The Reading / Listening - Nonuplets - Level 6

We all know what twins and triplets are. Most of us are familiar with the terms quadruplets and quintuplets. But what is the word to describe nine babies being born at the same time? The answer is... nonuplets. A 25-year-old Malian woman, Halima Cisse, has given birth to nine healthy babies. This is a new record. The previous record was by a woman in the US who delivered eight babies (octuplets) at a single birth. People in Mali were avidly following the progress of Ms Cisse's pregnancy and she was inundated with well wishes. Malians were not the only ones who were pleasantly surprised when doctors announced the nonuplets. Ms Cisse was told she was only carrying seven babies (septuplets) after having scans.

Ms Cisse's husband told the BBC that she is in good health and that the babies (five boys and four girls) were doing well. Fanta Siby, Mali's health minister, congratulated the couple on the "happy outcome". He also praised medical teams in Morocco, which is where Ms Cisse gave birth. He also thanked Mali's president for the "political leadership and generosity" which "expedited" support for Halima. The outcome is wonderful news as it was a little touch-and-go in the early stages of the pregnancy. Gynecologists in Mali were concerned about Ms Cisse's welfare and the chances of her babies' survival. They sought the help of the hospital in Morocco where they believed she would receive better pre- and postnatal care.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Nonuplets - Level 4  or  Nonuplets - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56994408
  • https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/05/341463/malian-woman-gives-birth-to-nine-children-in-moroccan-hospital/
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/05/africa/mali-nine-babies-intl-scli/index.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. NONUPLETS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about nonuplets. 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?
       twins / triplets / babies / Mali / record / birth / pregnancy / surprised / doctors /
       husband / health minister / congratulations/ Morocco / wonderful news / postnatal
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ONLY CHILD: Students A strongly believe being an only child is best; Students B strongly believe having siblings is best. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. RAISING CHILDREN: What are the joys and challenges of raising children? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Joys

Challenges

School

 

 

Food

 

 

Hobbies

 

 

Reading

 

 

Behaviour

 

 

Trips

 

 
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. TWINS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "twins". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BABIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about babies at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Their smile
  • Their smell
  • Their clothes
  • Photos
  • Hugs
  • Their sleep
  • Their laugh
  • Their first tooth

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. triplets a. Having a good knowledge of.
      2. familiar b. Existing or occurring before in time or order.
      3. quadruplets c. Three children or animals born at the same birth.
      4. previous d. With great interest or enthusiasm.
      5. delivered e. Gave birth to.
      6. avidly f. Flood someone with things, things to do or people to be dealt with.
      7. inundated g. Four children or animals born at the same birth.

    Paragraph 2

      8. outcome h. Of, relating to, characteristic of, or denoting the period after childbirth.
      9. praised i. Made an action or process happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly.
      10. generosity j. (of an outcome, especially one that is desired) possible but very uncertain; risky.
      11. expedited k. The way a thing turns out; a consequence.
      12. touch-and-go l. Expressed warm approval or admiration of.
      13. gynecologists m. Doctors who specialise in births and women's reproductive systems.
      14. postnatal n. The quality of being kind and giving.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says we all know what the word "triplets" means.     T / F
  2. The word to describe nine babies born at a single birth is "octuplets".     T / F
  3. The previous record was eight babies by a Mexican woman.     T / F
  4. The woman who broke the record thought she was having seven babies.  T / F
  5. The woman gave birth to five girls and four boys.     T / F
  6. Mali's president helped the woman who broke the record.     T / F
  7. Gynecologists had no concerns about the woman's welfare.     T / F
  8. Doctors thought the woman would get better care in Morocco.     T / F

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

  1. term
  2. previous
  3. delivered
  4. avidly
  5. announced
  6. congratulated
  7. generosity
  8. outcome
  9. touch-and-go
  10. sought
  1. gave birth to
  2. result
  3. declared
  4. looked for
  5. earlier
  6. kindness
  7. risky
  8. word
  9. applauded
  10. enthusiastically

