The Reading / Listening - World Cities - Level 6

Vienna has been named as the world's most liveable city. It is the third year running the Austrian capital has won this accolade. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its annual Global Liveability Index earlier this week. The Index ranked 173 cities worldwide on a number of factors that affect quality of life. These include culture and environment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and stability. Vienna was awarded "perfect" scores in all but one of the five categories. It failed to scoop maximum points for culture, "owing to a lack of major sporting events". Vienna's two million residents are blessed with stunning architecture and a rich musical legacy.

The EIU said the average score for liveability in cities around the globe rose "fractionally over the past year". It cautioned that "risks to stability remain". It said: "Tensions around the world could see a deterioration in the Index in coming years. Since we conducted our survey, there have been more instances of civil unrest and demonstrations around the world, suggesting continuing stress on liveability, that is unlikely to ease in the near future." The CNBC website said: "The stability category recorded the biggest decline out of all five categories this year, held back by geopolitical conflict, civil unrest, as well as the ongoing housing crisis and crime seen across many cities."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    World Cities - Level 4  or  World Cities - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.eiu.com/n/vienna-secures-its-position-as-the-worlds-most-liveable-city-for-third-consecutive-year/
  • https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/28/10-most-livable-cities-in-the-world-vienna-copenhagen-top-list-eiu.html
  • https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2024/06/26/the-20-best-cities-to-live-in-the-world-ranked-in-a-2024-report/


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. CITIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about cities. 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?
       Vienna / capital city / accolade / quality of life / infrastructure / stability / architecture
       average score / tensions / the globe / in coming years / civil unrest / decline / crime
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VILLAGES: Students A strongly believe it's better to live in villages than cities; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. YOUR TOWN: How liveable is your town? How can it be improved? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Liveability

Improvements

Culture

 

 

Environment

 

 

Education

 

 

Healthcare

 

 

Infrastructure

 

 

Stability

 

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

  • Vienna
  • New Delhi
  • Sydney
  • London
  • Cairo
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Tokyo
  • New York

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. accolade a. A group of things that are similar in some way.
      2. annual  (adjective) b. Something handed down from the past, like money or a good reputation.
      3. infrastructure c. A special praise or award for doing something well.
      4. category d. The basic things like roads, buildings, and power supplies that are needed for a country or city to work properly.
      5. scoop  (verb) e. Happening once every year.
      6. blessed f. Win or get.
      7. legacy g. Very lucky to have something nice.

    Paragraph 2

      8. fractionally h. Warned people about something.
      9. cautioned i. The process of becoming worse.
      10. deterioration j. A gradual fall in the amount or number of something.
      11. civil unrest k. By a very small amount.
      12. ease  (verb) l. Related to the affairs of different countries and how they affect each other.
      13. decline  (verb) m. To make something less difficult or painful.
      14. geopolitical n. When many people in a country are upset and cause trouble.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Vienna has been the most liveable city for four years in a row.     T / F
  2. The Global Liveability Index looks at 137 cities.     T / F
  3. There was just one category in which Vienna did not get a perfect score. T / F
  4. The article says Vienna will help aspiring architects and musicians.     T / F
  5. The average liveability index rose significantly last year.     T / F
  6. The Index could see a fall in its numbers in the years ahead.     T / F
  7. The stability category fared worse than the other categories.     T / F
  8. The article says there has been less geopolitical unrest recently.     T / F

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

  1. running
  2. accolade
  3. released
  4. lack
  5. blessed
  6. deterioration
  7. demonstrations
  8. ease
  9. conflict
  10. ongoing
  1. protests
  2. published
  3. lucky
  4. continuous
  5. award
  6. die down
  7. absence
  8. war
  9. in a row
  10. worsening

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

  1. Vienna has been named as the world's
  2. It is the third year
  3. a number of factors that
  4. "perfect" scores in all but
  5. stunning architecture and a rich
  6. rose fractionally
  7. see a deterioration
  8. civil unrest and demonstrations
  9. unlikely to ease
  10. civil
  1. in the Index
  2. one of the five categories
  3. musical legacy
  4. in the near future
  5. running
  6. unrest
  7. over the past year
  8. most liveable city
  9. around the world
  10. affect quality of life

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
number
running
scoop
annual
legacy
named
blessed
infrastructure

