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* Listen & spell

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* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

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* Text Jumble

* Grammar gap-fill

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* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

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* Missing words

* Gap-fill

Brazil still in shock after nightclub inferno (3rd February, 2013)

Brazilians are still in shock at the devastating loss of life after the nightclub fire in the city of Santa Maria in southern Rio Grande do Sul state. The blaze at the Kiss club has so far claimed the lives of 236 partygoers. The death toll could rise as another 87 people are fighting for their life on respirators in intensive care units. Investigators have been quick to ascertain the cause of such a high number of fatalities. They blame a highly flammable and toxic foam that was used to soundproof the club. Santa Maria police chief Marcelo Arigony told reporters: "If it weren't for this material, no one would have died." The police also blamed faulty fire extinguishers and alarms, and a single obstructed emergency exit.

 

The co-owner of the nightclub is blaming "the whole country" for the disaster. Elissandro Spohr, 28, has been arrested by police for operating a nightclub without a valid license after his club's safety certificate expired last year. He is currently in a hospital after trying to commit suicide. He reportedly told police officers he no longer has the will to live and regrets he was ever born. His lawyer says Mr Spohr blames all the inspectors who approved the plans for the nightclub, saying: "My client's responsibility is having trusted too much in the inspectors and in those responsible for the construction." He denies police reports of overcrowding – that 1,200 people were in a place with a capacity of 700.

Sources:
http://news.sky.com/story/1045442/brazil-club-fire-owner-blames-whole-country
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/brazil-nightclub-fire-inspections-closures_n_2591228.html?utm_hp_ref=world
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/01/31/uk-brazil-nightclub-idUKBRE90U1GA20130131

 

WARM-UPS

1. PUBLIC SAFETY: Walk around the class and talk to other students about public safety in crowded buildings. Change partners often and share your findings.

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

 

in shock / loss of life / partygoer / intensive care unit (ICU) / flammable / toxic / blame / disaster / suicide / the will to live / responsibility / construction / overcrowding

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

3. SAFE: How do we make sure buildings are safe? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Minimum standard

Places you know with poor safety

Capacity

 

 

Fire alarms

 

 

Building material

 

 

Emergency exits

 

 

Fire extinguishers

 

 

Signs

 

 

4. FIREPROOF: Students A strongly believe all buildings will be fireproof one day; Students B strongly believe that will never happen.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.



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5. MEMORIAL: What's the best thing to do to remember the victims of the Santa Maria fire? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • a plaque
  • an annual national holiday
  • world's tightest safety standards
  • an Internet book of condolences
  • a charity for burns victims
  • an ever-burning candle
  • annual church service
  • other ______________________

6. LIFE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'life'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.

The correct English term is "in shock" and not "in shocked".

T / F

b.

Over 80 people are still in critical condition in hospital.

T / F

c.

A police chief said the soundproofing foam was the cause of all deaths.

T / F

d.

Police said a total lack of fire extinguishers made the situation worse.

T / F

e.

A co-owner of the nightclub said he blamed only himself for the fire.

T / F

f.

The safety certificate for the club ran out several years ago.

T / F

g.

The club's co-owner tried to take his own life.

T / F

h.

The club's owner admitted that there were too many people in the club.

T / F

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

1.

devastating

a.

poisonous

2.

blaze

b.

OK'd

3.

fatalities

c.

catastrophe

4.

toxic

d.

inferno

5.

obstructed

e.

desire

6.

disaster

f.

catastrophic

7.

valid

g.

space

8.

will

h.

blocked

9.

approved

i.

deaths

10.

capacity

j.

legal

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

1.

in

a.

fire extinguishers

2.

devastating loss

b.

care units

3.

claimed the lives

c.

suicide

4.

intensive

d.

of life

5.

faulty

e.

license

6.

The co-owner

f.

of 700

7.

without a valid

g.

of 236 partygoers

8.

trying to commit

h.

overcrowding

9.