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

  1. Most of us are familiar
  2. avidly following the progress
  3. she was inundated with well
  4. pleasantly
  5. she was only carrying seven babies
  6. congratulated the couple on the
  7. The outcome is wonderful
  8. it was a little touch-and-go
  9. They sought the
  10. receive better pre- and
  1. of Ms Cisse's pregnancy
  2. help of the hospital
  3. (septuplets)
  4. news
  5. postnatal care
  6. with the terms
  7. happy outcome
  8. wishes
  9. surprised
  10. in the early stages

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
delivered
triplets
pleasantly
birth
inundated
scans
describe
progress

We all know what twins and (1) _____________________ are. Most of us are familiar with the terms quadruplets and quintuplets. But what is the word to (2) _____________________ nine babies being born at the same time? The answer is... nonuplets. A 25-year-old Malian woman, Halima Cisse, has given (3) _____________________ to nine healthy babies. This is a new record. The previous record was by a woman in the US who (4) _____________________ eight babies (octuplets) at a single birth. People in Mali were avidly following the (5) _____________________ of Ms Cisse's pregnancy and she was (6) _____________________ with well wishes. Malians were not the only ones who were (7) _____________________ surprised when doctors announced the nonuplets. Ms Cisse was told she was only carrying seven babies (septuplets) after having (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
postnatal
couple
outcome
survival
praised
health
stages
political

Ms Cisse's husband told the BBC that she is in good (9) _____________________ and that the babies (five boys and four girls) were doing well. Fanta Siby, Mali's health minister, congratulated the (10) _____________________ on the "happy outcome". He also (11) _____________________ medical teams in Morocco, which is where Ms Cisse gave birth. He also thanked Mali's president for the "(12) _____________________ leadership and generosity" which "expedited" support for Halima. The (13) _____________________ is wonderful news as it was a little touch-and-go in the early (14) _____________________ of the pregnancy. Gynecologists in Mali were concerned about Ms Cisse's welfare and the chances of her babies' (15) _____________________. They sought the help of the hospital in Morocco where they believed she would receive better pre- and (16) _____________________ care.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Most of us are familiar with the terms ______
     a.  droplets and quintuplets
     b.  quadruplets and droplets
     c.  quadruplets and quintuplets
     d.  quid droplets and quintuplets
2)  A 25-year-old Malian woman, Halima Cisse, has given birth to ______
     a.  nine healthy bambinos
     b.  nine healthy babies
     c.  nine healthy babbies
     d.  nine healthy babes
3)  The previous record was by a woman in the US who delivered ______
     a.  eight babies (septuplets)
     b.  eight babies (octuplets)
     c.  eight babies (nonuplets)
     d.  eight babies (sextuplets)
4)  avidly following the progress of Ms Cisse's pregnancy and she was ______ wishes
     a.  in undulated with well
     b.  in non dated with well
     c.  inner dated with well
     d.  inundated with well
5)  Ms Cisse was told she was only carrying ______
     a.  seven babies (septuplets)
     b.  seven babies (octuplets)
     c.  seven babies (sextuplets)
     d.  seven babies (nonuplets)

6)  Ms Cisse's husband told the BBC that she is ______
     a.  in goodly health
     b.  in good health
     c.  in goodness health
     d.  in goods health
7)  Mali's health minister, congratulated the couple on ______
     a.  the "happy outcome"
     b.  the "happy income"
     c.  the "happy coming"
     d.  the "happy succumb"
8)  thanked Mali's president for the political ______
     a.  leaders ship and generous
     b.  leaders hip and general city
     c.  lead a ship agenda city
     d.  leadership and generosity
9)  The outcome is wonderful news as it was a little ______
     a.  feel-and-go
     b.  go-and-touch
     c.  touch-and-go
     d.  go-and-birth
10)  the hospital in Morocco where they believed she would receive better pre- ______
     a.  end postnatal care
     b.  and pose natal care
     c.  and postnatal care
     d.  end post natural care

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

We all know what (1) ____________________ are. Most of us are familiar with the terms quadruplets and quintuplets. But what is the (2) ____________________ nine babies being born at the same time? The answer is... nonuplets. A 25-year-old Malian woman, Halima Cisse, has given birth to nine healthy babies. This is a new record. The (3) ____________________ by a woman in the US who delivered eight babies (octuplets) at a single birth. People in Mali were avidly following the progress of Ms Cisse's pregnancy and she (4) ____________________ well wishes. Malians were not the only ones who (5) ____________________ when doctors announced the nonuplets. Ms Cisse was told she was only carrying seven babies (septuplets) (6) ____________________.

