The Reading / Listening - Level 1

A father was surprised when he invited his family, friends and neighbours to his daughter Rubi's 15th birthday party. His Facebook post went viral and 1.2 million people accepted his invitation. Crescencio Ibarra said he would not turn any of them away. He said he had no idea why his post became so popular because he just wanted to invite people who lived nearby. So many people might go to the party that there will also be a lot of police.

A 15th birthday is important in a girl's life in Mexico. It is when she comes of age. There is a traditional party with lots of guests. The girl wears a beautiful dress, a tiara and make-up. At Rubi's party, three bands will play music. There will be a horse race. The winner will get $490. There are many jokes about Mr Ibarra's post online. Rubi's favourite shows Donald Trump and Mexico's president agreeing to let Mexican migrants in the USA go to her party.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38235093
  • http://q13fox.com/2016/12/06/more-than-1m-guests-rsvp-to-girls-quinceanera-after-dads-invite-goes-viral/
  • http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/world/article119262218.html


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. A father was
  2. he invited his family, friends
  3. his daughter Rubi's
  4. His Facebook post
  5. 1.2 million people accepted
  6. he would not turn any of
  7. invite people who
  8. there will also be
  1. 15th birthday party
  2. a lot of police
  3. his invitation
  4. and neighbours
  5. them away
  6. surprised
  7. went viral
  8. lived nearby

Paragraph 2

  1. A 15th birthday is important
  2. It is when she
  3. There is a traditional
  4. lots of
  5. a tiara and
  6. There will be a horse
  7. many jokes about Mr Ibarra's
  8. Mexican migrants
  1. guests
  2. party
  3. in the USA
  4. comes of age
  5. post online
  6. in a girl's life
  7. make-up
  8. race

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A father (1) ___________________ when he invited his family, friends and neighbours (2) ___________________ Rubi's 15th birthday party. His Facebook (3) ___________________ and 1.2 million people accepted his invitation. Crescencio Ibarra said he would not (4) ___________________ them away. He said he had no idea why his post became so popular because he just wanted to invite people (5) ___________________. So many people might go to the party that there will (6) ___________________ of police.

A 15th birthday is important (7) ___________________ in Mexico. It is when she comes of age. There is a (8) ___________________ with lots of guests. The girl wears a beautiful dress, a tiara (9) ___________________. At Rubi's party, three bands will play music. (10) ___________________ horse race. The winner will get $490. There are many jokes about Mr Ibarra's (11) ___________________. Rubi's favourite shows Donald Trump and Mexico's president (12) __________________ Mexican migrants in the USA go to her party.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Afatherwassurprisedwhenheinvitedhisfamily,friendsandneighbours
tohisdaughterRubi's15thbirthdayparty.HisFacebookpostwentvirala
nd1.2millionpeopleacceptedhisinvitation.CrescencioIbarrasaidhew
ouldnotturnanyofthemaway.Hesaidhehadnoideawhyhispostbecam
esopopularbecausehejustwantedtoinvitepeoplewholivednearby.So
manypeoplemightgotothepartythattherewillalsobealotofpolice.A15
thbirthdayisimportantinagirl'slifeinMexico.Itiswhenshecomesofage.
Thereisatraditionalpartywithlotsofguests.Thegirlwearsabeautifuldr
ess,atiaraandmake-up.AtRubi'sparty,threebandswillplaymusic.Th
erewillbeahorserace.Thewinnerwillget$490.Therearemanyjokesab
outMrIbarra'spostonline.Rubi'sfavouriteshowsDonaldTrumpandMe
xico'spresidentagreeingtoletMexicanmigrantsintheUSAgotoherpart
y.

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

Write about this topic 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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