The Reading / Listening - Music Tempo - Level 3

The culture ministry of the Russian republic of Chechnya has made a rule about what speed of music people can listen to. The ministry has banned songs that are too fast or too slow. It made an announcement about the tempo of songs allowed. It said: "From now on, all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new standard, which starts at 80 beats per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music. However, the Russian national anthem is usually played at 76 beats per minute. There has been no word from the culture ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems likely the anthem will be an exception to the new rule.

The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to protect Chechnya's culture and traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to root out any hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make music, "conform to the Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing musical culture from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We must bring to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local artists have until June the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow the new tempo. People in Chechnya will no longer be able to listen to techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Music Tempo - Level 0,  Music Tempo - Level 1   or  Music Tempo - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/04/05/chechnya-forbids-music-outside-80-116-bpm-tempo-a84755
  • https://www.politico.eu/article/culture-ministry-russian-republic-chechnya-ban-western-songs/
  • https://news.sky.com/story/chechnya-bans-music-that-is-too-fast-or-too-slow-13110266


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. MUSIC: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about music. 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?
       culture ministry / Chechnya / music / tempo / beats per minute / national anthem /
       traditions / Westernization / ban / the future / heritage / techno music / songs
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TRADITIONAL MUSIC: Students A strongly believe traditional music is better than modern-day music; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SPEED: Would you like these things to be faster or slower? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Faster or Slower?

Why?

Music

 

 

Driving

 

 

Download

 

 

Talking

 

 

Reading

 

 

Eating

 

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

  • Folk
  • Classical
  • Rap
  • Techno
  • Opera
  • Jazz
  • Pop
  • Ambient

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. ministry a. A public statement or message that tells people about something important or new.
      2. republic b. A group of people who work together to help manage a government or organization.
      3. announcement c. About the voice, or speaking and singing.
      4. vocal d. Have a close similarity; match or agree almost exactly.
      5. correspond e. A country or state where people elect representatives to make decisions for them, rather than having a king or queen.
      6. national f. Something or someone that is different from the usual or expected.
      7. exception g. Relating to a whole country; involving all the people of a country.

    Paragraph 2

      8. ban (verb) h. To keep someone or something safe from harm or danger.
      9. protect i. To follow the rules or standards.
      10. root out j. To not allow something to happen.
      11. Westernization k. To find and remove something completely.
      12. conform l. Something that is passed down from the past, such as traditions, beliefs, or objects.
      13. heritage m. Becoming influenced by the culture, customs, or ideas of Western countries.
      14. artists n. People who create art, such as paintings, sculptures, music, or literature, etc.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Chechnya's Ministry of Sound has banned up-tempo music.     T / F
  2. Chechnya has set a beats per minute range for allowable music.     T / F
  3. Most modern-day pop music is above 116 beats per minute.     T / F
  4. Russia's national anthem is slower than Chechnya's tempo range.     T / F
  5. The music ban is to protect Chechnya's culture from Westernization.     T / F
  6. Chechnya's leader said techno music is bad for mental health.     T / F
  7. Local artists were asked to rewrite their songs to fit the tempo range.     T / F
  8. People in Chechnya can still listen to all of Beyonce's songs.     T / F

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

  1. rule
  2. banned
  3. allowed
  4. correspond
  5. exception
  6. protect
  7. root out
  8. conform to
  9. heritage
  10. songs
  1. special case
  2. follow
  3. prohibited
  4. tunes
  5. safeguard
  6. regulation
  7. match up with
  8. history
  9. permitted
  10. destroy

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

  1. The culture ministry of the Russian
  2. a tempo of between
  3. much slower than a lot of modern-
  4. Russian national
  5. the anthem will be an exception
  6. root out any hint
  7. the future of
  8. cultural
  9. Local
  10. longer be
  1. 80 to 116 beats per minute
  2. artists
  3. to the new rule
  4. our children
  5. day pop music
  6. able to listen
  7. anthem
  8. of Westernization
  9. heritage
  10. republic of Chechnya

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
tempo
starts
republic
word
vocal
exception
rule
anthem