Ms Cisse's husband told the BBC that she is in good health and that the babies (five boys and four girls) (7) ____________________. Fanta Siby, Mali's health minister, congratulated the couple on (8) ____________________. He also praised medical teams in Morocco, which is where Ms Cisse gave birth. He also thanked Mali's president for the "political (9) ____________________" which "expedited" support for Halima. The outcome is wonderful news as it was a little touch-and-go in (10) ____________________ of the pregnancy. Gynecologists in Mali were concerned about Ms Cisse's welfare and (11) ____________________ her babies' survival. They sought the help of the hospital in Morocco where they believed she would receive better pre- (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What term do most of us know besides twins, triplets and quintuplets?
  2. What is the word to describe nine babies being born at the same time?
  3. What is the nationality of the previous record holder?
  4. What were people in Mali avidly following?
  5. How many babies did doctors initially tell the woman she was having?
  6. How many boys and how many girls did the woman give birth to?
  7. Who is Fanta Siby?
  8. Who was thanked for his leadership and generosity?
  9. What did doctors say about the pregnancy in its early stages?
  10. What did gynecologists say would be better in Morocco?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What term do most of us know besides twins, triplets and quintuplets?
a) septuplets
b) quadruplets
c) octuplets
d) nonuplets
2)  What is the word to describe nine babies being born at the same time?
a) sextuplets
b) octuplets
c) septuplets
d) nonuplets
3) What is the nationality of the previous record holder?
a) American
b) Mexican
c) Chinese
d) Indian
4) What were people in Mali avidly following?
a) the woman's health
b) the sex of the babies
c) the pregnancy
d) the birth
5) How many babies did doctors initially tell the woman she was having?
a) six
b) seven
c) eight
d) ten

6) How many boys and how many girls did the woman give birth to?
a) five boys and four girls
b) six boys and three girls
c) two girls and seven boys
d) nine girls
7) Who is Fanta Siby?
a) the woman's husband
b) a gynecologist
c) Mali's health minister
d) a health expert
8) Who was thanked for his leadership and generosity?
a) Mali's president
b) the woman's husband
c) the woman's son
d) the boss of a baby food company
9) What did doctors say about the pregnancy in its early stages?
a) it was touch-and-go
b) it was unbelievable
c) everything was OK
d) it was difficult to see the number of babies
10) What did gynecologists say would be better in Morocco?
a) the weather
b) the food
c) surgical equipment
d) pre- and postnatal care

Role play

Role  A – Their Smile
You think their smile is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): photos, hugs or playing.

Role  B – Photos
You think photos are the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): their smile, hugs or playing.

Role  C – Hugs
You think hugs are the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): photos, their smile or playing.

Role  D – Playing
You think playing is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): photos, hugs or their smile.

After reading / listening

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

'birth'

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

    • and 'children'.

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

    • • 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:

    • familiar
    • describe
    • new
    • previous
    • inundated
    • scans
    • five
    • happy
    • thanked
    • early
    • chances
    • receive

    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 - Nonuplets

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'birth'?
    3. How important are siblings?
    4. What would having eight same-age siblings be like?
    5. What would the fun things be about nonuplets?
    6. Would you rather be an only child or a nonuplet?
    7. What help will the parents of the nonuplets need?
    8. How many children is it best to have?
    9. How difficult is parenting?
    10. What advice do you have for the mother?

    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 word 'children'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What might the difficulties be of having nonuplets?
    5. What message would you like to send the mother?
    6. What gift would you buy the parents?
    7. Would it be difficult to name nine babies?
    8. How will the siblings get along with each other?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the mother?