Vienna has been (1) _____________________ as the world's most liveable city. It is the third year (2) _____________________ the Austrian capital has won this accolade. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its (3) _____________________ Global Liveability Index earlier this week. The Index ranked 173 cities worldwide on a (4) _____________________ of factors that affect quality of life. These include culture and environment, education, healthcare, (5) _____________________, and stability. Vienna was awarded "perfect" scores in all but one of the five categories. It failed to (6) _____________________ maximum points for culture, "owing to a lack of major sporting events". Vienna's two million residents are (7) _____________________ with stunning architecture and a rich musical (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ease
deterioration
crisis
fractionally
geopolitical
Tensions
conducted
decline

The EIU said the average score for liveability in cities around the globe rose "(9) _____________________ over the past year". It cautioned that "risks to stability remain". It said: (10) _____________________ around the world could see a (11) _____________________ in the Index in coming years. Since we (12) _____________________ our survey, there have been more instances of civil unrest and demonstrations around the world, suggesting continuing stress on liveability, that is unlikely to (13) _____________________ in the near future." The CNBC website said: "The stability category recorded the biggest (14) _____________________ out of all five categories this year, held back by (15) _____________________ conflict, civil unrest, as well as the ongoing housing (16) _____________________ and crime seen across many cities."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  It is the third year running the Austrian capital has ______
     a.  won this acolyte
     b.  won this arcade
     c.  won this accolade
     d.  won this eco-laid
2)  The Index ranked 173 cities worldwide on a number of factors ______
     a.  that effect quality
     b.  that affect quality
     c.  that infect quality
     d.  that confect quality
3)  Vienna was awarded "perfect" scores in ______
     a.  all but once
     b.  all but won
     c.  all but one
     d.  albeit one
4)  points for culture owing to a lack of ______
     a.  major sporting events
     b.  majorly sporting events
     c.  major sporting event
     d.  major sport in events
5)  residents are blessed with stunning architecture and a ______
     a.  rich musically legacy
     b.  rich music all legacy
     c.  rich musical lethargy
     d.  rich musical legacy

6)  The EIU said the average score for liveability in cities around ______
     a.  the globe arouse
     b.  the globe arose
     c.  the globe rise
     d.  the globe rose
7)  It said: "Tensions around the world could see a deterioration in the Index ______
     a.  incoming years
     b.  in coming year
     c.  incoming year
     d.  in coming years
8)  Since we conducted our survey, there have ______
     a.  been more instance
     b.  been more instances
     c.  been more in stances
     d.  being more instances
9)  around the world, suggesting continuing stress on liveability, that is ______
     a.  unlikely tease
     b.  unlikely tweeze
     c.  unlikely too easy
     d.  unlikely to ease
10)  the biggest decline out of all five categories this year, held back ______
     a.  by geopolitical conflict
     b.  by geopolitical conduct
     c.  by geopolitical con flicked
     d.  by geopolitical genuflect

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Vienna has (1) ____________________ the world's most liveable city. It is the third (2) ____________________ Austrian capital has won this accolade. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its annual Global Liveability Index earlier this week. The Index ranked 173 cities worldwide on a number of factors (3) ____________________ of life. These include culture and environment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and stability. Vienna was awarded "perfect" scores (4) ____________________ one of the five categories. It failed to scoop maximum points for culture, "owing (5) ____________________ of major sporting events". Vienna's two million residents are blessed with stunning architecture and a (6) ____________________.

The EIU said the average score for liveability in cities around the (7) ____________________ over the past year". It cautioned that "risks to stability remain". It said: "Tensions around the world could (8) ____________________ in the Index in coming years. Since we conducted our survey, there have been (9) ____________________ civil unrest and demonstrations around the world, suggesting continuing stress on liveability, that is unlikely (10) ____________________ the near future." The CNBC website said: "The stability category recorded the (11) ____________________ of all five categories this year, held back by geopolitical conflict, civil unrest, as well as the (12) ____________________ and crime seen across many cities."

Comprehension questions

  1. For how many years in a row has Vienna now won this accolade?
  2. How many cities were part of the Global Liveability Index?
  3. How many perfect scores did Vienna get?
  4. What did Vienna lack in the culture category?
  5. What is the population of Vienna?
  6. By how much did the Global Liveability Index rise last year?
  7. When could we see a deterioration in the Global Liveability Index?
  8. What kind of unrest does the news article mention?
  9. Which category saw the lowest scores?
  10. What crisis did the CNBC website mention in the article?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  For how many years in a row has Vienna now won this accolade?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5
2) How many cities were part of the Global Liveability Index?
a) 187
b) 156
c) 137
d) 173
3) How many perfect scores did Vienna get?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5
4) What did Vienna lack in the culture category?
a) sports events
b) classical concerts
c) architecture
d) fashion shows
5) What is the population of Vienna?
a) 1.5 million
b) 2 million
c) 2.5 million
d) 3 million