The culture ministry of the Russian (1) _____________________ of Chechnya has made a (2) _____________________ about what speed of music people can listen to. The ministry has banned songs that are too fast or too slow. It made an announcement about the (3) _____________________ of songs allowed. It said: "From now on, all musical, (4) _____________________ and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new standard, which (5) _____________________ at 80 beats per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music. However, the Russian national (6) _____________________ is usually played at 76 beats per minute. There has been no (7) _____________________ from the culture ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems likely the anthem will be an (8) _____________________ to the new rule.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
musical
longer
hint
artists
protect
follow
mentality
future

The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to (9) _____________________ Chechnya's culture and traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to root out any (10) _____________________ of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make music, "conform to the Chechen (11) _____________________". He added: "Borrowing (12) _____________________ culture from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We must bring to the people and to the (13) _____________________ of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local (14) _____________________ have until June the 1st to rewrite their songs to (15) _____________________ the new tempo. People in Chechnya will no (16) _____________________ be able to listen to techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The culture ministry of the Russian republic of Chechnya has ______
     a.  made a real
     b.  made a rule
     c.  made a ruler
     d.  made a gruel
2)  The ministry has banned songs that are too fast ______
     a.  or to slow
     b.  or too slow
     c.  or so slow
     d.  or very slow
3)  works should correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116 ______
     a.  beats par minute
     b.  beats per minute
     c.  beats pear minute
     d.  beats pear minute
4)  However, the Russian national ______
     a.  anthem is usual
     b.  anthem is usually
     c.  anthem is unusually
     d.  anthem is unusual
5)  It seems likely the anthem will ______
     a.  be an exception
     b.  be an excepting
     c.  be an accepting
     d.  be an except shun

6)  The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to ______
     a.  protect Chechnya's vulture
     b.  protect Chechnya's cultured
     c.  protect Chechnya's cultural
     d.  protect Chechnya's culture
7)  The Moscow Times said it was to root out any ______
     a.  hint toff Westernization
     b.  hint oft Westernization
     c.  hint off Westernization
     d.  hint of Westernization
8)  Kadyrov said the ban was to make music conform to ______
     a.  the Chechen mentality
     b.  the Chechen meant ability
     c.  the Chechen men tally tea
     d.  the Chechen mental lately
9)  We must bring to the people and to the future of our children ______
     a.  a cultural heritage
     b.  the cultural heritage
     c.  the culturally heritage
     d.  the cultural hermitage
10)  Local artists have until June the 1st to ______
     a.  recite their songs
     b.  relight their songs
     c.  rewrite their songs
     d.  alight their songs

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The (1) ____________________ the Russian republic of Chechnya has made a rule about what (2) ____________________ people can listen to. The ministry has banned songs that are too fast or too slow. It made an announcement about the (3) ____________________ allowed. It said: "From now on, all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." (4) ____________________, which starts at 80 beats per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music. However, the Russian (5) ____________________ usually played at 76 beats per minute. There has been no word from the culture ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems likely the anthem will be (6) ____________________ the new rule.

The (7) ____________________ that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to protect Chechnya's culture and traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to (8) ____________________ hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make music, "(9) ____________________ Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing musical culture from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We (10) ____________________ the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local (11) ____________________ June the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow the new tempo. People in Chechnya will no (12) ____________________ to listen to techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Comprehension questions

  1. What Chechen ministry made a rule about the speed of music?
  2. What is the beats per minute range of the music that is allowed?
  3. What is 80 beats per minute slower than?
  4. What is usually played at 76 beats per minute?
  5. What might be an exception to the music speed rule?
  6. What will the music ban protect in Chechnya?
  7. What might the ban root out any hint of?
  8. What did Chechnya's leader say was inadmissible?
  9. What do local artists have until June the 1st to do?
  10. Whose songs might be affected in Chechnya besides Beyonce and Drake?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What Chechen ministry made a rule about the speed of music?
a) the Ministry of Sound
b) the culture ministry
c) the Ministry of Music
d) the music ministry
2) What is the beats per minute range of the music that is allowed?
a) 76-116
b) 80-120
c) 76-120
d) 80-116
3) What is 80 beats per minute slower than?
a) a lot of modern-day pop
b) Chechnya's folk dances
c) an average drummer
d) hand clapping
4) What is usually played at 76 beats per minute?
a) a popular Chechen folk song
b) Happy Birthday
c) Russia's national anthem
d) the music for Chechnya's news
5) What might be an exception to the music speed rule?
a) 70 beats per minute
b) Russia's national anthem
c) the Internet
d) classical music

