Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Technology goods to become cheaper (30th July, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

There is a new global trade agreement that will make IT products cheaper. More than 50 countries agreed to end tariffs and import duties on over 200 IT products. All 28 countries from the European Union signed, as well as China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and others. The deal was signed at a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva. It will affect a wide variety of products, including smartphones, digital cameras, ink cartridges, video game consoles and even telecommunications satellites. Import duties will be completely removed from the selected IT products in the next four years. The deal applies to $1.3 trillion worth of global trade. This is about 7 per cent of all world trade.

Many people believe the deal will be good for the world. The EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, said: "This is a great deal for consumers, and for companies big and small. We've worked hard [on] this compromise between different countries to find the best solutions." She added: "This deal will cut costs for consumers and business - in particular, for smaller firms, which have been hit especially hard…in the past." Ms Malmström hopes more countries will sign up to the deal in the next few years. She said: "It clearly shows that countries around the world can work together to achieve solutions that benefit everyone. I [expect to see] other countries joining soon."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2953092/trilliondollar-world-trade-deal-aims-to-make-it-products-cheaper.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/opinion/a-smart-deal-to-cut-tariffs-on-tech-products.html?_r=0
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2419443/trillion-euro-technology-trade-deal-could-cut-the-cost-of-consoles

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. TECHNOLOGY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about technology. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

global / trade / import / deal / signed / ink cartridges / satellites / next four years / consumers / compromise / solutions / costs / achieve / solutions / benefit / everyone

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. IT: How can it be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Problems now	Solutions
Internet
Mobile phones
Websites
Mail
Studying English
Video chat

4. NICE PRICE: Students A strongly believe technology is cheap; Students B strongly believe it is expensive. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. DEVICES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• mobile phone

• game console

• printer

• laptop computer

• digital camera

• electronic dictionary

• iPad

• wireless headphones

6. AGREEMENT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "agreement". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Over 50 countries signed up to a new deal on IT products.	T / F
b.	Only half of countries in Europe signed up.	T / F
c.	The countries who signed will remove import duties within four years.	T / F
d.	The new deal represents about 7% of all world trade.	T / F
e.	The EU Trade Commissioner said the deal was bad for smaller firms.	T / F
f.	The commissioner said countries worked hard on compromises.	T / F
g.	The commissioner does not want more countries to sign the deal.	T / F
h.	The commissioner said the solutions will not benefit everyone.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	agreement	a.	relates
2.	duties	b.	totally
3.	variety	c.	think
4.	completely	d.	range
5.	applies	e.	particularly
6.	believe	f.	deal
7.	solutions	g.	signing up
8.	especially	h.	answers
9.	achieve	i.	taxes
10.	joining	j.	reach

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	There is a new global	a.	achieve solutions
2.	50 countries agreed to end tariffs	b.	countries joining soon
3.	It will affect a wide	c.	of all world trade
4.	Import duties will be	d.	costs for consumers
5.	This is about 7 per cent	e.	and import duties
6.	We've worked hard	f.	trade agreement
7.	This deal will cut	g.	up to the deal
8.	more countries will sign	h.	completely removed
9.	work together to	i.	on this compromise
10.	I expect to see other	j.	variety of products

GAP FILL

There is a new global trade (1) ____________ that will make IT products cheaper. More than 50 countries agreed to (2) ________ tariffs and import (3) ____________ on over 200 IT products. All 28 countries from the European Union signed, as (4) __________ as China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and others. The deal was signed at a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva. It will affect a wide (5) ____________ of products, including smartphones, digital cameras, ink cartridges, video game (6) ____________ and even telecommunications satellites. Import duties will be (7) ____________ removed from the selected IT products in the next four years. The deal (8) ____________ to $1.3 trillion worth of global trade. This is about 7 per cent of all world trade.

well
consoles
agreement
completely
duties
applies
end
variety

Many people (9) ____________ the deal will be good for the world. The EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, said: "This is a great deal for (10) ____________, and for companies big and small. We've worked hard [on] this compromise between different countries to find the best (11) ____________." She added: "This deal will (12) ____________ costs for consumers and business - in particular, for smaller firms, which have been (13) ____________ especially hard…in the past." Ms Malmström hopes more countries will sign up to the deal in the next few years. She said: "It (14) ____________ shows that countries around the world can work together to (15) ____________ solutions that benefit everyone. I [expect to see] other countries joining (16) ____________."