He denies police reports of

i.

shock

10.

a capacity

j.

of the nightclub

GAP FILL

Brazilians are still in (1) ____________ at the devastating loss of life after the nightclub fire in the city of Santa Maria in southern Rio Grande do Sul state. The (2) ____________ at the Kiss club has so far claimed the lives of 236 partygoers. The death (3) ____________ could rise as another 87 people are fighting for their life on respirators in (4) ____________ care units. Investigators have been quick to ascertain the cause of such a high number of (5) ____________. They blame a highly flammable and toxic foam that was used to (6) ____________ the club. Santa Maria police chief Marcelo Arigony told reporters: "If it weren't for this material, no one would have died." The police also blamed (7) ____________ fire extinguishers and alarms, and a single (8) ____________ emergency exit.

 

 

 

fatalities
toll
shock
faulty
blaze
obstructed
intensive
soundproof

The co-owner of the nightclub is (9) ____________ "the whole country" for the disaster. Elissandro Spohr, 28, has been arrested by police for operating a nightclub without a (10) ____________ license after his club's safety certificate (11) ____________ last year. He is currently in a hospital after trying to (12) ____________ suicide. He reportedly told police officers he no longer has the will to live and (13) ____________ he was ever born. His lawyer says Mr Spohr blames all the inspectors who   (14) ____________ the plans for the nightclub, saying: "My client's responsibility is having trusted too much in the inspectors and in those responsible for the construction." He (15) ____________ police reports of overcrowding – that 1,200 people were in a place with a (16) ____________ of 700.

 

 

regrets
valid
commit
denies
blaming
capacity
expired
approved

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

Brazilians are still in shock at the ______

 

a.  devastation loss of life
b.  devastates loss of life
c.  devastating lost of life
d.  devastating loss of life

2)

The blaze at the Kiss club has so far claimed the lives of ______.

 

a.  236 partygoers
b.  236 parting goers
c.  236 par tea goers
d.  236 party goes in

3)

another 87 people are fighting for their life on respirators in ______

 

a.  intensive care unit
b.  intensive careful units
c.  intensive care units
d.  intensive cared units

4)

They blame a highly flammable and toxic foam that was used ______.

 

a.  to sound prove the club
b.  two sounds proof the club
c.  two sounds proving the club
d.  to soundproof the club

5)

The police also ______ extinguishers and alarms

 

a.  blamed faulty fires
b.  blamed fall tee fire
c.  blames faulty fire
d.  blamed faulty fire

6)

The co-owner of the nightclub is blaming "______" for the disaster.

 

a.  the whole country
b.  the entire country
c.  the wholesome country
d.  the wholly country

7)

arrested by police for operating a nightclub ______

 

a.  without a valid license
b.  with outer valid license
c.  without have a lid license
d.  without a valid licenses

8)

he no longer has the will to live and ______ born

 

a.  regrets he was never
b.  regrets he was ever
c.  regret he was ever
d.  regrets he whichever

9)

trusted too much in the inspectors and in those responsible ______.

 

a.  for a construction
b.  for the construction
c.  four all the construction
d.  for all construction

10)

He denies police reports ______

 

a.  of overcrowding
b.  of overcrowded
c.  of overcrowds
d.  of overcrowd

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Brazilians are (1) ________________________ devastating loss of life after the nightclub fire in the city of Santa Maria in southern Rio Grande do Sul state. The blaze at the Kiss club (2) ________________________ lives of 236 partygoers. The death toll could rise as another 87 people are fighting for their life on (3) ________________________ units. Investigators have been quick to ascertain the cause of such a high number of fatalities. They blame a (4) ________________________ foam that was used to soundproof the club. Santa Maria police chief Marcelo Arigony told reporters: "If it (5) ________________________, no one would have died." The police also blamed faulty fire extinguishers and alarms, (6) ___________________ emergency exit.

The co-owner of the nightclub is blaming "the whole country" for the disaster. Elissandro Spohr, 28, has been arrested by police for operating a nightclub (7) ________________________ after his club's safety certificate expired last year. He is currently in a hospital (8) _____________________ suicide. He reportedly told police officers he (9) _______________________ to live and regrets he was ever born. His lawyer says Mr Spohr blames all the inspectors (10) ________________________ for the nightclub, saying: "My client's responsibility is (11) ________________________ in the inspectors and in those responsible for the construction." He denies police   (12) ________________________ – that 1,200 people were in a place with a capacity of 700.

