% has not in reality happened in the course
habitat destruction through logging, hunting for of one year. The major new analysis has filled in
bushmeat and the illegal wildlife trade. “We’ve missing data that was not available previously,
raised concerns for years about primates being according to Michael Hoffman at Conservation
in peril, but now we have solid data to show the International. The last major assessment was
situation is far more severe than we imagined,” carried out in 1996. “The situation could well
said Dr Russell Mittermeier, the chairman have been as bad as this, say, five years ago, we
of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s just didn’t know. But now we have a much better
primate specialist group and the president of indication of the state of the world’s primates
Conservation International. “Tropical forest – and the news is not good,” he said.
destruction has always been the main cause but
7 The review, which is funded by Conservation
now it appears that hunting is just as serious a
International, the Margot Marsh Biodiversity
threat in some areas, even where the habitat is
Foundation, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the
still quite intact. In many places, primates are
IUCN is part of an unprecedented examination of
quite literally being eaten to extinction.”
the state of the world’s mammals to be released
4 The picture in south-east Asia is particularly at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in
bleak, where 71% of all Asian primates are Barcelona in October.
now listed as threatened, and in Vietnam
8 However, there was some good news for
and Cambodia, 90% are considered at risk.
primates. In Brazil, the black lion tamarin has
Populations of gibbons, leaf monkeys and
been brought back from the brink of extinction
langurs have dropped due to rapid habitat loss
and shifted from the critically endangered to
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Level 3 Advanced
endangered category. This is the result of a 9 The scientists also came close to downlisting
concerted conservation effort which has also the mountain gorilla to endangered following
benefited the golden lion tamarin – it was population increases in their forest habitat
downlisted to endangered in 2003. “The work that spans the borders of Rwanda, Uganda
with lion tamarins shows that conserving forest and Democratic Republic of Congo. However,
fragments and reforesting to create corridors political turmoil in the region and an incident
that connect them is not only vital for primates, in which eight animals were killed in 2007
but offers the multiple benefits of maintaining led to the decision to delay the planned
healthy ecosystems and water supplies, reclassification.
while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
© Guardian News & Media 2008
that cause climate change,” said Dr Anthony
Rylands, the deputy chair of the IUCN primate
specialist group.
1. The biggest threats faced by primates are… 3. What does ‘eaten to extinction’ mean?
a. ... logging and the Chinese medicine trade. a. The animals are eating so much there will soon
b. ... hunting and the illegal trade in bushmeat. be nothing for them to feed on.
c. ... habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade. b. They are all being killed for their meat.
c. People are beginning to eat bushmeat as an
2. Why does the mountain gorilla remain in the alternative to regular meat.
critically endangered category?
a. Because of continuing political unrest in 4. Why are primates hunted in south-east Asia?
the region. a. To satisfy the Chinese medicine and pet trade.
b. Because the last major assessment was carried b. To provide bushmeat.
out a long time ago. c. To keep their populations down.
c. Because their forest habitat has not increased.
4 Find the word

Find the following words and expressions in the text.
1. A phrasal verb meaning to use something you have gradually accumulated or saved. (para 1)
2. An adjective meaning not harmed, damaged or lacking any parts. (para 3)
3. A two-word expression meaning to be absolutely honest. (para 4)
4. A two-word expression meaning with a short nose that looks rather flat. (para 5)
5. A phrasal verb meaning to add missing information. (para 6)
6. A noun meaning the point in time when something very good or bad is about to happen. (para 8)
7. An adjective meaning involving a lot of people or organizations working together in a determined way. (para 8)
8. A verb meaning to cover or cross an area completely. (para 9)

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Level 3 Advanced
Match the verbs from the left-hand column with the nouns from the right-hand column to form phrases
from the text.
1. raise a. climate change
2. fill in b. an assessment
3. carry out c. greenhouse gas emissions
4. offer d. concerns
5. reduce e. multiple benefits
6. cause f. missing data
6 Expressions with prepositions
Complete the phrases using prepositions.
1. _______ risk
2. _______ threat
3. _______ peril
4. _______ reality
5. due _______
6. back _______ the brink
7 Discussion
Is it worth spending millions of pounds to protect endangered species? Is it so important if a few rare species of
primate become extinct?
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KEY
1. unprecedented 1. draw on
2. thriving 2. intact
3. vulnerable 3. quite frankly
4. turmoil 4. snub-nosed
5. fragment 5. fill in
6. bushmeat 6. brink
7. primate 7. concerted
8. extinct 8. span
9. habitat
10. bleak
2 Correct the information 1. d

2. f
1. conservation 3. b
2. critically endangered 4. e
3. 71% 5. c
4. central Africa 6. a
5. more severe
6. endangered
3 Comprehension check 1. at
2. under
1. c 3. in
2. a 4. in
3. b 5. to
4. a 6. from
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
vulnerable bushmeat habitat extinct endangered

primate rapidly logging unrest conservation
3. ________________ is the cutting down of trees for wood.

4. ________________ is angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting about something.
6. If something happens ________________, it happens very quickly.
7. ________________ is the management of land and water to stop it being damaged or destroyed.
9. If a species is ________________, it may soon become extinct.
1. What does IUCN stand for?
2. How many species and sub-species of primates are there in 2008?
3. What percentage of these species and sub-species are in the most threatened categories?
4. What percentage of primates in Vietnam and Cambodia are endangered?
5. When was the last major study carried out?
6. How many species and sub-species are endangered in Africa?

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NEWS LESSONS / Half of all primates face extinction / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Nearly half of all the world’s primates have also been hunting primates for the Chinese
at risk of extinction medicine and pet trade. “What is happening
• Study paints bleak picture for hundreds of species in south-east Asia is terrifying,” said Dr Jean-
• Loss of habitat and boom in bushmeat trade blamed Christophe Vié, the deputy head of the IUCN
species programme. “To have a group of animals
in such a dangerous situation is not like anything
August 5, 2008
we have ever seen among any other group
of species.”
1 Primates are animals related to humans
like monkeys and apes. Today almost half
of all primate species could soon become
extinct, according to a study carried out by
Overall, 69 species and sub-species (11% of the
the International Union for the Conservation
total) are listed as critically endangered, including
of Nature (IUCN). The study used the work of
the mountain gorilla in central Africa. Another
hundreds of scientists and is the most detailed
137 species and sub-species (22%) are in the
analysis for more than ten years. It found that the
endangered category.
situation for monkeys, apes and other primates
is now much worse. In some regions species 6 Species are listed in these categories if they
are becoming extinct because people are killing have a small population size, if their population
animals for bushmeat. is falling rapidly and if they have a limited
geographic range. The increase in the numbers
2 The IUCN has a ‘red list’. The 2007 list
of primates at risk from 39% to 48% has not just
showed that 39% of primate species and
happened in the course of one year. The major
sub-species were in the three highest risk
new analysis has provided missing data that
categories – vulnerable, endangered and
was not available before, according to Michael
critically endangered. In the 2008 list, 303 of the
Hoffman of Conservation International. The last
634 species and sub-species – 48% – are in
major study was in 1996. “Perhaps the situation
these categories.
was as bad as this five years ago but we just
3 The biggest problems primates face are the didn’t know. Now we have a much better idea of
destruction of their habitat through logging, the state of the world’s primates – and the news
hunting for bushmeat and the illegal wildlife is not good,” he said.
trade. “We’ve said for years that primates are in
danger, but now we have solid data to show the
primates. In Brazil, one species, the black
situation is much more serious than we thought,”
lion tamarin, that was almost extinct has now
said Dr Russell Mittermeier, the chairman of the
been moved from the critically endangered
IUCN primate specialist group. “The main cause
to endangered category. This is the result of
has always been the destruction of the tropical
a conservation programme which has also
rain forests but now it appears that hunting is just
helped the golden lion tamarin – it was moved to
as serious a problem in some areas. In many
endangered in 2003. “The work with lion tamarins
places, primates are becoming extinct because
shows that conserving parts of the forest
people are eating them.”
and planting new forests to create corridors
4 The picture in south-east Asia is particularly that connect them is extremely important for
bad. 71% of all Asian primates are now listed as primates. It also helps to maintain healthy
endangered. In Vietnam and Cambodia, 90% ecosystems and water supplies and reduces the
are considered at risk. Primate populations have greenhouse gases that cause climate change,”
fallen as they have lost their habitat and people said Dr Anthony Rylands, of the IUCN primate
specialist group.
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Level 1 Elementary
8 The scientists were also going to move the
mountain gorilla from critically endangered to
endangered after population increases in their
forest habitat along the borders of Rwanda,
Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, political unrest in the region and an
incident in which eight animals were killed in
2007 have delayed the plans to move it to a
lower risk category.

1. Many species and sub-species of primates a. … for bushmeat and Chinese medicine.
are endangered…
2. The situation in south-east Asia… b. … to survive.
3. A conservation programme in Brazil has helped c. … is still on the critically endangered list.
some species…
4. The mountain gorilla… d. … because of logging and hunting for bushmeat.
5. People kill primates… e. … is worse than 10 years ago.
6. The situation today… f. … is particularly serious.
4 Chunks
Rearrange these words to make phrases from the text.
1. ten for than more years
2. than much serious we thought more
3. tropical the forests rain of the destruction
4. one course the in year of
5. good the not is news
6. trade the wildlife illegal

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Level 1 Elementary
5 Adjectives and nouns

Match the adjectives in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column to form expressions
from the text.
1. detailed a. rain forest
2. biggest b. study
3. illegal c. range
4. tropical d. trade
5. dangerous e. analysis
6. geographic f. unrest
7. political g. situation
8. major h. problems
6 Word stress
Put these words from the text into two groups according to their stress.
species human extinct wildlife appear increase (n)

major result create connect maintain climate
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1. extinct 1. for more than ten years

2. vulnerable 2. much more serious than we thought
3. logging 3. the destruction of the tropical rain forests
4. unrest 4. in the course of one year
5. bushmeat 5. the news is not good
6. rapidly 6. the illegal wildlife trade
7. conservation
8. primate
9. endangered
10. habitat
1. e
2. h
2 Find the information 3. d
4. a
1. International Union for the Conservation of Nature 5. g
2. 634 6. c
3. 48% 7. f
4. 71% 8. b
5. 1996
6. 137
6 Word stress
A 0o B o0
1. d species extinct
2. f human appear
3. b wildlife result
4. c increase create
5. a major connect
6. e climate maintain
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1 Key words
vulnerable bushmeat habitat extinct unprecedented

primate thriving decade rapid release
3. If you ________________ a document, you make it available.

5. A ________________ is a period of ten years.
6. If something is ________________, it happens very quickly.
7. If something that happens is ________________, this means that it has never happened before.
10. If a business or trade is described as ________________, it is very successful.
1. What does IUCN stand for?
2. How many species and sub-species of primates are there?
3. What percentage of these species and sub-species are in the most threatened categories?
4. What percentage of primates in Vietnam and Cambodia are considered to be at risk?
5. When was the last major study carried out?
6. How many species and sub-species are considered to be endangered in Africa?

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NEWS LESSONS / Half of all primates face extinction / Intermediate

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Nearly half of all the world’s primates and hunting to satisfy the Chinese medicine and
at risk of extinction pet trade. “What is happening in south-east Asia
• Study paints bleak picture for hundreds of species is terrifying,” said Dr Jean-Christophe Vié, the
• Loss of habitat and boom in bushmeat trade blamed deputy head of the IUCN species programme.
“To have a group of animals under such a high
level of threat is, quite frankly, not like anything
August 5, 2008
we have ever recorded among any other group
of species.”
1 Nearly half of all primate species could soon
become extinct, according to a study carried out
by the International Union for the Conservation
of Nature (IUCN). The study, which used the
Overall, 69 species and sub-species (11% of
work of hundreds of scientists and is the most
the total) are considered critically endangered,
comprehensive analysis for more than a decade,
including the mountain gorilla in central Africa.
found that the outlook for monkeys, apes and
Another 137 species and sub-species (22%) are
other primates has got much worse. In some
in the endangered category.
regions, the thriving bushmeat trade means the
animals are being ‘eaten to extinction’. 6 Species are judged to be in these categories if
they have a small population size, are suffering
2 The 2007 IUCN ‘red list’ has 39% of primate
rapid population declines and have a limited
species and sub-species in the three highest
geographic range. The apparent jump in the
threat categories – vulnerable, endangered and
numbers of threatened primates from 39% to
critically endangered. In today’s revised list, 303
48% has not just happened in the course of
of the 634 species and sub-species – 48% – are
one year. The major new analysis has provided
in these most threatened categories.
missing data that was not available before,
3 The biggest threats faced by primates are the according to Michael Hoffman at Conservation
destruction of their habitat through logging, International. The last major study was carried
hunting for bushmeat and the illegal wildlife out in 1996. “The situation might have been
trade. “We’ve raised concerns for years about as bad as this five years ago but we just didn’t
primates being in danger, but now we have solid know. Now we have a much better indication of
data to show the situation is much more serious the state of the world’s primates – and the news
than we imagined,” said Dr Russell Mittermeier, is not good,” he said. The review is part of an
the chairman of the IUCN Species Survival unprecedented examination of the state of the
Commission’s primate specialist group and the world’s mammals which will be released at the
president of Conservation International. “Tropical IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona
forest destruction has always been the main in October.
cause but now it appears that hunting is just as
serious a threat in some areas, even where the
primates. In Brazil, one species, the black
habitat is still relatively undamaged. In many
lion tamarin, that was almost extinct has now
places, primates are quite literally being eaten
been moved from the critically endangered to
to extinction.”
endangered category. This is the result of a huge
4 The picture in south-east Asia is particularly conservation effort which has also benefited
pessimistic. 71% of all Asian primates are the golden lion tamarin – it was downlisted to
now listed as threatened, and in Vietnam and endangered in 2003. “The work with lion tamarins
Cambodia, 90% are considered at risk. Primate shows that conserving parts of the forest and
populations have fallen due to rapid habitat loss reforesting to create corridors that connect
them is not only vital for primates, but offers
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the multiple benefits of maintaining healthy Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
ecosystems and water supplies, while reducing However, political unrest in the region and
greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate an incident in which eight animals were killed
change,” said Dr Anthony Rylands, the deputy in 2007 led to the decision to delay the planned
chair of the IUCN primate specialist group. reclassification.
8 The scientists almost downlisted the mountain © Guardian News & Media 2008
gorilla from critically endangered to endangered First published in The Guardian, 05/08/08
following population increases in their
forest habitat along the borders of Rwanda,
Are these sentences True (T) or False (F) according to the text?
1. The main danger to primates has always been the destruction of tropical forests.
2. Primates are only hunted for their meat.
3. The situation is south-east Asia is not as bad as the situation in Africa.
4. Conserving parts of the forest can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5. The mountain gorilla is no longer on the critically endangered list.
6. 48% of primate species and sub-species are on the critically endangered list.
4 Find the word
1. An adjective meaning including many details. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning an idea about what a situation will be like in the future. (para 1)
3. A noun meaning cutting down trees for wood. (para 3)
4. A two-word expression meaning in danger. (para 4)
5. A two-word expression meaning to be absolutely honest. (para 4)
6. A noun meaning the management of land and water in ways that prevent it from being damaged or destroyed.
(para 7)
7. An adjective meaning extremely important. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning putting in a different category. (para 8)

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Match the adjectives in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column to form expressions
from the text.
1. main a. species
2. serious b. news
3. threatened c. benefits
4. huge d. threat
5. good e. ecosystems
6. multiple f. unrest
7. political g. effort
8. healthy h. cause
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. destroy
2. threaten
3. examine
4. indicate
5. conserve
6. emit
7. reclassify
8. decline
7 Discussion
Do you think it is important to preserve rare species of animals and prevent them from becoming extinct? Why?
Why not?
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1. bushmeat 1. comprehensive
2. extinct 2. outlook
3. release 3. logging
4. habitat 4. at risk
5. decade 5. quite frankly
6. rapid 6. conservation
7. unprecedented 7. vital
8. vulnerable 8. reclassification
9. primate
10. thriving
2 Find the information 1. h

2. d
1. International Union for the Conservation of Nature 3. a
2. 634 4. g
3. 48% 5. b
4. 90% 6. c
5. 1996 7. f
6. 69 8. e
3 Comprehension check 6 Word building
1. T
verb noun
2. F
3. F 1. destroy destruction
4. T 2. threaten threat
5. F 3. examine examination
6. F 4. indicate indication
5. conserve conservation
6. emit emission
7. reclassify reclassification
8. decline decline
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Olympics: Usain Bolt’s new 100m world record
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
breathtaking subsequently inevitably tantalizing impassive

undoubtedly farcical awry unbeatable disproportionate
1. If something is ________________, it is so badly organized, unsuccessful or unfair that it seems funny.
2. An ________________ athlete is better than everyone else and cannot be beaten.
3. If something is ________________, it is extremely impressive or beautiful.

4. If your face is ________________, you do not show any emotion.
5. If something happens ________________, it happens after something else happened.
6. When something goes ________________, it does not happen in the way that was hoped or planned.
7. If something is ________________ true, it is certainly true or is accepted by everyone.
8. A ________________ number is one that is bigger or smaller than it should be.
9. The adverb ________________ is used for saying that something is certain to happen.
10. If something is ________________, it makes you feel excited or hopeful about having something you want,
often something that you never get.
2 What do you know?
Decide whether these statements are True (T) or False (F). Then check your answers in the text.
1. The new Olympic 100 metres champion, Usain Bolt, is from the USA.
2. The 2004 Olympics were held in Athens.
3. The world record for the 100 metres is just over 10 seconds.
4. The 100 metres is regarded as the main event in track and field at the Olympics.
5. Before Usain Bolt, the previous world record holder was Ben Johnson.
6. Usain Bolt’s victory was completely unexpected.

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NEWS LESSONS / Olympics: Usain Bolt’s new 100m world record / Advanced
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Olympics: Usain Bolt takes Olympic 5 In the semi-finals Bolt was slowly away, slow at
glory with new 100m world record the finish and still won in 9.85, exactly the time
the now-banned Justin Gatlin had run to win
Will Buckley
in Athens in 2004. He was a tenth of a second
August 17, 2008
ahead of college champion Dix in second, a
margin he would more than double in the final.
1 “We’ve never seen anything like that before,” Even then, Bolt looked sensational, unbeatable,
was the verdict of the great Olympian, Michael scarcely credible. Imagine what he might achieve
Johnson, after a breathtaking 100 metres final. if he broke into a trot.
Usain Bolt was so far ahead of the rest he had
6 His path was eased when Gay, suffering from
time to slow down and smile for the cameras
injury, did not even break 10 seconds and missed
before crossing the line in a world record time of
a place in the final, which went instead to his
9.69 seconds, beating by three-hundredths of a
compatriot, Darvis Patton. Powell won his semi-
second the record he had set 11 weeks ago. He
final easily in 9.91 and the final of the 100 metres
looks unbeatable.
had become a Jamaican contest. They even
2 The rest were nowhere. A fifth of a second had a third finalist in Frater who, along with two
behind – a long, long way in sprinting – was Trinidadians, two Americans and the man from
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago. Netherlands Antilles, completed the field. Six
With Tyson Gay having failed to make the final, from the Caribbean, two from the United States.
the best American was Walter Dix, who took
7 As the competitors appeared for the final,
bronze in 9.91 sec. Asafa Powell and Michael
hundreds of cameras flashed round the stadium
Frater, Bolt’s Jamaican compatriots, were fifth
to create a twinkling star effect. The backdrop
and sixth respectively, a distance behind the
was near perfect, the stadium being the greatest
unbelievable Bolt.
in modern Olympics, in a Games that may be
3 This event is top of the bill and, for that reason, it remembered as much for its architecture as its
is also the race most likely to disgrace the sport. athletes. Bolt was in lane four, jigging around
If the fastest man in the world is a cheat, who at the start. Powell, impassive, was three lanes
cares about, or for, the rest? The 100 metres to his right. In between were Thompson and
is the diva event. It makes or breaks the show. Dix. This, surely, would be where the medals
Recently, the Games have been broken. Of the would be contested. The introductions to the
previous four winners, Justin Gatlin and Linford most explosive event in all of sport were made.
Christie subsequently failed drugs tests. This Bolt smiled, pointed and made the archer sign.
meant that, inevitably, some would be looking at Powell swung from side to side as if in a trance.
yesterday’s encounter with suspicion. The world The drums rolled. Bolt continued jigging; Powell
record holder, Bolt, former world record holder, remained impassive.
Powell, and world champion, Gay, are the three
8 Silence, and then bang! Before anyone, least
fastest men of all time and, uniquely, they were
of all Bolt, could breathe, he had streaked away
on a collision course.
to win. Astonishingly, the first man to break 9.7
4 There was some talk of people needing to seconds eased up towards the end. Like a jockey
go as low as 9.6 in order to win it, which was astride a wonder-horse, he even took a quick
tantalizing, except 20 years ago Ben Johnson look over his shoulder in the last five metres. “I
had gone as low as 9.7, running quicker than could see him slowing down ahead as I was still
anyone – until yesterday – had managed in an pumping away,” said Thompson. If the semi-final
Olympics since. Of course, Johnson then lost his was scarcely credible, this was even less so.
gold medal after testing positive for drugs. Bolt, having produced the most electric 100
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metres performance for 20 years, contented 10 Asked why he slowed down, Bolt said: “I wasn’t
himself with hitting his left breast and then interested in the world record. I didn’t even
disco dancing around the stadium. know I had it until after the victory lap. This
medal means a lot to my country, and to me.”
9 “It was expected,” said the Jamaican team Explaining the archer sign, he said: “I just like
doctor, Herb Elliott. “I don’t know how fast he to have fun. I like dancing.”
can go; his coach doesn’t know how fast he
can go; he doesn’t know how fast he can go.” 11 Far from a breakfast of champions, Bolt had
He went on to say that Bolt had been tested given the meal a miss and had nuggets for
half-a-dozen times in Beijing. It was an historic lunch, rested, and then had nuggets for tea. It
night for Jamaica, who have long aspired to was a nugget diet which had led to a golden
win the diva event. In 1952, Herb McKenlay performance. The history, however, casts its
lost the closest 100 metres in history, now Bolt shadow. Johnson’s downfall was tragic: if
had won the easiest. For a country of two-and- anything were to be awry with Bolt, it would
a-half million they have undoubtedly produced be farcical.
a disproportionate number of top quality
sprinters. Yet this was the first time their efforts
First published in The Observer, 17/08/08
had been rewarded with 100 metres gold.
1. The article describes the 100 metres as ‘the diva event’. What does this mean?
a. An event in which only famous and successful athletes appear.
b. The highest profile event in the Olympic Games.
c. The event which is finished most quickly.
2. Why did Bolt slow down over the last 20 metres?

a. Because he was saving his energy for the 200 metres final.
b. Because he was only interested in winning the race, not in breaking the world record.
c. In order to humiliate his rivals.
3. Why is the 100 metres the race which is most likely to bring disgrace to athletics?
a. Because most past winners of the race have subsequently failed drugs tests.
b. Because many 100 metre runners use drugs to enhance their performance.
c. Because it is ‘top of the bill’ and therefore attracts the most attention.
4. Why didn’t Usain Bolt have to worry about the challenge of Tyson Gay?
a. Because Gay had never run faster than 10 seconds.
b. Because Gay’s fastest time this year was 10.3 seconds.
c. Because Gay failed to qualify for the final.
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4 Find the word
1. A four-word expression meaning moving towards each other and likely to run into each other. (para 3)
2. A phrasal verb meaning to start doing something. (para 5)
3. A noun meaning someone who is from the same country as someone else. (para 6)
4. A noun meaning everything you can see behind the main thing you are looking at. (para 7)
5. A verb meaning to make small movements with your whole body, usually in a nervous or excited way. (para 7)
6. A phrasal verb meaning to run very quickly. (para 8)
7. A phrasal verb meaning to go more slowly. (para 8)
8. A noun meaning a sudden loss of power, status or success. (para 11)
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns or noun phrases they go with in the
right-hand column.
1. set a. a (drug) test
2. cast b. the final (of an event)
3. cross c. something a miss
4. fail d. an event
5. win e. a shadow
6. reward f. a record
7. give g. an effort
8. make h. the line

Use prepositions to complete these phrases from the text.
1. suffering _______ injury 5. so far ahead _______ the rest
2. remembered _______ its architecture 6. top _______ the bill
3. swing _______ side _______ side 7. look at something _______ suspicion
4. smile _______ the cameras 8. a quick look _______ his shoulder
7 Discussion
Some past winners of the 100 metres have used performance-enhancing drugs. What do you think should happen
to athletes who use such drugs? Should they be banned for life or should drugs be allowed in sport to give every-
one an equal chance?
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KEY
1. farcical 1. on a collision course

2. unbeatable 2. break into
3. breathtaking 3. compatriot
4. impassive 4. backdrop
5. subsequently 5. jig
6. awry 6. streak away
7. undoubtedly 7. ease up
8. disproportionate 8. downfall
9. inevitably
10. tantalizing 5 Verb + noun collocations
2 What do you know? 1. f

2. e
1. F 3. h
2. T 4. a
3. F 5. d
4. T 6. g
5. F 7. c
6. F 8. b
3 Comprehension check 6 Expressions with prepositions
1. b 1. from
2. b 2. for
3. c 3. from/to
4. c 4. for
5. of
6. of
7. with
8. over
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1 Key words
cheat farce coach lane unbeatable

disgrace sprint event suspicious lap
2. If something brings ________________ to a competition, it damages its reputation by doing something bad
or immoral.
3. A ________________ is someone who behaves dishonestly in order to win a competition.
4. A ________________ is a short race at a fast speed.
5. A ________________ is someone who trains a sports player or team.
6. If you are ________________ about something, you believe that someone has probably done
something wrong.
7. A ________________ is one complete turn around a course in a race.
8. If something is a ________________, it is so badly organized, unsuccessful or unfair that it seems funny.
9. An ________________ is one type of activity in athletics.
10. A ________________ is one of the parts that an athletics track is divided into, intended for one runner.
1. Where is Usain Bolt from?
2. What is Usain Bolt’s new 100 metres world record?
3. Who came second in the race?
4. How fast did Usain Bolt run the 100 metres in the semi-final?
5. Where were the 2004 Olympic Games held?

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Olympics: Usain Bolt takes Olympic in 2004. He was a tenth of a second ahead of
glory with new 100m world record Dix in second. Even then Bolt looked fantastic,
unbeatable, incredible.
Will Buckley
August 17, 2008 6 Bolt’s path to the gold medal was made easier
when Tyson Gay, who was suffering from an
injury, ran slower than 10 seconds and missed
1 “We’ve never seen anything like that before,”
a place in the final. Powell won his semi-final
said the great Olympian, Michael Johnson,
easily in 9.91 and the final of the 100 metres
after an amazing 100 metres final. Jamaican
was a contest between the two Jamaicans. They
runner, Usain Bolt, was so far in front of the
even had a third finalist in Michael Frater. Two
other runners that he had time to slow down and
Trinidadians, two Americans and the man from
smile for the cameras before he crossed the
Netherlands Antilles completed the line-up – six
finishing line. His time was a world record 9.69
from the Caribbean, two from the United States.
seconds, three-hundredths of a second faster
than the record he set 11 weeks ago. He looks 7 When the competitors appeared for the final,
unbeatable. hundreds of cameras flashed round the stadium
like stars. The location was almost perfect – the
2 The other runners were nowhere. A fifth of a
stadium was the greatest in modern Olympics.
second behind – a long, long way in sprinting
Bolt was in lane four. Powell was three lanes to
– was Richard Thompson of Trinidad and
his right. In between were Thompson and Dix.
Tobago. The best American was Walter Dix, who
The introductions to the fastest race in the whole
was third in 9.91sec. Asafa Powell and Michael
of sport were made. Bolt smiled and pointed.
Frater, also from Jamaica, were fifth and sixth, a
Powell moved slowly from side to side.
long way behind the incredible Bolt.
8 Silence, and then bang! Before anyone could
3 The 100 metres is the main event at the
breathe, Bolt had won. Amazingly, the first man
Olympic Games and for that reason it is also
to run faster than 9.7 seconds slowed down
the race which can bring disgrace to the sport
towards the end. “I could see him slowing
of athletics. If the fastest man in the world is a
down ahead as I was still running hard,” said
cheat, who cares about the others? Two of the
Thompson. If the semi-final was incredible, this
previous four winners of the 100 metres, Justin
was even more unbelievable. Bolt produced
Gatlin and Linford Christie, failed drugs tests
the most electric 100 metres performance for
after the Olympics. This meant that, of course,
20 years and then celebrated by disco dancing
some people were very suspicious about this
around the stadium.
year’s race.
9 “We expected him to win,” said the Jamaican
4 The world record holder, Bolt, and the former
team doctor, Herb Elliott. “I don’t know how fast
world record holder, Powell, are the two fastest
he can run; his coach doesn’t know how fast
men in the world and some people said the
he can run; he doesn’t know how fast he can
winner would need a time of 9.6 to win the race.
run.” He also said that Bolt had been tested
20 years ago Ben Johnson won the Olympic 100
six times in Beijing. It was an historic night for
metres in 9.7, running quicker than anyone did in
Jamaica, who had never won the Olympic 100
the four Olympics that followed. He then tested
metres before. In 1952, Herb McKenlay lost the
positive for drugs and lost his gold medal.
closest 100 metres in history, now Bolt had won
5 In the semi-finals Bolt started slowly, was slow at the easiest.
the finish and still won in 9.85. This was exactly
10 When Bolt was asked why he slowed down, he
the time Justin Gatlin (who is now banned
said: “I wasn’t interested in the world record. I
after failing a drugs test) ran to win in Athens
didn’t even know I had the world record until after
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the victory lap. This medal means a lot to my

country, and to me.” Bolt had missed breakfast
and had chicken nuggets for lunch. He then
rested, and then had more nuggets for tea.
He won the gold medal on a diet of chicken
nuggets. The shadow of history was there
though. Johnson was tragic but if there was
anything suspicious about Bolt’s victory, it would
be a farce not a tragedy.

1. Some people are suspicious about the 100 metres a. … Jamaican.
final because …
2. The Jamaican team were not surprised because … b. ... it was the first time they had won the 100 metres
at the Olympics.
3. It was an historic night for Jamaica because … c. … American.
4. Usain Bolt was … d. … they expected Usain Bolt to win.
5. Three of the eight finalists were … e. … two of the previous four winners have failed
drugs tests.
6. Two of the the eight finalists were … f. … a fifth of a second in front of the runner who
came second.
4 Chunks
1. former holder the record world
2. previous the of two winners four
3. the in the fastest two world men
4. man faster 9.7 seconds to first than run the
5. him expected we win to
6. wasn’t record in I the interested world

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5 Prepositions
Fill the gaps in the phrases using prepositions. Check your answers in the text.
1. _______ front of the other runners
2. suspicious _______ this year’s race
3. the fastest men _______ the world
4. slow _______ the finish
5. suffering _______ an injury
6. from side _______ side
7. not interested _______ the world record
8. _______ a diet
6 Word building
verb noun
1. compete
2. perform
3. introduce
4. appearance
5. celebration
6. cheat
7. breath
8. test
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KEY
1. unbeatable 1. the former world record holder

2. disgrace 2. two of the previous four winners
3. cheat 3. the two fastest men in the world
4. sprint 4. the first man to run faster than 9.7 seconds
5. coach 5. we expected him to win
6. suspicious 6. I wasn’t interested in the world record
7. lap
8. farce
5 Prepositions
9. event
10. lane
1. in
2. about
2 Find the information 3. in
4. at
1. Jamaica 5. from
2. 9.69 seconds 6. to
3. Richard Thompson 7. in
4. 9.85 seconds 8. on
5. Athens
6 Word building
1. competitor
1. e 2. performance
2. d 3. introduction
3. b 4. appear
4. f 5. celebrate
5. a 6. cheat
6. c 7. breathe
8. test
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1 Key words
breathtaking cheat undoubtedly farcical unbeatable

disproportionate lane subsequently lap disgrace
1. A ________________ number is one that is bigger or smaller than it should be.
2. If something ________________ a competition, it harms its reputation by doing something bad or immoral.

4. If something happens ________________, it happens after something else happened.
5. A ________________ is one of the parts that an athletics track is divided into, intended for one runner.
6. A ________________ is one complete turn around a course in a race.
7. The adverb ________________ is used for saying that something is certainly true or is accepted by everyone.
8. If something is ________________, it is so badly organized, unsuccessful or unfair that it seems funny.
9. If something is ________________, it is extremely impressive or beautiful.
10. A ________________ is someone who behaves dishonestly in order to win a competition.
1. What is Usain Bolt’s new 100 metres world record?
2. Who came second in the race?
4. How fast did Usain Bolt run the 100 metres in the semi-final?
5. How many times have Jamaica won the 100 metres gold medal at the Olympics?
6. Where were the 2004 Olympic Games held?

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Olympics: Usain Bolt takes Olympic He was a tenth of a second ahead of college
glory with new 100m world record champion Dix in second, a margin he would more
than double in the final. Even then Bolt looked
Will Buckley
sensational, unbeatable, incredible.
August 17, 2008
6 Bolt’s path to the gold medal was made easier
when Tyson Gay, suffering from injury, did not
1 “We’ve never seen anything like that before,”
even break 10 seconds and missed a place in
said the great Olympian, Michael Johnson,
the final, which went instead to fellow American
after a breathtaking 100 metres final. Usain
Darvis Patton. Powell won his semi-final easily in
Bolt was so far ahead of the rest, he had time
9.91 and the final of the 100 metres had become
to slow down and smile for the cameras before
a Jamaican contest. They even had a third
crossing the line in a world record time of 9.69
finalist in Frater who, along with two Trinidadians,
seconds, beating by three-hundredths of a
two Americans and the man from Netherlands
second the record he had set 11 weeks ago. He
Antilles, completed the field. Six from the
looks unbeatable.
Caribbean, two from the United States.
2 The rest were nowhere. A fifth of a second
7 As the competitors appeared for the final,
behind – a long, long way in sprinting – was
hundreds of cameras flashed round the stadium
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago. The
to create a twinkling star effect. The backdrop
best American was Walter Dix, who took the
was near perfect – the stadium was the greatest
bronze medal in 9.91 seconds. Asafa Powell
in modern Olympics, in a Games that may be
and Michael Frater, Bolt’s Jamaican compatriots,
remembered as much for its architecture as its
were fifth and sixth, a long way behind the
athletes. Bolt was in lane four. Powell was three
unbelievable Bolt.
lanes to his right. In between were Thompson
3 The 100 metres is the main event at the Olympic and Dix. This, surely, would be where the medals
Games, and for that reason it is also the race would be contested. The introductions to the
which is most likely to disgrace the sport. If the most explosive event in all of sport were made.
fastest man in the world is a cheat, who cares Bolt smiled and pointed. Powell swung from side
about the rest? Of the previous four winners of to side.
the 100 metres, Justin Gatlin and Linford Christie
8 Silence, and then bang! Before anyone could
subsequently failed drugs tests. This meant that,
breathe Bolt had won. Astonishingly, the first
of course, some people would be looking at
man to break 9.7 seconds slowed down towards
yesterday’s race with suspicion.
the end. Like a jockey riding a wonder-horse,
4 The world record holder, Bolt, and the former he even took a quick look over his shoulder in
world record holder, Powell, are the two fastest the last five metres. “I could see him slowing
men in the world and there was some talk of down ahead as I was still running hard,” said
people needing to go as low as 9.6 in order to Thompson. If the semi-final was incredible, this
win it. 20 years ago Ben Johnson won it in 9.7, was even more unbelievable. Bolt had produced
running quicker than anyone – until yesterday the most electric 100 metres performance for 20
– had managed in an Olympics since then. Of years and then disco danced around the stadium.
course, Johnson then lost his gold medal after
9 “It was expected,” said the Jamaican team
testing poitive for drugs.
doctor, Herb Elliott. “I don’t know how fast he can
5 In the semi-finals Bolt was slowly away, slow at go; his coach doesn’t know how fast he can go;
the finish and still won in 9.85, exactly the time he doesn’t know how fast he can go.” He also
Justin Gatlin (who is now banned after a drugs said that Bolt had been tested half-a-dozen times
test failure) had run to win in Athens in 2004. in Beijing. It was an historic night for Jamaica,
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who have been trying to win the 100 metres medal means a lot to my country, and to me.”
for a long, long time. In 1952, Herb McKenlay Bolt had missed breakfast and had chicken
lost the closest 100 metres in history, now nuggets for lunch. He then rested, and then
Bolt had won the easiest. For a country of just had nuggets for tea. It was a nugget diet which
two-and-a-half million they have undoubtedly had led to a golden performance. The history,
produced a disproportionate number of top however, casts its shadow. Johnson’s downfall
quality sprinters but this was the first time they was tragic: if anything were found to be wrong
had won 100 metres gold. with Bolt, it would be farcical.
10 Asked why he slowed down, Bolt said: “I wasn’t © Guardian News & Media 2008
interested in the world record. I didn’t even First published in The Observer, 17/08/08
know I had it until after the victory lap. This
1. Usain Bolt ran faster in this year’s semi-final than Justin Gatlin ran in the 2004 final.
2. Tyson Gay didn’t run in the final because he was injured.
3. Bolt was not tested for drugs in Beijing.
4. Two of the last four Olympic 100 metres champions failed drugs tests.
5. Bolt wasn’t interested in the world record.
6. Bolt slowed down in the last five metres.
4 Find the word
1. A noun meaning someone who is from the same country as someone else. (para 2)
2. A five-word expression meaning the previous person to hold the world record. (para 4)
3. A past participle meaning officially prevented from competing. (para 5)
4. A noun meaning the amount by which a competition is won. (para 5)
5. An adjective meaning very exciting and surprising. (para 5)
6. A noun meaning all the people taking part in a race. (para 6)
7. A noun meaning everything you can see behind the main thing you are looking at. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning someone whose job is to ride horses in races. (para 8)

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5 Word building: Adjectives
Complete the table with adjectives that match the definitions.
adjective definition
1. cannot be believed
2. cannot be beaten
3. cannot be imagined
4. cannot be avoided
5. cannot be controlled
6. cannot be accepted
7. cannot be forgotten
8. cannot be mistaken (for someone
or something else)
6 Word building
verb noun
1. perform
2. suspect
3. compete
4. introduce
5. disgrace
6. contest
7. cheat
8. fail
7 Discussion
Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sport? What are the arguments for and against such a step?
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KEY
1. disproportionate 1. compatriot
2. disgraces 2. the former world record holder
3. unbeatable 3. banned
4. subsequently 4. margin
5. lane 5. sensational
6. lap 6. field
7. undoubtedly 7. backdrop
8. farcical 8. jockey
9. breathtaking
10. cheat 5 Word building: Adjectives
2 Find the information 1. unbelievable (incredible)

2. unbeatable
1. 9.69 seconds 3. unimaginable
2. Richard Thompson 4. unavoidable (inevitable)
3. Jamaica 5. uncontrollable
4. 9.85 seconds 6. unacceptable
5. once (this was the first time) 7. unforgettable
6. Athens 8. unmistakable
1. F 1. performance
2. F 2. suspicion
3. F 3. competition/competitor
4. T 4. introduction
5. T 5. disgrace
6. T 6. contest
7. cheat
8. failure
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The school where teachers carry a pen, a ruler and... a gun
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
a) What do you consider to be a teacher’s ‘tools of the trade’?
b) What do you think your teacher needs to carry in his / her teaching bag for work purposes?
2 Key words
Find the key words in the article. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
1. Containing bullets: ______________________. (para 1)
2. To be offended or shocked: ______________________. (para 3)
3. Someone who strongly supports something: ______________________. (para 3)
4. Hidden from view: ______________________. (para 3)
5. A person who is the prisoner of someone who threatens to kill them if they do not get what they want:
______________________. (para 6)
6. The process of checking someone to see if they’re suitable for something: ______________________.
(para 9)
7. To hit a surface at an angle and immediately move away from it at a different angle: _____________________.
(para 9)
8. An action or movement that you need care or skill to do: ______________________. (para 10)
9. When a weapon is fired it is ______________________. (para 11)
10. Not sorry / show no regret: ______________________. (para 14)

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NEWS LESSONS / The school where teachers carry a pen, a ruler and... a gun / Advanced
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The American school where teachers 8 “We’ve had a very disturbing trend of school
carry a pen, a ruler and... a gun shootings in the US,” said Thweatt. “It is my
belief that this is caused by making schools
• Teachers in Texan town allowed to carry pistols
gun-free zones. When schools were made
• Remote location could make it a target, say locals
gun-free zones, they became targets for people
Andrew Clark who wanted a high body count.”
August 18, 2008
9 As is commonplace in America, Harrold’s school
1 School authorities in Harrold, Texas, say loaded already has tough security including card-swipe
pistols in the hands of trained teachers will make entry for rooms and screening for visitors. Armed
its students and staff safer. teachers must get a state gun licence and will
be required to use bullets of a type less liable to
2 When teachers return for a new school term in
ricochet off walls or desks. But teachers’ unions
the tiny Texas farming town of Harrold, they can
in Texas have expressed horror.
bring an extra tool of the trade alongside books,
pens and worksheets. To defend pupils from any
10 “It’s a disaster waiting to happen,” Gayle Fallon,
gun-toting maniacs, they can carry loaded pistols
president of the Houston Federation of Teachers
into the classroom.
said. She described it as the sort of manoeuvre
that makes Texas a laughing stock: “It’s up there
3 With barely 300 residents, the remote rural
with the worst ideas in the history of education.”
community in the state’s northern dustbowl has
appalled gun control advocates by becoming
11 Ken Trump, an Ohio-based specialist in advising
the first in the US to allow its teachers to carry
school boards on security, suggested it would be
concealed firearms.
more sensible to hire security guards than to give
4 Harrold’s school board maintains that the plan guns to “minimally supervised, minimally trained”
is necessary because the town is 25 miles from teachers. “You could have a gun accidentally
the nearest sheriff’s office, making it hard to get taken away, or a gun could be discharged while
swift help in an emergency. Its location just yards a teacher’s breaking up a fight in the cafeteria,”
from a major highway, America’s north-south said Trump.
Interstate 287, makes it a potential ‘target’ for
12 Harrold’s gun policy was praised by the pro-gun
armed maniacs.
nationwide Citizens Committee for the Right to
5 “We are 30 minutes from law enforcement,” Keep and Bear Arms. Its chairman, Alan Gottlieb,
Harrold’s school superintendent, David Thweatt, said the town’s school buildings would be safer:
told The Guardian. “How long do you think it would “Allowing armed staff and teachers will provide a
take to kill all 150 of us? It would be a bloodbath.” last line of defence if other security measures at
the school fail.”
6 Carefully selected teachers are to be trained in
crisis management including handling hostage 13 He argued that teachers would be able to
situations. Thweatt said: “When you have good respond faster to a classroom shooting than a
guys with guns, the bad guys do less damage.” security guard: “Officers can’t be everywhere and
in an emergency every second counts.”
7 More than a dozen mass shooting tragedies
have hit US educational establishments over the 14 Harrold’s school board is unapologetic about the
last decade, including the Columbine massacre controversy. Thweatt said the thick brick walls of
which claimed 15 lives at a Colorado high school Harrold’s school protected pupils from tornadoes
in 1999 and last year’s Virginia Tech massacre – and the school authorities had a duty to protect
which left 33 people dead. children from human attacks.
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15 “When you hear about these shootings, the
reports always start out with ‘this is a sleepy little
place, nobody thought this would ever happen
here’,” said Thweatt.

Background: Gun violence in US schools

April 1999 Students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold kill 12 students and a teacher at Columbine high school in
Littleton, Colorado, before shooting themselves
February 2000 Six-year-old Kayla Rolland is shot dead at Buell Elementary School near Flint, Michigan, by a
six-year-old boy
May 2000 13 year-old Nate Brazill kills a teacher at Lake Worth school, Florida, after being sent home
March 2005 16-year-old Jeff Weise guns down five students, a teacher and a security guard at Red Lake
High School in northern Minnesota before killing himself. He had also just killed his grandfather and his
grandfather’s companion
September 2006 15-year-old student kills his school principal in western Wisconsin
October 2006 Charles Roberts kills five girls at a one-classroom Pennsylvanian Amish school
April 2007 Cho Seung-hui kills 32 students at Virginia Tech university
February 2008 Gunman kills five students at Northern Illinois University
Find the answers to the questions in the article.
1. School authorities in Harrold, Texas, are allowing... 3. Shooting tragedies in US schools and colleges are...
a) ... pupils to protect themselves from armed maniacs. a) ... becoming more frequent.
b) ... teachers to carry guns in the classroom. b) ... decreasing.
c) ... security guards to check parents. c) ... common in Texas.
2. The school’s superintendent thinks that... 4. Teachers’ unions in Texas are...
a) ... the sheriff’s office should be moved closer to a) ... behind the plan.
the school. b) ... unsure if this is the right plan.
b) ... a gunman could kill all 150 pupils and teachers c) ... horrified by the plan.
before outside help arrived.
c) ... there needs to be stricter security at the school
gates.
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4 Multi-word phrases
Tools of the trade is a multi-word phrase that means: the skills and equipment needed to do
a particular job.
Find other multi-word phrases in the article that mean:

1. A deranged or mad person carrying a weapon (3 words)
2. A collective term for police and other security or emergency services (2 words)
3. Methods for dealing with extremely difficult situations (2 words)
4. A foreseeable tragedy (4 words)
5. Terrible and sad situations in which many people get shot (3 words)
6. An area where no firearms are allowed (3 words)
7. A method of going into a building using a plastic card (3 words)
8. Someone or something that everyone thinks is silly (2 words)
9. A small town or area where nothing much happens (3 words)
5 Discussion
Do you agree with Thweatt’s statement: “When you have good guys with guns, the bad guys do
less damage.”?
Why / why not?
6 Group task: In case of emergency...
What would you do if there was an emergency at your school?

Decide on a type of emergency (fire, flood, terrorist attack, etc.) and write a step-by-step emergency/
escape plan.
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KEY
2 Key words 4 Multi-word phrases
1. loaded 1. gun-toting maniac

2. appalled 2. law enforcement
3. advocate 3. crisis management
4. concealed 4. disaster waiting to happen
5. hostage 5. mass shooting tragedies
6. screening 6. gun-free zones
7. ricochet 7. card-swipe entry
8. manoeuvre 8. laughing stock
9. discharged 9. sleepy little place
10. unapologetic
Teacher’s notes:
Internet tasks:
Ask students to check the school’s website:
1. b www.harroldisd.net
2. b What kind of school is it? Can they pinpoint it on a map?
3. a Ask them to discuss other ways to protect the pupils in the
4. c school from possible attack.
Write Harrold Texas into the search field in YouTube to see
TV reports about the controversy.
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1 Warmer
a) Which of these items does your teacher need for work?

• pens
• pencils
• computer
• CD player
• gun
• ruler
• book
• worksheets
b) Can you add any more?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2 Key words
Write the key words from the article next to their meanings. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
armed staff unapologetic ricochet rural authorities

disaster dozen controversy licence horrified defend
1. An organization or institution that controls something, often a public service: ____________________. (para 1)
2. People who work at a company or other place of work: ____________________. (para 1)
3. To protect someone or something from attack: ____________________. (para 2)
4. In the countryside (not in the city): ____________________. (para 3)
5. Carrying a weapon (usually a gun): ____________________. (para 4)
6. Another word for twelve: ____________________. (para 7)
7. An official paper that allows you to do something: ____________________. (para 8)
8. To hit a surface at an angle and immediately move away from it at a different angle: ____________________.
(para 8)
9. Shocked: ____________________. (para 8)
10. Something very bad that happens and may kill many people: ____________________. (para 9)
11. Not sorry / show no regret: ____________________. (para 13)
12. A disagreement that a lot of people have strong feelings about: ____________________. (para 13)
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Level 1 Elementary
The American school where teachers 8 Like many places in America, Harrold’s school
carry a pen, a ruler and... a gun already has very tough security. The teachers
must get a state gun licence and the bullets will
• Teachers in Texan town allowed to carry guns
be a special type less likely to ricochet off walls
• Remote location could make it a target, say locals
or desks. But teachers’ unions in Texas
Andrew Clark are horrified.
August 18, 2008
9 “It’s a disaster waiting to happen,” Gayle Fallon,
1 School authorities in Harrold, Texas, say trained president of the Houston Federation of Teachers
teachers with guns will make its students and said. She described it as the sort of plan that
staff safer. makes people laugh at Texas: “It’s one of the
worst ideas in the history of education.”
2 When teachers return for a new school term in
the tiny Texas farming town of Harrold, they can 10 Ken Trump, an Ohio-based security specialist,
bring an extra piece of equipment in addition to said it would be more sensible to hire security
books, pens and worksheets. To defend pupils, guards than to give guns to “minimally
they can carry guns into the classroom. supervised, minimally trained” teachers. “You
could have a gun accidentally taken away, or a
3 With only 300 residents, the small rural town in gun could be accidently fired while a teacher’s
northern Texas has shocked many people by breaking up a fight in the cafeteria,” said Trump.
becoming the first place in the US to allow its
teachers to carry guns. 11 Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the pro-gun nationwide
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and
4 Harrold’s school board says that the plan is Bear Arms, said the town’s school buildings would
necessary because the town is 25 miles from the be safer: “Allowing armed staff and teachers will
nearest sheriff’s office, which makes it hard to provide a last line of defence if other security
get immediate help in an emergency. They also measures at the school fail.”
say that because the town is very near to a major
highway, America’s north-south Interstate 287, it 12 He said that teachers would be able to deal more
could be a possible ‘target’ for armed madmen. quickly with a classroom shooting than a security
guard: “Officers can’t be everywhere and in an
5 “The sheriff’s office is 30 minutes away”, said emergency every second counts.”
Harrold’s school superintendent, David Thweatt.
“How long do you think it would take to kill all 150 13 Harrold’s school board is unapologetic about the
of us? It would be a bloodbath.” controversy. Thweatt said the thick brick walls of
Harrold’s school protected pupils from tornadoes
6 Some teachers at the school will be trained in – and the school authorities had a duty to protect
dealing with emergencies. Thweatt said: “When children from human attacks.
you have good guys with guns, the bad guys do
less damage.” 14 “When you hear about these shootings, the
reports always start out with ‘this is a sleepy little
7 There have been more than a dozen mass place, nobody thought this would ever happen
shooting tragedies in US schools over the last here’,” said Thweatt.
ten years, including the Columbine massacre in
which 15 people died at a Colorado high school © Guardian News & Media 2008
in 1999 and last year’s Virginia Tech massacre First published in The Guardian, 18/08/08
which left 33 people dead.
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3 Summarizing
Re-read the article to find the answers to these questions.
1. What kind of town is Harrold and where is it?
2. What will teachers at Harrold School take into class next term?
3. How far away is the sheriff’s office?
4. How many mass shootings have there been at US schools in the last ten years?
5. How many people died in the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre?
6. Are teachers’ unions happy about the idea?

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4 Prepositions
Fill in the missing prepositions (according to the article).
at x2 in x2 for of to into
• When teachers return ____________ a new school term

• they can carry guns ____________ the classroom
• small rural town ____________northern Texas
• help ____________ an emergency
• it is very near ____________ a major highway
• to kill all 150 ____________ us
• 15 people died ____________ a Colorado high school
• the sort of plan that makes people laugh ____________ Texas
5 Group task: In an emergency...

Decide on a type of emergency (fire, flood, terrorist attack, etc.) and write a step-by-step emergency /
escape plan.
Step 1: ______________________________________________________
Step 2: ______________________________________________________
Step 3: ______________________________________________________
Step 4: ______________________________________________________
Step 5: ______________________________________________________
Step 6: ______________________________________________________
Step 7: ______________________________________________________
Step 8: ______________________________________________________
Step 9: ______________________________________________________
Step 10: ______________________________________________________
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KEY
2 Key words 4 Prepositions
1. authorities for; into; in; in; to; of; at; at

2. staff
3. defend
4. rural Teacher’s notes:
5. armed
Internet tasks:
6. dozen
7. licence Ask students to check the school’s website:
8. ricochet www.harroldisd.net
9. horrified What kind of school is it? Can they pinpoint it on a map?
10. disaster Ask them to discuss other ways to protect the pupils in the
11. unapologetic school from possible attack.
12. controversy Write Harrold Texas into the search field in YouTube to see
TV reports about the controversy.
3 Summarizing
1. A small farming town in Texas, USA

2. Guns
3. 30 minutes away
4. More than a dozen / 12
5. 33
6. No (they think it’s a disaster waiting to happen)
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1 Warmer
a) What teaching equipment is always in your classroom?
b) What additional equipment do you think your teacher needs to carry in his/her teaching bag?
2 Key words
Match the key words from the article with their meanings. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
armed loaded hostage unapologetic ricochet

remote crisis management authorities
screening card-swipe entry gun-toting maniacs
1. An organization or institution that controls something, often a public service: ____________________. (para 1)
2. Containing bullets: ________________________. (para 1)
3. Mad people carrying weapons: ____________________________. (para 2)
4. Far away from any other cities or towns: ________________________. (para 3)
5. Methods for dealing with extremely difficult situations: ____________________________. (para 6)
6. A person who is the prisoner of someone who threatens to kill them if they do not get what they want:
________________________. (para 6)
7. A method of going into a building using a plastic card: ____________________________. (para 8)
8. The process of checking someone to see if they’re suitable for something: ________________________.
(para 8)
9. Carrying a weapon (usually a gun): ________________________. (para 8)
10. To hit a surface at an angle and immediately move away from it at a different angle:
________________________. (para 8)
11. Not sorry / show no regret: ________________________. (para 13)

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The American school where teachers entry for rooms and screening for visitors. Armed
carry a pen, a ruler and... a gun teachers must get a state gun licence and the
• Teachers in Texan town allowed to carry guns bullets will be of a type less likely to ricochet off
• Remote location could make it a target, say locals walls or desks. But teachers’ unions in Texas have
expressed horror.
Andrew Clark
August 18, 2008 9 “It’s a disaster waiting to happen,” Gayle Fallon,
president of the Houston Federation of Teachers
1 School authorities in Harrold, Texas, say loaded
said. She described it as the sort of plan that makes
guns in the hands of trained teachers will make its
people laugh at Texas: “It’s one of the worst ideas in
students and staff safer.
the history of education.”
2 When teachers return for a new school term in the

10 Ken Trump, an Ohio-based security specialist,
tiny Texas farming town of Harrold, they can bring
suggested it would be more sensible to hire security
an extra piece of equipment alongside books, pens
guards than to give guns to “minimally supervised,
and worksheets. To defend pupils from any
minimally trained” teachers. “You could have a
gun-toting maniacs, they can carry loaded guns into
gun accidentally taken away, or a gun could be
the classroom.
accidently fired while a teacher’s breaking up a fight
in the cafeteria,” said Trump.
3 With barely 300 residents, the remote rural
community in northern Texas has shocked groups
11 Harrold’s gun policy was praised by the pro-gun
in favor of gun control by becoming the first place in
nationwide Citizens Committee for the Right to
the US to allow its teachers to carry guns.
Keep and Bear Arms. Its chairman, Alan Gottlieb,
said the town’s school buildings would be safer:
4 Harrold’s school board says that the plan is
“Allowing armed staff and teachers will provide a
necessary because the town is 25 miles from the
last line of defence if other security measures at the
nearest sheriff’s office, which makes it hard to get
school fail.”
immediate help in an emergency. They also say
that its location just yards from a major highway,
12 He argued that teachers would be able to respond
America’s north-south Interstate 287, makes it a
faster to a classroom shooting than a security
possible ‘target’ for armed maniacs.
guard: “Officers can’t be everywhere and in an
emergency every second counts.”
5 “The sheriff’s office is 30 minutes away”, said
Harrold’s school superintendent, David Thweatt.
13 Harrold’s school board is unapologetic about the
“How long do you think it would take to kill all 150 of
controversy. Thweatt said the thick brick walls of
us? It would be a bloodbath.”
Harrold’s school protected pupils from tornadoes
– and the school authorities had a duty to protect
6 Carefully selected teachers are to be trained in
children from human attacks.
crisis management including dealing with hostage
situations. Thweatt said: “When you have good
14 “When you hear about these shootings, the reports
guys with guns, the bad guys do less damage.”
always start out with ‘this is a sleepy little place,
nobody thought this would ever happen here’,”
7 More than a dozen mass shooting tragedies have
said Thweatt.
hit US schools over the last ten years, including
the Columbine massacre in which 15 people died
at a Colorado high school in 1999 and last year’s
Virginia Tech massacre which left 33 people dead.
8 Like many places in America, Harrold’s school

already has tough security including card-swipe
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3 Comprehension
According to the article, are these sentences True (T) or False (F)?
1. School authorities in Harrold, Texas, are allowing selected teachers to carry guns in the classroom.
2. Teachers’ unions are in favor of this plan.
3. Harrold is a small farming town in Ohio.
4. The school’s superintendent thinks that the sheriff’s office should be moved closer to the school.
5. Up to now there has been no security at Harrold’s school.
6. The school’s superintendent says tornadoes are a bigger problem than guns.
7. There have been more than 12 shooting incidents in US schools in the last decade.
8. A security specialist thinks that arming teachers is not the answer to the problem.
9. The teachers will not need a gun licence.
10. Thweatt says the threat of shootings is greater in big cities.
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4 Statements: Who said what?
Find the statements made by these four people in the article.

Which, if any, do you agree with?
• The school’s superintendent said, “When you...__________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________.
• The chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said _____________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________.
• A security specialist said ___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________.
• The president of the Houston Federation of Teachers said ________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________.
Make your own statement about the article.
! Your statement:
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................
5 Group task: In case of emergency...

Decide on a type of emergency (fire, flood, terrorist attack, etc.) and write a step-by-step emergency /
escape plan.
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The schooltowhere
Addiction teachers
Internet carry a pen, a ruler and... a gun
‘is an illness’
KEY
2 Key words 4 Statements: Who said what?
1. authorities The school’s superintendent said, “When you have good guys
2. loaded with guns, the bad guys do less damage.”
3. gun-toting maniacs
The Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep
4. remote
and Bear Arms said, “Allowing armed staff and teachers will
5. crisis management
provide a last line of defence if other security measures at the
6. hostage
school fail.”
7. card-swipe entry
8. screening A security specialist said it would be more sensible to hire
9. armed security guards than to give guns to “minimally supervised,
10. ricochet minimally trained” teachers. “You could have a gun
11. unapologetic accidentally taken away, or a gun could be accidently fired
while a teacher’s breaking up a fight in the cafeteria.”
Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers

said “It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
3 Comprehension
1. True Teacher’s notes:

2. False Internet tasks:
3. False
Ask students to check the school’s website:
4. False
www.harroldisd.net
5. False
6. False What kind of school is it? Can they pinpoint it on a map?
7. True Ask them to discuss other ways to protect the pupils in the
8. True school from possible attack.
9. False Write Harrold Texas into the search field in YouTube to see TV
10. False reports about the controversy.

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Obama says ‘it’s time to change America’
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer: Quiz
1. What and where is the White House?

2. Name the two major political parties in the United States.
3. Which colours are they represented by?
4. Who is Uncle Sam?
5. Who was Martin Luther King?
6. Who is the current US president and which party does he belong to?
7. Who is his deputy?
2 Key words
Find the words in the article that mean the following.
1. An official suggestion or decision that someone should get a job or prize: _____________________. (para 1)
2. A style of speaking or writing that is intended to influence people: ______________________. (para 2)
3. To pay _____________________ or tribute to someone shows you respect and admire them or their work. (para 3)
4. If you _____________________ your country or someone who needs your support, you deliberately do something
that harms them or helps their opponents. (para 4, infinitive)
5. A verb meaning to promise seriously and publicly to do something: _____________________. (para 5)
6. The fact that something is based on accurate information. Often a synonym for truth: ____________________.
(para 6)
7. An adjective, usually before a noun, meaning that something is not strong or successful: __________________
(para 6)
8. A word meaning negative comments or jibes: _____________________. (para 7)
9. Special clothes that you wear for a ceremony or official occasion: _____________________. (para 11)
10. When someone is _____________________ they are searched by someone with their hands in order to see if they
are carrying anything illegal such as a gun or drugs. (para 13)
11. Acts of giving up something important or valuable so that you or other people can do or have something else:
_____________________. (para 15)
12. Strong feelings of love, respect, and duty towards your country: _____________________. (para 16)

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Barack Obama gets down to policy as 7 He finally went after McCain and made sly digs
he wows a crowd of 80,000 over McCain’s volatile temperament and age:
Democratic nominee tackles Iraq, race and the McCain turns 72 today.
Republicans during a rousing address in Denver
8 To cheers from the crowd, he challenged McCain’s
Ewen MacAskill and Suzanne Goldenberg foreign policy judgment and rounded on him for
in Denver supporting the Iraq war at the expense of failing
August 29, 2008 to go after Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and
Pakistan. “John McCain likes to say that he’ll follow
1 Barack Obama fulfilled the promise made when bin Laden to the Gates of Hell – but he won’t even
he entered the US political stage four years ago go to the cave where he lives.”
and the dream of Martin Luther King almost half
a century ago, when he accepted the Democratic 9 The Obama campaign had intended the speech
presidential nomination before tens of thousands of to be a people’s event. He was only the third
his supporters. Democratic candidate to accept the party’s
presidential nomination outside a convention hall:
2 Obama’s speech, at Denver’s Mile High stadium, Roosevelt did in Chicago in 1932, and Kennedy in
added policy to the rhetoric that had helped bring Los Angeles in 1960.
a man who was virtually unknown at the 2004
Democratic convention to within reach of the 10 Tens of thousands of people took the chance to be
White House. part of the event, with long lines snaking for miles
around the stadium under a blazing sun and filling
3 Speaking on the 45th anniversary of King’s “I have the stadium three hours before he spoke.
a dream” speech, the first African-American to
secure the nomination of a major party brought the 11 They came in Martin Luther King T-shirts and in full
80,000-plus who packed the stadium to their feet Obama regalia – T-shirts, hats and buttons. A few
when, concluding a 47-minute speech, he paid came in Native American traditional dress. Vendors
homage to King. Obama said it was the promise of sold Obama dolls and life-sized figures of Obama
America that had brought people from every corner dressed as Uncle Sam.
of the country to hear King on the steps of the
Lincoln Memorial. 12 Inside the stadium, there was a collective sense of
history in the making. Flash bulbs from cameras
4 Bush had betrayed that promise during the last eight popped incessantly from the stands, as people
years and the country could not take the chance of waved small American flags, danced to Motown
another four under John McCain, Obama said. and shouted “Yes, we can!” as Will.i.am and other
performers took to the stage.
5 Quoting from King’s call to march forward together
and not turn back, he echoed the father of the civil 13 Obama came to his first Democratic convention
rights movement: “America, we cannot turn back. eight years ago short of cash and was frequently
Not with so much work to be done … We cannot frisked by security because of his name. He
walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we recalled his arrival on the national scene, “Four
must pledge once more to march into the future.” years ago, I stood before you and told you my story – of
the brief union between a young man from Kenya and
6 After months of criticism that there was no a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or
substance behind the words, Obama spoke about well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son
how he would deal with America’s ailing economy, could achieve whatever he put his mind to,” he said.
the biggest election issue. He offered a programme
of education, health and energy reforms, allied to 14 He used his own life story, too, to address the
job creation and tax cuts. negative campaign that McCain has mounted over
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the last two months, in particular that he was too women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan may have
fond of his new-found celebrity status. been of different political parties but all died under
the same flag.
15 Obama spoke about the sacrifices made by
17 “They have not served a red America or a blue
his family. “I don’t know what kind of lives John
America – they have served the United States of
McCain thinks that celebrities lead but this has
America,” he said. “So I’ve got news for you, John
been mine,” he said.
McCain: We all put our country first.”
16 He also responded to charges by Republicans that © Guardian News & Media 2008
question his patriotism. He adapted a line from his First published in The Guardian, 29/08/08
2004 speech in Boston to argue that the men and
Find the answers to the questions in the article.
1. Why was Barack Obama at Denver’s Mile 4. Obama criticized McCain for...
High stadium? a) ... not acting his age.
a) To announce his decision to run for US President. b) ... supporting Bush’s war in Iraq over pursuing
b) To officially accept the Democratic Party’s bin Laden.
presidential nomination. c) ... not being patriotic.
c) To talk about Martin Luther King.
5. Obama’s parents are from...
2. Where did Martin Luther King hold his famous “I have a) ... Kenya and the USA.
a dream” speech? b) ... Kansas and Hawaii.
a) In Denver’s Mile High Stadium. c) ... Kenya and Hawaii.
b) In Boston.
c) At the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
3. Obama had been criticized for...

a) ... paying homage to Martin Luther King.
b) ... not giving enough details about his policies.
c) ... talking about the US’s ailing economy.
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4 Vocabulary: Collocations
Match the words below to make collocations from the article. Then write an example sentence of your
own for each collocation.
1. accept homage to
2. conclude a negative campaign
3. pay by security
4. (be) frisked a nomination
5. mount a speech
6. ailing dig
7. sly status
8. volatile economy
9. celebrity temperament
5 Discussion
Who is the presidential nominee for the Republican Party? Who is his running mate?
Why are the world press so interested in the US presidential elections?
How do US politics affect your country / you personally?
6 Webquest
You can watch a five minute video of Barack Obama speaking in Denver here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/29/uselections2008.democrats20082
You can also type Barack Obama Denver into YouTube to watch it there.
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KEY
1 Warmer: Quiz 3 Comprehension check
1. The White House is the official residence and principal 1. b

workplace of the President of the United States. Located 2. c
at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. 3. b
2. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. 4. b
3. The Democratic Party = blue, and the Republican 5. a
Party = red.
4. Uncle Sam is a national personification of the United 4 Vocabulary: Collocations
States (US), with the first usage of the term dating
from the War of 1812 and the first illustration dating 1. accept a nomination
from 1852. He is often depicted as a serious elderly 2. conclude a speech
white man with white hair and a goatee, and dressed 3. pay homage to
in clothing that recalls the design elements of the flag 4. (be) frisked by security
of the United States – for example, typically a top hat 5. mount a negative campaign
with red and white stripes and white stars on a blue 6. ailing economy
band, and red and white striped trousers. 7. sly dig
5. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 8. volatile temperament
1968) was an American clergyman, activist and 9. celebrity status
prominent leader in the American civil rights
movement. His efforts led to the 1963 March on
Teacher’s notes:
Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where King
delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. King was Set a time limit and use your discretion for the warmer
assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. quiz. Get the students to collaborate by working in teams.
6. George W. Bush. The Republican Party. Award extra points for answers that supply further or
7. Richard (Dick) B. Cheney interesting information.
You can watch a video of Barack Obama accepting the
2 Key words
nomination here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/
1. nomination aug/29/uselections2008.democrats20082
2. rhetoric A full text of Obama’s speech is available here: http://www.
3. homage guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/29/uselections2008.
4. betray barackobama2
5. pledge
6. substance Other useful websites are
7. ailing • http://www.democrats.org/
8. digs • http://www.rnc.org/
9. regalia • http://www.whitehouse.gov/
10. frisked • http://www.whitehouse.gov/vicepresident/
11. sacrifices • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Sam
12. patriotism • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_luther_king
Motown is a type of African-American soul music from the

US city of Detroit, popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
Will.i.am is a member of the Black Eyed Peas pop group.
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer: Brainstorming
In five minutes, make as many notes as you can about politics in the United States of America.
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2 Key words
Write the words from the article into the sentences below. The paragraph numbers will help you find the
correct words.
betray supporters vendor patriotism reform

stadium cheered march economy candidate
1. Someone who stands behind a particular person and his/her ideas: _____________________. (para1)
2. A large building, usually without a roof, where people watch sports events such as football:
_____________________. (para 1)
3. One of the people competing in an election: _____________________. (para 1)
4. To give a loud shout of happiness and approval: _____________________. (para 2, past tense)
5. If you _____________________ your country or someone who needs your support, you deliberately do
something that harms them or helps their opponents. (para 3, infinitive)
6. To walk along a road as part of a group of people protesting about something: ___________________. (para 4)
7. A country’s business, industry, trade and money: _____________________. (para 5)
8. A change that corrects a situation that is wrong or unfair: _____________________. (para 5)
9. Someone who sells something – especially outside: _____________________. (para 8)
10. Strong feelings of love, respect, and duty towards your country: _____________________. (para 11)
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NEWS LESSONS / Obama says ‘it’s time to change America’ / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Obama says ‘it’s time to change America’ 7 The people who work for Obama wanted the
speech to be a people’s event. Tens of thousands
Ewen MacAskill and Suzanne Goldenberg
of people attended and the stadium was full up
in Denver
three hours before he spoke.
August 29, 2008
8 They came wearing Martin Luther King T-shirts

1 In front of tens of thousands of his supporters at
and Obama T-shirts, hats, and buttons. A few
the Mile High stadium in Denver, Barack Obama
came in Native American traditional clothes.
officially agreed to be the Democratic Party’s
Vendors sold Obama dolls.
presidential candidate for the next US elections.
Obama is the first African-American to be
nominated by a major US political party. 9 Inside the stadium cameras flashed and people
waved small American flags. They danced to
Motown music and shouted “Yes, we can!” as
2 The crowd of over 80,000 people stood up and
Will.i.am and other musicians performed on
cheered when, speaking on the 45th anniversary
the stage.
of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech,
Obama repeated King’s words. He said it was the
promise of America, of a country where everyone 10 Obama said, “Four years ago, I stood before you
can go to school and get a job, that had brought and told you my story – of a young man from
people from every corner of the country to hear Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who
King speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. didn’t have much money, but who both believed
that in America, their son could become whatever
he wanted to be”.
3 President Bush had betrayed that promise
during the last eight years and the country could
not take the chance of another four years with 11 He answered negative comments made by
another Republican, John McCain, as the next Republicans that questioned his patriotism. He
president, Obama said. said that although the men and women fighting
in Iraq and Afghanistan may have supported
different political parties, they all died for the
4 Quoting from King’s call to march forward
same country.
together and not turn back, he said “America,
we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to
be done. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, 12 “They have not fought for a Republican America
in this election, we must promise once more to or a Democratic America – they have served
march into the future.” the United States of America,” he said. “So I’ve
got news for you, John McCain: We all put our
country first.”
5 Obama spoke about what he would do about
America’s weak economy. He talked about
education, health and energy reforms, new jobs © Guardian News & Media 2008
and less tax. First published in The Guardian, 29/08/08
6 To cheers from the crowd, he said 72-year-old

McCain was wrong because he supports the Iraq
war but is not looking for Osama bin Laden in
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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Level 1 Elementary
Join these sentence halves to give a summary of the article.
1. Barack Obama hopes to be the... a. ... nominated by a major US political party.
2. John McCain also wants to be the... b. ... is much younger than John McCain.
3. Obama is the first African-American to be... c. ... is George W. Bush.
4. Over eighty thousand people went to... d. ... next president, but for the Republican Party.
5. The current president of the US... e. ... next president of the United States.
6. Barack Obama... f. ... Denver to hear Obama’s speech.
4 Vocabulary: Crossword
1
Across
2
3. a piece of equipment that takes photographs
M
3 4
6. a large number of people in one place
S
Down 5
6
1. the political leader of a country
2. money we all have to pay to the government

T
4. a time when people vote
5. past tense of fight

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Level 1 Elementary
5 Discussion
Are you interested in the US presidential elections? Why / Why not?
6 Webquest: Quiz
Use the Internet to find the answers to these questions.
2. What are the names of the two major political parties in the United States?
3. Who is Obama’s running mate (= the Vice President if Obama wins)?
6. Where and what is the Lincoln Memorial?
7. When are the US elections?
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Key words in clothing that recalls the design elements of the flag
of the United States—for example, typically a top hat
1. supporter with red and white stripes and white stars on a blue
2. stadium band, and red and white striped trousers.
3. candidate 5. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4,
4. cheered 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and
5. betray prominent leader in the American civil rights
6. march movement. His efforts led to the 1963 March on
7. economy Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he
8. reform delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. King was
9. vendor assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis.
10. patriotism 6. The Lincoln Memorial is a United States Presidential
memorial built to honor the 16th President of the
United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the
3 Comprehension check National Mall in Washington, D.C
7. November 4th 2008
1. e
2. d Teacher’s notes:
3. a
4. f Students can work in pairs or teams for the warmer and
5. c compare notes after five minutes.
6. b You could set the webquest quiz as homework. Get the
students to collaborate by working in teams. Award extra
4 Vocabulary: Crossword points for answers that supply further or interesting infor-
mation.
Across You can watch a video of Barack Obama accepting the

Down
3. camera nomination here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/
1. president
6. crowd aug/29/uselections2008.democrats20082
2. tax
4. election A full text of Obama’s speech is available here: http://www.
5. fought guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/29/uselections2008.
barackobama2
6 Webquest: Quiz Other useful websites are:
• http://www.democrats.org/
1. The White House is the official residence and • http://www.rnc.org/
principal workplace of the President of the United • http://www.whitehouse.gov/
States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in • http://www.whitehouse.gov/vicepresident/
Washington, D.C. • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Sam
2. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_luther_king
3. Jo Biden. • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_memorial
4. Uncle Sam is a national personification of the United
States (US), with the first usage of the term dating Motown is a type of African-American soul music from the
from the War of 1812 and the first illustration dating US city of Detroit, popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
from 1852. He is often depicted as a serious elderly Will.i.am is a member of the Black Eyed Peas pop group.
white man with white hair and a goatee, and dressed
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1 Key words
Write in the words from the article that mean the following.
betray supporter patriotism reform well-off tribute

campaign sacrifice march nomination policy regalia
1. An official suggestion or decision that someone should get a job or prize: ______________________. (para 1)
2. Someone who stands behind a particular person and his/her ideas: ______________________. (para1)
3. Plans or actions agreed on by a government or political party: ______________________. (para2)
4. To pay ______________________ to someone shows you respect and admire them or their work. (para 3)
5. If you ______________________ your country or someone who needs your support, you deliberately do
some thing that harms them or helps their opponents. (para 4, infinitive)
6. To walk along a road as part of a group of people protesting about something: __________________. (para 5)
7. A change intended to correct a situation that is wrong or unfair: ______________________. (para 6)
8. A series of things that a politician or political party does to try to win an election: ______________________.
(para 8)
9. Special clothes that you wear for a ceremony or official occasion: ______________________. (para 11)
10. An adjective meaning rich or having enough money to live off: ______________________. (para 11)
11. Giving up something important or valuable so that you or other people can do or have something else:
______________________. (para 12)
12. Strong feelings of love, respect, and duty towards your country: ______________________. (para 13)

2 Phrases
Match the phrases from the article to their meanings.
1. accept a nomination (para 1) a. to put meaning and opinion into what you say
2. add policy to words (para 2) b. to go back on something you have said
3. bring a crowd to their feet (para 3) c. the commitment that everybody should have a good education
which would lead to a job and good quality of living
4. the promise of America (para 3) d. to agree to take on a job or position that has been offered
5. betray a promise (para 4) e. when people stand and clap because they like what you say or do
6. ailing economy (para 6) f. give answers to negative comments made about you
7. short of cash (para 11) g. decide to do something
8. put your mind to something (para 11) h. be killed (in a war) while fighting for your country
9. respond to charges (para 13) i. have very little money
10. die under a flag (para 13) j. weak financial situation in a country
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NEWS LESSONS / Obama says ‘it’s time to change America’ / Intermediate

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Barack Obama gets down to policy as go to the cave where he lives.”
he wows a crowd of 80,000
8 The Obama campaign had intended the speech to
Democratic nominee tackles Iraq, race and the be a people’s event. Tens of thousands of people
Republicans during a rousing address in Denver attended, with long lines snaking for miles around
Ewen MacAskill and Suzanne Goldenberg the stadium under a blazing sun and filling the
in Denver stadium three hours before he spoke.
August 29, 2008
9 They came in Martin Luther King T-shirts and in full
1 Barack Obama kept the promise he made four Obama regalia – T-shirts, hats and buttons. A few
years ago, and the dream of Martin Luther King came in Native American traditional dress. Vendors
almost half a century ago, when he accepted the sold Obama dolls and life-sized figures of Obama
Democratic presidential nomination before tens of dressed as Uncle Sam.
thousands of his supporters.
10 Inside the stadium cameras flashed constantly from
2 Obama’s speech, at Denver’s Mile High stadium, the stands, as people waved small American flags,
added policy to the words that had helped bring him danced to Motown music and shouted “Yes, we
within reach of the White House. can!” as Will.i.am and other musicians performed
on the stage.
3 Speaking on the 45th anniversary of King’s “I have
a dream” speech, Obama, the first African-American 11 Obama came to his first Democratic convention
to be nominated by a major US political party, eight years ago short of cash. At that time he was
brought the 80,000-plus crowd to their feet when, often searched by security because of his name. He
at the end of his speech, he paid tribute to King. said, “Four years ago, I stood before you and told you
Obama said it was the promise of America that had my story – of a young man from Kenya and a young
brought people from every corner of the country to woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-
hear King speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. known, but both believed that in America, their son
could achieve whatever he put his mind to,” he said.
4 Bush had betrayed that promise during the last
eight years and the country could not take the 12 He used his own life story, too, to answer negative
chance of another four with another Republican, comments made by McCain over the last two
John McCain, as president, Obama said. months, in particular that Obama was too fond of
his new celebrity status. Obama spoke about the
5 Quoting from King’s call to march forward together sacrifices made by his family. “I don’t know what
and not turn back, he said “America, we cannot
kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities
turn back. Not with so much work to be done … We
lead, but this has been mine,” he said.
cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we
must promise once more to march into the future.” 13 He also responded to charges by Republicans that
question his patriotism. He adapted a line from his
6 After months of criticism that there was nothing 2004 speech in Boston to argue that although the
behind his words, Obama spoke about how he
men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan
would deal with America’s ailing economy. He
may have been of different political parties they all
offered a programme of education, health and
died under the same flag.
energy reforms, related to job creation and tax cuts.
14 “They have not served a red America or a blue
7 To cheers from the crowd, he challenged 72-year- America – they have served the United States of
old McCain’s foreign policy judgment and spoke
America,” he said. “So I’ve got news for you, John
against him for supporting the Iraq war but not
McCain: We all put our country first.”
looking for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and
Pakistan. “John McCain likes to say that he’ll follow © Guardian News & Media 2008
bin Laden to the Gates of Hell – but he won’t even First published in The Guardian, 29/08/08
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Are the sentences True (T) or False (F)? Rewrite the false sentences to make them true according to
the article.
1. Barack Obama officially accepted the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination at Denver’s Mile High stadium.
2. Martin Luther King previously held his famous “I have a dream” speech In Denver’s Mile High Stadium.
3. Obama had been criticized for talking about the US’s ailing economy.
4. Obama criticized McCain for not being patriotic.
5. Obama’s parents are both from Kenya.
6. Obama is the first African-American to be nominated by a major US political party.
7. Many of Obama’s supporters dress up as Native Americans.
8. Obama said that it doesn’t matter which party you support when you die for your country.
4 Quiz

2. Name the two major political parties in the United States.
3. Which colours are they represented by?
4. Who is Obama’s running mate (= Vice President if Obama is elected)?
7. Where and what is the Lincoln Memorial?
8. Who is the current US president and which party does he belong to?
9. Who is his deputy?
10. Who is the presidential nominee for the Republican Party? Who is his running mate?
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5 Discussion
Why do you think the world press is so interested in the US presidential elections?
How do US politics affect your country / you personally?
6 Webquest
You can watch a five minute video of Barack Obama speaking in Denver here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/29/uselections2008.democrats20082
You can also type Barack Obama Denver into YouTube to watch it there.
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Obama says
Addiction ‘it’s time‘is
to Internet toan
change America’
illness’
KEY
1 Key words 4. Jo Biden.
5. Uncle Sam is a national personification of the United
1. nomination States (US), with the first usage of the term dating from
2. supporter the War of 1812 and the first illustration dating from 1852.
3. policy He is often depicted as a serious elderly white man with
4. tribute white hair and a goatee, and dressed in clothing that
5. betray recalls the design elements of the flag of the United
6. march States—for example, typically a top hat with red and white
7. reform stripes and white stars on a blue band, and red and white
8. campaign striped trousers.
9. regalia 6. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
10. well-off was an American clergyman, activist and prominent
11. sacrifice leader in the American civil rights movement. His efforts
12. patriotism led to the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream”
2 Phrases speech. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in
Memphis, Tennessee.
1. d 7. The Lincoln Memorial is a United States Presidential
2. a memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United
3. e States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall
4. c in Washington, D.C.
5. b 8. George W. Bush. The Republican Party.
6. j 9. Richard (Dick) B. Cheney
7. i 10. John McCain and Sarah Palin.
8. g
9. f Teacher’s notes:
10. h Set a time limit and use your discretion for the quiz. Get the
students to collaborate by working in teams. Award extra points
3 Comprehension check for answers that supply further or interesting information.
1. True You can watch a video of Barack Obama accepting the

2. False nomination here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/
3. False aug/29/uselections2008.democrats20082
4. False A full text of Obama’s speech is available here: http://www.
5. False guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/29/uselections2008.barackobama2
6. True Other useful websites are:
7. False • http://www.democrats.org/
8. True • http://www.rnc.org/
• http://www.whitehouse.gov/
4 Quiz • http://www.whitehouse.gov/vicepresident/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Sam
1. The White House is the official residence and principal • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_luther_king
workplace of the President of the United States. Located • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_memorial
at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.
Motown is a type of African-American soul music from the
2. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
US city of Detroit, popular in the 1960s and 1970s.
3. The Democratic Party = blue, and the Republican
Party = red. Will.i.am is a member of the Black Eyed Peas pop group.
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UN says eat less meat to curb global warming
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
sacrifice consumption gluttony contradictory simplistic

graze livestock ruminant feasibility flatulence
1. ____________________ is the process of eating or drinking something.

2. A ____________________ is an animal such as a cow or sheep that brings food back from its stomach into its
mouth to chew it a second time.
3. ____________________ is when a person or animal has too much gas in their stomach or intestines.
4. When animals ____________________, they eat grass growing in a field.
5. ____________________ is the chance that something has of happening or being successful.
6. ____________________ is the bad habit of eating more than you need.
7. If two or more ideas are ____________________, they disagree with each other and cannot both or all be true.
8. ___________________ is the collective word for animals such as cows, sheep and pigs that are kept on farms.
9. If you make a ____________________, you give up something important or valuable so that you or other
people can do or have something else.
10. A ____________________ idea treats something in a way that makes it seem simpler than it really is.
2 What do you know?
1. Carbon dioxide is a more effective greenhouse gas than methane.
2. Meat production produces 10% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
3. The average British person eats more meat than WHO guidelines recommend.
4. Reducing car use by half would cut greenhouse gases by more than reducing meat consumption by half.
5. If everyone became vegetarian, greenhouse gases would be reduced dramatically.
6. Keeping livestock indoors would be bad for their health.

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NEWS LESSONS / UN says eat less meat to curb global warming / Advanced
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Level 3 Advanced
UN says eat less meat to curb he also stressed other changes in lifestyle would
global warming help to combat climate change. “That’s what I
• Climate expert urges radical shift in diet want to emphasize: we really have to bring about
• Industry unfairly targeted – farmers reductions in every sector of the economy.”
Juliette Jowit, environment editor 5 Pachauri can expect some vociferous responses
September 7, 2008 from the food industry to his advice, though
last night he was given unexpected support by
1 People should have one meat-free day a week Masterchef presenter and restaurateur John
if they want to make a personal and effective Torode, who is about to publish a new book, John
sacrifice that would help tackle climate change Torode’s Beef. “I have a little bit and enjoy it,”
according to the world’s leading authority on said Torode. “Too much for any person becomes
global warming. Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair gluttony. But there’s a bigger issue here: where
of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel [the meat] comes from. If we all bought British
on Climate Change, which last year earned a and stopped buying imported food we’d save a
joint share of the Nobel Peace Prize, said that huge amount of carbon emissions.”
people should then go on to reduce their meat
consumption even further. His comments are the 6 Tomorrow, Pachauri will speak at an event hosted
most controversial advice yet provided by the panel by animal welfare group Compassion in World
on how individuals can help tackle global warming. Farming, which has calculated that if the average
UK household halved meat consumption that
2 Pachauri, who was re-elected the panel’s would cut emissions more than if car use was
chairman for a second six-year term last week, cut in half. The group has called for governments
said diet change was important because of to lead campaigns to reduce meat consumption
the huge greenhouse gas emissions and other by 60 per cent by 2020. Campaigners have also
environmental problems – including habitat pointed out the health benefits of eating less
destruction – associated with rearing cattle and meat. The average person in the UK eats 50g of
other animals. It was relatively easy to change protein from meat a day, equivalent to a chicken
eating habits compared to changing means of breast and a lamb chop – a relatively low level for
transport, he said. rich nations but 25-50 per cent more than World
Heath Organization guidelines.
3 The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization
has estimated that meat production accounts 7 Professor Robert Watson, the chief scientific
for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas adviser for the Department for Environment,
emissions. These are generated during the Food and Rural Affairs, who will also speak at
production of animal feeds, for example, while tomorrow’s event in London, said government
ruminants, particularly cows, emit methane, could help educate people about the benefits of
which is 23 times more effective as a global eating less meat, but it should not ‘regulate’. “Eating
warming agent than carbon dioxide. The agency less meat would help, there’s no question about
has also warned that meat consumption is set to that, but there are other things,” Watson said.
double by the middle of the century.
8 However, Chris Lamb, head of marketing for pig
4 “In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility industry group BPEX, said the meat industry
of bringing about reductions in a short period of had been unfairly targeted and was working
time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity,” hard to find out which activities had the biggest
said Pachauri. “Give up meat for one day [a week] environmental impact and reduce those. Some
initially, and decrease it from there,” said the ideas were contradictory, he said – for example,
Indian economist, who is a vegetarian. However, one solution to emissions from livestock was
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Level 3 Advanced
to keep them indoors, but this would damage cows are a major source of methane, a potent
animal welfare. “Climate change is a very greenhouse gas released through flatulence.
young science and our view is there are a lot of
simplistic solutions being proposed,” he said.
9 Last year a major report into the environmental
impact of meat eating by the Food Climate
Research Network at Surrey University claimed
livestock generated eight per cent of UK
emissions – but eating some meat was good for
the planet because some habitats benefited from
grazing. It also said vegetarian diets that included
lots of milk, butter and cheese would probably
not noticeably reduce emissions because dairy
1. What is the main problem associated with meat consumption?

a. It is unhealthy.
b. It produces greenhouse gases.
c. It is expensive compared with vegetarianism.
2. Why wouldn’t a vegetarian diet make much difference?

a. Because vegetarians eat lots of dairy products produced by cows.
b. Because it would cost a lot to grow more crops.
c. Because some habitats benefit from grazing.
3. What does the restaurateur John Torode believe?

a. That importing food is a more important issue than reducing consumption.
b. That global warming is caused by meat consumption.
c. That climate change is a very young science.
4. Professor Watson wants...

a. … the government to introduce laws to reduce meat consumption.
b. … the government to tell people that eating less meat would be good for them.
c. … the government to find out which activities have the biggest environmental impact.
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4 Find the word
Look in the text and find the following words and expressions. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
1. A verb meaning to make an organized and determined attempt to deal with a problem. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning a group of people who make decisions or judgments. (para 1)
3. A noun meaning the type of place an animal normally lives. (para 2)
4. A verb meaning to look after an animal until it is fully grown. (para 2)
5. A verb meaning to do something to try to stop something bad from becoming worse. (para 4)
6. An adjective meaning loud and with force. (para 5)
7. A two-word expression meaning of the same value as something else. (para 6)
8. An adjective meaning powerful or effective. (para 9)
Match the verbs from the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column.
1. change a. climate change

2. generate b. consumption
3. bring about c. a campaign
4. tackle d. a solution
5. host e. gases
6. halve f. a reduction
7. propose g. eating habits
8. lead h. an event
6 Two-word expressions
Complete the expressions. Note that two words are used twice. Check your answers in the text.
1. g__________________ gases 5. c__________________ dioxide

2. c__________________ change 6. h__________________ benefits
3. g__________________ warming 7. e__________________ impact
4. e__________________ problems 8. c__________________ emissions
7 Discussion
Would you be willing to reduce your meat consumption to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions? What other
ways could people help to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that contribute to
global warming?
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KEY
1. consumption 1. tackle
2. ruminant 2. panel
3. flatulence 3. habitat
4. graze 4. rear
5. feasibility 5. combat
6. gluttony 6. vociferous
7. contradictory 7. equivalent to
8. livestock 8. potent
9. sacrifice
10. simplistic
2 What do you know? 1. g

2. e
1. F 3. f
2. F 4. a
3. T 5. h
4. F 6. b
5. F 7. d
6. T 8. c
3 Comprehension check 6 Two-word expressions
1. b 1. greenhouse
2. a 2. climate
3. a 3. global
4. b 4. environmental
5. carbon
6. health
7. environmental
8. carbon
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1 Key words
consumption simplistic contradictory livestock habitat

emission guidelines benefit regulate reduce
1. An ____________________ is a substance, especially a gas, which goes into the air.

2. If you ____________________ something, you make it smaller or less in size or amount.
3. A ____________________ is something positive you get from a particular situation.
5. ____________________ are official instructions or advice about how to do something.
7. An animal’s ____________________ is the place it normally lives.
8. If a government decides to ____________________ something, it controls it by making rules or laws.
9. ___________________ is the collective word for animals such as cows, sheep and pigs that are kept on farms.
Look in the text and find the answers to these questions as quickly as possible.
1. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization what percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions is
produced by meat production?
2. How much meat protein does the average person in the UK eat each day?
3. How much is UK meat consumption more than WHO guidelines?
4. Which is the more effective global warming agent – methane or carbon dioxide?
5. By what percentage does Compassion in World Farming want to reduce meat consumption by 2020?
6. What percentage of UK emissions is produced by livestock?

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NEWS LESSONS / UN says eat less meat to curb global warming / Elementary
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Level 1 Elementary
UN says eat less meat to curb is about to publish a new book, John Torode’s Beef.
global warming “I have a little bit of meat and enjoy it,” said Torode.
• Climate expert urges radical shift in diet “Too much meat for any person is just being
• Industry unfairly targeted – farmers greedy. But there’s a more important question here:
where the meat comes from. If we all buy British
Juliette Jowit, environment editor
food and stop buying imported food, we will reduce
September 7, 2008
our carbon emissions dramatically.”
1 The world’s main expert on global warming says 6 Pachauri will be speaking at an event organized
people should give up meat for one day a week by animal welfare group Compassion in World
if they want do something that would help stop Farming. The group has calculated that if the
climate change. Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of average UK home reduced meat consumption
the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on by 50% that would reduce emissions more than
Climate Change, said that people should then cutting car use by 50%. The group wants the
continue to reduce the amount of meat they eat. government to try to reduce meat consumption
2 Dr Pachauri said it was important for people to by 60% by 2020. They also say that eating less
change their diet because rearing cattle and meat is good for your health. The average person
other animals produced enormous amounts in the UK eats 50g of protein from meat a day – a
of greenhouse gases. It also caused other relatively low level for rich nations but 25-50% more
environmental problems, including the destruction than World Heath Organization guidelines.
of animal habitats. He said it was quite easy to 7 Professor Robert Watson, a government
change people’s eating habits – much easier than scientific adviser, said the government could help
changing means of transport, for example. educate people about the benefits of eating less
3 The United Nations Food and Agriculture meat, but it should not ‘regulate’. “Eating less
Organization has said that meat production meat would help, there’s no question about that,
causes nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas but there are other things,” Watson said.
emissions. These gases are made during the 8 But Chris Lamb, head of marketing for a pig
production of animal feeds, for example, while industry group, said it wasn’t fair to target the
animals such as cows produce methane gas. meat industry. He said the industry was working
Methane is 23 times more effective as a global hard to find out which activities had the biggest
warming agent than carbon dioxide. The United environmental impact and was trying to reduce
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has those activities. Some ideas were contradictory, he
also said that meat consumption will probably said. For example, one solution was to keep farm
double by the middle of the century. animals indoors, but this would be very bad for their
4 “Reducing meat consumption is the best option health. “Climate change is a very young science
because we can do it almost immediately and it and we think that some of the solutions which
will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a short people are proposing are very simplistic,” he said.
period of time,” said Pachauri. “Give up meat for 9 Last year a report on the environmental impact
one day [a week] at first, and then continue to of meat eating said livestock produced 8% of UK
decrease it,” said the Indian economist, who is emissions – but eating some meat was good for
a vegetarian. However, he also said that other the planet because some habitats benefited from
changes in lifestyle would help to stop climate animals eating grass. It also said that vegetarian
change. “We really have to reduce consumption diets included lots of milk, butter and cheese so
in every sector of the economy,” he said. they would probably not reduce emissions much
because dairy cows produce a lot of methane.
5 Pachauri can expect some strong opposition from
the food industry, but he has received unexpected © Guardian News & Media 2008
support from British restaurateur John Torode, who First published in The Observer, 07/09/08
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1. Reducing meat consumption by 50%...
2. Vegetarian diets do not hep reduce greenhouse gas emissions because...
3. It is easier to change people’s eating habits than...
4. If British people stop buying imported food...
5. Compassion in World Farming wants the government...
6. Other changes in lifestyle...
a. ... changing means of transport.
b. ... could also help to stop climate change.
c. ... to cut meat consumption by 60% by 2020.
d. ... would reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than cutting car use by 50%.
e. ... carbon emissions will fall dramatically.
f. ... they contain a lot of dairy products and dairy cows produce methane.
Match the words from the left-hand column with the words in the right-hand column to make expressions
from the text. Check your answers in the text.
1. climate a. food
2. global b. habitats
3. environmental c. dioxide
4. animal d. adviser
5. methane e. change
6. imported f. impact
7. scientific g. gas
8. carbon h. warming
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5 Chunks
Rearrange these words to make phrases from the text. Check your answers in the text.
1. the every in sector economy of
2. week for day one a
3. meat eat reduce the they of amount
4. the by middle century the of
5. short time of a period in
6. less health good for eating meat is your
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1 consume
2 emit
3 destroy
4 solve
5 oppose
6 support
7 benefit
8 produce
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KEY
1 Key words 4 Two-word expressions
1. emission 1. e
2. reduce 2. h
3. benefit 3. f
4. simplistic 4. b
5. guidelines 5. g
6. contradictory 6. a
7. habitat 7. d
8. regulate 8. c
9. livestock
10. consumption
5 Chunks
2 Find the information 1. in every sector of the economy

2. for one day a week
1. 20% 3. reduce the amount of meat they eat
2. 50g 4. by the middle of the century
3. 25-50% 5. in a short period of time
4. methane 6. eating less meat is good for your health
5. 60%
6. 8%
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check verb noun

1 consume consumption
1. d 2 emit emission
2. f
3 destroy destruction
3. a
4 solve solution
4. e
5 oppose opposition
5. c
6. b 6 support support
7 benefit benefit
8 produce production
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1 Key words
consumption ruminant gluttony simplistic contradictory

graze livestock flatulence controversial habitat
1. An animal’s ____________________ is the place it normally lives.

2. ____________________ is when a person or animal has too much gas in their stomach or intestines.
5. If an idea is ____________________, it causes strong disagreement or disapproval.
7. When animals ____________________, they eat grass growing in a field.
8. ____________________ is the collective word for animals such as cows, sheep and pigs that are kept
on farms.
9. A ____________________ is an animal such as a cow or sheep that brings food back from its stomach into its
mouth to chew it a second time.
10. ____________________ is the bad habit of eating more than you need.
1. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization how much of global greenhouse gas emissions are
produced by meat production?
2. How much meat protein does the average person in the UK eat each day?
3. By what percentage is UK meat consumption above WHO guidelines?
4. Which is the more effective global warming agent – methane or carbon dioxide?
5. By what percentage does Compassion in World Farming want to reduce meat consumption by 2020?
6. What percentage of UK emissions is generated by livestock?

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NEWS LESSONS / UN says eat less meat to curb global warming / Intermediate
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UN says eat less meat to curb enjoy it,” said Torode. “Too much meat for any
global warming person is gluttony. But there’s a more important
• Climate expert urges radical shift in diet question here: where [the meat] comes from. If we all
• Industry unfairly targeted – farmers bought British food and stopped buying imported food
Juliette Jowit, environment editor we’d save a huge amount of carbon emissions.”
September 7, 2008 6 Pachauri will be speaking at an event organized
1 According to the world’s leading expert on global by animal welfare group Compassion in World
warming, people should give up meat for one day a Farming, which has calculated that if the average
week if they want do something that would help tackle UK home reduced meat consumption by 50%, that
climate change. Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the would reduce emissions more than if people cut
United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate car use by 50%. The group wants the government
Change, said that people should then go on to reduce to lead campaigns to reduce meat consumption by
their meat consumption even further. So far this is the 60% by 2020. Campaigners have also pointed out
most controversial advice the panel has given on how the health benefits of eating less meat. The average
individuals can help tackle global warming. person in the UK eats 50g of protein from meat a day,
equivalent to a chicken breast and a lamb chop – a
2 Dr Pachauri said diet change was important relatively low level for rich nations but 25-50% more
because of the huge greenhouse gas emissions and than World Heath Organization guidelines.
other environmental problems – including habitat
destruction – associated with rearing cattle and other 7 Professor Robert Watson, a government scientific
animals. It was relatively easy to change eating habits adviser, said the government could help educate
compared to changing means of transport, he said. people about the benefits of eating less meat, but it
should not ‘regulate’. “Eating less meat would help,
3 The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization there’s no question about that, but there are other
estimates that meat production causes nearly 20% things,” Watson said.
of global greenhouse gas emissions. These gases
are generated during the production of animal 8 However, Chris Lamb, head of marketing for the pig
feeds, for example, while ruminants, particularly industry group BPEX, said the meat industry had
cows, emit methane, which is 23 times more effective been unfairly targeted and was working hard to find
as a global warming agent than carbon dioxide. The out which activities had the biggest environmental
agency has also warned that meat consumption will impact and reduce those. Some ideas were
probably double by the middle of the century. contradictory, he said – for example, one solution
to emissions from livestock was to keep them
4 “Reducing meat consumption is the most attractive indoors, but this would damage animal welfare.
option because it can be done almost immediately “Climate change is a very young science and our
and it will bring about reductions in greenhouse view is there are a lot of simplistic solutions being
gas emissions in a short period of time,” said proposed,” he said.
Pachauri. “Give up meat for one day [a week]
initially, and then continue to decrease it,” said the 9 Last year a report into the environmental impact
Indian economist, who is a vegetarian. However, of meat eating claimed livestock generated eight
he also said that other changes in lifestyle would per cent of UK emissions – but eating some meat
help to tackle climate change. “That’s what I want to was good for the planet because some habitats
emphasize: we really have to reduce consumption benefited from grazing. It also said vegetarian diets
in every sector of the economy.” that included lots of milk, butter and cheese would
probably not reduce emissions much because dairy
5 Pachauri can expect some strong responses from cows produce the potent greenhouse gas methane,
the food industry to his advice, though he has which is released through flatulence.
received unexpected support from restaurateur
John Torode, who is about to publish a new book, © Guardian News & Media 2008
John Torode’s Beef. “I have a little bit of meat and First published in The Observer, 07/09/08
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1. If people reduced car use by 50% it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than if they reduced meat
consumption by 50%.
2. Dairy cows release methane through flatulence.
3. Meat consumption is expected to double by the middle of the 21st century.
4. The average person in the UK eats less meat than the WHO guidelines recommend.
5. Eating less meat is good for your health.
6. If everyone became vegetarian, greenhouse gas emissions would decrease dramatically.
4 Find the word
help you.
1. A verb meaning to make an organized and determined attempt to deal with a problem. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning a group of people who make decisions of judgments. (para 1)
3. An adjective meaning extremely large. (para 2)
4. A phrasal verb meaning to make something happen. (para 4)
5. A phrasal verb meaning to tell someone something. (para 6)
6. A two-word expression meaning of the same value as something else. (para 6)
7. A noun meaning effect. (para 8)
8. An adjective meaning powerful or effective. (para 9)

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from the text.
1. greenhouse a. welfare
2. climate b. benefits
3. global c. change
4. environmental d. diet
5. carbon e. impact
6. health f. dioxide
7. animal g. warming
8. vegetarian h. gases
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1 consume
2 reduce
3 emit
4 destroy
5 solve
6 respond
7 propose
8 advise
7 Discussion
Apart from reducing the amount of meat you eat, what other ways can you reduce energy consumption?
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1. habitat 1. tackle
2. flatulence 2. panel
3. contradictory 3. huge
4. consumption 4. bring about
5. controversial 5. point out
6. simplistic 6. equivalent to
7. graze 7. impact
8. livestock 8. potent
9. ruminant
10. gluttony

2. c
1. 20% 3. g
2. 50g 4. e
3. 25-50% 5. f
4. methane 6. b
5. 60% 7. a
6. 8% 8. d
1. F verb noun
2. T 1 consume consumption
3. T 2 reduce reduction
4. F
3 emit emission
5. T
6. F 4 destroy destruction
5 solve solution
6 respond response
7 propose proposal
8 advise advice
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Freerunning joins sport establishment
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
In an inner city area, three young men in jeans and hooded tops are quickly running and jumping over
walls, down stairs, across rooftops, through windows.
What’s going on? What are they doing and why?
2 Key words and phrases
Find the word pairs (two words) in the article. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
1. Growing quickly without any outside help: ____________________________. (para 1)
2. A hobby, action or pastime kept secret from the public: ____________________________. (para 2)
3. A first official meeting: ____________________________. (para 3)
4. An older person who has had a long and respected career in a certain area: __________________________.
(para 3)
5. To say something quietly and with respect: ____________________________. (para 5)
6. A stealthy act of entering a house in order to steal something: ____________________________. (para 5)
7. When you are playful, full of high spirits, but doing nothing in particular: ____________________________.
(para 5)
8. A ruling organization; one that is in charge: ____________________________. (para 11)

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NEWS LESSONS / Freerunning joins sport establishment / Advanced

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Freerunning joins sport establishment 6 Few underground activities can claim to have made
it into the mainstream with such dazzling speed.
Esther Addley at the Camden Roundhouse
Many participants trace the birth of freerunning to
September 4, 2008 a BBC ident (a TV station’s symbol or logo, often
accompanied by music, a jingle or an animation) in
1 Five years ago, outside Liverpool Street station
2002, showing a Parkour runner adapting his skills
in London, a group of 13 young men gathered
on the rooftops of London.
for what was, at the time, the biggest meeting
of freerunners in history. The sport, in which 7 Urban Freeflow, the sport’s central organization,
participants perform balletic leaps and flips
was founded a year later. Though closely related
using walls, bars and any other street furniture
to Parkour, which originated in the Paris suburbs a
available, was still in its earliest infancy,
decade ago, Parkour prizes speed and efficiency
mushrooming spontaneously across Britain
of movement, in contrast to the expressiveness
among young people who had seen films of the
of freerunners. As such, though it is practised
French urban sport Parkour and wanted to adapt
worldwide – last night’s competitors hailed from
it into a freer and more expressive form.
17 countries – freerunning could reasonably be
described as a brand new British sport.
2 How times change. Last night, the once
underground pursuit declared itself firmly in 8 Urban Freeflow now trains the Metropolitan
the sporting establishment by holding its first police and Royal Marines, as well as organizing
world championships, hosted in one of London’s workshops in schools, and estimates that 15,000
top venues, sponsored by a major credit card people now practise the sport in Britain (95%
company and filmed by Sky Sports. are male).
3 “I never, ever thought we’d get to this place so 9 The organization choreographed action
quickly,” said John Kerr, or ‘Kerbie’, one of the sequences for the films Casino Royale, The
event’s organizers. Present at that inaugural Bourne Ultimatum and 28 Weeks Later, and also
gathering at Liverpool Street, he finds himself, at performs at public events.
21, one of the sport’s elder statesmen.
10 As the founder of Urban Freeflow and the
4 He said: “We all feel amazingly blessed. Freerunning organizer of last night’s competition, Paul ‘EZ’
is so young and so new. A few years ago we were Corkery could be considered the grandfather of
getting chased by police on a regular basis and freerunning – at 34, he considers himself retired.
property owners would shout at us. Now they pay us He is in discussions with the 2012 Olympic
to come and perform on their properties.” organizers over how freerunning might be
involved, perhaps in the opening ceremonies, or
5 Fifty feet above him, one of the event’s 23 in workshops.
competitors was warming up by balancing in a
handstand on the edge of an enormous black 11 “The organizers are really eager to collaborate
box, part of the equipment on which he would with anything that gets the kids off their arses,”
later compete, before flipping on to a nearby bar, he said. Does he see a day when freerunning
spinning around it, and dismounting. Below him, might be an Olympic sport? “I don’t really think
his peers – those not already performing ‘gainers’ it fits. You’d need to put in place a national
and ‘loser flips’ and ‘layout backflips’ from a lattice governing body, things like that, and it would kill
of steel poles – murmured approvingly. The the sport, really.”
sport might be said to combine the best qualities of
gymnastics, cat burglary and teenage mucking about, 12 “ These guys are my YouTube idols, it means
but the skill of the participants is unarguable. everything to be here with them,” said Franck
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‘Cali’ Nelle, from France. “I’m not really thinking Parkour is the art of moving through your
about winning. It’s just being here alongside environment using only your body and the
the best of the best. The first ever freerunning surroundings to propel yourself. It can include
world championships? That’s a big event. That’s running, jumping, climbing, even crawling,
something for the history books.” if that is the most suitable movement for the
situation.
Source: http://www.misterParkour.com/faq/
Freerunning uses the same movements Freerunning is more expressive and creative
as Parkour but with the emphasis being on in nature, with moves such as acrobatics, flips
aesthetics, fun and creativity. and spins.
Source: www.UrbanFreeflow.com Source: www.AmericanParkour.com
3 Skim-reading for comprehension
Skim-read the article again to find the answers to the questions.
1. Where was Parkour invented?

2. Where was the first freerunning championships held?
3. What age and sex is a typical freerunner?
4. How has peoples’ attitude to the sport changed in the last few years?
5. With what and back to when do people associate the birth of freerunning?
6. What is the main difference between Parkour and freerunning?
7. What professional bodies are interested in the sport?
8. What connection does the sport have with the film industry?
9. Is freerunning likely to become an Olympic sport?
4 Vocabulary
Find at least eight movement and action words in the article and definition.
Compare them paying particular attention to how and in which situations they can (and cannot) be
used. Write an example sentence for each word.
E.g. leap and flip
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5 Discussion: Debate
A group of freerunners want to hold workshops in your town. Opinion is divided as to whether this is a
good thing or not.
1. Brainstorm reasons for or against providing freerunning workshops to male youths.

2. Divide into two teams: A ‘freerunners’ and B ‘concerned citizens’ and debate the topic.
Decide: Should the workshops be allowed to take place? If yes, what will the organizers do to ensure the safety of
citizens and their property?
! Your ideas:
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6 Webquest
Compare jumps and moves made by freerunners, Spiderman and flying squirrels by watching online
videos, making notes and reporting back.
• Watch a Parkour/freerunning sequence in a James Bond 007 film: http://de.youtube.com/

watch?v=IPmJ73XRlUs
• Watch excellent non-professional freerunners here: http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=LIBaVojYCfo
• Watch the founder of Parkour in a TV commercial: http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=5BOUohniyJU
• Find out further information about Parkour and freerunning at: http://www.misterParkour.com/faq/
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KEY
2 Key words and phrases 4 Vocabulary
1. mushrooming spontaneously possible answers:

2. underground pursuit leap; flip; balancing; handstand, spinning; dismounting;
3. inaugural gathering running; jumping; crawling, climbing
4. elder statesman
5. murmured approvingly
6. cat burglary
7. mucking about
8. governing body
3 Skim-reading for comprehension

1. France.
2. London, England.
3. Under 21 and male.
4. See para 4: “A few years ago we were getting chased
by police on a regular basis and property owners
would shout at us. Now they pay us to come and per
form on their properties”.
5. A BBC ident in 2002.
6. See para 7: “Parkour prizes speed and efficiency of
movement, in contrast to the expressiveness
of freerunners”.
7. “The Metropolitan police and Royal Marines”. Also
some schools (para 8).
8. See para 9: “The organization choreographed action
sequences for the films Casino Royale, the Bourne
Ultimatum and 28 Weeks Later”.
9. No, see para 11: “You’d need to put in place a national
governing body, and it would kill the sport”.
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1 Warmer
In the city you see three young men in jeans and hooded sweatshirts running quickly from roof to roof,
jumping over walls, through windows and down stairs.
What do you think is happening? Are they...
a) ... running to catch a bus?

b) ... running away from the police?
c) ... doing an extreme sport?
2 Key words
sequence chasing sponsored cat burglary property owners

expressive idol participants mucking about organizers
1. People who take part in an event or competition are called the _____________________. (para 1)
2. When an event is _____________________, someone has given it money in exchange for advertising. (para 2)
3. The people who set up or organize an event are called the _____________________. (para 3)
4. _____________________ is another word for running after someone in order to catch them. (para 3)
5. People who own houses or other buildings are _____________________. (para 3)
6. The secret and quiet crime or act of going into a house to steal something: _____________________. (para 4)
7. When you are playful, having fun, but doing nothing special you are _____________________. (para 4)
8. When you are _____________________ you clearly show what your thoughts or feelings are. (para 6)
9. A part of a film that shows one event is called a _____________________. (para 7)
10. Somebody who you look up to and think is special and great is your _____________________. (para 9)
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NEWS LESSONS / Freerunning joins sport establishment / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Freerunning joins sport establishment 7 Urban Freeflow now trains the London
Metropolitan police and Royal Marines, and
Esther Addley at the Camden Roundhouse
organizes workshops in schools. They say that
September 4, 2008
15,000 people now do the sport in Britain (95%
are male). They planned action sequences for
1 Five years ago, outside Liverpool Street station the films Casino Royale, the Bourne Ultimatum
in London, a group of 13 young men met for the and 28 Weeks Later. They also perform at
biggest meeting, at that time, of freerunners in public events.
history. The sport, in which participants perform
leaps and flips using walls, bars and anything
8 The founder of Urban Freeflow and the organizer
else that is available, was just beginning. In
of the competition, 34 year old Paul ‘EZ’ Corkery,
Britain, it quickly became popular with young
is the ‘grandfather’ of freerunning. He is talking
people who had seen films of the French urban
to the 2012 London Olympic organizers about
sport Parkour.
how freerunning might be involved in the next
Olympics, perhaps in the opening ceremonies, or
2 In September 2008, freerunning held its first
in workshops.
world championships in one of London’s top
sports venues. The event was sponsored by a
9 “These guys are my YouTube idols, it means
major credit card company, and filmed by TV
everything to be here with them,” said Franck
company, Sky Sports.
‘Cali’ Nelle, from France. “I’m not really thinking
about winning. It’s just being here with the best
3 “We all feel amazingly pleased”, said John of the best. The first ever freerunning world
Kerr, or ‘Kerbie’, one of the event’s organizers. championships? That’s a big event. That’s
“Freerunning is so young and so new. A few something for the history books.”
years ago the police were chasing us and
property owners shouted at us. Now they pay us
to come and perform on their buildings.”
4 Fifty feet above him, one of the event’s 23

Parkour is the art of moving through your
competitors was warming up by doing a
environment using only your body and the
handstand on the edge of an enormous black
surroundings to propel yourself. It can include
box. Some people say that the sport is a mixture
running, jumping, climbing, even crawling,
of gymnastics, cat burglary and teenage mucking
if that is the most suitable movement for the
about. All the participants are very skilled.
situation.
Source: http://www.misterParkour.com/faq/
5 Many people say freerunning began when the
BBC showed a film clip of a Parkour runner on
the rooftops of London in 2002. Urban Freeflow, Freerunning uses the same movements
the sport’s central organization, began a year later. as Parkour but with the emphasis being on
aesthetics, fun and creativity.
6 Freerunning is very similar to Parkour, which Source: www.UrbanFreeflow.com
began in Paris ten years ago. In Parkour the
most important skills are speed and clever Freerunning is more expressive and creative
movements; freerunning is freer and more in nature, with moves such as acrobatics, flips
expressive. Therefore, although the competitors and spins.
came from 17 countries, freerunning is a new Source: www.AmericanParkour.com
British sport.
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Level 1 Elementary
Match the sentence halves to summarize the article.
1. Parkour was invented... ... learn freerunning.

2. Freerunning is a kind... ... do freerunning.
3. The first freerunning championships were held... ... in Hollywood action films.
4. Many more men than women... ... last few years.
5. Freerunning has become very popular in the... ... of Parkour.
6. Freerunning will not be a new Olympic sport... ... in France.
7. Some British police officers and marines... ... YouTube.
8. You can see freerunning scenes... ... in London in 2008.
9. You can watch videos of freerunning and Parkour on... ... in 2012.
4 Vocabulary: Action words
Write the best action words to fit into the gaps.
climb jump leap flip run crawl
1. Before they can walk most babies ___________________.

2. A ___________________ is a big jump.
3. The Olympic gymnast did a perfect backwards ___________________.
4. “I’m late! I’ll have to ___________________ for the bus.”
5. Cats sometimes ___________________ trees to get away from dogs.
6. A flea can ___________________ very high.
5 Webquest and talking: Giving an opinion
Watch one or more of these videos and then complete the sentence in your own words.
I think freerunning is ___________________________________________________________________________

because ____________________________________________________________________________________.

watch?v=IPmJ73XRlUs
• Watch the most famous Parkour/freerunner in a TV commercial: http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=5BOUohniyJU
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KEY
2 Key words 4 Vocabulary: Action words
1. participants 1. crawl
2. sponsored 2. leap
3. organizers 3. flip
4. chasing 4. run
5. property owners 5. climb
6. cat burglary 6. jump
7. mucking about
8. expressive
9. sequence
10. idol
1. Parkour was invented in France.

2. Freerunning is a kind of Parkour.
3. The first freerunning championships were held in
London in 2008.
4. Many more men than women do freerunning.
5. Freerunning has become very popular in the last
few years.
6. Freerunning will not be a new Olympic sport in 2012.
7. Some British police officers and marines
learn freerunning.
8. You can see freerunning scenes in Hollywood
action films.
9. You can watch videos of freerunning and Parkour
on YouTube.
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1 Warmer
In an inner city area, three young men in jeans and hooded tops are quickly running and jumping over
walls, down stairs, across rooftops, through windows.
What’s going on? What are they doing and why?
2 Key words and phrases
Match the key words from the article with their meanings. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
collaborate elder statesman sequence unarguable

blessed mucking about expressive sponsored
eager property owners cat burglary prize
1. When you are ____________________, you clearly show what your thoughts or feelings are. (para 1)
2. When an event is ____________________, someone has given it money in exchange for advertising. (para 2)
3. An older person who has had a long and respected career in a certain area: ____________________. (para 3)
4. When you feel ____________________, you feel happy and grateful. (para 4)
5. People who own houses or other buildings are ____________________. (para 4)
6. A stealthy act of entering a house in order to steal something: ____________________. (para 5)
7. When you are playful, having fun, but doing nothing in particular: ____________________. (para 5)
8. When something is ____________________, it is true and impossible to disagree with. (para 5)
9. A verb that means to value something: ____________________. (para 7)
10. A part of a film that deals with one event or that has a particular style is called a ____________________.
(para 9)
11. When you are very keen to do something, you are ____________________. (para 11)
12. When you to work with someone in order to produce something, you ____________________ with them.
(para 11)
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NEWS LESSONS / Freerunning joins sport establishment / Intermediate

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Freerunning joins sport establishment speed and efficiency of movement, in contrast
Esther Addley at the Camden Roundhouse to the expressiveness of freerunners. Therefore,
September 4, 2008 although it is practised worldwide – last night’s
competitors came from 17 countries – freerunning
1 Five years ago, outside Liverpool Street station can be described as a brand new British sport.
in London, a group of 13 young men met for what
was, at the time, the biggest meeting of freerunners 8 Urban Freeflow now trains the Metropolitan police
in history. The sport, in which participants perform and Royal Marines, as well as organizing workshops
leaps and flips using walls, bars and anything else in schools. They estimate that 15,000 people now
that is available, was just beginning. It quickly practise the sport in Britain (95% are male).
became popular across Britain with young people 9 The organization planned action sequences for the
who had seen films of the French urban sport films Casino Royale, The Bourne Ultimatum and 28
Parkour and wanted to adapt it into a freer and Weeks Later. They also perform at public events.
more expressive form.
10 The founder of Urban Freeflow and the organizer of
2 How times change. Last night, freerunning held its the competition, 34 year old Paul ‘EZ’ Corkery could
first world championships in one of London’s top be considered the grandfather of freerunning. He
sports venues, sponsored by a major credit card is talking to the 2012 London Olympic organizers
company, and filmed by Sky Sports. about how freerunning might be involved, perhaps
in the opening ceremonies, or in workshops.
3 “I never, ever thought we’d get to this place so
quickly,” said John Kerr, or ‘Kerbie’, one of the 11 “The organizers are really eager to collaborate with
event’s organizers. He was present at that first anything that gets the kids off their arses,” he said.
meeting at Liverpool Street and he finds himself, at Does he see a day when freerunning might be an
21, one of the sport’s elder statesmen. Olympic sport? “I don’t really think it fits”, he said.
4 He said: “We all feel amazingly blessed. 12 “ These guys are my YouTube idols, it means
Freerunning is so young and so new. A few years everything to be here with them,” said Franck
ago we were getting chased by police on a regular ‘Cali’ Nelle, from France. “I’m not really thinking
basis and property owners would shout at us. Now about winning. It’s just being here alongside
they pay us to come and perform on their properties.” the best of the best. The first ever freerunning
world championships? That’s a big event. That’s
5 Fifty feet above him, one of the event’s 23
competitors was warming up by balancing in a something for the history books.”
handstand on the edge of an enormous black © Guardian News & Media 2008
box, part of the equipment on which he would First published in The Guardian, 04/09/08
later compete, before flipping on to a nearby bar,
spinning around it, and jumping off. The sport might Parkour is the art of moving through your environment
be said to combine the best qualities of gymnastics, using only your body and the surroundings to propel
yourself. It can include running, jumping, climbing, even
cat burglary and teenage mucking about, but the
crawling, if that is the most suitable movement for the
skill of the participants is unarguable.
situation.
6 Few underground activities have made it into Source: http://www.misterParkour.com/faq/
the mainstream with such dazzling speed. Many
Freerunning uses the same movements as Parkour but
participants say freerunning began when the with the emphasis being on aesthetics, fun and creativity.
BBC showed a Parkour runner on the rooftops of Source: www.UrbanFreeflow.com
London in 2002. Urban Freeflow, the sport’s central
organization, was founded a year later. Freerunning is more expressive and creative in nature,
with moves such as acrobatics, flips and spins.
7 Though closely related to Parkour, which began in Source: www.AmericanParkour.com
the Paris suburbs a decade ago, Parkour prizes
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According to the article, are these sentences True (T) or False (F)? Correct any that are false.
1. Parkour was invented in London.

2. The first freerunning championships was held in Paris.
3. More men than women do freerunning.
4. Freerunning has become more popular in the last few years.
5. Freerunning is a kind of Parkour.
6. Freerunning will be a new Olympic sport in 2012.
7. Most freerunners are police officers or marines.
8. You can see examples of freerunning in Hollywood action films.
9. The organizers of the Olympic Games want kids to do more sports.
10. You can watch videos of freerunning and Parkour on a video sharing website.
4 Vocabulary: Action words
Write the action words into the gaps. There are two words left over. Write your own example sentences
for these.
climb jump leap flip run crawl
1. Before they can walk most babies ________________________.

2. “Look before you ________________________” is an old English saying.
3. The Olympic gymnast did a perfect backwards ________________________.
4. “I’m late! I’ll have to ________________________ for the bus”.
5. _______________________________________________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________________________________________
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5 Discussion: Exchanging ideas and opinions
1. Complete the sentence:
Freerunning is __________________________________ because ____________________________________.
2. Find someone with a similar sentence to yours and expand your ideas (and your sentences) together.
3. Now find someone with a different sentence or opinion and swap views.
6 Webquest

watch?v=IPmJ73XRlUs
• Watch the most famous Parkour/freerunner in a TV commercial: http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=5BOUohniyJU
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Freerunning
Addiction joins sport
to Internet establishment
‘is an illness’
KEY
2 Key words and phrases 4 Vocabulary: Action words
1. expressive 1. crawl
2. sponsored 2. leap
3. elder statesman 3. flip
4. blessed 4. run
5. property owners
6. cat burglary
7. mucking about
8. unarguable
9. prize
10. sequence
11. eager
12. collaborate

1. False
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. True
10. True
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Fancy a £1m home for £25?
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
raffle slump downsize punter scam

sidestep acre return overgrown hurdle
1. An ___________________ is a unit for measuring the surface area of land, equivalent to 4,047 square metres.
2. A ___________________ is someone who risks their money through betting or gambling. It can also mean a
customer or someone who uses a particular service.
3. A __________________ is one of several problems you must solve before you can do something successfully.
4. Profit on money you have invested is called your ___________________.
5. If a garden is ___________________, it is covered with plants that have been allowed to grow in an
uncontrolled way.
6. A ___________________ is a dishonest plan, especially for getting money.
7. In property, if you ___________________, you move to a smaller house.
8. A ___________________ is a competition in which you win a prize if the number on your ticket is selected.
9. If you ___________________ something, you avoid it.
10. A ___________________ is a period when the value of the economy or part of the economy falls dramatically.
Look in the text and find this information as quickly as possible.
1. How much will each ticket cost?
2. How much is the property worth?
3. How many tickets are they hoping to sell?
4. How much will they get if they sell all the tickets?
5. What are the annual costs of running the property?
6. How long have they lived at the property?

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NEWS LESSONS / Fancy a £1m home for £25? / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Fancy a £1m home for £25? year the Wilshaws reckon the timber lodges yield
£25,000 income. They’ve had ticket buyers from
After failing to find a buyer, a Devon couple are
raffling their country estate. Is it a scam, or a Scandinavia, India and the US, and are quietly
genuine way to beat the property slump? confident they’ll hit the target of 46,000 sold by
the December 7 close.
Patrick Collinson and Ben Steele
September 6, 2008 5 But is it legal to sell a home this way? And how
can punters be sure this isn’t some sort of scam?
1 Is a raffle really the way to sidestep a cooling Wendy pounces on anyone who uses the words
property market? A five-bedroom house, raffle or lottery to describe their scheme. “This
complete with 9.5 acres of woodland, a two-acre isn’t a raffle, as it’s illegal to have prizes above a
fishing lake and four separate two-bed holiday certain value. After that it becomes a lottery. And
lodges – one lucky person will win it all for £25. this isn’t a lottery either. To be eligible to win, you
The owners, Brian and Wendy Wilshaw, will be have to answer a skill-based question. Only if
winners too. Last year they were struggling to you answer the question correctly do you get
sell the property, marketed at £950,000 just as to enter.”
the housing slump took hold. But after launching
an online prize competition on a website, they’ve 6 The question is: “What is the cost of an adult full
sold 34,000 tickets – that’s £850,000 – and are in season coarse fishing licence for 2008/2009?”
sight of their 46,000 target. The answer takes a millisecond to find on
Google. It’s illegal to run a lottery for personal
2 When all the tickets are sold, the Wilshaws will profit, and while competitions can be run for
become the first property owners to successfully profit they must involve an element of skill.
use a raffle to sell a house – and make a decent The Wilshaws’ lawyers have advised them
profit. Sales of 46,000 tickets will earn them the competition meets legal requirements, but
£1.15m – they say the surplus will be used to Antoinette Jucker, a gambling law expert with
cover the costs of running the raffle. But it will still Pinsent Masons, is not so sure.
leave them with a handsome return in a property
market that virtually everywhere else has gone 7 “How do you choose a winner when almost
stone cold. everyone gets the answer right? You take their
name out of a hat. That makes it a game of
3 Wendy says: “We needed to sell. We’re getting chance, and therefore an illegal lottery. When the
old. This place doesn’t run itself. The idea of Gambling Act was going through parliament, the
selling tickets kind of evolved. So many of the clear intention was that the only legal lotteries
people who have stayed here have said that if would be those operated for good causes ... This
they won the lottery, it’s the sort of place they’d competition is sidestepping that,” she says. The
buy. It’s that that got us thinking.” The couple Wilshaws are adamant their scheme is legal. At
have lived at the estate for 14 years and are one stage online payment group PayPal froze
downsizing. “I want an ordinary family to live their account while lawyers went through the
here, people who would never normally be able paperwork, but they gave it the thumbs-up.
to afford this place, people who’ll be given a
chance to start over,” says Wendy. 8 Several people who have tried to raffle their
home have been charged by the police. One
4 The winners will get a 2,000 sq ft house and an woman was ordered to pay nearly £8,000
estate (much of it overgrown) that includes a two- compensation after she admitted breaking lottery
acre lake stocked with fish that Brian reckons are laws. But the biggest hurdle is finding punters.
worth £1,000. Council tax and other basic annual One man set up a website to raffle his £110,000
running costs are around £6,000, but in a good home at £5 a ticket, but sold only 229 tickets, so
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he drew a name from a hat and the winner got
£916 after his 20% costs.
9 The Wilshaws say they’ll do the same if they

don’t reach their target. “If there isn’t a winner
by the end of December, then someone gains
a cash prize, simple as that,” says Wendy. The
prize will be the sum they’ve collected minus
35% to cover expenses. The most common
question they get is how the winning ticket will
be selected. “It will be done by random number
software, overseen by our lawyers and in full
view of television cameras and reporters,”
says Wendy.

1. Why are the Wilshaws selling their property by raffle?

a. Because they will make a bigger profit.
b. Because they think they will have a better chance of selling it this way in the present housing slump
c. Because they want to sell it to someone who has stayed there in the past.
2. Why do participants in the raffle have to answer a skill-based question?

a. Because this is the best way to choose a winner.
b. Because competitions like this are illegal unless they have an element of skill.
c. Because the Wilshaws only want fishermen to win the prize.
3. Why does the gambling law expert believe that this may be an illegal lottery?
a. Because almost everyone will get the answer to the skill-based question right.
b. Because it is illegal to sell houses in this way.
c. Because the skill-based question is too easy and anyone can find the answer on Google.
4. What will the Wilshaws do if they don’t sell all the tickets?
a. They will stay in the house (and not sell it).
b. They will accept a reduced price.
c. They will give someone a cash prize (minus 35%).
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Find the word
Find the following words and expressions in the text. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
1. A two-word expression meaning to become stronger and difficult to stop. (para 1)

2. Two two-word terms that both mean good earnings. (para 2)
3. A phrasal verb meaning to begin doing something again from the very beginning. (para 3)
4. A two word expression meaning to react angrily to. (para 5)
5. An adjective meaning determined not to change your belief or decision about something. (para 7)
6. A verb meaning to legally stop a supply of money being available to someone. (para 7)
7. A phrasal verb meaning to examine something very carefully. (para 7)
8. A four-word expression meaning to give your approval to something. (para 7)
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column.
1. launch a. compensation
2. win b. legal requirements
3. make c. the law
4. hit d. a bank account
5. meet e. a target
6. freeze f. a competition
7. pay g. a profit
8. break h. the lottery
Fill the gaps in the phrases from the text using prepositions. Check your answers in the text.
1. in sight ____________ the target

2. stocked ____________ fish
3. ____________ personal profit
4. a game ____________ chance
5. ____________ good causes
6. going ____________ parliament
7. charged ____________ the police
8. ____________ the end of December
7 Discussion
Can you think of any other ways of selling a house in difficult market conditions? What other items
could you or would you sell by lottery?
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KEY
1. acre 1. take hold

2. punter 2. decent profit; handsome return
3. hurdle 3. start over
4. return 4. pounce on
5. overgrown 5. adamant
6. scam 6. freeze
7. downsize 7. go through
8. raffle 8. give the thumbs-up
9. sidestep
10. slump
1. f
1. £25 2. h
2. £950,000 3. g
3. 46,000 4. e
4. £1.15m 5. b
5. £6,000 6. d
6. 14 years 7. a
8. c
1. b
2. b 1. of
3. a 2. with
4. c 3. for
4. of
5. for
6. through
7. by
8. by
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
raffle slump scam acre lodge

estate property illegal afford compensation
1. A _______________________ is a dishonest plan, especially for getting money.
2. _______________________ is money that someone received because something bad has happened to them.
3. A ______________________ is a competition in which you win a prize if the number on your ticket is selected.
4. If something is _______________________, it is not allowed by the law.
5. _______________________ is land and all the buildings on it.
6. A _______________________ is a small simple house in the countryside.
7. An _____________________ is a unit for measuring the surface area of land, equal to 4,047 square metres.
8. A ____________________ is a period when the value of the economy or part of the economy falls dramatically.
9. An ______________________ is a very large area of land that belongs to one person.
10. If you can _______________________ something, you have enough money to be able to pay for it.
3. How many tickets have they sold?
5. How much money will they get if they sell all the tickets?
6. How much money do the timber lodges provide?

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NEWS LESSONS / Fancy a £1m home for £25? / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Fancy a £1m home for £25? 5 But is it legal to sell a home this way? And how
can people who buy the tickets be sure this isn’t
After failing to find a buyer, a Devon couple are
raffling their country estate. Is it a scam, or a some sort of scam? Wendy angrily criticizes
genuine way to beat the property slump? anyone who uses the words raffle or lottery to
describe their scheme. “This isn’t a lottery. To
have a chance of winning, you first have to answer
September 6, 2008
a skill-based question. You can only enter the
competition if you answer the question correctly.”
1 Is a raffle really the best way to sell a house in
the middle of a housing slump? A five-bedroom
6 The question is: “What is the cost of a fishing
house, together with 9.5 acres of woodland, a
licence for 2008/2009?” It takes a second to
two-acre fishing lake and four separate two-bed
find the answer on Google. It’s illegal to run a
holiday lodges – one lucky person will win all of
lottery for personal profit, and while you can
this for just £25. The owners of the house, Brian
run competitions for profit, they must include an
and Wendy Wilshaw, will be winners too. Last
element of skill. The Wilshaws’ lawyers have
year they were unable to sell the property at a
told them the competition is legal, but Antoinette
price of £950,000. But after they started an online
Jucker, an expert on gambling law is not so sure.
prize competition on a website, they’ve sold
34,000 tickets – that’s £850,000 – and are not far 7 “How do you choose a winner when almost
from their target of 46,000 tickets. everyone gets the answer right? You take their
name out of a hat. That makes it a game of
2 When they have sold all the tickets, Mr and Mrs chance, and therefore an illegal lottery. The
Wilshaw will become the first property owners
intention of the Gambling Act is that the only legal
to successfully use a raffle to sell a house – and
lotteries are ones which operate for good causes.
make a good profit. If they sell 46,000 tickets
This competition is not doing that,” she says. But
they will earn £1.15m – they say they will use
the Wilshaws say that their scheme is legal.
the extra money to cover the costs of organizing
the raffle. But they will still have a nice profit in a 8 Several people who have tried to sell their home
property market that is in a slump at the moment. by raffle have been charged by the police. One
woman had to pay nearly £8,000 compensation
3 Wendy says: “We needed to sell. We’re getting after she admitted breaking lottery laws. But the
old. This place is hard work. So many of the
biggest problem is finding people to buy the tickets.
people who have stayed here have said that if they
One man set up a website to sell his £110,000
won the national lottery, they would buy a place like
home at £5 a ticket, but sold only 229 tickets, so he
this. That gave us the idea.” The Wilshaws have
drew a name from the hat and the winner got £916.
lived at the estate for 14 years and want to move to
a smaller property. “I want an ordinary family to live 9 The Wilshaws say they’ll do the same if they
here, people who normally could not afford to buy don’t sell all 46,000 tickets. “If there isn’t a winner
this place; people who will have a chance to start a by the end of December, then someone will get
new life here,” says Wendy. a cash prize, simple as that,” says Wendy. The
prize will be the total sum they’ve collected minus
4 The winners will get a large house and an estate 35% to cover costs. The most common question
that includes a two-acre lake full of fish. It costs
they get is how they will choose the winning
around £6,000 a year to run the estate, but in a
ticket. “We will use random number software in
good year the timber lodges provide an income
front of television cameras and reporters,”
of £25,000. The Wilshaws have sold tickets to
says Wendy.
people from Scandinavia, India and the US, and
are sure they will sell all 46,000 tickets by the © Guardian News & Media 2008
closing date of December 7. First published in The Guardian, 06/09/08
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Level 1 Elementary
1. The Wilshaws are selling their house by raffle because…

2. If they don’t reach their target of 46,000 tickets…
3. The Wilshaws want to sell their house because…
4. If you want to enter the competition,...
5. Some people think the scheme is illegal because...
6. If the Wilshaws sell all the tickets,...
a. … they will use the extra money to cover their costs.

b. … it is too big and they want to move to a smaller property.
c. … you have to answer a question first.
d. … they say it is a game of chance.
e. … they were unable to sell it in the normal way because of the housing slump.
f. … they will give someone a cash prize.
Match the words in the left-hand column with those in the right-hand column to make two-word
expressions from the text.
1. prize a. prize
2. property b. law
3. national c. licence
4. closing d. number
5. fishing e. competition
6. gambling f. lottery
7. cash g. owner
8. random h. date
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Level 1 Elementary
5 Numbers and dates
How do you say these numbers and dates from the text? Each one has got a mistake in it. Find the mistake
and underline it. In three cases a word is missing.
1. thirty-four thousand of tickets

2. two thousand eight
3. two hundred twenty-nine
4. nine hundreds and sixteen
5. thirty-five per cents
6. nine and half acres
6 Irregular verbs
Complete the table.
infinitive past simple past participle

1 sell sold
2 won won
3 buy bought
4 ran run
5 tell told
6 choose chosen
7 draw drawn
8 paid paid
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Freerunning
Fancy a £1m joins
homesport
for £25?
establishment
Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1. scam 1. e
2. compensation 2. g
3. raffle 3. f
4. illegal 4. h
5. property 5. c
6. lodge 6. b
7. acre 7. a
8. slump 8. d
9. estate
10. afford
5 Numbers and dates
2 Find the information 1. thirty-four thousand tickets (no of)

2. two thousand and eight
1. £25 3. two hundred and twenty-nine
2. £950,000 4. nine hundred and sixteen
3. 34,000 5. thirty-five per cent
4. 46,000 6. nine and a half acres
5. £1.15 million
6. £25,000
6 Irregular verbs
infinitive past simple past participle
1 sell sold sold
1. e
2 win won won
2. f
3 buy bought bought
3. b
4. c 4 run ran run
5. d 5 tell told told
6. a 6 choose chose chosen
7 draw drew drawn
8 pay paid paid
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1 Key words
raffle eligible slump scam acre

return overgrown lodge adamant estate
1. A _____________________ is a small simple house in the countryside.
2. A _____________________ is a dishonest plan, especially for getting money.
3. A _____________________ is a period when the value of the economy or part of the economy
falls dramatically.
4. A _____________________ is a competition in which you win a prize if the number on your ticket is selected.
5. If you are _____________________ for something, you are allowed by rules or laws to do something or
receive something.
6. If a person is _____________________, they are determined not to change their belief or decision
about something.
7. If a garden is _____________________, it is covered with plants that have been allowed to grow in an
uncontrolled way.
8. An _____________________ is a very large area of land that belongs to one person.
9. Profit on money you have invested is called your _____________________.
10. An ___________________ is a unit for measuring the surface area of land, equivalent to 4,047 square metres.
3. How many tickets have they sold?
5. How much will they get if they sell all the tickets?
6. How much are the fish worth?

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NEWS LESSONS / Fancy a £1m home for £25? / Intermediate

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Fancy a £1m home for £25? uses the words raffle or lottery to describe their
After failing to find a buyer, a Devon couple are scheme. “This isn’t a raffle, as it’s illegal to have
raffling their country estate. Is it a scam, or a prizes above a certain value. After that it becomes a
genuine way to beat the property slump? lottery. And this isn’t a lottery either. To be eligible to
win, you have to answer a skill-based question. Only if
you answer the question correctly do you get to enter.”
September 6, 2008
6 The question is: “What is the cost of an adult full
1 Is a raffle really the way to sell a house in a cooling season coarse fishing licence for 2008/2009?” The
property market? A five-bedroom house, together answer takes a millisecond to find on Google. It’s
with 9.5 acres of woodland, a two-acre fishing lake illegal to run a lottery for personal profit, and while
and four separate two-bed holiday lodges – one competitions can be run for profit they must involve
lucky person will win it all for £25. The owners, an element of skill. The Wilshaws’ lawyers have told
Brian and Wendy Wilshaw, will be winners too. them the competition meets legal requirements, but
Last year they were struggling to sell the property, Antoinette Jucker, a gambling law expert is not
marketed at £950,000 just as the housing slump got so sure.
worse. But after starting an online prize competition
on a website, they’ve sold 34,000 tickets – that’s 7 “How do you choose a winner when almost
£850,000 – and are in sight of their 46,000 target. everyone gets the answer right? You take their
name out of a hat. That makes it a game of chance,
2 When all the tickets are sold, the Wilshaws will and therefore an illegal lottery. When the Gambling
become the first property owners to successfully Act was going through parliament, the clear intention
use a raffle to sell a house – and make a good was that the only legal lotteries would be those
profit. If they sell 46,000 tickets, they will earn operated for a good cause. This competition is not
£1.15m – they say the surplus will be used to cover doing that,” she says. The Wilshaws are adamant their
the costs of running the raffle. But it will still leave scheme is legal. At one stage online payment group
them with a nice profit in a property market that PayPal froze their account while lawyers went through
almost everywhere else has gone stone cold. the paperwork, but they gave it the thumbs-up.
3 Wendy says: “We needed to sell. We’re getting old. Several people who have tried to raffle their home
8
This place is hard work. So many of the people who have been charged by the police. One woman was
have stayed here have said that if they won the ordered to pay nearly £8,000 compensation after
lottery, it’s the sort of place they’d buy. That made us she admitted breaking lottery laws. But the biggest
think.” The couple have lived at the estate for 14 years problem is finding people to buy the tickets. One
and want to move to a smaller property. “I want an man set up a website to raffle his £110,000 home at
ordinary family to live here, people who would never £5 a ticket, but sold only 229 tickets, so he drew a
normally be able to afford this place, people who’ll be name from the hat and the winner got £916.
given a chance to start a new life here,” says Wendy.
9 The Wilshaws say they’ll do the same if they don’t
4 The winners will get a 2,000 sq ft house and an reach their target. “If there isn’t a winner by the
estate (much of it overgrown) that includes a end of December, then someone gains a cash
two-acre lake full of fish that Brian says are worth prize, simple as that,” says Wendy. The prize will
£1,000. Basic annual running costs are around be the sum they’ve collected minus 35% to cover
£6,000, but in a good year the Wilshaws say the expenses. The most common question they get is
timber lodges provide an income of £25,000. how the winning ticket will be selected. “It will be
They’ve had ticket buyers from Scandinavia, India done by random number software, overseen by our
and the US, and are confident they’ll hit the target lawyers and in full view of television cameras and
of 46,000 sold by the December 7 close. reporters,” says Wendy.
5 But is it legal to sell a home this way? And how can © Guardian News & Media 2008
people who buy the tickets be sure this isn’t some First published in The Guardian, 06/09/08
sort of scam? Wendy angrily criticizes anyone who
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According to the article, are these sentences True (T) or False (F)?
1. The couple are selling the property because they want to move to somewhere bigger.
2. By law competitions must involve an element of skill.
3. It is very difficult to find the answer to the skill-based question in this competition.
4. If they don’t reach their target, they will give someone a cash prize.
5. They will use any surplus to cover their costs.
6. It is legal to run a lottery for personal profit.
4 Find the word
Find the following words and expressions in the text. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
1. A noun meaning an area of land filled with trees. (para 1)

2. A three-word expression meaning not far from. (para 1)
3. A noun meaning more of something than is necessary. (para 2)
4. A noun meaning an extremely short period of time. (para 6)
5. A noun meaning an activity in which you risk money in the hope of winning more money. (para 6)
6. A three-word expression meaning an organization, plan or activity that you are willing to support because it
provides help to people who need it. (para 7)
7. A phrasal verb meaning to examine something very carefully. (para 7)
8. A four-word expression meaning to give your approval to something. (para 7)
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1. cover a. compensation
2. pay b. legal requirements
3. make c. the law
4. hit d. a bank account
5. meet e. a target
6. freeze f. costs
7. win g. a profit
8. break h. the lottery
6 Word building
verb noun
1 compete
2 see
3 require
4 intend
5 pay
6 compensate
7 win
8 cause
7 Discussion
Would you buy an expensive raffle ticket like this if it gave you a chance to win a house worth nearly
£1 million? Why? Why not?
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Fancy a £1m
Addiction home for‘is£25?
to Internet an illness’
KEY
1. lodge 1. woodland
2. scam 2. in sight of
3. slump 3. surplus
4. raffle 4. millisecond
5. eligible 5. gambling
6. adamant 6. a good cause
7. overgrown 7. go through
8. estate 8. give it the thumbs-up
9. return
10. acre
1. f
2. a
3. g
1. £25
4. e
2. £950,000
5. b
3. 34,000
6. d
4. 46,000
7. h
5. £1.15m
8. c
6. £1,000
6 Word building
1. competition
1. F 2. sight
2. T 3. requirement
3. F 4. intention
4. T 5. payment
5. T 6. compensation
6. F 7. winner
8. cause

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The incredible journey taken by our genes
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
Match the terminology with the definitions.
1. DNA A single piece of DNA, which contains many genes and other nucleotide sequences.
2. gene The process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better
understanding of it.
3. chromosome The basic biological units of inheritance. Composed of DNA.
4. genetic marker The material inside the nucleus of cells that carries genetic information.
5. analysis A known DNA sequence which can be used to study the relationship between an inherited
disease and its genetic cause.
6. What does DNA stand for? a) domain name accepted
b) deoxyribonucleic acid
c) details not available
2 Skim-reading for gist
Skim-read the article to find the answers to these questions.
1. Why and when do scientists think a small group of our ancestors left Africa?
2. In which order (first, second, third) did they reach these continents? Europe, Asia, Australasia?
3. What happened approximately 10,000 years before they left Africa?
4. Which species was wiped out by Homo sapiens?
5. Who are the backers of the genographic project?
6. How much is the project costing?
7. What have the scientists discovered about the Crusaders and Genghis Khan?
8. Which people are genetically the closest to our original ancestors?

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NEWS LESSONS / The incredible journey taken by our genes / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
The incredible journey taken by Asian coast to reach Australia 50,000 years ago.
our genes Only later, about 40,000 years ago, did we enter
Project maps humanity’s voyage out of Africa to Europe – its cold and its Neanderthals making it
new continents and domination of the world far less hospitable – while one group of Asians
headed farther east over the land bridge that
Robin McKie, science editor
then connected their continent to America.
August 31, 2008
6 “We can also see that just before humans left
1 Sixty thousand years ago, a small group of Africa, about 70,000 years ago, mankind was
African men and women took to the Red Sea brought to the brink of extinction when Mount
in tiny boats and crossed the Mandab Strait Toba, in Sumatra, erupted,” said Wells. “It was
to Asia. Their journey – of less than 20 miles the most powerful volcanic eruption for two
– marked the moment Homo sapiens left its million years and dropped thick ash and killed
home continent. vegetation across the globe. Our research
now shows Homo sapiens numbers dropped
2 The reason for our ancestors’ African exodus
is not known, though scientists suspect food alarmingly at this time and we only just hung on
shortages, triggered by climate change, were as a species.”
involved. However, its impact cannot be 7 Nevertheless, humanity recovered, evolving
overestimated. Two thousand generations later, new creative and intellectual talents. Since then,
descendants of these African émigrés have waves of men and women have moved round
settled our entire planet, wiped out all other the planet and DNA analysis can detect traces of
hominids including the Neanderthals and have these movements – often with intriguing results.
reached a population of 6.5 billion.
8 One study, by project scientists Pierre Zalloua
3 Now scientists are completing a massive study and Chris Tyler-Smith, has discovered a
of DNA samples from a quarter of a million genetic marker typical of Europeans in modern
volunteers in different continents in order to Lebanese men. The inference is clear they say:
create the most precise map yet of mankind’s this distinctive Y-chromosome was left behind
great dispersion. Last week, in Tallinn, Estonia, by 11th-century Crusaders when they invaded
they outlined their most recent results. “As the Lebanon and then settled in the country. A similar
ultimate ancestor begat son, who begat son and sort of genetic legacy has been detected in
so on, they picked up mutations in their DNA regions where Genghis Khan ruled and which
that we can now pinpoint by gene analysis,” said has been linked to the many male descendants
project leader Dr Spencer Wells. “When we look he produced.
at these markers’ distributions we can see how
our ancestors moved about.” 9 As for Africa, it has the most genetically diverse
population of all the continents, as would be
4 Scientists have known for several years that expected of humanity’s birthplace. And of those
modern humans emerged from sub-Saharan living today, the Khoisan people of southern
Africa within the past 100,000 years. However, Africa are probably the closest, genetically, to the
the £25m Genographic project – backed by founding mothers and fathers of humanity, say
National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family project scientists.
Foundation – has recently transformed that
knowledge by providing a mass of highly detailed © Guardian News & Media 2008
information about our African exodus. First published in The Observer, 31/08/08
5 After emerging into the Arabian Peninsula, some

of our ancestors took sea routes along the south
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Level 3 Advanced
3 Vocabulary: Synonyms
Find a word (or two) in the article that is a synonym of:
1. escape, exit, flight ____________________ (para 2)
2. activated by, set off by ____________________ para 2)
3. affect, result ____________________ (para 2)
4. expatriates, people in exile ____________________ (para 2)
5. scattering, spread ____________________ (para 3)
6. fathered, gave birth to, bred ____________________ (para 3)
7. modifications, variations ____________________ (para 3)
8. appeared, evolved ____________________ (para 4)
9. welcoming, warm, friendly ____________________ (para 5)
10. edge of ____________________ (para 6)
11. remained, stayed alive ____________________ (para 6)
12. clues, remains, evidence ____________________ (para 7)
13. interesting, complicated ____________________ (para 7)
14. assumption, conclusion, deduction ____________________ (para 8)
15. inheritance ____________________ (para 8)
Write four multiple choice comprehension questions about the text and swap them with other students.
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Level 3 Advanced
5 Discussion
• Would you like to trace your genetic ancestry? Why/Why not?

• What do you know about your ancestry?
• Have you (or anyone you know) tried to trace your family tree?
• How far back could you go?
• Did you find out anything interesting or surprising?
6 Webquest
Watch videos about the project and discover what’s on the Globe of Human History on:
https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic
Go to www.dnaancestryproject.com or www.dnaheritage.com to find out how you can trace your ancestry.
Can you find any other companies that offer these services? How much do the services cost? What else
can DNA tests be used for?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1 Warmer 3 Vocabulary: Synonyms
1. DNA = The material inside the nucleus of cells that 1. exodus

carries genetic information. 2. triggered by
2. gene = The basic biological units of inheritance. 3. impact
Composed of DNA. 4. émigrés
3. chromosome = A single piece of DNA, which contains 5. dispersion
many genes and other nucleotide sequences. 6. begat
4. genetic marker = A known DNA sequence which can 7. mutations
be used to study the relationship between an inherited 8. emerged
disease and its genetic cause. 9. hospitable
5. analysis = the process of breaking a complex topic 10. brink of
or substance into smaller parts to gain a better 11. hung on
understanding of it. 12. traces
6. b) deoxyribonucleic acid 13. intriguing
14. inference
15. legacy
2 Skim-reading for gist
1. Food shortages triggered by climate change. 60,000
years ago.
2. Asia, Australasia, Europe.
3. Mount Toba erupted and dropped ash and killed
vegetation across the globe.
4. The Neanderthals.
5. National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family
Foundation.
6. 25 million pounds.
7. See paragraph 8.
8. The Khoisan people of southern Africa.
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer
Who or what are the following? Talk in your own language if necessary.
The Crusaders Genghis Kahn National Geographic IBM scientists

The Red Sea Homo sapiens Neanderthals DNA
2 Key words
peninsula shortages sponsored eruption descendants

ancestors gene analysis genetic marker volunteers diverse
1. The people who came before us (e.g. your great-great-great grandparents): ____________________. (para 2)
2. A word meaning when there’s not enough of something: ____________________. (para 2)
3. The people who follow on from us (e.g. your great-great-great grandchildren): ___________________.
(para 2)
4. People who do something of their own free will: ____________________. (para 3)
5. The process of studying genetic material so you can understand it better: ____________________. (para 3)
6. When a study is ____________________, people or companies have given it money. (para 4)
7. A long piece of land surrounded by water but joined at one end to a larger piece of land:
_____________________. (para 5)
8. The word for what happens when a volcano throws out fire and rocks: ____________________. (para 6)
9. A specific DNA pattern or sequence which can help to diagnose inherited diseases: ____________________.
(para 8)
10. A word meaning very different from something else: ____________________. (para 9)
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NEWS LESSONS / The incredible journey taken by our genes / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
The incredible journey taken by friendly. At the same time, one group went east
our genes over the land bridge from Asia to America.
A new project shows Homo sapiens’ journey out
of Africa 6 “We can see that just before humans left
Africa about 70,000 years ago, Mount Toba, in
Sumatra, erupted,” said Wells. “It was the most
August 31, 2008
powerful volcanic eruption for two million years.
It dropped thick ash and killed plants and trees
1 Sixty thousand years ago, a small group of
across the globe. Our research now shows that
African men and women got into tiny boats and
many Homo sapiens died at this time.”
sailed across the Red Sea to Asia. Their journey
– of less than 20 miles – marked the moment that
7 Nevertheless, humanity recovered. Since
Homo sapiens left its home continent.
then, groups of men and women have moved
round the planet and DNA analysis can follow
2 The reason our ancestors left Africa is not known,
these movements – often with interesting and
but scientists think that food shortages caused
surprising results.
by climate change could be part of the reason.
Two thousand generations later, 6.5 billion
8 One study, by project scientists Pierre Zalloua
descendants of these people live across our
and Chris Tyler-Smith, has discovered a genetic
planet.
marker typical of Europeans in modern Lebanese
men. It is a distinctive Y-chromosome that was
3 Now scientists are nearly at the end of a massive
left behind by 11th-century Crusaders when they
study of DNA samples from a quarter of a million
invaded Lebanon, scientists say. Something
volunteers in different continents. With the
similar has been found in regions where Genghis
information from the DNA they have created a
Khan ruled and which has been linked to the
map which shows how mankind (Homo sapiens)
many sons he had.
spread across the globe. Last week, in Tallinn,
Estonia, they talked about their latest results. “As
9 As for Africa, it has the most genetically diverse
the first ancestor had a son, who had a son and
population of all the continents, as you would
so on, their DNA changed. Now, with the help of
expect of humanity’s birthplace. Today, the
gene analysis, we can see how our ancestors
Khoisan people of southern Africa are probably
moved about,” said the project leader Dr
the closest, genetically, to the founding mothers
Spencer Wells.
and fathers of humanity, say project scientists.
4 Scientists have known for many years that

modern humans came out of sub-Saharan
Africa in the past 100,000 years. However, the
£25m Genographic project – sponsored by
National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family
Foundation – has provided new information
about our journey out of Africa.
5 From the Arabian Peninsula, some of our

ancestors took sea routes along the south Asian
coast to reach Australia 50,000 years ago. They
reached Europe later, about 40,000 years ago
– its cold and its Neanderthals making it far less
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Level 1 Elementary
1. Homo sapiens left Africa... ... then Europe and America.

