My 1,000
Ideas
e-Book

Breaking News English

HOME  |  HELP MY SITE  |  000s MORE FREE LESSONS
 
My 1,000
Ideas
e-Book
 
40+ activities
 PRINT  LISTEN  READ  GRAMMAR  SPELL  WORDS


* 26-page lesson
    (40 exercises)

 

* 2-page MINI
    lesson    (PDF)

* MP3 (British)

* MP3 (North American)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation -
    (10 sentences)

* Speed Reading
    (100 - 300 wpm)

* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

* No spaces

* Text Jumble

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

* Initials only

* No letters

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

  Bus fares & World Cup costs fuel Brazil protest (21st June, 2013)

The biggest protests Brazil has seen for decades are taking place in its streets. Many of them are happening outside soccer stadiums. Brazil is currently hosting the Confederations Cup – a FIFA World Cup test event. While Brazil's team beat Mexico 2-0 on Tuesday night, thousands of protesters were in the streets outside the stadium. There were around 100,000 more people protesting around Brazil at the same time. They are unhappy with many things about life in their country. The protests started last week in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo because of an increase in bus fares. They soon spread across the country. People are also angry about the cost of the 2014 World Cup, poor public services, and corruption.


 

Protests across the country are getting bigger and bigger. The police are taking tougher actions to control the crowds. Police used rubber bullets, tear gas and beatings, which have made the people angrier. Many of the protestors want the government to spend more money on health and education and less on the World Cup. The BBC reported seeing a banner that read: "A teacher is worth more than Neymar" (Brazil's star player). One of the banners in the crowd at the Brazil-Mexico game asked FIFA (the World Cup organisers) to bring hospitals to Brazil instead of stadiums. Another Brazilian star, striker Hulk, said: "After seeing the people on the streets…it makes me feel like joining them. They are doing the right thing."

Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/18/brazil-protests-erupt-huge-scale
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22979545
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/19/sport/football/football-confederation-cup-brazil-mexico-fortaleza-protests/?hpt=ifo_t1


 
 

WARM-UPS

1. PROTESTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about protests. 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.

 

protests / decades / in the streets / stadiums / unhappy / bus fares / public services / rubber bullets / tear gas / health / education / teacher / banners / doing the right thing

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

3. WHICH?: Which is more important and why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Which?

Why?

teacher / soccer star

 

 

sports complex / hospital

 

 

hosting the World Cup / building a school

 

 

football / protesting

 

 

police / national sports team

 

 

fighting drugs in sport / fighting corruption

 

 

4. POLICE: Students A strongly believe the police should stay away from peaceful protests; Students B strongly believe they should always be at any kind of protest.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.



MY e-BOOK
See a sample

5. WORTH MORE: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the ones worth most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • a teacher
  • a world-class athlete
  • a police officer
  • a soldier
  • a nurse
  • a banker
  • a rock star
  • a president / prime minister

6. STREETS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'streets'. 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.

Brazil's biggest ever protests are taking place outside soccer stadiums.

T / F

b.

Around 100,000 people protested outside the Brazil-Mexico game.

T / F

c.

The protests started because of an increase in bus fares.

T / F

d.

People are protesting about the price of World Cup tickets.

T / F

e.

The police are using more dangerous methods to control the protests.

T / F

f.

People want schools and hospitals instead of better football stadiums.

T / F

g.

A banner said a teacher was more important than Brazil's star player.

T / F

h.

The Brazil player Hulk said the protestors were wrong to protest.

T / F

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

1.

protests

a.

bad

2.

taking place

b.

larger

3.

unhappy

c.

demonstrations

4.

increase

d.

rather than

5.

poor

e.

sign

6.

bigger

f.

dissatisfied

7.

control

g.

happening

8.

banner

h.

being part of

9.

instead of

i.

rise

10.

joining

j.

hold back

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

1.

The biggest protests Brazil

a.

were in the streets

2.

thousands of protesters

b.

instead of stadiums

3.

at

c.

services

4.

an increase

d.

on health

5.

poor public

e.

the same time

6.

tougher actions

f.

in bus fares

7.

spend more money

g.

more

8.