6) What will the music ban protect in Chechnya?
a) Chechnya's culture and traditions
b) Chechnya's artists
c) Chechnya's recording studios
d) Chechnya's music charts
7) What might the ban root out any hint of?
a) country music
b) bad music
c) Westernization
d) love songs
8) What did Chechnya's leader say was inadmissible?
a) borrowing musical culture
b) rock music
c) waltzes and samba
d) tap dancing
9) What do local artists have until June the 1st to do?
a) rewrite their songs
b) write new songs
c) delete their songs
d) learn Chechen instruments
10) Whose songs might be affected in Chechnya besides Beyonce and Drake?
a) The Beatles
b) Ed Sheeran
c) Eminem
d) Taylor Swift

Role play

Role  A – Classical
You think classical is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): techno, pop or rap.

Role  B – Techno
You think techno is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical, pop or rap.

Role  C – Pop
You think pop is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): techno, classical or rap.

Role  D – Rap
You think rap is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): techno, pop or classical.

After reading / listening

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

'music'

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

    • and 'tempo'.

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

    • • 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:

    • republic
    • allowed
    • vocal
    • standard
    • modern
    • likely
    • protect
    • leader
    • borrowing
    • future
    • June
    • able

    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 - Music Tempo

    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 'music'?
    3. What kinds of music do you like?
    4. What do you think of your country's traditional music?
    5. What do you think of Chechnya's music ban?
    6. Do you prefer fast or slow music?
    7. Which is better, music or songs?
    8. What do you think of your national anthem?
    9. What are your favourite songs?
    10. What advice do you have for music lovers in Chechnya?

    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 'tempo'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of Westernization?
    5. What other cultures are affecting your own?
    6. What is the 'mentality' of your culture?
    7. Is it OK to borrow music from other cultures?
    8. What music from other cultures do you like?
    9. What do you think of techno music?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Chechnya's culture ministry?

    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)

    The (1) ____ ministry of the Russian republic of Chechnya has made a rule about what speed of music people can listen to. The ministry has (2) ____ songs that are too fast or too slow. It made an announcement about the tempo of songs (3) ____. It said: "From now on, all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond (4) ____ a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new standard, which starts at 80 beats per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music. However, the Russian national anthem is usually played (5) ____ 76 beats per minute. There has been no word from the culture ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems (6) ____ the anthem will be an exception to the new rule.

    The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too (7) ____-tempo is to protect Chechnya's culture and traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to (8) ____ out any hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make music, "conform (9) ____ the Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing musical culture from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We must (10) ____ to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local artists have until June the 1st to rewrite their songs to (11) ____ the new tempo. People in Chechnya will no longer be (12) ____ to listen to techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     cultural     (b)     cultured     (c)     culture     (d)     cultures    
    2. (a)     banned     (b)     bend     (c)     binned     (d)     band    
    3. (a)     allowed     (b)     let     (c)     permit     (d)     given    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    5. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     up     (d)     at    
    6. (a)     liked     (b)     likeable     (c)     likes     (d)     likely    
    7. (a)     down     (b)     fall     (c)     low     (d)     drop    
    8. (a)     trunk     (b)     twig     (c)     branch     (d)     root    
    9. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     up    
    10. (a)     borrow     (b)     bring     (c)     lend     (d)     stick    
    11. (a)     chase     (b)     follow     (c)     pursue     (d)     shadow    
    12. (a)     able     (b)     can     (c)     ability     (d)     capable

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The culture isnirmty
    2. the Russian ipcbleru of Chechnya
    3. It made an canonteenunm
    4. the mpoet of songs
    5. the Russian national mteahn
    6. an neoeicxtp to the new rule

    Paragraph 2

    1. tctpreo Chechnya's culture
    2. conform to the Chechen nilatymet
    3. the utuerf of our children
    4. cultural itehgear
    5. Local artstsi
    6. ctnoeh music