2. Our ancestors left Africa for Australia,... ... before Homo sapiens travelled there.
3. Neanderthals lived in Europe... ... genetically the closest to our original ancestors.
4. Mount Toba, a volcano in Sumatra,... ... are sponsoring the genographic project.
5. National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation... ... costing twenty-five million pounds.
6. The project is... ... the Crusaders and Genghis Khan in
unusual places.
7. Scientists have discovered DNA connected to... ... erupted 70,000 years ago.
8. The Khoisan people of southern Africa are... ... sixty-thousand years ago in small boats.
4 Vocabulary: Special words
How many special scientific terms can you find in the article? Write them into the word molecule.
Write a translation next to each word. Who might need to know these words for their job? Write example
sentences for two of the words or terms.
e.g. genetic legacy,

project scientist
Word molecule
Example sentences:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Level 1 Elementary
5 Discussion
Draw a simple family tree – include your nearest ancestors and descendants.
Explain your family tree to a partner. Ask you partner questions about his/her family tree.
My family tree
6 Webquest
Go to www.dnaancestryproject.com or www.dnaheritage.com to find out how you can trace your ancestry.
How much do the services cost? What else can DNA tests be used for?
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Warmer 2 Key words

The Crusaders: 13th century men who went on the 1. ancestors
crusades. The Crusades originally had the goal of 2. shortages
recapturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from 3. descendants
Muslim rule. 4. volunteers
Genghis Kahn: Genghis Khan was the Mongol founder. 5. gene analysis
After founding the Mongol Empire and being proclaimed 6. sponsored
‘Genghis Khan’, he pursued an aggressive foreign policy 7. peninsula
by starting the Mongol invasions of East and Central Asia. 8. eruption
During his life, the Mongol Empire eventually occupied 9. genetic marker
most of Asia. 10. diverse
National Geographic: based in Washington, D.C. in the
United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and 3 Comprehension check
educational institutions in the world. Its interests include
geography, archaeology and natural science, the 1. Homo sapiens left Africa sixty-thousand years ago in
promotion of environmental and historical conservation, small boats.
and the study of world culture and history. 2. Our ancestors left Africa for Australia, then Europe
IBM: International Business Machines Corporation, and America.
abbreviated to IBM, is a multinational computer technology 3. Neanderthals lived in Europe before Homo sapiens
and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, travelled there.
New York, USA. 4. Mount Toba, a volcano in Sumatra, erupted 70,000
The Red Sea: The Red Sea is a salt water inlet of the years ago.
Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. 5. National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family
Foundation are sponsoring the genographic project.
Homo sapiens: us
6. The project is costing twenty-five million pounds.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): The material inside the 7. Scientists have discovered DNA connected to the
nucleus of cells that carries genetic information. Crusaders and Genghis Khan in unusual places.
scientists: A person who is an expert on one or more 8. The Khoisan people of southern Africa are genetically
areas of science. the closest to our original ancestors.
Neanderthals: paleoanthropological specimens, species
of the Homo genus. They once inhabited Europe and parts 4 Vocabulary: Special words
of western and central Asia. They disappeared in Asia by
50,000 years ago and in Europe by 30,000 years ago.
possible answers:
DNA analysis; genetically diverse; gene analysis;
Y-chromosome; DNA samples; genetic marker; project
scientist; genographic
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1 Warmer
Match the terminology with the definitions.
1. DNA A pattern within a cell that carries information about things we inherit from our parents.
It is made up of DNA.
2. gene A DNA sequence or pattern which can help to diagnose inherited diseases.
3. chromosome The material inside cells that carries genetic information. Also called deoxyribonucleic acid.
4. genetic marker A single piece of DNA, which contains many genes, and other nucleotide sequences.
2 Key words
Match the key words from the article with their meanings.
traces intriguing mutations legacy

descendants ancestors hospitable extinction exodus
emerged volunteers diverse pinpoint
1. The people who came before us (e.g. your great-great-great grandparents): _____________________.
2. A word meaning escape, exit, flight (also a famous song by Bob Marley): _____________________.
3. The people who follow us (e.g. your great-great-great grandchildren): _____________________.
4. People who do something of their own free will: _____________________.
5. Modifications, variations, differences: _____________________.
6. To discover something and explain it exactly: _____________________.
7. Appeared, evolved, came from: _____________________.
8. Welcoming, warm, friendly: _____________________.
9. Dying out, never to be seen again on this planet: _____________________.
10. Small clues, remains, evidence: _____________________.
11. Interesting, complicated, making us want to know more: _____________________.
12. A kind of inheritance; things left to us by our ancestors: _____________________.
13. Very different from something else: _____________________.

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NEWS LESSONS / The incredible journey taken by our genes / Intermediate

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The incredible journey taken by hospitable – at the same time one group of Asians
our genes headed farther east over the land bridge that then
A new project maps humanity’s journey out of Africa connected their continent to America.
Robin McKie, science editor 6 “We can also see that just before humans left
August 31, 2008 Africa, about 70,000 years ago, mankind was in
danger of extinction when Mount Toba, in Sumatra,
1 Sixty thousand years ago, a small group of African erupted,” said Wells. “It was the most powerful
men and women set off on the Red Sea in tiny
volcanic eruption for two million years and dropped
boats and crossed the Mandab Strait to Asia. Their
thick ash and killed vegetation across the globe.
journey – of less than 20 miles – marked the
Our research now shows Homo sapiens numbers
moment that Homo sapiens left its home continent.
dropped alarmingly at this time and we only just
remained as a species.”
2 The reason for our ancestors’ African exodus is not
known, though scientists think that food shortages,
7 Nevertheless, humanity recovered. Since then,
caused by climate change, were involved.
groups of men and women have moved round the
However, its importance cannot be overestimated.
planet and DNA analysis can show traces of these
Two thousand generations later, 6.5 billion
movements – often with intriguing results.
descendants of these African emigrants live across
our planet. They have wiped out all other hominids 8 One study, by project scientists Pierre Zalloua and
including the Neanderthals. Chris Tyler-Smith, has discovered a genetic marker
typical of Europeans in modern Lebanese men. It
3 Now scientists are completing a massive study of is a distinctive Y-chromosome that was left behind
DNA samples from a quarter of a million volunteers
by 11th-century Crusaders when they invaded
in different continents in order to create a map
Lebanon and then settled in the country, scientists
showing how mankind spread across the globe.
say. A similar sort of genetic legacy has been found
Last week, in Tallinn, Estonia, they described their
in regions where Genghis Khan ruled and which
most recent results. “As the ultimate ancestor had
has been linked to the many male descendants
a son, who had a son and so on, they developed
he produced.
mutations in their DNA that we can now pinpoint
by gene analysis,” said project leader, Dr Spencer 9 As for Africa, it has the most genetically diverse
Wells. “When we look at the distribution of these population of all the continents, as would be
markers we can see how our ancestors expected of humanity’s birthplace. And of those
moved about.” living today, the Khoisan people of southern
Africa are probably the closest, genetically, to the
4 Scientists have known for several years that founding mothers and fathers of humanity, say
modern humans emerged from sub-Saharan Africa
project scientists.
within the past 100,000 years. However, the £25m
Genographic project – backed by National © Guardian News & Media 2008
Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation First published in The Observer, 31/08/08
– has recently provided highly detailed new
information about our African exodus.
5 After reaching the Arabian Peninsula, some of

our ancestors took sea routes along the south
Asian coast to reach Australia 50,000 years ago.
We entered Europe later, about 40,000 years ago
– its cold and its Neanderthals making it far less
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Find the answers to these questions.
1. Why and when do scientists think a small group of our ancestors left Africa?
2. In which order (first, second, third) did they reach these continents? Europe, Asia, Australasia?
3. What happened approximately 10,000 years before they left Africa?
4. Which species was wiped out by Homo sapiens?
5. Who are the backers of the genographic project?
6. How much is the project costing?
7. What have the scientists discovered about the Crusaders and Genghis Khan?
8. Which people are genetically the closest to our original ancestors?
4 Vocabulary: Special words
How many scientific terms can you find in the article? Write them into the word molecule. How many of
these terms do you think it is important to know and understand? Write example sentences for five of
the terms.
e.g. genetic legacy,

project scientist
Word molecule
Example sentences:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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5 Discussion
• Would you like to trace your genetic ancestry? Why/Why not?

• What do you know about your ancestry?
• Have you (or anyone you know) tried to trace your family tree?
• How far back could you go?
• Did you find out anything interesting or surprising?
6 Webquest
Go to www.dnaancestryproject.com/ or www.dnaheritage.com/ to find out how you can trace your ancestry.
How much do the services cost? What else can DNA tests be used for?
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NEWS LESSONS /The incredible journey taken by our genes / Intermediate

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The incredible
Addiction journey
to Internet ‘istaken by our genes
an illness’
KEY
1 Warmer 3 Comprehension check
1. DNA: The material inside cells that carries genetic 1. Food shortages triggered by climate change 60,000
information. Also called deoxyribonucleic acid. years ago.
2. gene: A pattern within a cell that carries information 2. Asia, Australasia, Europe.
about things we inherit from our parents. It is made up 3. Mount Toba erupted and dropped ash and killed
of DNA. vegetation across the globe.
3. chromosome: A single piece of DNA, which contains 4. The Neanderthals.
many genes, and other nucleotide sequences. 5. National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt
4. genetic marker: A DNA sequence or pattern which can Family Foundation.
help to diagnose inherited diseases. 6. 25 million pounds.
7. See paragraph 8.
8. The Khoisan people of southern Africa.
2 Key words
1. ancestors 4 Vocabulary: Special words

2. exodus
3. descendants possible answers:
4. volunteers DNA analysis; genetically diverse; gene analysis;
5. mutations Y-chromosome; DNA samples; genetic marker; project
6. pinpoint scientist; genetic legacy; genographic; mutations
7. emerged
8. hospitable
9. extinction
10. traces

11. intriguing

12. legacy

13. diverse

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Au revoir to long lunch as French tighten belts
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
Fill the gaps using these key words from the text.
frugality bankruptcy skip aperitif obsession

sluggish forage reel baguette brasserie
1. If an economy is __________________, it does not perform as well as usual.
2. If you __________________ from the effects of something, you feel shocked, upset or confused.
3. __________________ is a situation in which a company formally admits it has no money and cannot pay
what it owes.
4. A __________________ is a long, thin loaf of bread made in the French style.
5. __________________ is when people spend very little money and only on things that are really necessary.
6. If you __________________ for food, you search for it in a wide area, but especially in rubbish bins.
7. A __________________ is a restaurant or bar, especially one that serves French food.
8. An __________________ is an emotional state in which something is so important to you that you are always
thinking about it in a way that seems extreme to other people.
9. An __________________ is an alcoholic drink that is drunk before a meal.
10. If you __________________ a meal, you avoid having it.
2 What do you know?
1. The number of international tourists visiting Paris is increasing.
2. French people spend an average of one and a half hours eating a meal in a restaurant.
3. The three-course lunch is a French tradition.
4. Most bankruptcies in France this year have been in the restaurant sector.
5. The number of customers visiting restaurants in France is falling.
6. French restaurant-goers still enjoy a bottle of wine with their lunch.

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NEWS LESSONS / Au revoir to long lunch as French tighten belts / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Au revoir to long lunch as French sector has seen the third highest number of
tighten belts bankruptcies in France this year, after the
• 3,000 restaurants and bars go bust in three months construction and building trades, according to the
• Starters and wine out, baguettes and burgers in credit insurance group Euler Hermes SFAC.
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris 5 The time French people spend on eating meals
September 24, 2008 in restaurants has already gone down: in 1975,
a lunch out would take an average of one and a
half hours. By 2005, it had fallen to 32 minutes.
1 It is seen as the mark of civilized eating,
Danièle Deleval, vice president of the UMIH
distinguishing well-fed French workers from the
restaurant and hotel union, said: “We’re very
English who wolf prawn sandwiches at their
worried. Since the start of the year, the number of
desks. But France’s tradition of the three-course
restaurant customers has dropped, on average,
restaurant lunch is in danger of being killed off
20% and we’re seeing no signs of improvement.”
by the economic crisis. Around 3,000 traditional
French restaurants, cafés and bars went bust 6 Jean Guillaume, owner of Le Bouquet brasserie
in the first three months of 2008 and unions on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris’ smart 8th
predict a further rush of closures as people worry district, said: “Lunch customers used to order
about making ends meet. The number of French a main course, dessert, coffee and a bottle of
restaurants going bankrupt rose by 25% from last wine. Now they’re limiting themselves to a main
year, and cafés forced to close were up by 56%. course, tap water, and giving up the rest. Of 75
customers in this lunchtime, none had a bottle of
2 Le Figaro’s renowned restaurant critic, François
wine ... It’s the end of a tradition of lunching out
Simon, said yesterday that French consumers’
and it looks like figures will stay this low for two
frugality had changed national eating habits
to three years.” The nearby bakery, however, was
and forced restaurant owners to the brink.
busy selling take-away baguettes, with queues
Diners were now skipping the traditional aperitif,
down the street at midday.
avoiding starters, drinking tap water, passing
on wine and coffee and – at most – sharing 7 Restaurant and bar owners are reeling from
a pudding. a poor summer with fewer international
tourists visiting Paris, especially Americans
3 Even the city’s smartest restaurants were getting
and Japanese. And in Toulouse, cafe owners
impatient with smaller orders. In one restaurant
complained that customers would try to make
near Paris’ Gare de Lyon, he reported, two
one drink last as long as possible. Even in
couples were asked to leave by a desperate
French holiday destinations, like Arcachon in the
restaurant owner because they would not order
west or the Côte d’Azur in the south, restaurant
starters. The restaurant chain Hippopotamus
owners said business was down by at least 10%.
was now running loyalty deals and special-offer
hamburgers, which had become more popular
than French steak dishes. Office workers were
increasingly buying take-away baguettes and
supermarket lunches.
4 Making ends meet with low salaries and rising

food prices has become a national obsession
as France’s economy continues to be sluggish.
Regular TV reports describe the desperation of
people forced to eat cheap tinned vegetables
or forage in bins at markets. The restaurant
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Level 3 Advanced
1. The number of people dining in restaurants in France is falling because…

a. … there are fewer international tourists, especially Americans and Japanese.
b. … there are fewer and fewer restaurants to eat in.
c. … the economic crisis means people have less money to spend.
2. Why is the summer described as ‘poor’?

a. Because there were fewer international tourists.
b. Because the weather was bad so people stayed at home.
c. Because most French people were away on holiday.
3. Why were two couples ordered to leave a restaurant near the Gare de Lyon?
a. Because they only wanted to order starters.
b. Because they didn’t want to order starters.
c. Because they asked for tap water with their meal.
4. By how much has the time French people spend on eating restaurant meals fallen since 1975?
a. By about one third.
b. By about 50%.
c. It has shown almost a threefold decrease.
4 Find the word
1. A verb meaning to eat something very quickly. (para 1)
2. A phrasal verb meaning to make something stop or fail completely. (para 1)
3. A two-word expression meaning to become bankrupt. (para 1)
4. A three-word expression meaning to just have enough money to buy the things you need. (para 1)
5. An adjective meaning famous and admired for a special skill or achievement. (para 2)
6. A two-word expression meaning the point in time when something very bad or very good is about to happen.
(para 2)
7. A two-word expression meaning a special offer for customers who return to the same shop or restaurant again.
(para 3)
8. An adverb meaning more and more over a period of time. (para 3)

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Level 3 Advanced
5 Words + prepositions
Which prepositions follow these words? Check your answers in the text.
1. distinguish _______
2. impatient _______
3. limit oneself _______
4. in danger _______
5. worry _______
6. spend time _______

7. reel _______
8. pass _______
1. restaurant a. water
2. office b. offer
3. eating c. course
4. special d. habits
5. national e. owner
6. main f. destination
7. tap g. obsession
8. holiday h. worker
7 Discussion
How many ways of saving money in difficult economic times can you think of?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1. sluggish 1. wolf
2. reel (are reeling) 2. kill off
3. bankruptcy 3. go bust
4. baguette 4. make ends meet
5. frugality 5. renowned
6. forage 6. the brink
7. brasserie 7. loyalty deal
8. obsession 8. increasingly
9. aperitif
10. skip
5 Words + prepositions
2 What do you know? 1. from

2. with
1. F 3. to
2. F 4. of
3. T 5. about
4. F 6. on
5. T 7. from
6. F 8. on
1. c 1. restaurant owner
2. a 2. office worker
3. b 3. eating habits
4. c 4. special offer
5. national obsession
6. main course
7. tap water
8. holiday destination

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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
skip aperitif baguette discount bankruptcy

trade union tradition go bust consumer dessert
what it owes.
2. __________________ is the sweet food that you eat after the main course.
4. A __________________ is someone who buys and uses goods and services.
6. A __________________ is a reduction in the price of something.
8. A __________________ is a very old custom.
9. To __________________ is an informal way of saying to go bankrupt.
10. A __________________ is an organization that aims to improve pay and conditions of work.
1. How many French restaurants, cafés and bars went bust in the first three months of 2008?
2. What was the average time people spent on restaurant meals in France in 1975?
4. What is the percentage increase in restaurants going bankrupt compared to last year?
5. What has the fall in the percentage of restaurant customers been since the start of 2008?
6. What was the percentage loss of business in French holiday destinations?

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NEWS LESSONS / Au revoir to long lunch as French tighten belts / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Au revoir to long lunch as French show people eating cheap tinned vegetables
tighten belts or looking through bins at markets for food.
• 3,000 restaurants and bars go bust in three months The restaurant sector has had the third highest
• Starters and wine out, baguettes and burgers in number of bankruptcies in France this year,
after the construction and building industries,
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
according to one credit insurance group.
September 24, 2008
5 The time French people spend eating meals in
restaurants has already gone down: in 1975,
1 The three-course lunch is a French tradition, a
a lunch out took an average of one and a half
sign of civilized eating. While the English eat
hours. By 2005, it was 32 minutes. Danièle
sandwiches at their desks, well-fed French
Deleval, of the French restaurant and hotel
workers have always enjoyed their lunch at a
union, said: “We’re very worried. Since the start
local restaurant. But times are changing. The
of the year, the number of restaurant customers
traditional French three-course restaurant lunch
has dropped, on average, 20% and we’re seeing
is in danger of disappearing for ever because
no signs of improvement.”
of the world economic crisis. About 3,000
traditional French restaurants, cafés and bars 6 Jean Guillaume, owner of Le Bouquet restaurant
went bust in the first three months of 2008 and on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris’ smart 8th
trade unions are predicting that more will close district, said: “In the past, lunch customers
as people worry about money. The number of ordered a main course, dessert, coffee and a
French restaurants going bust rose by 25% from bottle of wine. Now they’re just having a main
last year, and the number of cafés closing rose course with tap water, and not ordering the
by 56%. rest. We had 75 customers this lunchtime, but
no-one ordered a bottle of wine ... It’s the end of
2 A well-known French food writer, François
a tradition of going out for lunch and it looks like
Simon, said yesterday that French consumers
numbers will be this low for two to three years.”
did not want to spend money. He said this
The nearby baker’s shop, however, was busy
had changed national eating habits and was
selling take-away baguettes, and there were long
pushing restaurant owners towards bankruptcy.
queues outside at midday.
Diners were now skipping the traditional aperitif,
avoiding starters, drinking tap water, not having 7 It was a bad summer for restaurant and bar
wine or coffee and – at most – sharing a pudding. owners, with fewer international tourists visiting
Paris, especially American and Japanese visitors.
3 Even the city’s smartest restaurants were getting
And in Toulouse, café owners complained that
impatient with smaller orders. In one restaurant
customers were trying to make one drink last
near Paris’ Gare de Lyon, he reported, an angry
as long as possible. Even in French holiday
restaurant owner asked two couples to leave
destinations, like Arcachon in the west or the
because they did not want to order starters.
Côte d’Azur in the south, restaurant owners said
The restaurant chain Hippopotamus is now
business was down by at least 10%.
offering discounts to regular customers and
special-offer hamburgers, which are now more
popular than French steak dishes. Office workers
now prefer to buy take-away baguettes and
supermarket lunches.
4 As problems in the French economy continue,

low salaries and rising food prices are worrying
for many French people. Regular TV reports
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Level 1 Elementary
Match the beginnings with the endings to make sentences about the text.
1. People are not eating lunch in restaurants because…
2. When people eat lunch in restaurants now…
3. 30 years ago French people spent more time eating...
4. Since the start of 2008…
5. In French holiday destinations the number of people eating in restaurants…
6. French workers now prefer take-away baguettes and supermarket lunches…
a. … they only order a main course.
b. … the number of people eating in restaurants has fallen by 20%.
c. … fell by 10% this summer.
d. … they are worried about money.
e. … to traditional three-course restaurant lunches.
f. … than they do now.
4 Chunks
Rearrange the words to make phrases from the text.
1. of crisis the economic world because
2. in 2008 months the of three first
3. average hours of an half a and one
4. the since the year of start
5. to years three for two
6. as last possible long as

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Level 1 Elementary
5 Word building
Complete the table with nouns from the text.
verb noun
1. own
2. consume
3. dine
4. work
5. write
6. bake
7. visit
8. tour
6 Word stress
Divide these words from the text into two groups according to their stress pattern.
sandwich crisis prefer discount report sector

hotel dessert midday average well-fed market
A B
0 o o 0
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1. bankruptcy 1. because of the world economic crisis

2. dessert 2. in the first three months of 2008
3. skip 3. an average of one and a half hours
4. consumer 4. since the start of the year
5. baguette 5. for two to three years
6. discount 6. last as long as possible
7. aperitif
8. tradition
5 Word building
9. go bust
10. trade union
verb noun
2 Find the information 1. own owner

2. consume consumer
1. about 3,000 3. dine diner
2. one and a half hours 4. work worker
3. 32 minutes 5. write writer
4. 25% 6. bake baker
5. 20%
7. visit visitor
6. at least 10%
8. tour tourist
6 Word stress
1. d
2. a A B
3. f 0 o o 0
4. b
sandwich prefer
5. c
crisis report
6. e
discount hotel
sector dessert
average midday
market well-fed
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1 Key words
bankruptcy skip aperitif obsession baguette

brasserie critic discount trade union distinguishes
2. A __________________ is an organization that aims to improve pay and conditions of work.
3. An __________________ is an emotional state in which something is so important to you that you are always
thinking about it in a way that seems extreme to other people.
4. A __________________ is a reduction in the price of something.
what it owes.
6. A __________________ is someone whose job is to write their opinions about books, films or restaurants.
7. If something __________________ one thing from another thing, it highlights the difference or differences
between them.
8. A __________________ is a restaurant or bar, especially one that serves French food.
1. How many French restaurants, cafés and bars went bankrupt in the first three months of 2008?
4. What is the percentage increase in restaurants going bankrupt compared to last year?
5. What has the fall in the percentage of restaurant customers been since the start of 2008?
6. What was the percentage loss of business in holiday destinations like the Côte d’Azur?
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NEWS LESSONS / Au revoir to long lunch as French tighten belts / Intermediate

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Au revoir to long lunch as French or look through bins at markets for food. The
tighten belts restaurant sector has experienced the third
• 3,000 restaurants and bars go bust in three months highest number of bankruptcies in France this
• Starters and wine out, baguettes and burgers in year, after the construction and building trades,
according to the credit insurance group Euler
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Hermes SFAC.
September 24, 2008
5 The time French people spend on eating meals
in restaurants has already gone down: in 1975,
1 It is seen as a sign of civilized eating, one which
a lunch out would take an average of one and a
distinguishes well-fed French workers from the
half hours. By 2005, it had fallen to 32 minutes.
English who eat sandwiches at their desks. But
Danièle Deleval, vice president of the UMIH
France’s tradition of the three-course restaurant
restaurant and hotel union, said: “We’re very
lunch is in danger of disappearing for ever as
worried. Since the start of the year, the number of
a result of the economic crisis. Around 3,000
restaurant customers has dropped, on average,
traditional French restaurants, cafés and bars
20% and we’re seeing no signs of improvement.”
went bust in the first three months of 2008 and
trade unions are predicting that more will close 6 Jean Guillaume, owner of Le Bouquet brasserie
as people worry about making ends meet. The on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris’ smart 8th
number of French restaurants going bankrupt district, said: “Lunch customers used to order a
rose by 25% from last year, and the number of main course, dessert, coffee and a bottle of wine.
cafés forced to close rose by 56%. Now they’re just having a main course with tap
water, and giving up the rest. Of 75 customers
2 Le Figaro’s well-known restaurant critic, François
in this lunchtime, none had a bottle of wine ...
Simon, said yesterday that the unwillingness
It’s the end of a tradition of lunching out and it
of French consumers to spend money had
looks like figures will stay this low for two to three
changed national eating habits and was pushing
years.” The nearby bakery, however, was busy
restaurant owners towards bankruptcy. Diners
selling take-away baguettes, with queues down
were now skipping the traditional aperitif,
the street at midday.
avoiding starters, drinking tap water, not having
wine or coffee and – at most – sharing a pudding. 7 Restaurant and bar owners are still suffering
from a poor summer with fewer international
3 Even the city’s smartest restaurants were
tourists visiting Paris, especially Americans
getting impatient with smaller orders. In one
and Japanese. And in Toulouse, café owners
restaurant near Paris’ Gare de Lyon, he reported,
complained that customers would try to make
two couples were asked to leave by an angry
one drink last as long as possible. Even in
restaurant owner because they would not order
French holiday destinations, like Arcachon in the
starters. The restaurant chain Hippopotamus was
west or the Côte d’Azur in the south, restaurant
now offering discounts to regular customers and
owners said business was down by at least 10%.
special-offer hamburgers, which had become
more popular than French steak dishes. Office
workers were increasingly buying take-away
baguettes and supermarket lunches.
4 Making ends meet with low salaries and rising

food prices has become a national obsession
as problems in the French economy continue.
Regular TV reports describe the desperation of
people forced to eat cheap tinned vegetables
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Are these sentences True (T) or False (F) according to the text?
1. French people are spending less money on going to restaurants.
2. French people are spending less time eating lunch in restaurants.
3. The tradition of the traditional French three-course meal might disappear for ever.
4. People’s eating habits are changing because they are worried about their diet.
5. The restaurant sector has experienced the highest number of bankruptcies in France this year.
6. Business at bakeries has also fallen dramatically.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word expression meaning to become bankrupt. (para 1)
2. A three-word expression meaning to just have enough money to buy the things you need. (para 1)
3. A noun meaning a refusal to do something. (para 2)
5. A noun meaning the worry and anger people feel in a bad situation. (para 4)
6. A two-word expression meaning the person occupying the position immediately below the president. (para 5)
7. A noun meaning sweet food that you eat after the main course. (para 6)
8. A noun meaning a place where someone goes or is going. (para 7)
5 Word building
Complete the table.

verb noun
1. close
2. improve
3. predict
4. construct
5. insure
6. complain
7. describe
8. sell
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1. special a. water
2. tap b. offer
3. eating c. course
4. office d. habits
5. national e. owner
6. main f. destination
7. restaurant g. obsession
8. holiday h. worker
7 Discussion
Do you often eat in restaurants? What kind of food do you like? How much money would you spend on a
restaurant meal?
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1. aperitif 1. go bust
2. trade union 2. make ends meet
3. obsession 3. unwillingness
4. discount 4. increasingly
5. bankruptcy 5. desperation
6. critic 6. vice president
7. distinguishes 7. dessert
8. brasserie 8. destination
9. skip
10. baguette
5 Word building

verb noun
1. around 3,000 1. close closure

2. one and a half hours 2. improve improvement
3. 32 minutes 3. predict prediction
4, 25% 4. construct construction
5. 20% 5. insure insurance
6. at least 10%
6. complain complaint
7. describe description
3 Comprehension check 8. sell sale
1. T
2. T 6 Two-word expressions
3. T
4. F 1. special offer
5. F 2. tap water
6. F 3. eating habits
4. office worker
5. national obsession
6. main course
7. restaurant owner
8. holiday destination

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Fears over privacy as police expand surveillance project
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
In your country, what information can be obtained from vehicle licence plates?
When, if ever, might a vehicle change its licence plate?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of personalized licence plates?
2 Key words
Complete the sentences with words from the text.
1. __________________ is the process of carefully watching something or someone. (title and para 1)
2. When you __________________ something you use it to get the most out of it even though it may be wrong or
unfair to do so. (para 3)
3. __________________ are the basic rights that all people in society should have. (para 4, two words)
4. When you are able to __________________ something, you know exactly where it is. (para 5)
5. The __________________ is the government department that is responsible for protecting the country from
terrorist attacks. (para 5, two words)
6. Police cars that look like ordinary cars are called __________________. (para 7, two words)
7. When you are __________________ with something, you have all the necessary things you need for a
particular purpose. (para 8)
8. When something is __________________ it is bigger or smaller that it should actually be in comparison to
something else. (para 11)
9. A group that monitors the behaviour of other groups is called a __________________. (para 11)
10. When you __________________ someone you put them off; make them not want to do something. (para 14)
11. A set of plans or actions agreed on by a political party, a company or organization are its __________________.
(para 15)
12. A __________________ is a supply of something that a company or organization can use when they need to.
(para 16)
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NEWS LESSONS / Fears over privacy as police expand surveillance project / Advanced
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Level 3 Advanced
Fears over privacy as police expand 8 Police helicopters have been equipped with
surveillance project infrared cameras that can read licence plates
Database will hold details of millions of journeys from 610 metres (2,000ft).
for five years 9 In four months’ time, when a nationwide network
Paul Lewis of cameras is fully operational, the National
September 15, 2008 ANPR Data Centre in Hendon, north London, will
record up to 50m licence plates a day.
1 The police are to expand a car surveillance 10 The Home Office said in a letter that the Hendon
operation that will allow them to record and store database would “store all ANPR data for five
details of millions of daily journeys for up to five years”. Additionally, a photograph of a person’s
years, the Guardian has learned. licence plate will, in most cases, be stored for
one year.
2 A national network of roadside cameras will be
able to ‘read’ 50m licence plates a day, enabling 11 Human rights group Privacy International last
officers to reconstruct the journeys of motorists. night described the five-year record of people’s
car journeys “unnecessary and disproportionate”,
3 Police have been encouraged to “fully and
and said it had lodged an official complaint with
strategically exploit” the database, which is
the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the
already recording the whereabouts of ten million
government’s data watchdog.
drivers a day, during their investigations.
12 In 2005 the government invested £32m to
4 But it has raised concerns from civil rights
develop the ANPR data-sharing programme
campaigners, who question whether the details
after police concluded that road traffic cameras
should be kept for so long. They want clearer
could be used for counter-terrorism and everyday
guidelines on who might have access to
criminal investigations. Senior police officers
the material.
have said they intend the database to be
5 The project relies on automatic number plate integrated into everyday police work.
recognition (ANPR) cameras to pinpoint the
13 Half of all police forces in England and Wales
precise time and location of all vehicles on the
have now been connected to the network, which
road. Senior officers had promised the data
reads between eight and ten million licence
would be stored for two years. But responding to
plates a day. The Association of Chief Police
inquiries under the Freedom of Information Act,
Officers (ACPO) said the database would be
the Home Office has admitted the data is now
linked to ANPR systems run by all but two police
being kept for five years.
forces by the end of the year. The database will
6 Thousands of CCTV (closed-circuit television) be able to store as many as 18 billion licence
cameras across the country have been plate sightings in 2009.
converted to read ANPR data, capturing people’s
14 Officers can access the database to find
movements in cars on motorways, main roads,
uninsured cars, locate illegal ‘duplicate’ licence
airports and town centres.
plates and track the movements of criminals.
7 Local authorities have since adapted their own The ACPO adds that the database will
CCTV systems to read licence plates on behalf “deter criminals through increased likelihood
of police, massively expanding the network of of detection”.
available cameras. Mobile cameras have been
15 “Experience has shown there are very strong
installed in patrol cars and unmarked vehicles
links between illegal use of motor vehicles on
parked by the side of roads.
the road and other types of serious crime,” said
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Level 3 Advanced
Merseyside Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, 17 Peter Fry, of the CCTV User Group, said
Simon Byrne, who leads Acpo’s ANPR policy. that currently licence plate images captured
by CCTV are generally retained for 31 days.
16 The director of Privacy International, Simon “There’s not a great deal of logic to explain
Davies, said last night the database would give keeping the same images for five years,”
police “extraordinary powers of surveillance”. he said.
“This would never be allowed in any other
democratic country,” he said. “This is possibly
one of the most valuable reserves of
data imaginable.”
1. Which methods will be used to record details of motorists’ journeys?

a) Special number plate recognition cameras.
b) Converted CCTV cameras.
c) Infrared cameras in police helicopters.
d) All of the above.
2. How long are CCTV images currently kept for?

a) Five years.
b) Two years.
c) 31 days.
d) One year.
3. Under the new laws, how long will images of number plates be kept for?
a) Five years.
b) Two years.
c) 31 days.
d) One year.
4. Under the new laws, how long will details of motorists’ journeys be stored?
a) Five years.
b) Two years.
c) 31 days.
d) One year.
5. By the end of 2009 the database would be linked to ANPR systems run by...
a) ... nearly all of the police forces in England and Wales.
b) ... two police forces.
c) ... the Home Office.
d) ... the Merseyside Police.
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Vocabulary: Acronyms
Find an acronym in the text for:
1. a police association _______________
2. a special kind of surveillance camera _______________
3. a common kind of surveillance camera _______________
4. a government watchdog/group that monitors the behaviour of others _______________
5 Discussion
Look back at the article and find the advantages and disadvantages of this car surveillance operation.
Add further ideas of your own.
Advantages Disadvantages
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................
Now discuss the following questions.
• How do you feel about the British police and government security services being able to trace the movements
of motorists in Britain?
• Would you be for or against a scheme like this being set up in your country?
6 Webquest
Type ANPR or police surveillance into YouTube. Report on the most interesting video you find.
Here you can hear a British police officer explain (and show) how ANPR works in practice:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s-4tRWMuLhM
For technical information on ANPR go to:
http://www.cctv-information.co.uk/cgi-bin/index.cgi?url=http://www.cctv-information.co.uk/constant3/anpr.
html
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
2 Key words
1. surveillance
2. exploit
3. civil rights
4. pinpoint
5. Home Office
6. unmarked vehicles
7. equipped
8. disproportionate
9. watchdog
10. deter
11. policy
12. reserve
1. d
2. c
3. d
4. a
5. a
4 Vocabulary: Acronyms

1. ACPO
2. ANPR
3. CCTV
4. ICO
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer
In your country, what information can people find out from vehicle licence plates?
when the car was made which town or area the car comes from
who the vehicle belongs to other information _________________
What does a typical licence plate look like in your country?
Example: Three numbers followed by four letters ...
2 Key words
Match these key words with the explanations.
recognition surveillance reconstruct deter civil rights campaigner

roadside camera database infrared network counterterrorism
1. ____________________ is the process of carefully watching something or someone. (title and para 1)
2. A ____________________ is a system of things that are connected together over a large area. (para 2)
3. When you ____________________ something, you put ideas and information together to try to find out what
happened in the past. (para 2)
4. A ____________________ is a machine that takes photographs of vehicles from the side of the road. (para 2,
two words)
5. A ____________________ is a large amount of information that is stored in a computer in an organized way.
(para 3)
6. A ____________________ is somebody who fights for the basic rights that all people should have. (para 4,
three words)
7. ____________________ is the ability to see or take a photo of something and then know what it is. (para 5)
8. An ____________________ camera uses a type of light that cannot be seen. (para 7)
9. ____________________ is the actions and methods of a country that are intended to stop the activities of
people who use violence to achieve political aims. (para 11)
10. When you ____________________ someone, you make them not want to do something. (para 13)
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NEWS LESSONS / Fears over privacy as police expand surveillance project / Elementary
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Level 1 Elementary
Fears over privacy as police expand 9 The government said that the London database
surveillance project would store all ANPR data for five years.
Database will hold details of millions of journeys Additionally, a photograph of a person’s licence
for five years plate will be stored for one year.
Paul Lewis 10 Human rights group Privacy International last

September 15, 2008 night said that keeping this information for five
years is “unnecessary”. They also said that they
had sent an official complaint to the government.
1 The British police have a new car surveillance
operation that will allow them to record and keep 11 In 2005 the British government invested £32m to
details of millions of daily car journeys for up to develop the ANPR data-sharing programme. This
five years. was after police decided that road traffic cameras
could be used for counterterrorism and everyday
2 A national network of roadside cameras will be criminal investigations. Senior police officers
able to ‘read’ 50 million licence plates a day. want the database to be used in everyday
Then, police officers can reconstruct the journeys police work.
of motorists.
12 Half of all police forces in England and Wales are
3 The police have been told to make use of the now connected to the network. The Association
database which already records the movements of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said the
of ten million drivers a day. database would be linked to ANPR systems run
4 But civil rights campaigners are worried. They by all but two police forces by the end of the year.
don’t think the details should be kept for so long, In 2009, the database will be able to store the
and they want to know who can have access to details of 18 billion licence plates.
the data. 13 Officers can access the database to find
5 The operation needs automatic number plate uninsured cars, to find illegal licence plates and
recognition (ANPR) cameras which can show to track the movements of criminals. The ACPO
the exact time and location of all vehicles on the also said that the database will deter criminals as
road. Senior police officers had promised the they know that they are more likely to be caught.
data would be kept for two years. But now, the 14 “From experience we know that there are very
government has said the data is being kept for strong links between the illegal use of motor
five years. vehicles on the road and other types of serious
6 Thousands of CCTV (closed-circuit television) crime,” said Merseyside Police’s Assistant Chief
cameras across Britain have been adapted so Constable, Simon Byrne.
that they can read ANPR data. This means the 15 The director of Privacy International, Simon
cameras can watch people’s movements in Davies, said last night the database would give
cars on motorways, main roads, airports and police “extraordinary powers of surveillance”.
town centres. “This would never be allowed in any other
7 There are also mobile cameras in police democratic country,” he said.
cars parked by the side of roads, and police 16 Peter Fry, of the CCTV User Group, said that at
helicopters have got new infrared cameras the moment CCTV photos and videos of licence
that can read licence plates from 610 plates are usually kept for 31 days. “It’s not
metres (2,000ft). logical to keep them for five years,” he said.
8 In four months’ time, when the nationwide
network of cameras is working, the National
ANPR Data Centre in London will record up to
50m licence plates a day.
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Level 1 Elementary
Match these sentence halves to retell the article.
1. British police can now keep details of... ... and town centres.
2. ANPR cameras are special... ... of car licence plates.
3. CCTV watches people in airports... ... the surveillance is undemocratic.
4. There are mobile cameras in parked police cars which... ... nearly all of the police forces in England and Wales.
5. Police helicopters can also record images... ... cameras that can record details of car licence plates.
6. By the end of 2008 the database will be linked to... ... take photos of licence plates.
7. The police hope that... ... people’s car journeys for five years.
8. Civil rights groups think... ... the new surveillance operation will stop terrorism.
4 Vocabulary: Pronunciation
Write these words into the table according to their stress pattern.
surveillance motorists database campaigners recording

assistant illegal criminals motorways government
oOo Ooo
How many other words can you find in the article which have the same stress patterns?
5 Webquest
Type ANPR or police surveillance or CCTV into YouTube. What kinds of crimes can you see?
Listen to and watch a British police officer explain how ANPR works in practice:
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Level 1 Elementary
6 Discussion
Look back at the article and find the advantages and disadvantages of the British car surveillance
operation. Complete the sentence below:
The advantages of the car surveillance operation are _______________________________________________
but the disadvantages are _______________________________________________.
Now complete these sentences with your own words and feelings.
I think the scheme is a _____________________________ idea.
I would feel _____________________________ if the police in my country kept my car details for five years.
Talk about your sentences in class.
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
2 Key words 4 Vocabulary: Pronunciation

1. surveillance oOo Ooo
2. network
surveillance motorists
3. reconstruct
campaigners database
4. roadside camera
recording criminals
5. database
assistant motorways
6. civil rights campaigner
illegal government
7. recognition
8. infrared
9. counterterrorism
10. deter
1. British police can now keep details of people’s car

journeys for five years.
2. ANPR cameras are special cameras that can record
details of car licence plates.
3. CCTV watches people in airports and town centres.
4. Police helicopters can also record images of car
licence plates.
5. There are mobile cameras in parked police cars
which take photos of licence plates.
6. By the end of 2009 the database will be linked to
nearly all of the police forces in England and Wales.
7. The police and Home Office hope that the new
surveillance operation will stop terrorism.
8. Civil rights groups think the surveillance is
undemocratic.
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1 Warmer
In your country, what information can people find out from vehicle licence plates?
Example: year of manufacture, where the car is registered, ...
Are you able to choose your car number plate?
Example: to include your birthday or initials?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of personalized licence plates?
2 Key words
Write these key words into the sentences below.
Home Office unmarked vehicles disproportionate surveillance

deter equipped civil rights reconstruct
duplicate locate watchdog motorist
1. __________________ is the process of carefully watching something or someone. (title and para 1)
2. When you __________________ something, you form an idea of what happened in the past by putting ideas
and information together. (para 2)
3. A __________________ is someone who drives a motor vehicle such as a car. (para 2)
4. __________________ are the basic rights that all people in society should have. (para 4, two words)
5. The __________________ is the government department that is responsible for protecting the country from
terrorist attacks. (para 5, two words)
6. Police cars that look like ordinary cars are called __________________. (para 7, two words)
7. When you are __________________ with something, you have all the necessary things you need for a
particular purpose. (para 7)
8. When something is __________________ it is bigger or smaller that it should actually be in comparison to
something else. (para 10)
9. A group that monitors the behaviour of other groups is called a __________________. (para 10)
10. __________________ is another word for find. (para 13)
11. A __________________ is an exact copy of something. (para 13)
12. When you __________________ someone you put them off; make them not want to do something. (para 13)
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NEWS LESSONS / Fears over privacy as police expand surveillance project / Intermediate
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Fears over privacy as police expand 8 In four months’ time, when the nationwide
surveillance project network of cameras is fully operational, the
Database will hold details of millions of journeys National ANPR Data Centre in Hendon, north
for five years London, will record up to 50m licence plates
a day.
Paul Lewis
September 15, 2008 9 The Home Office said in a letter that the Hendon
database would “store all ANPR data for five
years”. Additionally, a photograph of a person’s
1 The British police are to expand a car
licence plate will, in most cases, be stored for
surveillance operation that will allow them to
one year.
record and store details of millions of daily car
journeys for up to five years, the Guardian 10 Human rights group Privacy International last
has learned. night described the five-year record of people’s
car journeys “unnecessary and disproportionate”,
2 A national network of roadside cameras will be
and said it had sent an official complaint to the
able to ‘read’ 50 million licence plates a day,
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the
which will allow police officers to reconstruct the
government’s data watchdog.
journeys of motorists.
11 In 2005 the government invested £32m to
3 Police have been encouraged to make use of
develop the ANPR data-sharing programme after
the database, which is already recording the
police decided that road traffic cameras could be
whereabouts of ten million drivers a day, during
used for counter-terrorism and everyday criminal
their investigations.
investigations. Senior police officers have said
4 But civil rights campaigners are worried. They they intend the database to be integrated into
question whether the details should be kept for everyday police work.
so long, and they want clearer guidelines on who
12 Half of all police forces in England and Wales
can have access to the material.
have now been connected to the network, which
5 The project relies on automatic number plate reads between eight and ten million licence
recognition (ANPR) cameras which can show plates a day. The Association of Chief Police
the precise time and location of all vehicles on Officers (ACPO) said the database would be
the road. Senior police officers had promised the linked to ANPR systems run by all but two police
data would be stored for two years. But now, the forces by the end of the year. The database will
Home Office has admitted the data is now being be able to store as many as 18 billion licence
kept for five years. plate sightings in 2009.
6 Thousands of CCTV (closed-circuit television) 13 Officers can access the database to find
cameras across Britain have been converted uninsured cars, locate illegal ‘duplicate’ licence
so that they can read ANPR data which show plates and track the movements of criminals.
people’s movements in cars on motorways, The ACPO adds that the database will deter
main roads, airports and town centres. This criminals as they know that they are more likely
has massively expanded the network of to be caught.
available cameras.
14 “Experience has shown there are very strong
7 Mobile cameras have been installed in patrol links between illegal use of motor vehicles on
cars and unmarked vehicles parked by the side the road and other types of serious crime,” said
of roads, and police helicopters have been Merseyside Police’s Assistant Chief Constable,
equipped with infrared cameras that can read Simon Byrne.
licence plates from 610 metres (2,000ft).
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15 The director of Privacy International, Simon CCTV are generally kept for 31 days. “There’s
Davies, said last night the database would give not a great deal of logic to explain keeping the
police “extraordinary powers of surveillance”. same images for five years,” he said.
“This would never be allowed in any other
democratic country,” he said. © Guardian News & Media 2008
16 Peter Fry, of the CCTV User group, said that
currently licence plate images captured by
Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the text?
1. Police helicopters are able to capture images of car licence plates.
2. Up to now, CCTV images of car licence plates have been kept for three years.
3. Under the new laws, the images of number plates can be kept for five years.
4. By the end of 2009 the database will be linked to ANPR systems run by nearly all of the police forces in
England and Wales.
5. The data will be stored centrally in the City of London.
6. The police and Home Office hope that the new surveillance operation will prevent terrorism.
7. CCTV is already used to watch people in airports and town centres.
8. The director of Privacy International thinks that all democratic countries should implement surveillance
systems such as this.
Write these words into the table according to their stress pattern.
surveillance motorists database campaigners recording

duplicate converted illegal criminals motorways
oOo Ooo
How many other words can you find in the article which have the same stress patterns?
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5 Discussion
Look back at the article and make a note of the advantages and disadvantages of the British car
surveillance operation. Can you think of any more advantages or disadvantages?
Advantages Disadvantages
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.............................................................................................................................................................
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.............................................................................................................................................................
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.............................................................................................................................................................
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Now discuss the following questions:
• Imagine you live in Britain: How do you feel about the police and government security services being able to
trace your movements?
• Would you be for or against a scheme like this being set up in your country?
6 Webquest
Type ANPR or police surveillance or CCTV into YouTube. What kinds of crimes have been caught on CCTV?
Listen to and watch a British police officer explain how ANPR works in practice:
For technical information on ANPR go to:
http://www.cctv-information.co.uk/cgi-bin/index.cgi?url=http://www.cctv-information.co.uk/constant3/anpr.
html
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2 Key words 4 Vocabulary: Pronunciation

1. surveillance oOo Ooo
2. reconstruct
surveillance motorists
3. motorist
campaigners database
4. civil rights
recording criminals
5. Home Office
converted motorways
6. unmarked vehicles
illegal duplicate
7. equipped
8. disproportionate
9. watchdog
10. locate
11. duplicate
12. deter
1. T
2. F
3. T
4. T
5. F
6. T
7. T
8. F
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Tourism curbed in bid to save Galápagos haven
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
crackdown influx chronicle culprit revenue

cumbersome cap ancillary flock impoverished
1. If you place a _______________________ on something, you limit its numbers.

2. If you _______________________ something, you make a record of events in the order in which they
happened.
3. _______________________ means ‘very poor’.
4. An _______________________ is a large number of people coming to a particular place.
5. _______________________ services are connected to a main activity but are less important.
6. If people _______________________ to a place, they gather there in large numbers because there is
something interesting to see or do there.
7. A _______________________ is strong action taken by the authorities to stop a particular activity.
8. _______________________ is income from business activities or taxes.
9. A _______________________ system is complicated, slow and ineffective.
10. The _______________________ is the cause of something bad happening.
2 What do you know?
Decide whether these statements are true (T) or false (F). Then check your answers in the text.
1. The Galápagos Islands are situated in the Pacific Ocean.
2. They belong to Peru.
3. No-one lives on the Galápagos Islands.
4. Charles Darwin studied wildlife on the Galápagos Islands.
5. Darwin was born in the 18th century.
6. The Galápagos Islands are home to exotic animals.

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NEWS LESSONS / Tourism curbed in bid to save Galápagos haven / Advanced

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Tourism curbed in bid to save 6 1,000 migrant workers have returned to the
Galápagos haven mainland in the past year. Another 2,000 have
Plants and animals are threatened by the number been told to leave within 12 months. If they go,
of visitors to the islands Darwin explored. Now the permanent human population of 30,000
illegal migrant workers in spin-off industries are will have been decimated. However, there are
being expelled to save the archipelago’s ecology no plans to curb the soaring number of tourists
– mostly well-heeled Europeans and Americans
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
who visit for a few days – which this year is set
October 12, 2008
to reach 180,000. ‘Of course the tourist numbers
1 The volcanic Galápagos archipelago off South have an environmental impact, but we cannot
America’s Pacific coast is famous for its exotic forfeit the economic opportunity,’ said Macias.
wildlife. Charles Darwin’s observations on the 7 The idea is to maintain the bonanza but lighten
Galápagos Islands inspired his theory of natural its environmental footprint by scaling back
selection and turned the islands into a symbol ancillary activities which require imported labour.
of adaptation and survival. Flightless birds, giant Environmentalists welcomed the initiative, but
tortoises and marine iguanas all found a home in worried it did not go far enough. ‘The system
the lava-scarred landscape. is currently broken, or certainly strained,’ said
2 And so, for a time, did a new human arrival: the Johannah Barry, president of the Galápagos
illegal migrant worker. For decades, thousands Conservancy. ‘The problem is not so much the
flocked from the impoverished Ecuadorean number of tourists as the ancillary economy
mainland and found jobs in the tourist industry as that’s going up around it. It makes sense to limit
maids, waiters, cleaners and shop assistants. the strain.’
3 Now, however, the migrants are vanishing 8 What Darwin chronicled in 1835 – a living
– targeted in an unprecedented Ecuadorean laboratory of flora and fauna whose interactions
government crackdown intended to rein in helped explain evolution – has been disrupted
a breakneck tourism boom and save the not so much by people as by the alien species
archipelago’s unique ecology. which accompanied them: goats, cats, cattle,
pigs, mosquitoes, etc. They challenge local
4 Record numbers of tourist developments have habitats in ways nature never intended. Another
threatened endangered plant and animal species culprit is oil leaking from vessels – notably the
and prompted Unesco, the United Nations’ tanker Jessica which ran aground in 2001 – and
cultural agency, to place the Galápagos on its ‘in over-fishing. Populations of sharks and sea
danger list’. The influx is expected to swell for next cucumbers have fallen. Scientists at Galápagos
year’s 200th anniversary of the birth of Darwin. National Park have called for a cap on tourists,
saying it is the only way to prevent
5 Two centuries after Darwin, most of the islands’ further damage.
species have survived human settlement, but the
authorities have become alarmed and decided 9 The annual revenue of the islands is now
to crack down. But only on migrant workers, estimated at $200m, but much of this goes to
not the tourists. Checkpoints and patrols have tax-paying airlines and tour operators on the
been set up to catch illegal residents who are mainland. Last month Ecuador’s Environment
then marched on to aircraft and flown 600 miles Minister, Marcela Aguiñaga said there was
east back to the mainland. ‘It is a policy to send no sign that tourism was ‘oversaturated’.
home all those who do not have legal status or President Rafael Correa, a self-proclaimed
the proper documentation,’ said Carlos Macias, a environmentalist, has acknowledged that the
spokesman for the regional planning agency. ‘We Galápagos are at risk and is trying to shake up
are enforcing the law.’ the notoriously cumbersome and bureaucratic
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Level 3 Advanced
local government. It was apparently at Correa’s estimated 6,000 undocumented workers, a fifth of
prompting that Unesco visited the archipelago the permanent population.
last year and placed it on its ‘danger list’, a
decision upheld in July. The government says it 11 Expulsions were a bold start, but further steps
is working on a new ‘tourism model’ to reconcile were needed to protect the archipelago’s
a continued tourism boom with environmental ecology, said Henry Nicholls, author of a book on
protection. Expelling illegal migrant workers is conservation. ‘Kicking people out is one thing,
part of the new approach. but it would also be sensible to put a cap on
tourist numbers and to reform the tourist industry.
10 Upon arrival all visitors are now given identity Neither of those decisions is easy.’
cards to help authorities keep track of
movements and departures. Most migrant workers © Guardian News & Media 2008
who are obliged to leave do so under their own First published in The Observer, 12/10/08
steam and only a minority are frogmarched to the
airport, said Macias, the state official. There are an
1. Why is the Ecuadorean government reluctant to limit the number of tourists visiting the Galápagos Islands?
a. Because the tourists do not do as much damage as the migrant workers.
b. Because they have no environmental impact.
c. Because the government earns a lot of money from tourism.
2. What has caused the biggest disruption to flora and fauna on the Galápagos Islands?
a. Illegal workers.
b. Tourists.
c. Alien species.
3. What is the significance of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Darwin for the Galápagos Islands?
a. It will greatly increase the number of tourists visiting the islands.
b. It will enable Unesco to take the islands off its danger list.
c. It will encourage the Ecuadorean government to work on a new tourism model.
4. What is the reaction of conservationists to the expulsion of the illegal migrant workers?
a. They are angry about it.
b. They welcome it but say it is only a start.
c. They think it will solve all the conservation problems experienced on the Galápagos Islands.
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4 Find the word
1. A noun meaning a large group of small islands. (para 1)
2. An adjective meaning the greatest in size or amount that has ever been known. (para 3)
3. A verb meaning to control or limit something that is harmful. (para 6)
4. A two-word adjective meaning rich. (para 6)
5. A two-word expression used for saying what a particular person describes themselves as, even though other
people might not agree. (para 9)
6. A four-word expression meaning without the help of anyone else. (para 10)
7. A verb meaning to force someone to walk somewhere with their arms held tightly. (para 10)
8. An adjective meaning involving a risk. (para 11)
5 Phrasal verbs
Match these phrasal verbs from the text with their meanings.
1. rein in a. make something smaller in size than it used to be

2. crack down b. organise or plan something such as an event or system
3. set up c. make changes in the way something operates so that it is more effective
4. scale back d. limit or control something that has developed too much
5. shake up e. force someone to leave a place
6. kick out f. start dealing with something much more strictly
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns or noun phrases in the right-hand column. Check
your answers in the text.
1. uphold a. an opportunity
2. enforce b. track of
3. welcome c. an impact
4. prevent d. an initiative
5. have e. a decision
6. forfeit f. further damage
7. keep g. the environment/ecology
8. protect h. the law
7 Discussion
Should tourists be banned from environmentally threatened regions? What are the arguments for and against
such an initiative?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1. cap 1. archipelago
2. chronicle 2. unprecedented
3. impoverished 3. curb
4. influx 4. well-heeled
5. ancillary 5. self-proclaimed
6. flock 6. under one’s own steam
7. crackdown 7. frogmarch
8. revenue 8. bold
9. cumbersome
10. culprit
5 Phrasal Verbs
2 What do you know? 1. d

2. f
1. T 3. b
2. F 4. a
3. F 5. c
4. T 6. e
5. F
6. T
3 Comprehension check 1. e
2. h
1. c 3. d
2. c 4. f
3. a 5. c
4. b 6. a
7. b
8. g
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
revenue cap migrant mainland impoverished

expel alien boom checkpoint flora and fauna
1. ________________________ means from another country.
2. A ________________________ is a place where soldiers or police stop traffic.
3. ________________________ is money you get from business activities or taxes.
4. A ________________________ is a sudden increase in profits in a particular industry.
5. ________________________ are the plants and animals of a region or country.
6. If you place a ________________________ on something, you limit its numbers.
7. ________________________ means very poor.
8. A ________________________ is someone who travels to another country to find work.
9. If you ________________________ someone from a place, you force them to leave.
10. The ________________________ is the mass of land that forms the main part of a country and does not
include any islands.
1. Where are the Galápagos Islands?
2. Which country are the Galápagos Islands part of?
3. What is the permanent population of the islands?
4. How many tourists will visit the islands this year?
5. How many migrant workers have already returned to the mainland?
6. When was Charles Darwin born? 1808 or 1809?

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NEWS LESSONS / Tourism curbed in bid to save Galápagos haven / Elementary

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Tourism curbed in bid to save leave within 12 months. If they go, the human
Galápagos haven population of 30,000 will fall by 10%. But there are
no plans to control the growing number of tourists
Plants and animals are threatened by the number
– mostly rich Europeans and Americans who visit
of visitors to the islands Darwin explored. Now
for a few days – which this year will probably reach
illegal migrant workers in spin-off industries are
180,000. ‘Of course the tourist numbers have an
being expelled to save the archipelago’s ecology
effect on the environment, but we cannot lose this
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent economic opportunity,’ said Macias.
October 12, 2008
6 The idea is to keep the tourist boom but reduce
1 The exotic wildlife of the Galápagos Islands off the activities related to tourism which require imported
Pacific coast of South America is famous around labour. Environmentalists are pleased the
the world. Charles Darwin spent some time in the authorities have taken action, but they believe
Galápagos in the 19th century and developed his more action is needed. ‘The system is broken,
theory of natural selection from what he saw there. or certainly almost broken,’ said Johannah Barry,
The islands became a symbol of adaptation and president of the Galápagos Conservancy. ‘The
survival. The Galápagos were home to flightless problem is not the number of tourists but the related
birds, giant tortoises and marine iguanas. economy that is growing around tourism. We must
try and reduce it.’
2 Then a new human arrival came to the islands: the
illegal migrant worker. For years thousands came 7 In 1835 Darwin wrote about a living laboratory of
from the impoverished Ecuadorean mainland and flora and fauna whose interactions helped explain
found jobs in the tourist industry as maids, waiters, evolution. It is not people who have changed
cleaners and shop assistants. But now the migrants this living laboratory but the alien species which
are leaving – as the Ecuadorean government have accompanied them: goats, cats, cattle, pigs,
tries to save the unique ecology of the islands by mosquitoes, etc. They damage local habitats in
controlling the level of tourist development. ways nature never intended. Another problem is oil
leaking from ships and over-fishing. Populations
3 Record numbers of tourists have endangered rare of sharks and other sea creatures have fallen.
plant and animal species and now Unesco, the Scientists at Galápagos National Park have called
United Nations’ cultural agency, has placed the for a cap on tourists, saying it is the only way to
Galápagos on its ‘in danger list’. People expect that stop further damage.
the number of tourists will increase for next year’s
200th anniversary of the birth of Darwin. 8 The revenue of the islands is around $200m, but
most of this goes to airlines and tour operators
4 Two centuries after Darwin, most of the islands’ on the mainland. President Rafael Correa of
species have survived human settlement, but the Ecuador admits that the Galápagos are at risk
authorities are worried and have decided to take and is trying to reform the slow and bureaucratic
action. But not on the tourists – on the migrant local government. People believe it was Correa
workers. They have set up checkpoints to catch who encouraged Unesco to visit the islands last
illegal residents who they then put on to aircraft year and place them on its ‘danger list’. The
and fly 600 miles east back to the mainland. ‘It is government says it is working on a new ‘tourism
our policy to send home all those who do not have model’ to continue the tourism boom and protect
the correct documentation and the right to be here,’ the environment at the same time. Expelling illegal
said Carlos Macias, a spokesman for the regional migrant workers is part of the new strategy.
planning agency. ‘This is the law.’
9 When they arrive all visitors now get an identity
5 In the past year 1,000 migrant workers have card so the authorities can follow their movements
returned to the mainland. Another 2,000 have to and departures but there are still around 6,000
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workers without documents, a fifth of the
permanent population.
10 Henry Nicholls, an author of a book on conservation,

says that expelling the illegal migrant workers is
a good start, but that further steps are needed to
protect the ecology of the islands. ‘Expelling people
is one thing, but it would also be a good idea to put
a cap on tourist numbers and to reform the tourist
industry. Those are not easy decisions.’

1. The number of visitors to the Galápagos Islands will increase next year because…
2. The number of migrant workers on the Galápagos Islands is falling because…
3. The authorities are not planning…
4. Environmentalists believe…
5. Most of the money the islands earn from tourism…
6. Putting a cap on tourist numbers and reforming the tourist industry…
a. … goes to airlines and tour operators on the mainland.
b. … it is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Darwin.
c. … will not be easy decisions.
d. … the authorities are expelling them.
e. … the authorities should take more action.
f. … to reduce the number of tourists.

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Level 1 Elementary
Match the words from the left-hand column with the words in the right-hand column to make two-word
expressions from the text. Check your answers in the text.
1. sea a. government
2. migrant b. operator
3. local c. card
4. giant d. industry
5. tourist e. species
6. tour f. worker
7. alien g. creatures
8. identity h. tortoise
Fill the gaps in the phrases from the text using prepositions. Check your answers in the text.
1. jobs _____________ the tourist industry

2. the level _____________ tourist development
3. fly back _____________ the mainland
4. have an effect _____________ the environment
5. activities related _____________ tourism
6. oil leaking _____________ ships
7. _____________ risk
8. part _______ the strategy
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1 select
2 adapt
3 survive
4 develop
5 settle
6 interact
7 evolve
8 depart
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KEY
1. alien 1. g
2. checkpoint 2. f
3. revenue 3. a
4. boom 4. h
5. flora and fauna 5. d
6. cap 6. b
7. impoverished 7. e
8. migrant 8. c
9. expel
10. mainland

2. of
1. off the Pacific coast of South America 3. to
2. Ecuador 4. on
3. 30,000 5. to
4. 180,000 6. from
5. 1,000 7. at
6. 1809 8. of
1. b verb noun
2. d 1 select selection
3. f 2 adapt adaptation
4. e 3 survive survival
5. a 4 develop development
6. c 5 settle settlement
6 interact interaction
7 evolve evolution
8 depart departure
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1 Key words
crack down revenue impoverished archipelago cap

migrant mainland disrupt saturated expel
1. If you ____________________ something, you interrupt it and prevent it from continuing by causing a problem.
2. If something is ____________________, it is completely full.
3. The ____________________ is the mass of land that forms the main part of a country and does not include
any islands.
4. If you place a ____________________ on something, you limit its numbers.
5. If you ____________________ someone from a place, you force them to leave.
6. A ____________________ is someone who travels to another country to find work.
7. ____________________ is income from business activities or taxes.
8. ____________________ means ‘very poor’.
9. If the authorities ____________________ on an activity, they start dealing with it much more strictly.
10. An ____________________ is a large group of small islands.
1. Where are the Galápagos Islands?
2. Which country are the Galápagos Islands part of?
3. What is the permanent population of the islands?
4. What is the predicted number of tourist visitors this year?
5. How many migrant workers have already returned to the mainland?
6. When did Charles Darwin visit the Galápagos Islands?

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NEWS LESSONS / Tourism curbed in bid to save Galápagos haven / Intermediate

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Tourism curbed in bid to save there are no plans to control the growing number of
Galápagos haven tourists – mostly rich Europeans and Americans who
Plants and animals are threatened by the number visit for a few days – which this year will probably
of visitors to the islands Darwin explored. Now reach 180,000. ‘Of course the tourist numbers have
illegal migrant workers in spin-off industries are an environmental impact, but we cannot lose this
being expelled to save the archipelago’s ecology economic opportunity,’ said Macias.
Rory Carroll, Latin America correspondent
6 The idea is to keep the tourist boom but reduce
October 12, 2008
activities related to tourism which require imported
1 The volcanic Galápagos archipelago off South labour. Environmentalists welcomed the initiative,
America’s Pacific coast is famous for its exotic wildlife. but worried it did not go far enough. ‘The system
Charles Darwin’s observations on the Galápagos is currently broken, or certainly almost broken,’
Islands inspired his theory of natural selection and said Johannah Barry, president of the Galápagos
turned the islands into a symbol of adaptation and Conservancy. ‘The problem is not so much the
survival. Flightless birds, giant tortoises and marine number of tourists as the related economy that’s
iguanas all found a home in the islands. going up around it. It makes sense to try and reduce it.’
2 And so, for a time, did a new human arrival: the illegal 7 What Darwin described in 1835 – a living laboratory
migrant worker. For years thousands came from the of flora and fauna whose interactions helped explain
impoverished Ecuadorean mainland and found jobs evolution – has been disrupted not so much by people
in the tourist industry as maids, waiters, cleaners and as by the alien species which accompanied them:
shop assistants. But now the migrants are vanishing goats, cats, cattle, pigs, mosquitoes, etc. They disrupt
– as the Ecuadorean government tries to save the local habitats in ways nature never intended. Another
archipelago’s unique ecology by controlling the level problem is oil leaking from ships – notably the tanker
of tourist development on the islands. Jessica which ran aground in 2001 – and over-fishing.
Populations of sharks and other sea creatures have
3 Record numbers of tourists have threatened fallen. Scientists at Galápagos National Park have
endangered plant and animal species and has led to called for a cap on tourists, saying it is the only way to
Unesco, the United Nations’ cultural agency, placing prevent further damage.
the Galápagos on its ‘in danger list’. The number of
tourists is expected to increase for next year’s 200th 8 The revenue of the islands is around $200m, but
anniversary of the birth of Darwin. a lot of this goes to airlines and tour operators on
the mainland. Last month Ecuador’s Environment
4 Two centuries after Darwin, most of the islands’ Minister, Marcela Aguiñaga said there was no sign
species have survived human settlement, but the that tourism was ‘saturated’. President Rafael Correa
authorities have become worried and have decided admits that the Galápagos are at risk and is trying to
to crack down. But only on migrant workers, not the shake up the slow and bureaucratic local government.
tourists. They have set up checkpoints and patrols to Apparently it was Correa who encouraged Unesco
catch illegal residents who are then put on to aircraft to visit the archipelago last year and place it on its
and flown 600 miles east back to the mainland. ‘It ‘danger list’. The government says it is working on a
is a policy to send home all those who do not have new ‘tourism model’ to continue the tourism boom and
legal status or the proper documentation,’ said Carlos protect the environment at the same time. Expelling
Macias, a spokesman for the regional planning illegal migrant workers is part of the new approach.
agency. ‘We are enforcing the law.’
9 When they arrive all visitors are now given identity
5 In the past year 1,000 migrant workers have returned cards to help authorities keep track of movements
to the mainland. Another 2,000 have been told to and departures. Most migrant workers who have to
leave within 12 months. If they go, the permanent leave go under their own steam and only a few have
human population of 30,000 will fall by 10%. However, to be forced to go to the airport, said Macias, the state
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official. There are an estimated 6,000 undocumented
workers, a fifth of the permanent population.
10 Henry Nicholls, an author of a book on conservation,

says that the expulsions are a bold start, but that
further steps are needed to protect the archipelago’s
ecology. ‘Kicking people out is one thing, but it would
also be sensible to put a cap on tourist numbers
and to reform the tourist industry. Neither of those
decisions is easy.’

Are these statements true (T) or false (F) according to the text?
1. The Ecuadorean government wants to reduce the number of tourists.
2. The number of tourists will probably fall next year.
3. Most of the illegal migrant workers have now left the islands.
4. Most of the money the islands earn goes to the mainland.
5. Most of the tourists come from North America and Europe.
6. Conservationists believe that the expulsion of the migrant workers is enough to protect the ecology of the islands.
4 Find the word
help you.
1. A noun meaning a place where traffic can be stopped by soldiers or police. (para 4)
2. A verb meaning to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people. (para 4)
3. A noun meaning an effect on something. (para 5)
4. A noun meaning an important action that is intended to solve a problem. (para 6)
5. An adjective meaning from a different country. (para 7)
6. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to make changes in the way something operates so that it is more effective.
(para 8)
7. A four-word expression meaning without the help of anyone else. (para 9)
8. An adjective meaning involving a risk. (para 10)
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from the text.
1. tourist a. card
2. migrant b. operator
3. legal c. aground
4. environmental d. industry
5. run e. species
6. tour f. worker
7. alien g. impact
8. identity h. status
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1 expel
2 develop
3 adapt
4 survive
5 settle
6 evolve
7 depart
8 approach
7 Discussion
Should we try to help the environment by reducing air travel and tourism?
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1. disrupt 1. checkpoint
2. saturated 2. enforce
3. mainland 3. impact
4. cap 4. initiative
5. expel 5. alien
6. migrant 6. shake up
7. revenue 7. under their own steam
8. impoverished 8. bold
9. crack down
10. archipelago

2. f
1. In the Pacific (off the coast of South America) 3. h
2. Ecuador 4. g
3. 30,000 5. c
4. 180,000 6. b
5. 1,000 7. e
6. 1835 8. a
1. F verb noun
2. F 1 expel expulsion
3. F 2 develop development
4. T
3 adapt adaptation
5. T
6. F 4 survive survival
5 settle settlement
6 evolve evolution
7 depart departure
8 approach approach
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Villainous tale of modern India wins £50,000 Booker prize
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
What is the Man Booker prize?

a) An award for the best work of fiction written by a young author (under 40 years old).
b) A prize for a full-length novel written in English by a citizen of the British Commonwealth or the Republic
of Ireland.
c) A literary prize for the best international first-time novelist.
Can you name any other literary prizes?
What advantages are there in winning a literary prize?
a) for the author b) for the publishing house c) for the author’s agent
2 Key words
a) Write the key words from the article into the sentences below. The paragraph numbers are given to
help you.
1. An adjective meaning to behave in an immoral way. _____________________ (title)
2. An adjective meaning first. _____________________ (title)
3. When something is this, everyone (without exception) is in agreement. _____________________ (para 3)
4. An adjective used to describe someone who is behaving in a very self-confident and annoying way.
_____________________ (para 4)
5. An adjective used to describe someone or something that is or has become very, very poor.
_____________________ (para 5)
6. An adjective to describe someone who has advantages that others do not have because he has money or
high social status. _____________________ (para 5)
7. A compound noun meaning the most modern and advanced point in the development of something.
_____________________ (para 8)
8. A noun used to describe the prime minister or leader of a country. _____________________ (para 10)
9. Modern and up-to-date. _____________________ (para 10)
10. A noun that is used when we get a sudden feeling that we must have or must do something.
_____________________ (para 10)
b) In paragraph 7, Michael Portillo says that the book knocked his socks off. What does he mean by that?
Is the expression positive or negative? Skim-read the article to find out. Give an example of something
that has knocked your socks off.
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NEWS LESSONS / Villainous tale of modern India wins £50,000 Booker prize / Advanced
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Level 3 Advanced
Out of the Darkness: Adiga’s White a common culture between rich and poor, but
Tiger rides to Booker victory against not anymore.” Asked what he would do with the
the odds money, he said: “The first thing is to find a bank I
• Villainous tale of modern India wins £50,000 prize can put it in.”
• Debut novel now certain to become commercial hit
7 Portillo said that Adiga “undertakes an
Charlotte Higgins, chief arts writer extraordinary task – he gains and holds the
October 15, 2008 reader’s attention with a hero who is an absolute
villain”. He also praised the work’s attention to
1 After an “emotionally draining” and closely fought
“important social issues: the division between
final judging session, Aravind Adiga, one of the
rich and poor, and issues on a global scale. And
two debut novelists on the Man Booker shortlist,
it is extremely readable.” The main criterion for
was last night awarded the £50,000 prize for The
the prize, he said, was: “Does this book knock
White Tiger, a modern novel about the dark side
my socks off? And this did.”
of the new India.
8 The feeling among the judges, Portillo said,
2 Adiga, 33, was a surprise winner. He is only the
was that “here was a book on the cutting edge,
fourth first-time novelist to win the prize, after
dealing with a different aspect of India, unfamiliar
Keri Hulme in 1985, Arundhati Roy in 1997 and
perhaps to many readers. What set it apart was
DBC Pierre in 2003 – and he is the second
its originality. The feeling was that this was
youngest after Ben Okri, who won in 1991 aged 32.
new territory.”
3 Michael Portillo, the chair of the judges, talked
9 Portillo likened the novel to Macbeth. “It is about
of a final panel meeting characterised by
ambition realised through murder,” he said, “but
“passionate debate”. Adiga’s book won by a
with a delicious twist. Whereas Lady Macbeth
“sufficient”, but by no means unanimous, margin.
and Macbeth are driven mad by their crime, the
“It was pretty close,” said Portillo, and in the
hero of this book is only driven mad by the fact
last stages it was down to a battle between The
that he hesitated and might not have committed
White Tiger and one other book.
his crime.”
4 The White Tiger takes a sharp look at the reality
10 The novel takes the form of seven letters
of India’s economic miracle. Its antihero and
addressed by Balram to the Chinese premier on
narrator, Balram Halwai, is a cocksure, uneducated
the eve of a state visit. The unpleasant reality
young man, the son of an impoverished rickshaw
of contemporary Indian society is revealed via
driver. By lying, betraying and using his sharp
sketches of characters, from millionaires in their
intelligence, Balram makes his way up into the
air-conditioned tower blocks to the unfortunates
heady heights of Bangalore’s big business.
who are trapped in poverty and who live literally
5 The writing of the novel, said Adiga, had below them, catering to their every whim. Kevin
come out of his career as a journalist, and his Rushby, reviewing the book for the Guardian, called
encounters – as a relatively privileged middle- it “a witty parable of India’s changing society”.
class man – with members of India’s underclass.
11 Adiga was born in Chennai in 1974 and was
“Class is a boring topic to write about. Big divides
raised partly in Australia. Having studied at
are not what people are interested in. But it’s the
Columbia and Oxford universities, he became a
most pressing concern – because other things
journalist, and has written for Time magazine and
spring out of it, like terrorism and instability,” he
many British newspapers. He lives in Mumbai.
said. “The book has done very well in India.
6 “Something extraordinary is happening between
the rich and the poor. Once, there was at least
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Choose the correct answer according to the information in the article.
1. When deciding who would win the prize, the judges ... 4. The author of the novel describes himself as ...
a) ... had a fight. a) ... a relatively privileged middle-class man.
b) ... had dinner together. b) ... an absolute villain.
c) ... had a hard time. c) ... the son of a rickshaw driver.
d) ... had an easy job. d) ... being from the impoverished underclass.
2. The youngest ever Man Booker prize winner is ... 5. The novel ...
a) ... Keri Hulme. a) ... is written in the form of letters.
b) ... Arundhati Roy. b) ... is about class divisions.
c) ... Ben Okri. c) ... has been likened to a Shakespeare tragedy.
d) ... Aravind Adiga. d) ... is all of the above.
3. The main character in the novel is ... 6: The winner of the Man Booker prize receives ...
a) ... an upper-class student. a) ... a guaranteed increase in sales.
b) ... an Indian businessman. b) ... fifty-thousand British pounds.
c) ... the Chinese premier. c) ... a handshake from the queen.
d) ... the son of a rickshaw driver. d) ... fame and glory but nothing else.
Match the words to make collocations from the article.
1. emotionally concern
2. closely debate
3. passionate miracle
4. sufficient task
5. economic draining
6. pressing twist
7. extraordinary margin
8. delicious fought
Now write your own example sentences for the collocations.

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5 Discussion
• What book are you reading at the moment / What was the last book you read?
• Who would you recommend it to?
• Give a rough description of the type of novel you would like to read next. Can anyone recommend
you a book?
• Are there any novels you’ve read in the past that you can really recommend?
6 Webquest
• Find out how much the book, The White Tiger, costs if you order it online.
• Which online bookshop offers the best price (don’t forget to include potential postage costs).
• If you order the book today, when will you receive it?
• Is the book available in any other languages? If so which, and how much does the book cost in your
preferred language?
• Read an online synopsis of the book. Does it make you want to read the book? Why / Why not?
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KEY
b) A prize for a full-length novel written in English by a 1. c

citizen of the British Commonwealth or the Republic 2. c
of Ireland. 3. d
See http://www.themanbookerprize.com/ 4. a
5. d
6. b
2 Key words
1. villainous
2. debut
3. unanimous
4. cocksure 1. emotionally draining
5. impoverished 2. closely fought
6. privileged 3. passionate debate
7. cutting edge 4. sufficient margin
8. premier 5. economic miracle
9. contemporary 6. pressing concern
10. whim 7. extraordinary task
8. delicious twist
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1 Warmer
a) A prize for the best short story by a young author (under 40 years old).
b) A prize for a full-length novel written in English by a citizen of the British Commonwealth or the Republic
of Ireland.
c) A prize for the best international first-time novelist.
2 Key words
Write the key words from the article into the sentences below. This will help you understand the text.
state visit novelist underclass sketches whim instability

economic miracle debut villainous originality judge rickshaw
1. A word meaning behaving in an immoral, bad or criminal way. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (title)

2. An adjective meaning first. _ _ _ _ _ (title)
3. Someone who writes a fictional book. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (para 1)
4. Someone who decides who will win a competition. _ _ _ _ _ (para 2)
5. A financial wonder. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (para 3)
6. A small vehicle used for carrying people, usually pulled by someone riding a bicycle. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (para 3)
7. The people at the very bottom of society. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (para 4)
8. A worrying situation that keeps changing. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (para 4)
9. The quality of being new, interesting and unique. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (para 6)
10. A visit that involves the head or government of a country. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (para 7)
11. Short written descriptions. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (para 7)
12. A noun that is used when we get a sudden feeling that we must have or must do something. _ _ _ _ (para 7)
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NEWS LESSONS / Villainous tale of modern India wins £50,000 Booker prize / Elementary
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Out of the Darkness: Adiga’s White with a different aspect of India, one perhaps
Tiger rides to Booker victory against that many readers do not know. What made it
the odds different was its originality.”
• Villainous tale of modern India wins £50,000 prize
• Debut novel now certain to become commercial hit 7 The novel takes the form of seven letters written
by Balram to the Chinese leader the evening
Charlotte Higgins, chief arts writer
before a state visit. The unpleasant reality of
October 15, 2008
modern Indian society is shown via sketches of
characters, from millionaires in their
1 Aravind Adiga last night won the £50,000 Man
air-conditioned tower blocks to the unfortunate
Booker prize for The White Tiger, a modern novel
people who are trapped in poverty and who
about the dark side of the new India. Adiga,
live literally below them, catering to their every
33, was a surprise winner. He is only the fourth
whim. Kevin Rushby, who reviewed the book for
first-time novelist to win the prize, after Keri
the Guardian, called it “a witty story of India’s
Hulme in 1985, Arundhati Roy in 1997 and DBC
changing society”.
Pierre in 2003 – and he is the second youngest
after Ben Okri, who won in 1991 aged 32.
8 Adiga was born in Chennai in 1974 and was
raised partly in Australia. Having studied at
2 Michael Portillo, one of the judges, said “It
Columbia and Oxford universities, he became a
was pretty close, but in the end it was a battle
journalist, and has written for Time magazine and
between The White Tiger and one other book.”
many British newspapers. He lives in Mumbai.
3 The White Tiger takes a sharp look at the reality

of India’s economic miracle. The main character,
Balram Halwai, is an uneducated young man, the
son of a poor rickshaw driver. He lies and uses
his sharp intelligence to make his way up to the
top of Bangalore’s big business.
4 The decision to write the novel, said Adiga,

came from his career as a journalist, and his
encounters with members of India’s underclass.
“Class is a boring topic to write about. Big divides
are not what people are interested in. But it’s
important – because other things come out of it,
like terrorism and instability,” he said. “The book
has done very well in India.”
5 Portillo praised the book’s attention to “important

social issues: the division between rich and poor,
and issues on a global scale. And it is extremely
readable even though the hero is an
absolute villain.”
6 The feeling among the judges, Portillo said, was

that “here was an up-to-date book, which deals
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1. Aravind Adiga won ... ... receives £50,000.

2. The winner of the Man Booker prize ... ... letters to the Chinese leader.
3. The main character in his novel ... ... money divisions in Indian society.
4. The novel is written in the form of ... ... popular in India.
5. The book is about class and ... ... first work of fiction.
6. The author thinks class is a boring ... ... this year’s Man Booker prize.
7. The book is very ... ... but important topic to write about.
8. The White Tiger is Aravind Adiga’s ... ... is an unpleasant businessman.
4 Vocabulary: Questions
Write questions for these answers using the prompt words below and any other necessary words.
question prompts questions answers

E.g. When / Aravind Adiga / born When was Aravind Adiga born? 1974
1. How much / prize £50,000
2. How old 33
3. What / title / book The White Tiger
4. Where / story / take place India
5. What / main character’s / father A rickshaw driver
6. Who / main character / write letters The Chinese leader
7. What / Aravind Adiga’s / job A journalist
5 Discussion
Brainstorm as many book genres as possible, e.g. historical romances, detective stories, ...
• What type of books do you like to read?
• Would you recommend it to the others in your group?
6 Webquest
• How much does the book, The White Tiger, cost from an online bookshop?
• Can you buy the book in your language? If so, how much does it cost?
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Freerunning
Villainous tale
joins
of modern
sport establishment
India wins £50,000 Booker prize
Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Warmer 4 Vocabulary: Questions
1. b) A prize for a full-length novel written in English by (suggested answers)

a citizen of the British Commonwealth or the 1. How much is the prize money?
Republic of Ireland. 2. How old is Aravind Adiga?
See http://www.themanbookerprize.com/ 3. What is the title of the book?
4. Where does the story take place?
5. What does the main character’s father’s job?
6. Who does the main character write letters to?
2 Key words
7. What is/was Aravind Adiga’s job?
1. villainous
2. debut
3. novelist
4. judge
5. economic miracle
6. rickshaw
7. underclass
8. instability
9. originality
10. state visit
11. sketches
12. whim
1. Aravind Adiga won this year’s Man Booker prize.

2. The winner of the Man Booker prize receives
£50,000.
3. The main character in his novel is an unpleasant
businessman.
4. The novel is written in the form of letters to the
Chinese leader.
5. The book is about class and money divisions in
Indian society.
6. The author thinks class is a boring but important topic
to write about.
7. The book is very popular in India.
8. The White Tiger is Aravind Adiga’s first work of fiction.
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a) A prize for the best short story written by a young author (under 40 years old).
b) A prize for a full-length novel written in English by a citizen of the British Commonwealth or the Republic of
Ireland.
c) A prize for the best international first-time novelist.
Can you name any other book prizes?
What advantages are there in winning a book prize?
a) for the author b) for the publishing house c) for the author’s agent
2 Key words
a) Write the key words from the article into the sentences below. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
state visit novelist privileged instability parable whim

impoverished villainous hesitated encounters debut passionate debate
1. An adjective meaning to behave in an immoral way. ______________________ (title)
2. An adjective meaning first. ______________________ (title)
3. Someone who writes a work of fiction. ______________________ (para 1)
4. An emotional discussion in which people state their opinions. ______________________ (para 2)
5. An adjective used to describe someone or something that is or has become very, very poor.
______________________ (para 3)
6. A noun meaning unplanned meetings. ______________________ (para 4)
7. An adjective to describe someone who has advantages that others do not have because he has money or high
social status. ______________________ (para 4)
8. A worrying situation that keeps changing. ______________________ (para 4)
9. A verb meaning to pause before doing something (past participle). ______________________ (para 8)
10. A visit that involves the head or government of a country. ______________________ (para 9)
11. A noun that is used when we get a sudden feeling that we must have or must do something.
______________________ (para 9)
12. A simple story with a moral or (often religious) meaning. ______________________ (para 9)
b) In paragraph 6, Michael Portillo says that the book knocked his socks off. What does he mean by that?
Is the expression positive or negative? Skim-read the article to find out. Give an example of something that
has knocked your socks off.
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NEWS LESSONS / Villainous tale of modern India wins £50,000 Booker prize / Intermediate
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Out of the Darkness: Adiga’s White 6 Portillo said that Adiga “undertakes an extraordinary
Tiger rides to Booker victory against task – he gains and holds the reader’s attention with
the odds a hero who is an absolute villain”. He also praised
• Villainous tale of modern India wins £50,000 prize the work’s attention to “important social issues:
• Debut novel now certain to become commercial hit the division between rich and poor, and issues on
a global scale. And it is extremely readable.” The
main criterion for the prize, he said, was: “Does this
October 15, 2008
book knock my socks off? And this did.”
1 Aravind Adiga, one of the two debut novelists on the 7 The feeling among the judges, Portillo said, was
Man Booker shortlist, was last night awarded the that “here was an up-to-date book, dealing with a
£50,000 prize for The White Tiger, a modern novel different aspect of India, unfamiliar perhaps to many
about the dark side of the new India. Adiga, 33, was readers. What set it apart was its originality. The
a surprise winner. He is only the fourth first-time feeling was that this was new territory.”
novelist to win the prize, after Keri Hulme in 1985,
Arundhati Roy in 1997 and DBC Pierre in 2003 8 Portillo likened the novel to Macbeth. “It is about
– and he is the second youngest after Ben Okri, ambition and murder,” he said, “but with a delicious
who won in 1991 aged 32. twist. Whereas Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are
driven mad by their crime, the hero of this book is
2 Michael Portillo, one of the judges, said the judges’ only driven mad by the fact that he hesitated and
final meeting was characterised by “passionate might not have committed his crime.”
debate. It was pretty close,” said Portillo, and in
the end it was down to a battle between The White 9 The novel takes the form of seven letters addressed
Tiger and one other book. by Balram to the Chinese leader on the eve of a
state visit. The unpleasant reality of modern Indian
3 The White Tiger takes a sharp look at the reality society is shown via sketches of characters, from
of India’s economic miracle. The main character, millionaires in their air-conditioned tower blocks to
Balram Halwai, is an uneducated young man, the the unfortunate people who are trapped in poverty
son of an impoverished rickshaw driver. By lying, and who live literally below them, catering to their
betraying and using his sharp intelligence, Balram every whim. Kevin Rushby, reviewing the book for
makes his way up to the top of Bangalore’s the Guardian, called it “a witty parable of India’s
big business. changing society”.
4 The writing of the novel, said Adiga, had come out 10 Adiga was born in Chennai in 1974 and was raised
of his career as a journalist, and his encounters partly in Australia. Having studied at Columbia and
– as a relatively privileged middle-class man – with Oxford universities, he became a journalist, and
members of India’s underclass. “Class is a boring has written for Time magazine and many British
topic to write about. Big divides are not what people newspapers. He lives in Mumbai.
are interested in. But it’s the most important aspect
– because other things come out of it, like terrorism © Guardian News & Media 2008
and instability,” he said. “The book has done very First published in The Guardian, 15/10/08
well in India.
5 “Something extraordinary is happening between

the rich and the poor. Once, there was at least a
common culture between rich and poor, but not
anymore.” Asked what he would do with the money,
he said: “The first thing is to find a bank I can put
it in.”
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Are the statements true (T) of false (F) according to the information in the article?
1. Aravind Adiga is the youngest ever Man Booker prize winner.

2. The main character in the novel is an upper-class student.
3. The author of the novel describes himself as a relatively privileged middle-class man.
4. The novel is written in the form of letters.
5. The winner of the Man Booker prize receives a guaranteed increase in sales.
6. The author thinks class is a boring but important topic to write about.
7. The book has not sold very well in India.
8. The book’s main character is a good, likeable man.
9. The judges thought there were similarities between the book and one of Shakespeare’s plays.
10. The White Tiger is Aravind Adiga’s first work of fiction.
4 Vocabulary: Questions
Write questions for the answers.
questions answers
E.g. When was Aravind Adiga born? 1974
1. £50,000
2. 33
3. The White Tiger
4. India
5. A rickshaw driver
6. The Chinese leader
7. A journalist
5 Discussion
Brainstorm as many book genres as possible, e.g. historical romances, detective stories, ...
• What type of books do you like to read?
• Would you recommend it to the others in your group?
6 Webquest
• Find out how much the book, The White Tiger, costs if you order it online.
• Which online bookshop offers the best price (don’t forget to include potential postage costs)?
• Is the book available in your language? If so, how much does it cost?
• Read an online synopsis of the book. Would you like to read the book? Why / Why not?
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Addiction tale of modern
Internet ‘is an India wins £50,000 Booker prize
illness’
KEY
b) A prize for a full-length novel written in English by a citizen 1. F

of the British Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. 2. F
See http://www.themanbookerprize.com/ 3. T
4. T
5. F
2 Key words 6. T
7. F
1. villainous 8. F
2. debut 9. T
3. novelist 10. T
4. passionate debate
5. impoverished
6. encounters 4 Vocabulary: Questions
7. privileged
8. instability
Teacher’s note: There will be many different possible correct
9. hesitated
ways of writing the questions required in this task. The point is
10. state visit
controlled practice in forming questions.
11. whim
12. parable

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El maestro Maradona: football legend to be Argentina manager
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
shanty town ruthless imminent obesity eject

galvanise volatile impulsive wizardry charisma
1. A ___________________ person is one who can quickly become angry or violent.

2. An ___________________ person is one who does things without thinking what will happen as a result.
3. A ___________________ person is one willing to make other people suffer so that he or she can achieve their
aims.
4. A ___________________ is an area where very poor people live in badly built houses made of wood or metal
or other thin material.
5. If something is ___________________, it is likely or certain to happen very soon.
6. ___________________ is a strong personal quality that makes other people like you.
7. ___________________ is a condition in which someone is too fat in a way that is dangerous for their health.
8. If you ___________________ someone, you make them leave a place, often using physical force.
9. If you ___________________ people, you affect them enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction.
10. ___________________ is a very high level of skill at something.
2 What do you know?
1. Diego Maradona is Argentinian.
2. He still plays football.
3. He was voted best player of the 20th century.
4. He was thrown out of the 1994 World Cup after testing positive for drugs.
5. Most England football fans love Maradona.
6. Argentina won the 2006 World Cup.

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Level 3 Advanced
El maestro Maradona: football rein in his famously volatile emotions when he
legend to be Argentina manager becomes boss. “It makes me really happy that
Surprise choice marks astonishing comeback by my parents will see me walk out as coach of
controversial star the national team,” he said. “But I don’t want to
cry. The national team needs a man who will
Robert Booth and Sam Jones
make people smile, not cry, who will give them
October 30, 2008
something to enjoy, not suffer.”
1 In the shanty towns of Buenos Aires they used 6 He also said his lack of managerial experience
to call him el pibe, Argentine slang for the – which runs to a total of 23 games with modest
little kid. But yesterday Diego Maradona, the provincial club Deportivo Mandiyu and then
diminutive Argentine footballer whose ball skills Racing Club, in the mid 1990s – would be no
and ruthless cunning have granted him almost problem. “They talk about my inexperience but
mythical status in his home country, was on the I’ve spent 20-odd years in the Argentina team,”
verge of becoming el maestro with his imminent he said. “That’s why it makes me laugh when
appointment as manager of the national team. people talk about inexperience.”
2 The decision by the normally conservative 7 But Maradona is impulsive, unpredictable and
president of the Argentina Football Association, temperamental. For some in Argentina, it is
Julio Grondona, marks an astonishing comeback almost as if Paul Gascoigne, whose personal
for a controversial player who came close to and professional life has closely mirrored that
death in 2004 when he spent 10 days in intensive of Maradona, had taken control of the England
care with respiratory problems following what team – an unthinkable prospect here.
was thought to have been a cocaine-induced
heart attack. 8 Both number 10s were regarded as the greatest
footballers of their era but lost control through
3 Only four years earlier, he had been voted the drink and drugs. Among the Argentine public
best footballer of the 20th century in a poll of fans yesterday there seemed to be limited enthusiasm
for Fifa. He has also endured hospitalisation with for Maradona’s appointment, despite hopes it
alcohol-induced liver problems and underwent might deliver cheer as their economy is struggling
gastric bypass surgery for obesity in a Colombian again. Online polls for daily newspapers La
clinic. In 1994 he was ejected from the World Nación and Clarin reported that around three-
Cup in the US after he tested positive for quarters of respondents disapproved.
ephedrine, a fact that might have been obvious
to anyone who saw him run up to a pitchside 9 Reflecting Maradona’s sometimes volatile
camera and scream into its lens, eyes bulging character, Carlos Tevez, the Manchester United
unnaturally after he scored his only goal of the and Argentina striker who Maradona once
tournament against Greece. described as “the Argentine prophet for the 21st
century”, said: “Diego needs to think more with
4 But with Argentina’s two-time World Cup winning his head than his heart now that he’s coach.”
side in the doldrums in recent internationals,
drawing six in a row earlier this year, Grondona 10 If the appointment is confirmed, as expected in
hopes Maradona’s presence will galvanise the Argentina, there appeared to be trouble ahead
team. “I have wanted Maradona to be coach of for one of the team’s star players. It was reported
the national team since 1979,” said Grondona in that Maradona has previously called Barcelona
a radio interview on Wednesday, following talks midfielder Lionel Messi too selfish in his play.
with the 48-year-old. “In Argentine football there Messi has been dubbed the new Maradona for
is a before and an after Maradona.” his similar build and dribbling wizardry. “There
will be no problem,” said Messi yesterday. “He
5 Maradona indicated yesterday that he would is a great. I admire him for what he has given to
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Argentine soccer. I am optimistic.” “His charisma his countrymen, he means more than that.
will make the players follow him 100%,” said Italy On his 43rd birthday in 2003, fans in Rosario
coach Marcello Lippi, who lifted the 2006 World established the “Church of Maradona” and
Cup. “They will listen to him like an oracle.” decided 2003 should be 43DD, “después de
Diego” or after Diego. “Maybe he’s risking too
11 Most England fans have a love-hate relationship much, as always in his life,” wrote Daniel Arcucci,
with Maradona after the “hand of God” incident a columnist for La Nación, reflecting on his
where he scored a goal with his hand to help appointment. “Even his status as a myth.”
knock England out of the 1986 World Cup. But
he is also respected, alongside Pele, as perhaps © Guardian News & Media 2008
the greatest footballer of all time. To some of First published in The Observer, 30/10/08
1. Diego Maradona ...

a. ... will definitely be the next manager of Argentina.
b. ... is expected to be the next manager of Argentina.
c. ... probably won’t become the next manager of Argentina.
2. Maradona ...
a. ... is regarded as the best footballer of all time.
b. ... is regarded as one of the best two footballers of all time.
c. ... is regarded as possibly one of the best two footballers of all time.
3. Maradona and Paul Gascoigne are compared in the text because ...
a. ... they are both likely to become managers of their national teams.
b. ... they both had drink and drugs problems.
c. ... they were both great footballers who lost control through drink and drugs.
4. How is the current state of the Argentine national team described?

a. They are not playing very well at the moment.
b. They are improving rapidly.
c. They are playing extremely badly this year.
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4 Find the word
1. An adjective meaning very short or small. (para 1)
2. An adjective meaning related to the process of breathing. (para 2)
3. An adjective meaning large and sticking out. (para 3)
4. A three-word expression meaning in a situation where there is a lack of activity or improvement. (para 4)
5. A phrasal verb meaning to bring under control. (para 5)
6. An adjective used after a number meaning approximately. (para 6)
7. An adjective meaning impossible to imagine. (para 7)
8. A three-word expression meaning a relationship in which your feelings about someone often change from
positive to negative. (para 11)
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns they go with in the right-hand column.
1. undergo a. a comeback
2. score b. control
3. take c. an appointment
4. lose d. surgery
5. confirm e. control
6. mark f. a goal
7. induce g. a game
8. draw h. a heart attack
Complete the phrases from the text using prepositions.
1. slang ____________ ‘little kid’

2. close ____________ death
3. surgery ____________ obesity
4. ____________ the verge of
5. take control ____________
6. enthusiasm ____________ something
7. obvious ____________ someone
8. lack ____________ experience
7 Discussion
If people have a history of drug-taking or alcoholism, should they be appointed to positions of authority?
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KEY
1. volatile 1. diminutive
2. impulsive 2. respiratory
3. ruthless 3. bulging
4. shanty town 4. in the doldrums
5. imminent 5. rein in
6. charisma 6. odd
7. obesity 7. unthinkable
8. eject 8. love-hate relationship
9. galvanise
10. wizardry

2. f
1. T 3. b or e
2. F 4. b or e
3. T 5. c
4. T 6. a
5. F 7. h
6. F 8. g
1. b 1. for
2. c 2. to
3. c 3. for
4. a 4. on
5. of
6. for
7. to
8. of
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1 Key words
obesity galvanise volatile poll charisma

mythical unpredictable disapprove selfish depression
1. _____________________ is a strong personal quality that makes other people like you.
2. A _____________________ is an occasion when a lot of people are asked their opinion about something.
3. If something is described as _____________________, it is imaginary or not real.
4. An economic _____________________ is a time when there is a lot of unemployment and poverty because
there is very little economic activity.
5. If you _____________________ of something, you have a negative feeling towards it.
6. If you _____________________ people, you affect them enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction.
7. _____________________ is a condition in which someone is too fat in a way that is dangerous for their health.
8. A _____________________ person is one who thinks only about himself or herself and not about other people.
9. An _____________________ person is one who changes very often in a way that is impossible to prepare for.
10. A _____________________ person is one who can quickly become angry or violent.
1. Where is Diego Maradona from?
2. In what year was he thrown out of the World Cup?
3. How old is he now?
4. How many games has he been in charge of as a manager?
5. How many years did he spend in the Argentina team?
6. How many times have Argentina won the World Cup?

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NEWS LESSONS / El maestro Maradona: football legend to be Argentina manager / Elementary

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El maestro Maradona: football the Argentina team,” he said. “That’s why it makes
legend to be Argentina manager me laugh when people talk about inexperience.”
Surprise choice marks astonishing comeback by 7 But Maradona is volatile and unpredictable. For
controversial star some people in Argentina, it is almost as if Paul
Robert Booth and Sam Jones Gascoigne, whose personal and professional life
October 30, 2008 has been similar to Maradona’s, had taken control
1 In the poor districts of Buenos Aires they used to of the England team – something that would be
call him the ‘little kid’. But now Diego Maradona, impossible in England.
the Argentine footballer with an almost mythical 8 Both players were probably the greatest footballers
status in his home country, might soon become the of their time but lost control through drink and
manager of the national team. drugs. Among the Argentine public there seems to
2 The decision by the normally conservative be limited enthusiasm for Maradona’s appointment,
president of the Argentina Football Association, Julio although some people hope it might make people
Grondona, is an astonishing return for a controversial happy in a time of economic depression. Opinion polls
player who almost died in 2004 when he spent for daily newspapers La Nación and Clarin reported
10 days in intensive care with breathing problems that around three-quarters of people disapproved.
following a heart attack caused by cocaine use. 9 Talking about Maradona’s sometimes volatile
3 Four years before that football fans voted character, Carlos Tevez, the Manchester United and
Maradona the best footballer of the 20th century. Argentina striker said: “Diego needs to think more with
He has also spent time in hospital with liver his head than his heart now that he’s coach.”
problems caused by alcohol and also had surgery 10 If the appointment is confirmed, as expected in
for obesity in a Colombian clinic. In 1994 he was Argentina, there may be problems for one of the
thrown out of the World Cup in the US after a team’s star players. Maradona has said that the
positive drugs test. Barcelona midfielder Lionel Messi is too selfish in
4 Argentina have won the World Cup twice but the his play. Messi has been called the new Maradona
team is not playing well at the moment. Earlier for his similar build and football skills. “There will be
this year they drew six games in a row. Grondona no problem,” said Messi yesterday. “He is a great.
hopes Maradona’s presence will galvanise the I admire him for what he has given to Argentine
team. “I have wanted Maradona to be coach of the soccer. I am optimistic.” “His charisma will make the
national team since 1979,” said Grondona in a radio players follow him 100%,” said Italy coach Marcello
interview on Wednesday, after meeting the 48-year- Lippi, winning coach at the 2006 World Cup. “The
old former player. “In Argentina we talk about football players will listen to him.”
before Maradona and football after Maradona.” 11 Most England fans have a love-hate relationship
5 Maradona said that he would control his volatile with Maradona after the “hand of God” incident
emotions when he becomes boss. “It makes me where he scored a goal with his hand against
really happy that my parents will see me walk out England in the 1986 World Cup. But people also
as coach of the national team,” he said. “But I don’t think that, along with Pele, he is probably the
want to cry. The national team needs a man who greatest footballer of all time. To some people in
will make people smile, not cry, who will give them Argentina, he means more than that. “Maybe he’s
something to enjoy, not suffer.” risking too much, as he always does in his life,”
wrote Daniel Arcucci, a reporter for La Nación.
6 He also said his lack of managerial experience “Even his status is a myth.”
– just 23 games with modest provincial club
Deportivo Mandiyu and then Racing Club, in the
mid 1990s – would be no problem. “They talk about
my inexperience but I’ve spent about 20 years in
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1. Maradona’s return is astonishing because ...
2. Lionel Messi may have problems because ...
3. Maradona was thrown out of the 1994 World Cup because ...
4. Some people hope Maradona’s appointment will make people happy because ...
5. The Italy coach thinks Maradona will be a success because ...
6. England football fans don’t like Maradona because ...
a. ... the players will listen to him.
b. ... he cheated and scored a goal with his hand in a match against England.
c. ... he almost died in 2004.
d. ... Maradona has described him as selfish.
e. ... he tested positive for drugs.
f. ... it is a time of economic depression.
4 Chunks
1. years that before four

2. managerial of lack experience
3. their the greatest time of footballers
4. hate a relationship love
5. test a drugs positive
6. national the the manager team of
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5 Opposites
Write the opposites of these words.
1. predictable _______________________
2. experience _______________________
3. negative _______________________
4. limited _______________________
5. happy _______________________
6. best _______________________
6 Two word expressions
Match the words in the left-hand column with those in the right-hand column to make expressions from
the text.
1. national a. life
2. breathing b. interview
3. personal c. team
4. daily d. test
5. drugs e. control
6. radio f. newspaper
7. lose g. depression
8. economic h. problems
8. economic h. problems
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KEY
1. charisma 1. four years before that

2. poll 2. lack of managerial experience
3. mythical 3. the greatest footballers of their time
4. depression 4. a love-hate relationship
5. disapprove 5. a positive drugs test
6. galvanise 6. the manager of the national team
7. obesity
8. selfish
5 Opposites
9. unpredictable
10. volatile
1. unpredictable
2. inexperience
2 Find the information 3. positive
4. unlimited
1. Buenos Aires, Argentina 5. unhappy
2. 1994 6. worst
3. 48
4. 23
5. about 20
6. twice
1. c
2. h
3 Comprehension check 3. a
4. f
1. c 5. d
2. d 6. b
3. e 7. e
4. f 8. g
5. a
6. b
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1 Key words
cunning shanty town impulsive obesity volatile

galvanise unthinkable charisma poll oracle
1. ____________________ is a condition in which someone is too fat in a way that is dangerous for their health.
2. If something is ____________________, you cannot even imagine it happening.
3. If you ____________________ people, you affect them enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction.
4. ____________________ is a strong personal quality that makes other people like you.
5. An ____________________ person is one who does things without thinking what will happen as a result.
6. A ____________________ is an area where very poor people live in badly built houses made of wood or metal
or other thin material.
7. An ____________________ is a person who gives the best advice or information.
8. A ____________________ person is one who can quickly become angry or violent.
9. ____________________ is the use of clever methods to get what you want, especially methods that involve
tricking or cheating people.
10. A ____________________ is an occasion when a lot of people are asked their opinion about something.
1. Where is Diego Maradona from?
2. In what year was he thrown out of the World Cup?
3. How old is he now?
4. How many games has he been in charge of as a manager?
5. What other three footballers are mentioned in the text?
6. How many times have Argentina won the World Cup?

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NEWS LESSONS / El maestro Maradona: football legend to be Argentina manager / Intermediate

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El maestro Maradona: football inexperience but I’ve spent about 20 years in the
legend to be Argentina manager Argentina team,” he said. “That’s why it makes me
Surprise choice marks astonishing comeback by laugh when people talk about inexperience.”
controversial star 7 But Maradona is impulsive, unpredictable and
Robert Booth and Sam Jones temperamental. For some people in Argentina, it is
October 30, 2008 almost as if Paul Gascoigne, whose personal and
professional life has been similar to Maradona’s, had
1 In the shanty towns of Buenos Aires they used to call taken control of the England team – an unthinkable
him the ‘little kid’. But yesterday Diego Maradona, idea in England.
the Argentine footballer whose ball skills and cunning
have given him almost mythical status in his home 8 Both players were regarded as the greatest footballers
country, was close to becoming the manager of the of their era but lost control through drink and drugs.
national team. Among the Argentine public yesterday there seemed
to be limited enthusiasm for Maradona’s appointment,
2 The decision by the normally conservative president despite hopes it might make people happy in a
of the Argentina Football Association, Julio Grondona, time of economic depression. Opinion polls for daily
marks an astonishing comeback for a controversial newspapers La Nación and Clarin reported that
player who came close to death in 2004 when he around three-quarters of people disapproved.
spent 10 days in intensive care with respiratory
problems following what was thought to have been a 9 Talking about Maradona’s sometimes volatile
heart attack caused by cocaine use. character, Carlos Tevez, the Manchester United and
Argentina striker said: “Diego needs to think more with
3 Only four years earlier, he had been voted the best his head than his heart now that he’s coach.”
footballer of the 20th century in a poll of fans for Fifa.
He has also spent time in hospital with liver problems 10 If the appointment is confirmed, as expected in
caused by alcohol and also had surgery for obesity in Argentina, there may be problems for one of the
a Colombian clinic. In 1994 he was thrown out of the team’s star players. It was reported that Maradona
World Cup in the US after he tested positive for drugs. has previously called Barcelona midfielder Lionel
Messi too selfish in his play. Messi has been called
4 But with Argentina’s two-time World Cup winning the new Maradona for his similar build and dribbling
side playing poorly in recent internationals, drawing skills. “There will be no problem,” said Messi
six in a row earlier this year, Grondona hopes yesterday. “He is a great. I admire him for what he
Maradona’s presence will galvanise the team. “I have has given to Argentine soccer. I am optimistic.” “His
wanted Maradona to be coach of the national team charisma will make the players follow him 100%,” said
since 1979,” said Grondona in a radio interview on Italy coach Marcello Lippi, who lifted the 2006 World
Wednesday, following talks with the 48-year-old. “We Cup. “They will listen to him like an oracle.”
talk about football in Argentina before Maradona and
after Maradona.” 11 Most England fans have a love-hate relationship with
Maradona after the “hand of God” incident where he
5 Maradona indicated yesterday that he would control scored a goal with his hand to help knock England
his volatile emotions when he becomes boss. “It out of the 1986 World Cup. But he is also respected,
makes me really happy that my parents will see me alongside Pele, as perhaps the greatest footballer of
walk out as coach of the national team,” he said. “But I all time. To some of his countrymen, he means more
don’t want to cry. The national team needs a man who than that. “Maybe he’s risking too much, as always
will make people smile, not cry, who will give them in his life,” wrote Daniel Arcucci, a columnist for La
something to enjoy, not suffer.” Nación, reflecting on his appointment. “Even his
6 He also said his lack of managerial experience – just status as a myth.”
23 games with modest provincial club Deportivo © Guardian News & Media 2008
Mandiyu and then Racing Club, in the mid 1990s First published in The Observer, 30/10/08
– would be no problem. “They talk about my
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1. Maradona nearly died in 2004.
2. Argentina have been playing well in recent international matches.
3. Maradona has had problems with drugs but not with alcohol.
4. England football fans love Maradona.
5. Lionel Messi has been called the new Maradona.
6. Maradona once scored a goal with his hand in a match against England.
7. Opinion polls show that most Argentines want Maradona to be the next manager of their national team.
8. Paul Gascoigne is likely to become manager of the England team
4 Find the word
1. A noun meaning a period when someone becomes successful or popular again. (para 2)
2. An adjective meaning related to the process of breathing. (para 2)
3. A verb meaning to get the same score as another team in sport. (para 4)
4. An adjective meaning quite good or successful but not excellent. (para 6)
5. An adjective meaning changing from one mood to another very easily. (para 7)
6. A noun meaning a period of time that has a particular quality or character. (para 8)
7. A three-word expression meaning a relationship in which your feelings about someone often change from
positive to negative. (para 11)
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5 Opposites
Match these words from the text with their opposites.
volatile similar provincial unpredictable limited conservative
1. liberal ___________________
2. stable ___________________
3. complete ___________________
4. cosmopolitan ___________________
5. predictable ___________________
6. different ___________________
the text.
1. national a. player
2. test b. control
3. take c. attack
4. economic d. poll
5. intensive e. team
6. opinion f. depression
7. star g. positive
8. heart h. care
7 Discussion
Do you think Maradona would make a good manager for Argentina’s national team? Give reasons for
your answer.
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KEY
1. obesity 1. comeback
2. unthinkable 2. respiratory
3. galvanise 3. draw
4. charisma 4. modest
5. impulsive 5. temperamental
6. shanty town 6. era
7. oracle 7. love-hate relationship
8. volatile
9. cunning
5 Opposites
10. poll
1. conservative
2 Find the information 2. volatile
3. limited
1. Argentina 4. provincial
2. 1994 5. unpredictable
3. 48 6. similar
4. 23
5. Paul Gascoigne, Lionel Messi and Pele
6. Twice
1. e
3 Comprehension check 2. g
3. b
1. T 4. f
2. F 5. h
3. F 6. d
4. F 7. a
5. T 8. c
6. T
7. F
8. F
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500 places to see before they die
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
What do the Tower of London and the Everglades in Florida have in common?
a) They have both won environmental tourism awards.
b) They are both up for sale.
c) They are both at risk from climate change.
Skim-read the beginning of the article to check your answer.
2 Key words
dwindling devastation eco-conscious intriguing intact derelict

burgeoning irrevocably degenerating merit folly vulnerable
1. When something is ___________________, it is in a weak position and in danger. (para 1)
2. Damage and destruction affecting a large area or a lot of people: ___________________. (para 2)
3. When you are aware of what is happening to the environment and show your concern you can be called
___________________. (para 2)
4. When you ___________________ something, you deserve or are worth it. (para 3)
5. Something that is becoming worse is ___________________. (para 4)
6. Something that is becoming smaller or gradually less until (almost) nothing remains is ___________________.
(para 4)
7. Something that is ___________________ is very interesting and a bit strange or mysterious. (para 5)
8. Something that is ___________________ is growing or developing quickly. (para 5)
9. When applied to a building this means old, run-down, not looked after, empty, and in a bad condition:
___________________. (para 6)
10. A ___________________ is a building that has no practical use and is built as decoration. (para 6)
11. Something that is ___________________ is complete, unharmed, all in one piece, despite something negative
having happened. (para 7)
12. An adverb meaning no longer possible to change or stop: ___________________. (para 8)

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500 places to see before they die dumping by sanitation companies and ships.
A new guidebook for travellers shows the sites The Nazca lines in Peru, one of the world’s most
most at risk intriguing ancient sites, face destruction as roads
Amelia Hill, social affairs correspondent are built and global warming and deforestation
October 26 2008 cause floods and mudslides. Also under threat
is New York’s Little Italy. ‘Though a small part
1 The first guidebook of ‘last chance’ holidays will of the area, made famous by films such as
be published tomorrow for travellers who want The Godfather and Mean Streets, has been
to visit the most endangered tourist destinations preserved, it is being gradually squeezed by the
across the world. Frommer’s 500 Places To burgeoning Chinatown and SoHo districts.’
See Before They Disappear provides a list of
6 Tourists could also visit some of Britain’s ancient
sites where it is still possible to see rare and
architectural treasures which, she says, risk
vulnerable animal species, special landscapes
becoming derelict because of a lack of funding.
and unique cultural sights in their unspoilt glory.
Strawberry Hill, Sir Horace Walpole’s folly in
2 Co-author Holly Hughes, a former executive Twickenham, west London, which sparked
editor of Fodor’s Travel Publications, said: ‘The the Gothic revival in the early 19th century, is
devastation brought on by climate change and struggling to raise £8m. One of the oldest parish
direct man-made interference is familiar to all of churches in England, St Mary’s, in Stow in
us. But this book is a carefully chosen list of Lindsey, Lincolnshire, needs £3m for renovations.
last-chance destinations that eco-conscious Another London landmark, Battersea power
travellers can enjoy – if they move quickly – for station, becomes more run-down every day as
possibly the last time.’ government, developers and local community
boards argue over its future.
3 According to Hughes and co-author Larry West,
an award-winning investigative journalist once 7 Hughes also urges a trip to Kentish Town, north
nominated for a Pulitzer prize, more than 20 of London, to visit Little Green Street, one of the
Britain’s best-loved landmarks – and lesser-known last intact Georgian streets in London. ‘This
gems – merit a place in their collection. The Tower perfect slice of Regency London was celebrated
of London and Greenwich Maritime Museum, for by the poet John Betjeman and used as the
example, are at risk from rising sea levels which will setting for numerous music and photo shoots.
lead the River Thames to flood its banks. Further north, the Holderness coast, in East
Yorkshire, loses nearly 6ft a year due to rising
4 With 500 threatened destinations to choose
sea levels caused by climate change and
from, she suggests heading to the Everglades
man-made interference, she said.
in southern Florida. Filled with rare species,
this ecosystem is degenerating with alarming 8 West points out that the guidebook’s message
rapidity. Already half has been lost to agricultural is not all gloom. ‘Some of the destinations
and urban development. Dwindling water levels are already on the road to being saved,
and pollution have severely compromised what usually because they’ve been championed
remains. ‘The number of bird species has fallen by preservationists,’ he said. ‘And even in the
by 93 per cent and many of the fish and even the cases where a site has been lost, or irrevocably
alligators who remain show high mercury levels,’ damaged, it often has become a rallying point for
said Hughes. activists, inspiring them to fight on so that the same
mistakes aren’t made again. The planet is poorer
5 The Dead Sea may only be a tourist destination
every time we allow something beautiful to die.’
for three more decades. By then, says Hughes,
‘it could be completely dry, because the rivers © Guardian News & Media 2008
that feed it are being diverted’. Marine life around First published in The Observer, 26/10/08
the Falkland Islands is under severe threat from
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Level 3 Advanced
Find these ecological words or phrases and make notes on what their connection is with the article.
e.g. agricultural and urban developments These are taking away land and are damaging the ecosystem in the
Everglades in Florida, USA, negatively affecting rare plants and wildlife that can be found there.
a) deforestation _________________________________
b) dwindling water levels _________________________________
c) high mercury levels _________________________________
d) lack of funding _________________________________
e) rising sea levels _________________________________
f) dumping by sanitation companies _________________________________
4 Reading for detail
How many tourist destinations can you find in the article? Underline them.
Have you been to any of the places that are mentioned?
If not, would you like to go to any of the places?
5 Discussion
The guidebook will probably encourage (even) more tourists to visit these destinations.
What positive and negative implications might this have?
Look back at the article for some suggestions, then expand your opinion as much as possible and try to
have a balanced discussion.
6 Webquest
a) Choose one of the destinations in the article and pinpoint it on Google Earth (weblink:
http://earth.google.com/).
b) Does the destination have an official website?
c) What can you see or do there?
d) How could you get there?
e) Where can you stay while you’re there?
f) How much would a trip to visit this destination cost?
g) What is the weather like there today?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
2 Key words 4 Reading for detail
1. vulnerable • The Tower of London

2. devastation • The Greenwich Maritime Museum
3. eco-conscious • The Everglades in Florida
4. merit • The Dead Sea
5. degenerating • The Falkland Isalnds
6. dwindling • The Nazca Lines in Peru
7. intriguing • Little Italy in New York
8. burgeoning • Strawberry Hill in London
9. derelict • St Mary’s Church in Stow in Lindsey
10. folly • Battersea power station, London
11. intact • Little Green Street, London
12. irrevocably • The Holderness coast, East Yorkshire
3 Comprehension check Teachers’ notes
a) deforestation (para 5) “The Nazca lines in Peru, Here you can see photos of some of the places and wildlife
one of the world’s most intriguing ancient sites, face (in Britain) mentioned in the book:
destruction as roads are built and global warming and http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2008/oct/26/en-
deforestation cause floods and mudslides.” dangered-britain-ireland?picture=338973178
b) dwindling water levels (para 4). “Dwindling water You could show the pictures as a warmer or anytime
levels and pollution have severely compromised what during the lesson.
remains” of the Everglades.
c) high mercury levels (para 4) “The number of bird This links directly to the book:
species has fallen by 93 per cent and many of the http://www.frommers.com/bookstore/047018986X.html
fish and even the alligators who remain show high
mercury levels.” The new book title is an homage to / is inspired by the
d) lack of funding (para 6) “Britain’s ancient architectural bestseller 1000 Places To See Before You Die:
treasures which, she says, risk becoming derelict http://www.1000beforeyoudie.com/
because of a lack of funding” e.g. Battersea power sta-
tion, St Mary’s Church, in Stow in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, The webquest can be done during class time if you have
and Strawberry Hill, in Twickenham, west London. the technology available. If not, it can be set as homework
e) rising sea levels (paras 3 & 7) “The Holderness coast, and the students can present their findings in the
in East Yorkshire, loses nearly 6ft a year due to rising next lesson.
sea levels caused by climate change and man-made
interference”. “The Tower of London and Greenwich
Maritime Museum, for example, are at risk from rising
sea levels which will lead the River Thames to flood
its banks”.
f) dumping by sanitation companies (para 5) “Marine
life around the Falkland Islands is under severe threat
from dumping by sanitation companies and ships.”
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer
Where in the world can you find these places? Match each place with a location on the map. Then
skim-read the article to check your answers.
a) Battersea power station
b) The Nazca lines

East Yorkshire, UK
c) The Everglades
d) Little Italy
South Florida, USA
e) The Holderness coast
New York, USA
London, UK
Peru
2 Key words
Match these key words with the definitions.
devastation 1. To vanish, to go and never return. (para 1)

landmark 2. Opposite of common. Unusual. (para 1)
rare 3. Damage and destruction affecting a large area or a lot of people. (para 2)
disappear 4. A famous building or object that you recognize easily. (para 3)
at risk 5. Another way of saying in danger. (para 3)

diverted 6. A poisonous silver liquid metal (used in thermometers). (para 4)
marine life 7. When the course or way has been changed. (para 5)
mercury 8. Things that live in the sea. (para 5)

Regency 9. Very old. (para 5)

gloom 10. Relating to buildings. (para 6)
11. A period in history – the time from 1811 to 1820 before George IV became King of
ancient
England. (para 7)
architectural
12. Bad depressing news, the feeling of having no hope. (para 8)
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NEWS LESSONS / 500 places to see before they die / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
500 places to see before they die are being built. Many trees are cut down to build
A new guidebook for travellers shows the sites the roads and this leads to floods and mudslides.
most at risk New York’s Little Italy, which was made famous
by films such as The Godfather and Mean
Amelia Hill, social affairs correspondent
Streets, is also in danger as the districts around
October 26, 2008
it grow.
1 The first guidebook of ‘last chance’ holidays will 6 Tourists should also visit some of Britain’s
be published tomorrow for travellers who want ancient architectural treasures which, she says,
to visit the most endangered tourist destinations are in danger of falling down because there is
across the world. Frommer’s 500 Places To no money to save them. Strawberry Hill, Sir
See Before They Disappear lists places where Horace Walpole’s building in west London needs
it is still possible to see rare animals, special £8m. One of the oldest churches in England, St
landscapes and cultural sights. Mary’s, in Stow in Lindsey, Lincolnshire, needs
£3m. Another London landmark, Battersea power
2 Holly Hughes, one of the authors and a former station, becomes more run-down every day as
executive editor of Fodor’s Travel Publications, government, property developers and the local
said: “We all know about devastation brought on people argue about its future.
by climate change and humans. But this book is
a list of last-chance destinations that travellers 7 Hughes also suggests a trip to Kentish Town,
can visit – if they go soon – for possibly the north London, to visit Little Green Street, one of
last time.” the last complete Regency streets in London.
Further north, the Holderness coast, in East
3 According to Hughes and co-author Larry West, Yorkshire, loses nearly 6ft (1.8 metres) a year
a journalist, more than 20 of Britain’s best-loved due to rising sea levels caused by climate
landmarks have a place in their book. The Tower change and man, she said.
of London and Greenwich Maritime Museum, for
example, are at risk from rising sea levels which 8 West points out that the guidebook’s message
could cause the River Thames to flood. is not all gloom. “Some of the destinations can
be saved”, he said. “We have to learn from our
4 Hughes suggests that tourists go to the mistakes because the planet is poorer every time
Everglades in southern Florida. This ecosystem we allow something beautiful to die.”
which is filled with rare animals, birds, fish and
plants is disappearing very quickly. Already half © Guardian News & Media 2008
has been lost to farms and towns. Low water First published in The Observer, 26/10/08
levels and pollution have put the rest of the
Everglades at risk. “The number of birds has
fallen by 93 per cent and many of the fish and
even the alligators who still live there have high
mercury levels in their blood,” said Hughes.

for another thirty years. By then, says Hughes,
“it could be completely dry, because the rivers
that run into it are being diverted”. Marine life
around the Falkland Islands is in great danger
from pollution. The Nazca lines in Peru, one
of the world’s most interesting and mysterious
ancient sites, may disappear as too many roads
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Level 1 Elementary
Match the sentence halves to find information from the article.
1. The two authors of the book are ... ... in Little Italy, New York.
2. The book lists the 500 most ... ... to visit the places mentioned in the book.
3. Part of the film The Godfather was filmed ... ... in Florida have too much mercury in their blood.
4. Fish and alligators in the Everglades ... ... within 30 years.
5. Little Green Street is a beautiful Regency street ... ... a journalist and an editor.
6. The Nazca lines in Peru are in danger because ... ... is near the River Thames in London.
7. The Greenwich Maritime Museum ... ... too many new roads have been built.
8. The Dead Sea could be dry ... ... in north London.
9. There is still hope for many of the places listed ... ... endangered tourist destinations.
10. If you are quick you will still be able ... ... in the book.
4 Vocabulary: Prepositions
Put the prepositions into the phrases from the article.

1. ... one ________ the authors
from
2. ... tourist destinations ________ the world
into 3. ... the Everglades ________ southern Florida
4. ... has fallen ________ 93 per cent
across
5. ... the rivers that run ________ it are being diverted
of (x3) 6. ... is also ________ danger
7. ... visit some ________ Britain’s ancient architectural treasures
in (x2) 8. ... in danger ________ falling down
9. ... rising sea levels caused ________ climate change
by (x2)
10. We have to learn ________ our mistakes ...
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Level 1 Elementary
5 Discussion
How many tourist destinations can you find in the article? Underline them. Have you been to any of the
places in the article? Which one would you most like to visit?
6 Webquest
a) Choose one of the destinations in the article and find it on Google Earth (weblink:
http://earth.google.com/).
d) How could you travel there?
g) What is the weather like there at the moment?
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Warmer 4 Vocabulary: Prepositions
a) London, UK 1. of
b) Peru 2. across
c) South Florida, USA 3. in
d) New York, USA 4. by
e) East Yorkshire, UK 5. into
6. in
7. of
2 Key words
8. of
9. by
1. disappear 10. from
2. rare
3. devastation
4. landmark 5 Discussion
5. at risk
6. mercury • The Tower of London
7. diverted • The Greenwich Maritime Museum
8. marine life • The Everglades in Florida
9. ancient • The Dead Sea
10. architectural • The Falkland Isalnds
11. Regency • The Nazca Lines in Peru
12. gloom • Little Italy in New York
• Strawberry Hill in London
• St Mary’s Church in Stow in Lindsey
3 Comprehension check • Battersea power station, London
1. The two authors of the book are a journalist and • Little Green Street, London
an editor. • The Holderness coast, East Yorkshire
2. The book lists the 500 most endangered tourist
destinations. Teachers’ notes
3. Part of the film The Godfather was filmed in Little Here you can see photos of some of the places and
Italy, New York. wildlife (in Britain) mentioned in the book:
4. Fish and alligators in the Everglades in Florida have http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2008/oct/26/en-
too much mercury in their blood. dangered-britain-ireland?picture=338973178
5. Little Green Street is a beautiful Regency street in You could show the pictures as a warmer or anytime
north London. during the lesson.
6. The Nazca lines in Peru are in danger because too
This links directly to the book:
many new roads have been built.
http://www.frommers.com/bookstore/047018986X.html
7. The Greenwich Maritime Museum is near the River
Thames in London. The new book title is an homage to / is inspired by the
8. The Dead Sea could be dry within 30 years. bestseller 1000 Places To See Before You Die:
9. There is still hope for many of the places listed in http://www.1000beforeyoudie.com/
the book. The webquest can be done during class time if you
10. If you are quick you will still be able to visit the have the technology available. If not, it can be set as
places mentioned in the book. homework and the students can present their findings
in the next lesson.
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1 Warmer
Where in the world can you find ...
a) ... Battersea power station?
b) ... the Nazca lines?
c) ... the Everglades?
d) ... Little Italy?
Skim-read the article to check your answers.
2 Key words
Match these key words with the definitions.
interference devastation deforestation squeezed Regency derelict

landmark threatened degenerating gloom folly vulnerable
1. When something is __________________ it is in a weak position and in danger. (para 1)

2. Damage and destruction affecting a large area or a lot of people: __________________. (para 2)
3. Becoming involved in a situation although you have no right to do so: __________________. (para 2)
4. Something that is __________________ is in danger of being harmed or destroyed. (para 3)
5. Something that is becoming worse is __________________. (para 4)
6. The process of removing trees from a piece of land: __________________. (para 5)
7. Something that is being __________________ is being pressed or pushed from all sides. (para 5)
8. When applied to a building this means old, run-down, not looked after, empty, and in a bad condition:
__________________. (para 6)
9. A __________________ is a building that has no practical use and is built as decoration. (para 6)
10. A famous building or object that you recognize easily: __________________. (para 6)
11. A period in history – the time from 1811 to 1820 before George IV became King of England:
__________________. (para 7)
12. Bad depressing news, the feeling of having no hope: __________________. (para 8)
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NEWS LESSONS / 500 places to see before they die / Intermediate

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500 places to see before they die dumping by sanitation companies and ships.
A new guidebook for travellers shows the sites The Nazca lines in Peru, one of the world’s most
most at risk interesting and mysterious ancient sites, face
destruction as roads are built and global warming
Amelia Hill, social affairs correspondent
and deforestation cause floods and mudslides.
October 26, 2008
Also under threat is New York’s Little Italy.
Though a small part of the area, made famous
1 The The first guidebook of ‘last chance’ holidays by films such as The Godfather and Mean
will be published tomorrow for travellers who Streets, has been preserved, it is being gradually
want to visit the most endangered tourist squeezed by the rapidly growing Chinatown and
destinations across the world. Frommer’s 500 SoHo districts.’
Places To See Before They Disappear provides
a list of sites where it is still possible to see rare 6 Tourists should also visit some of Britain’s
and vulnerable animals, special landscapes and ancient architectural treasures which, she says,
unique cultural sights. risk becoming derelict because of a lack of
money. Strawberry Hill, Sir Horace Walpole’s folly
2 Holly Hughes, one of the authors and a former in west London is trying to raise £8m. One of the
executive editor of Fodor’s Travel Publications, oldest churches in England, St Mary’s, in Stow in
said: ‘The devastation brought on by climate Lindsey, Lincolnshire, needs £3m for renovations.
change and direct man-made interference is Another London landmark, Battersea power
familiar to all of us. But this book is a carefully station, becomes more run-down every day
chosen list of last-chance destinations that as government, property developers and local
travellers can enjoy – if they go soon – for community boards argue over its future.
possibly the last time.’
7 Hughes also suggests a trip to Kentish Town,
3 According to Hughes and co-author Larry West, north London, to visit Little Green Street, one of
an award-winning investigative journalist, more the last complete Georgian streets in London.
than 20 of Britain’s best-loved landmarks deserve This perfect piece of Regency London was used
a place in their book. The Tower of London and as the setting for numerous music and photo
Greenwich Maritime Museum, for example, are shoots. Further north, the Holderness coast, in
at risk from rising sea levels which will cause the East Yorkshire, loses nearly 6ft (1.8 metres) a
River Thames to flood. year due to rising sea levels caused by climate
change and man-made interference, she said.
4 With 500 threatened destinations to choose from,
she suggests that tourists go to the Everglades 8 West points out that the guidebook’s message
in southern Florida. Filled with rare species, is not all gloom. ‘Some of the destinations are
this ecosystem is degenerating with alarming already on the road to being saved’, he said.
rapidity. Already half has been lost to agricultural ‘And even in the cases where a site has been
and urban development. Low water levels and lost, or irreversibly damaged, it often has become
pollution have put what remains at risk. ‘The a place where activists meet and plan to fight
number of birds has fallen by 93 per cent and on so that the same mistakes aren’t made
many of the fish and even the alligators who again. The planet is poorer every time we allow
remain have high mercury levels,’ said Hughes. something beautiful to die.’

for three more decades. By then, says Hughes, ‘it
could be completely dry, because the rivers that
run into it are being diverted’. Marine life around
the Falkland Islands is in great danger from
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Are these statements true (T) of false (F) according to the article?
1. The co-authors of the book are a journalist and an editor.

2. The book lists the 500 most endangered birds and animals.
3. Part of the film The Godfather was filmed in New York.
4. 93% of alligators in the Everglades have high mercury levels in their blood.
5. Little Green Street is a district of New York.
6. The Nazca lines are on the Falkland Islands.
7. The Greenwich Maritime Museum is near the River Thames in London.
8. There is no hope for any of the places mentioned in the book.
9. The Dead Sea could be dry within 20 years.
10. If you are quick you will still be able to visit the places mentioned in the book.
4 Pronunciation oooOo
renovations vulnerable destruction interference architectural sanitation
a) devastation has this pronunciation pattern ooOo - which other 3 words above have the same pattern? _______
_____________ ____________________ ____________________
b) Which word has the same pronunciation pattern as irreversibly ooOoo ____________________
c) Which word has the stress on the first syllable Oooo ? ____________________
d) Which 3-syllable word has the stress on the middle syllable oOo ? ____________________
e) These two nouns from paragraph 1 are pronounced in exactly the same way but their meanings are different.
Write (or look up) a definition for each.
a site ____________________
a sight ____________________
5 Discussion
a) How many tourist destinations can you find in the article? Underline them. Have you been to any of the
places that are mentioned? If not, would you like to go to any of the places?
b) Explain the last sentence of the article in your own words: ‘The planet is poorer every time we allow
something beautiful to die.’ Do you agree with this statement?
6 Webquest
a) Choose one of the destinations in the article and find it on Google Earth (weblink: http://earth.google.com/).
d) How could you travel there?
g) What is the weather like there at the moment?
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KEY
1 Warmer 5 Discussion
a) London, UK a) Tourist destinations:

b) Peru
• The Tower of London
c) Florida, USA
• The Greenwich Maritime Museum
d) New York, USA
• The Everglades in Florida
• The Dead Sea
2 Key words • The Falkland Isalnds
• The Nazca Lines in Peru
1. vulnerable • Little Italy in New York
2. devastation • Strawberry Hill in London
3. interference • St Mary’s Church in Stow in Lindsey
4. threatened • Battersea power station, London
5. degenerating • Little Green Street, London
6. deforestation • The Holderness coast, East Yorkshire
7. squeezed
8. derelict
9. folly Teachers’ notes
10. landmark
11. Regency Here you can see photos of some of the places and
12. gloom wildlife (in Britain) mentioned in the book:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2008/oct/26/en-
3 Comprehension check dangered-britain-ireland?picture=338973178
You could show the pictures as a warmer or anytime
during the lesson.
1. T
2. F
This links directly to the book:
3. T
http://www.frommers.com/bookstore/047018986X.html
4. F
5. F
The new book title is an homage to / is inspired by the
6. F
bestseller 1000 Places To See Before You Die:
7. T
http://www.1000beforeyoudie.com/
8. F
9. F
The webquest can be done during class time if you
10. T
have the technology available. If not, it can be set as
homework and the students can present their findings in
4 Pronunciation oooOo the next lesson.
a) sanitation renovations interference

b) architectural
c) vulnerable
d) destruction
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Holidaymaker’s terror at zoo vulture attack
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
perch peck carcass precaution bird of prey

vulture claws thump jab negligence
1. The sharp, curved parts at the end of some animals’ toes are known as __________________.
2. A __________________ is the body of a dead animal.
3. If you __________________ someone, you hit them hard with your fist.
4. A __________________ is an informal word for an injection or vaccination.
5. A __________________ is an action taken to protect people or things against possible harm or damage.
6. A __________________ is an area or object that a bird uses for resting on, usually above the ground.
7. __________________ means failure to give care or attention, especially if this causes harm or damage.
8. A __________________ is a large bird that eats the bodies of dead animals.
9. A __________________ is a bird that hunts and eats other animals.
10. When a bird __________________, it moves its beak quickly forward to hit or bite something.
1. How much is two stone in kilograms?
2. How much is eight feet in metres?
3. How long was the vulture?
4. Why was the attack unusual?
5. What treatment did the victim receive?
6. Apart from vultures, what other birds of prey can be seen at the Jungle Park?
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NEWS LESSONS / Holidaymaker’s terror at zoo vulture attack / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Holidaymaker’s terror at zoo 5 She was then taken to hospital where she
vulture attack received antibiotics and a tetanus jab. After her
wounds were dressed, she was sent back to her
Helen Pidd
hotel in a wheelchair. “I was shaking and shaking
October 31, 2008
and shaking,” she said. “I couldn’t speak about it
for a few days afterwards. Every time someone
1 Mary Corcoran had no doubt taken precautions asked me what happened I started crying. I’ve
against sunburn and been warned about never known any shock like it.” She said she was
timeshare touts. But nothing could have prepared hoping to claim compensation from the zoo for
her for the attack by a vulture on her Tenerife what she described as its “negligence”.
holiday. The 56-year-old from Ipswich, UK, has
6 A spokeswoman for Jungle Park said: “The
spoken of how she feared she was going to be
animals are free so we cannot control what they
eaten alive when the metre-long griffon vulture
will do, because they are animals. I have only
pinned her to the ground while she was watching
heard of this thing happening maybe twice in 15
a birds of prey show on the island. She was
years. The keepers are working with them every
taken to hospital after the vulture swooped down
day and have insurance for that.”
and attacked her and her friend Teresa Largent
at Tenerife’s Jungle Park zoo. 7 Grahame Madge, of the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds, said: “The vultures look
2 The vulture, which has a wingspan of 2.5 metres
like barn doors coming towards you, so it’s no
(8ft), was eventually punched to the ground by its
wonder [the women] were frightened. But they
keeper. The attack was unusual because vultures
are not usually at all dangerous for humans.
normally only feast on dead animals. The attack
They are nature’s waste disposal units – usually
happened on Sunday as the women’s week-
they are just carrion feeders.”
long holiday was coming to an end. They were
watching the show in the park’s arena when one 8 The Jungle Park, in Las Aguilas, south Tenerife,
vulture flew from its perch and down to where the has two birds of prey shows a day, giving visitors
women were sitting. the chance to see falcons, vultures and eagles in
free flight.
3 “We had been told not to move, so we sat totally
still, but it pecked Teresa and then nicked her
programme,” said Corcoran, who is retired,
yesterday from her home in Kesgrave, Suffolk.
“Then the bird went for me, and perched on my
shoulder, and before I knew it, I was under it.”
Griffon vultures weigh between six and 13kg
(1-2st); the weight of the bird pinned Corcoran
down and she began to feel a burning sensation
down her back and arm as its claws dug into
her skin.
4 “The keeper came over and got the bird off but
as he was taking me out of the arena it flew
back towards me and the keeper had to thump
it really hard to the ground,” she said. “That is
when the real fear and panic set in as I thought it
was coming back to eat me. I was freaking out. I
thought, ‘I’m not a dead carcass!’”
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Level 3 Advanced
1. Which of these best describes the vulture attack at 3. Griffon vultures ...
Jungle Park? a. ... are not normally dangerous to humans.
a. Such attacks happen quite often. b. ... only feed on dead human flesh.
b. Such attacks are extremely rare. c. ... feed on dead animals not dead human flesh.
c. Such attacks are unprecedented.
4. What was the effect of the attack on Mrs Corcoran?
2. When did Mrs Corcoran begin to panic? a. She was badly injured and hospitalised for a
a. When the vulture perched on her shoulder. few days.
b. When its claws dug into her skin. b. She is now confined to a wheelchair.
c. When the bird attacked her again as she was c. She was upset and unable to talk about her
being taken out of the arena. experience for a few days.
4 Find the word
Find the following words and phrases in the text.
1. A two-word expression meaning someone who tries to sell you a share in a holiday property. (para 1)
2. A phrasal verb meaning to eat a lot of a particular food. (para 2)
3. A noun meaning a large area that is surrounded by seats and is used for sports or entertainment. (para 2)
4. An informal verb meaning to steal. (para 3)
5. A verb meaning to rest on a small, narrow or high place. (para 3)
6. A noun meaning a physical feeling. (para 3)
7. An informal two-word expression meaning something very big. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning the decaying flesh of dead animals. (para 7)
5 Phrasal verbs
Match the phrasal verbs with their definitions.
1. swoop down a. hold someone firmly on the ground so they cannot move
2. go for b. become so frightened you cannot control yourself
3. pin down c. stop something touching someone
4. dig into d. move suddenly downwards through the air
5. come over e. approach
6. set in f. attack
7. freak out g. press hard into something
8. get off h. start to take effect
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Level 3 Advanced
Fill the gaps using these verbs from the text.
claim receive dress take feel watch
1. ____________ precautions
2. ____________ a show
3. ____________ a sensation
4. ____________ a wound
5. ____________ compensation
6. ____________ hospital treatment
7 Discussion
Do you agree with zoos? What are the arguments for and against keeping animals in captivity?
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KEY
1. claws 1. timeshare tout

2. carcass 2. feast on
3. thump 3. arena
4. jab 4. nick
5. precaution 5. perch
6. perch 6. sensation
7. negligence 7. barn door
8. vulture 8. carrion
9. bird of prey
10. pecks
5 Phrasal verbs

2. f
1. 13kg 3. a
2. 2.5m 4. g
3. one metre 5. e
4. vultures normally only eat carcasses 6. h
5. antibiotics and a tetanus injection 7. b
6. falcons and eagles 8. c
3 Comprehension check 6 Verb + noun collocations
1. b 1. take
2. c 2. watch
3. a 3. feel
4. c 4. dress
5. claim
6. receive
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
still carcass bird of prey vulture claws

keeper pecks wingspan carrion arena
1. A ___________________ is someone who looks after a group of animals in a zoo.
2. A ___________________ is a large bird that eats the bodies of dead animals.
3. A ___________________ is a bird that hunts and eats other animals.

4. The sharp, curved parts at the end of some animals’ toes are known as ___________________.
5. When a bird ___________________, it moves its beak quickly forward to hit or bite something.
6. An ___________________ is a large area that is surrounded by seats and is used for sports or entertainment.
7. A ___________________ is the body of a dead animal.
8. ___________________ is the rotting flesh of dead animals.
9. The ___________________ of a bird or plane is the distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other.
10. If you are ___________________, you are not moving at all.
2. Where did the attack take place?
3. What is the wingspan of vultures?
4. How much do vultures weigh?
6. What other birds of prey can you see at the Jungle Park?
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NEWS LESSONS / Holidaymaker’s terror at zoo vulture attack / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Holidaymaker’s terror at zoo in a wheelchair. “I was shaking and shaking and
vulture attack shaking,” she said. “I couldn’t speak about it for a
few days afterwards. Every time someone asked
Helen Pidd
me what happened I started crying. I’ve never
October 31, 2008
known any shock like it.”

1 British tourist Mary Corcoran probably knew
about the dangers of sunburn and other
problems she might experience on her Spanish
holiday. But she probably didn’t include an
attack by a vulture on her list of possible holiday
problems. The 56-year-old woman has spoken
of how the metre-long vulture attacked her 7 Grahame Madge, of the Royal Society for the
while she was watching a birds of prey show on Protection of Birds, said: “The vultures look
the island. Mrs Corcoran says she thought the enormous coming towards you, so it’s no wonder
bird was going to eat her alive. She was taken [the women] were frightened. But they are not
to hospital after the vulture attacked her and usually at all dangerous for humans – usually
her friend, Teresa Largent, at Tenerife’s Jungle they just feed on carrion.”
Park zoo.
8 The Jungle Park, in Las Aguilas, south Tenerife,
2 The bird’s keeper finally knocked it to the ground has two birds of prey shows a day, giving visitors
and stopped it attacking Mrs Corcoran. The the chance to see falcons, vultures and eagles in
attack was unusual because vultures normally free flight.
only feed on dead animals. The attack happened
when the women’s week-long holiday was nearly © Guardian News & Media 2008
finished. They were watching the show in the First published in The Guardian, 31/10/08
park’s arena when one vulture flew down to
where the women were sitting.
3 “They had told us not to move, so we sat totally

still, but it pecked Teresa,” said Corcoran. “Then
the bird went for me, and sat on my shoulder,
and before I knew it, I was under it.” Vultures
have a wingspan of 2.5 metres and weigh
between six and 13kg; the weight of the bird
held her down and it dug its claws into her back
and arms.
4 “The keeper came over and got the bird off, but
as he was taking me out of the arena it flew back
towards me and the keeper had to hit it really
hard to the ground,” she said. “That is when I
began to panic as I thought it was coming back to
eat me. I was really frightened. I thought, ‘I’m not
a dead carcass!’”
5 She was then taken to hospital where she

received antibiotics and a tetanus injection.
After treatment she was sent back to her hotel
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1. The attack was unusual because ...
2. Mrs Corcoran was frightened because ...
3. She cried for several days afterwards because ...
4. The zoo cannot control what the animals do because ...
5. Vultures usually ...
6. Attacks like this one ...
a. ... have only happened twice in the last fifteen years.
b. ... she was still shocked.
c. ... feed on the carcasses of dead animals.
d. ... she thought the vulture was going to eat her alive.
e. ... vultures do not normally attack humans.
f. ... they are free.
4 Prepositions
Complete the phrases using prepositions. Check your answers in the text.
1. list _______ problems
2. feed _______
3. weigh _______ 6 and 13 kg
4. take _______ hospital
5. _______ a few days
6. twice _______ fifteen years

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Level 1 Elementary
5 Irregular past tenses
Complete the table.
present tense irregular past tense

1. think
2. dig
3. hold
4. fly
5. begin
6. fed
6 Word stress
Divide these words from the text into two groups according to their stress pattern.
include alive sunburn island attack panic

between shoulder treatment human control towards
A B
0 o o 0
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KEY
1 Key words 4 Prepositions
1. keeper 1. of
2. vulture 2. on
3. bird of prey 3. between
4. claws 4. to
5. pecks 5. for
6. arena 6. in
7. carcass
8. carrion
5 Irregular past tenses
9. wingspan
10. still
1. thought
2. dug
2 Find the information 3. held
4. flew
1. one metre 5. began
2. at the Jungle Park zoo in Tenerife (Spain) 6. feed
3. 2.5 metres
4. six to 13kg
6 Word stress
5. antibiotics and a tetanus injection
6. falcons and eagles
A B
3 Comprehension check 0 o o 0
sunburn include
island alive
1. e
panic attack
2. d
shoulder between
3. b
treatment control
4. f
human towards
5. c
6. a
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1 Key words
peck carcass bird of prey vulture claws

negligence compensation precaution retired keeper
1. A __________________ is a large bird that eats the bodies of dead animals.
2. __________________ means failure to give care or attention, especially if this causes harm or damage.
3. A __________________ is action you take to protect yourself against possible harm.