    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)

    We all know what twins and triplets (1) ____. Most of us are familiar with the terms quadruplets and quintuplets. But what is the word to describe nine babies being born at the same time? The answer is... (2) ____. A 25-year-old Malian woman, Halima Cisse, has given birth to nine healthy babies. This is a new record. The (3) ____ record was by a woman in the US who delivered eight babies (octuplets) at a single birth. People in Mali were (4) ____ following the progress of Ms Cisse's pregnancy and she was inundated (5) ____ well wishes. Malians were not the only ones who were pleasantly surprised when doctors announced the nonuplets. Ms Cisse was told she was only carrying seven babies (septuplets) after (6) ____ scans.

    Ms Cisse's husband told the BBC that she is (7) ____ good health and that the babies (five boys and four girls) were doing well. Fanta Siby, Mali's health minister, congratulated the couple on the "happy (8) ____". He also praised medical teams in Morocco, which is where Ms Cisse gave birth. He also thanked Mali's president for the "political leadership and generosity" which "(9) ____" support for Halima. The outcome is wonderful news as it was a little touch-and-go in the (10) ____ stages of the pregnancy. Gynecologists in Mali were concerned about Ms Cisse's welfare and the chances of her babies' survival. They (11) ____ the help of the hospital in Morocco where they believed she would receive better pre- and (12) ____ care.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     being     (b)     been     (c)     be     (d)     are    
    (a)     quintuplets     (b)     octuplets     (c)     sextuplets     (d)     nonuplets    
    (a)     impervious     (b)     previous     (c)     porous     (d)     precious    
    (a)     vividly     (b)     avoiding     (c)     avidly     (d)     vaguely    
    (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     with     (d)     as    
    (a)     having     (b)     have     (c)     has     (d)     had    
    (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     as     (d)     at    
    (a)     outcome     (b)     income     (c)     comb     (d)     come    
    (a)     speed     (b)     expedited     (c)     haste     (d)     fast    
    (a)     fast     (b)     young     (c)     early     (d)     birth    
    (a)     thought     (b)     ought     (c)     sought     (d)     bought    
    (a)     postal     (b)     posting     (c)     posted     (d)     postnatal

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Most of us are aifilmar with the terms
    2. uarqlpuedts and quintuplets
    3. eight babies (cuolptets) at a single birth
    4. avidly following the rogperss
    5. she was tunndaeid with well wishes
    6. she was only carrying seven babies - tsepetspul

    Paragraph 2

    1. He also sidreap medical teams
    2. the political leadership and gseoernyti
    3. tpedexide support for Halima
    4. in the early stages of the cganrenpy
    5. concerned about Ms Cisse's ewrlfae
    6. pre- and toaspanlt care

    Put the text back together

    (...)  well. Fanta Siby, Mali's health minister, congratulated the couple on the "happy outcome". He also praised
    (...)  leadership and generosity" which "expedited" support for Halima. The outcome is wonderful
    (  1  ) We all know what twins and triplets are. Most of us are familiar with the terms quadruplets and
    (...)  Ms Cisse's husband told the BBC that she is in good health and that the babies (five boys and four girls) were doing
    (...)  announced the nonuplets. Ms Cisse was told she was only carrying seven babies (septuplets) after having scans.
    (...)  is... nonuplets. A 25-year-old Malian woman, Halima Cisse, has given birth to nine healthy babies. This is a new
    (...)  concerned about Ms Cisse's welfare and the chances of her babies' survival. They sought
    (...)  news as it was a little touch-and-go in the early stages of the pregnancy. Gynecologists in Mali were
    (...)  birth. People in Mali were avidly following the progress of Ms Cisse's pregnancy and she was inundated
    (...)  record. The previous record was by a woman in the US who delivered eight babies (octuplets) at a single
    (...)  with well wishes. Malians were not the only ones who were pleasantly surprised when doctors
    (...)  quintuplets. But what is the word to describe nine babies being born at the same time? The answer
    (...)  medical teams in Morocco, which is where Ms Cisse gave birth. He also thanked Mali's president for the "political
    (...)  the help of the hospital in Morocco where they believed she would receive better pre- and postnatal care.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. familiar   with   of   Most   the   are   us   terms   .
    2. to   word   babies   nine   The   born   .   being   describe
    3. progress   .   following   Mali   in   avidly   People   her   were
    4. surprised   Pleasantly   announced   doctors   nonuplets   .   when   the
    5. carrying   was   Cisse   told   was   seven   babies   .   she
    6. congratulated   them   minister   the   The   on   happy   outcome   .
    7. Mali's   for   political   the   leadership   .   president   thanked   He
    8. was   It   in   the   stages   .   early   touch-and-go
    9. Mali   Gynecologists   concerned   in   welfare   .   were   her   about
    10. hospital   .   They   Moroccan   the   of   the   sought   help

