The Reading / Listening - Paris Agreement - Level 6

World-renowned CEO, inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk has decided to leave his position on the Trump business advisory council. This comes after he recently defended his role as advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump. His decision was prompted by Trump's announcement on Friday that the U.S. will pull out of the Paris Agreement – the climate deal established to deal with greenhouse gas emissions from 2020, signed by 195 countries. Mr Musk tweeted: "Climate change is real. Leaving [the] Paris [Agreement] is not good for America or the world." Musk isn't the only prominent figure to walk away from the advisory council. Disney CEO Bob Iger will also step down for similar reasons.

President Trump has long campaigned in support of the coal and fossil fuel industries. He believes that leaving the Paris Agreement will loosen business restrictions and promote growth. Advocates of Trump's decision believe leaving the agreement will help to revitalize the U.S. coal industry and bring back much-needed jobs and revenue to a previously lucrative industry. World leaders condemned the U.S. withdrawal. France's president said: "There is no plan B on climate, because there is no planet B." With or without U.S. support, the world is on an irreversible trend towards cleaner energy. Leaving the Paris Agreement may be a significant blow to the USA's global influence and leadership in environmental issues.

Article written by Timothy Hill

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Paris Agreement - Level 4  or  Paris Agreement - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.space.com/37056-elon-musk-stop-advising-trump-paris-climate-pact.html?utm_content=buffer887c8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
  • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/02/elon-musk-and-disney-boss-quit-trumps-business-panel-over-paris-pullout
  • http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-elon-musk-climate-change-20170601-story.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. CLIMATE CHANGE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about climate change. 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?

       CEO / inventor / entrepreneur / decision / announcement / climate / emissions /
       support / fossil fuel / coal / growth / revenue / plan B / planet / trend / cleaner energy

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

3. EMISSIONS: Students A strongly believe the world will reduce enissions; Students B strongly believe it won't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. GREENHOUSE GASES: What can the following people / organizations do to reduce greenhouse gases? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Things to do

Would they work?

The UN

 

 

Your country

 

 

You

 

 

China/USA

 

 

School teachers

 

 

Big businesses

 

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

6. CLEANER ENERGY: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • nuclear energy
  • wind power
  • geothermal power
  • body movement power
  • solar power
  • hydroelectricity
  • biofuels
  • tidal power

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Elon Musk is a world-renowned inventor and entrepreneur.     T / F
  2. The Paris Agreement is set to start in 2018.     T / F
  3. The Paris Agreement was signed by 195 countries.     T / F
  4. The CEO of Disney will also quit the business advisory council.     T / F
  5. Donald Trump has supported fossil fuel industries for a long time.     T / F
  6. Leaving the Paris Agreement will mean lost jobs in the coal industry.     T / F
  7. France's President said the world should now look at Plan B.     T / F
  8. The article said the US is now stronger to lead on environmental issues.  T / F

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

  1. renowned
  2. position
  3. prompted
  4. established
  5. prominent
  6. campaigned
  7. restrictions
  8. advocates
  9. lucrative
  10. significant
  1. limitations
  2. caused
  3. backers
  4. post
  5. serious
  6. leading
  7. famous
  8. profitable
  9. set up
  10. fought

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

  1. World-renowned CEO, inventor
  2. the U.S. will pull
  3. deal with greenhouse gas
  4. the only prominent
  5. Disney CEO Bob Iger will also step down
  6. fossil
  7. loosen business restrictions and
  8. lucrative
  9. There is no plan
  10. an irreversible trend
  1. figure to walk away
  2. promote growth
  3. for similar reasons
  4. towards cleaner energy
  5. emissions
  6. industry
  7. and entrepreneur
  8. fuel
  9. out of the Paris Agreement
  10. B

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
real
prompted
emissions
entrepreneur
similar
role
prominent
deal