4. A __________________ is someone who looks after a group of animals in a zoo.
5. __________________ is the money someone receives because something bad has happened to them.
6. A __________________ person no longer works because they have reached the age where they are too old
to work.
7. A __________________ is the body of a dead animal.
8. A __________________ is a bird that hunts and eats other animals.
9. The sharp, curved parts at the end of some animals’ toes are known as __________________.
10. When a bird __________________, it moves its beak quickly forward to hit or bite something.
1. How much do griffon vultures weigh?
2. What was the wingspan of this vulture?
4. Where did the attack take place?
6. Apart from vultures, what other birds of prey can be seen at the Jungle Park?
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NEWS LESSONS / Holidaymaker’s terror at zoo vulture attack / Intermediate

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Holidaymaker’s terror at zoo her wounds were dressed, she was sent back
vulture attack to her hotel in a wheelchair. “I was shaking and
shaking and shaking,” she said. “I couldn’t speak
Helen Pidd
about it for a few days afterwards. Every time
October 31, 2008
someone asked me what happened I started
crying. I’ve never known any shock like it.” She
1 Tourist Mary Corcoran had no doubt taken said she was hoping to claim compensation
precautions against sunburn and other problems from the zoo for what she described as its
she might have experienced on her Spanish “negligence”.
holiday. But she could never have imagined she
would be attacked by a vulture. The 56-year-old
from Ipswich, UK, has spoken of how she feared
she was going to be eaten alive when the metre-
long griffon vulture attacked her while she was
watching a birds of prey show on the island. She
was taken to hospital after the vulture swooped
down and attacked her and her friend, Teresa 7 Grahame Madge, of the Royal Society for the
Largent, at Tenerife’s Jungle Park zoo. Protection of Birds, said: “The vultures look
enormous coming towards you, so it’s no wonder
2 The vulture, which has a wingspan of 2.5 metres,
[the women] were frightened. But they are not
was eventually knocked to the ground by its
usually at all dangerous for humans. They are
keeper. The attack was unusual because vultures
nature’s waste disposal units – usually they just
normally only feed on dead animals. The attack
feed on carrion.”
happened when the women’s week-long holiday
was nearly over. They were watching the show in 8 The Jungle Park, in Las Aguilas, south Tenerife,
the park’s arena when one vulture flew down to has two birds of prey shows a day, giving visitors
where the women were sitting. the chance to see falcons, vultures and eagles in
free flight.
3 “We had been told not to move, so we sat
totally still, but it pecked Teresa and then took
her programme,” said Corcoran, who is retired,
yesterday from her home in the UK. “Then the
bird went for me, and sat on my shoulder, and
before I knew it, I was under it.” Griffon vultures
weigh between six and 13kg; the weight of the
bird held her down and she began to feel a
burning sensation down her back and arm as it
dug its claws into her skin.
4 “The keeper came over and got the bird off, but
as he was taking me out of the arena it flew back
towards me and the keeper had to hit it really
hard to the ground,” she said. “That is when the
real fear and panic began as I thought it was
coming back to eat me. I was freaking out. I
thought, ‘I’m not a dead carcass!’”
5 She was then taken to hospital where she

received antibiotics and a tetanus injection. After
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Are the following sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the text?
1. Vultures often attack humans.
2. Vultures normally feed on live animals like other birds of prey.
3. Mrs Corcoran did not suffer any injuries in the attack.
4. The attack was completely unexpected.
5. The keeper rescued Mrs Corcoran by hitting the bird.
6. She was unable to speak for a few days after the attack.
4 Find the word
1. A phrasal verb meaning to fly down quickly from the sky. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning the distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other. (para 2)
3. A noun meaning a large area that is surrounded by seats and is used for sports or entertainment. (para 2)
4. An adjective meaning without moving. (para 3)
5. A phrasal verb meaning feeling so frightened that you lose control. (para 4)
6. A two-word expression meaning not a surprise. (para 7)
7. A three-word expression meaning a piece of equipment used for getting rid of waste. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning the decaying flesh of dead animals. (para 7)
1. eaten a. disposal
2. week-long b. still
3. totally c. compensation
4. claim d. alive
5. waste e. injection
6. tetanus f. holiday
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6 Prepositions
1. take precautions _______ something
2. feed _______
3. _______ six and 13kg
4. take _______ hospital
5. send back _______
6. claim compensation _______ something
7. twice _______ fifteen years
8. dangerous _______ humans
7 Discussion
Should animals take part in shows like this?
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1. vulture 1. swoop down

2. negligence 2. wingspan
3. precaution 3. arena
4. keeper 4. still
5. compensation 5. freaking out
6. retired 6. no wonder
7. carcass 7. waste disposal unit
8. bird of prey 8. carrion
9. claws
10. pecks

2. f
1. between six and 13 kg 3. b
2. 2.5 metres 4. c
3. one metre 5. a
4. at a zoo in Tenerife (The Jungle Park) 6. e
5. antibiotics and a tetanus injection (and her wounds
were dressed)
6 Prepositions
6. falcons and eagles
1. against
3 Comprehension check 2. on
3. between
1. F 4. to
2. F 5. to
3. F 6. for
4. T 7. in
5. T 8. for / to
6. F
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Saga of survival in Iceland
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer: Guess the words
Write down ten words that you would expect to find in a news article about Iceland.
_________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ ________________
_________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ ________________
Now skim-read the article to see whether your words appear or not.
2 Key words
Write the key words from the article into the sentences below.
GDP (gross domestic product) barely outpost exploiting privatize saga

earner docks plunge stench spending spree fundamentals
1. A story about what happens to a group of characters over a long period of time. _______________________
2. An enclosed area of water in a port where ships unload their goods. _______________________
3. A very bad smell, especially of decay. _______________________
4. A short period of time in which people buy a lot of things. _______________________
5. To sell a business or industry owned by the government so that it becomes a private business.
_______________________
6. A place far away from the place it belongs to. _______________________
7. The total value of goods and services that a country produces in a year. _______________________
8. To suddenly drop or become much lower. _______________________
9. An adverb used to say that something almost didn’t exist or happen. _______________________
10. The most basic and important aspects of something. _______________________
11. Taking advantage of a situation and using it to your benefit. _______________________
12. A way of bringing in or making money. _______________________

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NEWS LESSONS / Saga of survival in Iceland / Advanced

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Saga of survival in Iceland Hamleys, West Ham United football club and US
Nobody knows what will happen next in the department store chain, Saks Fifth Avenue.
bankrupt country.
6 Iceland borrowed way too much, piling up debts
Jon Henley
worth ten times the entire GDP. Iceland borrowed
November 7, 2008
money from abroad, and now in a global credit
1 Reykjavik docks smell, an overpowering stench squeeze the debts cannot be refinanced.
of herring, haddock, halibut, whiting and deep
sea redfish. Eggert Gudmundsson, boss of 7 Since the Reykjavik stock market has also
Iceland’s biggest fishing business, HB Grandi, sunk without trace (it reopened recently after a
looks at the docks in a philosophical mood as he short closure, and instantly plunged 76%) and
reflects on his country’s financial crisis. “We are inflation is firmly in double-figures, the question is
hardworking, we Icelanders, but we are also a bit whether the government can bail everyone out.
excitable. If we see a way to make quick money, At present, it seems not. Twenty years ago, a
we will jump. Now we are all going to have to world financial crisis might barely have touched
work very hard together to get ourselves out of Iceland. Today it is suffering more than the rest
this. We will have to go back to what we know.” of us. If a couple of banks go bust in the US,
said Iceland’s Prime Minister, Geir Haarde, “it’s
2 The artist Jón Saemundur Audarson, in his studio dramatic, but not fatal”. If a couple of banks go
off the main street, says: “There’s shame, yes, bust in Iceland, “this country’s entire financial
and humiliation. And anger at the country losing sector disappears”. What Iceland has learned
so much, all because a few bankers were playing from this frightening experience, he concludes,
around with other people’s money. But this whole “is that it is not wise for a small country to take a
thing, this long big spending spree, it was just a lead in international banking”.
phase, you know? It hasn’t changed Iceland. This
could even be good for us. Take us back to what 8 “It’s going to be very tough for a lot of ordinary
we really are.” people who understand nothing of all this,” says
Asbjörn Jonsson, a third-generation fisherman.
3 Palme Vidar, with the wisdom of 73 years, says: “People are afraid. Ordinary, cautious Icelanders
“We have always swung between feast and invested their savings in bank stocks, thinking
famine. There have been terrible times before. they’d be more secure. We know now that money
When I was a boy, if you went to the harbour to is not made in banks. It’s made by real people
fish and you got wet, you could not fish again working hard at real jobs.”
until the next day, because you had only one pair
of trousers. Today people have too many trousers.” 9 Iceland might, eventually, be all right. “The
fundamentals are good,” is the mantra repeated
4 In 1943, Iceland was still a forgotten outpost on the streets of Reykjavik, and it is, largely,
of Denmark. In the 1970s, it fought a series true. At least, Iceland has a real economy. It has
of nasty fishing wars with Britain (and won). spectacular natural resources: fish and green
It had no functioning stock market until 1990. energy (it is a world leader in geo-thermal power,
Then, in the mid-1990s, it privatized its banks, heating more than 90% of its homes this way and
slashed corporation tax and a couple of Viking attracting big investment from energy-intensive
entrepreneurs made a load of money in Russia. industries such as aluminium). The average
age is just 37, unemployment currently (though
5 Last year Iceland was at the top of the UN maybe not for much longer) stands at 1%, and
Human Development Index of the most women account for 46% of the workforce.
developed countries in the world, and it was,
per capita, the fifth-richest nation on earth. 10 “It’s going to be a long and rocky road getting
Icelandic companies bought up London toy shop, out of this,” predicts Finnur Oddsson, managing
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director of the chamber of commerce. “But are half of Iceland’s exports, and this company
longer term, Iceland is solid. We’re only is 10% of Iceland’s fishing business: we are
exploiting about 30% of our energy potential responsible for one in every 20 euros Iceland
right now.” Tourism looks like being an important earns. We’re a company this country really
earner: with the krona now worth half what it was cannot do without.”
in April, interest in flights to Iceland from the UK
alone is up 400% in a month. © Guardian News & Media 2008
11 Gudmundsson also has reason to be optimistic.
“I’ve just come from a meeting with the
company’s employees,” he says. “They were
worried; I told them they needn’t be. What
Iceland needs above all is a sustainable source
of foreign currency, which means exports. Fish
1. HB Grandi is ... 4. Iceland is currently suffering financially because ...

a) ... the boss of Iceland’s biggest fishing business. a) ... it tried to take a lead in international financing.
b) ... Iceland’s biggest fishing business. b) ... it only had two banks.
c) ... the name of the docks where the fish are unloaded. c) ... its stock market plunged.
2. Palme Vidar says ... 5. Iceland has ...

a) ... that this is the worst episode in Iceland’s a) ... no natural resources.
financial history. b) ... plenty of aluminium.
b) ... that people have too many clothes and should c) ... plenty of clean environmentally-friendly power.
give them to charity.
c) ... that times have been difficult before and that 6. The Icelandic fishing industry is ...
people have become used to luxuries. a) ... the cause of Iceland’s problems.
b) ... the reason why Brits won’t go to Iceland.
3. Iceland borrowed ... c) ... a major business in Iceland.
a) ... much more money than it is able to repay.
b) ... money to buy London shops and football clubs.
c) ... money from Russian businessmen.
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4 Vocabulary: Multi-word phrases
Find multi-word phrases (two, three or four words) in the article that mean the following.
1. A time of too much, or a time of not enough. __________________________________

2. A tax companies pay on their profits. __________________________________
3. A Latin phrase meaning for each head / for each person. __________________________________
4. To increase the amount of money that you owe. __________________________________
5. A current phrase meaning the worldwide cut down on money lending. _______________________________
6. To help someone out of a difficult situation by giving them money. ________________________________
7. Go bankrupt, have no money left. __________________________________
8. To disappear completely and to be forgotten. __________________________________
9. A branch of manufacture or trade that uses as lot of heat or power. ________________________________
10. Sources of energy that are considered to be environmentally friendly and non-polluting.
__________________________________
5 Discussion: Geysers, midnight sun and the northern lights
Tourism looks like being an important earner: ... interest in flights to Iceland from the UK alone is up 400% ...
(paragraph 10)
Does a holiday in Iceland appeal to you? Why, why not?
6 Webquest: An Internet treasure hunt
In pairs or small groups visit all or some of these websites that contain information about Iceland.
• http://www.icetourist.is/
• http://www.iceland.org/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland
• http://www.icelandtouristboard.com/news.php
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ic.html
• http://www.lonelyplanet.com/iceland
Write ten questions about Iceland for another pair or group to answer. Make sure the answers can be found
on the Internet and that you know what the answers are!
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KEY
2 Key words 4 Vocabulary: Multi-word phrases
1. saga 1. between famine and feast

2. docks 2. corporation tax
3. stench 3. per capita
4. spending spree 4. pile up debts
5. privatize 5. global credit squeeze
6. outpost 6. bail (someone) out
7. GDP (gross domestic product) 7. go bust
8. plunge 8. sink without a trace
9. barely 9. energy-intensive industry
10. fundamentals 10. green energy
11. exploiting
12. earner
Teachers’ notes
You could write the warmer question before handing out
3 Comprehension check the photocopies to make sure that the students don’t peek
at the text before or while deciding which words
1. b might appear.
2. c
3. a Task 6 could be set as a two-part homework task if you
4. a don’t have enough computers in the classroom connected
5. c to the Internet.
6. c
There is a nice 3.5 minute video with commentary about
Reykjavik (before the current financial situation) here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHYIKvahcLA
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Level 1 Elementary
You are going to read a news article about Iceland. Write down ten words that you think you will find in
the article.
_________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ ________________
_________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ ________________
Now skim-read the article. Can you find your words?
2 Key words
Write the key words from the article into the sentences below. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
GDP (gross domestic product) suffering phase privatize fatal

optimistic inflation stock market bankrupt
spending spree global credit squeeze green energy saga docks
1. A story about what happens to a group of people over a long period of time. _____________________ (title)
2. A country of state that is _____________________, owes more money than it can ever pay back. (subtitle)
3. An enclosed area of water in a port where ships unload their goods. _____________________ (para 1)
4. A short period of time in which people buy a lot of things. _____________________ (para 2)
5. A particular period of time. _____________________ (para 2)
6. The activities connected with buying and selling shares in companies. _____________________ (para 4)
_____________________ (para 4)
8. The total value of goods and services that a country produces in a year. _____________________ (para 6)
9. A financial term meaning the worldwide cut back on money lending. _____________________ (para 6)
10. An economic process in which prices go up so money becomes less valuable. ____________________ (para 7)
11. Experiencing something very painful or unpleasant. _____________________ (para 7)
12. Deadly; having very serious negative effects. _____________________ (para 7)
13. Environmentally-friendly power (e.g. electricity). _____________________ (para 8)
14. Hopeful and positive about the future. _____________________ (para 10)
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NEWS LESSONS / Saga of survival in Iceland / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Saga of survival in Iceland 7 The Reykjavik stock market has disappeared
Nobody knows what will happen next in the (it reopened recently and immediately fell 76%)
bankrupt country. and inflation is high, the question is whether
Jon Henley the government can help everyone out. At the
November 7, 2008 moment, it seems not. Twenty years ago, a world
financial crisis might not have affected Iceland.
Today the country is suffering more than the rest
1 Reykjavik docks smell of herring, haddock,
of us. If a couple of banks go bust in the US,
halibut, whiting and deep sea redfish. Eggert
said Iceland’s Prime Minister, Geir Haarde, “it’s
Gudmundsson, boss of Iceland’s biggest fishing
dramatic, but not fatal”. If a couple of banks go
business, HB Grandi, looks at the docks and
bust in Iceland, “this country’s entire financial
talks about his country’s financial crisis. “We are
sector disappears. Iceland has learned that it
hardworking, we Icelanders, but if we see a way
is not wise for a small country to take a lead in
to make quick money, we will jump. Now we are
international banking”.
all going to have to work very hard together to
get ourselves out of this. We will have to go back
to what we know.” 8 Iceland might, eventually, be all right. At least,
Iceland has a real economy. It has a lot of fish
and green energy (it is a world leader in
2 The artist Jón Saemundur Audarson, in his
geo-thermal power, heating more than 90% of its
studio off the main street, says: “There’s anger
homes this way). The average age is just 37, at
at the country losing so much, all because a few
the moment unemployment (though maybe not
bankers were playing with other people’s money.
for much longer) stands at 1% and women make
But this whole thing, this long big spending
up 46% of the workforce.
spree, it was just a phase. It hasn’t changed
Iceland. This could even be good for us. Take us
back to what we really are.” 9 “It’s going to be a long and rocky road getting
out of this,” predicts Finnur Oddsson, managing
director of Iceland Chamber of Commerce. “But
3 73-year-old Palme Vidar says: “There have been
in the long term, Iceland is solid.” Tourism looks
bad times before. When I was a boy, if you went
like being an important way to earn money: with
to the harbour to fish and you got wet, you could
the krona now worth half what it was in April,
not fish again until the next day, because you had
interest in flights to Iceland from the UK alone is
only one pair of trousers. Today, people have too
up 400% in a month.
many trousers.”
10 Gudmundsson is optimistic. “I’ve just come

4 Iceland had no real stock market until 1990.
from a meeting with the company’s employees,”
Then, in the mid-1990s, it privatized its banks,
he says. “They were worried; I told them they
cut business tax and some businessmen made a
needn’t be. What Iceland needs above all is
lot of money in Russia.
foreign money from exports. Fish are half of
Iceland’s exports, and this company is 10% of
5 Last year Iceland was the fifth-richest nation on
Iceland’s fishing business: we bring in one in
earth. Icelandic companies bought up London toy
every 20 euros Iceland earns. We’re a company
shop, Hamleys, West Ham United football club and
this country cannot do without.”
US department store chain, Saks Fifth Avenue.
6 Iceland borrowed too much money, until its debts First published in The Guardian, 07/11/08
were ten times the entire GDP. Iceland borrowed
money from abroad, and now in a global credit
squeeze the debts cannot be repaid.
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1. Eggert Gudmundsson is the boss of Iceland’s ... ... have become used to luxuries.
2. Palme Vidar says that people in Iceland ... ... the two major industries in Iceland.
3. Iceland borrowed much more ... ... from exporting fish.
4. Iceland has a lot of clean ... ... for people from Britain.
5. Fishing and green-energy production are ... ... environmentally-friendly power.
6. Most people in Iceland have ... ... in the future.
7. Nearly half of the Icelandic workforce ... ... a job.
8. Iceland’s economy is probably going to be all right again ... ... are women.
9. Iceland is currently an attractive tourist destination ... ... biggest fishing business.
10. Iceland makes a lot of money ... ... money than it is able to repay.
Write in the missing prepositions then look at the article to check your answers.
from on for about to of (x2) until
1. Reykjavik docks smell ___________ fish.
2. Eggert Gudmundsson talks ___________ his country’s financial crisis.
3. This could be good ___________ us.
4. It had no stock market ___________ 1990.
5. ... the fifth-richest nation ___________ earth.
6. Iceland borrowed money ___________ abroad.
7. ... interest in flights ___________ Iceland from the UK ...
8. Fish are half ___________ Iceland’s exports.

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5 Discussion: A holiday in Iceland
Write five positive and five negative things about Iceland.
Positive Negative
1. 1.
2. 2.

3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
Would you like to go to Iceland for your next holiday? Why, why not?
Write ten questions about Iceland for another pair or group to answer.
Do you remember the W question words?
W ... ______________________________________________________________________________________
W ... ______________________________________________________________________________________
W ... ______________________________________________________________________________________
W ... ______________________________________________________________________________________
W ... ______________________________________________________________________________________
W ... ______________________________________________________________________________________
W ... ______________________________________________________________________________________
You can ask questions about people, places, food, sights, weather, etc.
Make sure the answers can be found on the Internet and that you know what the answers are!
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Freerunning
Saga of survival
joinsinsport
Iceland
establishment
Level 1 Elementary
KEY
2 Key words 4 Vocabulary: Prepositions
1. saga 1. Reykjavik docks smell of fish.

2. bankrupt 2. Eggert Gudmundsson talks about his country’s
3. docks financial crisis.
4. spending spree 3. This could be good for us.
5. phase 4. It had no stock market until 1990.
6. stock market 5. ...the fifth-richest nation on earth.
7. privatize 6. Iceland borrowed money from abroad.
8. GDP (gross domestic product) 7. ... interest in flights to Iceland from the UK ...
9. global credit squeeze 8. Fish are half of Iceland’s exports.
10. inflation
11. suffering
12. fatal
13. green energy
14. optimistic
W question words: who, what, where, why, when, which

and how
3 Comprehension check Teachers’ notes

You could write the warmer question before handing out the
1. Eggert Gudmundsson is the boss of Iceland’s biggest
photocopies to make sure that the students don’t peek at the
fishing business.
text before or while deciding which words might appear.
2. Palme Vidar says that people in Iceland have
become used to luxuries.
Task 6 could be set as a two-part homework task if you
3. Iceland borrowed much more money than it is able
don’t have enough computers in the classroom connected
to repay.
to the Internet.
4. Iceland has a lot of clean environmentally-friendly
power.
There is a nice 3.5 minute video with commentary about
5. Fishing and green-energy production are the two
Reykjavik (before the current financial situation) here:
major industries in Iceland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHYIKvahcLA
6. Most people in Iceland have a job.
7. Nearly half of the Icelandic workforce are women.
8. Iceland’s economy is probably going to be all right
again in the future.
9. Iceland is currently an attractive tourist destination for
people from Britain.
10. Iceland makes a lot of money from exporting fish.
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Write down ten words that you would expect to find in a news article about Iceland.
_________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ ________________
_________________ __________________ _________________ _________________ ________________
Now skim-read the article. Can you find your words?
2 Key words
a) Write the key words from the article into the sentences below. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
GDP (gross domestic product) go bust shame and humiliation docks

outpost exploiting privatize entrepreneur earner
saga inflation plunge spending spree fundamentals
1. A story about what happens to a group of characters over a long period of time. ____________________ (title)
2. An enclosed area of water in a port where ships unload their goods. ____________________ (para 1)
3. Nouns to describe the feeling of guilt and embarrassment. __________________________________ (para 2)
4. A short period of time in which people buy a lot of things. ____________________ (para 2)
5. A place far away from the place it belongs to. ____________________ (para 4)
____________________ (para 4)
7. Someone who uses money to start businesses and make deals. ____________________ (para 4)
8. The total value of goods and services that a country produces in a year. ____________________ (para 6)
9. To suddenly drop or become much lower. ____________________ (para 7)
10. An economic process in which prices rise so money becomes less valuable. ____________________ (para 7)
11. To go bankrupt, have no money left to be unable to pay your debts. ____________________ (para 7)
12. The most basic and important aspects of something. ____________________ (para 8)
13. Taking advantage of a situation and using it to your benefit. ____________________ (para 9)
14. A way of bringing in or making money. ____________________ (para 9)
b) In your own words, explain what you understand by the phrase global credit squeeze.
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NEWS LESSONS / Saga of survival in Iceland / Intermediate

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Saga of survival in Iceland 7 The Reykjavik stock market has also disappeared
Nobody knows what will happen next in the (it reopened recently after a short closure, and
bankrupt country. instantly plunged 76%) and inflation is firmly
Jon Henley in double-figures, the question is whether the
November 7, 2008 government can help everyone out. At present,
it seems not. Twenty years ago, a world financial
1 Reykjavik docks smell of herring, haddock, crisis might not have touched Iceland. Today the
halibut, whiting and deep sea redfish. Eggert country is suffering more than the rest of us. If a
Gudmundsson, boss of Iceland’s biggest fishing couple of banks go bust in the US, said Iceland’s
business, HB Grandi, looks at the docks in a Prime Minister, Geir Haarde, “it’s dramatic, but not
philosophical mood as he reflects on his country’s fatal”. If a couple of banks go bust in Iceland, “this
financial crisis. “We are hardworking, we Icelanders, country’s entire financial sector disappears”. What
but if we see a way to make quick money, we will Iceland has learned from this frightening experience,
jump. Now we are all going to have to work very he concludes, “is that it is not wise for a small country
hard together to get ourselves out of this. We will to take a lead in international banking”.
have to go back to what we know.”
8 Iceland might, eventually, be all right. “The
2 The artist Jón Saemundur Audarson, in his studio fundamentals are good,” is the mantra repeated
off the main street, says: “There’s shame, yes, on the streets of Reykjavik, and it is, largely,
and humiliation. And anger at the country losing true. At least, Iceland has a real economy. It has
so much, all because a few bankers were playing spectacular natural resources: fish, and green
around with other people’s money. But this whole energy (it is a world leader in geo-thermal power,
thing, this long big spending spree, it was just a heating more than 90% of its homes this way and
phase. It hasn’t changed Iceland. This could even attracting big investment from energy-intensive
be good for us. Take us back to what we really are.” industries such as aluminium). The average age is
just 37, unemployment currently (though maybe not
3 Palme Vidar, with the wisdom of 73 years, says: for much longer) stands at 1%, and women account
“There have been terrible times before. When I was
for 46% of the workforce.
a boy, if you went to the harbour to fish and you
got wet, you could not fish again until the next day, 9 “It’s going to be a long and rocky road getting out of
because you had only one pair of trousers. Today this,” predicts Finnur Oddsson, managing director
people have too many trousers.” of Iceland Chamber of Commerce. “But longer
term, Iceland is solid. We’re only exploiting about
4 In 1943, Iceland was still a forgotten outpost of 30% of our energy potential right now.” Tourism
Denmark. In the 1970s, it fought a series of nasty
looks like being an important earner: with the krona
fishing wars with Britain (and won). It had no real
now worth half what it was in April, interest in flights to
stock market until 1990. Then, in the mid-1990s, it
Iceland from the UK alone is up 400% in a month.
privatized its banks, cut business tax, and a couple of
Viking entrepreneurs made a load of money in Russia. 10 Gudmundsson also has reason to be optimistic.
“I’ve just come from a meeting with the company’s
5 Last year Iceland was at the top of the UN Human employees,” he says. “They were worried; I told
Development Index of the most developed countries
them they needn’t be. What Iceland needs above
in the world, and it was, per head, the fifth-richest
all is foreign currency from exports. Fish are half
nation on earth. Icelandic companies bought up London
of Iceland’s exports, and this company is 10% of
toy shop, Hamleys, West Ham United football club and
Iceland’s fishing business: we are responsible
US department store chain, Saks Fifth Avenue.
for one in every 20 euros Iceland earns. We’re a
6 Iceland borrowed way too much, until its debts were company this country really cannot do without.”
ten times the entire GDP. Iceland borrowed money
from abroad, and now in a global credit squeeze the © Guardian News & Media 2008
debts cannot be repaid. First published in The Guardian, 07/11/08
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3 Comprehension check: True or false?
Are the statements true (T) of false (F) according to the information in the article?
1. HB Grandi is Iceland’s biggest fishing business.
2. Palme Vidar says that people have become used to luxuries.
3. Iceland borrowed much more money than it is able to repay.
4. Iceland is currently suffering financially because it stopped exporting fish.
5. Iceland has plenty of clean environmentally-friendly power.
6. The fishing and green-energy production are the two major industries in Iceland.
7. Iceland currently still has a very low rate of unemployment.
8. Women make up over half of the Icelandic workforce.
9. Iceland’s economy is likely to recover.
10. Iceland is currently an attractive tourist destination for people from Britain.
Write in the missing prepositions then look at the article to check your answers.
1. Reykjavik docks smell __________ fish.
2. Eggert Gudmundsson reflects __________ his country’s financial crisis.
3. ... anger __________ the country losing so much.
4. This could be good __________ us.
5. ... it fought a series __________ wars ...
6. It had no stock market __________ 1990.
7. ... the fifth-richest nation __________ earth.
8. Iceland borrowed money __________ abroad.
9. Inflation is firmly __________ double-figures.

10. Fish are half __________ Iceland’s exports.
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5 Discussion: Geysers, midnight sun and the northern lights
Tourism looks like being an important earner: ... interest in flights to Iceland from the UK alone is up 400% ...
(paragraph 9)
Does a holiday in Iceland appeal to you? Why, why not?
Write ten questions about Iceland for another pair or group to answer. Make sure the answers can be found
on the Internet and that you know what the answers are!
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Saga of survival
Addiction in Iceland
to Internet ‘is an illness’
KEY
2 Key words 3 Vocabulary: Prepositions
a) 1. saga 1. Reykjavik docks smell of fish.

2. docks 2. Eggert Gudmundsson reflects on his country’s financial crisis.
3. shame and humiliation 3. ... anger at the country losing so much.
4. spending spree 4. This could be good for us.
5. outpost 5. ... it fought a series of wars ...
6. privatize 6. It had no stock market until 1990.
7. entrepreneur 7. ... the fifth-richest nation on earth.
8. GDP (gross domestic product) 8. Iceland borrowed money from abroad.
9. plunge 9. Inflation is firmly in double-figures.
10. inflation 10. Fish are half of Iceland’s exports.
11. go bust
12. fundamentals
13. exploiting
Teachers’ notes
14. earner
You could write the warmer question before handing out the
b) A current financial phrase meaning the worldwide cut photocopies to make sure that the students don’t peek at the
back on money lending. text before or while deciding which words might appear.
Task 6 could be set as a two-part homework task if you don’t

have enough computers in the classroom connected to
3 Comprehension check: True or false? the Internet.
1. T There is a nice 3.5 minute video with commentary about

2. T Reykjavik (before the current financial situation) here:
3. T http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHYIKvahcLA
4. F
5. T
6. T
7. T
8. F
9. T
10. T
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Paradise almost lost: Maldives seek to buy new homeland
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
revenue inundate archipelago broach cuisine

rancour retribution flogging banishment skim off
1. _________________ is the act of officially ordering someone to leave a country or a region as a punishment.
2. _________________ is a feeling of hate or anger that lasts for a long time.
3. If someone _________________ wealth or a profit, they remove it and keep it for themselves.
4. _________________ is income from business.
5. _________________ is a punishment where someone is hit many times with a stick or a whip.
6. An _________________ is a large group of small islands.
7. _________________ is a punishment that someone deserves because they have done something very bad.
8. If you _________________ a subject or an idea, you begin discussing it with someone, especially if you feel
nervous about doing so because you may upset them.
9. The _________________ of a particular country or region is its style of cooking food.
10. _________________ means the same as flood.
2 What do you know?
1. The Maldives are a group of islands not far from India.

2. The UN forecasts that sea levels are likely to rise by 5.9 metres by the year 2100.
3. The capital of the Maldives, Male, is the most densely populated city in the world.
4. Islam is the only religion in the Maldives.
5. The Maldives has a population of more than one million.
6. The Maldives used to be a democracy but is now a dictatorship.

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NEWS LESSONS / Paradise almost lost: Maldives seek to buy new homeland / Advanced
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Paradise almost lost: Maldives seek head of international climate change at Friends
to buy a new homeland of the Earth. “The Maldives is left to fend for
itself. It is a victim of climate change caused by
Randeep Ramesh in Male
rich countries.”
November 10, 2008
5 Nasheed said he intended to create a “sovereign
wealth fund” from the dollars generated by
1 The Maldives will begin to divert part of the
importing tourists, in the way that Arab states
country’s billion-dollar annual tourist revenue into
have done by exporting oil. “Kuwait might invest
buying a new homeland – as an insurance policy
in companies; we will invest in land.” The 41-
against climate change that threatens to turn the
year-old is a rising star in Asia, where he has
300,000 islanders into environmental refugees,
been compared to Nelson Mandela. Before
according to the country’s first democratically
taking office the new president asked Maldivians
elected president. Mohamed Nasheed, who
to move forward without rancour or retribution
has recently taken power in the island’s capital,
– an astonishing call, given that Nasheed had
Male, said the chain of 1,200 islands 500 miles
gone to jail 23 times, been tortured and spent 18
from the tip of India is likely to disappear under
months in solitary confinement.
the waves if the current pace of climate change
continues to raise sea levels. 6 “We have the latitude to remove anyone from
government and prosecute them. But I have
2 The UN forecasts that the seas are likely to rise
forgiven my jailers, the torturers. They were
by up to 59cm by 2100, due to global warming.
following orders ... I ask people to follow my
Most parts of the Maldives are just 1.5m above
example and leave Gayoom to grow old here,”
water. The president said even a “small rise”
he said.
in sea levels would inundate large parts of the
archipelago. “We can do nothing to stop climate 7 The Maldives is one of the few Muslim nations
change on our own and so we have to buy land to make a relatively peaceful transition from
elsewhere. It’s an insurance policy for the worst autocracy to democracy. The Gayoom “sultanate”
possible outcome. After all, the Israelis [began was a dictatorship that ran the police, army and
by buying] land in Palestine,” said Nasheed, also courts, and which banned rival parties. Public
known as Anni. flogging, banishment to island gulags and torture
were routinely used to suppress dissent and
3 The president, a human rights activist who swept
the young pro-democracy movement. Gayoom
to power in elections last month after ousting
was ‘elected’ president six times in 30 years
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the man who once
– but never faced an opponent. However, public
imprisoned him, said he had already broached
pressure grew and last year he conceded that
the idea with a number of countries and found
democracy was inevitable.
them to be “receptive”. He said Sri Lanka and
India were targets because they had similar 8 Upmarket tourism was useful for the dictatorial
cultures, cuisines and climates. Australia was regime. Gayoom’s Maldives became the richest
also being considered because of the amount of country in South Asia, with average incomes
unoccupied land available. “We do not want to reaching $4,600 a year. But the wealth created
leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to was skimmed off by Gayoom’s friends and
be climate refugees living in tents for decades,” supporters – leaving a huge gap between rich
he said. and poor. Speedboats and yachts of local
multimillionaires lie in the capital’s harbour, while
4 Environmentalists say the issue raises
official figures show almost half of Maldivians
the question of what rights citizens have
earn less than a dollar a day.
if their homeland no longer exists. “It’s an
unprecedented wake-up call,” said Tom Picken, 9 Male is the world’s most densely populated
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Level 3 Advanced
town: 100,000 people live in just two square university. “It’s desperate. We are a 100%
kilometres. “We have unemployment at 20%. Islamic country and democracy came from
Heroin has become a serious social issue, with within. Do you want to lose that because we
crime rising,” Nasheed said, adding that the were denied the money to deal with the poverty
extra social spending he was planning would created by the dictatorship?” he said.
cost an immediate $243m. He said that without
an emergency bailout from the international © Guardian News & Media 2008
community, the future of the Maldives as a First published in The Guardian, 10/11/08
democracy would be in doubt.
10 To raise cash, his government will sell off

state assets, reduce the cabinet and turn
the presidential palace into the country’s first
1. What is the Maldives’ ‘insurance policy’ against climate change?

a. The billion-dollar annual income from tourism
b. Buying land in another country
c. Importing tourists rather than exporting oil
2. Why are Sri Lanka and India possible destinations for the Maldive islanders?
a. Because they are not far from the Maldives.
b. Because there is a large amount of unoccupied land available in those two countries.
c. Because they have similar cultures, cooking and weather to the Maldives.
3. Why are the Maldives particularly at risk from global warming?

a. Because most parts of the archipelago are just 1.5m above sea level.
b. Because people there cannot stop global warming on their own.
c. Because the pace of global warming is increasing.
4. What distinguishes the Maldives from most other Muslim nations?

a. It earns a lot of its revenue from tourism.
b. It made a relatively peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
c. Rival political parties are banned.
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4 Find the word
1. A three-word expression meaning to win an election by a very large number of votes. (para 3)
2. A verb meaning to remove someone from a position of power, especially in order to take that position. (para 3)
3. A three-word expression meaning a bad experience that warns people to change something, usually the way
they behave. (para 4)
4. A three-word expression meaning to look after oneself without help from anyone else. (para 4)
5. A two-word expression meaning a punishment in which a prisoner is kept alone, separate from other prisoners.
(para 5)
6. A noun meaning freedom to use your own methods and judgment in doing something. (para 6)
7. An adjective meaning designed for people who have a lot of money. (para 8)
8. A noun meaning financial assistance. (para 9)
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns or noun phrases in the right-hand column to make
collocations from the text.
1. raise a. power
2. follow b. wealth
3. make c. a transition
4. suppress d. a question
5. create e. assets
6. sell off f. an idea
7. take g. dissent
8. broach h. someone’s example
6 Prepositions
1. an insurance policy _______ climate change 5. the gap _______ rich and poor
2. due _______ global warming 6. the future of the islands is _______ doubt
3. invest _______ land 7. deal _______ poverty
4. a peaceful transition _______ autocracy to democracy 8. disappear _______ the waves
7 Discussion
If you were president of your country what measures would you take to slow down or even prevent
global warming?
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KEY
1. banishment 1. sweep to power

2. rancour 2. oust
3. skims off 3. a wake-up call
4. revenue 4. fend for oneself
5. flogging 5. solitary confinement
6. archipelago 6. latitude
7. retribution 7. upmarket
8. broach 8. bailout
9. cuisine
10. inundate 5 Verb + noun collocations
1. d
2 What do you know? 2. h
3. c
1. T 4. g
2. F 5. b
3. T 6. e
4. T 7. a
5. F 8. f
6. F
6 Prepositions
3 Comprehension check 1. against

2. to
1. b 3. in
2. c 4. from
3. a 5. between
4. b 6. in
7. with
8. under
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
refugee cuisine flogging outcome receptive

autocracy invest torture poverty ban
1. ______________ is extreme physical pain used as a punishment or as a way to make someone say something.
2. If you ______________ something, you say officially that people cannot do it.
3. The ______________ of a particular country or region is its style of cooking food.

4. An ______________ is a form of government in which one person has complete power.
5. If someone is ______________, they are willing to consider suggestions.
6. ______________ is the noun from poor.
7. ______________ is a punishment where someone is hit many times with a stick or a whip.
8. If you ______________ money, you use it to make a profit in the future.
9. The ______________ is the final result of a process or activity.
10. A ______________ is someone who has to leave their home during a war or a natural disaster.
1. How far are the Maldives from India?
2. How many islands are there in the Maldives?
3. How many people live in the Maldives?
4. How many times was Mohamed Nasheed sent to jail?
5. What is the unemployment rate in the capital of the Maldives?
6. How many people live in the capital of the Maldives?

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Level 1 Elementary
Paradise almost lost: Maldives seek year-old president is a rising star in Asia, where
to buy a new homeland some people compare him to Nelson Mandela.
Before he took office the new president asked
Randeep Ramesh in Male
Maldivians to look to the future and not the past.
November 10, 2008
This was a surprise because Nasheed had been
sent to jail 23 times and been tortured.
1 If climate change continues to raise sea levels,
5 “We can remove anyone from government and
the Maldives, a group of 1,200 islands in the
prosecute them. But I have forgiven my jailers,
Indian Ocean just 500 miles from India, could
the torturers. They were following orders ... I ask
disappear beneath the waves. Mohamed
people to follow my example and leave Gayoom
Nasheed, the country’s new president, says
to grow old here,” he said.
the Maldives will soon spend part of its billion-
dollar annual tourist income on buying a new 6 Not many Muslim nations have moved from
homeland. This would be an insurance policy autocracy to democracy peacefully like the
against climate change that could make the Maldives have. The Gayoom ‘sultanate’ was a
300,000 islanders refugees. dictatorship that controlled the police, army and
courts, and which banned all opposition. Gayoom
2 The UN forecasts that the seas will probably
used public flogging and torture to control the
rise by up to 59cm by 2100, as a result of global
country. Gayoom was ‘elected’ president six
warming. Most parts of the Maldives are just
times in 30 years – but there was never any
1.5m above sea level. The president said even
opposition. However, public pressure grew and
a “small rise” in sea levels would cover large
last year he agreed to hold democratic elections.
parts of the island group. “We can do nothing to
stop climate change on our own and so we have 7 Tourism was very useful for Gayoom’s
to buy land somewhere else. It’s an insurance government. The Maldives became the richest
policy for the worst possible outcome. After all, country in South Asia, with an average income
the Israelis [began by buying] land in Palestine,” of $4,600 a year. But Gayoom’s friends and
said Nasheed. supporters took most of the money and there
was a huge gap between rich and poor. The
3 The president won the election last month after
harbour at Male, the capital city, is full of the
defeating Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the man
speedboats and yachts of local multimillionaires,
who once put him in prison. He said he had
while almost half of Maldivians earn less than a
already discussed buying a new homeland
dollar a day.
with a number of countries and said they were
“receptive” to the idea. He said Sri Lanka and 8 Male, is the world’s most densely populated
India were possible targets because they had town: 100,000 people live in just two square
similar cultures, cuisines and climates. Australia kilometres. “We have unemployment at 20%.
was also a possibility because there was so Heroin is a serious social issue, and crime is
much unoccupied land there. “We do not want to rising,” Nasheed said. He added that he needed
leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to an immediate $243m extra to pay for the extra
be refugees living in tents for years and years,” social spending he was planning. He said that
he said. the future of the Maldives as a democracy was in
doubt without emergency financial help from the
4 Nasheed said he was planning to create
international community.
a “wealth fund” from the dollars earned by
importing tourists, in the way that Arab states 9 To raise money, the government will sell state
have done by exporting oil. “Kuwait invests in property, reduce the number of people in the
companies; we will invest in land.” The 41- government and turn the presidential palace into
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Level 1 Elementary
the country’s first university. “It’s a very difficult
situation. We are a 100% Islamic country and
our democracy came from inside. Do you want
to lose that because we don’t have the money
to fight the poverty created by the dictatorship?”
he said.

1. If global warming continues … a. … to buy a new homeland in another country.
2. If the Maldives disappear beneath the sea … b. … compare Mohamed Nasheed to Nelson Mandela.
3. If the government doesn’t fight poverty ... c. … the Maldives will disappear beneath the sea.
4. Some people in Asia … d. … to raise money.
5. The government is planning to sell state property … e. … the Maldives might lose their democracy.
6. The government of the Maldives is planning ... f. … the population will move to a new homeland.
4 Chunks
1. result warming of as global a
2. above just level 1.5 metres sea
3. 30 six years in times
4. a income an year $4,600 average of
5. rich gap poor and between huge a
6. dollar less a than day a

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Level 1 Elementary
Match the words in the left-hand column with the words in the right-hand column to make two-word
1. climate a. city
2. insurance b. level
3. global c. income
4. sea d. election
5. democratic e. policy
6. average f. warming
7. capital g. populated
8. densely h. change
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. elect
2. move
3. oppose
4. employ
5. insure
6. raise
7. govern
8. tour
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KEY
1. torture 1. as a result of global warming

2. ban 2. just 1.5 metres above sea level
3. cuisine 3. six times in 30 years
4. autocracy 4. an average income of $4,600 a year
5. receptive 5. a huge gap between rich and poor
6. poverty 6. less than a dollar a day
7. flogging
8. invest
9. outcome 5 Two-word expressions
10. refugee
1. h
2. e
2 Find the information 3. f
4. b
1. 500 miles 5. d
2. 1,200 6. c
3. 300,000 7. a
4. 23 8. g
5. 20%
6. 100,000
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. election

2. movement
1. c 3. opposition
2. f 4. (un)employment
3. e 5. insurance
4. b 6. rise
5. d 7. government
6. a 8. tourist / tour
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1 Key words
pace archipelago cuisine flogging banishment

outcome unprecedented receptive autocracy inevitable
1. An _________________ is a form of government in which one person has complete power.
2. If someone is _________________, they are willing to consider suggestions.
3. If something is _________________, it is impossible to avoid or prevent.

4. _________________ is the act of officially ordering someone to leave a country or a region as a punishment.
5. An _________________ event is one that has never happened before.
6. _________________ is a punishment where someone is hit many times with a stick or a whip.
7. The _________________ is the final result of a process or activity.
8. An _________________ is a large group of small islands.
9. _________________ is the speed at which something happens.
10. The _________________ of a particular country or region is its style of cooking food.
1. How far are the Maldives from the tip of India?
2. How many islands make up the Maldives?
3. How many people live in the Maldives?
4. How far above sea level are most of the Maldives?
5. What was the average income in the Maldives under the previous government?
6. How many people live in the capital of the Maldives?

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NEWS LESSONS / Paradise almost lost: Maldives seek to buy new homeland / Intermediate
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Paradise almost lost: Maldives seek itself. It is a victim of climate change caused by
to buy a new homeland rich countries.”
Randeep Ramesh in Male 5 Nasheed said he was planning to create

November 10, 2008 a “sovereign wealth fund” from the dollars
generated by importing tourists, in the way that
Arab states have done by exporting oil. “Kuwait
1 Mohamed Nasheed, the new president of the
might invest in companies; we will invest in
Maldives, a group of 1,200 islands in the Indian
land.” The 41-year-old president is a rising
Ocean, says the country will soon spend part
star in Asia, where he has been compared to
of its billion-dollar annual tourist income on
Nelson Mandela. Before taking office the new
buying a new homeland – as an insurance
president asked Maldivians to look to the future
policy against climate change that could turn the
and not seek revenge for the past. This was an
300,000 islanders into environmental refugees.
astonishing call as Nasheed had gone to jail 23
The Maldives, just 500 miles from the tip of
times, been tortured and spent 18 months in
India, could disappear under the waves if the
solitary confinement.
current pace of climate change continues to raise
sea levels. 6 “We have the ability to remove anyone from
government and prosecute them. But I have
2 The UN forecasts that the seas are likely to rise
forgiven my jailers, the torturers. They were
by up to 59cm by 2100, due to global warming.
following orders ... I ask people to follow my
Most parts of the Maldives are just 1.5m above
example and leave Gayoom to grow old here,”
water. The president said even a “small rise”
he said.
in sea levels would cover large parts of the
archipelago. “We can do nothing to stop climate 7 The Maldives is one of the few Muslim nations
change on our own and so we have to buy that has moved from autocracy to democracy
land somewhere else. It’s an insurance policy relatively peacefully. The Gayoom “sultanate”
for the worst possible outcome. After all, the was a dictatorship that controlled the police,
Israelis [began by buying] land in Palestine,” said army and courts, and which banned rival parties.
Nasheed, also known as Anni. Gayoom used public flogging, banishment and
torture to suppress dissent and the young pro-
3 The president swept to power in elections last
democracy movement. Gayoom was ‘elected’
month after defeating Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,
president six times in 30 years – but never
the man who once imprisoned him. He said he
faced an opponent. However, public pressure
had already discussed the idea with a number of
grew and last year he agreed that democracy
countries and found them to be “receptive”. He
was inevitable.
said Sri Lanka and India were targets because
they had similar cultures, cuisines and climates. 8 Upmarket tourism was useful for the dictatorial
Australia was also a possibility because of the regime. Gayoom’s Maldives became the richest
amount of unoccupied land available. “We do country in South Asia, with the average income
not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do $4,600 a year. But Gayoom’s friends and
not want to be climate refugees living in tents for supporters took much of the wealth and there
decades,” he said. was a huge gap between rich and poor. The
speedboats and yachts of local multimillionaires
4 Environmentalists say the issue raises
fill the capital’s harbour, while almost half of
the question of what rights citizens have
Maldivians earn less than a dollar a day.
if their homeland no longer exists. “It’s an
unprecedented wake-up call,” said Tom Picken, 9 The capital of the Maldives, Male, is the world’s
head of international climate change at Friends most densely populated town: 100,000 people
of the Earth. “The Maldives is left to fend for live in just two square kilometres. “We have
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unemployment at 20%. Heroin has become government and turn the presidential palace
a serious social issue, and crime is rising,” into the country’s first university. “It’s a very
Nasheed said. He added that the extra difficult situation. We are a 100% Islamic
social spending he was planning would cost country and democracy came from inside. Do
an immediate $243m. He said that without you want to lose that because we don’t have the
emergency financial help from the international money to deal with the poverty created by the
community, the future of the Maldives as a dictatorship?” he said.
democracy would be in doubt.
10 To raise money, his government will sell state
assets, reduce the number of people in the
1. All of the Maldives will be under water by the year 2100.
2. The Maldives have a similar culture and climate to Australia.
3. Indian cooking is similar to Maldivian cooking.
4. The inhabitants of the Maldives want to leave the islands and settle elsewhere.
5. The Maldives have recently become a democracy.
6. Under the dictatorship the Maldives was the richest country in South Asia.
4 Find the word
2. A noun meaning a period of ten years. (para 3)
3. A three-word expression meaning a bad experience that warns people to change something, usually the way
they behave. (para 4)
4. A three-word expression meaning to look after oneself without help from anyone else (para 4)
5. A two-word expression meaning a punishment in which a prisoner is kept alone, separate from other prisoners.
(para 5)
6. A verb meaning to say officially that people must not do something. (para 7)
7. A verb meaning to stop an activity, especially by making laws or using your authority. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning strong disagreement with what people in authority think. (para 7)
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1. global a. assets
2. climate b. movement
3. sea c. change
4. insurance d. populated
5. pro-democracy e. policy
6. densely f. warming
7. social g. level
8. state h. issue
6 Word building: Noun endings
Add endings to these words to form nouns. Check your answers in the text.
1. dictator_______
2. confine_______
3. environment_______
4. move_______
5. jail_______
6. support_______
7. employ_______
8. govern_______
7 Discussion
What can the inhabitants of the Maldives do to save their homeland?

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1. autocracy 1. sweep to power

2. receptive 2. decade
3. inevitable 3. a wake-up call
4. banishment 4. fend for oneself
5. unprecedented 5. solitary confinement
6. flogging 6. ban
7. outcome 7. suppress
8. archipelago 8. dissent
9. pace
10. cuisine

2. c
1. 500 miles 3. g
2. 1,200 4. e
3. 300,000 5. b
4. 1.5m 6. d
5. $4,600 a year 7. h
6. 100,000 8. a
3 Comprehension check 6 Word building: Noun endings
1. F 1. –ship
2. F 2. –ment
3. T 3. –alist
4. F 4. –ment
5. T 5. –er
6. T 6. –er
7. –ment
8. –ment
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Disillusioned bankers quit the City to teach science
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
a) How do people feel when they are disillusioned?

b) Why do you think British bankers are feeling disillusioned?
Note: In Britain, when someone talks or writes about the City they are referring to the City of London and, in
particular, its banking and financial sector.
2 Key words
Find the key words in the article.
1. To leave a job or stop doing something. _______________________ (title)

2. A verb meaning to make a decision from a choice of possibilities. _______________________ (para 1)
3. A place where traders or stock brokers meet to buy and sell. _______________________ (para 3)
4. When something is acceptable or to your liking, it is _______________________. (para 4)
5. A verb meaning to make up for the loss of something else. _______________________ (para 4)
6. Someone whose job it is to buy and sell shares for other people. _______________________ (para 5)
7. When something is _______________________, it brings in a lot of money. (para 7)
8. A verb meaning to publically promise. _______________________ (para 9)
9. A noun meaning a new member of a company or organization. _______________________ (para 11)
10. An adjective meaning older, but in a positive way. _______________________ (para 11)
11. An adjective meaning fairly good, but not great. _______________________ (para 12)
12. When something is _______________________, it gives you satisfaction and/or pleasure. (para 14)
Read the article and find the information.
1. Why have science graduates been working in the financial sector instead of in schools?
2. What sort of positions have science graduates been taking up in the City?
3. Which four school subjects have suffered in the recent past from lack of good teachers?
4. Why is Elizabeth Baldwin leaving the City and becoming a teacher?
5. What are the British government doing to encourage science graduates to become teachers?
6. Why, in the past years, have there been fewer scientifically trained people available to work for
British industry?
7. Which two common pieces of science laboratory equipment are mentioned in the article?
8. Find the two-word term which describes the current financial situation.
9. Complete this saying, which means that something good is behind everything that at first seems to be bad,
with words from the article: Every cloud has a ________________ _________________.
10. Find a two-word expression for the time a woman takes off work when she has a baby.
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NEWS LESSONS / Disillusioned bankers quit the City to teach science / Advanced
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Level 3 Advanced
Disillusioned bankers quit the City for the teaching of chemistry, physics and biology.”
the rewards of teaching science 7 Science teaching has been a cause of considerable
Hundreds of university graduates are moving concern for education experts for decades. The City
from finance to education has attracted large numbers who are employed,
Robin McKie, science editor often with lucrative salaries, as business analysts
November 23, 2008 and IT experts. As a result, fewer graduates with
top degrees have become teachers. Physics,
1 The thrill of City life appears to be fading for chemistry, biology and mathematics classes have
hundreds of investment bankers who are preparing suffered and fewer children have been inspired to
to turn their back on the financial sector and opt for take up science.
a career in science teaching.
8 Because of this, fewer graduates has meant fewer
2 The Training and Development Agency for Schools scientifically trained people available to work for
(TDA) has revealed that inquiries about science British industry – and not enough good graduates
teaching posts rose by a third last September available to become teachers.
compared with the same month in 2007. The
agency has revealed that formal applications for 9 The British government pledged years ago to halt
science teaching posts have reached record levels this trend and has introduced a number of ways of
and that further significant rises are expected next doing so, including increased salaries for science
year due to the world financial crisis. Many of those teachers compared with those in other subjects.
applicants are coming from the City, it says. 10 A total of 3,114 science trainees entered colleges
3 Among those swapping the trading floor for the during the academic year 2008-09, a rise of 2.5
school laboratory is Elizabeth Baldwin. The 44- per cent on the previous year. “That is the highest
year-old worked for almost 20 years for major number of science teachers since the TDA began
banks, including Merrill Lynch and Lehman 13 years ago,” said Holley.
Brothers, until she found, a few months ago, that 11 Most of these new recruits have been encouraged
the excitement of the job was disappearing. by schemes that ensure that salaries start at
4 “I had just had my second child, Thomas, and the around £24,000 for science teachers, and can
thought of going back to the City became less and eventually rise to £50,000 for more mature
less palatable,” she said. “The high pay no longer teachers, according to the TDA.
compensated for the long hours and lack of 12 It is a reasonable reward, but it certainly does not
social life.” match what a science graduate can earn in the
5 So the business analyst – who has a degree in City, Baldwin stressed.
chemistry and biology from King’s College London 13 “I will be earning a third of what I would have got
– quit and is now applying to join a training course had I stayed in the City,” she said. “But money is
to become a science teacher. The City is a major not everything. Instead of going to work early and
employer of science graduates. As it cuts back on leaving very late, I will get a chance to come home
jobs, and as more people like Baldwin become and be with my boys, Matthew and Thomas.”
disillusioned with the financial sector, the numbers
14 “My father was a teacher, so I know what to expect
of science teachers are set to soar as stockbrokers
and what I will get out of the job. I know teaching
and analysts quit their Ferraris and stock options for
won’t be easy, but I know as well that it can be
test tubes and Bunsen burners, say experts.
very rewarding.”
6 “There is no doubt that the credit crunch has a
huge silver lining in terms of science education in © Guardian News & Media 2008
Britain,” said Graham Holley, the agency’s chief First published in The Observer, 23/11/08
executive. “It is going to do a great deal of good for
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4 Vocabulary: The language of graphs

a) Put the missing prepositions into these expressions from the article.
... rose ______ a third.

... cut back ______ jobs.
... a rise ______ 2.5%
... can eventually rise ______ £50,000
b) Which other expressions can you find for describing graphs and trends?
c) Use some of the vocabulary to describe one of the following by sketching a graph and explaining it
to another student.
• fuel/oil prices
• the housing market
• the annual rainfall or temperatures in your country
• the rise and fall of your enthusiasm for learning English over the years
5 Discussion: Change of career
In your own words, explain Elizabeth Baldwin’s personal situation and the reasons for her career change.
Do you know anyone who has made a dramatic change in their career?
Would you like to change your career path? Why / Why not?
6 Webquest: Job search and salaries
a) Type currency converter into a search engine and convert the salaries mentioned in the article to
your currency.
b) Find job advertisements online for investment bankers and science teachers.
• What qualifications are required?
• What salary is offered?
• Where is the position available?
c) How do the salaries for investments bankers and science teachers in your country compare with the
salaries offered for similar vacancies around the world?
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KEY
2 Key words 4 Vocabulary: The language of graphs
1. quit a) by; on; of; to

2. opt
b) significant rises; soar; increased salaries; earning a
3. trading floor
third of; fewer graduates; reached record levels
4. palatable
5. compensate
6. stockbroker Teachers’ notes
7. lucrative
8. pledge Some helpful websites for task 6:
9. recruit • http://www.careers-in-finance.com/ibsal.htm
10. mature • http://www.careeroverview.com/investment-banking-
11. reasonable careers.html
12. rewarding • http://investment.banker.jobs.com/
• http://www.jobs.ac.uk/
• http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobs/list/t-
3 Find the information science+teacher
1. Because the salaries are very much higher in the
Alternatively, type in investment banker job (or position)
financial sector.
and science teacher job (or position or vacancy) into any
2. Business analysts, investment bankers and
search engine to get thousands of up-to-date results.
IT experts.
3. Chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics.
There are currently many videos available online about the
4. To spend more time at home with her family and to
current world financial situation. One you could use to kick
feel better in herself.
start a discussion of how the credit crunch affects students
5. Offering good salaries – higher than for other
is The Credit Crunch Song:
subjects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_iMS31mqmU
6. Fewer students have been inspired (by their own
This one is particularly nice for class as it has subtitles.
teachers) to study science subjects at university and
so there have been fewer graduates.
7. Test tubes and Bunsen burners.
8. Credit crunch.
9. Silver lining.
10. Maternity leave.
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Level 1 Elementary
(to be) disillusioned: (adjective) to be or feel disappointed because you have found out that someone or
something is not as good as you had believed
Note: In Britain, when someone talks or writes about the City they are referring to the City of London and
in particular its banking and financial sector.
1 Warmer
How many jobs can you find in the article in one minute?
2 Key words
Find these key words in the article and write them into the definitions below.
inquiries expert positions soar applications graduate trend

lack of quit laboratory earn credit crunch rewarding salary
1. To leave a job or stop doing something. _____________________ (title)
2. Someone who has finished their studies at a high school, college or university. _____________________
(sub-title)
3. Questions that are asked to get information. _____________________ (para 2)
4. Jobs that are free or available. _____________________ (para 2)
5. Written requests for a job or place at a college or university. _____________________ (para 2)
6. A place where people do scientific research or teaching. _____________________ (para 3)
7. When there isn’t enough of something, there is a _____________________ it. (para 4)
8. To quickly increase to a high level. _____________________ (para 5)
9. A two-word term which describes the current difficult financial situation. _____________________ (para 6)
10. Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject. _____________________ (para 6)
11. The fixed amount of money you get every month for your job. _____________________ (para 7)
12. A gradual change or development that leads to a particular result. _____________________ (para 8)
13. A verb meaning to receive money for work you do. _____________________ (para 10)
14. When something is _____________________, it makes you happy or satisfied. (para 11)
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NEWS LESSONS / Disillusioned bankers quit the City to teach science / Elementary
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Disillusioned bankers quit the City for 7 Science teaching has been a problem for
the rewards of teaching science education experts for decades. Large numbers of
science graduates are employed in the City, often
Hundreds of university graduates are moving
earning high salaries, as business analysts and
from finance to education
IT experts. Because of this, fewer graduates with
Robin McKie, science editor top degrees have become teachers. Physics,
November 23, 2008 chemistry, biology and mathematics classes
have suffered.
1 Hundreds of investment bankers are leaving
City life and the financial sector for a career in 8 The British government wants to stop this trend,
science teaching. and is offering science teachers better salaries
compared to teachers of other subjects. Salaries
2 Inquiries about science teaching positions rose start at around £24,000 for science teachers, and
by a third last September compared with the can rise to £50,000.
same month in 2007. Applications for science
teaching jobs have reached record levels and 9 It is a good salary, but it certainly does not match
even more applications are expected next year what a science graduate can earn in the City,
because of the world financial crisis. Many Baldwin said.
applications are coming from people who work in
10 “I will earn a third of what I got in the City,” she
the City.
said. “But money is not everything. Instead of
3 Elizabeth Baldwin is leaving the banking going to work early and leaving very late, I will
business for the school laboratory. The 44-year- be able to come home and play with my boys,
old worked for almost 20 years for major banks, Matthew and Thomas.”
including Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers. But
11 “My father was a teacher, so I know what to
a few months ago she realised that her job was
expect. I know teaching won’t be easy, but I know
no longer exciting.
as well that it can be very rewarding.”
4 “I had just had my second child, Thomas, and
going back to the City became less and less © Guardian News & Media 2008
attractive,’ she said. ‘The good money no longer First published in The Observer, 23/11/08
made up for the long hours and lack of social life.”
5 So the business analyst – who has a degree

in chemistry and biology from King’s College
London – quit and is now applying to join a
training course to become a science teacher. The
City is a major employer of science graduates. As
there are now fewer jobs, and more people like
Baldwin become disillusioned with the financial
sector, the numbers of science teachers will soar,
say experts.
6 “There is no doubt that the credit crunch has

hidden benefits for science education in Britain,”
said education expert Graham Holley. “It is going
to do a lot of good for the teaching of chemistry,
physics and biology.”
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Level 1 Elementary
Match the sentence halves to to summarize the article.
1. Many British science graduates work in ... ... maths, biology, chemistry and physics.
2. The four school subjects that have suffered from lack ... who want to become science teachers.
of good teachers are ...
3. This year there have been more applications from ... science teachers more than teachers of other
people ... subjects.
4. The British government have decided to pay ... ... become a science teacher.
5. Elizabeth Baldwin is leaving the financial sector to ... ... a third of what she earned in the City.
6. Elizabeth Baldwin’s father and sister are both teachers, ... ... banking and not in education.
7. As a science teacher, she will earn about ... ... more important than a high salary.
8. Elizabeth Baldwin thinks that spending time with her ... so she knows it’s not an easy job.
family is ...
4 Vocabulary: Past participles
a) Find the past participles of these verbs in the article and write them into the table.
verb past participle regular / irregular

rise
have
work
make
reach
employ
get
is
b) Are the verbs regular or irregular?

How do we form a regular past participle in English?
Underline all the past participles in the article. How many can you find?
c) Write a new sentence for each past participle in 4a.

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Elizabeth Baldwin has decided to leave banking and become a science teacher so she can spend more
time with her family. Do you think this is a good decision? Why / Why not?
Would you like to change your job? Why / Why not?
What would your dream job be?
a) Type currency converter into a search engine and find out how much £24,000 and £50,000 are in
your currency.
b) Search for job advertisements online for investment bankers and science teachers. How high are the
salaries in the job ads?
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KEY
1 Warmer 4 Vocabulary: Past participles
investment banker; business analyst, IT expert, rise – rose (irregular)

education expert; science teacher, teacher have – had (irregular)
work – worked (regular)
make – made (irregular)
2 Key words
reach – reached (regular)
employ – employed (regular)
1. quit get – got (irregular)
2. graduate is – was (irregular)
3. inquiries
4. positions
5. applications Teachers’ notes
6. laboratories
7. lack Some helpful websites for task 6:
8. soar • http://www.careers-in-finance.com/ibsal.htm
9. credit crunch • http://www.careeroverview.com/investment-banking-
10. expert careers.html
11. salary • http://investment.banker.jobs.com/
12. trend • http://www.jobs.ac.uk/
13. earn • http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobs/list/t-
14. rewarding science+teacher

3 Comprehension check and science teacher job (or position or vacancy) into any
1. Many British science graduates work in banking and
not in education.
2. The four school subjects that have suffered from
lack of good teachers are maths, biology, chemistry
and physics.
3. This year there have been more applications from
people who want to become science teachers.
4. The British government have decided to pay science
teachers more than teachers of other subjects.
5. Elizabeth Baldwin is leaving the financial sector to
become a science teacher.
6. Elizabeth Baldwin’s father and sister are both
teachers, so she knows it’s not an easy job.
7. As a science teacher, she will earn about a third of
what she earned in the City.
8. Elizabeth Baldwin thinks that spending time with her
family is more important than a high salary.
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(to be) disillusioned: (adjective) to be or feel disappointed because you have found out that someone or
something is not as good as you had believed
Note: In Britain, when someone talks or writes about the City they are referring to the City of London and
in particular its banking and financial sector.
1 Warmer
a) Why do you think British bankers are feeling disillusioned?

b) All these words appear in the article. Which is the odd word out? Why?
test tube laboratory Ferrari Bunsen burner
2 Key words
Find the key words in the article.
recruit inspire maternity leave mature stockbroker graduate

trading floor thrill quit attract rewarding credit crunch
1. To leave a job or stop doing something. ____________________ (title)

2. Someone who has finished their studies at a high school, college or university. ____________________
(sub-title)
3. A feeling of being excited or very pleased. ____________________ (para1)
4. A place where traders or stock brokers meet to buy and sell. ____________________ (para 3)
5. Someone whose job it is to buy and sell shares for other people. ____________________ (para 5)
6. A two-word term which describes the current difficult financial situation with a reduction in the availability of
loans. ____________________ (para 6)
7. A verb meaning to make someone interested in something. ____________________ (para 7)
8. A verb meaning to give someone the enthusiasm to create or do something. ____________________ (para 7)
9. A noun meaning a new member of a company or organization. ____________________ (para 10)
10. An adjective meaning older, but in a positive way. ____________________ (para 10)
11. When something is ____________________, it gives you satisfaction and/or pleasure. (para 13)
12. A two-word expression for the time a woman takes off work when she has a baby. _____________________
(para 14)
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NEWS LESSONS / Disillusioned bankers quit the City to teach science / Intermediate
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Disillusioned bankers quit the City for 7 Science teaching has been a problem for
the rewards of teaching science education experts for decades. The City has
Hundreds of university graduates are moving attracted large numbers of science graduates
from finance to education who are employed, often with high salaries, as
business analysts and IT experts. As a result,
fewer graduates with top degrees have become
November 23, 2008
teachers. Physics, chemistry, biology and
1 The thrill of City life appears to be fading for mathematics classes have suffered and fewer
hundreds of investment bankers who are leaving children have been inspired to take up science.
the financial sector for a career in science teaching. 8 The British government has introduced a number
2 The Training and Development Agency for of ways of stopping this trend, including better
Schools (TDA) has said that inquiries about salaries for science teachers compared with
science teaching positions rose by a third last those in other subjects.
September compared with the same month 9 A total of 3,114 science trainees entered colleges
in 2007. The agency has said that formal during the academic year 2008-09, a rise of
applications for science teaching posts have 2.5 per cent on the previous year. “That is the
reached record levels and that further significant highest number of science teachers since the
rises are expected next year due to the world TDA began 13 years ago,” said Holley.
financial crisis. Many of those applicants are
coming from the City, it says. 10 Most of these new recruits have been
encouraged by salaries that start at around
3 Elizabeth Baldwin is swapping the trading floor £24,000 for science teachers, and which can
for the school laboratory. The 44-year-old worked eventually rise to £50,000 for more mature
for almost 20 years for major banks, including teachers, according to the TDA.
Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers, until she
found, a few months ago, that the excitement of 11 It is a good salary, but it certainly does not match
the job was disappearing. what a science graduate can earn in the City,
Baldwin stressed.
4 “I had just had my second child, Thomas, and
going back to the City became less and less 12 “I will be earning a third of what I would have got
attractive,” she said. “The high pay no longer had I stayed in the City,” she said. “But money is
made up for the long hours and lack of social life.” not everything. Instead of going to work early and
leaving very late, I will get a chance to come home
5 So the business analyst – who has a degree and be with my boys, Matthew and Thomas.”
in chemistry and biology from King’s College
London – quit and is now applying to join a 13 “My father was a teacher, so I know what to
training course to become a science teacher. The expect and what I will get out of the job. I know
City is a major employer of science graduates. teaching won’t be easy, but I know as well that it
As there are now fewer jobs, and as more people can be very rewarding.”
like Baldwin become disillusioned with the financial
sector, the numbers of science teachers are set to
soar as stockbrokers and analysts quit their Ferraris
for test tubes and Bunsen burners, say experts.
6 “There is no doubt that the credit crunch has
a huge hidden benefit for science education in
Britain,” said Graham Holley, the agency’s chief
executive. “It is going to do a lot of good for the
teaching of chemistry, physics and biology.”
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Are these statements true (T) or false (F) according to the article? Correct any false sentences.
1. Many science graduates have been working in the financial sector instead of in schools.
2. The four school subjects that have suffered from lack of good teachers are maths, science, sports and English.
3. This year there have been a third fewer applications from people wanting to become science teachers.
4. The British government have decided to pay science teachers more than teachers of other subjects to
encourage science graduates to become teachers.
5. Elizabeth Baldwin is leaving the financial sector to become a teacher.
6. Elizabeth Baldwin’s father and sister are both teachers.
7. As a science teacher, she will take home about half of what she earned in the City.
8. Elizabeth Baldwin thinks that spending time with her family is more important than a high salary.
4 Writing: A personal profile
a) Write a short profile of Elizabeth Baldwin.
Elizabeth Baldwin
Curriculum Vitae
Personal details
Age:
Sex:
Family status:
Family background:
Qualifications:
Current position:
Previous position:
Reasons for career change:
Experience
b) Create a similar profile for yourself or someone else in your class. Change the categories if necessary.
In your own words, explain Elizabeth Baldwin’s personal situation and the reasons for her career change.
Do you know anyone who has made a dramatic change in their career?
Would you like to change your career path? Why / Why not?
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a) Type currency converter into a search engine and convert the salaries mentioned in the article to
your currency.
b) Find job advertisements online for investment bankers and science teachers.
• What qualifications are required?
• What salary is offered?
• Where is the position available?
c) How do the salaries for investment bankers and science teachers in your country compare with the
salaries offered for similar vacancies around the world?
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1 Warmer 4 Writing: A personal profile
(possible answers)
b) Ferrari is the odd word out.
Age: 44
Sex: female
Family status: has two small children
2 Key words
Family background: father and sister are both teachers
Qualifications: a degree in chemistry and biology from
1. quit King’s College London
2. graduate Current position: applying to join a training course to
3. thrill become a science teacher
4. trading floor Previous position: worked for almost 20 years for
5. stockbroker major banks, including Merrill Lynch and Lehman
6. credit crunch Brothers
7. attract Reasons for career change: to spend quality time at
8. inspire home with her family, to see her home in the daylight,
9. recruit and to regain her social life.
10. mature
11. rewarding
12. maternity leave Teachers’ notes
Task 4 will work well in a class that doesn’t mind sharing
personal information. The profiles could be anonymous
3 Comprehension check and students could guess whose they are. If your
students do not want to share this information, they can
make up information or pretend to be a famous person
1. T
and give their details instead.
2. F (biology, physics, chemistry, maths)
3. F (there have been a third more) Some helpful websites for task 6:
4. T • http://www.careers-in-finance.com/ibsal.htm
5. T • http://www.careeroverview.com/investment-banking-
6. T careers.html
7. F (she will earn about a third) • http://investment.banker.jobs.com/
8. T • http://www.jobs.ac.uk/
• http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobs/list/t-
science+teacher
and science teacher job (or position or vacancy) into any
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Rugby league to kick off anti-homophobia campaign
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
machismo homophobia diversity come out deter

deride bastion inclusive out high-profile
1. If you ______________________, you tell people that you are gay.

2. If you are ______________________, you are an openly gay person.
3. ______________________ is hate or fear of homosexuals.
4. A ______________________ person is one who is often seen in public, is frequently mentioned in newspapers
and regularly appears on television.
5. ______________________ is behaviour that is traditionally considered typical of a man such as being strong
and willing to fight.
6. A ______________________ is an organization, community or system that supports and defends a particular
way of life, tradition or belief.
7. If something ______________________ you from doing something, it makes you decide not to do it.
8. If you ______________________ someone, you make fun of them by suggesting that they are stupid,
unimportant or useless or have some other characteristic you disapprove of.
9. If something is ______________________, it deliberately aims to involve all types of people.
10. ______________________ is the fact that very different types of people exist within a group or place.
2 What do you know?
Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F). Then check your answers in the text.
1. Rugby league is one of the world’s toughest sports.
2. It is normally played in southern England.
3. Many of England’s 350 professional rugby league players are openly gay.
4. Stonewall is an organization that campaigns for gay rights.
5. All heterosexual boys are attracted by the macho culture of rugby league.
6. Around 6% of the population of the UK is believed to be homosexual.

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NEWS LESSONS / Rugby league to kick off anti-homophobia campaign / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Rugby league to kick off came from the success of clubs in Oldham
anti-homophobia campaign and Salford which had been working with local
• First major sport to join Stonewall programme gay, lesbian and bisexual groups. It was not
• Forum to be set up for staff and players prompted by concerns that spectators or players
were homophobic. “Rugby league is probably
Jenny Percival
not most people’s idea of a supportive working
November 28, 2008
environment but I’m pleased to be able to
1 As one of the world’s toughest sports, rugby challenge assumptions by tackling homophobia
league is more usually associated with northern and creating a genuinely inclusive organization
English machismo and cauliflower ears than gay where people can be out in the workplace and
rights. But the Rugby Football League (RFL) has where gay, lesbian and bisexual people want
just become the first national governing body of to work.” She added: “The ultimate aim would
a major sport to sign up to Stonewall’s campaign be if a high-profile coach or player sent a really
against homophobia. The sport has joined the positive message by coming out.”
group’s diversity champions programme, which 6 Stonewall said that since an estimated 6% of the
promotes lesbian, gay and bisexual equality. population was lesbian or gay it assumed that the
2 Posters and logos proclaiming “Some people community was represented in rugby league as it
are gay. Get over it!” will appear at rugby league was in other sports and professions. Summerskill
grounds and in programmes and fanzines to quoted the case of Nigel Owens, from rugby
discourage homophobia, and the RFL is setting union, who last year became the first openly
up a lesbian, gay and bisexual forum for staff gay referee to officiate in a world cup. Owens’
and players. Stonewall, the gay rights group, will decision to come out helped him earn the title of
provide clubs with information packs on how to Stonewall’s sportsman of the year 2007.
ensure their culture, policies and practices are 7 The RFL campaign, which will be officially
fully inclusive, including helpline numbers for launched after the start of the season in
people seeking confidential advice. February, has the potential to reach a large
3 Neither Stonewall nor the RFL knows of anyone audience. Almost two million people a year
among the sport’s 350 professional players who attend super league games and around a quarter
is openly gay but they hope the campaign could of a million men, women and children take part in
encourage ‘a British Ian Roberts’ to come out. the sport.
Roberts came out as gay in 1995 while playing 8 Stonewall will also be hoping the RFL’s
Australian rugby league. The rugby league involvement in its diversity champions
community was overwhelmingly supportive programme will encourage other major sporting
towards Roberts, now 43 and an actor. bodies – particularly the English Football
4 Ben Summerskill, Stonewall’s chief executive, Association – to follow suit. The FA has a
said sport was “one of the last great bastions of campaign on tackling homophobia and has a
homophobia”. “Boys, including those who are champion on the issue in the former Chelsea and
heterosexual, can be deterred by the macho Celtic defender Paul Elliott. There are plans for
culture, while girls can be put off sport because an FA film on tackling homophobia and the Gay
so many leading sportswomen are derided as Football Supporters Network has liaison officers
being lesbian. The vision shown by the RFL is an in clubs including Aston Villa, which has just
absolutely ground-breaking step in making sport launched the country’s first club-level gay
more accessible.” fans’ group.
5 Sarah Williams, the RFL’s equality and diversity © Guardian News & Media 2008
manager, said the decision to join the campaign First published in The Observer, 28/11/08
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1. Why is it surprising that rugby league has become the first English sport to sign up to Stonewall’s campaign
against homophobia?
a. Because there are no gay rugby league players.
b. Because players and spectators of the sport are not homophobic.
c. Because it’s a macho sport that is not usually associated with gay rights.
2. How did the Australian rugby league community react to its first openly gay player?
a. People reacted very negatively.
b. People didn’t care one way or the other.
c. People reacted very supportively.
3. Why are some boys deterred from playing sports?

a. Because sport is one of the last bastions of homophobia.
b. Because sport has a very macho culture.
c. Because so many leading sportswomen are derided for being lesbian.
4. What percentage of rugby league players can statistically be assumed to be gay?

a. 6%
b. 12%
c. 0%
4 Find the word
1. A two-word expression describing an injury typical of rugby and boxing. (para 1)

2. A three-word expression meaning stop worrying, complaining or being upset about something. (para 2)
3. A noun meaning a magazine written for and by fans. (para 2)
4. An adverb used to emphasize the amount or strength of something. (para 3)
5. A two-word adjective meaning using new methods or achieving new results. (para 4)
6. A form of rugby in which there are 15 players in a team. (para 6)
7. A two-word expression meaning to conform to someone else’s actions. (para 8)
8. A noun meaning someone who publicly supports or defends a set of beliefs, political aims or a group of people.
(para 8)
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Level 3 Advanced
make two-word expressions.
1. challenge a. a campaign
2. promote b. advice
3. set up c. a large audience
4. seek d. a game (a match)
5. send e. assumptions
6. launch f. a forum
7. attend g. equality
8. reach h. a message
6 Words followed by prepositions
Fill the gaps in these phrases with prepositions. Check your answers in the text.
1. supportive __________
2. associated __________
3. provide __________
4. take part __________
5. involvement __________
6. sign up __________
7 Discussion
Do you think campaigns like this help to change people’s attitudes? Can you think of other ways to promote
inclusiveness and diversity?
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KEY
1. come out 1. cauliflower ear

2. out 2. get over it
3. homophobia 3. fanzine
4. high-profile 4. overwhelmingly
5. machismo 5. ground-breaking
6. bastion 6. rugby union
7. deters 7. follow suit
8. deride 8. champion
9. inclusive
10. diversity

2. g
1. T 3. f
2. F 4. b
3. F 5. h
4. T 6. a
5. F 7. d
6. T 8. c
3 Comprehension check 6 Words followed by prepositions
1. c 1. towards
2. c 2. with
3. b 3. with
4. a 4. in
5. in
6. to
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
macho forum diversity come out inclusive

high-profile tackle homophobia heterosexual confidential
1. If something is ______________________, it deliberately aims to involve all types of people.

2. ______________________ is the fact that very different types of people exist within a group or place.
3. If you ______________________ a problem, you make an organized and determined attempt to deal with it.
4. ______________________ is hate or fear of homosexuals.
5. If you ______________________, you tell people that you are gay.
6. If you are ______________________, you are sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex.
7. ______________________ behaviour is behaviour that is traditionally considered typical of a man, such as
being strong and willing to fight.
8. A ______________________ person is one who is often seen in public, is frequently mentioned in newspapers
9. If something is ______________________, it is secret.
10. A ______________________ is a website where people can express their ideas and opinions.
1. What does RFL stand for?
2. What is Stonewall?
3. How many professional rugby league players are there?
4. When did Ian Roberts come out?
5. How many people watch super league matches every year?
6. How many people play rugby league?

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NEWS LESSONS / Rugby league to kick off anti-homophobia campaign / Elementary

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Rugby league to kick off 5 Sarah Williams, the RFL’s equality and diversity
anti-homophobia campaign manager, said the decision to join the campaign
• First major sport to join Stonewall programme followed the success of clubs in Oldham and
• Forum to be set up for staff and players Salford which had been working with local gay,
lesbian and bisexual groups. It was not because
Jenny Percival
spectators or players were homophobic. “Rugby
November 28, 2008
league is probably not most people’s idea of a
1 Rugby league is a macho sport, normally played supportive working environment but I’m pleased to
in the north of England and is one of the toughest be able to try and fight homophobia and create the
sports in the world. It is not a sport that people kind of organization where people can be openly
normally associate with gay rights. But the Rugby gay in the workplace and where gay, lesbian and
Football League (RFL) has just become the first bisexual people want to work.” She added: “It would
major sports organization to join a campaign be great if a high-profile coach or player sent a
against homophobia. The sport has joined really positive message by coming out.”
Stonewall’s diversity champions programme, which
fights for lesbian, gay and bisexual equality. 6 Stonewall said that since an estimated 6% of the
UK population was lesbian or gay there must be
2 Posters and logos stating “Some people are gay. a similar percentage in rugby league as there
Get over it!” will appear at rugby league grounds were in other sports and professions. Summerskill
and in match programmes and fanzines to mentioned the case of Nigel Owens, from rugby
discourage homophobia, and the RFL is setting union, who last year became the first openly gay
up a lesbian, gay and bisexual forum for staff referee to referee in a world cup. Owens was
and players. Stonewall, the gay rights group, will Stonewall’s sportsman of the year in 2007.
provide clubs with information packs which will tell
them how to make sure that their working practices 7 The RFL campaign, which will officially begin after
are fully inclusive, including helpline numbers for the start of the season in February, could reach a
people seeking confidential advice. large audience. Almost two million people a year
watch super league matches and around a quarter
3 Neither Stonewall nor the RFL knows of anyone of a million men, women and children actively play
among the sport’s 350 professional players who rugby league.
is openly gay but they hope the campaign could
encourage ‘a British Ian Roberts’ to come out. 8 Stonewall will also hope the RFL’s involvement in
Roberts came out as gay in 1995 while playing its diversity champions programme will encourage
Australian rugby league. Most people in the rugby other major sporting bodies – particularly the
league community were very supportive English Football Association – to do the same. The
towards Roberts. FA has a campaign to tackle homophobia and there
are also plans for an FA film on tackling homophobia.
4 Ben Summerskill, Stonewall’s chief executive, said
sport was “one of the last areas where homophobia © Guardian News & Media 2008
is very strong”. “Boys, including many heterosexual First published in The Observer, 28/11/08
boys, often do not like the macho culture of sport,
while girls sometimes also avoid sport because
so many famous sportswomen are laughed at for
being lesbian. The RFL is taking a very important
step in making sport more attractive to gay and
lesbian people.”
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Level 1 Elementary
1. Posters and logos will appear at rugby league grounds …
2. Information packs will provide …
3. The campaign wants to make sport …
4. The campaign will probably …
5. Some boys do not like …
6. The campaign also wants to encourage …
a. … reach a large audience.
b … the macho culture of sport.
c. … to discourage homophobia.
d. … more attractive to gay and lesbian people.
e. … inclusive working practices.
f. … helpline numbers for people wanting confidential advice.
4 Chunks
Put the words into the correct order to make phrases from the text.
1. toughest one the of world sports the in
2. major first organization the sports
3. attractive more making sport
4. a almost million year two people
5. million a around quarter a of
6. of north in England the

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5 Two-word phrases
1. chief a. pack
2. working b. number
3. helpline c. rights
4. confidential d. executive
5. gay e. advice
6. information f. practices
6 Word building
verb noun
1 decide
2 organize
3 advise
4 succeed
5 referee
6 involve
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1. inclusive 1. one of the toughest sports in the world

2. diversity 2. the first major sports organization
3. tackle 3. making sport more attractive
4. homophobia 4. almost two million people a year
5. come out 5. around a quarter of a million people
6. heterosexual 6. in the north of England
7. macho
8. high-profile
5 Two-word phrases
9. confidential
10. forum
1. d
2. f
2 Find the information 3. b
4. e
1. Rugby Football League 5. c
2. a gay rights group 6. a
3. 350
4. 1995
6 Word building
5. almost two million
6. around a quarter of a million
verb noun
3 Comprehension check 1 decide decision
2 organize organization
1. c 3 advise advice
2. f 4 succeed success
3. d
4. a 5 referee referee
5. b 6 involve involvement
6. e
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macho homophobia diversity come out ridicule

inclusive high-profile tackle accessible heterosexual
1. If you are _____________________, you are sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex.
2. _____________________ behaviour is behaviour that is traditionally considered typical of a man, such as be-
ing strong and willing to fight.
3. If you _____________________ someone, you make fun of them in an unkind way.
4. If something is _____________________, it deliberately aims to involve all types of people.
5. _____________________ is the fact that very different types of people exist within a group or place.
6. If something is _____________________, it is easy for anyone to obtain, use or take part in.
7. If you _____________________ a problem, you make an organized and determined attempt to deal with it.
8. If you _____________________, you tell people that you are gay.
9. _____________________ is hate or fear of homosexuals.
10. A _____________________ person is one who is often seen in public, is frequently mentioned in newspapers
1. What does RFL stand for?
2. What is Stonewall?
3. How many professional rugby league players are there?
4. What percentage of the UK population is believed to be lesbian or gay?
5. How many people watch super league matches every year?
6. How many people actively take part in rugby league?

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NEWS LESSONS / Rugby league to kick off anti-homophobia campaign / Intermediate

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Rugby league to kick off came from the success of clubs in Oldham and
anti-homophobia campaign Salford which had been working with local gay,
• First major sport to join Stonewall programme lesbian and bisexual groups. It was not the result of
• Forum to be set up for staff and players worries that spectators or players were homophobic.
“Rugby league is probably not most people’s idea of
Jenny Percival
a supportive working environment but I’m pleased
November 28, 2008
to be able to try and fight homophobia and create a
1 Rugby league is a macho sport, normally played genuinely inclusive organization where people can be
in the north of England and is one of the world’s openly gay in the workplace and where gay, lesbian
toughest sports. It is not a sport that people would and bisexual people want to work.” She added: “The
normally associate with gay rights. But the Rugby ultimate aim would be if a high-profile coach or player
Football League (RFL) has just become the first sent a really positive message by coming out.”
national governing body of a major sport to join a
campaign against homophobia. The sport has joined 6 Stonewall said that since an estimated 6% of the
Stonewall’s diversity champions programme, which population was lesbian or gay there must be an
promotes lesbian, gay and bisexual equality. equivalent percentage in rugby league as there
were in other sports and professions. Summerskill
2 Posters and logos stating “Some people are gay. mentioned Nigel Owens, from rugby union, who last
Get over it!” will appear at rugby league grounds and year became the first openly gay referee to referee
in match programmes and fanzines to discourage in a world cup. Owens’s decision to come out helped
homophobia, and the RFL is setting up a lesbian, him earn the title of Stonewall’s sportsman of the
gay and bisexual forum for staff and players. year 2007.
Stonewall, the gay rights group, will provide clubs
with information packs on how to ensure their culture, 7 The RFL campaign, which will be officially launched
policies and practices are fully inclusive, including after the start of the season in February, has the
helpline numbers for people seeking potential to reach a large audience. Almost two
confidential advice. million people a year watch super league matches
and around a quarter of a million men, women and
3 Neither Stonewall nor the RFL knows of anyone children actively take part in the sport.
among the sport’s 350 professional players who
is openly gay but they hope the campaign could 8 Stonewall will also be hoping the RFL’s involvement
encourage ‘a British Ian Roberts’ to come out. Roberts in its diversity champions programme will encourage
came out as gay in 1995 while playing Australian rugby other major sporting bodies – particularly the English
league. Most people in the rugby league community Football Association – to do the same. The FA has
were very supportive towards Roberts. a campaign on tackling homophobia and has a
champion on the issue in the former Chelsea and
4 Ben Summerskill, Stonewall’s chief executive, said Celtic defender Paul Elliott. There are plans for an FA
sport was “one of the last areas where homophobia is film on tackling homophobia and the Gay Football
very strong”. “Boys, including heterosexual boys, can Supporters Network has members in clubs including
be put off by the macho culture, while girls can also be Aston Villa, which has just launched the country’s first
put off sport because so many leading sportswomen club-level gay fans’ group.
are ridiculed for being lesbian. “The vision shown
by the RFL is an absolutely ground-breaking step in © Guardian News & Media 2008
making sport more accessible.” First published in The Observer, 28/11/08
5 Sarah Williams, the RFL’s equality and diversity

manager, said the decision to join the campaign
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1. People usually associate rugby league with gay rights.
2. Homophobia is not common in sport.
3. Clubs in Oldham and Salford have been successful in their work with gay and lesbian groups.
4. High-profile coaches and players have already come out in England.
5. The rugby league campaign could reach a large audience.
6. Nigel Owens refereed in the rugby league world cup.
4 Find the word
help you.
1. A two-word expression meaning an official organization that is responsible for making the rules for an
organization and for making sure that people follow those rules. (para 1)
2. A three-word expression meaning stop worrying, complaining or being upset about something. (para 2)
3. A noun meaning a magazine written for and by fans. (para 2)
4. An adjective meaning helpful and sympathetic. (para 3)
5. A two-word adjective meaning using new methods or achieving new results. (para 4)
6. An adverb meaning really. (para 5)
7. A form of rugby in which there are 15 players in a team. (para 6)
8. A noun meaning someone who publicly supports or defends a set of beliefs, political aims or a group of people.
(para 8)
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5 Two-word phrases
from the text.
1. gay a. number
2. governing b. executive
3. information c. message
4. chief d. pack
5. working e. culture
6. positive f. rights
7. macho g. environment
8. helpline h. body
6 Word building: Adjectives and nouns
Complete the table.
verb noun
1 diverse
2 homophobia
3 equal
4 confidence
5 profession
6 access
7 support
8 successful
7 Discussion
This is one idea to promote diversity. Can you think of some other ways to discourage homophobia
in sport?
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KEY
1. heterosexual 1. governing body

2. macho 2. get over it
3. ridicule 3. fanzine
4. inclusive 4. supportive
5. diversity 5. ground-breaking
6. accessible 6. genuinely
7. tackle 7. rugby union
8. come out 8. champion
9. homophobia
10. high-profile
5 Two-word phrases

2. h
1. Rugby Football League 3. d
2. a gay rights group 4. b
3. 350 5. g
4. 6% 6. c
5. almost two million 7. e
6. around a quarter of a million 8. a
3 Comprehension check 6 Word building: Adjectives and nouns
1. F
verb noun
2. F
3. T 1 diverse diversity
4. F 2 homophobic homophobia
5. T 3 equal equality
6. F
4 confidential confidence
5 professional profession
6 accessible access
7 supportive support
8 successful success
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Galactic collision: Get out of the way!
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
Complete the sentences using these key words from the text.
downturn gloom underestimate galaxy squidgy

cataclysmic rotation light year spiral molecule
1. A _________________ is the distance that light travels in a year.
2. A _________________ is a very small group of atoms that form a particular substance.
3. If you _________________ something, you think that it is smaller or less powerful than it really is.
4. A _________________ event is one that changes a situation in a sudden, violent and unpleasant way.
5. In an economic _________________, there is a significant reduction in business activity.
6. A _________________ shape is one that looks like a set of circles inside each other, made up by one line
curving inside itself.
7. _________________ is a feeling of having no hope.
8. If something is _________________, it is very soft.
9. A _________________ is an extremely large group of stars and planets.
10. _________________ is a movement in a circle around a fixed central point.
1. Does the latest research show that our solar system is travelling faster or more slowly than previously thought?
2. When will the sun burn up the last of its nuclear fuel?
3. How far is our solar system from the centre of the Milky Way?
4. Which galaxy is the Milky Way expected to collide with?
5. Why is there no cause for alarm?
6. How fast is our solar system travelling?

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NEWS LESSONS / Galactic collision: Get out of the way! / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Get out of the way! Galactic collision 6 The scientists recorded intense radiowaves coming
will happen sooner than scientists from the galaxy’s four spiral arms, where new stars
thought are born. Heat from the stars warms up molecules of
alcohol in interstellar gas clouds, which release the
Ian Sample, science correspondent
energy as radiowaves. The measurements showed
5 January, 2009
that our solar system is hurtling along at 600,000mph,
100,000mph faster than thought. “These
1 If the return to work, grim weather and global measurements are revising our understanding of the
economic downturn were not enough to contend with, structure and motions of our galaxy,” said Menten.
astronomers added to the seasonal gloom today
7 The speedier rotation of the galaxy means its mass
by announcing that the Milky Way will crash into a
must be similar to that of Andromeda, around 270bn
nearby galaxy sooner than they thought.
times the mass of the sun, or 33% greater than
2 According to their most detailed measurements yet, earlier calculations have suggested. “No longer will
scientists admitted to having grossly underestimated we think of the Milky Way as the little sister of the
the mass of the Milky Way, and so the gravitational Andromeda galaxy,” said Reid. The research was
pull it exerts on our cosmic neighbours, including the presented at the annual meeting of the American
giant Andromeda galaxy. The oversight means that Astronomical Society in Long Beach, California.
the two galaxies, which are on a cataclysmic collision
8 Astronomers believe the crunch to end all crunches
course, will slam into one another earlier than
could happen around the same time our sun is due to
scientists had previously predicted.
burn up the last of its nuclear fuel, within the next 7bn
years. It is highly unlikely that planets and stars will
3 When the two galaxies meet, powerful shockwaves
will compress interstellar gas clouds within them, collide. Instead the two galaxies will merge to form a
producing a dazzling flourish of newborn stars, in new, large galaxy.
a last heavenly display before the giant wreckage
9 “The galaxies will be dramatically stirred up, but
slowly dims and dies out. Fortunately the galactic
they are very squidgy, so they will stick together and
disaster still lies billions of years in the future.
eventually all the stars will die out, and it will become
4 Our solar system is around 28,000 light years from one huge, dead galaxy,” said Gerry Gilmore at the
the centre of the Milky Way, itself one of more than Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge university, who
35 galaxies in our cosmic neighbourhood. The was not involved in the study. “One thing we don’t
Andromeda galaxy, which is twice as wide, is around know yet is whether Andromeda will hit us square on,
2m light years away. Karl Menten, an astronomer or whether it will be a glancing blow.” If the galaxy
at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in strikes the side of the Milky Way, it is expected to be
Germany, said that while the galactic collision would pulled back again for further collisions. The whole
happen sooner than expected, there was no cause collision could take many millions of years.
for alarm. “We still expect it to happen billions of
10 According to Gilmore, the research does more than
years in the future,” he said.
bring forward the date of our galactic demise. The
5 A team, led by Menten and Mark Reid at the work also sheds fresh light on the nature of dark
Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics in matter, the invisible substance believed to hold
Massachusetts, used a radio telescope to make galaxies together. Gilmore said the findings point
precise measurements of the Milky Way as it moved to more dark matter at the centre of the galaxy
through space. As the galaxy rotates, parts that that may be colder and more compacted than
emit radiowaves move relative to Earth, allowing astronomers thought.
the researchers to work out how fast the galaxy
is spinning. © Guardian News & Media 2009
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Level 3 Advanced
1. Why did scientists believe that the collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda would take place later than
they now believe it will take place?
a. Because they didn’t realize how fast Andromeda was travelling.
b. Because they miscalculated the mass of the Milky Way.
c. Because they weren’t sure when the sun would use the last of its nuclear fuel.
2. How did the scientists work out how fast the Milky Way is spinning?
a. They compared its position to that of Andromeda.
b. They measured the movement of radiowaves relative to Earth.
c. They measured its mass in comparison with the sun.
3. What does the research do apart from tell us when our galaxy will come to an end?
a. It tells us more about the nature of dark matter.
b. It tells us when the sun will use up the last of its nuclear fuel.
c. It shows the relationship between dark matter and the end of the universe.
4. Will the planets and stars collide?

a. Probably.
b. Possibly.
c. Almost certainly not.
4 Find the word
Look in the text and find the following words and phrases.
1. An adjective meaning unpleasant and upsetting. (para 1)
2. An adjective meaning between the stars. (para 3)
3. An adjective meaning extremely impressive. (para 3)
4. A verb meaning to become less bright. (para 3)
5. A noun meaning the time when something important or difficult happens or must be decided. (para 8)
6. A two-word expression meaning an indirect hit. (para 9)
7. A noun meaning the time when something stops existing. (para 10)
8. A four-word expression meaning to offer a new explanation for something. (para 10)
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Level 3 Advanced
5 Phrasal verbs
Match the phrasal verbs in the left-hand column with the definitions in the right-hand column.
1. stir up a. to travel at an incredibly fast speed
2. bring forward b. to crash into at great speed
3. slam into c. to disappear completely
4. work out d. to have to deal with problems or difficulties
5. contend with e. to consume
6. hurtle along f. to calculate

7. burn up g. to move around
8. die out h. to change the date of something so it happens earlier
6 Adjective + noun collocations
Match the adjectives in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column.
1. economic a. weather
2. grim b. matter
3. seasonal c. downturn
4. gravitational d. fuel
5. nuclear e. gloom
6. dark f. system
7. solar g. measurements
8. detailed h. pull
7 Discussion
Do you think it is important for us to be able to understand the universe and how it is formed?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1. light year 1. grim

2. molecule 2. interstellar
3. underestimate 3. dazzling
4. cataclysmic 4. dim
5. downturn 5. crunch
6. spiral 6. glancing blow
7. gloom 7. demise
8. squidgy 8. shed fresh light on
9. galaxy
10. rotation
5 Phrasal verbs
2 Find the information 1. g

2. h
1. faster 3. b
2. within the next 7bn years 4. f
3. 28,000 light years 5. d
4. Andromeda 6. a
5. because it won’t happen for billions of years 7. e
6. 600,000 mph 8. c
3 Comprehension check 6 Adjective + noun collocations
1. b 1. c
2. b 2. a
3. a 3. e
4. c 4. h
5. d
6. b
7. f
8. g
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
astronomer light year mass galaxy squidgy

rotation collision precise solar system invisible
1. A _________________ is a crash between two moving objects.
2. _________________ is a movement in a circle around a fixed central point.
3. If something is _________________, you cannot see it.

4. _________________ is the amount of material in an object.
5. A _________________ is a star and the planets that go round it.
6. If something is _________________, it is very exact and accurate.
7. An _________________ is a scientist who studies the stars and planets.
8. A _________________ is an extremely large group of stars and planets.
9. If something is _________________, it is very soft.
10. A _________________ is the distance that light travels in a year.
2. How many galaxies are there in our cosmic neighbourhood?
3. How far away is the Andromeda galaxy?
4. How fast is our solar system moving?
5. What is the mass of Andromeda?
6. When will the sun use the last of its nuclear fuel?
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NEWS LESSONS / Galactic collision: Get out of the way! / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Get out of the way! Galactic collision changing our understanding of the structure and
will happen sooner than scientists motions of our galaxy,” said Menten.
thought
6 The faster rotation of the galaxy means its mass
Ian Sample, science correspondent must be similar to that of Andromeda, around
5 January, 2009 270bn times the mass of the sun, or 33% greater
than earlier calculations have suggested. “We
will no longer think of the Milky Way as the little
1 The world is in the middle of an economic crisis.
sister of the Andromeda galaxy,” said Reid. The
The weather is awful. People have to go back to
research was presented at the annual meeting
work after the winter holidays. And now, along
of the American Astronomical Society in Long
with all that bad news, scientists have some
Beach, California.
more depressing news for us. Our galaxy, the
Milky Way, is going to crash into a neighbouring 7 Astronomers believe the crash to end all crashes
galaxy sooner than they previously thought. could happen around the same time our sun
uses the last of its nuclear fuel, within the next
2 According to their most detailed measurements
7bn years. It is highly unlikely that planets and
yet, scientists say that they made a serious
stars will collide. Instead the two galaxies will
mistake when they calculated the mass of the
come together to form a new, large galaxy.
Milky Way. It is much greater than they thought
and, as a result, its gravity has a much greater 8 “There will be a dramatic shake-up in the
effect on our neighbours in space, including the galaxies, but they are very squidgy, so they will
giant Andromeda galaxy. The mistake means that stick together and eventually all the stars will die
the two galaxies will crash into each other earlier out, and it will become one huge, dead galaxy,”
than scientists had previously believed. said Gerry Gilmore of Cambridge University,
who did not take part in the study. “One thing we
3 When the two galaxies meet, the powerful
don’t know yet is whether Andromeda will hit us
shockwaves will produce hundreds of new stars
directly, or whether it will hit us from the side.” If
before the light of the giant galaxy slowly dies
the galaxy strikes the side of the Milky Way, the
out. Fortunately this galactic disaster is billions of
whole collision could take many millions of years.
years in the future.
9 According to Gilmore, the research also gives us
4 Our solar system is around 28,000 light
more information about the nature of dark matter,
years from the centre of the Milky Way, itself
the invisible substance that holds galaxies
one of more than 35 galaxies in our cosmic
together. Gilmore said the findings indicate there
neighbourhood. The Andromeda galaxy, which
is more dark matter at the centre of the galaxy
is twice as wide, is around 2m light years away.
and that it may be colder and more compacted
Karl Menten, a German astronomer, said that
than astronomers previously believed.
the galactic collision will happen sooner than
expected, but there is no reason to be worried.
“We still expect it to happen billions of years in
the future,” he said.
5 A team, led by Menten and American Mark

Reid, used a radio telescope to make precise
measurements of the Milky Way as it moved
through space. By measuring radiowaves, the
scientists showed that our solar system is moving
at 600,000mph, 100,000mph faster than they
previously thought. “These measurements are
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Level 1 Elementary
1. The Milky Way is going to … a. … is much greater than scientists previously believed.
2. There is no need to worry because … b. … will form a new, large galaxy.
3. Scientists believe the collision … c. … is moving at 600,000 mph.
4. They also believe the sun … d. … crash into the Andromeda galaxy.
5. Our solar system … e. … will use up the last of its nuclear fuel around the same time.
6. The mass of the Milky Way … f. … this is going to happen billions of years in the future.
4 Two-word phrases
Match the words in the left-hand column with the words in the right-hand column to make phrases from
the text.
1. light a. Way
2. solar b. matter
3. radio c. fuel
4. dark d. telescope
5. nuclear e. year
6. Milky f. measurement
7. detailed g. shake-up
8. dramatic h. system
4 Word building
Complete the table.

verb noun
1. collide
2. measure
3. rotate
4. calculate
5. presentation
6. belief
7. indication
8. expectation
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6 Prepositions
1. similar ____________
2. in the middle ____________
3. along ____________
4. according ____________
5. have an effect ____________
6. billions of years ____________ the future
7. take part ____________ the study
8. ____________ the centre of
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Key words 4 Two-word phrases
1. collision 1. e
2. rotation 2. h
3. invisible 3. d
4. mass 4. b
5. solar system 5. c
6. precise 6. a
7. astronomer 7. f
8. galaxy 8. g
9. squidgy
10. light year
5 Word building
2 Find the information 1. collision

2. measurement
1. around 28,000 light years 3. rotation
2. more than 35 4. calculation
3. around 2m light years 5. present
4. 600,000 mph 6. believe
5. 270bn times the mass of the sun 7. indicate
6. within the next 7bn years 8. expect
3 Comprehension check 6 Prepositions
1. d 1. to
2. f 2. of
3. b 3. with
4. e 4. to
5. c 5. on
6. a 6. in
7. in
8. at
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1 Key words
astronomer light year downturn underestimate galaxy

squidgy rotation molecule collision merge
1. A __________________ is a very small group of atoms that form a particular substance.
2. If something is __________________, it is very soft.
3. __________________ is a movement in a circle around a fixed central point.

4. An __________________ is a scientist who studies the stars and planets.
5. A __________________ is a crash between two moving objects.
6. A __________________ is an extremely large group of stars and planets.
7. If you __________________ something, you think that it is smaller or less powerful than it really is.
8. A __________________ is the distance that light travels in a year.
9. If two things __________________, they join together to become one, bigger unit.
10. In an economic __________________, there is a significant reduction in business activity.
2. How many galaxies are there in our cosmic neighbourhood?
3. How far away is the Andromeda galaxy?
4. How fast is our solar system travelling?
5. What is the mass of Andromeda?
6. How long will the collision between Andromeda and the Milky Way take?
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NEWS LESSONS / Galactic collision: Get out of the way! / Intermediate

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Get out of the way! Galactic collision new stars are born. Heat from the stars warms
will happen sooner than scientists up molecules of alcohol in interstellar gas clouds,
thought which release the energy as radiowaves. The
measurements showed that our solar system is
Ian Sample, science correspondent
moving at 600,000mph, 100,000mph faster than
5 January, 2009
thought. “These measurements are revising our
understanding of the structure and motions of our
1 The world is in the middle of an economic downturn.
galaxy,” said Menten.
The weather is awful. People are going back to
work after the winter holidays. And now, as if all of 7 The speedier rotation of the galaxy means its
that wasn’t bad enough, astronomers are telling us mass must be similar to that of Andromeda, around
that the Milky Way will crash into a nearby galaxy 270bn times the mass of the sun, or 33% greater
sooner than they thought. than earlier calculations have suggested. “We
will no longer think of the Milky Way as the little
2 According to their most detailed measurements
sister of the Andromeda galaxy,” said Reid. The
yet, scientists admit that they have seriously
research was presented at the annual meeting
underestimated the mass of the Milky Way and, as
of the American Astronomical Society in Long
a result, the gravitational pull the Milky Way exerts
Beach, California.
on our neighbours in space, including the giant
Andromeda galaxy. The mistake means that the 8 Astronomers believe the crash to end all crashes
two galaxies will crash into each other earlier than could happen around the same time our sun is
scientists had previously predicted. predicted to burn up the last of its nuclear fuel,
within the next 7bn years. It is highly unlikely that
3 When the two galaxies meet, powerful shockwaves
planets and stars will collide. Instead the two
will compress interstellar gas clouds inside them,
galaxies will merge to form a new, large galaxy.
producing hundreds of newborn stars before the
light of the giant galaxy slowly grows dim and dies 9 “There will be a dramatic shake-up in the galaxies,
out. Fortunately this galactic disaster still lies billions but they are very squidgy, so they will stick together
of years in the future. and eventually all the stars will die out, and it
will become one huge, dead galaxy,” said Gerry
4 Our solar system is around 28,000 light years from
Gilmore of Cambridge University, who was not
the centre of the Milky Way, itself one of more
involved in the study. “One thing we don’t know
than 35 galaxies in our cosmic neighbourhood.
yet is whether Andromeda will hit us square on, or
The Andromeda galaxy, which is twice as wide,
whether it will hit us from the side.” If the galaxy
is around 2m light years away. Karl Menten, a
strikes the side of the Milky Way, it is expected to be
German astronomer, said that while the galactic
pulled back again for further collisions. The whole
collision would happen sooner than expected, there
collision could take many millions of years.
was no reason to be worried. “We still expect it to
happen billions of years in the future,” he said. 10 According to Gilmore, the research does more
than simply give us the date when our galaxy will
5 A team, led by Menten and American Mark
come to an end. The work also sheds fresh light on
Reid, used a radio telescope to make precise
the nature of dark matter, the invisible substance
measurements of the Milky Way as it moved
believed to hold galaxies together. Gilmore said the
through space. As the galaxy rotates, parts that
findings indicate there is more dark matter at the
emit radiowaves move relative to Earth and this
centre of the galaxy and that it may be colder and
allows the researchers to work out how fast the
more compacted than astronomers thought.
galaxy is spinning.
6 The scientists recorded intense radiowaves © Guardian News & Media 2009
coming from the four arms of the galaxy where First published in The Guardian, 05/01/09
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1. Everyone should be really worried about the news of the collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda.
2. Scientists made an error in calculating the mass of the Milky Way.
3. Scientists don’t know how fast the Milky Way is spinning.
4. The mass of the Milky Way is similar to that of Andromeda.
5. The sun will use the last of its nuclear fuel within the next 7 million years.
6. Scientists believe that dark matter holds galaxies together.
4 Find the word
1. A verb meaning to force into a smaller space. (para 3)
2. An adjective meaning between the stars. (para 3)
3. An adjective meaning less bright. (para 3)
4. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to calculate. (para 5)
5. A verb meaning to change your opinion or judgment of something. (para 6)
6. A two-word noun meaning a dramatic change in the way something is organized. (para 9)
7. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to disappear completely. (para 9)
8. A four-word expression meaning to offer a new explanation for something. (para 10)
5 Adjective + noun phrases
Match the adjectives in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column.
1. detailed a. sister
2. dramatic b. matter
3. little c. downturn
4. gravitational d. fuel
5. nuclear e. shake-up
6. dark f. system
7. solar g. measurements
8. economic h. pull
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6 World building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. collide
2. measure
3. rotate
4. calculate
5. admit
6. involve
7. compress
8. expect
7 Discussion
Should money be spent on researching space and the universe? What benefits could such research bring?
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1. molecule 1. compress
2. squidgy 2. interstellar
3. rotation 3. dim
4. astronomer 4. work out
5. collision 5. revise
6. galaxy 6. shake-up
7. underestimate 7. die out
8. light year 8. shed fresh light on
9. merge
10. downturn
5 Adjective + noun phrases

2. e
1. 28,000 light years 3. a
2. more than 35 4. h
3. 2m light years 5. d
4. 600,000 mph 6. b
5. 270bn times the mass of the sun 7. f
6. many millions of years 8. c
1. F 1. collision
2. T 2. measurement
3. F 3. rotation
4. T 4. calculation
5. F 5. admission
6. T 6. involvement
7. compression
8. expectation
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Brits have the Midas touch at Golden Globe awards
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
posthumous sequel feelgood score rejuvenated

animated bizarre sombre downside glitz
1. If something is described as _____________________, it is strange and difficult to explain.
2. If something is described as _____________________, it has become good or effective again.
3. An _____________________ film is a cartoon, a film consisting of a series of drawings.

4. If an event is _____________________, it is serious or sad.
5. A _____________________ award is one given to someone after they have died.
6. _____________________ is a special quality that makes something seem very exciting and attractive even
though it has no value.
7. A _____________________ is a film that continues the story of a previous one.
8. The _____________________ of something represents its negative aspects or disadvantages.
9. A _____________________ film makes you feel happy and satisfied.
10. The music written for a film is known as its _____________________.
2 What do you know?
1. The Oscar ceremony always takes place before the Golden Globes.
2. Kate Winslet is an American actress.
3. Kate Winslet’s husband is also an actor.
4. The Golden Globes ceremony did not take place in 2008.
5. The Golden Globes ceremony is held in New York.
6. The actor Heath Ledger died last year.

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Level 3 Advanced
Brits have the Midas touch at Golden Springsteen winning for best song. Rourke, seen
Globe awards by many as this year’s comeback kid, dedicated
• Kate Winslet wins best actress and best the award to his canine companions, past and
supporting actress present. “It’s been a very long road back for me,”
• Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire on course he told the audience. “Several years ago I was
for Oscar glory almost out of this business. I’d like to thank all my
dogs. Sometimes when a man’s alone his dogs
Dan Glaister in Los Angeles
are all he’s got.”
January 12, 2009
6 The rejuvenated awards ceremony – it was
1 UK actress Kate Winslet has won the two Golden
cancelled last year because of the scriptwriters’
Globe categories for which she was nominated:
strike – celebrated its return with a night of
best dramatic actress for Revolutionary Road
classic Hollywood glitz. The red carpet, the frocks
and best supporting actress for The Reader.
and the tearful acceptance speeches were all
2 In her acceptance speech, Winslet said that she in attendance as a collection of Hollywood stars
never won awards, a remark picked up later by turned out for the relatively informal evening at
presenter Ricky Gervais, who remembered telling the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
her: “Do a Holocaust movie, the awards come”.
7 One of the biggest surprises of the evening
In an emotional address for her surprise win for
came as Sally Hawkins won the best actress in
Revolutionary Road, Winslet paid tribute to her
a comedy or a musical prize for her role as a
“spectacular” co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio, and to
schoolteacher in Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky.
her husband, Sam Mendes, who directed the film.
The British actor beat off strong competition
3 Perhaps the most highly anticipated award of the from some famous Hollywood names, including
night was the posthumous Golden Globe given to Frances McDormand, Meryl Streep and Emma
Heath Ledger for his performance as the Joker in Thompson. The distance from her table to the
The Dark Knight. Acknowledging his contribution, stage was an indication of the unexpectedness of
Christopher Nolan, who directed the Batman her victory.
sequel, paid tribute: “We will miss him, but he will
8 The Pixar-Disney collaboration paid off with a
never be forgotten.”
win for the robot romance WALL-E in the best
4 The Globes are traditionally seen as an indication animated feature category beating Kung Fu
of form for Oscar night, a month and a half away. Panda, an attempt to capitalize on last year’s
Sunday night’s awards made the feelgood movie Olympics-inspired enthusiasm for things Chinese.
Slumdog Millionaire one of the favourites for
9 Another animated feature, the Israeli film Waltz
the Oscar, as well as dealing a blow to other
hopefuls. While Slumdog Millionaire also won With Bashir, won the best foreign language
awards for best script and best score, Frost/ film award. An animated documentary that
Nixon failed to pick up a single award, despite examines the massacres of Palestinians during
being nominated in the best drama, director, the 1982 Lebanon war, the highly political film
actor, screenplay and score categories. Likewise, has received multiple nominations this awards
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring season. Speaking backstage after accepting
Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt, directed by David the award, director Ari Folman said that he did
Fincher and nominated in five categories, was not regret the film’s relevance: “Unfortunately,
not a winner on the night. the film is always relevant,” he said. “There’s
only one major statement, which is an
5 The Wrestler, another Oscar frontrunner, did antiwar statement, and it is relevant now and
better, with its star Mickey Rourke winning unfortunately it was relevant two years ago, when
the best dramatic actor award and Bruce we were working on it.”
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10 The ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to designers, the red carpet was rolled up and
represented a turnaround from last year’s Steven Spielberg and Rumer Willis had to wait
bizarre event. A year ago, in the midst of a an extra year for their moment in the spotlight.
writers’ strike that had seen most production
in Hollywood shut down, the Golden Globes 11 This year amends were made: Spielberg was
dropped the glamorous prize-giving in favour duly given the Cecil B DeMille award for lifetime
of a more sombre press conference at which a achievement, and la Willis – offspring of Bruce
list of winners was read out. The advantages Willis and Demi Moore – was acknowledged
of last year’s arrangement were that it was as Miss Golden Globes, an accomplishment
shorter, cheaper and more reflective of the reserved for the children of the stars.
significance of the Globes. The downside was
that it deprived Hollywood of one of its primary © Guardian News & Media 2009
love-ins of the year as gowns were returned First published in The Guardian, 12/01/09
1. The Golden Globes …

a. … always give awards to the same people that get awards in the Oscars.
b. … usually give people a good idea of who will do well in the Oscars.
c. … traditionally give awards to people who do not win Oscars.
2. Why was it surprising that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button didn’t win any Golden Globes?
a. Because it was clearly the best film.
b. Because it starred Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt.
c. Because it had been nominated in five different categories.
3. What did the distance from Sally Hawkins’ table to the stage indicate?
a. That she was not an important guest.
b. That she was not expected to win an award.
c. That she had strong competition from some famous names.
4. How did last year’s Golden Globes differ from this year’s?
a. The ceremony was followed by a press conference.
b. Steven Spielberg was given an award for lifetime achievement last year.
c. There was no ceremony at all – just a press conference.
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Find the word

1. A two-word expression meaning an important part but not the main part in a film. (para 1)
2. A three-word expression meaning to praise someone publicly. (para 2)
3. A noun meaning the person considered most likely to win a competition. (para 5)
4. An adjective meaning relating to dogs. (para 5)
5. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to succeed in winning or gaining something from an opponent. (para 7)
6. A noun meaning a complete change in a situation. (para 10)
7. An adjective meaning attractive and interesting in an exciting and unusual way. (para 10)
8. A two-word expression meaning to try to make a situation better after you have done something wrong. (para 11)
1. press a. kid
2. awards b. competition
3. red c. achievement
4. strong d. speech
5. acceptance e. carpet
6. feelgood f. conference
7. lifetime g. movie
8. comeback h. ceremony
1. pay tribute _______ 5. in favour _______
2. capitalize _______ 6. deprive someone _______
3. enthusiasm _______ 7. _______ the spotlight
4. in the midst _______ 8. work _______ a film
7 Discussion
Do you think awards ceremonies like the Oscars and Golden Globes are important or a waste of time? Give
your reasons.
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1. bizarre 1. supporting actress (actor)

2. rejuvenated 2. pay tribute to
3. animated 3. frontrunner
4. sombre 4. canine
5. posthumous 5. beat off
6. glitz 6. turnaround
7. sequel 7. glamorous
8. downside 8. make amends
9. feelgood
10. score 5 Two-word expressions
1. f
2 What do you know? 2. h
3. e
1. F 4. b
2. F 5. d
3. F 6. g
4. T 7. c
5. F 8. a
6. T
3 Comprehension check 1. to
2. on
1. b 3. for
2. c 4. of
3. b 5. of
4. c 6. of
7. in
8. on
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
feelgood tribute award score posthumous

animated glitz tearful glamorous achievement
1. If you pay __________________ to someone, you praise them in public.
2. An __________________ is a prize given to someone who has achieved something.
3. __________________ is a special quality that makes something seem very exciting and attractive even
4. If someone gives a __________________ speech, they cry a lot during it.
5. An __________________ film is a cartoon, a film consisting of a series of drawings.
6. If you succeed in doing something after a lot of hard work and effort, this is an __________________.
7. The music written for a film is known as its __________________.
8. If something is __________________, it is attractive and interesting in an exciting and unusual way.
9. A __________________ film makes you feel happy and satisfied.
10. A __________________ award is one given to someone after they have died.
Find the answers to the following questions in the text.
1. How many Golden Globe awards did Kate Winslet win this year?
2. Who was her co-star in Revolutionary Road?
3. Who directed Revolutionary Road?
4. When do the Oscars take place?
5. Where did the Golden Globes ceremony take place this year?
6. Which film won the best foreign language film award?

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NEWS LESSONS / Brits have the Midas touch at Golden Globe awards / Elementary
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Level 1 Elementary
Brits have the Midas touch at Golden 5 The Golden Globes ceremony was cancelled
Globe awards last year because of the scriptwriters’ strike. This
• Kate Winslet wins best actress and best year it celebrated its return with a night of classic
supporting actress Hollywood glitz. The red carpet, the dresses and
• Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire on course the tearful acceptance speeches were all there
for Oscar glory as a collection of stars arrived for the ceremony
at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Hollywood.
Dan Glaister in Los Angeles
January 12, 2009 6 One of the biggest surprises of the evening was
Sally Hawkins winning the best actress in a
1 British actress Kate Winslet has won two awards
comedy award for her role as a schoolteacher in
at the Golden Globes ceremony in Hollywood.
Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky. The British actor
She won the award for best dramatic actress for
won against some strong competition from some
Revolutionary Road and best supporting actress
famous Hollywood names, including Frances
for The Reader. In an emotional acceptance
McDormand, Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson.
speech for her surprise win for Revolutionary
Road, Winslet paid tribute to her “spectacular” 7 An animated feature, the Israeli film Waltz
co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio, and to her husband, With Bashir, won the best foreign language
Sam Mendes, who directed the film. film award. An animated documentary that
examines the massacres of Palestinians during
2 Heath Ledger, who died last year, was given a
the 1982 Lebanon war, the highly political film
posthumous Golden Globe for his performance
has received multiple nominations this awards
as the Joker in The Dark Knight. Christopher
season. Speaking after accepting the award,
Nolan, who directed the film, paid tribute to Ledger:
director Ari Folman said that the film was very
“We will miss him, but he will never be forgotten.”
relevant: “Unfortunately, the film is always
3 The Globes are usually an indication of who relevant,” he said. “There’s only one major
will win the Oscars a month and a half later. statement, which is an antiwar statement, and it
This year’s awards made the feelgood movie is relevant now and unfortunately it was relevant
Slumdog Millionaire one of the favourites for two years ago, when we were working on it.”
the Oscar. While Slumdog Millionaire also won
8 The ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel was a
awards for best script and best score, one of
complete change from last year’s strange event.
the favourites for the Oscars, Frost/Nixon, did
A year ago, in the middle of a writers’ strike
not pick up a single award, even though it was
that had seen most production in Hollywood
nominated in five categories – in the best drama,
shut down, the Golden Globes cancelled the
director, actor, screenplay and score. Likewise,
glamorous prize-giving and simply held a press
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring
conference at which a list of winners was read
Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt, directed by David
out. The advantages of last year’s arrangement
Fincher and also nominated in five categories,
were that it was shorter and cheaper. The
was not a winner on the night.
disadvantage was that it Hollywood lost one of its
4 The Wrestler, another Oscar favourite, did better, big evenings of the year.
with its star Mickey Rourke winning the best
9 This year Steven Spielberg was given the Cecil
dramatic actor award and Bruce Springsteen
B DeMille award for lifetime achievement, and
winning a Globe for best song. Rourke dedicated
Rumer Willis – whose parents are Bruce Willis
the award to his dogs, past and present. “It’s been
and Demi Moore – was given the Miss Golden
a very long road back for me,” he told the audience.
Globes award.
“Several years ago I was almost out of this business.
I’d like to thank all my dogs. Sometimes when © Guardian News & Media 2009
a man’s alone his dogs are all he’s got.” First published in The Guardian, 12/01/09
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1. Last year’s Golden Globes ceremony did not take place … a. … an indication of who will win the Oscars.
2. Steven Spielberg was given … b. … a posthumous award.
3. Heath Ledger was given … c. … because of the Hollywood writers’ strike.
4. Mickey Rourke was given ... d. … the award for best song.
5. Bruce Springsteen was given … e. … the best dramatic actor award.
6. The Golden Globes are usually ... f. … a lifetime achievement award.
4 Chunks
1. never he forgotten be will
2. half a later month and a
3. surprises the of the one biggest evening of
4. film best the language foreign
5. middle strike a in of the writers’
6. the one the evenings of year big of
5 Word building
verb noun
1. achieve
2. produce
3. perform
4. state
5. accept
6. arrange
7. nominate
8. indicate
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Level 1 Elementary
6 Word stress
Divide these words from the text into two groups according to their stress.

award surprise tribute husband drama alone
cancel return classic foreign complete arrive
A 0 o B o 0
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KEY
1. tribute 1. he will never be forgotten

2. award 2. a month and a half later
3. glitz 3. one of the biggest surprises of the evening
4. tearful 4. the best foreign language film
5. animated 5. in the middle of a writers’ strike
6. achievement 6. one of the big evenings of the year
7. score
8. glamorous
9. feelgood 5 Word building
10. posthumous
1. achievement
2. production
2 Find the information 3. performance
4. statement
1. two 5. acceptance
2. Leonardo DiCaprio 6. arrangement
3. Sam Mendes 7. nomination
4. one and a half months after the Golden Globes 8. indication
5. Hollywood
6. Waltz with Bashir
6 Word stress
3 Comprehension check A 0 o: tribute; husband; drama; cancel; classic; foreign

B o 0: award; surprise; alone; return; complete; arrive
1. c
2. f
3. b
4. e
5. d
6. a
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1 Key words
award sequel feelgood score posthumous

bizarre animated glitz tearful glamorous
1. The music written for a film is known as its ____________________.
2. A ____________________ award is one given to someone after they have died.
3. If someone gives a ____________________ speech, they cry a lot during it.
4. A ____________________ is a film that continues the story of a previous one.

5. A ____________________ film makes you feel happy and satisfied.
6. ____________________ is a special quality that makes something seem very exciting and attractive even
7. If something is ____________________, it is attractive and interesting in an exciting and unusual way.
8. An ____________________ film is a cartoon, a film consisting of a series of drawings.
9. An ____________________ is a prize given to someone who has achieved something.
10. If something is described as ____________________, it is strange and difficult to explain.
Find the answers to the following questions in the text.
1. How many Golden Globes did Kate Winslet win this year?
2. Who was her co-star in Revolutionary Road?
3. Who directed Revolutionary Road?
4. How many awards did Frost/Nixon get?
5. Where did the Golden Globes ceremony take place this year?
6. Who won the lifetime achievement award?

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Brits have the Midas touch at Golden Sometimes when a man’s alone his dogs are all
Globe awards he’s got.”
• Kate Winslet wins best actress and best 5 The Golden Globes ceremony, which was
supporting actress cancelled last year because of the scriptwriters’
• Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire on course strike, celebrated its return with a night of classic
for Oscar glory Hollywood glitz. The red carpet, the dresses
Dan Glaister in Los Angeles and the tearful acceptance speeches were all
January 12, 2009 there as a collection of stars turned out for the
relatively informal evening at the Beverly Hilton
1 British actress Kate Winslet has won the Hotel in Hollywood.
two Golden Globe categories for which she
was nominated: best dramatic actress for 6 One of the biggest surprises of the evening was
Revolutionary Road and best supporting actress Sally Hawkins winning the best actress in a
for The Reader. In an emotional acceptance comedy award for her role as a schoolteacher
speech for her surprise win for Revolutionary in Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky. The British
Road, Winslet paid tribute to her “spectacular” actor won in the face of some strong competition
co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio, and to her husband, from famous Hollywood names, including
Sam Mendes, who directed the film. Frances McDormand, Meryl Streep and Emma
Thompson. The distance from her table to the
2 Perhaps the most highly anticipated award of stage was an indication of just how unexpected
the night was the posthumous Golden Globe her win was.
given to Heath Ledger for his performance as
the Joker in The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan, 7 An animated feature, the Israeli film Waltz
who directed the Batman sequel, paid tribute to With Bashir, won the best foreign language
Ledger: “We will miss him, but he will never film award. An animated documentary that
be forgotten.” examines the massacres of Palestinians during
the 1982 Lebanon war, the highly political film
3 The Globes are traditionally seen as an indication has received multiple nominations this awards
of how the Oscars will go in a month and a half’s season. Speaking backstage after accepting
time. Sunday night’s awards made the feelgood the award, director Ari Folman said that he did
movie Slumdog Millionaire one of the favourites not regret the film’s relevance: “Unfortunately,
for the Oscar. While Slumdog Millionaire also the film is always relevant,” he said. “There’s
won awards for best script and best score, Frost/ only one major statement, which is an
Nixon did not pick up a single award, despite antiwar statement, and it is relevant now and
being nominated in the best drama, director, unfortunately it was relevant two years ago, when
actor, screenplay and score categories. Likewise, we were working on it.”
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring
Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt, directed by David 8 The ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel
Fincher and nominated in five categories, was represented a complete change from last year’s
not a winner on the night. bizarre event. A year ago, in the midst of a
writers’ strike that had seen most production
4 The Wrestler, another Oscar favourite, did better, in Hollywood shut down, the Golden Globes
with its star Mickey Rourke winning the best cancelled the glamorous prize-giving and simply
dramatic actor award and Bruce Springsteen held a press conference at which a list of winners
winning a Globe for best song. Rourke dedicated was read out. The advantages of last year’s
the award to his dogs, past and present. “It’s arrangement were that it was shorter, cheaper
been a very long road back for me,” he told the and a better indication of the significance of the
audience. “Several years ago I was almost out Globes. The disadvantage was that it deprived
of this business. I’d like to thank all my dogs. Hollywood of one of its big evenings of the year
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as dresses were returned to designers, the red
carpet was rolled up and Steven Spielberg and
Rumer Willis had to wait an extra year for their
moment in the spotlight.
9 This year Spielberg was given the Cecil B

DeMille award for lifetime achievement, and
la Willis – whose parents are Bruce Willis and
Demi Moore – was acknowledged as Miss
Golden Globes, an award reserved for the
children of the stars.

1. The Golden Globes take place after the Oscar awards.
2. No Golden Globes were awarded in 2008.
3. All the favourites for the Oscars won Golden Globes.
4. The best foreign language film was a cartoon.
5. Last year’s event was cancelled because of the writers’ strike.
6. This year’s Golden Globe event was very similar to last year’s.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word expression meaning an important part but not the main part in a film. (para 1)
2. A three-word expression meaning to praise someone publicly. (para 1)
3. A noun meaning a story someone writes for a film. (para 3)
4. A noun meaning the person considered most likely to win a competition. (para 4)
5. A four-word expression meaning in a situation where you have to deal with something difficult. (para 6)
6. An adjective meaning several. (para 7)
7. An adverb meaning in the area behind the stage in a theatre. (para 7)
8. A four-word expression meaning while something else is happening. (para 8)

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1. pay tribute _______ someone
2. work _______ a project
3. deprive someone _______ something
4. in the face _______ strong opposition
5. in the midst _______ the writer’s strike
6. win an award _______ something
6 Word building
verb noun
1. perform
2. nominate
3. accept
4. compete
5. indicate
6. state
7. arrange
8. achieve
7 Discussion
Which film and which actors do you think should win Golden Globes? What are your reasons for
choosing them?
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1. score 1. supporting actress (actor)

2. posthumous 2. pay tribute to
3. tearful 3. screenplay
4. sequel 4. favourite
5. feelgood 5. in the face of
6. glitz 6. multiple
7. glamorous 7. backstage
8. animated 8. in the midst of
9. award
10. bizarre
2 Find the information 1. to

2. on
1. two 3. of
2. Leonardo DiCaprio 4. of
3. Sam Mendes (Kase Winslet’s husband) 5. of
4. none 6. for
5. Hollywood (the Beverly Hilton Hotel)
6. Steven Spielberg
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. performance

2. nomination
1. F 3. acceptance
2. F 4. competition
3. F 5. indication
4. T 6. statement
5. T 7. arrangement
6. F 8. achievement
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Miracle on the Hudson
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
flock ditch sink raft stricken

buoyancy perennial eyewitness glider bound for
1. If an aircraft is described as __________________, it is seriously damaged.
2. A __________________ problem is one that always exists or never seems to change.
3. A __________________ is a large group of birds flying together.

4. An __________________ is someone who actually sees a crime or an accident.
5. If a plane is __________________ a particular place, that place is its destination.
6. If the pilot __________________ a plane, he lands it on water (in the sea or on a lake or river).
7. If something __________________, it disappears below the surface of the water.
8. A __________________ is a plane without an engine.
9. A __________________ is a simple flat boat.
10. __________________ is the ability of something to float on water.
1. Where is LaGuardia airport?
2. Where was flight 1549 flying to?
3. What type of aircraft was flight 1549?
4. How many passengers were on board the flight?
5. How long after take-off was it when the problem happened?
6. How many investigators are looking into the causes of the accident?
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NEWS LESSONS / Miracle on the Hudson / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Miracle on the Hudson: 155 survive crash landing on the Hudson. “Brace yourself for
crash as jet hits river in New York impact,” he told the passengers. Seconds later
Pilot of US Airways plane avoids disaster and the plane struck the Hudson, on a line with 48th
saves lives of 155 people after engine catches Street in midtown Manhattan, turning a stretch of
fire due to suspected bird strike waterway normally populated by tourists enjoying
a waterside view of the skyscrapers into an
Ed Pilkington in New York
astonishing fight for survival.
16 January, 2009
5 Eyewitnesses reported seeing a splash and the
plane coming to an immediate stop; it looked so
1 The pilot of a US Airways jet managed to avoid
controlled that some witnesses mistook it for the
disaster and save the lives of all 155 people on
landing of a seaplane. “I just thought, ‘Why is it
board his stricken plane when he ditched into
so low?’ And splash, it hit the water,” said one
the icy waters of the Hudson river moments after
witness, Barbara Sambriski.
taking off from New York’s LaGuardia airport. The
extraordinary escape was immediately called 6 Jeff Kolodjay, one of the passengers, said that
the miracle on the Hudson and an example of after take-off they had heard a bang and the
the ability of New York to cope with disaster in plane filled with smoke from the left engine. “It
the wake of 9/11. Flight 1549 was carrying 148 was pretty scary, man. We got out by the luck
passengers, including a baby, five crew and two of God. I take my hat off to the pilot – it was
pilots, and all of them escaped. incredible we all made it off alive.”
2 The captain, named last night as Chesley 7 Another passenger, Alberto Panero, said: “I want
Sullenberger, has 29 years’ experience with to say thank you to that pilot. It was as good a
commercial airlines and is a former US airforce landing as you can make in a river.” He said that
fighter pilot. With both his twin engines in passengers had begun praying as it came in low
trouble, one apparently on fire, and with the over the river, but all had remained calm.
nearest airport out of range, he calmly brought
the plane to land on the river on the west 8 The survival of all on board appears to have
side of Manhattan. Sullenberger then helped been thanks to a combination of the plane
passengers escape to rescue boats, and twice remaining intact on impact and almost immediate
walked the length of the passenger cabin inside assistance from at least seven water taxis and
the sinking jet to check that everyone had got out tugs which swarmed around the jet. Doors were
safely, before escaping himself. “We have had a opened quickly at the front of the aircraft and
Miracle on 34th Street. Now we have a miracle over the wings, and passengers either stepped
on the Hudson,” said the governor of New York, straight into the boats or stood in line on rafts, or
David Patterson. on top of the wings which acted as buoyancy and
kept the plane afloat.
3 The Airbus 320 took off from LaGuardia bound
for Charlotte in North Carolina at 3.26pm. A mere 9 By the time all had been taken on to the rescue
30 to 45 seconds after take-off there was a bang boats, the plane had water up to its windows and
and the aircraft shook, believed to have been was floating rapidly southwards in the outgoing
caused by it striking a flock of geese. tide. Several passengers were taken to hospitals
in New York and New Jersey, but their injuries
4 The pilot reported to air traffic control that he was were reported to be no more serious than mild
experiencing engine problems and requested to hypothermia, shock, cuts and bruises. “Normally
return to ground. The nearest identified airport this isn’t the way people arrive in New York,” said
was in New Jersey, but when it became clear the city’s mayor Michael Bloomberg. “But as long
he could not make it, the pilot prepared for a as everyone got off safely that’s secondary.”
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Level 3 Advanced
10 A team of 20 investigators from the National fire, but pilots are usually able to bring a plane
Transportation and Safety Board has been into an emergency landing with just one engine
dispatched to root out the causes of the plane working. An air incident investigator, David
failure. Witnesses suggested that the engine Gleave, told the BBC that the incident was
trouble was caused by the plane flying into “quite remarkable, but not unique”. He said if
a flock of geese – a perennial threat at New both engines of the plane had failed, the aircraft
York airports as a result of the city lying on a would become like a “glider”.
well-used migratory path for birds.
11 One puzzle, though, is why both engines cut
out. The left engine appeared to have caught
1. What was the probable cause of the accident? 3. Why did the plane stay afloat on the river?
a. engine failure a. The wings acted as buoyancy.
b. pilot error b. The plane wasn’t full.
c. bird strike c. Ships and buoys helped it to stay afloat.
2. Why didn’t the pilot fly to the nearest airport? 4. Why is bird strike a constant problem in New York?
a. It was too far. a. Because there are a lot of birds there.
b. The runway was too short. b. Because the New York airports are on the paths
c. He didn’t have enough fuel. along which birds migrate.
c. Because birds there are not afraid of planes.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to deal successfully with a difficult situation. (para 1)
2. A four-word expression meaning happening after an event or as a result of it. (para 1)
3. A three-word expression meaning not within a distance which can be reached. (para 2)
4. A two-word expression meaning get ready for something unpleasant. (para 4)
5. A five-word expression used to show admiration or respect for someone because of something impressive they
have done. (para 6)
6. A noun meaning a small powerful boat used for pulling large boats. (para 8)
7. A noun meaning a serious medical condition in which your body temperature is very low. (para 9)
8. A verb meaning to send someone or something somewhere. (para 10)

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Level 3 Advanced
5 Phrasal verbs
Match the phrasal verbs with their definitions.
1. root out a. (of a plane) leave the ground
2. swarm around b. (of a train or plane) approach the destination
3. cut out c. surround something in large numbers
4. get out d. (of an engine) suddenly stop working
5. take off e. find something bad or illegal and get rid of it
6. come in f. escape from inside somewhere
6 Phrases with prepositions
1. _______ trouble
2. _______ fire
3. _______ board
4. _______ range
5. thanks _______
6. bound _______
7. stand _______ line
8. prepare _______
7 Discussion
Experts believe that flying is the safest form of transport. Do you agree? Compare flying with other means
of transport.
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1. stricken 1. cope with

2. perennial 2. in the wake of
3. flock 3. out of range
4. eyewitness 4. brace yourself
5. bound for 5. I take my hat off
6. ditches 6. tug
7. sinks 7. hypothermia
8. glider 8. dispatch
9. raft
10. buoyancy
5 Phrasal verbs
2 Find the information 1. e

2. c
1. New York 3. d
2. Charlotte, North Carolina 4. f
3. Airbus 320 5. a
4. 148 6. b
5. 30 to 45 seconds
6. 20
3 Comprehension check 1. in
2. on
1. c 3. on
2. a 4. out of
3. a 5. to
4. b 6. for
7. in
8. for
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
miracle flock sink raft eyewitness

bruise tug migrate splash hypothermia
1. _________________ is a medical condition in which your body temperature is very low.
2. An _________________ is someone who sees a crime or an accident.
3. A _________________ is a simple flat boat.

4. A _________________ is a mark you get on your body if you are hit or you knock into something.
5. A _________________ is the sound or sight of something falling into water.
6. Birds _________________ when they fly from one part of the world to another at a particular time of year.
7. If something _________________, it disappears below the surface of the water.
8. A _________________ is a small powerful boat used for pulling large boats.
9. A _________________ is something extremely lucky that would not normally be possible.
10. A _________________ is a large group of birds flying together.
1. How many people were on the flight?
2. What was the flight number?
3. How many passengers were on the plane?
4. What time did the plane take off?
5. Where did the plane take off?
6. Where was it flying to?

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NEWS LESSONS / Miracle on the Hudson / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Miracle on the Hudson: 155 survive controlled that some witnesses thought it was a
crash as jet hits river in New York seaplane. “I just thought, ‘Why is it so low?’ And
Pilot of US Airways plane avoids disaster and then there was a splash when it hit the water,”
saves lives of 155 people after engine catches said one witness.
fire due to suspected bird strike 6 Jeff Kolodjay, one of the passengers, said that
Ed Pilkington in New York after take-off they had heard a bang and the
16 January, 2009 plane filled with smoke from the left engine. “It
was very frightening. We got out by the luck
of God. I give my thanks to the pilot – it was
1 The pilot of a US Airways jet avoided a disaster
incredible that we all escaped alive.” Another
and saved the lives of all 155 people on board
passenger said: “I want to say thank you to that
his damaged plane when he landed in the icy
pilot. You couldn’t make a better landing in a
waters of the Hudson river moments after taking
river.” He said that passengers had started to
off from New York’s LaGuardia airport. People
pray as the plane flew over the river, but that
immediately called the extraordinary escape the
everyone was calm.
miracle on the Hudson. Flight 1549 was carrying
148 passengers, including a baby, five crew and 7 The fact that no-one died was probably because
two pilots, and everyone escaped. the plane did not break up when it hit the water
and also because at least seven water taxis and
2 The pilot, Chesley Sullenberger, has 29 years’
tugs surrounded the plane almost immediately.
experience with commercial airlines and is
Doors were opened quickly at the front of the
a former US airforce pilot. He had problems
aircraft and over the wings, and passengers
with both engines and one was probably on
either stepped straight into the boats or waited on
fire. The nearest airport was too far away. But
rafts, or on top of the wings.
Sullenberger calmly landed the plane on the river
on the west side of Manhattan. He then helped 8 By the time everyone was in the rescue boats,
the passengers to escape to rescue boats, and the plane had water up to its windows and
twice walked through the passenger cabin inside was floating quickly down the river. Several
the sinking jet to check that everyone had got out passengers were taken to hospitals in New
safely, before he escaped himself. “We have had York and New Jersey, but their injuries were no
a Miracle on 34th Street. Now we have a miracle more serious than mild hypothermia, shock, cuts
on the Hudson,” said the governor of New York. and bruises.
3 The Airbus 320 took off from LaGuardia on its 9 A team of 20 investigators from the National
way to Charlotte in North Carolina at 3.26pm. Transportation and Safety Board has been sent
Just 30 to 45 seconds after take-off there was a to find the causes of the accident. Witnesses said
bang and the aircraft shook, probably as a result that the engine trouble was caused by the plane
of it hitting a flock of geese. flying into a flock of geese – a constant problem
at New York airports because the city lies on
4 The pilot reported to air traffic control that he was
a path that birds use when they migrate. One
having engine problems and asked to return to
question, though, is why both engines stopped
ground. The nearest airport was in New Jersey,
working. It seems that the left engine caught fire,
but when he realized that he could not reach that
but pilots are usually able to make an emergency
airport, the pilot prepared for a crash landing on
landing with just one engine working.
the Hudson. “Get ready for a crash,” he told the
passengers. Seconds later the plane hit the river.
5 Eyewitnesses reported seeing a splash and the First published in The Guardian, 16/01/09
plane coming to an immediate stop; it looked so
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Level 1 Elementary
1. The plane had to make a crash landing because … a. … no-one died.
2. The pilot couldn’t land at the airport in New Jersey b. … the plane didn’t break up and the rescue
because … boats came quickly.
3. People thought the plane was a seaplane because … c. … both its engines stopped working.
4. People are calling it a miracle because … d. … was probably the plane hitting a flock of birds.
5. No-one died because … e. … the landing was so controlled.
6. The cause of the engine trouble ... f. … it was too far away.
make phrases from the text.
1. land a. thanks
2. avoid b. someone’s life
3. save c. the cause of something
4. give d. a plane
5. find e. fire
6. catch f. a disaster
5 Chunks
1. 45 take-off to seconds 30 after
2. 20 a of investigators team
3. was frightening very it
4. the as over plane the river flew
5. of aircraft the at front the
6. accident the of causes the

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Level 1 Elementary
6 Word grammar
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets.
1. The experience was very _________________. [FRIGHTEN]
2. The pilot landed the plane very _________________.[CALM]
3. He had to make an emergency _________________.[LAND]
4. A team of 20 _________________ will try to find the causes of the accident. [INVESTIGATE]
5. The pilot checked that everyone had got out _________________. [SAFE]
6. The National Transportation and _________________ Board. [SAFE]
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Key words 4 Verb + noun collocations
1. hypothermia 1. d
2. eyewitness 2. f
3. raft 3. b
4. bruise 4. a
5. splash 5. c
6. migrate 6. e
7. sinks
8. tug
5 Chunks
9. miracle
10. flock
1. 30 to 45 seconds after take-off
2. a team of 20 investigators
2 Find the information 3. it was very frightening
4. as the plane flew over the river
1. 155 5. at the front of the aircraft
2. 1549 6. the causes of the accident
3. 148
4. 3.26pm
6 Word grammar
5. LaGuardia
6. Charlotte, North Carolina
1. frightening
2. calmly
3 Comprehension check 3. landing
4. investigators
1. c 5. safely
2. f 6. safety
3. e
4. a
5. b
6. d
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1 Key words
flock sink raft eyewitness glider

apparently bound for survival bruise hypothermia
1. If something __________________, it disappears below the surface of the water.
2. A __________________ is a plane without an engine.
3. __________________ means continuing to be alive.

4. __________________ is a medical condition in which the temperature of your body becomes very low.
5. If a plane is __________________ a particular place, that place is its destination.
6. A __________________ is a large group of birds flying together.
7. An __________________ is someone who actually sees a crime or an accident.
8. A __________________ is a simple flat boat.
9. __________________ means that something is based only on what you have heard and not on what you are
certain is true.
10. A __________________ is a mark you get on your body if you are hit or you knock into something.
1. How many people were on the flight?
2. What was the flight number?
3. How many passengers were on the plane?
4. What time did the plane take off?
5. How long after take-off was it when the problem happened?
6. How many investigators are investigating the accident?

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NEWS LESSONS / Miracle on the Hudson / Intermediate

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Miracle on the Hudson: 155 survive 5 Eyewitnesses reported seeing a splash and the
crash as jet hits river in New York plane coming to an immediate stop; it looked so
Pilot of US Airways plane avoids disaster and controlled that some witnesses thought it was a
saves lives of 155 people after engine catches seaplane. “I just thought, ‘Why is it so low?’ And
fire due to suspected bird strike splash, it hit the water,” said one witness.
Ed Pilkington in New York 6 Jeff Kolodjay, one of the passengers, said that
16 January, 2009 after take-off they had heard a bang and the
plane filled with smoke from the left engine. “It
was pretty frightening. We got out by the luck
1 The pilot of a US Airways jet managed to avoid
of God. I take my hat off to the pilot – it was
disaster and save the lives of all 155 people on
incredible we all escaped alive.”
board his damaged plane when he landed in the
icy waters of the Hudson river moments after 7 Another passenger, Alberto Panero, said: “I want
taking off from New York’s LaGuardia airport. The to say thank you to that pilot. It was as good a
extraordinary escape was immediately called the landing as you can make in a river.” He said that
miracle on the Hudson. Flight 1549 was carrying passengers had begun praying as the plane flew
148 passengers, including a baby, five crew and over the river, but that everyone was calm.
two pilots, and all of them escaped.
8 The survival of everyone on board seems to
2 The captain, Chesley Sullenberger, has 29 have been the result of a combination of the
years’ experience with commercial airlines and plane not breaking up when it hit the water and
is a former US airforce fighter pilot. With both almost immediate assistance from at least seven
his engines in trouble, one apparently on fire, water taxis and tugs which surrounded the plane.
and with the nearest airport too far away, he Doors were opened quickly at the front of the
calmly landed the plane on the river on the west aircraft and over the wings, and passengers
side of Manhattan. Sullenberger then helped either stepped straight into the boats or stood in
passengers escape to rescue boats, and twice line on rafts, or on top of the wings which kept
walked through the passenger cabin inside the the plane afloat.
sinking jet to check that everyone had got out
safely, before escaping himself. “We have had a 9 By the time everyone had been taken on to
Miracle on 34th Street. Now we have a miracle the rescue boats, the plane had water up to its
on the Hudson,” said the governor of New York, windows and was floating rapidly down the river.
David Patterson. Several passengers were taken to hospitals
in New York and New Jersey, but their injuries
3 The Airbus 320 took off from LaGuardia bound were reported to be no more serious than mild
for Charlotte in North Carolina at 3.26pm. Just hypothermia, shock, cuts and bruises.
30 to 45 seconds after take-off there was a bang
and the aircraft shook, apparently as the result of 10 A team of 20 investigators from the National
it striking a flock of geese. Transportation and Safety Board has been sent
to find the causes of the plane failure. Witnesses
4 The pilot reported to air traffic control that he was suggested that the engine trouble was caused
experiencing engine problems and requested to by the plane flying into a flock of geese – a
return to ground. The nearest airport was in New constant problem at New York airports because
Jersey, but when it became clear that he could the city lies on a well-used migratory path for
not reach that airport, the pilot prepared for a birds. One question, though, is why both engines
crash landing on the Hudson. “Brace yourself for stopped working. The left engine appeared to
impact,” he told the passengers. Seconds later have caught fire, but pilots are usually able to
the plane hit the river. bring a plane into an emergency landing with just
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one engine working. An air incident investigator,
David Gleave, told the BBC that the incident was
“quite remarkable, but not unique”. He said if
both engines of the plane had failed, the aircraft
would be like a “glider”.

Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences.
1. The accident was probably / definitely caused by a bird strike.
2. The plane was flying from / to Charlotte, North Carolina.
3. The nearest airport was too far away / too small to land the plane.
4. Some water taxis and tugs surrounded the plane quite soon / almost immediately after the crash landing.
5. Several people were taken to hospital with serious / minor injuries.
6. Birds are a frequent / occasional problem at New York airports.
4 Find the word
1. A noun meaning something extremely lucky that would not normally be possible. (para 1)
2. A two-word expression meaning get ready for something unpleasant. (para 4)
3. A noun meaning the sound or sight of something falling into water. (para 5)
4. An adverb meaning quite or very. (para 6)
5. A five-word expression used to show admiration or respect for someone because of something impressive they
have done. (para 6)
6. A noun meaning a small powerful boat used for pulling large boats. (para 8)
7. A three-word expression meaning wait in a queue. (para 8)
8. A two-word expression meaning the route birds take when they fly from one part of the world to another at a
particular time of year. (para 10)
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1. _______ board
2. _______ fire
3. _______ trouble
4. bound _______
5. as the result _______
6. _______ the front of
7. stand _______ line
8. taken _______ hospital
Match the words in the left-hand column with those in the right-hand column to make phrases from the text.
1. emergency a. fire
2. commercial b. trouble
3. engine c. cabin
4. rescue d. airline
5. catch e. boat
6. passenger f. landing
7 Discussion
Are you afraid of flying? Why? Why not? What are some of the things that can possibly go wrong with
an aircraft?
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1. sinks 1. miracle
2. glider 2. brace yourself
3. survival 3. splash
4. hypothermia 4. pretty
5. bound for 5. I take my hat off
6. flock 6. tug
7. eyewitness 7. stand in line
8. raft 8. migratory path
9. apparently
10. bruise
2 Find the information 1. on

2. on
1. 155 3. in
2. 1549 4. for
3. 148 5. of
4. 3.26pm 6. at
5. 30 to 45 seconds 7. in
6. 20 8. to
1. probably 1. f
2. to 2. d
3. too far away 3. b
4. almost immediately 4. e
5. minor 5. a
6. frequent 6. c
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Obama inauguration: Let the remaking of America begin today
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
Match the following words with the definitions.
converging mired expedience adversaries inauguration

sentiments grave sapped unflinching implicit oath
shuttered sworn in sacrifice harness sombre
1. The day on which a recently elected US president begins his job. _____________________ (title)
2. When a US president has put his hand on a bible and has promised to do his job, we say he has been
_____________________. (para 1)
3. Sad, serious, gloomy. _____________________ (para 2)
4. When you are _____________________ in something you are entangled or caught up in it. (para 2)
5. When confidence or energy has been _____________________ it has been made weak. (para 2)
6. The act of giving up something important or valuable so that you or other people can do or have something
else. _____________________ (para 2)
7. A formal promise. _____________________ (para 3)
8. When people are doing this, they are meeting or coming together in one place. _____________________
(para 4)
9. So serious that you feel worried. _____________________ (para 6)
10. Closed, or (here) ceased trading. _____________________ (para 8)
11. One’s enemies or opponents. _____________________ (para 8)
12. Speed, especially when used to get an immediate result. _____________________ (para 9)
13. Not stated directly, but understood from the way people say things. _____________________ (para 10)
14. To get control of something in order to use it for a particular purpose. _____________________ (para 10)
15. An adjective that describes the way you do something without stopping, despite difficulties.
_____________________ (para 12)
16. Beliefs or attitudes towards something. _____________________ (para 13)
Skim-read the article to find the information.
1. How many previous presidents have there been in the United States?
2. What changes in attitude does Obama expect of the American people?
3. What was the weather like in Washington on 20 January 2009?
4. Where was the crowd of people and how large was it?
5. Which of the current problems facing the USA did Obama mention?
6. What did he say about the environment?
7. What changes does he plan for US policy on Iraq and Afghanistan?
8. Who was the final cheer for?
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Level 3 Advanced
Obama inauguration: Let the shimmering sea of upturned faces in front of him.
remaking of America begin today
7 “That we are in the midst of crisis is now well
Alan Rusbridger in Washington
understood,” he said. “Our nation is at war, against
January 20, 2009
a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our
1 Barack Hussein Obama was today sworn in as economy is badly weakened, a consequence of
44th president of the United States of America in greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but
front of quite possibly the largest crowd of people also our collective failure to make hard choices and
ever to have gathered in one place for a single prepare the nation for a new age.”
political moment.
8 “Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses
2 As many as two million people in Washington’s shuttered. Our healthcare is too costly; our schools
National Mall heard their new president deliver fail too many; and each day brings further evidence
a sombre 20-minute speech in which he that the ways we use energy strengthen our
acknowledged that the country was in the midst of adversaries and threaten our planet.”
crisis – mired in wars, its economy struggling and
its national confidence sapped. He promised the 9 In one of the few lines to be greeted by enthusiastic
largely silent crowd that the challenges would be applause, he turned to defence, proclaiming “we
met, but warned it would take time, some sacrifice, reject as false the choice between our safety
a new form of politics and a re-engagement with and our ideals”. In a thinly-veiled reference to
the world, in which America would recognize that Guantánamo and torture he promised not to
“power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle abandon the rule of law and human rights “for
us to do as we please”. expedience’s sake”.
3 President Obama took the oath just after midday 10 There was further implicit criticism of his
under a crisp and cloudless azure sky in front of the predecessor’s policies in his comments on science
glistening cream dome of the Capitol, which was and the environment. He vowed to “restore science
partly built by slaves. to its rightful place” and made several references
to climate change, acknowledging the threat to our
4 The day, cold enough to freeze breath, had begun planet and saying America would in future “harness
with millions of individual journeys by coach, train the sun and the winds and the soil” for energy.
and on foot as the crowds began converging before
dawn. This was to be the end of the last eight years 11 On international affairs, he singled out the Muslim
of Republican rule and of the obstructions which, at world, offering “a new way forward based on mutual
any previous time in history, would have made the interest and mutual respect”. America would leave
election of an African-American president unthinkable. Iraq “to its people” and forge a “hard-earned peace”
in Afghanistan.
5 They had come to celebrate – and for days they
had been doing just that in parties and balls all 12 Obama’s serious tone and his unflinching
over town. The cheer as Obama swore his oath acknowledgement of the economic hurricane
on Lincoln’s Bible rippled and roared all the way blowing through America echoed Roosevelt’s
from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, nearly two speech at the time of the last serious global
miles away. depression, in which an incoming president vowed
“to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly”.
6 But when Obama spoke it was immediately
apparent that the tone of this inauguration was 13 The endless crowd listened solemnly to the same
grave, addressed as much to the hundreds sentiments today. They might have come wishing
of millions tuned in around the world as to the for something more uplifting, but, for many, the
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day reached beyond symbolism to a moment of

genuine transformation after which nothing could
be the same again.
14 As Obama headed back into the Capitol building

at the end of the ceremony, clouds began rolling
over what had until then been a pure blue sky. But
there was one final, rousing cheer as the helicopter
carrying George W. Bush rose over the gleaming
dome of government and took the former president
off to Texas – and out of public life forever.

3 Language
1. The author uses some almost poetic phrases in the article. Keeping the same meaning, explain or
rewrite the phrases below using everyday language.
• ... a single political moment

__________________________________________________
• ... the glistening cream dome of the Capitol
__________________________________________________
• ... cold enough to freeze breath
__________________________________________________
• The cheer rippled and roared all the way from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol
__________________________________________________
• ... the shimmering sea of upturned faces
__________________________________________________
• ... the economic hurricane blowing through America
__________________________________________________
• ... clouds began rolling over what had until then been a pure blue sky
__________________________________________________
2. Why do you think the author used these phrases? Take the following factors into consideration:
emotion, style, type of article, importance in history ...
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4 Collocations
1. Match the word pairs from the article. Decide which are verb-noun (vn) collocations and which are
adjective-noun (an) collocations.
unflinching challenges
shed sky
mutual an oath
harness jobs
cloudless respect
swear applause
sombre the wind
deliver reference
meet cheer
enthusiastic speech
take acknowledgement
thinly-veiled a speech
forge time
rousing peace
2. Write example sentences for five of the collocations.
5 Discussion
Many people around the world are expecting great things of President Obama. Why do you think this is?
Give some examples.
6 Webquest
Watch an online video of Obama delivering his inauguration speech. Each student or small group of
students should listen to or watch a particular aspect. For example:
1. The words and language structures Obama uses.

2. Obama’s use of pauses.
3. Obama’s body language.
4. The crowd’s response.
5. Obama’s accent and pronunciation.
6. How loudly or quietly Obama speaks.
7. The emotional aspect.
8. Who Obama is addressing.
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KEY
1 Key words 4 Collocations
1. inauguration verb noun word pairs adjective noun word pairs

2. sworn in • deliver a speech • sombre speech
3. sombre • meet challenges • cloudless sky
4. mired • take time • enthusiastic applause
5. sapped • swear an oath • thinly-veiled reference
6. sacrifice • shed jobs • mutual respect
7. oath • harness the wind • rousing cheer
8. converging • forge peace • unflinching acknowledgement
9. grave
10. shuttered
11. adversaries Teachers’ notes
12. expedience
13. implicit
You can watch Obama’s whole 20-minute inauguration
14. harness
speech here:
15. unflinching
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/20/barack-
16. sentiments
obama-presidential-inauguration-washington

1. 43
2. People should recognize that power does not allow
them to do what they want. There has to be some
sacrifice. (see para 2)
3. Extremely cold and sunny.
4. The crowd stretched between the Capitol and the
Lincoln Memorial nearly two miles away. There were
probably two million people. (see paras 1, 4, 5, 6)
5. War, violence, a weakened economy, greed, loss of
housing & jobs, closing businesses. (see paras 7 & 8)
6. He acknowledged the threat to our planet and spoke
about alternative energy resources. (para 10)
7. America would leave Iraq to its people and forge
peace in Afghanistan. (see para 11)
8. Former president George W. Bush.

Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
Complete the gaps using these key words from the text. The paragraph numbers will help you.
confidence acknowledge inauguration vowed entitle mutual

soil uplifting oath frankly depression shed shuttered
protect grave midst echoed adversaries policies threat
1. start, beginning, first time __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (title)

2. accept, agree or admit __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 2)
3. middle, centre, deep in __ __ __ __ __ (para 2)
4. belief or faith in yourself __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 2)
5. take care of, look after, keep from harm __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 3)
6. allow, give authority to __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 3)
7. a formal promise __ __ __ __ (para 4)
8. serious, solemn, and worried __ __ __ __ __ (para 7)
9. thrown off, lost __ __ __ __ (para 8)
10. closed, gone out of business, or ceased trading __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 8)
11. enemies or opponents __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 8)
12. programmes, plans, strategies, tactics __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 9)
13. officially and formally promised __ __ __ __ __ (para 9)
14. danger, risk __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 9)
15. earth, ground __ __ __ __ (para 9)
16. shared, common __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 10)
17. repeated, said again, sounded like __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 11)
18. economic decline, financially bad times __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 11)
19. honestly, openly, straightforwardly __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 11)
20. inspiring, inspirational, makes you feel happy __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (para 12)
Skim-read the article and decide whether the sentences are true (T) or false (F).
1. There have been more than 50 presidents in the history of the United States.
2. Obama wants the American people to change the way they live.
3. The weather in Washington on 20 January 2009 was cold, sunny and dry.
4. Slaves helped to build the US Capitol building in Washington.
5. Obama talked about war, torture, jobs, housing and guns.
6. Obama said that the Americans must do something about global warming.
7. The speech was positive and uplifting.
8. After the speech, former President George W. Bush flew to Texas.
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Obama inauguration: Let the 8 “That we are in the midst of crisis is now well
remaking of America begin today understood,” he said. “Our nation is at war, our
economy is badly weakened ... homes have
been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our
January 20, 2009
healthcare is too costly; our schools fail too many;
and each day brings further evidence that the ways
we use energy strengthen our adversaries and
1 Barack Hussein Obama today became 44th
threaten our planet.”
president of the United States of America in front of
quite possibly the largest crowd of people ever in
9 There was criticism of George W. Bush’s policies
one place for a single political moment.
in his comments on science and the environment.
He vowed to “restore science to its rightful place”
2 As many as two million people in Washington’s
and made several references to climate change,
National Mall heard their new president give a
acknowledging the threat to our planet and saying
20-minute speech in which he acknowledged that
America would in future use “the sun and the winds
the country was in the midst of crisis – with wars, a
and the soil” for energy.
poor economy and a weak national confidence.
10 On international affairs, he talked about the Muslim
3 He promised the crowd that the problems would
world, offering “a new way forward based on mutual
be met, but warned it would take time and a new
interest and mutual respect. America would leave
type of politics, and that America would have to
Iraq “to its people” and make “hard-earned peace”
understand that “power alone cannot protect us,
in Afghanistan.
nor does it entitle us to do as we please”.
11 Obama’s serious tone and his acknowledgement of
4 President Obama took the oath just after midday
the economic hurricane blowing through America
under a crisp and cloudless blue sky in front of the
echoed Roosevelt’s speech at the time of the last
glistening cream dome of the Capitol, which was
serious global depression, in which a new president
partly built by slaves.
vowed “to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly
5 The day, cold enough to freeze breath, had begun and boldly”.
with millions of individual journeys by coach, train
12 The endless crowd might have wanted to hear
and on foot as the crowds began arriving before
something more uplifting, but, for many, the day
dawn. This was to be the end of the last eight
was a moment of real change after which nothing
years of Republican rule and of the problems in the
could be the same again.
US which, at any previous time in history, would
have made the election of an African American
president unthinkable.
6 For days people had been celebrating in parties over what had until then been a pure blue sky. But
there was one final cheer as the helicopter carrying
all over town. The cheer as Obama swore his oath
George W. Bush rose over the gleaming dome of
on Lincoln’s Bible rippled and roared all the way
government and took the former president off to
from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, nearly two
Texas – and out of public life forever.
miles away.
7 But when Obama spoke it was immediately clear © Guardian News & Media 2009
that the tone of this inauguration was grave, First published in The Guardian, 20/01/09
addressed as much to the hundreds of millions
watching and listening around the world as to the
shimmering sea of upturned faces in front of him.
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3 Language
The author uses some very nice language in the article. Match the phrases
from the article with their meanings in simpler English.
1. ... a single political moment.

