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Why?

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• knives
• fighter jets
• hand grenades
• missiles

• handguns
• chemical weapons
• tanks
• land mines

a.

The United Nations said global spending on arms had decreased.

T / F

b.

The world spent over $1.5 trillion on arms last year.

T / F

c.

$250 is spent on weapons for each person on the planet.

T / F

d.

The fall in spending is mainly because of economic austerity measures.

T / F

e.

Spending on arms by European countries increased in 2012.

T / F

f.

There is a change in how world regions are spending on arms.

T / F

g.

China has the world's second largest military budget.

T / F

h.

China spends more on arms than the whole of Europe combined.

T / F

1.

amount

a.

yearly

2.

fallen

b.

mainly

3.

annual

c.

outlay

4.

largely

d.

sum

5.

winding down

e.

up-and-coming

6.

noted

f.

very much

7.

shift

g.

observed

8.

emerging

h.

dropped

9.

expenditure

i.

movement

10.

well

j.

ending

1.

annual

a.

elsewhere

2.

roughly 2.5 per cent

b.

biggest spender

3.

its share fell

c.

spent on fighting wars

4.

a decrease in the amount

d.

behind Europe

5.

military action in Afghanistan

e.

regions

6.

it is on the rise

f.

of the world's GDP

7.

a shift

g.

review

8.

emerging

h.

winding down

9.

the world's second-

i.

in the balance

10.

still well

j.

below 40 per cent

The (1) ____________ the world spent on arms has fallen for the first time since 1998. This is according to the (2) ____________ review of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). It said global military spending in 2012 fell to $1.75 trillion, a (3) ____________ of half a per cent from 2011. That figure is (4) ____________ 2.5 per cent of the world's GDP, or about $250 for every person on Earth. The USA was the biggest (5) ____________, although its share fell below 40 per cent for the first time. The USA and its NATO (6) ____________ spent one trillion dollars last year on their (7) ____________. SIPRI said the decline is largely due to a decrease in the amount spent on fighting wars, particularly with military action in Afghanistan (8) ____________ down.

spender
drop
militaries
amount
winding
allies
annual
roughly

SIPRI noted that (9) ____________ spending is falling in America and Europe, it is on the rise elsewhere. SIPRI spokesman Sam Perlo-Freeman said: "We are seeing what may be the beginning of a (10) ____________ in the balance of world military spending from the rich Western countries to (11) ____________ regions." He said budgets in China, Russia, the Middle East and North Africa were on the (12) ____________. China is now the world's second-biggest spender after its budget (13) ____________ by 7.8 per cent last year. However, this expenditure does not mean China is second in (14) ____________ of world military power. SIPRI said: "China in some respects is still (15) ____________ behind Europe, even though it now spends as much as Britain, France and Germany (16) ____________."

terms
shift
rise
combined
while
emerging
well
rose

1)

This is according to the ______

a.  annually review
b.  annual review
c.  yearly review
d.  annual reviews

2)

______ half a per cent from 2011

a.  adroit of
b.  a dropping of
c.  a drop of
d.  a drop off of

3)

its ______ 40 per cent for the first time

a.  shares fell below
b.  shared fell below
c.  sharing fell below
d.  share fell below

4)

largely ______ in the amount spent on fighting wars

a.  because to a decrease
b.  dew to a decrease
c.  due of a decrease
d.  due to a decrease

5)

particularly with military action in Afghanistan ______

a.  winding down
b.  winding up
c.  wind in down
d.  wine ding down

6)

while spending is falling in America and Europe, it is ______ elsewhere

a.  on a rise
b.  on the rise
c.  on this rise
d.  on that rise

7)

_______ balance of world military spending

a.  a shaft in the
b.  a shifting in the
c.  a shift in the
d.  a shafting in the

8)

budgets in China, Russia, the Middle East and North Africa ______

a.  were on the rise
b.  was on the rise
c.  where on the rise
d.  wore on the rise

9)

China in some respects ______ behind Europe

a.  is still well
b.  is just well
c.  is only well
d.  is soon well

10)

it now spends as much as Britain, France and Germany ______

a.  combines
b.  combined
c.  combining
d.  combination

1.

When was the last time there was a fall in military spending?

2.

How often does SIPRI publish its review of military spending?

3.

What does the figure of $250 mentioned in the article represent?

4.

What is significant about the figure of 40%?

5.

What is winding down?

6.

What did SIPRI say is beginning to happen?

7.

Which countries are starting to spend less?

8.

Which country is the world's biggest spender on arms after the USA?

