The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Japan has slipped back into recession. Financial analysts are thinking about how this will affect the global economy. Japan's economy unexpectedly shrank for the second quarter in a row, meaning it is officially in recession. The slide in the last quarter took economists by surprise. Figures showed that Japan's economy would grow by 2.1% in the last quarter. Instead, gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 1.6%. Many economists say the fall is because of April's increase in sales tax from five to eight per cent. Japanese consumers have to budget more and are simply not spending.

World leaders are worried the Japanese recession could be bad for the global economy. British leader David Cameron said the world was on the brink of a second economic disaster. He said he saw "red warning lights" for the global economy because of "instability and uncertainty". Mr Cameron said the problems were "plain to see". He added: "The Eurozone is teetering on the brink of a possible third recession, with high unemployment, falling growth and the real risk of falling prices." He added that emerging markets were slowing down and this was hurting growth.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-warns-of-new-global-economic-crisis-9864307.html
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30077122
  • http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001724963


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.

Japan has slipped

a.

would grow by 2.1%

2.

Financial

b.

increase in sales tax

3.

for the second quarter

c.

budget more

4.

The slide in the last quarter took

d.

in a row

5.

Figures showed that Japan's economy

e.

back into recession

6.

gross domestic

f.

economists by surprise

7.

the fall is because of April's

g.

analysts

8.

Japanese consumers have to

h.

product



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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

worried the Japanese recession could be

a.

growth

2.

the world was on the brink of a

b.

uncertainty

3.

red warning lights for

c.

second economic disaster.

4.

instability and

d.

to see

5.

the problems were plain

e.

bad for the global economy

6.

the real risk

f.

markets were slowing down

7.

emerging

g.

of falling prices

8.

this was hurting

h.

the global economy

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Japan has (1) ___________________ recession. Financial analysts are thinking about (2) ___________________ the global economy. Japan's economy unexpectedly shrank for the (3) ___________________, meaning it is officially in recession. The (4) ___________________ quarter took economists by surprise. Figures showed that Japan's economy would grow by 2.1% in the last quarter. Instead, (5) ___________________ (GDP) fell by 1.6%. Many economists say the fall is because of April's increase in sales tax from five to eight per cent. Japanese consumers (6) ___________________ and are simply not spending.

World leaders are worried the Japanese recession (7) ___________________ the global economy. British leader David Cameron said the world was on the brink of a (8) ___________________. He said he saw "red warning lights" for the global economy because of "(9) ___________________". Mr Cameron said the problems (10) ___________________. He added: "The Eurozone is teetering on the brink of a possible third recession, with high unemployment, falling growth and (11) ___________________ falling prices." He added that emerging markets were slowing down and (12) ___________________.

RECESSION SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about recession 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)

________________________________________________________

 

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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