solutions
achieve
hit
consumers
soon
believe
clearly
cut

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	There is a new global trade agreement that will make IT ______
	a. products cheapen b. products cheapest c. products cheaper d. products cheap per
2)	More than 50 countries agreed to end tariffs ______
	a. and important duties b. and export duties c. and report duties d. and import duties
3)	digital cameras, ink cartridges, video game consoles and ______ satellites
	a. ever telecommunications b. evenly telecommunications c. event telecommunications d. even telecommunications
4)	Import duties will be completely removed from the selected IT products ______ years
	a. in the next for b. on the next four c. at the next four d. in the next four
5)	The deal applies to $1.3 trillion worth ______
	a. of globally trade b. of global trade c. of global trades d. of globally trades
6)	Many people believe the deal will be ______
	a. good by the world b. good for the world c. good at the world d. good in the world
7)	This is a great deal for consumers, and for ______
	a. companies big and small b. companies big to small c. companies big end small d. companies begin small
8)	We've worked hard [on] this compromise between different countries ______ solutions
	a. to find a best b. to fund the best c. for find the best d. to find the best
9)	This deal will cut costs for consumers and business - in particular, ______
	a. for smaller firms b. for smaller farms c. for smaller films d. for smaller forms
10)	It clearly shows that countries around the world can work together ______
	a. to achieved solutions b. to achieves solutions c. to achieve solutions d. to achieve solution

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

There is a new global trade agreement (1) ___________________ IT products cheaper. More than 50 countries agreed (2) __________________ import duties on over 200 IT products. All 28 countries from the European Union signed, as well as China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and others. The (3) ___________________ at a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva. It will affect (4) ___________________ products, including smartphones, digital cameras, ink cartridges, video game consoles and even telecommunications satellites. Import duties (5) ___________________ removed from the selected IT products in the next four years. The deal applies to $1.3 (6) ___________________ global trade. This is about 7 per cent of all world trade.

Many people (7) ___________________ will be good for the world. The EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, said: "This (8) ________________ consumers, and for companies big and small. We've worked hard [on] (9) ___________________ between different countries to find the best solutions." She added: "This deal (10) ___________________ consumers and business - in particular, for smaller firms, which have been (11) ___________________ in the past." Ms Malmström hopes more countries will sign up to the deal in the next few years. She said: "It clearly shows that countries around the world can work together (12) ___________________ that benefit everyone. I [expect to see] other countries joining soon."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How many countries signed up to the new deal?
2.	In which city was the deal signed?
3.	What kind of cartridges are included in the deal?
4.	When will all the import duties be removed?
5.	What percentage of world trade does this deal represent?
6.	Who is Cecilia Malmström?
7.	What did countries work hard on to find?
8.	Who in particular will the deal cut costs for?
9.	When have smaller firms been hit especially hard?
10.	Who does the article say benefits from the solutions?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How many countries signed up to the new deal?	6.	Who is Cecilia Malmström?
	a) 60 b) more than 50 c) 50 d) 49		a) the EU Trade Commissioner b) CEO of Sony c) a small business leader d) a WTO spokeswoman
2.	In which city was the deal signed?	7.	What did countries work hard on to find?
	a) Tokyo b) London c) New York d) Geneva		a) a common language b) a framework c) the best solutions d) better technology
3.	What kind of cartridges are included in the deal?	8.	Who in particular will the deal cut costs for?
	a) ink b) gun c) tape d) toner		a) smaller firms b) the EU c) the WTO d) Samsung
4.	When will all the import duties be removed?	9.	When have smaller firms been hit especially hard?
	a) 2017 b) soon c) within 4 years d) by the end of the year		a) in the past b) 2000 c) in the global recession d) since the digital revolution
5.	What percentage of world trade does this deal represent?	10.	Who does the article say benefits from the solutions?
	a) 6% b) 7% c) 8% d) 9%		a) China b) the WTO c) bigger companies d) everyone

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Game consoles

You think game consoles are the best digital devices. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good with their devices. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): printers, digital cameras or wireless headphones.