A teacher is worth

h.

has seen for decades

9.

bring hospitals to Brazil

i.

joining them

10.

it makes me feel like

j.

to control the crowds

 

GAP FILL

The biggest protests Brazil has seen for (1) ____________ are taking place in its streets. Many of them are (2) ____________ outside soccer stadiums. Brazil is (3) ____________ hosting the Confederations Cup – a FIFA World Cup test (4) ____________. While Brazil's team beat Mexico 2-0 on Tuesday night, (5) ____________ of protesters were in the streets outside the stadium. There were around 100,000 more people protesting around Brazil at the same time. They are unhappy with many things about life in their country. The protests started last week in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo because of an (6) ____________ in bus fares. They soon (7) ____________ across the country. People are also angry about the cost of the 2014 World Cup, (8) ____________ public services, and corruption.

 

 

increase
spread
currently
thousands
happening
decades
poor
event

Protests across the country are getting bigger and bigger. The police are taking (9) ____________ actions to control the crowds. Police used rubber bullets, tear gas and (10) ____________, which have made the people angrier. Many of the protestors want the government to spend more money on (11) ____________ and education and less on the World Cup. The BBC reported seeing a banner that read: "A teacher is (12) ____________ more than Neymar" (Brazil's star player). One of the banners in the (13) ____________ at the Brazil-Mexico game asked FIFA (the World Cup organisers) to bring hospitals to Brazil (14) ____________ of stadiums. Another Brazilian star, striker Hulk, said: "After seeing the people on the streets…it makes me feel like (15) ____________ them. They are doing the (16) ____________ thing."

 

crowd
joining
health
right
tougher
worth
beatings
instead

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

made it clear to the world that he seeks to follow a ______

 

a.  more moderate path
b.  more moderation path
c.  more moderates path
d.  more moderated path

2)

He also promised to make his country's nuclear energy ______

 

a.  program more transparency
b.  program more transparencies
c.  program more trans-parents
d.  program more transparent

3)

Rouhani wants to improve international relations with the US and ______

 

a.  seek "constructively interaction"
b.  seek "construction interaction"
c.  seek "constructiveness interaction"
d.  seek "constructive interaction"

4)

He also hopes that the crippling economic sanctions imposed on ______

 

a.  Iran can be lofted
b.  Iran can be lifted
c.  Iran can be lift it
d.  Iran can be uplifted

5)

He told the USA that diplomatic relations ______

 

a.  could be restored
b.  could be restorative
c.  could be restoration
d.  could be restoring

6)

Mr Rouhani was the top negotiator of Iran's ______

 

a.  nuclear negotiations team
b.  nuclear negotiation team
c.  nuclear negotiate in team
d.  nuclear negotiating team

7)

We are ready to ______

 

a.  show grey-tar transparency
b.  show great transparency
c.  show greatly transparency
d.  show greater transparency

8)

He added that: "The Iranian nation has done nothing ______

 

a.  to deserve sanctions
b.  to conserve sanctions
c.  to preserve sanctions
d.  to reserve sanctions

9)

the U.N. Security Council resolution to come clean on this ______

 

a.  illicit nuclear program
b.  illegal nuclear program
c.  illogical nuclear program
d.  ill-lit nuclear program

10)

they can become a full part of the ______

 

a.  international communities
b.  international commune at tea
c.  international community
d.  international communities

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The biggest protests Brazil (1) ______________________ are taking place in its streets. Many (2) ______________________ – a FIFA World Cup test event. While Brazil's team beat Mexico 2-0 on Tuesday night, thousands of protesters were in the (3) ______________________. There were around 100,000 more people protesting around Brazil at the same time. They are unhappy (4) ______________________ life in their country. The protests started last week in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo (5) __________________ bus fares. They soon spread across the country. People are also angry about the cost of the 2014 World Cup, (6) ______________________, and corruption.

