1. |
Who said women should have babies before the age of 35? |
2. |
To what did the professor liken the age of 35? |
3. |
What is it riskier for an older women to do? |
4. |
Who did the professor talk to at a festival? |
5. |
Whom might the professor worry about? |
6. |
What don't women want to interrupt? |
7. |
When are women settling down? |
8. |
What does society need to understand? |
9. |
What is Belinda Phipps' job? |
10. |
Who doesn't always come along? |
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
1. |
Who said women should have babies before the age of 35? |
6. |
What don't women want to interrupt? |
|
a) a nurse
b) a president
c) a mother of 12
d) a specialist |
|
a)
b) having a baby
c) their career
d) the clock striking 12 |
2. |
To what did the professor liken the age of 35? |
7. |
When are women settling down? |
|
a) a clock with the number 12 missing
b) a clock striking 12
c) 12 clocks
d) a 12-year-old clock |
|
a) at a later age
b) in 2015
c) before their career
d) when they are tired |
3. |
What is it riskier for an older women to do? |
8. |
What does society need to understand? |
|
a) strike a clock
b) start a career
c) become 35
d) become pregnant |
|
a) experts
b)
c) barriers
d) childcare |
4. |
Who did the professor talk to at a festival? |
9. |
What is Belinda Phipps' job? |
|
a) clockmakers
b) scientists
c) medical workers
d) mothers |
|
a) writer
b) childcare expert
c) professor
d) nurse |
5. |
Whom might the professor worry about? |
10. |
Who doesn't always come along? |
|
a) herself
b) babies
c) women
d) her daughter |
|
a) the right guy
b) a secure partner
c) a baby
d) a childcare expert |
ROLE PLAY
Role A – One child
You think having one child is best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their numbers. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): having two kids, having no children or having four kids. |
Role B – Two children
You think having two kids is best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their numbers. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): having one child, having no children or having four kids. |
Role C – No children
You think having no children is best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their numbers. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): having two kids, having one child or having four kids. |
Role D – Four children
You think having four kids is best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their numbers. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): having two kids, having no children or having one child. |
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'right' and 'man'.
- Share your findings with your partners.
- Make questions using the words you found.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
- Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:
- top
- 12
- riskier
- pregnant
- nurses
- worried
|
- put
- career
- down
- understand
- order
- man
|
BABIES SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about babies in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.
|
STUDENT 1
_____________ |
STUDENT 2
_____________ |
STUDENT 3
_____________ |
Q.1.
|
|
|
|
Q.2.
|
|
|
|
Q.3.
|
|
|
|
Q.4.
|
|
|
|
Q.5.
|
|
|
|
- Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
- Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
BABIES DISCUSSION
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
a) |
What did you think when you read the headline? |
b) |
What springs to mind when you hear the word 'baby'? |
c) |
What do you think about what you read? |
d) |
When do you think the best age is to have a baby? |
e) |
Do you agree with the professor? |
f) |
Why is being 35 like a clock striking 12? |
g) |
Why is it riskier for a woman to have a baby after 35? |
h) |
What's the best number of children to have? |
i) |
Would you worry about a childless 35-year-old daughter? |
j) |
Do you think women will take Professor Herbert's advice? |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a) |
Did you like reading this article? Why/not? |
b) |
Which is more important, a career or a family? |
c) |
Should women think more about children and less about their career? |
d) |
Is it natural that women want to settle down at a later age? |
e) |
Is 18 too young for a woman to start having children? |
f) |
What barriers are there for younger women to have children? |
g) |
Is it so important to find a nice home before having children? |
h) |
How important is it to do everything before you are 32? |
i) |
Are parents over 35 better than parents under 25? |
j) |
What questions would you like to ask Professor Herbert? |
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
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. |
________________________________________________________ |
LANGUAGE - CLOZE
A top expert (1) ____ has said women should have babies before they are 35 years old. Professor Mary Herbert from the UK's University of Newcastle said the (2) ____ of 35 is like when the "clock strikes 12". She said that after that age, it is riskier (3) ____ a woman to become pregnant. She added that it was difficult for treatment to work as women got older. Professor Herbert gave doctors and nurses a message in a (4) ____ at the British Science Festival. She said: "Perhaps the most important message to give is that the best cure of (5) ____ is to have your babies before this clock strikes 12." She (6) ____: "I would be getting worried about my daughter if she hadn't had a child by 35."