2. ... the glistening cream dome of the Capitol, ...
3. ... cold enough to freeze breath, ...
4. The cheer rippled and roared all the way from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, ...
5. ... the shimmering sea of upturned faces ...
6. ... the economic hurricane blowing through America ...
7. ... clouds began rolling over what had until then been a pure blue sky.
a. the weather got worse

b. one short but important event in history and politics
c. extremely cold
d. the (sunny) roof of the government building
e. the financial crisis in the USA
f. the sound was carried all the way down from the front to the back of the crowd
g. the people looking up at him (in the sun)
4 Pronunciation
Which of these words from the article have the same pronunciation pattern as the name Obama o0o? Write
them into the table. Then write the other words under their pronunciation pattern.
confidence acknowledge inauguration vowed entitle mutual

soil uplifting oath frankly depression shed shuttered
protect grave midst echoed adversaries policies threat
o0o 0oo o0oo

Obama
What is the pronunciation pattern for inauguration ? __________
Write example sentences for four of the words.

________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
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5 Discussion
Do you think that the world will change with Obama as President? Will it be a better or a worse place?
Why? Think, for example, about jobs, money, war, and the environment.
6 Webquest
Watch part of an online video of Obama giving his inauguration speech. Each student or small group of
1. The words and language structures Obama uses. (E.g. can you hear any of the quotes from the article? What
other words do you understand?)
2. When Obama pauses and why. (E.g. before or after important words, to make people listen, etc.)
3. Obama’s body language. (E.g. what does he do with his hands?)
4. When the people in the crowd cheer and clap.
6. When Obama speaks loudly or quietly. (E.g. at the beginning or end of a sentence.)
7. The emotional aspect. (E.g. is anyone smiling, crying, looking worried, etc.?)
8. Who Obama is talking to. (E.g. the crowd, Americans, his family, the world.)
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KEY
1 Key words 4 Pronunciation
1. inauguration o0o 0oo o0oo

2. acknowledge
Obama policies adversaries
3. midst
4. confidence entitle politics political
5. protect acknowledge confidence economy
6. entitle depression president environment
7. oath uplifting hurricane Afghanistan
8. grave
9. shed inauguration = ooo0o
10. shuttered
11. adversaries
Teachers’ notes
12. policies
13. vowed
14. threat You can watch Obama’s whole 20-minute inauguration
15. soil speech here:
16. mutual http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/20/barack-
17. echoed obama-presidential-inauguration-washington
18. depression Unless your students are interested in watching the
19. frankly whole video, choose a section approximately five
20. uplifting minutes long for task 6, the webquest.
Students might like to use a synonym dictionary for task

2 Find the information 1 – either in paper format or online:
http://thesaurus.reference.com
1. F http://www.synonym.com/synonyms/
2. T
3. T
4. T
5. F
6. T
7. F
8. T
3 Language
1. b
2. d
3. c
4. f
5. g
6. e
7. a
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1 Key words
Match the following words with the definitions.
obstructions struggling expedience oath adversaries inauguration

transformation sentiments grave collective failure
shuttered acknowledge consequence echoed sacrifice sombre
1. The day on which a recently elected US president begins his job. _____________________ (title)
2. Sad, serious, gloomy. _____________________ (para 2)
3. To accept or admit that something exists, is true, or is real. _____________________ (para 2)
4. Trying hard. Having to fight to keep itself going. _____________________ (para 2)
5. The act of giving up something important or valuable so that you or other people can do or have
something else. _____________________ (para 3)
6. A formal promise. _____________________ (para 4)
7. Things that try to prevent someone from doing something or to prevent something from happening.
_____________________ (para 5)
8. So serious that you feel worried. _____________________ (para 7)
9. A result or effect of something. _____________________ (para 8)
10. The lack of success of all members of a group, or the people of the country. ____________________ (para 8)
11. Closed, or (here) ceased trading. _____________________ (para 9)
12. One’s enemies or opponents. _____________________ (para 9)
13. Speed, especially when used to get an immediate result. _____________________ (para 10)
14. Expressed the ideas or feelings that someone else has expressed. _____________________ (para 13)
15. Beliefs or attitudes towards something. _____________________ (para 14)
16. A great change or the process by which this happens. _____________________ (para 14)
Skim-read the article and decide whether the sentences are true (T) or false (F).
1. There have been 44 previous presidents in the United States.

2. Obama expects the American people to change their behaviour.
3. The weather in Washington on 20 January 2009 was cold, sunny and dry.
4. It is thought that slaves helped to build the US Capitol building in Washington.
5. The central topics of the speech were war, torture, jobs, housing and teenage pregnancies.
6. Obama denied that global warming is a problem.
7. The main tone of the speech was positive and uplifting.
8. After the speech, former President George W. Bush left Washington for his home in Texas.
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Obama inauguration: Let the tuned in around the world as to the shimmering sea
remaking of America begin today of upturned faces in front of him.
8 “That we are in the midst of crisis is now well
January 20, 2009
understood,” he said. “Our nation is at war, against
1 Barack Hussein Obama today became 44th a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our
president of the United States of America in front of economy is badly weakened, a consequence of
quite possibly the largest crowd of people ever to greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but
have gathered in one place for a single also our collective failure to make hard choices and
political moment. prepare the nation for a new age.”
2 As many as two million people in Washington’s 9 “Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses
National Mall heard their new president deliver shuttered. Our healthcare is too costly; our schools
a sombre 20-minute speech in which he fail too many; and each day brings further evidence
acknowledged that the country was in the midst of that the ways we use energy strengthen our
crisis – caught up in wars, its economy struggling adversaries and threaten our planet.”
and its national confidence weakened.
10 In one of the few lines to be greeted by enthusiastic
3 He promised the mostly silent crowd that the applause, he turned to defence, proclaiming “we
challenges would be met, but warned it would take reject as false the choice between our safety
time, some sacrifice, a new form of politics and a and our ideals”. In a thinly-veiled reference to
re-engagement with the world, in which America Guantánamo and torture he promised not to
would recognise that “power alone cannot protect abandon the rule of law and human rights “for
us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please”. expedience’s sake”.
4 President Obama took the oath just after midday 11 There was criticism of his predecessor’s policies
under a crisp and cloudless azure sky in front of the in his comments on science and the environment.
glistening cream dome of the Capitol, which was He vowed to “restore science to its rightful place”
partly built by slaves. and made several references to climate change,
acknowledging the threat to our planet and saying
5 The day, cold enough to freeze breath, had begun America would in future use “the sun and the winds
with millions of individual journeys by coach, train and the soil” for energy.
and on foot as the crowds began arriving before
dawn. This was to be the end of the last eight 12 On international affairs, he singled out the Muslim
years of Republican rule and of the obstructions world, offering “a new way forward based on mutual
which, at any previous time in history, would have interest and mutual respect. America would leave
made the election of an African-American president Iraq “to its people” and make “hard-earned peace”
unthinkable. in Afghanistan.
6 They had come to celebrate – and for days they 13 Obama’s serious tone and his acknowledgement of
had been doing just that in parties all over town. the economic hurricane blowing through America
The cheer as Obama swore his oath on Lincoln’s echoed Roosevelt’s speech at the time of the last
Bible rippled and roared all the way from the serious global depression, in which an incoming
Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, nearly two president vowed “to speak the truth, the whole
miles away. truth, frankly and boldly”.
7 But when Obama spoke it was immediately clear 14 The endless crowd listened to the same sentiments
that the tone of this inauguration was grave, today. They might have wanted to hear something
addressed as much to the hundreds of millions more uplifting, but, for many, the day was a
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moment of genuine transformation after which

nothing could be the same again.

over what had until then been a pure blue sky. But
there was one final, rousing cheer as the helicopter
carrying George W Bush rose over the gleaming
dome of government and took the former president
off to Texas – and out of public life forever.

3 Language
The author uses some very nice language in the article. Look back and find a phrase that means:
1. one short but important event in history and politics (para 1)

__________________________________________________
2. the (sunny) roof of the government building (para 4)
__________________________________________________
3. extremely cold (para 5)
__________________________________________________
4. the sound was carried all the way down from the front to the back of the crowd (para 6)
__________________________________________________
5. the people looking up at him (in the sun) (para 7)
__________________________________________________
6. the financial crisis in the USA (para 13)
__________________________________________________
7. the weather got worse (para 15)
__________________________________________________
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4 Collocations
1. Match the word pairs from the article.
verb-noun word pairs

deliver challenges
meet time
take jobs
swear a speech
shed an oath
adjective-noun word pairs

sombre speech
cloudless applause
enthusiastic reference
thinly-veiled cheer
mutual sky
rousing respect
2. Write example sentences for four of the collocations (two from each set).
...............................................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................................................
5 Discussion
Many people around the world are hoping that the world will change with Obama as President. Why do you
think this is? Give some examples.
6 Webquest
Watch part of an online video of Obama delivering his inauguration speech. Each student or small group of
1. The words and language structures Obama uses.

2. Obama’s use of pauses.
3. Obama’s body language.
4. The crowd’s response.
6. How loudly or quietly Obama speaks.
7. The emotional aspect.
8. Who Obama is addressing.
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KEY
1 Key words 3 Language
1. inauguration 1. ... a single political moment

2. sombre 2. .... he glistening cream dome of the Capitol
3. acknowledge 3. ... cold enough to freeze breath
4. struggling 4. The cheer rippled and roared all the way from the
5. sacrifice Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol
6. oath 5. ... the shimmering sea of upturned faces
7. obstructions 6. ... the economic hurricane blowing through America
8. grave 7. ... clouds began rolling over what had until then been
9. consequences a pure blue sky
10. collective failure
11. shuttered
4 Collocations
12. adversaries
13. expedience
14. echoed verb noun word pairs adjective noun word pairs
15. sentiments • deliver a speech • sombre speech
16. transformation • meet challenges • cloudless sky
• take time • enthusiastic applause
• swear an oath • thinly-veiled reference
2 Find the information • shed jobs • mutual respect
• rousing cheer
1. F
2. T
3. T Teachers’ notes
4. T
5. F
You can watch Obama’s whole 20-minute inauguration
6. F
speech here:
7. F
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/20/barack-
8. T
obama-presidential-inauguration-washington
Unless your students are interested in watching the whole
video, choose a section approximately five minutes long
for Task 6, the Webquest.

Websites ‘must be saved for history’
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
Which of these things do you have?
laptop/notebook PC USB stick scanner external hard drive

digital camera blog website printer CD/DVD burner Twitter account
What do you use them for?
2 Key words
Find key words from the text to complete the sentences. The paragraph numbers will help you.
1. A verb meaning to gradually change and develop over a period of time. ___________________ (paragraph 2)
2. An adjective that describes something that is no longer used because it has been replaced by something newer
and more effective. ___________________ (paragraph 2)
3. Passive form of a verb meaning to make a problem become worse. ___________________ (paragraph 4)
4. A plural noun for things that are useful or fashionable for only a short time. ___________________ (paragraph 5)
5. An adjective used when you want to say that you are lacking something that you need.
___________________ (paragraph 6)
6. The first word of a phrase used for emphasizing that something is true, even though it is opposite to what other
people say or believe. ___________________ (paragraph 7)
7. A place where large quantities of things are stored or kept safe. ___________________ (paragraph 8)
8. An address on the Internet. ___________________ (paragraph 9)
9. Notes or items that appear around the edge of a page (used here metaphorically). ___________________
(paragraph 13)
10. An uncountable noun meaning the people who will live in the future after you are dead. ___________________
(paragraph 14)
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NEWS LESSONS / Websites ‘must be saved for history’ / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Websites ‘must be saved for history’ going to leave our grandchildren bereft,” Brindley
The British Library’s head says that deleting states. “I call it ‘personal digital disorder’. Think
websites will make the job of historians harder of those thousands of digital photographs that
lie hidden on our computers. Few store them, so
David Smith, technology correspondent
those who come after us will not be able to look
25 January, 2009
at them. It’s tragic.”
7 She believes similar gaps could appear in the

1 Historians face a “black hole” of lost material
national memory, pointing out that, contrary to
unless urgent action is taken to preserve
popular assumption, Internet companies such
websites and other digital records, the head of
as Google are not collecting and archiving
the British Library has warned.
material of this type. It is left instead to the
2 Just as families store digital photos on computers libraries and archives which have been gathering
which might never be passed on to their books, periodicals, newspapers and recordings
descendants, so Britain’s cultural heritage is at for centuries.
risk as the Internet evolves and technologies
8 With an interim report from communications
become obsolete, says Lynne Brindley, the
minister, Lord Carter, on the future of digital
library’s chief executive.
Britain due very soon, Brindley makes the case
3 Writing in the Observer newspaper, Brindley for the British Library as the repository that will
gives two examples of losses overseas. When ensure emails and websites are preserved as
Barack Obama became US president, all traces reliably as manuscripts and books. “This vision
of George Bush disappeared from the White of a digital Britain must include the critical public
House website, including a booklet entitled 100 service of preserving digital Britain’s collective
Things Americans May Not Know About the Bush memory and digitizing the unrivalled content
Administration, which is no longer accessible. within the British Library.”
4 There were more than 150 websites relating to 9 The library plans to create a comprehensive
the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, she continues, but archive of such “notoriously ephemeral” material
these, too, vanished instantly at the end of the from the UK web domain – there are about eight
games and are now stored only by the National million .uk domain websites, growing at a rate of
Library of Australia. “If websites continue to 15-20% every year. It also has a collecting and
disappear in the same way as those on President archiving project for the London 2012 Olympics.
Bush and the Sydney Olympics – perhaps
10 In 2007 the library worked with Microsoft and the
exacerbated by the current economic climate that
National Archives at Kew to prevent a “digital
is killing companies – the memory of the nation
dark age” by unlocking millions of unreadable
disappears too,” Brindley writes. “Historians of
stored computer files. Microsoft installed the
the future, citizens of the future, will find a black
Virtual PC 2007, allowing users to run multiple
hole in the knowledge base of the 21st century.”
operating systems simultaneously on the same
5 Historians have become increasingly concerned computer and unlock old Microsoft Office formats
that while the Domesday Book, written on dating back 15 years or more.
sheepskin in 1086, is still easily accessible, the
11 The library and national archives have set
software for many decade-old computer files
up projects to capture daily exchanges of
– including thousands of government records –
information almost entirely now transmitted by
already makes them unreadable. The ephemera
emails and texts. Government departments are
of emails, text messages and online video add to
storing emails and archiving them at Kew, and
the headache of the 21st-century archivist.
the library is encouraging individuals to store
6 “Too many of us suffer from a condition that is theirs voluntarily.
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12 Historians regard some of today’s electronic actors or some of the marginalia around the
data as a vital legacy that must be protected. edges of the Sydney Olympics? I don’t think we
Tristram Hunt, of Queen Mary College, London necessarily do.”
University, said: “It’s essential that mainstream
institutions such as the National Gallery or the 14 There is already one stark warning from
White House or the Ministry of Defence keep history. The BBC’s Doomsday Project of
email correspondence, and I think they’re 1986, intended to record the state of the
quite good about that now. They provide an nation for posterity, was recorded on two
absolutely essential historical record.” 12-inch videodisks. By 2000 it was obsolete,
and was rescued only thanks to a specialist
13 Hunt argued that libraries and other institutions team working with the only surviving laser
need to be selective. “On the other hand, we’re disk player.
producing much more information these days
than we used to, and not all of it is necessary. © Guardian News & Media 2009
Do we want to keep the Twitter account of First published in The Observer, 25/01/09
1. The way most of us store digital photos means that our grandchildren ...
a. ... will easily be able to retrieve the images.
b. ... won’t know what we look like.
c. ... may not be able to see them.
2. The booklet entitled 100 Things Americans May Not Know About the Bush Administration is now ...
a. ... only available via George Bush’s own website.
b. ... linked to from Obama’s presidential website.
c. ... unavailable.
3. Future historians will be able to find out information from over 150 websites about the 2000 Olympics from ...
a. ... the Internet.
b. ... a library.
c. ... nowhere; the information has been lost forever.
4. An official reports suggests that emails and websites should be saved and archived ...
a. ... by the British Library.
b. ... by Google.
c. ... by volunteers.
5. The information recorded as part of the BBC’s Doomsday Project of 1986 ...
a. ... has been lost.
b. ... may be saved by experts.
c. ... was saved by experts.
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4 Language: Reading between the lines
What is meant by the following terms or phrases from the article? Write or give short explanations.
1. black hole of lost material _______________________________________________________________
2. current economic climate _______________________________________________________________
3. personal digital disorder _______________________________________________________________
4. popular assumption _______________________________________________________________
5. interim report _______________________________________________________________
6. collective memory _______________________________________________________________
7. notoriously ephemeral material _______________________________________________________________
8. digital dark age _______________________________________________________________
9. mainstream institutions _______________________________________________________________
5 Discussion
How do you save your digital photos and other electronic data?
Do you think people will still be able to look at your photos or read the documents you have written in 10
years’ time; 50 years’ time; 100 years’ time?
How does this compare to the way your parents and grandparents stored photos and documents?
6 Webquest
Search the Internet for up-to-date articles on “saving digital photos” or saving files, data or similar. Give a
synopsis of the information and recommendations in the article to your class.
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KEY
1. evolve(s) Possible answers:

2. obsolete 1. black hole of lost material = a period of time from
3. exacerbated which there is no information available on materials
4. ephemera that were once freely available but can no longer be
5. bereft found or retrieved.
6. contrary 2. current economic climate = this talks about the world
7. repository financial crisis that is causing many companies to
8. domain close.
9. marginalia 3. personal digital disorder (according to Lynne
10. posterity Brindley) = she means that due to our lack of IT
knowledge or forward thinking we may be in danger
of losing our photos and files.
4. popular assumption = what the majority of people
think or assume.
1. c 5. interim report = a report that is presented before
2. c the final report is ready. This usually provides the
3. b information and figures known up to that point in
4. a time.
5. c 6. collective memory = the things that a large group of
people remember.
7. notoriously ephemeral material = material that is
widely known to be useful or fashionable only for a
short time (e.g. popular videos on YouTube).
8. digital dark age = a period from which we have no
electronic information and know little or nothing
about.
9. mainstream institutions = organizations, places
or institutions that most people have heard of or
have knowledge of (e.g. the White House in
Washington and the National Gallery in London).
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1 Warmer

digital camera blog website printer CD/DVD burner
2 Key words
Write the key words from the text into the sentences. The paragraph numbers will help you.
domain cultural heritage archive collecting accessible disorder

store black hole rescue archivist selective disappear
1. An area in outer space where light and everything else is pulled into it and nothing can be found or seen again.
___________________ (paragraph 1)
2. A verb meaning to keep or save. ___________________ (paragraph 2)
3. Things that a society thinks are important to its history and culture. ___________________ (paragraph 2)
4. Easy for anyone to find and use. ___________________ (paragraph 3)
5. To be impossible to find. ___________________ (paragraph 4)
6. Someone whose job is to collect and keep historical documents and records. ___________________
(paragraph 5)
7. An illness or medical condition. ___________________ (paragraph 6)
8. Getting and keeping things because they are interesting or valuable. ___________________ (paragraph 7)
9. A group of historical documents and records. ___________________ (paragraph 8)
11. Careful about what you choose or accept. ___________________ (paragraph 10)
12. Saved (from disappearing). ___________________ (paragraph 11)

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NEWS LESSONS / Websites ‘must be saved for history’ / Elementary

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Websites ‘must be saved for history’ 6 “Too many of us suffer from a condition that
The British Library’s head says that deleting is going to leave our grandchildren without
websites will make the job of historians harder information about us,” Brindley says. “I call
it ‘personal digital disorder’. Think of those
David Smith, technology correspondent
thousands of digital photographs that are hidden
25 January, 2009
on our computers. Few people store them, so
those people who come after us will not be able
1 Historians face a “black hole” of lost material to look at them. It’s very sad.”
unless something is done to save websites and
7 She says that Internet companies such as
other digital records, the head of the British
Google are not collecting and archiving digital
Library has warned.
files. It is left instead to the libraries and archives
2 The way many families store digital photos on which have been collecting books, magazines,
computers means they might never be seen by newspapers and recordings for centuries.
their children and grandchildren. In the same
8 The British Library plans to create an archive of
way Britain’s cultural heritage is at risk as the
such material from the UK web domain – there
Internet changes and technologies become old
are about eight million .uk domain websites, and
and out of date, says Lynne Brindley, the library’s
this number is growing by 15-20% every year.
chief executive.
The library has set up projects to store emails
3 In an article in the Observer newspaper, Brindley and texts. It also has a collecting and archiving
gives two examples of lost records. When Barack project for the London 2012 Olympics.
Obama became US president, all the articles
9 Historians believe that some of today’s electronic
and information about George Bush disappeared
data must be protected. Tristram Hunt, of
from the White House website, including a
Queen Mary College, London University, said:
booklet called 100 Things Americans May Not
“It’s essential that institutions such as the
Know About the Bush Administration, which is no
National Gallery in London or the White House
longer accessible.
in Washington keep emails as they provide an
4 There were more than 150 websites about the absolutely essential historical record.”
2000 Olympics in Sydney, she continues, but
10 But Hunt also said that libraries and other
these, too, disappeared instantly at the end of the
institutions need to be selective. “We’re
games and are now stored only by the National
producing much more information these days
Library of Australia. “If websites continue to
than we used to, and not all of it is necessary.”
disappear in the same way as those on President
Bush and the Sydney Olympics, the memory 11 There is already one clear warning from history.
of the nation disappears too,” Brindley writes. The BBC’s Doomsday Project of 1986, which
“Historians of the future, citizens of the future, contained information about Britain for people
will find a black hole in the records about the in the future, was recorded on two 12-inch
21st century.” videodisks. By 2000 no one could read it. Luckily
it could be rescued by a specialist team working
5 Historians have become more and more worried
with the only surviving laser disk player.
that although the Domesday Book, written on
software for many 10-year-old computer files
– including thousands of government records –
already makes them unreadable. The temporary
nature of emails, text messages and online video
adds to the headache of the 21st-century archivist.
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1. The way we store digital photos will probably mean ... a. ... is no longer available on the Internet.
2. It is no longer possible to find some special information ... b. ... find information about us and what is happening now.
3. Websites with information about the 2000 Olympics in Sydney ... c. ... about George Bush on the White House website.
4. There are new plans to store electronic data ... d. ... that our grandchildren will not be able to see them.
5. Google are not collecting and archiving ... e. ... can now only be found in the National Library of Australia.
6. People in the future might not be able to ... f. ... as they provide a historical record.
7. Official emails need to be saved ... g. ... our websites, emails and online videos.
8. The BBC’s Doomsday Project of 1986 ... h. ... connected with the 2012 London Olympics.
4 Language
1. Complete the word wheels with words from the article.
head of a library websites
types of
jobs electronic data
2. Now chose four of the words and write one sentence to describe each word.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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5 Discussion
Complete these sentences and then discuss them in class.
I save my digital photos (where/how?) ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
In 20 years’ time people will/won’t be able to read my emails and text messages because ____________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
6 Webquest
What advice do big companies such as HP, Kodak or Microsoft give about storing digital photos?
• www.hp.com
• www.kodak.com
• www.microsoft.com
Can you find any other good, easy to understand, advice about saving digital photos on the Internet?
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KEY
1. black hole president

2. store head of a library historian
3. cultural heritage
4. accessible
5. disappear
jobs
6. archivist
7. disorder
8. collecting
9. archive chief executive technology
10. domain correspondent
archivist
11. selective
12. rescue
emails
3 Comprehension check websites online booklet
1. d types of
2. c electronic data
3. e
4. h
5. g
text messages digital photos
6. b
7. f video
8. a
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digital camera blog website printer CD/DVD burner Twitter account
What do you use them for?
2 Key words
Write the key words from the text into the sentences. The paragraph numbers will help you.
bereft archivist trace legacy obsolete heritage

tragic posterity domain voluntarily selective descendants
1. The people who will come after you. Relatives of someone who lived in the past. ______________ (paragraph 2)
2. Traditions and beliefs that a society considers important to its history and culture. ___________________
(paragraph 2)
3. An adjective that describes something that is no longer used because it has been replaced by something newer
and more effective. ___________________ (paragraph 2)
4. A slight sign that something has happened or existed. ___________________ (paragraph 3)
5. Someone whose job is to collect and store historical documents and records. ________________ (paragraph 5)
6. An adjective used when you want to say that you are lacking something that you need. ___________________
(paragraph 6)
7. Very bad and sad; making you feel upset or angry. ___________________ (paragraph 6)
9. Doing something because you choose to do it, and not because you have to. ________________ (paragraph 9)
10. Something that someone has achieved that continues to exists after they stop working or die.
___________________ (paragraph 10)
11. Careful about what you choose or accept. ___________________ (paragraph 11)
12. An uncountable noun meaning the people who will live in the future after you are dead.
___________________ (paragraph 12)

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NEWS LESSONS / Websites ‘must be saved for history’ / Intermediate

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Websites ‘must be saved for history’ our computers. Few store them, so those who come
The British Library’s head says that deleting after us will not be able to look at them. It’s tragic.”
websites will make the job of historians harder 7 She believes similar gaps could appear in the
David Smith, technology correspondent national memory, pointing out that Internet
25 January, 2009 companies such as Google are not collecting and
archiving material of this type. It is left instead to the
libraries and archives which have been gathering
1 Historians face a “black hole” of lost material unless books, magazines, newspapers and recordings
immediate action is taken to save websites and for centuries.
other digital records, the head of the British Library
has warned. 8 The British Library plans to create a comprehensive
archive of such material from the UK web domain
2 Just as families store digital photos on computers – there are about eight million .uk domain websites,
which might never be passed on to their growing at a rate of 15-20% every year. It also has
descendants, so Britain’s cultural heritage is at a collecting and archiving project for the London
risk as the Internet changes and develops and 2012 Olympics.
technologies become obsolete, says Lynne
Brindley, the library’s chief executive. 9 The library has set up projects to capture daily
exchanges of information transmitted by emails and
3 Writing in the Observer newspaper, Brindley texts. Government departments are storing emails
gives two examples of lost records. When Barack and archiving them at the National Archives at Kew,
Obama became US president, all traces of George in London, and the library is encouraging individuals
Bush disappeared from the White House website, to store theirs voluntarily.
including a booklet entitled 100 Things Americans
May Not Know About the Bush Administration, 10 Historians regard some of today’s electronic data
which is no longer available. as a vital legacy that must be protected. Tristram
Hunt, of Queen Mary College, London University,
4 There were more than 150 websites relating to the said: “It’s essential that institutions such as the
2000 Olympics in Sydney, she continues, but these, National Gallery in London or the White House in
too, vanished instantly at the end of the games Washington keep email correspondence, and I think
and are now stored only by the National Library they’re quite good about that now. They provide an
of Australia. “If websites continue to disappear in absolutely essential historical record.”
the same way as those on President Bush and
the Sydney Olympics, the memory of the nation 11 Hunt argued that libraries and other institutions
disappears too,” Brindley writes. “Historians of the need to be selective. “We’re producing much more
future, citizens of the future, will find a black hole in information these days than we used to, and not all
the records about the 21st century.” of it is necessary. Do we want to keep the Twitter
account of actors or some of the unimportant
5 Historians have become more and more concerned information around the edges of the Sydney
that while the Domesday Book, written on Olympics? I don’t think we necessarily do.”
software for many 10-year-old computer files 12 There is already one clear warning from history.
– including thousands of government records The BBC’s Doomsday Project of 1986, intended
– already makes them unreadable. The temporary to record the state of the nation for posterity, was
nature of emails, text messages and online video recorded on two 12-inch videodisks. By 2000 it
adds to the headache of the 21st-century archivist. was obsolete, and was rescued only thanks to a
specialist team working with the only surviving laser
6 “Too many of us suffer from a condition that is going disk player.
to leave our grandchildren bereft,” Brindley states.
“I call it ‘personal digital disorder’. Think of those © Guardian News & Media 2009
thousands of digital photographs that lie hidden on First published in The Observer, 25/01/09
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Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) acording to the article? Correct any sentences that are false.
1. The way we currently store digital photos will likely mean that our grandchildren will not be able to see them.
2. The new White House website makes it still possible to link to the documents put online by George Bush’s administration.
3. Websites with information about the 2000 Olympics in Sydney have sadly been lost forever.
4. There are no plans to store electronic data surrounding the 2012 London Olympics.
5. Luckily Google are collecting and archiving our websites, emails and online videos.
6. The British Library is asking people to store their emails and text messages.
7. Government and national institutions have started to keep a record of their email exchanges.
8. The BBC’s Doomsday Project of 1986 is easily available for everyone on the Internet.
4 Language: Prepositions
Write in the prepositions to complete the collocations. Then, match them with the things that they refer to
in the article.
of (x4) at (x2) with to
1. _______ risk a. emails, text messages and online video

2. traces _______ b. messages on Twitter written by actors
3. relating _______ c. the speed of increase in .uk domain websites
4. archive _______ d. George Bush
5. growing _______ a rate _______ e. websites about the 2000 Olympics
6. account _______ f. the last laser disk player
7. working _______ g. Britain’s cultural heritage
5 Discussion
How do you save your digital photos and other electronic data?
Do you think people will still be able to look at your photos or read the documents you have written in 10
years’ time; 50 years’ time; 100 years’ time?
How does this compare to the way your parents and grandparents stored photos and documents?
6 Webquest
Search the Internet for up-to-date articles on “saving digital photos” or saving files, data or similar. Give a
synopsis of the main information in the article to your class.
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2 Key words 4 Language: Prepositions
1. at
1. descendants
Britain’s cultural heritage
2. heritage
3. obsolete 2. of
4. trace George Bush
5. archivist 3. to
6. bereft websites about the 2000 Olympics
7. tragic 4. of
8. domain emails, text messages and online video
9. voluntarily 5. at / of
10. legacy the speed of increase in .uk domain websites
11. selective 6. of
12. posterity messages on Twitter written by actors
7. with
the last laser disk player
1. T
2. F
3. F
4. F
5. F
6. T
7. T
8. F
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Tsvangirai sworn in as prime minister of Zimbabwe
Level 1 Advanced
1 Key words
Find key words from the text to complete the sentences. The paragraph numbers will help you.
crucial subdued donor coalition intimidation asset

perpetuate revival constitution scepticism embittered
1. Doubts that someone has about something that other people think is true or right. (paragraph 1)
_____________________
2. Quiet and slightly sad or worried; not very loud or bright; low-key. (paragraph 2) _____________________
3. To make something such as a situation or process continue, especially one that is wrong, unfair, or dangerous.
(paragraph 3) _____________________
4. A temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together. (paragraph 5)
_____________________
5. Deliberately making someone feel frightened, especially so that they will do what you want. (paragraph 5)
_____________________
6. Something that is extremely important because it has a major effect on the result of something.
(paragraph 7) _____________________
7. A major benefit. (paragraph 8) _____________________
8. A set of basic laws or principles for a country that describe the rights and duties of its citizens and the way in
which it is governed. (paragraph 9) _____________________
9. Angry and unhappy about things that have happened to you in the past. (paragraph 9) _____________________
10. Someone who gives things such as money or goods to an organization, especially one that helps people.
(paragraph 13) _____________________
11. The process of becoming active, successful, or popular again; to bring back to life. (paragraph 13)
_____________________
Source: Macmillan English Dictionary online
2 Find the information about Zimbabwe
Skim-read the article to find the answers to the questions about Zimbabwe.
1. Who is the prime minister?

2. Who is the president?
3. What is the name of the prime minister’s political party?
4. How high is the unemployment rate?
5. How is the rate of inflation described?
6. What fraction of the population relies on foreign food aid?
7. Which are the only currencies accepted in many shops?
8. When are the next elections likely to be held?
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NEWS LESSONS / Tsvangirai sworn in as prime minister of Zimbabwe / Advanced

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Tsvangirai sworn in as prime 7 Authority over home affairs is to be shared. This
minister of Zimbabwe is seen as crucial to ensuring future elections are
free after the widespread violence by Mugabe’s
Chris McGreal in Harare and Mark Tran
supporters in last year’s ballot.
February 11, 2009
8 The MDC has control of the finance ministry and
1 Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s most social affairs ministries, such as health, which
prime minister today joining a government of could prove to be an asset if the new government is
national unity with President Robert Mugabe amid able to deliver improved services.
deep scepticism that the two bitter rivals can work
together to pull their country back from economic ruin. 9 Tsvangirai’s main concern will be to put a new
constitution in place and to hold new elections
2 The two men stood face to face in a white tent within two years when he will rely on embittered
on the grounds of the presidential palace. In the voters to reject Mugabe so clearly that he will be
presence of regional leaders, and as Zimbabweans forced to accept defeat.
across the country watched on state TV, Tsvangirai,
of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) 10 For now, the new prime minister faces a myriad
party, raised his right hand and declared: “I will well of challenges, including 94% unemployment, the
and truly serve Zimbabwe in the office of prime worst harvest since independence and a currency
minister of the republic of Zimbabwe, so help me so worthless that shops will only accept US dollars
God”. Both men looked relaxed and smiled during and South African rands.
the brief and subdued ceremony. 11 Tsvangirai said the most important cabinet post
3 Other African leaders who attended the ceremony for reviving Zimbabwe’s fortunes was that of the
had put heavy pressure on Tsvangirai to accept finance minister and named the MDC’s secretary
the power-sharing deal but many Zimbabweans general, Tendai Biti, for the job.
and some foreign governments, including Britain, 12 Biti, a lawyer and the MDC’s chief negotiator, is
fear the joint administration is a trap that will only expected to use the power the finance ministry has
perpetuate Mugabe’s rule. with its control over budgets to influence
4 Tsvangirai yesterday said that after months of Mugabe’s ministers.
disagreement with Mugabe over key cabinet posts, 13 His appointment is also likely to help to reassure
his party compromised and agreed to join the foreign donors, most importantly Britain and
government to prevent Zimbabwe collapsing under the US, whose money is seen as the key to
hyperinflation and the almost total ruin of agriculture Zimbabwe’s revival but who are sceptical over
and industry that has left seven million people, two- Mugabe remaining president.
thirds of the population, dependent on foreign food aid.
14 Britain has taken the highly unusual step
5 Tsvangirai said joining a coalition with the man of publishing a notice in the Zimbabwean
who used violence and intimidation to deny the press expressing its concerns about the new
MDC power was not a solution but a step towards administration. While saying that “it is not for the
democratic government. The power struggle is, United Kingdom to accept or reject anything”,
however, likely to continue in the new administration. the notice goes on to say that it regards any
6 Under the coalition agreement, Mugabe remains administration involving Mugabe as unacceptable.
president, with Tsvangirai overseeing the daily 15 Britain says it wants to see the new administration
administration of government as prime minister. “reverse the political, economic and social decline”
Cabinet seats are almost equally divided. Mugabe as a condition for financial aid. The MDC says it
won the struggle to retain control of the principal can’t do that without considerable financial support.
security ministries, particularly defence and justice,
which sceptics fear he will continue to use as tools © Guardian News & Media 2009
to attack and intimidate his opponents. First published in The Guardian, 11/02/09
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3 Language: Collocations / word pairs
Match the words to make words pairs from the article. Then write a sentence containing the collocation.
e.g. security ministries The main security ministries are the ministry of defence and the ministry of justice.
1. deep post _______________________________________________

2. democratic violence _______________________________________________
3. bitter ruin _______________________________________________
4. power government _______________________________________________
5. economic affairs _______________________________________________
6. joint scepticism _______________________________________________
7. widespread agreement _______________________________________________
8. cabinet struggle _______________________________________________
9. coalition rivals _______________________________________________
10. home administration _______________________________________________
4 Vocabulary: Politically-related words
Make a mind map of the political words in the article.
politically-related words mind map
jobs and positions other
politically-related words
ministries and departments

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5 Discussion
• Have you read any newspaper reports or seen or heard any television, radio or online news
about Zimbabwe?
• What do you know about the current situation in Zimbabwe for normal people? How are they
managing to survive?
• If possible, watch this partly sub-titled seven-minute film and discuss what you see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/11/zimbabwe-secret-film
6 Webquest: Comparisons
1. Compare these two short videos of the swearing in ceremonies of Morgan Tsvangirai and Barack
Obama. Pay particular attention to spoken language, body language and spectator response.
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/11/tsvangirai-zimbabwe-sworn-in
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hde4s-xBhqE
• see also http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=97297&newsChannel=topNews
2. Complete the table below. Some of the many websites that will help you are:
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
• http://www.wikipedia.com
• http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php
Zimbabwe The USA

country size
capital city
language(s)
population
average life expectancy
currency
average income
recent rate of inflation
resources and industry
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KEY
1 Key words 3 Language: Collocations / word pairs
1. scepticism 1. deep scepticism

2. subdued 2. democratic government
3. perpetuate 3. bitter rivals
4. coalition 4. power struggle
5. intimidation 5. economic ruin
6. crucial 6. joint administration
7. asset 7. widespread violence
8. constitution 8. cabinet post
9. embittered 9. coalition agreement
10. donor 10. home affairs
11. revival
4 Vocabulary: Politically-related words

See sample mind map key below
1. Morgan Tsvangirai
2. Robert Mugabe
3. Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
4. 94%
5. Hyperinflation (recent figures put it at 231 million
percent. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/
jan/30/zimbabwean-currency-worthless-patrick-
chinamasa)
6. Two-thirds
7. US dollars and South African rands
8. Within the next two years.

election
democratic
secretary
general president
administration
coalition
leader
politically-related words government
prime
minister cabinet (post/ presidential
minister) palace political
ministries and departments party
security
finance health justice
defence
social
affairs
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to be sworn in: to promise publically to do a job, especially a political one
1 Warmer: mind mapping
Write these politically-related words into the mind map.
election security secretary general home affairs coalition justice health

defence leader finance prime minister president administration cabinet
social affairs government democratic presidential palace political party
politically-related words
ministries and departments
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NEWS LESSONS / Tsvangirai sworn in as prime minister of Zimbabwe / Elementary

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Tsvangirai sworn in as prime 7 Mugabe won control of the main security ministries,
minister of Zimbabwe particularly defence and justice, which many people
fear he will continue to use to attack and intimidate
Chris McGreal in Harare and Mark Tran
his opponents.
February 11, 2009
8 Authority over home affairs is to be shared. This
1 Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s
will make sure that future elections are free after
prime minister today joining a government of
the widespread violence by Mugabe’s supporters
national unity with President Robert Mugabe. Many
in last year’s elections. The MDC has control of the
people though do not believe that the two men,
finance ministry and most social affairs ministries,
who are bitter rivals, can work together to bring
such as health.
their country back from economic ruin.
9 Tsvangirai hopes that at the next election voters will
2 The two men stood face to face in a white
reject Mugabe so clearly that he will be forced to
tent in the garden of the presidential palace.
accept defeat.
Zimbabweans across the country watched on
state TV as Tsvangirai, from the Movement for 10 For now, the new prime minister faces many
Democratic Change (MDC) party, raised his right challenges, including 94% unemployment, the
hand and promised: “I will well and truly serve worst harvest since independence and a currency
Zimbabwe in the office of prime minister of the so worthless that shops will only accept US dollars
republic of Zimbabwe, so help me God”. Both men and South African rands.
looked relaxed and smiled during the
short ceremony. 11 Tsvangirai said the most important job in the
government was that of the finance minister and
3 Other African leaders had put heavy pressure on named the MDC’s secretary general, Tendai Biti, for
Tsvangirai to build a government with Mugabe. the job.
However, many Zimbabweans and some foreign
governments, including Britain, are worried that 12 He is expected to use the power the finance
the joint administration is a trap that will only keep ministry has to influence Mugabe’s ministers. His
Mugabe in power. appointment as finance minister will also help
make foreign donors less worried, especially Britain
4 Tsvangirai yesterday said that after months of and the US, whose money is necessary to help
disagreement with Mugabe, his party agreed to join Zimbabwe but who are worried about Mugabe
the government to prevent Zimbabwe collapsing remaining president.
under hyperinflation and the almost total ruin of
agriculture and industry. Seven million people in 13 Britain has taken the highly unusual step of placing
Zimbabwe, two-thirds of the population, currently a notice in the Zimbabwean newspapers which
rely on foreign food aid. talks about its worries about the new administration.
While saying that “it is not for the United Kingdom
5 Tsvangirai said joining a coalition with the man who to accept or reject anything”, the notice also says
used violence and intimidation to stop the MDC that any administration involving Mugabe
gaining power was not a solution but that it was a is unacceptable.
step towards democratic government.
6 Under the coalition agreement, Mugabe remains © Guardian News & Media 2009
president and Tsvangirai will become prime First published in The Guardian, 11/02/09
minister. Seats in the new government are almost

equally divided between the political parties.
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2 Key words
Complete the crossword with key words from the article. The paragraph numbers will help you.
1 2 3
4 5
8 9
10
11
12 13
14
Across:
1. people that compete with one another (paragraph 1)
6. someone who gives money to help people (paragraph 12)
7. to make someone feel frightened so that they will do what you want (paragraph 7)
10. the people who are against you or disagree with you (paragraph 7)
11. attempts to persuade, threaten, or force someone to do something (paragraph 3)
12. to depend on something (paragraph 4)
13. to disagree with an idea, argument, or suggestion (paragraph 9)
14. a situation in which people, groups, or countries join together (paragraph 1)
Down:
2. freedom from control by another country or organization (paragraph 10)
3. help (paragraph 4)
4. the loss of all your money or power (paragraph 1)
5. fail, cease to exist (change the verb to the infinitive) (paragraph 4)
8. stop something from happening (paragraph 4)
9. the amount of a crop that is collected (paragraph 10)
3 Comprehension check: Find the information about Zimbabwe

Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the article? Correct the sentences that are false.
1. Zimbabwe has a new prime minister.
2. Zimbabwe has a new president.
3. The unemployment rate in Zimbabwe is 90%.
4. The rate of inflation in Zimbabwe is very high.
5. Millions of people in Zimbabwe get food aid from other countries.
6. The shops in Zimbabwe accept Zimbabwean dollars and British pounds.
7. Mugabe and Tsvangirai are good friends.
8. The economic situation in Zimbabwe is very bad.
9. The British and US governments give money to help Zimbabwe.
10. The MDC party has control of all the government ministries.
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4 Discussion
Have you read any newspaper reports or seen or heard any television, radio or online news
about Zimbabwe?
What do you know about the current situation in Zimbabwe for normal people?
1. Watch these two short videos of the recent swearing in ceremonies of Morgan Tsvangirai and Barack
Obama. Can you hear Tsvangirai speak the words quoted in paragraph 2 of the article? Does Obama use
the same or similar words?
Zimbabwe The USA

country size
capital city
language(s)
population
currency
main resources and industry
...
...
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KEY
1 Warmer: mind mapping

election
democratic
secretary
general president
administration
coalition
leader
politically-related words government
prime
minister cabinet (post/ presidential
minister) palace political
ministries and departments party
security
finance health justice
defence
social
affairs
2 Key words 3 Comprehension check: Find the

information about Zimbabwe
Across:
1. rivals 1. T
6. donor 2. F
7. intimidate 3. F
10. opponents 4. T
11. pressure 5. T
12. rely 6. F
13. reject 7. F
14. unity 8. T
9. T
Down: 10. F
2. independence
3. aid
4. ruin Teacher’s notes:
5. collapse The last two lines of the table in task 5.2 are left empty
8. prevent in case you or the students decide to compare any
9. harvest other factors or things between the two countries.
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1 Key words
Write the key words from the text next to their meanings. The paragraph numbers will help you.
considerable collapsing constitution coalition reject

sceptical sworn in opponents intimidation
compromised myriad donor ballot revival
1. To promise publically to do a job: to be _____________________. (title)

2. To doubt and disbelieve something that other people think is true or right. (paragraph 1)
_____________________
3. Made to accept something they don’t believe in. (paragraph 4) _____________________
4. Failing, ceasing to exist. (paragraph 4) _____________________
5. A temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together. (paragraph 5)
_____________________
6. Making someone feel frightened so that they will do what you want. (paragraph 5) _____________________
7. The people who are against you or disagree with you. (paragraph 6) _____________________
8. A secret vote. (paragraph 7) _____________________
9. A set of basic laws for a country that describe the rights and the way in which it is governed. (paragraph 8)
_____________________
10. To refuse to accept something, to disagree with it, to get rid of something. (paragraph 8) ____________________
11. Very many; too many to count. (paragraph 9) _____________________
12. Someone who gives money to help people. (paragraph 12) _____________________
13. The process of making something successful again; to bring it back to life. (paragraph 12)
_____________________
14. Large in size, amount or degree. (paragraph 14) _____________________
Source: Macmillan English Dictionary online
Skim-read the article to find the answers to the questions about Zimbabwe.
1. Who is the prime minister?

2. Who is the president?
3. How high is the unemployment rate?
4. How is the rate of inflation described?
5. How many people rely on foreign food aid?
6. Which currencies are accepted in shops?
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NEWS LESSONS / Tsvangirai sworn in as prime minister of Zimbabwe / Intermediate

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Tsvangirai sworn in as prime use to attack and intimidate his opponents.
minister of Zimbabwe
7 Authority over home affairs is to be shared. This
Chris McGreal in Harare and Mark Tran is seen as essential to ensure future elections are
February 11, 2009 free after the widespread violence by Mugabe’s
supporters in last year’s ballot. The MDC has
1 Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s
control of the finance ministry and most social
prime minister today joining a government of
affairs ministries, such as health.
national unity with President Robert Mugabe. Many
people though are sceptical as to whether the two 8 Tsvangirai’s main concern will be to put a new
bitter rivals can work together to bring their country constitution in place and to hold new elections
back from economic ruin. within two years. He hopes that at the next election
voters will reject Mugabe so clearly that he will be
2 The two men stood face to face in a white
forced to accept defeat.
tent on the grounds of the presidential palace.
Zimbabweans across the country watched on 9 For now, the new prime minister faces a myriad
state TV as Tsvangirai, from the Movement for of challenges, including 94% unemployment, the
Democratic Change (MDC) party, raised his right worst harvest since independence and a currency
hand and declared: “I will well and truly serve so worthless that shops will only accept US dollars
Zimbabwe in the office of prime minister of the and South African rands.
republic of Zimbabwe, so help me God”. Both men
looked relaxed and smiled during the brief ceremony. 10 Tsvangirai said the most important cabinet post
for reviving Zimbabwe’s fortunes was that of the
3 Other African leaders who attended the ceremony finance minister and named the MDC’s secretary
had put heavy pressure on Tsvangirai to accept general, Tendai Biti, for the job.
the deal but many Zimbabweans and some foreign
governments, including Britain, fear the joint 11 Biti, is a lawyer and the MDC’s chief negotiator. He
administration is a trap that will only keep Mugabe is expected to use the power the finance ministry
in power. has with its control over budgets to influence
Mugabe’s ministers.
4 Tsvangirai yesterday said that after months of
disagreement with Mugabe, his party compromised 12 His appointment as finance minister is also likely to
and agreed to join the government to prevent help to reassure foreign donors, especially Britain
Zimbabwe collapsing under hyperinflation and and the US, whose money is seen as the key to
the almost total ruin of agriculture and industry. Zimbabwe’s revival but who are sceptical over
Seven million people in Zimbabwe, two-thirds of Mugabe remaining president.
the population, are currently dependent on foreign
13 Britain has taken the highly unusual step
food aid.
of publishing a notice in the Zimbabwean
5 Tsvangirai said joining a coalition with the man newspapers expressing its concerns about the new
who used violence and intimidation to deny the administration. While saying that “it is not for the
MDC power was not a solution but a step towards United Kingdom to accept or reject anything”, the
democratic government. notice also says that any administration involving
Mugabe is unacceptable.
6 Under the coalition agreement, Mugabe remains
president and Tsvangirai will oversee the daily 14 Britain says it wants to see the new administration
administration of government as prime minister. “reverse the political, economic and social decline”
Cabinet seats are almost equally divided between as a condition for financial aid. The MDC says it
the political parties. Mugabe won control of the can’t do that without considerable financial support.
main security ministries, particularly defence and © Guardian News & Media 2009
justice, which many people fear he will continue to First published in The Guardian, 11/02/09
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3 Language: Collocations / word pairs

Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the article? Correct the sentences that are false.
1. Match the words to make words pairs from the article.
a. bitter pressure
b. economic affairs
c. heavy government
d. democratic ruin
e. coalition violence
f. widespread unusual
g. home rivals
h. highly agreement
2. Now write the word pairs into the sentences to give information from the article.
a. Tsvangirai’s and Mugabe’s political parties have made a _____________________.
b. Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe are _____________________.
c. Other African leaders had put _____________________ on Tsvangirai to work with Mugabe.
d. There has been _____________________ in Zimbabwe and people are scared for their lives.
e. The collapse of industry and farming has led to _____________________ in Zimbabwe.
f. The Interior ministry usually deals with _____________________.
g. The MDC and the people of Zimbabwe are hoping for a _____________________.
h. In a _____________________ step, Britain published a notice in the Zimbabwean newspapers
expressing its worries about the new administration.
4 Discussion
• Have you read any newspaper reports or seen or heard any television, radio or online news
about Zimbabwe?
• What do you know about the current situation in Zimbabwe for normal people? How are they
managing to survive?
• If possible, watch this partly sub-titled seven-minute film and discuss what you see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/11/zimbabwe-secret-film
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1. Compare these two short videos of the recent swearing in ceremonies of Morgan Tsvangirai and Barack
Obama. Can you hear Tsvangirai speak the words quoted in paragraph 2 of the article? Does Obama use
the same or similar words?
Zimbabwe The USA

country size
capital city
language(s)
population
currency
main resources and industry
...
...
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1 Key words 3 Language: Collocations / word pairs
1. sworn in 1. a. bitter rivals

2. sceptical b. economic ruin
3. compromised c. heavy pressure
4. collapsing d. democratic government
5. coalition e. coalition agreement
6. intimidation f. widespread violence
7. opponents g. home affairs
8. ballot h. highly unusual
9. constitution
10. reject 2. a. coalition agreement
11. myriad b. bitter rivals
12. donor c. heavy pressure
13. revival d. widespread violence
14. considerable e. economic ruin
f. home affairs
g. democratic government
2 Find the information about Zimbabwe h. highly unusual
1. Morgan Tsvangirai Teacher’s notes:

2. Robert Mugabe
The last two lines of the table in task 5.2 are left empty
3. 94%
in case you or the students decide to compare any
4. Hyperinflation (recent figures put it at 231 million
other factors or things between the two countries.
percent. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/
jan/30/zimbabwean-currency-worthless-patrick-
chinamasa)
5. Two-thirds
6. US dollars and South African rands
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Woman claims record Atlantic swim
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
knot update endurance catamaran turbulent

kevlar epic cast feat log
1. __________________ is a synthetic fibre that is five times stronger than steel.
2. A __________________ is a sailing boat that looks like two boats joined together.
3. __________________ is the ability to continue doing something physically difficult for a long time.
4. To __________________ a distance means to travel a particular number of miles.
5. If something is described as __________________, it is very long and very difficult.
6. A __________________ is a unit for measuring the speed of ships, aircraft and wind, equal to one nautical mile
(1,852 metres) per hour.
7. If you give someone an _________________, you give them a report containing all the latest news or information.
8. A __________________ is something impressive that someone manages to achieve.
9. A __________________ is a hard cover used to protect a broken or injured part of the body.
10. __________________ air or water moves suddenly and violently in different directions.
2 Correct the information
Each of these sentences contains an error. Look in the text and find the correct information.
1. Trinidad is 10,000 miles from the Bahamas.
2. The first woman to swim the English Channel performed the feat in 1936.
3. It is just over 4,000 miles from Cape Cod in the USA to Brittany in France.
4. The record for swimming the Atlantic is 173 days.
5. The record was set in 1898.
6. Jennifer Figge’s attempt to swim the Atlantic was disrupted by 25 knot winds and 300 foot waves.
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NEWS LESSONS / Woman claims record Atlantic swim / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Woman, 56, claims record Iowa. Twenty years later, the son is a racing
Atlantic swim driver, and she has logged 3,000 miles on foot,
and nearly two dozen maritime crossings. On her
• Month-long feat in shark tank towed
list of achievements, she claims to have run 180
by catamaran
miles across Mexico in 1995 – including the final
• Storm blew extreme sport enthusiast way
60 miles with a cast on her left leg.
off course
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington 5 She has said she was inspired to perform her
Monday 9 February, 2009 latest feat by a turbulent trans-Atlantic flight and
by Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the
English Channel in 1926. Figge said she kept
1 An American aged 56 has been hailed as the
a picture of Ederle on board. “We have a few
first woman to swim the Atlantic, after propelling
things in common,” she said. “She wore a red hat
herself across thousands of miles of ocean while
and she was of German descent. We both talk to
inside a six metre by four metre cage to protect
the sea, and neither one of us wanted to get out.”
her from sharks. Jennifer Figge, an endurance
athlete from Aspen, Colorado, said she took 6 For safety she was to make the journey within
nearly a month to make the crossing from the the confines of a steel and kevlar cage hooked
Cape Verde Islands to Trinidad, propelling herself to the rear of a catamaran, Carried Away, with a
across 2,000 miles of ocean. crew of NASA and Boeing engineers, a doctor,
and a diver. An electro-magnetic device in the
2 But her business manager admitted yesterday
cage was meant to repel predators. In the event,
that some days the seas were so stormy Figge
there were no sharks – though among the marine
did not even get into the water, remaining aboard
life she did see were a pod of pilot whales,
the catamaran which accompanied her epic
turtles, dolphins and Portuguese men-of-war.
journey. “She swam 19 of 24 days,” said David
Higden. “It turned from an endurance swim into 7 Figge intended to swim to the Bahamas, but
an extreme adventure swim. She didn’t get into on January 21 Higden posted an update:
the water as much as she wanted, because “Winds of 25 knots and waves as high as 30
the waves were so high. The weather was so feet have wreaked havoc with their movements
extreme the crew had trouble seeing her in and Jennifer’s swimming. They are forced to
the water.” pursue a different route, in search of more
favourable weather. The catamaran is heading
3 Figge did not respond to requests for comment.
south.” She arrived at Chacachacare Island
In her defence, Higden said she had never
on 5 February. “Basically [the storm] changed
set out to swim the entire distance. “Nobody
everything,” Higden said yesterday. “Like anyone
could swim across the Atlantic. It’s physically
who is trying to accomplish a goal, she had to
impossible,” he said. “It would take literally
make changes.”
years.” The reply left unanswered exactly
how many nautical miles Figge had logged 8 Benôit Lecomte of France holds the record for
during her crossing. A week after she began, swimming the Atlantic in 73 days in 1998; he
Higden announced on her Facebook page travelled the 3,716 miles from Cape Cod to
that storms forced her to change course.She Brittany himself, but was accompanied by a boat
landed at Trinidad, 1,000 miles from her planned and did his swimming for six hours per day. He
destination, the Bahamas. She told the press on had no cage but a device with a 25ft electro-
arrival: “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.” magnetic field to protect him.
4 Figge first took up endurance challenges in her © Guardian News & Media 2009
30s when her seven-year-old son asked her to First published in The Guardian, 09/02/09
give up smoking. Her new habit became extreme
sports, starting with a run across the state of
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1. Which sentence best describes Jennifer Figge’s feat?

a. She is the first woman to swim all the way across Atlantic Ocean.
b. She never planned to swim all the way across the Atlantic and bad weather forced her to spend part of the
crossing on the boat.
c. It was an extreme adventure swim in which she swam occasionally with whales and dolphins.
2. Why did she take up endurance sports?

a. Because she wanted to give up smoking.
b. Because her son wanted her to give up smoking.
c. Because she wanted to run across Mexico.
3. Why did they have to change course?

a. Because they wanted to get to their destination more quickly.
b. Because there were a lot of sharks.
c. Because there were strong winds and rough seas.
4. Why did she swim inside a steel cage?

a. To protect her from possible danger.
b. To stop her being carried away by currents.
c. To be near the doctor and the diver.
4 Find the word
Find the following words and phrases in the text. The paragraph numbers will help you.
1. A verb meaning to say publicly how good or important something is. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning the origin of your parents or of older members of your family. (para 5)
3. A four-word expression meaning inside the borders or edges of something. (para 6)
4. A two-word expression meaning attached to. (para 6)
5. A noun meaning an animal that kills and eats other animals. (para 6)
6. A three-word expression used for saying what happened, especially when it is different from what was expected.
(para 6)
7. A two-word expression meaning cause a lot of damage or harm. (para 7)
8. A verb meaning follow. (para 7)

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Level 3 Advanced
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns and noun phrases in the right-hand column.
1. change a. something in common
2. take up b. havoc
3. accomplish c. changes
4. have d. a challenge
5. wreak e. a goal
6. hold f. a request
7. make g. course
8. respond to h. a record
6 Word building
Fill the gaps with the correct form of the words in brackets.
1. Unfortunately, their question remained ____________________. [ANSWER]
2. The swim quickly turned into an ____________________ test. [ENDURE]
3. Gertrude Ederle was the ____________________ for Jennifer Figge’s swim. [INSPIRE]
4. It was Figge’s ____________________ to swim to the Bahamas. [INTEND]
5. Swimming for 19 out of 24 days in such dangerous waters must be regarded as an ____________________.
[ACCOMPLISH]
6. The cage provided ____________________ from predators. [PROTECT]
7. Figge has an impressive list of ____________________. [ACHIEVE]
8. Both Figge and Ederle are of German ____________________. [DESCEND]
7 Discussion
Apart from swimming the Atlantic, are there any other great feats of endurance that people have
accomplished? Would you like to attempt something like this? Why? Why not?
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KEY
1. kevlar 1. hail
2. catamaran 2. descent
3. endurance 3. within the confines of
4. log 4. hooked to
5. epic 5. predator
6. knot 6. in the event
7. update 7. wreak havoc
8. feat 8. pursue
9. cast
10. turbulent
2 Correct the information 1. g

2. d
1. 1,000 3. e
2. 1926 4. a
3. just under 4,000 miles (3,716 miles) 5. b
4. 73 days 6. h
5. 1998 7. c
6. 30 foot waves 8. f
1. b 1. unanswered
2. b 2. endurance
3. c 3. inspiration
4. a 4. intention
5. accomplishment
6. protection
7. achievements
8. descent
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1 Key words
destination update endurance cast habit

crew cage catamaran turbulent route
3. A __________________ is something that you do often or regularly.

4. A __________________ is a container made of metal bars that is usually used for keeping animals inside.
5. Your __________________ is the place you are travelling to.
6. Your __________________ is the way you go to get from one place to another.
7. The __________________ are the people who work on a boat, a ship or a plane.
9. If you give someone an _________________, you give them a report containing all the latest news or information.
1. How old is Jennifer Figge?
2. How long did it take her to cross from Cape Verde to Trinidad?
3. How far is it from Trinidad to the Bahamas?
4. When did Gertrude Ederle swim the English Channel?
5. When did Figge arrive in Trinidad?
6. What is the record for swimming the Atlantic?

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NEWS LESSONS / Woman claims record Atlantic swim / Elementary

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Woman, 56, claims record racing driver, and she has covered 3,000 miles
Atlantic swim on foot, and more than twenty sea crossings. On
her list of achievements, she says she ran 180
• Month-long feat in shark tank pulled
by catamaran
60 miles with a plaster cast on her left leg.
• Storm blew extreme sport enthusiast far
off course 5 She said the inspiration for the Atlantic swim was
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington a turbulent transatlantic flight and also Gertrude
Monday 9 February, 2009 Ederle, the first woman to swim the English
Channel in 1926. Figge said she had a picture
of Ederle on board the catamaran. “We are the
1 A 56-year old American woman has swum across
same in many ways,” she said. “She wore a red
a large part of the Atlantic Ocean inside a six
hat and she was of German origin. We both talk
metre by four metre cage which protected her
to the sea, and neither of us wanted to get out of
from sharks. Jennifer Figge, an athlete from
the water.”
Aspen, Colorado, said she took nearly a month
to swim from the Cape Verde Islands to Trinidad, 6 For safety she made the journey inside a steel
crossing 2,000 miles of ocean. and plastic fibre cage fixed to the back of a
catamaran with a crew of engineers, a doctor and
2 But her business manager said yesterday that
a diver. There was an electro-magnetic device
some days the seas were so stormy that Figge
in the cage to keep sharks away. She didn’t see
could not get into the water and had to stay on
any sharks during her swim but she did see
board the catamaran which went with her on her
whales, turtles and dolphins.
long journey. “She swam 19 of 24 days,” said
David Higden. “It changed from an endurance 7 Figge planned to swim to the Bahamas, but
swim to an extreme adventure swim. She didn’t on January 21 Higden wrote an update on
get into the water as much as she wanted, Facebook: “Strong winds and ten-metre waves
because the waves were so high. The weather have caused problems for the boat and for
was so bad that it was difficult for the crew to see Jennifer’s swimming. They have to follow a
her in the water.” different route, where there is better weather.
The catamaran is going south.” She arrived at
Chacachacare Island in Trinidad on 5 February.
“The storm changed everything,” Higden said.
planned to swim the whole way. “Nobody
“She had to make some changes to her plans.”
impossible,” he said. “It would take years.” In 8 Benôit Lecomte of France holds the record for
his reply he did not say how many nautical swimming the Atlantic in 73 days in 1998; he
miles Figge actually swam during her crossing. travelled the 3,716 miles from Cape Cod to
A week after she began, Higden announced on Brittany himself, but a boat went with him. He
Figge’s Facebook page that storms forced her swam for six hours per day. He had no cage
to change course. She finally landed at Trinidad, but a device with a 25ft electro-magnetic field to
1,000 miles from her planned destination, protect him.
the Bahamas.
4 Figge first started doing endurance challenges
in her 30s when her seven-year-old son asked
her to give up smoking. Her new habit became
extreme sports, starting with a run across the
state of Iowa. Twenty years later, her son is a
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1. The boat and the swimmer had to change their route …
2. Jennifer Figge swam inside a metal cage …
3. Figge started doing endurance challenges ...
4. The weather was so bad that …
5. It took her almost a month ...
6. Benôit Lecomte …
a. … to make the Atlantic crossing.
b. … the crew couldn’t see her in the water.
c. … because of the danger of sharks.
d. … because of strong winds and big waves.
e. … holds the record for the fastest crossing by a swimmer.
f. … because her son asked her to give up smoking.
4 Two-word phrases
1. extreme a. impossible
2. racing b. winds
3. transatlantic c. Channel
4. English d. sports
5. electro-magnetic e. flight
6. strong f. manager
7. business g. device
8. physically h. driver
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5 Word building
verb noun
1. fly
2. defend
3. cross
4. run
5. achieve
6. inspire
7. response
8. protection
6 Prepositions
Complete the sentences using these prepositions.
for from to on across in
1. Benôit Lecomte swam _______ the Atlantic in 1998.
2. He completed the swim _______ 73 days.
3. A cage protected him _______ sharks.
4. Strong winds and ten-metre waves caused problems _______ the boat and for Jennifer’s swimming.
5. Her business manager wrote an update _______ Facebook.
6. She had to make some changes _______ her plans.

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KEY
1. catamaran 1. d
2. turbulent 2. h
3. habit 3. e
4. cage 4. c
5. destination 5. g
6. route 6. b
7. crew 7. f
8. cast 8. a
9. update
10. endurance
5 Word building
2 Find the information 1. flight

2. defence
1. 56 3. crossing
2. nearly a month 4. run
3. 1,000 miles 5. achievement
4. 1926 6. inspiration
5. 5 February 7. respond
6. 73 days 8. protect
3 Comprehension check 6 Prepositions
1. d 1. across
2. c 2. in
3. f 3. from
4. b 4. for
5. a 5. on
6. e 6. to
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1 Key words
cast knot destination update endurance

catamaran turbulent predator head accompany
2. A __________________ is an animal that kills and eats other animals.
4. If you give someone an __________________, you give them a report containing all the latest news or information.
5. If you are __________________ somewhere, you are travelling in a particular direction.
6. If you __________________ someone, you go with them to a place or an event.
9. A __________________ is a unit for measuring the speed of ships, aircraft and wind, equal to one nautical mile
(1,852 metres) per hour.
10. Your __________________ is the place you are travelling to.
1. How far is it from Trinidad to the Bahamas?
2. Who was the first woman to swim the English Channel?
3. How far is it from Cape Cod in the USA to Brittany in France?
4. What is the record for swimming the Atlantic?
5. How far is it from Cape Verde to Trinidad?
6. How far did Jennifer Figge run in Mexico in 1995?

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NEWS LESSONS / Woman claims record Atlantic swim / Intermediate

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Woman, 56, claims record state of Iowa. Twenty years later, her son is a
Atlantic swim racing driver, and she has covered 3,000 miles
on foot, and more than twenty sea crossings. On
• Month-long feat in shark tank towed
her list of achievements, she says she ran 180
by catamaran
• Storm blew extreme sport enthusiast way
60 miles with a plaster cast on her left leg.
off course
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington 5 She has said her latest challenge was inspired
Monday 9 February, 2009 by a turbulent transatlantic flight and by Gertrude
Ederle, the first woman to swim the English
Channel in 1926. Figge said she kept a picture
1 An American aged 56 has been hailed as the
of Ederle on board. “We have a few things in
first woman to swim the Atlantic, after swimming
common,” she said. “She wore a red hat and she
across thousands of miles of ocean while inside
was of German origin. We both talk to the sea,
a six metre by four metre cage to protect her
and neither of us wanted to get out of the water.”
from sharks. Jennifer Figge, an endurance
athlete from Aspen, Colorado, said she took 6 For safety she made the journey inside a steel
nearly a month to make the crossing from the and plastic fibre cage attached to the back of a
Cape Verde Islands to Trinidad, crossing 2,000 catamaran with a crew of engineers, a doctor,
miles of ocean. and a diver. There was an electro-magnetic
device in the cage to repel predators. In the
2 But her business manager admitted yesterday
event, there were no sharks – though among
that some days the seas were so stormy Figge
the marine life she did see were a group of
did not even manage to get into the water,
pilot whales, turtles, dolphins, and Portuguese
remaining on board the catamaran which
men-of-war.
accompanied her long journey. “She swam 19 of
24 days,” said David Higden. “It changed from an 7 Figge intended to swim to the Bahamas, but on
endurance swim to an extreme adventure swim. January 21 Higden posted an update: “Winds
She didn’t get into the water as much as she of 25 knots and waves as high as 30 feet have
wanted, because the waves were so high. The wreaked havoc with their movements and
weather was so bad the crew had trouble seeing Jennifer’s swimming. They are forced to follow
her in the water.” a different route, in search of more favourable
weather. The catamaran is heading south.” She
arrived at Chacachacare Island on 5 February.
“Basically [the storm] changed everything,”
planned to swim the entire distance. “Nobody
Higden said yesterday. “Like anyone who is
trying to accomplish a goal, she had to make
impossible,” he said. “It would take years.”
changes.”
The reply did not answer the question of how
many nautical miles Figge had actually swum 8 Benôit Lecomte of France holds the record for
during her crossing. A week after she began, swimming the Atlantic in 73 days in 1998; he
Higden announced on her Facebook page travelled the 3,716 miles from Cape Cod to
that storms forced her to change course. She Brittany himself, but was accompanied by a boat
landed at Trinidad, 1,000 miles from her planned and did his swimming for six hours per day. He
destination, the Bahamas. had no cage but a device with a 25ft electro-
magnetic field to protect him.
4 Figge first started doing endurance challenges
in her 30s when her seven-year-old son asked © Guardian News & Media 2009
her to give up smoking. Her new habit became First published in The Guardian, 09/02/09
extreme sports, starting with a run across the
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1. Jennifer Figge swam the entire distance of 2,000 miles from Cape Verde to Trinidad.
2. Both Figge and Gertrude Ederle are of German origin.
3. Figge’s planned final destination was Trinidad.
4. Bad weather forced the catamaran to go further north.
5. Figge’s son asked her to start doing endurance challenges.
6. A cage protected Figge from predators.
7. Benôit Lecomte also used a cage for protection.
8. Ederle was the first woman to swim the English Channel.
4 Find the word
Find the following words and phrases in the text. The paragraph numbers will help you.
1. A verb meaning to say publicly how good or important something is. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning the people who work on a boat or a plane. (para 2)
3. An adjective meaning across the Atlantic. (para 5)

4. A verb meaning to keep something away or prevent it from entering somewhere. (para 6)
5. A three-word expression used for saying what happened, especially when it is different from what was expected.
(para 6)
6. A verb meaning to put information on the Internet. (para 7)
7. A two-word expression meaning cause a lot of damage or harm. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning the way you use to go from one place to another. (para 7)
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1. … she ran 180 miles _______ Mexico
2. a six metre _______ four metre cage
3. _______ board the boat
4. attached _______ the back of the boat
5. in search _______ better weather
6. … holds the record _______ swimming the Atlantic
6 Word building
Choose the correct form to complete the sentences.
1. Some days the seas were very storm / stormy.
2. Unfortunately, their question remained answered / unanswered.
3. The swim quickly turned into an endurance / enduring test.
4. Gertrude Ederle was the inspire / inspiration for Jennifer Figge’s swim.
5. It was Figge’s intention / intend to swim to the Bahamas.

6. They had to seek more favourable / favourite weather.
7 Discussion
Would you like to try something like this? Why? Why not?
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KEY
1. endurance 1. hail
2. predator 2. crew
3. cast 3. transatlantic
4. update 4. repel
5. heading 5. in the event
6. accompany 6. post
7. turbulent 7. wreak havoc
8. catamaran 8. route
9. knot
10. destination
2 Find the information 1. across

2. by
1. 1,000 miles 3. on
2. Gertrude Ederle 4. to
3. 3,716 miles 5. of
4. 73 days 6. for
5. 2,000 miles
6. 180 miles
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. stormy

2. unanswered
1. F 3. endurance
2. T 4. inspiration
3. F 5. intention
4. F 6. favourable
5. F
6. T
7. F
8. T
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The milkman who also delivered drugs
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer: Brainstorm
1. What do you think of when you read milkman and drug dealer? In five minutes, write as many words as
you can onto the word wheels.
drug
milkman dealer
2. Which of the phrases below describes a quantity of drugs, and which one describes a quantity of milk?
a pint of gold top ___________ an eighth of hash ___________
2 Key words and synonyms
Find key words from the text that mean the following. The paragraph numbers will help you.
1. time that someone will have to spend in prison only if they commit another crime within a fixed
period (subtitle) ___________________
2. an electric delivery vehicle (para 1) ___________________
3. a sticky substance from plants (para 2) ___________________
4. hidden (para 3) ___________________
5. admitted (para 6) ___________________
6. aches and complaints (para 6) ___________________
7. benefactor, Good Samaritan (para 7) ___________________
8. extenuation, moderation, reduction, relief (para 8) ___________________
9. mistaken, erroneous, wrong (para 8) ___________________
10. doesn’t drink alcohol (para 10) ___________________
11. produced (para 14) ___________________
12. obviously (para 16) ___________________
13. excuse, forgive, over look, go along with (para 18) ___________________
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NEWS LESSONS / The milkman who also delivered drugs / Advanced

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Pint of gold top and an eighth of hash philanthropist, but a drug dealer. Had he been a
– milkman who also delivered drugs philanthropist, she said, he would have “given it
away”. However, she had taken into consideration
Suspended sentence over sales
that his wife is suffering from Alzheimer’s and in a
to elderly customers
care home, and might not recognise him if he was
72-year-old said he did it to help their
jailed.
pain relief
Helen Carter 8 Philip Holden, in mitigation, told the court: “From
6 February, 2009 the outset there is a particularly peculiar set of
circumstances, and it is a bizarre case.” He said
his client was acting in the misguided belief that
1 To the casual observer, Robert Holding seemed he was providing a public service. He suffered
a kindly milkman who was attentive to his elderly from depression and had been “extremely frank” to
customers as he delivered their daily pints. To the police.
less casual observer – specifically, a surveillance
team from Lancashire police – Holding, 72, 9 Holding told the Guardian. “I don’t think what I
turned out to be a drug dealer who was supplying was doing was that wrong. A couple of them have
cannabis from his milk float to an elderly clientele. got multiple sclerosis (MS) and others have got
arthritis. I was just giving them something to help.
2 His customers, who smoked the resin to relieve I have had letters of support from all over the
their aches and pains, would leave notes with country, including one from Scotland. I have had
their empty milk bottles to say how much of the a lot of trouble with the papers and all the lies that
drug they required. His reputation as a drug dealer have been published.”
spread rapidly among 17 of his customers in
Burnley, Lancashire. 10 Holding said his oldest customer had been 92 but
was “no longer with us”. Although he is teetotal and
3 When detectives searched Holding’s home does not smoke, he began dealing in cannabis
last July they were astonished to find wraps of after being horrified to hear how much one of his
cannabis resin stashed among the eggs in his milk elderly customers was paying for the drug.
crates. Holding was given a 36-week jail sentence
suspended for a year after he admitted possessing 11 “She had arthritis and her husband had MS and
and supplying the drug. was in a wheelchair,” he said. “They wanted it for
the pain relief but it was costing them a fortune. I
4 The prosecution said Holding would get through a would sell them an eighth of an ounce for £4.10.”
9oz (255g) bar of cannabis resin every three weeks The street value is £9.
in sales to his customers and would not make “a
great deal of profit”. 12 “I had an old woman who I used to give a bit of
cannabis to and she would put it under her tongue
5 Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said: “He said for the pain.” He said he had never been tempted
customers would leave notes saying, ‘Can I have to try it.
an ounce, or an eighth?’ He only sold to existing
customers who were old and had aches and pains.” 13 Cannabis has been shown in studies to help ease
pain from arthritis and other conditions but it was
6 The court heard Holding immediately confessed to upgraded to class B last month after concerns by
supplying drugs but did not believe he was doing the government about mental health risks.
anything wrong. Judge Beverley Lunt said: “You
justify this by saying you are helping out elderly 14 Acting on tip-offs from concerned residents,
people with ailments.” Lancashire police launched a discreet surveillance
operation, tailing Holding as he completed his
7 She said Holding was wrong in his belief that round in his milk float. A subsequent search of his
cannabis was not harmful and he was not a home yielded 167g of cannabis.
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15 Local police beat manager John Fisher said: but he is blatantly breaking the law and has to be
“This was a good example of community policing dealt with. I would call him an eccentric.”
after we received information from local residents
that he was up to no good. The cannabis was 17 A neighbour of Holding’s said many residents
wrapped and ready to go for the next day’s were supportive of him. “To be fair, he did know
delivery. Whatever he delivered was left on the what he was doing was wrong but the people he
doorstep with the milk.” supplied to all had medical problems, so it is said.
Although he acts it, at the end of the day he is not
16 He added: “However, there is a very serious a stupid bloke and he must have realised what he
side to this because at the end of the day he has was doing was wrong.”
broken the law supplying an illegal substance.
It is certainly unusual in somebody so old. He 18 The MS Society said it did not condone illegal
probably thinks he is doing a community service drug use, although there are clinical trials under
way about the benefits of cannabis.
Chose the correct answer according to the information in the article.
1. Mr Holding’s crime was ... 4. Mr Holding made ...
a. … growing and dealing cannabis. a. … a small profit.
b. … smoking and supplying cannabis. b. … a large profit.
c. … possessing and supplying cannabis. c. … no profit at all.
2. The cannabis resin was hidden ... 5. His wife ...

a. … in the milk bottles. a. … is 92 years old.
b. … in the milk crates. b. … doesn’t live with him.
c. … on the milk float. c. … has MS.
3. Mr Holding ...
a. … knew what he was doing was very wrong.
b. … didn’t know what he was doing was wrong.
c. … didn’t realize how wrong what he was doing
actually was.

4 Language: Useful phrases
1. Find the common phrases in the text.
a. Para 8, 3 words: collection of facts ______________________

b. Para 10, 4 words: dead ______________________
c. Para 11, 3 words: be very expensive ______________________
d. Para 15, 4 words: doing something wrong or naughty ______________________
e. Para 16, 3 words: do something illegal ______________________
f. Paras 16 and 17, 6 words: finally, or when everything else has been
taken into consideration ______________________
2. One of these is said to be the most commonly used phrase in spoken English. Which one?
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Level 3 Advanced
5 Spoken grammar: would
Look at how the word would is used in paragraphs 2, 4, 5, 11 and 12.
1. Is it used:
a. as a conditional?
b. to refer to the past?
c. to refer to the future?
2. What structure does it replace?

a. will
b. did
c. used to
6 Interview and role play with web link

1. Write down questions that you would like to ask Mr Holding.
Why .............................................................. !
How ..............................................................
Where ...............................................................
Who ..............................................................
What ...............................................................
When ...............................................................
2. Now role play interview situations. Use a minimum of two of the following roles for each
role play situation.
A = A TV or newspaper reporter
B = Mr Holding
C = One of his elderly customers
D = A concerned neighbour
E = A local policeman
3. Then watch Mr Holding being interviewed as he leaves the court.
What did he say?

Were any of the reporters’ questions the same as yours?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8LtcRiEOxo&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU475iiYKtU
7 Discussion
Is it morally acceptable to do something illegal if it helps others?
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KEY
2 Key words and synonyms 4 Language: Useful phrases
1. suspended sentence 1. a. set of circumstances

2. milk float b. no longer with us
3. resin c. cost a fortune
4. stashed d. up to no good
5. confessed e. break the law
6. ailments f. at the end of the day
7. philanthropist
8. mitigation 2. at the end of the day
9. misguided
10. teetotal
11. yielded
12. blatantly
13. condone
1. b
2. c
1. c
2. b
3. c Teachers’ notes
4. a
5. b 1/8 of an ounce is approximately 3.5 grams. 1 ounce is 28
grams. Use an online converter such as
http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/weight
to make and check further conversions.
For further (student-friendly) explanations on the use

of would as a past form go to one of the many online
grammar forums such as:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
radio/specials/1837_aae/page6.shtml
http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/usedtotext.htm
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/english/
linguistics/1054769-used_to_would.html
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Level 1 Elementary
1. What do you think of when you read milkman and drug dealer? In five minutes, write as many words as
you can onto the word wheels.
drug
milkman dealer
2. Which of the phrases below describes a quantity of drugs, and which one describes a quantity of milk?
a pint of gold top ___________ an eighth of hash ___________

Write in the key words from the text. The paragraph numbers will help you.
prosecution milk float admitted suspended sentence
residents care home crate community service teetotal
1. An electric delivery vehicle. __________________ (para 1)

2. A container that is divided into smaller individual sections and used for moving bottles. __________________ (para 3)
3. Time that someone will have to spend in prison - but only if they commit another crime. __________________ (para 3)
4. To freely say that he did the crime. __________________ (para 3)
5. The person in court who tries to prove that someone has done something illegal. __________________ (para 4)
6. A place for old people to live when they are unable to look after themselves, especially people who are old and ill.
__________________ (para 7)
7. When you never drink alcohol, you are __________________. (para 9)
8. People who live in a particular or defined area. __________________ (para 12)
9. Work that helps the people in your area. __________________ (para 13)
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Level 1 Elementary
Milkman who also delivered drugs 8 Holding told the Guardian. “I don’t think
what I was doing was that wrong. A couple of
Helen Carter
them have got multiple sclerosis (MS) and
6 February, 2009
others have got arthritis. I was just giving them
something to help.”
1 To most people, Robert Holding seemed a 9 Holding said his oldest customer had been
kindly milkman who looked after his elderly 92 but was “no longer with us”. Although he is
customers as he delivered their daily pints teetotal and does not smoke, he began selling
of milk. To the others – specifically, the cannabis after being shocked to hear how
Lancashire police – Holding, 72, was a drug much one of his elderly customers was paying
dealer who was selling cannabis from his milk for the drug.
float to elderly customers.
10 “She had arthritis and her husband had MS and
2 His customers, who smoked the drug to help was in a wheelchair,” he said. “They
their aches and pains, left notes with their wanted it for the pain relief but it was costing
empty milk bottles to say how much of the drug them a lot of money.”
they needed.
11 “I had an old woman who I used to give a bit
3 When detectives searched Holding’s home of cannabis to and she would put it under her
last July they were surprised to find cannabis tongue for the pain.” He said he had never tried
hidden next to the eggs in his milk crates. it. Cannabis has been shown in studies to help
Holding was given a 36-week suspended reduce pain from arthritis and other conditions.
sentence after he admitted to selling the drug.
12 Worried residents told the police about
4 The prosecution said Holding sold a 9oz Holding, so they followed him as he delivered
(255g) bar of cannabis every three weeks to the milk. When they searched his home they
his customers and would not make “a great found 167g of cannabis.
deal of profit”.
13 Local policeman John Fisher said, “There is a
5 Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said: “He said very serious side to this because at the end of
customers would leave notes saying, ‘Can I the day he has broken the law. It is certainly
have an ounce, or an eighth?’ He only sold to unusual in somebody so old. He probably
customers he knew and who were old and had thinks he is doing a community service but he
aches and pains.” is clearly breaking the law.”
6 The court heard Holding did not believe he was 14 A neighbour of Holding’s said, “To be fair, he
doing anything wrong. Judge Beverley Lunt said: did know what he was doing was wrong but
“You justify this by saying you are helping out the people he supplied to all had medical
elderly people.” problems. At the end of the day he is not a
stupid man and I’m sure he knew what he was
7 She said Holding was wrong in his belief that
doing was wrong.”
cannabis was not harmful. She said that he was
a drug dealer. However, she said that his wife
has Alzheimer’s and lives in a care home, and © Guardian News & Media 2009
might not recognise him if he was sent to prison. First published in The Guardian, 06/02/2009
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Level 1 Elementary
1. Mr Holding did not … … what he was doing was wrong.

2. The judge gave him … … told the police that he was selling drugs.
3. He sold illegal drugs … … his customers who were old and in pain.
4. He delivered the drugs with … … have to go to prison.
5. Mr Holding wanted to help … … their morning milk.
6. Mr Holding knew that … … a 36-week suspended sentence.
7. Other people in the area … … live with him anymore.
8. His wife is ill and cannot … … to old people.
4 Language: A useful phrase
This is said to be the most commonly used phrase in spoken English. Write in the missing prepositions and then
find it in the article. How is it used? What does it mean? Is there a similar phrase in your language?
________ the end ________ the day
5 Interview questions, role play, feedback and a web link
1. Write questions that a TV or newspaper reporter might want to ask Mr Holding.
Why .............................................................. !
How ..............................................................
Where ...............................................................
Who ..............................................................
What ...............................................................
When ...............................................................
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Level 1 Elementary
2. Now work in pairs (A and B) and use your questions to role play an interview situation.
B = Mr Holding
3. Feed back to the rest of your class.
Reporters tell the class about the answers you received.
Students playing Mr Holding say how you felt when you were being interviewed.
What did he say?
6 Discussion: In my opinion ...
Is it ok to do something illegal if it helps others? The following phrases may help you say what you think:
In my opinion ...
I think it’s ok because ...
I think it’s wrong because ...
It depends (on) ...

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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
2 Key words and synonyms 4 Language: A useful phrase

1. milk float at the end of the day
2. crate
3. suspended sentence
4. admitted used for saying what you consider is the most important
5. prosecution thing about a situation after thinking about it
6. care home
7. teetotal
8. residents
9. community service Teachers’ notes
3 Comprehension check 1/8 of an ounce is approximately 3.5 grams. 1 ounce is

28 grams. Use an online converter such as
http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/weight
1. Mr Holding did not have to go to prison. to make and check further conversions.
2. The judge gave him a 36-week suspended
sentence. Before watching the interview videos with the students,
3. He sold illegal drugs to old people. watch them yourself and make sure you can understand
4. He delivered the drugs with their morning milk. Mr Holding. You might want to write down some of his
5. Mr Holding wanted to help his customers who were answers to have them ready in case the students don’t
old and in pain. understand him. If they find him difficult to understand,
6. Mr Holding knew that what he was doing you could discuss why this is.
was wrong.
7. Other people in the area told the police that he was
selling drugs.
8. His wife is ill and cannot live with him anymore.
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1. In four minutes, write as many connected words as possible onto the word wheels.
drug
milkman dealer
2. Now read the title of the article. Can you find a connection between milkman and drug dealer?
Write in the key words from the text. The paragraph numbers with help you.
defending prosecuting ease casual observer confessed resin

teetotal existing tip-off condone suspended sentence milk float
1. Time that someone will have to spend in prison - but only if they commit another crime. ________________
(subtitle)
2. Someone who is watching, but not very closely or carefully. ________________ (para 1)
3. An electric delivery vehicle. ________________ (para 1)
4. A sticky substance from plants. ________________ (para 2)
5. Trying to prove that someone has done something illegal. ________________ (para 5)
6. Not new, something or someone that was already there. ________________ (para 5)
7. Admitted to a crime. ________________ (para 6)
8. Representing someone who is said to have done something illegal. ________________ (para 8)
9. When you don’t drink alcohol, you are ________________. (para 10)
10. To help relieve or make the pain less. ________________ (para 12)
11. A hint or warning. ________________ (para 13)
12. People who live in a particular or defined area. ________________ (para 13)
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NEWS LESSONS / The milkman who delivered drugs / Intermediate

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Pint of gold top and an eighth of hash and had been honest and open when talking to
– milkman who also delivered drugs the police.
• Suspended sentence over sales 9 Holding told the Guardian. “I don’t think what
to elderly customers I was doing was that wrong. A couple of them
have got multiple sclerosis (MS) and others have
• 72-year-old said he did it to help got arthritis. I was just giving them something to
their pain relief help.”
Helen Carter 10 Holding said his oldest customer had been
6 February, 2009 92 but was “no longer with us”. Although he is
teetotal and does not smoke, he began dealing in
1 To the casual observer, Robert Holding seemed cannabis after being shocked to hear how much
a kindly milkman who was attentive to his elderly one of his elderly customers was paying for
customers as he delivered their daily pints. To the the drug.
less casual observer – specifically, a surveillance 11 “She had arthritis and her husband had MS and
team from Lancashire police – Holding, 72, was a was in a wheelchair,” he said. “They wanted it for
drug dealer who was supplying cannabis from his the pain relief but it was costing them a fortune. I
milk float to elderly customers. would sell them an eighth of an ounce for £4.10.”
2 His customers, who smoked the resin to relieve 12 “I had an old woman who I used to give a bit
their aches and pains, would leave notes with of cannabis to and she would put it under her
their empty milk bottles to say how much of the tongue for the pain.” He said he had never tried
drug they needed. it. Cannabis has been shown in studies to help
3 When detectives searched Holding’s home ease pain from arthritis and other conditions but
last July they were astonished to find wraps of the British government upgraded it to a class B
cannabis resin hidden among the eggs in his milk drug last month.
crates. Holding was given a 36-week suspended 13 Acting on tip-offs from concerned residents,
sentence after he admitted possessing and Lancashire police followed Holding as he
supplying the drug. completed his round in his milk float. A search of
4 The prosecution said Holding would get through his home found 167g of cannabis.
a 9oz (255g) bar of cannabis resin every three 14 Local policeman John Fisher said: “This was a
weeks in sales to his customers and would not good example of community policing after we
make “a great deal of profit”. received information from local residents that he
5 Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said: “He said was up to no good. The cannabis was prepared
customers would leave notes saying, ‘Can I for the next day’s delivery. Whatever he delivered
have an ounce, or an eighth?’ He only sold to was left on the doorstep with the milk.”
existing customers who were old and had aches 15 He added: “However, there is a very serious
and pains.” side to this because at the end of the day he
6 The court heard Holding immediately confessed has broken the law. It is certainly unusual in
to supplying drugs but did not believe he was somebody so old. “He probably thinks he is doing
doing anything wrong. Judge Beverley Lunt said: a community service but he is clearly breaking
“You justify this by saying you are helping out the law.”
elderly people.” 16 A neighbour of Holding’s said, “To be fair, he
7 She said Holding was wrong in his belief that did know what he was doing was wrong but the
cannabis was not harmful and that he was people he supplied to all had medical problems.
a drug dealer. However, she had taken into Although he acts it, at the end of the day he is
consideration that his wife is suffering from not a stupid man and he must have realised what
Alzheimer’s and in a care home, and might not he was doing was wrong.”
recognise him if he was sent to prison.
8 Philip Holden, defending, said: “From the First published in The Guardian, 06/02/09
beginning there is a particularly peculiar set of
circumstances, and it is a bizarre case.” He said
Mr Holding wrongly thought that he was providing
a public service. He suffered from depression
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Are the sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the information in the article? Correct any sentences
that are false.
1. Mr Holding was sent to prison for 36 weeks.
2. His crime was “possessing and supplying” illegal drugs.
3. The cannabis resin was hidden in the milk bottles.
4. Mr Holding wanted to help his customers who were old and in pain.
5. Mr Holding didn’t know that what he was doing was wrong.
6. Mr Holding didn’t make any money from selling the cannabis.
7. Other people in the area told the police that he was selling drugs.
8. His wife doesn’t live with him anymore.
4 Language: Useful phrases
1. Find the common phrases in the text that mean the following.
a. Para 7, 3 words: keep something in mind when making a decision ___________________________

b. Para 10, 4 words: dead ___________________________
c. Para 11, 3 words: be very expensive ___________________________
d. Para 15, 3 words: do something illegal ___________________________
e. Para 15 and 16, 6 words: finally, or when everything else has been taken
into consideration ___________________________
2. One of these is said to be the most commonly used phrase in spoken English. Which one?
Look at how the word would is used in paragraphs 2, 4, 5, 11 and 12.
1. Is it used:
a) as a conditional?
b) to talk about the past?
c) to talk about the future?
2. What means the same?

a) will
b) did
c) used to
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6 Interview and role play with web link
1. Write down questions that you would like to ask Mr Holding.
Why .............................................................. !
How ..............................................................
Where ...............................................................
Who ..............................................................
What ...............................................................
When ...............................................................
2. Now role play interview situations. Use a minimum of two of the following roles for each
role play situation.

B = Mr Holding
C = One of his elderly customers
D = A concerned neighbour
E = A local policeman
What did he say?

7 Discussion
Is it ok to do something illegal if it helps others?

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KEY
2 Key words and synonyms 4 Language: Useful phrases
1. suspended sentence 1.
2. casual observer a. take into consideration
3. milk float b. no longer with us
4. resin c. cost a fortune
5. prosecuting d. break the law
6. existing e. at the end of the day
7. confessed
8. defending 2. at the end of the day
9. teetotal
10. ease
11. tip-off
12. residents
1. b
2. c
Teachers’ notes
1. F
2. T
3. F 1/8 of an ounce is approximately 3.5 grams. 1 ounce is
4. T 28 grams. Use an online converter such as
5. F http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/weight
6. F to make and check further conversions.
7. T
8. T For further (student-friendly) explanations on the use
of would as a past form, go to one of the many online
grammar forums such as:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish
radio/specials/1837_aae/page6.shtml
http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/usedtotext.htm
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/english/
linguistics/1054769-used_to_would.html
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Venezuela’s vibrant young music stars to wow London
Level 1 Advanced
1 Key words
preconception symposium ensemble heritage elite

podium flagship panache dearth virtuosity
1. An ___________________ is a group of musicians who perform together.
2. The ___________________ of a particular country consists of the art, buildings, traditions and beliefs that it
considers important to its history and culture.
3. The ___________________ is the place where the conductor of an orchestra stands.
4. ___________________ is an impressive way of doing something that shows both great skill and confidence.
5. A ___________________ is an idea or opinion you have about something that you form before you have any
information about it or experience of it.
6. A ___________________ is a chronic lack of something.
7. An ___________________ is a small group of people who have a lot of power.
8. ___________________ is a high level of skill, especially in playing music.
9. If something is described as a ___________________, it is the biggest, best or most important thing in a group.
10. A ___________________ is a meeting where experts discuss a particular subject.
Find the answers to these questions in the article.
1. How much will tickets for the concert by the Simón Bolívar Brass Ensemble cost?
2. How many musicians are there in the National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela?
3. What is the age range of the members of the orchestra?
4. Why was the Sistema set up?
5. How many children are involved in the Sistema?
6. How many hours do they study each day?

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NEWS LESSONS / Venezuela’s vibrant young music stars to wow London / Advanced
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Level 1 Advanced
Venezuela’s vibrant young music – well known in its own right and praised for its
stars to wow London “unbelievable panache and astonishing virtuosity”
• Simón Bolívar Orchestra to take by Tim Ashley in the Guardian. A family concert
Southbank residence on 17 April will be introduced by Dudamel. The
• Events will sweep aside views on classical music orchestra will perform classical works as well
as Venezuelan favourites. Some of the younger
conductors following in Dudamel’s footsteps will
February 27, 2009
take to the podium.
1 They have been feted as leading the way
towards a new, exciting, impassioned future for 5 There will also be a series of symposiums. The
classical music; they have brought tears and first will involve a chance to hear Dudamel,
cheers wherever they have performed. And members of the orchestra and maestro José
this spring, the flagship orchestra of what the Antonio Abreu talk about their work. Abreu is
conductor Sir Simon Rattle has called the most the visionary founder of the Sistema, the radical
important phenomenon in music today is to take music education-cum-social project from which
up residence at the Southbank Centre in London. the orchestra springs. Other talks will look at the
efforts being made to set up similar education
projects in the UK, including Sistema Scotland, a
2 The orchestra is the Simón Bolívar National
pilot project in Raploch, near Stirling.
Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. For five days
in April it will, according to Marshall Marcus,
the centre’s head of music, “seep like a liquid 6 The Sistema was set up in 1975 by Abreu partly
through every space in the Royal Festival Hall”. as a response to the dearth of Venezuelan
“They will sweep aside every preconception classical musicians. It was also from the
people have about classical music,” he said. beginning a social project using music as its
“Anyone who ever thought classical music was means – stemming from Abreu’s belief that every
not for them – this is the one thing they should child, however poor, should have the opportunity
see. They demonstrate what we’ve perhaps been to punch out of the poverty cycle. About 250,000
missing in Europe – musicians performing out of children are now involved in the Sistema. They
a sheer, unbridled desire to live the music.” study from 2pm to 6pm every day, with work
focused on the idea of the orchestra rather than
the individual. As soon as they are able, older
3 The orchestra of 200 18- to 25-year-olds had
children are encouraged to help mentor younger
already announced a pair of concerts under
students or to conduct ensembles.
its dynamic music director, Gustavo Dudamel,
28, who is also music director designate of the
Los Angeles Philharmonic. The concerts sold 7 Abreu told the Guardian in 2006: “The philosophy
out immediately – but now the Southbank has of el Sistema shows that the vicious circle of
unveiled a number of free and low-priced events poverty can be broken when a child poor in
throughout the residency. The main concerts, material possessions acquires spiritual wealth
which feature works by Stravinsky, Bartók and through music. Our ideal is of a country in which
Tchaikovsky as well as works by Latin American art is within the reach of every citizen so that we
composers such as Revueltas, will also be can no longer talk about art being the property of
relayed free in the Festival Hall. the elite, but the heritage of the people.”
4 The extra events will include an evening of © Guardian News & Media 2009
Latin jazz and fusion featuring members of First published in The Guardian, 27/02/09
the orchestra. There will be a free concert by
the 50-strong Simón Bolívar Brass Ensemble
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Level 1 Advanced
1. What best describes the Sistema project?

a. It is a music project.
b. It is an education, music and social project.
c. It is a social project that focuses on music education.
2. How will the orchestra destroy preconceptions that people have about classical music?
a. It will play works by Latin American composers.
b. It will play with passion and enthusiasm.
c. It will use unusual instruments.
3. What will be discussed in the series of symposiums?
a. The work of the orchestra and plans to set up similar schemes in the UK.
b. Venezuelan classical music.
c. How the Sistema was founded.
4. What, according to Abreu, is the philosophy of the Sistema?
a. To allow poor children to play music.
b. To make art accessible to all the people of the country.
c. To prevent the elite from attending concerts.
4 Find the word
1. A three-word expression meaning to start to work in an institution as an artist. (para 1)
2. A verb meaning to flow into or out of something through very small holes. (para 2)
3. A phrasal verb meaning to destroy. (para 2)
4. An adjective meaning free and uncontrolled. (para 2)
5. An adjective (used after a noun) that means chosen for a particular job but not yet officially doing that job.
(para 3)
6. A two-word expression meaning a piece of work done in only one place or with a few people in order to find out
if something will be successful or popular. (para 5)
7. A two-word expression meaning a process in which the existence of a problem causes other problems and this
makes the original problem worse. (para 7)
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5 Synonyms
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with their near synonyms in the right-hand column.
1. unveil a. teach
2. fete b. show
3. relay c. escape from
4. demonstrate d. praise
5. set up e. gain
6. break out f. announce
7. mentor g. establish
8. acquire h. transmit
1. focus __________
2. dearth __________
3. response __________
4. involved __________
5. within the reach __________
6. preconception __________
7 Discussion
If you could play a musical instrument, what instrument would you play and why? If you can already play
an instrument, what other instrument would you like to play and why?

Level 1 Advanced
KEY
1. ensemble 1. take up residence

2. heritage 2. seep
3. podium 3. sweep aside
4. panache 4. unbridled
5. preconception 5. designate
6. dearth 6. pilot project
7. elite 7. vicious circle
8. virtuosity
9. flagship
5 Synonyms
10. symposium
1. f
3. h
1. nothing (they are free) 4. b
2. 200 5. g
3. 18 to 25 6. c
4. as a response to the lack of classical musicians 7. a
in Venezuela 8. e
5. 250,000
6. 4
3 Comprehension check 1. on
2. of
1. c 3. to
2. b 4. in
3. a 5. of
4. b 6. about
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
symposium fusion phenomenon ensemble elite

composer conduct low-priced radical shortage
1. A ______________________ is something that is very impressive or surprising.
2. An ______________________ is a group of musicians who perform together.
3. An ______________________ is a small group of people who have a lot of power.
4. If something is ______________________, it doesn’t cost very much.
5. If something is ______________________, it is new and very different from the past.
6. A ______________________ is someone who writes music, especially classical music.
7. ______________________ is a type of modern music that is a mixture of different styles.
8. If you ______________________ an orchestra, you stand in front of them and direct the way they play.
9. A ______________________ is a lack of something you need.
10. A ______________________ is a meeting where experts discuss a particular subject.
1. Where is the Simón Bolívar National Youth Orchestra from?
2. How many musicians are there in the orchestra?
3. How old are the members of the orchestra?
4. When did the Sistema started?

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NEWS LESSONS / Venezuela’s vibrant young music stars to wow London / Elementary
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Level 1 Elementary
Venezuela’s vibrant young music of 50 musicians who play with unbelievable

stars to wow London confidence, skill and enthusiasm. Dudamel will
• Simón Bolívar Orchestra to take also introduce a family concert on April 17. The
Southbank residence orchestra will perform classical works as well as
• Events will completely change views on Venezuelan favourites.
classical music
5 There will also be a series of symposiums. The
February 27, 2009 first will involve a chance to hear Dudamel,
members of the orchestra and leading musician
1 People have described them as the new, exciting José Antonio Abreu talk about their work. Abreu
future of classical music; they have brought tears is the founder of the Sistema, the radical music
and cheers everywhere they have performed. education and social project which produced the
And this spring, the leading orchestra in what orchestra. Other talks will look at the possibility of
some people are calling the most important introducing similar education projects in the UK.
phenomenon in music today will be performing at
the Southbank Centre in London. 6 The Sistema was started in 1975 by Abreu
partly as a response to the shortage of classical
2 The orchestra is the Simón Bolívar National musicians in Venezuela. It was also from the
Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. For five days in beginning a social project using music to try
April it will perform at the Royal Festival Hall. to give every child, including those from the
“They will question all the traditional ideas people poorest families, the opportunity to break out of
have about classical music,” said the director of the poverty cycle. About 250,000 children are
music at the Southbank Centre. “Anyone who now involved in the Sistema. They study from
thinks that classical music is not for them – this is 2pm to 6pm every day, with work focused on the
the one thing they should see. They demonstrate idea of the orchestra rather than the individual.
what we’ve perhaps been missing in Europe As soon as they are able to, older children
– musicians performing out of a total enthusiasm teach younger students or conduct groups of
for the music.” musicians themselves.
3 The orchestra of 200 18- to 25-year-olds had 7 Abreu said in 2006: “The philosophy of el
already announced a pair of concerts under its Sistema shows children from poor families can
dynamic music director, Gustavo Dudamel, 28, become spiritually rich through music. We want a
who will also soon become the music director of country in which art is open to all citizens so that
the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The concerts sold we can no longer say that art is the property of
out immediately – but now the Southbank has the elite, but that it belongs to the people.”
announced a further series of free and low-priced © Guardian News & Media 2009
events. In the main concerts the orchestra will First published in The Guardian, 27/02/09
play music by Stravinsky, Bartók and Tchaikovsky
as well as works by Latin American composers
such as Revueltas.
4 The extra events will include an evening of

Latin jazz and fusion featuring members of the
orchestra. There will also be a free concert
by Simón Bolívar Brass Ensemble – a group
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1. The musicians of the Brass Ensemble … a. … to make art open to all citizens.
2. People have described the National Youth Orchestra b. … to introduce similar projects in the UK.
of Venezuela …
3. People who think classical music is not for them … c. … perform with confidence, skill and enthusiasm.
4. Some people are planning … d. … should go and see the National Youth
Orchestra of Venezuela perform.
5. The Sistema gives … e. … children from the poorest families the chance
to break out of the poverty cycle.
6. The philosophy of the Sistema is … f. … as the new, exciting future of classical music.

1. traditional ideas ___________ classical music

2. classical music is not ___________ them
3. a series ___________ symposiums
4. a response ___________ the shortage
5. a shortage ___________ musicians
6. involved ___________ the project
7. open ___________ everyone
8. focus ___________ an idea
5 Word building
adjective noun
1. poor
2. enthusiastic
3. skilful
4. confident
5. phenomenal
6. short
6 Numbers and dates
Complete the expressions. Check your answers in the text.
1. __________ five days __________ April 4. __________ 1975

2. two hundred 18- __________ 25-year-olds 5. __________ 2pm __________ 6pm each day
3. __________ April 17
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Key words 4 Expressions with prepositions
1. phenomenon 1. about
2. ensemble 2. for
3. elite 3. of
4. low-priced 4. to
5. radical 5. of
6. composer 6. in
7. fusion 7. to
8. conduct 8. on
9. shortage
10. symposium
5 Word building
2 Find the information 1. poverty

2. enthusiasm
1. Venezuela 3. skill
2. 200 4. confidence
3. 18 to 25 5. phenomenon
4. 1975 6. shortage
5. 250,000
6 Numbers and dates

1. for / in
1. c 2. to
2. f 3. on
3. d 4. in
4. b 5. from / to
5. e
6. a
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1 Key words
symposium fusion ensemble heritage elite

composer panache maestro conductor virtuosity
1. ________________________ is a high level of skill, especially in playing music.
2. _______________________ is an impressive way of doing something that shows both great skill and confidence.
3. ________________________ is a type of modern music that is a mixture of different styles.
4. A ________________________ is a meeting where experts discuss a particular subject.
5. A ________________________ is someone who writes music, especially classical music.
6. A ________________________ is a musician who is admired and respected a lot, particularly by the members
of an orchestra.
7. An ________________________ is a group of musicians who perform together.
8. A ________________________ is someone who directs the members of an orchestra.
9. The ________________________ of a particular country consists of the art, buildings, traditions and beliefs
that it considers important to its history and culture.
10. An ________________________ is a small group of people who have a lot of power.
1. Where is the Simón Bolívar National Youth Orchestra from?
2. How many musicians are there in the orchestra?
3. What is the age range of the members of the orchestra?
4. When was the Sistema set up?

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NEWS LESSONS / Venezuela’s vibrant young music stars to wow London / Intermediate
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Venezuela’s vibrant young music – well known in its own right and praised for
stars to wow London its “unbelievable panache and astonishing
• Simón Bolívar Orchestra to take Southbank virtuosity”. A family concert on 17 April will be
residence introduced by Dudamel. The orchestra will
• Events ‘will sweep aside’ views on classical music perform classical works as well as
Venezuelan favourites.
February 27, 2009
5 There will also be a series of symposiums. The
1 They have been described as leading the way first will involve a chance to hear Dudamel,
towards a new, exciting future for classical music; members of the orchestra and maestro José
they have brought tears and cheers wherever Antonio Abreu talk about their work. Abreu is
they have performed. And this spring, the leading the founder of the Sistema, the radical music
orchestra in what has been called the most education and social project from which the
important phenomenon in music today will be orchestra came. Other talks will look at the efforts
performing at the Southbank Centre in London. being made to set up similar education projects
in the UK, including Sistema Scotland, a pilot
project in Raploch, near Stirling.
2 The orchestra is the Simón Bolívar National
Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. For five days in
April it will, according to Marshall Marcus, the 6 The Sistema was set up in 1975 by Abreu
centre’s head of music, “fill every space in the partly as a response to the shortage of classical
Royal Festival Hall”. “They will question all the musicians in Venezuela. It was also from the
traditional ideas people have about classical beginning a social project using music as its
music,” he said. “Anyone who ever thought means – based on Abreu’s belief that every child,
classical music was not for them - this is the however poor, should have the opportunity to
one thing they should see. They demonstrate break out of the poverty cycle. About 250,000
what we’ve perhaps been missing in Europe children are now involved in the Sistema. They
– musicians performing out of a total unbridled study from 2pm to 6pm every day, with work
desire to live the music.” focused on the idea of the orchestra rather than
the individual. As soon as they are able to, older
children are encouraged to help teach younger
3 The orchestra of 200 18- to 25-year-olds had
students or to conduct ensembles.
already announced a pair of concerts under
its dynamic music director, Gustavo Dudamel,
28, who is also music director designate of the 7 Abreu said in 2006: “The philosophy of el
Los Angeles Philharmonic. The concerts sold Sistema shows that the vicious circle of poverty
out immediately – but now the Southbank has can be broken when a child poor in material
announced a further series of free and low-priced possessions acquires spiritual wealth through
events. The main concerts, which feature works music. Our ideal is of a country in which art is
by Stravinsky, Bartók and Tchaikovsky as well within the reach of every citizen so that we can
as works by Latin American composers such as no longer talk about art being the property of the
Revueltas, will also be relayed free in the elite, but the heritage of the people.”
Festival Hall.
4 The extra events will include an evening of First published in The Guardian, 27/02/09
Latin jazz and fusion featuring members of
the orchestra. There will be a free concert by
the 50-strong Simón Bolívar Brass Ensemble
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1. The National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela perform classical music in a traditional way.
2. The Sistema is a music education and social project.
3. The Sistema helps young people to break out of the poverty cycle.
4. In the Sistema the individual is more important than the orchestra.
5. Abreu wants to bring art to ordinary people.
6. The orchestra only performs Venezuelan music.
4 Find the word
1. An adjective meaning free and uncontrolled. (para 2)

2. An adjective (used after a noun) that means chosen for a particular job but not yet officially doing that job. (para 3)
3. A verb meaning to transmit or broadcast. (para 3)
4. A four-word expression meaning as a result of their own ability. (para 4)
5. An adjective meaning very surprising. (para 4)
6. A two-word expression meaning a piece of work done in only one place or with a few people in order to find out
if something will be successful or popular. (para 5)
7. A two-word expression meaning a process in which the existence of a problem causes other problems and this
makes the original problem worse. (para 7)
8. A four-word expression meaning available or accessible to people. (para 7)
1. classical music is not __________ me

2. music director __________ the LA Philharmonic
3. praised __________ its panache and virtuosity
4. a series __________ symposiums
5. a response __________ the shortage
6. a shortage __________ musicians
7. involved __________ the project
8. focus __________ an idea
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6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. perform
2. announce
3. respond
4. believe
5. encourage
6. possess
6 Discussion
What kind of music do you like? Do you enjoy classical music? Why? Why not?
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Title text here

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KEY
1. virtuosity 1. unbridled
2. panache 2. designate
3. fusion 3. relay
4. symposium 4. in its (their) own right
5. composer 5. astonishing
6. maestro 6. pilot project
7. ensemble 7. vicious circle
8. conductor 8. within the reach of
9. heritage
10. elite
2 Find the information 1. for

2. of
1. Venezuela 3. for
2. 200 4. of
3. 18 to 25 5. to
4. 1975 6. of
5. 250,000 7. in
8. on
6 Word building
1. F
2. T 1. performance
3. T 2. announcement
4. F 3. response
5. T 4. belief
6. F 5. encouragement
6. possession
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Chinese bidder refuses to pay for artefacts
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer: A five-minute discussion
Have you been to any art galleries or museums recently?

Are there any special exhibitions on in your town or country at the moment?
2 Key words
Fill the gaps with these words from the article.
honorary plunder bidder rankles artefact coarsely

late razed loot merely relics figure
1. An ___________________ is an object that was made a long time ago and is historically important.
2. A ___________________ is someone who tries to buy something at an auction.
3. An adjective used before noun when talking about someone who has died, especially recently:
___________________.
4. A verb meaning to steal things from houses or shops during a war or after a disaster such as a fire or flood:
___________________.
5. Another verb meaning to take valuable things from a place using force, sometimes causing a lot of damage:
___________________.
6. ___________________ is an adjective used to emphasize that something is small or unimportant; a synonym

of simply.
7. ___________________ are objects that have been kept from the past.
8. When a building or town has been completely destroyed, we can say it has been ___________________.
9. When something ___________________ you, it upsets or annoys you for a long time.
10. An ___________________ job is one you do without getting paid for it.
11. ___________________ is used here to mean be able to know or work something out.
12. The opposite of finely: ___________________.

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NEWS LESSONS / Chinese bidder refuses to pay for artefacts / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Chinese bidder refuses to pay for 7 Wang Weiming, one of the heads of China’s
Yves Saint Laurent-owned artefacts Lost Cultural Relics Recovery Programme – the
Art collector says bidding for treasures belonging foundation which Cai advises – said she was
to late fashion designer was act of patriotism “not sure” if or when the bronzes would return to
China. “These national treasures are probably
Tania Branigan in Beijing
still in France,” Wang said. “We’ll have to see
March 2, 2009
how the situation develops.”
8 The rabbit and rat heads were part of

1 A Chinese bidder who bought two sculptures
an elaborate fountain which stood in the
owned by the late fashion designer Yves Saint
Yuanmingyuan, the imperial summer residence,
Laurent at a controversial auction has said he will
until it was razed and looted by French and
not pay for the treasures, which were looted from
British troops in 1860.
a Beijing palace during the opium wars.
9 The destruction of the Old Summer Palace
2 The relics were sold in Paris last week, to the
still rankles and Pierre Bergé – Saint Laurent’s
anger of many in China. The telephone bidder
partner and co-owner of a vast art collection
paid €31m (£27m) for the two bronze sculptures.
– further upset Chinese patriots when he offered
3 The Chinese government warned that the sale to return the relics without charge if China would
would affect auctioneer Christie’s development “give the Tibetans back their freedom”.
in China, and even the action movie star Jackie
10 One Chinese expert said the objects were
Chan described the auction as ‘shameful’. While
overpriced. Luo Zhewen, the honorary chairman
a French court ruled that the auction was legal,
of the Cultural Artefact Association, told
Beijing argued that the sculptures should be
Shanghai’s Oriental Morning Post that the two
returned to China.
heads were worth less than 1m Yuan (£103,000).
4 Today, the argument took a fresh twist as Cai “More than that, and the buyer should figure that
Mingchao, an adviser to a Chinese foundation he’s been cheated.”
which seeks to retrieve plundered treasures, told
11 He claimed their real value was as “criminal
a news conference that he was the collector who
evidence” of the destruction of the palace, saying
won the auction.
that they were coarsely made compared with
5 “What I need to stress is that this money cannot other imperial artefacts. “These days, they can
be paid,” he added, describing his bid as a be easily manufactured at small factories in
patriotic act. “I think any Chinese person would Beijing or Guangzhou,” he said.
have stood up at that moment. It was just that the
12 Five of the other fountain heads have been
opportunity came to me. I was merely fulfilling
bought by Chinese business figures and
my responsibilities.”
repatriated, while experts fear the other five may
6 Christie’s had no immediate comment and could have been destroyed. Christie’s three-day sale
not confirm Cai as the bidder, the spokeswoman of Saint Laurent’s art collection earned a total of
Yvonne So told the Associated Press. She said more than €373m.
that if a bidder couldn’t or wouldn’t pay, Christie’s
usually worked with the buyer and vendor to © Guardian News & Media 2009
find a solution. The auction house said the First published in The Guardian, 02/03/09
legal ownership of the pieces had been clearly
confirmed, a view upheld by French courts.
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Level 3 Advanced
1. When did the Opium wars take place? 4. Under what conditions did YSL’s partner offer to
a. In the early-nineteenth century. return the bronzes to China for free?
b. In the mid-nineteenth century. a. If China allows freedom in Tibet.
c. In the mid-eighteenth century. b. Only if all the other bronze heads are returned.
c. Only if China returns stolen French paintings.
2. What were the bronze sculptures a part of?
a. A temple. 5. How much did a Chinese artefact expert say the
b. A throne. bronzes were worth?
c. A fountain. a. €373m
b. 1m Yuan (€118,000)
3. How many heads were on the complete sculpture? c. €31m
a. 2
b. 10
c. 12
4 Role play: A solution-finding meeting

In the article, Yvonne So said that Christie’s usually works with the buyer and vendor to find a solution.
Below is a similar (imaginary) situation in which a valuable artefact has been auctioned.
Divide these role cards up among groups of four to six students. Take a few minutes to each prepare what
you want to say and then have a meeting. Your objective is to find a solution that is acceptable to the
majority of the people at the meeting. The auction house representative should chair the meeting.
1. auction house representative 2. private collector 3. adviser to the government

You are the Chair of the meeting. You were the highest bidder at the The artefact originally came from your
You need to make sure that there auction. You believe you are now country and you think it should be
is a satisfactory solution to the the rightful owner of the artefact. returned for free. It was taken from
problem and that your auction You plan to keep the artefact in a tomb by foreign archaeologists. It
house doesn’t lose money or its your private collection which is not is rumoured that many slaves died
good reputation. open to the public. whilst building the tomb.
4. curator of a museum 5. vendor / seller 6. another role / wild card

You believe that artefacts such as The artefact has been in your family This is a wild card. You can bring
these should be kept in a museum for many years and you see it as in a further point of view using this
for everybody to see. Also you a family heirloom. Unfortunately role card.
know that the artefacts are safest you are now forced to sell it so that Who are you?
in your museum as they would be you can finance repairs to your What is your opinion?
kept in conditions that will ensure stately home.
their preservation.
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Level 3 Advanced
5 Discussion
Have you ever placed a bid in an auction?
What type of auction was it?
What did you bid for?
Did you win the auction?
6 Webquest
What can you find out about other artefacts from around the world that have been removed from their
countries of origin and whose governments are demanding their return? For example:
• The Elgin Marbles (or Parthenon Marbles)
• The bust of Queen Nefertiti
• Inca relics from Machu Picchu
• Antique Khmer sculptures
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
2 Key words
1. artefact
2. bidder
3. late
4. loot
5. plunder
6. merely
7. relics
8. razed
9. rankles
10. honorary
11. figure
12. coarsely
1. b
2. c
3. c
4. a
5. b
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Level 1 Elementary

2 Key words
Fill the gaps with these words from the article. The paragraph numbers will help you.
foundation sculpture destroyed elaborate late overpriced

bidder retrieve worth artefact legal patriotic
1. A _________________ is someone who tries to buy something at an auction. (title)
2. An _________________ is an object that was made a long time ago and is historically important. (title)
3. A _________________ is a work of art made from stone, metal or wood. (para 1)
4. An adjective used before noun when talking about someone who has died, especially recently:
_________________. (para 1)
5. When something is allowed by law, it is _________________. (para 3)
6. A _________________ is an organization that provides money for things. (para 4)
7. When you _________________ something, you find it and bring it back. (para 4)
8. A _________________ act is one done out of love, respect and duty towards your country. (para 5)
9. _________________ is an adjective we use to talk about something that has a lot of extra details or features
that make it special. (para 7)
10. When something has been _________________, it is so badly damaged that there is nothing left. (para 7)
11. When something is far too expensive we can say it is _________________. (para 9)
12. When you say how much something is _________________, you give its value in money. (para 9)
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NEWS LESSONS / Chinese bidder refuses to pay for artefacts / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Chinese bidder refuses to pay for troops in 1860. At the same time many treasures
Yves Saint Laurent-owned artefacts were stolen.
Art collector says bidding for treasures belonging 8 The destruction of the Old Summer Palace still
to late fashion designer was patriotic makes many people angry. Pierre Bergé – Yves
Tania Branigan in Beijing Saint Laurent’s partner and co-owner of a huge
March 2, 2009 art collection – upset Chinese patriots when he
offered to return the sculptures for free if China
would “give the Tibetans back their freedom”.
at an auction has said he will not pay for the 9 One Chinese expert said the sculptures were
treasures, which were taken from a Beijing overpriced. He said that the two bronze heads
palace during the opium wars. The sculptures were worth less than 1m Yuan (£103,000). “More
were owned by the late fashion designer Yves than that and the buyer has paid too much.”
Saint Laurent.
10 Five of the other heads from the fountain have
2 Many people in China were angry that the been bought by Chinese business people and
sculptures were sold in Paris last week. The returned to China. Experts fear the other five may
telephone bidder paid €31m (£27m) for the two have been destroyed. Christie’s three-day sale
bronze sculptures. of Saint Laurent’s art collection made a total of
more than €373m.
3 Even though a French court said that the auction
was legal, the Chinese government in Beijing
said that the sculptures should be returned
to China.
4 However, then Cai Mingchao, an adviser to a

Chinese foundation which tries to retrieve stolen
treasures, told a news conference that he was
the collector who won the auction.
5 “This money cannot be paid,” he said, and

described his bid as a patriotic act. “I think
any Chinese person would have done the
same thing.”
6 The auction house, Christie’s, had no immediate

comment and could not confirm Cai as the
bidder. A spokeswoman said that if a bidder
couldn’t or wouldn’t pay, Christie’s usually worked
with the buyer and seller to find a solution. The
auction house and the French courts said the
legal ownership of the sculptures had been
clearly confirmed.
7 The bronze rabbit and rat heads were part

of an elaborate fountain which stood in the
until it was destroyed by French and British
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Level 1 Elementary
Answer these questions with information from the article
1. Where did the auction take place?
2. What are the sculptures of?
3. What are they made of?
4. Where did the sculptures come from?
5. Who stole the sculptures in 1860?
6. Which French fashion designer owned the sculptures?
7. What was the nationality of the man who won the auction?
8.
Was he at the auction?
4 Language: Reporting
Which of these sentences are in the simple past, and which are in the past passive simple?
1. The sculptures were owned by the late fashion designer.
2. Many people in China were angry.
3. He described his bid as a patriotic act.
4. It was destroyed by French and British troops.
5. Many treasures were stolen.
6. Christie’s three-day sale made more than €373m.
Say why these tenses were used for these sentences.
5 Discussion
Have you ever bought anything in an auction?

Did you go to the auction house or was it an online auction?
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Level 1 Elementary
6 Webquest
Search the Internet to complete the table with information about other artefacts from around the world.
artefacts Where are they now? Where did they come from?
The Elgin Marbles (or

Parthenon Marbles)
The bust of Queen Nefertiti
Inca relics from Machu

Picchu
Antique Khmer sculptures
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
2 Key words
1. bidder
2. artefact
3. sculpture
4. late
5. legal
6. foundation
7. retrieve
8. patriotic
9. elaborate
10. destroyed
11. overpriced
12. worth
1. Paris, France
2. a rat head and a rabbit head
3. bronze
4. The Yuanmingyuan, a Chinese summer palace
5. British and French troops
6. Yves Saint Laurent
7. Chinese
8. no (he bid by phone)
4 Language: Reporting
1. past passive simple

2. simple past
3. simple past
6. simple past
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2 Key words
foundation repatriated controversial coarsely late

bidder looted artefact relics patriotic
1. A ____________________ is someone who tries to buy something at an auction. (title)
2. An ____________________ is an object that was made a long time ago and is historically important. (title)
3. An adjective used before a noun when talking about someone who has died, especially recently:
____________________. (para 1)
4. A ____________________ subject, opinion or decision is one that people disagree about or do not approve of.
(para 1)
5. A verb meaning to steal things from houses or shops during a war or after a disaster such as a fire or flood:
____________________. (para 1, past tense)
6. ____________________ are objects that have been kept from the past. (para 2)
7. A ____________________ is an organization that provides money for things. (para 4)
8. A ____________________ act is one done out of love, respect and duty towards your country. (para 5)
9. The opposite of finely is ____________________. (para 11)
10. When something has been ____________________ it has been returned to its own country. (para 12)
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NEWS LESSONS / Chinese bidder refuses to pay for artefacts / Intermediate

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Chinese bidder refuses to pay for 7 Wang Weiming, one of the heads of China’s
Yves Saint Laurent-owned artefacts Lost Cultural Relics Recovery Programme – the
Art collector says bidding for treasures belonging foundation which Cai advises – said she was
to late fashion designer was act of patriotism “not sure” if or when the bronzes would return to
China. “These national treasures are probably
Tania Branigan in Beijing
still in France,” Wang said. “We’ll have to see
March 2, 2009
how the situation develops.”
8 The rabbit and rat heads were part of

an elaborate fountain which stood in the
owned by the late fashion designer Yves Saint
Laurent at a controversial auction has said he will
until it was destroyed and looted by French and
not pay for the treasures, which were looted from
British troops in 1860.
a Beijing palace during the opium wars.
9 The destruction of the Old Summer Palace still
2 The relics were sold in Paris last week, to
annoys many people. Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint
the anger of many people in China. The
Laurent’s partner and co-owner of a huge art
telephone bidder paid €31m (£27m) for the two
collection – further upset Chinese patriots when
bronze sculptures.
he offered to return the relics without charge
3 The Chinese government warned that the sale if China would “give the Tibetans back their
would affect auctioneer Christie’s development freedom”.
in China, and even the action movie star Jackie
10 One Chinese expert said the objects were
Chan described the auction as ‘shameful’. Even
overpriced. Luo Zhewen, the chairman of the
though a French court ruled that the auction was
Cultural Artefact Association, told Shanghai’s
legal, Beijing argued that the sculptures should
Oriental Morning Post that the two heads were
be returned to China.
worth less than 1m Yuan (£103,000). “More
4 Today, the argument took a fresh twist as Cai than that and the buyer should realize that he’s
Mingchao, an adviser to a Chinese foundation been cheated.”
which seeks to retrieve stolen treasures, told a
11 He claimed their real value was as “criminal
news conference that he was the collector who
evidence” of the destruction of the palace, saying
won the auction.
that they were coarsely made compared with
5 “This money cannot be paid,” he said and other imperial artefacts. “These days, they can
described his bid as a patriotic act. “I think any be easily manufactured at small factories in
Chinese person would have done the same Beijing or Guangzhou,” he said.
thing at that moment. I was simply fulfilling
12 Five of the other fountain heads have been
my responsibilities.”
bought by Chinese business figures and
6 Christie’s had no immediate comment and could repatriated, while experts fear the other five may
not confirm Cai as the bidder, the spokeswoman have been destroyed. Christie’s three-day sale
Yvonne So told the Associated Press. She said of Saint Laurent’s art collection earned a total of
that if a bidder couldn’t or wouldn’t pay, Christie’s more than €373m.
usually worked with the buyer and seller to find
a solution. The auction house and the French © Guardian News & Media 2009
courts said the legal ownership of the pieces had First published in The Guardian, 02/03/09
been clearly confirmed.
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3 Comprehension check: A summary
Are the sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the article? Correct any sentences that are false.
1. The artefacts were stolen by Chinese troops in the Opium wars.
2. The Opium wars took place in the mid-eighteenth century.
3. The bronze sculptures were part of a fountain in a palace.
4. All the heads from the sculpture have now been returned.
5. YSL’s partner offered to return the bronzes to China for free if China allows freedom in Tibet.
6. The Chinese accepted Pierre Bergé’s offer.
7. A Chinese artefact expert said the bronzes are worth €373m.
8. French courts ruled that YSL was the lawful owner of the sculptures.
9. The bidder cannot pay for the sculptures.
10.
The auction house is trying to find a solution to the situation.
4 Role play: A solution-finding meeting

In the article, Yvonne So said that the auction house usually works with the buyer and seller to
find a solution.
Below is a similar (imaginary) situation in which a valuable artefact has been sold at an auction.
Divide these role cards up among groups of four to six students (cards 1-4 are essential, 5 and 6 are
optional). Take a few minutes to make notes about what you want to say and then have a meeting. Set
a time limit. Your aim is to find a solution that is acceptable to as many people as possible. The auction
house representative is the Chair of the meeting.
1. auction house representative 2. private collector 3. adviser to the government

You are the Chair of the meeting. You were the highest bidder at the The artefact originally came from your
You need to make sure that there auction. You believe you are now country and you think it should be
is a satisfactory solution to the the owner of the artefact. You plan returned for free. It was taken from a
problem and that your auction to keep the artefact in your private palace by foreign archaeologists. It
house doesn’t lose money or its collection where it will be safe. is said that many slaves died whilst
good reputation. building the palace.
4. director of a museum 5. seller 6. another role / wild card

You believe that the artefacts The artefact has been in your family This is a wild card. You can bring
should be kept in a museum for for many years. Unfortunately you in a further point of view using this
everybody to see. You know that now have to sell it. You need the role card.
the artefacts will be safe in your money to repair the roof of your Who are you?
museum. large country home. What is your opinion?
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5 Discussion
Have you ever placed a bid in an auction?
Was it in an auction house or online or somewhere else?
What did you bid for?
Did you win the auction?
6 Webquest
What can you find out about these other artefacts from around the world? Where are they now and where
did they come from?
• The Elgin Marbles (or Parthenon Marbles)
• The bust of Queen Nefertiti
• Inca relics from Machu Picchu
• Antique Khmer sculptures
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2 Key words
1. bidder
2. artefact
3. late
4. controversial
5. looted
6. relics
7. foundation
8. patriotic
9. coarsely
10. repatriated
3 Comprehension check: A summary
1. F
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. T
6. F
7. F
8. T
9. T
10. T
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New York store gives away goods for free
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
goods launch proviso utopian replenish

transaction throng browse packed veteran
1. A ___________________ is the action or process of buying or selling something.
2. A ___________________ is a condition attached to an agreement.
3. A ___________________ is someone who was in the armed forces, especially during a war.
4. ___________________ are objects that are produced for sale.
5. If a place is ___________________, it is extremely crowded (informal).
6. A ___________________ is someone who believes that the world can be perfect.
7. If you ___________________ something, you make it full again by replacing what has been used.
8. To ___________________ a business means to start it.
9. If people ___________________ somewhere, a lot of them go there.
10. To ___________________ means to look at things in a shop without being sure whether you want to
buy something.
2 What do you know?
Decide whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F). Then check your answers in the text.
1. The site of the Twin Towers destroyed on 9/11 is known as Ground Hero.
2. Haight-Ashbury is a district of San Francisco.
3. Wall Street is in Brooklyn, New York.
4. The movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s starred Audrey Hepburn.
5. The words ‘Free Store’ usually mean the opposite.
6. ‘Disaster tourists’ are people who cause damage to the environment through their travelling.
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Level 3 Advanced
Don’t pay as you go: New York store welcome to take whatever they liked, with the
gives away goods for free only proviso being that they felt they “needed it”.
Each transaction was noted in their records and
the customer given a receipt as they would be in
16 March, 2009
any money-based shop.
5 Richard, a travel agent who works in Wall Street,

1 In recent months downtown Manhattan has
chose a large framed photograph of Audrey
seen a new pastime – you might call it ‘disaster
Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. “It’s a great
tourism’. Every day thousands of people throng
time to be cheering people up with gifts, and
its narrow streets, attracted to Ground Zero
why not?” he said. “We’ve bailed out the car
rising slowly out of the ashes of 9/11. This week,
companies, we’ve bailed out the banks, so it’s
though, visitors expecting to experience terrorist
nice to get something back for once.” Kevin
and economic catastrophe at close range have
walked away with a free copy of a book called
been amazed to stumble on something far more
Great Sex Trips. So why did he feel he needed
positive, even joyful, just around the corner.
a book with a title like that? “Why not? There’s
2 It is a shop front in Nassau Street, a couple of always something to be learned.”
blocks away from Wall Street, that would be
6 Robles and Stein based their idea for the shop on
utterly forgettable were it not for the two words
the free stores that cropped up in San Francisco
stamped across its glass: Free Store. In the
and New York in 1967. They were set up by the
age of postmodern advertising, slogans like
hippy group the Diggers, themselves named after
‘free store’ usually mean the opposite – they are
the 17th century English agrarian utopians of the
probably being used to market hyper-exclusive
same name. In San Francisco, the Diggers set
shops selling nothing under $1,000. But in this
up two shops in the Haight-Ashbury district called
case free store is precisely what it says. Every
Free Frame of Reference and Trip Without A
item on offer inside the small shop is free.
Ticket. There, returning Vietnam veterans would
Anyone off the street can browse through its
exchange their uniforms for tie-dyed clothes
goods, select an item, and if they think they need
and feed themselves on vegetable soup known
it, walk out with it utterly without charge.
as Digger Stew. The Diggers went so far as to
3 Last week it traded a variety of goods, from kids’ set up free hospitals for those who did not have
dresses and art supplies, to DVDs, posters, insurance, not to mention free concerts with bands
postcards and a dauntingly large stained-glass such as the Grateful Dead.
ceiling fitting. The shop is the creation of two
7 Stein and Robles don’t claim to have as
artists, Athena Robles and Anna Stein, who
expansive ambitions as the 1960s Diggers, and
have launched it with the help of a $9,000 grant
their project leans more towards the artistic,
from a local cultural body and the September 11
where the Diggers were political and rebellious.
fund. They began planning it 18 months ago but
But they do plan to keep the store open until the
believe the timing of its opening now is singularly
end of March, replenishing the free items with
appropriate. “It’s a certain time in history in this
donations from people who use the shop. “When
country when people really need to help each
we started I was terrified we would run out of
other out.”
stuff,” Robles said. “But after two days that’s no
4 Within five minutes of the store opening its longer a worry as people are bringing in bagfuls
doors on Friday, it was packed to overflowing of lovely things.”
with ‘shoppers’ browsing through its T-shirts,
woolly scarves, baskets and pair of black riding © Guardian News & Media 2009
boots. Robles and Stein explained that they were First published in The Guardian, 16/03/09
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1. What is the difference between the project started by Stein and Robles and that of the Diggers in the 1960s?
a. The Diggers were more artistic.
b. Stein and Robles are artistic rather than political and rebellious.
c. The Diggers didn’t stock clothes in their free stores.
2. Why do so many tourists visit the part of Manhattan where the free store is located?
a. To get free clothes and other items.
b. To look at the site of 9/11 and the site of the economic catastrophe.
c. To find something more positive and joyful.
3. What is the main similarity between the free store and a money-based shop?
a. People can only have things if they need them.
b. The free store sells a variety of goods.
c. The free store issues receipts.
4. Where do Stein and Robles get the items they stock in their store?
a. They buy them in cheap stores.
b. People bring in bagfuls of stuff.
c. At the local market.
4 Find the word
Look in the text and find the following words and phrases. The paragraph number will help you.
1. A three-word expression meaning from a very short distance. (para 1)
2. An adverb meaning completely. (para 2)
3. An adverb meaning exactly. (para 2)
4. An adverb meaning in a way that makes you worried because it will be difficult or dangerous to do. (para 3)
5. An adverb meaning in a noticeable way. (para 3)
6. An adjective meaning relating to or involving farming or farmers. (para 6)
7. A two-word adjective meaning with unusual patterns made by tying the cloth before it is dyed. (para 6)
8. An adjective meaning including many things or a large area. (para 7)

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Level 3 Advanced
5 Phrasal verbs
Match the verbs from the text with their meanings.
1. bail out a. tend to choose or support something
2. crop up b. find something by accident
3. cheer up c. leave a place
4. lean towards d. make someone feel less sad
5. stumble on e. help an organization that is having financial problems
6. walk away f. appear or happen suddenly or unexpectedly
6 Word building
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the words in brackets.
1. It was an ________________ experience. I will always remember it! [FORGET]
2. People looked at the store window in ________________. [AMAZE]
3. Please can you give me a ________________. [RECEIVE]
4. In the article the Diggers are described as being ________________. [REBEL]
5. Frame of ________________ means the set of principles you base your behaviour or attitudes on. [REFER]
6. The founders of the free store believe the ________________ of its opening is highly appropriate. [TIME]
7 Discussion
Do you think a project like this would work in your town or city? Why? Why not?
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KEY
1. transaction 1. at close range

2. proviso 2. utterly
3. veteran 3. precisely
4. goods 4. dauntingly
5. packed 5. singularly
6. utopian 6. agrarian
7. replenish 7. tie-dyed
8. launch 8. expansive
9. throng
10. browse
5 Phrasal verbs

2. f
1. F 3. d
2. T 4. a
3. F 5. b
4. T 6. c
5. T
6. F
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. unforgettable

2. amazement
1. b 3. receipt
2. b 4. rebellious
3. c 5. reference
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
catastrophe amazed packed launch transaction

grant browse goods gift slogan
1. A __________________ is something that you give to someone as a present.
2. A __________________ is an event that causes a lot of damage or makes a lot of people suffer.
3. A __________________ is the action or process of buying or selling something.

4. __________________ are objects that are produced for sale.
5. If a place is __________________, it is very crowded.
6. A __________________ is a short phrase used for advertising something.
7. If you are __________________, you feel very surprised.
8. To __________________ a business means to start it.
9. A __________________ is an amount of money given to you by the government or an organization for a
specific purpose.
10. To __________________ means to look at things in a shop without being sure whether you want to buy something.
1. Where are Ground Zero and Wall St?
2. Where is the New York free store located?
3. How much do items in the free store cost?
4. How much did the founders of the free store get as a grant?
5. When did the founders of the store start planning the project?
6. When did free stores appear in San Francisco?

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Level 1 Elementary
Don’t pay as you go: New York store customer a receipt just like in any normal shop.
gives away goods for free
5 Richard, a travel agent who works in Wall Street,
Ed Pilkington in New York chose a large framed photograph of Audrey
16 March, 2009 Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. “It’s a great
time to make people happy by giving them
gifts, and why not?” he said. “The government
1 Every day for the past few months thousands of
has given money to the car companies and the
people have crowded into the narrow streets of
banks, so it’s nice to get something back for
downtown Manhattan. Some people describe
once.” Kevin walked away with a free copy of a
them as ‘disaster tourists’ because they have
book called Great Sex Trips. So why did he think
come to look at Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11
he needed a book with a title like that? “Why not?
attacks, or to look at Wall St, where the current
You can always learn something.”
financial crisis began. This week, though, visitors
expecting to take a close look at terrorist and 6 Robles and Stein got the idea for the shop from
economic catastrophe have been amazed to find the free stores that appeared in San Francisco
something far more positive just around the corner. and New York in 1967. They were set up by the
hippy group the Diggers. In San Francisco, the
2 It is a shop front in Nassau Street, a couple of
Diggers set up two shops in the Haight-Ashbury
district. In these shops, men returning from the
completely ordinary without the two words on the
war in Vietnam exchanged their uniforms for
shop window: Free Store. These days, slogans
hippy clothes and ate vegetable soup known
like ‘free store’ usually mean the opposite – they
as Digger Stew. The Diggers even set up free
are often used to market exclusive shops that
hospitals for those who did not have insurance,
sell nothing cheaper than $1,000. But in this case
as well as free concerts.
free store means exactly what it says. Every item
on offer inside the small shop is free. Anyone 7 Stein and Robles don’t have the same kind of
can come in off the street and browse through its ambitions as the 1960s Diggers, and their project
goods, select an item and, if they think they need is more artistic, where the Diggers were more
it, walk out with it completely free of charge. political. But they are planning to keep the store
open until the end of March. “When we started
3 Last week it sold a variety of goods, from kids’
I was worried we would run out of stuff,” Robles
dresses and art supplies, to DVDs, posters and
said. “But after two days that’s no longer a
postcards. The shop is the idea of two artists,
worry because people are bringing in bagfuls of
Athena Robles and Anna Stein, who launched
lovely things.”
it with the help of a $9,000 grant from a local
cultural body and the September 11 fund. They
began planning it 18 months ago but believe it
is opening at the right time. “It’s a certain time in
history in this country when people really need to
help each other out.”
4 Five minutes after the store opened on Friday, it

was packed with ‘shoppers’ browsing through its
T-shirts, scarves, baskets and boots. Robles and
Stein explained that people could take whatever
they wanted. The only condition was that they
thought they “needed it”. They wrote down
each transaction in their records and gave the
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Level 1 Elementary
Correct the mistakes in these sentences.
1. The free store has a three-word slogan on its window.
2. The shop is the idea of two businesswomen.
3. Five hours after the shop opened on Friday, it was packed with shoppers.
4. Robles and Stein gave each customer a plastic bag.
5. They got the idea for the shop from the free stores that appeared in San Francisco in the 1970s.
6. They are planning to keep the store open until the end of May.
4 Chunks
1. of end March until the
2. blocks a away of couple Wall St from
3. months every for the few day past
4. the around corner just
5. of free charge completely

6. $9,000 help a of the grant with
5 Prepositions
1. take a look _______
2. free _______ charge
3. a variety _______ goods
4. packed _______ shoppers
5. _______ the right time
6. _______ the end of March
7. _______ this case
8. come in _______ the street

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Level 1 Elementary
6 Word stress
Divide these words from the text into two groups according to their stress.
thousands crisis amazed slogan select project

supplies certain explain receipt district exchange
A 0o B o0
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KEY
1. gift 1. until the end of March

2. catastrophe 2. a couple of blocks away from Wall St
3. transaction 3. every day for the past few months
4. goods 4. just around the corner
5. packed 5. completely free of charge
6. slogan 6. with the help of a $9,000 grant
7. amazed
8. launch
5 Prepositions
9. grant
10. browse
1. at
2. of
2 Find the information 3. of
4. with
1. Manhattan (New York) 5. at
2. Nassau St (Manhattan) 6. until
3. nothing (they are free) 7. in
4. $9,000 8. off
5. 18 months ago
6. 1967
6 Word stress
A 0o B o0
thousands amazed
1. The free store has a two-word slogan on its window.
crisis select
2. The shop is the idea of two artists.
slogan supplies
3. Five minutes after the shop opened on Friday, it was
project explain
packed with shoppers.
certain receipt
4. Robles and Stein gave each customer a receipt.
district exchange
5. They got the idea for the shop from the free stores
that appeared in San Francisco in the 1960s.
6. They are planning to keep the store open until the
end of March.
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1 Key words
transaction browse packed veteran launch

goods catastrophe amazed grant slogan
1. A noun meaning objects that are produced for sale: __________________.
2. A __________________ is a short phrase used for advertising something.
3. If you are __________________, you feel extremely surprised.

4. To __________________ a business means to start it.
5. A __________________ is an amount of money given to you by the government or an organization for a
specific purpose.
6. To __________________ means to look at things in a shop without being sure whether you want to
buy something.
7. A __________________ is an event that causes a lot of damage or makes a lot of people suffer.
8. A __________________ is the action or process of buying or selling something.
9. A __________________ is someone who was in the armed forces, especially during a war.
10. If a place is __________________, it is extremely crowded (informal).
1. How much money did the ‘Free Store’ get as a grant?
2. When did free stores appear in San Francisco?
3. Where is the New York free store located?
4. When did the founders of the store start planning the project?
5. Who starred in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
6. What was ‘Digger Stew’?

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NEWS LESSONS / New York store gives away goods for free / Intermediate
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Don’t pay as you go: New York store it”. They noted down each transaction in their
gives away goods for free records and gave the customer a receipt as in
any money-based shop.
16 March, 2009 5 Richard, a travel agent who works in Wall Street,
chose a large framed photograph of Audrey
Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. “It’s a great
1 In recent months downtown Manhattan has seen
time to be cheering people up with gifts, and why
a new phenomenon – you might call it ‘disaster
not?” he said. “The government has given money
tourism’. Every day thousands of people crowd
to the car companies and the banks, so it’s nice
into its narrow streets, attracted to Ground Zero
to get something back for once.” Kevin walked
rising slowly out of the ashes of 9/11. This week,
away with a free copy of a book called Great
though, visitors expecting to take a close look at
Sex Trips. So why did he feel he needed a book
terrorist and economic catastrophe have been
with a title like that? “Why not? There’s always
amazed to find something far more positive just
something to be learned.”
around the corner.
6 Robles and Stein based their idea for the
2 It is a shop front in Nassau Street, a couple of
shop on the free stores that appeared in San
Francisco and New York in 1967. They were
completely ordinary without the two words on the
set up by the hippy group the Diggers. In San
shop window: Free Store. These days slogans
Francisco, the Diggers set up two shops in the
like ‘free store’ usually mean the opposite – they
Haight-Ashbury district. There, returning Vietnam
are probably being used to market hyper-
veterans exchanged their uniforms for hippy
exclusive shops selling nothing under $1,000.
clothes and ate vegetable soup known as Digger
But in this case free store is precisely what it
Stew. The Diggers even set up free hospitals for
says. Every item on offer inside the small shop
those who did not have insurance, not to mention
is free. Anyone can come in off the street and
free concerts.
browse through its goods, select an item and, if
they think they need it, walk out with it completely 7 Stein and Robles don’t have the same kind of
free of charge. ambitions as the 1960s Diggers, and their project
is more artistic, where the Diggers were political
3 Last week it traded a variety of goods, from kids’
and rebellious. But they do plan to keep the store
dresses and art supplies, to DVDs, posters,
open until the end of March, replenishing the free
postcards and a huge stained-glass ceiling fitting.
items with gifts from people who use the shop.
The shop is the creation of two artists, Athena
“When we started I was worried we would run out
Robles and Anna Stein, who launched it with
of stuff,” Robles said. “But after two days that’s
the help of a $9,000 grant from a local cultural
no longer a worry because people are bringing in
body and the September 11 fund. They began
bagfuls of lovely things.”
planning it 18 months ago but believe the timing
of its opening now is very appropriate. “It’s a
certain time in history in this country when people
really need to help each other out.”
4 Within five minutes of the store opening its doors

on Friday, it was packed with ‘shoppers’ browsing
through its T-shirts, woolly scarves, baskets and
boots. Robles and Stein explained that they were
welcome to take whatever they liked, with the
only condition being that they felt they “needed
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1. Thousands of tourists visit Ground Zero every day.
2. The free store sells nothing under $1,000.
3. The free store only stocks clothes.
4. Shoppers have to feel that they need something before they can take it.
5. The timing of the shop’s opening is appropriate because it is a time of recession.
6. The free store is the first free store in American history.
4 Find the word
Look in the text and find the following words and phrases. The paragraph number will help you.
1. A noun meaning the distance along a city street from where one road crosses it to the next road. (para 2)
2. A prefix meaning more than usual or normal. (para 2)
3. An adverb meaning exactly. (para 2)
4. A plural noun meaning pieces of cloth you wear around your neck. (para 4)
5. A phrasal verb meaning to write so you have a record of something. (para 4)
6. A phrasal verb meaning to make someone less sad. (para 5)
7. A three-word expression used for adding a comment that emphasizes the main idea of what you have already
said. (para 6)
8. An adjective meaning opposing authority or the accepted rules of society. (para 7)
5 Word building
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the words in brackets.
1. Every customer is given a __________________. [RECEIVE]
2. There were free hospitals for people who did not have __________________. [INSURE]
3. Stein and Robles are not as __________________ as the Diggers. [AMBITION]
4. They believe their project is more __________________. [ART]
5. They were __________________ they would run out of stuff. [WORRY]
6. The shop is the __________________ of two artists. [CREATE]

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1. attracted _______
2. take a look _______
3. free _______ charge
4. with the help _______
5. packed _______
6. base an idea _______
7. exchange something _______
8. until the end _______ March
7 Discussion
What do you think of this idea? What are its advantages and disadvantages? What new things do you
really need?
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KEY
1. goods 1. block
2. slogan 2. hyper-
3. amazed 3. precisely
4. launch 4. scarves
5. grant 5. note down
6. browse 6. cheer up
7. catastrophe 7. not to mention
8. transaction 8. rebellious
9. veteran
10. packed
5 Word building
2 Find the information 1. receipt

2. insurance
1. $9,000 3. ambitious
2. 1967 4. artistic
3. Nassau St (Manhattan) 5. worried
4. 18 months ago 6. creation
5. Audrey Hepburn
6. vegetable soup
3 Comprehension check 1. to
2. at
1. T 3. of
2. F 4. of
3. F 5. with
4. T 6. on
5. T 7. for
6. F 8. of
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Halve emissions from cars by 2050, auto industry told
Level 3 Advanced
What type of car do you drive?

What is its fuel consumption – around town / on the motorway?
If you had the money, what kind of new car would you buy next?
2 Key words
Fill the gaps with these words from the article.
initiative consortium valve offset

subsidize take a swipe emissions interim ailing
protagonist caution (v) low-carbon economy
1. Substances that go into the air. ___________________

2. A group of companies or people with similar interests or aims who have agreed to work together.
___________________
3. An important action that is intended to solve a problem. ___________________
4. To balance the effect of something, with the result that there is no advantage or disadvantage.
___________________
5. An ___________________ organization or economy is neither strong nor successful.
6. A country that produces a minimal output of C0². ___________________
7. Something that is ___________________ is intended to last or perform an activity only until something
permanent or final is available.
8. A ___________________ is one of the main people or groups involved in an argument.
9. To tell someone about a danger or problem that they need to know about or avoid. ___________________
10. The part of a machine or piece of equipment that opens and closes in order to control the flow of air or liquid.
___________________
11. A way of saying to criticize someone. ___________________
12. To pay some of the cost of goods or services so that they can be sold to other people at a lower price.
___________________
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Level 3 Advanced
Halve emissions from cars by 2050, year, equivalent to half the total current emissions
auto industry told of the EU.
Consortium claims ‘50 by 50’ initiative could save
8 Based on emission levels in new cars built in 2005,
equivalent of half EU’s current C0² emissions
the scheme sets interim targets to be achieved
David Gow in Geneva by 2020 and 2030 in line with those set by the
March 4, 2009 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC). It comes with the claim that it could cut
1 The global auto industry and governments were global oil import bills by more than $300 billion a
today set a target of halving emissions from cars by year by 2025 and by $600 billion by 2050.
2050 by an international agency consortium which
includes the UN. 9 The protagonists insisted that it should begin now
because of the crisis in the car industry, not despite
2 The number of cars on the world’s roads is forecast it. “More than ever, clear signals are needed
to have tripled by then, as billions in developing regarding where vehicle designs and markets should
countries take to the roads. The aim of the “50 by be heading over the coming decades,” they said.
50” initiative, launched at the annual motor show in
Geneva, is to offset that growth with improved fuel 10 But Tanaka cautioned that electric cars fuelled by
efficiency to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions at power from old-style coal-fired plants made no
their current levels. sense or contribution to cutting emissions. “We have
first to de-carbonise the power sector and then use
3 “We’re not saying that nobody can have a car,” new technologies that make a genuine difference.”
said Jack Short, of the International Transport Forum,
one of the consortium members. “We have not set a 11 The initiative came just hours after Fiat launched
ceiling here, but a floor,” added Achim Steiner, executive a new internal combustion engine, both petrol and
director of the UN Environment Programme. diesel, that, it claimed, could cut emissions by at
least 10% and produce 10% more power. The
4 Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the “Multiair” engine, to be used initially in Alfa Romeo’s
International Energy Agency, said the target could Mito supermini car, directly controls air through the
be achieved with existing technologies, including intake engine valves.
electric vehicles, hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell-
powered cars, as well as with more fuel-efficient 12 Alfredo Altavilla, head of Fiat Powertrain
internal combustion engines. Technologies, said the turbo version in small cars
could be 25% more fuel-efficient and reduce
5 The consortium is already in talks with governments emissions by the same proportion – making the Mito
and auto industry executives about its initiative which, one of the first models to emit less than 80g per km.
it says, should be started at once – and be integrated
into financial support for the ailing industry. 13 He took a swipe at rival manufacturers such as
Toyota, which have placed huge investments in
6 “This is a building-block towards making the hybrids, electric vehicles and alternative fuels. “It
transport sector part of the solution towards a makes no sense to put engines on the market
low-carbon economy,” Short said. “The era of which cost thousands more than conventional
cheap oil is simply over and government policy to engines and hope someone will subsidise these
accommodate this change must include setting exotic technologies. What we’re doing is reducing
fuel standards,” added Tanaka, saying transport consumption and emissions but remaining
accounted for a quarter of global emissions. affordable.” But he refused to set a price for the
new engine or the car.
7 The consortium, which also includes the FIA
Foundation, claims the programme could save six © Guardian News & Media 2009
billion barrels of oil and two gigatonnes of CO² a First published in The Guardian, 04/03/09
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1. How many agencies and groups, who are members 4. Worldwide, the auto industry is currently ...
of the consortium, are mentioned in the article? a) ... experiencing difficulties.
a) 5 b) ... in a boom phase.
b) 7 c) ... stagnant.
c) 9
5. Fiat’s new “Multiair” engine is ...
2. What does the programme want to save? a) ... an improved internal combustion engine.
a) $300 billion a year. b) ... a hybrid.
b) 10% of the current emissions. c) ... electrically driven.
c) Two gigatonnes of CO² a year.
3. Nobuo Tanaka thinks this can be achieved by ...

a) ... raising fuel prices.
b) ... refining existing technologies.
c) ... inventing new technologies.
4 Vocabulary
Match the trend words with the information they are connected with in the article, then summarise the
article using this information as a basis.
1. halve two gigatonnes of CO²

2. triple fuel efficient
3. save emissions by 10%
4. cut emissions
5. reduce number of cars
6. 25% more oil import bills
5 Discussion
Do you think that changing engines in the cars we drive is the best way to try to halve emissions? Why /
why not? What other ways can you think of for your country to become a low-carbon economy?
6 Webquest
Choose one of the following, conduct some Internet research and present an overview of your findings to
the class.
• electric vehicles
• hybrid vehicles
• hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars
• Multiair engine
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KEY
2 Key words
1. emissions
2. consortium
3. initiative
4. offset
5. ailing
6. low-carbon economy
7. interim
8. protagonist
9. caution (v)
10. valve
11. take a swipe
12. subsidize
1. b
2. c
3. b
4. a
5. a
4 Vocabulary
1. halve emissions
2. triple number of cars
3. save two gigatonnes of CO²
4. cut oil import bills
5. reduce emissions by 10%
6. 25% more fuel efficient
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Level 1 Elementary
What type of car do you drive? Or what type of car would you like to drive?
How much fuel does it need (litres per 100km) – around town / on the motorway?
How much money do you spend on fuel every month?
2 Key words
designs initiative emissions save efficient

achieve consortium reduce triple
1. Substances that go into the air. ___________________. (title)

___________________ (sub-title)
3. To increase something so it is three times bigger than before. ___________________ (para 2)
4. An important action that is intended to solve a problem. ___________________ (para 2)
5. Something that is ___________________ works well and produces good results for little money, time or effort.
(para 3)
6. To use less of something such as money, time or energy, or to use less of it. ___________________ (para 6)
7. To succeed in doing or having what you planned. ___________________ (para 7)
8. The process of deciding how something will be made, including how it will work and what it will look like.
___________________ (para 8)
9. To make something smaller or less in size, amount, importance, etc. ___________________ (para 11)
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NEWS LESSONS / Halve emissions from cars by 2050, auto industry told / Elementary
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Level 1 Elementary
Halve emissions from cars by 2050, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
auto industry told (IPCC). The initiative could cut global oil bills by
more than $300 billion a year by 2025 and by $600
David Gow in Geneva
billion by 2050.
March 4, 2009
8 The consortium said that the initiative should begin
1 The global auto industry and governments have
now because of the crisis in the car industry. They
been told to cut CO² emissions from cars in half
said that clear signals are needed to show where
by 2050. The target was set by an international
vehicle designs and markets should go in
agency consortium which includes the UN.
the future.
2 Billions of new drivers in developing countries
9 But Tanaka said that electric cars fuelled by coal
such as India mean that the number of cars on the
power made no sense. “We have to use new
world’s roads will triple by 2050. The aim of the “50
technologies that make a real difference.”
by 50” initiative, which was introduced at the annual
motor show in Geneva, is to make the new cars on 10 The initiative came just hours after Fiat introduced
the roads more fuel efficient. a new internal combustion engine, both petrol and
diesel, that, Fiat claimed, could cut emissions by
3 Nobuo Tanaka, the executive director of the
at least 10% and produce 10% more power. The
International Energy Agency, said that it would be
“Multiair” engine, which will be used at first in Alfa
possible to halve CO² emissions using technologies
Romeo’s Mito supermini car, directly controls air
that are available at the moment, for example,
through the intake engine valves.
electric vehicles, hybrids and hydrogen fuel
cell-powered cars, as well as with more 11 Alfredo Altavilla, head of Fiat Powertrain
fuel-efficient internal combustion engines. Technologies, said the turbo version in small cars
4 The consortium is already talking with governments
emissions by the same amount.
and auto industry executives about its initiative
which, it says, should begin immediately. They 12 He criticized other car manufacturers such as
say that the initiative should be a part of the Toyota, which have invested large amounts of
financial help governments are currently giving the money in hybrids, electric vehicles and alternative
automotive industry. fuels. “It makes no sense to put engines on the
market which cost thousands more than normal
5 “The time of cheap oil is simply over and
engines. What we’re doing is reducing consumption
governments must set fuel standards when they
and emissions but staying affordable.”
make new policies,” added Tanaka, who also said
that a quarter of all global emissions came
from vehicles. © Guardian News & Media 2009
Foundation, says that the programme could save
six billion barrels of oil and two gigatonnes of CO² a
year. That is the same as half the EU’s total current
CO² emissions.
7 The scheme sets targets which the auto industry

should achieve by 2020 and 2030. This is
necessary in order to reach the standards set by
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3 Comprehension check: Find the information

Complete the mind map with the information below.
International Energy Agency hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars Multiair engine

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) electric vehicles
save 60bn barrels of oil a year FIA Foundation Fiat reduce CO² emissions by 50%
UN Toyota
International Agency Car manufacturers

Consortium Members mentioned
News article summary
What the “50 by 50” Types of car

initiative aims to do (technology)
hybrids
4 Grammar: If sentences (conditional type 2)

Decide whether you agree or disagree with the statements. Discuss your opinions with a partner.
Countries could reduce their CO² emissions if they:
• made fewer cars. I agree / I disagree
• made cars with different engines. I agree / I disagree
• improved the train and bus services. I agree / I disagree
Look at the sentences again and discuss how you write this kind of structure.
Use these terms: modal verb, comma, if, past simple, ...
5 Webquest
Choose one of the following, do some Internet research and present the basic facts and / or a simple
diagram to the other students.
• hybrid vehicles
• Multiair engine
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KEY
2 Key words
1. emissions
2. consortium
3. triple
4. initiative
5. efficient
6. save
7. achieve
8. designs
9. reduce
FIA Intergovernmental
Foundation Fiat Toyota
Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
UN
International
Energy Agency
Multiair
engine
reduce CO² hybrids
emissions by 50%
save 60bn hydrogen fuel
barrels of oil electric cell-powered cars
a year vehicles
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What type of car do you drive?

