My 1,000
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My 1,000
Ideas
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Date: Jul 19, 2005

Level: Harder (Try the easier lesson.)

Downloads: Word Doc | PDF Doc | Listening

Audio: (1:58 - 232 KB - 16kbps)

THE ARTICLE

The head of Moscow’s Metro system Dmitry Gayev plans to install surveillance cameras in all of the city’s subway carriages to counter the threat of terrorist attacks, the MosNews website reported. The added security measures will be fitted on the Circle Line, the busiest of the Metro’s eleven lines, by the end of this year and on the remainder of the network next year. Mr. Gayev outlined his plans at a news conference in Moscow: “The anti-terrorist protection program for Moscow’s subway will be ongoing until 2007”. He said $US59 million in state funding had been earmarked for its implementation.

Moscow’s transit system has suffered its own atrocities at the hands of terrorists, which has left scores of dead. Chechnyan separatists are the prime suspects as they wage their war of independence against Moscow. Last year a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside a Moscow station, killing 10 people, and in February of this year 41 people were innocently slaughtered on a rush-hour train. Mr. Gayev said although the new technology could not guarantee an end to this kind of butchery, it would make things more difficult for terrorists and “discourage criminal activities in the metro”.

WARM-UPS

1. CCTV: Is CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) a good idea to prevent terrorism? Do you think it is an invasion of privacy or essential for security? In pairs / groups, discuss your thoughts on CCTV being put in the following areas:

  • Subway cars
  • Public toilets
  • Your home
  • Churches / Mosques / Temples etc.
  • Other
  • Street corners
  • School classrooms
  • Telephone boxes / booths
  • Hotels
  • Other

2. QUICK DEBATE: Students A think CCTV in school classrooms would increase education standards and reduce bullying. Students B think CCTV in schools is unnecessary. Try to persuade each other to switch sides.

3. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words are most interesting and which are most boring.

Subway systems / CCTV / surveillance / the threat of terrorist attacks / rush hour / new technology / criminal activities / Big Brother

Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently.

4. SECURITY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word “security”. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

5. SURVEILLANCE OPINIONS: In pairs / groups, discuss the following opinions on surveillance:

  1. No amount of surveillance will stop terrorist attacks.
  2. Surveillance means the terrorists have won – society becomes afraid of itself.
  3. CCTV in streets has added benefits of reducing petty crime.
  4. I’m happy with CCTV being everywhere. I have nothing to hide.
  5. The Moscow Metro idea should be adopted by all transport systems.
  6. Every train station should have X-ray machines and sniffer dogs.
  7. CCTV takes away our personal freedom.
  8. I’m all for ID cards, phone tapping and random body searches by the police.
  9. I think anyone should be allowed to look into anyone else’s backpack.
  10. CCTV would not have stopped the London bombers. It’s a waste of money.

Change partners and share what you talked about.


 
 

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.

All Moscow Metro carriages will have security video cameras.

T / F

b.

The security system is to eavesdrop on foreign diplomats.

T / F

c.

All of the cameras will be fitted by the end of this year.

T / F

d.

The surveillance system will cost $US5.9 million.

T / F

e.

The Moscow Metro has so far been spared from terrorism.

T / F

f.

Separatists from Chechnya occasionally attack Moscow.

T / F

g.

Moscow Metro’s head guaranteed CCTV would prevent terrorism.

T / F

h.

CCTV may discourage criminal activities in the metro.

T / F

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

a.

head

set off

b.

counter

allocated

c.

remainder

conduct

d.

earmarked

ward off

e.

implementation

barbarity

f.

atrocities

savagery

g.

scores

boss

h.

wage

large numbers

i.

detonated

rest

j.

butchery

completion

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

a.

surveillance

hands of terrorists

b.

counter the

until 2007

c.

on the remainder

cameras

d.

ongoing

an explosive device

e.

funding had been

threat of terrorist attacks

f.

atrocities at the

war of independence

g.

left scores

earmarked

h.

wage their

slaughtered

i.

detonated

of dead

j.

innocently

of the network

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words in the column on the right into the correct spaces.

Moscow subway cars to have CCTV

The head of Moscow’s Metro system Dmitry Gayev plans to _______ surveillance cameras in all of the city’s subway carriages to _______ the threat of terrorist attacks, the MosNews website reported. The _______ security _______ will be fitted on the Circle Line, the busiest of the Metro’s eleven _______, by the end of this year and on the _______ of the network next year. Mr. Gayev outlined his plans at a news conference in Moscow: “The anti-terrorist protection program for Moscow’s subway will be _______ until 2007”. He said $US59 million in state funding had been _______ for its implementation.

 
 
lines
earmarked
counter
remainder
install
measures
ongoing
added

Moscow’s transit system has suffered its own atrocities at the _______ of terrorists, which has left _______ of dead. Chechnyan separatists are the _______ suspects as they _______ their war of independence against Moscow. Last year a suicide bomber detonated an explosive _______ outside a Moscow station, killing 10 people, and in February of this year 41 people were innocently _______ on a rush-hour train. Mr. Gayev said although the new technology could not guarantee an end to this kind of _______, it would make things more difficult for terrorists and “_______ criminal activities in the metro”.

 
 
wage
hands
discourage
prime
device
scores
slaughtered
butchery

 
 

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘metro’ and ‘system’.

  • 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 gap fill. 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. STUDENT SURVEILLANCE SURVEY: In pairs / groups, write down questions about CCTV and state surveillance.