6) By how much did the Global Liveability Index rise last year?
a) fractionally
b) a lot
c) significantly
d) negligibly
7) When could we see a deterioration in the Global Liveability Index?
a) very soon
b) next year
c) in the coming years
d) in the middle of the century
8) What kind of unrest does the news article mention?
a) civil unrest
b) industrial unrest
c) labour unrest
d) social unrest
9) Which category saw the lowest scores?
a) education
b) culture
c) healthcare
d) stability
10) What crisis did the CNBC website mention in the article?
a) an economic crisis
b) a banking crisis
c) a housing crisis
d) a currency crisis

Role play

Role  A – Vienna
You think Vienna is the best city to live in. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their city isn't as liveable. Also, tell the others which is the least liveable of these (and why): Sydney, Cairo or Tokyo.

Role  B – Sydney
You think Sydney is the best city to live in. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their city isn't as liveable. Also, tell the others which is the least liveable of these (and why): Vienna, Cairo or Tokyo.

Role  C – Cairo
You think Cairo is the best city to live in. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their city isn't as liveable. Also, tell the others which is the least liveable of these (and why): Sydney, Vienna or Tokyo.

Role  D – Tokyo
You think Tokyo is the best city to live in. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their city isn't as liveable. Also, tell the others which is the least liveable of these (and why): Sydney, Cairo or Vienna.

After reading / listening

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

'global'

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

    • and 'index'.

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

    • • 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:

    • named
    • earlier
    • affect
    • include
    • all
    • two
    • rose
    • risks
    • instances
    • ease
    • held
    • crisis

    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 - World Cities

    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 'global'?
    3. What do you know about Vienna?
    4. What do you think of the cities in your country?
    5. What's the point of having a Global Liveability Index?
    6. What are your favourite cities in the world?
    7. How is your city for culture and the environment?
    8. Would you like to live in your city forever?
    9. How could your city be improved?
    10. Is it time for people to leave cities and live in the countryside?

    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 'city'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How stable is it where you live?
    5. What tensions exist in your city?
    6. Have you ever experienced instances of civil unrest?
    7. How has geopolitical conflict affected you?
    8. Do you ever worry about being a victim of crime?
    9. How liveable is your city?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Index compilers?

    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)

    Vienna has been named (1) ____ the world's most liveable city. It is the third year (2) ____ the Austrian capital has won this accolade. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its annual Global Liveability Index earlier this week. The Index ranked 173 cities worldwide on a number of factors that (3) ____ quality of life. These include culture and environment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and stability. Vienna was awarded "perfect" scores in all (4) ____ one of the five categories. It failed to scoop maximum points for culture, "(5) ____ to a lack of major sporting events". Vienna's two million residents are blessed with stunning architecture and a rich musical (6) ____.

    The EIU said the average score for liveability in cities around the globe rose "(7) ____ over the past year". It cautioned that "risks to stability remain". It said tensions around the world could see a deterioration (8) ____ the Index in coming years. Since we conducted our survey, there have been more instances of civil unrest and demonstrations around the world, (9) ____ continuing stress on liveability, that is unlikely to (10) ____ in the near future." The CNBC website said: "The stability category recorded the biggest decline (11) ____ of all five categories this year, held back by geopolitical conflict, civil unrest, as well as the (12) ____ housing crisis and crime seen across many cities."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     was     (b)     has     (c)     that's     (d)     as    
    (a)     happening     (b)     going     (c)     moving     (d)     running    
    (a)     effect     (b)     affect     (c)     infect     (d)     reflect    
    (a)     so     (b)     that     (c)     but     (d)     however    
    (a)     owing     (b)     borrowing     (c)     indebted     (d)     following    
    (a)     legacy     (b)     agency     (c)     fluency     (d)     surrogacy    
    (a)     fictionally     (b)     fracture     (c)     fractiously     (d)     fractionally    
    (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     as     (d)     up    
    (a)     suggestive     (b)     suggesting     (c)     suggests     (d)     suggested    
    (a)     tease     (b)     please     (c)     ease     (d)     appease    
    (a)     around     (b)     about     (c)     out     (d)     whole    
    (a)     outgoing     (b)     ongoing     (c)     incoming     (d)     homecoming

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the Austrian capital has won this aceocdal
    2. arcotsf that affect quality of life
    3. healthcare, enfrtrrcsutuai, and stability
    4. Vienna's two million inrsteesd
    5. blessed with stunning tarcctiherue
    6. a rich musical lgycea