 

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What adjective was used to describe the loss of life?

2.

What word was used instead of "fire"?

3.

Where are another 87 people?

4.

Why was the foam so dangerous?

5.

What was wrong with the emergency exit?

6.

Who does the co-owner of Kiss blame for the fire?

7.

Why didn't the club have an up-to-date safety certificate?

8.

Why is the co-owner in hospital?

9.

Who did the lawyer say Mr Spohr trusted too much?

10.

What did Mr Spohr deny?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

Brazilians are ___ shock at the devastating loss of life.

6.

Who does Elissandro Spohr blame for the tragedy?

 

a) into
b) in
c) on
d) inside

 

a)  all of Brazil
b) himself
c) the DJ at the club
d) the police

2.

What machines are 87 people on?

7.

Why didn't the club have a valid safety certificate?

 

a) ultrasounds
b) electrocardiographs
c) defibrillators
d) respirators

 

a) it was in the process of being issued
b) it didn't need one
c) the old one ran out last year
d) it got lost in the post

3.

Where are the 87 people who are fighting for their lives?

8.

What does Elissandro Spohr no longer have?

 

a) MRI
b) ENT
c) ICU
d) ER

 

a) the desire to keep living
b) the strength to eat
c) the ambition to continue as a
     nightclub operator
d) the support of the other co-owner

4.

What did investigators say was the primary cause of death?

9.

What does Elissandro Spohr no longer have?

 

a) foam
b) rubber
c) plastic
d) PVC

 

a) not having a valid safety certificate
b) not being there on the night of the
     fire
c) starting a nightclub business
d) being born

5.

What did the police say didn't work properly?

10.

What does Elissandro Spohr deny?

 

a) the sound system
b) fire extinguishers
c) the evacuation procedures
d) the locks on the doors

 

a) the capacity of his club was 1,200
b) the tragedy was all his fault
c) his nightclub was overcrowded
d) misleading safety inspectors

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

night

club

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • shock
  • claimed
  • units
  • highly
  • material
  • exit
  • whole
  • without
  • commit
  • born
  • trusted
  • 700

PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about public safety 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.

PUBLIC SAFETY DISCUSSION

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

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

Where were you when you heard the news of the Santa Maria fire?

c)

How can tragedies like this happen in the 21st century?

d)

What can governments do to prevent future tragedies?

e)

What's the best way to remember the victims of the fire?

f)

What questions should the investigators ask about the fire?

g)

Why do you think such hazardous materials were used in the nightclub?

h)

Should the person responsible for faulty fire extinguishers and alarms be prosecuted?

i)

Do you ever worry about the safety of crowded places you go to?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Have you ever been somewhere you thought was unsafe?

c)

What lessons can other nightclubs and public spaces learn from Santa Maria?

d)

Is it disrespectful to the victims that everyone is blaming other people and no one is taking any responsibility for what happened?

e)

How can Elissandro Spohr blame the whole country?

f)

How has Elissandro Spohr's life changed?

g)

Should someone be prosecuted if there were too many people in the club?

h)

Will corners always be cut regarding safety to save money?

i)

What questions would you like to ask Elissandro Spohr?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

Brazilians are still in shock at the (1) ____ loss of life after the nightclub fire in the city of Santa Maria in southern Rio Grande do Sul state. The blaze at the Kiss club has so far claimed the lives of 236 partygoers. The death (2) ____ could rise as another 87 people are fighting for their life on respirators in (3) ____ care units. Investigators have been quick to (4) ____ the cause of such a high number of fatalities. They blame a highly (5) ____ and toxic foam that was used to soundproof the club. Santa Maria police chief Marcelo Arigony told reporters: "If it weren't for this material, no one would have died." The police also blamed faulty fire extinguishers and alarms, and a (6) ____ obstructed emergency exit.