Role B – Printers

You think printers are the best digital devices. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good with their devices. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): game consoles, digital cameras or wireless headphones.

Role C – Digital cameras

You think digital cameras are the best digital devices. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good with their devices. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): printers, game consoles or wireless headphones.

Role D – Wireless headphones

You think wireless headphones are the best digital devices. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good with their devices. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): printers, digital cameras or game consoles.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'information' and 'technology'.

information

technology

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:

trade
import
well
ink
completely
applies

believe
great
solutions
especially
few
soon

TECHNOLOGY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about technology 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.

TECHNOLOGY DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'technology'?
3)	How important is technology?
4)	How has technology changed in the past 20 years?
5)	How happy are you that IT products will be cheaper?
6)	What is your favourite piece of technology (and why)?
7)	What are the good and bad things about electronic shops?
8)	What would your life be like without your gadgets?
9)	How will the new agreement change your life?
10)	What is your favourite tech company (and why)?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How will this agreement be good for the world?
13)	What do you think of the price of technology products?
14)	What tech company would you like to work for?
15)	What technology do you dislike?
16)	What is the best invention ever?
17)	Should all children study IT in schools?
18)	What are the bad things about technology?
19)	What will technology be like in 20 years from now?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the WTO?

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

There is a new (1) ____ trade agreement that will make IT products cheaper. More than 50 countries agreed to end tariffs and import (2) ____ on over 200 IT products. All 28 countries from the European Union signed, as (3) ____ as China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and others. The deal was signed at a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva. It will affect a wide (4) ____ of products, including smartphones, digital cameras, ink cartridges, video game consoles and (5) ____ telecommunications satellites. Import duties will be completely removed from the selected IT products in the next four years. The deal applies to $1.3 trillion (6) ____ of global trade. This is about 7 per cent of all world trade.

Many people (7) ____ the deal will be good for the world. The EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, said: "This is a great deal for consumers, and for companies big and small. We've worked hard (8) ____ this compromise between different countries to find the best solutions." She added: "This deal will (9) ____ costs for consumers and business - in particular, for smaller firms, which have been hit especially hard…in the past." Ms Malmström hopes more countries will sign (10) ____ to the deal in the next (11) ____ years. She said: "It clearly shows that countries around the world can work together to achieve solutions that benefit everyone. I [expect to see] other countries (12) ____ soon."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	globally	(b)	global	(c)	globalize	(d)	globe
2.	(a)	functions	(b)	tasks	(c)	jobs	(d)	duties
3.	(a)	well	(b)	good	(c)	nice	(d)	fine
4.	(a)	varies	(b)	varied	(c)	variety	(d)	various
5.	(a)	event	(b)	even	(c)	evens	(d)	ever
6.	(a)	price	(b)	value	(c)	worth	(d)	cost
7.	(a)	believers	(b)	believing	(c)	belief	(d)	believe
8.	(a)	on	(b)	at	(c)	by	(d)	as
9.	(a)	cut	(b)	smash	(c)	slice	(d)	dice
10.	(a)	down	(b)	up	(c)	in	(d)	as
11.	(a)	few	(b)	numerous	(c)	less	(d)	many
12.	(a)	jointed	(b)	joint	(c)	joining	(d)	joins

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	a new global trade tmeaeengr
2.	tariffs and import etidus
3.	a wide itvarye of products
4.	telecommunications ssitltaele
5.	loptmyelec removed
6.	The deal applies to $1.3 oliilrnt
Paragraph 2
7.	a great deal for mosnecrsu
8.	worked hard on this roscpoemmi
9.	in raurptailc
10.	hit elyailecsp hard
11.	work together to achieve tnousiols
12.	eefnitb everyone

