The Reading / Listening - Level 2

New relations are starting between the USA and Cuba. The two countries have had very little contact for over fifty years. That changed on Wednesday. President Barack Obama said he wanted to get the relationship with Cuba back to normal. One of the first things he wants to do is to put back diplomatic and economic ties. He said: "Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past." Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have had secret talks for more than a year. These included help from Pope Francis.

The USA announced how it would reset relations. It will no longer say that Cuba sponsors terrorism. It will be easier for Americans to travel to and do business in Cuba. There will also be better Internet and communication links. A big change is the ending of a 54-year-old trade embargo. This stopped US goods going to Cuba and Cuban goods going to the USA. Mr Castro said he has worked hard to restore ties with the USA. He said he hoped the two countries could share a brighter future. He told reporters: "We must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in a civilised manner."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30516740
  • http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=107963
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/opinion/a-new-beginning-with-cuba.html?_r=0


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.

The two countries have had very

a.

of the past

2.

get the relationship with Cuba

b.

little contact

3.

One of the first things

c.

from Pope Francis

4.

put back diplomatic

d.

relations

5.

cut loose the shackles

e.

he wants to do

6.

We have agreed to re-establish diplomatic

f.

and economic ties

7.

The two sides have had secret

g.

back to normal

8.

help

h.

talks



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.

It will no longer say

a.

going to Cuba

2.

travel to and do

b.

coexisting

3.

the ending of a 54-year-old trade

c.

business in Cuba

4.

This stopped US goods

d.

manner

5.

worked hard to restore

e.

embargo

6.

share a brighter

f.

ties

7.

learn the art of

g.

future

8.

in a civilised

h.

that

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

New relations (1) ___________________ the USA and Cuba. The two countries have had very little (2) ___________________ fifty years. That changed on Wednesday. President Barack Obama said he (3) ___________________ relationship with Cuba back to normal. One (4) ___________________ he wants to do is to put back diplomatic and economic ties. He said: "Today, America chooses (5) ___________________ shackles of the past." Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have had secret talks for more than a year. These (6) ___________________ Pope Francis.

The USA announced how it (7) ___________________. It will no longer say that Cuba sponsors terrorism. It will be easier for Americans (8) ___________________ business in Cuba. There will also be better Internet and communication links. A big change is the ending of a 54-year-old trade embargo. This stopped US goods going to Cuba and Cuban (9) ___________________ the USA. Mr Castro said he has worked hard (10) ___________________ with the USA. He said he hoped the two countries (11) ___________________ future. He told reporters: "We must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in (12) ___________________."

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

NewrelationsarestartingbetweentheUSAandCuba.Thetwocountries
havehadverylittlecontactforoverfiftyyears.ThatchangedonWednesd
ay.PresidentBarackObamasaidhewantedtogettherelationshipwithC
ubabacktonormal.Oneofthefirstthingshewantstodoistoputbackdiplo
maticandeconomicties.Hesaid:"Today,Americachoosestocutlooset
heshacklesofthepast."CubanPresidentRaulCastrosaid:"Wehaveagr
eedtore-establishdiplomaticrelations."Thetwosideshavehadsecr
ettalksformorethanayear.TheseincludedhelpfromPopeFrancis.TheU
SAannouncedhowitwouldresetrelations.ItwillnolongersaythatCubas
ponsorsterrorism.ItwillbeeasierforAmericanstotraveltoanddobusin
essinCuba.TherewillalsobebetterInternetandcommunicationlinks.A
bigchangeistheendingofa54-year-oldtradeembargo.Thisstoppe
dUSgoodsgoingtoCubaandCubangoodsgoingtotheUSA.MrCastrosai
dhehasworkedhardtorestoretieswiththeUSA.Hesaidhehopedthetwo
countriescouldshareabrighterfuture.Hetoldreporters:"Wemustlear
ntheartofcoexistingwithourdifferencesinacivilisedmanner."

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

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c)

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d)

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e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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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)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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