The co-owner of the nightclub is blaming "the (7) ____ country" for the disaster. Elissandro Spohr, 28, has been arrested by police for operating a nightclub without a (8) ____ license after his club's safety certificate expired last year. He is currently in a hospital after trying to commit suicide. He reportedly told police officers he no longer has the (9) ____ to live and regrets he was ever born. His lawyer says Mr Spohr blames all the inspectors who (10) ____ the plans for the nightclub, saying: "My client's responsibility is having trusted too much in the inspectors and in those responsible for the construction." He denies police reports (11) ____ overcrowding – that 1,200 people were in a place with a (12) ____ of 700.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

devastated

(b)

devastating

(c)

devastates

(d)

devastate

2.

(a)

roll

(b)

toll

(c)

poll

(d)

doll

3.

(a)

serious

(b)

thorough

(c)

extensive

(d)

intensive

4.

(a)

certain

(b)

ascertain

(c)

caution

(d)

ascend

5.

(a)

flameproof

(b)

flammable

(c)

inflammation

(d)

inflammatory

6.

(a)

one

(b)

lonely

(c)

single

(d)

alone

7.

(a)

all

(b)

entirely

(c)

whole

(d)

full

8.

(a)

insipid

(b)

lucid

(c)

valid

(d)

livid

9.

(a)

shall

(b)

should

(c)

could

(d)

will

10.

(a)

approved

(b)

appreciated

(c)

appeased

(d)

applied

11.

(a)

of

(b)

for

(c)

from

(d)

via

12.

(a)

space

(b)

potential

(c)

capacity

(d)

range

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

the agedavnttsi loss of life

2.

fighting for their life on soraitrepsr

3.

in innivetse care units

4.

nieaatcsr the cause

5.

highly lmblfaema

6.

a single dttsbuoecr emergency exit

Paragraph 2

7.

a valid lecensi

8.

his club's safety criceftieta

9.

commit uicdsie

10.

pedopvar the plans

11.

trusted too much in the torncpises

12.

a caaitcyp of 700

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

flammable and toxic foam that was used to soundproof the club. Santa Maria police chief Marcelo Arigony told

(    )

trusted too much in the inspectors and in those responsible for the construction." He denies

(    )

longer has the will to live and regrets he was ever born. His lawyer says Mr Spohr blames all the inspectors who

(    )

of Santa Maria in southern Rio Grande do Sul state. The blaze at the Kiss club has so far claimed the lives of

(    )

The co-owner of the nightclub is blaming "the whole country" for the disaster. Elissandro Spohr, 28, has been

(    )

police reports of overcrowding – that 1,200 people were in a place with a capacity of 700.

1  )

Brazilians are still in shock at the devastating loss of life after the nightclub fire in the city

(    )

approved the plans for the nightclub, saying: "My client's responsibility is having

(    )

reporters: "If it weren't for this material, no one would have died." The police also blamed

(    )

arrested by police for operating a nightclub without a valid license after his club's safety certificate

(    )

236 partygoers. The death toll could rise as another 87 people are fighting for their life on respirators in intensive

(    )

expired last year. He is currently in a hospital after trying to commit suicide. He reportedly told police officers he no

(    )

faulty fire extinguishers and alarms, and a single obstructed emergency exit.

(    )

care units. Investigators have been quick to ascertain the cause of such a high number of fatalities. They blame a highly

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

at     loss     shock     devastating     life     in     the     of     Still.    

2.

the   so   Kiss   partygoers  lives   far   club   of  claimed  has  The  236.

3.

toxic     a     foam     highly     flammable     They     and     blame.    

4.

died    one   material,   weren't   would   for    If    have    no    this   it.

5.

The    blamed   extinguishers   also   fire   alarms   police    faulty   and.

6.

nightclub   owner  The  whole   is  of   co-  country  blaming   the    the.

7.

a     Operating     license     valid     a     without     nightclub.    

8.

after     trying     In     to     a     commit     hospital     suicide.    

9.

He     will     no     to     longer     live     has     the.    