Protests across the country are (7) ______________________. The police are taking tougher actions to control the crowds. Police used rubber bullets, (8) ______________________, which have made the people angrier. Many of the protestors want the government to (9) ______________________ health and education and less on the World Cup. The BBC reported seeing a banner that read: "A (10) ______________________ than Neymar" (Brazil's star player). One of the banners in the crowd at the Brazil-Mexico game asked FIFA (11) ______________________) to bring hospitals to Brazil instead of stadiums. Another Brazilian star, striker Hulk, said: "After seeing the people on the streets…(12) ______________________ joining them. They are doing the right thing."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

How big are the protests?

2.

What is the Confederations Cup?

3.

How many people protested on Tuesday night?

4.

What started the protests?

5.

What aren't people happy about the cost of?

6.

What kind of bullets are the police using?

7.

What do people want more spending on?

8.

What did a banner say Neymar was worth less than?

9.

What do people want instead of stadiums?

10.

What does Hulk feel like doing?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

How big are the protests?

6.

What kind of bullets are the police using?

 

a) bigger than some, smaller than
    most
b) average sized
c) the biggest in decades
d) the biggest of 2013

 

a) steel
b) rubber
c) plastic
d) silver

2.

What is the Confederations Cup?

7.

What do people want more spending on?

 

a) a test event for the World Cup
b) a Latin American competition
c) a tournament for World Cup winners
d) a game between Brazil and Mexico

 

a) environmentally friendly projects
b) roads and bridges
c) sport
d) education and health

3.

How many people protested on Tuesday night?

8.

What did a banner say Neymar was worth less than?

 

a) around 1,100
b) about a hundred thousand
c) hundreds of thousands
d) hundreds and hundreds

 

a) Lionel Messi
b) a teacher
c) $100 million
d) a school

4.

What started the protests?

9.

What do people prefer to stadiums?

 

a) people lost their jobs
b) Brazil lost a soccer match
c) the police
d) a rise in bus fares

 

a) gyms
b) hospitals
c) a better railway
d) roads

5.

What aren't people happy about the cost of?

10.

What does Hulk feel like doing?

 

a) bread and rice
b) living in Brazil
c) the 2014 World Cup
d) a ticket to see a football game

 

a) joining the protestors
b) playing as a defender
c) joining Manchester United
d) joining the police

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Brazil president

You want the protestors to stop protesting and go home. Tell the others three reasons why. The 2014 World Cup is important for Brazil. It will make Brazil richer, so the country can build more schools and hospitals. The transport system is also better because of the World Cup.

Role  B – Protestor

You want all of Brazil's government to go. Tell the others three reasons why. You are angry the government spends lots of money on football. Many Brazilians are so poor. Brazil needs schools and hospitals. The World Cup will not bring better public services.

Role  C – Neymar

You think the protests should continue but not outside football stadiums. Tell the others three reasons why. You think the government should spend more money on sport for poor people. You think FIFA should pay for the World Cup, not the Brazilian people.

Role  D – FIFA boss

You are worried about the 2014 World Cup being in Brazil. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them that the World Cup may move to another country. There cannot be protests outside football stadiums. You want the president to help the people so that the protests stop.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

public

service

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • biggest
  • test
  • same
  • life
  • bus
  • poor
  • bigger
  • rubber
  • less
  • teacher
  • instead
  • feel

PROTESTS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about protests 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.

PROTESTS DISCUSSION

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

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'protest'?

c)

What do you think about the protests in Brazil?

d)

Is it more important to protest or watch football?

e)

Why are the protests happening outside football stadiums?

f)

Should people not mix sport and protests?

g)

Should Brazilians be proud of hosting the World Cup instead of protesting about it?

h)

What things are people unhappy about in your country?

i)

What would you take to the streets to protest about?

j)

Would you be afraid to protest in your country?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Is it better for the police to stay away from protests?

c)

Do the police need rubber bullets and tear gas?

d)

What does tear gas do?

e)

Should Brazil have built more hospitals and schools instead of hosting the World Cup?

f)

Which is better – a teacher or a world-class soccer player?

g)

Is it fair that a soccer player's salary is one hundred times larger than a teacher's salary?

h)

What will happen to the World Cup if the protests continue?

i)

Is it OK for Hulk to say the people are right to protest?

j)

What questions would you like to ask Brazil's president?

