The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Two members of Japanese pop group AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked them with a saw at an event. The two singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were signing autographs for fans who had queued for hours to see them. A man suddenly rushed forward and slashed them with a saw. The pair were lucky not to have serious injuries. They were released from hospital a day later with cuts on their hands and head. A concert in Tokyo for Monday night was cancelled. The attacker got past poor security. He wanted to kill anyone. He had not targeted the women.

AKB48 are a pop culture phenomenon in Japan. They are hugely popular around Asia. They are everywhere in their home country - on TV, radio and in advertisements. They hold the Guinness record for being the world's largest pop group. The group started in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district with 48 members. They now have 140 members. Annual competitions are held for new members when older members retire. There are strict rules to join the group. There is a total ban on dating. Their contract says that any band member falling in love is "forbidden".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27572723
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/26/national/crime-legal/akb48-singers-targeted-slasher/#.U4WX1i8uKHA


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

A fan

a.

rushed forward

2.

signing

b.

attacked them

3.

queued

c.

hospital a day later

4.

A man suddenly

d.

have serious injuries

5.

slashed them

e.

autographs for fans

6.

The pair were lucky not to

f.

with a saw

7.

They were released from

g.

the women

8.

He had not targeted

h.

for hours



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

AKB48 are a pop culture

a.

world's largest pop group

2.

They are hugely popular

b.

to join the group

3.

the Guinness record for being the

c.

are held

4.

Annual competitions

d.

phenomenon in Japan

5.

when older members

e.

ban on dating

6.

There are strict rules

f.

love is "forbidden"

7.

There is a total

g.

around Asia

8.

falling in

h.

retire

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

(1) ___________________ pop group AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked them (2) ___________________ event. The two singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were (3) ___________________ fans who had queued for hours to see them. A man suddenly rushed forward and (4) ___________________ saw. The pair were lucky not to have serious injuries. They were released from hospital a (5) ___________________ on their hands and head. A concert in Tokyo for Monday night was cancelled. The attacker got past poor security. He (6) ___________________. He had not targeted the women.

AKB48 are a pop (7) ___________________ Japan. They are hugely popular around Asia. They are everywhere (8) ___________________ - on TV, radio and in advertisements. They hold the Guinness record for being the world's (9) ___________________. The group started in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district with 48 members. They now have 140 members. Annual (10) ___________________ for new members when older members retire. There are strict rules to join the group. There is (11) ___________________. Their contract says that any band member (12) ___________________ "forbidden".

POP GROUPS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about pop groups 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.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about pop groups for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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