    Put the text back together

    (...)  of songs allowed. It said: "From now on, all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond
    (...)  said the ban was to make music, "conform to the Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing musical culture
    (..1..)  The culture ministry of the Russian republic of Chechnya has made a rule about what speed of music people
    (...)  The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to protect Chechnya's culture and
    (...)  anthem is usually played at 76 beats per minute. There has been no word from the culture
    (...)  per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music. However, the Russian national
    (...)  June the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow the new tempo. People in Chechnya will no
    (...)  longer be able to listen to techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.
    (...)  to a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new standard, which starts at 80 beats
    (...)  to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local artists have until
    (...)  can listen to. The ministry has banned songs that are too fast or too slow. It made an announcement about the tempo
    (...)  ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems likely the anthem will be an exception to the new rule.
    (...)  from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We must bring to the people and
    (...)  traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to root out any hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov,

    Put the words in the right order

    1. culture   The   of   republic   the   of   ministry   Chechnya   .
    2. people   speed   of   music   listen   What   can   to   .
    3. The   are   too   banned   ministry   fast   .   songs   that
    4. anthem   national   .   is   usually   at   Russia's   76 bpm   played
    5. has   There   from   no   the   word   been   ministry   .
    6. ban   music   up-tempo   .   The   on   that   is   too
    7. hint   to   out   root   It's   of   Westernization   .   any
    8. Chechen   Make   mentality   .   conform   the   to   music
    9. rewrite   their   have   songs   .   Local   to   artists
    10. longer   to   People   be   no   able   listen   .   will

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The culture ministry of the Russian republic at / of Chechnya has made a rule about what speed of music people can listen on / to. The ministry has banned songs that are too fast or so / too slow. It made an announcement / announce about the tempo of songs allowed. It said: "From know / now on, all musical, vocal and choreographic works should respond / correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new standard, which starts at 80 beats per minute, is many / much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music. However, the Russian national anthem is usual / usually played at 76 beats per minute. There has been no word / vocabulary from the culture ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems likely the anthem will be an exception / except to the new rule.

    The ban in / on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to protect Chechnya's culture and traditional / traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to root in / out any hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make / do music, "conform / confirm to the Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing / Lending musical culture from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We must brought / bring to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local art / artists have until June the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow / chase the new tempo. People in Chechnya will no longer be able / ability to listen to techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  c_lt_r_  m_n_stry  _f  th_  R_ss__n  r_p_bl_c  _f  Ch_chny_  h_s  m_d_  _  r_l_  _b__t  wh_t  sp__d  _f  m_s_c  p__pl_  c_n  l_st_n  t_.  Th_  m_n_stry  h_s  b_nn_d  s_ngs  th_t  _r_  t__  f_st  _r  t__  sl_w.  _t  m_d_  _n  _nn__nc_m_nt  _b__t  th_  t_mp_  _f  s_ngs  _ll_w_d.  _t  s__d:  "Fr_m  n_w  _n,  _ll  m_s_c_l,  v_c_l  _nd  ch_r__gr_ph_c  w_rks  sh__ld  c_rr_sp_nd  t_  _  t_mp_  _f  b_tw__n  80  t_  116  b__ts  p_r  m_n_t_."  Th_  n_w  st_nd_rd,  wh_ch  st_rts  _t  80  b__ts  p_r  m_n_t_,  _s  m_ch  sl_w_r  th_n  _  l_t  _f  m_d_rn-d_y  p_p  m_s_c.  H_w_v_r,  th_  R_ss__n  n_t__n_l  _nth_m  _s  _s__lly  pl_y_d  _t  76  b__ts  p_r  m_n_t_.  Th_r_  h_s  b__n  n_  w_rd  fr_m  th_  c_lt_r_  m_n_stry  _b__t  wh_th_r  th_  _nth_m  c_n  b_  pl_y_d.  _t  s__ms  l_k_ly  th_  _nth_m  w_ll  b_  _n  _xc_pt__n  t_  th_  n_w  r_l_.