What is its average fuel consumption – around town / on the motorway?
If you had enough money to buy whatever kind of car you want, which would you buy?
2 Key words
integrate initiative efficient offset

consortium fuel launch emissions
1. Substances that go into the air. ___________________ (title)

___________________ (sub-title)
3. An important action that is intended to solve a problem. ___________________ (para 2)
4. To start selling a new product or service. ___________________ (para 2)
5. To balance the effect of something, with the result that there is no advantage or disadvantage.
___________________ (para 2)
6. Petrol or diesel used in vehicles. ___________________ (para 2)
7. Something that is ___________________ works well and produces good results for little money, time or effort.
(para 3)
8. To connect or combine two or more things so that together they form an effective unit or system.
___________________ (para 4)
conventional valve subsidize power plant

low-carbon economy alternative import
9. A country that produces a low output of C0². ___________________ (para 5)

10. To buy a product and bring it into your country. ___________________ (para 7)
11. Another word for a power station; a place that makes energy. ___________________ (para 9)
12. The part of a machine or piece of equipment that opens and closes in order to control the flow of air or liquid.
___________________ (para 10)
13. Different from something else and able to be used instead of it. ___________________ (para 12)
14. Something that is usual, traditional or accepted, instead of new and different is ___________________. (para
12)
15. To pay some of the cost of goods or services so that they can be sold to other people at a lower price.
___________________ (para 12)
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NEWS LESSONS / Halve emissions from cars by 2050, auto industry told / Intermediate
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Halve emissions from cars by 2050, 7 Based on emission levels in new cars built in 2005,
auto industry told the scheme sets targets which should be achieved
Consortium claims ‘50 by 50’ initiative could save the by 2020 and 2030 in order to reach standards that
equivalent of half the EU’s current C0² emissions have been set by the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC). The initiative could cut
David Gow in Geneva
global oil import bills by more than $300 billion a
March 4, 2009
year by 2025 and by $600 billion by 2050.
1 The global auto industry and governments have
8 The consortium insists that the initiative should
been set a target of halving emissions from cars
begin now because of the crisis in the car industry.
by 2050. The target was set by an international
They said that clear signals are needed regarding
agency consortium which includes the UN.
where vehicle designs and markets should be
heading in the future.
2 Billions of new drivers in developing countries will
cause the number of cars on the world’s roads to
9 But Tanaka warned that electric cars fuelled by
triple by 2050. The aim of the “50 by 50” initiative,
power from old-style coal-fired power plants made
which was launched at the annual motor show in
no sense. “We have to use new technologies that
Geneva, is to offset the increase in cars on the
make a genuine difference.”
roads with improved fuel efficiency.
10 The initiative came just hours after Fiat launched
3 Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the
a new internal combustion engine, both petrol and
International Energy Agency, said the target could
diesel, that, Fiat claimed, could cut emissions by
be achieved with technologies that are available at
at least 10% and produce 10% more power. The
the moment, such as, electric vehicles, hybrids and
“Multiair” engine, which will be used at first in Alfa
hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars, as well as with
Romeo’s Mito supermini car, directly controls air
more fuel-efficient internal combustion engines.
through the intake engine valves.
4 The consortium is already talking with governments
11 Alfredo Altavilla, head of Fiat Powertrain
and auto industry executives about its initiative
Technologies, said the turbo version in small cars
which, it says, should be started at once. They
say that the initiative should be integrated into
emissions by the same amount – making the Mito
the financial support governments are giving the
one of the first models to emit less than 80g
automotive industry.
per km.
5 “This is a building-block towards making the
12 He criticized other car manufacturers such as
transport sector part of the solution towards a
Toyota, which have invested huge amounts of
low-carbon economy,” Short said. “The time of
money in hybrids, electric vehicles and alternative
cheap oil is simply over and governments must
fuels. “It makes no sense to put engines on
set fuel standards when they make new policies.”
the market which cost thousands more than
added Tanaka, who also said that a quarter of
conventional engines and hope someone will
global emissions came from transport.
subsidise these exotic technologies. What we’re
doing is reducing consumption and emissions but
remaining affordable.”
Foundation, claims the programme could save six
billion barrels of oil and two gigatonnes of CO² a © Guardian News & Media 2009
year, equivalent to half the total current emissions First published in The Guardian, 04/03/09
of the EU.
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Complete the mind map with information from the article. Then use the completed mind map to summarize
the article.
International Energy Agency hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars Multiair engine

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) electric vehicles
save 60bn barrels of oil a year FIA Foundation Fiat reduce CO² emissions by 50%
UN Toyota


hybrids
Write these words from the article into the table according to their pronunciation pattern.
industry developing criticized solution existing technologies

director combustion subsidize efficiency environment
Can you find any other words in the article with the same pronunciation pattern? Add them to the table.
Ooo oOo oOoo

hydrogen emissions executive
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5 Discussion
Do you think that changing types of car engines is the best way to try to halve emissions? Why / why not?
Can you think any other ways a country could reduce its CO² emissions?
6 Webquest
Choose one of the following, do some Internet research and present the basic facts to the other students.
• hybrid vehicles
• Multiair engine
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2 Key words
1. emissions
2. consortium
3. initiative
4. launch
5. offset
6. fuel
7. efficient
8. integrate
9. low-carbon economy
10. import
11. power plant
12. valve
13. alternative
14. conventional
15. subsidize
FIA Intergovernmental
Foundation Fiat Toyota
Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
UN
International
Energy Agency
Multiair
engine
reduce CO² hybrids
emissions by 50%
save 60bn hydrogen fuel
barrels of oil electric cell-powered cars
a year vehicles
Ooo = subsidize criticized industry

oOo = director combustion solution existing
oOoo = environment developing efficiency technologies
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Millions of online pictures map the UK
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
culmination privacy thrilled blur anonymity

deem address zealous boost fleet
1. A _____________________ is a group of vehicles belonging to one organization.
2. _____________________ is a situation in which a person’s name or identity is kept secret.
3. If you _____________________ a problem or a concern, you deal with it.
4. If you _____________________ something to be true, you consider it to be true.
5. To _____________________ means to help something to increase or become more successful.
6. If you are _____________________, you are full of energy and enthusiasm.
7. If a person is _____________________, they are very pleased and excited about something.
8. The _____________________ of a process is its final result.
9. If you _____________________ a picture or an image, you make it difficult to see it clearly.
10. ___________________ is the freedom to do things without other people watching or knowing what you are doing.
1. How many British cities have been filmed at street level by Google’s new Street View service?
2. How long did the Street View UK project take?
3. How far (how many miles) did the Google Street View cars travel?
4. How does Google Street View guarantee privacy?
5. How can people register their objections to Google Street View?
6. Can Number 10 Downing Street be seen on Google Street View?

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NEWS LESSONS / Millions of online pictures map the UK / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Right up your street (and everyone point of view, they are happy with it, there are no
else’s) as millions of online pictures issues there.”
map the UK
5 The many people caught on a cigarette break
Google captures the nation on film but insists
outside their offices might disagree. And the man
people’s privacy will be respected
slumped outside a pub in Hoxton Square, north
Sam Jones and Richard Wray London, might feel he has not been preserved at
March 20, 2009 his absolute best. He seems to have just been
sick and is being comforted by a friend who
1 Some people will see it as the beginning of an appears to be wearing reindeer antlers on his head.
Orwellian nightmare, while others will despair at
the scenes of debauchery it occasionally reveals. 6 Google has developed sophisticated technology
But most of the people who visit Google’s to automatically blur human faces and car
new Street View service will probably do so number plates to guarantee privacy. If anything,
to discover if they have won a place in online the software may be over-zealous in respecting
posterity – or to decide whether they can put off anonymity: in one picture of a red-brick house in
repainting the house until next year. Leeds, the head of a not particularly distinctive
floor mop has been obscured. At the bottom
2 The new mapping application, which was of each photograph is a link which people can
launched in the UK yesterday, allows users follow to “report a concern” to Google. “We
to enjoy 360-degree views of 25 cities from have got 99.9% of it right,” Parsons said. “But
Southampton to Aberdeen through their sometimes it does not work completely.”
computers and mobile phones. Street View UK
is the culmination of a year-long project that saw 7 Those who do not wish to be featured or who
a fleet of specially modified cars driving along want their home to be taken off the photographic
22,369 miles of roads and taking pictures of database can register their objections by filling in
their surroundings. an online form.
3 Although the images include millions of 8 Although Parsons said that the images on Street
residential addresses, people and cars, Google View are the same as the ones people would
insists that they will respect individual privacy see if they walked or drove through the area in
and that “in almost all cases” it will remove question, he added: “If people do not want their
pictures deemed to breach privacy or display homes featured we will take them down, or cut
inappropriate content. Ed Parsons, who is them out of the image.
“geospatial technologist” at Google, said: “Street
View has been hugely popular with our users 9 “We have a dedicated team whose job is to
in Europe and worldwide and we’re thrilled it’s look at these pictures if there are any concerns.
now available in the UK ... enabling users to It is something that happens very rarely but
see street-level panoramas of major city roads nevertheless it is very important for us to have
and look up and print out useful this tool so that the pictures can be easily
driving directions.” removed if there are any concerns.”
4 He said the Information Commissioner’s Office 10 He said no government buildings visible from
had been consulted about privacy concerns public roads had been left out of the database.
– as were police. “We recognize that there have This means that 10 Downing Street is not visible,
been concerns about [privacy] and we think we nor is Buckingham Palace. Parsons said this was
have addressed those concerns,” he said. “We because of a technical fault with that car, rather
have spoken to Scotland Yard and, from a crime than any deliberate intention to give the Queen
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more privacy than other Britons. It hopes to put
Buckingham Palace on to Street View in the near
future. VisitBritain, which has assisted Google in
the project, suggested that it might boost tourism.
11 Many of the images that make up the vast

mosaic were taken last summer and, viewed
today, they give a glimpse of an already vanished
British high street. Some of the shops shown
have since closed as a result of the
economic crisis.

1. Why is Google Street View controversial?

a. Because it plans to show every house on every street at street level.
b. Because some people think it is an invasion of privacy.
c. Because it is very expensive.
2. What, apart from enabling users to see street-level views of major roads, is the main purpose of Google
Street View?
a. To enable people to look up and print out driving directions.
b. To allow people to decide whether their houses need repainting.
c. To catch people taking an illegal cigarette break.
3. What is the attitude of the British police to Google Street View?

a. They think it will be useful in detecting crimes.
b. They say there are no privacy issues involved.
c. They are happy provided people’s faces and car number plates are blurred.
4. Why is Buckingham Palace not featured on Google Street View?

a. To protect the Queen’s privacy.
b. Because it is not visible from a public road.
c. Because there was a technical fault with the car that filmed it.
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4 Find the word
1. An adjective linked to the novel 1984 that means relating to a political system in which the government controls
every aspect of people’s lives. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning behaviour that is considered immoral because it involves a lot of sex, alcohol or illegal drugs. (para 1)
3. A noun meaning the people who will live in the future after you are dead. (para 1)
4. A verb meaning to break a law, rule or agreement. (para 3)
5. An adjective meaning not suitable. (para 3)
6. An adjective meaning sitting still in a position that is not upright. (para 5)
7. A two-word expression meaning an object with a long handle and a mass of thick strings at one end used for
washing floors. (para 6)
8. A noun meaning an occasion when you see someone or something for only a moment. (para 11)
5 Phrasal verbs
Match the phrasal verbs from the text with their meanings.
1. take down a. omit

2. cut out b. find (in a dictionary or a database)
3. put off c. complete (a form)
4. leave out d. remove (from a website)
5. look up e. postpone
6. fill in f. remove (from an image)
6 Word building
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the word in brackets at the end of each sentence.
1. Google Street View is a mapping __________________. [APPLY]

2. The pictures were taken by specially __________________ cars. [MODIFY]
3. Millions of __________________ addresses are included in the pictures. [RESIDENCE]
4. Some people claim it is a breach of __________________. [PRIVATE]
5. Google says that __________________ is guaranteed. [ANONYMOUS]
6. __________________ can be registered by filling in an online form. [OBJECT]
7 Discussion
Discuss the following statement: “There are more and more cameras in the streets, in shops, railway
stations and even in pubs. We no longer have any privacy. This is just another example of Big Brother”.
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KEY
1. fleet 1. Orwellian
2. Anonymity 2. debauchery
3. address 3. posterity
4. deem 4. breach
5. boost 5. inappropriate
6. zealous 6. slumped
7. thrilled 7. floor mop
8. culmination 8. glimpse
9. blur
10. Privacy
5 Phrasal verbs

2. f
1. 25 3. e
2. one year 4. a
3. 22,369 miles 5. b
4. by blurring human faces and car number plates 6. c
5. by filling in an online form
6. No
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. application

2. modified
1. b 3. residential
2. a 4. privacy
3. b 5. anonymity
4. c 6. objections
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
panorama privacy thrilled blur address

sophisticated inappropriate objection visible Big Brother
1. If you ______________________ a problem or a concern, you deal with it.
2. If you ______________________ a picture or an image, you make it difficult to see it clearly.
3. ____________________ is the freedom to do things without other people watching or knowing what you are doing.
4. ______________________ is a person or organization that watches people all the time and tries to control
what they do.
5. If something is ______________________, you are able to see it.
6. An ______________________ is a statement that shows you disagree with something.
7. If something is ______________________, it is complicated and advanced in design.
8. If a person is ______________________, they are very pleased and excited about something.
9. A ______________________ is a view of a large area of land or sea.
10. If something is ______________________, it is not suitable in a particular situation.
1. When did Google launch its new mapping application?
2. How many British cities did Google’s new Street View service film?
3. How many miles of road did the Google Street View cars drive along?
4. Can you see Number 10 Downing Street on Google Street View?
5. Can you see Buckingham Palace on Google Street View?
6. When were many of the images that make up Google Street View taken?
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NEWS LESSONS / Millions of online pictures map the UK / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Right up your street (and everyone a pub in Hoxton Square, north London, might feel
else’s) as millions of online pictures he was not looking great when the picture
map the UK was taken.
Google captures the nation on film but insists
6 Google has developed sophisticated technology
people’s privacy will be respected
to automatically blur human faces and car
Sam Jones and Richard Wray number plates to guarantee privacy. At the
March 20, 2009 bottom of each photograph is a link which people
can follow to “report a concern” to Google. “We
1 Some people will see Google’s new Street View
have got 99.9% of it right,” Parsons said. “But
service as another example of Big Brother.
sometimes it does not work completely.”
Others will be shocked by some of the things
they see in the pictures – people who are drunk 7 Those who do not wish to be shown on Street
or behaving badly. But most people who visit View or who want their home to be taken off
Google Street View will probably want to see if the photographic database can register their
their picture is on the Internet – or to decide if objections by filling in an online form.
they need to repaint their house.
8 Although Parsons said that the images on Street
2 Google launched the new mapping application in View are the same as the ones people would
the UK in March. It allows users to enjoy see if they walked or drove through the area in
360-degree views of 25 cities from Southampton question, he added: “If people do not want their
to Aberdeen through their computers and mobile homes shown we will remove them from the
phones. Street View UK is the result of a image. We have a special team whose job is to
year-long project in which specially modified cars look at these pictures if there are any concerns.
drove along 22,369 miles of roads taking pictures. It is something that happens very rarely but it is
very important for us to have this tool so that the
3 Although the images include millions of
pictures can be easily removed if there are
residential addresses, people and cars, Google
any concerns.”
says that it will respect individual privacy and that
“in almost all cases” it will remove any pictures 9 He said all government buildings visible from
which could breach privacy or show inappropriate public roads were on the database. This means
content. Ed Parsons of Google, said: “Street that 10 Downing Street is not visible because it
View has been very popular with our users in cannot be seen from a public road. Buckingham
Europe and worldwide and we’re thrilled it’s now Palace is not shown either but this is because
available in the UK ... Users will be able to see of a technical fault. Google hopes to put
street-level panoramas of major city roads and Buckingham Palace on to Street View in the
look up and print useful driving directions.” near future.
4 He said they had consulted the police about
10 Many of the images that make up the Google
privacy worries. “We recognize that there have Street View were taken last summer and, when
been concerns about [privacy] and we think we you watch them today, you can see British
have addressed those concerns,” he said. “We streets that have changed over the past year.
have spoken to the police and, from a crime Some of the shops shown have since closed as
point of view, they are happy with it, there are no a result of the economic crisis.
problems there.”
5 The many people photographed while taking © Guardian News & Media 2009
a cigarette break outside their offices might First published in The Guardian, 20/03/09
disagree. And the man lying in the street outside

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Level 1 Elementary
Correct the errors in these sentences.
1. Google Street View allows users to enjoy 180-degree views.
2. Google Street View UK took two years to complete.
3. Google Street View has been very unpopular with users in Europe.
4. Ed Parsons says that Google has got about 90% of it right.
5. Number 10 Downing Street can be seen from a public road.
6. Buckingham Place is not shown on Google Street View because it is not visible from a public road.
4 Chunks
1. the future in near

2. the over year past
3. economic the as result a crisis of
4. a result the project year-long of
5. almost in cases all
6. UK available in now the
1. mobile a. road
2. cigarette b. fault
3. number c. form
4. online d. break
5. public e. phone
6. technical f. plate
6 Puzzle: Words connected with computer technology
Rearrange the letters to make words from the text.
1. e n t e r t i n ________________________
2. e m g i a ________________________
3. n e l i o n ________________________
4. b a d s e a t a ________________________
5. k i l n ________________________
6. r u s e ________________________
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1. address 1. in the near future

2. blur 2. over the past year
3. Privacy 3. as a result of the economic crisis
4. Big Brother 4. the result of a year-long project
5. visible 5. in almost all cases
6. objection 6. now available in the UK
7. sophisticated
8. thrilled
9. panorama 5 Two-word expressions
10. inappropriate
1. e
2. d
4. c
1. in March 5. a
2. 25 6. b
3. 22,369
4. no
5. no 6 Puzzle: Words connected with computer
6. last summer technology
1. Internet
3 Comprehension check 2. image
3. online
1. Google Street View allows users to enjoy 4. database
360-degree views. 5. link
2. Google Street View UK took one year to complete. 6. user
3. Google Street View has been very popular with
users in Europe.
4. Ed Parsons says that Google has got about 99.9%
of it right.
5. Number 10 Downing Street cannot be seen from a
public road.
6. Buckingham Place is not shown on Google Street
View because of a technical fault.
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1 Key words
panorama privacy thrilled blur anonymity

address glimpse sophisticated fleet inappropriate
1. If something is ______________________, it is complicated and advanced in design.
2. A ______________________ is an occasion when you see someone or something for only a moment.
3. If something is ______________________, it is not suitable in a particular situation.
4. A ______________________ is a view of a large area of land or sea.
5. If you ______________________ a problem or a concern, you deal with it.
6. If a person is ______________________, they are very pleased and excited about something.
7. If you ______________________ a picture or an image, you make it difficult to see it clearly.
8. ____________________ is the freedom to do things without other people watching or knowing what you are doing.
9. A ______________________ is a group of vehicles belonging to one organization.
10. ______________________ is a situation in which a person’s name or identity is kept secret.
1. How many British cities have been filmed at street level by Google’s new Street View service?
2. How long did the Street View UK project take?
3. How many miles of road did the Google Street View cars drive along?
4. Can Number 10 Downing Street be seen on Google Street View?
5. Can Buckingham Palace be seen on Google Street View?
6. When were many of the images that make up Google Street View taken?
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NEWS LESSONS / Millions of online pictures map the UK / Intermediate

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Right up your street (and everyone man lying in the street outside a pub in Hoxton
else’s) as millions of online pictures Square, north London, might feel he was not
map the UK looking his best when the picture was taken.
Google captures the nation on film but insists He seems to have just been sick and is being
people’s privacy will be respected comforted by a friend who appears to be wearing
reindeer antlers on his head.
Sam Jones and Richard Wray
March 20, 2009 6 Google has developed sophisticated technology
1 Some people will see it as another example to automatically blur human faces and car
of Big Brother, while others will be shocked by number plates to guarantee privacy. At the
the scenes of drunkenness and bad behaviour bottom of each photograph is a link which people
it occasionally reveals. But most of the people can follow to “report a concern” to Google. “We
who visit Google’s new Street View service will have got 99.9% of it right,” Parsons said. “But
probably do so to discover if their picture will be sometimes it does not work completely.”
displayed on the Internet – or to decide whether
7 Those who do not wish to be featured or who
they can put off repainting the house until next year.
want their home to be taken off the photographic
2 The new mapping application, which was database can register their objections by filling in
launched in the UK recently, allows users an online form.
to enjoy 360-degree views of 25 cities from
8 Although Parsons said that the images on
Southampton to Aberdeen through their
Street View are the same as the ones people
computers and mobile phones. Street View UK is
would see if they walked or drove through the
the result of a year-long project that saw a fleet of
area in question, he added: “If people do not
specially modified cars driving along 22,369 miles
want their homes shown we will remove them
of roads, taking pictures of their surroundings.
from the image. We have a special team whose
3 Although the images include millions of job is to look at these pictures if there are any
residential addresses, people and cars, Google concerns. It is something that happens very
insists that they will respect individual privacy rarely but nevertheless it is very important for us
and that “in almost all cases” it will remove to have this tool so that the pictures can be easily
pictures considered to breach privacy or display removed if there are any concerns.”
inappropriate content. Ed Parsons of Google,
9 He said no government buildings visible from
said: “Street View has been hugely popular with our
public roads had been left out of the database.
users in Europe and worldwide and we’re thrilled
This means that 10 Downing Street is not visible,
it’s now available in the UK ... enabling users to see
nor is Buckingham Palace. Parsons said this was
street-level panoramas of major city roads and look
because of a technical fault with that car, rather
up and print out useful driving directions.”
than any intention to give the Queen more privacy
4 He said they had consulted the Information than other Britons. It hopes to put Buckingham
Commissioner’s Office about privacy worries Palace on to Street View in the near future.
– and also the police. “We recognize that there
10 Many of the images that make up the Google
have been concerns about [privacy] and we think
Street View were taken last summer and, viewed
we have addressed those concerns,” he said.
today, they give a glimpse of an already vanished
“We have spoken to the police and, from a crime
British high street. Some of the shops shown have
point of view, they are happy with it, there are no
since closed as a result of the economic crisis.
issues there.”
5 The many people caught on a cigarette break
outside their offices might disagree. And the
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1. Most people who visit Google Street View will probably just want to see if they or their houses are shown on it.
2. Google Street View shows all the towns and cities in the UK.
3. The UK is the first country to have Google Street View.
4. It is not possible for pictures to be removed from Google Street View.
5. Google has the technology to blur human faces and car number plates.
6. Buckingham Place is not shown on Google Street View because of a technical fault.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word expression that means a person or organization that watches people all the time and tries to
control what they do. (para 1)
2. A two-word phrasal verb meaning postpone. (para 1)
3. A verb meaning to break a law, rule or agreement. (para 3)
4. An adverb meaning extremely. (para 3)
5. A noun meaning a feeling of worry about something. (para 4)
6. A noun meaning the horns on the head of a deer. (para 5)
7. A noun meaning a statement that shows you disagree with something. (para 7)
8. A adjective meaning able to be seen. (para 9)
1. display a. a link
2. respect b. concerns
3. address c. a form
4. develop d. an image
5. follow e. technology
6. fill in f. privacy
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6 Word building
noun adjective
1. photograph
2. economy
3. residence
4. private
5. thrill
6. drunk
7. popularity
8. direct
7 Discussion
Do you think Google Street View is an invasion of privacy or an interesting and useful tool for drivers and
other Internet users?
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KEY
1. sophisticated 1. Big Brother

2. glimpse 2. put off
3. inappropriate 3. breach
4. panorama 4. hugely
5. address 5. concern
6. thrilled 6. antlers
7. blur 7. objection
8. Privacy 8. visible
9. fleet
10. Anonymity

2. f
1. 25 3. b
2. a year 4. e
3. 22,369 5. a
4. no 6. c
5. no
6. last summer
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. photographic

2. economic
1. T 3. residential
2. F 4. privacy
3. F 5. thrilled
4. F 6. drunkenness
5. T 7. popular
6. T 8. direction
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Smoothie makers tread familiar path to lucrative deal
Level 3 Advanced
smoothie – a blended, chilled sweet drink made from fruit,

see http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/things_we_make/
1 Key words
Match the keywords from the article with their meanings.
1. lucrative criticize loudly

2. strive make from nothing
3. stake interfere
4. adamant money-making
5. pioneer try hard
6. donate be the first to do something
7. rail against make money
8. niche share
9. create from scratch value of goods sold
10. prosper give voluntarily
11. meddle determined
12. turnover easy
13. plain sailing small specific market
2 Company quiz
Skim-read the article to find out what these ethically aware companies produce and which global
corporation they belong to.
ethically-aware company what it produces sold out to / bought out by ...

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NEWS LESSONS / Smoothie makers tread familiar path to lucrative deal / Advanced
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Level 3 Advanced
Smoothie operators Innocent tread food group McDonald’s in 2001. The Body Shop
familiar path to lucrative deal – whose late founder, Dame Anita Roddick,
Like other niche brands, Innocent must convince had often railed against the big corporations
customers it hasn’t sold out running the beauty business – sold to the French
cosmetics group L’Oréal in 2006.
Chris Tryhorn and Mark Sweney
7 April, 2009 6 The reason that these niche operators choose
to sell up, apart from making millions from
businesses they have created from scratch, is
1 For a company that strives “to do business in a that they need the power of the big companies
more enlightened way” – and even has a halo if they want to grow further. Innocent is using
in its logo – to go into business with one of the Coca-Cola’s investment to increase its presence
world’s corporate giants presents a real danger in Europe.
that such a deal could look like a pact with the devil.
Sweet returns
2 The founders of Innocent, the ethically-aware 7 Craig Sams, the founder of the organic chocolate
smoothie business that yesterday sold a stake of company Green & Black’s, said his company had
between 10% and 20% of the company to the US prospered since it sold up to Cadbury in 2005.
drinks group Coca-Cola for £30m, are adamant “Overall it’s worked fantastically well,” said Sams,
that their ideals and eco-friendly sentiments who remains in place as president and continues
will not be crushed as a result of the deal with to offer advice to Green & Black’s owners.
a company best known for its less than healthy “They have had the resources to really support
fizzy drinks. the brand and take it to places. It’s all very
3 “Every promise that Innocent has made, about well to say if we spent half a million pounds on
making only natural healthy products, pioneering marketing we could increase sales by £2m – first
the use of better, socially and environmentally- you have to have the half a million pounds.
aware ingredients, packaging and production Brand identity
techniques, donating money to charity and 8 Sams advised Coca-Cola not to put its name
having a point of view on the world will remain,” over the Innocent product range. Reed said there
co-founder Richard Reed yesterday. “We’ll just was little danger of Coca-Cola meddling with
get to do them even more. The founders will the Innocent brand. “They absolutely buy into
continue to lead and run the company, we will be the brand, the people, the system. It’s a minority
the same people in the same offices making the investment in Innocent, which will remain a
same products in the same way.” standalone company.”
4 Innocent joins a long line of companies that have 9 Innocent had a difficult birth ten years ago.
started small and built a loyal following on the The three founders – Reed and his Cambridge
back of a values-led approach, only to sell up to University friends Adam Balon and Jon Wright
the kind of businesses which they might once – had come up with the idea on a snowboarding
have defined themselves against. holiday in February 1998 and tried out their
Sell-outs smoothies at a music festival later that year,
5 Ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry’s, was one of using £500 of fruit.
the first to sell up to a corporation, when it was 10 The company now sells two million smoothies
bought for £175m by the consumer goods a week and their turnover is expected to be
group Unilever in 2000. Four years later it £105m to £110m this year. Despite Innocent’s
admitted: “We are beginning to look like the rest remarkable rise over the past ten years, not
of corporate America.” British sandwich chain everything has been plain sailing. Last year it had
Pret A Manger sold a minority stake to the fast to fight off competition from two rival products,
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Level 3 Advanced
Pepsico’s Tropicana and Nestlé’s Boost, which The Body Shop – L’Oréal
caused annual sales to fall for the first time. Founded on an ethical basis by Anita Roddick,
Although its share of the UK smoothie market the company was sold to L’Oréal in 2006.
fell as low as 50%, it has recovered strongly to Roddick said at the time: “Having L’Oréal come
reach 83%, Reed said. in and say ‘we like you, we like your ethics, we
want to be part of you, we want you to teach us
info things’ – it’s a gift.”
Extra
Pret A Manger – McDonald’s
Green & Black’s – Cadbury Schweppes Pret was founded in 1986. It claims to avoid
Set up in 1991 by Craig Sams and his wife additives, uses recycled packaging and tries to
Josephine Fairley, the company produced buy organic. A third of the company was sold to
organic and Fairtrade chocolate. In 2005 it was McDonald’s in 2001.
bought out by Cadbury Schweppes.
Ben & Jerry’s – Unilever © Guardian News & Media 2009
All-natural ice cream company founded in 1978 First published in The Guardian, 07/04/09
by Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen. Bought by
Unilever in 2000.
Skim-read the article to find the answers to these questions.
1. What does Innocent produce?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is their logo?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. What key business practices and policies make Innocent different to other companies?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Where and when was the company founded?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Where did the founders meet?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
6. What was their initial investment?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
7. What is their predicted turnover for 2009?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
8. In paragraph 1, who is the devil and who is the angel?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Language: Behind the headlines
Decide what the idioms mean and then explain what the article headline means.
1. A smooth operator is ...
a. ... a clean-shaven businessman.
b. ... a person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace.
c. ... someone who removes lumps from products.
2. To tread a path means ...
a. ... to build roads.
b. ... to move to a rural area.
c. ... to take a particular course of action.
5 Discussion
Do you think that companies that have built up their businesses due to their reputation of being
eco-friendly and ethically-aware can justify selling a stake in the company to global corporate giants?
6 Webquest
Research one of the companies in task 2. Find out what has happened since they sold stakes to a global
giant. Have there been any changes to their product range, their work ethics, their share prices, etc?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1 Key words 3 Find the information
1. lucrative money-making Suggested answers:

2. strive try hard 1. smoothies / blended fruit drinks
3. stake share 2. a halo
4. adamant determined 3. They use only natural healthy products, they use
5. pioneer be the first to do something better, socially and environmentally aware
6. donate give voluntarily ingredients, packaging and production techniques,
7. rail against criticize loudly and they donate money to charity.
8. niche small specific market 4. ten years ago at a music festival
9. create from scratch make from nothing 5. at Cambridge University
10. prosper make money 6. £500 worth of fruit
11. meddle interfere 7. £105m to £110m
12. turnover value of goods sold 8. Coca-Cola is the devil and Innocent is the angel.
13. plain sailing easy
4 Language: Behind the headlines
2 Company quiz
1. b
ethically-aware what it sold out to / bought 2. c
company produces out by ...
Innocent smoothies Coca-Cola
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream Unilever
Pret A Manger sandwiches McDonald’s
The Body Shop cosmetics L’Oréal
Green & Black’s chocolate Cadbury Schweppes
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Level 1 Elementary
smoothie – a blended, cold sweet drink made from fruit,

1 Key words: Crossword
Find the key words in the article and write them into the crossword. The paragraph numbers are given to
help you.
T
1 2
Across
1. Substances that are put into something in small
M
3
amounts, especially food, in order to make it last
longer, look more attractive, or improve it in some
way. (extra info) 4
–
3. An _______________ is
money used in a way that may earn
you more money. (para 6)
5
D
4. A _______________ is a business that works in a
very specialized market. (para 6, 2 words)
6
G
5. If you are _______________, then you are 7
interfering and not leaving something alone. (para 8)
6. Someone who is _______________ has attitudes

R
8 9
that are considered modern and reasonable. (para 1)
8. Something that brings in a lot of money is 10
_______________. (title)
– 12
10. A _______________ drink has bubbles of gas in

it. (para 2)
11. The value of the goods and services that a

company sells in a particular period of time is its
_______________. (para 10)
E
11
12. A _______________ is a circle of

light around the head of a holy person. (para 1)
Down
2. Someone who is _______________ thinks about the effects of their actions on the world around them.
(para 3, 2 words)
7. A _______________ is a large company or business organization. (para 4)
9. An _______________ is your idea about what is good and right that you try to follow in your life and
behaviour. (para 2)
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NEWS LESSONS / Smoothie makers tread familiar path to lucrative deal / Elementary
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Level 1 Elementary
2 Company quiz
Decide where these words fit into the table and then skim-read the article to find out what the ethically-
aware companies produce and which global corporation they belong to.
sandwiches Unilever ice cream smoothies McDonald’s

Cadbury Schweppes L’Oréal cosmetics Coca Cola chocolate
Innocent
Ben & Jerry’s
Pret A Manger
The Body Shop
Green & Black’s
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Level 1 Elementary
Smoothie operators Innocent tread 6 The reason that these niche operators choose
familiar path to lucrative deal to sell up, apart from making millions from
Like other niche brands, Innocent must convince businesses they have created from nothing, is
customers it hasn’t sold out that they need the power of the big companies
if they want to grow further. Innocent is using
Chris Tryhorn and Mark Sweney
Coca-Cola’s investment to increase its sales
7 April, 2009
in Europe.
7 Craig Sams, the founder of the organic chocolate
1 A company that tries “to do business in a more company Green & Black’s, said his company
enlightened way” – and even has a halo in its had done well since it sold up to Cadbury in
logo – is going into business with one of the 2005. “Overall it’s worked fantastically well,” said
world’s corporate giants. To some people it Sams, who has stayed as company president
seems like they have made a deal with the devil. and continues to offer advice to Green & Black’s
2 The founders of Innocent, the ethically-aware owners. “We wanted to spend half a million
smoothie business that yesterday sold between pounds on marketing to increase our sales by
10% and 20% of the company to the US drinks £2m, but we didn’t have half a million pounds.”
group Coca-Cola for £30m, are certain that their 8 Sams advised Coca-Cola not to put its name
ideals will not be changed as a result of the deal over the Innocent product range. Reed said there
with a company best known for its unhealthy was little danger of Coca-Cola meddling with
fizzy drinks. the Innocent brand. “They completely believe in
3 “Every promise that Innocent has made, about the brand, the people, the system; it’s a minority
making only natural healthy products, using investment in Innocent, which will remain a
better, environmentally-aware ingredients, standalone company.”
packaging and production techniques, giving 9 Innocent was started ten years ago. The three
money to charity and having a point of view founders – Reed and his Cambridge University
on the world will remain,” co-founder Richard friends Adam Balon and Jon Wright – thought of
Reed said. “We’ll just get to do them even more. the idea on a snowboarding holiday in February
The founders will continue to lead and run the 1998 and tried out their smoothies at a music
company; we will be the same people in the festival later that year, using £500 of fruit. The
same offices making the same products in the company now sells two million smoothies a week
same way.” and their turnover is expected to be £105m to
4 There are many more eco-companies that have £110m this year.
started small and then sold up to global giants.
info
Ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry’s was one of the Extra
first to sell up to a corporation, when it was
bought for £175m by Unilever in 2000. Four Green & Black’s – Cadbury Schweppes
years later it said: “We are beginning to look like Set up in 1991 by Craig Sams and his wife
the rest of corporate America.” Josephine Fairley, the company produced
organic and Fairtrade chocolate. In 2005 it was
5 British sandwich chain Pret A Manger sold bought out by Cadbury Schweppes.
shares to the fast food group McDonald’s in
2001. The Body Shop – whose founder, Dame Ben & Jerry’s – Unilever
Anita Roddick, often spoke out against the big All-natural ice cream company founded in 1978
corporations that run the beauty business – sold by Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen. Bought by
to the French cosmetics group L’Oréal in 2006. Unilever in 2000.
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Level 1 Elementary
The Body Shop – L’Oréal Pret A Manger – McDonald’s
Founded on an ethical basis by Anita Roddick, Pret was founded in 1986. It says it doesn’t use
the company was sold to L’Oréal in 2006. additives, uses recycled packaging and tries to
Roddick said at the time: “Having L’Oréal come buy organic. A third of the company was sold to
in and say ‘we like you, we like your ethics, we McDonald’s in 2001.
things’ – it’s fantastic.” © Guardian News & Media 2009
Match these sentence halves to give a summary of the article.
1. Innocent is an ethically aware company ... ... at university.
2. Their logo is ... ... that produces smooth fruit drinks.
3. Innocent use ... ... £500 of fruit.
4. The company gives ... ... Innocent won’t change their ideals.
5. The company was ... ... only natural ingredients.
6. The founders met ... ... to Coca-Cola.
7. Their initial investment was ... ... founded ten years ago.
8. Innocent is expected to make ... ... money to charity.
9. The company has sold shares ... ... an angel with a halo.
10. The founders say that ... ... millions of pounds in 2009.
Write in the correct prepositions. Then check your answers by reading back through the article.
to in x2 by into of x2 on with x2
1. do business _______ an enlightened way

2. go _______ business _______ a corporate giant
3. give money _______ charity
4. have a point _______ view _______ the world
5. it was bought _______ Unilever
6. increase its sales _______ Europe
7. little danger _______ Coca-Cola meddling _______ the Innocent brand
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Level 1 Elementary
5 Discussion
Which of these sentences do you most agree with? Discuss your answers.
a. It’s ok for eco-friendly companies to sell shares to a global corporation.
b. Eco-friendly companies should never sell shares to a global corporation.
6 Webquest
Research one of the companies in task 2. What can you find out about the company? Are their share prices
going up or down?
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KEY
1 Key words: Crossword 3 Comprehension check
Across 1. Innocent is an ethically-aware company that

1. additives produces smooth fruit drinks.
3. investment 2. Their logo is an angel with a halo.
4. niche operator 3. Innocent use only natural ingredients.
5. meddling 4. The company gives money to charity.
6. enlightened 5. The company was founded ten years ago.
8. lucrative 6. The founders met at university.
10. fizzy 7. Their initial investment was £500 of fruit.
11. turnover 8. Innocent is expected to make millions of pounds
12. halo in 2009.
9. The company has sold shares to Coca-Cola.
Down 10. The founders say that Innocent won’t change
2. environmentally aware their ideals.
7. corporation
9. ideal
1. do business in an enlightened way

2 Company quiz 2. go into business with a corporate giant
3. give money to charity
ethically-aware what it sold out to / bought
4. have a point of view on the world
company produces out by ...
5. it was bought by Unilever
6. increase its sales in Europe
Innocent smoothies Coca-Cola
7. little danger of Coca-Cola meddling with the
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream Unilever
Innocent brand
Pret A Manger sandwiches McDonald’s
The Body Shop cosmetics L’Oréal
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smoothie – a blended, chilled sweet drink made from fruit,

1 Key words
Match the key words from the article with their meanings. The paragraph numbers will help you.
corporation additives lucrative ideal fizzy halo niche operator

environmentally-aware investment turnover enlightened meddling
1. Something that brings in a lot of money is __________________. (title)

2. Someone who is __________________ has attitudes that are considered modern and reasonable. (para 1)
3. A __________________ is a circle of light around the head of a holy person. (para 1)
4. An __________________ is your idea about what is good and right that you try to follow in your life and
behaviour. (para 2)
5. A __________________ drink has bubbles of gas in it. (para 2)
6. Someone who is __________________ thinks about the effects of their actions on the world around them.
(para 3)
7. A __________________ is a large company or business organization. (para 5)
8. A __________________ is a business that works in a very specialized market. (para 6)
9. An __________________ is money used in a way that may earn you more money. (para 6)
10. If you are __________________, then you are interfering and not leaving something alone. (para 8)
11. The value of the goods and services that a company sells in a particular period of time is its
__________________. (para 10)
12. __________________ are substances that are put into something in small amounts, especially food, in order to
make it last longer, look more attractive, or improve it in some way. (extra info)
2 Company quiz
Skim-read the article to find out what these ethically aware companies produce and which global
corporation they belong to.

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NEWS LESSONS / Smoothie makers tread familiar path to lucrative deal / Intermediate
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Smoothie operators Innocent tread run the beauty business – sold to the French
familiar path to lucrative deal cosmetics group L’Oréal in 2006.
Like other niche brands, Innocent must convince 6 The reason that these niche operators choose
customers it hasn’t sold out to sell up, apart from making millions from
Chris Tryhorn and Mark Sweney businesses they have created from nothing, is
7 April, 2009 that they need the power of the big companies
if they want to grow further. Innocent is using
Coca-Cola’s investment to increase its sales
1 For a company that tries “to do business in a in Europe.
more enlightened way” – and even has a halo
7 Craig Sams, the founder of the organic chocolate
in its logo – to go into business with one of the
world’s corporate giants might look like they have company Green & Black’s, said his company had
made a deal with the devil. done well since it sold up to Cadbury in 2005.
“Overall it’s worked fantastically well,” said Sams,
2 The founders of Innocent, the ethically-aware who remains in place as president and continues
smoothie business that yesterday sold between to offer advice to Green & Black’s owners.
10% and 20% of the company to the US drinks “They have had the resources to really support
group Coca-Cola for £30m, are certain that their the brand and take it to places. It’s all very
ideals will not be crushed as a result of the deal well to say if we spent half a million pounds on
with a company best known for its less than marketing we could increase sales by £2m – first
healthy fizzy drinks. you have to have the half a million pounds.”
3 “Every promise that Innocent has made, 8 Sams advised Coca-Cola not to put its name
about making only natural healthy products, over the Innocent product range. Reed said there
using better, socially and environmentally was little danger of Coca-Cola meddling with
aware ingredients, packaging and production the Innocent brand. “They absolutely buy into
techniques, giving money to charity and having the brand, the people, the system. It’s a minority
a point of view on the world will remain,” co- investment in Innocent, which will remain a
founder Richard Reed yesterday. “We’ll just standalone company.”
get to do them even more. The founders will
continue to lead and run the company; we will be 9 Innocent was started ten years ago. The three
the same people in the same offices making the founders – Reed and his Cambridge University
same products in the same way.” friends Adam Balon and Jon Wright – came
up with the idea on a snowboarding holiday in
4 Innocent joins a long line of companies that have February 1998 and tried out their smoothies at a
started small and built a loyal following because music festival later that year, using £500 of fruit.
of their values-led approach, who then sell up to
global giants. 10 The company now sells two million smoothies a
week and their turnover is expected to be £105m
5 Ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry’s was one of the to £110m this year.
first to sell up to a corporation, when it was
bought for £175m by the consumer goods
info
group Unilever in 2000. Four years later it Extra
admitted: “We are beginning to look like the rest
Green & Black’s – Cadbury Schweppes
of corporate America.” British sandwich chain
Set up in 1991 by Craig Sams and his wife
Pret A Manger sold a minority stake to the fast
Josephine Fairley, the company produced
food group McDonald’s in 2001. The Body Shop
organic and Fairtrade chocolate. In 2005 it was
– whose founder, Dame Anita Roddick, often
bought out by Cadbury Schweppes.
spoke out against the big corporations that
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Ben & Jerry’s – Unilever Pret A Manger – McDonald’s
All-natural ice cream company founded in 1978 Pret was founded in 1986. It says it doesn’t use
by Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen. Bought by additives, uses recycled packaging and tries to
Unilever in 2000. buy organic. A third of the company was sold to
McDonald’s in 2001.
The Body Shop – L’Oréal
Founded on an ethical basis by Anita Roddick,
the company was sold to L’Oréal in 2006.
Roddick said at the time: “Having L’Oréal come
in and say ‘we like you, we like your ethics, we
things’ – it’s a gift.”
Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the article? Correct any false sentences.
1. Innocent produces ice cream.
2. Their logo is an angel with a halo.
3. Innocent use only natural products and packaging.
4. The company is a charity.
5. The company was founded in Cambridge in 2000.
6. The founders met on a snowboarding holiday.
7. Their initial investment was in fruit.
8. Innocent is expected to make millions of pounds in 2009.
Write in the correct prepositions and then check your answers by reading back through the article.
to in x2 by into of x2 on with x3
1. do business _______ an enlightened way

2. go _______ business _______ a corporate giant
3. make a deal _______ the devil
4. give money _______ charity
5. have a point _______ view _______ the world
6. it was bought _______ Unilever
7. increase its sales _______ Europe
8. little danger _______ Coca-Cola meddling _______ the Innocent brand
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Do you think that it’s ok for eco-friendly companies to sell out to global corporate giants?
6 Webquest
Research one of the companies in task 2. Find out what has happened since they sold stakes to a global
giant. Have there been any changes to their product range, their work ethics, their share prices, etc?
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KEY
1 Key words 3 Comprehension check
1. lucrative 1. F: Innocent produces smoothies (fruit drinks).

2. enlightened 2. T
3. halo 3. T
4. ideal 4. F: The company donates money to charity.
5. fizzy 5. F: The company was founded in 1999 at a
6. environmentally aware music festival.
7. corporation 6. F: The founders met at Cambridge University.
8. niche operator 7. T
9. investment 8. T
10. meddling
11. turnover
12. additives 4 Language: Prepositions
2 Company quiz 1. do business in an enlightened way

2. go into business with a corporate giant
3. make a deal with the devil
ethically-aware what it sold out to / bought 4. give money to charity
company produces out by ... 5. have a point of view on the world
Innocent smoothies Coca-Cola 6. it was bought by Unilever
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream Unilever 7. increase its sales in Europe
Pret A Manger sandwiches McDonald’s 8. little danger of Coca-Cola meddling with the
The Body Shop cosmetics L’Oréal Innocent brand
Green & Black’s chocolate Cadbury Schweppes
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Amazon to challenge iTunes with 29p MP3 music downloads
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
speculation dominance custom grandstanding dent

indefinitely revenue rival back catalogue slice
1. _____________________ is the income you get from business activities.
2. In business, a _____________________ is a competitor.
3. _____________________ is the practice of buying goods from a particular company.
4. If a company has _____________________ in a particular market, it has more power or influence than
other companies.
5. A _____________________ is a part or a share of something.
6. A _____________________ is all the records a company or an artist has produced in the past.
7. ____________________ is a situation in which people make guesses about what has happened or might happen.
8. _____________________ is behaviour that is intended to get public attention and approval.
9. If something happens _____________________, it continues for a period of time that has no fixed end.
10. If you make a _____________________ in something, you reduce the amount of it.
2 Correct the statements
These statements are all false. Look in the text and correct the information.
1. Amazon has the largest share of the music download market.
2. Apple has cut the price of more than 100 tracks to just 29p.
3. More competition is bad news for digital music consumers.
4. Amazon sells album downloads for as little as £2.
5. The Managing Director of Record of the Day thinks music is overvalued.
6. Calvin Harris’ new song is on sale at a supermarket for 75p.

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NEWS LESSONS / Amazon to challenge iTunes with 29p MP3 music downloads / Advanced
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Level 3 Advanced
Amazon to challenge iTunes with 29p toppled any time soon. “If Amazon are going
MP3 music downloads to compete they are going to have to throw
• Online retailer’s cheap tracks may spark price war everything at iTunes or they just won’t make a
• Fears that music will be devalued by discounting dent. Even if they are cheaper it will take time to
change people’s habits and it is still that bit more
Alexandra Topping
inconvenient.” He added that the real challenge
April 8, 2009
for digital online services such as Amazon and
Apple would be to convert traditional music
1 The giant online retailer Amazon declared an
buyers to digital while finding new ways to
MP3 price war yesterday by slashing the price
bridge the gulf between physical and digital
of many top-selling downloads in an attempt to
music revenue. “Companies have to find ways of
grab a bigger slice of the legal music download
selling to people who don’t want to pay. Variable
market. In a move seen by experts as an
and aggressive pricing is one weapon in their
aggressive attempt to steal custom from its rival
armoury, but it’s only part of the battle. The
iTunes, Amazon cut the price of more than 100
question is not who can beat iTunes but who
tracks – including Lily Allen’s The Fear and Lady
can take the industry on from what iTunes have
GaGa’s Poker Face – to 29p.
achieved,” he said.
2 On the bargain list, which spans pop, hip-hop,
6 Paul Scaife, managing director of the music
rock, classical and jazz, music fans can also find
industry newsletter Record of the Day, said more
older tracks such as Oasis’s Wonderwall and
competition was good news for digital music
Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World for up to
consumers, and variable pricing was welcomed
70p less than on Apple’s iTunes. Amazon, which
by labels who have long lobbied for songs to be
also offers albums for as little as £3, said the
priced according to fans’ perceived value. But
reductions were being made indefinitely.
he warned: “Music has been pretty devalued
already. If they continue to sell at a discount that
3 The news comes as Apple – which is estimated
becomes the de facto price and anything else
to control upwards of 70% of the legal
seems expensive. A single track has got to be
downloading market – announced some of its hit
worth more than 29p.”
tracks would increase in price, while other back
catalogue songs would be reduced, as part of
7 Record labels are not the only ones concerned
the company’s introduction of variable pricing.
about pricing. Scottish dance artist Calvin Harris,
A spokesman confirmed that songs would now
whose single I’m Not Alone is expected to reach
be available at the iTunes store at 59p, 79p and
the top five in the singles chart, posted a shocked
99p but refused to fuel speculation about an MP3
comment on Twitter after discovering the price of
price war, saying the company did not comment
his song at Tesco. He wrote: “Good Lord! I just
on competitors or future pricing strategy.
saw you can buy it at Tesco’s for 57p! 57p! That
track took me two years! 57p! Two years! 57p!
4 Music industry analyst Mark Mulligan,
No wonder music’s in trouble.”
vice-president of Forrester Research, said
Amazon’s actions were the first serious threat
to Apple’s dominance of the music download © Guardian News & Media 2009
market. “Until this point Amazon have been First published in The Guardian, 08/04/09
something of a sleeping giant, we are now seeing
some real grandstanding,” he said.
5 But despite the online retailer’s marketing

offensive, the Apple crown was unlikely to be
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Level 3 Advanced

1. Amazon has cut the prices of its music downloads …
a. … in order to change people’s habits.
b. ... in order to move away from selling physical music.
c. … in order to take a share of a market dominated by Apple.
2. Apple has announced it intends …

a. … to increase the price of its online music.
b. … to reduce the price of its online music.
c. … to increase the price of some online tracks and reduce the price of others.
3. Music industry analyst Mark Mulligan believes …

a. … Amazon will soon challenge Apple’s dominance of the music download market.
b. … Apple’s dominance of the music download market is unlikely to end soon.
c. … traditional music buyers will soon convert to digital.
4. Mulligan also believes …

a. … the main question is who can build on the achievements of iTunes.
b. … the main question is who can challenge the dominance of iTunes.
c. … the main question is whether aggressive pricing can work.
4 Find the word

1. A two-word expression meaning a situation in which businesses compete to attract customers by lowering
prices. (para 1)
2. A two-word expression meaning a plan or method to set prices. (para 3)
3. A two-word expression meaning an important player in a particular sector who has, up to now, been inactive.
(para 3)
4. A verb meaning to make someone in a position of power lose that power. (para 4)
5. A three-word expression that means to reduce the differences that separate two things. (para 4)
6. A two-word expression meaning an approach to fixing prices that allows them to rise and fall. (para 4)
7. A five-word expression meaning something that is available to help you achieve something difficult. (para 4)
8. A two-word expression that means actual, even though not official. (para 5)
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Level 3 Advanced
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns or noun phrases in the right-hand column to form
phrases from the text.
1. slash a. the market

2. make b. people’s habits
3. change c. speculation
4. bridge d. a comment
5. fuel e. the gulf
6. find f. prices
7. post g. ways of doing something
8. control h. reductions
6 Word building
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets at the end of each sentence.
1. Amazon may soon be a serious _________________ to Apple in the music download business. [COMPETE]
2. Both companies have adopted _________________ pricing strategies. [VARY]
3. This is seen as the first serious threat to Apple’s _________________ of the market. [DOMINATE]
4. Mark Mulligan is a music industry _________________. [ANALYSE]
5. Amazon has launched a marketing _________________. [OFFENCE]
6. The price _________________ are being made indefinitely. [REDUCE]
7 Discussion
Do you buy music online? Why? Why not? If you buy music online, what are the most important factors in
deciding which retailer you use?
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KEY
1. revenue 1. price war

2. rival 2. pricing strategy
3. custom 3. sleeping giant
4. dominance 4. topple
5. slice 5. bridge the gulf
6. back catalogue 6. variable pricing
7. speculation 7. a weapon in your armoury
8. grandstanding 8. de facto
9. indefinitely
10. dent
2 Correct the statements 1. f

2. h
1. Apple has the largest share of the music 3. b
download market. 4. e
2. Amazon has cut the price of more than 100 tracks 5. c
to just 29p. 6. g
3. More competition is good news for digital 7. d
music consumers. 8. a
4. Amazon sells album downloads for as little as £3.
5. The Managing Director of Record of the Day thinks
music is devalued. 6 Word building
6. Calvin Harris’ new song is on sale at a supermarket
for 57p. 1. competitor
2. variable
3. dominance
3 Comprehension check 4. analyst
5. offensive
1. c 6. reductions
2. c
3. b
4. a
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
retailer rival variable label dominance

track hit discount newsletter sleeping giant
1. A ___________________ is written information sent regularly to members of an organization .
2. A ___________________ is a person or company that sells direct to the public for their own use.
3. If something is ___________________, it can change.
4. A ___________________ is a company that produces records.
5. If a company has ___________________ in a particular market, it has more power or influence than other
companies.
6. In business, a ___________________ is a competitor.
7. A ___________________ is a single song on an album.
8. A ___________________ is an important company in a particular market sector who has, up to now, been inactive.
9. A ___________________ is a song that sells a very large number of copies.
10. If you sell something at a ___________________, you sell it at less than the usual price.
1. How much will Amazon’s 100 best-selling music downloads cost?
2. How much do the cheapest albums cost at Amazon?
3. What percentage of the legal downloading market does Apple control?
4. How much will iTunes cost under Apple’s variable pricing policy?
5. How long did it take Calvin Harris to write I’m Not Alone?
6. How much does Calvin Harris’ new single cost?

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NEWS LESSONS / Amazon to challenge iTunes with 29p MP3 music downloads / Elementary
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Level 1 Elementary
Amazon to challenge iTunes with 29p people’s habits.” He added that the real task
MP3 music downloads for digital online services such as Amazon and
• Online retailer’s cheap tracks may spark price war Apple is to change the habits of traditional
• Fears that music will be devalued by discounting music buyers and encourage them to buy digital
music. “Companies have to find ways of selling
Alexandra Topping
to people who don’t want to pay. Variable and
April 8, 2009
aggressive pricing is one way they can do this,
but it’s only part of the battle. The question is
1 The giant online retailer Amazon has started an
not who can beat iTunes but who can move the
MP3 price war by cutting the price of 100
online music industry on from what iTunes have
best-selling music downloads to just 29 UK
pence each. Amazon is trying to get a bigger
share of the legal music download market and 6 Paul Scaife, managing director of the music
experts say that it is trying to steal customers industry newsletter Record of the Day, said more
from its rival iTunes. labels have been asking for songs to cost what
fans want to pay and have welcomed variable
2 The list of cheap songs includes pop, hip-hop,
pricing. But he warned: “Music has been pretty
rock, classical and jazz and music fans can also
devalued already. If they continue to sell at a
find older tracks such as Oasis’s Wonderwall and
discount that will become the regular price and
anything else seems expensive. A single track
must be worth more than 29p.”
also offers albums for as little as £3, said it was
introducing the reductions for an indefinite period. 7 Record labels are not the only ones worried
3 Apple controls more than 70% of the legal
downloading market and it recently announced
some of its hit tracks would increase in price,
comment on Twitter after he discovered the price
while the price of other older songs would fall,
of his song at Tesco. He wrote: “Good Lord! I just
as part of the company’s introduction of variable
pricing. A spokesman confirmed that customers
could now buy songs at the iTunes store for 59p,
79p and 99p but did not want to discuss an MP3
price war, saying the company did not comment
on competitors or future prices. © Guardian News & Media 2009
4 Music industry analyst Mark Mulligan said
Amazon’s actions were the first serious threat
to Apple’s dominance of the music download
market. “Up to now Amazon has been a bit of a
sleeping giant, but we are now seeing some real
action from Amazon,” he said.
5 But despite Amazon’s marketing offensive,

Apple will probably not lose their market leader
position any time soon. “If Amazon is going to
compete it is going to have to throw everything
at iTunes or it just won’t have any effect. Even
if they are cheaper it will take time to change
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Level 1 Elementary
1. Amazon has cut the price of music downloads because …
2. It will be difficult for Amazon and Apple …
3. More competition is probably …
4. If companies continue to sell their product at discounted prices …
5. It took Calvin Harris …
6. Harris was shocked …
a. … two years to write I’m Not Alone.

b. … those prices will become normal.
c. … to find a supermarket was selling his song very cheaply.
d. … it wants a bigger share of the music downloads market.
e. … good news for people who buy digital music.
f. … to change people’s habits.
4 Chunks
1. little as for £3 as
2. than market 70% the of more
3. don’t people who pay to want
4. at if continue they sell discount a to
5. music no is trouble wonder in
6. share a the market of bigger
1. variable a. downloads
2. serious b. retailer
3. managing c. label
4. record d. pricing
5. online e. director
6. music f. threat
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Level 1 Elementary
6 Prepositions
1. a bigger share ___________ the market

2. ___________ an indefinite period
3. increase ___________ price
4. comment ___________ something
5. a serious threat ___________ Apple
6. only part ___________ the battle
7. in line ___________ something
8. sell ___________ a discount
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1. newsletter 1. for as little as £3

2. retailer 2. more than 70% of the market
3. variable 3. people who don’t want to pay
4. label 4. if they continue to sell at a discount
5. dominance 5. no wonder music is in trouble
6. rival 6. a bigger share of the market
7. track
8. sleeping giant
9. hit 5 Two-word expressions
10. discount
1. d
2. f
4. c
1. 29 pence 5. b
2. £3 6. a
3. more than 70%
4. 59p, 79p and 99p
5. 2 years 6 Prepositions
6. 57p
1. of
3 Comprehension check 2. for
3. in
1. d 4. on
2. f 5. to
3. e 6. of
4. b 7. with
5. a 8. at
6. c
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1 Key words
retailer dominance custom grandstanding rival

bargain variable label challenge track
1. _____________________ is the practice of buying products from a particular company.
2. A _____________________ is a single song on an album.
3. _____________________ is behaviour that is intended to get public attention and approval.
4. A _____________________ is a person or company that sells direct to the public for their own use.
5. If something is _____________________, it can change.
6. A _____________________ is a company that produces records.
7. A _____________________ is something that you buy that costs less than normal.
8. A _____________________ is something that needs a lot of skill, energy and determination to achieve.
9. If a company has _____________________ in a particular market, it has more power or influence than
other companies.
10. In business, a _____________________ is a competitor.
1. Which company has the largest share of the music download market?
2. How much will 100 popular tracks cost at Amazon?
3. How much will iTunes cost under Apple’s variable pricing policy?
4. How much cheaper is Oasis’s Wonderwall at Amazon than at iTunes?
5. How much do the cheapest albums cost at Amazon?
6. How much does Calvin Harris’ new single cost?

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Amazon to challenge iTunes with 29p leader position any time soon. “If Amazon are
MP3 music downloads going to compete they are going to have to
• Online retailer’s cheap tracks may spark price war throw everything at iTunes or they just won’t
• Fears that music will be devalued by discounting make any impact. Even if they are cheaper it will
take time to change people’s habits and it is still
Alexandra Topping
that bit more inconvenient.” He added that the
April 8, 2009
real challenge for digital online services such
as Amazon and Apple would be to change the
1 The giant online retailer Amazon has declared an
habits of traditional music buyers and encourage
MP3 price war by cutting the price of many
them to buy digital music. “Companies have to
top-selling music downloads in an attempt to
find ways of selling to people who don’t want to
grab a bigger share of the legal music download
pay. Variable and aggressive pricing is one way
market. In a move seen by experts as an
they can do this, but it’s only part of the battle.
aggressive attempt to steal custom from its rival
The question is not who can beat iTunes but who
iTunes, Amazon cut the price of more than 100
can move the industry on from what iTunes have
popular tracks to just 29 UK pence.
2 On the bargain list, which covers pop, hip-hop,
6 Paul Scaife, managing director of the music
rock, classical and jazz, music fans can also find
industry newsletter Record of the Day, said more
older tracks such as Oasis’s Wonderwall and
competition was good news for digital music
consumers, and variable pricing was welcomed
by labels who have long asked for songs to be
also offers albums for as little as £3, said the
priced according to what fans think they are
reductions were being introduced for an
worth. But he warned: “Music has been pretty
indefinite period.
devalued already. If they continue to sell at a
discount that becomes the de facto price and
3 The news comes as Apple – which is believed to
anything else seems expensive. A single track
control more than 70% of the legal downloading
has got to be worth more than 29p.”
market – announced some of its hit tracks would
increase in price, while other older songs would
7 Record labels are not the only ones concerned
be reduced, as part of the company’s introduction
of variable pricing. A spokesman confirmed that
songs would now be available at the iTunes
store at 59p, 79p and 99p but refused to discuss
comment on Twitter after discovering the price of
an MP3 price war, saying the company did not
his song at Tesco. He wrote: “Good Lord! I just
comment on competitors or future
pricing strategy.
4 Music industry analyst Mark Mulligan,
vice-president of Forrester Research, said
Amazon’s actions were the first serious threat © Guardian News & Media 2009
to Apple’s dominance of the music download First published in The Guardian, 08/04/09
market. “Until this point Amazon have been a bit
of a sleeping giant, but we are now seeing some
real grandstanding,” he said.
5 But despite the online retailer’s marketing

offensive, Apple are unlikely to lose their market
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1. Amazon sells more music downloads than Apple.
2. Amazon is introducing price reductions for a limited period.
3. Apple is planning to increase some of its prices and reduce others.
4. Apple is expected to lose its leading market position very soon.
5. More competition is good news for digital music consumers.
6. Calvin Harris is delighted that his new single is selling for 57p.
4 Find the word

1. A verb meaning to succeed in getting something, especially by being quick or the best at something. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning a song that sells a very large number of copies. (para 3)
3. A two-word expression meaning an approach to fixing prices that allows them to rise and fall. (para 3)
4. A two-word expression meaning a plan or method to set prices. (para 3)
5. A two-word expression meaning an important player in a particular sector who has, up to now, been inactive.
(para 4)
6. A noun meaning written information sent regularly to members of an organization. (para 6)
7. A three-word expression meaning at less than the usual price. (para 6)
8. A two-word expression that means actual, even though not official. (para 6)
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns or noun phrases in the right-hand column to form
1. cut a. the market

2. grab b. people’s habits
3. change c. an impact
4. make d. a comment
5. post e. a share of the market
6. control f. prices
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6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. reduce
2. introduce
3. dominate
4. compete
5. announcement
6. encouragement
7. achievement
8. attempt
7 Discussion
How often do you buy music? Where do you buy it? What, in your opinion, is the best way to buy music?
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1. custom 1. grab
2. track 2. hit
3. grandstanding 3. variable pricing
4. retailer 4. pricing strategy
5. variable 5. sleeping giant
6. label 6. newsletter
7. bargain 7. at a discount
8. challenge 8. de facto
9. dominance
10. rival

2. e
1. Apple 3. b
2. 29p 4. c
3. 59p, 79p and 99p 5. d
4. up to 70p less 6. a
5. £3
6. 57p
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. reduction

2. introduction
1. F 3. dominance
2. F 4. competitor (competition)
3. T 5. announce
4. F 6. encourage
5. T 7. achieve
6. F 8. attempt
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World’s biggest democratic poll begins
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
turnout electoral roll coalition think-tank astute

pundit appeasement tangible fulcrum ballot box
1. A ____________________ is an expert on a particular subject who is often asked to talk about that subject.
2. The ____________________ of something is the person or thing that everything else depends on.
3. The ____________________ is an official list of all the people in an area who have the right to vote in elections.
4. An ____________________ person is one who is good at judging situations quickly and is able to use this
knowledge for personal benefit.
5. A ____________________ is the place where you put your voting paper after you have voted.
6. A ____________________ is a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government
together or work together.
7. The ____________________ is the actual number of people who vote in an election.
8. ____________________ is the process of giving your opponents what they want.
9. A ____________________ is a group of people who work together to produce new ideas on a particular subject.
10. If something is ____________________, it is both important and noticeable.
2 What do you know?
1. The currency of India is the rupee.
2. Mahatma Gandhi was India’s first prime minister.
3. The Congress Party coalition is currently the ruling political group in India.
4. India has atomic weapons.
5. Muslims are the main religious group in India.
6. More than one billion Indians work in agriculture.

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NEWS LESSONS / World’s biggest democratic poll begins / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
In the Indian election, 700m voters, 28 personality. In an opinion poll this year for the
days, 250,000 police: world’s biggest Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, a
democratic poll begins Delhi think-tank, no leader enjoyed 25% approval
• Gandhi’s ruling Congress party remains favourite as a possible prime minister.
• Big players expected to seek coalition partners 6 The most popular leader is probably Sonia
Randeep Ramesh in New Delhi Gandhi, president of the Congress party. Gandhi,
16 April, 2009 who was born in Italy, is an astute politician,
winning the last election against the odds but
refusing to become prime minister, knowing her
1 When voters in parts of central and eastern foreign birth would become too hot an issue.
India go to the polls, it will mark the start of the Instead, she appointed Manmohan Singh as
largest democratic ballot in history, a rolling prime minister, leaving him to formulate policy
wave of voting in five phases that will stretch while she handled the complex deal-making
over a month and demand formidable security involved in coalition building.
measures, given the twin threats posed by
Maoist rebels and jihadi terrorists. 7 The Congress party, say pundits, is the favourite
because it is in power and can point to tangible
2 To get some idea of the scale consider this: 43 achievements. For example, it pushed through
million citizens, more than the adult population big pay rises for 4.5 million government
of England, have been added to the electoral employees this year, creating goodwill in urban
roll since 2004. More than a million electronic areas. The elite also praised Singh for securing
voting machines will be used at 828,000 polling a nuclear deal with the US that allowed India
stations. No voter will be more than 2km from a to keep its atomic weapons and still be sold
ballot box. nuclear reactors. Most important perhaps in
3 Elections can be violent. In the first phase terms of votes, the Congress coalition also
of polls five years ago more than 20 people set up the first social security scheme in
died. Although the central government has India, guaranteeing 100 days of work to poor
a million-man army, most election security is households in the countryside. Although the cost
handled by a 250,000-strong paramilitary force. is estimated at 400bn rupees (£5.4bn) this year,
In the light of the terrorist attack in Mumbai last it should bring in votes among India’s 600 million
year, election policing has been beefed up. agricultural workforce.
4 Ever since the Congress party and the Gandhi 8 In the opposite camp is the BJP, led by Lal
family lost their grip on power in 1989, no single Krishna Advani, 81. The party’s pollsters
party has been able to run India. At the last say it should win votes based on three main
election, the Congress party took only 145 seats issues: terror attacks, the dynastic politics of
out of 543, with 26% of the vote. It took office by the Congress party and the appeasement of
sharing power with partners. Despite the arrival minorities, especially Muslims. These three
of coalition politics, turnout has remained stable issues came together in speeches by Varun
at around 60% and poor minorities are more Gandhi, 29, the great grandson of India’s first
likely to vote than anyone else. prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Although he is
a Gandhi, he has become a mascot for the BJP.
5 There are three main groupings: the United In March he told cheering crowds that he would
Progressive Alliance, dominated by the Congress cut the “head of Muslims” (sic) and that if anyone
party; the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), built raised a finger against Hindus he would “cut
around the Bharatiya Janata Dal; and the Third that hand”.
Front, centred on the Communists. This means
that, unlike in Britain or the US, the election will 9 Another powerful line of attack is that India’s
almost certainly not be dominated by a single economic growth, which has been at 8% for five
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Level 3 Advanced
years, never reached the ordinary man. “What are designed to secure jobs through quotas
has [he] seen? Price rises, joblessness and for her supporters. Mayawati’s victory in Uttar
poverty,” said one of Advani’s aides. However, Pradesh was a political earthquake. Analysts
the real power lies with the regional parties. say Mayawati’s significance is the possible
Congress and the BJP compete directly against emergence of a third national party. If the
each other in only seven out of 28 states. In regional parties unite around her, said Mahesh
almost every other state, the contest boils Rangarajan, a political commentator, she could
down to one of the national parties facing a be the “fulcrum of a new power arrangement”.
local politician. If Mayawati gets 40 or more seats, “she is
possibly prime minister”, he added.
10 The most important of these is likely to be
Kumari Mayawati, who caused an upset in 2007 © Guardian News & Media 2009
when her party swept to power in India’s most First published in The Guardian, 16/04/09
populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Her policies are
claimed to be about social justice but in reality
1. The outcome of the Indian election is ... 3. The Congress Party and the BJP ...
a. ... absolutely certain. a. ... are directly opposed to each other in only a
b. ... fairly certain. quarter of India’s states.
c. ... quite uncertain. b. ... both have policies based on three main issues.
c. ... are likely to form a new coalition.
2. The Congress party is favourite to win because …
a. ... it is associated with Gandhi. 4. The Indian elections are threatened by ...
b. ... it is currently in power and has some notable a. ... Maoist rebels and jihadi terrorists.
achievements. b. ... a 250,000-strong military force.
c. ... its policies are popular in the countryside. c. ... appeasement of minorities.
4 Find the word

1. An adjective meaning very impressive in size or power and therefore deserving respect. (para 1)
2. A four-word expression meaning because of a particular fact. (para 3)
3. An adjective meaning not changing frequently. (para 4)
4. A three-word expression meaning in conditions that make success unlikely. (para 6)
5. A noun meaning a small group of people who have a lot of power or advantages. (para 7)
6. A noun meaning an animal, person or object that is considered to be lucky or is used as the symbol of a team
or organization. (para 8)
7. A noun meaning unemployment. (para 9)
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5 Phrasal verbs
Replace the underlined words in each sentence with the correct form of these phrasal verbs.
point to boil down to beef up bring in push through bring in
1. Security has been strengthened after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
2. They succeeded in getting the new law accepted quickly.
3. Some of the BJP’s policies should attract a lot of votes.
4. In some states the election amounts to a contest between a national party and a local politician.
5. Gandhi has invited her son to help with her campaign.
6. The Congress party can show a number of important achievements.
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column to make collocatons from
the text.
1. secure a. security
2. pose b. votes
3. formulate c. one’s grip
4. win d. a social security scheme
5. beef up e. a country
6. lose f. a deal
7. set up g. a policy
8. run h. a threat
7 Discussion
What are the most important factors that influence people when they vote in an election in your country?
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KEY
1. pundit 1. formidable
2. fulcrum 2. in the light of
3. electoral roll 3. stable
4. astute 4. against the odds
5. ballot box 5. elite
6. coalition 6. mascot
7. turnout 7. joblessness
8. appeasement 8. sweep to power
9. think-tank
10. tangible
5 Phrasal verbs
2 What do you know? 1. beefed up

2. pushed through
1. T 3. bring in
2. F 4. boils down to
3. T 5. brought in
4. T 6. point to
5. F
6. F
3 Comprehension check 1. f
2. h
1. c 3. g
2. b 4. b
3. a 5. a
4. a 6. c
7. d
8. e
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
electoral roll coalition polling station opinion poll seat

ballot box appeasement dominate joblessness dynasty
1. A _____________________ is the building where people go to vote in an election.
2. If a person or an organization _____________________, they control a particular activity because they have a
lot of power.
3. The _____________________ is an official list of all the people in an area who have the right to vote in elections.
4. A _____________________ is a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government
5. An _____________________ is an attempt to find out what people in general think about a subject by asking
them questions about it.
6. _____________________ is another word for unemployment.
7. A _____________________ is a position as a member of parliament.
8. A _____________________ is a family whose members rule a country for a long period of time.
9. A _____________________ is the place where you put your voting paper after you have voted.
10. _____________________ is the process of giving your opponents what they want.
1. How many Indian citizens have joined the electoral roll since 2004?
2. How many polling stations will there be at the election?
3. How many soldiers are there in the Indian army?
4. How many seats are there in the Indian parliament?
5. How many Indians work in agriculture?
6. How many states are there in India?

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NEWS LESSONS / World’s biggest democratic poll begins / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
In the Indian election, 700m voters, 28 that a single personality will not dominate the
days, 250,000 police: world’s biggest election. In an opinion poll earlier this year, no
democratic poll begins political leader had more than 25% support to be
• Gandhi’s ruling Congress party remains favourite prime minister.
• Big players expected to seek coalition partners 6 The most popular leader is probably Sonia
Randeep Ramesh in New Delhi Gandhi, president of the Congress party. Gandhi,
16 April, 2009 who was born in Italy, is a clever politician. It was
a surprise when she won the last election but she
refused to become prime minister, because she
1 This year’s election in India will be the largest
knew that her foreign birth would be a problem.
democratic election in history. The five phases
Instead she appointed Manmohan Singh as
of the election will last for a month and will
prime minister.
require extensive security measures, because
of the danger of attacks by Maoist rebels and 7 Experts say the Congress party is the favourite
jihadi terrorists. because it is in power and has done some
positive things for many Indian people. For
2 To get some idea of how big this election is, think
example, it gave big pay rises to 4.5 million
about this: 43 million citizens, more than the adult
government employees this year. The ruling
population of England, have joined the electoral
class also praised Singh for his deal with the US
roll since 2004. More than a million electronic
that allowed India to keep its atomic weapons
voting machines will be used at 828,000 polling
and still buy nuclear reactors. Most important
stations. No voter will be more than 2km from a
perhaps in terms of votes, the Congress coalition
ballot box.
also started the first social security scheme
3 Indian elections are often violent. More than 20 in India. This scheme guarantees 100 days
people died in the first phase of the election five of work to poor families in the countryside.
years ago. Although the central government has Although it cost 400bn rupees (£5.4bn) this year,
an army with one million soldiers, a 250,000- it should attract votes from India’s 600 million
strong paramilitary force will be responsible for agricultural workforce.
the security of the election. After the terrorist
8 Opposing the Congress party is the BJP, led by
attack in Mumbai last year, election security has
Lal Krishna Advani. The party will probably win
been strengthened.
votes on three main issues: terror attacks, the
4 No single party has been able to govern India dynastic politics of the Congress party and the
since the Congress party and the Gandhi family appeasement of minorities, especially Muslims.
lost overall power in 1989. At the last election the
9 Another powerful weapon for the BJP is that
Congress party won only 145 seats out of 543,
India’s economic growth, which has been
with 26% of the vote. It became the governing
at 8% for five years, has never reached the
party by sharing power with partners in a
ordinary man. “What has [he] seen? Price rises,
coalition. Despite the arrival of coalition politics,
joblessness and poverty,” said one BJP politician.
the number of people voting has remained the
But the real power lies with the regional parties.
same, at around 60%. Poor minorities are more
Congress and the BJP compete directly against
likely to vote than anyone else.
each other in only seven out of 28 states. In
5 There are three main political groups: the United almost every other state, the election is between
Progressive Alliance, dominated by the Congress one of the national parties and a local politician.
party; the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), built
10 The most important of these local politicians is
around the Bharatiya Janata Dal; and the Third
Kumari Mayawati. In 2007 it was a big surprise
Front, built around the Communists. This means
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when her party won the state election in India’s
most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Her victory
there was a political earthquake. Experts
say that if the regional parties unite around
Mayawati, she could be the centre of a new
power arrangement and possibly the next
prime minister.
Each sentence contains a mistake. Correct the mistakes.
1. The five phases of the Indian election will last for a week.
2. No voter will be more than 20km from a ballot box.
3. The Indian army will be responsible for the security of the election.
4. At the last election, the Congress party won 62% of the vote.
5. Sonia Gandhi was born in India.
6. India’s economic growth has been 18% for five years.
4 Chunks
1. in the history election largest democratic
2. are groups three there main political

3. machines more electronic than million voting a
4. people than died more 20
5. in first the security social India scheme
6. centre arrangement a of new power the

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5 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. elect
2. secure
3. appease
4. arrange
5. arrive
6. grow
1. democratic a. security
2. prime b. attack
3. terrorist c. minister
4. polling d. rise
5. social e. poll
6. pay f. election
7. opinion g. class
8. ruling h. station
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KEY
1. polling station 1. the largest democratic election in history

2. dominates 2. there are three main political groups
3. electoral roll 3. more than a million electronic voting machines
4. coalition 4. more than 20 people died
5. opinion poll 5. the first social security scheme in India
6. joblessness 6. the centre of a new power arrangment
7. seat
8. dynasty
5 Word building
9. ballot box
10. appeasement
verb noun

2 Find the information 1. elect election
2. secure security
1. 43 million 3. appease appeasement
2. 828,000 4. arrange arrangement
3. one million
5. arrive arrival
4. 543
6. grow growth
5. 600 million
6. 28
1. f
1. The five phases of the Indian election will last for 2. c
a month. 3. b
2. No voter will be more than 2km from a ballot box. 4. h
3. A 250,000-strong paramilitary force will be 5. a
responsible for the security of the election. 6. d
4. At the last election, the Congress party won 26% of 7. e
the vote. 8. g
5. Sonia Gandhi was born in Italy.
6. India’s economic growth has been 8% for five years.
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1 Key words
threat electoral roll coalition astute opinion poll

appeasement polling station ballot box turnout seat
1. A ____________________ is a position as a member of parliament.
2. The ____________________ is the actual number of people who vote in an election.
3. ____________________ is the process of giving your opponents what they want.

4. A ____________________ is the building where people go to vote in an election.
5. A ____________________ is a situation or activity that could cause harm or danger.
6. The ____________________ is an official list of all the people in an area who have the right to vote in elections.
7. An ____________________ person is one who is good at judging situations quickly and is able to use this
knowledge for personal benefit.
8. A ____________________ is the place where you put your voting paper after you have voted.
9. A ____________________ is a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government
10. An ____________________ is an attempt to find out what people in general think about a subject by asking
them questions about it.
1. What is the currency of India?
2. Who was India’s first prime minister?
3. How many seats are there in the Indian parliament?
4. How much did the new social security system cost?
5. How many states are there in India?
6. How many Indians work in agriculture?

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NEWS LESSONS / World’s biggest democratic poll begins / Intermediate

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In the Indian election, 700m voters, 28 not be dominated by a single personality. In an
days, 250,000 police: world’s biggest opinion poll earlier this year, no leader had a 25%
democratic poll begins approval as a possible prime minister.
• Gandhi’s ruling Congress party remains favourite 6 The most popular leader is probably Sonia
• Big players expected to seek coalition partners Gandhi, president of the Congress party. Gandhi,
Randeep Ramesh in New Delhi who was born in Italy, is an astute politician.
16 April, 2009 She won the last election against the odds but
refused to become prime minister, knowing her
foreign birth would become an issue. Instead,
1 When voters in parts of central and eastern India
she appointed Manmohan Singh as prime
vote in this year’s election, it will be the start of
minister, leaving him to formulate policy while
the largest democratic election in history. The
she handled the complex deal-making involved in
five phases of the election will stretch over a
coalition building.
month and require extensive security measures,
in view of the threats posed by Maoist rebels and 7 Experts say the Congress party is the favourite
jihadi terrorists. because it is in power and can point to some real
achievements. For example, it gave big pay rises
2 To get an idea of the scale of the election,
to 4.5 million government employees this year,
consider this: 43 million citizens, more than the
creating goodwill in the major cities. The elite
adult population of England, have been added
also praised Singh for a nuclear deal with the US
to the electoral roll since 2004. More than a
that allowed India to keep its atomic weapons
million electronic voting machines will be used at
and still be sold nuclear reactors. Most important
828,000 polling stations. No voter will be more
perhaps in terms of votes, the Congress coalition
than 2km from a ballot box.
also set up the first social security scheme in
3 Indian elections can be violent. In the first phase India, guaranteeing 100 days of work to poor
of the election five years ago, more than 20 families in the countryside. Although the cost is
people died. Although the central government estimated at 400bn rupees (£5.4bn) this year, it
has a million-man army, most election security is should bring in votes among India’s 600 million
handled by a 250,000-strong paramilitary force. agricultural workforce.
Following the terrorist attack in Mumbai last year,
8 Opposing the Congress party is the BJP, led
election security has been beefed up.
by Lal Krishna Advani. The party is expected
4 Ever since the Congress party and the Gandhi to win votes based on three main issues: terror
family lost overall power in 1989, no single party attacks, the dynastic politics of the Congress
has been able to run India. At the last election, party and the appeasement of minorities,
the Congress party took only 145 seats out especially Muslims. These three issues came
of 543, with 26% of the vote. It took office by together in speeches by Varun Gandhi, 29, the
sharing power with partners. Despite the arrival great grandson of India’s first prime minister,
of coalition politics, turnout has remained stable Jawaharlal Nehru. Although he is a Gandhi, he
at around 60% and poor minorities are more has become a mascot for the BJP. In March he
likely to vote than anyone else. told cheering crowds that he would cut the “head
of Muslims” (sic) and that if anyone raised a
5 There are three main groupings: the United finger against Hindus he would “cut that hand”.
Progressive Alliance, dominated by the Congress
party; the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), built 9 Another powerful line of attack is that India’s
around the Bharatiya Janata Dal; and the Third economic growth, which has been at 8% for five
Front, centred on the Communists. This means years, has never reached the ordinary man.
that, unlike in Britain or the US, the election will “What has [he] seen? Price rises, joblessness
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and poverty,” said one of Advani’s aides. Analysts say Mayawati’s significance is the
However, the real power lies with the regional possible emergence of a third national party.
parties. Congress and the BJP compete directly If the regional parties unite around her, said
against each other in only seven out of 28 Mahesh Rangarajan, a political commentator,
states. In almost every other state, the contest she could be the “centre of a new power
is between one of the national parties and a arrangement”. If Mayawati gets 40 or more
local politician. seats, “she could possibly become prime
minister”, he added.
10 The most important of these is likely to be
Kumari Mayawati, who caused an upset in © Guardian News & Media 2009
2007 when her party swept to power in India’s First published in The Guardian, 16/04/09
most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Her victory
in Uttar Pradesh was a political earthquake.
1. It will take one month to complete the next Indian election.
2. There are 43 million people on the Indian electoral roll.
3. Voters have to be 2km from a ballot box in order to vote.
4. The Congress party rules India.
5. Sonia Gandhi is the Indian prime minister.
6. The Congress party has introduced measures that are popular in both the towns and in the countryside.
7. The Congress party and the BJP will not compete directly against each other in 75% of the Indian states.
8. Kumari Mayawati will definitely be the next prime minister of India.
4 Find the word
1. An adjective meaning organized and operating like an army. (para 3)
2. A two-word phrasal verb meaning strengthen. (para 3)
3. An adjective meaning not changing frequently. (para 4)
4. A three-word expression meaning in conditions that make success unlikely. (para 6)
5. A noun meaning a small group of people who have a lot of power or advantages. (para 7)
6. A two-word phrasal verb meaning attract. (para 7)
7. A noun meaning an animal, person or object that is considered to be lucky or is used as the symbol of a team or
organization. (para 8)
8. A noun meaning unemployment. (para 9)

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5 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. achieve
2. signify
3. appease
4. secure
5. arrive
6. grow
7. arrange
8. approve
1. security a. security
2. central b. attack
3. terrorist c. poll
4. pay d. measures
5. social e. growth
6. economic f. minister
7. opinion g. government
8. prime h. rise
7 Discussion
Many of these factors may be important when people decide how to vote in an election: unemployment,
the economy, security, foreign policy, education, social welfare, health, transport, housing, law and order.
Rank them in order of priority from 1 (most important) to 10 (least important).
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1. seat 1. paramilitary
2. turnout 2. beef up
3. appeasement 3. stable
4. polling station 4. against the odds
5. threat 5. elite
6. electoral roll 6. bring in
7. astute 7. mascot
8. ballot box 8. joblessness
9. coalition
10. opinion poll
5 Word building

verb noun
1. the rupee 1. achieve achievement
2. Jawaharlal Nehru 2. signify significance
3. 543 3. appease appeasement
4. 400 billion rupees (£5.4 bn) 4. secure security
5. 28
5. arrive arrival
6. 600 million
6. grow growth
7. arrange arrangement
8. approve approval
1. T
2. F 6 Two-word expressions
3. F
4. F 1. d
5. F 2. g
6. T 3. b
7. T 4. h
8. F 5. a
6. e
7. c
8. f
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Swine flu outbreak brings Mexico City to a near halt
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
brutal apocalyptic ubiquitous idyllic stir crazy

off-limits partial tranquil deserted non-essential
1. If a scene is described as _____________________, it is extremely beautiful and peaceful.

2. A _____________________ place or scene is one which is calm, still and quiet.
3. If a place is _____________________, there are no people in it.
4. If a place is _____________________, you are not allowed to go there.
5. _____________________ services are ones which are not absolutely necessary.
6. An _____________________ situation is one in which very bad things happen or the whole world will
be destroyed.
7. _____________________ is an American expression used to describe someone who is incredibly restless
because they have been kept inside for too long.
8. If something is _____________________, you can find it everywhere.
9. A _____________________ action is one which is extreme and unpleasant.
10. A _____________________ action is one that is not complete.
1. Which are the only restaurants in Mexico City that remain open?
2. What is the population of Mexico City?
3. Where, according to the president of Mexico, is the safest place to avoid swine flu?
4. How much is the shutdown costing Mexico City each day?
5. What has happened to the number of people staying in hotels?
6. What commodity is selling particularly well?

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NEWS LESSONS / Swine flu outbreak brings Mexico City to a near halt / Advanced
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Level 3 Advanced
Swine flu outbreak brings normally 5 The few who venture out try to reduce risk of
bustling Mexico City to a near halt infection by keeping distance from others and
• Residents told to stay home for a five-day not touching things with their hands. The church
economic shutdown of Our Lady of Rosario was empty all morning
• Almost all 30,000 city restaurants are shuttered save for one woman who opened the door with
her foot. Parents are keeping children indoors,
Rory Carroll in Mexico City driving them stir crazy. “My little ones are running
April 30, 2009 riot but what can I do? There’s only so much
TV and homework they can bear,” said Carmen
1 The scene looked idyllic. Two men on a bench on
Ramos, a shopkeeper.
Avenida Alvaro Obregon sitting in the sunshine.
Birds sang in the trees overhead. There was 6 Crime rates have fallen, air quality has greatly
hardly a soul to break the tranquility. But improved and birds are audible on what
Salvador Hellmer, a briefcase at his feet, was once were crowded streets. But anxiety and
not feeling tranquil. “Look at us! It’s like a war, uncertainty prevents people enjoying that. The
worse than war. This sort of thing doesn’t happen authorities have said the city’s lockdown may
in Iraq or Afghanistan.” The immediate source of last indefinitely. “We have to get used to the idea
his anger was Wings, a restaurant which closed that we are going to live with this virus for a long
its doors and forced the lawyer and his client to time,” said Marcelo Ebrard, the mayor.
hold their meeting on a bench opposite. Neither
was in the mood to enjoy sunshine, birdsong or a 7 159 people are thought to have died from swine
deserted street. flu and 2,498 are suspected to have the virus. A
mercifully small number of victims so far, given
2 To avoid spreading swine flu almost all of Mexico the apocalyptic warnings, but the economic
City’s estimated 30,000 restaurants have shut, impact has been brutal. “Epidemic of losses”,
with just a few operating a skeleton service for ran the banner headline in today’s Excelsior’s
take-outs. Of all the edicts which have turned newspaper. The chamber of commerce says the
this metropolis of 20m people into a ghost town shutdown is costing Mexico City $57m a day.
the one on eateries seems the most resented. Tourism has evaporated, proving there is such
“Madness. Not even after the 1985 earthquake a thing as bad publicity. Archaeological sites,
was it like this,” said Juan Perez, 44, outside including Aztec pyramids and Maya temples, are
Julia’s, a closed taco restaurant on Avenida off-limits nationwide. Hotel occupancy in Mexico
Cuauhtemoc. “This is a disaster.” City is down to under 10%. Argentina and Cuba
have suspended flights and if France gets its way
3 Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, has now
the European Union will follow, compounding
told citizens to stay home from Friday for a
Mexicans’ sense of isolation. The one trade
five-day partial shutdown of the economy. “There
which is booming is sales in surgical masks.
is no safer place than your own home to avoid
Pharmacies ran out of stocks several days ago
being infected with the flu virus,” he said. The
but masks can be bought on the black market for
country will suspend non-essential work and
more than $1 each, a huge mark-up.
services, including some government ministries,
from May 1–5. 8 “This can’t go on,” said Daniel Martinez, 46, the
driver of one of the city’s mini-buses. “Look at
4 Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities,
that,” he pointed behind him. Every seat was empty
a city full of chaos and movement and life, is
save for one at the very back occupied by a middle-
slowing to a stop. Schools, cinemas, gyms and
aged man wearing a mask. “It’s like driving ghosts.”
tourist sites have shut, businesses are suffering
badly and crowds, a ubiquitous feature of this © Guardian News & Media 2009
most social of capitals, have vanished. First published in The Guardian, 30/04/09
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Level 3 Advanced
1. What benefits has the swine flu epidemic brought to Mexico City?
a. The ubiquitous crowds have vanished from the streets and the city is deserted.
b. Crime has fallen and air quality has improved.
c. Hotel occupancy is below 10% and some countries have suspended flights.
2. Which of the emergency measures seems to be the most unpopular?

a. The closure of some government ministries.
b. The closure of most of the city’s restaurants.
c. The closure of famous tourist sites.
3. How do people who go outside try to avoid becoming infected?

a. By using their feet to open doors.
b. By holding business meetings in the open air.
c. By avoiding close contact with other people and not touching things with their hands.
4. How long will the shutdown last?

a. No-one knows.
b. Until 5 May.
c. Three months.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word expression meaning just enough workers to keep a business or service operating. (para 2)
2. A noun meaning an official order given by a government. (para 2)
3. A verb meaning to experience angry unhappy feelings because you feel you have been treated unfairly. (para 2)
4. A two-word expression meaning to exit to somewhere unpleasant or dangerous. (para 5)
5. A two-word preposition meaning except for. (para 5)
6. A two-word expression meaning behaving in a noisy and uncontrolled way. (para 5)
7. A three-word expression meaning an organization of people who own shops and businesses in a particular
town or city. (para 7)
8. A three-word expression meaning to be allowed to have what you want. (para 7)
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Level 3 Advanced
1. non-essential a. market
2. crime b. headline
3. economic c. publicity
4. bad d. rate
5. black e. services
6. banner f. impact
6 Word building
Fill the gaps using the correct form of the word in brackets at the end of each sentence.
1. The shutdown in Mexico City could last __________________. [definite]

2. There is a feeling of __________________ throughout the city. [anxious]
3. There is also a feeling of great __________________ as no-one knows exactly what is happening. [certain]
4. There has been a great __________________ in air quality. [improve]
5. There has also been a noticeable __________________ in crime. [reduce]
6. The __________________ of flights from the European Union would increase the sense of isolation. [suspend]
6 Discussion
Are you worried about catching swine flu? What measures would you take to avoid an infectious disease
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1. idyllic 1. skeleton service

2. tranquil 2. edict
3. deserted 3. resent
4. off-limits 4. venture out
5. non-essential 5. save for
6. apocalyptic 6. running riot
7. stir-crazy 7. chamber of commerce
8. ubiquitous 8. get one’s way
9. brutal
10. partial

2. d
1. ones that sell take-away food 3. f
2. 20 million 4. c
3. in your own home 5. a
4. $57 million 6. b
5. it has fallen to less than 10% of the usual number
6. surgical masks
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. indefinitely

2. anxiety
1. b 3. uncertainty
2. b 4. improvement
3. c 5. reduction
4. a 6. suspension
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
deserted non-essential epidemic virus ghost town

disaster crowded swine flu isolated black market
1. An ______________________ is a situation in which a disease spreads very quickly and infects many people.
2. ______________________ is an infectious disease which first appeared in pigs.
3. A ______________________ is a simple living thing which is smaller than a bacterium and can enter your
body and make you ill.
4. If you feel ______________________, you feel alone and unhappy.
5. If a place is ______________________, there are no people in it.
6. A place where most people have left is called a ______________________.
7. The ______________________ is the illegal buying and selling of goods.
8. If a place is ______________________, there are a lot of people in it.
9. A ______________________ is something very bad that causes a lot of damage or kills a lot of people.
10. ______________________ services are ones which are not absolutely necessary.
1. How many restaurants are there in Mexico City?
2. How many people live in Mexico City?
3. When was the earthquake in Mexico City?
4. How many people have died from swine flu?
5. How many people have the virus?
6. How much does a surgical mask cost on the black market?

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NEWS LESSONS / Swine flu outbreak brings Mexico City to a near halt / Elementary
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Level 1 Elementary
Swine flu outbreak brings normally 5 The few people who do go outside try to reduce
bustling Mexico City to a near halt the risk of infection by keeping away from other
• Residents told to stay home for a five-day people and not touching things with their hands.
economic shutdown The church of Our Lady of Rosario was empty all
• Almost all 30,000 city restaurants are shuttered morning except for one woman who opened the
door with her foot. Parents are keeping children
Rory Carroll in Mexico City
indoors, which is making them bored. “My
April 30, 2009
children are going crazy but what can I do? All
they can do is watch TV and do their homework,”
1 It was a peaceful scene. Two men were sitting
said Carmen Ramos, a shopkeeper.
on a bench on Avenida Alvaro Obregon in the
sunshine. Birds were singing in the trees. There 6 Crime rates have fallen, there has been an
was hardly anyone to disturb the silence. But improvement in air quality, and you can hear the
Salvador Hellmer, a lawyer, was not a happy sound of birds on the once crowded streets. But
man. “Look at us! It’s like a war, worse than people are too worried and uncertain to enjoy it.
war. This sort of thing doesn’t happen in Iraq The authorities have said they don’t know how
or Afghanistan.” He was angry because a local long the situation will last. “We have to get used
restaurant had closed its doors and forced to the idea that we are going to live with this virus
Salvador and his client to hold their meeting on for a long time,” said Marcelo Ebrard, the mayor.
a bench opposite. Neither of them was in the
mood to enjoy the sunshine, the birdsong or the 7 It is believed that 159 people have died from
deserted street. swine flu and 2,498 more have the virus. This
is quite a small number of victims so far but the
2 To prevent the spread of swine flu, almost all of economic impact has been terrible. “Epidemic
Mexico City’s 30,000 restaurants have closed, of losses”, said the headline in the Excelsior’s
with just a few operating a take-away service. newspaper. The shutdown is costing Mexico
The government has issued a number of orders City $57m a day. Tourism has disappeared as a
that have made this huge city of 20m people result of the bad publicity. Archaeological sites,
a ghost town, but it is the order to close the including Aztec pyramids and Maya temples,
restaurants that has made people really angry. are closed all over Mexico. Only 10% of hotel
“This is madness. It wasn’t even like this after rooms in Mexico City have guests. Argentina
the earthquake in 1985,” said Juan Perez, 44, and Cuba have stopped flights to Mexico and
outside another closed restaurant. “This is the European Union will probably do the same,
a disaster.” making Mexicans feel even more isolated. The
only business which is doing well is the surgical
3 Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, has now
masks business. Pharmacies sold out several
told citizens to stay home from Friday while
days ago but you can buy masks on the black
parts of the economy close down for five days.
market for more than $1 each, which is much
“Your home is the safest place to be if you want
more than the official price.
to avoid infection with the flu virus,” he said.
The country will stop all non-essential work and 8 “This can’t continue,” said Daniel Martinez, 46,
services, including some government ministries, the driver of one of the city’s mini-buses. “Look
from May 1st to 5th. at that,” he said pointing behind him. Every seat
on his bus was empty except for one at the very
4 Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities, a
back occupied by a middle-aged man wearing a
city full of movement and life, is slowing to a stop.
mask. “It’s like driving ghosts.”
Schools, cinemas, gyms and tourist sites have
closed, businesses are suffering badly and the © Guardian News & Media 2009
usually crowded streets are empty. First published in The Guardian, 30/04/09
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Level 1 Elementary
1. If you want to avoid infection with the swine flu virus, ...
2. A lot of people in Mexico City are angry because …
3. One good thing is that …
4. As a result of the bad publicity, …
5. People who go outside ...
6. Children are bored because …
a. … tourists have stopped visiting Mexico.

b. … air quality has improved.
c. … try not to touch things with their hands.
d. … most of the restaurants in the city have closed down.
e. … they have to stay indoors.
f. … you should stay at home.
4 Numbers and dates
There is one mistake in the written version of each of these numbers or dates. Correct the mistakes.
1. 2,498 two thousand and four hundred and ninety-eight

2. $57 million fifty-seven millions dollars
3. 20m people twenty million of people
4. 1985 nineteen hundred eighty-five
5. 159 people hundred and fifty-nine people
6. May 1–5 from the first to fifth of May
5 Two-word phrases
1. air a. impact
2. tourist b. town
3. ghost c. market
4. crime d. quality
5. economic e. rate
6. black f. sites
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Level 1 Elementary
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. govern
2. meet
3. move
4. infect
5. spread
6. improve
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1 Key words 4 Numbers and dates
1. epidemic 1. two thousand four hundred and ninety-eight

2. swine flu 2. fifty-seven million dollars
3. virus 3. twenty million people
4. isolated 4. nineteen eighty-five
5. deserted 5. a / one hundred and fifty-nine people
6. ghost town 6. from the first to the fifth of May
7. black market
8. crowded
9. disaster 5 Two-word phrases
10. non-essential
1. d
2. f
4. e
1. 30,000 5. a
2. 20 million 6. c
3. 1985
4. 159
5. 2,498 6 Word building
6. $1
1. government
3 Comprehension check 2. meeting
3. movement
1. f 4. infection
2. d 5. spread
3. b 6. improvement
4. a
5. c
6. e
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1 Key words
tranquil deserted non-essential brutal apocalyptic

off-limits edict metropolis anxiety epidemic
1. An ___________________ situation is one in which very bad things happen or the whole world will be destroyed.
2. A ___________________ action is one which is extreme and unpleasant.
3. If a place is ___________________, there are no people in it.
4. An ___________________ is a situation in which a disease spreads very quickly and infects many people.
5. An ___________________ is an official order given by a government.
6. ___________________ is a worried feeling you have because you think something bad might happen.
7. A ___________________ place or scene is one which is calm, still and quiet.
8. ___________________ services are ones which are not absolutely necessary.
9. A ___________________ is a big city, especially considered as somewhere that is very busy and exciting.
10. If a place is ___________________, you are not allowed to go there.
1. How many restaurants are there in Mexico City?
2. What is the population of Mexico City?
3. When was there a major earthquake in Mexico City?
4. How many people have died from swine flu?
5. How much is the shutdown costing Mexico City each day?
6. How much do surgical masks cost on the black market?

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NEWS LESSONS / Swine flu outbreak brings Mexico City to a near halt / Intermediate
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Swine flu outbreak brings normally not touching things with their hands. The church
bustling Mexico City to a near halt of Our Lady of Rosario was empty all morning
• Residents told to stay home for a five-day except for one woman who opened the door with
economic shutdown her foot. Parents are keeping children indoors,
• Almost all 30,000 city restaurants are shuttered driving them crazy. “My children are running riot
but what can I do? There’s only so much TV and
Rory Carroll in Mexico City
homework they can bear,” said Carmen Ramos,
April 30, 2009
a shopkeeper.
1 It was a peaceful scene. Two men were sitting
6 Crime rates have fallen, air quality has greatly
on a bench on Avenida Alvaro Obregon in the
improved and you can hear the sound of birds
sunshine. Birds were singing in the trees. There
on the once crowded streets. But anxiety and
was hardly anyone to disturb the tranquility. But
uncertainty prevents people enjoying that. The
Salvador Hellmer, a lawyer with his briefcase
authorities have said they don’t know how long
at his feet, was not feeling tranquil. “Look at
this situation will last. “We have to get used to the
us! It’s like a war, worse than war. This sort of
idea that we are going to live with this virus for a
thing doesn’t happen in Iraq or Afghanistan.”
long time,” said Marcelo Ebrard, the mayor.
The immediate source of his anger was Wings,
a restaurant which closed its doors and forced 7 It is believed that 159 people have died from
Salvador and his client to hold their meeting on a swine flu and 2,498 more have the virus. This is
bench opposite. Neither was in the mood to enjoy a relatively small number of victims so far, given
sunshine, birdsong or the deserted street. the apocalyptic warnings, but the economic
impact has been brutal. “Epidemic of losses”,
2 To avoid spreading swine flu almost all of Mexico
said the headline in the Excelsior’s newspaper.
City’s 30,000 restaurants have closed, with just a
The shutdown is costing Mexico City $57m a
few operating a take-away service. A number of
day. Tourism has disappeared as a result of the
edicts have turned this metropolis of 20m people
bad publicity. Archaeological sites, including
into a ghost town but the people seem to resent
Aztec pyramids and Maya temples, are off-limits
the one on restaurants the most. “Madness. Not
throughout Mexico. Hotel occupancy in Mexico
even after the 1985 earthquake was it like this,”
City has fallen to under 10%. Argentina and Cuba
said Juan Perez, 44, outside Julia’s, a closed
have suspended flights and the European Union
taco restaurant. “This is a disaster.”
will probably follow, increasing Mexicans’ sense
3 Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, has now of isolation. The one trade which is booming is
told citizens to stay home from Friday while parts sales in surgical masks. Pharmacies ran out of
of the economy close down for five days. “There them several days ago but masks can be bought
is no safer place than your own home to avoid on the black market for more than $1 each, which
being infected with the flu virus,” he said. The is much more than the official price.
country will suspend non-essential work and
8 “This can’t go on,” said Daniel Martinez, 46, the
services, including some government ministries,
driver of one of the city’s mini-buses. “Look at
from May 1–5.
that,” he said pointing behind him. Every seat
4 Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities, a was empty except for one at the very back
city full of movement and life, is slowing to a stop. occupied by a middle-aged man wearing a mask.
Schools, cinemas, gyms and tourist sites have “It’s like driving ghosts.”
shut, businesses are suffering badly and the
usual crowds have vanished. © Guardian News & Media 2009
5 The few people who do go out try to reduce risk
of infection by keeping distance from others and
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1. The closure of the city’s restaurants has made people angry.

2. The safest place to be during the epidemic is at home.
3. All essential services will be suspended for five days at the start of May.
4. The epidemic has caused an increase in crime.
5. The air in the city is not as polluted as usual.
6. It is a good time to be in the surgical masks business.
4 Find the word
1. A noun meaning a hard seat for two or more people, usually outside in a public place. (para 1)
2. A two-word expression meaning a town where most people have left. (para 2)
3. A verb meaning to experience angry unhappy feelings because you feel you have been treated unfairly. (para 2)
4. A verb meaning to disappear. (para 4)
5. A two-word expression meaning behaving in a noisy and uncontrolled way. (para 5)
6. A two-word expression meaning places where you can see the remains of ancient societies. (para 7)
7. A verb meaning enjoying a period of economic success. (para 7)
8. A two-word expression meaning the illegal buying and selling of goods. (para 7)
5 Nouns and verbs
Match the nouns and noun phrases in the left-hand column with the verbs in the right-hand column to make
1. crime rates a. have closed

2. air quality b. are suffering badly
3. restaurants c. has disappeared
4. businesses d. have fallen
5. tourism e. has fallen
6. hotel occupancy f. has improved
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Complete the table.
verb noun
1. warn
2. meet
3. move
4. infect
5. isolate
6. publicize
6 Discussion
Imagine that you are the mayor of a large city threatened by a flu epidemic. What would you do to prevent
the infection spreading?
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1. apocalyptic 1. bench
2. brutal 2. ghost town
3. deserted 3. resent
4. epidemic 4. vanish
5. edict 5. running riot
6. anxiety 6. archaeological sites
7. tranquil 7. booming
8. non-essential 8. black market
9. metropolis
10. off-limits
5 Nouns and verbs

2. f
1. 30,000 3. a
2. 20 million 4. b
3. 1985 5. c
4. 159 6. e
5. $57 million
6. $1
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. warning

2. meeting
1. T 3. movement
2. T 4. infection
3. F 5. isolation
4. F 6. publicity
5. T
6. T
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Web providers must limit Internet’s carbon footprint, say experts
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
footprint consumption escalate revenue scrutiny

subsidy secretive overwhelmed recession exponential
1. If a system is _______________________, it is unable to cope with the amount of demand.
2. If something increases at an _______________________ rate, it grows very quickly.
3. A _______________________ company deliberately sets out not to tell people things.
4. _______________________ is the income a company gets for its business activities.
5. Your _______________________ is the impression you make on the environment.
6. _______________________ is the process of using fuel or energy.
7. If an activity is under _______________________, it is being investigated carefully.
8. A _______________________ is a period when trade and industry are not successful and there is a lot
of unemployment.
9. A _______________________ is an amount of money given by the government or another organization to
help reduce the cost of a product or a service.
10. If costs _______________________, they increase a lot.
2 What do you know?
1. There are more than 1.5 billion people online around the world.
2. YouTube is now the world’s biggest website.
3. YouTube is owned by Microsoft.
4. The computer industry has a bigger carbon footprint than the airline industry.
5. The environmental impact of an Internet search is more than one mile of driving.
6. US computer data centres use more than 15% of entire electricity usage of the United States.
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Level 3 Advanced
Web providers must limit Internet’s of Internet use is that the computer industry’s
carbon footprint, say experts carbon debt is increasing drastically. From having
Soaring online demand stretching companies’ a relatively small impact just a few years ago, it
ability to deliver content as net uses more power is now overtaking other sectors like the airline
and raises costs industry that are more widely known for their
negative environmental impact.
Bobby Johnson in San Francisco
May 3, 2009 6 However, tracking the growth of the Internet’s
energy use is difficult, since internal company
1 The Internet’s increasing appetite for electricity estimates of power consumption are rarely
is a major threat to companies such as Google, made public. “A lot of this Internet stuff is fairly
according to scientists and industry executives. secretive,” said Rich Brown, an energy analyst.
They say that many Internet companies are “Google is probably the best example: they see
struggling to manage the costs of delivering it as a trade secret: how many data centres they
billions of web pages, videos and files online – in have, how big they are, how many servers
a “perfect storm” that could even threaten the they have.”
future of the Internet itself.
7 One study by Brown suggested that US data
2 “In an energy-constrained world, we cannot centres used 61bn kilowatt hours of energy in
continue to grow the footprint of the Internet … 2006. That is enough to supply the whole of
we need to rein in the energy consumption,” the UK for two months, and 1.5% of the entire
said Subodh Bapat of Sun Microsystems, one electricity usage of the US. Brown said that
of the world’s largest manufacturers of web despite efforts to achieve greater efficiency,
servers. Bapat said the network of web servers Internet use is growing at such a rate that it is
and data centres that store online information is outstripping technical improvements – meaning
becoming more expensive, while profits come that American data centres could account for as
under pressure as a result of the recession. “We much as 80bn kWh this year. “Efficiency is being
need more data centres, we need more servers. more than overwhelmed by continued growth
Each server burns more watts than the previous and demand for new services,” he said. “It’s a
generation and each watt costs more,” he said. common story … technical improvements are
3 With more than 1.5 billion people online around often taken back by increased demand.”
the world, scientists estimate that the energy 8 Among the problems that could result from
footprint of the net is growing by more than 10% the Internet’s hunger for electricity are website
each year. This leaves many Internet companies failures and communications disruption costing
caught in a bind: energy costs are escalating millions in lost business every hour – as well as
because of their increasing popularity, while at power cuts at plants which supply data centres
the same time their advertising revenues come with electricity. To combat this, initiatives are
under pressure from the recession. taking place across the industry to cope with the
4 One site under particular scrutiny is YouTube problem, including new designs for data centres
— now the world’s third-biggest website, but one and more investment in renewable energy.
that requires a heavy subsidy from Google, its
9 Researchers at Microsoft’s research lab are
owner. Although the site’s financial details are
even turning to older technology in an attempt
kept under wraps, a recent analysis suggested
to turn the clock back – by replacing energy-
that it could lose as much as $470m (£317m) this
hungry new machines with the systems used
year, as a result of the high price of delivering
in older, less powerful laptops. “It turns out that
power-intensive videos over the Internet.
those processors have been designed to be very
5 And while the demand for electricity is a primary energy efficient, basically to make batteries last,”
concern, a secondary result of the explosion said Andrew Herbert of Microsoft Research. “We
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found we can build more energy-efficient data revenue at the same time,” he said. “With good
centres with those than with the kind of high engineering we’re trying to make those two
performance processors you find in a even out … but the power bill is going up.”
typical server.”
12 Despite mounting evidence that the Internet’s
10 Google was among the first Internet companies energy footprint is in danger of running out of
to take action to reduce its footprint by control, however, Hölzle dismissed concerns
developing its own data centres – but even about the environmental impact of using the
though it pumped an estimated $2.3bn into web. “One mile of driving completely dwarfs
infrastructure projects last year, it remains the cost of a search,” he said. “Internet usage
unclear whether it is winning the battle. is part of our consumption, just like TV is, or
driving. There is consumption there, but overall I
11 The company’s vice-president of operations,
think it is not the problem.”
Urs Hölzle, said that it was struggling to contain
energy costs. “You have exponential growth in © Guardian News & Media 2009
demand from users, and many of these services First published in The Guardian, 03/05/09
are free so you don’t have exponential growth of
1. Why is YouTube expected to lose money this year?

a. Because energy companies are increasing prices.
b. Because it costs a lot of money to send power-intensive videos over the Internet.
c. Because it is secretive about the number of servers it has.
2. Why is it difficult to know exactly how much energy the Internet consumes?
a. Because Internet companies rarely publish how much energy they use.
b. Because no-one knows how many servers they have.
c. Because Internet use is growing faster than technical improvements.
3. Why are researchers at Microsoft turning to older technology?

a. Because they have no money for research and development.
b. Because older laptops are more energy efficient than new machines
c. Because they think it is important to turn the clock back.
4. Why is Google having a problem keeping its energy costs under control?
a. Because it has invested $2.3 billion in infrastructure projects.
b. Because typical servers have high performance processors.
c. Because there is growing demand but revenue is not growing at the same rate.
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4 Find the word

1. A three-word expression meaning an event where a combination of circumstances make a situation much
worse. (para 1)
2. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to limit or bring under control. (para 2)
3. A noun meaning a unit for measuring electrical power. (para 2)
4. A four-word expression meaning trapped in a difficult situation. (para 3)
5. A three-word expression meaning keep something secret. (para 4)
6. A verb meaning to exceed or become larger than something else. (para 7)
7. A four-word expression meaning to return to a time in the past. (para 9)
8. A verb meaning to make something seem small or unimportant. (para 12)
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns and noun phrases in the right-hand column to make
1. have a. a battle
2. achieve b. action
3. take c. electricity
4. win d. online information
5. contain e. greater efficiency
6. store f. a problem
7. burn g. an impact
8. cope with h. costs
6 Word building
1. Energy _________________ is increasing drastically. [consume]

2. The _________________ of power-intensive videos is costing Internet companies a lot of money. [deliver]
3. Several industries have a negative _________________ impact. [environment]
4. There may be a significant amount of _________________ to services. [disrupt]
5. Typical servers contain high _________________ processors. [perform]
6. The increasing _________________ of Internet sites is leading to increasing energy costs. [popular]
7 Discussion
How many other ways of reducing your carbon footprint can you think of? Would you consider reducing
your Internet use to help the environment?
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KEY
1. overwhelmed 1. a perfect storm

2. exponential 2. rein in
3. secretive 3. watt
4. revenue 4. caught in a bind
5. footprint 5. keep under wraps
6. consumption 6. outstrip
7. scrutiny 7. turn the clock back
8. recession 8. dwarf
9. subsidy
10. escalate
2 What do you know? 1. g

2. e
1. T 3. b
2. F 4. a
3. F 5. h
4. T 6. d
5. F 7. c
6. F 8. f
1. b 1. consumption
2. a 2. delivery
3. b 3. environmental
4. c 4. disruption
5. performance
6. popularity
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
energy-efficient threat revenue power cut server

consumption impact recession footprint renewable
1. A _____________________ is a computer that controls all the computers in a network.
2. Your _____________________ is the impression you make on the environment.
3. If something is _____________________, it works well and doesn’t use a lot of energy.
4. _____________________ energy replaces itself by natural processes so that it is never completely used up.
5. A _____________________ is a period when the electricity supply stops.
6. If something has an _____________________ on something else, it has an effect or influence on it.
7. _____________________ is the income a company gets for its business activities.
8. A _____________________ is a period when trade and industry are not successful and there is a lot
of unemployment.
9. A _____________________ is a situation or activity that could cause harm or danger.
10. _____________________ is the process of using fuel or energy.
1. How many people are online around the world?
2. Which company owns YouTube?
3. How much money could YouTube lose in 2009?
4. How much energy did US data centres use in 2006?
5. How much energy does the UK use in two months?
6. How much did Google invest in infrastructure in 2008?

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NEWS LESSONS / Web providers must limit Internet’s carbon footprint, say experts / Elementary
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Web providers must limit Internet’s 5 While the demand for electricity is a major
carbon footprint, say experts worry, a secondary result of the rapid increase
in Internet use is that the computer industry’s
Soaring online demand stretching companies’
carbon footprint is also increasing rapidly. A
ability to deliver content as net uses more power
few years ago it had quite a small footprint, but
and raises costs
now it is larger than other sectors like the airline
Bobby Johnson in San Francisco industry that people usually associate with a
May 3, 2009 negative environmental impact.
1 Scientists and representatives of the computer 6 However, it is difficult to monitor the growth
industry have said that the Internet’s increasing of the Internet’s energy use because Internet
use of electricity could be a major problem companies rarely say how much energy they
for companies such as Google. They say that use. “A lot of Internet companies keep this
many Internet companies are finding it difficult information secret,” said Rich Brown, an energy
to manage the costs of providing billions of analyst. “Google is probably the best example.
web pages, videos and files online, and this is They see it as a secret: how many data centres
creating an energy problem that could even be a they have, how big they are, how many servers
threat to the future of the Internet itself. they have.” Brown says that US data centres
used 61bn kilowatt hours of energy in 2006. That
2 “In a world with a limited amount of energy, is enough electricity to supply the whole of the
we cannot continue to increase the carbon UK for two months, and 1.5% of all the electricity
footprint of the Internet … we need to control used in the US.
our use of energy,” said Subodh Bapat of Sun
Microsystems. Bapat said the network of web 7 The Internet’s hunger for electricity could lead
servers and data centres that store online to website failures and breaks in communication
information is becoming more expensive. At the costing millions in lost business every hour. It
same time profits are falling as a result of the could also cause power cuts at plants which
recession. “We need more data centres, we need supply data centres with electricity. To prevent
more servers. Each server burns more electricity this, computer companies are working on new
than the previous generation and electricity costs designs for data centres and are investing more
are going up,” he said. money in renewable energy.
3 More than 1.5 billion people are online around 8 Researchers at Microsoft’s research lab are
the world and scientists say that the energy even turning to older technology – by replacing
footprint of the Internet is growing by more energy-hungry new machines with the systems
than 10% each year. This puts many Internet used in older, less powerful laptops. “Those older
companies in a difficult situation: energy costs processors were designed to be very energy
are rising rapidly because of their increasing efficient, to make batteries last,” said Andrew
popularity, but at the same time the money they get Herbert of Microsoft Research. “We have found
from advertising is falling because of the recession. that we can build more energy-efficient data
centres with those older processors than with the
4 One example is YouTube – now the world’s kind of high performance processors you find in a
third-biggest website, but one that requires a typical server.”
lot of money from its owner, Google. Although
YouTube’s financial details are a secret, some 9 Google was one of the first Internet companies
experts say that it could lose as much as $470m to try to reduce its footprint by developing its own
(£317m) this year, as a result of the high cost of data centres – but even though it invested about
providing power-intensive videos over the Internet. $2.3bn into infrastructure projects last year, it is
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not clear whether it has been successful. Urs environmental impact of using the web. “The
Hölzle of Google says that it is difficult to keep cost of one mile of driving is much greater than
energy costs under control. “You have rapid the cost of an Internet search,” he said. “Internet
growth in demand from users, and many of usage is part of our consumption, just like TV
these services are free so you don’t have rapid is, or driving. There is consumption there, but
growth of revenue at the same time,” he said. overall I think it is not the problem.”
10 In spite of the growing evidence that the

Internet’s energy footprint is getting out
of control, Hölzle isn’t worried about the
There is one mistake in each of these sentences. Find the mistakes and correct them.
1. YouTube is the world’s biggest website.

2. YouTube is owned by Microsoft.
3. The computer industry’s carbon footprint is decreasing rapidly.
4. It is easy to monitor the growth of the Internet’s energy use.
5. Profits are rising as a result of the recession.
6. The cost of one mile of driving is much smaller than the cost of an Internet search.
4 Chunks
1. each by more year 10% than

2. than people 1.5 more billion
3. in 1.5% the all US used electricity of the
4. data new centres for designs
5. energy keep control to costs under
6. amount a limited energy of
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Match the words in the left-hand column with the ones in the right-hand column to make phrases from the text.
1. web a. centre
2. carbon b. efficient
3. data c. performance
4. energy d. page
5. rapid e. impact
6. environmental f. cut
7. high g. footprint
8. power h. growth
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. consume
2. improve
3. perform
4. fail
5. grow
6. increase
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KEY
1. server 1. by more than 10% each year

2. footprint 2. more than 1.5 billion people
3. energy-efficient 3. 1.5% of all the electricity used in the US
4. renewable 4. new designs for data centres
5. power cut 5. to keep energy costs under control
6. impact 6. a limited amount of energy
7. revenue
8. recession
9. threat 5 Two-word expressions
10. consumption
1. d
2. g
2 Find the information 3. a
4. b
1. more than 1.5 billion 5. h
2. Google 6. e
3. $470 million 7. c
4. 61bn kilowatt hours 8. f
5. 61bn kilowatt hours
6. about $2.3 billion
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. consumption

2. improvement
1. YouTube is the world’s third-biggest website. 3. performance
2. YouTube is owned by Google. 4. failure
3. The computer industry’s carbon footprint is 5. growth
increasing rapidly. 6. increase
4. It is difficult to monitor the growth of the Internet’s
energy use.
5. Profits are falling as a result of the recession.
6. The cost of one mile of driving is much greater than
the cost of an Internet search.
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1 Key words
footprint recession threat revenue subsidy

secretive consumption server concern dismiss
1. _____________________ is the income a company gets for its business activities.
2. A ___________________ is a period when trade and industry are not successful and there is a lot
of unemployment.
3. A _____________________ is an amount of money given by the government or another organization to help
reduce the cost of a product or a service.
4. A _____________________ is a situation or activity that could cause harm or danger.
5. _____________________ is the process of using fuel or energy.
6. If you _____________________ something, you refuse to accept that it might be true or important.
7. A _____________________ is a feeling of worry about something.
8. A _____________________ is a computer that controls all the computers in a network.
9. Your _____________________ is the impression you make on the environment.
10. A _____________________ person or organization deliberately tries not to tell people anything about
their activities.
1. How many people are online around the world?
2. Which company owns YouTube?
3. How much energy are American data centres expected to use in 2009?
4. How much did Google invest in infrastructure in 2008?
5. How much money is YouTube expected to lose in 2009?
6. How much energy is needed to supply the whole of the UK for two months?
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Web providers must limit Internet’s 5 And while the demand for electricity is a primary
carbon footprint, say experts concern, a secondary result of the rapid increase
in Internet use is that the computer industry’s
Soaring online demand stretching companies’
carbon debt is increasing drastically. From having
ability to deliver content as net uses more power
a relatively small impact just a few years ago, it
and raises costs
is now overtaking other sectors like the airline
Bobby Johnson in San Francisco industry that are more widely known for their
May 3, 2009 negative environmental impact.
1 The Internet’s increasing use of electricity is 6 However, monitoring the growth of the Internet’s
a major threat to companies such as Google, energy use is difficult, Internet companies rarely
according to scientists and industry executives. say how much energy they use. “A lot of this
They say that many Internet companies are Internet stuff is fairly secretive,” said Rich Brown,
finding it difficult to manage the costs of providing an energy analyst. “Google is probably the best
billions of web pages, videos and files online, example. They see it as a trade secret: how
creating an energy problem that could even many data centres they have, how big they are,
threaten the future of the Internet itself. how many servers they have.”
2 “In a world with a limited amount of energy, 7 One study by Brown suggested that US data
we cannot continue to grow the footprint of centres used 61bn kilowatt hours of energy in
the Internet … we need to control energy 2006. That is enough to supply the whole of
consumption,” said Subodh Bapat of Sun the UK for two months, and 1.5% of the entire
Microsystems. Bapat said the network of web electricity usage of the US. Brown said that
servers and data centres that store online despite efforts to achieve greater efficiency,
information is becoming more expensive, while Internet use is growing at such a rate that it is
profits are falling as a result of the recession. outstripping technical improvements – meaning
“We need more data centres, we need more that American data centres could account for as
servers. Each server burns more electricity than much as 80bn kWh this year. “Efficiency cannot
the previous generation and electricity costs are keep up with continued growth and demand for
going up,” he said. new services,” he said. “It’s a common story …
technical improvements are often taken back by
3 With more than 1.5 billion people online around increased demand.”
the world, scientists estimate that the energy
footprint of the net is growing by more than 10% 8 Among the problems that could result from
each year. This leaves many Internet companies the Internet’s hunger for electricity are website
in a difficult situation: energy costs are rising failures and communications disruption costing
rapidly because of their increasing popularity, millions in lost business every hour – as well
while at the same time their advertising revenues as power cuts at plants which supply data
are falling because of the recession. centres with electricity. To prevent this, initiatives
are taking place to cope with the problem,
4 One site under particular scrutiny is YouTube including new designs for data centres and more
– now the world’s third-biggest website, but one investment in renewable energy.
that requires a heavy subsidy from Google, its
owner. Although the site’s financial details are a 9 Researchers at Microsoft’s research lab are
secret, a recent analysis suggested that it could even turning to older technology – by replacing
lose as much as $470m (£317m) this year, as a energy-hungry new machines with the systems
result of the high price of delivering used in older, less powerful laptops. “Those older
power-intensive videos over the Internet. processors were designed to be very energy
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efficient, to make batteries last,” said Andrew growth in demand from users, and many of
Herbert of Microsoft Research. “We found we these services are free so you don’t have rapid
can build more energy-efficient data centres growth of revenue at the same time,” he said.
with those than with the kind of high performance
processors you find in a typical server.” 12 Despite growing evidence that the Internet’s
energy footprint is in danger of getting out of
10 Google was among the first Internet control, however, Hölzle dismissed concerns
companies to take action to reduce its footprint about the environmental impact of using the
by developing its own data centres – but web. “The cost of one mile of driving is much
even though it invested about $2.3bn into greater than the cost of a search,” he said.
infrastructure projects last year, it is unclear “Internet usage is part of our consumption, just
whether it is winning the battle. like TV is, or driving. There is consumption
there, but overall I think it is not the problem.”
11 The company’s vice-president of operations,
Urs Hölzle, said that it was struggling to keep © Guardian News & Media 2009
energy costs under control. “You have rapid First published in The Guardian, 03/05/09
1. The computer industry is having an increasing effect on the environment.

2. The airline industry has a bigger impact on the environment than the computer industry.
3. It is quite easy to find out how much energy computer companies use.
4. Demand for the Internet is growing all the time.
5. Older laptops are more energy efficient than new machines.
6. Google is clearly winning the battle to reduce its carbon footprint.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word expression meaning being checked or examined very carefully. (para 4)

2. An adverb meaning quite. (para 6)
3. A two-word expression meaning information that is only known inside a particular company or industry. (para 6)
4. A noun meaning a unit for measuring electrical power containing 1,000 watts. (para 7)
5. A verb meaning to exceed or become larger than something else. (para 7)
6. A three-word phrasal verb meaning to move at the same speed as something else. (para 7)
7. A noun meaning a situation in which something cannot continue because of a problem. (para 8)
8. A three-word expression meaning no longer able to be limited or stopped. (para 12)
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Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns and noun phrases in the right-hand column to make
1. burn a. a battle
2. store b. action
3. take c. electricity
4. have d. online information
5. invest e. greater efficiency
6. achieve f. a problem
7. win g. an impact
8. cope with h. money
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. consume
2. disrupt
3. subsidise
4. improve
5. perform
6. fail
7 Discussion
Do you think the amount of time people spend on computers should be limited to help the environment?
What other ways can you think of of reducing the amount of electricity you use?
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1. revenue 1. under scrutiny

2. recession 2. fairly
3. subsidy 3. trade secret
4. threat 4. kilowatt
5. consumption 5. outstrip
6. dismiss 6. keep up with
7. concern 7. disruption
8. server 8. out of control
9. footprint
10. secretive
2 Find the information 1. c

2. d
1. more than 1.5 billion 3. b
2. Google 4. g
3. 80bn kWh 5. h
4. about $2.3 billion 6. e
5. $470 million 7. a
6. 61bn kilowatt hours 8. f
1. T 1. consumption
2. F 2. disruption
3. F 3. subsidy
4. T 4. improvement
5. T 5. performance
6. F 6. failure
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Binge drinking ‘increases risk’ of dementia
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
dementia impairment onset vulnerable abstain

neurological prevalence cognitive intake widespread
1. _____________________ problems are related to the nervous system.
2. If someone is described as _____________________, they are easily affected by something damaging
or harmful.
3. A _____________________ process is one that is connected with recognizing and understanding things.
4. If there is a _____________________ of something, it is very common in a particular place or among a
particular group.
5. A _____________________ problem happens in many places or affects many people.
6. _____________________ is a serious illness that affects the brain and memory and is particularly common
in old people.
7. If you _____________________ from an activity, you deliberately avoid doing it because, although it may be
enjoyable, it may not be healthy.
8. Your _____________________ is the amount of something that you eat or drink.

9. The _____________________ of a disease is the point at which it begins to affect a person.
10. _____________________ is the fact that a part of your body is unable to do something fully.
2 What do you know?
1. Men are less able physiologically to cope with the effects of alcohol than women.
2. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia.
3. Women have more body water and less body fat than men.
4. Abstaining from alcohol does not help brain cells to regenerate.
5. Dementia linked to alcohol intake is more common among richer people with rich diets.
6. Some research has shown that drinking up to two alcoholic drinks a day can protect against the onset
of dementia.
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Binge drinking ‘increases risk’ 5 These findings follow research in America
of dementia last year indicating that consuming more than
More under-65s – and women in particular – will two drinks a day can bring forward the onset
suffer alcohol-related brain damage, say doctors of Alzheimer’s by as much as 4.8 years. Two
thirds of all the 700,000 people in the UK with
Denis Campbell, health correspondent
dementia have Alzheimer’s. “Drink is more likely
10 May, 2009
to help induce dementia in women than men
because women have more body water and
1 Heavy drinking may be to blame for one in less body fat, which means that they metabolize
four cases of dementia. Doctors have linked alcohol differently and so are more vulnerable,”
alcohol intake to the development of the said Marshall.
brain-wasting condition in between 10 and 24%
6 Women who drink the same as men have a
of the estimated 700,000 people in the UK with
higher risk of cognitive impairment for that
the disease. They warn that binge drinking and
reason, in the same way that they are at higher
increased consumption are likely to produce
risk of getting alcohol-related liver disease.
an epidemic of alcohol-related brain damage in
However, a heavy drinker of either sex who
the future, which could see drinkers starting to
abstains from alcohol can expect to see brain
experience serious memory problems in
cells regenerate and improvements in key areas
their 40s.
of brain activity.
2 Women who drink a lot are at much greater
7 Gayle Willis of the Alzheimer’s Society said:
risk than men of suffering problems with
“We know that the prolonged use of alcohol can
their cognitive functions, because they are
lead to memory deficiencies. Only one third of
physiologically less well able to cope with
the people with Alzheimer’s are diagnosed, but
alcohol’s effects.
the problem of under-diagnosis of people with
3 Drink is known to kill brain cells, but the estimate alcohol-related memory impairment could be
of its impact on neurological health, contained even greater.” But the society believes that only a
in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, indicates handful of all cases of dementia, perhaps as few
that the problem may be much more widespread as 3%, are directly attributable to alcohol.
than previously thought. The rise in the amounts
8 Marshall and her colleagues examined
that people drink means “it is therefore likely that
Korsakoff’s syndrome, a little-known form of
prevalence rates of alcohol-related brain damage
dementia linked to alcohol intake, characterized
are currently underestimated and may rise in
by short-term memory loss, changes in behaviour
future generations”, say the authors.
and confusion. It is increasingly common in
4 Dr Jane Marshall, one of the co-authors and Scotland and the Netherlands, especially among
consultant psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital poorer people with poor diets. One study of
in south London, said: “People think that sufferers found that half were under 50.
dementia is something that happens to people
9 Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the
over 65. But a lot of those under 65 have got
Royal College of Physicians, said: “It is really
cognitive problems and a large proportion of the
concerning that awareness among clinical
problems in that group are related to alcohol.
staff of this important link between alcohol and
Alcohol-related brain damage may account for
dementia remains poor, yet detection of early
10-24% of all cases of all forms of dementia.
signs often gives a real chance of successfully
We know that alcohol is associated with serious
heading off the condition. It is vital that we
cognitive impairment. It reduces memory and
improve understanding among doctors and
general cognition,” she added.
nurses about the links between heavy drinkers
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and neurological damage. Equally important is Council on Alcohol, has written to Dawn
that people understand that alcohol-related brain Primarolo, the UK public health minister,
damage can strike at any time of life.” warning that the National Health Service must
give alcohol-related brain damage the same
10 Other research has shown that moderate priority it has put into liver problems linked to
drinking, of up to two drinks a day, can help heavy drinking.
protect against the onset of dementia. Dr Allan
Thomson, the guest editor of Alcohol and © Guardian News & Media 2009
Alcoholism and spokesman for the Medical First published in The Observer, 10/05/09
1. Why are women more likely to develop dementia 3. When can alcohol-related brain damage strike?
from drinking alcohol than men? a. When people are in their 40s.
a. Because their metabolism is different. b. Over the age of 65.
b. Because they drink more than men. c. At any time of life.
c. Because they don’t like the effects of alcohol.
4. What happens if people abstain from alcohol?
2. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, what a. It successfully prevents the onset of dementia.
percentage of cases of dementia are directly b. Some important areas of brain activity
attributable to alcohol? show improvements.
a. 10 – 24% c. It will delay Alzheimer’s disease by an average
b. Two thirds of 4.8 years.
c. 3%
4 Find the word
1. A two-word expression meaning consuming too much alcohol over a short period of time. (para 1)
2. A verb meaning to cause something, especially a mental or physical change. (para 5)
3. A verb meaning to change food or drink in the body into energy. (para 5)
4. A noun meaning a lack of something that your body needs. (para 7)
5. A noun meaning a very small number of people or things. (para 7)
6. An adjective meaning caused by a particular situation, event or activity. (para 7)
8. A verb meaning happen suddenly and unexpectedly causing harm or damage. (para 9)
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5 Phrasal verbs
Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings.
1. head off a. avoid doing something that is enjoyable but may not be healthy
2. put into b. be the reason for
3. bring forward c. spend time and effort doing something
4. account for d. deal successfully with
5. cope with e. change the date so that something happens earlier
6. abstain from f. prevent something from happening
6 Word building
1. The report says that rates of alcohol-related brain damage have been _______________ and there may be more
cases than previously thought. [ESTIMATE]
2. Men and women metabolize alcohol _______________. [DIFFERENT]
3. _______________ use of alcohol can lead to memory deficiencies. [LONG]
4. Korsakoff’s syndrome is _______________ by short-term memory loss. [CHARACTER]
5. It is _______________ common in Scotland and the Netherlands. [INCREASE]
6. _______________ of early signs of dementia gives a real chance of preventing the condition. [DETECT]
7 Discussion
Discuss this statement:
“If you give up smoking and drinking, you don’t actually live longer. It just seems longer.”
Clement Freud (1924-2009, English broadcaster, writer and politician)

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KEY
1. neurological 1. binge drinking

2. vulnerable 2. induce
3. cognitive 3. metabolize
4. prevalence 4. deficiency
5. widespread 5. handful
6. dementia 6. attributable
7. abstain 7. vital
8. intake 8. strike
9. onset
10. impairment
5 Phrasal verbs

2. c
1. F 3. e
2. T 4. b
3. T 5. d
4. F 6. a
5. F
6. T
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. underestimated

2. differently
1. a 3. prolonged
2. c 4. characterized
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
dementia condition binge drinking epidemic diagnosis

brain damage liver priority cope with reduce
1. If you give something _____________________, it is more important than anything else.
2. If you _____________________ something, you make it smaller or less in size, amount or importance.
3. A medical _____________________ is an illness or health problem.

4. _____________________ is drinking a lot of alcohol over a short period of time.
5. The _____________________ is an organ in your body that cleans your blood.
6. An _____________________ is a situation in which a large number of people are suffering from a disease.
7. _____________________ is a serious illness that affects the brain and memory and is particularly common
in old people.
8. If you suffer from _____________________, your brain does not function correctly because of an accident or
an illness.
9. A _____________________ is a statement made after a medical examination of a person about what disease
that person has.

10. If you _____________________ a problem, you deal with it successfully.
1. How many people in the UK suffer from dementia?
2. How many dementia sufferers in the UK have Alzheimer’s disease?
3. If you drink more than two drinks a day, how much earlier can Alzheimer’s disease begin?
4. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, what percentage of dementia cases are directly caused by alcohol?
5. In which two countries is Korsakoff’s syndrome becoming more common?
6. How many drinks can help protect against dementia?

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NEWS LESSONS / Binge drinking ‘increases risk’ of dementia / Elementary

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Binge drinking ‘increases risk’ drinks a day can cause Alzheimer’s to begin
of dementia by up to 4.8 years earlier. Two thirds of all the
More under-65s – and women in particular – will 700,000 people in the UK with dementia have
suffer alcohol-related brain damage, say doctors Alzheimer’s. “Drink is more likely to cause
dementia in women than men because women
have more body water and less body fat, which
10 May, 2009
means that they process alcohol differently and
are in more danger as a result,” said Marshall.
1 Heavy drinking could be the cause of one in four
6 Women who drink the same as men are in more
cases of dementia, a serious brain condition
danger of loss of memory for that reason, in the
which leads to a loss of memory. Doctors have
same way that they are in more danger of getting
identified a connection between drinking alcohol
alcohol-related liver disease. However, if a heavy
and dementia in between 10 and 24% of the
drinker of either sex stops drinking alcohol, their
700,000 people in the UK who have the disease.
brain cells will regenerate and there will be an
They say that binge drinking and increased use
improvement in key areas of brain activity.
of alcohol will probably produce an epidemic of
alcohol-related brain damage in the future, with 7 Gayle Willis of the Alzheimer’s Society said: “We
drinkers beginning to experience serious memory know that the use of alcohol over a long period
problems in their 40s. of time can lead to memory problems. Only one
third of the people with Alzheimer’s are actually
2 Women who drink a lot are in much greater
diagnosed with the disease but the problem of
danger than men of suffering problems because
under-diagnosis of people with alcohol-related
their bodies are less able to cope with the effects
memory loss could be even greater.” But
of alcohol.
the society believes that only a few cases of
3 It is well-known that alcohol kills brain cells, but dementia, perhaps as few as 3%, are directly
an article in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism caused by alcohol.
says that the problem may be much more
8 Marshall and her colleagues studied Korsakoff’s
common than people think. The increase in the
syndrome, a rare form of dementia linked to
amounts that people drink means “it is probable
alcohol use, which leads to short-term memory
that the amount of alcohol-related brain damage
loss, changes in behaviour and confusion. It is
is greater than we thought and may rise in future
becoming more and more common in Scotland
generations”, say the authors of the article.
and the Netherlands, especially among poorer
4 Dr Jane Marshall, one of the co-authors of the people with poor diets. One study of people
report and a consultant psychiatrist at a hospital suffering from the condition found that half of
in London, said: “People think that dementia them were under the age of 50.
is something that happens to people over the
9 Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal
age of 65. But a lot of those under 65 have got
College of Physicians, said: “It is a real worry that
memory problems and a large number of the
some clinical staff do not recognize the important
problems in that group are related to alcohol.
link between alcohol and dementia, because if
Alcohol-related brain damage may be the cause
the early signs of the condition are diagnosed
of 10-24% of all cases of all forms of dementia.
quickly, it is possible to treat it. It is very important
We know that alcohol is associated with serious
that we improve understanding among doctors
problems. It reduces memory and general
and nurses about the links between heavy
awareness,” she added.
drinking and damage to the nervous system. It
5 These findings follow research in America last is equally important that people understand that
year which showed that drinking more than two alcohol-related brain damage can happen at any
time of life.”
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10 Other research has shown that drinking up
to two drinks a day, can help protect against
dementia. Dr Allan Thomson, the guest editor of
Alcohol and Alcoholism, has written to the UK
public health minister, warning that the National
Health Service must give alcohol-related brain
damage the same priority it has given to liver
problems linked to heavy drinking.
1. Dementia is a serious brain condition which …
2. Doctors can treat dementia if …
3. The number of people suffering from alcohol-related brain damage …
4. Women who drink a lot …
5. Women are in more danger because …
6. The use of alcohol over a long period of time can …
a. … their bodies are less able to cope with alcohol.
b. ... cause loss of memory.
c. … leads to a loss of memory.
d. … will probably rise in future generations.
e. … are in more danger than men.
f. … they diagnose the early signs of the disease quickly.

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4 Chunks
1. the over people 65 age of
2. 4.8 earlier to up years
3. few perhaps as 3% as
4. 50 the under of age
5. period of over long a time
6. time any at life of
Complete the phrases from the text using these prepositions.
of in to
1. _______ the future 5. lead _______ serious problems
2. people _______ their forties 6. up _______ 4 years earlier
3. loss _______ memory 7. the use _______ alcohol
4. _______ danger 8. a rare form _______ the disease
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. lose
2. connect
3. improve
4. behave
5. confuse
6. diagnose
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1. priority 1. people over the age of 65

2. reduce 2. up to 4.8 years earlier
3. condition 3. perhaps as few as 3%
4. binge drinking 4. under the age of 50
5. liver 5. over a long period of time
6. epidemic 6. at any time of life
7. dementia
8. brain damage
9. diagnosis
10. cope with
1. in
2. in
4. in
1. 700,000 5. to
2. two thirds 6. to
3. up to 4.8 years 7. of
4. 3% 8. of
5. Scotland and the Netherlands
6. up to two a day
6 Word building
verb noun
1. c 1. lose loss
2. f 2. connect connection
3. d 3. improve improvement
4. e 4. behave behaviour
5. a
5. confuse confusion
6. b
6. diagnose diagnosis
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1 Key words
dementia metabolize onset vulnerable abstain

cognitive consumption moderate impairment prolonged
1. A _____________________ process is one that is connected with recognizing and understanding things.
2. _____________________ is a serious illness that affects the brain and memory and is particularly common in
old people.
3. If you _____________________ from an activity, you deliberately avoid doing it because, although it may be
enjoyable, it may not be healthy.
4. Your _____________________ is the amount of something that you eat or drink.
5. The _____________________ of a disease is the point at which it begins to affect a person.
6. When your body _____________________ food or drink it changes it into energy.
7. A _____________________ amount is neither very great nor very small.
8. _____________________ means continuing for a long time.
9. _____________________ is the fact that a part of your body is unable to do something fully.
10. If someone is described as _____________________, they are easily affected by something damaging
or harmful.
1. How many people in the UK suffer from dementia?
2. What percentage of dementia cases may be linked to alcohol consumption?
3. How many dementia sufferers in the UK have Alzheimer’s disease?
4. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, what percentage of dementia cases are caused by alcohol?
5. How many drinks constitute ‘moderate’ drinking?
6. In which two countries is Korsakoff’s syndrome becoming more common?

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NEWS LESSONS / Binge drinking ‘increases risk’ of dementia / Intermediate

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Binge drinking ‘increases risk’ drinks a day can bring forward the onset of
of dementia Alzheimer’s by as much as 4.8 years. Two thirds
More under-65s – and women in particular – will of all the 700,000 people in the UK with dementia
suffer alcohol-related brain damage, say doctors have Alzheimer’s. “Drink is more likely to help
cause dementia in women than men because
women have more body water and less body
10 May, 2009
fat, which means that they metabolize alcohol
differently and are more vulnerable as a result,”
1 Heavy drinking may be the cause of one in four said Marshall.
cases of dementia. Doctors have linked alcohol
consumption to the development of the brain- 6 Women who drink the same as men have a
wasting condition in between 10 and 24% of the higher risk of cognitive impairment for that
estimated 700,000 people in the UK who have reason, in the same way that they are at higher
the disease. They say that binge drinking and risk of getting alcohol-related liver disease.
increased consumption are likely to produce an However, a heavy drinker of either sex who
epidemic of alcohol-related brain damage in the abstains from alcohol can expect to see brain
future, with drinkers beginning to experience cells regenerate and improvements in key areas
serious memory problems in their 40s. of brain activity.
2 Women who drink a lot are at much greater 7 Gayle Willis of the Alzheimer’s Society said:
risk than men of suffering problems with their “We know that the prolonged use of alcohol can
cognitive functions, because their bodies are less lead to memory problems. Only one third of the
able to cope with the effects of alcohol. people with Alzheimer’s are actually diagnosed
with the disease, but the problem of under-
3 It is well-known that alcohol kills brain cells, but diagnosis of people with alcohol-related memory
the estimate of its impact on the nervous system, impairment could be even greater.” But the
contained in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, society believes that only a handful of all cases
indicates that the problem may be much more of dementia, perhaps as few as 3%, are directly
common than people previously thought. The caused by alcohol.
increase in the amounts that people drink means
“it is likely that rates of alcohol-related brain 8 Marshall and her colleagues examined
damage are currently underestimated and may Korsakoff’s syndrome, a rare form of dementia
rise in future generations”, say the authors. linked to alcohol consumption, characterized by
short-term memory loss, changes in behaviour
4 Dr Jane Marshall, one of the co-authors of the and confusion. It is increasingly common in
report and a consultant psychiatrist at a London Scotland and the Netherlands, especially among
hospital, said: “People think that dementia is poorer people with poor diets. One study of
something that happens to people over 65. But a people suffering from the condition found that
lot of those under 65 have got cognitive problems half of them were under the age of 50.
and a large proportion of the problems in that
group are related to alcohol. Alcohol-related brain 9 Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal
damage may be the cause of 10-24% of all cases College of Physicians, said: “It is a real worry
of all forms of dementia. We know that alcohol that clinical staff seem unaware of this important
is associated with serious cognitive impairment. link between alcohol and dementia, because
It reduces memory and general cognition,” detection of early signs often gives a real chance
she added. of successfully preventing the condition. It is vital
that we improve understanding among doctors
5 These findings follow research in America last and nurses about the links between heavy
year indicating that consuming more than two drinkers and damage to the nervous system. It
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is equally important that people understand that has written to the UK public health minister,
alcohol-related brain damage can happen at any warning that the National Health Service must
time of life.” give alcohol-related brain damage the same
priority it has given to liver problems linked to
10 Other research has shown that moderate heavy drinking.
drinking, of up to two drinks a day, can help
protect against dementia. Dr Allan Thomson, © Guardian News & Media 2009
the guest editor of Alcohol and Alcoholism, First published in The Observer, 10/05/09
1. Dementia only happens to people over 65.
2. Drinking more than two drinks a day can cause Alzheimer’s disease to begin earlier.
3. Women are more at risk than men from dementia caused by alcohol.
4. If you stop drinking alcohol, you won’t get dementia.
5. Alcohol-related brain damage can only occur after the age of 50.
6. Moderate drinking can help protect against dementia.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word expression meaning consuming too much alcohol over a short period of time. (para 1)
2. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to deal successfully with something. (para 2)
3. A noun meaning effect. (para 3)

4. A verb meaning to think that something is smaller than it really is. (para 3)
5. A noun meaning a very small number of people or things. (para 7)
7. A noun meaning the process of finding something using scientific methods. (para 9)

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Complete the phrases from the text using these prepositions.
under between to among on in of with
1. changes _______ behaviour
2. the effects _______ alcohol
3. its impact _______ the nervous system
4. problems related _______ alcohol
5. associated _______ serious memory problems
6. common _______ poorer people
7. _______ the age of 50
8. the link _______ heavy drinking and memory loss
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. detect
2. improve
3. consume
4. develop
5. behave
6. understand
7 Discussion
Why do you think alcohol is a problem in some societies? What measures can governments take to help
people to reduce their alcohol consumption?
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KEY
1. cognitive 1. binge drinking

2. dementia 2. cope with
3. abstain 3. impact
4. consumption 4. underestimate
5. onset 5. handful
6. metabolizes 6. increasingly
7. moderate 7. detection
8. prolonged 8. vital
9. impairment
10. vulnerable

2. of
1. 700,000 3. on
2. 10-24% 4. to
3. two thirds (66.6%) 5. with
4. 3% 6. among
5. up to two a day 7. under
6. Scotland and the Netherlands 8. between
1. F verb noun
2. T
1. detect detection
3. T
4. F 2. improve improvement
5. F 3. consume consumption
6. T 4. develop development
5. behave behaviour
6. understand understanding
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Usain Bolt bags 150m world record in street sprint
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
obsessed unconventional sprint congregate deters

clogged role model burst lead up hip
1. A ____________________ is a sudden short period in which you do something with a lot of energy.
2. A ____________________ is a short race at a fast speed.
3. A ____________________ is someone whose behaviour is considered to be a good example for other people
to follow.
4. If people ____________________, they gather together in a group.
5. If something ____________________ people, it makes them decide not to do something.
6. A ____________________ person is modern and fashionable.
7. If something is ____________________, it is different from what most people consider to be usual or normal.
8. A ____________________ is the period that comes before an important event.
9. If you are ____________________ with something, you think it is so important that you cannot stop thinking
about it in a way that seems extreme to other people.
10. If streets are ____________________, they are blocked by heavy traffic.
2 What do you know?
1. Usain Bolt won both the Olympic 100 metres and 200 metres at the Beijing Olympics.
2. He also holds the world record for the 100 metres but not for the 200 metres.
3. Usain Bolt is American.
4. The 2012 Olympic Games will be held in London.
5. Haile Gebrselassie holds the world 200 metre record.
6. Gebrselassie is Ethiopian.
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NEWS LESSONS / Usain Bolt bags 150m world record in street sprint / Advanced
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Usain Bolt bags 150m world record in 5 But his self-assurance and memorable
street sprint celebrations endeared the runner to young fans
Owen Gibson and Helen Carter brought up on a diet of Premier League football.
May 17, 2009 The IOC has called on bidding cities for the 2016
Games to come up with fresh ideas to bring
1 It was not just fans standing yards from the the Games to a younger audience. In the hours
world’s fastest man who were banking on a leading up to the 6.20pm race, it had rained
burst of adrenaline from yesterday’s 150m heavily with gusts of wind yet the foul weather
‘street sprint’ in Manchester, which Usain Bolt did little to deter the thousands of fans who
completed in a world record 14.35 seconds. congregated in the city to watch Bolt compete
in a street race on a usually traffic-clogged main
2 London 2012 organizers, Olympic gold medallists thoroughfare. The crowds were six-deep and
and international athletics chiefs were all hoping as the starting gun fired a collective silence
the unconventional race would help spark a wave momentarily descended and it appeared as if
of innovation that will bring the sport to a new, everyone was taking photos as the Jamaican
younger, hipper audience. In the event, the triple athlete and others took off.
Olympic gold-medallist Bolt did not disappoint,
cruising to victory in the fastest time run over 6 Joan Knight, who is of Jamaican origin, was
150m, breaking the world record of 14.8 seconds waving the national flag in support two hours
which has stood since 1983. “It is one more to before his race began on a specially raised
the tally,” said Bolt. “I’m not in the best shape and platform that took a day to build but just
I still have a lot of work to do but I am getting there.” breathless seconds for Bolt to sprint across.
She said of Bolt: “As a person he is absolutely
3 Brendan Foster, the former athlete who fantastic and as a Jamaican he is out of
established the Great North Run and came this world. I am so happy that he is here in
up with the idea of adding the street sprint to Manchester and I think he will be an excellent
yesterday’s Great Manchester Run, said it would role model for young people and he will inspire
help to give the sport a shot in the arm. There them to achieve. It is so important to have this
are high hopes that 100m and 200m world record here on the street because it is free rather than
holder Bolt can help reconnect football-obsessed being in a stadium.”
youngsters with athletics.
7 In the lead up to the race, Usain Bolt spoke of
4 Foster said he was inspired in the mid-1960s by the importance of street athletics in encouraging
seeing Peter Snell compete at Gateshead and young people to take up athletics: “It’s unique,
wanted to do the same for a new generation by something new for the sport and it will help
bringing the likes of Bolt and Haile Gebrselassie, attract youngsters into athletics. “I like to please
the Ethiopian who holds the world record for the crowd and show them the person I am. I’m
the marathon and who competed in the Great just going to go out there and have some fun with
Manchester Run 10k, to the streets. “Some the crowd and perform to the best of my ability. If
people have criticized it, but if I stand accused of I want to be a legend, I have to keep working at
bringing the two greatest athletes of our lifetime it. That’s what keeps me going.”
onto the streets of Manchester, then I’m guilty,”
he said. The dilemma facing track and field was © Guardian News & Media 2009
best highlighted by the situation in Beijing where First published in The Guardian, 17/05/09
IOC president Jaques Rogge criticized Bolt for
showing a lack of respect to his fellow athletes
following his victories in the 100m and 200m.
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1. The organizers of the 150m street sprint hope …

a. ... that it will inspire young people to take up athletics.
b. ... that it will stop young people from being interested in football.
c. ... that the distance will be recognized at the 2012 Olympics.
2. Cities bidding to host the 2016 Olympics will have to ...

a. ... show that they have some new ideas for the Games.
b. ... show that they can make the Games more attractive to younger people.
c. ... include special events for younger people.
3. Usain Bolt …
a. ... believes he is already a legend.
b. ... thinks he still has some work to do if he is to become a legend.
c. ... is not interested in becoming a legend.
4. The 150m sprint was held in the street in order to …

a. ... enable the runners to run in a straight line.
b. ... avoid the cost of hiring a stadium.
c. ... bring the race to a bigger live audience.
4 Find the word
1. A verb, often used in journalism, meaning to make something happen. (para 2)

2. A three-word expression meaning to win easily in a race, game or competition. (para 2)
3. A noun meaning a record of the number of things that someone has done, won or achieved. (para 2)
4. A three-word expression meaning in a good physical condition. (para 2)
5. A five-word expression meaning something that quickly makes a bad situation better. (para 3)
6. A three-word expression meaning particular types of people. (para 4)
7. A noun meaning a sudden strong wind. (para 5)
8. A four-word expression meaning extremely good or impressive. (para 6)
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5 Phrasal verbs
Fill the gaps in the sentences using these phrasal verbs from the text.
bank on bring up endear to take off take up come up with
1. If you _______________ yourself _______________ someone, you make them like you.
2. If you _______________ something, you think of an idea or a plan.
3. If you _______________ something, you depend on it happening.
4. If you _______________ a new activity or a sport, you start doing it.
5. If you _______________, you leave very suddenly and quickly.
6. The verb _______________ is used in its passive form to say how or where someone lived when they were a child.
6 Word building
1. The 150m sprint was an ____________________ race. [convention]

2. Before the race a silence descended ____________________ on the crowd. [moment]
3. The race began on a ____________________ raised platform. [special]
4. Young fans admire Bolt for his self-____________________. [assure]
5. The bad weather failed to act as a ____________________ . [deter]
6. It rained ____________________ before the race. [heavy]
7 Discussion
Did you have or do you have any sporting role models? If so, who were / are they? If not, what other types
of role models did / do you have?
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KEY
1. burst 1. spark
2. sprint 2. cruise to victory
3. role model 3. tally
4. congregate 4. in good (the best) shape
5. deters 5. a shot in the arm
6. hip 6. the likes of
7. unconventional 7. gust
8. lead up 8. out of this world
9. obsessed
10. clogged
5 Phrasal verbs
2 What do you know? 1. endear … to

2. come up with
1. T 3. bank on
2. F 4. take up
3. F 5. take off
4. T 6. bring up
5. F
6. T
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. unconventional

2. momentarily
1. a 3. specially
2. b 4. assurance
3. b 5. deterrent
4. c 6. heavily
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1 Key words
inspires unique role model self-assurance sprint

legend foul marathon athletics hip
1. A _____________________ is a short race at a fast speed.
2. A _____________________ person is modern and fashionable.
3. If someone has a lot of _____________________, they are confident and relaxed because they are sure about
their abilities.
4. _____________________ weather is cold, wet and windy.
5. A _____________________ is a race of 42 kilometres.
6. _____________________ are sports events in which people compete in running, jumping and throwing.
7. If something is _____________________, it is not the same as anything else.
8. If something _____________________ you to do something, it gives you the enthusiasm to do it.
9. A _____________________ is someone whose behaviour is considered to be a good example for other

people to follow.
10. A _____________________ is someone who very many people know about and admire.
1. How fast did Usain Bolt run the 150m race in Manchester?
2. What was the previous world record, which was set in 1983?
3. Who holds the world 100m and 200m records?
4. Where is the world marathon record-holder from?
5. What time did the Manchester race begin?