  • Ask other classmates your questions and note down their answers.
  • Go back to your original partner / group and compare your findings.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

6. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:

  • head
  • counter
  • measures
  • remainder
  • outlined
  • earmarked
  • suffered
  • prime
  • detonated
  • innocently
  • butchery
  • discourage

DISCUSSION

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

  1. What was your initial reaction to this headline?
  2. Did the headline make you want to read the article?
  3. Do you think CCTV on subway trains is a good idea?
  4. Do you think CCTV on subway trains will deter terrorists?
  5. Would you like to see CCTV in all areas of public life?
  6. Do you think CCTV is an invasion of privacy and freedom?
  7. What other security measures would you like to see on transport systems?
  8. Don’t you think terrorists would simply switch targets if CCTV were present somewhere?
  9. Do you think CCTV could have stopped the London bombings?
  10. Do you think CCTV is good for discouraging general crime?

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

  1. Did you like reading this article?
  2. What did you think about what you read?
  3. Do you think transportation systems will ever be free from the threat of terrorist attack?
  4. What do you think of the idea of passengers requesting to search one another’s bags?
  5. Do you think X-ray machines should be fitted at subway stations?
  6. Would you agree to random body searches by the police?
  7. Do you think CCTV increases fear or confidence?
  8. Would you agree to the state tapping of phones and e-mails?
  9. Do you think anti-terrorism laws could become too strict?
  10. Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

  1. What question would you like to ask about this topic?
  2. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
  3. Was there a question you didn’t like?
  4. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
  5. What did you like talking about?
  6. Do you want to know how anyone else answered the questions?
  7. Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

INCREASED SURVEILLANCE: You are responsible for implementing strict surveillance measures in your country. You must persuade the public of the necessity of CCTV systems in the public places below. Discuss the benefits of CCTV in these areas, the likely objections from the public and your answers to those objections.

 

MONITORED AREAS

 

 

BENEFITS

 

OBJECTIONS

 

ANSWERS

 

Train carriages

 

 

 

 

 

Public toilets

 

 

 

 

 

Street corners

 

 

 

 

 

Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues etc.

 

 

 

 

Change partners. Take turns in being members of the public and members of the increased surveillance team and role play a discussion between the two.

Return to your original partners. Discuss what you talked about in your role plays and how you fared.

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Moscow subway cars to have CCTV

The head of Moscow’s Metro system Dmitry Gayev plans __ _______ surveillance cameras in all of the city’s subway carriages to _______ the threat of terrorist attacks, the MosNews website reported. The added security _________ will be fitted on the Circle Line, the busiest of the Metro’s eleven lines, by the end of this year and on ___ _________ ___ the network next year. Mr. Gayev outlined his plans at a news conference in Moscow: “The anti-terrorist protection program for Moscow’s subway will __ _________ until 2007”. He said $US59 million in state funding had been __________ ____ its implementation.

Moscow’s transit system has suffered its own ___________ at the hands of terrorists, which has left _______ __ dead. Chechnyan separatists are the prime suspects as ____ ______ their war of independence against Moscow. Last year a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside a Moscow station, killing 10 people, and in February of this year 41 people were innocently ___________ on a rush-hour train. Mr. Gayev said although the new technology could not guarantee an end to this kind __ __________, it would make things more difficult for terrorists and “____________ criminal activities in the metro”.

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 more information on CCTV on Moscow’s Metro. Share your findings with your class in the next lesson.

3. SURVEILLANCE: Make a poster on the pros and cons of surveillance in a city. How far should surveillance go? Show your poster to your classmates in your next lesson. Did you all have similar arguments?

4. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of Moscow’s Metro. Tell him your thoughts on the effectiveness of CCTV in preventing terrorist attacks. Give him advice on alternative ways of spending the earmarked $US59 million to counter terrorism. Read your letter to your classmates in your next lesson. Did you all write about similar things?

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. T

b. F

c. F

d. F

e. F

f. T

g. F

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.

head

boss

b.

counter

ward off

c.

remainder

rest

d.

earmarked

allocated

e.

implementation

completion

f.

atrocities

barbarity

g.

scores

large numbers

h.

wage

conduct

i.

detonated

set off

j.

butchery

savagery

PHRASE MATCH:

a.

surveillance

cameras

b.

counter the

threat of terrorist attacks

c.

on the remainder

of the network

d.

ongoing

until 2007

e.

funding had been

earmarked

f.

atrocities at the

hands of terrorists

g.

left scores

of dead

h.

wage their

war of independence

i.

detonated

an explosive device

j.

innocently

slaughtered

GAP FILL:

Moscow subway cars to have CCTV

The head of Moscow’s Metro system Dmitry Gayev plans to install surveillance cameras in all of the city’s subway carriages to counter the threat of terrorist attacks, the MosNews website reported. The added security measures will be fitted on the Circle Line, the busiest of the Metro’s eleven lines, by the end of this year and on the remainder of the network next year. Mr. Gayev outlined his plans at a news conference in Moscow: “The anti-terrorist protection program for Moscow’s subway will be ongoing until 2007”. He said $US59 million in state funding had been earmarked for its implementation.

Moscow’s transit system has suffered its own atrocities at the hands of terrorists, which has left scores of dead. Chechnyan separatists are the prime suspects as they wage their war of independence against Moscow. Last year a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside a Moscow station, killing 10 people, and in February of this year 41 people were innocently slaughtered on a rush-hour train. Mr. Gayev said although the new technology could not guarantee an end to this kind of butchery, it would make things more difficult for terrorists and “discourage criminal activities in the metro”.

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