World-renowned CEO, inventor and (1) ____________ Elon Musk has decided to leave his position on the Trump business advisory council. This comes after he recently defended his (2) ____________ as advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump. His decision was (3) ____________ by Trump's announcement on Friday that the U.S. will pull out of the Paris Agreement – the climate (4) ____________ established to deal with greenhouse gas (5) ____________ from 2020, signed by 195 countries. Mr Musk tweeted: "Climate change is (6) ____________. Leaving [the] Paris [Agreement] is not good for America or the world." Musk isn't the only (7) ____________ figure to walk away from the advisory council. Disney CEO Bob Iger will also step down for (8) ____________ reasons.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
industry
trend
issues
support
plan
promote
blow
lucrative

President Trump has long campaigned in (9) ____________ of the coal and fossil fuel industries. He believes that leaving the Paris Agreement will loosen business restrictions and (10) ____________ growth. Advocates of Trump's decision believe leaving the agreement will help to revitalize the U.S. coal (11) ____________ and bring back much-needed jobs and revenue to a previously (12) ____________ industry. World leaders condemned the U.S. withdrawal. France's president said: "There is no (13) ____________ B on climate, because there is no planet B." With or without U.S. support, the world is on an irreversible (14) ____________ towards cleaner energy. Leaving the Paris Agreement may be a significant (15) ____________ to the USA's global influence and leadership in environmental (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) renowned CEO, inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk has decided to ______
     a.  leave this position
     b.  leave his position
     c.  leave his posting
     d.  leaves his position

2)  His decision was prompted by Trump's ______ Friday
     a.  denouncement on
     b.  renouncement on
     c.  announcement on
     d.  a bounced mint on

3)  the climate deal established to deal with greenhouse ______
     a. gassy emissions
     b. gas emissions
     c.  gasses emission
     d.  gas emission

4)  Musk isn't the only prominent ______ walk away
     a.  figured to
     b.  figure to
     c.  figures to
     d.  figurine to

5)  Disney CEO Bob Iger will also step down for ______
     a.  similar reasons
     b.  similarity reasons
     c.  simulate reasons
     d.  similarities reasons

6)  President Trump has long campaigned in support of the coal and fossil ______
     a.  fueled industries
     b.  fuels industries
     c.  fueling industries
     d.  fuel industries

7)  leaving the Paris Agreement will loosen business restrictions and ______
     a.  promote undergrowth
     b.  promotes growth
     c.  promote growth
     d.  promoted growth

8) leaving the agreement will help to revitalize the U.S. ______
     a.  coal industrial
     b.  coal industrialize
     c.  coal industrious
     d.  coal industry

9)  bring back much-needed jobs and revenue to a ______ industry
     a.  previously laxative
     b.  previous lucrative
     c.  previously lucrative
     d.  previously lubricate

10)  With or without U.S. support, the world is on an ______
     a.  irresponsible trend
     b.  irreversible trend
     c.  irresistible trend
     d.  irritable trend

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

World-renowned CEO, (1) ___________________ entrepreneur Elon Musk has decided to leave his position on the Trump business advisory council. This comes after he recently defended (2) ___________________ to U.S. President Donald Trump. His decision was prompted by Trump's announcement on Friday that the U.S. (3) ___________________ the Paris Agreement – the climate deal (4) ___________________ with greenhouse gas emissions from 2020, signed by 195 countries. Mr Musk tweeted: "Climate change is real. Leaving [the] Paris [Agreement] is not good for America or the world." Musk isn't (5) ___________________ figure to walk away from the advisory council. Disney CEO Bob Iger will also step down (6) ___________________.