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

The biggest protests Brazil has seen for (1) ____ are (2) ____ place in its streets. Many of them are happening outside soccer stadiums. Brazil is currently hosting the Confederations Cup – a FIFA World Cup test event. While Brazil's team (3) ____ Mexico 2-0 on Tuesday night, thousands of protesters were in the streets outside the stadium. There were around 100,000 more people protesting around Brazil at the same time. They are unhappy (4) ____ many things about life in their country. The protests started last week in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo because of an increase (5) ____ bus fares. They soon spread across the country. People are also angry about the cost of the 2014 World Cup, (6) ____ public services, and corruption.

Protests across the country are getting (7) ____ and bigger. The police are taking tougher actions to control the crowds. Police used (8) ____ bullets, tear gas and beatings, which have made the people angrier. Many of the protestors want the government to spend more money on (9) ____ and education and less on the World Cup. The BBC reported seeing a banner that read: "A teacher is (10) ____ more than Neymar" (Brazil's star player). One of the banners in the crowd at the Brazil-Mexico game asked FIFA (the World Cup organisers) to bring hospitals to Brazil (11) ____ of stadiums. Another Brazilian star, striker Hulk, said: "After seeing the people on the streets…it makes me feel like joining them. They are doing the right (12) ____."

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

1.

(a)

decadent

(b)

decades

(c)

decays

(d)

decade

2.

(a)

happening

(b)

doing

(c)

being

(d)

taking

3.

(a)

won

(b)

beat

(c)

victory

(d)

crushed

4.

(a)

for

(b)

at

(c)

with

(d)

from

5.

(a)

in

(b)

at

(c)

as

(d)

to

6.

(a)

poor

(b)

broke

(c)

unlucky

(d)

needy

7.

(a)

big

(b)

biggest

(c)

bigwig

(d)

bigger

8.

(a)

rubber

(b)

silver

(c)

plastic

(d)

wooden

9.

(a)

stealth

(b)

health

(c)

earth

(d)

wealth

10.

(a)

value

(b)

money

(c)

worth

(d)

salary

11.

(a)

rather

(b)

prefer

(c)

instead

(d)

not

12.

(a)

way

(b)

thing

(c)

point

(d)

answer

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

The biggest protests Brazil has seen for dseedac

2.

happening outside soccer aumssitd

3.

Brazil is yelrcutrn hosting the Confederations Cup

4.

an cisnaere in bus fares

5.

daeprs across the country

6.

poor public eisrvesc

Paragraph 2

7.

police are taking gutheor actions

8.

rubber utblsel

9.

tear gas and aigesbtn

10.

more money on health and oditaecnu

11.

World Cup aesionsgrr

12.

it makes me feel like niiongj them

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

Protests across the country are getting bigger and bigger. The police are taking tougher actions

(    )

100,000 more people protesting around Brazil at the same time. They are unhappy with many things about life

(    )

"After seeing the people on the streets…it makes me feel like joining them. They are doing the right thing."

(    )

beat Mexico 2-0 on Tuesday night, thousands of protesters were in the streets outside the stadium. There were around

(    )

in bus fares. They soon spread across the country. People are also angry about the

(    )

soccer stadiums. Brazil is currently hosting the Confederations Cup – a FIFA World Cup test event. While Brazil's team

(    )

to control the crowds. Police used rubber bullets, tear gas and beatings, which have made the people

(    )

education and less on the World Cup. The BBC reported seeing a banner that read: "A teacher is worth

(    )

angrier. Many of the protestors want the government to spend more money on health and

(    )

FIFA (the World Cup organisers) to bring hospitals to Brazil instead of stadiums. Another Brazilian star, striker Hulk, said:

(    )

cost of the 2014 World Cup, poor public services, and corruption.

1  )

The biggest protests Brazil has seen for decades are taking place in its streets. Many of them are happening outside

(    )

more than Neymar" (Brazil's star player). One of the banners in the crowd at the Brazil-Mexico game asked

(    )

in their country. The protests started last week in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo because of an increase

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

for     protests     decades     Brazil     has     The     seen     biggest.    

2.

them     stadiums     are     happening     Many     outside    of    soccer.    

3.

protesting    at    time    people    Brazil    same    More    around    the.    