Many women these days are choosing to put (7) ____ having a baby until they are older. One of the biggest reasons for this is that women do not want to (8) ____ their career. Women are also marrying or settling down at a later age. Professor Herbert said society needed to think about how to help women have babies at a younger age. She said: "We need to understand what the (9) ____ are to women having their children early." Childcare expert Belinda Phipps (10) ____ with Professor Herbert. She said: "You can't always have babies to order. If you want to have a partner and a (11) ____ place to live, you don't necessarily get that all done by the time you are 32. The (12) ____ man doesn't always just come along."
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. |
(a) |
at |
(b) |
in |
(c) |
on |
(d) |
by |
2. |
(a) |
age |
(b) |
old |
(c) |
years |
(d) |
era |
3. |
(a) |
at |
(b) |
for |
(c) |
because |
(d) |
from |
4. |
(a) |
speaker |
(b) |
speak |
(c) |
speaking |
(d) |
speech |
5. |
(a) |
whole |
(b) |
every |
(c) |
all |
(d) |
each |
6. |
(a) |
subtracted |
(b) |
added |
(c) |
multiplied |
(d) |
divided |
7. |
(a) |
on |
(b) |
in |
(c) |
down |
(d) |
off |
8. |
(a) |
interrupted |
(b) |
interrupt |
(c) |
interrupting |
(d) |
interrupts |
9. |
(a) |
carriers |
(b) |
barriers |
(c) |
harriers |
(d) |
warriors |
10. |
(a) |
agreed |
(b) |
matched |
(c) |
harmony |
(d) |
accepted |
11. |
(a) |
security |
(b) |
securely |
(c) |
secure |
(d) |
securing |
12. |
(a) |
right |
(b) |
fully |
(c) |
well |
(d) |
correct |
SPELLING
Paragraph 1 |
1. |
A top expert on tlftyiire |
2. |
osfrrPseo Mary Herbert |
3. |
become ptengran |
4. |
inccese festival |
5. |
important esagsem |
6. |
worried about my hreutgda |
Paragraph 2
|
7. |
interrupt their earrce |
8. |
yicteos needed to think |
9. |
understand what the seiarrbr are |
10. |
drlchicea expert |
11. |
a uersce place to live |
12. |
you don't yisarlcesen get that |
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( ) |
or settling down at a later age. Professor Herbert said society needed to think about how to help women have babies |
( ) |
all done by the time you are 32. The right man doesn't always just come along." |
( ) |
"I would be getting worried about my daughter if she hadn't had a child by 35." |
( ) |
expert Belinda Phipps agreed with Professor Herbert. She said: "You can't always have babies |
( ) |
reasons for this is that women do not want to interrupt their career. Women are also marrying |
( ) |
message to give is that the best cure of all is to have your babies before this clock strikes 12." She added: |
( ) |
12". She said that after that age, it is riskier for a woman to become pregnant. She added that it was difficult |
( ) |
Many women these days are choosing to put off having a baby until they are older. One of the biggest |
( ) |
at a younger age. She said: "We need to understand what the barriers are to women having their children early." Childcare |
( ) |
nurses a message in a speech at the British Science Festival. She said: "Perhaps the most important |
( ) |
to order. If you want to have a partner and a secure place to live, you don't necessarily get that |
( 1 ) |
A top expert on has said women should have babies before they are 35 years old. Professor Mary Herbert from |
( ) |
for treatment to work as women got older. Professor Herbert gave doctors and |
( ) |
the UK's University of Newcastle said the age of 35 is like when the "clock strikes |
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
1. |
"clock when 35 The strikes the is age 12" like of . |
2. |
a become It for to riskier woman pregnant is. |
3. |
nurses a message in a speech Herbert gave doctors and. |
4. |
12 before this Have clock your strikes babies. |
5. |
worried I about would my be daughter getting. |
6. |
Women baby a having off put to choosing are days these. |
7. |
career want to Women interrupt do their not. |
8. |
how women needed about help Society think to to. |
9. |
barriers to are understand what We the need. |
10. |
man along doesn't always The just right come. |
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
A top expert / expertise on has said women should have babies before they are / be 35 years old. Professor Mary Herbert from the UK's University of Newcastle said the age of 35 is like / same when the "clock strikes 12". She said that after that old / age, it is riskier for a woman to become pregnant. She added that it was difficulty / difficult for treatment to work as women got older. Professor Herbert gave doctors and nurses a message in a speaking / speech at the British Science Festival. She said: "Perhaps the most importantly / important message to give is that the best cure / care of all is to have your babies before this clock strikes 12." She added: "I would be getting / get worried about my daughter if she didn't / hadn't had a child by 35."