9.

What did SIPRI say China could not claim to be second best as?

10.

What comparison did SIPRI make with China and Europe?

1.

When was the last time there was a fall in military spending?

6.

What did SIPRI say is beginning to happen?

a) 1996
b) 1997
c) 1998
d) 1999

a) weapons are becoming more
     expensive
b) a change in the global balance of
    spending
c) rebel armies are becoming better
    trained
d) there are fewer arms in the world

2.

How often does SIPRI publish its review of military spending?

7.

Which countries are starting to spend less?

a) every year
b) biannually
c) semi-annually
d) once a decade

a) Britain, France and Germany
b) China and Russia
c) those in the Middle East
d) rich Western countries

3.

What does the figure of $250 mentioned in the article represent?

8.

Which country is the world's biggest spender on arms after the USA?

a) the cost of a landmine
b) the amount spent on arms for each
    person alive
c) the monthly salary of Chinese
    soldiers
d) the price of the military spending
    report

a) Russia
b) China
c) North Korea
d) Saudi Arabia

4.

How many times has the U.S. share been below 40%?

9.

What did SIPRI say China could not claim to be second best in?

a) 14 times
b) four times
c) twice
d) this is the first time

a) air superiority
b) a global military power
c) missile technology
d) army size

5.

What is winding down?

10.

What comparison did SIPRI make with China and Europe?

a) spending on arms
b) America's largest defence contractor
c) military action in Afghanistan
d) Afghanistan's military

a) it said China was well behind Europe
b) it said they spent the same on arms
c) it said their know-how was the same
d) it said Chinese soldiers were better

Role  A – Arms maker

You think all countries need the very latest arms. Tell the others three reasons why. You think people who say there should be no arms in the world are crazy. You believe any country that has no arms will be taken over by its neighbours. Countries will always have arms.

Role  B – Peace activist

You think it is time for peace in the world and that countries should destroy their arms. Tell the others three reasons why. A world without arms would mean more money to benefit the lives of billions. No arms means no wars. You believe arms makers are evil.

Role  C – Soldier

You have fought in several wars. You have seen enough to believe fighting and weapons are bad. The whole world must disarm. Tell the others three reasons why. You hate the arms industry and believe it is pulling strings to get governments to buy lots of weapons.

Role  D – Government leader

You need your government to be heavily armed to be strong. Tell the others three reasons why. You know that if your military isn't strong, other world powers will attack you. Having a strong military is a great deterrent to keep your nation and people safe.

military

spending

• since
• 1.75
• 250
• 40
• due
• down

• elsewhere
• shift
• budgets
• second
• terms
• combined

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'military'?

c)

How good is it that military spending has gone down?

d)

Are you happy with the amount your country spends on arms?

e)

What would happen if all countries disarmed?

f)

What do you think of $250 being spent on arms for everyone alive?

g)

Will the world change if other powers spend more than the USA?

h)

Will there ever be a Third World War?

i)

Should countries spend more money on peaceful cooperation and less on arms?

j)

Why do countries have to fight each other? Why can't they talk?

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Do you think the fall in military spending is temporary?

c)

Is it immoral to spend 2.5% of GDP on arms?

d)

Why are other regions increasing their military spending?

e)

Are there countries that should not be allowed to have any weapons?

f)

Would world politics change if China were the strongest military power?

g)

What is the world's most dangerous country?

h)

Will every country be armed enough to destroy the world one day?

i)

What three adjectives describe this story?

j)

What questions would you like to ask an arms dealer?

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

1.

(a)

amounts

(b)

volume

(c)

amount

(d)

volumes

2.

(a)

to

(b)

of

(c)

by

(d)

at

3.

(a)

military

(b)

militia

(c)

militaries

(d)

militarised

4.

(a)

roughly

(b)

forcibly

(c)

unkindly

(d)

circa

5.

(a)

allays

(b)

allied

(c)

alliances

(d)

allies

6.

(a)

stamping

(b)

going

(c)

bending

(d)

winding

7.

(a)

that

(b)

then

(c)

this

(d)

thus

8.

(a)

at

(b)

of

(c)

by

(d)

in

9.

(a)

emerging

(b)

emerges

(c)

emergency

(d)

emerge

10.

(a)

risen

(b)

rose

(c)

arisen

(d)

riser

11.

(a)

respectively

(b)

respects

(c)

respective

(d)

respecting

12.

(a)

combined

(b)

combed

(c)

combing

(d)

combination

Paragraph 1

1.