4.

are     about     unhappy     life     with     many     They     things.    

5.

cost    angry    People    World    of   about   are   Cup   the    the    also

6.

getting     are     country     the     across     Protests     bigger.    

7.

to    crowds    are    actions    the    Police    tougher    control    taking.

8.

want     more    the    money    government    to    Protestors     spend.    

9.

hospitals     Bring     stadiums     of     instead     Brazil     to.    

10.

like     feel     me     makes     It     them     joining.    

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The biggest protests Brazil has seen for decade / decades are taking place in its streets. Many of them are happening outside soccer stadiums. Brazil is currently / current hosting the Confederations Cup – a FIFA World Cup test event. While Brazil's team beat / win Mexico 2-0 on Tuesday night, thousands / thousand of protesters were in the streets outside the stadium. There were around 100,000 mostly / more people protesting around Brazil at the same time. They are unhappy of / with many things about livings / life in their country. The protests started last week / weekly in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo because of an increase in busy / bus fares. They soon spread across the country. People are also angry about the cost of the 2014 World Cup, poor public services, and corrupts / corruption.

Protests across the country are getting bigger / biggest and bigger. The police are taking / having tougher actions to control the crowds. Police used rubber bullets / bullet, tear gas and beatings, which have made the person / people angrier. Many of the protestors want the government to spending / spend more money on health and education and fewer / less on the World Cup. The BBC reported seeing a banner that reads / read: "A teacher is worth more than Neymar" (Brazil's star player). One of the banners in the crowd / crowded at the Brazil-Mexico game asked FIFA (the World Cup organisers) to bring hospitals to Brazil instead for / of stadiums. Another Brazilian star, striker Hulk, said: "After seeing the people on the streets…it makes me feel like joining / joint them. They are doing the right thing."

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)

Th_ b_gg_st pr_t_sts Br_z_l h_s s__n f_r d_c_d_s _r_ t_k_ng pl_c_ _n _ts str__ts. M_ny _f th_m _r_ h_pp_n_ng __ts_d_ s_cc_r st_d__ms. Br_z_l _s c_rr_ntly h_st_ng th_ C_nf_d_r_t__ns C_p – _ F_F_ W_rld C_p t_st _v_nt. Wh_l_ Br_z_l's t__m b__t M_x_c_ 2-0 _n T__sd_y n_ght, th__s_nds _f pr_t_st_rs w_r_ _n th_ str__ts __ts_d_ th_ st_d__m. Th_r_ w_r_ _r__nd 100,000 m_r_ p__pl_ pr_t_st_ng _r__nd Br_z_l _t th_ s_m_ t_m_. Th_y _r_ _nh_ppy w_th m_ny th_ngs _b__t l_f_ _n th__r c__ntry. Th_ pr_t_sts st_rt_d l_st w__k _n R__ d_ J_n__r_ _nd S__ P__l_ b_c__s_ _f _n _ncr__s_ _n b_s f_r_s. Th_y s__n spr__d _cr_ss th_ c__ntry. P__pl_ _r_ _ls_ _ngry _b__t th_ c_st _f th_ 2014 W_rld C_p, p__r p_bl_c s_rv_c_s, _nd c_rr_pt__n.

