Breaking News English

Date: Aug 7, 2007
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WARM-UPS

1. ORGAN DONATION: Walk around the class and talk to other students about organ donation. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your original partner(s) and share what you found out.

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

shortages / wealthy foreigners / life-threatening illnesses / black markets / worldwide bans / loopholes / transplant surgery / medical care / next of kin

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

3. DONATING: In pairs / groups, talk about which of these body parts you would or would not donate:

liver kidney heart eyes skin

4. BODY PART OPINIONS: In pairs / groups, discuss whether you agree or disagree with these opinions:

• The worldwide trade in body parts should be banned
• Everybody should carry an organ donation card
• It’s OK for people to donate their organs to help their family finances
• Organs should only come from dead people
• A person with a transplanted heart has a changed personality
• Hospitals should grow organs for transplant purposes

5. ORGAN DONATIONS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with organ donations. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. QUICK DEBATE: Students A think it’s OK to sell body parts. Students B think the opposite. Change partners often. Share your findings.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	A body parts supermarket has opened to meet demand for organs.	T / F
b.	Chinese and Egyptians top the list of those wanting new organs.	T / F
c.	The WHO believes 21,000 liver transplants occur every year.	T / F
d.	Transplant tourists are finding it more difficult to find new organs.	T / F
e.	Not one country has banned the trade in body parts.	T / F
f.	Organ donors in Pakistan get very good after surgery medical care.	T / F
g.	China has restricted the use of body parts for foreigners.	T / F
h.	China uses body parts from executed prisoners.	T / F

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

1.	shortage	a.	permission
2	shady	b.	obtain
3.	get hold of	c.	gaps
4.	thriving	d.	prepared
5.	willing	e.	limited
6.	loopholes	f.	lack
7.	crack down on	g.	booming
8.	restricted	h.	prisoners
9.	consent	i.	unethical
10.	convicts	j.	put a stop to

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

1.	A serious	a.	high risk
2	give them a new lease	b.	transplants are carried out annually
3.	up to 21,000 liver	c.	and full of loopholes
4.	there is a thriving	d.	of life
5.	the number of poor	e.	and to crack down on illegal sales
6.	difficult for authorities to regulate	f.	led to a “kidney bazaar”
7.	laws are often very confusing	g.	shortage of donated organs
8.	Transplant surgery carries	h.	trade in organ trafficking
9.	In Pakistan booming demand has	i.	or their next of kin
10.	obtaining consent from the convicts	j.	willing to sell their liver

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Global body parts trade increases
 

A serious __________ of donated organs in rich countries is leading to a worrying increase in the shady and illegal body parts trade. Wealthy foreigners with life-threatening illnesses are looking to __________ nations like China, Colombia, Egypt, Pakistan and the Philippines to get hold of an organ that will give them a new __________ of life. The World Health Organization recently estimated that up to 21,000 liver transplants are __________ out annually. Medical experts say this __________ is greatly understated and put annual worldwide demand at over 90,000. This means there is a __________ trade in organ trafficking and a booming black market in human body parts. “Transplant tourists” are finding it easier to find new organs because the number of poor __________ to sell their liver or kidney as a short-term escape from __________ increases.		carried willing poorer figure lease poverty shortage thriving
The body part trade is __________ in many countries around the world but laws are often very confusing and full of __________. This makes it difficult for authorities to regulate and to crack down on __________ sales, which increases the number of deaths among donors. Transplant surgery carries high risks, especially with liver transplants, which involve removing part of the donor's liver. In Pakistan __________ demand has led to a “kidney bazaar” - rich patients pay $8,000 for a new kidney, for which __________ are paid $300 - $1,000 and often get no __________ care after the surgery. China recently banned the sale of human organs and __________ transplants for foreigners. It transplants many organs from executed prisoners after obtaining consent from the convicts or their __________ of kin.		restricted booming loopholes next banned donors medical illegal