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	costs for consumers and business - in particular, for smaller firms, which have been hit especially
( )	completely removed from the selected IT products in the next four years. The deal applies to $1.3 trillion
( )	compromise between different countries to find the best solutions." She added: "This deal will cut
( )	together to achieve solutions that benefit everyone. I [expect to see] other countries joining soon."
( 1 )	There is a new global trade agreement that will make IT products cheaper. More than 50 countries agreed to end
( )	signed, as well as China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and others. The deal was signed
( )	hard…in the past." Ms Malmström hopes more countries will sign up to the deal in the next
( )	tariffs and import duties on over 200 IT products. All 28 countries from the European Union
( )	few years. She said: "It clearly shows that countries around the world can work
( )	worth of global trade. This is about 7 per cent of all world trade.
( )	at a World Trade Organization meeting in Geneva. It will affect a wide variety of products, including smartphones, digital
( )	Many people believe the deal will be good for the world. The EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, said: "This is
( )	a great deal for consumers, and for companies big and small. We've worked hard [on] this
( )	cameras, ink cartridges, video game consoles and even telecommunications satellites. Import duties will be

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	agreed More to than end 50 tariffs countries .
2.	including Affect variety , wide products smartphones a of .
3.	IT selected the from Removed years four next the in products .
4.	to trade $1.3 applies global deal of The worth trillion .
5.	is about 7 per cent of all world trade This .
6.	the believe people Many world the for good be will deal .
7.	have been Smaller hit firms especially which hard .
8.	sign next deal up Countries few in to will years the the .
9.	to everyone achieve solutions Work that together benefit .
10.	expect joining to soon see other I countries .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

There is a new global / globally trade agreement that will make IT products cheaper. More than 50 countries agreeing / agreed to end tariffs and importance / import duties on over 200 IT products / produce. All 28 countries from the European Union signed, as good / well as China, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and others. The deal was signed at a World Trade Organization meeting / meetings in Geneva. It will affect a wide various / variety of products, including smartphones, digital cameras, inky / ink cartridges, video game consoles and even / ever telecommunications satellites. Import duties will be completely removed from the selected IT products in the next four years. The deal applies to $1.3 trillion worth of global trade. This is about 7 per cent of every / all world trade.

Many people believe the dealt / deal will be good for the world. The EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, said: "This is a great deal for consuming / consumers, and for companies big and small. We've worked hardly / hard [on] this compromise between different countries for / to find the best solutions." She added: "This deal will cut / cutting costs for consumers and business - in peculiar / particular, for smaller firms, which have been hit especially / especial hard…in the past." Ms Malmström hopes more countries will sign up / for to the deal in the next few years. She said: "It clearly / clarity shows that countries around the world can work together to achieve solutions that benefit everyone. I [expect to see] other countries joint / joining soon."

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)

Th_r_ _s _ n_w gl_b_l tr_d_ _gr__m_nt th_t w_ll m_k_ _T pr_d_cts ch__p_r. M_r_ th_n 50 c__ntr__s _gr__d t_ _nd t_r_ffs _nd _mp_rt d_t__s _n _v_r 200 _T pr_d_cts. _ll 28 c__ntr__s fr_m th_ __r_p__n _n__n s_gn_d, _s w_ll _s Ch_n_, J_p_n, S__th K_r__, th_ _.S. _nd _th_rs. Th_ d__l w_s s_gn_d _t _ W_rld Tr_d_ _rg_n_z_t__n m__t_ng _n G_n_v_. _t w_ll _ff_ct _ w_d_ v_r__ty _f pr_d_cts, _ncl_d_ng sm_rtph_n_s, d_g_t_l c_m_r_s, _nk c_rtr_dg_s, v_d__ g_m_ c_ns_l_s _nd _v_n t_l_c_mm_n_c_t__ns s_t_ll_t_s. _mp_rt d_t__s w_ll b_ c_mpl_t_ly r_m_v_d fr_m th_ s_l_ct_d _T pr_d_cts _n th_ n_xt f__r y__rs. Th_ d__l _ppl__s t_ $1.3 tr_ll__n w_rth _f gl_b_l tr_d_. Th_s _s _b__t 7 p_r c_nt _f _ll w_rld tr_d_.