    Th_  b_n  _n  m_s_c  th_t  _s  t__  _p-t_mp_  _r  t__  d_wn-t_mp_  _s  t_  pr_t_ct  Ch_chny_'s  c_lt_r_  _nd  tr_d_t__ns.  Th_  M_sc_w  T_m_s  s__d  _t  w_s,  "t_  r__t  __t  _ny  h_nt  _f  W_st_rn_z_t__n".  Ch_chny_'s  l__d_r,  R_mz_n  K_dyr_v,  s__d  th_  b_n  w_s  t_  m_k_  m_s_c,  "c_nf_rm  t_  th_  Ch_ch_n  m_nt_l_ty".  H_  _dd_d:  "B_rr_w_ng  m_s_c_l  c_lt_r_  fr_m  _th_r  p__pl_'s  _s  _n_dm_ss_bl_."  M_s_  D_d__v,  Ch_chny_'s  c_lt_r_  m_n_st_r,  s__d:  "W_  m_st  br_ng  t_  th_  p__pl_  _nd  t_  th_  f_t_r_  _f  __r  ch_ldr_n  th_  c_lt_r_l  h_r_t_g_  _f  th_  Ch_ch_n  p__pl_."  L_c_l  _rt_sts  h_v_  _nt_l  J_n_  th_  1st  t_  r_wr_t_  th__r  s_ngs  t_  f_ll_w  th_  n_w  t_mp_.  P__pl_  _n  Ch_chny_  w_ll  n_  l_ng_r  b_  _bl_  t_  l_st_n  t_  t_chn_  m_s_c,  _r  m_ny  s_ngs  by  B_y_nc_,  Dr_k_  _nd  T_yl_r  Sw_ft.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the culture ministry of the russian republic of chechnya has made a rule about what speed of music people can listen to the ministry has banned songs that are too fast or too slow it made an announcement about the tempo of songs allowed it said from now on all musical vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute the new standard which starts at 80 beats per minute is much slower than a lot of modernday pop music however the russian national anthem is usually played at 76 beats per minute there has been no word from the culture ministry about whether the anthem can be played it seems likely the anthem will be an exception to the new rule

    the ban on music that is too uptempo or too downtempo is to protect chechnyas culture and traditions the moscow times said it was to root out any hint of westernization chechnyas leader ramzan kadyrov said the ban was to make music conform to the chechen mentality he added borrowing musical culture from other peoples is inadmissible musa dadaev chechnyas culture minister said we must bring to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the chechen people local artists have until june the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow the new tempo people in chechnya will no longer be able to listen to techno music or many songs by beyonce drake and taylor swift

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThecultureministryoftheRussianrepublicofChechnyahasmadearulea
    boutwhatspeedofmusicpeoplecanlistento.Theministryhasbannedso
    ngsthataretoofastortooslow.Itmadeanannouncementaboutthetem
    poofsongsallowed.Itsaid:"Fromnowon,allmusical,vocalandchoreog
    raphicworksshouldcorrespondtoatempoofbetween80to116beatspe
    rminute."Thenewstandard,whichstartsat80beatsperminute,ismuch
    slowerthanalotofmodern-daypopmusic.However,theRussiannation
    alanthemisusuallyplayedat76beatsperminute.Therehasbeennowor
    dfromthecultureministryaboutwhethertheanthemcanbeplayed.Itse
    emslikelytheanthemwillbeanexceptiontothenewrule.Thebanonmusi
    cthatistooup-tempoortoodown-tempoistoprotectChechnya'scultur
    eandtraditions.TheMoscowTimessaiditwas,"torootoutanyhintofWes
    ternization".Chechnya'sleader,RamzanKadyrov,saidthebanwastom
    akemusic,"conformtotheChechenmentality".Headded:"Borrowing
    musicalculturefromotherpeople'sisinadmissible."MusaDadaev,Chec
    hnya'scultureminister,said:"Wemustbringtothepeopleandtothefutu
    reofourchildrentheculturalheritageoftheChechenpeople."Localartist
    shaveuntilJunethe1sttorewritetheirsongstofollowthenewtempo.Peo
    pleinChechnyawillnolongerbeabletolistentotechnomusic,ormanyso
    ngsbyBeyonce,DrakeandTaylorSwift.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Traditional music is better than pop music. 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. MUSIC: Make a poster about music. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TRADITIONAL MUSIC: Write a magazine article about governments promoting traditional folk music over pop music. 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 music. Ask him/her three questions about music. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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