    Paragraph 2

    1. rose acnalotrfiyl over the past year
    2. a ieotrdaotrein in the Index
    3. more instances of liciv unrest
    4. dsnoioastremtn around the world
    5. eesa in the near future
    6. held back by leopiatilgoc conflict

    Put the text back together

    (..1..) Vienna has been named as the world's most liveable city. It is the third year running the Austrian capital has won this
    (...)   category recorded the biggest decline out of all five categories this year, held back by geopolitical conflict, civil
    (...)   around the world could see a deterioration in the Index in coming years. Since we conducted our
    (...)   survey, there have been more instances of civil unrest and demonstrations around the world, suggesting continuing
    (...)   residents are blessed with stunning architecture and a rich musical legacy.
    (...)   accolade. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its annual Global Liveability Index earlier
    (...)   awarded "perfect" scores in all but one of the five categories. It failed to scoop
    (...)   maximum points for culture, "owing to a lack of major sporting events". Vienna's two million
    (...)   of life. These include culture and environment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and stability. Vienna was
    (...)   this week. The Index ranked 173 cities worldwide on a number of factors that affect quality
    (...)   unrest, as well as the ongoing housing crisis and crime seen across many cities."
    (...)   "fractionally over the past year". It cautioned that "risks to stability remain". It said: "Tensions
    (...)   The EIU said the average score for liveability in cities around the globe rose
    (...)   stress on liveability, that is unlikely to ease in the near future." The CNBC website said: "The stability

    Put the words in the right order

    1. as   world's   Named   most   city   .   the   liveable
    2. year   the   running   Vienna   third   has   won   .   It's
    3. number   factors   of   of   affecting   quality   A   life   .
    4. points   It   to   maximum   culture   .   for   scoop   failed
    5. with   Two   stunning   architecture   .   million   blessed   residents   are
    6. in   cities   .   average   liveability   The   score   for
    7. around   a   world   the   deterioration   .   Tensions   could   see
    8. instances   of   and   More   civil   demonstrations   worldwide   .  unrest
    9. five   biggest   all   out   of   The   decline   categories   .
    10. well   as   crisis   .   As   ongoing   the   housing

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Vienna has been naming / named as the world's most liveable city. It is the third year running / ran the Austrian capital has won this acolyte / accolade. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its annual Global Liveability Index earlier this / that week. The Index ranked 173 cities worldwide on a number of factors that affect / effect quality of life. These include culture and environment, education, healthcare, structural / infrastructure, and stability. Vienna was awarded "perfect" scores in all / every but one of the five categories. It failed to scoop / scrape maximum points for culture, "owing to a luck / lack of major sporting events". Vienna's two million residents are blessed with stunning architecture and a rich musical profligacy / legacy.

    The EIU said the average score to / for liveability in cities around a / the globe rose "fractionally over the past year". It cautioned that "risks / risked to stability remain". It said: "Tensions around the world could see the / a deterioration in the Index in coming years. Since we conducted our survey, there have been more instances / instant of civil unrest and demonstrations around the world, suggestive / suggesting continuing stress on liveability, that is unlikely to ease in / on the near future." The CNBC website said: "The stability category recorded the biggest decline / incline out of all five categories this year, held back by / to geopolitical conflict, civil unrest, as well as the outgoing / ongoing housing crisis and crime seen across many cities."

    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)

    V__nn_  h_s  b__n  n_m_d  _s  th_  w_rld's  m_st  l_v__bl_  c_ty.  _t  _s  th_  th_rd  y__r  r_nn_ng  th_  __str__n  c_p_t_l  h_s  w_n  th_s  _cc_l_d_.  Th_  _c_n_m_st  _nt_ll_g_nc_  _n_t  (___)  r_l__s_d  _ts  _nn__l  Gl_b_l  L_v__b_l_ty  _nd_x  __rl__r  th_s  w__k.  Th_  _nd_x  r_nk_d  173  c_t__s  w_rldw_d_  _n  _  n_mb_r  _f  f_ct_rs  th_t  _ff_ct  q__l_ty  _f  l_f_.  Th_s_  _ncl_d_  c_lt_r_  _nd  _nv_r_nm_nt,  _d_c_t__n,  h__lthc_r_,  _nfr_str_ct_r_,  _nd  st_b_l_ty.  V__nn_  w_s  _w_rd_d  "p_rf_ct"  sc_r_s  _n  _ll  b_t  _n_  _f  th_  f_v_  c_t_g_r__s.  _t  f__l_d  t_  sc__p  m_x_m_m  p__nts  f_r  c_lt_r_,  "_w_ng  t_  _  l_ck  _f  m_j_r  sp_rt_ng  _v_nts".  V__nn_'s  tw_  m_ll__n  r_s_d_nts  _r_  bl_ss_d  w_th  st_nn_ng  _rch_t_ct_r_  _nd  _  r_ch  m_s_c_l  l_g_cy.