10.

approved    all    who    plans   blames   inspectors   the    Spohr     the.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Brazilians are still in shock / shocking at the devastating loss / lost of life after the nightclub fire in the city of Santa Maria in southern Rio Grande do Sul state. The blaze / ablaze at the Kiss club has so far claims / claimed the lives of 236 partygoers. The death toll could rise as another 87 people are fighting for their life on respirators in intensively / intensive care units. Investigators have been quickly / quick to ascertain the cause of such a high number of fatalities. They blame a highly flammable / flameproof and toxic foam that was used to sounding / soundproof the club. Santa Maria police chief Marcelo Arigony told reporters: "If it weren't for this material, no one would have died." The police also blamed faultless / faulty fire extinguishers and alarms, and a single obstructed / obstruction emergency exit.

The co-owner of the nightclub is blamed / blaming "the whole country" for the disaster. Elissandro Spohr, 28, has been arrest / arrested by police for operating a nightclub without a valid / validity license after his club's safety certificate expired / expiration last year. He is currently in a hospital after trying to commit suicidal / suicide. He reportedly told police officers he no longer has the would / will to live and regrets he was ever born. His lawyer says Mr Spohr blames all the inspectors who approved / approval the plans for the nightclub, saying: "My client's responsibility is having trusts / trusted too much in the inspectors and in those responsible for / of the construction." He denies police reports of overcrowding – that 1,200 people were in a place with a capacity by / of 700.

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

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Br_z_l__ns _r_ st_ll _n sh_ck _t th_ d_v_st_t_ng l_ss _f l_f_ _ft_r th_ n_ghtcl_b f_r_ _n th_ c_ty _f S_nt_ M_r__ _n s__th_rn R__ Gr_nd_ d_ S_l st_t_. Th_ bl_z_ _t th_ K_ss cl_b h_s s_ f_r cl__m_d th_ l_v_s _f 236 p_rtyg__rs. Th_ d__th t_ll c__ld r_s_ _s _n_th_r 87 p__pl_ _r_ f_ght_ng f_r th__r l_f_ _n r_sp_r_t_rs _n _nt_ns_v_ c_r_ _n_ts. _nv_st_g_t_rs h_v_ b__n q__ck t_ _sc_rt__n th_ c__s_ _f s_ch _ h_gh n_mb_r _f f_t_l_t__s. Th_y bl_m_ _ h_ghly fl_mm_bl_ _nd t_x_c f__m th_t w_s _s_d t_ s__ndpr__f th_ cl_b. S_nt_ M_r__ p_l_c_ ch__f M_rc_l_ _r_g_ny t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "_f _t w_r_n't f_r th_s m_t_r__l, n_ _n_ w__ld h_v_ d__d." Th_ p_l_c_ _ls_ bl_m_d f__lty f_r_ _xt_ng__sh_rs _nd _l_rms, _nd _ s_ngl_ _bstr_ct_d _m_rg_ncy _x_t.

Th_ c_-_wn_r _f th_ n_ghtcl_b _s bl_m_ng "th_ wh_l_ c__ntry" f_r th_ d_s_st_r. _l_ss_ndr_ Sp_hr, 28, h_s b__n _rr_st_d by p_l_c_ f_r _p_r_t_ng _ n_ghtcl_b w_th__t _ v_l_d l_c_ns_ _ft_r h_s cl_b's s_f_ty c_rt_f_c_t_ _xp_r_d l_st y__r. H_ _s c_rr_ntly _n _ h_sp_t_l _ft_r try_ng t_ c_mm_t s__c_d_. H_ r_p_rt_dly t_ld p_l_c_ _ff_c_rs h_ n_ l_ng_r h_s th_ w_ll t_ l_v_ _nd r_gr_ts h_ w_s _v_r b_rn. H_s l_wy_r s_ys Mr Sp_hr bl_m_s _ll th_ _nsp_ct_rs wh_ _ppr_v_d th_ pl_ns f_r th_ n_ghtcl_b, s_y_ng: "My cl__nt's r_sp_ns_b_l_ty _s h_v_ng tr_st_d t__ m_ch _n th_ _nsp_ct_rs _nd _n th_s_ r_sp_ns_bl_ f_r th_ c_nstr_ct__n." H_ d_n__s p_l_c_ r_p_rts _f _v_rcr_wd_ng – th_t 1,200 p__pl_ w_r_ _n _ pl_c_ w_th _ c_p_c_ty _f 700.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