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NEWS LESSONS / Usain Bolt bags 150m world record in street sprint / Elementary
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Usain Bolt bags 150m world record in 5 The problem for athletics could easily be seen
street sprint in the situation at the Olympics in China when
Owen Gibson and Helen Carter International Olympic Committee president,
May 17, 2009 Belgian Jaques Rogge, criticized Bolt for showing
a lack of respect to his fellow athletes after his
1 The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, won the victories in the 100m and 200m. But young fans
150m ‘street sprint’ in Manchester in a world brought up on a diet of football liked Bolt’s
record time of 14.35 seconds. But it was not only self-assurance and his memorable celebrations.
the fans standing just a few metres from Bolt who Now the IOC has invited cities wishing to host the
were hoping to see a fast run. 2016 Games to think of fresh ideas to bring the
Games to a younger audience.
2 The organizers of the London 2012 Olympic
Games, Olympic gold medallists and 6 In the hours before the 6.20pm Manchester race,
international athletics chiefs were all hoping the it had rained heavily and been very windy but the
unusual race would lead to some new ideas that foul weather did not prevent thousands of fans
would bring athletics to a new, younger, hipper from gathering in the city to watch Bolt compete
audience. In the end, the triple Olympic in the race. The crowds were six-deep and as
gold-medal winner Bolt did not disappoint the starting gun fired at the start of the race it
anyone, winning the race easily in the fastest seemed as if everyone was taking photos.
time ever run over 150m, and breaking the world
7 Joan Knight, who is of Jamaican origin, was
record of 14.8 seconds which has stood since
waving the Jamaican national flag in support two
1983. “It is one more record to add to the list,”
hours before the race began. She said about
said Bolt. “I’m not in very good shape and I still
Bolt: “As a person he is absolutely fantastic and
have a lot of work to do but I am getting there.”
as a Jamaican he is out of this world. I am so
3 Brendan Foster, the former British athlete who happy that he is here in Manchester and I think
established the Great North Run and had the he will be an excellent role model for young
idea of adding the street sprint to yesterday’s people and he will inspire them to achieve things
Great Manchester Run ten kilometre race, said it in sport. It is so important to have this here on the
would help to bring some publicity to athletics. A street because it is free rather than being in
lot of people are hoping that the 100m and 200m a stadium.”
world record holder Bolt can help popularize
8 Before the race, Usain Bolt spoke about the
athletics with young people who are normally
importance of street athletics in encouraging
only interested in football.
young people to take up athletics: “It’s unique,
4 Foster said that in the mid-1960s he was inspired something new for the sport and it will help
when he saw the Olympic gold medal winner attract youngsters into athletics. I like to please
of 1960 and 1964, New Zealander Peter Snell, the crowd and show them the person I am. I’m
compete in his hometown. Foster said that he just going to go out there and have some fun with
wanted to do the same for a new generation by the crowd and perform to the best of my ability. If
bringing the people like Bolt and world marathon I want to be a legend, I have to keep working at
record holder, the Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, it. That’s what keeps me going.”
to the streets of Manchester. “Some people have
criticized it, but if my crime is to bring the two © Guardian News & Media 2009
greatest athletes of our lifetime onto the streets First published in The Guardian, 17/05/09
of Manchester, then I’m guilty,” he said.
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1. The organizers of the 150m race want …
2. Usain Bolt is …
3. Usain Bolt holds …
4. Usain Bolt won …
5. Usain Bolt hopes that the 150m race …
6. Usain Bolt enjoys …
a. … pleasing the crowd.

b. … the world records for the 100m and the 200m.
c. … will help to attract young people to athletics.
d. … to attract young people to athletics.
e. … three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.
f. … the fastest man on earth.
4 Chunks
1. the 1960s in mid

2. ever the time run fastest
3. in the fastest world man the
4. world 100m the holder record
5. young a model people for role
6. this out world of
1. break a. photos
2. show b. fun
3. take c. a record
4. take up d. respect
5. have e. a race
6. win f. athletics
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6 Countries and people
Complete the table.
Country Person / Nationality

1. Jamaica
2. Ethiopia
3. New Zealand
(person only)
4. Britain
(nationality only)
5. Belgium
6. Chinese
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KEY
1. sprint 1. in the mid 1960s

2. hip 2. the fastest time ever run
3. self-assurance 3. the fastest man in the world
4. foul 4. the 100m world record holder
5. marathon 5. a role model for young people
6. athletics 6. out of this world
7. unique
8. inspires
9. role model 5 Verb + noun collocations
10. legend
1. c
2. d
2 Find the information 3. a
4. f
1. 14.35 seconds 5. b
2. 14.8 seconds 6. e
3. Usain Bolt
4. Ethiopia
5. 6.20pm 6 Countries and people
6. Jamaica
Country Person / Nationality

3 Comprehension check 1. Jamaica Jamaican
2. Ethiopia Ethiopian
1. d 3. New Zealand New Zealander
2. f 4. Britain British
3. b
5. Belgium Belgian
4. e
6. China Chinese
5. c
6. a
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1 Key words
dilemma obsessed unconventional sprint deters

inspires unique role model foul hip
1. A _____________________ is a short race at a fast speed.
2. If something is _____________________, it is not the same as anything else.
3. If something _____________________ you to do something, it gives you the enthusiasm to do it.
4. _____________________ weather is very unpleasant, with rain, snow or wind.
5. A _____________________ is a situation in which you have to make a difficult decision.
6. A _____________________ is someone whose behaviour is considered to be a good example for other
people to follow.
7. If something _____________________ people, it makes them decide not to do something.
8. A _____________________ person is modern and fashionable.
9. If something is _____________________, it is different from what most people consider to be usual or normal.
10. If you are _____________________ with something, you think it is so important that you cannot stop thinking
about it in a way that seems extreme to other people.
1. Who holds the world record for the 100m and the 200m?
2. Where is the world marathon record-holder from?
3. How fast did Usain Bolt run the 150m race in Manchester?
4. Where will the 2012 Olympic Games be held?
5. What time did the Manchester race begin?

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Usain Bolt bags 150m world record in Jaques Rogge criticized Bolt for showing a lack
street sprint of respect to his fellow athletes after his victories
Owen Gibson and Helen Carter in the 100m and 200m.
May 17, 2009
5 But young fans brought up on a diet of football
liked Bolt’s self-assurance and memorable
1 It was not just fans standing just a few metres
celebrations. The IOC has called on cities
from the world’s fastest man who were hoping
wishing to host the 2016 Games to think of fresh
for a fast run in the 150m ‘street sprint’ in
ideas to bring the Games to a younger audience.
Manchester, which Usain Bolt completed in a
In the hours leading up to the 6.20pm race, it
world record 14.35 seconds.
had rained heavily and been very windy but the
2 London 2012 organizers, Olympic gold medallists foul weather did not deter the thousands of fans
and international athletics chiefs were all hoping who gathered in the city to watch Bolt compete in
the unconventional race would lead to some the race. The crowds were six-deep and as the
new ideas that would bring athletics to a new, starting pistol fired a collective silence descended
younger, hipper audience. In the event, the triple for a moment and it appeared as if everyone was
Olympic gold-medallist Bolt did not disappoint, taking photos as the race began.
winning easily in the fastest time ever run over
6 Joan Knight, who is of Jamaican origin, was
150m, breaking the world record of 14.8 seconds
waving the national flag in support two hours
which has stood since 1983. “It is one more to
before his race began on a specially raised
add to the list,” said Bolt. “I’m not in very good
platform that took a day to build but just a few
shape and I still have a lot of work to do but I am
seconds for Bolt to sprint across. She said of
getting there.”
Bolt: “As a person he is absolutely fantastic and
3 Brendan Foster, the former athlete who as a Jamaican he is out of this world. I am so
established the Great North Run and came happy that he is here in Manchester and I think
up with the idea of adding the street sprint to he will be an excellent role model for young
yesterday’s Great Manchester Run, said it would people and he will inspire them to achieve. It
help to publicize athletics. There are high hopes is so important to have this here on the street
that 100m and 200m world record holder Bolt because it is free rather than being in a stadium.”
can help reconnect football-obsessed youngsters
7 Before the race, Usain Bolt spoke about the
with athletics.
importance of street athletics in encouraging
4 Foster said he was inspired in the mid-1960s by young people to take up athletics: “It’s unique,
seeing Peter Snell compete in his hometown and something new for the sport and it will help
he wanted to do the same for a new generation attract youngsters into athletics. “I like to please
by bringing the people like Bolt and Haile the crowd and show them the person I am. I’m
Gebrselassie, the Ethiopian who holds the world just going to go out there and have some fun with
record for the marathon and who competed in the the crowd and perform to the best of my ability. If
Great Manchester Run 10k, to the streets. “Some I want to be a legend, I have to keep working at
people have criticized it, but if they are accusing it. That’s what keeps me going.”
me of bringing the two greatest athletes of our
lifetime onto the streets of Manchester, then I’m © Guardian News & Media 2009
guilty,” he said. The dilemma facing athletics First published in The Guardian, 17/05/09
was best highlighted by the situation in Beijing
where International Olympic Committee president
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1. Usain Bolt beat Haile Gebrselassie in the 150m race in Manchester.

2. Bolt broke a record that has stood since 1983.
3. The aim of the event was to encourage young people to take up athletics.
4. Bolt won two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.
5. The crowds were much smaller than expected because of the bad weather.
6. Usain Bolt says that he is already a legend.
4 Find the word
1. A three-word expression meaning in a good physical condition. (para 2)

2. A three-word phrasal verb meaning to think of an idea or plan. (para 3)
3. A two-word expression meaning relaxed confidence that comes from being sure of your abilities. (para 5)
4. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to raise. (para 5)
5. A two-word expression meaning a small gun used for signalling the start of a race. (para 5)
6. A four-word expression meaning extremely good or impressive. (para 6)
7. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to start a new activity or sport. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning someone who very many people know about and admire. (para 7)
1. break a. a lack of respect

2. come up with b. photos
3. show c. fun
4. take d. a record
5. take up e. a record
6. have f. a race
7. win g. an idea
8. hold h. athletics
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Complete these phrases from the text using prepositions.
1. ___________ good shape

2. ___________ the mid-1960s
3. compete ___________ a race
4. a role model ___________ young people
5. to the best ___________ my ability
6. keep working ___________ something
7 Discussion
What sports do you like and what do you like about them? If you don’t like any sports, why don’t you like them?
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1. sprint 1. in good shape

2. unique 2. come up with
3. inspires 3. self-assurance
4. foul 4. bring up
5. dilemma 5. starting pistol
6. role model 6. out of this world
7. deters 7. take up
8. hip 8. legend
9. unconventional
10. obsessed
2 Find the information 1. d/e

2. g
1. Usain Bolt 3. a
2. Ethiopia 4. b
3. 14.35 seconds 5. h
4. London 6. c
5. 6.20pm 7. f
6. Jamaica 8. d/e
1. F 1. in
2. T 2. in
3. T 3. in
4. F 4. for
5. F 5. of
6. F 6. at
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Student activists try to save wildlife on China’s menu
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
delicacy longevity curative extinct decline

devastating culprit poaching unsustainable endangered
1. An __________________________ animal is one that no longer exists.
2. An __________________________ species is one that may soon become extinct.
3. A ____________ is an individual or organization that is responsible for doing something bad or illegal.
4. If a process is described as __________________________, it is not capable of continuing at the same
rate or level.
5. __________________________ is the fact of having a long life or existence.
6. __________________________ is the illegal hunting of animals for commercial purposes.
7. A __________________________ is a rare or expensive type of food.
8. If a substance has __________________________ properties, it can be used to treat an illness or
a medical condition.
9. Something which has a __________________________ effect can cause a lot of harm or damage.
10. A __________________________ is a gradual reduction in the amount of quality of something.
Complete the sentences using information from the text.
1. Eating rare animals is __________________________ in southern China.
2. Crocodile meat is believed to relieve the symptoms of __________________________.
3. __________________________ is the richest and most powerful province in southern China.
4. Demand for exotic animals fell in 2003 as a result of the __________________________ crisis.
5. __________________________ is the biggest market for illegally harvested wildlife products.
6. Chinese traditional __________________________ is the main reason for the wildlife trade.
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Level 3 Advanced
Student activists try to save wildlife as extreme even in most other regions of China.
on China’s menu The main reason is Chinese traditional medicine,
As some rare wildlife species approach which lists curative qualities in many exotic
extinction, conservation groups are working to animals. It is believed that the wilder the animal
change China’s appetite for exotic animals or plant, the better the effects. A popular saying
has it that people here will eat anything with four
Jonathan Watts in Taiping
legs except a chair, anything that flies except a
15 May, 2009
plane and anything in the water except a boat.
1 Stewed turtle cures cancer, crocodile meat 5 Demand dropped briefly after 2003, when the
relieves asthma, pangolin scales regulate Sars crisis was blamed on pathogens spread
menstruation and scorpion venom helps by civet cats and other wild animals. But it has
stroke victims. These are traditional beliefs in surged back since as rising incomes allow more
Guangdong province in southern China, where consumers to indulge in foods that were once
animal markets teem with snakes, scorpions, considered delicacies for the very rich. A survey
salamander and dozens of different species of by the conservation group Traffic last year found
birds and turtles, some of which are endangered that almost half of city dwellers had eaten wild
and all of which will end their lives in restaurants, animals in the previous 12 months.
pharmacies or pet cages.
6 The impact has been devastating. While
2 Eating rare wildlife is normal in southern China, international attention tends to focus on big
but a growing group of student activists is trying mammals such as the Sumatran tiger and the
to do something considered far stranger: they giant panda, many reptiles are on the brink
are trying to save them. The newly-formed NGO of extinction. Turtles are among the most
conservation movement is stepping in where threatened because they breed slowly and their
the authorities have had limited success by meat is considered good for longevity.
monitoring markets and restaurants, reporting
sales of endangered species and trying to 7 Raising awareness takes a number of forms. The
change the consumer culture. Among the group has secretly taken images of a turtle being
youngest of several small groups is the Asian butchered and posted them online. But its main
Turtle Rehabilitation Project, established earlier job is monitoring. On a recent visit to the city’s
this year to save the reptiles from the soup pot. Qingping and Huadiwan markets, Wen Zhenyu
identified a number of different types of turtles
3 The founding members say they are trying to among the many species that are meant to be
cross the divide between the culture in which protected by international treaty.
they were raised and the global conservation
concerns they have been exposed to via the 8 While China is not the only culprit in the
Internet and schooling. They are surrounded consumption of wild animals, it is the biggest.
by people who think it’s a wasted effort. “They And its impact is being felt across the region. In
disapprove of this activity. They think turtles are February, Vietnamese authorities seized a record
small animals only good for eating, so why bother haul of illegally harvested wildlife products,
saving them,” says Luo Xinmei, a local student. including two tons of tiger bones. Reports the
“Almost no one in Guangzhou realizes this is a same month from Laos revealed that tiger
centre of the illegal wildlife trade.” poaching is still going on. The biggest market for
these products is China.
4 They are up against tradition and economic
growth. Guangdong is the richest and most 9 The authorities launch occasional raids on
powerful province in southern China, where the restaurants and dealers. Last month, Guangzhou
appetite for exotic animals and plants is seen wildlife protection officials intercepted a cargo of
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smuggled animals and birds. Conservationists in the diversity of freshwater turtles, snakes
believe police alone cannot solve the problem. and frogs in the wild, though many species,
“We need to build consumer awareness including crocodiles, are being bred successfully
so people move away from unsustainable in captivity. The activists say the key is changing
consumption towards a feeling of stewardship,” attitudes. “We try to educate people that turtles
said James Compton, the Asia Pacific are not only pets and not only food; they are also
co-ordinator of Traffic. a friend of humans,” Wen Zhenyu says.
10 For many species, it may be too late. The Wildlife

Conservation Society reports a sharp decline
1. What are the founding members of the Asian Turtle Rehabilitation Project hoping to achieve?
a. They want to stop people eating turtles.

b. They want to make people realize that Guangzhou is the centre of the illegal wildlife trade.
c. They want to bridge the gap between Chinese culture and global conservation concerns.
2. What are the two main factors that the founding members of the Asian Turtle Rehabilitation Project
are up against?
a. Rising sales and falling stocks.

b. Smuggling and poaching.
c. Tradition and economic growth.
3. How do conservationists believe the problem can be solved?
a. By raising awareness among consumers and changing attitudes.

b. By a police crackdown.
c. By launching occasional raids on restaurants and dealers.
4. What do traditional practitioners of Chinese traditional medicine believe?
a. The wilder the animal, the better the effects.

b. The appetite for exotic animals and plants is extreme.
c. Turtles are small animals only good for eating.
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4 Find the word

1. A verb meaning to cook slowly in liquid. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning poison produced by some animals, especially snakes and insects. (para 1)
3. A phrasal verb meaning to contain an extremely large number of something. (para 1)
4. A phrasal verb meaning to become involved in an argument or a controversial situation. (para 2)
5. A verb meaning to increase a lot very quickly. (para 5)
6. A four-word expression meaning at the point in time when something very bad (or good) is about to happen.
(para 6)
7. A verb meaning to kill a living creature in a cruel or violent way. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning the way in which someone organizes and looks after something. (para 9)
Complete the expressions from the text using prepositions.
1. be up _______________
2. focus _______________
3. expose someone _______________
4. disapprove _______________
5. blame something _______________
6. indulge _______________
6 Word building
1. There are a number of ____________________________ species in south-east Asia. [DANGER]

2. Economic ____________________________ is one of the main reasons. [GROW]
3. Many animals are on the brink of ____________________________. [EXTINCT]
4. Conservation groups are trying to raise ____________________________. [AWARE]
5. The current rate of consumption is ____________________________ and cannot continue. [SUSTAIN]
6. Many animals are bred successfully in ____________________________. [CAPTIVE]
7 Discussion
Should local culture and traditions be respected or should it be made illegal worldwide to hunt and
consume exotic animals?
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KEY
1. extinct 1. stew
2. endangered 2. venom
3. culprit 3. teem with
4. unsustainable 4. step in
5. longevity 5. surge
6. poaching 6. on the brink of
7. delicacy 7. butcher
8. curative 8. stewardship
9. devastating
10. decline
2 Find the information 1. against

2. on
1. normal 3. to
2. asthma 4. of
3. Guangzhou 5. on
4. Sars 6. in
5. China
6. medicine
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. endangered

2. growth
1. c 3. extinction
2. c 4. awareness
3. a 5. unsustainable
4. a 6. captivity
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1 Key words
Fill the gaps in the sentences below using these key words from the text.
conservation turtle demand mammal extinct

poaching endangered activist exotic reptile
4. A __________________________ is an animal that lays eggs like a snake or a crocodile.
5. A __________________________ is an animal that is born from its mother’s body, not from an egg, and drinks
its mother’s milk as a baby.
6. __________________________ is the amount of a product or service that people want.
7. A __________________________ is an animal with a shell and four short legs that mainly lives in the sea.
8. If something is __________________________, it is interesting or exciting because it is unusual.
9. An __________________________ is someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve
political or social change.
10. __________________________ is the management of land and water in ways that prevent it from
being destroyed.
1. Where is Guangdong province?
2. What disease is eating turtle supposed to cure?
3. What is the capital of Guangdong province?
4. When was the Sars virus epidemic?
5. What is Traffic?
6. Which country is the biggest market for illegal wildlife products?

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NEWS LESSONS / Student activists try to save wildlife on China’s menu / Elementary
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Student activists try to save wildlife for its extreme appetite for exotic animals and
on China’s menu plants. The main reason is Chinese traditional
medicine, which uses exotic animals in its
As some rare wildlife species approach treatments. People believe that the wilder the
extinction, conservation groups are working to animal or plant is, the better the effects are.
change China’s appetite for exotic animals A popular saying in China is that people here
Jonathan Watts in Taiping will eat anything with four legs except a chair,
15 May, 2009 anything that flies except a plane and anything in
the water except a boat.
1 In Guangdong province in southern China,
people believe that eating turtle can cure cancer, 5 The demand for wild animals fell for a short time
crocodile meat helps to treat asthma and after 2003, when the spread of the Sars virus
scorpion poison helps people who have suffered was blamed on wild animals. But it has risen
strokes. Animal markets in Guangdong are full again as higher incomes allow more people to
of snakes, scorpions, salamander and dozens eat foods that were once only for the very rich.
of different species of birds and turtles. Some of A survey by the conservation group Traffic last
these species are endangered and all of them year found that almost half the people living in
will end their lives in restaurants, pharmacies or cities had eaten wild animals in the previous
pet cages. 12 months. The effect of this has been terrible.
International attention usually focuses on big
2 Eating wild animals is normal in southern
mammals such as the Sumatran tiger and the
China, but now student activists are trying to
giant panda, but many reptiles are now almost
do something that many people think is much
extinct. Turtles are in a particularly difficult
stranger: they are trying to save these wild
situation because they breed slowly and people
animals. A new conservation movement is
believe that if they eat turtle meat they will have
checking markets and restaurants, reporting
a longer life.
sales of endangered species and trying to
change the consumer culture. One of the groups 6 The activists are trying to raise public awareness
in the movement is the Asian Turtle Rehabilitation of the problem in different ways. The group has
Project, established earlier this year to help secretly taken pictures of a turtle being killed and
protect turtles. posted the pictures online. But its main job is
monitoring. On a recent visit to the city’s markets,
3 Members of the group say there is a big
Wen Zhenyu saw a number of different types of
difference between the local culture and the
turtles among the many species that are meant
global conservation concerns they read about
to be protected by international law.
on the Internet and hear about at school. Most
of the people around them think that what they 7 China is not the only country that consumes
are doing is a waste of time. “They don’t like wild animals, but it is the biggest. The effects
what we are doing. They think turtles are small of China’s actions are felt all over the region. In
animals only good for eating, so why try to save February, Vietnamese authorities seized a record
them,” says Luo Xinmei, a local student. “Almost number of illegal wildlife products, including
no one in Guangzhou (the capital of Guangdong two tons of tiger bones. Reports in the same
province) knows that the city is a centre of the month from Laos showed that tiger poaching
illegal wildlife trade.” is still continuing. The biggest market for these
products is China.
4 The two main problems for the activists are
tradition and economic growth. Guangdong is the 8 From time to time the authorities raid restaurants
richest and most powerful province in southern and animal dealers. Last month, Guangzhou
China. It is well known in other parts of China
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wildlife protection officials seized a cargo of different species of freshwater turtles, snakes
smuggled animals and birds. Conservationists and frogs in the wild, though many species,
believe the police cannot solve the problem including crocodiles, are breeding successfully in
alone. “We need to build awareness so people zoos. The activists say the answer is to change
understand the need to protect these species people’s attitudes. “We try to educate people that
rather than kill and eat them,” said James turtles are not only pets and not only food; they
Compton, the Asia Pacific co-ordinator of Traffic. are also a friend of humans,” Wen Zhenyu says.
9 For many species, it may be too late. The Wildlife © Guardian News & Media 2009
Conservation Society reports a sharp fall in First published in The Guardian, 15/05/09
Match the beginnings and the endings to make sentences about the text.
1. The main reason for the Chinese appetite for exotic animals is ______
2. Guangdong province is ______
3. Turtles are in a very bad situation because ______
4. The Sars virus of 2003 ______
5. Groups of activists ______
6. China is ______
a. ______ the main market for exotic animals and plants.
b. ______ they breed slowly and people believe eating turtle meat leads to a longer life.
c. ______ Chinese traditional medicine.

d. ______ are trying to save endangered species.
e. ______ led to a fall in demand for wild animals.
f. ______ the richest and most powerful province in China.

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4 Definitions
Match the words from the text with their definitions.
1. asthma a. someone who buys and uses goods and services
2. stroke b. knowledge or understanding of a subject or situation
3. consumer c. a set of questions you ask a large number of people
4. saying d. a medical condition in which the blood is suddenly blocked and cannot reach the brain
5. survey e. a medical condition that makes it difficult to breathe
6. awareness f. a well-known statement about what often happens in life
Match the words in the left-hand column with the words in the right-hand column to form
1. conservation a. species
2. endangered b. awareness
3. economic c. medicine
4. traditional d. group
5. public e. saying
6. popular f. growth
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. sell
2. move
3. grow
4. treat
5. produce
6. protect
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KEY
1 Key words 4 Definitions
1. poaching 1. e
2. extinct 2. d
3. endangered 3. a
4. reptile 4. f
5. mammal 5. c
6. demand 6. b
7. turtle
8. exotic
9. activist
10. conservation
1. d
2. a
4. c
1. southern China 5. b
2. cancer 6. e
3. Guangzhou
4. 2003
6 Word building
5. a conservation group
6. China
1. sale
2. movement
3 Comprehension check 3. growth
4. treatment
1. c 5. product
2. f 6. protection
3. b
4. e
5. d
6. a
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1 Key words
extinct curative devastating culprit poaching

endangered activist exotic reptile treaty
2. A __________________________ is an official written agreement between two or more countries.
3. A __________________________ is an animal that lays eggs like a snake or a crocodile.
4. An __________________________ is someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve
political or social change.
7. If something is __________________________, it is interesting or exciting because it is unusual.
8. Something which has a __________________________ effect can cause a lot of harm or damage.
9. If a substance has __________________________ properties, it can be used to treat an illness or a
medical condition.
10. A __________________________ is an individual or organisation that is responsible for doing something
bad or illegal.
1. Where is Guangdong province?
2. When was the Sars epidemic?
3. Apart from China, which other two Asian countries are mentioned in the article?
4. What disease is eating turtle supposed to cure?
5. Which country is the biggest market for illegal wildlife products?
6. What is the capital of Guangdong province?

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NEWS LESSONS / Student activists try to save wildlife on China’s menu / Intermediate
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Student activists try to save wildlife China. It is a place where the appetite for exotic
on China’s menu animals and plants is seen as extreme; even in
most other regions of China. The main reason is
As some rare wildlife species approach Chinese traditional medicine, which lists curative
extinction, conservation groups are working to qualities in many exotic animals. It is believed
change China’s appetite for exotic animals that the wilder the animal or plant, the better the
effects. A popular saying has it that people here
Jonathan Watts in Taiping will eat anything with four legs except a chair,
15 May, 2009 anything that flies except a plane and anything in
the water except a boat.
1 Eating turtle cures cancer, crocodile meat
relieves asthma and scorpion poison helps 5 Demand dropped briefly after 2003, when the
stroke victims. These are traditional beliefs in spread of Sars was blamed on wild animals. But
Guangdong province in southern China, where it has risen again as higher incomes allow more
animal markets are full of snakes, scorpions, consumers to eat foods that were once only for
salamander and dozens of different species of the very rich. A survey by the conservation group
birds and turtles, some of which are endangered Traffic last year found that almost half of city
and all of which will end their lives in restaurants, dwellers had eaten wild animals in the previous
pharmacies or pet cages. 12 months. The impact has been devastating.
While international attention tends to focus on
2 Eating rare wildlife is normal in southern
big mammals such as the Sumatran tiger and the
China, but now student activists are trying to giant panda, many reptiles are almost extinct.
do something considered far stranger: they Turtles are among the most threatened because
are trying to save them. The newly-formed they breed slowly and people believe that eating
conservation movement is monitoring markets their meat will lead to a longer life.
and restaurants, reporting sales of endangered
species and trying to change the consumer 6 Raising awareness takes a number of forms. The
culture. Among the newest of several small group has secretly taken images of a turtle being
groups is the Asian Turtle Rehabilitation Project, butchered and posted them online. But its main
established earlier this year to help job is monitoring. On a recent visit to the city’s
protect turtles. markets, Wen Zhenyu identified a number of
different types of turtles among the many species
3 The founding members say the culture in which that are meant to be protected by
they were raised and the global conservation international treaty.
concerns they have been exposed to via the
Internet and schooling are two very different 7 While China is not the only culprit in the
things. They are surrounded by people who think consumption of wild animals, it is the biggest.
that what they are doing is a waste of time. “They And its impact is being felt across the region. In
disapprove of this activity. They think turtles are February, Vietnamese authorities seized a record
small animals only good for eating, so why bother haul of illegal wildlife products, including two tons
saving them,” says Luo Xinmei, a local student. of tiger bones. Reports the same month from
“Almost no one in Guangzhou (the capital of Laos revealed that tiger poaching is still going on.
Guangdong province) realizes this is a centre of The biggest market for these products is China.
the illegal wildlife trade.”
8 The authorities occasionally raid restaurants
4 The activists are fighting the effects of both
and dealers. Last month, Guangzhou wildlife
tradition and economic growth. Guangdong is the
protection officials intercepted a cargo of
richest and most powerful province in southern
smuggled animals and birds. Conservationists
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believe police alone cannot solve the problem. including crocodiles, are being bred successfully
“We need to build consumer awareness so in captivity. The activists say the key is changing
people understand the need to protect these attitudes. “We try to educate people that turtles
species rather than kill and eat them,” said are not only pets and not only food; they are also
James Compton, the Asia Pacific co-ordinator a friend of humans,” Wen Zhenyu says.
of Traffic.
9 For many species, it may be too late. The First published in The Guardian, 15/05/09
Wildlife Conservation Society reports a sharp
fall in the diversity of freshwater turtles, snakes
and frogs in the wild, though many species,
1. Eating rare animals is unusual in southern China.
2. The activists think what they are doing is probably a waste of time.
3. Chinese traditional medicine is the main reason for the trade in exotic animals and plants.
4. People blamed the Sars epidemic on domestic animals.
5. The main job of the activists is to post images online.
6. The Chinese authorities do not often raid restaurants and dealers.
4 Find the word
1. A noun meaning a medical condition that makes it difficult to breathe. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning a medical condition in which the blood is suddenly blocked and cannot reach the brain. (para 1)
3. A noun meaning someone who buys and uses goods and services. (para 2)
4. A noun meaning a well-known statement about what often happens in life. (para 4)
5. A noun meaning the amount of a product or service that people want. (para 5)
6. A verb meaning to kill a living creature in a cruel or violent way. (para 6)
7. A noun meaning a large amount of something illegal that is found by the police. (para 7)
8. A noun meaning the fact that very different people or things exist within a group or place. (para 9)
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Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns and noun phrases in the right-hand column to form
1. cure a. images online
2. raise b. a problem
3. post c. animals in captivity
4. solve d. an illegal cargo
5. breed e. a disease
6. intercept f. awareness
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. believe
2. move
3. grow
4. consume (person)
5. consume (process)
6. protect
7 Discussion
Should people be allowed to eat what they want to eat?

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1. poaching 1. asthma
2. treaty 2. stroke
3. reptile 3. consumer
4. activist 4. saying
5. extinct 5. demand
6. endangered 6. butcher
7. exotic 7. haul
8. devastating 8. diversity
9. curative
10. culprit

2. f
1. southern China 3. a
2. 2003 4. b
3. Laos and Vietnam 5. c
4. cancer 6. d
5. China
6. Guangzhou
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. belief

2. movement
1. F 3. growth
2. F 4. consumer
3. T 5. consumption
4. F 6. protection
5. F
6. T
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US women discover they were switched at birth
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
sibling rumour distress switch tease

sedated sneer divulge dismiss bereavement
1. If you _____________________ at someone, you speak to them in an unpleasant way that shows you do not
respect them and think you are better than them.
2. If you _____________________ someone, you have fun by saying things that embarrass or annoy them
slightly in a friendly or unkind way.
3. If you _____________________ something, you refuse to accept that it might be true or important.
4. A _____________________ hospital patient has been given drugs to make them calmer or to make
them sleep.
5. Your _____________________ is your brother or sister.
6. To _____________________ means to give people information about something, especially something that
should be kept secret.
7. _____________________ is the situation you are in when a close friend or a family member has just died.
8. _____________________ is a feeling that you have when you are very unhappy, worried or upset.
9. To _____________________ means to replace one object with another.
10. A _____________________ is unofficial information that may or may not be true.
1. When were the two women born?
2. Where were they born?
3. How far apart were their family homes?
4. How much did each baby weigh at birth?
5. What was the difference between Dee Ann Angell and her siblings?
6. What method was used to determine their real identity?

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NEWS LESSONS / US women discover they were switched at birth / Advanced

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US women discover they were been mistakenly switched at birth. When the
switched at birth nurse brought the babies back from bathing them
Dee Ann Angell and Kay Rene Reed have Marjorie had cried out, “This is not my baby!”
managed to forge a bond 56 years after But the nurse ignored her protests, and she had
hospital’s error spent the rest of her life privately convinced she
was raising the wrong child.
15 May, 2009 5 When Kay Rene heard the news it rang a bell
for her. Her own mother, Donalda Reed, had
been heavily sedated giving birth and had never
1 Dee Ann Angell was used to the jokes and the
harboured any doubts. She had only once
sneering she had to put up with at school. She
referred to the rumours about the family. She
was blonde-haired and blue-eyed and she was
told Kay Rene they were not true. “You are my
teased because she looked so different from her
daughter and you always will be,” she said. But
brown-eyed brunette siblings. “Did your mother
those doubts were now impossible to ignore. The
go with another man?” her friends would say, and
two women contacted each other earlier this year
she would just laugh and brush it off.
and arranged to meet. One of Dee Ann’s sisters,
2 Kay Rene Reed would sometimes hear a rumour Juanita, joined them and for Kay Rene it was like
in her family that a terrible mistake had been lightning had struck. They were identical. “That’s
made at birth and she had been switched with me!” she exclaimed, pointing at her natural sister.
another baby. That explained why she looked so Juanita replied: “There’s no point having a DNA
different from her siblings, so the rumour went. test, just look at us!”
But she also dismissed it and moved on.
6 They did go ahead with a test, and while they
3 Fifty-six years after the two women were born were waiting for the results they cracked jokes.
on the same day in 1953 they no longer dismiss “Who’s my mama?” shouted Dee Ann, “Who’s my
anything. Through DNA testing they now know daddy?” echoed Kay Rene. The test measured
they are not who they thought they were, that the genetic possibility of Kay Rene being related
their lives have been led in the wrong family. to her brother and sister: zero. It also tested the
Each baby weighed about 6lbs (2.8kg) at birth genetic possibility of her being related to Dee
on 3 May 1953. Each was hairless. They were Ann’s brother and sister: 99.99%. The few weeks
the only two babies delivered that day at the since the discovery have been an emotional
tiny hospital in Heppner, Oregon. A nurse took roller-coaster for both women. In some ways it
them both to be bathed, sharing the facilities for has been a bereavement, accepting the fact that
convenience’s sake, then returned them to their they will never meet their natural parents, that
mothers. They were taken to homes 20 miles the lives that had been intended for them have
apart and in the course of time married and had been lost for ever. “It’s sad,” Dee Ann told ABC
children and grandchildren of their own. Their television today, close to tears. “I think that I
paths never crossed again until earlier this year. missed out on knowing my own parents, my
own family.”
4 The truth began to emerge last summer when a
neighbour of Marjorie Angell, Dee Ann’s mother, 7 Kay Rene said she felt very guilty because she
divulged a secret she had been carrying inside had stolen the other woman’s memories. When
her for years. Aged 86, the unidentified neighbour she looked at her family now she felt “I have
had waited until all four parents of the women cheated them – it shouldn’t have been me. I’m
had died, because she didn’t want to cause any glad it was because I’ve had a wonderful life.”
distress. Now she came forward and told one But another part of the experience has been
of Kay Rene’s brothers that while she was still very enriching. On their 56th birthday earlier this
alive Marjorie had told her that the babies had month the two families came together for the first
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time. It was as if each woman had been given cowboy. Kay Rene chewed gum in a distinctive
a gift of a second family. “We just had a ball way; when she met her natural sisters for the
together,” Kay Rene said. first time they chewed it in the same way. The
ups and downs continue. The hospital that made
8 There is also the gift of friendship between the the switch has offered them counselling
two women. They call each other ‘twisters’. They to help them deal with the shock but they politely
have shared notes about each other’s lives that declined. “We are old women now,” said
have revealed some strange similarities. Dee Kay Rene.
Ann grew up loving horses which was unlikely
in her family that had no tradition of riding; she © Guardian News & Media 2009
learnt that Kay Rene had been brought up on First published in The Guardian, 15/05/09
a ranch by her father who saw himself as a
1. Who revealed the truth about the 3. Why is Dee Ann sad?
switched babies? a. Because she knows the truth.
a. Dee Ann’s mother. b. Because the last few weeks have been an
b. Dee Ann’s mother’s neighbour. emotional roller-coaster.
c. Marjorie’s mother. c. Because she will never know her own parents.
2. When were they switched? 4. Why did the two women refuse to have counselling?
a. When they left the hospital. a. Because they don’t need it.
b. Just after they had been bathed by a nurse. b. Because they are old now.
c. As soon as they were born. c. Because they don’t think it will help.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to refuse to listen to someone or accept that something is true. (para 1)
2. A verb meaning to help a woman give birth to a baby. (para 3)
3. A four-word expression meaning they didn’t meet each other by chance. (para 3)
4. An adverb meaning wrongly. (para 4)
5. A two-word expression meaning to be suspicious about something for a long period of time. (para 5)
6. A two-word expression meaning to tell funny stories. (para 6)
7. A three-word expression meaning a situation in which your feelings and your mood change radically several
times. (para 6)
8. A three-word expression meaning to have a good time. (para 7)

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1. share a. doubts
2. deliver b. a secret
3. divulge c. a ball
4. harbour d. children
5. cause e. facilities
6. raise f. an offer
7. decline g. distress
8. have h. a baby
6 Phrasal verbs
Match each phrasal verb with its definition.
1. put up with a. lose an opportunity to do something
2. move on b. continue to do something especially after waiting for permission
3. come forward c. tell someone a secret
4. miss out d. accept something unpleasant in a patient way
5. go ahead e. offer help or information
6. confide in f. continue your life
7 Discussion
Imagine that you were in a similar situation. Would you prefer to know the truth or would you prefer to keep
things as they were? Why? Do you think the neighbour did the right thing?
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KEY
1. sneer 1. brush off

2. tease 2. deliver
3. dismiss 3. their paths never crossed
4. sedated 4. mistakenly
5. sibling 5. harbour doubts
6. divulge 6. crack jokes
7. bereavement 7. emotional roller-coaster
8. distress 8. have a ball
9. switch
10. rumour

2. h
1. 3 May 1953 3. b
2. Heppner, Oregon 4. a
3. 20 miles 5. g
4. 2.8kg (6lbs) 6. d
5. Dee Ann had blue eyes and blonde hair; her siblings 7. f
had brown eyes and brown hair 8. c
6. DNA testing
6 Phrasal verbs
1. d
1. b 2. f
2. b 3. e
3. c 4. a
4. b 5. b
6. c
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1 Key words
identical sibling rumour upset switch

sedative brunette DNA distinctive tease
2. If you feel _____________________, you feel sad, worried or angry about something.
4. A _____________________ is a drug you give to people to make them calmer or to help them sleep.
5. If something is _____________________, it is easy to recognise because it is different from other things of the
same type.
7. If two or more things are _____________________, they are exactly the same.
8. A _____________________ is a woman with brown hair.
10. _____________________ is a chemical substance that is found in the cells of all living things.
1. In what year were the two women born?
3. What was their exact birthday?
4. In which American state were they born?
5. How old was the neighbour who revealed the secret?
6. What test did they take to determine their real identity?

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US women discover they were had been switched at birth by mistake. When the
switched at birth nurse brought the babies back after bathing them
Dee Ann Angell and Kay Rene Reed have Marjorie had said, “This is not my baby!” But the
managed to forge a bond 56 years after nurse said she was wrong, so she had spent the
hospital’s error rest of her life sure she was raising the wrong child.
Ed Pilkington in New York 6 When Kay Rene heard the news she
15 May, 2009 remembered something. Her mother, Donalda
Reed, was given sedatives during the birth
1 When Dee Ann Angell was at school the other and had never had any doubts. She only once
children made jokes about her and teased her. mentioned the rumours about the family. She
She was blonde-haired and blue-eyed and the told Kay Rene they were not true. “You are my
other children teased her because she looked so daughter and you always will be,” she said. But
different from her brown-eyed brunette siblings. now it was impossible to ignore the doubts. The
“Did your mother go with another man?” her two women contacted each other earlier this year
friends used to say, and she just laughed and and arranged to meet. One of Dee Ann’s sisters,
ignored it. Juanita, joined them and for Kay Rene it was
a real shock. They were identical. “That’s me!”
2 Kay Rene Reed sometimes heard a rumour in she said, pointing at her natural sister. Juanita
her family that someone had made a terrible replied: “There’s no point having a DNA test, just
mistake when she was born and switched her look at us!”
with another baby. That explained why she
looked so different from her siblings, people said. 7 They had the test anyway, and while they were
But she also ignored the rumour and got on with waiting for the results they made jokes. “Who’s
her life. my mama?” shouted Dee Ann, “Who’s my
daddy?” replied Kay Rene. The test measured
3 Fifty-six years after the two women were born the genetic possibility of Kay Rene being related
on the same day in 1953 they now know the to her brother and sister: zero. It also tested the
truth. After a DNA test they now know they are genetic possibility of her being related to Dee
not who they thought they were and that they Ann’s brother and sister: 99.99%.
have lived their lives in the wrong family. Each
baby weighed about 6lbs (2.8kg) at birth on 3 8 The few weeks since the test have been quite
May 1953. Each had no hair. They were the only difficult for both women. In some ways it has
two babies born that day at the tiny hospital in been very sad. They have to accept the fact that
4 Heppner, Oregon. A nurse took them away and they will never meet their natural parents and
bathed them in the same bath and then returned that they have lost forever the lives that they
them to their mothers. They were taken to homes were meant to have. “It’s sad,” Dee Ann told ABC
20 miles apart and, when they were older, television, almost crying. “I think that I never
married and had children and grandchildren of knew my own parents, my own family.”
their own. They never met again until earlier this year.
9 Kay Rene said she felt very guilty because
5 The truth came out last summer when a she had stolen the other woman’s memories.
neighbour of Marjorie Angell, Dee Ann’s mother, When she looked at her family now she felt “I
revealed a secret she had known for years. The have cheated them but I’m glad because I’ve
neighbour, aged 86, had waited until all four had a wonderful life.” But another part of the
parents of the women had died, because she experience has been very positive. On their 56th
didn’t want anyone to be upset. Now she decided birthday earlier this month the two families met
to tell one of Kay Rene’s brothers that while she for the first time. For each woman it was like a
was still alive Marjorie told her that the babies gift of a second family. “We just had a great time
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together,” Kay Rene said. sisters for the first time they chewed it in the
same way. The ups and downs continue. The
10 The two women have become good friends. hospital that made the mistake has offered to
They tell each other about their lives. Dee Ann help them deal with the shock but they have
grew up loving horses which was strange in a said no to the offer. “We are old women now,”
family that had no tradition of horse riding; Kay said Kay Rene.
Rene grew up on a ranch with a father who saw
himself as a cowboy. Kay Rene chewed gum © Guardian News & Media 2009
in a distinctive way; when she met her natural First published in The Guardian, 15/05/09
1. Dee Ann Angell’s schoolmates made jokes about her because ...
2. Kay Rene Reed’s mother told her ...
3. The two babies …
4. A neighbour of Dee Ann’s mother ...
5. The DNA test …
6. Now the two women ...
a. … confirmed who the women really were.
b. … were switched at birth.
c. … she looked different from her brothers and sisters.
d. … have become the best of friends.
e. … finally revealed the truth about what happened.
f. … the rumours about the family were not true.

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4 Chunks
1. blue and haired eyed brown
2. the women born two same on were day the
3. again met this earlier they year
4. since the weeks few test the
5. this on birthday their month 56th earlier
6. met time they for the first
5 Verbs and nouns
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns and noun phrases in the right-hand column. Check
1. become a. a great time
2. make b. gum
3. reveal c. a rumour
4. hear d. good friends
5. have e. a secret
6. chew f. a mistake
6 Word stress
Put these words into two groups according to their word stress.
different rumour ignore return married mistake

neighbour alive arrange parents accept summer
A 0o B o0
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KEY
1. switch 1. blue-eyed and brown-haired (brown-haired and

2. upset blue-eyed)
3. tease 2. the two women were born on the same day
4. sedative 3. they met again earlier this year
5. distinctive 4. the few weeks since the test
6. sibling 5. on their 56th birthday earlier this month
7. identical 6. they met for the first time
8. brunette
9. rumour
5 Verbs and nouns
10. DNA
1. d
3. e
1. 1953 4. c
2. 6lbs (2.8kg) 5. a
3. 3 May 1953 6. b
4. Oregon
5. 86
6 Word stress
6. a DNA test
3 Comprehension check A 0o B o0
different ignore
1. c rumour return
2. f married mistake
3. b neighbour alive
4. e parents arrange
5. a summer accept
6. d
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1 Key words
sibling rumour distress switch tease

sedated brunette identical DNA distinctive
2. _____________________ is a feeling that you have when you are very unhappy, worried or upset.
4. _____________________ is a chemical substance that is found in the cells of all living things.
5. If something is _____________________, it is easy to recognize because it is different from other things of
the same type.
7. If two or more things are _____________________, they are exactly the same.
8. A _____________________ is a woman with brown hair.
10. A _____________________ hospital patient has been given drugs to make them calmer or to make
them sleep.
1. When were the two women born?
3. Where were they born?
4. How far apart were their family homes?
5. How old was the neighbour who revealed the secret?
6. What test was used to determine their real identity?

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NEWS LESSONS / US women discover they were switched at birth / Intermediate

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US women discover they were nurse brought the babies back from bathing them
switched at birth Marjorie had cried out, “This is not my baby!”
Dee Ann Angell and Kay Rene Reed have But the nurse ignored her protests, and she had
managed to forge a bond 56 years after spent the rest of her life privately convinced she
hospital’s error was raising the wrong child.
Ed Pilkington in New York 5 When Kay Rene heard the news it rang a bell
15 May, 2009 for her. Her own mother, Donalda Reed, had
been heavily sedated giving birth and had never
1 Dee Ann Angell was used to the jokes and the had any doubts. She had only once referred
teasing at school. She was blonde-haired and to the rumours about the family. She told Kay
blue-eyed and the other children teased her Rene they were not true. “You are my daughter
because she looked so different from her brown- and you always will be,” she said. But those
eyed brunette siblings. “Did your mother go with doubts were now impossible to ignore. The two
another man?” her friends would say, and she women contacted each other earlier this year
would just laugh and ignore it. and arranged to meet. One of Dee Ann’s sisters,
Juanita, joined them and for Kay Rene it was a
2 Kay Rene Reed would sometimes hear a rumour real shock. They were identical. “That’s me!” she
in her family that a terrible mistake had been exclaimed, pointing at her natural sister. Juanita
made at birth and she had been switched with replied: “There’s no point having a DNA test, just
another baby. That explained why she looked so look at us!”
different from her siblings, so the rumour went.
But she also ignored it and got on with her life. 6 They had the test anyway, and while they were
waiting for the results they cracked jokes. “Who’s
3 Fifty-six years after the two women were born on my mama?” shouted Dee Ann, “Who’s my
the same day in 1953 they now know the truth. daddy?” echoed Kay Rene. The test measured
DNA testing means that they now know they are the genetic possibility of Kay Rene being related
not who they thought they were, that their lives to her brother and sister: zero. It also tested the
have been led in the wrong family. Each baby genetic possibility of her being related to Dee
weighed about 6lbs (2.8kg) at birth on 3 May Ann’s brother and sister: 99.99%.
1953. Each was hairless. They were the only
two babies born that day at the tiny hospital in 7 The few weeks since the test have been an
Heppner, Oregon. A nurse took them both to be emotional roller-coaster for both women. In some
bathed, sharing the same bath, then returned ways it has been very sad, accepting the fact that
them to their mothers. They were taken to homes they will never meet their natural parents, that
20 miles apart and in the course of time married the lives that had been intended for them have
and had children and grandchildren of their own. been lost for ever. “It’s sad,” Dee Ann told ABC
They never met again until earlier this year. television today, close to tears. “I think that
I missed out on knowing my own parents, my
4 The truth began to come out last summer when a own family.”
neighbour of Marjorie Angell, Dee Ann’s mother,
revealed a secret she had been carrying inside 8 Kay Rene said she felt very guilty because she
her for years. Aged 86, the unidentified neighbour had stolen the other woman’s memories. When
had waited until all four parents of the women she looked at her family now she felt “I have
had died, because she didn’t want to cause any cheated them – it shouldn’t have been me. I’m
distress. Now she came forward and told one glad it was because I’ve had a wonderful life.”
of Kay Rene’s brothers that while she was still But another part of the experience has been very
alive Marjorie had told her that the babies had positive. On their 56th birthday earlier this month
been switched at birth by mistake. When the the two families came together for the first time. It
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was as if each woman had been given a gift of a cowboy. Kay Rene chewed gum in a distinctive
second family. “We just had a ball together,” Kay way; when she met her natural sisters for the
Rene said. first time they chewed it in the same way. The
ups and downs continue. The hospital that made
9 There is also the gift of friendship between the the switch has offered them counselling to help
two women. They call each other ‘twisters’. They them deal with the shock but they have refused
have shared notes about each other’s lives that it. “We are old women now,” said Kay Rene.
have revealed some strange similarities. Dee
Ann grew up loving horses which was unlikely © Guardian News & Media 2009
in her family that had no tradition of riding; she First published in The Guardian, 15/05/09
learnt that Kay Rene had been brought up on
a ranch by her father who saw himself as a
Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the test?
1. The two babies were deliberately switched at birth.
2. Dee Ann’s mother revealed the secret.
3. It was 56 years before the two women finally learned the truth.
4. They weren’t sure until they received the results of the DNA test.
5. Kay Rene looked very different from Dee Ann’s sister Juanita.
6. Dee Ann and Kay Rene are now friends.
4 Find the word
1. An adjective meaning having no hair. (para 3)
2. A verb meaning to let something become known. (para 4)
3. An adjective meaning absolutely sure. (para 4)
4. A three-word expression meaning to sound familiar although you cannot remember the exact details. (para 5)
5. A two-word expression meaning to tell funny stories. (para 6)
6. A three-word expression meaning a situation in which your feelings and your mood change radically several
times. (para 7)
7. A three-word expression meaning to have a good time. (para 8)
8. A noun meaning advice and help given to people who have problems. (para 9)
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1. reveal a. a rumour
2. raise b. a bell
3. crack c. a test
4. have d. an offer
5. cause e. a secret
6. hear f. jokes
7. refuse g. distress
8. ring h. a child
1. to be used _______ something
2. look different _______ someone
3. to get on _______ your life
4. switch _______ birth
5. _______ mistake
6. point _______ someone
7. _______ the first time
8. a tradition _______ something
7 Discussion
Imagine that you were in the same situation. What would you do? Why? Do you think the neighbour did the
right thing?
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1. tease 1. hairless
2. distress 2. reveal
3. switch 3. convinced
4. DNA 4. ring a bell
5. distinctive 5. crack jokes
6. sibling 6. emotional roller-coaster
7. identical 7. have a ball
8. brunette 8. counselling
9. rumour
10. sedated

2. h
1. 3 May 1953 3. f
2. 6lbs (2.8kg) 4. c
3. Heppner, Oregon 5. g
4. 20 miles 6. a
5. 86 7. d
6. a DNA test 8. b
1. F 1. to
2. F 2. from
3. T 3. with
4. F 4. at
5. F 5. by
6. T 6. at
7. for
8. of
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Schwarzenegger to scrap textbooks in favour of e-books
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
decry free up outdated updated deficit

upcoming scrap nonsensical hard-bound inmate
1. If the authorities __________________________ a project, they decide not to continue with it.
2. An __________________________ is someone who is kept in a prison, mental hospital or other institution.
3. If you __________________________ money, you make it available so that it can be used for other purposes.
4. If you __________________________ something, you say publicly that you do not approve of it.
5. If something is described as __________________________, it is not true or sensible.
6. An __________________________ system is one that is old and no longer suitable for modern purposes.
7. __________________________ material includes the most recent information and data.
8. An __________________________ event, is one that is happening soon.
9. A __________________________ is the amount by which something is less than you need or should have.
10. A __________________________ book is one that has a hard cover.
1. How much is the budget deficit in California?
2. How much did California set aside last year to buy school books?
3. How many books would hold the same amount of information as a digital textbook?
4. How much does a digital textbook cost?
5. How many official contracts did the state of California sign between 2005 and 2008?
6. How many contracts has it already signed this year?

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Arnold Schwarzenegger to scrap buy books, including textbooks, on their phones
school textbooks in favour of e-books and also copy and email large chunks. “Basically
kids are feeling as comfortable with their
Governor of California seeks to cut budget deficit
electronic devices as I was with my pencils and
by replacing ‘outdated’ textbooks with electronic
crayons. Textbooks are outdated, in my opinion,”
reading devices
Schwarzenegger told pupils. “For so many years,
Mark Tran we’ve been trying to teach the kids exactly the
June 9, 2009 same way.”
5 Holding up four large books he joked: “I can

1 In the first Terminator movie he tried to extinguish use these in the gym,” in a reference to his
all human life. Now, as governor of California, bodybuilding days before he became one of
Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to make Hollywood’s biggest stars. But some teachers
textbooks history in favour of digital formats. wonder whether Schwarzenegger’s idea of
Schwarzenegger, trying to plug a budget hole getting rid of textbooks might end up costing
of $24.3bn (£15bn), thinks he can make savings more not less, with digital textbooks going for
by getting rid of what he decries as expensive $300. Kristina Fierro, a high school teacher in
textbooks. The governor is serious about an Bakersfield, said it would be expensive to get
idea that might make Gutenberg* turn in his the materials, train the teachers and train the
grave. He appeared in class yesterday to push students to use the materials properly. She was
an idea he set out in the San Jose Mercury also worried about the students once they are
News newspaper. out of the classroom. “I would say out of a class
of 30, maybe 10 or less ... have a computer at
2 “It’s nonsensical and expensive to look to
home. The governor hasn’t given many details
traditional hard-bound books when information
about the programme, but so far the digital
today is so readily available in electronic form,”
addition isn’t looking like a subtraction for
Schwarzenegger wrote. “Especially now, when
California’s budget,” she told KGET, a local
our school districts are strapped for cash and
TV station.
our state budget deficit is forcing further cuts to
classrooms, we must do everything we can to 6 In an effort to cut the state budget deficit,
untie educators’ hands and free up dollars so that Schwarzenegger has signed an executive order
schools can do more with fewer resources.” to scrap funding on contracts from 1 March, and
bar state agencies from entering into new ones.
3 Schwarzenegger points out that California
Between 2005 and 2008, the state of California
last year set aside $350m for school books
signed an average of 65,000 contracts a year,
and argues that even if teachers have to print
which ranged from peanut butter for prison
out some of the material, it will be far cheaper
inmates to consultants for computer system
than regularly buying updated textbooks.
upgrades. This year the number stands at about
Schwarzenegger plans to launch the scheme in
36,000. Schwarzenegger said: “Every state
August next year when California’s high-school
agency and department will scrutinise how
pupils will have access to online maths and
every penny is spent on contracts to make
science texts. They would also use a digital
sure the state is getting the best deal for every
textbook such as Sony reader, which can hold
taxpayer dollar.”
the same information as up to 160 books.
* Johannes Gutenberg (1398–1468) was the inventor of the
4 E-book readers are gaining in popularity. printing press.
Yesterday, Apple presented an upcoming
application for its iPhone that allows users to © Guardian News & Media 2009
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1. Why does Schwarzenegger want to introduce electronic textbooks in California?

a. Because he thinks they are better.
b. Because he believes traditional textbooks are too expensive.
c. Because a digital textbook can hold a lot of information.
2. Why are some teachers sceptical about the plan?

a. Because they don’t like digital textbooks.
b. Because they don’t like Schwarzenegger and his policies.
c. Because they think it will cost just as much as buying traditional textbooks.
3. Why does Schwarzenegger believe textbooks are outdated?

a. Because teachers have been trying to teach kids the same way for years.
b. Because people can buy textbook on their phones.
c. Because the children of today are comfortable using electronic devices.
4. What other decision has Schwarzenegger recently made?

a. He has decided to stop state agencies entering into new contracts.
b. He has decided to offer peanut butter to prison inmates.
c. He has decided to check personally how every penny is spent.
4 Find the word

1. A four-word expression meaning to get rid of something for ever (para 1)

2. A six-word expression meaning to do something that would surprise or sadden someone who is now dead (para 1)
3. A three-word expression meaning to provide what is missing from something (para 1)
4. A three-word expression meaning needing money (para 2)
5. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to allocate money for specific purposes (para 3)
6. A three-word expression meaning becoming more popular (para 4)
7. A verb meaning to prohibit (para 6)
8. A verb meaning to examine very carefully (para 6)
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1. launch a. access to …
2. plug b. savings
3. make c. a deficit
4. enter into d. a scheme
5. cut e. a contract
6. have f. a hole
6 Word building
1. Information is ____________ available in electronic form. [ready]

2. Schwarzenegger has said he wants to untie the hands of ____________. [educate]
3. Students will need to know how to use the materials ____________ . [proper]
4. Every state agency and department will be under intense ____________. [scrutinise]
5. Schwarzenegger believes it is a ____________ idea to buy traditional textbooks. [nonsense]
6. The ____________ of e-book readers is growing. [popular]
7 Discussion
Do you think it is a good idea to replace traditional school textbooks with electronic materials?
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KEY
1. scrap 1. make something history

2. inmate 2. make someone turn in their grave
3. free up 3. plug a hole
4. decry 4. strapped for cash
5. nonsensical 5. set aside
6. outdated 6. gaining in popularity
7. updated 7. bar
8. upcoming 8. scrutinise
9. deficit
10. hard-bound

2. f
1. $24.3 billion (£15bn) 3. b
2. $350m 4. e
3. 160 5. c
4. $300 6. a
5. 65,000 a year (195,000)
6. 36,000
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. readily

2. educators
1. b 3. properly
2. c 4. scrutiny
3 c 5. nonsensical
4. a 6. popularity
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1 Key words
outdated updated deficit resources access

chunk get rid of digital properly application
1. An ___________________________ is a piece of computer software that is designed to do a particular job.
2. An ___________________________ system is one that is old and no longer suitable for modern purposes.
3. ___________________________ material includes the most recent information and data.
4. ___________________________ systems store information as numbers or electronic signals.
5. If you do something ___________________________, you do it correctly.
6. If you ___________________________ of something, you throw it away, give it away or sell it because
you no longer need it.
7. A ___________________________ is the amount by which something is less than you need or should have.
8. If you have ___________________________ to something, you have the right or opportunity to use it.
9. A ___________________________ is a large amount or part of something.
10. ___________________________ are money, equipment and staff that can be used to help an institution
or a business.
Look in the text and find the information to complete the sentences as quickly as possible.
1. California has a budget deficit of ___________________.
2. Last year California spent ___________________ on school books.
3. Sony reader can hold the same amount of information as up to ___________________ books.
4. Digital textbooks cost ___________________.
5. Between 2005 and 2008 California signed ___________________ contracts a year.
6. It has already signed ___________________ contracts this year.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger to scrap 4 E-book readers are becoming more and more
school textbooks in favour of e-books popular. Yesterday, Apple presented a new
application for its iPhone that allows users
Governor of California seeks to cut budget deficit to buy books, including textbooks, on their
by replacing ‘outdated’ textbooks with electronic phones and also copy and email large chunks.
reading devices “Basically kids are feeling as comfortable
with their electronic devices as I was with my
Mark Tran pencils and crayons. Textbooks are outdated,
June 9, 2009 in my opinion,” Schwarzenegger told pupils.
“For so many years, we’ve been trying to teach
1 In the first Terminator movie, Arnold the kids exactly the same way.”
Schwarzenegger tried to destroy all human
life on earth. Now, as governor of California, 5 Holding up four large books he joked: “I can
he wants to get rid of school textbooks and use these in the gym,” in a reference to his
replace them with digital formats. California bodybuilding days before he became one of
has a budget deficit of $24.3 billion and Hollywood’s biggest stars. But some teachers
Schwarzenegger thinks he can save money wonder whether Schwarzenegger’s idea of
by getting rid of expensive textbooks, as he getting rid of textbooks might cost more not
calls them. The governor is serious about the less, with digital textbooks costing $300.
idea and appeared at a school yesterday to Kristina Fierro, a high school teacher, said it
promote the idea, which he first described in would be expensive to get the materials, train
an article in a local newspaper. the teachers and train the students to use
the materials properly. She was also worried
2 “It’s crazy and expensive to use traditional about the students when they are out of the
books when information today is easily classroom. “I would say out of a class of 30,
available in electronic form,” Schwarzenegger maybe 10 or less ... have a computer at home.
wrote. “Especially now, when our school The governor hasn’t given many details about
districts are short of money and our state the programme, but so far the digital option
budget deficit is forcing further cuts to doesn’t look like it will save California any
classrooms, we must do everything we can to money,” she told a local TV station.
save money so that schools can do more with
fewer resources.” 6 Schwarzenegger wants to reduce the budget
deficit so he has decided to stop funding
3 Schwarzenegger says that last year California contracts from 1 March, and to prevent state
spent $350 million on school books and agencies from signing new ones. Between
argues that even if teachers have to print out 2005 and 2008, the state of California signed
some of the material, it will be much cheaper an average of 65,000 contracts a year. This
than regularly buying updated textbooks. year the number is already about 36,000.
Schwarzenegger plans to start the scheme in Schwarzenegger said: “Every state agency
August next year when California’s high-school and department will look carefully at how
pupils will have access to online maths and every penny is spent on contracts to make
science texts. They would also use a digital sure the state is getting the best deal for every
textbook such as Sony reader, which can taxpayer dollar.”
hold the same amount of information as up
to 160 books. © Guardian News & Media 2009
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1. Some teachers think Schwarzenegger’s plan ____

2. Schwarzenegger wants ____
3. Schwarzenegger believes that ____
4. In his opinion, textbooks ____
5. According to Schwarzenegger, the children of today ____
6. The scheme will begin ____
a. ____ it will be cheaper to use electronic books than traditional textbooks.

b. ____ in August next year.
c. ____ are comfortable using electronic devices.
d. ____ to reduce California’s budget deficit.
e. ____ will actually cost more money.
f. ____ are outdated.
4 Chunks
1. local an in a article newspaper
2. electronic in easily form available
3. everything we do we must can
4. of same information amount the
5. more becoming and popular more
6. the exactly way same

1. get rid _______________ 5. comfortable _______________
2. serious _______________ 6. a reference _______________
3. short _______________ money 7. worried _______________
4. have access _______________ 8. an average _______________
Match the words in the left-hand column with those in the right-hand column to make two-word expressions
from the text.
1. local a. format
2. budget b. pupils
3. digital c. agency
4. electronic d. newspaper
5. state e. devices
6. high-school f. deficit
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KEY
1. application 1. an article in a local newspaper

2. outdated 2. easily available in electronic form
3. updated 3. we must do everything we can
4. digital 4. the same amount of information
5. properly 5. becoming more and more popular
6. get rid of 6. exactly the same way
7. deficit
8. access
9. chunk 5 Words followed by prepositions
10. resources
1. of
2. about
4. to
1. $24.3 billion 5. with
2. $350 million 6. to
3. 160 7. about
4. $300 8. of
5. 65,000
6. 36,000
3 Comprehension check 1. d
2. f
1. e 3. a
2. d 4. e
3. a 5. c
4. f 6. b
5. c
6. b
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1 Key words
outdated updated deficit upcoming hard-bound

inmate resources access chunk upgrade
1. A __________________________ is the amount by which something is less than you need or should have.
2. A __________________________ book is one that has a hard cover.
3. If you have __________________________ to something, you have the right or opportunity to use it.
4. A __________________________ is a large amount or part of something.
5. __________________________ are money, equipment and staff that can be used to help an institution
or a business.
6. An __________________________ is a piece of equipment or software designed to make a computer more powerful.
7. An __________________________ system is one that is old and no longer suitable for modern purposes.
8. __________________________ material includes the most recent information and data.
9. An __________________________ event is one that is happening soon.
10. An ____________ is someone who is kept in a prison, mental hospital or other institution.
1. How much is the budget deficit in California?
2. How much did California set aside last year to buy school books?
3. How many books would hold the same amount of information as a digital textbook?
4. How much does a digital textbook cost?
5. How many official contracts did the state of California sign each year between 2005 and 2008?
6. How many contracts has it already signed this year?

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NEWS LESSONS / Schwarzenegger to scrap textbooks in favour of e-books / Intermediate

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Arnold Schwarzenegger to scrap 4 E-book readers are becoming increasingly

school textbooks in favour of e-books popular. Yesterday, Apple presented an
upcoming application for its iPhone that allows
Governor of California seeks to cut budget deficit
users to buy books, including textbooks, on their
by replacing ‘outdated’ textbooks with electronic
phones and also copy and email large chunks.
reading devices
“Basically kids are feeling as comfortable with
Mark Tran their electronic devices as I was with my pencils
June 9, 2009 and crayons. Textbooks are outdated, in my
opinion,” Schwarzenegger told pupils. “For so
1 In the first Terminator movie Arnold many years, we’ve been trying to teach the kids
Schwarzenegger tried to get rid of all human exactly the same way.”
life on earth. Now, as governor of California, he
wants to get rid of school textbooks in favour of 5 Holding up four large books he joked: “I can
digital formats. California has a budget deficit of use these in the gym,” in a reference to his
$24.3bn (£15bn) and Schwarzenegger thinks bodybuilding days before he became one of
he can make savings by getting rid of what Hollywood’s biggest stars. But some teachers
he describes as expensive textbooks. The wonder whether Schwarzenegger’s idea of
governor is serious about an idea that would getting rid of textbooks might end up costing
shock Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of more not less, with digital textbooks costing
the printing press. He appeared at a school $300. Kristina Fierro, a high school teacher, said
yesterday to push the idea he first set out in a it would be expensive to get the materials, train
local newspaper. the teachers and train the students to use the
materials properly. She was also worried about
2 “It’s crazy and expensive to use traditional hard- the students once they are out of the classroom.
bound books when information today is easily “I would say out of a class of 30, maybe 10 or
available in electronic form,” Schwarzenegger less ... have a computer at home. The governor
wrote. “Especially now, when our school districts hasn’t given many details about the programme,
are strapped for cash and our state budget but so far the digital addition doesn’t look like it
deficit is forcing further cuts to classrooms, we will save California any money,” she told a local
must do everything we can to save money so TV station.
that schools can do more with fewer resources.”
6 In an effort to cut the state budget deficit,
3 Schwarzenegger points out that California Schwarzenegger has decided to stop funding
last year set aside $350m for school books contracts from 1 March, and to prevent state
and argues that even if teachers have to print agencies from entering into new ones. Between
out some of the material, it will be far cheaper 2005 and 2008, the state of California signed
than regularly buying updated textbooks. an average of 65,000 contracts a year, which
Schwarzenegger plans to launch the scheme in ranged from peanut butter for prison inmates
August next year when California’s high-school to consultants for computer system upgrades.
pupils will have access to online maths and This year the number is already about 36,000.
science texts. They would also use a digital Schwarzenegger said: “Every state agency
textbook such as Sony reader, which can hold and department will look carefully at how every
the same amount of information as up to 160 penny is spent on contracts to make sure the
books. state is getting the best deal for every taxpayer
dollar.”

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1. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the governor of California.

2. Some teachers think Schwarzenegger’s plan will actually cost more money.
3. California still has $24.3bn to spend on state contracts.
4. All school students have a computer at home.
5. State agencies in California are no longer able to enter into new contracts.
6. Schwarzenegger believes that e-book readers are outdated.
4 Find the word
1. A three-word expression meaning to promote a plan (para 1)

2. A three-word expression meaning needing money (para 2)
3. A noun meaning reductions in funding (para 2)
4. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to allocate money for specific purposes (para 3)
5. A verb meaning to start a major activity such as a new project (para 3)
6. A noun meaning a piece of computer software that is designed to do a particular job (para 4)
7. A noun meaning a programme of regular physical activity designed to make your muscles bigger (para 5)
8. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to agree to be part of an official agreement or contract (para 6)
1. get rid ___________

2. have access ___________
3. comfortable ___________
4. a reference ___________
5. worried ___________
6. serious ___________
7. range ___________ … ___________
8. prevent … ___________
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6 data.
and Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. save
2. apply
3. refer
4. add
5. consult (person)
6. cut
7. invent (person)
8. govern (person)
7 Discussion
Do you prefer reading traditional books or reading documents online? Why?
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KEY
1. deficit 1. push an idea

2. hard-bound 2. strapped for cash
3. access 3. cuts
4. chunk 4. set aside
5. resources 5. launch
6. upgrade 6. application
7. outdated 7. bodybuilding
8. updated 8. enter into
9. upcoming
10. inmate

2. to
1. 24.3 billion dollars 3. with
2. 350 million dollars 4. to
3. up to 160 5. about
4. 300 dollars 6. about
5. 65,000 7. from/to
6. 36,000 8. from
1. T 1. saving(s)
2. T 2. application
3. F 3. reference
4. F 4. addition
5. T 5. consultant
6. F 6. cut
7. inventor
8. governor
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Primates have been laughing for 10m years
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
Answer the questions and use them as the basis of a five-minute discussion.
• Are you ticklish?
• Do you know anyone who giggles a lot?
• What makes you laugh?
2 Key words
Match the key words from the article with their meanings.
1. ancestor a. to breathe very loudly with your mouth open
2. primate b. the way in which something gradually changes and develops
3. to tickle c. someone who is related to you and lived a long time ago
4. to trace d. a man who is violent, especially a criminal
5. trait e. to breathe very fast in a way that is not normal
6. to mock f. an animal belonging to the same group as humans
7. mirth g. to discover how something developed
8. evolution h. to move your fingers gently on someone’s skin to make them laugh
9. arousal i. the action of using your voice
10. to bond j. a feeling of being sexually excited
11. to pant k. to develop feelings of love or friendship towards other people
12. to hyperventilate l. happy laughter
13. to saw m. to make someone look stupid by laughing at them
14. vocalization n. a particular quality in someone’s character
15. a thug o. to cut something in a backwards and forwards motion

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NEWS LESSONS / Primates have been laughing for 10m years / Advanced
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Our primate ancestors have been bonobos and added recordings of three babies
laughing for 10 million years that were tickled to make them laugh.
A study that involved tickling apes suggests 8 To analyze the recordings, the team fed them into
laughter is not a uniquely human trait after all a computer program that arranged them on an
Ian Sample, science correspondent “evolutionary tree” based on how related to each
4 June, 2009 other they seemed to be. Remarkably,
the laughter recorded from different primates
1 The first hoots of laughter from an ancient linked together in a way that matched the
ancestor of humans rippled across the land at evolutionary tree linking all of the species to one
least 10 million years ago, according to a study common ancestor.
of giggling primates.
9 “Our evolutionary tree based on these acoustic
2 Researchers used recordings of apes and babies recordings alone showed that humans were
being tickled to trace the origins of laughter back closest to chimps and bonobos, but furthest
to the last common ancestor that humans shared from orang-utans, with gorillas somewhere
with the modern great apes, which include intermediate. And that is what you see in the
chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans. well-established evolutionary tree of great apes,”
said Davila Ross. “What this shows is strong
3 The finding challenges the view that laughter is
evidence to suggest that laughing comes from a
a uniquely human trait, suggesting instead that
common primate ancestor.”
it emerged long before humans split from the
evolutionary path that led to our primate cousins, 10 Writing in the journal Current Biology, the
between 10m and 16m years ago. researchers describe how the earliest laughter-
like sounds were shorter and noisier, but with
4 “In humans, laughing is a complex and
time became longer and clearer as the great
intriguing expression. It can be the strongest
apes evolved.
way of expressing how much we are enjoying
ourselves, but it can also be used in other 11 Human laughter sounds very different from the
contexts, like mocking,” said Marina Davila Ross, noises produced by great apes. The differences
a psychologist at Portsmouth University. “I was are thought to have arisen when certain acoustic
interested in whether laughing had a pre-human features became exaggerated in early humans
basis, whether it emerged earlier on than we did.” after they split from ancestors they shared with
chimps and bonobos around 5.5m years ago.
5 Davila Ross travelled to seven zoos around
Europe and visited a wildlife reserve in Sabah, 12 Humans laugh as they exhale, but chimps can
Borneo, to record baby and juvenile apes while laugh as they breathe in as well. The human
their caretakers tickled them. Great apes are laugh is also produced by more regular vibrations
known to make noises that are similar to laughter of the vocal cords than in any of the apes.
when they are excited and while they are playing
with each other. 13 Few studies have been carried out into the role
of laughter in primates, but at least one study
6 “The caretakers play with the apes all the time has suggested that it is important in expressing
and tickling is a very important part of that. There excitement and arousal. Laughing might also
are certain body parts that are more ticklish than have been important for bonding within groups
others, depending on the individual. Some were of animals.
tickled on their necks or armpits, while others
offered their feet to be tickled,” said Davila Ross. 14 Robert Provine, a psychologist and neuroscientist
at the University of Maryland and author of the
7 In total, Davila Ross collected recordings of book Laughter: A Scientific Investigation, said
mirth from 21 chimps, gorillas, orang-utans and students who took part in his own studies likened
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Level 3 Advanced
chimp “laughter” to a dog panting, an asthma nature of human behaviour. The 31-year-old
attack or hyperventilation. Some even thought male, Santino, regularly displayed thuggish
the noise was caused by someone sawing. behaviour by preparing piles of rocks while
the zoo was closed and then throwing them at
15 “The means of production of human and ape visitors when the gates opened. The chimp has
laughter are as different as the sound, with the since been castrated.
ape vocalization being produced during both
inward and outward breaths, while humans 18 Zookeepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo
parse an outward breath into ‘ha-ha’,” he said. in Washington DC have reported another
human trait in one of its long-time residents,
16 “The simplicity and stereotypy of laughter Bonnie, a 30-year-old orang-utan. Researchers
provides a valuable tool with which to trace believe Bonnie learned to whistle by copying
vocal evolution, much as simpler systems of the zookeepers. Although she is unable to hold
molecular biology are useful for investigating a tune, other apes at the zoo have reportedly
complex life processes,” he added. begun copying her.
17 In March 2009, researchers reported that © Guardian News & Media 2009
a chimp at a zoo in Sweden had started to First published in The Guardian, 04/06/09
challenge scientists’ views about the unique
1. According to the results of the study ... 4. The apes recorded for the study live ...
a. … apes are extremely ticklish. a. … at Portsmouth University.
b. … laughter is not only a human characteristic. b. … in the jungle.
c. … apes should not be kept in a zoo. c. … in captivity.
2. Humans laugh ... 5. How many apes were recorded laughing?

a. … without using their vocal chords. a. 21
b. … when they breathe out. b. 24
c. … when they hyperventilate. c. 23
3. Apes laugh ... 6. The researcher at Portsmouth University is ...

a. … in the same way that dogs pant. a. … a neuroscientist.
b. … when they are happy. b. … a zookeeper.
c. … when they are excited. c. … a psychologist.
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Language: Phrases
Match the halves of the phrases then check your answers by finding them in the article. Notice in which
context they were used and then write your own example sentences for at least four of the phrases.
1. to hold tool
2. a hoot of production
3. a valuable human trait
4. a uniquely path
5. an evolutionary behaviour
6. a common a tune
7. a means of laughter
8. to display thuggish ancestor
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
5 Discussion: What’s your opinion?

Read the four statements and mark your opinion by placing a cross on each line. Be prepared to justify and
talk about your opinions in a follow-up discussion.
1. We should not try to ‘humanize’ animals by searching for human traits in their behaviour.
strongly agree not sure strongly disagree
2. Great apes should not be kept in zoos.

3. The money used to fund this study would have been better spent on medical research.
4. Apes are ‘cleverer’ than we currently realize.

6 Webquest: Laughter recordings

Listen to the laughter recordings here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/jun/04/laughter-primates-apes-evolution-tickling
• Close your eyes while you listen then try to describe the sound you have just heard.
• Watch the short video that can be found at the same URL. Describe what you can see and hear.
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KEY
2 Key words 4 Language: Phrases
1. c 1. to hold a tune
2. f 2. a hoot of laughter
3. h 3. a valuable tool
4. g 4. a uniquely human trait
5. n 5. an evolutionary path
6. m 6. a common ancestor
7. l 7. a means of production
8. b 8. to display thuggish behaviour
9. j
10. k
Teacher’s notes
11. a
12. e
13. o You can read the other two ape stories mentioned in the
14. i article here:
15. d http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/mar/09/chimp-
zoo-stones-science
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2009/1/
3 Comprehension check BrainyBonnie.cfm
1. b And here you can watch a short video report about

2. b an orang-utan who escaped from her cage in an
3. c Australian zoo:
4. c http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4bwp90dOTU
5. a http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/10/adelaide-
6. c zoo-orang-utan-escape
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Level 1 Elementary
tickle (verb)
To move your fingers gently on someone’s skin in order to give them a
pleasant feeling or to make them laugh
Example: The dog rolled over, waiting for his tummy to be tickled.
1 Warmer
Answer the questions and talk about your answers with another student.
• Do you know anyone who likes (or hates) to be tickled?
2 Key words
Match the key words from the article with their meanings. The paragraph number will help you.
evolutionary path excitement uniquely ancient trait

acoustic pile origin analyze whistle
bonding ancestor primate exhale
1. __________________ an animal belonging to the same group as humans (title)

2. __________________someone who is related to you and lived a long time ago (title)
3. __________________a particular quality / something special in someone’s character (subtitle)
4. __________________very, very old (para 1)
5. __________________in a way that is different from any similar thing or person (para 3)
6. __________________ the way (or road) along which something slowly changes and develops (para 3)
7. __________________one particular person or animal (rather than a group) (para 6)
8. __________________to study or examine something in detail in order to understand or explain it (para 8)
9. __________________relating to sound and the way people hear things (para 8)
10. __________________to breathe out (para 10)
11. __________________a feeling of being very happy and enthusiastic (para 10)
12. __________________developing feelings of love or friendship towards other people (para 10)
13. __________________ heaps of things put on top of each other (para 12)
14. __________________to make a tune or musical notes by putting your lips together and blowing (para 13)
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Level 1 Elementary
Our primate ancestors have been and bonobos and added recordings of three
laughing for 10 million years babies that were tickled to make them laugh.
A study that involved tickling apes suggests
8 To analyze the recordings, the team put them
laughter is not a uniquely human trait after all
into a computer program. “Our evolutionary tree
Ian Sample, science correspondent based on these acoustic recordings showed
4 June, 2009 that humans were closest to chimps and
1 The results of a new study say that the first bonobos, but furthest from orang-utans, with
laughter from an ancient ancestor of humans gorillas somewhere in the middle.” said Davila
could be heard at least 10 million years ago. Ross. “What this shows is strong evidence to
suggest that laughing comes from a common
2 Researchers used recordings of apes and babies primate ancestor.”
being tickled to discover that laughter goes back
to a common ancestor that humans shared 9 Human laughter sounds very different from the
with the modern great apes, which include noises produced by great apes. Humans laugh
chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans. as they exhale but chimps can laugh as they
breathe in as well. The human laugh is also
3 The study suggests that laughter is not a produced by more regular vibrations of the vocal
uniquely human trait. It says that laughter could cords than in any of the apes.
be heard long before humans split from the
evolutionary path that led to our primate cousins, 10 Few studies have been carried out into the role
between 10m and 16m years ago. of laughter in primates but at least one study said
that it is important to show excitement. Laughing
4 “In humans, laughing can be the strongest way might also have been important for bonding
of showing how much we are enjoying ourselves, within groups of animals.
but it can also be used for other things, such
as making fun of someone,” said Marina Davila 11 “The ways human and ape laughter is produced
Ross, a psychologist at Portsmouth University. “I is as different as the sound. The ape laughter
was interested in whether laughing came before is produced during both inward and outward
we (humans) did.” breaths, while humans turn an outward breath
into a ‘ha-ha’ sound,” said Robert Provine, a
5 Davila Ross travelled to seven zoos around psychologist and neuroscientist at the University
Europe and visited a wildlife reserve in Sabah, of Maryland.
Borneo, to record baby and juvenile apes while
their caretakers tickled them. Great apes are 12 In March, there were reports that Santino, a
known to make noises that are similar to laughter 31-year-old male chimp at a zoo in Sweden,
when they are excited and while they are playing prepared piles of rocks while the zoo was
with each other. closed and then threw them at visitors when the
zoo opened.
6 “The caretakers play with the apes all the time
and tickling is a very important part of that. There 13 Zookeepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo in
are certain body parts that are more ticklish Washington DC have reported another human
than others, depending on the individual ape. trait in one of its apes, Bonnie, a 30-year-old
Some were tickled on their necks or armpits, orang-utan. Bonnie has learned to whistle by
while others offered their feet to be tickled,” said copying the zookeepers.
Davila Ross.
7 In total, Davila Ross collected recordings of © Guardian News & Media 2009
laughter from 21 chimps, gorillas, orang-utans First published in The Guardian, 04/06/09
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1. Chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orang-utans …
2. The study says that humans …
3. Laughter has been around …
4. Humans laugh …
5. Apes laugh …
6. Most of the apes recorded …

7. 21 apes …
8. The laughter was …
9. Tickling the apes …
10. Apes often like …
a. … for millions of years.
b. … when they are excited.
c. … for the study live in zoos.
d. … were recorded laughing.
e. … is part of a zookeeper’s job.
f. … to have their feet tickled.
g. … when they breathe out.
h. … are all kinds of great apes.
i. … compared to the laughter of babies.
j. … are not the only creature that can laugh.

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4 Grammar: for and since

Look at the title of the article again: Our primate ancestors have been laughing for 10 million years.
1. Write in for and since to complete these grammar rules.
We use ___________ when we talk about a period of time, e.g. a few days, half an hour, two years.
We use ___________ when we talk about the time when the action started, e.g. last year, June 8, 1999.
2. Now complete these sentences for yourself and compare them with another student’s sentences.
I have been living here for ____________________________________________.

I have been living here since __________________________________________.
I have been learning English for _________________________________________.
I have been learning English since _______________________________________.
Read the statements and put a cross in the box that is closest to what you think / your opinion. Compare
your answers in groups.
1. Apes and humans are very different – we should not try to find human traits in animals.
strongly agree  agree  don’t know  disagree  strongly disagree 

3. The money spent on this study should have been used for medical research.
4. Apes are more intelligent than we think.


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KEY
2 Key words
5 Grammar: for and since
1. primate
2. ancestor We use for when we talk about a period of time, e.g. a
3. trait few days, half an hour, two years.
4. ancient We use since when we talk about the time when the
5. uniquely action started, e.g. last year, June 8, 1999.
6. evolutionary path
7. individual
8. analyze
9. acoustic 6 Teacher’s notes
10. exhale
You can read the other two ape stories mentioned in the
11. excitement
article here:
12. bonding
13. piles http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/mar/09/chimp-
14. whistle zoo-stones-science
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2009/1/
BrainyBonnie.cfm
3 Comprehension check And here you can watch a short video report about an
orang-utan who escaped from her cage in an Australian
1. h zoo:
2. j
3. a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4bwp90dOTU
4. g
5. b
6. c
7. d
8. i
9. e
10. f
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tickle (verb)
To move your fingers gently on someone’s skin in order to give them a
pleasant feeling or to make them laugh
Example: The dog rolled over, waiting for his tummy to be tickled.
1 Warmer
Answer the questions and talk about your answers with another student.

• Do you know anyone who likes (or hates) to be tickled?
2 Key words
evolutionary path unique emerge trait acoustic trace

whistle bonding ancestor primate exhale origin
1. ___________________________ an animal belonging to the same group as humans (title)
2. ___________________________ someone who is related to you and lived a long time ago (title)
3. ___________________________ a particular quality in someone’s character (subtitle)
4. ___________________________ to discover the origin of something or how something developed (para 2)

5. ___________________________ the place or moment where something begins to exist (para 2)
6. ___________________________ the way along which something gradually changes and develops (para 3)
7. ___________________________ to appear, or to become recognized (para 4)
8. ___________________________ relating to sound and the way people hear things (para 9)
9. ___________________________ to breathe out (para 11)
10. ___________________________ developing feelings of love or friendship towards other people (para 12)
11. ___________________________ not the same as anything or anyone else (para 14)
12. ___________________________ to make a tune or musical notes by forcing air through your mouth (para 15)
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NEWS LESSONS / Primates have been laughing for 10m years / Intermediate
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Our primate ancestors have been 7 In total, Davila Ross collected recordings of
laughing for 10 million years laughter from 21 chimps, gorillas, orang-utans
and bonobos and added recordings of three
A study that involved tickling apes suggests
babies that were tickled to make them laugh.
laughter is not a uniquely human trait after all
Ian Sample, science correspondent 8 To analyze the recordings, the team put
4 June, 2009 them into a computer program. Remarkably,
the laughter recorded from different primates
1 The first hoots of laughter from an ancient linked together in a way that matched the
ancestor of humans could be heard at least 10 evolutionary tree linking all of the species to
million years ago, according to the results of a one common ancestor.
new study.
9 “Our evolutionary tree based on these acoustic
2 Researchers used recordings of apes and babies recordings alone showed that humans were
being tickled to trace the origin of laughter back closest to chimps and bonobos, but furthest
to the last common ancestor that humans shared from orang-utans, with gorillas somewhere in the
with the modern great apes, which include middle.” said Davila Ross. “What this shows is
chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans. strong evidence to suggest that laughing comes
from a common primate ancestor.”
3 The finding challenges the opinion that laughter
is a uniquely human trait, suggesting instead that 10 Writing in the journal Current Biology, the
it emerged long before humans split from the researchers describe how the earliest laughter-
evolutionary path that led to our primate cousins, like sounds were shorter and noisier, but with
between 10m and 16m years ago. time became longer and clearer as the great
apes evolved.
4 “In humans, laughing can be the strongest way of
expressing how much we are enjoying ourselves, 11 Human laughter sounds very different from the
but it can also be used in other contexts, like noises produced by great apes. Humans laugh
making fun of someone,” said Marina Davila as they exhale, but chimps can laugh as they
Ross, a psychologist at Portsmouth University. breathe in as well. The human laugh is also
“I was interested in whether laughing emerged produced by more regular vibrations of the vocal
earlier on than we (humans) did.” cords than in any of the apes.
5 Davila Ross travelled to seven zoos around 12 Few studies have been carried out into the role
Europe and visited a wildlife reserve in Sabah, of laughter in primates, but at least one study
Borneo, to record baby and juvenile apes while has suggested that it is important in expressing
their caretakers tickled them. Great apes are excitement. Laughing might also have been
known to make noises that are similar to laughter important for bonding within groups of animals.
when they are excited and while they are playing
with each other. 13 “The ways human and ape laughter is produced
are as different as the sound. The ape laughter
6 “The caretakers play with the apes all the time is produced during both inward and outward
and tickling is a very important part of that. There breaths, while humans turn an outward breath
are certain body parts that are more ticklish than into a ‘ha-ha’ sound,” said Robert Provine, a
others, depending on the individual ape. Some psychologist and neuroscientist at the University
were tickled on their necks or armpits, while of Maryland and author of the book Laughter:
others offered their feet to be tickled,” said A Scientific Investigation. “ The simplicity of
Davila Ross. laughter provides a valuable tool with which to
trace vocal evolution,” he added.
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14 In March 2009, researchers reported that 15 Zookeepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo in
a chimp at a zoo in Sweden had started to Washington DC have reported another human
challenge scientists’ views about the unique trait in one of its apes, Bonnie, a 30-year-old
nature of human behaviour. The 31-year-old orang-utan. Bonnie has learned to whistle by
male, Santino, regularly prepared piles of rocks copying the zookeepers.
while the zoo was closed and then threw them at
visitors when the gates opened.
Match the sentence halves to summarize the information from the article.
1. According to the results of the study, laughter … … when they are excited.
2. Laughter has been … … the laughter of babies.
3. Laughter existed when humans and apes … … recorded laughing.
4. Humans laugh … … live in captivity.
5. Apes laugh … … had a common ancestor.
6. The apes recorded for the study … … is not only a human characteristic.
7. 21 apes were … … feet to be tickled.
8. The laughter was compared to … … when they breathe out.
9. Tickling the apes is part of … … around for millions of years.
10. Apes often present their … … a zookeeper’s job.
4 Language: Phrases
Match the halves of the phrases and check your answers by finding them in the article. Then write your
own example sentences for at least four of the phrases.
1. a hoot years ago

....................................................................................
2. 10 million human trait ....................................................................................
....................................................................................
3. a uniquely the recordings ....................................................................................
4. making fun scientists’ views ....................................................................................
....................................................................................
5. analyze tool ....................................................................................
6. one common of someone ....................................................................................
....................................................................................
7. a valuable of laughter ....................................................................................
8. to challenge ancestor ....................................................................................
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Read the four statements and mark your opinion by placing a cross on each line. Be prepared to justify and
talk about your opinions in a follow-up discussion.
1. We should not try to ‘humanize’ animals by searching for human traits in their behaviour.
3. The money used to fund this study would have been better spent on medical research.
4. Apes are ‘cleverer’ than we currently realize.

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KEY
1. primate 1. a hoot of laughter

2. ancestor 2. 10 million years ago
3. trait 3. a uniquely human trait
4. trace 4. making fun of someone
5. origin 5. analyze the recordings
6. evolutionary path 6. one common ancestor
7. emerge 7. a valuable tool
8. acoustic 8. to challenge scientists’ views
9. exhale
10. bonding
11. unique
Teacher’s notes
12. whistle
You can read the other two ape stories mentioned in the
article here:
3 Comprehension check http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/mar/09/
chimp-zoo-stones-science
1. According to the results of the study laughter is not
only a human characteristic. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/
2. Laughter has been around for millions of years. ZooGoer/2009/1/BrainyBonnie.cfm
3. Laughter existed when humans and apes had a
common ancestor. And here you can watch a short video report about
4. Humans laugh when they breathe out. an orang-utan who escaped from her cage in an
5. Apes laugh when they are excited. Australian zoo:
6. The apes recorded for the study live in captivity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4bwp90dOTU
7. 21 apes were recorded laughing. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/10/
8. The laughter was compared to the laughter of babies. adelaide-zoo-orang-utan-escape
9. Tickling the apes is part of a zookeeper’s job.
10. Apes often present their feet to be tickled.
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Can Cristiano Ronaldo earn it like Beckham?
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
sponsor endorsement transfer fee predecessor rival

physique eloquence insular likeable lampoon
1. If you ____________ someone, you publicly criticize them by making jokes about them.
2. An ____________ country is one that is not interested in learning new ideas or ways of doing things, especially
from outside that country.
3. A ____________ is a business that pays money to support a sports team.
4. If someone is ____________ , they are pleasant and friendly and easy to like.
5. ____________ is the ability to express what you mean using clear and effective language.
6. A ____________ is a person, team or business that competes with another.
7. A ____________ is the amount of money that one professional football team pays to another for one of their
players.
8. An ____________ is when a famous person says in an advertisement that they like a particular product.
9. A person’s ____________ is the shape of their body.
10. A ____________ is the person who had a job or a particular position before someone else.
1. Where is the footballer Cristiano Ronaldo from?
2. Who was the 2008 World Player of the Year?
3. How much did David Beckham earn last year from product endorsements?
4. How much did US golfer Tiger Woods earn from endorsements last year?
5. How much was Ronaldo paid at Manchester United for playing football?
6. How much of Real Madrid’s income comes from overseas markets?

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NEWS LESSONS / Can Cristiano Ronaldo earn it like Beckham? / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Can Cristinao Ronaldo earn it like 5 Ronaldo does not possess, however, the same
Beckham? ‘’likeability’’ as Beckham, which may affect his
global brand. Fans have lampooned and cursed
From £175 to £80m in 14 years - now the new
him over the years. Three years ago, the Daily
king of soccer can establish the Ronaldo ‘brand’ Mail raged, “Get lost Ronaldo!” when he was
Robert Booth, 11 June, 2009 accused of encouraging the referee to send off
Wayne Rooney in an England v Portugal match
1 Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo was a child at the 2006 World Cup. An agent for a leading
practising his tricks at the tiny Andorinha football England player yesterday said, “There’s a
club on his home island of Madeira, his talent has question about his likeability factor.”
always been measured in money. The club turned
down an offer of £175 for their promising 10-year- 6 How much Ronaldo earns for himself and his
old in the belief his skills and speed were worth far club depends on how well his image is sold into
more. And how right they were. Real Madrid have emerging markets and how well he develops
been granted permission to open negotiations his own public personality, according to Simon
with Manchester United, talks that are likely to end Chadwick, a professor of sport business strategy.
with the 24-year-old Portuguese player moving to “European football is a saturated market and
Madrid for a transfer fee of £80m and a salary that the crucial areas for Real Madrid to work on
could add £60m to the bill. are overseas markets like China, Japan, Brazil
and Argentina,” he said. “Real Madrid currently
2 For the marketing executives at Madrid and those generates less than 5% of its income from
surrounding Ronaldo and his agent, the world- those sources.”
record deal is far more than a sporting concern;
sports marketing executives believe that the 7 According to research conducted by Chadwick
transfer could make the 2008 World Player of the into what makes a strong sports player brand,
Year a serious rival to David Beckham. Ronaldo Ronaldo already has some of the key personal
is destined to become the world’s most valuable attributes to become like Beckham, his
football brand, a status that will also put him in the predecessor in Manchester United’s number
top league of sports earners. seven shirt. “He’s good looking, glamorous
and has a good physique – and the people we
3 At Manchester United Ronaldo earned £7m a year surveyed said that was important,” he said. “You
in salary and £12m from product endorsements, have to play with clubs that are associated with
not far behind Beckham’s earnings last year success and our research shows it has to be
of £3.4m from football and £26m off the pitch. sustained success. That is one of the reasons
Ronaldo has already starred in adverts for that Tiger Woods emerged so strongly as a brand.
Coca Cola and the video game FIFA Street 2 People also said they liked Woods’s intelligence
amongst others. His sponsorship deal with Nike and eloquence. Beckham struggled with that
is understood to be worth £9m. Now, as part of which is one of the reasons why he has not come
a revitalized Real Madrid team which is likely to close to Woods’ earnings.”
allow him an even higher profile, those earnings
are set to rise. 8 “This is a challenge for Ronaldo too. Off-field
lifestyle is important: who you are married to
4 Florentino Perez, the re-elected Real Madrid and where you live. This is where Beckham has
president, was already thinking along those done well and Ronaldo has work to do. Man or
lines prior to yesterday’s announcement. “When woman, he needs to find a steady partner and
Beckham came we went from earning €7m a ideally someone who is famous in their own right.
year to €45m a year through our deals with our Finally you have to be seen as good team player.
sponsors,” Perez said. “If Cristiano Ronaldo In his later career, Beckham has had a fantastic
comes, even though he is currently with Nike, reputation as a team player and I think Ronaldo
he then puts on an Adidas shirt every week. has a problem in this area because he is seen too
There are certain players who are very profitable much as an individual.”
because they have a spectacular commercial
effect that can earn the club money.” 9 “Ronaldo is more likely to appeal to Hispanic
markets because he is Portuguese, and that might
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Level 3 Advanced
help him break into the US, although it remains earning £64m in endorsements alone
a very insular place when it comes to accepting last year.
football,” said Jon Holmes, a football agent.
Whatever happens to Ronaldo’s bank balance © Guardian News & Media 2009
during his time at Madrid he will struggle to match First published in The Guardian, 11/06/09
Tiger Woods, who heads the sporting rich list
1. What is one of the reasons that Beckham has 3. What effect did the signing of David Beckham have
not come close to earning as much money as on Real Madrid?
Tiger Woods? a. They became immediately successful on the pitch.
a. Beckham has struggled to be a b. Their sponsorship earnings increased more
professional sportsman. than 600%.
b. He is no longer the world’s most valuable c. They became instantly more likeable.
football brand.
c. He is not as eloquent or intelligent as Woods.
4. Which market is Ronaldo likely to appeal to?
2. What does Ronaldo have to do to emerge strongly a. The American market.

as a brand? b. The Far Eastern market.
a. Get married. c. The Hispanic market.
b. Find a famous partner and be seen as a good
team player.
c. Continue to be seen as an individual.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to refuse (para 1)
2. An adjective meaning strong and successful again (para 3)
3. A two-word expression meaning before something happened (para 4)
4. A verb meaning to say or think offensive or impolite words about someone (para 5)
5. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to tell a player officially to leave the field because they have done something
that is not allowed by the rules (para 5)
6. An adjective meaning completely full (para 6)
7. A plural noun meaning features or qualities of someone or something (para 7)
8. An adjective meaning continuing at the same level or rate for a long time (para 7)
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Level 3 Advanced
Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column to form phrases from the text.
1. turn down a. negotiations
2. grant b. a survey
3. open c. an image
4. break into d. permission
5. conduct e. a market
6. sell f. an offer
6 Word building
1. Certain players are very ____________ because of their image. [profit]
2. They earn a lot of money in ____________. [endorse]
3. Real Madrid have been granted permission to open ____________ with Manchester United for the purchase of
Ronaldo. [negotiate]
4. Ronaldo has a £9 million ____________ deal with Nike. [sponsor]
5. Ronaldo’s ____________ will almost certainly rise. [earn]
6. Ronaldo was a ____________ footballer as a child. [promise]
7 Discussion
Do you think it is right that professional footballers can earn in a week what it takes a nurse or a building
workers seven or eight years to earn?
What are the arguments for and against limiting the salaries of top sportsmen and women?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1. lampoon 1. turn down

2. insular 2. revitalized
3. sponsor 3. prior to
4. likeable 4. curse
5. eloquence 5. send off
6. rival 6. saturated
7. transfer fee 7. attributes
8. endorsement 8. sustained
9. physique
10. predecessor

2. d
1. Madeira (Portugal) 3. a
2. Ronaldo 4. e
3. £26 million 5. b
4. £64 million 6. c
5. £7 million a year
6. less than 5%
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. profitable

2. endorsements
1. c 3. negotiations
2. b 4. sponsorship
3. b 5. earnings
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
rival physique earnings deal likeable

sponsorship profitable brand agent lifestyle
1. If someone is ____________, they are pleasant and friendly and easy to like.
2. An ____________ is someone whose job is to help a writer, performer or sports player by finding them work.
3. A person’s ____________ is the type of life they have.

4. A ____________ is a product or group of products that has its own name.
5. If something is ____________, it makes a lot of money.
6. ____________ is money paid by a business to support something.
9. A ____________ is a formal agreement in business.
10. A person’s ____________ are the amount of money they get by working.
Look in the text and choose the best answer.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo was 10/24 years old when a club offered £175 for him.
2. Ronaldo is from Manchester/Madeira.
3. He earned £7 million/£12 million a year in salary when he was at Manchester United.
4. Ronaldo’s deal with Adidas/Nike is worth around £9 million.
5. Real Madrid gets more than/less than 5% of its income from overseas markets.
6. The highest paid sportsman in the world is David Beckham/Tiger Woods.

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NEWS LESSONS / Can Cristiano Ronaldo earn it like Beckham? / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Can Cristinao Ronaldo earn it like for himself and his club depends on how well his
Beckham? image is sold in growing markets and how well
From £175 to £80m in 14 years - now the new he develops his own public personality, according
king of soccer can establish the Ronaldo ‘brand’ to Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport business
strategy. “The European football market is full and
Robert Booth, 11 June, 2009
the important areas for Real Madrid are overseas
markets like China, Japan, Brazil and Argentina,”
1 When Cristiano Ronaldo was just 10 years old
he said. “Real Madrid currently gets less than 5%
and playing for the tiny Andorinha football club on
of its income from those sources.”
his home island of Madeira another club offered
£175 for him. Andorinha said no, believing that 6 According to research by Chadwick into what
his skills and speed were worth far more money makes a strong sports player brand, Ronaldo
than that. And they were right. Ronaldo is now already has some of the key personal qualities
the world’s most expensive footballer. Real to become like Beckham. “He’s good looking,
Madrid are going to pay Manchester United glamorous and has a good physique – and the
£80m for the 24-year-old Portuguese player and people we surveyed said that was important,”
his salary could add £60m to the bill. he said. “You have to play with clubs that are
associated with success and our research shows
2 For the marketing executives at Madrid and for
the success has to continue over a long period of
Ronaldo and his agent, the world-record deal is
time. That is one of the reasons Tiger Woods is
not just about football; sports experts believe that
such a strong brand. People also said they liked
the transfer could make Ronaldo a serious rival
Woods’s intelligence and the way he speaks.
to David Beckham as the world’s most famous
Beckham has a problem with that which is one of
player. Ronaldo will almost certainly become the
the reasons why he earns much less than Woods.”
world’s most valuable football brand, which will
also make him one of the richest men in sport. 7 “This is a challenge for Ronaldo too. Off-field
lifestyle is important: who you are married to and
3 At Manchester United Ronaldo earned £7m a
where you live. This is where Beckham has done
year in salary and £12m from advertising, not far
well and Ronaldo has work to do. Man or woman,
behind Beckham’s earnings last year of £3.4m
he needs to find a regular partner and ideally
from football and £26m off the pitch. Ronaldo has
someone who is famous too. Finally you have to
already appeared in adverts for Coca Cola and
be seen as good team player. In his later career,
the video game FIFA Street 2 amongst others.
Beckham has had a fantastic reputation as a
His deal with Nike is worth around £9m. Now he
team player and I think Ronaldo has a problem
is joining a Real Madrid team which will probably
in this area because he is seen too much as an
allow him to earn even more money.
individual.”
4 Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president,
8 “Ronaldo is more likely to be popular in Hispanic
was already thinking this way before yesterday’s
markets because he is Portuguese, and that might
announcement. “When Beckham came, we
help him become popular in the US too, although
increased our earnings from sponsorship from €7m
it is the hardest market for football to sell itself,”
a year to €45m a year,” Perez said. “If Cristiano
said Jon Holmes, a football agent. Whatever
Ronaldo comes, even though he is currently with
happens to Ronaldo’s bank balance during his
Nike, he then puts on an Adidas shirt every week.
time at Madrid he will find it difficult to match Tiger
There are certain players who are very profitable
Woods, who is top of the sporting rich list earning
because they have a spectacular commercial effect
£64m just from advertising last year.
that can earn the club money.”
5 Ronaldo is not as likeable as Beckham, and this First published in The Guardian, 11/0/09
may affect his global brand. How much he earns
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1. Cristiano Ronaldo will …
2. Cristiano Ronaldo was …
3. Last year Ronaldo …
4. A lot of people say that Ronaldo is …
5. Ronaldo has …
6. Ronaldo will probably be …
a. ... a good physique.
b. ... earned £7 million in salary and £12 million from advertising.
c. … born on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
d. … popular in Hispanic markets.
e. … probably become one of the richest men in sport.
f. … not as likeable as David Beckham.
1. football a. record
2. world b. looking
3. global c. balance
4. good d. qualities
5. personal e. club
6. bank f. brand
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5 Superlatives
Complete the table (for example, poor – poorest).
adjective superlative
1. rich
2. valuable
3. popular
4. expensive
5. famous
6. hard
6 Spelling
Use vowels to complete these words from the text. Check your answers in the text.
1. _ x _ c _ t _ v _
2. sp _ ct _ c _ l _ r
3. sp _ ns _ rsh _ p
4. c _ mm _ rc _ _ l
5. _ dv _ rt _ s _ ng
6. P _ rt _ g _ _ s _

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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
1. likeable 1. e
2. agent 2. a
3. lifestyle 3. f
4. brand 4. b
5. profitable 5. d
6. sponsorship 6. c
7. rival
8. physique
9. deal
5 Superlatives
10. earnings
adjective superlative
2 Find the information 1. rich richest
2. valuable most valuable
1. 10
3. popular most popular
2. Madeira
3. £7 million 4. expensive most expensive
4. Nike 5. famous most famous
5. less than 6. hard hardest
6. Tiger Woods
6 Spelling
1. e 1. executive
2. c 2. spectacular
3. b 3. sponsorship
4. f 4. commercial
5. a 5. advertising
6. d 6. Portuguese
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1 Key words
transfer fee rival physique earnings deal

eloquence likeable sponsor endorsement crucial
1. A ____________ is a business that pays money to support a sports team.
2. ____________ is the ability to express what you mean using clear and effective language.

4. A ____________ is the amount of money that one professional football team pays to another for
one of their players.
5. An ____________ is when a famous person says in an advertisement that they like a particular product.
7. If something is ____________, it is extremely important.
8. A ____________ is a formal agreement in business.
9. A person’s ____________ are the amount of money they get by working.
10. If someone is ____________, they are pleasant and friendly and easy to like.
1. How old is Cristiano Ronaldo?
2. Where is he from?
3. How much did he earn at Manchester United?
4. How much did David Beckham earn last year from product endorsements?
5. What percentage of Real Madrid’s income comes from overseas markets?
6. How much did US golfer Tiger Woods earn from endorsements last year?
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NEWS LESSONS / Can Cristiano Ronaldo earn it like Beckham? / Intermediate

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Can Cristinao Ronaldo earn it like have a spectacular commercial effect that can
Beckham? earn the club money.”
From £175 to £80m in 14 years - now the new 5 Ronaldo is not as likeable as Beckham, and this
king of soccer can establish the Ronaldo ‘brand’ may affect his global brand. Fans have criticized
Robert Booth, 11 June, 2009 and cursed him over the years. Three years ago,
the Daily Mail headline was, “Get lost Ronaldo!”
1 When Cristiano Ronaldo was just 10 years old when he was accused of encouraging the referee
and playing for the tiny Andorinha football club on to send off Wayne Rooney in an England v
his home island of Madeira, the club turned down Portugal match at the 2006 World Cup. An agent
an offer of £175 for him in the belief his skills and for a leading England player said, “There’s a
speed were worth far more. And how right they question about his likeability factor.”
were. Real Madrid have opened negotiations
6 How much Ronaldo earns for himself and his
with Manchester United for the 24-year-old
club depends on how well his image is sold in
Portuguese player and it seems likely he will
emerging markets and how well he develops
move to Madrid for a transfer fee of £80m and a
his own public personality, according to Simon
salary that could add £60m to the bill.
Chadwick, a professor of sport business strategy.
2 For the marketing executives at Madrid and “European football is a saturated market and
for Ronaldo and his agent, the world-record the crucial areas for Real Madrid are overseas
deal is far more than a sporting concern; sports markets like China, Japan, Brazil and Argentina,”
marketing executives believe that the transfer he said. “Real Madrid currently gets less than 5%
could make the 2008 World Player of the Year of its income from those sources.”
a serious rival to David Beckham. Ronaldo
7 According to research by Chadwick into what
will almost certainly become the world’s most
makes a strong sports player brand, Ronaldo
valuable football brand, a status that will also
already has some of the key personal qualities
make him one of the highest earners in sport.
to become like Beckham. “He’s good looking,
3 At Manchester United Ronaldo earned £7m glamorous and has a good physique – and the
a year in salary and £12m from product people we surveyed said that was important,”
endorsements, not far behind Beckham’s he said. “You have to play with clubs that are
earnings last year of £3.4m from football and associated with success and our research shows
£26m off the pitch. Ronaldo has already starred it has to be sustained success. That is one of
in adverts for Coca Cola and the video game the reasons Tiger Woods is such a strong brand.
FIFA Street 2 amongst others. His sponsorship People also said they liked Woods’s intelligence
deal with Nike is worth around £9m. Now he is and eloquence. Beckham had a problem with
joining a Real Madrid team which will probably that which is one of the reasons why he earns
allow him an even higher profile and his earnings much less than Woods.”
are set to rise.
8 “This is a challenge for Ronaldo too. Off-field
4 Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, lifestyle is important: who you are married to and
was already thinking along those lines before where you live. This is where Beckham has done
yesterday’s announcement. “When Beckham well and Ronaldo has work to do. Man or woman,
came, we increased our earnings from he needs to find a regular partner and ideally
sponsorship from €7m a year to €45m a year,” someone who is famous too. Finally you have to
Perez said. “If Cristiano Ronaldo comes, even be seen as good team player. In his later career,
though he is currently with Nike, he then puts on Beckham has had a fantastic reputation as a
an Adidas shirt every week. There are certain team player and I think Ronaldo has a problem
players who are very profitable because they in this area because he is seen too much as
an individual.”
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9 “Ronaldo is more likely to appeal to Hispanic
markets because he is Portuguese, and that
might help him break into the US, although
it remains a difficult place when it comes to
accepting football,” said Jon Holmes, a football
agent. Whatever happens to Ronaldo’s bank
balance during his time at Madrid he will find it
difficult to match Tiger Woods, who heads the
sporting rich list earning £64m in endorsements
alone last year.

Are these statements True or False according to the text?
1. David Beckham earns more from endorsements than Tiger Woods.
2. Big stars like Beckham and Ronaldo earn more from endorsements than from playing football.
3. Ronaldo is more likeable than David Beckham.
4. Tiger Woods is more eloquent than David Beckham.
5. Ronaldo has a famous partner.
6. The £80 million transfer fee is a world record.
4 Find the word
1. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to refuse (para 1)
2. A noun meaning a product that has its own name and is made by a particular company (para 2)
3. An adjective meaning making a lot of money (para 4)
4. A verb meaning to say or think offensive or impolite words about someone (para 5)
5. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to tell a player officially to leave the field because they have done something
that is not allowed by the rules (para 5)
6. An adjective meaning completely full (para 6)
7. An adjective meaning attractive, rich and famous (para 7)
8. An adjective meaning continuing at the same level or rate for a long time (para 7)
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1. marketing a. market
2. product b. balance
3. sponsorship c. player
4. emerging d. endorsement
5. team e. executive
6. bank f. deal
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. announce
2. endorse
3. believe
4. succeed
5. negotiate
6. earn
7 Discussion
Is anyone worth £80 million?
Should the amount of money paid to top sportsmen be limited?

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1. sponsor 1. turn down

2. eloquence 2. brand
3. rival 3. profitable
4. transfer fee 4. curse
5. endorsement 5. send off
6. physique 6. saturated
7. crucial 7. glamorous
8. deal 8. sustained
9. earnings
10. likeable

2. d
1. 24 3. f
2. Madeira (Portugal) 4. a
3. £7 million a year 5. c
4. £26 million 6. b
5. less than 5%
6. £64 million
6 Word building
verb noun
1. F 1. announce announcement
2. T 2. endorse endorsement
3. F 3. believe belief
4. T
4. succeed success
5. F
6. T 5. negotiate negotiation
6. earn earnings
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Ban smoking in cars carrying children, expert urges
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
Which of the following are illegal in your country?
Smoking in cars in which children are passengers

Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving
Eating and drinking while driving
Not wearing a seatbelt in the back seat of a vehicle
Riding a motorbike while not wearing a helmet
2 Key words
Write the keywords from the article next to the definitions. The paragraph numbers have been given
to help you.

measures paediatrics urge draconian
exposing prosecuted intrusive case
offence harm legislation inflict
1. A verb meaning to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take.
______________________________ (title)
2. ______________________________ is the part of medical science that deals with children and the treatment
of their illnesses. (para 1)
3. A ______________________________ measure is one that is extremely strict and severe. (para 1)
4. A verb that means to cause something unpleasant to happen. ______________________________ (para 2)
5. A noun for a law, or a set of laws. ______________________________ (para 4)
6. A ______________________________is a set of facts and arguments that you can state for or against
something. (para 5)
7. ______________________________ are actions that are intended to achieve or deal with something. (para 5)
8. An ______________________________ is a crime or illegal activity for which there is a punishment. (para 7)
9. When someone is ______________________________, a lawyer in court tries to prove that they are guilty of
a crime. (para 7)
10. When something is ______________________________ it becomes involved in something in a way that is
not welcome. (para 9)
11. When you are ______________________________ someone to something you are failing to protect them
from something harmful or dangerous. ______________________________ (para 10)
12. A noun that describes the injury, damage or problems caused by something that you do.
______________________________ (para 10)
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NEWS LESSONS / Ban smoking in cars carrying children, expert urges / Advanced
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Level 3 Advanced
Ban smoking in cars carrying we hope that necessary measures are viewed not
children, expert urges as the nanny state but as common sense.”
A child health expert warns that one 6 Deborah Arnott, chief executive of pressure group
cigarette creates pollution 100 times higher Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Cars are
than accepted standard small tin boxes, with not much air in them. Smoking
just one cigarette, even with the window open,
David Batty creates a greater concentration of second-hand
June 17, 2009 smoke than a whole evening’s smoking in a pub or
a bar. That’s not just bad for children but for adults
1 Smoking should be banned in cars carrying too, especially those who already have heart or
children, the head of the Royal College of lung diseases.”
Paediatrics and Child Health said today. Professor
Terence Stephenson denied his proposal was 7 In the UK, there is already a ban on smoking in
draconian, pointing to research that found smoking commercial vehicles. A spokeswoman from the
just one cigarette in a car created pollution that was road safety charity Brake said it also supported
100 times higher than accepted US standards. a ban on smoking in cars. “There is no specific
offence at the moment that says you can be
2 “We should make it illegal to smoke in cars when charged with smoking at the wheel,” she said. “But
children are in the vehicle,” Stephenson said. you can be prosecuted for not having proper control
“Why on earth would you light up in your car whilst of your vehicle.
your children are sitting quite happily in the back?
You wouldn’t pass the packet round and invite 8 “Having one hand off the wheel and dropping
the kids to light up, so why make them breathe ash over yourself, or obstructing your view with
tobacco smoke at all? You can’t inflict this on your smoking, means you are not concentrating on your
colleagues at work anymore. Why should we driving. All that can add up to not having proper
treat our children’s health as a lower priority than control of your vehicle, or dangerous driving.”
our employees’?” She said it might be useful to have a law banning
smoking similar to the one regarding hand-held
3 Writing for the BBC website, the professor said mobile phones.
that protecting children from smoking should not
be seen as the nanny state but as common sense. 9 Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ lobby group
“We are naturally risk-averse with our own children Forest, said today: “Adults should be careful when
and with other people’s – this is legitimate nanny young children are in the car, but a ban is far too
territory,” he said. “Second-hand smoke has been heavy-handed. It’s unnecessarily intrusive. You can’t
found to be strongly linked to chest infections in legislate for every aspect of people’s behaviour.”
children, asthma, ear problems and sudden infant
10 A spokeswoman for the Department of Health
death syndrome, or ‘cot death’. We should be
said the government would review its legislation
making cars totally smoke-free if there are children
on smoking bans next year, which would include
travelling in them.”
considering whether to extend smoke-free
4 Bans on smoking in cars carrying children environments. She added: “The Department of
have already been introduced in Canada, with Health would always strongly recommend that
New Brunswick the latest province to introduce people do not smoke in cars, especially those used
legislation, which covers children under 16. A study to transport children. Exposing children to second-
published by the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit hand tobacco smoke is very dangerous. Around
showed that smoking just one cigarette created 17,000 children are admitted to hospital every
pollution inside a car that was 100 times greater year as a direct result of exposure to second-hand
than accepted US standards. tobacco smoke; this figure could be greatly
reduced and the harm done to children greatly
5 Stephenson acknowledged that the proposal would reduced if people stopped smoking in their cars and
meet with opposition. But he said: “Those of us in their homes.”
in the medical profession, who see the results of
passive smoking first-hand, need to be ready to © Guardian News & Media 2009
lead and make a convincing case. Only then can First published in The Guardian, 17/06/09
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Level 3 Advanced
1. Who is requesting a ban on smoking in cars carrying children?

a. The British government
b. British nannies
c. A British paediatrician
2. Brake is ...
a. ... a government agency.
b. ... a charity.
c. ... a lobby group.
3. Brake says that ...

a. ... smoking should be allowed on buses.
b. ... passive smoking is ruining children’s health.
c. ... people can’t concentrate on driving when they smoke.
4. In Britain people are currently allowed to smoke ...

a. ... on buses.
b. ... in cars.
c. ... in public buildings.
5. Breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke ...

a. ... has been linked to many serious illnesses and conditions.
b. ... is the main reason why children are admitted to hospital.
c. ... is acceptable at work.
6. A ban on smoking in cars is currently supported by ...

a. ... the Department of Health.
b. ... Brake.
c. ... Forest.
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Language – multi-word phrases
Look at the text and find the following multi-word phrases.
1. A two-word phrase which means to ignite a cigarette. ___________________________________ (para 2)
2. A two-word phrase which describes a government that tries to protect its people and control their lives in a way
that stops them being independent. ___________________________________ (para 3)
3. A two-word phrase that means the ability to use good judgment and make sensible decisions.
___________________________________ (para 3)
4. A two-word phrase which describes being opposed to taking risks, or only willing to take small risks.
___________________________________ (para 3)
5. A three-word phrase for smoke from other people’s cigarettes. ___________________________________(para 3)
6. A more common two-word term for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. ___________________________________ (para 3)
7. A two-word phrase for the action of having to breathe in other people’s tobacco smoke.
___________________________________ (para 5)
8. A two-word phrase that means in a direct way from someone who is involved in something.
___________________________________ (para 5)
9. A two-word phrase which describes an organized group of people who try to persuade people and influence political
decisions about a particular issue. ___________________________________ (para 6)
10. A two-word phrase for types of vehicles that are used for carrying goods or passengers.
___________________________________ (para 7)
11. A three-word phrase that means you are officially accused of committing a crime.
___________________________________ (para 7)
12. Another two-word phrase that means an organization that seeks to influence political decisions.
___________________________________ (para 9)
13. A two-word phrase that means using too much force, or not considering people’s feelings enough when dealing
with a situation. ___________________________________ (para 9)
5 Discussion
The article tells us that a senior paediatrician has called for a smoking ban in cars, for the sake of children’s health.
Do you think this is a good move for public health or an unwarranted invasion of private space?
After you have discussed this question, go to
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/poll/2009/jun/17/smoking-transport
and read some of the comments readers have left online.
(Warning: they are not always 100% serious!)
6 Webquest
What advice would you give to someone who wants to give up smoking? Make notes of your own ideas and then search
online for treatments, therapies and other help. The following websites may be helpful:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/smoking-treatments
http://smokefree.nhs.uk/
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/Stopping_smoking.html
http://www.stop-smoking-updates.com/quitsmoking/magazine/edition/Giving-Up-Smoking.htm
... and many many more.
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1 Key words 4 Language: Multi-word phrases
1. urge 1. light up
2. paediatrics 2. nanny state
3. draconian 3. common sense
4. inflict 4. risk-averse
5. legislation 5 second-hand smoke
6. case 6. cot death
7. measures 7. passive smoking
8. offence 8. first-hand
9. prosecuted 9. pressure group
10. intrusive 10. commercial vehicles
11. exposing 11. be charged with
12. harm 12. lobby group
13. heavy-handed
3 Comprehension check Teacher’s notes
1. c
A poll on guardian.co.uk connected to this article asked:
2. b
3. c Should smoking in cars be banned to protect
4. b children’s health?
5. a The results were as follows:
6. b
Yes: 47.8%. There is a public interest involved
No: 52.2%. It’s an invasion of privacy
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/
poll/2009/jun/17/smoking-transport

Level 1 Elementary
ban: verb [transitive] [often passive]

to say officially that someone is not allowed to do something
urge: verb [transitive]
to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take
1 Warmer
Which of the following are banned in your country?
• Smoking in cars in which children are passengers
• Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving
• Eating and drinking while driving
2 Key words
common sense recommend reduce smoke-free review

second-hand smoke prosecute expose heavy-handed harm
pollution environment employees
1. _______________________ the place in which people live and work (and the natural world) (sub-title)
2. _______________________ the process of making the air, water or land dirty, usually with chemicals or
other substances (para 1)
3. _______________________ people who work for a company (para 2)
4. _______________________ People who have this can make sensible decisions. (para 3)
5. _______________________ other people’s tobacco smoke (para 3)
6. _______________________ This describes a place where no one is allowed to smoke. (para 3)
7. _______________________ to try to prove in court that someone is guilty of a crime (para 6)
8. _______________________ a two-word phrase that describes using too much force or not thinking about
other people’s feelings (para 8)
9. _______________________ to (re)examine all the information about a situation or subject (para 9)
10. _______________________ to advise someone that they should or should not do something (para 10)
11. _______________________ to put someone in danger because you do not protect them from something
dangerous or harmful (para 10)
12. _______________________ to make something smaller or less in size, amount, importance, etc. (para 10)
13. _______________________ the hurt, damage or problems caused by something that you do (para 10)
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NEWS LESSONS / Smoking in cars / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Ban smoking in cars carrying children, 6 In the UK, there is already a ban on smoking in
expert urges passenger and goods vehicles. A spokeswoman
A child health expert warns that one cigarette from the road safety group Brake said it also
smoked in a car creates a worse environment than supported a ban on smoking in cars. “At the
an evening smoking in a pub moment you cannot be prosecuted for smoking at
the wheel,” she said. “But you can be prosecuted for
David Batty, Wednesday 17 June 2009
not having proper control of your vehicle.
1 Smoking should be banned in cars carrying
children, a child health expert said today. Professor 7 “Having one hand off the wheel and dropping
Terence Stephenson said that a study has found cigarette ash over yourself means you are not
that smoking just one cigarette in a car created concentrating on your driving. That can mean not
pollution that was 100 times higher than accepted having proper control of your vehicle, or dangerous
US standards. driving.” She said it might be useful to have a law
banning smoking similar to the one that bans people
2 “We should make it illegal to smoke in cars when using hand-held mobile phones while driving.
children are in the vehicle,” Stephenson said. “Why
on earth would you smoke in your car whilst your 8 Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ group Forest,
children are sitting quite happily in the back? You said today: “Adults should be careful when young
can’t smoke at work anymore. Why should our children are in the car, but a ban is far too heavy-
children’s health be less important than that of handed.”
employees’?”
9 A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said
3 Writing for the BBC website, the professor said the government would review the laws on smoking
that keeping children away from smoking should bans next year, and would decide whether to make
be common sense. “Second-hand smoke has been more smoke-free environments.
found to be strongly linked to chest infections in
children, asthma, ear problems and sudden infant 10 She added: “The Department of Health would
death syndrome. We should be making cars totally always strongly recommend that people do not
smoke-free if there are children travelling in them,” smoke in cars, especially those used to transport
he said. children. Exposing children to second-hand tobacco
smoke is very dangerous. Around 17,000 children
4 Bans on smoking in cars carrying children have stay in hospital every year as a direct result of
already been introduced in Canada. A study exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke; this
published by the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit number could be greatly reduced and the harm
showed that smoking just one cigarette created done to children greatly reduced if people stopped
pollution inside a car that was 100 times greater smoking in their cars and in their homes.”
than what is acceptable in the US.
5 Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on First published in The Guardian, 04/06/09
Smoking and Health, said: “Cars are small tin
boxes, with not much air in them. Smoking just
one cigarette, even with the window open, creates
more second-hand smoke than a whole evening’s
smoking in a pub or a bar. That’s not just bad for
children but for adults too, especially those who
already have heart or lung diseases.”

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1. A top children’s doctor wants to ban ...
2. One cigarette in a car creates more ...
3. In Britain people are not ...
4. In Britain it is illegal to use a …
5. In Britain most work …
6. Brake is a road …
7. Forest is a …
8. Brake says that people can’t concentrate properly on driving …
9. The Department of Health will review the …
10. Around 17,000 children have to go to hospital every year because of …
a. … laws on smoking bans next year.
b. … places are smoke-free.
c. … pro-smoking group.
d. … smoking in cars carrying children.
e. … hand-held mobile phone while you are driving.
f. … allowed to smoke on a bus.
g. … second-hand smoke than a whole evening’s smoking in a pub or a bar.
h. … breathing in second-hand tobacco smoke.
i. … when they smoke.
j. … safety group.
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Level 1 Elementary
4 Language: Word wheels

Which words go together with smoke and smoking? Look at the article and write all the word pairs you
can find onto the wheels. Can you think of any other words? Add them to the wheels, too.
passive
smoke smoking
-free
5 Discussion: Should smoking in cars be banned?
Tick the sentence you agree with most and discuss your answers in class.
 Smoking in cars should be banned.

 Smoking in cars in which children are travelling should be banned.
 People should be allowed to smoke in their own cars when they want to.

Your friend wants to give up smoking. What advice can you give her? Make notes of your own ideas and
then look at websites for other help.
These websites might help:
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KEY
2 Key words 5 Language: Word wheels
1. environment Suggestions:
2. pollution smoke: second-hand, -free, tobacco, cigarette
3. employees smoking: passive, no, ban, pro-, anti-, give up
4. common sense
5. second-hand smoke
6. smoke-free
7. prosecute 6 Teacher’s notes
8. heavy-handed
9. review A poll on guardian.co.uk connected to this article asked:
10. recommend
11. expose Should smoking in cars be banned to protect
12. reduce children’s health?
13. harm The results were as follows:
Yes: 47.8%. There is a public interest involved

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/
poll/2009/jun/17/smoking-transport
1. d
2. g
3. f
4. e
5. b
6. j
7. c
8. i
9. a
10. h
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ban: verb [transitive] [often passive]

to say officially that someone is not allowed to do something
1 Warmer
Which of the following are banned in your country?
Smoking in cars in which children are passengers

Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving
Eating and drinking while driving
2 Key words: Verbs and nouns
Match the keywords from the article with to the definitions. The paragraph numbers have been given to
help you.
Verbs
inflict obstruct acknowledge prosecute expose charge urge
1. ____________________ to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take (title)
2. ____________________ to cause something unpleasant to happen (para 2)
3. ____________________ to accept or admit that something exists, is true or is real (para 5)
4. ____________________ to officially accuse someone of committing a crime (para 7)
5. ____________________ to try to prove in court that someone is guilty of a crime (para 7)
6. ____________________ to prevent you from seeing something by being between you and the object that you
want to see (para 8)
7. ____________________ to fail to protect someone or something from something harmful or dangerous (para 10)
Nouns
proposal charity case harm legislation
8. A law or a set of laws ____________________ (para 4)

9. A plan or suggestion, especially a formal one that a group has to consider ____________________ (para 5)
10. A ____________________ is a set of facts and arguments that you can state for or against something. (para 5)
11. A ____________________ is an organization to which you give money to help people who are poor or ill, or who
need advice and support. (para 7)
12. The injury, damage or problems caused by something that you do ____________________ (para 10)
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NEWS LESSONS / Ban smoking in cars carrying children, expert urges / Intermediate
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Ban smoking in cars carrying 6 Deborah Arnott, chief executive of pressure group
children, expert urges Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Cars are
small tin boxes, with not much air in them. Smoking
A child health expert warns that one
just one cigarette, even with the window open,
cigarette smoked in a car creates a worse
creates a greater concentration of second-hand
environment than an evening smoking
smoke than a whole evening’s smoking in a pub or
in a pub
a bar. That’s not just bad for children but for adults
David Batty too, especially those who already have heart or
June 17, 2009 lung diseases.”
1 Smoking should be banned in cars carrying 7 In the UK, there is already a ban on smoking in
children, the head of the Royal College of passenger and goods vehicles. A spokeswoman
Paediatrics and Child Health said today. Professor from the road safety charity Brake said it also
Terence Stephenson said that a study has found supported a ban on smoking in cars. “At the
that smoking just one cigarette in a car created moment you cannot be charged with smoking at
pollution that was 100 times higher than accepted the wheel,” she said. “But you can be prosecuted
US standards. for not having proper control of your vehicle.
2 “We should make it illegal to smoke in cars when 8 “Having one hand off the wheel and dropping
children are in the vehicle,” Stephenson said. ash over yourself, or obstructing your view with
“Why on earth would you smoke in your car whilst smoking, means you are not concentrating on your
your children are sitting quite happily in the back? driving. All that can add up to not having proper
You can’t inflict this on your colleagues at work control of your vehicle, or dangerous driving.”
anymore. Why should we treat our children’s health She said it might be useful to have a law banning
as a lower priority than our employees’?” smoking similar to the one regarding hand-held
mobile phones.
3 Writing for the BBC website, the professor said
that protecting children from smoking should 9 Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ group Forest,
not be seen as the nanny state but as common said today: “Adults should be careful when young
sense. “Second-hand smoke has been found to children are in the car, but a ban is far too heavy-
be strongly linked to chest infections in children, handed. You can’t legislate for every aspect of
asthma, ear problems and sudden infant death people’s behaviour.”
syndrome. We should be making cars totally 10 A spokeswoman for the Department of Health
smoke-free if there are children travelling in them,” said the government would review its legislation
he said. on smoking bans next year, which would include
4 Bans on smoking in cars carrying children considering whether to extend smoke-free
have already been introduced in Canada, with environments. She added: “The Department of
New Brunswick the latest province to introduce Health would always strongly recommend that
legislation, which covers children under 16. A study people do not smoke in cars, especially those
published by the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit used to transport children. Exposing children to
showed that smoking just one cigarette created second-hand tobacco smoke is very dangerous.
pollution inside a car that was 100 times greater Around 17,000 children are admitted to hospital
than accepted US standards. every year as a direct result of exposure to second-
hand tobacco smoke; this figure could be greatly
5 Stephenson acknowledged that the proposal would reduced and the harm done to children greatly
meet with opposition. But he said: “Those of us reduced if people stopped smoking in their cars and
in the medical profession, who see the results of in their homes.”
passive smoking, need to be ready to lead and © Guardian News & Media 2009
make a convincing case.” First published in The Guardian, 17/06/09
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Are these sentences true or false according to the information in the article?
Correct any sentences that are false.
1. The British government is requesting a ban on smoking in cars carry children. T/F
2. Professor Terence Stephenson is a doctor who specialises in children’s health. T/F
3. Brake is a road safety charity. T/F
4. Forest is an anti-smoking group. T/F
5. Brake says that people can’t concentrate properly on driving when they smoke. T/F
6. Debbie Arnot says that there is a greater concentration of smoke in a bar than in a car. T/F
7. Simon Clark thinks a ban would be a good idea. T/F
8. In Britain people are currently allowed to smoke in buses. T/F
4 Language: Two-word phrases

Match the phrases with the descriptions then write a sentence of your own for each phrase.
1. This describes a government that tries to protect its people common sense
and control their lives in a way that stops them being
independent. _______________________________ (para 3)
2. A phrase that means the ability to use good judgment and make heavy-handed
sensible decisions. _______________________________ (para 3)
3. A phrase used to describe a place where no one is allowed to smoke-free

smoke. _______________________________ (para 3)
4. This describes the action of breathing in other people’s tobacco pressure group
smoke. _______________________________ (para 5)
5. A phrase which describes an organized group of people who try to passive smoking
persuade people and influence political decisions about a particular
issue. _______________________________ (para 6)
6. A phrase that describes using too much force, or not considering nanny state
people’s feelings enough when dealing with a situation.
_______________________________ (para 9)
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5 Discussion
Do you think smoking in cars should be banned to protect children’s health?
After you have discussed this question, go to

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/poll/2009/jun/17/smoking-transport
and read some of the comments.
(Warning: they are not always 100% serious!)
6 Webquest
What advice would you give to someone who wants to give up smoking?
Make notes of your own ideas and then search online for treatments, therapies and other help.
The following websites may be helpful:

... and many many more.
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1 Key words: Verbs and nouns 4. Language: Two-word phrases
1. urge 1. nanny state

2. inflict 2. common sense
3. acknowledge 3. smoke-free
4. charge 4. passive smoking
5. prosecute 5. pressure group
6. obstruct 6. heavy-handed
7. expose
8. legislation
9. proposal
10. case
11. charity Teachers’ notes
12. harm
A poll on guardian.co.uk connected to this article asked:
3 Comprehension check Should smoking in cars be banned to protect

children’s health?
The results were as follows:
1. F
2. T Yes: 47.8%. There is a public interest involved
3. T
4. F
5. T Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/
6. F poll/2009/jun/17/smoking-transport
7. F
8. F

Money well lent
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
1. Write down the names of as many banks as you can in two minutes.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Which of these are private or local, which are national banks, and which are international banks?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Do any of the banks have distinguishing features? For example, they only offer online banking.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Key words

loan shark creditworthy borrowers recession

default loan poverty in debt
1. A _____________________ is a period when trade and industry are not successful and there is a lot of
unemployment. (subtitle)
2. When you live in _____________________ you do not have enough money to pay for your basic needs.
(subtitle)
3. _____________________ are people who receive money from a bank and promise to give it back later.
(para 2)
4. A _____________________ is an amount of money that a person, business, or country borrows, especially
from a bank. (para 3)
5. When you _____________________, you fail to pay back money that you owe. (para 3)
6. When someone is _____________________, they owe a lot of money. (para 4)
7. A _____________________ is someone who lends money to people and charges them a very high rate of
interest. (para 4)
8. When you are _____________________, you are likely to pay back money that you borrow. (para 4)
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Money well lent
Level 3 Advanced
equitable reward tackle collateral
preventive healthcare charity welfare deduct
9. _____________________ is the word for property that you agree to give to a bank if you fail to pay back
money that you have borrowed. (para 5)
10. When something is _____________________ it is fair and reasonable because everyone is treated in the
same way. (para 5)
11. _____________________ is money given to people who do not have work or who are in need. In Britain this is
often called benefit. (para 8)
12. When you _____________________ someone you give them something, for example praise, success, or
money, because they have done something good. (para 10)
13. To _____________________ means to take an amount or number from a total. (para 10)
14. A _____________________ is an organization to which you give money so that it can give money and help to
people who are poor or ill, or who need advice and support. (para 12)
15. When you _____________________ a problem you make an organized and determined attempt to deal with
it. (para 12)
16. _____________________ means identifying and minimizing risk factors for disease, and screening for early
symptoms of disease. (para 13)
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Money well lent
Level 3 Advanced
Money well lent collateral, are paying every penny of it and
changing lives,” he told a packed audience
As a bank created for poor women in last week in London. His lecture, entitled A
Bangladesh prepares to open in Britain, Alison Framework for a Better Future, outlined how
Benjamin talks to its Nobel Peace Prize-winning the recession provides opportunities not just for
founder Muhammad Yunus about how the banks, but for businesses and governments to
recession can help people out of poverty create a more equitable world.
Alison Benjamin 6 The biggest difficulty when setting up Grameen
3 June, 2009 America last year, he explained, was finding a
mainstream bank that would open a savings
1 There is a banker who is still respected across account for its borrowers. Under Grameen
the world. The institution he founded more rules, borrowers are required to save a small
than 20 years ago is untouched by the current weekly amount, but in the US, Grameen is a
financial crisis, and his opinion is more sought programme, not a bank. It took time to persuade
after than ever before. the Citibank to open accounts for customers who
wanted to deposit only $2 a week.
2 Muhammad Yunus is to economic development
what Nelson Mandela is to world peace – 7 “These are the lessons that we need to now
his Grameen Bank has helped millions of bring together to ask ourselves what kind of
Bangladeshis out of rural poverty by lending financial system we should be creating when we
them small amounts of money, or microfinance, move out of this crisis,” Yunus said.
to set up their own businesses. It has 8 million
8 After the lecture, I ask him how the Grameen
borrowers, 97% of whom are women, and since
model will work in inner-city Glasgow, where
1982 has issued more than $6bn (£3.65bn), with
three generations of unemployment is not
the average loan just $220, and repayments of
uncommon in some families. He admits it will be
near 100%. Its model has now been introduced
difficult to get people off welfare and make them
worldwide, from China and Zimbabwe to New
more self-reliant.
York, and there are plans to open the first British
Grameen Bank in Glasgow, Scotland. 9 He is openly critical of welfare systems. “Today,
the welfare recipient doesn’t have an incentive
3 Yunus attributes its success to “trust-based
to move out of welfare,” he says. “If you earn a
banking”. Money is lent to women – who he says
dollar it is deducted from your welfare cheque.”
use money more effectively than men for the
wellbeing of their children – in groups of five. If 10 Yunus believes a better system would reward
one defaults, they all suffer, so they support each people for finding work by matching every dollar
other to pay it back. earned, rather than deducting it. In the US,
Grameen has negotiated a ‘welfare holiday’ that
4 In 1976, when he approached conventional
allows borrowers to claim welfare for three years
banks asking them to lend money to villagers
while they build up their small business.
deep in debt to loan sharks, the young
economics student was told it couldn’t be done 11 He is currently involved in a series of social
because the poor are not creditworthy. He has businesses, in partnership with multinational
proved them wrong, as has the collapse of the companies, that are designed to improve the
global banking system. health of poor Bangladeshis. Grameen Danone
provides malnourished children with a cheap,
5 “2009 is a good year to ask again: ‘Who is
nutritional yoghurt; Grameen Veolia, set up with
creditworthy?’ Is it the large banks with large
a French water company, created a small water
clients? They cannot obtain their money back
treatment plant to provide clean drinking
... whereas the poor taking tiny loans, without
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water in a country where, Yunus says, “millions 14 A shortage of doctors at Grameen’s 51 village
of people drink poison every day”; and BASF health clinics has led it to adopt this approach.
Grameen will result in the German chemical It is training female graduates, many from the
company providing treated mosquito nets to villages, who have put themselves through
protect against malaria. high school or nursing college with a Grameen
scholarship or loan, to run their own health
12 Yunus is convinced that social business, management centres or become self-employed
rather than charity, is the way to tackle social health providers visiting homes with portable
problems. “Your money will be recycled again diagnostic equipment and mobile phones.
and again. The charity dollar has only one life;
you give and it never comes back.” 15 It is no surprise then that, at 68, Yunus has no
plans to retire. “It’s still real fun,” he says. “Social
13 Nowhere is this more important,he business, no matter what you say or do, must be
believes, than in healthcare. He points a matter of joy. That’s the fantastic thing about it.
to Grameen’s proposed “doctorless healthcare You can’t beat this, even by making tons
programme” as providing lessons for of money.”
other countries, including the UK. “Health
problems are everywhere, and the costs are © Guardian News & Media 2009
jumping as populations age or expand,” First published in The Guardian, 03/06/09
he says. One way to cut costs is to focus on
preventive healthcare, early detection, and to
cut out the doctor until absolutely necessary.
Curriculum Vitae
Muhammad Yunus
Age: 68
Family: Married, two daughters
Home: Dhaka
Education: Collegiate school, Chittagong; Dhaka University, MA in economics; Vanderbilt University,

US, PhD, economics
Career: 1983-present: managing director, Grameen Bank; April 1996-June 1996: adviser in caretaker
government of Bangladesh; 1976-83: project director, Grameen Bank Project; 1975-89: professor of
economics, Chittagong University, and director, rural economics programme; 1972-75: associate professor
of economics and head of economics department, Chittagong University; 1972: deputy chief, general
economics division, planning commission, Bangladesh government; 1969-72: assistant economics professor,
MTSU Tennessee, US; 1962-65: economics lecturer, Chittagong college.
Awards: Close on 100 awards, including the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
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1. Grameen Bank started in ...

a. … South Africa.
b. … Bangladesh.
c. … the USA.
2. Grameen prefers to lend to ...

a. … companies.
b. … people who are unemployed.
c. … small groups of women.
3. Grameen Bank is a ...

a. … social business.
b. … charity.
c. … cooperative.
4. The main difference between a charity and a social business is ...

a. … social businesses try to help people to help themselves and take financial responsibility for
their lives.
b. … charities expect the money to be paid back.
c. … social businesses are always cooperatives.
5. Where in Britain is Grameen planning to open a bank?

a. In a Welsh mining town.
b. In the north of England.
c. In a large city in Scotland.
6. Grameen’s proposed “doctorless healthcare programme” aims to …

a. … encourage people to go to the doctor more often.
b. … train other healthcare professionals to ease doctors’ workloads.
c. … build more hospitals.
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Language: Rephrasing
Rearrange these sentences from the article to put the words into the correct order. Then explain the
meaning of each sentence in your own words.
1. what Nelson Mandela / is to economic development / is to world peace / Muhammad Yunus

___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. than ever before / is more / sought after / his opinion
___________________________________________________________________________________________
3. banking / based / trust
___________________________________________________________________________________________
4. they all suffer, / to pay it back / so they support / if one defaults, / each other
___________________________________________________________________________________________
5. creditworthy / are not / the poor
___________________________________________________________________________________________
6. of unemployment / three generations / in some families / is not uncommon
___________________________________________________________________________________________
7. of welfare / doesn’t have / the welfare recipient / an incentive / to move out
___________________________________________________________________________________________
8. one life / has only / the charity dollar
___________________________________________________________________________________________
5 Discussion
Where in your country do you think it would be helpful or necessary to set up a Grameen Bank and / or a
system of microfinancing? If not in your country, then where else in the world?
6 Webquest
Research further information on one of the following topics and present your findings to the class.
• Grameen Bank
• Grameen Phone
• Grameen Education
• Grameen Shakti
• Microfinance
• microcredit
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KEY
2 Key words 4 Language: Rephrasing
1. recession 1. Muhammad Yunus is to economic development

2. poverty what Nelson Mandela is to world peace.
3. borrowers 2. His opinion is more sought after than ever before.
4. loan 3. trust-based banking
5. default 4. If one defaults, they all suffer, so they support each
6. in debt other to pay it back.
7. loan shark 5. The poor are not creditworthy.
8. creditworthy 6. Three generations of unemployment is not
9. collateral uncommon in some families.
10. equitable 7. The welfare recipient doesn’t have an incentive to
11. welfare move out of welfare.
12. reward 8. The charity dollar has only one life.
13. deduct
14. charity
15. tackle
16. preventive healthcare
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. a
5. c
6. b
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Key words
conventional creditworthy borrowers collateral
founder poverty trust-based
1. A _________________________ is someone who starts a school, organization, business or company.
(subtitle)
2. When you live in _________________________ you do not have enough money to pay for your basic needs.
(para 1)
3. _________________________ are people who receive money from a bank and promise to give it back later.
(para 1)
4. A _________________________ system is one that is run on the belief that people are honest, fair and
reliable. (para 2)
5. A _________________________ bank is one that is usual or traditional; not new and different. (para 3)
6. Banks think that someone who is _________________________ is likely to pay back the money that they
borrow. (para 3)
7. _________________________ is the word for property or other things that belong to you that you agree to
give to a bank if you cannot pay back money that you have borrowed. (para 4)
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Money well lent
Level 1 Elementary
deposit malnourished charity recession
incentive opportunities welfare
8. A _________________________ is a time when companies and businesses are not successful and there is a
lot of unemployment. (para 4)
9. _________________________ are chances to do something. (para 4)
10. When you _________________________ money you pay it into a bank account. (para 5)
11. _________________________ is money given to people who do not have work or who need money to live on.
In Britain this is often called benefit. (para 6)
12. An _________________________ is something that makes you want to do something or to work harder,
because you know that you will benefit by doing this. (para 7)
13. Someone who is _________________________ is weak or ill because they do not have enough to eat.
(para 8)
14. A _________________________ is an organization to which you give money so that it can give money and
help to people who are poor or ill, or who need advice and support. (para 9)
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Money well lent
Level 1 Elementary
Money well lent account for its borrowers. Under Grameen rules,
borrowers must put a small amount of money
A bank created for poor women in Bangladesh
into a bank account every week; but in the US,
plans to open in Britain. Alison Benjamin
Grameen is a programme, not a bank. In the
talks to its Nobel peace prize-winning founder
end the Citibank agreed to open accounts for
Muhammad Yunus.
customers who wanted to deposit only $2
Alison Benjamin a week.
3 June, 2009
1 Muhammad Yunus’s Grameen Bank has helped model will work in inner-city Glasgow, where all
millions of Bangladeshis out of rural poverty the adults in some families are unemployed. He
by lending them small amounts of money, or says it will be difficult to get people off welfare
microfinance, to set up their own businesses. and unemployment benefits.
It has 8 million borrowers, 97% of whom are
women, the size of an average loan is just 7 He is openly critical of welfare systems. “Today,
$220, and nearly 100% of borrowers repay the people who get money from the government do
money to the bank. There are Grameen banks not have an incentive to look for work,” he says.
and programmes worldwide, from China and “If you earn a dollar it is taken off your
Zimbabwe to New York, and now there are welfare cheque.”
plans to open the first British Grameen Bank in
Glasgow, Scotland. 8 Yunus is currently involved in a series of social
businesses to improve the health of poor
2 Yunus says its success is due to “trust-based Bangladeshis. He is doing this in partnership
banking”. Money is lent to groups of five women with large multinational companies. For example,
–who he says use money better than men for Grameen Danone provides malnourished
the wellbeing of their children. They support and children with a cheap, healthy yoghurt; Grameen
help each other to pay it back. Veolia, set up with a French water company,
provides clean drinking water in a country where,
3 In 1976, when he asked conventional banks to Yunus says, “millions of people drink poison
lend money to villagers, he was told it couldn’t every day”; and BASF Grameen will result in the
be done because the poor are not creditworthy. German chemical company providing treated
He has proved them wrong. mosquito nets to protect against malaria.
4 “2009 is a good year to ask again: ‘Who is 9 Yunus is convinced that social business, rather
creditworthy?’ Is it the large banks with large than charity, is the way to deal with social
clients? They cannot get their money back problems. “Your money will be recycled again
... but the poor, taking tiny loans, without and again. The charity dollar has only one life;
collateral, are paying back every penny and you give and it never comes back.”
changing lives,” he said at a lecture last week
in London. His lecture, entitled A Framework for 10 It is no surprise then that, at 68, Yunus has no
a Better Future, explained how the recession plans to retire. “It’s still real fun,” he says. “Social
provides opportunities not just for banks, but for business, no matter what you say or do, must be
businesses and governments to create a a matter of joy. That’s the fantastic thing about it.
fairer world. You can’t beat this, even by making tons
of money.”
5 The biggest difficulty when setting up Grameen
America last year, he explained, was finding a © Guardian News & Media 2009
mainstream bank that would open a savings First published in The Guardian, 03/06/09
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Curriculum Vitae
Muhammad Yunus
Age: 68
Home: Dhaka

US, PhD, economics
Awards: Nearly 100 awards, including the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize
1. Grameen Bank started … a. … poor people all over the world.
2. Its founder, Muhammad Yunus, has … b. … small groups of women.