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Global body parts trade increases

A serious shortage of donated organs in rich countries __________________ worrying increase in the shady and illegal body parts trade. Wealthy foreigners with ________________________ looking to poorer nations like China, Colombia, Egypt, Pakistan and the Philippines to get hold of an organ that will give them __________________. The World Health Organization recently estimated that up to 21,000 liver transplants are carried out annually. Medical experts say this figure _______________________ put annual worldwide demand at over 90,000. This means there is a thriving trade in organ trafficking and __________________ in human body parts. “Transplant tourists” are finding it easier to find new organs because the number of poor willing __________________ kidney as a short-term escape from poverty increases.

The body part trade is banned in many countries around the world but laws are often very confusing __________________. This makes it difficult for authorities to regulate and to crack down on illegal sales, which increases the number __________________. Transplant surgery carries high risks, especially with liver transplants, which __________________ of the donor's liver. In Pakistan booming demand has led to a “kidney bazaar” - rich patients pay $8,000 for a new kidney, __________________ paid $300 - $1,000 and often get no medical care after the surgery. China recently __________________ human organs and restricted transplants for foreigners. It transplants many organs from executed prisoners after obtaining consent from the convicts __________________.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

body

part

• 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 exactly how these were used in the text:

leading poorer lease experts black escape

loopholes crack involve bazaar care convicts

STUDENT ORGAN DONATION SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the ORGAN DONATION 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

DISCUSSION

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

1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. What comes to mind when you hear the words “organ donation”?
3. Do you think organ donation should be compulsory?
4. Why do/don’t you carry an organ donor card?
5. What do you think of there being a trade in body parts?
6. What can rich countries do to encourage their citizens to donate their body parts after death?
7. What punishments should be given to people involved in the black market for human organs?
8. What do you think transplant tourists do abroad?
9. What can be done to help people who sell their organs to help their family?
10. How much would you sell a kidney or your liver for?

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

1. Did you like reading this article?
2. How would you feel about having a new heart?
3. Why are there laws in some countries that ban organ transplants?
4. How would you feel about the body parts of a close, deceased relative being removed and transplanted in someone else?
5. What do you think a “kidney bazaar” looks like?
6. How do you think poor donors suffer in poor countries?
7. Do you think hospitals should grow new organs for transplant?
8. How would you feel about having a face and eye transplant?
9. Do you think it’s a good idea to use organs from dead prisoners?
10. Did you like this discussion?

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

1. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
2. Was there a question you didn’t like?
3. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
4. What did you like talking about?
5. Which was the most difficult question?

LANGUAGE

CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.

Global body parts trade increases

A serious (1) ____ of donated organs in rich countries is leading to a worrying increase in the shady and illegal body parts trade. Wealthy foreigners with life-threatening illnesses are looking to poorer nations like China, Colombia, Egypt, Pakistan and the Philippines to get (2) ____ of an organ that will give them a new (3) ____ of life. The World Health Organization recently estimated that up to 21,000 liver transplants are carried (4) ____ annually. Medical experts say this figure is greatly understated and (5) ____ annual worldwide demand at over 90,000. This means there is a thriving trade in organ trafficking and a booming (6) ____ market in human body parts. “Transplant tourists” are finding it easier to find new organs because the number of poor willing to sell their liver or kidney as a short-term escape from poverty increases.

The body part trade is banned in many countries around the world but laws are often very confusing and full of (7) ____. This makes it difficult for authorities to regulate and to crack (8) ____ on illegal sales, which increases the number of deaths among donors. Transplant surgery (9) ____ high risks, especially with liver transplants, which involve removing part of the donor's liver. In Pakistan booming demand has led to a “kidney bazaar” - rich patients pay $8,000 for a new kidney, (10) ____ which donors are paid $300 - $1,000 and often get no medical care after the (11) ____. China recently banned the sale of human organs and restricted transplants for foreigners. It transplants many organs from executed prisoners after obtaining consent from the convicts or their (12) ____ of kin.