President Trump has long campaigned (7) ___________________ the coal and fossil fuel industries. He believes (8) ___________________ Paris Agreement will loosen business restrictions and promote growth. Advocates of Trump's decision believe leaving the agreement will (9) ___________________ the U.S. coal industry and bring back much-needed jobs and revenue (10) ___________________ lucrative industry. World leaders condemned the U.S. withdrawal. France's president said: "There is no plan B on climate, because there is no planet B." With or without U.S. support, the (11) ___________________ irreversible trend towards cleaner energy. Leaving the Paris Agreement may be (12) ___________________ to the USA's global influence and leadership in environmental issues.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did Elon Musk leave?
  2. What did Elon Musk previously defend?
  3. How many countries signed the Paris Agreement?
  4. Who did Elon Musk say leaving the Paris Agreement was not good for?
  5. The boss of which company also stepped down?
  6. What industries has Donald Trump campaigned for?
  7. What do Trump's supporters believe leaving will bring back?
  8. What plan did France's president say did not exist?
  9. What is the world moving irreversibly towards?
  10. What might the USA lose leadership and influence in?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did Elon Musk leave?
a) a note
b) the White House
c) his company Tesla Motors
d) a business advisory council

2) What did Elon Musk previously defend?
a) his honour
b) his role as advisor to Donald Trump
c) his company
d) greenhouse gasses

3) How many countries signed the Paris Agreement?
a) 168
b) 186
c) 159
d) 195

4) Who did Elon Musk say leaving the Paris Agreement was not good for?
a) America and Canada
b) just America
c) America and the world
d) America, Canada and Mexico

5) The boss of which company also stepped down?
a) Ford
b) IBM
c) Google
d) Disney

6) What industries has Donald Trump campaigned for?
a) solar power
b) renewable energy
c) coal and fossil fuels
d) environmental

7) What do Trump's supporters believe leaving will bring back?
a) jobs
b) pollution
c) environmentalists
d) business restrictions

8) What plan did France's president say did not exist?
a) strategic plan
b) the Planet Plan
c) plan B
d) savings plan

9) What is the world moving irreversibly towards?
a) zero emissions
b) cleaner energies
c) a black hole
d) destruction

10) What might the USA lose leadership and influence in?
a) environmental issues
b) fossil fuels
c) renewable energy
d) business advisory councils

Role play

Role  A – Solar Power

You think solar power is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of energy. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): tidal power, nuclear power or hydroelectricity.

Role  B – Tidal Power

You think tidal power is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of energy. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): solar power, nuclear power or hydroelectricity.

Role  C – Nuclear Power

You think nuclear power is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of energy. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): tidal power, solar power or hydroelectricity.

Role  D – Hydroelectricity

You think hydroelectricity is the best form of energy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of energy. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  tidal power, nuclear power or solar power.

After reading / listening

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

'climate'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'change'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • fuel
    • growth
    • back
    • plan
    • cleaner
    • issues
    • CEO
    • comes
    • pull
    • 195
    • good
    • similar

    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 - Musk abandons Trump after U.S. dumps Paris Agreement

    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 'climate'?
    3. What do you know about climate change?
    4. What do you know about the Paris Agreement?
    5. What do you think of the USA's decision?
    6. What does your country think of Mr Trump's decision?
    7. What is your country doing to help reduce emissions?
    8. What are you doing to help reduce emissions?
    9. What more can you do to help reduce emissions?
    10. Can the other 194 countries reduce emissions without the USA?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the term 'fossil fuel'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of fossil fuels?
    5. Is it OK to use more fossil fuels if it protects jobs?
    6. What does Mr Trump think of climate change?
    7. What advice do you have for Donald Trump?
    8. Will clean energies eventually mean very few carbon emissions?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this news story?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Donald Trump about the climate?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    World-renowned CEO, (1) ____ and entrepreneur Elon Musk has decided to leave his position on the Trump business advisory council. This (2) ____ after he recently defended his role (3) ____ advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump. His decision was prompted by Trump's announcement on Friday that the U.S. will pull out of the Paris Agreement – the climate deal established to deal with greenhouse gas (4) ____ from 2020, signed by 195 countries. Mr Musk tweeted: "Climate change is real. Leaving [the] Paris [Agreement] is not good for America or the world." Musk isn't the only (5) ____ figure to walk away from the advisory council. Disney CEO Bob Iger will also (6) ____ down for similar reasons.