3. It runs banking programmes for …
c. … major companies around the world.
4. Grameen prefers to lend money to …
d. … a bank in a large city in Scotland.
5. The borrowers do not need collateral to …
6. Nearly 100% of the Grameen borrowers e. … get a loan.
pay back … f. … themselves.

7. Grameen Bank is a social business, …
g. … the money they borrow.
8. Social businesses try to help people to help …
h. … in Bangladesh.
9. Grameen is planning to open …
10. Grameen also has social business i. … won a Nobel Peace Prize.
partnerships with ... j. … not a charity

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Money well lent
Level 1 Elementary
4 Language: Financial words
1. How many words can you find in the article that are connected with money and banking? Write them
onto the word wheel.
lend
money and banking
2. Now write example sentences for five of the words.
Example: I don’t like to lend money to my friends.
.................................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................................

5 Discussion
Are there many poor people in your country?
Where in the world would you like to set up a new Grameen bank?
6 Webquest
Look online for further information on one of the following topics and present your findings to the class.
• Grameen Bank • social business
• Grameen Phone • microcredit
• Grameen Education • Bangladesh
• Grameen Shakti • Glasgow

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KEY
2 Key words 4 Language: Financial words
1. founder some possible answers:

2. poverty lend, loan, creditworthy, collateral, borrow, borrower,
3. borrowers
save, pay back, deposit, bank account
4. trust-based
5. conventional
6. creditworthy
7. collateral
8. recession
9. opportunities
10. deposit
11. welfare
12. incentive
13. malnourished
14. charity
1. Grameen Bank started in Bangladesh.

2. Its founder, Muhammad Yunus, has won a Nobel
Peace Prize.
3. It runs banking programmes for poor people all over
the world.
4. Grameen prefers to lend money to small groups of
women.
5. The borrowers do not need collateral to get a loan.
6. Nearly 100% of the Grameen borrowers pay back
the money they borrow.
7. Grameen Bank is a social business not a charity.
8. Social businesses try to help people to help
them selves.
9. Grameen is planning to open a bank in a large city
in Scotland.
10. Grameen also has social business partnerships with
major companies around the world.
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___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Key words

collapse creditworthy borrowers collateral
loan poverty welfare
1. When you live in _________________________ you do not have enough money to pay for your basic needs.
(para 1)
2. _________________________ are people who receive money from a bank and promise to give it back later.
(para 1)
3. a _________________________ is an amount of money that a person borrows, especially from a bank. (para
1)
4. Banks think that someone who is _________________________ is likely to pay back the money that they
borrow. (para 3)
5. A _________________________ is a sudden fall in the value or level of something. (para 3)
6. _________________________ is the word for property that you agree to give to a bank if you fail to pay back
money that you have borrowed. (para 4)
7. _________________________ is money given to people who do not have work or who need money to live on.
In Britain this is often called benefit. (para 7)

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nutritional malnourished charity reward
incentive deducting self-reliant
8. Someone who is _________________________ is able to do things for themselves and not depend on other
people. (para 7)
9. An _________________________ is something that makes you want to do something or to work harder,
because you know that you will benefit by doing this. (para 8)
10. When you _________________________ someone you give them something, for example praise, success, or
money, because they have done something good. (para 9)
11. _________________________ means taking an amount or number from a total. (para 9)
12. Someone who is _________________________ is weak or ill because they do not have enough to eat.
(para 10)
13. Food that is _________________________ contains enough calories, vitamins and minerals to keep you
healthy. (para 10)
14. A _________________________ is an organization to which you give money so that it can give money and
help to people who are poor or ill or who need advice and support. (para 11)
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Money well lent mainstream bank that would open a savings
account for its borrowers. Under Grameen rules,
As a bank created for poor women in borrowers must save a small weekly amount, but
Bangladesh prepares to open in Britain. Alison in the US, Grameen is a programme, not a bank.
Benjamin talks to its Nobel Peace Prize-winning In the end the Citibank agreed to open accounts
founder Muhammad Yunus. for customers who wanted to deposit only $2
a week.
Alison Benjamin
3 June, 2009 6 “These are the lessons that we need to now
bring together to ask ourselves what kind of
1 Muhammad Yunus is to economic development financial system we should be creating when we
what Nelson Mandela is to world peace – move out of the crisis,” Yunus said.
his Grameen Bank has helped millions of
Bangladeshis out of rural poverty by lending
model will work in inner-city Glasgow, where
them small amounts of money, or microfinance,
in some families three generations are
to set up their own businesses. It has 8 million
unemployed. He admits it will be difficult to get
borrowers, 97% of whom are women, the
people off welfare and make them more
average loan just $220, and repayments of
self-reliant.
near 100%. Its model has now been introduced
worldwide, from China and Zimbabwe to New 8 He is openly critical of welfare systems. “Today,
York, and now there are plans to open the first people who receive welfare do not have an
British Grameen Bank in Glasgow, Scotland. incentive to move out of welfare,” he says. “If
you earn a dollar it is taken off your
2 Yunus says its success is due to “trust-based
welfare cheque.”
banking”. Money is lent to women – who he says
use money more effectively than men for the 9 Yunus believes a better system would reward
wellbeing of their children – in groups of five. people for finding work by matching every dollar
They support and help each other to pay it back. earned, rather than deducting it. In the US,
Grameen has negotiated a ‘welfare holiday’ that
3 In 1976, when he asked conventional banks to
allows borrowers to claim welfare for three years
lend money to villagers, the young economics
while they build up their small business.
student was told it couldn’t be done because the
poor are not creditworthy. He has proved them 10 He is currently involved in a series of social
wrong, as has the collapse of the global businesses that are designed to improve the
banking system. health of poor Bangladeshis. He is doing this
in partnership with multinational companies.
4 “2009 is a good year to ask again: ‘Who is
For example, Grameen Danone provides
creditworthy?’ Is it the large banks with large
malnourished children with a cheap, nutritional
clients? They cannot get their money back ...
yoghurt; Grameen Veolia, set up with a French
whereas the poor taking tiny loans, without
water company, created a small water treatment
collateral, are paying every penny of it and
plant to provide clean drinking water in a
changing lives,” he told a packed audience
country where, Yunus says, “millions of people
last week in London. His lecture, entitled A
drink poison every day”; and BASF Grameen
Framework for a Better Future, explained how
will result in the German chemical company
the recession provides opportunities not just for
providing treated mosquito nets to protect
banks, but for businesses and governments to
against malaria.
create a fairer world.
11 Yunus is convinced that social business, rather
5 The biggest difficulty when setting up Grameen
than charity, is the way to deal with social
America last year, he explained, was finding a
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problems. “Your money will be recycled again fantastic thing about it. You can’t beat this, even
and again. The charity dollar has only one life; by making tons of money.”
you give and it never comes back.”
12 It is no surprise then that, at 68, Yunus has First published in The Guardian, 03/06/09
no plans to retire. “It’s still real fun,” he says.
“Social business, no matter what you say
or do, must be a matter of joy. That’s the
Curriculum Vitae

Muhammad Yunus
Age: 68
Home: Dhaka
US, PhD, economics
Awards: Close on 100 awards, including the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
Are the sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the information in the article? Rewrite
any incorrect sentences.
1. Grameen Bank started in South Africa. 7. Social businesses try to help people to help
2. It runs banking programmes for poor people all themselves and take financial responsibility for
over the world. their lives.
3. Grameen prefers to lend money to small groups 8. Grameen is planning to open a bank in a large city
of women. in Scotland.
4. The borrowers need collateral to get a loan. 9. Grameen has business partnerships with major
5. Only half of the Grameen borrowers pay back companies around the world to help improve the
the loan. quality of life for the poor.
6. Grameen Bank is not a social business, it is 10. Muhammad Yunus thinks that the financial
a charity. recession provides us with an opportunity to create

a fairer world.
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4 Language: Paraphrasing
Find where the phrase and the sentence appear in the article and then complete the sentences below to
explain in your own words what they mean.
“Trust-based banking” means / is / describes
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The sentence “Muhammad Yunus is to economic development what Nelson Mandela is to world peace”
means / is another way of saying / describes
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
5 Discussion
Is there much poverty in your country?
Where in your country do you think it would be helpful or necessary to set up a Grameen Bank and / or a
system of microfinancing? If not in your country, then where else in the world?
6 Webquest
Research further information on one of the following topics, or any other that is mentioned in the
article, and present your findings to the class.
• Grameen Bank
• Grameen Phone
• Grameen Education
• Grameen Shakti
• social business
• microcredit
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2 Key words 3 Comprehension check
1. poverty 1. F
2. borrowers 2. T
3. loan 3. T
4. creditworthy 4. F
5. collapse 5. F
6. collateral 6. F
7. welfare 7. T
8. self-reliant 8. T
9. incentive 9. T
10. reward 10. T
11. deducting
12. malnourished
13. nutritional
14. charity
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1 Key words
bland interchangeable floppy uncanny puffy
grizzled indistinguishable rugged empathetic simpering
1. If a man has a _____________________ face, it has strong features and is attractive.
2. If a person is described as _____________________, they are trying to be friendly and pleasant in a way that
appears silly and not sincere.
3. If you are _____________________, you are able to understand how someone feels because you can
imagine what it is like to be them.
4. _____________________ hair is soft and hangs down in a loose or heavy way.
5. If someone is _____________________ they are not interesting, exciting or original and are therefore boring.
6. If two things or two people are _____________________, you can use one instead of the other and the effect
will be the same.
7. A _____________________ person has grey hair and looks old.
8. If something is _____________________, it is strange and mysterious.
9. A _____________________ face is one that is slightly swollen.
10. If two things are _____________________, you cannot see any difference between them.
1. Who wrote the book The Boy?

2. Which two actors starred in the movie Twilight?
3. In which decade was the film Footloose originally made?
4. Who starred in the teen movie High School Musical?
5. Which five actors are mentioned as examples of traditional male good looks?
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Farewell to the rugged look as new Aleksander. “Compared to the new male beauty,
male beauties sweep all before them even Justin Timberlake and Adrian Grenier
seem distinctive and grizzled. It’s a face that
Amelia Hill used to only be found in teen magazines. Now it
28 June, 2009 dominates the box office.”
1 Something strange is happening to our leading 5 Heroines used to be the interchangeable ones.
men – they are fading, blurring and losing With characters largely defined by their hair
their edge. Visit the cinema or turn on the colour – sizzling blonde or serious brunette –
television and you’ll see an endless string of a woman’s screen presence was intended a
interchangeable heroes whose unique selling background against which leading men could
point is that they don’t have one. It seems that define themselves and shine. But now, today’s
the days are largely gone when young actors up-and-coming male stars are so similar that
were hired for their individual charms and film industry bosses are able to replace one with
charisma – think Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Jack another with barely a pause for thought.
Nicholson. A trend that started a few years ago
6 It is unthinkable that a director could replace,
has become so widespread that we are now
presented with heroes whose looks are so bland say, George Clooney with Clive Owen or
they are defined by each film they make, instead Leonardo DiCaprio without substantial rewrites
of the other way round. to suit the defining characteristics of his new
leading man. But when Zac Efron recently made
2 Far from insisting on acting ability or screen a last-minute decision to pull out of the remake
presence, directors and producers are of the 1980s hit, Footloose, Paramount replaced
demanding that their leading men are so him with another wide-eyed, soft-faced beauty:
indistinguishable that they end up blending Crawford. And continued shooting the film.
together in audiences’ minds: Rob Pattinson and
Taylor Lautner battle for Kristen Stewart’s heart 7 The lure of the new male beauty is spreading
in Twilight, but their floppy hair and long-lashed beyond Hollywood. It is increasingly being seen
eyes are so similar that it is no surprise that the on the catwalk, where a few years ago it was
fictional Bella has trouble making her choice. the size-zero boys, with their undernourished,
Blair faces the same problem in Gossip Girl sexually ambivalent figures who were in
when she is asked to choose between the baby- demand. Now, however, the physiques of the
faced Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford. models have become rounded; their angular
edges softened and their thin faces feminized.
3 All four boy-men have an uncanny similarity to
Ian Somerhalder from Lost, who himself looks 8 Steven Pearlman, a plastic surgeon, said his
like Ashton Kutcher, Chris Pine from Star Trek, patients have started asking for Efron’s features
James Marsden from Hairspray and Mr Scarlett as their ideal, instead of the more manly look
Johansson, Ryan Reynolds. The New York they have favoured in the past. Individuality, he
Observer is so convinced of the phenomenon said, has been overrun by the quest for perfect
it has called the “new male beauty” that it has proportion. “Fifteen years ago men absolutely
identified a formula describing the precise wanted to maintain that rugged look, which
science of the identikit look. meant stronger features. Now they want a softer
look,” he said. “Even just a couple of years ago,
4 “Those wide-set eyes, the narrow nose that we were talking about Orlando Bloom, Justin
flares up at the tip just so, the childish puffy Timberlake and Leonardo DiCaprio. Now it’s
cheeks and the soft jaw lines, the carefully Zac. Our culture is leaning towards a more
placed strands of layered hair,” wrote Irina empathetic man who can understand a
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woman’s feelings, and that comes out in new 11 Lynda Boothroyd, a psychologist at Durham
facial features.” University, agreed. When women are looking
for the perfect man, she found, they usually
9 Historically, male sex appeal used to be Marlon choose pretty boys such as Leonardo DiCaprio
Brando, the pronounced features of Sean and singer Enrique Iglesias rather than “rougher”
Penn and the expressive eyes of Nicholson men. “Women may want muscle in the short
and Clooney. So why has it happened? term, but long term they prefer men with more
In her 2003 book, The Boy, Germaine feminine features, associating this with fidelity,
Greer lamented the increase in the number warmth and better parenting.”
of “simpering 30-year-olds with shaved chests”
who attempt to imitate “the short-lived beauty 12 But Andrea Oliveri, of Details magazine,
of [real] boys”. Why, instead of seeking out disagreed. For her, it is Hollywood that is
manly men, are girls preferring the big eyes creating these New Male Beauties, not the
and rounded features more usually associated other way around. “High School Musical was
with babies? successful not because Zac Efron was in it:
Zac became famous as a result of the huge
10 It could be that female audiences are reacting phenomenon that it is,” she said. This, say the
to an era in which traditional masculinity experts, is where the lasting impact of New Male
has left a sinking economy, the possibility of Beauty will be felt. If film studios can persuade
environmental catastrophe and violent conflicts audiences to accept an army of interchangeable
in the Middle East and beyond. Research by drones – in the place of specific stars with their
psychologists at St Andrews University sky-high salaries and outrageous demands –
found that women use a man’s face to judge then they are the overall winners.
how he will behave in a relationship. “Women
find delicate features more trustworthy and © Guardian News & Media 2009
caring,” said Professor David Perret. First published in The Observer, 28/06/09
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Choose the best answer according to the text
1. How do the male film stars of today differ from the 3. What advantage have actors like Efron and
traditional male film stars? Crawford brought to film directors?
a. They are more trustworthy and caring. a. They provide a background against which
women actors can shine.
b. They don’t demand sky-high salaries.
b. They can easily replace one with another.
c. They have bland, more feminine faces.
c. They define each film they make.
2. Why, according to psychologists, do women prefer

men with delicate features to more rugged men? 4. What has happened in the fashion industry?
a. Because they associate delicate features with a . Size-zero boys with undernourished figures
fidelity and better parenting. are in demand.
b. Because they like films like High School b. Male models now have more rounded
Musical. physiques and feminized faces.
c. Because they like floppy hair and c. Designers are looking for a rugged look.
long-lashed eyes.
4 Find the word

1. A verb meaning to become difficult to see clearly, often because the edges are not clear. (para 1)
2. A three-word expression meaning the thing that makes a product or service special or different from others.
(para 1)
3. An adjective meaning very hot or very exciting, especially because sex is involved. (para 5)
4. A three-word expression meaning likely to become successful or popular soon. (para 5)
5. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to stop being involved in an activity. (para 6)
6. A noun meaning the raised area at a fashion show that the models walk along. (para 7)
7. An adjective meaning very obvious or noticeable. (para 9)
8. A noun meaning someone who does boring work for very little money. (para 12)
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5 Two-word phrases
1. sex a. decision
2. leading b. hair
3. puffy c. catastrophe
4. floppy d. surgeon
5. screen e. cheeks
6. last-minute f. appeal
7. plastic g. presence
8. environmental h. man
6 Adjectives
Which of these adjectives apply to A (the traditional actors) and which to B (the new-wave actors)?
delicate manly rugged grizzled long-lashed baby-faced
distinctive soft strong expressive bland feminine
A – traditional actors B – new-wave actors
7 Discussion
Which look do you prefer in a male actor – the ‘new’ look or the more ‘traditional’ look? Why?
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KEY
1. rugged 1. f
2. simpering 2. h
3. empathetic 3. e
4. floppy 4. b
5. bland 5. g
6. interchangeable 6. a
7. grizzled 7. d
8. uncanny 8. c
9. puffy
10. indistinguishable
6 Adjectives
2 Find the information A – traditional actors B – new-wave actors
1. Germaine Greer manly delicate

2. Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner
3. the 1980s rugged long-lashed
4. Zav Efron
grizzled baby-faced
5. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson,
George Clooney and Sean Penn distinctive soft
strong bland
3 Comprehension check expressive feminine
1. c
2. a
3. b
4. b
4 Find the word
1. blur
2. unique selling point
3. sizzling
4. up-and-coming
5. pull out
6. catwalk
7. pronounced
8. drone
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1 Key words
rugged charisma bland floppy puffy
brunette physique delicate strand underfed
1. A ____________________ is a woman with brown hair.
2. A ____________________ is a single, long piece of hair.
3. If a man has a ____________________ face, it has strong features and is attractive.
4. If a person is ____________________, they do not eat enough food and are very thin.
5. A person’s ____________________ is the shape of their body.
6. A ____________________ face is one that is thin and attractive.
7. If someone is ____________________, they are not interesting, exciting or original and are therefore boring.
8. ____________________ is a strong personal quality that makes other people like you and be attracted to you.
9. A ____________________ face is one that is slightly swollen.
10. ____________________ hair is soft and hangs down in a loose or heavy way.

2. Which two actors starred in the movie Gossip Girl?
4. Who stars in Footloose instead of Zac Efron?
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Farewell to the rugged look as new 5 It is hard to imagine that a film director could
male beauties sweep all before them replace George Clooney with Leonardo DiCaprio
without rewriting the script of the film. But when
Amelia Hill Zac Efron recently made a last-minute decision
28 June, 2009 to pull out of the filming of the remake of the
1980s movie Footloose, Paramount simply
replaced him with another wide-eyed, soft-faced
1 Something strange is happening to male movie
beauty, Chace Crawford, and continued shooting
actors – they are all beginning to look the same.
the film.
If you visit the cinema or turn on the television,
you’ll see an endless stream of heroes who have 6 You will not only find the new male beauty in
no unique selling point. It seems that the days the movies. You can also see it in the fashion
are over when young actors were hired for their industry. A few years ago male models were
individual charms and charisma – think of Marlon size zero and had underfed, sexually ambivalent
Brando, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson. A trend that bodies. Now, however, the physiques of the
started a few years ago has become so common models are more rounded and their thin faces
that we now have heroes whose looks are so are more feminine.
bland they no longer define the films they make.
Now the films define them. 7 Steven Pearlman, a plastic surgeon, said his
patients want to look like Zac Efron, instead
2 Directors and producers no longer look for acting of the more manly look they wanted in the
ability or screen presence but want their leading past. “Fifteen years ago men wanted to have
men to be so similar that audiences cannot tell a rugged look, which meant stronger features.
them apart: Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner Now they want a softer look,” he said. “Even just
fight for Kristen Stewart’s heart in Twilight, a couple of years ago, we were talking about
but their floppy hair and long eyelashes are Orlando Bloom, Justin Timberlake and Leonardo
so similar that it is no surprise that Stewart’s DiCaprio. Now it’s Zac.”
character Bella has trouble making her choice.
Blair has the same problem in Gossip Girl when 8 Historically, male sex appeal used to be Marlon
she is asked to choose between the baby-faced Brando, Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson and George
Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford. Clooney. So why has it happened? Why, instead
of looking for manly men, do girls now prefer
3 The New York Observer has called this look the big eyes and rounded features we usually
the “new male beauty” and it has identified associate with babies?
a formula to describe it. “Wide-set eyes, a
narrow nose, childish puffy cheeks and carefully 9 Research by psychologists at St Andrews
placed strands of hair,” wrote Irina Aleksander. University found that women use a man’s face to
“Compared to the new male beauty, even Justin tell how he will behave in a relationship. “Women
Timberlake seems distinctive and rugged. It’s a think that men with delicate features are more
face that you could find in teen magazines. Now caring and believe that they can trust them,”
it is everywhere in the movies.” said one of the researchers. Lynda Boothroyd,
a psychologist, agreed. When women are
4 It used to be the female actors who looked the looking for the perfect man, they usually choose
same. Their characters were defined by their pretty boys like Leonardo DiCaprio rather than
hair colour - sexy blonde or serious brunette. “rougher” men. “Women may want strong men
But now, today’s new male stars are so similar in the short term, but long term they prefer men
that film industry bosses can replace one with with more feminine features, because they think
another almost without thinking. these men will be warmer and faithful and will
make better fathers.”
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10 But Andrea Oliveri, of Details magazine, of the film studios. If they can persuade
disagreed. For her, it is Hollywood that is audiences to accept an army of bland actors
creating these New Male Beauties, not the – in the place of the big stars with their sky-
other way around. “High School Musical was high salaries – then the film studios will be
successful not because Zac Efron was in it: the winners.
Zac became famous because the movie was
a huge success,” she said. But the main result © Guardian News & Media 2009
of New Male Beauty may be in the profits First published in The Observer, 28/06/09
1. More and more male movie actors … a. … all want to look like Zac Efron.
2. Most of them have … b. … wanted a more rugged look.
3. Plastic surgery patients ... c. … floppy hair and long eyelashes.
4. Many women believe that … d. … as a result of the movie High School Musical.
5. Zac Efron became famous … e. … men with delicate features are more caring.
6. Fifteen years ago most men … f. … are beginning to look the same.
4 Adjectives to describe features
Match the adjectives in the left-hand column with the features they describe in the right-hand column.
1. floppy a. nose
2. wide b. face
3. narrow c. eyes
4. puffy d. hair
5. soft e. hair
6. blonde f. cheeks
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5 Prepositions
1. compared _______
2. replace one person _______ another
3. _______ the past
4. associate _______
5. _______ the short term
6. someone _______ long, floppy hair
6 Words and definitions
Match the words and phrases with their definitions.
1. unique selling point a. one after the other all the time
2. plastic surgeon b. the exact opposite
3. sexually ambivalent c. at the latest possible moment
4. the other way round d. the thing that makes a product or service special
5. an endless stream e. someone who performs cosmetic surgery
6. last-minute f. not clear if it’s a man or a woman
7 Discussion
Who is your favourite actor/actress and why?

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KEY
1 Key words 4 Adjectives to describe features
1. brunette 1. d/e
2. strand 2. c
3. rugged 3. a
4. underfed 4. f
5. physique 5. b
6. delicate 6. d/e
7. bland
8. charisma 5 Prepositions
9. puffy
10. floppy 1. to
2. with
3. in
2 Find the information 4. with
5. in
1. Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner 6. with
2. Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford
3. the 1980s 6 Words and definitions
4. Chace Crawford
5. Zac Efron 1. d
2. e
3 Comprehension check 3. f
4. b
1. f 5. a
2. c 6. c
3. a
4. e
5. d
6. b
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charisma bland interchangeable floppy puffy
lament rugged simpering fidelity trustworthy
1. If someone is ____________________, they are not interesting, exciting or original and are
therefore boring.
2. If you ____________________ something, you state publicly that you are disappointed about it.
3. If a person is described as ____________________, they are trying to be friendly and pleasant in a way that
appears silly and not sincere.
4. ____________________ is the state of remaining faithful to your partner and not having sex with
anyone else.
5. A ____________________ person is honest, safe and reliable.
6. ____________________ is a strong personal quality that makes other people like you and be attracted
to you.
7. A ____________________ face is one that is slightly swollen.
8. If two things or two people are ____________________ you can use one instead of the other and the effect
will be the same.
9. ____________________ hair is soft and hangs down in a loose or heavy way.
10. If a man has a ____________________ face, it has strong features and is attractive.

2. Which two actors starred in the movie Gossip Girl?
4. Who wrote the book The Boy?
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New male beauty
Farewell to the rugged look as new today’s up-and-coming male stars are so similar
male beauties sweep all before them that film industry bosses can replace one with
another almost without thinking.
Amelia Hill
5 It is hard to imagine that a director could replace
28 June, 2009
George Clooney with Clive Owen or Leonardo
1 Something strange is happening to our leading DiCaprio without rewriting the script to suit the
men – they are beginning to look the same. characteristics of his new leading man. But
Visit the cinema or turn on the television and when Zac Efron recently made a last-minute
you’ll see an endless stream of interchangeable decision to pull out of the filming of the remake
heroes whose unique selling point is that they of the 1980s movie Footloose, Paramount simply
don’t have one. It seems that the days are over replaced him with another wide-eyed, soft-faced
when young actors were hired for their individual beauty: Crawford. And continued shooting
charms and charisma – think of Marlon Brando, the film.
Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson. A trend that started
6 The new male beauty is not just to be found
a few years ago has become so common that
in the movies. It is increasingly being seen in
we are now presented with heroes whose looks
the fashion industry. A few years ago it was the
are so bland they are defined by each film they
size-zero boys, with their underfed, sexually
make, instead of the other way round.
ambivalent bodies who were in demand. Now,
2 Directors and producers no longer look for acting however, the physiques of the models have
ability or screen presence but demand that become rounded and their thin faces have
their leading men are so similar that audiences become feminized.
cannot tell them apart: Rob Pattinson and Taylor
7 Steven Pearlman, a plastic surgeon, said his
Lautner battle for Kristen Stewart’s heart in
patients have started saying that Efron’s features
Twilight, but their floppy hair and long eyelashes
are their ideal look, instead of the more manly
are so similar that it is no surprise that the
look they wanted in the past. “Fifteen years
fictional Bella has trouble making her choice.
ago men wanted the rugged look, which meant
Blair has the same problem in Gossip Girl when
stronger features. Now they want a softer look,”
she is asked to choose between the baby-faced
he said. “Even just a couple of years ago,
Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford.
we were talking about Orlando Bloom, Justin
3 The New York Observer has called this Timberlake and Leonardo DiCaprio. Now
phenomenon the “new male beauty” and it has it’s Zac.”
identified a formula to describe it. “The wide-set
8 Historically, male sex appeal used to be Marlon
eyes, the narrow nose that spreads slightly at
Brando, Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson and George
the tip, the childish puffy cheeks and the soft jaw
Clooney. So why has it happened? In her 2003
lines, the carefully placed strands of hair,” wrote
book, The Boy, Germaine Greer lamented the
Irina Aleksander. “Compared to the new male
increase in the number of “simpering 30-year-
beauty, even Justin Timberlake seems distinctive
olds with shaved chests” who attempt to imitate
and rugged. It’s a face that used to only be found
“the beauty of [real] boys”. Why, instead of
in teen magazines. Now it is everywhere in
looking for manly men, are girls preferring the
the movies.”
big eyes and rounded features more usually
4 Heroines used to be ones who looked the same. associated with babies?
With characters largely defined by their hair
9 Research by psychologists at St Andrews
colour – sexy blonde or serious brunette – a
University found that women use a man’s face
woman’s screen presence was a background
to judge how he will behave in a relationship.
against which leading men could shine. But now,
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NEWS LESSONS / New male beauty / Intermediate

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New male beauty
“Women find delicate features more trustworthy other way around. “High School Musical was
and caring,” said the professor who led the successful not because Zac Efron was in it:
research. Lynda Boothroyd, a psychologist at Zac became famous as a result of the huge
Durham University, agreed. When women are phenomenon that the movie is,” she said. This
looking for the perfect man, she found, they may be where the lasting impact of New Male
usually choose pretty boys such as Leonardo Beauty will be felt. If film studios can persuade
DiCaprio rather than “rougher” men. “Women audiences to accept an army of bland actors –
may want muscle in the short term, but long term in the place of the big stars with their sky-high
they prefer men with more feminine features, salaries – then the film studios will be
because they associate this with fidelity, warmth the winners.
and better parenting.”
10 But Andrea Oliveri, of Details magazine,
disagreed. For her, it is Hollywood that is
creating these New Male Beauties, not the
1. Young actors all look like Marlon Brando or Jack Nicholson.
2. Many young actors have wide eyes and soft faces.
3. When Zac Efron pulled out of Footloose, the script had to be rewritten.
4. Psychologists believe that women find men with delicate features more trustworthy.
5. Zac Efron was the reason that the movie High School Musical was a success.
6. The increasing use of bland actors will probably be welcomed by the film studios.
4 Find the word

1. A three-word expression meaning the thing that makes a product or service special or different from
others. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning a single, thin piece of something, e.g. hair. (para 3)
3. An adjective meaning easy to recognize because of being different. (para 3)
4. A three-word expression meaning likely to become successful or popular soon. (para 4)
5. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to stop being involved in an activity. (para 5)
6. A two-word expression meaning not sure if it is male or female. (para 6)
7. A verb meaning to copy. (para 8)
8. A two-word adjective meaning very high. (para 10)

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New male beauty
5 Two-word phrases
1. sky a. decision
2. baby b. hair
3. puffy c. appeal
4. floppy d. surgeon
5. wide e. cheeks
6. last-minute f. eyed
7. plastic g. faced
8. sex h. high
6 Word building
1. Women seem to associate feminine features in men with __________________ and fidelity. [WARM]
2. They want to judge how the man will behave in a __________________. [RELATE]
3. Some directors no longer look for acting __________________. [ABLE]
4. The new male beauty is __________________ being seen in the fashion industry. [INCREASE]
5. In the past, plastic surgery patients wanted a more __________________ look. [MAN]
6. High School Musical was a very __________________ movie. [SUCCEED]
7 Discussion
What is more important in an actor – the way he looks or the way he acts?
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KEY
1. bland 1. unique selling point

2. lament 2. strand
3. simpering 3. distinctive
4. fidelity 4. up-and-coming
5. trustworthy 5. pull out
6. charisma 6. sexually ambivalent
7. puffy 7. imitate
8. interchangeable 8. sky-high
9. floppy
10. rugged
5 Two-word phrases
1. h
3. e
1. Rob Pattinson and Taylor Lautner 4. b
2. Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford 5. f
3. the 1980s 6. a
4. Germaine Greer 7. d
5. Zac Efron 8. c
6 Word building
1. f
2. t 1. warmth
3. f 2. relationship
4. t 3. ability
5. f 4. increasingly
6. t 5. manly
6. successful
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Bolivia brings end to bizarre tourist attraction
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
In three minutes, write down as many words as you can you think of to describe (or connected with) the
place in which prisoners are held after they have been convicted of committing a crime.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Key words
Find the key words from the article. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
1. _______________________ to look at someone or something for a long time, often in a rude or stupid way
(subtitle)
2. _______________________ people who are kept in a prison (subtitle)
3. _______________________ money given to someone so that they will help you by doing something dishonest
or illegal (para 1)
4. _______________________ a (past tense) verb meaning to refuse to talk to someone or do what they
suggest (para 4)
5. _______________________ a (past tense) verb meaning to stay somewhere longer than is
necessary (para 4)
6. _______________________ the noun for putting someone in prison (para 6)
7. _______________________ dishonest or illegal behaviour by officials or people in positions of power,
especially when they accept money in exchange for doing things for someone (para 8)
8. _______________________ particular qualities in someone’s (or something’s) character (para 9)
9. _______________________ an adjective meaning without responsibilities, difficulties or problems (para 9)
10. _______________________ a public service such as gas, water or electricity that is used by
everyone (para 9)
11. _______________________ the process of sending someone accused of a crime back to the country where
the crime was committed for a trial (para 14)
12. _______________________ the things that happen to someone or something, especially unpleasant
things (para 15)

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NEWS LESSONS / Bolivia brings end to bizarre tourist attraction / Advanced

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Bolivia calls time on bizarre world of book Marching Powder, about the four-year
prison frequented by tourists incarceration of a British drug mule, Thomas
McFadden, it details how tourists would pay for
Tourists, who once came to gawk, shop, dine
tours, overnight stays and cocaine-
and even do drugs in jail, are banned, while
fuelled parties.
inmates’ families face expulsion too
Rory Carroll and Andres Schipani in La Paz 7 After years of turning a blind eye the authorities
8 July, 2009 were forced to act after tourists uploaded a
video of a visit on YouTube in February. Local
TV picked up on the story and interviewed
1 It used to be one of South America’s most talked
foreigners emerging from the jail. It turned into a
about tourist attractions. Celebrated as unique
media circus.
in the world, San Pedro in La Paz, Bolivia, was
a prison like no other. Foreign tourists would
8 Embarrassed, the government vowed to change
pay bribes to enter, gawk, shop, dine and even
San Pedro. “The most alarming thing was
do drugs. Many deemed it better value than the
the tourists,” said Jorge Lopez, head of the
Inca citadel Machu Picchu.
prison service. “We are now constantly rotating
the guards so they do not develop a close
2 Not anymore. A sweeping crackdown has
relationship with inmates so we can cut
barred tourists from the complex, replaced
off corruption.”
corrupt guards and challenged bizarre practices
which had become the stuff of lore. If Bolivia’s
9 In addition to expelling tourists the authorities
government has its way, San Pedro’s unique
have banned other traits of San Pedro such as
days are over.
inmates renting, buying and selling their own
cells, a real estate market which had its own
3 “This was a very original prison, very different
bubbles and slumps. Office workers can no
from the others,” said Juan Gonzalez, 39, a
longer pop in for a cheap lunch in restaurants
convicted thief, sitting on a bed in his cell. “It was
which, unencumbered by taxes and utility bills,
like a little village. It wasn’t so bad. Now all that’s
undercut outside rivals.
at risk.”
10 What most upsets inmates is a threat to expel

4 Out in the main courtyard other inmates huddled
their families. Hundreds of wives and children
in small groups, nervous and resentful. They
voluntarily live in the prison – with freedom
used to run mini-restaurants and craft stalls
to come and go during the day – for want of
but now, with the tourist ban, business had
accommodation and jobs in the
collapsed. On the outside disappointed tourists
impoverished capital.
regretted that they had come too late. Guards in
green uniforms had rebuffed them but still
11 “We are very happy here. We have work, we
they lingered.
have a home. Outside there is nothing,” said
Laura Gonzalez, wife of the convicted thief Juan,
5 “What a bummer. This was one of Bolivia’s main
traipsing back in through the gates. She cooks
attractions,” said a British couple, Matt and
in a restaurant and her husband, who is serving
Linda. “Well, at least let’s take a picture at
three years, works as an amateur dentist. They
the gate.”
share their cell, cluttered with clothes and DVDs,
with two children and a cat, Felix.
6 San Pedro’s fame is set to reach a wider
audience with a new film produced by Brad
Pitt and starring Don Cheadle. Based on the
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12 Latin American prisons tend to be here in 1983 before extradition to France. More
overcrowded, grim and violent, with riots recent arrivals include Leopoldo Fernández, a
and beheadings common. San Pedro, which provincial governor allegedly implicated in the
is divided into eight sections ranging from murder of indigenous peasants, and Santos
slum-like to plush, is dangerous at night but Ramirez, charged with corruption while heading
relatively safe in the day. “Having women and the state energy company.
children here helps keep the men calm,” said
one guard. 15 The fate of San Pedro’s businesses –
hairdressers, grocery shops, pool halls – is
13 Cocaine, crack and marijuana are openly uncertain. Nor is it clear what will happen to the
consumed – a recent documentary showed a football league in which the eight sections each
prisoner snorting a line of cocaine off a copy of have a team, with players bought and sold on
the book Marching Powder – but the cocaine- a transfer market. The governor, Jose Cabrera,
processing laboratories have reportedly closed. recently said, “The prisoners have to understand
that this is a penitentiary.”
14 The arrivals of high-profile prisoners tend to
coincide with crackdowns. Klaus Barbie, © Guardian News & Media 2009
the Nazi war criminal, spent some months First published in The Guardian, 08/07/09

1. Where is the prison (town, country, continent)?
2. Why was it a tourist attraction?
3. Who is making a film about the prison?
4. What forced the Bolivian authorities into acting?
5. Apart from prisoners, who else lives in the prison?
6. Why would office workers visit the prison?
7. What drugs are available?
8. What tends to happen when high-profile prisoners arrive?
9. Which other Bolivian tourist attraction is mentioned in the article?

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Level 3 Advanced
4 Language: Phrases
Find a phrase that means the following.
1. abruptly stern measures or disciplinary action; 6. the ups and downs of 5 (three words, para 9)
increased enforcement covering a wide area _______________________________
and involving many people (two words, para 2)
_______________________________
7. the main city which has no money and where not
2. things relating to legends and stories only the authorities but also many people are poor (two
around a particular subject (three words, para 2) words, para 10) _______________________________
_______________________________
3. someone who smuggles illegal substances 8. to return somewhere while walking in a tired way
for someone else (two words, para 6) (three words, para 11)
_______________________________ ______________________________
4. deliberately overlook something or look the other

way when something happens (four words, para 7) 9. apparently involved in something illegal (two words,
_______________________________ para 14) _______________________________
5. the area of business which involves the buying and

selling of housing, property and land (three words, 10. poor, simple country people or agricultural workers
para 9) _______________________________ who were born in that place (two words, para 14)
_______________________________
5 Discussion
Make brief notes about your opinions and then discuss the questions. What is your opinion about the
following groups of people visiting or staying at the prison?
a. tourists
b. local office workers
c. prisoners’ families
6 Webquest
Watch the video that caused the prison authorities to act by going to www.youtube.com and typing in
San Pedro prison.
Then watch another video made by Prison Fellowship International (www.pfi.org):
http://www.boliviabella.com/san-pedro-prison-tour.html
Do either of these videos change the way you would answer the questions in task 5?
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KEY

1. sweeping crackdown
1. gawk 2. stuff of lore
2. inmates 3. drug mule
3. bribes 4. turning a blind eye
4. rebuffed 5. real estate market
5. lingered 6. bubbles and slumps
6. incarceration 7. impoverished capital
7. corruption 8. traipse back in
8. traits 9. allegedly implicated
9. unencumbered 10. indigenous peasants
10. utility
11. extradition
12. fate
Suggested answers:
1. La Paz, Bolivia, South America

2. Because it was like a village, with restaurants and craft
stalls. It was also a place to buy and take drugs. Tourists
could go on tours or even stay there.
3. Brad Pitt
4. Tourists uploaded a video of their visit to the prison onto
video sharing website, YouTube.
5. prisoners’ families and pets
6. office workers who went there for cheap lunches
7. cocaine, crack and marijuana
8. Crackdowns tend to coincide with the arrivals of
high-profile prisoners.
9. The Inca citadel Machu Picchu
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer
Do these words describe people or buildings? Write them next to the correct diagram.
cell prison inmate tourist penitentiary prisoner
guard office worker restaurant pool hall dentist
people buildings
2 Key words
corrupt banned penitentiary inmates amateur run
crackdown cell rotating bribes expel ignoring
1. ______________________ when someone is officially not allowed to do something or go somewhere (subtitle)
2. ______________________ money given to someone so that they will help you by doing something dishonest
or illegal (para 1)
3. ______________________ strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity (para 2)
4. ______________________ an adjective used to describe people who do dishonest, illegal or immoral things in
order to gain money or power (para 2)
5. ______________________ a small room where a prisoner is kept (para 3)
6. ______________________ people who are kept in a prison; another word for prisoners (para 4)
7. ______________________ to control and organize a business (para 4)
8. ______________________ pretending that you have not seen something (para 7)
9. ______________________ changing the order that people work in (para 8)
10. ______________________ to officially force someone to leave a place (para 10)
11. ______________________ this describes someone who does something without qualifications; the opposite
of professional (para 11)
12. ______________________ a prison for people who have committed serious crimes (para 13)
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Level 1 Elementary
Bolivia calls time on bizarre world of 7 After years of ignoring what was happening the
prison frequented by tourists Bolivian government was forced to do something
after tourists uploaded a video of their visit to the
Tourists, who once came to look, shop, eat and
prison on YouTube in February.
even take drugs, are banned
Rory Carroll and Andres Schipani in La Paz 8 Embarrassed, the government promised to
8 July, 2009 change San Pedro. “We are now constantly
rotating the guards so they do not develop a
close relationship with inmates so we can stop
1 It used to be one of South America’s most corruption,” said Jorge Lopez, head of the
talked about tourist attractions. Famous around prison service.
the world, San Pedro in La Paz, Bolivia, was
a prison like no other. Tourists paid bribes to 9 In addition to keeping tourists away the
enter, look, shop, eat and even take drugs. authorities have banned other things that were
Many thought it better value than the Inca citadel going on in San Pedro, for example, inmates
Machu Picchu. renting, buying and selling their own cells. Also,
office workers can no longer go to the prison for
2 Not anymore. A Bolivian government crackdown a cheap lunch in restaurants that didn’t have to
has stopped tourists from entering the prison. pay water, electricity or gas bills or taxes.
The government has replaced corrupt guards
and stopped the strange things which had made 10 What most upsets inmates is a threat to expel
the prison infamous. Most likely, San Pedro’s their families. Hundreds of wives and children
days as a tourist attraction are over. voluntarily live in the prison. They have the
freedom to come and go during the day. They
3 “This was a very original prison, very different chose to live in the prison because there are few
from the others,” said Juan Gonzalez, 39, a houses or jobs in La Paz.
prisoner, sitting on a bed in his cell. “It was like a
little village. It wasn’t so bad.” 11 “We are very happy here. We have work, we
4 Out in the main courtyard other unhappy inmates Laura Gonzalez, Juan’s wife. She cooks in a
stood together in small groups. They used to run restaurant and her husband, who is in prison for
mini-restaurants and craft stalls but now, with three years for stealing, works as an amateur
the tourist ban, they have no business. Outside dentist. They share their cell with two children
the prison disappointed tourists felt sad that they and a cat called Felix.
had come too late. Guards in green uniforms
tried to send them away but they still stood 12 Latin American prisons are often violent places.
and waited. San Pedro prison is dangerous at night but
relatively safe in the day. “Having women and
5 “This was one of Bolivia’s main tourist children here helps keep the men calm,” said
attractions,” said a British couple, Matt and one guard.
the gate.” 13 It is uncertain what will happen to San Pedro’s
businesses – hairdressers, grocery shops,
6 San Pedro is going to become more famous with pool halls. The prison governor, Jose Cabrera,
a new film produced by Brad Pitt and starring recently said, “The prisoners have to understand
Don Cheadle. Based on the book Marching that this is a penitentiary.”
Powder, about the four years a British man,
Thomas McFadden, spent in the prison, it © Guardian News & Media 2009
describes how tourists paid for tours, overnight First published in The Guardian, 08/07/09
stays and drugs parties.

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Level 1 Elementary
3 Comprehension check: Summarizing
1. San Pedro prison is in La Paz, … … a film about the prison.
2. It used to be a ‘secret’ but … … often violent places.
3. Prisoners used to run … … famous tourist attraction.
4. Tourists are unhappy because they … … prisoners’ families and pets from living in
the prison.
5. Brad Pitt is going to make … … a less dangerous and violent place.
6. The Bolivian government decided to … … the capital city of Bolivia.
7. Office workers used to eat their lunch … … restaurants and craft stalls in the prison.
8. The government want to stop … … in a cheap restaurant in the prison.
9. Latin American prisons are … … are no longer allowed to visit the prison.
10. The women and children make the prison … ... stop people visiting the prison after tourists put a
video on YouTube.
Write in the missing prepositions and then check your answers by reading back through the article.
around as on in x4 with of at from x2 by
1. famous ______________ the world 7. take a picture ______________ the gate
2. stopped tourists ______________ entering 8. a new film produced ______________ Brad Pitt
the prison
9. head ______________ the prison service
3. very different ______________ the others

10. Wives and children voluntarily live ______________
4. sitting ______________ a bed the prison.
______________ his cell

11. Her husband works ______________ an amateur
5. stand together ______________ small groups dentist.
6. guards ______________ green uniforms 12. They share their cell ______________ two children
and a cat.
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5 Discussion
Tick the box to show your opinion and then discuss your answers.
I think the following people should be allowed to visit the prison regularly:
I strongly agree I mostly agree I don’t know I mostly I strongly

disagree disagree
tourists
local office
workers
prisoners’
families
6 Webquest
1. Find a satellite picture of La Paz and describe what you see.
2. Find other photos of La Paz and its buildings and squares.
3. Find photos of San Pedro prison, La Paz, Bolivia.
4. Watch videos about the prison by going to www.youtube.com and typing in San Pedro prison.
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KEY
1 Warmer 4 Language: Prepositions
buildings: cell; prison; penitentiary; restaurant; 1. famous around the world

pool hall 2. stopped tourists from entering the prison
people: inmate; tourist; prisoner; guard; office worker; 3. very different from the others
dentist 4. sitting on a bed in his cell
5. stand together in small groups
2 Key words 6. guards in green uniforms
7. take a picture at the gate
1. banned 8. a new film produced by Brad Pitt
2. bribes 9. head of the prison service
3. crackdown 10. Wives and children voluntarily live in the prison.
4. corrupt 11. Her husband works as an amateur dentist.
5. cell 12. They share their cell with two children and a cat.
6. inmates
7. run
8. ignoring
9. rotating
10. expel
11. amateur
12. penitentiary
1. San Pedro Prison is in La Paz, the capital city of

Bolivia.
2. It used to be a “secret” but famous tourist attraction.
3. Prisoners used to run restaurants and craft stalls in
the prison.
4. Tourists are unhappy because they are no longer
allowed to visit the prison.
5. Brad Pitt is going to make a film about the prison.
6. The Bolivian government decided to stop people
visiting the prison after tourists put a video
on YouTube.
7. Office workers used to eat their lunch in a cheap
restaurant in the prison.
8. The government wants to stop prisoners’ families
and pets from living in the prison.
9. Latin American prisons are often violent places.
10. The women and children make the prison a less
dangerous and violent place.
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1 Warmer
Complete the words wheels with as many words as you can think of that you relate to prisons
and prisoners.
prison prisoner
2 Key words
corrupt lingered penitentiary inmates utility consumed
crackdown drug mule rotating bribes expel impoverished
1. ____________________ money given to someone so that they will help you by doing something dishonest or
illegal (para 1)
2. ____________________ strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity (para 2)
3. ____________________ an adjective used to describe people who do dishonest, illegal, or immoral things in
order to gain money or power (para 2)
4. ____________________ people who are kept in a prison (para 4)
5. ____________________ a (past tense) verb meaning to stay somewhere longer than is necessary (para 4)
6. ____________________ someone who smuggles illegal substances for someone else (para 6)
7. ____________________ a method of replacing and changing things or people that work in a set order (para 8)
8. ____________________ a public service such as gas, water, or electricity that is used by everyone (para 9)
9. ____________________ to officially force someone to leave a place (para 10)
10. ___________________ an adjective used to describe a person or place that is very poor (para 10)
11. ___________________ another word for taken; also the past tense of eat or drink something (para 12)
12. ___________________ a prison for people who have committed serious crimes (para 13)
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Bolivia calls time on bizarre world of drug mule, Thomas McFadden, spent in the
prison frequented by tourists prison, it describes how tourists paid for tours,
overnight stays and cocaine-fuelled parties.
Tourists, who once came to look, shop, dine
and even do drugs in jail, are banned
7 After years of ignoring what was happening
Rory Carroll and Andres Schipani in La Paz the authorities were forced to act after tourists
8 July, 2009 uploaded a video of a visit on YouTube in
February. Local TV picked up on the story and
interviewed foreigners leaving the jail.
1 It used to be one of South America’s most
talked about tourist attractions. Famous for
8 Embarrassed, the government vowed to change
being unique in the world, San Pedro in La
San Pedro. “The most alarming thing was
Paz, Bolivia, was a prison like no other. Foreign
the tourists,” said Jorge Lopez, head of the
tourists would pay bribes to enter, look, shop,
prison service. “We are now constantly rotating
dine and even take drugs. Many thought it better
the guards so they do not develop a close
value than the Inca citadel Machu Picchu.
relationship with inmates so we can
stop corruption.”
2 Not anymore. A Bolivian government crackdown
has stopped tourists from entering the prison,
9 In addition to keeping tourists away the
replaced corrupt guards and challenged the
authorities have banned other things that were
bizarre practices which had made the prison
going on in San Pedro such as inmates renting,
infamous. Most likely, San Pedro’s unique days
buying and selling their own cells. Office workers
are over.
can no longer pop in for a cheap lunch in
restaurants which could undercut outside rivals
3 “This was a very original prison, very different
as they didn’t have to pay taxes or utility bills.
from the others,” said Juan Gonzalez, 39, a
convicted thief, sitting on a bed in his cell. “It was
like a little village. It wasn’t so bad. Now all that’s 10 What most upsets inmates is a threat to expel
their families. Hundreds of wives and children
at risk.”
voluntarily live in the prison – with freedom to
come and go during the day – due to a lack of
4 Out in the main courtyard other inmates stood
accommodation and jobs in the impoverished
together in small groups, nervous and resentful.
capital city.
They used to run mini-restaurants and craft
stalls but now, with the tourist ban, business
11 “We are very happy here. We have work, we
has collapsed. Outside the prison disappointed
tourists regretted that they had come too late.
Laura Gonzalez, wife of the convicted thief Juan.
Guards in green uniforms tried to send them
She cooks in a restaurant and her husband, who
away but they still lingered.
is in prison for three years, works as an amateur
dentist. They share their cell, cluttered with
5 “What a bummer. This was one of Bolivia’s main
clothes and DVDs, with two children and a
attractions,” said a British couple, Matt and
cat, Felix.
the gate.”
12 Latin American prisons tend to be overcrowded,
grim and violent. Riots and beheadings are
6 San Pedro’s fame is set to reach a wider
common. San Pedro, which is divided into eight
audience with a new film produced by Brad Pitt
sections, is dangerous at night but relatively safe
and starring Don Cheadle. Based on the book
in the day. “Having women and children
Marching Powder, about the four years a British
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here helps keep the men calm,” said one pool halls. The prison governor, Jose Cabrera,
guard. Cocaine, crack and marijuana are still recently said, “The prisoners have to understand
openly consumed but the cocaine-processing that this is a penitentiary.”
laboratories have reportedly closed.
13 It is uncertain what will happen to San Pedro’s First published in The Guardian, 08/07/09
businesses – hairdressers, grocery shops,
3 Comprehension check: True or false?

Are the sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the article? Correct any sentences that are false.
1. The prison is in the capital city of Bolivia.
2. It is a ‘secret’ but often talked about tourist attraction.
3. Brad Pitt is going to star in a film about the prison.
4. The Bolivian authorities have tried to stop tourists going to the prison by putting a video up on YouTube.
5. Prisoners’ families and pets are allowed to live with them in the prison.
6. Office workers have opened a restaurant in the prison.
7. La Paz is the richest city in South America.
8. Latin American prisons are often violent places.
9. The presence of women and children make the prison a less violent place.
10. The prison is now free from drugs.
Write in the missing prepositions and then check your answers by reading back through the article. In what
context are the phrases used, i.e. what do they talk about or describe?
1. South America’s most talked _____________ 7. head _____________ the prison service
tourist attractions
8. Wives and children voluntarily live _____________
2. very different _____________ the others the prison.
3. stopped tourists _____________ entering the prison 9. a lack _____________ accommodation and jobs
4. all that’s _____________ risk 10. wife _____________ the convicted thief Juan
5. take a picture _____________ the gate 11. Her husband works _____________ a dentist.
6. a new film produced _____________ Brad Pitt 12. They share their cell _____________ two children
and a cat.
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5 Discussion
Tick the box to show your opinion and then discuss your answers.
I think the following people should be allowed to visit the prison regularly:
I strongly agree I mostly agree I don’t know I mostly I strongly

disagree disagree
tourists
local office
workers
prisoners’
families
6 Webquest
1. Find a satellite picture of La Paz and describe what you see.
2. Find other photos of La Paz and its buildings and squares.
3. Find photos of San Pedro prison, La Paz, Bolivia.
4. Watch videos about the prison by going to www.youtube.com and typing in San Pedro prison.
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2 Key words
1. bribes
2. crackdown
3. corrupt
4. inmates
5. lingered
6. drug mule
7. rotating
8. utility
9. expel
10. impoverished
11. consumed
12. penitentiary
1. T
2. T
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. F
7. F
8. T
9. T
10. F
1. South America’s most talked about tourist attractions

2. very different from the others
3. stopped tourists from entering the prison
4. all that’s at risk
5. take a picture at the gate
6. a new film produced by Brad Pitt
7. head of the prison service
8. Wives and children voluntarily live in the prison.
9. a lack of accommodation and jobs
10. wife of the convicted thief Juan
11. Her husband works as a dentist.
12. They share their cell with two children and a cat.
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Population of older people to surpass number of children
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
Fill the gaps in the sentences using these key words and phrases from the text.
landmark ageing unprecendented glaring life expectancy

demographic carer inducement pensioner census
1. A _______________________ is someone who has reached the age when they are officially old enough to
stop working.
2. A _______________________ is someone who looks after a person who is ill or is unable to look
after themselves.
3. A _______________________ is a major event that marks an important stage in a process.
4. _______________________ is the length of time that someone is likely to live.
5. A _______________________ is an occasion on which government officials count the people who live in a
country and record other information about them.
6. An _______________________ is something that persuades someone to do something.
7. An _______________________ situation is one that has never happened or existed before.
8. An _______________________ person is one who is becoming old.
9. A _______________________ difference is one that is very obvious.
10. _______________________ means relating to populations.
1. On average, women live ten years longer than men.
2. In terms of the age of the population, Europe has 23 of the world’s 25 ‘oldest’ countries.
3. The USA has the longest life expectancy in the world.
4. The world’s population will be more than ten billion by 2050.
5. Zimbabwe has the lowest life expectancy in the world.
6. France, Sweden and Italy all have life expectancies of more than 80 years.
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Level 3 Advanced
Population of older people set to human organisation, starting with the structure of
surpass number of children, the family, which will be transformed as people
report finds live longer.
Ed Pilkington, That will in turn bring new burdens on carers

20 July, 2009 and social services providers, while patterns
of work and retirement will similarly have huge
1 The world is about to cross a demographic implications for health services and
landmark of huge social and economic pensions systems.
importance, with the proportion of the global
population 65 and over set to outnumber children 5 “People are living longer and, in some parts
under five for the first time. A new report by of the world, healthier lives,” the authors
the US census bureau highlights a huge shift conclude. “This represents one of the crowning
towards not just an ageing but an old population, achievements of the last century but also a
with enormous consequences for rich and poor significant challenge as proportions of older
nations alike. The transformation carries with it people increase in most countries.” Europe is
challenges for families and policymakers, ranging the greyest continent, with 23 of the world’s 25
from how to care for older people living alone oldest countries. Such dominance of the regional
to how to pay for unprecedented numbers of league table will continue. By 2040, more than
pensioners – more than 1 billion of them by 2040. one in four Europeans are expected to be at least
65, and one in seven at least 75.
2 The report, An Ageing World: 2008, shows that
within ten years older people will outnumber 6 The UK comes in at number 19 in the list of the
children for the first time. It forecasts that over world’s oldest countries. Top of the pile is Japan,
the next 30 years the number of over-65s is which recently replaced Italy as the world’s oldest
expected to almost double, from 506 million in major country. Its life expectancy at birth – 82
2008 to 1.3 billion – a leap from 7% of the world’s years – is matched only by Singapore, though
population to 14%. Already, the number of people in western Europe, France, Sweden and Italy all
in the world 65 and over is increasing at an have life expectancies of more than 80 years. In
average of 870,000 each month. the UK it is 78.8.
3 The rate of growth will shoot up in the next 7 The contrast in life expectancy between rich
couple of years, with both overall numbers and and poor nations remains glaring. The report
proportions of older people rising rapidly. The shows that a person born in a developed country
shift is due to a combination of the time-delayed can expect to outlive his or her counterpart in
impact of high fertility levels after the Second the developing world by 14 years. Zimbabwe
World War and more recent improvements in holds the unfortunate record for the lowest life
health that are bringing down death rates at older expectancy, which has been cut to 40 through a
ages. Separate UN forecasts predict that the combination of Aids, famine and dictatorship.
global population will be more than nine billion 8 But an important finding of the report is that
by 2050.
the wave of ageing that has until recently been
4 The US census bureau has led the way in considered a phenomenon of the developed
sounding the alarm over the changes. This is its world is fast encroaching on poorer countries too.
ninth report drawing together data from around More than 80% of the increase in older people in
the globe since it first focused on the trend in the year up to July 2008 was seen in developing
1987. Its latest projections warn governments countries. By 2040, the poor world is projected to
and international bodies the tipping point will be home to more than one billion people aged 65
present widespread challenges at every level of and over – fully 76% of the world total.
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Level 3 Advanced
9 Ageing will put pressure on societies at all have begun to rise in developed countries,
levels. One way of measuring that is to look at partly through inducements from governments
the older dependency ratio, or ODR, which acts to continue working, this still puts an extreme
as an indicator of the balance between working- burden on public pensions funds.
age people and the older population that must
11 Socially, too, there are intense pressures on
be supported by them. The ODR is the number
of people aged 65 and over for every 100 individuals and families. With women living on
people aged 20 to 64. It varies widely, from just average seven years longer than men, more
six in Kenya and seven in Bangladesh, to 33 in older women are living alone. Around half of
Italy and also Japan. The UK has an ODR of 26, all women 65 and over in Germany, Denmark
and the US has 21. and Slovakia are on their own, with all the
consequent issues of loneliness and access to
10 From that ratio, a number of profound care that ensue.
challenges flow. Countries with a high ODR are
already creaking under the burden of funding © Guardian News & Media 2009
prolonged retirement for their older population. First published in The Guardian, 20/07/09
Life expectancy after retirement has already
reached 21 years for French men and 26 years
for French women. Though retirement ages
1. Why has the number of old people around the world grown so rapidly in recent years?
a. Because people are working longer.
b. Because of the high birth-rate after World War II and improved health care.
c. Because the birth-rate is currently increasing at an unprecedented rate.
2. What does the ODR show?

a. The balance between the number of working people and the old people they have to support.
b. The number of old people living with their families.
c. The amount of money needed to fund the pensions of future generations.
3. What particular problem do countries with a high ODR have?

a. Their retirement ages have begun to rise.
b. Their public pension funds are under pressure.
c. Older people are getting angry because they have to work longer.
4. What particular problem does the different life expectancy for men and women bring?
a. Men have to retire later to earn enough money to pay for their pension.
b. A large number of carers are needed to look after old women.
c. More and more older women are living alone.
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Level 3 Advanced
4 Find the word
1. A verb meaning to be more than. (para 1)

2. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to increase rapidly by a large amount. (para 3)
3. A three-word expression meaning to inform people about a danger. (para 4)
4. A two-word expression meaning the point at which the momentum for a change becomes unstoppable. (para 4)
5. A two-word expression meaning the latest and greatest of a series of successes. (para 5)
6. A four-word expression meaning the first in status. (para 6)
7. A verb meaning to cover more land gradually. (para 8)
8. A verb meaning (of a system, method or organization) to no longer work well. (para 10)
5 Two-word phrases
Match the adjectives in the left-hand column with the nouns in the right-hand column to form phrases from
the text.
1. crowning a. landmark
2. widespread b. pressure
3. global c. services
4. demographic d. population
5. developing e. achievement
6. intense f. numbers
7. social g. countries
8. unprecedented h. challenges
6 Word building
1. Many countries are creaking under the burden of funding prolonged ___________________ for their older
population. [RETIRE]
2. ___________________ levels after the second world war were particularly high. [FERTILE]
3. The fact that people are living longer is a major ___________________. [ACHIEVE]
4. Life ___________________ in Japan and Singapore is the highest in the world. [EXPECT]
5. Some governments are offering ___________________ to people to continue working. [INDUCE]
6. The ODR is an ___________________ of the balance between working people and pensioners. [INDICATE]
7 Discussion
Do you agree that working beyond the usual retirement age is the best solution to the problem of the
ageing population? What other ways can you suggest to help resolve this problem?
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KEY
1. pensioner 1. outnumber
2. carer 2. shoot up
3. landmark 3. sound the alarm
4. life expectancy 4. tipping point
5. census 5. crowning achievement
6. inducement 6. top of the pile
7. unprecedented 7. encroach
8. creak
8. ageing
9. glaring
10. demographic
5 Two-word phrases
1. e
3. d
1. F 4. a
2. T 5. g
3. F 6. b
4. F 7. c
5. T 8. f
6. T
6 Word building
1. retirement
1. b 2. fertility
2. a 3. achievement
3. b 4. expectancy
4. c 5. inducements
6. indicator
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
ageing pensioner carer census life expectancy

challenge retirement impact outnumbers pension fund
1. A _______________________ is someone who has reached the age when they are officially old enough
to stop working.
2. _______________________ is the time when you stop working because you have reached the age when you
are officially too old to work.
3. If a group of people _______________________ another group, there are more in the first group than in
the second.
4. A _______________________ is the money that a government or organization uses to pay
people’s pensions.
7. An _______________________ person is one who is becoming old.
8. A _______________________ is something that requires a lot of skill, energy and determination to deal with.
9. If something has an _______________________ on something else, it has an effect on it.
after themselves.
1. What will the world’s population be in 2050?
2. How many of the world’s 25 oldest countries are in Europe?
3. By 2040 how many Europeans will be at least 65?
4. Which country has the highest life expectancy in the world?
5. Which country has the lowest life expectancy?
6. How much longer (on average) do women live than men?

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NEWS LESSONS / Population of older people to surpass number of children / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
family, which will be transformed as people
Population of older people set to live longer. This will also bring new problems
surpass number of children, for carers and social services providers, while
report finds changes in work and retirement will have an
impact on health services and pensions systems.
Ed Pilkington,
20 July, 2009 5 “People are living longer and, in some parts of
the world, healthier lives,” the authors say. “This
1 The world’s population will soon experience represents one of the greatest achievements of
a moment of huge social and economic the last century but also a significant challenge
importance. For the first time the number of as numbers of older people increase in most
people aged 65 or more will be greater than countries.” Europe is the oldest continent, with 23
the number of children under five years old. A of the world’s 25 oldest countries. By 2040, more
new report by the US census bureau shows than one in four Europeans are expected to be at
the world’s population is ageing rapidly, with least 65, and one in seven at least 75.
enormous consequences for both rich and poor
nations. This situation will bring challenges for 6 The UK is number 19 in the list of the world’s
both families and politicians, including how to oldest countries. Number one is Japan, which
care for older people living alone to how to pay recently replaced Italy as the world’s oldest major
for enormous numbers of pensioners – more country. Its life expectancy at birth is 82 years.
than one billion of them by 2040. In western Europe, France, Sweden and Italy all
have life expectancies of more than 80 years. In
2 The report, An Ageing World: 2008, shows that the UK it is 78.8.
within ten years older people will outnumber
children for the first time. It forecasts that over 7 The difference in life expectancy between rich
the next 30 years the number of over-65s will and poor nations is huge. The report shows
double, from 506 million in 2008 to 1.3 billion – that a person born in a developed country can
an increase from 7% of the world’s population expect to live 14 years longer than someone in
to 14%. Already, the number of people in the a developing country. Zimbabwe has the lowest
world 65 and over is increasing at an average of life expectancy. It is just 40 years – the result of a
870,000 each month. combination of Aids, famine and dictatorship.
3 The number of people over 65 will increase 8 But an important finding of the report is that
rapidly in the next couple of years. The change poorer countries are also experiencing the
is the result of a combination of the high birth phenomenon of an ageing population. More
rates after the Second World War and recent than 80% of the increase in older people in the
improvements in health that are bringing down year up to July 2008 was seen in developing
death rates at older ages. United Nations countries. By 2040, the poor world is expected to
forecasts predict that the global population will be be home to more than 1 billion people aged 65
more than nine billion by 2050. and over – as much as 76% of the world total.
4 The US census bureau was the first to draw 9 Many countries with large numbers of old
attention to these changes. This is its ninth people are already having problems paying for a
report using data from around the world since it longer retirement for their older population. Life
first reported in 1987. Its latest forecasts warn expectancy after retirement has already reached
governments and international bodies that 21 years for French men and 26 years for French
this change in population structure will bring women. Retirement ages have begun to rise in
significant problems at every level of human developed countries, as governments encourage
organization, starting with the structure of the people to continue working, but public pensions
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10 funds may be unable to provide enough money
to pay for old age pensions.
Socially, too, there are pressures for both

individuals and families. Women live on
average seven years longer than men, so more
and more older women are living alone. Around
half of all women 65 and over in Germany,
Denmark and Slovakia are on their own and
loneliness is a major problem.
1. People over 65 will soon …
2. The number of people in the world over 65 years old …
3. This change in population structure …
4. People born in developed countries …
5. By 2040, 76% of people aged 65 and over ...
6. Large numbers of older women live alone because …
a. … will live in poor, developing countries.
b. … will bring significant problems to families and social service providers.

c. … women live on average seven years longer than men.
d. … is increasing at an average of 870,000 each month.
e. … outnumber children under five years old for the first time.
f. … live on average 14 years longer than those born in developing countries.

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4 Chunks
1. couple the in of years next
2. by than more billion 2050 nine
3. the over years 30 next
4. achievements of the greatest one last the of century
5. than one people more billion
6. men seven women than live longer years
5 Word building
Complete the tables.
adjective noun verb noun

important retire
healthy improve
different achieve
lonely expect
6 Prefixes
Match the prefixes in the left-hand column with the words in the right-hand column to make words from the
text.
1. fore- a. form
2. re- b. number
3. out- c. national
4. inter- d. cast
5. trans- e. able
6. un- f. place
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KEY
1. pensioner 1. in the next couple of years

2. retirement 2. more than nine billion by 2050
3. outnumbers 3. over the next 30 years
4, pension fund 4. one of the greatest achievements of the last century
5. life expectancy 5. more than one billion people
6. census 6. women live seven years longer than men
7. ageing
8. challenge
9. impact 5 Word Building
10. carer
adjective noun
important importance
healthy health
different difference
lonely loneliness
1. more than nine billion
2. 23
3. more than one in four verb noun
4. Japan retire retirement
5. Zimbabwe improve improvement
6. seven years achieve achievement
expect expectancy
3 Comprehension check 6 Prefixes
1. e 1. d
2. d 2. f
3. b 3. b
4. f 4. c
5. a 5. a
6. c 6. e
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1 Key words
ageing burden landmark unprecendented pensioner

carer census challenge retirement life expectancy
3. An _______________________person is one who is becoming old.
4. A _______________________ is something that requires a lot of skill, energy and determination to deal with.
5. A _______________________ is a serious or difficult responsibility that people have to deal with.
6. A _______________________ is someone who has reached the age when they are officially old enough to
stop working.
7. _______________________ is the time when you stop working because you have reached the age when you
are officially too old to work.
8. An _______________________ situation is one that has never happened or existed before.
after themselves.
10. A _______________________ is a major event that marks an important stage in a process.
1. Which two countries have the highest life expectancy in the world?
2. Which country has the lowest life expectancy?
3. What will the world’s population be in 2050?
4. How many of the world’s 25 oldest countries are in Europe?
5. How long, on average, do women live longer than men?
6. By 2040 how many Europeans will be at least 65?

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Population of older people set to the family, which will be transformed as people
surpass number of children, live longer. This will in turn place new burdens
report finds on carers and social services providers, while
patterns of work and retirement will have huge
Ed Pilkington,
implications for health services and pensions
20 July, 2009
systems.
1 The world’s population is about to reach 5 “People are living longer and, in some parts
a landmark of huge social and economic of the world, healthier lives,” the authors
importance, when the proportion of the global conclude. “This represents one of the greatest
population 65 and over outnumbers children achievements of the last century but also a
under five for the first time. A new report by significant challenge as proportions of older
the US census bureau shows a huge shift people increase in most countries.”
towards an ageing population, with enormous
consequences for both rich and poor nations. 6 Europe is the oldest continent, with 23 of the
The transformation will bring challenges for world’s 25 oldest countries. European dominance
families and policymakers, ranging from how to of the regional league table will continue. By
care for older people living alone to how to pay 2040, more than one in four Europeans are
for unprecedented numbers of pensioners – expected to be at least 65, and one in seven at
more than one billion of them by 2040. least 75.
2 The report, An Ageing World: 2008, shows that 7 The UK comes in at number 19 in the list of the
within ten years older people will outnumber world’s oldest countries. Number one is Japan,
children for the first time. It forecasts that over which recently replaced Italy as the world’s oldest
the next 30 years the number of over-65s is major country. Its life expectancy at birth – 82
expected to almost double, from 506 million in years – is matched only by Singapore, though
2008 to 1.3 billion – an increase from 7% of the in western Europe, France, Sweden and Italy all
world’s population to 14%. Already, the number have life expectancies of more than 80 years. In
of people in the world 65 and over is increasing the UK it is 78.8.
at an average of 870,000 each month.
8 The contrast in life expectancy between rich and
3 The rate of growth will shoot up in the next poor nations is huge. The report shows that a
couple of years, with both overall numbers and person born in a developed country can expect
proportions of older people rising rapidly. The to outlive his or her counterpart in the developing
change is due to a combination of the high birth world by 14 years. Zimbabwe holds the
rates after the Second World War and more unfortunate record for the lowest life expectancy,
recent improvements in health that are bringing which has been cut to 40 through a combination
down death rates at older ages. Separate UN of Aids, famine and dictatorship.
forecasts predict that the global population will be 9 But an important finding of the report is that
more than nine billion by 2050.
poorer countries are also experiencing the
4 The US census bureau was the first to sound phenomenon of an ageing population. More
the alarm about these changes. This is its ninth than 80% of the increase in older people in the
report using data from around the world since year up to July 2008 was seen in developing
it first focused on the trend in 1987. Its latest countries. By 2040, the poor world is expected to
forecasts warn governments and international be home to more than 1 billion people aged 65
bodies that this change in population structure and over – as much as 76% of the world total.
will bring widespread challenges at every level of
human organization, starting with the structure of
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10 Ageing will put pressure on societies at all years for French women. Though retirement
levels. One way of measuring that is to look at ages have begun to rise in developed countries,
the older dependency ratio, or ODR, which as governments encourage people to continue
shows the balance between working-age working, this still puts an extreme burden on
people and the older population that must be public pensions funds.
supported by them. The ODR is the number
of people aged 65 and over for every 100 12 Socially, too, there are pressures for both
people aged 20 to 64. It varies widely, from just individuals and families. With women living on
six in Kenya and seven in Bangladesh, to 33 in average seven years longer than men, more
Italy and also Japan. The UK has an ODR of 26, older women are living alone. Around half of all
and the US has 21. women 65 and over in Germany, Denmark and
Slovakia are on their own and loneliness and
11 Countries with a high ODR are already access to care are major problems.
struggling with the burden of paying for
prolonged retirement for their older population.
Life expectancy after retirement has already
reached 21 years for French men and 26
1. By 2018 there will be more pensioners than children under five.
2. Over the next 30 years the number of pensioners will increase from 7% to 14% of the world’s population.
3. By 2040 one in seven Europeans will be at least 65 years old.
4. The life expectancy of someone born in a developed country is on average 40 years longer than someone
born in a developing country.
5. By 2040 76% of the world’s old people will live in developing countries.
6. Half of all women in Germany live alone.
4 Find the word

1. A verb meaning to be more than. (para 1)
2. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to increase rapidly by a large amount. (para 3)
3. A three-word expression meaning to inform people about a danger. (para 4)
4. An adjective meaning happening or existing in many places and affecting many people. (para 4)
5. A verb meaning to live longer than. (para 8)
6. A verb meaning to be different in different situations. (para 10)
7. An adjective meaning continuing for a long time. (para 11)
8. A two-word expression meaning money that a government or organization uses to pay people’s pensions. (para 11)
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5 Prepositions
1. consequences _______ both rich and poor nations
2. challenges _______ families and policymakers
3. new burdens _______ social services and carers
4. focused _______ the trend
5. _______ every level of human organization
6. huge implications _______ health services and pensions systems
7. more than one _______ four Europeans
8. put pressure _______ societies
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
retire
achieve
improve
imply
expect
transform
dominate
find
7 Discussion
At what age do men and women retire in your country?
Do you think people should work longer instead of receiving a pension?

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1. life expectancy 1. outnumbers

2. census 2. shoot up
3. ageing 3. sound the alarm
4. challenge 4. widespread
5. burden 5. outlive
6. pensioner 6. vary
7. retirement 7. prolonged
8. unprecedented 8. pension fund
9. carer
10. landmark
1. for
2. for
3. on
1. Japan and Singapore 4. on
2. Zimbabwe 5. at
3. more than nine billion 6. for
4. 23 7. in
5. seven years 8. on
6. more than one in four (more than 25%)
6 Word building
verb noun
retire retirement
1. T
achieve achievement
2. T
3. F improve improvement
4. F imply implication
5. T expect expectancy (expectation)
6. F transform transformation
dominate dominance (domination)
find finding
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America’s hidden nightmare for sick poor
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
whistleblower trolley wary appal mired
manipulate scupper recess waver testify
1. If you ___________________, you hesitate because you are not sure what to do.
2. If you ___________________ someone’s plans or hopes of success, you spoil them.
3. If something ___________________ you, it makes you feel very shocked or offended.
4. If you ___________________, you make a statement about something you know, saw or experienced, usually
in a court of law.
5. A ___________________ is a short time between periods of work in an official organization, especially a court
or a parliament.
6. A ___________________ is someone who reports dishonest or illegal activities within an organization to
someone in authority.
7. A ___________________ is a bed with wheels used in hospitals.
8. If someone or something becomes ___________________, they are caught in an unpleasant situation from
which there is no escape.
9. If you ___________________ people, you influence or control them in a clever or dishonest way.
10. If you are ___________________ of someone or something, you are nervous because you think they might
cause you a problem.
1. How many US citizens do not have health insurance?

2. When did Bill Clinton attempt to reform the American healthcare system?
3. How have the Republicans described Obama’s healthcare reform plans?
4. When did Wendell Potter become a whistleblower?
5. Where was the free medical clinic Potter visited?
6. How long did Potter work for the US healthcare firm Cigna?
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NEWS LESSONS / America’s hidden nightmare for sick poor / Advanced

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Whistleblower tells of America’s 5 Potter’s claims are at the centre of the biggest
hidden nightmare for its sick poor political crisis of Barack Obama’s young
presidency. Obama, faced with 47 million
Paul Harris
Americans without health insurance, has put
26 July, 2009
reforming the system at the top of his agenda.
If he succeeds, he will have pushed through
1 Wendell Potter can remember exactly when he
one of the greatest changes to domestic policy
took the first steps on his journey to becoming
of any president. If he fails, his presidency
a whistleblower and turning against one of the
could be broken before it is even a year old.
most powerful industries in America. It was July
Last week, in a sign of how important this
2007 and Potter, a senior executive at giant US
issue is, he addressed the nation in a live TV
healthcare firm Cigna, was visiting relatives in
news conference. It is the sort of event usually
the poverty-ridden mountain districts of northeast
reserved for a moment of deep national crisis,
Tennessee. He saw an advert in a local paper for
such as a terrorist attack. But Obama wanted
a touring free medical clinic just across the state
to talk about healthcare. “This is about every
border in Virginia.
family, every business and every taxpayer who
continues to shoulder the burden of a problem
2 Potter, who had worked at Cigna for 15 years,
that Washington has failed to solve for decades,”
decided to check it out. What he saw appalled
he told the nation.
him. Hundreds of desperate people, most without
any medical insurance, descended on the clinic
6 Obama’s plans are now mired and the
from out of the hills. People queued in long lines
opponents of reform are winning. The
to have the most basic medical procedures
Republican attack machine has cranked
carried out free of charge. Some had driven more
into gear, labelling reform as “socialist” and
than 200 miles from Georgia. Many were treated
warning ordinary Americans that government
in the open air. Potter took pictures of patients
bureaucrats, not doctors, will choose their
lying on trolleys on rain-soaked pavements.
medicines. The bill’s opponents say the huge
cost can only be paid by massive tax increases
3 For Potter it was a dreadful realization that
on ordinary Americans and that others will
healthcare in America had failed millions of poor,
have their current healthcare plans taken away.
sick people and that he, and the industry he
Many centrist Democratic congressmen, wary
worked for, did not care about the human cost of
of their conservative voters, are wavering. The
their constant search for profits. “It was
legislation has failed to meet Obama’s August
over-powering. It was just more than I could
deadline and is now delayed until after the
possibly have imagined could be happening in
summer recess. Many fear that this loss of
America,” he said.
momentum could kill it altogether.
4 Potter resigned shortly afterwards. Last month

7 To Potter that is no surprise. He has seen all
he testified in Congress, becoming one of the
this before. In his long years with Cigna he rose
few industry executives to admit that what its
to be the company’s top PR executive. He had
critics say is true: healthcare insurance firms
an eagle-eye view of the industry’s tactics of
push up costs, buy politicians and refuse to
scuppering political efforts to get it to reform.
pay out when many patients actually get sick.
“This is a very wealthy industry and they use
In chilling words he told a Senate committee: “I
PR very effectively. They manipulate public
worked as a senior executive at health insurance
opinion and the news media and they have built
companies and I saw how they confuse their
up these relationships with all these politicians
customers and dump the sick: all so they can
through campaign contributions,” Potter said.
satisfy their Wall Street investors.”
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8 He says the industry is afraid of Obama’s 9 Comprehensive healthcare reform in the US
reforms and that is why it is fighting so hard. has been an ambition of many presidents since
It scuppered Bill Clinton’s attempt at reform in the early part of the 20th century. None has
the 1990s and Potter admits that he is worried succeeded in creating a system that gives all
the industry might win again. “I have seen their Americans the right to health cover. Barack
tactics work. I have been a part of it,” he said. Obama is desperate to avoid the same fate.
He knows he has no chance of ever working
again for a major firm. “I am a whistleblower and
corporate America does not like whistleblowers,” © Guardian News & Media 2009
he said. But there is one thing Potter is not First published in The Observer, 26/07/09
sorry about: leaving the healthcare industry and
speaking out. “I have absolutely no regrets. I am
doing the right thing,” he said.
1. Why did Wendell Potter become a whistleblower?

a. Because he wanted the USA to introduce a socialist healthcare system.
b. Because he realized the healthcare industry was more interested in profits than people.
c. Because he wanted to scupper Obama’s health reform plans.
2. Why was it unusual for President Obama to use a live TV news conference to talk about healthcare?
a. Because such events are usually reserved for moments of national crisis, such as terrorist attacks.
b. Because Obama does not usually broadcast live to the American people.
c. Because Obama has not previously expressed an interest in healthcare reform.
3. Why, according to Potter, will he never be able to work for a major company again?
a. Because he resigned from Cigna.

b. Because he supports healthcare reform.
c. Because he is a whistleblower.
4. What did Potter see in Virginia in July 2007?
a. A lot of poverty.
b. People receiving medical treatment in the open air.
c. People driving to the hills for medical treatment.
he people who visited the free medical clinic were people without health
insurance.
2. Potter believes that the American healthcare has failed millions of poor, sick
people.
3. The Republicans are in favour of Obama’s healthcare reforms.
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4 Find the word

1. A two-word expression meaning extremely poor. (para 1)
2. A two-word expression meaning very wet after rain. (para 2)
3. An adjective meaning so strong that you cannot control it. (para 3)
4. An adjective meaning making you feel suddenly very frightened or worried. (para 4)
5. A verb meaning to abandon. (para 4)
6. A three-word expression meaning bear the cost of a difficult problem. (para 5)
7. A three-word expression meaning to start working effectively. (para 6)
8. A three-word expression meaning an excellent view of something from a high position. (para 7)
5 Phrasal verbs
Match these phrasal verbs from the text with their meanings.
1. turn against a. perform
2. check out b. succeed in getting a law accepted quickly
3. push up c. go and examine something to see if it is satisfactory
4. push through d. state your opinion publicly about something
5. carry out e. make something increase
6. speak out f. stop supporting someone and start opposing them
6 Word building
1. ___________________ of Obama’s healthcare reforms say they will lead to tax increases. [OPPOSE]
2. The healthcare industry is an extremely ___________________ one. [WEALTH]
3. The industry has built up ___________________ with politicians. [RELATE]
4. Healthcare companies have made ___________________ to political campaigns. [CONTRIBUTE]
5. The free medical clinic carried out basic medical ___________________. [PROCEED]
6. Obama’s ___________________ is facing its first crisis. [PRESIDENT]
7 Discussion
What are the arguments for and against free healthcare for everyone?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1 Key words 5 Phrasal verbs
1. waver 1. f
2. scupper 2. c
3. appals 3. e
4. testify 4. b
5. recess 5. a
6. whistleblower 6. d
7. trolley
8. mired
9. manipulate 6 Word building
10. wary
1. opponents
2. wealthy
2 Find the information 3. relationships
4. contributions
1. 47 million 5. procedures
2. in the 1990s 6. presidency
3. as “socialist”
4. in July 2007
5. Virginia
6. 15 years
1. b
2. a
3. c
4. b
4 Find the word
1. poverty-ridden
2. rain-soaked
3. overpowering
4. chilling
5. dump
6. shoulder the burden
7. crank into gear
8. eagle-eye view
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
abandon trolley resign reform Congress
whistleblower desperate patient refuse legislation
1. A ____________________ is a change in the law to correct a situation that is wrong or unfair.
2. A ____________________ is someone who reports dishonest or illegal activities within an organization to
3. A ____________________ is a person who is receiving medical treatment.
4. ____________________ is a law or a set of laws.
5. If you ____________________ to do something, you say you will not do it even though someone has asked
you to do it.
6. A ____________________ is a bed with wheels used in hospitals.
7. ____________________ is the group of people in the US who are elected to make laws.
8. If you ____________________, you state formally that you are leaving a job permanently.
9. If you ____________________ someone, you leave them when you should stay with them.
10. If you are ____________________, you need or want something very much.


2. What was the name of the company Potter was working for?
4. How long had Potter worked for the healthcare firm?
6. When did Bill Clinton try to reform the American healthcare system?
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NEWS LESSONS / America’s hidden nightmare for sick poor / Elementary

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Whistleblower tells of America’s 5 The healthcare issue is the biggest political
hidden nightmare for its sick poor crisis of Barack Obama’s new presidency. 47
million Americans do not have health insurance
Paul Harris
and Obama has made reforming the system a
26 July, 2009
priority. If he succeeds, he will have made one of
the greatest changes to domestic policy that any
1 Wendell Potter can remember exactly when he
president has ever made. If he fails, he will have
first decided to become a whistleblower and an
a real crisis before his first year as president
opponent of one of the most powerful industries
is over. Last week he addressed the nation in
in America. It was July 2007 and Potter, a senior
a live TV news conference. Such conferences
executive at giant US healthcare firm Cigna, was
are usually at moments of deep national crisis,
visiting relatives in one of the poor mountain
such as terrorist attacks. But Obama wanted
districts of northeast Tennessee. He saw an
to talk about healthcare. “This is about every
advert in a local paper for a touring free medical
family, every business and every taxpayer who
clinic just across the state border in Virginia.
continues to pay for a problem that Washington
has failed to solve for decades,” he told the nation.
decided to go and have a look. He was shocked
6 Obama’s plans have now been delayed and
by what he saw. Hundreds of desperate people,
the opponents of the reform are winning. The
most without any medical insurance, came to the
Republicans have attacked the reform as
clinic from out of the hills. People stood in long
“socialist” and have warned ordinary Americans
lines waiting to have basic medical treatment
that government bureaucrats, not doctors, will
free of charge. Some people had driven more
choose their medicines. Opponents say the huge
than 200 miles from Georgia. Many were treated
cost can only be paid by huge tax increases on
outside in the open air. Potter took pictures of
ordinary Americans and that others will have
patients lying on trolleys in the rain.
their current healthcare plans taken away. The
healthcare in America had failed millions of poor,
summer break. Many people fear that the delay
sick people and that he, and the industry he
could kill the reform completely.
worked for, did not care about the human cost
of their constant search for profits. “It was awful.
7 Potter is not surprised. He has seen all this
It was just more than I could possibly imagine
before. In his long years with Cigna he became
happening in America,” he said.
the company’s top public relations executive.
He had a bird’s eye view of the way the industry
4 Potter resigned soon after this. Last month he
destroyed political efforts to persuade it to
gave evidence to the US Congress, becoming
reform. “This is a very wealthy industry and
one of the few industry executives to admit that
they use PR very effectively. They know how to
what its critics say is true: healthcare insurance
influence public opinion and the news media and
companies push prices up, buy politicians and
they have built up these relationships with a lot
refuse to pay out when many patients actually
of politicians,” Potter said.
get sick. Potter told a Senate committee: “I
worked as a senior executive at health insurance
8 He says the industry is afraid of Obama’s
companies and I saw how they confuse their
reforms and that is why it is fighting so hard.
customers and abandon the sick just so they can
It blocked Bill Clinton’s attempt to reform
make bigger profits for their Wall Street investors.”
healthcare in the 1990s and Potter admits that
he is worried the industry might win again. “I
have seen their tactics work. I have been a part
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of it,” he said. He knows he has no chance of 9 healthcare system since the early part of the
ever working again for a major firm. “I am a 20th century. None has succeeded in creating
whistleblower and big business in America does a system that gives all Americans the right to
not like whistleblowers,” he said. But there is health cover. Barack Obama does not want to
one thing Potter is not sorry about: leaving the suffer the same fate.
healthcare industry and speaking out. “I have
absolutely no regrets. I am doing the right thing,” © Guardian News & Media 2009
he said. First published in The Observer, 26/07/09
Many presidents have tried to reform the
1. Most of the people who visited the free a. … uses PR very effectively.
health clinic … b. … did not have health insurance.

2. Potter says that American healthcare companies …
c. … ordinary Americans will pay the costs of reforming
3. President Obama wants …
the system.
4. Opponents of healthcare reform say that …
d. … have tried to reform the healthcare system.
5. Potter believes that the American
healthcare industry … e. … to reform the US healthcare system.
6. Several American presidents … f. … are more interested in profits than in sick people.
4 Chunks
1. 200 than miles more
2. domestic of one policy changes the greatest to
3. TV a conference live news
4. after break summer the until
5. the I right thing doing am
6. 20th the since part century the of early

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1. medical a. system
2. political b. increase
3. tax c. executive
4. public d. insurance
5. healthcare e. opinion
6. senior f. crisis
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. oppose _______________ (person)
2. invest _______________ (person)
3. insure _______________
4. confer _______________
5. realize _______________
6. treat _______________
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KEY
1. reform 1. d
2. whistleblower 2. f
3. patient 3. b
4. legislation 4. e
5. refuse 5. a
6. trolley 6. c
7. Congress
8. resign
9. abandon 6 Word building
10. desperate
1. opponent
2. investor
2 Find the information 3. insurance
4. conference
1. July 2007 5. realization
2. Cigna 6. treatment
3. Virginia
4. 15 years
5. 47 million
6. in the 1990s
1. b
2. f
3. e
4. c
5. a
6. d
4 Chunks
1. more than 200 miles

2. one of the greatest changes to domestic policy
3. a live TV news conference
4. until after the summer break
5. I am doing the right thing
6. since the early part of the 20th century
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1 Key words
waver trolley resign reform Congress
whistleblower manipulate scupper massive desperate
1. A ___________________ is someone who reports dishonest or illegal activities within an organization to
2. If you ___________________ people, you influence or control them in a clever or dishonest way.
3. A ___________________ is a change intended to correct a situation that is wrong or unfair or make a system
work more effectively.
4. Something that is ___________________ is very large in amount or degree.
5. If you ___________________ someone’s plans or hopes of success, you spoil them.
6. If you are ___________________, you need or want something very much.
7. ___________________ is the group of people in the US who are elected to make laws.
8. If you ___________________, you state formally that you are leaving a job permanently.
9. If you ___________________, you hesitate because you are not sure what to do.
10. A ___________________ is a bed with wheels used in hospitals.


3. How far had some of the patients driven?
4. How long did Potter work for the US healthcare firm Cigna?
6. Which president tried to reform the American healthcare system in the 1990s?
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Whistleblower tells of America’s 5 Potter’s claims are at the centre of the
hidden nightmare for its sick poor biggest political crisis of Barack Obama’s new
presidency. Obama, faced with 47 million
Paul Harris
Americans without health insurance, has made
26 July, 2009
reforming the system a priority. If he succeeds,
he will have pushed through one of the greatest
1 Wendell Potter can remember exactly when
changes to domestic policy of any president. If
he first decided to become a whistleblower
he fails, his presidency could be in crisis before
and turned against one of the most powerful
it is even a year old. Last week, in a sign of how
industries in America. It was July 2007 and
important this issue is, he addressed the nation
Potter, a senior executive at giant US healthcare
in a live TV news conference. Such conferences
firm Cigna, was visiting relatives in one of the
are usually reserved for moments of deep
poor mountain districts of northeast Tennessee.
national crisis, such as terrorist attacks. But
He saw an advert in a local paper for a touring
Obama wanted to talk about healthcare. “This
free medical clinic just across the state border
is about every family, every business and every
in Virginia.
taxpayer who continues to shoulder the burden
of a problem that Washington has failed to solve
for decades,” he told the nation.
decided to go and have a look. He was shocked
by what he saw. Hundreds of desperate people, 6 Obama’s plans have now been held up and
most without any medical insurance, descended
the opponents of reform are winning. The
on the clinic from out of the hills. People queued
Republicans have attacked the reform as
in long lines to have the most basic medical
“socialist” and have warned ordinary Americans
procedures carried out free of charge. Some had
that government bureaucrats, not doctors, will
driven more than 200 miles from Georgia. Many
choose their medicines. Opponents say the huge
were treated in the open air. Potter took pictures
cost can only be paid by massive tax increases
of patients lying on trolleys on rain-
on ordinary Americans and that others will have
soaked pavements.
their current healthcare plans taken away. Many
centrist Democratic congressmen, worried about
their conservative voters, are wavering. The
healthcare in America had failed millions of
poor, sick people and that he, and the industry
he worked for, did not care about the human
summer break. Many people fear that this loss of
cost of their constant search for profits. “It was
momentum could kill the reform completely.
awful. It was just more than I could possibly have
imagined could be happening in America,” he said. 7 Potter is not surprised. He has seen all this
before. In his long years with Cigna he rose
4 Potter resigned soon after this. Last month he
to be the company’s top PR executive. He
gave evidence in the US Congress, becoming
had a bird’s eye view of the industry’s tactics
one of the few industry executives to admit that
of scuppering political efforts to persuade it to
what its critics say is true: healthcare insurance
reform. “This is a very wealthy industry and they
companies push up costs, buy politicians and
use PR very effectively. They manipulate public
refuse to pay out when many patients actually
opinion and the news media and they have built
get sick. In chilling words he told a Senate
up these relationships with all these politicians
committee: “I worked as a senior executive at
through campaign contributions,” Potter said.
health insurance companies and I saw how they
He says the industry is afraid of Obama’s
confuse their customers and abandon the sick:
reforms and that is why it is fighting so hard. It
all so they can satisfy their Wall Street investors.”
scuppered Bill Clinton’s attempt at healthcare
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8 reform in the 1990s and Potter admits that he 9 Comprehensive healthcare reform in the US
is worried the industry might win again. “I have has been an ambition of many presidents since
seen their tactics work. I have been a part of the early part of the 20th century. None has
it,” he said. He knows he has no chance of succeeded in creating a system that gives all
ever working again for a major firm. “I am a Americans the right to health cover. Barack
whistleblower and big business in America does Obama is desperate to avoid the same fate.
not like whistleblowers,” he said. But there is
one thing Potter is not sorry about: leaving the © Guardian News & Media 2009
healthcare industry and speaking out. “I have First published in The Observer, 26/07/09
absolutely no regrets. I am doing the right thing,”
he said.
1. The people who visited the free medical clinic were mostly people without health insurance.
2. Potter believes that the American healthcare has failed millions of poor, sick people.
3. Republicans are in favour of Obama’s healthcare reforms.
4. Potter believes that healthcare companies are more interested in their customers than they are in making profits.
5. Obama is the first US president to try and reform the healthcare system.
6. Potter will probably find a job with another major company soon.
4 Find the word

1. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to stop supporting someone and start opposing them. (para 1)
2. A two-word expression meaning very wet after rain. (para 2)
3. An adjective meaning very unpleasant. (para 3)
4. An adjective meaning making you feel suddenly very frightened or worried. (para 4)
5. A verb meaning to leave someone when you should stay with them. (para 4)
6. A three-word expression meaning bear the cost of a difficult problem. (para 5)
7. A noun meaning a specific time or date by which something must be done. (para 6)
8. A three-word expression meaning a very good view of something from a high position. (para 7)
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Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns from the right-hand column to make phrases from
the text.
1. carry out a. public opinion
2. give b. a problem
3. solve c. a relationship
4. meet d. medical procedures
5. manipulate e. a deadline
6. build up f. evidence
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. contribute _______________
2. insure _______________
3. oppose _______________ (person)
4. realize _______________
5. invest _______________ (person)
6. attempt _______________
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1 Key words 5 Verb + noun collocations
1. whistleblower 1. d
2. manipulate 2. f
3. reform 3. b
4. massive 4. e
5. scupper 5. a
6. desperate 6. c
7. Congress
8. resign
9. waver 6 Word building
10. trolley
1. contribution
2. insurance
2 Find the information 3. opponent
4. realization
1. July 2007 5. investor
2. Virginia 6. attempt
3. more than 200 miles
4. 15 years
5. 47 million
6. Bill Clinton
1. T
2. T
3. F
4. F
5. F
6. F
4 Find the word
1. turn against
2. rain-soaked
3. dreadful
4. chilling
5. abandon
6. shoulder the burden
7. deadline
8. bird’s eye view
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Organic food not healthier, says FSA
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
The words that appear most often in the article are bigger than the other words in the word cloud. Try to
predict the content of the article by looking at the word cloud.
2 Key words
Find single words or two-, three- or four-word phrases in the article that have the same or similar meanings
to the phrases and sentences below. The paragraph number and the number of words are given to help
you.
1. positive effects on the body from ingested food _________________________ (para 1, 2 words)
2. things to eat and drink that are grown and farmed in the usual way (not organically)
_________________________ (para 1, 3 words)
3. the money and costs were covered by ... _________________________ (para 1, 2 words)
4. plants and animals on a farm _________________________ (para 2, 3 words)
5. when the positive effects on the body from ingested food are better than those from other sources
_________________________ (para 2, 2 words)
6. the remainders of chemical substances added to soil or sprayed on crops _________________________
(para 5, 4 words)
7. When you accept or use only some things, and not the things that you do not want you are being
_________________________. (para 5, 1 word)
8. Amounts that have not been calculated accurately can be called _________________________.
(para 9, 2 words)
9. when someone or something is tightly controlled or influenced by rules _________________________
(para 11, 4 words)
10. relating to good living conditions for livestock _________________________ (para 12, 2 words)
11. worries about the natural world as well as places in which people live and work _________________________
(para 12, 2 words)
12. Something that you want to eat or drink because it is good for you is _________________________.
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NEWS LESSONS / Organic food not healthier, says FSA / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Organic food not healthier, says FSA further, saying he found the conclusions
very selective.
Report finds organic food provides no
significant nutritional benefit compared with
6 Peter Melchett, policy director at the Soil
conventionally produced food.
Association, said: “We are disappointed in the
Karen McVeigh conclusions the researchers have reached.
29 July, 2009 It doesn’t say organic food is not healthier,
just that, according to the criteria they have
1 Organic food is no healthier and provides no adopted, there’s no proof that it is.”
conventionally produced food, according to a 7 He criticized the methodology used by the
new, independent study funded by the Food team, which he said meant they didn’t include
Standards Agency. But its conclusions have the importance of some nutritional benefits they
been called into question by experts and found in organic food. He said that this had
organic food campaigners. led them to different conclusions from those
reached by previous studies.
2 The report looked at evidence published over
the past 50 years of the different nutrient levels 8 Carlo Leifert, a professor of ecological
found in crops and livestock from both types agriculture at Newcastle University and the
of farming and also at the health benefits of coordinator of a major EU-funded study which
eating organic food. The findings, published recently found nutrient levels were higher in
in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, organic foods, also said the conclusions of the
contradict previous work that has found study were selective.
organically grown food to be
nutritionally superior. 9 He said: “I’m worried about the conclusions.
The ballpark figures they have come up with
3 Dr Alan Dangour, who led the review by are similar to ours. I don’t understand why the
the London School of Hygiene and Tropical FSA are not saying, ‘Right, there’s something
Medicine, said: “Most studies were based you can do on a farm to improve food.’ They
on the hypothesis that eating organic food are so blocked by not wanting to say positive
is beneficial to health. Looking at all of the things about organic farming.”
studies published in the last 50 years, we
have concluded that there’s no good evidence 10 The appendix of the FSA report shows that
that eating organic food is beneficial to health some nutrients, such as beta-carotene, are as
based on the nutrient content.” much as 53% higher in organic food, but such
differences are not reflected in its conclusions.
4 He said that while small differences in nutrient
content were found between organic and 11 The farming of organic food, which is now
conventionally produced food, they were worth £2bn in the UK alone, is governed
“unlikely to be of any public health relevance”. by strict regulations that set it apart from
conventional farming. Crops are not treated
5 Organic food campaigners criticized the with artificial chemical fertilizers or pesticides,
study for failing to consider fertilizer and and antibiotics and drugs are not used routinely
pesticide residues in food. They expressed on livestock.
disappointment at the “limited” nature of the
study, saying that it did not provide a clear 12 Gill Fine, the FSA director of consumer
answer on whether eating organic food has choice, defended the study. She said: “We
health benefits. A leading food academic went are neither anti nor pro organic food. We
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Level 3 Advanced
recognize there are many reasons why people said: “If they are buying organic on the basis
choose to eat organic, such as animal welfare that it is healthier, then that is not the case.”
or environmental concerns. We specifically
checked claims that organic food is better 15 The EU study coordinated by Carlo Leifert,
for you.” which ended in May this year, involved 31
research and university institutes. It found that
13 She continued: “This study does not mean levels of nutritionally desirable compounds,
people should not eat organic food. What it such as antioxidants and vitamins, were higher
shows is that there is little, if any, nutritional in organic crops, while levels of nutritionally
difference between organic and conventionally undesirable compounds such as toxic
produced food and there is no evidence of chemicals, mycotoxins and metals such as
additional health benefits from eating cadmium and nickel, were lower in
organic food.” organic crops.
14 When asked whether consumers had been © Guardian News & Media 2009
misled over the benefits of organic food, she First published in The Guardian, 29/07/09
1. A new study concludes that ... 4. Organic food campaigners are ...
a. ... we should not waste our money on organic a. ... shocked.
food. b. ... disappointed.
b. ... organic food is not very much better for our c. ... selective.
health than non-organic food. 5. The methodology used in the study has been
criticized because ...
c. ... organic food is significantly better for our
health. a. ... it didn’t include the importance of some
nutritional benefits found in organic food.
2. The study was carried out by ...
b. ... it didn’t take animal welfare or environmental
a. ... Newcastle University. concerns into consideration.
b. ... the Soil Association. c. ... it didn’t take consumer preferences into
c. ... the London School of Hygiene and Tropical consideration.
Medicine. 6. Another study funded by the EU found that ...
3. The study was funded by ... a. ... there is no evidence of additional health
benefits from eating organic food.
a. ... the Foods Standard Agency.
b. ... antioxidants and vitamins were higher in
b. ... the EU. organic crops.
c. ... the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. c. ... organic foods are not treated with artificial.
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Level 3 Advanced
5 Language: Negative forms

1. What words, expressions and prefixes are used to make negative statements? Underline as many
different ways of making negative words, expressions or sentences as you can find in the article.
2. Explain the meaning of these sentences in your own words:
• “There’s no good evidence that eating organic food is beneficial to health based on the nutrient content.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
• “I don’t understand why the FSA are not saying, ‘Right, there’s something you can do on a farm to
improve food.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
• “This study does not mean people should not eat organic food.”
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
6 Discussion
Decide which of the following statements most reflect your own opinion, and then complete the following
sentence in your own words. Discuss your decisions in groups or as a class.
Organic food is the only sensible choice.

Organic food is all about making money.
It’s wrong to believe that nature is always best.
Cheap food damages the environment.
In my opinion organic food is _________________________________________________________.
7 Webquest
Look at one of the following websites and summarize the information you find there for the rest of the
class. What is the main message the website is trying to put across?
http://www.organicfoodinfo.net/
http://www.organic.org/
http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/farmingfood/organicfood/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/organicfood.shtml
http://www.organicfoodee.com/
http://www.orgfoodfed.com/
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
2 Key words
1. nutritional benefit
2. conventionally produced food
3. funded by
4. crops and livestock
5. nutritionally superior
6. fertilizer and pesticide residues
7. selective
8. ballpark figures
9. governed by strict regulations
10. animal welfare
11. environmental concerns
12. nutritionally desirable
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. b
5. a
6. b
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer
The words that appear most often in the article are bigger than the other words in the word cloud. Look at
the word cloud and try to guess what the article is about.

Write in the key words from the article. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.

conventionally produced crops and livestock benefits funded by conclusions
1. things to eat and drink that are grown and farmed in the usual way (not organically)
_______________________ (para 1)
2. another way of saying that the money and costs were paid by ... _______________________ (para 1)
3. something that you decide is true after thinking about it carefully _______________________ (para 1)
4. plants and animals on a farm _______________________ (para 2)
5. advantages you get from something _______________________ (para 2)

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NEWS LESSONS / Organic food not healthier, says FSA / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary

proof residues contradicts nutrient fertilizer and pesticides
6. If one statement or conclusion _______________________ the other, they disagree and cannot both be true.
(para 2)
7. information or evidence that shows that something is definitely true _______________________ (para 3)
8. a substance in food that plants, animals, and people need to live and grow _______________________
(para 4)
9. chemical substances that are added to soil or sprayed on crops _______________________ (para 5)
10. the parts of something that remain after the rest has gone _______________________ (para 5)

toxic selective compound agriculture welfare
11. the work, business, or study of farming _______________________ (para 8)
_______________________. (para 8)
13. good living conditions and the well-being of animals _______________________ (para 11)
14. something that consists of two or more substances mixed together _______________________ (para 13)
15. another word for poisonous _______________________ (para 13)
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Level 1 Elementary
Organic food not healthier, says FSA conclusions from those reached by
previous studies.
Karen McVeigh
29 July, 2009
8 Carlo Leifert, a professor of ecological
agriculture at Newcastle University and the
co-ordinator of a major EU-funded study which
1 Organic food is no healthier than conventionally
found that nutrient levels were higher in organic
produced food, according to a new, independent
foods, also said the conclusions of the study
study funded by the Food Standards Agency.
were selective. He said: “I’m worried about the
But experts and organic food campaigners are
conclusions. They are so blocked by not wanting
questioning the study’s conclusions.
to say positive things about organic farming.”
2 The study looked at the different nutrient levels
9 The appendix of the FSA report shows that some
found in crops and livestock from both organic
nutrients, such as beta-carotene, are as much as
and conventional farming. It also looked at the
53% higher in organic food, but these differences
health benefits of eating organic food. The study,
are not in its conclusions.
published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, contradicts previous reports that found
10 Organic food is now worth £2bn in the UK alone.
organically grown food to have nutritional benefits.
Crops are not treated with artificial chemical
fertilizers or pesticides, and antibiotics and drugs
3 Dr Alan Dangour, who led the study at the
are not used on livestock.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, said that they looked at all of the
11 Gill Fine, from the FSA, defended the study. She
studies that were published in the last 50 years,
said: “We are not anti or pro organic food. We
and concluded that there’s no proof that eating
recognize there are many reasons why people
organic food is good for people’s health.
choose to eat organic, such as animal welfare or
environmental concerns.”
4 He said that although there were small
differences in nutrient content between organic
12 She continued: “This study does not say people
and conventionally produced food, they were
should not eat organic food. What it shows is
unlikely to make any difference to people’s health.
that there is little, if any, nutritional difference
between organic and conventionally produced
5 Organic food campaigners criticized the study
food and there is no evidence of additional
for not looking at fertilizer and pesticide residues
health benefits from eating organic food.”
in food. They were disappointed with the study,
and said that it did not provide a clear answer on
13 An EU study coordinated by Carlo Leifert, which
whether eating organic food has health benefits.
ended in May this year, involved 31 research
and university institutes. It found that levels of
beneficial compounds, such as antioxidants and
vitamins, were higher in organic crops, while
conclusions the researchers have reached. It
levels of compounds such as toxic chemicals,
doesn’t say organic food is not healthier, just that
mycotoxins and metals such as cadmium and
there’s no proof that it is.”
nickel, were lower in organic crops.
7 He criticized the methodology used by the team
because they didn’t include the importance of © Guardian News & Media 2009
some nutritional benefits they found in organic First published in The Guardian, 29/07/09
food. He said that this had led them to different
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1. A new study says that organic food … … unhappy with the findings.
… artificial chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
2. The study was carried out by …
… didn’t include the importance of some nutritional
3. The study was funded by …
benefits found in organic food.
4. Organic food campaigners are … … good antioxidants and vitamins than conventionally
produced food.
5. The study was criticized because it …
… is not significantly better for our health.
6. Organic food is not treated with …
… the Foods Standards Agency.
7. The study does not say that people … … the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
8. Another study found that organic food contains Medicine.

more... … should not eat organic food.

1. Underline the parts of these sentences that make them negative.
• Organic food is no healthier than conventionally produced food.

• There’s no proof that eating organic food is good for people’s health.
• It doesn’t say organic food is not healthier.
• This study does not say people should not eat organic food.
2. Now rewrite the sentences to make them positive (it doesn’t matter if you change the meanings).
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5 Discussion
Answer and then discuss these questions:
• Do you buy organic food? If so, how often? What kind of organic foods do you buy? If not, why not?
• Do you grow your own vegetables or fruit? If so, do you use fertilizers or pesticides? Why? / Why not?
6 Webquest
Look at one of the following websites. What kind of organization or group made the website? What do they
want to tell people?
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KEY
2 Key words 4 Language: Negative forms
1. conventionally produced 1. Organic food is no healthier than conventionally

2. funded by produced food.
3. conclusions There’s no proof that eating organic food is good for
4. crops and livestock people’s health.
5. benefits It doesn’t say organic food is not healthier.
6. contradicts This study does not say people should not eat
7. proof organic food.
8. nutrient
9. fertilizer and pesticides 2. Organic food is healthier than conventionally
10. residues produced food.
11. agriculture There’s proof that eating organic food is good for
12. selective people’s health.
13. welfare It says organic food is healthier.
14. compound This study says people should eat
15. toxic organic food.
1. A new study says that organic food is not

significantly better for our health.
2. The study was carried out by the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
3. The study was funded by the Foods Standards
Agency.
4. Organic food campaigners are unhappy with the
findings.
5. The study was criticized because it didn’t include
the importance of some nutritional benefits found in
organic food.
6. Organic food is not treated with artificial chemical
fertilizers or pesticides.
7. The study does not say that people should not eat
organic food.
8. Another study found that organic food
contains more good antioxidants and vitamins than
conventionally produced food.
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Level 2 intermediate
1 Warmer
The words that appear most often in the article are bigger than the other words in the word cloud. Try to
predict the content of the article by looking at the word cloud.
2 Key words
Fill the gaps with the words from the article that have the same or similar meanings to the phrases and
sentences below. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
nutritional contradict conventionally produced agriculture

crops and livestock toxic welfare compound residues
selective relevance fertilizer and pesticide proof funded by
1. an adjective used to describe food that keeps you healthy ____________________ (para 1)
2. things to eat and drink that are grown and farmed in the usual way (not organically) ____________________
(para 1)
3. another way of saying that the money and costs were paid by... ____________________ (para 1)
4. plants and animals on a farm ____________________ (para 2)
5. a verb that means to say that the opposite of what someone has said is true ____________________ (para 2)
6. the quality of being directly connected with and important to something else ____________________ (para 4)
7. chemical substances that are added to soil or sprayed on crops ____________________ (para 5)
8. the parts of something that remain after the rest has gone ____________________ (para 5)
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NEWS LESSONS / Organic food not healthier, says FSA / Intermediate

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____________________. (para 5)
10. information or evidence that shows that something is definitely true ____________________ (para 6)
11. the work, business, or study of farming ____________________ (para 8)
12. good living conditions and the well-being of animals ____________________ (para 12)
13. something that consists of two or more substances mixed together ____________________ (para 14)
14. another word for poisonous ____________________ (para 14)
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Organic food not healthier, says FSA there’s no proof that it is.”
Karen McVeigh
7 He criticized the methodology used by the team
29 July, 2009
because they didn’t include the importance of
some nutritional benefits they found in organic
1 Organic food is no healthier and provides no
food. He said that this had led them to different
conclusions from those reached by
conventionally produced food, according to a
previous studies.
new, independent study funded by the Food
Standards Agency. But experts and organic
8 Carlo Leifert, a professor of ecological
food campaigners are questioning the study’s
agriculture at Newcastle University and the
conclusions.
coordinator of a major EU-funded study which
recently found nutrient levels were higher in
2 The study looked at reports of the different
organic foods, also said the conclusions of the
nutrient levels found in crops and livestock from
study were selective.
both organic and conventional farming. It also
looked at the health benefits of eating organic
9 He said: “I’m worried about the conclusions.
food. The study, published in the American
I don’t understand why the FSA don’t say,
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, contradicts previous
‘Right, there’s something you can do on a farm
reports that found organically grown food to have
to improve food’. They are so blocked by not
nutritional benefits.
wanting to say positive things about
organic farming.”
3 Dr Alan Dangour, who led the study carried by
the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
10 The appendix of the FSA report shows that some
Medicine, said: “Most studies were based on
nutrients, such as beta-carotene, are as much as
the idea that organic food is good for people’s
53% higher in organic food, but these differences
health. Looking at all of the studies that
are not in its conclusions.
were published in the last 50 years, we have
concluded that there’s no good evidence that
11 Organic food is now worth £2bn in the UK alone.
eating organic food is beneficial to health.”
Crops are not treated with artificial chemical
fertilizers or pesticides, and antibiotics and drugs
4 He said that although there were small
are not used routinely on livestock.
differences in nutrient content between organic
and conventionally produced food, they were
12 Gill Fine, from the FSA, defended the study.
“unlikely to be of any health relevance”.
She said: “We are neither anti nor pro organic
food. We recognize there are many reasons
5 Organic food campaigners criticized the
why people choose to eat organic, such as
study for not looking at fertilizer and pesticide
animal welfare or environmental concerns. We
residues in food. They were disappointed at the
specifically checked claims that organic food is
“limited” nature of the study, and said that it did
better for you.”
not provide a clear answer on whether eating
organic food has health benefits. A leading food
13 She continued: “This study does not mean
academic went further, saying he found the
people should not eat organic food. What it
conclusions very selective.
shows is that there is little, if any, nutritional
difference between organic and conventionally
produced food and there is no evidence of
additional health benefits from eating
conclusions the researchers have reached. It
organic food.”
doesn’t say organic food is not healthier, just that
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14 An EU study coordinated by Carlo Leifert, as toxic chemicals, mycotoxins and metals
which ended in May 2009, involved 31 such as cadmium and nickel, were lower in
research and university institutes. It found organic crops.
that levels of beneficial compounds, such
as antioxidants and vitamins, were higher in © Guardian News & Media 2009
organic crops, while levels of compounds such First published in The Guardian, 29/07/09
Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the information in the article? Correct any sentences
that are false.
1. A new study concludes that organic food is significantly better for our health.
2. The study was carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
3. The study was funded by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
4. Organic food campaigners are happy with the findings.
5. The study has been criticized because it didn’t include the importance of some nutritional benefits found in
organic food.
6. Gill Fine said the FSA is against organic food.
7. Organic food is not treated with artificial chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
8. Another study funded by the EU found that beneficial antioxidants and vitamins were higher in organic crops.

1. Underline the parts of these sentences that make them negative.
• Organic food is no healthier than conventionally produced food.

• There’s no proof that eating organic food is good for people’s health.
• It doesn’t say organic food is not healthier.
• This study does not say people should not eat organic food.
2. Now rewrite the sentences to make them positive (it doesn’t matter if you change the meanings).
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5 Discussion
Answer and then discuss these questions:
• Do you buy organic food? If so, how often? What kind of organic foods do you buy? If not, why not?
• Do you grow your own vegetables or fruit? If so, do you use fertilizers or pesticides? Why? / Why not?
6 Webquest
Look at one of the following websites. What kind of organization or group runs the website? Where are
they based? What is their message?
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2 Key words 4 Language: Negative forms
1. nutritional 1. Organic food is no healthier than conventionally

2. conventionally produced produced food.
3. funded by There’s no proof that eating organic food is good for
4. crops and livestock people’s health.
5. contradict It doesn’t say organic food is not healthier.
6. relevance This study does not say people should not eat
7. fertilizer and pesticide organic food.
8. residues
9. selective 2. Organic food is healthier than conventionally
10. proof produced food.
11. agriculture There’s proof that eating organic food is good for
12. welfare people’s health.
13. compound It says organic food is healthier.
14. toxic This study says people should eat organic food.
1. F
2. T
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. F
7. T
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The new witch of Wookey Hole
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
cackle witch broomstick spell incumbent

pizzazz raven hex cauldron wizard
1. A ___________________ is a woman who claims she has magic powers.
2. A ___________________ is a man who claims he has magic powers.
3. A ___________________ consists of words or actions that are intended to make magic things happen.
4. A ___________________ is a curse or an evil spell.
5. A ___________________ is a large, round metal container used for cooking over a fire.
6. In fairy stories, witches are often shown riding through the air on a ___________________.
7. ___________________ is an exciting quality or style together with a lot of energy.
8. If you ___________________, you laugh in a loud and unpleasant way.
9. A ___________________ is a large bird with shiny black feathers.
10. An ___________________ is someone who is holding an official position at the present time.

1. How many people turned up for the audition?
2. What will the annual salary be?
3. How many letters of complaint have been received?
4. What job did the successful candidate have?
5. How many applications did the Wookey Hole cave attraction send out?
6. How old was the successful applicant?

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Level 3 Advanced
Carla Calamity named new witch of by Father Bernard, appointed by the Abbot of
Wookey Hole Glastonbury to rid villagers of her curse. Earlier
in the day, one of the first to try to impress the
Steven Morris
panel was a green-eyed Irish witch who claimed
28 July, 2009
her name was Ettedanreb Dnarud, meaning
Brave as a Bear. Actually it was just her name,
1 They had one thing in common – they could
Bernadette Durand, spelled backwards. She
all really cackle. Apart from that, the would-be
had come all the way from Co. Waterford and
applicants for the post of the witch of Wookey
said she definitely followed the Wicca lifestyle.
Hole could not have been more diverse. Some
“I follow the moon and seasons, I dance in the
were clearly there just for fun, in outfits they
dark. It’s all about goodness. There’s a lot of bad
must have hired from fancy dress shops. Others
in the world, this job would help me do good.”
seemed like professional entertainers who saw
the gig – and the £50,000 salary – as a pretty
5 Alison Dike was also into good works. A witch
good career move. There were even some who
from Somerset, she was handing out herbs
said they fancied a change of direction in life.
that she claimed would prevent swine flu. She
Two teachers and an accountant were among
had a mouthful of black teeth and (following the
the 500 or so hopefuls who arrived at the cave
script) said she had been wronged in love by
– in cars rather than on broomsticks. And then
a monk and his “bad habits”. Further along the
there were the real witches; those that said
queue was statuesque Ishtar, real name Leonine
they really could cast spells, heal the sick and
from Devon. She wore a real fur around her
perhaps cause a little mischief.
neck. “£3 in a jumble sale,” she admitted. But
she too claimed to be a real witch. “I studied at
2 The attraction in south-west England was looking
Glastonbury for three years,” she said. What did
for a new witch to teach visitors about witchcraft
she study? “Going in the woods, visualization
and magic after the previous incumbent retired.
and energy work,” she said.
The job offer comes with a salary of £50,000
pro rata based on work during school holidays
6 It was not just women in the queue. There were
and at weekends. The job advert, placed in local
many men dressed as women, and a few men
newspapers and job centres earlier this month,
who believed that wizards also ought to be
says the successful applicant “must be able
allowed. Among them was Tony Durant, who
to cackle” and “must not be allergic to cats”.
has appeared on chat shows around the world
Wookey Hole said it has since sent out 2,319
showing off his amazing skills imitating birdsong.
applications, and has received 23 letters of
His raven impression went down very well today.
complaint from church or religious groups.
“My skill is a sort of magic – that’s why I’m here,”
he said, looking to his manager who was also
3 In the end, the judges opted for 40-year-old
in the line to check he wasn’t saying the wrong
estate agent Carole Bohanan. She will resign
thing.
from her job and go by the name of Carla
Calamity. Carole – or Carla – said: “I am going to
7 Other candidates included Silvia Moscati,
be a great witch. All it takes is a little bit of magic
an Italian who claims she is an ancestor of
and a little pizzazz. It’s a natural progression
Casanova and wore a typical 17th-century
from my old job as an estate agent. I have been
Venetian witch costume. Helen Chadfield from
using my witching skills to sell houses for a long
Bath brought her raven, Bran, with her. “The
time.”
judges seemed to be more interested in Bran
than me though,” she said.
4 Legend has it that the caves were home to
the Wookey witch who was turned to stone
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8 Some threatened to put hexes on the judges as a transsexual woman looking for a new role
if they didn’t get the job and two offered to after running a carpet fitting business. She
drink a cauldron of their own urine. One couple said: “I am the Wookey Witch and I am here to
drew gasps from the shocked judges when reclaim my cave.”
they produced their 11-week-old daughter
from underneath their flowing robes. Bridget © Guardian News & Media 2009
Vallance, 45, from Dorset, described herself First published in The Guardian, 28/07/09
1. Why was the Wookey Hole caves attraction looking for a witch?
a. Because they wanted to attract more visitors to the attraction.
b. Because they wanted someone to lift the curse on the caves.
c. Because the previous witch had retired.
2. What were the basic requirements for the job?

a. That applicants should have a cat and a broomstick.
b. That applicants should be able to cackle and not be allergic to cats.
c. That applicants should be witches in real life.
3. What was the salary for the job?

a. £50,000 per year.
b. £50,000 for working during school holidays and at weekends.
c. A percentage of £50,000 depending on the number of days worked.
4. What does the successful applicant think a good witch needs?

a. To do a little bit of magic and to have a lot of exciting style and energy.
b. Going in the woods, visualization and energy work.
c. Following the moon and the seasons and dancing in the dark
4 Find the word

1. A noun meaning a public performance, especially a musical one. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning behaviour that causes trouble but not serious harm to other people. (para 1)
3. A two-word expression meaning calculated according to the number of hours worked. (para 2)
4. A verb meaning to treat someone unfairly. (para 5)
5. A two-word expression meaning an event where people raise money by selling old clothes. (para 5)
6. A noun meaning forming a picture of someone or something in your mind. (para 5)
7. A noun meaning a sudden, noisy breath that is usually caused by surprise, shock or pain. (para 8)
8. A noun (or adjective) meaning someone who has changed sex. (para 8)
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Titlenew witch of Wookey Hole
The
Level 3 Advanced
1. cast a. a particular lifestyle
2. cause b. a costume
3. follow c. a spell
4. prevent d. one’s skills
5. show off e. mischief
6. wear f. a disease
7. run g. the sick
8. heal h. a business
6 Word building
Complete the sentences using an appropriate form of the word in brackets at the end of each sentence.
1. Witches should not be _______________ to cats. [ALLERGY]

2. Wookey Hole caves are a famous tourist _______________. [ATTRACT]
3. Several letters of _______________ have been received. [COMPLAIN]
4. One of the witches had a _______________ of black teeth. [MOUTH]
5. If you are _______________, you are tall and beautiful like a statue. [STATUE]
7 Discussion
Imagine that you are applying for this job. What qualities would you bring to the job and why would you
want to do it?
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KEY
1. witch 1. gig
2. wizard 2. mischief
3. spell 3. pro rata
4. hex 4. to be wronged
5. cauldron 5. jumble sale
6. broomstick 6. visualization
7. pizzazz 7. gasp
8. cackle 8. transsexual
9. raven
10. incumbent

2. e
1. 500 or so (about 500) 3. a
2. £50,000 pro rata 4. f
3. 23 5. d
4. estate agent 6. b
5. 2,319 7. h
6. 40 8. g
1 c 1. allergic
2. b 2. attraction
3. b 3. complaint
4. a 4. mouthful
5. statuesque
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
witch wizard broomstick cackle audition

spell applicant curse witchcraft raven
2. ___________________ is the practice of magic, usually for evil purposes.
4. An ___________________ is a short performance in which you sing, dance or act so that someone can decide
if you are good enough to perform in a concert or play or to do a particular job.
8. An ___________________ is someone who applies for a job.
9. A ___________________ is a bad situation or event caused by someone’s deliberate use of their magic powers.
10. In children’s stories, witches often ride through the air on a ___________________.
1. How many people came to the audition?
2. Where is Wookey Hole?
3. How many application forms did the Wookey Hole cave attraction send out?

5. How old is the successful candidate?
6. How much did Leonine pay for her fur?

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NEWS LESSONS / The new witch of Wookey Hole / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Carla Calamity named new witch of 4 A legend says that the caves were home to
Wookey Hole a witch who was turned to stone. One of the
first applicants to try to impress the judges
Steven Morris
was a green-eyed witch who said her name
28 July, 2009
was Ettedanreb Dnarud, meaning Brave as a
Bear. Actually it was just her name, Bernadette
1 All of the people who applied for the job had one
Durand, spelled backwards. She had come all
thing in common – they could cackle really well.
the way from Ireland and said she definitely
Apart from that, the people hoping to be the next
had the lifestyle of a witch. “I follow the moon
witch of Wookey Hole were all very different from
and seasons, I dance in the dark. It’s all about
each other. Some of them were clearly there
goodness. There’s a lot of bad in the world, this
just for fun, in costumes they had probably hired
job would help me do good.”
from fancy dress shops. Others seemed like
professional entertainers who thought the event
5 Alison Dike was also doing good. She was
– and the £50,000 salary – was a very good
handing out herbs that she said would prevent
career move. There were even some who said
swine flu. Further along the queue was Ishtar,
they were looking for a change of direction in life.
real name Leonine, from Devon. She wore a real
Five hundred applicants came to the audition,
fur around her neck. “I bought it for £3 in a sale,”
including two teachers and an accountant, but
she said. But she also said she was a real witch.
they travelled to the cave in cars rather than
“I studied at Glastonbury for three years,” she
on broomsticks. And then there were the real
said. What did she study? “Going in the woods,
witches; those that said they really could cast
visualization and energy work,” she said.
spells and heal the sick.
6 It was not just women in the queue. There
2 The tourist attraction in south-west England was
were many men dressed as women, and a few
looking for a new witch to teach visitors about
men who believed that wizards should also be
witchcraft and magic after the previous witch
allowed. One of them was Tony Durant, who
retired. The salary was a percentage of £50,000
per year depending on the amount of work done
during school holidays and at weekends. The
His raven imitation was particularly popular at
job advert, placed in local newspapers and job
this event. “My skill is a sort of magic – that’s
centres earlier this month, says the successful
why I’m here,” he said.
applicant “must be able to cackle” and “must
not be allergic to cats”. Wookey Hole said it had
7 Other candidates included Silvia Moscati, an
since sent out 2,319 application forms, and had
Italian who says she is an ancestor of Casanova
received 23 letters of complaint from church and
and wore a typical 17th-century Venetian witch
religious groups.
costume. Helen Chadfield from Bath brought her
raven, Bran, with her. “The judges seemed to be
3 In the end, the judges chose a 40-year-old
more interested in Bran than me though,” she
estate agent called Carole Bohanan. She will
said. Some said they would put curses on the
leave her current job and call herself Carla
judges if they didn’t get the job. Bridget Vallance,
Calamity. Carole – or Carla – said: “I am going to
45, from Dorset, said she was looking for a new
be a great witch. You just need to be energetic
role after managing a carpet business. She said:
and to use a little bit of magic. It’s a natural
“I am the Wookey Witch and I am here to take
progression from my old job as an estate agent. I
back my cave.”
have been using my witching skills to sell houses
for a long time.”
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Level 1 Elementary
Choose one of the underlined words to make sentences about the story.
1. All of / some of the applicants could cackle really well.

2. The previous witch died / retired.
3. The successful candidate must not be / must be allergic to cats.
4. The Wookey Hole witch’s job will be to heal the sick / to teach visitors about magic.
5. There were a lot of / a few men at the audition.
6. Tony Durant imitates birdsong / has a pet raven.
4 Chunks
Rearrange the words to make short phrases from the text.
1. very from all other each different 4. £50,000 percentage of per a year
2. good move very career a 5. of bit a magic little
3. direction in of a life change 6. the Ireland way from all
5 Word building
Complete the table.
noun adjective
1 profession
2 allergy
3 success
4 religion
5 nature
6 energy
6 Two-word phrases
1. fancy a. newspaper
2. tourist b. form
3. application c. centre
4. estate d. attraction
5. local e. agent
6. job f. dress
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KEY
1. spell 1 all very different from each other

2. witchcraft 2. a very good career move
3. raven 3. a change of direction in life
4. audition 4. a percentage of £50,000 per year
5. cackle 5. a little bit of magic
6. wizard 6. all the way from Ireland
7. witch
8. applicant
9. curse 5 Word building
10. broomstick
1 professional
2. allergic
2 Find the information 3. successful
4. religious
1. 500 or so (about500) 5. natural
2. south-west England 6. energetic
3. 2,319
4. 23
5. 40 6 Two-word phrases
6. £3
1. f
2. d
3 Comprehension check 3. b
4. e
1 All of 5. a
2. retired 6. c
3. must not be
4. to teach visitors about magic
5. a lot of
6. imitates birdsong
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1 Key words
robe cackle broomstick raven spell

curse cauldron wizard witch witchcraft
3. A ___________________ is a large, round metal container used for cooking over a fire.
4. A ___________________ is a bad situation or event caused by someone’s deliberate use of their magic powers.
5. In fairy stories, witches are often shown riding through the air on a ___________________.
7. ___________________ is the practice of magic, usually for evil purposes.
9. A ___________________ is a long, loose piece of clothing worn during a ceremony.
1. Where is Wookey Hole?
2. How many people turned up for the audition?
4. What job did the successful candidate have?
5. How many application forms did the Wookey Hole cave attraction send out?
6. How much did Leonine pay for her fur?

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NEWS LESSONS / The new witch of Wookey Hole / Intermediate

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Carla Calamity named new witch of Glastonbury to rid villagers of her curse. Earlier
Wookey Hole in the day, one of the first to try to impress the
judges was a green-eyed witch who claimed
Steven Morris
her name was Ettedanreb Dnarud, meaning
28 July, 2009
Brave as a Bear. Actually it was just her name,
Bernadette Durand, spelled backwards. She
1 All of the job applicants had one thing in
had come all the way from Ireland and said she
common – they could all really cackle. Apart from
definitely followed the lifestyle of a witch. “I follow
that, the people hoping to be the next witch of
the moon and seasons, I dance in the dark. It’s
Wookey Hole could not have been more diverse.
all about goodness. There’s a lot of bad in the
Some were clearly there just for fun, in outfits
world, this job would help me do good.”
they had probably hired from fancy dress shops.
Others seemed like professional entertainers
5 Alison Dike was also doing good. She was
who saw the event – and the £50,000 salary –
handing out herbs that she said would prevent
as a pretty good career move. There were even
swine flu. She had a mouthful of black teeth
some who said they were looking for a change of
and said she had been betrayed in love by a
direction in life. Two teachers and an accountant
monk and his “bad habits”. Further along the
were among the 500 applicants who arrived at
queue was the tall Ishtar, real name Leonine
the cave – in cars rather than on broomsticks.
from Devon. She wore a real fur around her
And then there were the real witches; those that
neck. “£3 in a jumble sale,” she admitted. But
said they really could cast spells, heal the sick
she too claimed to be a real witch. “I studied at
and perhaps cause a little mischief.
Glastonbury for three years,” she said. What did
she study? “Going in the woods, visualization
2 The attraction in south-west England was looking
and energy work,” she said.
for a new witch to teach visitors about witchcraft
and magic after the previous witch retired. The
6 It was not just women in the queue. There were
job offer comes with a salary of £50,000 per year
many men dressed as women, and a few men
pro rata based on work during school holidays
who believed that wizards also ought to be
and at weekends. The job advert, placed in local
allowed. One of them was Tony Durant, who
newspapers and job centres earlier this month,
says the successful applicant “must be able
to cackle” and “must not be allergic to cats”.
His raven imitation was particularly popular at
Wookey Hole said it has since sent out 2,319
this event. “My skill is a sort of magic – that’s
application forms, and has received 23 letters of
why I’m here,” he said.
complaint from church or religious groups.
7 Other candidates included Silvia Moscati,
3 In the end, the judges chose 40-year-old estate
an Italian who claims she is an ancestor of
agent Carole Bohanan. She will resign from
Casanova and wore a typical 17th-century
her current job and call herself Carla Calamity.
Venetian witch costume. Helen Chadfield from
Carole – or Carla – said: “I am going to be a
Bath brought her raven, Bran, with her. “The
great witch. All it takes is a little bit of magic and
judges seemed to be more interested in Bran
a bit of energy. It’s a natural progression from my
than me, though,” she said.
old job as an estate agent. I have been using my
witching skills to sell houses for a long time.”
8 Some threatened to put curses on the judges
if they didn’t get the job and two offered to
4 A legend says that the caves were home to
drink a cauldron of their own urine. One couple
the Wookey witch who was turned to stone
shocked the judges when they produced their
by Father Bernard, appointed by the Abbot of
11-week-old daughter from underneath their
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flowing robes. Bridget Vallance, 45, from Dorset,
described herself as a transsexual woman
looking for a new role after running a carpet
business. She said: “I am the Wookey Witch and
I am here to reclaim my cave.”

1. The successful candidate will receive a salary of £50,000 per year.
2. The successful candidate must have a cat.
3. All of the applicants were real witches.
4. The job vacancy arose because the previous witch was turned to stone.
5. One witch was handing out herbs that she said would prevent swine flu.
6. The successful candidate sees the job as a natural progression from her previous job.
4 Find the word

1. An adjective meaning very different from each other. (para 1)
2. A noun meaning behaviour that causes trouble but not serious harm to other people. (para 1)
3. A two-word expression meaning calculated according to the number of hours worked. (para 2)
4. A two-word expression meaning someone whose job is to help people buy or rent property. (para 3)
5. A two-word expression meaning an event where people raise money by selling old clothes. (para 5)
6. A noun meaning forming a picture of someone or something in your mind. (para 5)
7. A verb meaning to copy something. (para 6)
8. A noun (or adjective) meaning someone who has changed sex. (para 8)

1. to have something _______ common
2. there _______ fun
3. based _______ the number of hours worked
4. allergic _______ cats
5. letter _______ complaint
6. resign _______ a job
7. put a curse _______ someone
8. interested _______ something
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Titlenew witch of Wookey Hole
The
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1 apply
2 apply (person)
3 entertain (person)
4 complain
5 visualise
6 curse
4 Discussion
Would you like to do this job? Why? Why not?
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1. wizard 1 diverse
2. witch 2. mischief
3. cauldron 3. pro rata
4. curse 4. estate agent
5. broomstick 5. jumble sale
6. spell 6. visualization
7. witchcraft 7. imitate
8. raven 8. transsexual
9. robe
10. cackle
2 Find the information 1 in

2. for
1. south-west England 3. on
2. 500 or so (about 500) 4. to
3. 23 5. of
4. estate agent 6. from
5. 2,319 7. on
6. £3 8. in
1 F 1. application
2. F 2. applicant
3. F 3. entertainer
4. F 4. complaint
5. T 5. visualization
6. T 6. curse
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Human rights summer camp
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer

“Our job is to promote equality and human rights, and to create a fairer Britain.”
This quote comes from the the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s website. What do you associate
with the words equality, human rights and fair?
2 Key words
Skim-read the article to find words to fill the gaps in the sentences below. The paragraph numbers and
numbers of letters in the word have been given to help you.
1. different from each other; or including people from many different cultures or races ____________________
(7 letters, para 1)
2. trying to achieve political or social change by persuading other people or the government to do something
____________________ (11 letters, para 1)
3. past form of a verb meaning to try something with a small group of people to find out if it would be successful or
popular ____________________ (7 letters, para 3)
4. formal statements expressing the aims and plans of a group or organization ____________________
(10 letters, para 4)
5. a basic belief, theory, or rule that has a major influence on the way in which something is done
____________________ (9 letters, para 5)
6. a hill or area of high land, especially in northern England ____________________ (4 letters, para 5)
7. collections of flowers, cut and tied together in an attractive way ____________________ (8 letters, para 6)
8. someone who belongs to the same social or professional group as another person and/or is the same age
____________________ (4 letters, para 7)
9. a way of thinking about things ____________________ (7 letters, para 8)
10. people who are considered to represent an activity, organization, company, etc. ____________________
11. unreasonable opinions or feelings, especially the feelings of not liking a particular group of people
____________________ (10 letters, para 9)
12. having existed for a long time, and therefore recognized as good or successful ____________________
13. small and not very noticeable; unlikely to attract attention ____________________ (8 letters, para 12)
14. attempting to stop something bad or to solve a difficult problem ____________________ (9 letters, para 13)
15. A ____________________ person or thing has qualities that make people respect them. (6 letters, para 15)
16. good qualities that a person or thing has, especially moral ones ____________________ (7 letters, para 15)
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Rowing back on inequality things like ask the quiet ones if they have any
ideas, rather than just assuming they’ll
Martin Wainwright
speak up.”
19 August, 2009
7 The gelling of opposite types, essential for Our
1 A camp run by the Equality and Human Rights
Space to work, is helped by peer leaders, who
Commission might seem an unlikely attraction
include 15-year-old Dakota Blue Richards, star
for teenagers, but the outdoor course in the Lake
of the film The Golden Compass. She was told
District is inspiring a diverse group of young
about the camp by an aunt and her five days last
people to start campaigning for human rights.
summer inspired her to come back.
2 Punit Patel, 16, calls the commission’s second
8 “It’s great when you go home afterwards and
Our Space summer camp simply “the best five
try to show other people what you’ve learned
days of my life”. Callum Dixon, propelling his
here,” she says. “Everyone who comes to Our
wheelchair along a track by Lake Windermere,
Space goes home with a different mindset. It’s
says: “It’s hard work, but no way would I have
completely different from being told these things
missed it.”
in lessons or speeches. We sort it out together.
3 Life isn’t as exciting – or as diverse – for either It’s interactive. And what you do afterwards is
teenager back home, and that is the camp’s what really counts, because that’s when we can
point. It’s a simple idea, successfully piloted make a difference.”
last year, of gathering around 100 people, aged
9 That is the long-term purpose of the camp –
14 to 16, from the widest possible range of
creating equality ambassadors to reach young
backgrounds and placing them together in the
people before prejudices of all kinds can take
wild and lovely grounds of Lakeside YMCA.
root. In between outdoor sessions, the teenagers
4 Board, lodging and everything else are free, brainstorm about ways they can work in the
but to win a place the teenagers had to write future towards the commission’s aims: running
manifestos about equality and human rights, and school assemblies, getting groups of friends
how their energy and imagination could promote together, or making an effort to explore other
both. “We got some marvellous ideas,” says culturally or socially different communities.
Gabriela Flores, the commission’s camp leader.
10 “We get established young campaigners to come
“We wanted to tap that feeling young teenagers
to the camp,” says Flores. “It gets across the
have that they can change the world and do a
idea that young people can actually do things,
better job than we have done.”
rather than dream about them.” Sessions were
5 The students don’t need any extra spark, but led this year by Tom Robbins, who set up the
they do need guidance. The camp uses the action group Random Acts of Kindness, and a
principle of always providing something to do, group of teenagers who started their own free
from breakfast at 8am to bed at 11pm. If there newspapers.
is surplus energy, the last day exhausts it with
11 Everybody then wrote themselves a stamped
a night-time hike up the fell behind the camp,
addressed postcard with their ideas for action
using skills and mutual trust developed earlier
back at home, and handed them back in. Flores
on.
and her team will post them off in three weeks’
6 14-year-old Katie Briggs, from Berkshire, is time to remind them that this is what they are
giving a lesson in how to take charge firmly but now supposed to do. “It works”, says Neerali
fairly. “I got them focused by telling them to tuck Pattni, 16, “The equality commission said they
in their shirts,” she says, after winning bouquets would support us in anything we did afterwards,
from her 10-strong team for a leadership test and that’s just what they have done.”
that got them through a spider’s web net without
touching any of the ropes. “You need to do 12 Campers get certificates, leaflets, one-to-one
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support sessions and discreet help to win over because that way you find out about all sorts
headteachers or parents who may be cautious of different backgrounds, which can be really
about unofficial activism. But plenty still rests interesting.’”
on the teenagers’ shoulders. “It’s kind of scary,”
15 It sounds worthy, but teenagers know that
says Claire McLaughlin, 14, from Belfast. “But I
they won’t make equality and diversity cool by
reckon that if I can get through to even just one
preaching about their virtues. Hannah Mezler,
person, that person might tell their friends, and
15, says the attraction isn’t that – it’s just the thrill
they’ll tell their friends. That’s how you get a
of meeting so many “different but normal” people
chain reaction.”
her own age, from all over Britain.
13 As one of the first of the ambassadors to
16 Katie Briggs agrees. “We have a sort of diversity
graduate from the camp, Neerali Pattni started
at school, but this is something else. I keep
off that way, spreading the word to friends and
saying to myself, look at all these people you’d
family, one by one. Combating prejudice is one
never ever meet in the little town where I live.
challenge but so is convincing people in her
And hey, they’re really nice.”
own community to go out and make different
friends. © Guardian News & Media 2009
14 “Sometimes that’s hard,” she says, “but I keep
saying to them: ‘Look, it’s really better to mix,
Answer the questions about the article.
1. Who is the camp for? 5. What do people have to do to be able to take part in
____________________________________ the camp?
____________________________________
2. Who is it run by?
____________________________________ 6. How much does it cost?
____________________________________
3. What are its aims?
7. What sort of guest speakers come to the camp?
____________________________________ ____________________________________
4. Where does it take place? 8. What happens after the camp?
____________________________________ ____________________________________
4 Language: Phrases and sentences

Find phrases in the article that mean the following.
1. an unexpected subject of interest (2 words, para 1) ____________________________
2. to benefit from that feeling (4 words, para 4) ____________________________
3. additional interest, enthusiasm or energy (2 words, para 5)____________________________
4. trust between two or more people or parties (2 words, para 5) ____________________________
5. neatly place shirts behind a waistband (4 words, para 6) ____________________________
6. making sure that different types of people get on and connect with each other
(4 words, para 7) ____________________________
7. what definitely matters (3 words, para 8) ____________________________
8. to become established or accepted (2 words, para 9) ____________________________
9. meetings in which people are helped by others (2 words, para 12) ____________________________
10. a bit frightening (3 words, para 12) ____________________________
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5 Discussion
Would you consider sending your children to a camp such as this? Have you ever been to a (summer)
camp – either as a child or an adult?
6 Webquest
Research one of these places or organizations mentioned in the article and give a short presentation of
your findings to the class.
• http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/fairer-britain/youth-projects/our-space/
• http://www.actsofkindness.org/
• http://www.lakesideymca.co.uk/
• http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/
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KEY
1. diverse 1. unlikely attraction

2. campaigning 2. to tap that feeling
3. piloted 3. extra spark
4. manifestos 4. mutual trust
5. principle 5. tuck in their shirts
6. fell 6. gelling of opposite types
7. bouquets 7. what really counts
8. peer 8. take root
9. mindset 9. support sessions
10. ambassadors 10. kind of scary
11. prejudices
12. established Teacher’s notes
13. discreet
14. combating You can listen to a four-minute audio report by Martin
15. worthy Wainwright at the camp in which he talks to one of the
16. virtues peer leaders, Dakota Blue Richards:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/audio/2009/aug/19/
equality-commission-youth-camp
It is possible to download the file in MP3 format and
Suggested answers: play it in class.
1. teenagers from all backgrounds (14-16 year olds)
2. the Equality and Human Rights Commission
3. to create equality ambassadors to reach young
people before prejudices of all kinds can take root
4. the Lake District in the north of England
5. write a manifesto about equality and human
rights, and how their energy and imagination could
promote both
6. Nothing, it’s free.
7. established young campaigners
8. Campers get certificates, leaflets, one-to-one
support sessions and discreet help to win over
head teachers or parents who may be cautious
about unofficial activism.
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equality
noun [uncountable]
the state of being equal, especially in having the same rights, status, and opportunities
human rights
noun [plural]
the rights that everyone should have in a society, including the right to express opinions about the government
or to have protection from harm
1 Warmer
Underline the words you think you would find in an article about a summer camp. Add another three words
of your own and then skim-read the article. How many of the words can you find?
teenager lake tent fire food leader rain exciting

film sleep _________ _________ _________
2 Key words
Write the words from the article into the gaps in the sentences below. The paragraph numbers have been
given to help you.
campaigning accommodation inspiring grounds diverse
1. giving someone the enthusiasm and energy to do something _______________________ (para 1)

2. different from each other; or including people from many different cultures or races
_______________________ (para 1)
3. trying to make political or social change by talking to other people _______________________ (para 1)
4. an area of land (near a house) _______________________ (para 3)
5. a place for someone to stay, especially overnight _______________________ (para 4)
skills essential guidance peer take charge
6. advice from an official organization on how to behave _______________________ (para 5)

7. something that you can do because you have special training and experience
_______________________ (para 5)
8. to take control and be responsible for someone or something _______________________ (para 6)
9. completely necessary _______________________ (para 7)
10. someone who is the same age as another person _______________________ (para 7)
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chain reaction ambassadors prejudices mindset support
11. a way of thinking about things _______________________ (para 8)

12. people who represent an organization _______________________ (para 9)
_______________________ (para 9)
14. another word for help _______________________ (para 11)
15. a series of events that happen very fast, with each event causing the next one
_______________________ (para 12)
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Rowing back on inequality of the film The Golden Compass. She was told
about the camp by an aunt and after her five
Martin Wainwright
days last summer she wanted to come back.
19 August, 2009
1 An outdoor summer camp run by the Equality
and Human Rights Commission in the Lake
District in the north of England is inspiring
a diverse group of young people to start
campaigning for human rights.
in lessons. We work through problems together.
It’s interactive. And what you do afterwards is
2 Punit Patel, 16, says the second Our Space
what really matters, because that’s when we can
summer camp was “the best five days of my life”.
make a difference.”
Callum Dixon says, “It’s hard work, but no way
would I have missed it.”
9 The long-term purpose of the camp is to create
equality ambassadors who will talk to young
3 Life isn’t as exciting – or as diverse – for either
people before prejudices of all kinds appear.
teenager back home, and that is the camp’s
In between outdoor sessions, the teenagers
point. It’s a simple idea, successfully started last
brainstorm about ways they can work in the
year. It brings together around 100 people, aged
future towards the commission’s aims: at school,
14 to 16, from different backgrounds and places
with friends or in their communities.
them together in the wild and lovely grounds of
Lakeside YMCA.
10 “We ask young campaigners to come to the
camp,” says Flores. “It gets across the idea
4 Food, accommodation and everything else are
that young people can actually do things, rather
free, but to win a place the teenagers had to
than dream about them.” Sessions were led this
write a paper about equality and human rights.
year by Tom Robbins, who set up the action
“We got some marvellous ideas,” says Gabriela
group Random Acts of Kindness, and a group of
Flores, the commission’s camp leader. “We want
teenagers who started their own
to use that feeling young teenagers have that
free newspapers.
they can change the world.”
5 The students don’t need any extra ideas and
energy, but they do need guidance. The camp
always provides something to do, from breakfast
at 8am to bed at 11pm. On the last day there is
time to remind them that this is what they should
a night-time walk up the hill behind the camp,
now do. “It works,” says Neerali Pattni, 16. “The
using skills and trust developed earlier on.
equality commission said they would support
us in anything we did afterwards, and that’s just
6 14-year-old Katie Briggs, from Berkshire, is
what they have done.”
giving a lesson in how to take charge firmly but
fairly. “You need to do things like ask the quiet
12 Campers get certificates, leaflets, one-to-one
ones if they have any ideas.”
support sessions and help to win over head
teachers or parents who may be unsure. But
7 Getting different types of teenagers to work
the teenagers have a lot to do. “It’s kind of
together is essential for Our Space to work.
scary,” says Claire McLaughlin, 14, from Belfast.
The campers are helped by peer leaders, who
“But I think that if I can get just one person to
understand, that person might tell their friends,
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and they’ll tell their friends. That’s how you get a 14 Katie Briggs agrees. “We have a sort of diversity
chain reaction.” at school, but this is something else. I keep
saying to myself, look at all these people you’d
13 Hannah Mezler, 15, says what she likes about never ever meet in the little town where I live.
the camp is that she gets to meet so many And hey, they’re really nice.”
“different but normal” people her own age, from
all over Britain. © Guardian News & Media 2009
1. The camp is run by an … … in the north of England.
2. Teenagers from all over … … to stop prejudices.
3. The aim of the camp is … … write a paper about equality and human rights.
4. It takes place in a beautiful area … … go to the camp.
5. To get a place in the camp, teenagers have to … … their schools, friends and communities.
6. It costs nothing to … … talk to the campers.
7. Successful campaigners come to … … Britain can go to the camp.
8. After the camp, the teenagers get help to talk to … … organization for equality and human rights.

Match the words to make phrases from the article. Then write one sentence of your own for each phrase.
hard ideas make work

marvellous sessions support a difference
1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________
5 Discussion
Would you want your children to go to this camp? Have you ever been to a (summer) camp – either as a
child or an adult?
6 Webquest
Look at one of these websites and make a note of a few key words or ideas. Tell your class about what you
have seen or read.
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KEY
1 Warmer
teenager
lake hard work
leader marvellous ideas
exciting make a difference
film support sessions
food
2 Key words Teacher’s notes
1. inspiring You can listen to a four-minute audio report by Martin

2. diverse Wainwright at the camp in which he talks to one of the
3. campaigning peer leaders, Dakota Blue Richards:
4. grounds
5. accommodation
6. guidance
7. skills It is possible to download the file in MP3 format and
8. take charge play it in class.
9. essential
10. peer
11. mindset
12. ambassadors
13. prejudices
14. support
15. chain reaction
1. The camp is run by an organization for equality

and human rights.
2. Teenagers from all over Britain can go to the camp.
3. The aim of the camp is to stop prejudices.
4. It takes place in a beautiful area in the north
of England.
5. To get a place in the camp, teenagers have to write
a paper about equality and human rights.
6. It costs nothing to go to the camp.
7. Successful campaigners come to talk to
the campers.
8. After the camp, the teenagers get help to talk to
their schools, friends and communities.
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1 Warmer
Write ten words that you would expect to find in an article about a summer camp. Compare your words
with those of other students, then skim-read the article to find out how many of your words appear.
summer camp
2 Key words
Write the words from the article into the gaps in the sentences below. The paragraph numbers have been
given to help you.
chain reaction ambassadors campaigning prejudices mindset promote
virtues assuming fell peer hike manifestos diverse guidance
1. different from each other; or including people from many different cultures or places _____________________
(para 1)
2. trying to achieve political or social change by persuading other people or the government to do something
_____________________ (para 1)
3. formal statements expressing the aims and plans of a group or organization _____________________ (para 4)
4. to support or encourage something _____________________ (para 4)
5. advice from an official organization on how to deal with particular situations or how to behave
_____________________ (para 5)
6. a long walk in the countryside _____________________ (para 5)
7. a hill or area of high land, especially in northern England _____________________ (para 5)
8. believing that something is true, even though no one has told you or even though you have no proof
_____________________ (para 6)
9. someone who belongs to the same social or professional group as another person and/or is the same age
_____________________ (para 7)
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10. a way of thinking about things _____________________ (para 8)
11. people who are considered to represent an activity, organization, company, etc. _____________________
(para 9)
_____________________ (para 9)
13. a series of events that happen very fast, with each event causing the next one _____________________
(para 12)
14. good qualities that a person or thing has, especially moral ones _____________________ (para 13)
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Rowing back on inequality The campers are helped by peer leaders, who
Martin Wainwright
of the film The Golden Compass. She was told
19 August, 2009
about the camp by an aunt and her five days last
1 A summer camp run by the Equality and Human summer inspired her to come back.
Rights Commission might seem an unlikely
attraction for teenagers, but the outdoor course
in the Lake District is inspiring a diverse group of
young people to start campaigning for
human rights.
2 Punit Patel, 16, says the commission’s second in lessons or speeches. We sort it out together.
Our Space summer camp was “the best five It’s interactive. And what you do afterwards is
days of my life”. Callum Dixon, moving his what really counts, because that’s when we can
wheelchair along a path by Lake Windermere, make a difference.”
says, “It’s hard work, but no way would I have
9 The long-term purpose of the camp is to create
missed it.”
equality ambassadors who will reach young
3 Life isn’t as exciting – or as diverse – for either people before prejudices of all kinds appear.
teenager back home, and that is the camp’s In between outdoor sessions, the teenagers
point. It’s a simple idea, successfully started brainstorm about ways they can work in the
last year, of gathering around 100 people, aged future towards the commission’s aims: at school,
14 to 16, from the widest possible range of with friends or in their communities.
backgrounds and placing them together in the
10 “We get young campaigners to come to the
wild and lovely grounds of Lakeside YMCA.
camp,” says Flores. “It gets across the idea
4 Food, accommodation and everything else that young people can actually do things, rather
are free, but to win a place the teenagers had than dream about them.” Sessions were led this
to write manifestos about equality and human year by Tom Robbins, who set up the action
rights, and how their energy and imagination group Random Acts of Kindness, and a group of
could promote both. “We got some marvellous teenagers who started their own free newspapers.
ideas,” says Gabriela Flores, the commission’s
camp leader. “We wanted to use that feeling
young teenagers have that they can change
the world.”
5 The students don’t need any extra ideas and time to remind them that this is what they are
energy, but they do need guidance. The camp now supposed to do. “It works,” says Neerali
always provides something to do, from breakfast Pattni, 16. “The equality commission said they
at 8am to bed at 11pm. On the last day there is would support us in anything we did afterwards,
a night-time hike up the fell behind the camp, and that’s just what they have done.”
using skills and trust developed earlier on.
12 Campers get certificates, leaflets, one-to-one
6 14-year-old Katie Briggs, from Berkshire, is support sessions and help to win over head
giving a lesson in how to take charge firmly but teachers or parents who may be cautious about
fairly. “You need to do things like ask the quiet unofficial activism. But plenty still rests on the
ones if they have any ideas, rather than just teenagers’ shoulders. “It’s kind of scary,” says
assuming they’ll speak up.” Claire McLaughlin, 14, from Belfast. “But I think
7 Getting different types of teenagers to work that if I can get just one person to understand,
that person might tell their friends, and they’ll tell
together is essential for Our Space to work.
their friends. That’s how you get a chain reaction.”
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13 Teenagers know that they won’t make equality at school, but this is something else. I keep
and diversity cool by preaching about their saying to myself, look at all these people you’d
virtues. Hannah Mezler, 15, says the attraction never ever meet in the little town where I live.
isn’t that – it’s just the thrill of meeting so many And hey, they’re really nice.”
“different but normal” people her own age, from
all over Britain.
14 Katie Briggs agrees. “We have a sort of diversity
Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the information in the article? Correct any sentences
that are false.
1. The summer camp is for teenagers from all backgrounds.
2. The camp is run by the British government.
3. The aim of the camp is to stop prejudices.
4. It takes place in the north of England.
5. To get a place in the camp, teenagers have to write a paper about equality and human rights.
6. The camp is quite expensive.
7. Movie stars come to talk to the campers.
8. After the camp, the teenagers get help to win over head teachers or parents.
4 Language: Collocations and summarizing

Match the words to make collocations from the article. Then use these word pairs to retell the article.
1. unlikely rights
2. outdoor charge
3. human mindset
4. hard sessions
5. marvellous attraction
6. take work
7. different reaction
8. support ideas
9. chain course
5 Discussion
Would you send your children to a camp like this? Have you ever been to a (summer) camp – either as a
child or an adult?
6 Webquest
Research one of these places or organizations mentioned in the article and give a short presentation of
your findings to the class.
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2 Key words Teacher’s notes
1. diverse You can listen to a four-minute audio report by Martin

2. campaigning Wainwright at the camp in which he talks to one of the
3. manifestos peer leaders, Dakota Blue Richards:
4. promote
5. guidance
6. hike
7. fell It is possible to download the file in MP3 format and
8. assuming play it in class.
9. peer
10. mindset
11. ambassadors
12. prejudices
13. chain reaction
14. virtues
1. T
2. F
3. T
4. T
5. T
6. F
7. F
8. T
4 Language: Collocations and

summarizing
1. unlikely attraction
2. outdoor course
3. human rights
4. hard work
5. marvellous ideas
6. take charge
7. different mindset
8. support sessions
9. chain reaction
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Open Book Alliance
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
rabble-rouser hotchpotch bedfellow opt out arcane
untraceable ramifications digitize monolith rift
1. If something is ________________, it is mysterious and difficult to understand.
2. If a person is ________________, it is impossible to find any record of them and to know where they are.
3. If you ________________ of a scheme or an agreement, you decide not to take part in it.
4. A ________________ is someone who speaks to a group of people and encourages them to behave in a
violent way.
5. A ________________ is a disagreement between two people or groups.
6. A ________________ is a collection of things that do not belong together or have been put together carelessly.
7. A ________________ is a large and very powerful organization or system that is not willing to change.
8. The ________________ of something are the complex or unexpected ways in which a decision, process or
event affects other things.
9. A ________________ is someone or something that is connected with another person or thing in some way,
often unexpectedly.
10. If you ________________ material, you change it into electronic signals.
2 True or false?
1. Google is planning to digitize and sell every book in America.