Pr_t_sts _cr_ss th_ c__ntry _r_ g_tt_ng b_gg_r _nd b_gg_r. Th_ p_l_c_ _r_ t_k_ng t__gh_r _ct__ns t_ c_ntr_l th_ cr_wds. P_l_c_ _s_d r_bb_r b_ll_ts, t__r g_s _nd b__t_ngs, wh_ch h_v_ m_d_ th_ p__pl_ _ngr__r. M_ny _f th_ pr_t_st_rs w_nt th_ g_v_rnm_nt t_ sp_nd m_r_ m_n_y _n h__lth _nd _d_c_t__n _nd l_ss _n th_ W_rld C_p. Th_ BBC r_p_rt_d s___ng _ b_nn_r th_t r__d: "_ t__ch_r _s w_rth m_r_ th_n N_ym_r" (Br_z_l's st_r pl_y_r). _n_ _f th_ b_nn_rs _n th_ cr_wd _t th_ Br_z_l-M_x_c_ g_m_ _sk_d F_F_ (th_ W_rld C_p _rg_n_s_rs) t_ br_ng h_sp_t_ls t_ Br_z_l _nst__d _f st_d__ms. _n_th_r Br_z_l__n st_r, str_k_r H_lk, s__d: "_ft_r s___ng th_ p__pl_ _n th_ str__ts…_t m_k_s m_ f__l l_k_ j__n_ng th_m. Th_y _r_ d__ng th_ r_ght th_ng."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the biggest protests brazil has seen for decades are taking place in its streets many of them are happening outside soccer stadiums brazil is currently hosting the confederations cup – a fifa world cup test event while brazil's team beat mexico 2-0 on tuesday night thousands of protesters were in the streets outside the stadium there were around 100000 more people protesting around brazil at the same time they are unhappy with many things about life in their country the protests started last week in rio de janeiro and sao paolo because of an increase in bus fares they soon spread across the country people are also angry about the cost of the 2014 world cup poor public services and corruption

protests across the country are getting bigger and bigger the police are taking tougher actions to control the crowds police used rubber bullets tear gas and beatings which have made the people angrier many of the protestors want the government to spend more money on health and education and less on the world cup the bbc reported seeing a banner that read "a teacher is worth more than neymar" (brazil's star player) one of the banners in the crowd at the brazil-mexico game asked fifa (the world cup organisers) to bring hospitals to brazil instead of stadiums another brazilian star striker hulk said "after seeing the people on the streets…it makes me feel like joining them they are doing the right thing"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThebiggestprotestsBrazilhasseenfordecadesaretakingplaceinitsstreets.Manyof
themarehappeningoutsidesoccerstadiums.Braziliscurrentlyhostingthe
ConfederationsCup–aFIFAWorldCuptestevent.WhileBrazil'steambeatMexico2-
0onTuesdaynight,thousandsofprotesterswereinthestreetsoutsidethestadium.
Therewerearound100,000morepeopleprotestingaroundBrazilatthesame
time.Theyareunhappywithmanythingsaboutlifeintheircountry.Theprotests
startedlastweekinRiodeJaneiroandSaoPaolobecauseofanincreaseinbus
fares.Theysoonspreadacrossthecountry.Peoplearealsoangryaboutthecostof
the2014WorldCup,poorpublicservices,andcorruption.Protestsacrossthecountry
aregettingbiggerandbigger.Thepolicearetakingtougheractionstocontrolthe
crowds.Policeusedrubberbullets,teargasandbeatings,whichhavemadethepeople
angrier.Manyoftheprotestorswantthegovernmenttospendmoremoneyonhealth
andeducationandlessontheWorldCup.TheBBCreportedseeingabannerthat
read:"AteacherisworthmorethanNeymar"(Brazil'sstarplayer).Oneofthebanners
inthecrowdattheBrazil-MexicogameaskedFIFA(theWorldCuporganisers)tobring
hospitalstoBrazilinsteadofstadiums.AnotherBrazilianstar,strikerHulk,said:
"Afterseeingthepeopleonthestreets…itmakesmefeellikejoiningthem.They
aredoingtherightthing."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

The police should stay at home when people protest. They always make things worse.   Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 protests in Brazil. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PROTESTS: Make a poster about protests around the world. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. WORLD CUP: Write a magazine article about the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 Brazil's leader. Ask her three questions about the protests in her country. Give her three ideas on what to do from now. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

protests

a.

demonstrations

2.

taking place

b.

happening

3.

unhappy

c.

dissatisfied

4.

increase

d.

rise

5.

poor

e.

bad

6.

bigger

f.

larger

7.

control

g.

hold back

8.

banner

h.

sign

9.

instead of

i.

rather than

10.

joining

j.

being part of

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

The biggest in decades

2.

A FIFA World Cup test event

3.

Around 100,000

4.

An increase in bus fares

5.

The 2014 World Cup

6.

Rubber bullets

7.

Health and education

8.

A teacher

9.

Hospitals

10.

Joining the protestors in the streets

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

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

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You

Copyright © 2004-2023 by Sean Banville | Links | About | Privacy Policy