This is airdogncc to the annual review

2.

research iteistutn

3.

ouhglry 2.5%

4.

its erahs fell

5.

one tiinollr dollars

6.

aplcluryarit with military action in Afghanistan

Paragraph 2

7.

it is on the rise esheeewrl

8.

gneimerg regions

9.

its getubd rose by 7.8 per cent

10.

this epuerxniedt

11.

in some ptsserce

12.

Britain, France and Germany nmidcboe

(    )

for the first time. The USA and its NATO allies spent one trillion dollars last year on their

(    )

wars, particularly with military action in Afghanistan winding down.

(    )

GDP, or about $250 for every person on Earth. The USA was the biggest spender, although its share fell below 40 per cent

(    )

in the balance of world military spending from the rich Western countries to emerging regions." He said

(    )

biggest spender after its budget rose by 7.8 per cent last year. However, this expenditure does not mean China is second

(    )

in terms of world military power. SIPRI said: "China in some respects is still well

(    )

elsewhere. SIPRI spokesman Sam Perlo-Freeman said: "We are seeing what may be the beginning of a shift

(  1  )

The amount the world spent on arms has fallen for the first time since 1998. This is according

(    )

militaries. SIPRI said the decline is largely due to a decrease in the amount spent on fighting

(    )

to the annual review of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). It said global military spending in 2012

(    )

behind Europe, even though it now spends as much as Britain, France and Germany combined."

(    )

SIPRI noted that while spending is falling in America and Europe, it is on the rise

(    )

fell to $1.75 trillion, a drop of half a per cent from 2011. That figure is roughly 2.5 per cent of the world's

(    )

budgets in China, Russia, the Middle East and North Africa were on the rise. China is now the world's second-

1.

world    arms    the    on    fallen   amount    spent   has    The.

2.

figure    the    That    of    2.5%   roughly    GDP    is    world's.

3.

first    the    for    %     40    below     fell   share    Its     time.    

4.

wars    decrease   amount   fighting   A    the   on    in    spent.    

5.

Afghanistan     With    winding    military    down    action    in.    

6.

the     elsewhere     It     on     rise     is.    

7.

of     balance     a     shift     The     in     beginning     the.    

8.

emerging   rich   regions   Western   countries   From   to   the.

9.

now   second   spender   is   world's   biggest.   China    the    -

10.

military    China   in   world   second   of    power    is    terms.

Theamounttheworldspentonarmshasfallenforthefirsttimesince1998.Thisis
accordingtotheannualreviewoftheStockholmInternationalPeaceResearch
Institute(SIPRI).Itsaidglobalmilitaryspendingin2012fellto$1.75trillion,adrop
ofhalfapercentfrom2011.Thatfigureisroughly2.5percentoftheworld'sGDP,or
about$250foreverypersononEarth.TheUSAwasthebiggestspender,althoughits
sharefellbelow40percentforthefirsttime.TheUSAanditsNATOalliesspentone
trilliondollarslastyearontheirmilitaries.SIPRIsaidthedeclineislargelyduetoa
decreaseintheamountspentonfightingwars,particularlywithmilitaryactionin
Afghanistanwindingdown.SIPRInotedthatwhilespendingisfallinginAmerica
andEurope,itisontheriseelsewhere.SIPRIspokesmanSamPerlo-Freeman
said:"Weareseeingwhatmaybethebeginningofashiftinthebalanceofworld
militaryspendingfromtherichWesterncountriestoemergingregions."He said
budgetsinChina,Russia,theMiddleEastandNorthAfricawereontherise.Chinais
nowtheworld'ssecond-biggestspenderafteritsbudgetroseby7.8per
centlastyear.However,thisexpendituredoesnotmeanChinaissecondinterms
ofworldmilitarypower.SIPRIsaid:"Chinainsomerespectsisstillwellbehind
Europe,eventhoughitnowspendsasmuchasBritain,FranceandGermany

combined."

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

F

1.

amount

a.

sum

2.

fallen

b.

dropped

3.

annual

c.

yearly

4.

largely

d.

mainly

5.

winding down

e.

ending

6.

noted

f.

observed

7.

shift

g.

movement

8.

emerging

h.

up-and-coming

9.

expenditure

i.

outlay

10.

well

j.

very much

1.

1998

2.

Annually

3.

The amount spent on arms for each person on Earth

4.

This is the first time

5.

Military action in Afghanistan

6.

A change in the global balance of spending

7.

Rich Western countries

8.

China

9.

A global military power

10.

It said China was well behind Europe

1.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

9.

b

10.

a