2. Google is in a partnership with Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo.
3. Apple is allowed to sell copies of every recording ever made.
4. Google will pay $125 billion for the rights to digitize American books.
5. A variety of people are opposed to the Google plans.
6. Google still sees itself as a start-up company.
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Peter Brantley and the Open Book but the major sticking point is straightforward:
Alliance – throwing the book at whether anyone has the right to decide what
Google will happen to books whose ownership is not
clear. Under the scheme as it stands – proposals
Bobbie Johnson
currently being scrutinized by a federal court in
26 August, 2009
Manhattan – Google would be handed the right
to profit from any book whose owner does not
1 Peter Brantley doesn’t look like a revolutionary.
opt out, regardless of whether they know about
Bookish-looking and wearing a flat cap, he is
the agreement.
quiet, composed and chooses his words with the
precision of an academic – not really typical of
5 It is as if there was a version of iTunes that
a rabble-rouser. And yet that is the position that
allowed Apple not only to sell recordings from
Brantley – who works for the non-profit Internet
the labels it agreed a deal with, but also every
Archive – has found himself in recently, as he
recording ever made, whether or not the
becomes embroiled in a bizarre battle against
publisher was still in business or the songwriter
the Internet’s most powerful company.
still alive. That, says Brantley, is something that
campaigners worry will trample over the rights
2 Brantley is a key figure in the Open Book
of millions of untraceable authors and potentially
Alliance, a hotchpotch of corporations and
hamper innovation.
organizations that is opposing Google’s $125m
(£76m) deal to gain the rights to digitize and 6 He is also keen to point out that the alliance is
sell every book in America. So far, the group
not opposed to the idea of digitizing books – just
has brought together a strange collection of
this way of doing it. After all, when Google first
bedfellows – not only Google rivals such as
started its book search project – which simply
Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo, but also librarians
created a search engine that linked to books
and writers – united only in their opposition to the
(rather than showing the books themselves) – it
proposal. “We see this as an organization that’s
was received positively by many of the same
really quite heterogeneous in its composition,”
people who oppose the new deal. “This was
he says, with understatement. “There are writers’
something that many of us at universities and
groups now, there are library associations, there
at the Internet Archive generally supported:
will be some publishing associations in this
we think that digitizing analogue material and
group, as well as those large companies – each
making it available for search is an important
of which, by the way, has very distinct and very
ability for gaining access to information that
specific interests of their own.”
might otherwise be locked up,” says Brantley.
“But the settlement is a very different creature
3 The proposal in question is an agreement
from the application Google had originally created.”
between Google and American publishers’ and
authors’ groups: a deal announced late last
7 In many ways, Google’s actual intentions are
year that sprang from the Internet giant’s project
less important than the way it presents itself.
to digitize millions of books around the world.
The idea that Google is fast becoming the new
Under its terms, Google will pay $125m for what
Microsoft might not be entirely accurate but mud
critics say amounts to an exclusive, industry-
sticks. Anil Dash, a vice president at the blogging
wide contract – despite the fact that millions of
company Six Apart, recently said that he thought
authors will never get the chance to opt out.
Google was undergoing its “Microsoft moment”:
experiencing a rift between the way the public
4 Brantley characterizes the case as “incredibly
sees the company (as another corporate
complex”, and he is right. The precise details
monolith) and the way the company sees itself
are stuffed with jargon and sometimes arcane,
(as a plucky start-up company). “The impression
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that Google is just another technological giant 9 “I think it’s that guiding principle of opening
like Microsoft will grow, making the audience for up the discovery of information that motivated
Google’s messages less tolerant of ambiguity Google, and has motivated many of us as
and less forgiving of mistakes.” we make digital information available online,”
he says. “Although I cannot speak for their
8 Next week the Manhattan court will finish taking motivations, I think where they are now is a very
representations from interested parties, while different place from where they started.” He is
the European Commission is also to look into referring to a single, complicated case. But it’s
the potential ramifications for its member states. a statement that might just as well apply to the
Brantley, meanwhile, hopes that the deal can be whole of Google.
altered in some way to represent the interests
of the people who created the books – and to © Guardian News & Media 2009
better reflect the reason for digitizing books in First published on www.guardian.co.uk, 26/08/09
the first place.
1. What unites the different people and groups in the Open Book Alliance?
a. An interest in books.
b. Opposition to Google’s proposals.
c. Specific interests of their own.
2. What is the main objection of the critics?

a. That Google is becoming a monolith.
b. That Google will have the right to profit from any book whose owner does not opt out.
c. That the deal will prevent innovation.
3. What is the attitude of the Open Book Alliance to the idea of digitizing books?
a. They are in favour of it because it will make more material available.
b. They are in favour of it because it will earn extra money for authors.
c. They are opposed to it because they prefer analogue material.
4. What is the “Microsoft moment”?

a. When a company becomes too big too quickly.
b. When a company becomes the most powerful in its particular industry sector.
c. When there is a difference between how a company sees itself and how the public sees it.

.
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4 Find the word

1. An adjective meaning more interested in reading books than in taking part in physical activities such as sports.
(para 1)
2. An adjective meaning involved in a difficult situation. (para 1)
3. A noun meaning a statement that makes something seem less important or serious than it really is. (para 2)
4. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to come from a particular place or situation. (para 3)
5. A two-word expression meaning something that people cannot agree on and which stops them from continuing
with a discussion. (para 4)
6. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to behave in an unfair way towards someone or something. (para 5)
7. An adjective meaning brave and determined, especially when success is unlikely. (para 7)
8. A two-word expression meaning people will believe the bad things said about someone. (para 7)
5 Prepositions
1. tolerant _______ 5. regardless _______
2. typical _______ 6. opposed _______
3. embroiled _______ 7. forgiving _______
4. stuffed _______ 8. access _______
6 Word building
Complete the sentences using an appropriate form of the word in brackets at the end of each sentence.
1. If you make ____________, you make formal complaints to a court or another official organization.
[REPRESENT]
2. No-one is sure what will happen in the case of books whose ____________ is not clear. [OWN]
3. One expert believes the public is less tolerant of ____________ and less forgiving of mistakes. [AMBIGUOUS]
4. Academics are well-known for their ____________. [PRECISE]
5. A number of individuals and organizations are united in their ____________ to the proposals. [OPPOSE]
6. There are a large number of different groups and individuals in the ____________. [ALLY]
6 Discussion
If all books are digitized and placed on the Internet, what benefits should the authors receive? Who should
profit from works by authors who cannot be traced?
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KEY
1. arcane 1. bookish
2. untraceable 2. embroiled
3. opt out 3. understatement
4. rabble-rouser 4. spring from
5. rift 5. sticking point
6. hotchpotch 6. trample over
7. monolith 7. plucky
8. ramifications 8. mud sticks
9. bedfellow
10. digitize
5 Prepositions
2 True or false? 1. of
2. of
1. T 3. in
2. F 4. with
3. F 5. of
4. F 6. to
5. T 7. of
6. T 8. to
1. b 1. representations
2. b 2. ownership
3. a 3. ambiguity
4. c 4. precision
5. opposition
6. alliance
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1 Key words
digitize opt out untraceable bizarre rival
jargon diverse exclusive innovation alliance
1. If something is described as ________________, it is strange and difficult to explain.
2. ________________ is specific words and phrases that are only understood by people who do the same kind
of work.
3. If you ________________ of a scheme or an agreement, you decide not to take part in it.
4. An ________________ is an agreement between two or more people or groups by which they agree to work
together to achieve something.
5. If an agreement is ________________, it is limited to a particular person, group or company and not shared
with others.
6. If you ________________ material, you change it into electronic signals.
7. ________________ is the invention of new ideas, methods, equipment and so on.
8. If a person is ________________, it is impossible to find any record of them and to know where they are.
9. A company’s business ________________ is a company that competes with them.
10. If things or people are ________________, they are very different from each other.
1. Who does Peter Brantley work for?

2. What is the Open Book Alliance fighting against?
3. How much is Google paying for the rights to digitize and sell every book in America?
4. Which three of Google’s main rivals are mentioned in the text?
5. Where is the federal court that will rule on Google’s proposals?
6. What is Six Apart?
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Peter Brantley and the Open Book ownership is not clear. Under the agreement (the
Alliance – throwing the book at proposals are currently being examined by a
Google federal court in Manhattan), Google would have
the right to profit from any book whose owner
Bobbie Johnson
does not opt out, regardless of whether they
26 August, 2009
know about the agreement.

He is bookish and quiet and chooses his words
carefully. But Brantley – who works for the
the labels it agreed a deal with but also every
non-profit Internet Archive – is now involved
in a bizarre battle against the Internet’s most
powerful company.
still alive. Brantley says that this is against the
rights of millions of authors who are untraceable
2 Brantley is a leading figure in the Open
at the moment and also that it could possibly
Book Alliance, a group of corporations and
prevent innovation.
organizations which is fighting against Google’s
$125m (£76m) deal to gain the rights to digitize
6 Brantley says that the alliance is not against
and sell every book in America. So far, the group
the idea of digitizing books – just this way of
has attracted a strange mixture of people and
doing it. After all, when Google first started its
companies – not only Google rivals such as
book search project – which simply created a
search engine that linked to books (rather than
and writers – united only in their opposition to the
showing the books themselves) – many of the
proposal. “We see this as an organization that’s
same people who oppose the new deal thought
really quite diverse,” he says. “There are writers’
it was a good idea. “This was something that
groups now, there are library associations, there
many of us at universities and at the Internet
will be some publishing associations in this
Archive generally supported: we think that
group, as well as those large companies – each
digitizing analogue material and making it
of which has very different and very specific
available for search is important for gaining
interests of their own.”
access to information that would otherwise be
locked up,” says Brantley. “But this agreement is
a very different thing from the application Google
originally created.”
authors’ groups: a deal announced late last year
based on the Internet giant’s project to digitize
millions of books around the world. Under the
less important than the way it presents itself.
terms of the agreement, Google will pay $125m
Some people believe that Google is quickly
for what critics say is an exclusive contract that
becoming the new Microsoft. Anil Dash, of the
will cover the entire book industry – despite the
blogging company Six Apart, recently said that
fact that millions of authors will never get the
he thought Google was having its “Microsoft
chance to opt out.
moment”: a big difference between the way
the public sees the company (as another huge
4 Brantley describes the case as “incredibly
company) and the way the company sees
complex”, and he is right. The exact details
itself (as a brave little start-up company).
are full of jargon and sometimes difficult to
“People will start believing that Google is just
understand, but the major sticking point is
another technological giant like Microsoft and
straightforward - whether anyone has the right
will not be willing to accept any mistakes the
to decide what will happen to books whose
company makes.”
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8 Next week the Manhattan court will finish 9 “I think that the principle of opening up the
listening to complaints from interested parties, discovery of information motivated Google, and
while the European Commission will examine has motivated many of us as we make digital
the potential effects on its member states. information available online,” he says. “Although
Brantley, meanwhile, hopes that the deal can be I cannot speak for their motivations, I think
changed in some way to represent the interests where they are now is a very different place from
of the people who created the books – and to where they started.”
better reflect the reason for digitizing books in
the first place. © Guardian News & Media 2009
First published on www.guardian.co.uk, 26/08/09
1. The Open Book Alliance opposes the agreement a. … the agreement can be changed in some way to
because … represent the interests of the people who wrote
the books.
2. Google will have the right …
b. … the idea of digitizing books.
3. The Open Book Alliance is not against … c. … is examining the proposals at the moment.
4. Some people believe that … d. … to profit from any book whose owner does not opt
out of the agreement.
5. A court in Manhattan … e. … Google is becoming the new Microsoft.
6. Peter Brantley hopes ... f. … it is against the rights of millions of authors and
could prevent innovation.
4 Chunks
1. Internet’s most the company powerful
2. terms the agreement the under of
3. opposition their proposals in united the to
4. book the industry entire
5. ever every made recording
6. start-up little a company brave

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5 Complete the phrases

Complete the phrases from the text using these words.
to in of
1. full _______ jargon
2. access _______ information
3. _______ the first place
4. involved _______ a battle
5. linked _______ books
6. a way _______ doing something
6 Word building
Complete the table with words from the article.
verb noun
mix
oppose
propose
agree
record
apply
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KEY
1. bizarre 1. the Internet’s most powerful company

2. jargon 2. under the terms of the agreement
3. opt out 3. united in their opposition to the proposals
4. alliance 4. the entire book industry
5. exclusive 5. every recording ever made
6. digitize 6. a brave little start-up company
7. innovation
8. untraceable
9. rival 5 Complete the phrases
10. diverse
1. of
2. to
4. in
1. Internet Archive 5. to
2. Google’s deal to gain the rights to digitize and 6. of
sell every book in America
3. $125 million (£76 million)
4. Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo 6 Word building
5. Manhattan
6. a blogging company 1. mixture
2. opposition
3. proposal
3 Comprehension check 4. agreement
5. recording
1. f 6. application
2. d
3. b
4. e
5. c
6. a
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1 Key words
opt out untraceable digitize rabble-rouser bizarre
rival jargon hamper ambiguous tolerant
1. If you _________________ material, you change it into electronic signals.
2. A _________________ person is someone who is willing to accept other people’s beliefs, way of life, etc.,
without criticizing them, even if they disagree with them.
3. A company’s business _________________ is a company that competes with them.
4. _________________ is specific words and phrases that are only understood by people who do the same kind
of work.
5. If something is _________________, it is not clear or can be understood in more than one way.
6. A _________________ is someone who speaks to a group of people and encourages them to behave in a
violent way.
7. If you _________________ of a scheme or an agreement, you decide not to take part in it.
8. If something is described as _________________, it is strange and difficult to explain.
9. If a person is _________________, it is impossible to find any record of them and to know where they are.
10. To _________________ means to prevent something from happening or progressing normally.
1. Who does Peter Brantley work for?

2. How much is Google paying for the rights to digitize and sell every book in America?
3. Which three of Google’s main rivals are mentioned in the text?
4. Where is the federal court that will rule on Google’s proposals?
5. What is Six Apart?
6. What is the Open Book Alliance?
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Peter Brantley and the Open Book straightforward: whether anyone has the right
Alliance – throwing the book at to decide what will happen to books whose
Google ownership is not clear. Under the scheme as it
stands – proposals currently being examined
Bobbie Johnson
by a federal court in Manhattan – Google would
26 August, 2009
be given the right to profit from any book whose
owner does not opt out, regardless of whether
they know about the agreement.
He is bookish, quiet and composed and chooses
his words carefully – not really typical of a
rabble-rouser. And yet that is the position that
Brantley – who works for the non-profit Internet
the labels it agreed a deal with, but also every
Archive – has found himself in recently, as he
becomes involved in a bizarre battle against the
Internet’s most powerful company.
still alive. Brantley says that this goes against
the rights of millions of untraceable authors and
2 Brantley is a key figure in the Open Book
could potentially hamper innovation.
Alliance, a group of corporations and
organizations that is opposing Google’s $125m
6 He is also keen to point out that the alliance is
(£76m) deal to gain the rights to digitize and sell
not opposed to the idea of digitizing books – just
every book in America. So far, the group has
this way of doing it. After all, when Google first
brought together a strange mixture of people
started its book search project – which simply
and companies – not only Google rivals such as
created a search engine that linked to books
(rather than showing the books themselves) – it
and writers – united only in their opposition to
was received positively by many of the same
the proposal. “We see this as an organization
people who oppose the new deal. “This was
that’s really quite diverse in its composition,”
something that many of us at universities and
he says. “There are writers’ groups now, there
at the Internet Archive generally supported:
are library associations, there will be some
we think that digitizing analogue material and
publishing associations in this group, as well as
making it available for search is an important
those large companies – each of which, by the
ability for gaining access to information that
way, has very different and very specific interests
would otherwise be locked up,” says Brantley.
of their own.”
“But this agreement is a very different thing from
the application Google originally created.”
authors’ groups: a deal announced late last year
less important than the way it presents itself. The
based on the Internet giant’s project to digitize
idea that Google is quickly becoming the new
millions of books around the world. Under the
Microsoft may not be completely accurate but
terms of the agreement, Google will pay $125m
mud sticks. Anil Dash, of the blogging company
for what critics say is an exclusive, industry-
Six Apart, recently said that he thought Google
wide contract – despite the fact that millions of
was experiencing its “Microsoft moment”: a big
authors will never get the chance to opt out.
difference between the way the public sees
the company (as another huge company) and
4 Brantley describes the case as “incredibly
the way the company sees itself (as a brave
complex”, and he is right. The precise details
little start-up company). “The impression that
are full of jargon and sometimes difficult to
Google is just another technological giant like
understand, but the major sticking point is
Microsoft will grow, making the people who listen
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to Google’s messages less tolerant when those 9 “I think that the principle of opening up the
messages are ambiguous and less willing to discovery of information motivated Google, and
forgive mistakes.” has motivated many of us as we make digital
information available online,” he says. “Although
8 Next week the Manhattan court will finish I cannot speak for their motivations, I think
listening to complaints from interested parties, where they are now is a very different place from
while the European Commission is also to look where they started.” He is referring to a single,
into the potential effects on its member states. complicated case. But it’s a statement that could
Brantley, meanwhile, hopes that the deal can be also apply to the whole of Google.
changed in some way to represent the interests
of the people who created the books – and to © Guardian News & Media 2009
better reflect the reason for digitizing books in First published on www.guardian.co.uk, 26/08/09
the first place.
1. Google is the Internet’s most powerful company.

2. Only Google’s rivals, Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo, are opposed to its proposals.
3. All the companies, associations and individuals in the Open Book Alliance share the same interests.
4. Google will have the right to profit from books whose authors opt out of the scheme.
5. Apple has the right to sell recordings of every recording ever made.
6. The Open Book Alliance is not against the idea of digitizing books.

4 Find the word
1. An adjective meaning more interested in reading books than in taking part in physical activities such as sports.
(para 1)
2. An adjective meaning limited to a particular person, group or company and not shared with others. (para 3)
3. A two-word expression meaning something that people cannot agree on and which stops them from continuing
with a discussion. (para 4)
4. An adjective meaning not complicated or difficult to understand. (para 4)
5. A two-word adverbial phrase meaning without being affected by anything else that happens or exists. (para 4)
6. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to tell someone something. (para 6)
7. A two-word compound noun meaning a computer program used for looking for information on the Internet.
(para 6)
8. A two-word expression meaning people will believe the bad things said about someone. (para 7)
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1. oppose a. the rights to something
2. opt out of b. innovation
3. gain c. a proposal
4. represent d. a project
5. hamper e. people’s interests
6. start f. an agreement
6 Word building
Complete the table with words from the article.
verb noun
oppose
propose
agree
compose
own
apply
intend
discovery
6 Discussion
Would you like to see all books available in digital form on the Internet? Why? Why not?
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4 Find the word

1 Key words
1. bookish
1. digitize 2. exclusive
2. tolerant 3. sticking point
3. rival 4. straightforward
4. jargon 5. regardless of
5. ambiguous 6. point out
6. rabble-rouser 7. search engine
7. opt out 8. mud sticks
8. bizarre
9. untraceable
10. hamper

2. f
1. Internet Archive 3. a
2. $125 million (£76 million) 4. e
3. Microsoft, Amazon and Yahoo 5. b
4. Manhattan 6. d
5. a blogging company
6. a group of corporations and organizations
opposed to Google’s proposals
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. opposition

2. proposal
1. T 3. agreement
2. F 4. composition
3. F 5. ownership
4. F 6. application
5. F 7. intention
6. T 8. discovery
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Bankruptcy threat brings new concept to Caymans … taxes
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
Do this quiz and then check your answers by skim-reading the article.
1. Where are the Cayman Islands?
2. What field of business provides their main source of income?
3. Which country’s government is responsible for the Cayman Islands?
4. What kind of natural disaster poses a constant threat to the islands?
2 Key words
Find key words from the article to complete the definitions below. The paragraph numbers have been given
to help you.
1. to touch someone or something gently in a pleasant way ______________________ (para 1)
2. to gather together in a large group ______________________ (para 1)
3. a financial organization that invests money that has a high risk of being lost but which may make a very large
profit ______________________ (para 2)
4. a situation a person or business is in once they have officially admitted that they have no money and cannot
pay what they owe ______________________ (para 2)
5. to help a person or organization that is having problems, especially financial problems (2 words
______________________ (para 3)
6. people who work for a government department ______________________ (para 4)
7. people or companies whose job is to provide goods or to do work for another person, organization, company,
etc. at a particular price ______________________ (para 4)
8. a small earthquake; or a sudden feeling of fear ______________________ (para 5)
9. the total amount of money paid by a company to the people it employs ______________________ (para 6)
10. a country or area in which a particular legal system operates ______________________ (para 7)
11. a large light brick made from cement and cinders that is used in building ______________________
(para 9)
12. the set of systems within a place or organization that affect how well it operates, for example the telephone and
transport systems in a country ______________________ (para 10)
13. the difference between the amount of money or goods that a country or business has and the amount that it
has spent or that it owes ______________________ (para 11)
14. capable of continuing for a long time at the same level ______________________ (para 13)
15. an amount of money that you owe ______________________ (para 15)

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Bankruptcy threat brings new including the financial services industry.”
concept to the Cayman Islands 7 The wealth in the Caymans is staggering. Its
… taxes hedge funds alone looks after $2.3tn (£1.4tn),
Trouble in paradise: the popular tax haven in the according to figures last year, and its GDP
Caribbean has suffered after the collapse of the (Gross Domestic Product) places it as the
world’s financial system. world’s twelfth-richest jurisdiction, despite a
population of only 51,900.
Nick Mathiason and James Doran
1 September, 2009 8 It made the Caymans a high-profile target as
the global financial storm clouds broke. The
Caymans were singled out by Barack Obama
1 The white sands of Seven Mile Beach on Grand
last year in his presidential campaign. It was also
Cayman have long caressed the toes of the
placed on a “grey list” of harmful tax jurisdictions
world’s wealthiest financiers, who flock here to
by the OECD (Organization for Economic
avoid the taxman’s prying eyes.
Co-operation and Development) last April.
2 But the world’s biggest hedge-fund venue and 9 Chris Johnson, a British accountant who has
fifth-biggest bank centre is now threatened, as
lived there since 1968, is worried about his
the government of the Cayman Islands heads
future for the first time in decades. “I would say
for bankruptcy — unable to pay its own staff
I am pessimistic now. The island is in terrible
and facing the prospect of introducing taxes
trouble financially,” he said.
as income from the world’s shrunken financial
system collapses. 10 The Cayman Islands, like most Caribbean
island nations, is deeply divided socially and
3 But the situation is about to get worse after
economically. On the one hand there are the
the British government, which has ultimate
ultra-wealthy – Microsoft’s Paul Allen and
responsibility for the islands, last week refused
golf champion Tiger Woods both moor their
to bail out the Caribbean idyll. It is not convinced
yachts there. On the other there are the native
the country will have the money to pay it back.
Caymanians, many of whom live in simple
4 At the same time, hundreds of civil servants single-storey breeze block homes typical of the
found that pension contributions and health islands, with chickens and goats running about
insurance payments were missing from their pay on scrub-like surrounding land. They are poor
slips. Contractors and government suppliers also people who largely exist on the island to serve
had bills unpaid. the wealthy in the hotels, private clubs and
5 The leader of government business, William staffed households.
McKeeva Bush, begged the British government 11 Cayman islanders say the previous government
to borrow $310m (£190m) from banks. In a spent a huge amount of money upgrading the
strongly worded response, Chris Bryant, a junior island’s ancient infrastructure, betting it would be
Foreign Office minister, has demanded the able to pay back a budget deficit of $67.5m as its
Caymans cut its borrowing and debt. And in a financial sector continued to grow. But the global
shockwave that will send tremors through the financial crisis has created a huge black hole in
island’s financial elite, Bryant even suggested its budget.
that the tax haven introduce taxes.
12 The government charges financial institutions
6 “I fear you will have no choice but to consider a licence fee based on employee numbers. But
new taxes – perhaps payroll and property as banks and hedge funds shrink, income has
taxes,” Bryant wrote to Bush. “I understand, of declined. More seriously, US tourists cannot
course, that in so doing you will want to consider afford to visit. To fix the hole, taxes on personal
carefully the implications for Caymans’ economy, income, financial transactions and tourism
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are being discussed. Most likely will be the Grand Cayman. The devastating hurricane Ivan
introduction of a property tax. in 2004 didn’t help.
13 Richard Murphy, of the campaign group Tax 15 The problem was, the debt created to finance
Justice Network, said: “Cayman is proving that the capital expenditures was only affordable if
tax havens are not sustainable: their business the island’s economy continued to grow rapidly.
model is bankrupt and that free-riding the tax It was said many times that a US recession
system can’t pay.” could lead to big problems.” And so it has been
proved. The British government will hope that the
14 One hedge-fund insider who lived in the
islands’ problems do not wash up on its shores.
Caymans said: “The heavy spending was well-
intentioned because Caymans’ infrastructure –
schools, public health services, social services
– are quite poor, given the assumed wealth of
1. Rich bankers and financiers go to the Cayman 4. The financiers are shocked because a British
Islands to ... government officer has suggested ...
a. ... moor their yachts. a. ... that the islands file for bankruptcy.
b. ... avoid paying taxes. b. ... that civil servants and contractors should not
be paid.
c. ... avoid the winter weather in New York
and London. c. ... that the islands introduce taxes.
2. The islands are the world’s ... 5. The Cayman Islands are ...
a. ... biggest hedge fund centre. a. ... poor.
b. ... fifth-biggest hedge fund centre b. ... being supported by the US economy.
c. ... biggest bank centre. c. ... the world’s twelfth-richest jurisdiction.
3. The British government ... 6. The native people of the islands ...
a. ... has said it will bail out the islands. a. ... have a share in the island’s wealth.
b. ... does not want to put a lot of money into the b. ... mostly work in hotels or as servants.
current system.
c. ... have no schools or health services.
c. ... wants to sell the islands.
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4 Language
The article contains many financial terms. Look back through the article and underline as many as you
can. Then try to divide them into categories such as: negative financial terms, jobs and positions in the
financial sector, types of payments, other words relating to finance, etc. Some may fit in more than
one category.
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5 Discussion
Now that you have read the article a few times, what mental picture do you have of the Cayman Islands?
6 Webquest
The Cayman Islands are not the only tax haven in the world. Can you name some of the others? Are they
having similar problems to those that the Cayman Islands are experiencing? Do some research on one of
them and report back to your group.
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KEY
1 Warmer 6 Webquest
1. in the Caribbean Other tax havens include Andorra, Luxembourg, the

2. finance and banking Isle of Man, Monaco, Switzerland and the United Arab
3. Britain’s Emirates.
4. hurricanes
Teacher’s notes
2 Key words
You can listen to a short minute audio report by Nick
1. caress Mathiason about the article at
2. flock http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/audio/2009/sep/02/
3. hedge fund cayman-islands-bankrupt-tax
4. bankruptcy It is possible to download the file in MP3 format and
5. bail out play it in class.
6. civil servants
7. contractors
8. tremor
9. payroll
10. jurisdiction
11. breeze block
12. infrastructure
13. deficit
14. sustainable
15. debt
1. b
2. a
3. b
4. c
5. c
6. b
4. Language
This task could be done as pair work. After the words

have been divided into categories the students could
compare their answers with other pairs and say why
they have categorized the words in the way they have.
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1 Warmer
Do this multiple choice quiz and then check your answers by skim-reading the article.
a. near Spain b. off the coast of India c. in the Caribbean
2. What type of business provides their main source of income?
a. oil b. finance and banking c. illegal drug trade
a. the USA b. Spain c. Britain
2 Key words
Find key words from the article to compare the definitions below. The paragraph numbers have been given
to help you.
hedge fund responsible bankruptcy avoid pension
1. to try not to go near someone or something __________________________ (para 1)

2. a financial organization that invests money that has a high risk of being lost but which may make a very large
profit __________________________ (para 2)
pay what they owe __________________________ (para 2)
4. to be in charge of someone or something __________________________ (para 3)
5. money that someone regularly receives after they have stopped working because of their age, paid either by
their company or by the government __________________________ (para 4)
debt suppliers tax haven contractors borrowing
etc. at a particular price __________________________ (para 4)
7. companies that provide or sell a product or service __________________________ (para 4)
8. money you get from somewhere else and promise to give back __________________________ (para 5)
9. the amount of money that you owe __________________________ (para 5)
10. a place where people go to live, or where they keep their money, so that they do not have to pay higher taxes
in their home country __________________________ (para 5)
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property divided income jurisdiction payroll
11. the total amount of money paid by a company to the people it employs __________________________
(para 6)
12. a country or area in which a particular legal system operates __________________________ (para 7)
13. meaning that there are major differences in how the people live __________________________ (para 9)
14. money that someone gets from working or from investing money __________________________ (para 10)
15. things, especially valuable things such as houses and hotels, that are owned by someone
__________________________ (para 10)
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Bankruptcy threat brings new world’s twelfth-richest jurisdiction, even though it
concept to the Cayman Islands only has a population of 51,900.
… taxes
8 Chris Johnson, a British accountant who has
Trouble in paradise: the popular tax haven in the
lived in the Caymans since 1968, is worried
Caribbean has suffered after the collapse of the
about his future for the first time in decades. “I
world’s financial system
would say I am pessimistic now. The island is in
Nick Mathiason and James Doran terrible trouble financially,” he said.
1 September, 2009
9 The Cayman Islands, like most Caribbean
1 For many years, the world’s wealthiest financiers island nations, is deeply divided socially and
have been coming to the white sands of Seven economically. On the one hand, there are the
Mile Beach on Grand Cayman to avoid ultra-wealthy – Microsoft’s Paul Allen and golf
paying taxes. champion Tiger Woods both moor their yachts
there. On the other hand, there are the native
2 But the world’s biggest hedge fund venue and Caymanians, many of whom live in simple
fifth-biggest bank centre now has a problem, as homes with chickens and goats running about.
the government of the Cayman Islands heads for They are poor people who mostly work for
bankruptcy. It is unable to pay its own staff and the rich people in hotels, private clubs
may have to introduce taxes. and households.
3 The British government, which is responsible 10 But, at the moment, US tourists cannot afford
for the islands, last week said it would not give to visit. To get some money, taxes on personal
financial help to the Caribbean islands. It does income, financial business and tourism are
not believe the country will have the money to being talked about, and the Cayman Islands
pay it back. government will most likely introduce a property
tax. Cayman is proving that tax havens are no
4 Hundreds of people working for the Cayman longer a good business model.
Islands government found that their pension
contributions and health insurance payments © Guardian News & Media 2009
had not been paid. Contractors and government First published in The Guardian, 01/09/09
suppliers have also not been paid.
5 The leader of government business, William

McKeeva Bush, asked the British government
to borrow $310m (£190m) from banks. Chris
Bryant, a junior Foreign Office minister in the
British government, has said that the Caymans
must cut its borrowing and debt. Bryant even
suggested that the tax haven introduce taxes.
6 “I fear you will have no choice but to consider

new taxes – perhaps payroll and property taxes,”
Bryant wrote to William McKeeva Bush.
7 The wealth in the Caymans is enormous. Its

hedge funds look after $2.3tn (£1.4tn), and its
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) places it as the
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1. Rich bankers and financiers go to … … business models for the future.

2. The islands are the world’s biggest … … work in hotels or as servants.
3. The British government does not want to … … hedge fund centre.
4. The wealthy financiers are shocked … … had their pension and health insurance
contributions paid.
5. Government workers on the island have not …
… the Cayman Islands to avoid paying taxes.
6. The Cayman Islands are the world’s …
… give a lot of money to the islands.
7. The native people of the islands are
poor and mostly … … fifth-richest jurisdiction.
8. Tax havens are not good … … because a British government officer has suggested
that the islands introduce taxes.
4 Language
Write these words or phrases onto the correct word wheels. Write four sentences of your own containing
one word or phrase from one of the word wheels.
financier property contractor supplier income
tourism leader of government business payroll Foreign Office minister
accountant business golf champion
jobs taxes
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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5 Discussion
Now that you have read the article, describe the picture you have in your head of the Cayman Islands –
what do they look like, what’s the weather like, who lives there, who works there, etc?
6 Webquest
The Cayman Islands are not the only tax haven in the world. How many others can you find? Where
are they?
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KEY
1 Warmer 7. The native people of the islands are poor and

mostly work in hotels or as servants.
1. c 8. Tax havens are not good business models for
2. b the future.
3. c
4 Language
2 Key words
jobs: financier, contractor, supplier, leader of
1. avoid government business, Foreign Office minister,
2. hedge fund accountant, golf champion
3. bankruptcy taxes: property, income, tourism, business, payroll
4. responsible
5. pension
6 Webquest
6. contractors
7. suppliers Other tax havens include Andorra, Luxembourg, the
8. borrowing Isle of Man, Monaco, Switzerland and the United Arab
9. debt Emirates.
10. tax haven
11. payroll Teacher’s notes

12. jurisdiction
13. divided You can listen to a short minute audio report by Nick
14. income Mathiason about the article at
15. property http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/audio/2009/sep/02/
cayman-islands-bankrupt-tax
It is possible to download the file in MP3 format and
3 Comprehension check play it in class.
1. Rich bankers and financiers go to the Cayman

Islands to avoid paying taxes.
2. The islands are the world’s biggest hedge
fund centre.
3. The British government does not want to give a lot
of money to the islands.
4. The wealthy financiers are shocked because a
British government officer has suggested that the
islands introduce taxes.
5. Government workers on the island have not had
their pension and health insurance
contributions paid.
6. The Cayman Islands are the world’s fifth-
richest jurisdiction.
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1 Warmer
Do this quiz and then check your answers by skim-reading the article.
2. What type of business provides their main source of income?
2 Key words
Use the key words from the article to complete the definitions or fill the gaps in the sentences below. The
paragraph numbers have been given to help you.
breeze block bankruptcy payroll ultimate jurisdiction tremor
implications tax haven transactions civil servants elite
hedge fund contractors prospect sustainable

1. a financial organization that invests money that has a high risk of being lost but which may make a very
large profit _____________________________ (para 2)
pay what they owe _____________________________ (para 2)
3. something that you expect or know is going to happen in the future _____________________________
(para 2)
4. If you have _____________________________ power or responsibility, you have more power or responsibility
than anyone else. (para 3)
5. people who work for a government department _____________________________ (para 4)
etc. at a particular price _____________________________ (para 4)
7. a small earthquake; or a sudden feeling of fear _____________________________ (para 5)
8. a small group of people who have a lot of advantages and keep the most power and influence
_____________________________ (para 5)
9. a place where people go to live, or where they keep their money, so that they do not have to pay higher taxes
in their home country _____________________________ (para 5)
10. the total amount of money paid by a company to the people it employs _____________________________
(para 6)
11. possible effects or results _____________________________ (para 6)
12. a country or area in which a particular legal system operates _____________________________ (para 7)
13. a large light brick made from cement and cinders that is used in building
_____________________________ (para 9)
14. activities related to business _____________________________ (para 10)
15. capable of continuing for a long time at the same level _____________________________ (para 11)
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Bankruptcy threat brings new consider carefully the implications for
concept to the Cayman Islands Caymans’ economy, including the financial
… taxes services industry.”
Trouble in paradise: the popular tax haven in the 7 The wealth in the Caymans is staggering. Its
Caribbean has suffered after the collapse of the hedge funds alone look after $2.3tn (£1.4tn),
world’s financial system according to figures last year, and its GDP
(Gross Domestic Product) places it as the
Nick Mathiason and James Doran
world’s twelfth-richest jurisdiction, despite a
1 September, 2009
population of only 51,900.
8 The Caymans were singled out by Barack
1 The white sands of Seven Mile Beach on Grand
Obama last year in his presidential campaign.
Cayman have long warmed the toes of the
It was also placed on a “grey list” of harmful
world’s wealthiest financiers, who come here to
tax jurisdictions by the OECD (Organization for
avoid the taxman.
Economic Co-operation and Development) last
2 But the world’s biggest hedge-fund venue and April. Chris Johnson, a British accountant who
fifth-biggest bank centre is now threatened, as has lived there since 1968, is worried about his
the government of the Cayman Islands heads future for the first time in decades. “I would say
for bankruptcy – unable to pay its own staff I am pessimistic now. The island is in terrible
and facing the prospect of introducing taxes as trouble financially,” he said.
income from the world’s financial system
9 The Cayman Islands, like most Caribbean
falls dramatically.
island nations, is deeply divided socially and
3 But the situation is about to get worse after economically. On the one hand there are the
the British government, which has ultimate ultra-wealthy – Microsoft’s Paul Allen and
responsibility for the islands, last week refused golf champion Tiger Woods both moor their
to give financial help to the Caribbean islands. It yachts there. On the other there are the native
is not convinced the country will have the money Caymanians, many of whom live in simple
to pay it back. single-storey breeze block homes typical of the
islands, with chickens and goats running about.
4 At the same time, hundreds of civil servants
They are poor people who largely exist on the
found that their pension contributions and
island to serve the wealthy in the hotels, private
health insurance payments had not been paid.
clubs and staffed households.
Contractors and government suppliers also had
bills unpaid. 10 The government charges financial institutions
5 The leader of government business, William a licence fee based on employee numbers. But
as banks and hedge funds shrink, income has
McKeeva Bush, begged the British government
declined. More seriously, US tourists cannot
to borrow $310m (£190m) from banks. In a
afford to visit. To fix the hole, taxes on personal
strongly worded response, Chris Bryant, a junior
income, financial transactions and tourism
Foreign Office minister, has demanded that the
are being discussed. Most likely will be the
Caymans cut its borrowing and debt. And in a
introduction of a property tax.
shockwave that will send tremors through the
island’s financial elite, Bryant even suggested 11 Richard Murphy, of the campaign group Tax
that the tax haven introduce taxes. Justice Network, said: “Cayman is proving that
6 “I fear you will have no choice but to consider tax havens are not sustainable and that free-
riding the tax system can’t pay.”
new taxes – perhaps payroll and property
taxes,” Bryant wrote to William McKeeva Bush.
“I understand, of course, that you will want to
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Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the information in the article? Correct any
sentences that are false.
1. Rich bankers and financiers go to the Cayman Islands to avoid the winter weather in New York and London.
2. The islands are the world’s biggest hedge fund centre.
3. The British government has said it will bail out the islands.
4. The wealthy financiers are shocked because a British government officer has suggested that the islands
introduce taxes.
5. Government workers on the island have not had their property tax paid.
6. The Cayman Islands are the world’s richest jurisdiction.
7. The native people of the islands mostly work in hotels or as servants.
8. Tax havens provide a good business model for the future.
4 Language
a. Underline all the jobs and positions mentioned in the article.
How many of these are in the financial sector?
Add more financial jobs and positions to your list (ones that aren’t mentioned in the article).
b. What kind of taxes are mentioned in the article?

How many other kinds of taxes can you think of?
5 Discussion
Now that you have read the article, describe the picture you have in your head of the Cayman Islands –
what do they look like, what’s the weather like, who lives there, who works there, etc?
6 Webquest
The Cayman Islands are not the only tax haven in the world. Can you name any others? Are they having
similar problems to those that the Cayman Islands are experiencing? Do some research on one of them
and report back to your group.
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1 Warmer 4 Language
1. in the Caribbean a. financiers, ‘the taxman’, civil servant, contractors

2. finance and banking and suppliers, leader of government business,
3. Britain’s Foreign Office minister, accountant, golf champion
b. property and payroll taxes, taxes on personal

2 Find the information income, financial transactions and tourism
1. hedge fund
2. bankruptcy 6 Webquest
3. prospect
4. ultimate Other tax havens include Andorra, Luxembourg, the
5. civil servants Isle of Man, Monaco, Switzerland and the United Arab
6. contractors Emirates.
7. tremors
8. elite
9. tax haven Teacher’s notes
10. payroll
11. implications You can listen to a short minute audio report by Nick
12. jurisdiction Mathiason about the article at
13. breeze block http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/audio/2009/sep/02/
14. transactions cayman-islands-bankrupt-tax
15. sustainable It is possible to download the file in MP3 format and
play it in class.
1. F
2. T
3. F
4. T
5. F
6. F
7. T
8. F
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Pakistan’s youth put their faith in rock’n’roll
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
wannabe gig thrive hone piracy
turmoil insurgent well-to-do renounce strum
1. A _________________ person is rich and belongs to an upper-class family.

2. If you _________________ a guitar, you move your fingers quickly across its strings.
3. An _________________ is someone who belongs to a group of people fighting to take control of their
country by force.
4. A _________________ is a public performance, especially of jazz or popular music.
5. If you _________________ something, you state formally that you no longer believe in it or support it.
6. If you _________________ a skill that you already have, you improve it even further.
7. A _________________ is someone who wants to be famous or successful.
8. _________________ is a state of excitement or uncontrolled activity.
9. If something _________________, it becomes very successful.
10. _________________ is the crime of making illegal copies of DVDs or CDs.
Read the text quickly and find the answers to these questions.
1. How many people came to the new band’s first gig?

2. How many came to their second gig?
3. How many students have signed up for the Guitar School?
4. Where did the band Bumbu Sauce find their name?
5. When did satellite television arrive in Pakistan?

6. What will the capacity of the Rock Musicarium be?
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Never mind the Taliban – Pakistan’s two reluctant-looking teenage daughters for
youth put their faith in rock’n’roll lessons. “It will do them good to learn,” she said.
But making it to the next stage is difficult and
Country’s internal turmoil is feeding underground
sometimes dangerous. For the past six months
music scene and popular guitar school
virtually all public performances in Lahore have
Declan Walsh stopped since extremist attacks on a performing
1 September, 2009 arts festival and the Sri Lankan cricket team. The
Pakistani music industry itself is disorganized
1 Wannabe rock stars don’t have it easy in and hamstrung by massive piracy.
Pakistan. Last month a new band, Poor Rich
Boy, took to the stage of a cramped Islamabad 5 But the country’s internal chaos is also feeding
café for their breakthrough gig. On the first night, creativity. Pakistanis have a rich musical
one person turned up. “It was the night of the tradition, mostly rooted in Sufism, but modern
world cricket finals. Bad timing,” said the group’s musicians have generally avoided political
guitarist, Zain Ahsan, ruefully. The second issues. But the new single from co-VEN, which
gig was better – 30 people came along – but Jafri fronts, is a sharp parody of Pakistan’s
brought its own dark worries. “I asked the owner, controversial alliance with the US. “There’s a lot
‘What if a bomb goes off?’” said Ahsan. “She of foreign pressure on our government to attack
said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be with you.’” people in the tribal areas,” he said.
2 Even in a summer of Taliban violence young 6 Others have a playful take on the turmoil. The
Pakistanis are rocking on. An underground Islamabad band Bumbu Sauce – the name
music scene is quietly thriving in the country’s comes from a Pot Noodles packet – recently
major cities, nourished by the Internet and the brought out Jiggernaut, a single that mixes
passion of mostly amateur bands. In Lahore a references to kung fu, talking dogs and the
pair of unemployed rockers have tapped into that Taliban. Guitarist Shehryar Mufti is not worried
enthusiasm with a new school for rock’n’roll. “We the insurgents might take the joke badly. “Their
weren’t getting a lot of gigs, and we needed to argument is with the government, not the
survive,” said co-founder Hamza Jafri. “So we people,” he said. “I think rock music is low on
thought we’d try this.” their list of priorities.”
3 The Guitar School, as it is known, has been 7 Pakistani rock was boosted by the arrival
surprisingly successful. Around 40 students of satellite television in the 1990s. Today
have signed up, ranging from surly teenagers the musicians, many self-taught, publicize
in drainpipe jeans to more practised musicians themselves through networking websites such
such as Ahsan looking to hone their skills. as Facebook and MySpace, and Pakistan’s
Classes take place in a small room lined growing number of FM radio stations. And
with egg boxes; the school’s teaching style despite the security concerns, a fresh concert
is reflected in its motto: “Play it like you feel scene is emerging.
it.” Many come from wealthy families that
might once have stigmatized music, Jafri said. 8 On a sultry Saturday night hundreds of young
“People associated it with the red light district people, mostly dressed in jeans and T-shirts,
and sexual entertainment.” But a popular new crowded into a new outdoor auditorium on the
television show featuring live performances, edge of Islamabad called the Rock Musicarium.
Coke Studio, has given rock music an appearance “People are thirsting for music, they want to get
of respectability. out,” said the venue’s founder, Zeejah Fazli.
When it opens properly in November, the venue
4 On a recent afternoon a woman brought in will have a recording studio and capacity for 600
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people, said Fazli, who estimates there are 20 10 About five years ago Junaid Jamshed, the
rock bands in Islamabad alone. But, he admitted, country’s most famous pop star, renounced
the project depends on a six-month lull in attacks music and returned to religion. Now he appears
on the capital continuing. on religious chat shows with a long, curly beard.
But most aspiring rock stars say they can live
9 For some well-to-do Pakistanis, rock music with the difference. In the soundproof room at
represents the cultural tensions of their life, the Lahore guitar school, 17-year-old Danish
which is divided between western influences and Khwaja strummed his guitar, long hair flopping
the conservative direction their society is taking. over his forehead. “It’s kinda cool doing stuff you
“On one side kids feel like they are in England; love,” he said.
on the other this strict Islamic thing is going on.
It’s not good for people’s sanity,” said Jafri.
Choose the correct answers according to the text.
1. Why was Poor Rich Boy’s first gig poorly attended?

a. Because they were relatively unknown.
b. Because the venue was a cramped café.
c. Because it was the same night as the world cricket finals.
2. What is helping the underground music scene to thrive in Pakistan?

a. Wealthy families that used to stigmatize music.
b. The Internet and the passion of amateur bands.
c. The rich musical tradition of Pakistan.
3. Why isn’t Shehryar Mufti worried about the Taliban?

a. Because he believes that their argument is with the government, not with the people.
b. Because their music is simply a parody on the turmoil in Pakistan.
c. Because Pakistan has a rich musical tradition rooted in Sufism.
4. How does rock music represent the cultural tensions in the lives of well-to-do Pakistanis?
a. A new concert scene is developing despite the security concerns.
b. Rock music is an example of western influence and Pakistan is moving in a conservative direction.
c. Some people have renounced music and returned to religion.

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4 Find the word

1. A noun meaning a time when you begin to be 5. An adjective meaning not willing to do something.
successful at something. (para 1) (para 4)
2. An adverb meaning in a way that shows you are 6. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to want
sorry about something. (para 1) something very much. (para 8)
3. A two-word phrasal verb meaning to use something 7. A noun meaning a quiet period during a very active
in order to get benefit from it. (para 2) or violent situation. (para 8)
4. A verb meaning to treat a particular type of 8. A verb meaning to hang in a loose, heavy and
behaviour as wrong or embarrassing and to try to uncontrolled way. (para 10)
make people who behave in this way ashamed.
(para 3)
5 Adjectives
Match the adjectives from the text with their meanings.
1. sultry a. prevented from doing what you want to do

2. controversial b. unfriendly and rude
3. cramped c. intended to be funny or friendly rather than serious
4. hamstrung d. hoping and trying to be successful at something
5. massive e. unpleasantly hot and humid
6. aspiring f. small and crowded
7. surly g. extremely large in amount or degree
8. playful h. causing disagreement or disapproval
6 Word building
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets at the end of each sentence.
1. A new TV show has given Pakistani rock music an air of ________________. [RESPECT]
2. Pakistan’s ________________ with the US is controversial. [ALLY]
3. The Guitar School has been ________________ successful. [SURPRISE]
4. The Pakistani music industry is ________________. [ORGANIZE]
5. The internal chaos in the country is feeding ________________. [CREATE]
6. Some people say the division between western influences and religious conservatism is not good for people’s
________________. [SANE]
7 Discussion
Can music change society? If so, how? If not, why?
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KEY
1. well-to-do 1. breakthrough
2. strum 2. ruefully
3. insurgent 3. tap into
4. gig 4. stigmatize
5. renounce 5. reluctant
6. hone 6. thirst for
7. wannabe 7. lull
8. Turmoil 8. flop
9. thrives
10. Piracy
5 Adjectives

2. h
1. one 3. f
2. 30 4. a
3. 40 5. g
4. on a Pot Noodles packet 6. d
5. in the 1990s 7. b
6. 600 8. c
1. c 1. respectability
2. b 2. alliance
3. a 3. surprisingly
4. b 4. disorganized
5. creativity
6. sanity
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1 Key words
piracy parody gig chaos underground
surly motto insurgent disapprove strum
1. A __________________ is a public performance, especially of jazz or popular music.

2. An __________________ is someone who belongs to a group of people fighting to take control of their country
by force.
3. An __________________ activity is one that is secret and usually illegal.
4. A __________________ is a literary or musical work that copies a serious work in a humorous way.
5. If you __________________ of something, you do not like it and are against it.
6. If you __________________ a guitar, you move all your fingers together quickly across the strings.
7. A __________________ person is unfriendly and rude.
8. __________________ is a situation in which everything is confused and in a mess.
9. __________________ is the crime of making illegal copies of DVDs or CDs.
10. A __________________ is a short statement that expresses the principle or aim of a company or
an organization.

Read the text quickly and find the answers to these questions.

3. Where is the Guitar School?
5. Where is the Rock Musicarium?
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NEWS LESSONS / Pakistan’s youth put their faith in rock’n’roll / Elementary

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Never mind the Taliban – Pakistan’s professional musician is difficult and sometimes
youth put their faith in rock’n’roll dangerous. For the past six months almost all
public performances in Lahore have stopped
since extremist attacks on a performing arts
festival and the Sri Lankan cricket team. The
Declan Walsh Pakistani music industry itself is disorganized
1 September, 2009 and there is a lot of music piracy in Pakistan.
5 But the country’s internal chaos is also making
1 Young people who want to be rock stars don’t
people creative. Pakistanis have a rich musical
have an easy time in Pakistan. Last month a
tradition but modern musicians have generally
new band, Poor Rich Boy, appeared on the
avoided political issues. But the new single from
stage of a small café in Islamabad for their first
Jafri’s band, co-VEN, is a parody of Pakistan’s
gig. On the first night, only one person came to
controversial alliance with the US. “There’s a lot
listen. “It was the night of the world cricket finals.
of foreign pressure on our government to attack
Bad timing,” said the group’s guitarist, Zain
people in the tribal areas,” he said.
Ahsan. The second gig was better – 30 people
came – but the musicians were still worried. “I 6 Others make fun of the chaos. The Islamabad
asked the café owner, ‘What if a bomb goes band Bumbu Sauce recently brought out
off?’” said Ahsan. “She said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be Jiggernaut, a single that has references to
with you.’” kung fu, talking dogs and the Taliban. Guitarist
Shehryar Mufti is not worried the insurgents
2 There has been a lot of Taliban violence this
might not like the joke. “Their argument is with
summer but young Pakistanis are continuing to
the government, not the people,” he said. “I don’t
enjoy rock music. An underground music scene
think rock music is something important to them.”
is quietly growing in the country’s major cities,
helped by the Internet and by the passion of a 7 Pakistani rock was helped by the arrival
number of non-professional bands. In Lahore of satellite television in the 1990s. Today
a pair of unemployed rockers have used that the musicians, many self-taught, publicize
enthusiasm to found a new school for rock’n’roll. themselves through networking websites such
“We weren’t getting a lot of gigs, and we needed as Facebook and MySpace, and Pakistan’s
to survive,” said co-founder Hamza Jafri. “So we growing number of FM radio stations. And
thought we’d try this.” despite the security situation, a new concert
scene is appearing.
3 The Guitar School, as it is known, has been
surprisingly successful. Around 40 students have 8 On a hot Saturday night hundreds of young
signed up, from surly teenagers in jeans to more people, mostly dressed in jeans and T-shirts,
practised musicians such as Ahsan who want to crowded into a new outdoor theatre on the
improve their skills. Classes take place in a small edge of Islamabad called the Rock Musicarium.
room lined with egg boxes; the school’s teaching “People are hungry for music; they want to get
style can be seen in its motto: “Play it like you out,” said the founder, Zeejah Fazli. When it
feel it.” Many come from rich families that might opens officially in November 2009, the Rock
once have disapproved of music, Jafri said. Musicarium will have a recording studio and
“People associated it with sexual entertainment.” capacity for 600 people, said Fazli, who believes
But a popular new television show called Coke there are 20 rock bands in Islamabad alone. But,
Studio, which shows live performances, has he said, the project depends on the six-month
helped to make more people accept rock music. break in terrorist attacks on the capital continuing.
4 On a recent afternoon a woman brought in her 9 For some rich Pakistanis, rock music is an
two teenage daughters for lessons. “It will do example of the cultural tensions of their life,
them good to learn,” she said. But becoming a which is divided between western influences and
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the conservative direction their society is taking. religious programmes with a long, curly beard.
“On one side kids feel like they are in England; But most young people who want to become
on the other this strict Islamic thing is going on. rock stars say they can live with the difference.
It’s not good for people’s mental health,” At the Lahore guitar school, 17-year-old Danish
said Jafri. Khwaja strummed his guitar. “It’s kind of cool
doing stuff you love,” he said.
10 About five years ago Junaid Jamshed, the
country’s most famous pop star, gave up music © Guardian News & Media 2009
and returned to religion. Now he appears on First published in The Guardian, 01/09/09
1. A popular new television show … a. … have stopped almost all public performances in
Lahore for the past six months.
2. Becoming a professional musician in Pakistan … b. … between western influences and the conservative
nature of Pakistani society.
3. Extremist attacks … c. … in spite of the security situation.
4. Pakistani musicians use … d. ... has helped to make more people accept
rock music.
5. A new music scene is appearing … e. … networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to
publicize themselves.
6. For rich Pakistanis, there is a big difference ... f. … is difficult and sometimes dangerous.
4 Chunks
1. past for six the months
2. number FM growing stations of radio
3. security the despite situation
4. five ago years about
5. hot night a Saturday on
6. good it to will them learn do

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the text.
1. rock a. attack
2. teaching b. performance

3. live c. studio
4. musical d. issues
5. political e. star
6. recording f. owner
7. terrorist g. tradition
8. café h. style
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. entertain
2. perform
3. refer
4. arrive
5. argue
6. found (person)
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KEY
1. gig 1. for the past six months

2. insurgent 2. growing number of FM radio stations
3. underground 3. despite the security situation
4. parody 4. about five years ago
5. disapprove 5. on a hot Saturday night
6. strum 6. it will do them good to learn
7. surly
8. Chaos
9. Piracy 5 Two-word expressions
10. motto
1. e
2. h
4. g
1. one 5. d
2. 30 6. c
3. Lahore 7. a
4. in the 1990s 8. f
5. Islamabad
6. 600
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. entertainment

2. performance
1. d 3. reference
2. f 4. arrival
3. a 5. argument
4. e 6. founder
5. c
6. b
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1 Key words
parody insurgent piracy hamstrung gig
turmoil wannabe renounce breakthrough auditorium
1. A __________________ is someone who wants to be famous or successful.

2. A __________________ is a public performance, especially of jazz or popular music.
3. If you __________________ something, you state formally that you no longer believe in it or support it.
4. __________________ is a state of excitement or uncontrolled activity.
5. __________________ is the crime of making illegal copies of DVDs or CDs.
6. A __________________ is a time when you begin to be successful at something.
7. An __________________ is the part of a theatre, cinema or concert hall where the audience sits.
8. A __________________ is a literary or musical work that copies a serious work in a humorous way.
9. If you are __________________, you are prevented from doing what you want to do.
10. An __________________ is someone who belongs to a group of people fighting to take control of their country
by force.

Read the text quickly and find the answers to these questions

3. How many students have signed up for the Guitar School?
5. where do Pakistani musicians publicize themselves?
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NEWS LESSONS / Pakistan’s youth put their faith in rock’n’roll / Intermediate

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Never mind the Taliban – Pakistan’s do them good to learn,” she said. But making
youth put their faith in rock’n’roll it to the next stage is difficult and sometimes
dangerous. For the past six months almost all
public performances in Lahore have stopped
since extremist attacks on a performing arts
Declan Walsh festival and the Sri Lankan cricket team. The
1 September, 2009 Pakistani music industry itself is disorganized
and hamstrung by massive piracy.
1 Wannabe rock stars don’t have an easy time in
Pakistan. Last month a new band, Poor Rich 5 But the country’s internal chaos is also producing
Boy, appeared on the stage of a cramped café creativity. Pakistanis have a rich musical
in Islamabad for their breakthrough gig. On the tradition, with its roots in Sufism, but modern
first night, one person turned up. “It was the musicians have generally avoided political
night of the world cricket finals. Bad timing,” said issues. But the new single from Jafri’s band,
the group’s guitarist, Zain Ahsan. The second co-VEN, is a parody of Pakistan’s controversial
gig was better – 30 people came along – but it alliance with the US. “There’s a lot of foreign
brought its own dark worries. “I asked the owner, pressure on our government to attack people in
‘What if a bomb goes off?’” said Ahsan. “She the tribal areas,” he said.
said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be with you.’”
6 Others make fun of the turmoil. The Islamabad
2 Even in a summer of Taliban violence band Bumbu Sauce – the name comes from
young Pakistanis are continuing to rock. An a Pot Noodles packet – recently brought out
underground music scene is quietly growing in Jiggernaut, a single that mixes references to
the country’s major cities, fed by the Internet and kung fu, talking dogs and the Taliban. Guitarist
the passion of mostly amateur bands. In Lahore Shehryar Mufti is not worried the insurgents
a pair of unemployed rockers have built on that might take the joke badly. “Their argument is with
enthusiasm with a new school for rock’n’roll. “We the government, not the people,” he said. “I think
weren’t getting a lot of gigs, and we needed to rock music is low on their list of priorities.”
survive,” said co-founder Hamza Jafri. “So we
thought we’d try this.” 7 Pakistani rock was boosted by the arrival
of satellite television in the 1990s. Today
3 The Guitar School, as it is known, has been the musicians, many self-taught, publicize
surprisingly successful. Around 40 students have themselves through networking websites such
signed up, ranging from surly teenagers in jeans as Facebook and MySpace, and Pakistan’s
to more practised musicians, such as Ahsan, growing number of FM radio stations. And
looking to improve their skills. Classes take despite the security concerns, a new concert
place in a small room lined with egg boxes; the scene is appearing.
school’s teaching style is reflected in its motto:
“Play it like you feel it.” Many come from wealthy 8 On a sultry Saturday night hundreds of young
families that might once have disapproved of people, mostly dressed in jeans and T-shirts,
music, Jafri said. “People associated it with the crowded into a new outdoor auditorium on the
red light district and sexual entertainment.” But edge of Islamabad called the Rock Musicarium.
a popular new television show featuring live “People are hungry for music; they want to get
performances, Coke Studio, has given rock out,” said the venue’s founder, Zeejah Fazli.
music a new respectability. When it opens officially in November, the venue
will have a recording studio and capacity for 600
4 On a recent afternoon a woman brought in people, said Fazli, who estimates there are 20
two shy teenage daughters for lessons. “It will rock bands in Islamabad alone. But, he admitted,
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the project depends on the six-month lull in 10 About five years ago Junaid Jamshed, the
attacks on the capital continuing. country’s most famous pop star, renounced
music and returned to religion. Now he appears
9 For some wealthy Pakistanis, rock music on religious chat shows with a long, curly beard.
represents the cultural tensions of their life, But most aspiring rock stars say they can live
which is divided between western influences with the difference. In the soundproof room at
and the conservative direction their society is the Lahore guitar school, 17-year-old Danish
taking. “On one side kids feel like they are in Khwaja strummed his guitar, long hair flopping
England; on the other this strict Islamic thing is over his forehead. “It’s kind of cool doing stuff
going on. It’s not good for people’s sanity,” you love,” he said.
said Jafri.
1. It’s easy to become a rock star in Pakistan.
2. There have been no Taliban attacks on Islamabad for the past six months.
3. The Internet is helping the underground music scene to grow.
4. The founders of the Guitar School expected it to be a great success.
5. Rock music is high on the list of things the Taliban are planning to attack.
6. Most wannabe rock stars say they cannot live with the difference between western influences and the strict
Islamic direction their country is taking.
4 Find the word

1. A noun meaning a particular interest or activity and 5. An adjective meaning not arranged according to a
the places or people that are involved in it. (para 2) clear plan or system. (para 4)
2. A noun meaning a short statement that expresses a 6. A three-word expression meaning to make jokes
principle or aim. (para 3) about something in an unkind way. (para 6)
3. A three-word expression meaning an area with a lot 7. A noun meaning a quiet period during a very active
of prostitutes. (para 3) or violent situation. (para 8)
4. A noun meaning the quality of obeying the moral 8. A verb meaning hanging in a loose, heavy and
or social standards that are accepted by most uncontrolled way. (para 10)
people. (para 3)
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5 Adjectives
Match the adjectives from the text with their meanings.
1. cramped a. done for pleasure and not as a job
2. amateur b. unfriendly and rude
3. surly c. having a large amount of money
4. wealthy d. hoping and trying to be successful at something
5. massive e. unpleasantly hot and humid
6. controversial f. small and crowded
7. sultry g. extremely large in amount or degree
8. aspiring h. causing disagreement or disapproval
7 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. violent
2. respectable
3. sane
4. creative
5. enthusiastic
6. entertaining
6 Discussion
Does music play an important part in your life? If so, how? If not, why not?
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KEY
1. wannabe 1. scene
2. gig 2. motto
3. renounce 3. red light district
4. Turmoil 4. respectability
5. Piracy 5. disorganized
6. breakthrough 6. make fun of
7. auditorium 7. lull
8. parody 8. flopping
9. hamstrung
10. insurgent
5 Adjectives

2. a
1. one 3. b
2. 30 4. c
3. 40 5. g
4. in the 1990s 6. h
5. through networking websites (Facebook 7. e
and MySpace) 8. d
6. 600
1. F 1. violence
2. T 2. respectability
3. T 3. sanity
4. F 4. creativity
5. F 5. enthusiasm
6. F 6. entertainment
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The plight of Britain’s ancient trees
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
a. How many different species of tree can you list in two minutes?
b. The five words you need to label this diagram can all be found in the article.

Write the key words from the article into the gaps below.
graze timber legacy nurtured charisma preservation
dens hollow out dotage efficiency circumvented
prone monument neglect inadvertently conservationist
1. the failure to give someone or something the care or attention that they need
_____________________________
2. a strong personal quality that makes other people like you and be attracted to you
_____________________________
3. the period of time when you are old _____________________________
4. being provided with the care and attention necessary to grow and develop _____________________________
5. someone who works to protect the environment from damage or destruction

_____________________________
6. likely to do something or be affected by something, especially something bad

_____________________________
7. to make a hole in something by removing what is inside it _____________________________
8. something good or bad that exists as a result of something that happened in the past
_____________________________
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9. the ability to work well and produce good results by using the available time, money, supplies, etc. in the most
effective way _____________________________
10. wood used for building houses or making furniture _____________________________
11. to put an animal in a place where it can eat grass _____________________________
12. secret places where children go to play _____________________________
13. not deliberately, and without realizing what you are doing _____________________________
14. a structure built in a public place to celebrate an important person or event, also a place of historical
importance _____________________________
15. the process of working to protect something valuable so that it is not damaged or destroyed
_____________________________
16. to find a way of avoiding a rule or law that limits you, especially using a clever trick that does not break the law
(passive form) _____________________________
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Britain’s ancient trees years old. Birch trees have even shorter lives;
one that has lived for two centuries is very old.
Britain is home to around 100,000 of the
oldest trees in Europe. But is our neglect 5 Ancient trees are ecological treasures because
and ill-treatment threatening to kill them off? they provide unique habitats for rare plants,
insects, birds and mammals. When they become
Patrick Barkham
ancient, trees such as oaks and sweet chestnuts
22 July, 2009
“grow down”, dying at the top and forming a
1 Above grey roots like the enormous feet of a new crown of leaves below so the tree shrinks
prehistoric elephant, leaves form a roof as grand and bends down like a very old man. Ancient
as a cathedral. Huge limbs stretch out for 24 trees also hollow out: rare beetles move into
metres on each side. They smell damp. Stand the hollows, followed by birds and bats. Three-
beneath “the Tree”, as this magical old beech is quarters of our 17 species of bat are known to
called, and you feel that you are in the presence roost in trees. Some plant species such as rare
of something living and breathing. Its trunk is lichens can only survive on ancient trees.
polished smooth from admirers, and it has even
6 “The mood an ancient tree puts you in, it just
brought its charisma to films such as Harry
takes your breath away; you know you are by
Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
something extremely important and significant,”
2 This tree has lived for 400 years but now it is Muelaner says. When you are under an ancient
dying. “The tree isn’t capturing all the light that tree, it’s very good for your soul. You can learn
it once did,” explains Bob Davis, head forester so much from ancient trees; how does an
for the National Trust’s 5,000-acre estate at organism survive for 1,000 years in the same
Ashridge. “It is slowly shutting down. We’ve spot? It doesn’t get to move to a better position.
decided not to do any surgery on it and allow it So it adapts.”
to decline naturally.”
7 Standing beneath the huge old beech,
3 In its dotage, this great tree is being carefully contemplating its warty imperfections and huge
nurtured. Across the country, however, many stretch-marks where its trunk has bent and
of our estimated 100,000 ancient trees – which twisted, it seems incredible that it has stood
could represent 70% of all ancient trees in witness to four centuries of humans.
Europe – are neglected or at risk of being cut
8 Our wealth of long-lived trees is a happy
down. This week, they get a new guardian: Brian
accident: a legacy of our royal hunting forests,
Muelaner, a forester turned conservationist, is
our aristocracy and our lack of efficiency –
to count all the ancient trees on land belonging
compared with our north European neighbours
to the National Trust. Muelaner’s new job as
– in harvesting our forests for timber. The last
the Trust’s ancient tree officer will help the
century, however, has not been kind to ancient
Ancient Tree Hunt, a five-year project led by
trees. We have ploughed too close to them,
the Woodland Trust, which for the first time is
allowed animals to graze too intensively around
recording every ancient tree in Britain. “If we
them and used fertilizers and pesticides, killing
don’t know where they are, we can’t protect
both trees and species of fungi that have a
them,” says Muelaner.
symbiotic relationship with them. Then there was
4 A tree is defined as ancient if it is unusually old the ripping out of native broad-leaved trees and
for its species. It is said that an oak spends 300 planting of supposedly more productive non-
years growing, 300 years living and 300 years native conifers after the Second World War.
dying. Such a long-lived species would have
9 Trees may be impressively long-lived but they
to be 600 years old to be classified as ancient.
are more fragile than we imagine. Too many
Beeches are prone to fungal attack and are less
animals sheltering under a tree and defecating
long-lived: an ancient beech is anything over 300
there can fatally damage it. Even a footpath
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under a tree can compress its roots and destroy is a tree preservation order, which can be
it. Ancient trees are often hollow: the holes make circumvented by developers if it is proved trees
fantastic dens but children often light small fires are dead, dying or dangerous (and most ancient
in them. “You lose your ancient tree just like trees, by definition, are dying: it just takes them
that,” Muelaner snaps his fingers. “We do things three centuries).
inadvertently and it’s gone. We can’t put it back. 12 Muelaner points to the enormous beech
If we kill an ancient tree, we have to wait 500
at Ashridge. “If France, Germany or the
years to restore that habitat.”
Scandinavian countries had a tree like that, there
10 Trees can also die of sunburn. Beech has thin would be plaques everywhere and it would be a
bark and, just like a pale-skinned human, if it has national monument,” he says.
grown up protected from the sun and is suddenly 13 “The speed of our societies nowadays mean
exposed, it burns. Grey squirrels stripping bark
that trees are that much more important to us
is an increasing problem: holes in the bark allow
as places where we are grounded and are at
fungal diseases in, which can weaken a tree and
peace,” says Muelaner. “We need them now
finally cause it to fall over.
more than we ever needed them before.”
11 Our great wealth of ancient trees is still relatively
unprotected. Other countries preserve ancient
trees by listing them like an old house or ancient
monument. In Britain, the only protection
1. An ancient tree is one that is ... 4. Brian Muelaner says ancient trees ...
a. ... over 300 years old. a. ... are good for the soul.
b. ... unusually old for its species. b. ... are good for the environment.
c. ... dying from old age. c. ... are a good source of timber.
2. The tree that was in the Harry Potter film is ... 5. Britain has many ancient trees because...
a. ... an old oak. a. ... its royal families and noblemen preserved the
b. ... an old witch-hazel. woods for hunting purposes.
c. ... an old beech. b. ... it used to buy all the timber it needed from
Scandinavia.
3. The National Trust believes that .... c. ... in the past, foresters were very efficient.
a. ... it will cost too much to record all the ancient
trees in Britain. 6. Is there currently a tree preservation order
in Britain?
b. ... Britain’s ancient trees cannot be saved.
c. ... 70% of Europe’s existing ancient trees can be a. Yes – it lists the trees too.
found in Britain. b. No, not anymore.
c. Yes, but not a very effective one.
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4 Language: Similes
simile (noun)
a phrase that describes something by comparing it to something else using the word “like” or “as”
a. Look in the article and find what the author has likened these things to:
1. the tree’s roots – __________________________________________________________

2. the tree’s leaves – _________________________________________________________
3. an ancient tree – __________________________________________________________
4. thin bark – _______________________________________________________________
b. Look out of the window. Find a metaphor to describe an object you can see (e.g. a tree, a building, a
vehicle, ...).
5 Discussion
Have you ever climbed a tree?
Are there any ancient trees where you live?
Talk about a tree that has a special significance, or holds certain memories, for you.
6 Webquest
Choose one of the following tasks, make notes and report back to the class about what you have learnt.
Read about the Ancient Tree Hunt here:

http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/
Read about why woods matter here:
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/why-woods-matter/Pages/woods.aspx
Read for more general information about what the National Trust is and what it does here:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trust/w-thecharity.htm
Read about the National Trust’s tree map and Brian Muelaner’s work here:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-news/w-latest_news/w-news-ancientreemap.htm
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KEY
a. oak, beech, birch, sweet chestnut, etc. 1. b

b. leaves, branches, trunk, bark, roots 2. c
3. c
4. a
2 Key words 5. a
6. c
1. neglect
2. charisma 4 Language: Similes
3. dotage
4. nurtured 1. grey roots like the enormous feet of a
5. conservationist prehistoric elephant
6. prone 2. leaves form a roof as grand as a cathedral
7. hollow out 3. the tree shrinks and bends down like a very old man
8. legacy 4. thin bark just like a pale-skinned human
9. efficiency
10. timber Teacher’s notes
11. graze
12. dens Homework suggestion: You could ask your students
13. inadvertently to take a photo of a tree and bring it to the next lesson.
14. monument They could then say why they chose to photograph that
15. preservation particular tree and what it means to them.
16. circumvented
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Level 1 Elementary
ancient (adjective)
very old
1 Warmer
a. Scan the article to find the five words you need for this diagram.
b. Now look in the article for the names of four species of tree. How many other trees can you think of in
two minutes?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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NEWS LESSONS / The plight of Britain’s ancient trees / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
Write the key words from the article into the gaps below. The paragraph numbers are given to help you.
species grand guardian unique habitats
protect neglected smooth estimated
1. very wonderful and impressive _____________________________ (para 1)

2. no rough areas or lumps _____________________________ (para 1)
3. an adjective used when people say what they think an amount should be but they are not certain
_____________________________ (para 3)
4. when you do not give someone or something the care or attention that they need
_____________________________ (para 3, past tense)
5. a person that looks after and protects something or someone _____________________________ (para 3)
6. to keep someone or something safe from harm, injury or damage _____________________________ (para 3)
7. a plant or animal group whose members all have similar general features _____________________________
(para 4)
8. very special places that particular animals usually live in or particular plants usually grow in
_____________________________ (para 5)
bark hollow fertilizers and pesticides monument
plough grounded preserve adapt
9. an empty area inside the tree _____________________________ (para 5)

10. to change how you are or what you do so that you can deal with a new situation
_____________________________ (para 6)
11. to turn over the soil (earth) before putting seeds into it _____________________________ (para 7)
12. natural or chemical substances added to soil in order to help plants grow _____________________________
(para 7)
13. the hard substance that covers a tree _____________________________ (para 8)
14. to take special care of a thing, place or building in order to stop it from being harmed or destroyed
_____________________________ (para 9)
15. a structure built in a public place to celebrate an important person or event
_____________________________ (para 9)
16. confident and sensible, because you know what is important in life _____________________________
(para 10)
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Britain’s ancient trees chestnuts “grow down”. They die at the top and
form new leaves below so the tree bends down
Britain is home to around 100,000 of the oldest
like a very old man. Rare beetles then go to
trees in Europe.
live in the hollows of ancient trees, followed by
Patrick Barkham birds and bats. Some plant species only live on
22 July, 2009 ancient trees.
1 Above grey roots like the feet of an elephant, 6 Muelaner says, “You can learn so much from
leaves make a roof as grand as a cathedral. ancient trees; how does a tree live for 1,000
Huge branches stretch out for 24 metres on each years in the same place? It can’t move to a
side. Stand beneath this magical old beech, and better position. So it adapts.”
you feel that you are next to something that is
living and breathing. Its trunk is smooth because 7 Britain has many ancient trees but in the last
so many people touch it, and it has even been in century we have not been kind to them. We
films such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. plough too close to them, allow animals to
eat grass around them and use fertilizers and
2 This tree has lived for 400 years but now it is pesticides, killing both trees and species of fungi
dying. “The tree isn’t getting all the light that it that have a special relationship with them.
needs,” explains Bob Davis, head forester for
the National Trust. “We’ve decided not to do 8 Trees can also die of sunburn. Beech has thin
anything to it. We will let it die naturally.” bark and, just like a pale-skinned person, it can
burn. Grey squirrels pulling off bark is also a
3 In its old age, this great tree is being carefully problem: holes in the bark allow fungal diseases
looked after. Across the country, however, in, which can weaken a tree and cause it to
many of our estimated 100,000 ancient trees – fall over.
maybe 70% of all ancient trees in Europe – are
neglected or at risk of being cut down. This 9 Other countries preserve ancient trees by listing
week, they get a new guardian: Brian Muelaner them like an old house or ancient monument.
is going to count all the ancient trees on land Muelaner points to the enormous beech.
belonging to the National Trust. Muelaner’s new “If France, Germany or the Scandinavian
job as the Trust’s ancient tree officer will help countries had a tree like that, there would be
the Ancient Tree Hunt, a five-year project led by signs everywhere and it would be a national
the Woodland Trust, which is recording every monument,” he says.
ancient tree in Britain. “If we don’t know where
they are, we can’t protect them,” says Muelaner. 10 “Trees are much more important to us
nowadays; they are places where we are
4 A tree is ancient if it is unusually old for its grounded and are at peace,” says Muelaner.
species. It is said that an oak spends 300 years “We need them now more than we ever needed
growing, 300 years living and 300 years dying. them before.”
So an oak would have to be 600 years old to be
called ancient. Beeches don’t live as long: an © Guardian News & Media 2009
ancient beech is anything over 300 years old. First published in The Guardian, 22/07/09
Birch trees have even shorter lives; one that has
lived for two centuries is very old.
5 Ancient trees provide unique habitats for rare

plants, insects, birds and mammals. When they
become ancient, trees such as oaks and sweet
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1. An ancient tree is one that … … can be found in Britain.

2. The beech tree in the article was … … live in ancient trees.
3. 70% of Europe’s ancient trees … … learn a lot from ancient trees.
4. In his new job, Brian Muelaner … … can die very easily.
5. Many insects, birds and animals … … is very old for its species.
6. Muelaner thinks we can … … they feel peaceful and good.
7. If trees are not cared for they … … will help record all of Britain’s ancient trees.
8. When people are near an ancient tree … … in a Harry Potter film.
4 Language: Nature words and prepositions

a. Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentences with information from the article.
under on in off
1. Beetles and bats live ___________ ancient trees.
2. Cows eat the grass ___________ the trees.
3. Grey squirrels pull bark ___________ trees.
4. Rare plants live ___________ the trees.
b. Draw a simple picture which includes these items and some more ideas of your own: a tree, flowers or
other plants, animals and birds, and people.

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5 Discussion
Have you ever climbed a tree? When, where, why, what did it feel like?
6 Webquest

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KEY
a. leaves, branches, bark, trunk, roots 1. An ancient tree is one that is very old for its species.
b. oak, beech, birch, sweet chestnut 2. The beech tree in the article was in a
Harry Potter film.
3. 70% of Europe’s ancient trees can be found
2 Key words in Britain.
4. In his new job, Brian Muelaner will help record all of
1. grand Britain’s ancient trees.
2. smooth 5. Many insects, birds and animals live in
3. estimated ancient trees.
4. neglected 6. Muelaner thinks we can learn a lot from
5. guardian ancient trees.
6. protect 7. If trees are not cared for they can die very easily.
7. species 8. When people are near an ancient tree they feel
8. unique habitats peaceful and good.
9. hollow
10. adapt 4 Language: Nature words and
11. plough prepositions
12. fertilizers and pesticides
13. bark 1. in
14. preserve 2. under
15. monument 3. off
16. grounded 4. on
Teacher’s notes
Task 1: The warmer can be carried out in the students’

own language (if you teach a monolingual class).
Homework suggestion: You could ask your students
to take a photo of a tree and bring it to the next lesson.
They could then say why they chose to photograph that
particular tree and what it means to them.
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1 Warmer
Skim the article to find the names of four species of tree. How many other species of tree can you think of
in two minutes?
2 Key words
species hollow presence unique habitats

protect neglect polished estimated
1. the failure to give someone or something the care or attention that they need
_______________________________ (subtitle)
2. the existence of someone or something in a particular place _______________________________ (para 1)
3. when the surface of something has been rubbed in order to make it smooth and shiny
_______________________________ (para 1)
4. an adjective used to say what you think an amount will be, either by guessing or by using available information
to calculate it _______________________________ (para 3)
5. to keep someone or something safe from harm, injury or damage _______________________________
(para 3)
6. a plant or animal group whose members all have similar general features and are able to produce young plants
or animals together _______________________________ (para 4)
7. very special places that particular animals usually live in or particular plants usually grows in
_______________________________ (para 5)
8. an empty area inside the tree _______________________________ (para 5)
bark efficiency fragile monument

ploughed significant preserve timber
9. very important, large or noticeable _______________________________ (para 6)

10. the ability to work well and produce good results by using the available time, money, supplies, etc. in the most
effective way _______________________________ (para 7)
11. wood used for building houses or making furniture _______________________________ (para 7)
12. to turn over the soil before putting seeds into it _______________________________ (para 7, past tense)
13. delicate; easy to break or damage _______________________________ (para 8)
14. the hard substance that covers a tree _______________________________ (para 9)
15. to take care of a thing, place or building in order to prevent it from being harmed or destroyed
_______________________________ (para 10)
16. a structure built in a public place to celebrate an important person or event, also a place of historical
importance _______________________________ (para 10)
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NEWS LESSONS / The plight of Britain’s ancient trees / Intermediate

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Britain’s ancient trees ancient, trees such as oaks and sweet chestnuts
“grow down”, dying at the top and forming a new
Britain is home to around 100,000 of the
crown of leaves below so the tree shrinks and
oldest trees in Europe. But is our neglect
bends down like a very old man. Rare beetles
and ill-treatment threatening to kill them off?
move into the hollows of ancient trees, followed
Patrick Barkham by birds and bats. Some plant species can only
22 July, 2009 survive on ancient trees.
1 Above grey roots like the enormous feet of 6 “The mood an ancient tree puts you in just takes
an elephant, leaves form a roof as grand as your breath away; you know you are next to
a cathedral. Huge branches stretch out for 24 something extremely important and significant,”
metres on each side. They smell damp. Stand Muelaner says. When you are under an ancient
beneath this magical old beech, and you feel that tree, it’s very good for your soul. You can learn
you are in the presence of something living and so much from ancient trees; how does a tree
breathing. Its trunk has been polished smooth by survive for 1,000 years in the same place? It
people touching it, and it has even been in films can’t move to a better position. So it adapts.”
such as .
7 Britain has many ancient trees because of our
2 This tree has lived for 400 years but now it is royal hunting forests and our lack of efficiency –
dying. “The tree isn’t getting all the light that it compared with our north European neighbours
once did,” explains Bob Davis, head forester for – in cutting down our forests for timber. The
the National Trust. “We’ve decided not to do any last century, however, has not been kind to
surgery on it and allow it to die naturally.” ancient trees. We have ploughed too close to
them, allowed animals to eat grass around them
3 In its old age, this great tree is being carefully
and used fertilizers and pesticides, killing both
looked after. Across the country, however, many
trees and species of fungi that have a two-way
of our estimated 100,000 ancient trees – which
relationship with them.
could represent 70% of all ancient trees in
Europe – are neglected or at risk of being cut 8 Trees may be long-lived but they are more
down. This week, they get a new guardian: Brian fragile than we imagine. Too many animals
Muelaner is to count all the ancient trees on land sheltering under a tree can fatally damage it.
belonging to the National Trust. Muelaner’s new Even a footpath under a tree can hurt its roots
job as the Trust’s ancient tree officer will help and destroy it. Ancient trees are often hollow: the
the Ancient Tree Hunt, a five-year project led by holes make fantastic places to play but children
the Woodland Trust, which is recording every often light small fires in them. “You lose your
ancient tree in Britain. “If we don’t know where ancient tree just like that,” Muelaner snaps his
they are, we can’t protect them,” says Muelaner. fingers. “If we kill an ancient tree, we have to
wait 500 years to get that habitat back.”
4 A tree is defined as ancient if it is unusually old
for its species. It is said that an oak spends 300 9 Trees can also die of sunburn. Beech has thin
years growing, 300 years living and 300 years bark and, just like a pale-skinned human, it
dying. So an oak would have to be 600 years old can burn. Grey squirrels pulling off bark is an
to be called ancient. Beeches are often attacked increasing problem: holes in the bark allow
by fungus and are less long-lived: an ancient fungal diseases in, which can weaken a tree and
beech is anything over 300 years old. Birch trees cause it to fall over.
have even shorter lives; one that has lived for
10 Other countries preserve ancient trees by listing
two centuries is very old.
them like an old house or ancient monument. In
5 Ancient trees are ecological treasures because Britain, the only protection is a tree preservation
they provide unique habitats for rare plants, order, which developers can get around if it is
insects, birds and mammals. When they become proved trees are dead, dying or dangerous (and
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most ancient trees, by definition, are dying: it 12 “Trees are much more important to us
just takes them three centuries). nowadays; they are places where we are
11 Muelaner points to the enormous beech. grounded and are at peace,” says Muelaner.
“We need them now more than we ever needed
“If France, Germany or the Scandinavian
them before.”
countries had a tree like that, there would be
signs everywhere and it would be a national © Guardian News & Media 2009
monument,” he says. First published in The Guardian, 22/07/09
According to the information in the article are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? Correct any incorrect.
1. An ancient tree is one that is over 300 years old.

2. The tree that was in the Harry Potter film is an old oak.
3. The National Trust believe that 70% of Europe’s existing ancient trees can be found in Britain.
4. In his new job, Brian Muelaner will help record all of Britain’s ancient trees.
5. He works for The Woodland Trust.
6. Brian Muelaner says ancient trees are a good source of timber.
7. Britain has many ancient trees because its royal families preserved the woods to hunt animals.
8. There is currently no tree preservation order in Britain.
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4 Language: Parts of a tree and similes

a. The five words you need to label this diagram can all be found in the article.
simile (noun)
a phrase that describes something by comparing it to something else using the word “like” or “as”
b. Match the metaphors from the article with the things they describe.
1. a cathedral an ancient tree

2. the skin of a pale person the tree’s roots
3. elephant’s feet the tree’s leaves
4. an old man thin bark
c. Look out of the window. Find a metaphor to describe an object you can see (e.g. a tree, a building, a
vehicle, ...).
5 Discussion
Have you ever climbed a tree? When, where, why, what did it feel like?
6 Webquest

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oak, beech, birch, sweet chestnut 1. F

2. F
3. T
2 Key words 4. T
5. F
1. neglect 6. F
2. presence 7. T
3. polished 8. F
4. estimated
5. protect
6. species 4 Language: Parts of a tree and similes
7. unique habitats
8. hollow a. leaves, branches, bark, trunk, roots
9. significant b.
10. efficiency 1. leaves form a roof as grand as a cathedral
11. timber 2. thin bark just like a pale-skinned human
12. ploughed 3. grey roots like the enormous feet of a prehistoric
13. fragile elephant
14. bark 4. the tree shrinks and bends down like a
15. preserve very old man
16. monument
Teacher’s notes
Homework suggestion: You could ask your students

to take a photo of a tree and bring it to the next lesson.
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Amish love stories are bestsellers in America
Level 3 Advanced
1 Warmer
A ‘bodice-ripper ’ is:
a. a book about the fashion industry
b. a sexually passionate historical novel
c. a medical text book
How many other fiction genres can you think of in two minutes?
2 Key words
1. a hat that ties under your chin _________________________ (para 1)
2. not obvious, and therefore difficult to notice _________________________ (para 1)
3. always worried about things _________________________ (para 2)
4. ideas that groups of people secretly worked together to cause particular events
_________________________ (two words, para 2)
5. to avoid doing something, especially for moral reasons _________________________ (para 3)
6. someone or something that is very impressive or surprising _________________________ (para 4)
7. to increase the feeling that you want to have or to do a particular thing _________________________ (three
words, para 5)
8. current and up-to-date matters _________________________ (two words, para 9)
9. very religious or very enthusiastic in your support for something _________________________ (para 9)
10. in a very important or basic way _________________________ (para 11)
11. not giving much information because you do not want someone to know everything about something
_________________________ (para 11)
12. used for saying that something is even less likely to happen than another unlikely thing
_________________________ (two words, para 11)
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Level 3 Advanced
Amish love stories are bestsellers in more next year. The phenomenon has gained
America mainstream media attention from the Wall
Street Journal and Time magazine.
’Bonnet-ripper’ novels take readers back to
simpler times when life revolved around church 6 “People like them for a lot of reasons. That
dances and family values is why they are such hot sellers,” said Cindy
Woodsmall, whose fifth Amish romance – The
Paul Harris
Sound of Sleigh Bells – is out next month. “The
20 September, 2009
Amish are holding on to a way of life that other
Americans have let go of, and I think we all want
1 They have been called ‘bonnet-rippers’ rather to know the story behind that,” she added.
than ‘bodice-rippers’, and the sex is generally
7 Woodsmall’s sales have reached 134,000
left to the reader’s imagination. But the subtle
copies and show no sign of letting up. She
pleasures of a new brand of romantic fiction set
puts that down to the rich storytelling tradition
in America’s Amish communities is proving one
among her Amish friends. With no televisions
of the most surprising success stories
or computers, most Amish families have always
in publishing.
kept alive a tradition of oral storytelling. “It
2 At a time when most bestsellers seem to involve is rich, rich soil for an author to work with,”
angst-ridden teen vampires or thrillers based on Woodsmall said.
murderous global conspiracy theories, a group
8 Sex and violence do not play much of an
of authors has been quietly racking up hundreds
open role. Drama tends to revolve around
of thousands of sales by exploring the romantic
the comings and goings at church dances,
entanglements of the Amish.
teenagers testing the limits of Amish dress
3 At first, the Amish seem an unlikely inspiration codes and behaviour, or flirting with outsiders.
for novels of lust and forbidden love. Scattered Kisses are not common on the printed page.
across the US, but most famously concentrated Sex is virtually unknown.
in Pennsylvania, the Amish, and similar sects
9 While contemporary issues do intrude – one
like the Mennonites, live quiet lives in small
novel revolved around an Amish woman trying
farming communities. They eschew modern
Prozac to cure her depression rather than the
technology, often speak an old-fashioned form
power of prayer and family – most plots are set
of German, have strong religious faith, wear
against the gentle rhythms of farming life, family
19th-century-looking clothing and bonnets, and
and devout belief in God. Experts say that this
usually drive horse-drawn buggies.
taps into mass appeal with many Americans,
4 Such a lifestyle has not stopped the ‘bonnet- who see the Amish as some sort of idealized
ripper’ phenomenon from taking off or spreading group, living a life free from the stresses of the
into other genres, such as Amish thrillers modern world. It is perhaps also no coincidence
and mysteries. Bookseller Barnes and Noble that Amish books are especially popular among
recently reported that 15 of its top 100 religious evangelical Christians. The mild portrayals of
fiction titles were Amish novels. sex and violence and the emphasis on faith and
5 traditional family values are all strong selling
The numbers involved are enough to whet
points for many religious Americans.
the appetite of a struggling publishing
industry. Author Beverly Lewis has sold 13.5 10 “These are things that are highly valued. It
million copies of her books set among the reminds many of them of a sort of life many
Pennsylvania Amish; Wanda Brunstetter’s people led in America before the Second World
novels have sold four million copies. One War. They feel reading these books is like a
publisher, Thomas Nelson, is releasing five trip down memory lane,” said Professor Susan
Amish novels this year and has plans for six Trollinger, an expert on Amish issues at the
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University of Dayton in Ohio. 12 “The irony is that they reject the culture that is
so embracing them through these books. But
11 Another attraction is the ‘otherness’ of the
no Amish person could really write a book like
Amish, who remain fundamentally apart from
these novels. They could not do so and stay in
mainstream America. Their interactions with the
an Amish church. They would be kicked out,”
outside world are often guarded, and there is a
Trollinger said.
conscious refusal to enter the 20th century, let
alone the 21st. © Guardian News & Media 2009
Look back over the article to find the answers to these questions:
1. Which US state are the Amish usually associated with?

2. What language do they speak?
3. How do they deal with modern technology?
4. Which international bookseller is mentioned in the article?
5. How is a ‘bonnet-ripper’ different to a ‘bodice-ripper’?
6. Why do American readers like these Amish love stories?
7. Are the authors members of the Amish community?
4 Language - prepositional phrases

a. Complete these phrases from the article with the correct prepositions.
against up around out into off up
1. rack __________ sales

2. take __________
3. (no sign of) letting __________
4. tap __________
5. revolve __________
6. set __________
7. kick __________
b. Find them in the article to read them in context. What do they mean? Check your answers in a
dictionary.
c. Write some example sentences of your own using the prepositional phrases above.
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5 Discussion
What types of books do you like to read?
Would you like to read an Amish love story?
Have you read any books recently that you could recommend?
6 Webquest
Which (fiction) books are currently at, or near, the top of these bestseller lists?
www.amazon.co.uk
www.barnesandnoble.com

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/series/bestsellers
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/bestseller/
Which of these books would you be interested in reading?
Is it available in your language?
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KEY
b 1. Pennsylvania
2. An old-fashioned form of German
3. They avoid it.
2 Key words 4. Barnes and Noble
5. There is hardly any sex or violence in a
1. bonnet bonnet-ripper.
2. subtle 6. It makes them think of the (quieter and more
3. angst-ridden innocent) life many of them led before WWII.
4. conspiracy theories 7. No. Amish people could not write these novels as
5. eschew they would not be able to do so and stay in the
6. phenomenon Amish church.
7. whet the appetite
8. contemporary issues
9. devout 4 Language – prepositional phrases
10. fundamentally
11. guarded 1. rack up sales
12. let alone 2. take off
3. (no sign of) letting up
4. tap into
5. revolve around
6. set against
7. kick out
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer
1. A bodice is:
a. a type of warm underwear
b. an old-fashioned name for a body
c. the part of a dress that covers a woman’s body from the waist up
2. To rip means:
a. to tear something quickly and with a lot of force
b. to go surfing
c. to fall down
3. A ‘bodice-ripper ’ is:
b. a sexy historical novel
2 Key words
inspiration bonnet phenomenon imagination sects

1. an old-fashioned hat that ties under your chin ___________________________ (para 1)
2. the ability to form a picture, story or idea in your mind ___________________________ (para 1)
3. someone or something that gives you new ideas and the enthusiasm to create something with them
___________________________ (para 3)
4. religious groups whose beliefs are different from the beliefs of mainstream religions
___________________________ (para 3)
5. someone or something that is very impressive or surprising ___________________________ (para 4)
outsiders devout sales figures dress code set

6. to say where a book, film, etc. takes place ___________________________ (para 5)
7. the number of items sold ___________________________ (para 7)
8. a set of rules about what you should wear ___________________________ (para 8)
9. people who do not belong to a particular group or organization ___________________________ (para 8)
10. very religious ___________________________ (para 9)
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NEWS LESSONS / Amish love stories are bestsellers in America / Elementary

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Level 1 Elementary
faith emphasis family values kicked out valued

11. special importance or attention that is given to one thing in particular ___________________________
(para 9)
12. a strong religious belief ___________________________ (para 9)
13. the principles on which the traditional family is based, especially the importance of marriage
___________________________ (para 9)
14. thought to be important ___________________________ (para 10)
15. made to leave somewhere ___________________________ (para 11)
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Amish love stories are bestsellers in Woodsmall, whose fifth Amish romance – The
America Sound of Sleigh Bells – is out next month. “The
’Bonnet-ripper’ novels take readers back to
Americans have lost, and I think we all want to
simpler times when life revolved around church
know the story behind that,” she added.
dances and family values
7 Woodsmall’s sales figures have reached
Paul Harris
134,000 copies and show no sign of slowing
20 September, 2009
down. She puts that down to the rich storytelling
tradition among her Amish friends. Because they
1 They have been called ‘bonnet-rippers’ rather have no televisions or computers, most Amish
than ‘bodice-rippers’, and the sex is only in the families have always kept alive a tradition of
reader’s imagination. But a new type of romantic oral storytelling.
fiction set in America’s Amish communities is one
8 The books are about church dances, teenagers
of the most surprising success stories
not keeping to Amish dress codes and
in publishing.
behaviour, or flirting with outsiders. Kisses are
2 At a time when most bestsellers seem to involve not common in the books. Sex is unknown.
teenage vampires or murder mysteries and
9 Most plots are set against the gentle rhythms
thrillers, a group of authors has been quietly
of farming life, family and devout belief in
making hundreds of thousands of sales by
God. Experts say that this appeals to many
writing about the romantic relationships of
Americans, who see the Amish people living a
the Amish.
life free from the stresses of the modern world.
3 At first, the Amish seem an unlikely inspiration It is perhaps also no coincidence that Amish
for novels of lust and forbidden love. The Amish, books are especially popular among evangelical
and similar sects like the Mennonites, live quiet Christians. Very little sex and violence and the
lives in small farming communities across the emphasis on faith and traditional family values
US, but most famously in Pennsylvania. They do are all strong selling points for many
not use modern technology, often speak an old- religious Americans.
fashioned form of German, have strong religious
10 “These are things that are highly valued. It
faith, wear 19th-century-looking clothing and
reminds many of them of a sort of life many
bonnets, and usually drive horse-drawn buggies.
people led in America before the Second World
4 The Amish lifestyle has not stopped the ‘bonnet- War,” said Professor Susan Trollinger, an expert
ripper’ phenomenon from becoming a success. on Amish issues at the University of Dayton
There are also other types of books, such as in Ohio.
Amish thrillers and mysteries. Bookseller Barnes
11 Another attraction is the ‘otherness’ of the
and Noble recently said that 15 of its top 100
Amish, who remain apart from mainstream
religious fiction titles were Amish novels.
America. “No Amish person could write a book
5 Author Beverly Lewis has sold 13.5 million like these novels. They could not do so and stay
copies of her books which are set among the in an Amish church. They would be kicked out,”
Pennsylvania Amish; Wanda Brunstetter’s novels Trollinger said.
have sold four million copies. One publisher,
Thomas Nelson, is publishing five Amish novels © Guardian News & Media 2009
this year and has plans for six more next year. First published in The Guardian, 20/09/09
Even the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine
have written articles about the phenomenon.
6 “People like the books for a lot of reasons. That
is why they are such hot sellers,” said Cindy
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Level 1 Elementary
Are these sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the article?
1. Many Amish people live in the US state of California.

2. They speak an old-fashioned form of German.
3. They travel around in big modern cars.
4. The Amish do not have computers or TV.
5. There is a lot of sex and violence in a ‘bonnet-ripper’.
6. American readers like the Amish love stories because it reminds them of the past.
7. The authors are members of the Amish community.
4 Language – pronunciation
Write these words into the correct column according to their pronunciation pattern. Then look in the article
to find more words to add to each column.
popular phenomenon novel relationship teenager
bonnet community clothing emphasis

Oo oOoo Ooo

Amish America publisher
5 Discussion
6 Webquest
Which are the top three (fiction) books on these bestseller lists?
www.amazon.co.uk
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KEY
1. c 1. F
2. a 2. T
3. b 3. F
4. T
5. F
2 Key words 6. T
7. F
1. bonnet
2. imagination
3. inspiration 4 Language - pronunciation
4. sects
5. phenomenon Oo oOoo Ooo
6. set
7. sales figures
Amish America publisher
8. dress code
9. outsiders bonnet community teenager
10. devout clothing relationship popular
11. emphasis
12. faith novel phenomenon emphasis
13. family values
14. valued
15. kicked out
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1 Warmer
A ‘bodice-ripper’ is:
b. a sexually passionate historical novel
How many other fiction genres can you think of in two minutes?
2 Key words
portrayals idealized guarded conspiracy theories

devout phenomenon emphasis sects
bonnet entanglements outsiders contemporary issues
1. an
old-fashioned hat that ties under your chin ____________________________ (para 1)
2. ideas that groups of people secretly worked together to cause particular events
____________________________ (para 2)
3. complicated situations or relationships ____________________________ (para 2)
4. religious groups whose beliefs are different from the beliefs of mainstream religions
____________________________ (para 3)
5. someone or something that is very impressive or surprising ____________________________ (para 4)
6. people who do not belong to a particular group or organization ____________________________ (para 8)
7. current and up-to-date matters ____________________________ (para 9)
8. very religious or very enthusiastic in your support for something ____________________________ (para 9)
9. to believe or suggest that someone or something is perfect or better than they really are
____________________________ (para 9)
10. particular ways in which people or things are described ____________________________ (para 9)
11. special importance or attention that is given to one thing in particular ____________________________
(para 9)
12. not giving much information because you do not want someone to know everything about something
____________________________ (para 11)
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NEWS LESSONS / Amish love stories are bestsellers in America / Intermediate

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Amish love stories are bestsellers in Wall Street Journal and Time magazine.
America 6 “People like them for a lot of reasons. That
’Bonnet-ripper’ novels take readers back to is why they are such hot sellers,” said Cindy
simpler times when life revolved around church Woodsmall, whose fifth Amish romance – The
dances and family values Sound of Sleigh Bells – is out next month. “The
Paul Harris
Americans have let go of, and I think we all want
20 September, 2009
to know the story behind that,” she added.
7 Woodsmall’s sales have reached 134,000 copies
1 They have been called ‘bonnet-rippers’ rather
and show no sign of letting up. She puts that
than ‘bodice-rippers’, and the sex is generally
down to the rich storytelling tradition among her
left to the reader’s imagination. But a new
Amish friends. With no televisions or computers,
brand of romantic fiction set in America’s
most Amish families have always kept alive a
Amish communities is proving one of the most
tradition of oral storytelling.
surprising success stories in publishing.
8 Drama tends to revolve around the comings and
2 At a time when most bestsellers seem to
goings at church dances, teenagers not keeping
involve teenage vampires or thrillers based on
to Amish dress codes and behaviour, or flirting
murderous global conspiracy theories, a group
with outsiders. Kisses are not common in the
of authors has been quietly making hundreds
books. Sex is virtually unknown.
of thousands of sales by exploring the romantic
entanglements of the Amish. 9 While contemporary issues do appear in the
books – one novel revolved around an Amish
3 At first, the Amish seem an unlikely inspiration
woman trying Prozac to cure her depression
for novels of lust and forbidden love. Spread
rather than the power of prayer and family –
across the US, but most famously concentrated
most plots are set against the gentle rhythms
in Pennsylvania, the Amish, and similar sects
of farming life, family and devout belief in
like the Mennonites, live quiet lives in small
God. Experts say that this appeals to many
farming communities. They do not use modern
Americans, who see the Amish as some sort
technology, often speak an old-fashioned form of
of idealized group, living a life free from the
German, have strong religious faith, wear 19th-
stresses of the modern world. It is perhaps also
century-looking clothing and bonnets and usually
no coincidence that Amish books are especially
drive horse-drawn buggies.
popular among evangelical Christians. The mild
4 The Amish lifestyle has not stopped the ‘bonnet- portrayals of sex and violence and the emphasis
ripper’ phenomenon from taking off or spreading on faith and traditional family values are all
into other genres, such as Amish thrillers and strong selling points for many religious Americans.
mysteries. Bookseller Barnes and Noble recently
10 “These are things that are highly valued. It
reported that 15 of its top 100 religious fiction
reminds many of them of a sort of life many
titles were Amish novels.
people led in America before the Second World
5 The numbers involved are enough to excite the War. They feel reading these books is like a
struggling publishing industry. Author Beverly trip down memory lane,” said Professor Susan
Lewis has sold 13.5 million copies of her books Trollinger, an expert on Amish issues at the
set among the Pennsylvania Amish; Wanda University of Dayton in Ohio.
Brunstetter’s novels have sold four million
11 Another attraction is the ‘otherness’ of the Amish,
copies. One publisher, Thomas Nelson, is
who remain apart from mainstream America.
releasing five Amish novels this year and has
Their interactions with the outside world are
plans for six more next year. The phenomenon
often guarded, and they refuse to enter the 20th
has gained mainstream media attention from the
or 21st century.
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12 “No Amish person could really write a book like
these novels. They could not do so and stay in
an Amish church. They would be kicked out,”
Trollinger said.
Look back over the article to find the answers to these questions:
1. Which US state are the Amish usually associated with?

2. What language do they speak?
3. How do they deal with modern technology?
4. Which international bookseller is mentioned in the article?
5. How is a ‘bonnet-ripper’ different to a ‘bodice-ripper’?
6. Why do American readers like these Amish love stories?
7. Are the authors members of the Amish community?
4 Language - prepositional phrases

a. Complete these phrases from the article with the correct prepositions.
against around out off up

1. take _________
2. (no sign of) letting _________
3. revolve _________
4. set _________
5. kick _________
b. Match them with the meanings and find them in the article to read them in context.
to have something as a very important part or purpose

slowing down
become a success
to force someone to leave a place or organization
situated amongst
c. Write some example sentences of your own using the prepositional phrases above.
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5 Discussion
6 Webquest
Which (fiction) books are currently at, or near, the top of these bestseller lists?
www.amazon.co.uk

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KEY
b 1. Pennsylvania
2. An old-fashioned form of German
3. They avoid it.
2 Key words 4. Barnes and Noble
5. There is hardly any sex or violence in a
1. bonnet bonnet-ripper.
2. conspiracy theories 6. It makes them think of the (quieter and more
3. entanglements innocent) life many of them led before WWII.
4. sects 7. No. Amish people could not write these novels as
5. phenomenon they would not be able to do so and stay in the
6. outsiders Amish church.
7. contemporary issues
8. devout
9. idealized 4 Language – prepositional phrases
10. portrayals
11. emphasis take off = become a success
12. guarded (no sign of) letting up = slowing down
revolve around = to have something as a very important
part or purpose
set against = situated amongst
kick out = to force someone to leave a place or
organization
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Whitney Houston: Return of the troubled diva
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
rehabilitation invincible knack auction phenomenal
infamy bland peak abusive decline
1. If someone has a _________________ for doing something, they have the skill or ability to do it, even if it is
something negative.
2. A _________________ person is one who is not interesting, exciting or original.
3. An _________________ person is one who treats another person in a cruel or violent way.
4. _________________ is the process of helping someone give up drugs or alcohol.
5. If someone’s career _________________, it reaches the highest level of performance before the person
becomes less successful.
6. If something is _________________, it is extremely impressive or surprising.
7. An _________________ person is too strong to be defeated.
8. An _________________ is a public occasion where things are sold to the people who offer the most money
for them.
9. If someone’s career is in _________________, it is becoming less successful.
10. _________________ is having a reputation for something bad.
2 What do you know?

1. Whitney Houston is 56 years old.
2. She was born in California.
3. The song I Will Always Love You comes from the film The Bodyguard.
4. Whitney Houston is related to Dionne Warwick.
5. She is married to the R&B singer Bobby Brown.
6. Houston’s co-star in The Bodyguard was Kevin Costner.
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NEWS LESSONS / Whitney Houston: Return of the troubled diva / Advanced

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Level 3 Advanced
Whitney Houston: Return of the 5 Those dark years were a long way from her
troubled diva clean-cut childhood. She was born in New
Jersey and educated at the best local school.
Oliver Marre
Her father was a truck driver and later entered
20 September, 2009
local politics. Her mother is singer Cissy
1 On the release of her first album in 1985, Houston, her cousins include Dionne and
Whitney Houston was hailed by the New York Dee Dee Warwick and her godmother was
Times as “an exceptional vocal talent”. Last Aretha Franklin.
month, her latest album was welcomed more
6 With this background, it might appear that
cautiously by the same newspaper, “She’s
Houston was always going to be a star but her
tentatively climbing back into the pop machinery,
father always said that it was not until she was
no longer invincible but showing a diva’s
11 that they decided to put her on stage with her
determination.”
mother. By the time she was 21, she had signed
2 In the intervening 24 years, Houston has her own record deal and shortly afterwards came
achieved the heights of extraordinary fame her debut album, Whitney Houston, which had
– according to one source, she is the fourth- phenomenal success. Her appeal seemed to
biggest-selling female star of all time – and the be universal – black, white, rich, poor: everyone
depths of tabloid infamy. She has spent evenings loved Whitney Houston.
on the world’s biggest stages and months in
7 Later, Houston, who had been called a great
drug rehabilitation centres. She has starred in
“cross-over artist” for her ability to bridge the
blockbuster movies and in a much-criticized
racial divide, found herself facing criticism for
reality television show. And last week, she
becoming “too white” but this had little effect on
appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s chat show and is
the Houston machine. In 1992, she starred with
once again making headlines all over the world.
Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard and released
3 It is not hard to see why she remains a subject I Will Always Love You from the soundtrack. As
of such fascination. Her early talent was widely well as making her even more famous, the film
praised, she is a genuine Hollywood star and her provoked another round of criticism. Was her
most famous songs – such as I Will Always Love appeal universal or was she just too bland? Who
You – are instantly recognizable. And yet she exactly was she? “People know who I am,”
has a knack for public confessions. Her reality she retorted.
TV show – Being Bobby Brown – was supposed
8 But did they? The world had met a clean-cut
to re-launch her then husband’s musical career
young star. She had supported Nelson Mandela
but became more famous for providing shocking
and the anti-apartheid campaign and had raised
details of his aggression towards her and the
money for charity. However, all this was about to
way they lived.
be eclipsed by a very public personal decline. In
4 In 2002, she gave an interview to American TV 1992, after relationships with actor Eddie Murphy
journalist Diane Sawyer in which she denied and American football star Randall Cunningham,
taking crack cocaine. And in 2007, when she she married R&B singer Bobby Brown.
owed a storage company £100,000, she paid
9 In her Oprah Winfrey interview, Houston
the bill by putting hundreds of items of clothing
insisted that Brown was not responsible for her
and furniture up for public auction. This time,
subsequent drug taking and continues to deny
Houston has spoken about how her mother
that he ever beat her but she describes her
forced her into rehab. She added that for a
marriage as “emotionally abusive”. During their
full seven months, while she was using drugs
marriage, Brown was twice in prison. He was
heavily, she wore her pyjamas and did not
also arrested for allegedly hitting Houston.
get dressed.
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Level 3 Advanced
10 Houston did not produce another studio album ago and went straight to number one. It seems
until 1998 but in the intervening years she hard to believe that she is just 46 – no reflection
starred in two more films and produced a on her handsome looks. Partly, this is because
soundtrack album to accompany each. Waiting so much has happened, and so publicly, in
to Exhale was marketed more directly to a black her relatively short life. But it is also because
audience than any of her previous work but she peaked early, before hip-hop had hit the
it proved a success, taking more than $80m mainstream and revolutionized black American
across the world. In August 2001, she signed a music, and seems to belong to a different
new record contract with Arista worth $100m, era. We have, though, already seen two very
which was the biggest deal in recording history. different sides of Houston and her future
remains unclear but phase three of her career
11 She divorced Bobby Brown in April 2007 and
may just be starting.
people close to her say she has been quietly
rebuilding her life – and recording I Look to You, © Guardian News & Media 2009
which was released in America three weeks First published in The Guardian, 20/09/09
1. How has the New York Times reacted to Whitney Houston’s new album?
a. Enthusiastically, just as it did in 1985.
b. Quite positively but with much less enthusiasm than in 1985.
c. Very negatively, urging its readers to be cautious about buying the album.
2. Which of these statements best describes Whitney Houston’s career?

a. She has had a professional career that has been full of ups and downs.
b. She has revolutionized black American music.
c. She has starred in blockbuster movies and hit television shows.
3. How did Houston describe her marriage to Bobby Brown?

a. She insisted that Brown was responsible for her drug-taking.
b. She said that there was some emotional abuse in the relationship.
c. She said it was full of aggression.
4. Why is it surprising that she is only 46 years old?

a. Because she looks much older.
b. Because so much has happened in her life.
c. Because she is very good-looking.
.
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Level 3 Advanced
Find the words and phrases in the text.
1. an adverb meaning with a certain lack of confidence or certainty (para 1)
2. a two-word expression meaning very easy to recognize (para 3)
3. a two-word adjective meaning neat and tidy (para 5)
4. a noun meaning the type of family, social position or culture that someone comes from (para 6)
5. a verb meaning to make a film, video or CD available for people to see or buy (para 7)
6. a verb meaning to make someone or something seem less successful or important by becoming more
successful or important than they are (para 8)
7. an adjective meaning happening or coming after something else (para 9)
8. a two-word noun phrase meaning ideas, methods or people that are considered ordinary or normal and
accepted by most people (para 11)

Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns or noun phrases they go with in the
right-hand column.
1. make a. an album
2. re-launch b. money for charity
3. sign c. a campaign
4. release d. headlines
5. bridge e. a contract/a deal
6. raise f. criticism
7. support g. a career
8. face h. the divide
6 Word building
1. Brown was arrested for _________________ hitting Houston. [ALLEGE]
2. Whitney Houston has a great deal of _________________. [DETERMINE]
3. She has described her marriage as _________________ abusive. [EMOTION]
4. The Bodyguard attracted quite a lot of _________________. [CRITICIZE]
5. Houston was described as having an _________________ vocal talent. [EXCEPTION]
6. Hip-hop _________________ black American music. [REVOLUTION]
7 Discussion
Should the private lives of famous people be revealed to the rest of the world or should they be kept
private?
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Level 3 Advanced
KEY
1. knack 1. tentatively
2. bland 2. instantly recognizable
3. abusive 3. clean-cut
4. rehabilitation 4. background
5. peaks 5. release
6. phenomenal 6. eclipse
7. invincible 7. subsequent
8. auction 8. the mainstream
9. decline
10. infamy

2. g
1. F 3. e
2. F 4. a
3. T 5. h
4. T 6. b
5. F 7. c
6. T 8. f
1. b 1. allegedly
2. a 2. determination
3. b 3. emotionally
4. b 4. criticism
5. exceptional
6. revolutionized
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Level 1 Elementary
1 Key words
rehabilitation allegedly bland abusive vocal
genuine release clean-cut divorce tabloid
1. If you ____________________ a film, video or CD, you make it available for people to see or buy.
2. A ____________________ person is very neat and tidy.
3. If you ____________________ someone, you take legal action to end your marriage.
4. ____________________ newspapers have fairly small pages and mostly contain stories about famous people
and not much serious news.
5. If someone has ____________________ done something wrong, another person says they have done it, even
though this has not been proved.
6. ____________________ is the process of helping someone give up drugs or alcohol.
7. An ____________________ person is one who treats another person in a cruel or violent way.
8. If something is ____________________, it is real rather than pretended or false.
9. ____________________ means relating to the voice, or done with the voice.
10. A ____________________ person is one who is not interesting, exciting or original.

1. Where was Whitney Houston born?
2. Which well-known singer is Whitney Houston’s godmother?
3. Which film does the song I Will Always Love You come from?
4. Who was Houston’s co-star in The Bodyguard?
5. When did she divorce Bobby Brown?
6. How old is Whitney Houston?
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Level 1 Elementary
Whitney Houston: Return of the Her father was a truck driver and later
troubled diva entered local politics. Her mother is singer
Cissy Houston, her cousins include Dionne
Oliver Marre
and Dee Dee Warwick and her godmother
20 September, 2009
was Aretha Franklin.
1 When she released her first album in 1985, the
6 With this family background, Houston was
New York Times described Whitney Houston as
always going to be a star but her father always
“an exceptional vocal talent”. Last month, the
said that they did not decide to put her on stage
same newspaper gave her latest album a more
until she was 11. By the time she was 21, she
cautious welcome, “She’s slowly returning to the
had signed her own record deal and soon
pop scene, no longer the greatest but showing
afterwards, she released her first album, Whitney
the determination of a real star.”
Houston, which was extremely successful.
2 In the 24 years since 1985, Houston has Black, white, rich, poor: everyone loved
reached the heights of extraordinary fame – Whitney Houston.
she is the fourth-biggest-selling female star
7 Some people called her a great “cross-over
of all time – but has also been the subject of
artist” because she was able to bridge the racial
numerous stories in the tabloid press. She has
divide between black and white but others
spent evenings on the world’s biggest stages
criticized her for being “too white”. This did not
and months in drug rehabilitation centres. She
have much effect on the ‘Houston machine’. In
has starred in blockbuster movies and in a reality
1992, she starred with Kevin Costner in The
television show. And last week, she appeared on
Bodyguard and released the song I Will Always
Oprah Winfrey’s chat show and is now making
Love You from the film’s soundtrack. The film
newspaper headlines all over the world again.
made her even more famous but it also attracted
3 It is not difficult to see why people find her so more criticism. Did everyone really like her or
interesting. As a young singer she was very was she just too bland? Who exactly was she?
talented, she is a genuine Hollywood star and “People know who I am,” she replied.
most people know her most famous songs –
8 But did they? At first, she was a clean-cut young
such as I Will Always Love You. But she often
star. She supported Nelson Mandela and the
talks about her private life in public. The aim of
anti-apartheid campaign and raised money for
her reality TV show – Being Bobby Brown – was
charity. However, soon, her personal life began
to re-start her former husband’s musical career
to make the newspaper headlines. In 1992,
but the show became more famous for providing
after relationships with actor Eddie Murphy and
shocking details of his behaviour towards her
American football star Randall Cunningham, she
and the way they lived.
married R&B singer Bobby Brown.
4 In 2002, she gave an interview to American TV
9 In her Oprah Winfrey interview, Houston said
journalist Diane Sawyer in which she said she
that Brown was not responsible for her drug-
had never taken crack cocaine. And in 2007,
taking and she says that he didn’t beat her but
when she owed £100,000, she paid the bill by
she describes her marriage as “emotionally
selling some of her clothes and furniture. This
abusive”. During their marriage, Brown was twice
time, Houston has spoken about how her mother
in prison. He was also arrested for allegedly
forced her into drug rehabilitation. She also
hitting Houston.
said that for seven months, while she was using
drugs heavily, she only wore pyjamas and did 10 Houston did not produce another studio album
not get dressed. until 1998 but she starred in two more films and
produced a soundtrack album for each of them.
5 Those dark years were a long way from her
Waiting to Exhale was marketed more directly to
clean-cut childhood. She was born in New
a black audience than any of her previous work
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but it was a success, earning more than $80m is because so much has happened, and so
around the world. In August 2001, she signed a publicly, in her relatively short life. But it is also
new record contract with Arista worth $100m – because she became famous so early, before
the biggest deal in recording history. hip-hop revolutionized black American music,
and seems to belong to a different time. We
11 She divorced Bobby Brown in April 2007 and
have already seen two very different sides of
her friends say she has been quietly rebuilding
Houston and her future is unclear but part three
her life – and recording I Look to You, which
of her career may just be starting.
was released in America three weeks ago
and went straight to number one. It seems © Guardian News & Media 2009
hard to believe that she is only 46. Partly, this First published in The Guardian, 20/09/09
1. Whitney Houston has been a star … a. … was her most famous film.
2. Her latest album … b. … was the biggest deal in recording history.
3. Her record contract with Arista … c. … was in prison twice.
4. While she was using drugs, … d. … went straight to number one.
5. The Bodyguard … e. … since 1985.
6. Her ex-husband … f. … she didn’t get dressed for seven months.
4 Chunks
1. the over world all
2. always I you love will
3. she 11 was until
4. time 21 the was by she
5. know am people I who
6. 6. around $80m than the world more
5 Word building: Adjectives

Complete the table.
noun adjective
1. fame
2. caution
3. music
4. success
5. race
6. abuse
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Match the verbs in the left-hand column with the nouns or noun phrases in the right-hand column. Check
1. release a. an effect .
2. give b. a contract
3. take c. criticism
4. sign d. drugs
5. have e. an album
6. attract f. money for charity
7. raise g. a campaign
8. support h. an interview
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KEY
1. release 1. all over the world

2. clean-cut 2. I will always love you
3. divorce 3. until she was 11
4. tabloid 4. by the time she was 21
5. allegedly 5. people know who I am
6. rehabilitation 6. more than $80m around the world
7. abusive
8. genuine
9. vocal 5 Word building: adjectives
10. bland
1. famous
2. cautious
2 Find the information 3. musical
4. successful
1. New Jersey 5. racial
2. Aretha Franklin 6. abusive
3. The Bodyguard
3. Kevin Costner
4. April 2007 6 Verb + noun collocations
5. 46
1. e
2. h
3 Comprehension check 3. d
4. b
1. e 5. a
2. d 6. c
3. b 7. f
4. f 8. g
5. a
6. c
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1 Key words
confession re-launch invincible auction rehabilitation
infamy bland abusive decline debut
1. _______________________ is the process of helping someone give up drugs or alcohol.
2. An _______________________ person is too strong to be defeated.
3. If someone’s career is in _______________________, the person is becoming less successful.
4. _______________________ is having a reputation for something bad.
5. A _______________________ CD, album, appearance, etc. is the first one that a performer makes.
6. If you _______________________ a career, you start it again and hope that it will be more successful
than before.
7. An _______________________ person is one who treats another person in a cruel or violent way.
8. An _______________________ is a public occasion where things are sold to the people who offer the most
money for them.
9. A _______________________ person is one who is not interesting, exciting or original.
10. A _______________________ is a spoken or written statement in which you admit that you have done
something wrong.

1. How old is Whitney Houston?
2. Where was she born?
3. Which film does the song I Will Always Love You come from?
4. Which well-known singer is Whitney Houston’s godmother?
5. Which R&B singer was Whitney Houston married to?
6. Who was Houston’s co-star in The Bodyguard?
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Whitney Houston: Return of the 5 Those dark years were a long way from her
troubled diva clean-cut childhood. She was born in New
Oliver Marre
Her father was a truck driver and later entered
20 September, 2009
local politics. Her mother is singer Cissy
1 When she released her first album in 1985, the Houston, her cousins include Dionne and Dee
New York Times described Whitney Houston as Dee Warwick and her godmother was Aretha
“an exceptional vocal talent”. Last month, the Franklin.
same newspaper gave her latest album a more
6 With this background, it might appear that
cautious welcome, “She’s slowly climbing back
Houston was always going to be a star but her
into the pop machinery, no longer invincible but
father always said that it was not until she was
showing the determination of a real star.”
11 that they decided to put her on stage with her
In the intervening 24 years, Houston has mother. By the time she was 21, she had signed
2 reached the heights of extraordinary fame her own record deal and shortly afterwards came
– according to one source, she is the fourth- her debut album, Whitney Houston, which was
biggest-selling female star of all time – and extremely successful. Her appeal was universal
also the depths of infamy in the tabloid press. – black, white, rich, poor: everyone loved
She has spent evenings on the world’s biggest Whitney Houston.
stages and months in drug rehabilitation centres.
7 Later, Houston, who had been called a great
She has starred in blockbuster movies and in a
“cross-over artist” for her ability to bridge the
much-criticized reality television show. And last
racial divide, found herself facing criticism for
week, she appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s chat
becoming “too white” but this had little effect on
show and is once again making headlines all
the ‘Houston machine’. In 1992, she starred with
over the world.
Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard and released
3 It is not hard to see why she still fascinates from the soundtrack.
people. Her early talent was widely praised, she As well as making her even more famous, the
is a genuine Hollywood star and most people film attracted more criticism. Was her appeal
know her most famous songs – such as I Will universal or was she just too bland? Who exactly
Always Love You. And yet she has a tendency was she? “People know who I am,” she replied.
to make public confessions. Her reality TV
8 But did they? The world had met a clean-cut
show – Being Bobby Brown – was supposed
young star. She had supported Nelson Mandela
to re-launch her then husband’s musical career
and the anti-apartheid campaign and had raised
but became more famous for providing shocking
money for charity. However, all this was about
details of his behaviour towards her and the way
to be overshadowed by a very public personal
they lived.
decline. In 1992, after relationships with actor
4 In 2002, she gave an interview to American TV Eddie Murphy and American football star Randall
journalist Diane Sawyer in which she denied Cunningham, she married R&B singer Bobby
taking crack cocaine. And in 2007, when she Brown.
owed £100,000, she paid the bill by putting
9 In her Oprah Winfrey interview, Houston insisted
hundreds of items of clothing and furniture up for
that Brown was not responsible for her drug-
public auction. This time, Houston has spoken
taking and continues to deny that he ever
about how her mother forced her into rehab.
beat her but she describes her marriage as
She added that for seven months, while she was
“emotionally abusive”. During their marriage,
using drugs heavily, she only wore pyjamas and
Brown was twice in prison. He was also arrested
did not get dressed.
for allegedly hitting Houston.
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10 Houston did not produce another studio album weeks ago and went straight to number one.
until 1998 but in the intervening years she It seems hard to believe that she is just 46.
starred in two more films and produced a Partly, this is because so much has happened,
soundtrack album to accompany each. Waiting and so publicly, in her relatively short life. But
to Exhale was marketed more directly to a black it is also because she became famous so
audience than any of her previous work but early, before hip-hop had hit the mainstream
it proved a success, taking more than $80m and revolutionized black American music, and
across the world. In August 2001, she signed a seems to belong to a different era. We have,
new record contract with Arista worth $100m, though, already seen two very different sides
which was the biggest deal in recording history. of Houston and her future remains unclear but
phase three of her career may just be starting.
11 She divorced Bobby Brown in April 2007and
people close to her say she has been quietly © Guardian News & Media 2009
rebuilding her life – and recording I Look to First published in The Guardian, 20/09/09
You, which was released in America three
1. The New York Times has described Whitney Houston’s new album as “exceptional”.
2. Her reality TV show was badly received by the critics.
3. Houston is both a singer and an actress.
4. She has admitted taking crack cocaine.
5. Bobby Brown was sent to prison for hitting Houston.
6. Houston is no longer married to Bobby Brown.
4 Find the word

1. an adjective meaning relating to the voice or done with the voice (para 1)
2. an adjective meaning happening between two events or times (para 2)
3. a verb meaning to attract and interest people very strongly (para 3)
4. a two-word adjective meaning neat and tidy (para 5)
5. a noun meaning the type of family, social position or culture that someone comes from (para 6)
6. a verb meaning to make a film, video or CD available for people to see or buy (para 7)
7. a verb meaning to make someone or something seem less successful or important by becoming more
successful or important than they are (para 8)
8. a two-word noun phrase meaning ideas, methods or people that are considered ordinary or normal and
accepted by most people (para 11)
.
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1. tabloid a. show
2. blockbuster b. divide
3. chat c. auction
4. drug d. contract
5. record e. press
6. debut f. taking
7. public g. album
8. racial h. movie
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. criticize
2. determine
3. tend
4. behave
5. marry
6. rehabilitate
7 Discussion
Do you like Whitney Houston? Why? Why not?
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KEY
1. rehabilitation 1. vocal
2. invincible 2. intervening
3. decline 3. fascinate
4. infamy 4. clean-cut
5. debut 5. background
6. re-launch 6. release
7. abusive 7. overshadow
8. auction 8. the mainstream
9. bland
10. confession

2. h
1. 46 3. a
2. New Jersey 4. f
3. The Bodyguard 5. d
3. Aretha Franklin 6. g
4. Bobby Brown 7. c
5. Kevin Costner 8. b
1. F 1. critic
1. T 2. determination
1. T 3. tendency
1. F 4. behaviour
1. F 5. marriage
1. T 6. rehabilitation
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Barack Obama ‘surprised’ and ‘humbled’ by Nobel Peace Prize
Level 3 Advanced
1 Key words
escalate scepticism snub assertion condemn
rile citation windfall inspired breakthrough
1. A _______________________ is a large amount of money that you get when you are not expecting it.
2. A _______________________ is a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of hard work.
3. A _______________________ is an official statement praising someone for something they have done.
4. An _______________________ is a definite statement or claim that something is true.
5. If people express _______________________ about something that other people think is true or right, they
express doubts about it.
6. If you _______________________ a situation you make it worse or more serious.
7. If something _______________________ you, it makes you very annoyed.
8. If you _______________________ something, you say publicly that you think it is bad or wrong.
9. A _______________________ is a deliberate attempt to annoy someone by ignoring them.
10. If something is _______________________, it is very special or impressive.
2 What do you know?

1. Barack Obama had been in office for just over a year when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2. He is the first sitting US president to win the prize.
3. The Nobel Peace Prize Committee is Norwegian.
4. Kofi Annan is the current United Nations secretary general.
5. The Iranian president was upset by the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama.
6. The Nobel Peace Prize comes with a cash award of $1.4m.
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Barack Obama ‘surprised’ and said it was likely that more than one charity will
‘humbled’ by Nobel Peace Prize benefit but that the president has yet to decide
which charities will share the windfall. Amid
Chris McGreal in Washington and Gwladys
the official congratulations from the rest of the
Fouché in Oslo
world, the Prize touched off a verbal war in the
9 October, 2009
US where Republicans said he had failed to
1 Barack Obama was as surprised as most of achieve anything that justified the award and
America, and much of the world, to be woken characterized it as a political statement.
before dawn and told he had won the Nobel
6 The noisy and influential conservative talk show
Peace Prize after just nine months in office and
hosts described it as primarily intended as a
while he is deciding whether to escalate the
snub to the former president, George Bush,
war in Afghanistan. The Nobel Committee said
rather than for any particular achievements by
it chose Obama “for his extraordinary efforts
Obama. “This is nonsensical,” said radio host,
to strengthen international diplomacy and
Mike Gallagher, on Fox News. “You guys can’t
cooperation between peoples” and for creating
let President Bush go, can you? That’s the
“a new international climate”.
reason for the Nobel Peace Prize. [Obama]
2 “Only very rarely has a person to the same doesn’t act like a cowboy.” Obama’s Democratic
extent as Obama captured the world’s Party responded to the attacks by accusing
attention and given its people hope for a better the Republicans of “throwing their lot in with
future,” the Committee said in its citation. “His the terrorists – the Taliban and Hamas – in
diplomacy is founded in the concept that those criticizing the president for receiving the Nobel
who are to lead the world must do so on the Peace Prize”.
basis of values and attitudes that are shared by
7 The Norwegian Nobel Committee rejected
the majority of the world’s population.”
assertions that the Prize was awarded
3 Obama recognized the immediate scepticism prematurely by pointing to Obama’s speech
from almost every quarter over awarding the to the Muslim world in Cairo and his attempts
Prize to a president who was in office less to start the Israeli-Palestinian peace process,
than a fortnight when the deadline passed for his emphasis on dialogue over confrontation in
nominations and who, critics swiftly noted, has international diplomacy and his commitment to
yet to achieve any significant breakthroughs nuclear disarmament. “We want to emphasize
in his attempts to foster Middle East peace that he has already brought significant
or halt Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions changes,” said the committee secretary, Geir
while continuing to oversee a major war in Lundestad. “All these things have already taken
Afghanistan. “I do not feel that I deserve to be in place and this has already had a very significant
the company of so many transformative figures impact on international relations. We do, of
that have been honoured by this Prize,” the course, hope that there will be many concrete
president said. changes over the years. But when a president
makes all these changes on these ideals, which
4 But Obama said he would accept it as a
are the ideals the Norwegian Nobel Committee
recognition of the struggles of others for peace,
has had for a hundred years, we felt it was right
and said it must be “shared by everyone who
to strengthen him as much as we can in this
strives for justice and dignity”.“I will accept this
further struggle for these ideals.”
award as a call to action, a call to all nations, to
confront the challenges of the 21st century,” 8 The former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan,
he said. described the award as an “unexpected
but inspired choice”. A Taliban spokesman,
5 Obama will donate to charity the $1.4m
Zabihullah Mujahid, thought otherwise.“He has
(£880,000) cash award that comes with the
not taken a single step for peace in Afghanistan
Prize. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs
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or to make this country stable ... We condemn 10 Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the Prize
this year’s Peace Prize as unjust,” he said. The Committee, said that does not detract from
Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said the award. “The situation in Afghanistan is
he was “not upset” by the award. very difficult but we cannot look away from all
the other positive things he [Obama] is trying
9 It remains to be seen whether the Prize will
to do,” he said. “It’s a conflict that concerns
indeed strengthen Obama’s hand or put him
us all. It’s not tricky with regards to the Nobel
on the back foot in the US where there is
Peace Prize.” The award also mystified many
acute sensitivity to perceived weakness in
liberals who have become increasingly critical of
international affairs. The citation’s assertion
Obama for failing to press ahead swiftly enough
that Obama’s diplomacy reflects “values and
on commitments to close Guantánamo Bay and
attitudes that are shared by the majority of the
domestic issues such as on recognition of gay
world’s population” riled conservatives who view
rights. Obama is only the third sitting president
the US president’s role as to stand up to hostile
to win the prize, with the others awarded to
and untrustworthy foreigners. The award comes
Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow
as Obama is under pressure from US military
Wilson in 1919.
leaders to pour tens of thousands more troops
into Afghanistan and from national security © Guardian News & Media 2009
advisers to shift the conflict to pursuing al-Qaida First published in The Guardian, 09/10/09
in Pakistan.
1. Which answer best describes the reaction to the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama?
a. Most people felt that the choice of Obama was inspired.
b. Most people felt that the award was unjust.
c. Many people were sceptical because he had only been in office for two weeks when the deadline for
nominations passed.
2. What will Barack Obama do with the money that comes with the Nobel Peace Prize?
a. He will give it to a specific charity.
b. He will probably give it to several charities.
c. He will return it to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
3. Why, according to the Nobel Committee, was the award given to President Obama?
a. Because he has initiated changes that reflect the ideals of the Nobel Committee.
b. Because he spoke to the Muslim world in Cairo.
c. Because he has made a significant breakthrough in fostering Middle East peace.
4. What are the president’s national security advisers urging him to do?
a. send thousands more troops to Afghanistan
b. pursue al-Qaida in Pakistan
c. close Guantánamo Bay
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4 Find the word
1. a noun meaning a period of two weeks (para 3)
2. a verb meaning to promote or to help something develop over a period of time (para 3)
3. a two-word phrasal verb meaning to make a lot of effort to achieve something (para 4)
4. a two-word phrasal verb meaning to make something unpleasant or dangerous happen (para 5)
5. a five-word expression meaning to decide to support or join a particular group (para 6)
6. an adverb meaning too soon or before the usual time (para 7)
7. an four-word expression meaning on the defensive (para 9)
8. a two-word phrasal verb meaning to make something seem less good, attractive or important (para 10)

1. achieve a. someone’s attention
2. donate b. an impact on something
3. award c. money to charity
4. have d. international cooperation
5. capture e. a prize
6. strengthen f. a breakthrough
6 Word building
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the words in brackets at the end of each sentence.
1. There has been a lot of _______________________ about awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama.
[SCEPTIC]
2. He intends to accept the award in _______________________ of the struggle of others for peace.
[RECOGNIZE]
3. Conservative talk show hosts are regarded as _______________________ in the US. [INFLUENCE]
4. They are sceptical about Obama’s _______________________. [ACHIEVE]
5. The Nobel Committee highlighted Obama’s _______________________ to nuclear disarmament. [COMMIT]
6. Kofi Annan described the award as _______________________. [EXPECT]
7 Discussion
Do you think it was right to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama? Why? Why not?
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KEY
1. windfall 1. fortnight
2. breakthrough 2. foster
3. citation 3. strive for
4. assertion 4. touch off
5. scepticism 5. throw one’s lot in with
6. escalate 6. prematurely
7. riles 7. on the back foot
8. condemn 8. detract from
9. snub
10. inspired

2. c
1. F 3. e
2. F 4. b
3. T 5. a
4. F 6. d
5. F
6. T
6 Word building
3 Comprehension check 1. scepticism

2. recognition
1. c 3. influential
2. b 4. achievements
3. a 5. commitment
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1 Key words
sceptical deadline escalate charity inspired
breakthrough stable challenge confrontation disarmament
1. A ____________________ is a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of hard work.
2. ____________________ is a situation in which people or groups are arguing angrily or fighting.
3. A ____________________ is a specific time or date by which you have to do something.
4. ____________________ is a process by which a country reduces or gets rid of its weapons.
5. If people are ____________________ about something that other people think is true or right, they express
doubts about it.
6. A ____________________ is a task that needs a lot of skill, energy and determination to achieve.
7. A ____________________ country is one that is peaceful and in which the situation doesn’t change suddenly
or become worse.
8. If you ____________________ a situation, you make it worse or more serious.
9. A ____________________ is an organization to which you give money so that it can help people who are poor
or ill.
10. If something is ____________________, it is very special or impressive.

1. How long has Barack Obama been US president?
2. How much money comes with the Nobel Peace Prize?
3. In which country is the Nobel Peace Prize Committee based?
4. Where did Barack Obama make his speech to the Muslim world?
5. Who is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?
6. When did Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson win the Nobel Peace Prize?
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Level 1 Elementary
Barack Obama ‘surprised’ and angry debate in the US where Republicans
‘humbled’ by Nobel Peace Prize said he had not done anything to deserve the
award and called it a political statement. Some
conservative talk show hosts described the
Fouché in Oslo
award as an insult to the former president,
9 October, 2009
George Bush, rather than for any particular
1 Barack Obama was as surprised as most of achievements by Obama. “This is crazy,” said
America, and much of the world, when he radio host, Mike Gallagher, on Fox News. “It’s
heard he had won the Nobel Peace Prize. He all about President Bush. That’s the reason for
has been president for just nine months and the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s because Obama
he is still deciding whether to escalate the war doesn’t act like a cowboy.”
in Afghanistan. The Nobel Committee said it
6 The Norwegian Nobel Committee said that it
chose Obama “for his extraordinary efforts
was not too early to award Obama the Prize.
to strengthen international diplomacy and
They highlighted his speech to the Muslim world
in Cairo and his attempts to start the Israeli-
Palestinian peace process, his emphasis on
2 “It is very rare for someone to capture the dialogue over confrontation in international
world’s attention and give its people hope for a diplomacy and his commitment to nuclear
better future like Obama has,” the Committee disarmament. “We want to emphasize that he
said in a statement. “His diplomacy is based on has already made significant changes,” said
the idea that people who lead the world must the Committee secretary, Geir Lundestad. “All
lead it on the basis of values and attitudes that these things have already taken place and this
the majority of the world’s population has already had a very significant impact on
also share.” international relations.”
3 Obama recognized that many people were 7 The former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan,
sceptical about giving the Prize to a president described the award as an “unexpected
who had been in office less than two weeks but inspired choice”. A Taliban spokesman,
when the deadline for nominations passed. Zabihullah Mujahid, thought differently. “He has
Critics said that Obama has not yet achieved not taken a single step for peace in Afghanistan
any significant breakthroughs in his attempts or to make this country stable ... We think this
to promote Middle East peace or stop Iran’s year’s Peace Prize is unfair,” he said. The
nuclear plans and he is still running a major war Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said
in Afghanistan. “I do not feel that I deserve to he was “not upset” by the award.
be in the company of so many important figures
8 It is not certain whether the award of the Prize
that have won this Prize in the past,”
will strengthen Obama’s position or weaken it
the president said.
in the United States, where many people are
4 But Obama said he would accept the Prize as a critical of weakness in international affairs.
recognition of the struggles of others for peace, Many conservatives expect the US president
and said it must be “shared by everyone who to confront unfriendly foreigners who cannot
works for justice and dignity”.“I will accept this be trusted. Obama has received the award at a
award as a call to action, a call to all nations, to time when he is under pressure from US military
meet the challenges of the twenty-first century,” leaders to send tens of thousands more troops
he said. He will give to charity the $1.4m to Afghanistan and when his national security
(£880,000) cash award that comes with advisers are telling him he should hunt al-Qaida
the Prize. in Pakistan.
5 In the middle of the official congratulations 9 The chairman of the Prize Committee said the
from the rest of the world, the Prize led to an war in Afghanistan does not affect the award.
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Level 1 Elementary
“The situation in Afghanistan is very difficult but 10 Obama is only the third sitting president to win
we cannot ignore all the other positive things the Prize, with the others awarded to Theodore
he [Obama] is trying to do,” he said. The award Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson
also surprised many liberals who have become in 1919.
more and more critical of Obama for failing to
close Guantánamo Bay and make changes in
American politics such as recognition of
gay rights.
1. President Obama did not expect … a. … a political statement.
2. He is planning … b. … win the Nobel Peace Prize.
3. His critics say that he did not deserve to … c. … his failure to close Guantánamo Bay.
4. The Prize Committee said it was for … d. … to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
5. Some talk show hosts described the award as … e. … his work in international diplomacy.
6. Some liberals have criticized Obama for … f. … to give all the money to charity.
4 Chunks
1. just for months nine
2. the population of the world’s majority
3. two than weeks less
4. rest world the of the
5. challenges of the the century twenty-first
6. on significant relations a international impact
5 Prepositions
1. hope _______ a better future
2. on the basis _______ values
3. sceptical _______ awarding the Prize
4. the deadline _______ nominations
5. his emphasis _______ dialogue
6. critical _______ weakness
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Level 1 Elementary
Match the words in the left-hand column with those in the right-hand column to make expressions from the
text
1. international a. process
2. nuclear b. adviser
3. political c. diplomacy
4. peace d. statement
5. talk e. disarmament
6. security f. show
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Level 1 Elementary
KEY
4 Chunks
1 Key words
1. for just nine months
1. breakthrough 2. the majority of the world’s population
2. Confrontation 3. less than two weeks
3. deadline 4. the rest of the world
4. Disarmament 5. the challenges of the twenty-first century
5. sceptical 6. a significant impact on international relations
6. challenge
7. stable
8. escalate 5 Prepositions
9. charity
10. inspired 1. for
2. of
3. about
2 Find the information 4. for
5. on
1. nine months 6. of
2. $1.4m (£880,000)
3. Norway
4. Cairo 6 Two-word expressions
5. the president of Iran
6. 1906 and 1919 1. c
2. e
3. d
3 Comprehension check 4. a
5. f
1. d 6. b
2. f
3. b
4. e
5. a
6. c
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1 Key words
condemn sceptical snub escalate charity
citation inspired justify breakthrough detract
1. If you ______________________ a situation, you make it worse or more serious.
2. If something is ______________________, it is very special or impressive.
3. A ______________________ is an organization to which you give money so that it can help people who are
poor or ill.
4. If you ______________________ something, you say publicly that you think it is bad or wrong.
5. If you ______________________ something, you show there is a good reason for it.
6. If something ______________________ from something else, it makes it less good, attractive or important.
7. A ______________________ is a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of hard work.
8. If people are ______________________ about something that other people think is true or right, they express
doubts about it.
9. A ______________________ is a deliberate attempt to annoy someone by ignoring them.
10. A ______________________ is an official statement praising someone for something they have done.

1. How long had Barack Obama been US president when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
2. How many sitting US presidents had won the Nobel Peace Prize before Barack Obama?
3. Which country is the Nobel Peace Prize Committee based in?
4. What position did Kofi Annan once hold?
5. How much money comes with the Nobel Peace Prize?
6. Where did Barack Obama make his speech to the Muslim world?
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NEWS LESSONS / Barack Obama ‘surprised’ and ‘humbled’ by Nobel Peace Prize / Intermediate
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Barack Obama ‘surprised’ and that more than one charity will benefit but
‘humbled’ by Nobel Peace Prize that the president has yet to decide which
charities will share the money. Amid the official
congratulations from the rest of the world, the
Fouché in Oslo
Prize led to an angry debate in the US where
9 October, 2009
Republicans said he had failed to achieve
1 Barack Obama was as surprised as most of anything that justified the award and called it a
America, and much of the world, when he was political statement.
woken up and told he had won the Nobel Peace
6 The noisy and influential conservative talk
Prize after just nine months as president and
show hosts described the award as being a
while he is still deciding whether to escalate
snub to the former president, George Bush,
the war in Afghanistan. The Nobel Committee
rather than for any particular achievements by
said it chose Obama “for his extraordinary
Obama. “This is nonsensical,” said radio host,
efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and
Mike Gallagher, on Fox News. “You guys can’t
let President Bush go, can you? That’s the
reason for the Nobel Peace Prize. [Obama]
2 “Only very rarely has a person captured the doesn’t act like a cowboy.” Obama’s Democratic
world’s attention and given its people hope for Party responded to the attacks by accusing
a better future like Obama has,” the Committee the Republicans of “being on the same side
said in its citation. “His diplomacy is based on as the terrorists – the Taliban and Hamas – in
the concept that those who are to lead the world criticizing the president for receiving the Nobel
must do so on the basis of values and attitudes Peace Prize”.
that are shared by the majority of the world’s
7 The Norwegian Nobel Committee denied that
population.”
the Prize was awarded prematurely by pointing
3 Obama recognized that many people were to Obama’s speech to the Muslim world in
sceptical about awarding the Prize to a Cairo and his attempts to start the Israeli-
president who had been in office less than Palestinian peace process, his emphasis on
a fortnight when the deadline passed for dialogue over confrontation in international
nominations. Critics were also quick to point out diplomacy and his commitment to nuclear
that Obama has yet to achieve any significant disarmament. “We want to emphasize that he
breakthroughs in his attempts to promote has already brought significant changes,” said
Middle East peace or stop Iran’s alleged nuclear the Committee secretary, Geir Lundestad. “All
ambitions and he is still overseeing a major war these things have already taken place and this
in Afghanistan. “I do not feel that I deserve to already has had a very significant impact on
be in the company of so many transformative international relations. We do, of course, hope
figures that have been honoured by this Prize,” that there will be many concrete changes over
the president said. the years. But when a president makes all these
changes on these ideals, which are the ideals
4 But Obama said he would accept the Prize as a
the Norwegian Nobel Committee has had for
recognition of the struggles of others for peace,
a hundred years, we felt it was right to support
and said it must be “shared by everyone who
him as much as we can in this further struggle
works for justice and dignity”.“I will accept this
for these ideals.”
award as a call to action, a call to all nations, to
meet the challenges of the 21st century,” 8 The former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan,
he said. described the award as an “unexpected
but inspired choice”. A Taliban spokesman,
5 Obama will give to charity the $1.4m (£880,000)
Zabihullah Mujahid, thought differently. “He has
cash award that comes with the Prize. A
not taken a single step for peace in Afghanistan
White House spokesman said it was likely
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or to make this country stable ... We condemn 10 Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the Prize
this year’s Peace Prize as unjust,” he said. The Committee, said this does not detract from
Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said the award. “The situation in Afghanistan is
he was “not upset” by the award. very difficult but we cannot look away from all
9 the other positive things he [Obama] is trying
It remains to be seen whether the Prize will
to do,” he said. “It’s a conflict that concerns
strengthen Obama’s position or put him on
us all. It’s not tricky with regards to the Nobel
the defensive in the US where many people
Peace Prize.” The award also mystified many
are sensitive to what they see as weakness in
liberals who have become increasingly critical
international affairs. The citation’s statement
of Obama for failing to close Guantánamo Bay
that Obama’s diplomacy reflects “values and
and proceed with domestic issues such as
attitudes that are shared by the majority of the
recognition of gay rights. Obama is only the
world’s population” angered conservatives who
third sitting president to win the prize, with the
believe the US president’s role is to stand up to
others awarded to Theodore Roosevelt in 1906
hostile foreigners who cannot be trusted. The
and Woodrow Wilson in 1919.
award comes as Obama is under pressure from
US military leaders to send tens of thousands © Guardian News & Media 2009
more troops to Afghanistan and from national First published in The Guardian, 09/10/09
security advisers to shift the conflict to pursuing
al-Qaida in Pakistan.
1. Barack Obama was not surprised when he learnt that he had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2. Obama will give the prize money to charity.
3. Some conservative talk show hosts believe that awarding the Prize to Barack Obama is intended as an insult
to George Bush.
4. The Taliban, Hamas and Iran have all condemned the award.
5. US military leaders want the president to send tens of thousands more troops to Pakistan.
6. Obama promised to close Guantánamo Bay but hasn’t done so yet.
4 Find the word

Find the following words in the text.
1. a noun meaning a period of two weeks (para 3)
2. an adjective meaning able to make things completely different (para 3)
3. an adjective meaning able to influence the way people think or behave (para 6)
4. an adjective meaning not true or sensible (para 6)
5. an adverb meaning too soon or before the usual time (para 7)
6. a noun meaning a situation in which people or groups are arguing angrily or fighting (para 7)
7. an adjective meaning behaving in a very unfriendly or threatening way (para 9)
8. a verb meaning to chase someone in order to catch them (para 9)
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1. based _______
2. on the basis _______
3. a call _______ action
4. respond _______
5. criticize someone _______ doing something
6. an emphasis _______ something
7. an impact _______ something
8. detract _______
6 Word building
Complete the table.
verb noun
1. recognize
2. state
3. achieve
4. emphasize
5. confront
6. disarm
7 Discussion
What are the arguments for and against the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama?
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1. escalate 1. fortnight
2. inspired 2. transformative
3. charity 3. influential
4. condemn 4. nonsensical
5. justify 5. prematurely
6. detracts 6. confrontation
7. breakthrough 7. hostile
8. sceptical 8. pursue
9. snub
10. citation
2 Find the information 1. on

2. of
1. nine months 3. to
2. two 4. to
3. Norway 5. for
4. UN secretary general 6. on
5. $1.4m (£880,000) 7. on
6. Cairo 8. from
1. F 1. recognition
2. T 2. statement
3. T 3. achievement
4. F 4. emphasis
5. F 5. confrontation
6. T 6. disarmament
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One Stop English Weekly Lessons 100-160

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‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition

hacker extradition naive bail disproportionate

nerd lenient appellant contention intolerable

1. If something is ___________________, it is much bigger (or smaller) than it should be.

2 What do you know?

1. The Pentagon is the home of the US government’s department of defence.

2. The European court of human rights is in Brussels.

5. One UK pound is worth approximately two US dollars.

6. Terrorist suspects held at Guantanamo Bay are known as ‘enemy combatants’.

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Advanced

4 If extradited, McKinnon faces up to 70 years 8 They also argued that an attempt by US

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Advanced

9 Computer security experts said it was unlikely

Choose the best answer according to the text.

1. Gary McKinnon hacked into thousands of US government computers…

2. Mr McKinnon’s lawyers believe that…

3. Mr McKinnon describes himself as…

4. Why do Mr McKinnon’s lawyers argue that he should be tried in Britain?

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Advanced

1. A verb meaning to promise that you will do something. (para 1)

5 Verb + noun collocations

into up with over off up

1. scare __________________ 4. give __________________

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Advanced

1 Key words 4 Find the word

2 What do you know? 1. e

3 Comprehension check 6 Phrasal verbs

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Advanced

nerd hacker extradition bail appeal

2. An ___________________ is a formal request to a court of law to change its decision.

4. A terrorist ___________________ is someone who supports terrorists.

of prison until their trial.

2 Find the information

1. How many computers did Gary McKinnon hack into?

2. What was Gary McKinnon’s codename?

3. How much damage did he cause?

4. How much time could he spend in prison?

5. Where is the European court of human rights?

6. When did he hack into the US government computers?

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Elementary

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Elementary

2. Mr McKinnon’s lawyers say he should face trial in the UK because…

3. Mr McKinnon says he hacked into the computers because…

4. Mr McKinnon says he is disappointed and angry but…

a. … want to stop his extradition to the United States.

b. … not too surprised at the court’s decision.

c. … so the Americans could make an example of him.

d. … the hacking happened in Britain.

e. … he hacked into 97 US military computers.

f. … he wanted to find evidence of the existence of aliens.

1. year a delay two

3. human the of European rights court

4. from IT an worker London unemployed north

5. a just nerd computer

6. in not as laws America as strict the

© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008

NEWS LESSONS / ‘Bumbling nerd’ loses battle against extradition / Elementary

1. scare 4. give