brazilians are still in shock at the devastating loss of life after the nightclub fire in the city of santa maria in southern rio grande do sul state the blaze at the kiss club has so far claimed the lives of 236 partygoers the death toll could rise as another 87 people are fighting for their life on respirators in intensive care units investigators have been quick to ascertain the cause of such a high number of fatalities they blame a highly flammable and toxic foam that was used to soundproof the club santa maria police chief marcelo arigony told reporters "if it weren't for this material no one would have died" the police also blamed faulty fire extinguishers and alarms and a single obstructed emergency exit

the co-owner of the nightclub is blaming "the whole country" for the disaster elissandro spohr 28 has been arrested by police for operating a nightclub without a valid license after his club's safety certificate expired last year he is currently in a hospital after trying to commit suicide he reportedly told police officers he no longer has the will to live and regrets he was ever born his lawyer says mr spohr blames all the inspectors who approved the plans for the nightclub saying "my client's responsibility is having trusted too much in the inspectors and in those responsible for the construction" he denies police reports of overcrowding – that 1200 people were in a place with a capacity of 700

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Braziliansarestillinshockatthedevastatinglossoflifeafterthenightclubfireinthe
cityofSantaMariainsouthernRioGrandedoSulstate.TheblazeattheKissclubhas
sofarclaimedthelivesof236partygoers.Thedeathtollcouldriseasanother87
peoplearefightingfortheirlifeonrespiratorsinintensivecareunits.Investigators
havebeenquicktoascertainthecauseofsuchahighnumberoffatalities.They
blameahighlyflammableandtoxicfoamthatwasusedtosoundprooftheclub.
SantaMariapolicechiefMarceloArigonytoldreporters:"Ifitweren'tforthismaterial,
noonewouldhavedied."Thepolicealsoblamedfaultyfireextinguishersand
alarms,andasingleobstructedemergencyexit.Theco-ownerofthenightclubis
blaming"thewholecountry"forthedisaster.ElissandroSpohr,28,has been
arrestedbypoliceforoperatinganightclubwithoutavalidlicenseafterhisclub's
safetycertificateexpiredlastyear.Heiscurrentlyinahospitalaftertryingtocommit
suicide.Hereportedlytoldpoliceofficershenolongerhasthewilltoliveandregrets
hewaseverborn.HislawyersaysMrSpohrblamesalltheinspectorswhoapproved
theplansforthenightclub,saying:"Myclient'sresponsibilityishavingtrusted
toomuchintheinspectorsandinthoseresponsiblefortheconstruction."He
deniespolicereportsofovercrowdingthat1,200peoplewereinaplacewith
acapacityof700.

FREE WRITING

Write about public safety for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

There is no excuse for tragedies like the Santa Maria fire happening in the 21st Century.… 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 the tragedy. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY: Make a poster about public safety. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. FIRES: Write a magazine article about fires. Include imaginary interviews with a safety inspector and a fire fighter.

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 the president of Brazil. Ask him three questions about the Santa Maria fire. Give him three ideas on what kind of memorial should be set up. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

devastating

a.

catastrophic

2.

blaze

b.

inferno

3.

fatalities

c.

deaths

4.

toxic

d.

poisonous

5.

obstructed

e.

blocked

6.

disaster

f.

catastrophe

7.

valid

g.

legal

8.

will

h.

desire

9.

approved

i.

OK'd

10.

capacity

j.

space

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Devastating

2.

Blaze

3.

In intensive care (units)

4.

It was highly flammable and toxic

5.

It was obstructed.

6.

The whole country

7.

The old one expired last year

8.

He tried to commit suicide

9.

Inspectors and those responsible for the construction of the club

10.

Overcrowding at the club

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

c

4.

a

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

d

10.

c

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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