    Th_  ___  s__d  th_  _v_r_g_  sc_r_  f_r  l_v__b_l_ty  _n  c_t__s  _r__nd  th_  gl_b_  r_s_  "fr_ct__n_lly  _v_r  th_  p_st  y__r".  _t  c__t__n_d  th_t  "r_sks  t_  st_b_l_ty  r_m__n".  _t  s__d:  T_ns__ns  _r__nd  th_  w_rld  c__ld  s__  _  d_t_r__r_t__n  _n  th_  _nd_x  _n  c_m_ng  y__rs.  S_nc_  w_  c_nd_ct_d  __r  s_rv_y,  th_r_  h_v_  b__n  m_r_  _nst_nc_s  _f  c_v_l  _nr_st  _nd  d_m_nstr_t__ns  _r__nd  th_  w_rld,  s_gg_st_ng  c_nt_n__ng  str_ss  _n  l_v__b_l_ty,  th_t  _s  _nl_k_ly  t_  __s_  _n  th_  n__r  f_t_r_."  Th_  CNBC  w_bs_t_  s__d:  "Th_  st_b_l_ty  c_t_g_ry  r_c_rd_d  th_  b_gg_st  d_cl_n_  __t  _f  _ll  f_v_  c_t_g_r__s  th_s  y__r,  h_ld  b_ck  by  g__p_l_t_c_l  c_nfl_ct,  c_v_l  _nr_st,  _s  w_ll  _s  th_  _ng__ng  h__s_ng  cr_s_s  _nd  cr_m_  s__n  _cr_ss  m_ny  c_t__s."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    vienna has been named as the worlds most liveable city it is the third year running the austrian capital has won this accolade the economist intelligence unit eiu released its annual global liveability index earlier this week the index ranked 173 cities worldwide on a number of factors that affect quality of life these include culture and environment education healthcare infrastructure and stability vienna was awarded perfect scores in all but one of the five categories it failed to scoop maximum points for culture owing to a lack of major sporting events viennas two million residents are blessed with stunning architecture and a rich musical legacy

    the eiu said the average score for liveability in cities around the globe rose fractionally over the past year it cautioned that risks to stability remain It said tensions around the world could see a deterioration in the index in coming years since we conducted our survey there have been more instances of civil unrest and demonstrations around the world suggesting continuing stress on liveability that is unlikely to ease in the near future the cnbc website said the stability category recorded the biggest decline out of all five categories this year held back by geopolitical conflict civil unrest as well as the ongoing housing crisis and crime seen across many cities

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Viennahasbeennamedastheworld'smostliveablecity.Itisthethirdyea
    rrunningtheAustriancapitalhaswonthisaccolade.TheEconomistIntell
    igenceUnit(EIU)releaseditsannualGlobalLiveabilityIndexearlierthis
    week.TheIndexranked173citiesworldwideonanumberoffactorsthata
    ffectqualityoflife.Theseincludecultureandenvironment,education,h
    ealthcare,infrastructure,andstability.Viennawasawarded"perfect"s
    coresinallbutoneofthefivecategories.Itfailedtoscoopmaximumpoint
    sforculture,"owingtoalackofmajorsportingevents".Vienna'stwomilli
    onresidentsareblessedwithstunningarchitectureandarichmusicalleg
    acy.TheEIUsaidtheaveragescoreforliveabilityincitiesaroundtheglob
    erose"fractionallyoverthepastyear".Itcautionedthat"riskstostability
    remain".Itsaid:"Tensionsaroundtheworldcouldseeadeteriorationint
    heIndexincomingyears.Sinceweconductedoursurvey,therehavebee
    nmoreinstancesofcivilunrestanddemonstrationsaroundtheworld,su
    ggestingcontinuingstressonliveability,thatisunlikelytoeaseinthenea
    rfuture."TheCNBCwebsitesaid:"Thestabilitycategoryrecordedthebig
    gestdeclineoutofallfivecategoriesthisyear,heldbackbygeopoliticalco
    nflict,civilunrest,aswellastheongoinghousingcrisisandcrimeseenacr
    ossmanycities."

    Free writing

    Write about Global Liveability Index for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    My city or town is the best in the world.  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. CITIES: Make a poster about cities. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. VILLAGES: Write a magazine article about people moving from cities to villages to help the environment. 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 cities. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make cities better. 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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