1.	(a)	short	(b)	shortage	(c)	shorts	(d)	short circuit
2.	(a)	holds	(b)	held	(c)	hold	(d)	holding
3.	(a)	hire	(b)	least	(c)	leash	(d)	lease
4.	(a)	out	(b)	in	(c)	up	(d)	down
5.	(a)	portion	(b)	per	(c)	put	(d)	part
6.	(a)	bark	(b)	bank	(c)	back	(d)	black
7.	(a)	loopholes	(b)	hoops	(c)	loops	(d)	loop lines
8.	(a)	up	(b)	down	(c)	with	(d)	out
9.	(a)	carries	(b)	cares	(c)	carts	(d)	cards
10.	(a)	low	(b)	high	(c)	shallow	(d)	deep
11.	(a)	with	(b)	by	(c)	for	(d)	and
12.	(a)	close	(b)	before	(c)	after	(d)	next

WRITING: 

Write about organ donation for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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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 more information about the illegal trade in body parts. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ORGAN DONATION POSTER: Make a poster about the different body parts that are transplanted. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about the life of a poor person who has sold his/her kidney to help his/her family survive. Include imaginary interviews with the donor and recipient.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. LETTER: Write a letter to the boss of the WHO. Ask him/her three questions about the illegal trade in body parts. Give him/her three suggestions about how to crack down on the trade. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. F

c. T

d. F

e. F

f. F

g. T

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	shortage	a.	lack
2	shady	b.	unethical
3.	get hold of	c.	obtain
4.	thriving	d.	booming
5.	willing	e.	prepared
6.	loopholes	f.	gaps
7.	crack down on	g.	put a stop to
8.	restricted	h.	limited
9.	consent	i.	permission
10.	convicts	j.	prisoners

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	A serious	a.	shortage of donated organs
2	give them a new lease	b.	of life
3.	up to 21,000 liver	c.	transplants are carried out annually
4.	there is a thriving	d.	trade in organ trafficking
5.	the number of poor	e.	willing to sell their liver
6.	difficult for authorities to regulate	f.	and to crack down on illegal sales
7.	laws are often very confusing	g.	and full of loopholes
8.	Transplant surgery carries	h.	high risk
9.	In Pakistan booming demand has	i.	led to a “kidney bazaar”
10.	obtaining consent from the convicts	j.	or their next of kin

GAP FILL:

Global body parts trade increases

A serious shortage of donated organs in rich countries is leading to a worrying increase in the shady and illegal body parts trade. Wealthy foreigners with life-threatening illnesses are looking to poorer nations like China, Colombia, Egypt, Pakistan and the Philippines to get hold of an organ that will give them a new lease of life. The World Health Organization recently estimated that up to 21,000 liver transplants are carried out annually. Medical experts say this figure is greatly understated and put annual worldwide demand at over 90,000. This means there is a thriving trade in organ trafficking and a booming black market in human body parts. “Transplant tourists” are finding it easier to find new organs because the number of poor willing to sell their liver or kidney as a short-term escape from poverty increases.

The body part trade is banned in many countries around the world but laws are often very confusing and full of loopholes. This makes it difficult for authorities to regulate and to crack down on illegal sales, which increases the number of deaths among donors. Transplant surgery carries high risks, especially with liver transplants, which involve removing part of the donor's liver. In Pakistan booming demand has led to a “kidney bazaar” - rich patients pay $8,000 for a new kidney, for which donors are paid $300 - $1,000 and often get no medical care after the surgery. China recently banned the sale of human organs and restricted transplants for foreigners. It transplants many organs from executed prisoners after obtaining consent from the convicts or their next of kin.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - b

2 - c

3 - d

4 - a

5 - c

6 - d

7 - a

8 - b

9 - a

10 - c

11 - b

12 - d

 

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