    President Trump has long campaigned in support of the coal and (7) ____ fuel industries. He believes that leaving the Paris Agreement will loosen business restrictions and promote (8) ____. Advocates of Trump's decision believe leaving the agreement will help to (9) ____ the U.S. coal industry and bring back much-needed jobs and revenue to a previously (10) ____ industry. World leaders condemned the U.S. withdrawal. France's president said: "There is no (11) ____ B on climate, because there is no planet B." With or without U.S. support, the world is on an irreversible trend towards cleaner energy. Leaving the Paris Agreement may be a significant (12) ____ to the USA's global influence and leadership in environmental issues.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     inventory     (b)     invention     (c)     invent     (d)     inventor    
    2. (a)     goes     (b)     places     (c)     leaves     (d)     comes    
    3. (a)     was     (b)     as     (c)     has     (d)     is    
    4. (a)     remissions     (b)     commissions     (c)     missions     (d)     admissions    
    5. (a)     prominence     (b)     prominently     (c)     prominent     (d)     prom    
    6. (a)     step     (b)     walk     (c)     kneel     (d)     get    
    7. (a)     fossils     (b)     fossil     (c)     fossilized     (d)     fossilizing    
    8. (a)     growth     (b)     growing     (c)     grown     (d)     grows    
    9. (a)     retribution     (b)     revitalize     (c)     retaliate     (d)     retread    
    10. (a)     livid     (b)     lubricate     (c)     lucrative     (d)     laxative    
    11. (a)     plant     (b)     planned     (c)     plan     (d)     planet    
    12. (a)     gasp     (b)     gust     (c)     puff     (d)     blow

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. CEO, toeinrnv and entrepreneur
    2. he recently eenfddde his role
    3. omdtpper by Trump's announcement
    4. the climate deal bedliaetssh
    5. greenhouse gas emssiiosn
    6. the only tormeinnp figure to walk away

    Paragraph 2

    1. cenmgpdaia in support
    2. osifls fuel
    3. loosen business riteirnsctso
    4. a previously teavlcriu industry
    5. the world is on an rsbriievleer trend
    6. the USA's global feilnenuc

    Put the text back together

    (    )     President Trump has long campaigned in support of the coal and fossil fuel industries. He believes that

    (    )     the advisory council. Disney CEO Bob Iger will also step down for similar reasons.

    (    )     out of the Paris Agreement – the climate deal established to deal with greenhouse gas emissions from 2020, signed

    (    )     leaving the Paris Agreement will loosen business restrictions and promote growth. Advocates of Trump's

    (    )     decision believe leaving the agreement will help to revitalize the U.S. coal industry and bring back much-

    (    )     without U.S. support, the world is on an irreversible trend towards cleaner energy. Leaving the Paris Agreement

    (  1  )     World-renowned CEO, inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk has decided to leave his position on the Trump business

    (    )     advisory council. This comes after he recently defended his role as advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump. His

    (    )     decision was prompted by Trump's announcement on Friday that the U.S. will pull

    (    )     may be a significant blow to the USA's global influence and leadership in environmental issues.

    (    )     needed jobs and revenue to a previously lucrative industry. World leaders condemned the U.S.

    (    )     withdrawal. France's president said: "There is no plan B on climate, because there is no planet B."With or

    (    )     or the world." Musk isn't the only prominent figure to walk away from

    (    )     by 195 countries. Mr Musk tweeted: "Climate change is real. Leaving [the] Paris [Agreement] is not good for America

    Put the words in the right order

    1. leave   Musk   Inventor   has   and   decided   entrepreneur   to   Elon   .
    2. advisor   after   defended   as   comes   recently   role   This   he   his   .
    3. established  with  emissions  deal  deal  gas  climate  to  greenhouse  The  .
    4. good   Paris   for   Agreement   America   is   Leaving   not   the   .
    5. to   the   walk   only   away   prominent   Musk   figure   isn't   .
    6. industry  the  Leaving  will  revitalize  coal  agreement  to  US  the  help  .
    7. US   the   condemned   leaders   World   withdrawal   .
    8. no  climate  is  is   on  There  there  B  B  because  plan  planet  ,  no   .
    9. an  towards  The   on  trend   energy  is  irreversible  cleaner   world   .
    10. USA's  and  significant  the  influence  A  to  global   leadership   blow   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    World-renowned CEO, inventor and entrepreneur Elon Musk has derided / decided to leave his position on the Trump business advisory council. This comes / goes after he recently defended his role / roll as advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump. His decision was prompting / prompted by Trump's announcement on Friday that the U.S. will pull out off / of the Paris Agreement – the climate deal / dealt established to deal with greenhouse gas emissions from 2020, signed / singed by 195 countries. Mr Musk tweeted: "Climate change is really / real. Leaving [the] Paris [Agreement] is not good for America or the world." Musk isn't the only prominent / prominence figure to walk away from the advisory council. Disney CEO Bob Iger will also step down for similarity / similar reasons.

    President Trump has long / longing campaigned in support of the coal and fossil fuel / fueled industries. He beliefs / believes that leaving the Paris Agreement will loosen / loses business restrictions and promote growth. Advocates of Trump's decision believe leaving the / an agreement will help to revitalize the U.S. coal industry and bring back much-needed jobs and revenue at / to a previously lucrative industry. World leaders condoned / condemned the U.S. withdrawal. France's president said: "There is no plan B / C on climate, because there is no planet B." With or without U.S. support, the world is on an irreversible trend / trendy towards cleaner energy. Leaving the Paris Agreement may be a significant puff / blow to the USA's global influence and leadership in environmental issues.

    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)

    W_rld-r_n_wn_d C__, _nv_nt_r _nd _ntr_pr_n__r _l_n M_sk h_s d_c_d_d t_ l__v_ h_s p_s_t__n _n th_ Tr_mp b_s_n_ss _dv_s_ry c__nc_l. Th_s c_m_s _ft_r h_ r_c_ntly d_f_nd_d h_s r_l_ _s _dv_s_r t_ _.S. Pr_s_d_nt D_n_ld Tr_mp. H_s d_c_s__n w_s pr_mpt_d by Tr_mp's _nn__nc_m_nt _n Fr_d_y th_t th_ _.S. w_ll p_ll __t _f th_ P_r_s _gr__m_nt – th_ cl_m_t_ d__l _st_bl_sh_d t_ d__l w_th gr__nh__s_ g_s _m_ss__ns fr_m 2020, s_gn_d by 195 c__ntr__s. Mr M_sk tw__t_d: "Cl_m_t_ ch_ng_ _s r__l. L__v_ng [th_] P_r_s [_gr__m_nt] _s n_t g__d f_r _m_r_c_ _r th_ w_rld." M_sk _sn't th_ _nly pr_m_n_nt f_g_r_ t_ w_lk _w_y fr_m th_ _dv_s_ry c__nc_l. D_sn_y C__ B_b _g_r w_ll _ls_ st_p d_wn f_r s_m_l_r r__s_ns.

    Pr_s_d_nt Tr_mp h_s l_ng c_mp__gn_d _n s_pp_rt _f th_ c__l _nd f_ss_l f__l _nd_str__s. H_ b_l__v_s th_t l__v_ng th_ P_r_s _gr__m_nt w_ll l__s_n b_s_n_ss r_str_ct__ns _nd pr_m_t_ gr_wth. _dv_c_t_s _f Tr_mp's d_c_s__n b_l__v_ l__v_ng th_ _gr__m_nt w_ll h_lp t_ r_v_t_l_z_ th_ _.S. c__l _nd_stry _nd br_ng b_ck m_ch-n__d_d j_bs _nd r_v_n__ t_ _ pr_v___sly l_cr_t_v_ _nd_stry. W_rld l__d_rs c_nd_mn_d th_ _.S. w_thdr_w_l. Fr_nc_'s pr_s_d_nt s__d: "Th_r_ _s n_ pl_n B _n cl_m_t_, b_c__s_ th_r_ _s n_ pl_n_t B." W_th _r w_th__t _.S. s_pp_rt, th_ w_rld _s _n _n _rr_v_rs_bl_ tr_nd t_w_rds cl__n_r _n_rgy. L__v_ng th_ P_r_s _gr__m_nt m_y b_ _ s_gn_f_c_nt bl_w t_ th_ _S_'s gl_b_l _nfl__nc_ _nd l__d_rsh_p _n _nv_r_nm_nt_l _ss__s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    world-renowned ceo inventor and entrepreneur elon musk has decided to leave his position on the trump business advisory council this comes after he recently defended his role as advisor to us president donald trump his decision was prompted by trump's announcement on friday that the us will pull out of the paris agreement – the climate deal established to deal with greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 signed by 195 countries mr musk tweeted "climate change is real leaving [the] paris [agreement] is not good for america or the world" musk isn't the only prominent figure to walk away from the advisory council disney ceo bob iger will also step down for similar reasons

    president trump has long campaigned in support of the coal and fossil fuel industries he believes that leaving the paris agreement will loosen business restrictions and promote growth advocates of trump's decision believe leaving the agreement will help to revitalize the us coal industry and bring back much-needed jobs and revenue to a previously lucrative industry world leaders condemned the us withdrawal france's president said "there is no plan b on climate because there is no planet b" with or without us support the world is on an irreversible trend towards cleaner energy leaving the paris agreement may be a significant blow to the usa's global influence and leadership in environmental issues

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    World-renownedCEO,inventorandentrepreneurElonMuskhasdecid
    edtoleavehispositionontheTrumpbusinessadvisorycouncil.Thiscom
    esafterherecentlydefendedhisroleasadvisortoU.S.PresidentDonaldT
    rump.HisdecisionwaspromptedbyTrump'sannouncementonFridayt
    hattheU.S.willpulloutoftheParisAgreement–theclimatedealestablis
    hedtodealwithgreenhousegasemissionsfrom2020,signedby195cou
    ntries.MrMusktweeted:"Climatechangeisreal.Leaving[the]Paris[Ag
    reement]isnotgoodforAmericaortheworld."Muskisn'ttheonlypromin
    entfiguretowalkawayfromtheadvisorycouncil.DisneyCEOBobIgerwil
    lalsostepdownforsimilarreasons.PresidentTrumphaslongcampaigne
    dinsupportofthecoalandfossilfuelindustries.Hebelievesthatleavingt
    heParisAgreementwillloosenbusinessrestrictionsandpromotegrowt
    h.AdvocatesofTrump'sdecisionbelieveleavingtheagreementwillhelp
    torevitalizetheU.S.coalindustryandbringbackmuch-neededjobsand
    revenuetoapreviouslylucrativeindustry.Worldleaderscondemnedth
    eU.S.withdrawal.France'spresidentsaid:"ThereisnoplanBonclimate,
    becausethereisnoplanetB."WithorwithoutU.S.support,theworldison
    anirreversibletrendtowardscleanerenergy.LeavingtheParisAgreeme
    ntmaybeasignificantblowtotheUSA'sglobalinfluenceandleadershipin
    environmentalissues.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    What are the best three ways to deal with climate change? Explain your reasons.

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

    3. CLIMATE CHANGE: Make a poster about climate change. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. PARIS AGREEMENT: Write a magazine article about the Paris Agreement and how important it is. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    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 climate change. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can reduce carbon emissions. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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