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    We all know what twins and triplets are. Most of us are familial / familiar with the terms quadruplets and quintuplets. But what is the word to describe / ascribe nine babies being born to / at the same time? The answer is... nonuplets. A 25-year-old Malian woman, Halima Cisse, has given birthing / birth to nine healthy babies. This is a new record. The impervious / previous record was by a woman in the US who delivered eight babies (octuplets) at a single birth. People in Mali were avidly / vividly following the progress of Ms Cisse's pregnancy and she was inundated to / with well wishes. Malians were not the only one / ones who were pleasantly surprised when doctors announced the nonuplets. Ms Cisse was told / announced she was only carrying seven babies (septuplets) after / followed having scans.

    Ms Cisse's husband told the BBC that she is in / on good health and that the babies (five boys and four girls) were doing well / good. Fanta Siby, Mali's health minister, congratulated the couple in / on the "happy outcome". He also praised / prised medical teams in Morocco, which is where Ms Cisse gave birth. He also thanked / pleased Mali's president for the "political leadership and generous / generosity" which "expedited" support for Halima. The outcome / income is wonderful news as it was a little touch-and-go in the fast / early stages of the pregnancy. Gynecologists in Mali were concerned about Ms Cisse's welfare and the chances of her babies' survival. They ought / sought the help of the hospital in Morocco where they believed she would receive better pro- / pre- and postnatal care.

    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_  _ll  kn_w  wh_t  tw_ns  _nd  tr_pl_ts  _r_.  M_st  _f  _s  _r_  f_m_l__r  w_th  th_  t_rms  q__dr_pl_ts  _nd  q__nt_pl_ts.  B_t  wh_t  _s  th_  w_rd  t_  d_scr_b_  n_n_  b_b__s  b__ng  b_rn  _t  th_  s_m_  t_m_?  Th_  _nsw_r  _s...  n_n_pl_ts.  _  25-y__r-_ld  M_l__n  w_m_n,  H_l_m_  C_ss_,  h_s  g_v_n  b_rth  t_  n_n_  h__lthy  b_b__s.  Th_s  _s  _  n_w  r_c_rd.  Th_  pr_v___s  r_c_rd  w_s  by  _  w_m_n  _n  th_  _S  wh_  d_l_v_r_d  __ght  b_b__s  (_ct_pl_ts)  _t  _  s_ngl_  b_rth.  P__pl_  _n  M_l_  w_r_  _v_dly  f_ll_w_ng  th_  pr_gr_ss  _f  Ms  C_ss_'s  pr_gn_ncy  _nd  sh_  w_s  _n_nd_t_d  w_th  w_ll  w_sh_s.  M_l__ns  w_r_  n_t  th_  _nly  _n_s  wh_  w_r_  pl__s_ntly  s_rpr_s_d  wh_n  d_ct_rs  _nn__nc_d  th_  n_n_pl_ts.  Ms  C_ss_  w_s  t_ld  sh_  w_s  _nly  c_rry_ng  s_v_n  b_b__s  (s_pt_pl_ts)  _ft_r  h_v_ng  sc_ns.

    Ms  C_ss_'s  h_sb_nd  t_ld  th_  BBC  th_t  sh_  _s  _n  g__d  h__lth  _nd  th_t  th_  b_b__s  (f_v_  b_ys  _nd  f__r  g_rls)  w_r_  d__ng  w_ll.  F_nt_  S_by,  M_l_'s  h__lth  m_n_st_r,  c_ngr_t_l_t_d  th_  c__pl_  _n  th_  "h_ppy  __tc_m_".  H_  _ls_  pr__s_d  m_d_c_l  t__ms  _n  M_r_cc_,  wh_ch  _s  wh_r_  Ms  C_ss_  g_v_  b_rth.  H_  _ls_  th_nk_d  M_l_'s  pr_s_d_nt  f_r  th_  "p_l_t_c_l  l__d_rsh_p  _nd  g_n_r_s_ty"  wh_ch  "_xp_d_t_d"  s_pp_rt  f_r  H_l_m_.  Th_  __tc_m_  _s  w_nd_rf_l  n_ws  _s  _t  w_s  _  l_ttl_  t__ch-_nd-g_  _n  th_  __rly  st_g_s  _f  th_  pr_gn_ncy.  Gyn_c_l_g_sts  _n  M_l_  w_r_  c_nc_rn_d  _b__t  Ms  C_ss_'s  w_lf_r_  _nd  th_  ch_nc_s  _f  h_r  b_b__s'  s_rv_v_l.  Th_y  s__ght  th_  h_lp  _f  th_  h_sp_t_l  _n  M_r_cc_  wh_r_  th_y  b_l__v_d  sh_  w__ld  r_c__v_  b_tt_r  pr_-  _nd  p_stn_t_l  c_r_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    we all know what twins and triplets are most of us are familiar with the terms quadruplets and quintuplets but what is the word to describe nine babies being born at the same time the answer is nonuplets a 25yearold malian woman halima cisse has given birth to nine healthy babies this is a new record the previous record was by a woman in the us who delivered eight babies octuplets at a single birth people in mali were avidly following the progress of ms cisses pregnancy and she was inundated with well wishes malians were not the only ones who were pleasantly surprised when doctors announced the nonuplets ms cisse was told she was only carrying seven babies septuplets after having scans

    ms cisses husband told the bbc that she is in good health and that the babies five boys and four girls were doing well fanta siby malis health minister congratulated the couple on the happy outcome he also praised medical teams in morocco which is where ms cisse gave birth he also thanked malis president for the political leadership and generosity which expedited support for halima the outcome is wonderful news as it was a little touchandgo in the early stages of the pregnancy gynecologists in mali were concerned about ms cisses welfare and the chances of her babies survival they sought the help of the hospital in morocco where they believed she would receive better pre and postnatal care

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Weallknowwhattwinsandtripletsare.Mostofusarefamiliarwiththeter
    msquadrupletsandquintuplets.Butwhatisthewordtodescribenineba
    biesbeingbornatthesametime?Theansweris...nonuplets.A25-year-
    oldMalianwoman,HalimaCisse,hasgivenbirthtoninehealthybabies.T
    hisisanewrecord.ThepreviousrecordwasbyawomanintheUSwhodeli
    veredeightbabies(octuplets)atasinglebirth.PeopleinMaliwereavidlyf
    ollowingtheprogressofMsCisse'spregnancyandshewasinundatedwit
    hwellwishes.Malianswerenottheonlyoneswhowerepleasantlysurpris
    edwhendoctorsannouncedthenonuplets.MsCissewastoldshewasonl
    ycarryingsevenbabies(septuplets)afterhavingscans.MsCisse'shusb
    andtoldtheBBCthatsheisingoodhealthandthatthebabies(fiveboysan
    dfourgirls)weredoingwell.FantaSiby,Mali'shealthminister,congratul
    atedthecoupleonthe"happyoutcome".Healsopraisedmedicalteamsi
    nMorocco,whichiswhereMsCissegavebirth.HealsothankedMali'spres
    identforthe"politicalleadershipandgenerosity"which"expedited"sup
    portforHalima.Theoutcomeiswonderfulnewsasitwasalittletouch-
    and-gointheearlystagesofthepregnancy.GynecologistsinMaliwerec
    oncernedaboutMsCisse'swelfareandthechancesofherbabies'surviva
    l.TheysoughtthehelpofthehospitalinMoroccowheretheybelievedshe
    wouldreceivebetterpre-andpostnatalcare.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    It would be great to be one of nine nonuplets. Discuss.

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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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. NONUPLETS: Make a poster about nonuplets. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar thing-s?
    4. SIBLINGS: Write a magazine article about nonuplets. 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 nonuplets. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to raise nine children at the same time. 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

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    Answers

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

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