Many women these days are chosen / choosing to put off / on having a baby until they are older. One of the biggest reasoning / reasons for this is that women do not want to interrupt / interruption their career. Women are also marrying or settling up / down at a later age. Professor Herbert said society needed to think about how to help women have babies at a younger age. She said: "We need to understand what the carriers / barriers are to women having their children early." Childcare expert Belinda Phipps agreeing / agreed with Professor Herbert. She said: "You can't always have babies to order / ordering. If you want to have a partner and a secure / security place to live, you don't necessarily get that all done by the time you are 32. The right / correct man doesn't always just come along."
Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.
INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
_ t_p _xp_rt _n f_rt_l_ty h_s s__d w_m_n sh__ld h_v_ b_b__s b_f_r_ th_y _r_ 35 y__rs _ld. Pr_f_ss_r M_ry H_rb_rt fr_m th_ _K's _n_v_rs_ty _f N_wc_stl_ s__d th_ _g_ _f 35 _s l_k_ wh_n th_ "cl_ck str_k_s 12". Sh_ s__d th_t _ft_r th_t _g_, _t _s r_sk__r f_r _ w_m_n t_ b_c_m_ pr_gn_nt. Sh_ _dd_d th_t _t w_s d_ff_c_lt f_r f_rt_l_ty tr__tm_nt t_ w_rk _s w_m_n g_t _ld_r. Pr_f_ss_r H_rb_rt g_v_ d_ct_rs _nd n_rs_s _ m_ss_g_ _n _ sp__ch _t th_ Br_t_sh Sc__nc_ F_st_v_l. Sh_ s__d: "P_rh_ps th_ m_st _mp_rt_nt m_ss_g_ t_ g_v_ _s th_t th_ b_st c_r_ _f _ll _s t_ h_v_ y__r b_b__s b_f_r_ th_s cl_ck str_k_s 12." Sh_ _dd_d: "_ w__ld b_ g_tt_ng w_rr__d _b__t my d__ght_r _f sh_ h_dn't h_d _ ch_ld by 35."
M_ny w_m_n th_s_ d_ys _r_ ch__s_ng t_ p_t _ff h_v_ng _ b_by _nt_l th_y _r_ _ld_r. _n_ _f th_ b_gg_st r__s_ns f_r th_s _s th_t w_m_n d_ n_t w_nt t_ _nt_rr_pt th__r c_r__r. W_m_n _r_ _ls_ m_rry_ng _r s_ttl_ng d_wn _t _ l_t_r _g_. Pr_f_ss_r H_rb_rt s__d s_c__ty n__d_d t_ th_nk _b__t h_w t_ h_lp w_m_n h_v_ b_b__s _t _ y__ng_r _g_. Sh_ s__d: "W_ n__d t_ _nd_rst_nd wh_t th_ b_rr__rs _r_ t_ w_m_n h_v_ng th__r ch_ldr_n __rly." Ch_ldc_r_ _xp_rt B_l_nd_ Ph_pps _gr__d w_th Pr_f_ss_r H_rb_rt. Sh_ s__d: "Y__ c_n't _lw_ys h_v_ b_b__s t_ _rd_r. _f y__ w_nt t_ h_v_ _ p_rtn_r _nd _ s_c_r_ pl_c_ t_ l_v_, y__ d_n't n_c_ss_r_ly g_t th_t _ll d_n_ by th_ t_m_ y__ _r_ 32. Th_ r_ght m_n d__sn't _lw_ys j_st c_m_ _l_ng."
PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
a top expert on has said women should have babies before they are 35 years old professor mary herbert from the uk's university of newcastle said the age of 35 is like when the "clock strikes 12" she said that after that age it is riskier for a woman to become pregnant she added that it was difficult for treatment to work as women got older professor herbert gave doctors and nurses a message in a speech at the british science festival she said "perhaps the most important message to give is that the best cure of all is to have your babies before this clock strikes 12" she added "i would be getting worried about my daughter if she hadn't had a child by 35"
many women these days are choosing to put off having a baby until they are older one of the biggest reasons for this is that women do not want to interrupt their career women are also marrying or settling down at a later age professor herbert said society needed to think about how to help women have babies at a younger age she said "we need to understand what the barriers are to women having their children early" childcare expert belinda phipps agreed with professor herbert she said "you can't always have babies to order if you want to have a partner and a secure place to live you don't necessarily get that all done by the time you are 32 the right man doesn't always just come along"
PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
Atopexpertonhassaidwomenshouldhavebabiesbeforethe
yare35yearsold.ProfessorMaryHerbertfromtheUK'sUniversityof
Newcastlesaidtheageof35islikewhenthe"clockstrikes12".Shesai
dthatafterthatage,itisriskierforawomantobecomepregnant.Shea
ddedthatitwasdifficultfortreatmenttoworkaswomengotol
der.ProfessorHerbertgavedoctorsandnursesamessageinaspeech
attheBritishScienceFestival.Shesaid:"Perhapsthemostimportant
messagetogiveisthatthebestcureofallistohaveyourbabiesbeforet
hisclockstrikes12."Sheadded:"Iwouldbegettingworriedaboutmy
daughterifshehadn'thadachildby35."Manywomenthesedaysarec
hoosingtoputoffhavingababyuntiltheyareolder.Oneofthebiggestr
easonsforthisisthatwomendonotwanttointerrupttheircareer.Wo
menarealsomarryingorsettlingdownatalaterage.ProfessorHerbe
rtsaidsocietyneededtothinkabouthowtohelpwomenhavebabiesat
ayoungerage.Shesaid:"Weneedtounderstandwhatthebarriersar
etowomenhavingtheirchildrenearly."ChildcareexpertBelindaPhip
psagreedwithProfessorHerbert.Shesaid:"Youcan'talwayshaveba
biestoorder.Ifyouwanttohaveapartnerandasecureplacetolive,yo
udon'tnecessarilygetthatalldonebythetimeyouare32.Therightma
ndoesn'talwaysjustcomealong." |
FREE WRITING
Write about babies for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
It is much better if a woman has baby before she is 30. Discuss.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about the best age to have a baby. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. BABIES: Make a poster about babies. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. 35: Write a magazine article about having a baby before or after 35. Include imaginary interviews with doctors, young mothers and older mothers.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to a expert. Ask him/her three questions about babies. Tell him/her three the best age to have a baby and three reasons why you think so. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE (p.4)
a |
F |
b |
T |
c |
F |
d |
F |
e |
T |
f |
T |
g |
T |
h |
F |
SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)
1. |
expert |
a. |
specialist |
2. |
riskier |
b. |
more dangerous |
3. |
pregnant |
c. |
expectant |
4. |
treatment |
d. |
care |
5. |
cure |
e. |
answer |
6. |
choosing |
f. |
opting |
7. |
put off |
g. |
delay |
8. |
barriers |
h. |
obstacles |
9. |
secure |
i. |
safe |
10. |
right |
j. |
ideal |
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)
1. |
A top expert |
2. |
A clock striking 12 |
3. |
Become pregnant |
4. |
Doctors and nurses |
5. |
Her daughter |
6. |
Their career |
7. |
At a later age |
8. |
The barriers to women having children younger |
9. |
She's a childcare expert |
10. |
The right man |
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)
1. |
d |
2. |
b |
3. |
d |
4. |
c |
5. |
d |
6. |
c |
7. |
a |
8. |
c |
9. |
b |
10. |
a |
ALL OTHER EXERCISES
Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)