M_ny p__pl_ b_l__v_ th_ d__l w_ll b_ g__d f_r th_ w_rld. Th_ __ Tr_d_ C_mm_ss__n_r, C_c_l__ M_lmström, s__d: "Th_s _s _ gr__t d__l f_r c_ns_m_rs, _nd f_r c_mp_n__s b_g _nd sm_ll. W_'v_ w_rk_d h_rd [_n] th_s c_mpr_m_s_ b_tw__n d_ff_r_nt c__ntr__s t_ f_nd th_ b_st s_l_t__ns." Sh_ _dd_d: "Th_s d__l w_ll c_t c_sts f_r c_ns_m_rs _nd b_s_n_ss - _n p_rt_c_l_r, f_r sm_ll_r f_rms, wh_ch h_v_ b__n h_t _sp_c__lly h_rd…_n th_ p_st." Ms M_lmström h_p_s m_r_ c__ntr__s w_ll s_gn _p t_ th_ d__l _n th_ n_xt f_w y__rs. Sh_ s__d: "_t cl__rly sh_ws th_t c__ntr__s _r__nd th_ w_rld c_n w_rk t_g_th_r t_ _ch__v_ s_l_t__ns th_t b_n_f_t _v_ry_n_. _ [_xp_ct t_ s__] _th_r c__ntr__s j__n_ng s__n."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

there is a new global trade agreement that will make it products cheaper more than 50 countries agreed to end tariffs and import duties on over 200 it products all 28 countries from the european union signed as well as china japan south korea the us and others the deal was signed at a world trade organization meeting in geneva it will affect a wide variety of products including smartphones digital cameras ink cartridges video game consoles and even telecommunications satellites import duties will be completely removed from the selected it products in the next four years the deal applies to $13 trillion worth of global trade this is about 7 per cent of all world trade

many people believe the deal will be good for the world the eu trade commissioner cecilia malmström said "this is a great deal for consumers and for companies big and small we've worked hard [on] this compromise between different countries to find the best solutions" she added "this deal will cut costs for consumers and business - in particular for smaller firms which have been hit especially hard…in the past" ms malmström hopes more countries will sign up to the deal in the next few years she said "it clearly shows that countries around the world can work together to achieve solutions that benefit everyone i [expect to see] other countries joining soon"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThereisanewglobaltradeagreementthatwillmakeITproductscheaper
.Morethan50countriesagreedtoendtariffsandimportdutiesonover20
0ITproducts.All28countriesfromtheEuropeanUnionsigned,aswellas
China,Japan,SouthKorea,theU.S.andothers.Thedealwassignedata
WorldTradeOrganizationmeetinginGeneva.Itwillaffectawidevariety
ofproducts,includingsmartphones,digitalcameras,inkcartridges,vid
eogameconsolesandeventelecommunicationssatellites.Importdutie
swillbecompletelyremovedfromtheselectedITproductsinthenextfou
ryears.Thedealappliesto$1.3trillionworthofglobaltrade.Thisisabout
7percentofallworldtrade.Manypeoplebelievethedealwillbegoodforth
eworld.TheEUTradeCommissioner,CeciliaMalmström,said:"Thisisa
greatdealforconsumers,andforcompaniesbigandsmall.We'veworke
dhard[on]thiscompromisebetweendifferentcountriestofindthebests
olutions."Sheadded:"Thisdealwillcutcostsforconsumersandbusines
s-inparticular,forsmallerfirms,whichhavebeenhitespeciallyhard…int
hepast."MsMalmströmhopesmorecountrieswillsignuptothedealinth
enextfewyears.Shesaid:"Itclearlyshowsthatcountriesaroundthewor
ldcanworktogethertoachievesolutionsthatbenefiteveryone.I[expect
tosee]othercountriesjoiningsoon."

FREE WRITING

Write about technology for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

IT should be taught in schools from elementary level. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 technology. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. INVENTION: Make a poster about the best ever invention. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. IT IN SCHOOLS: Write a magazine article about making all students study IT. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

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 an expert on technology. Ask him/her three questions about technology. Give him/her three of your ideas on what the future will be like. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	agreement	a.	deal
2	duties	b.	taxes
3.	variety	c.	range
4.	completely	d.	totally
5.	applies	e.	relates
6.	believe	f.	think
7.	solutions	g.	answers
8.	especially	h.	particularly
9.	achieve	i.	reach
10.	joining	j.	signing up

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	More than 50
2.	Geneva
3.	Ink
4.	Within 4 years
5.	7%
6.	The EU Trade Commissioner
7.	The best solutions
8.	Smaller firms
9.	In the past
10.	Everyone

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Technology goods to become cheaper (30th July, 2015)

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS