Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Gibraltar

My 1,000 Ideas e-Book	Breaking News English HOME \| HELP MY SITE \| 000s MORE FREE LESSONS	My 1,000 Ideas e-Book

LEVEL 3

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS

See also...
   Level 0
   Level 1
   Level 2

* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

* MP3 (British)

* MP3 (N. America)

* MP3 (20 Qs)

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Read
(3 speeds)

.....

* Gap-fill

U.K. sending warships to Gibraltar (12th August, 2013)

Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. It became an important base for Britain's Royal Navy. Gibraltar is a small area of land measuring just 6.8 square kilometers, south of Cadiz. The 430-meter-tall Rock of Gibraltar stands in the center. The population is around 30,000 and most of them are very pro-British. Many parts of Gibraltar look like a piece of mainland Britain. Spain has argued for decades that Gibraltar should be returned to Spain. Britain's government said that could only happen if the people of Gibraltar vote for it. The British prime minister told his Spanish counterpart: "This issue should not damage our bilateral relations. However there was a real risk of this happening."

Try Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources:
http://www.euronews.com/2013/08/09/uk-royal-navy-to-send-warships-to-gibraltar-for-routine-exercises/ http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-news/spain-says-committed-to-dialogue-after-gibraltar-spat_271439.html http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/gibraltar-britain-send-navy-warships-2142385#ixzz2bSXj3WyN

WARM-UPS

1. GIBRALTAR: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Gibraltar. 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.

warships / Gibraltar / bad timing / bad relations / fishing / cross the border / security / navy / small area / population / decades / returned / vote / issue / bilateral

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

3. RELATIONS: How are your relations with people? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

With your…	Good	Bad
parents
teachers
best friend
neighbour
classmates
bank

4. RETURNED: Students A strongly believe Gibraltar should be returned to Spain; Students B strongly believe it's British and should stay British. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. DAMAGE: Rank these. Put the things that could damage international relations at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• land disputes

• spying

• religious tensions

• immigration

• supporting wars

• nuclear weapons programmes

• pollution

• terrorism

6. BORDER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "border". 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.	British warships will stay in Gibraltar to protect the people there.	T / F
b.	Relations between Britain and Spain have never been better.	T / F
c.	Gibraltar tried to stop Spanish fishermen fishing near its coast.	T / F
d.	Some people had to wait for six hours to cross Gibraltar's border.	T / F
e.	Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain 300 years ago.	T / F
f.	The rock in the middle of Gibraltar is over 500 meters high.	T / F
g.	The population of Gibraltar is around 300,000.	T / F
h.	Britain's leader said relations with Spain could be damaged.	T / F

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

1.	way	a.	opposite number
2.	recently	b.	allow
3.	let	c.	middle
4.	charging	d.	friction
5.	tensions	e.	chance
6.	base	f.	route
7.	center	g.	given back
8.	returned	h.	asking for money
9.	counterpart	i.	center
10.	risk	j.	lately

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

1.	The ships will make a stop on their	a.	Britain's Royal Navy
2.	bad	b.	at the border
3.	become bad	c.	50 euros
4.	it might start charging	d.	Spanish counterpart
5.	wait for up to six hours	e.	recently
6.	It became an important base for	f.	of this happening
7.	most of them are very	g.	way to the Middle East
8.	that could only happen if the people of	h.	pro-British
9.	The British prime minister told his	i.	timing
10.	there was a real risk	j.	Gibraltar vote for it

GAP FILL

Britain says it will send ten warships to Gibraltar on Monday. The ships will make a (1) ____________ on their way to the Middle East. Many people think the stopover is bad (2) ____________ because relations between Britain and Spain have become bad (3) ____________. Spain got angry after Gibraltar's government put concrete (4) ____________ on the seabed. It said this was to let sea life grow and to stop Spanish boats fishing nearby. Spain then said it might start (5) ____________ 50 euros (about $67) for people to travel (6) ____________ the border between Gibraltar and Spain. Tensions increased again when Spain started (7) ____________ people entering Spain as security against terrorism. Motorists had to wait for up to six hours at the (8) ____________.

blocks
recently
searching
stop
border
across
timing
charging

Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 (9) ____________ the Treaty of Utrecht. It became an important (10) ____________ for Britain's Royal Navy. Gibraltar is a small area of land measuring just 6.8 (11) ____________ kilometers, south of Cadiz. The 430-meter-tall Rock of Gibraltar (12) ____________ in the center. The population is around 30,000 and most of them are very (13) ____________ -British. Many parts of Gibraltar look like a piece of mainland Britain. Spain has argued for decades that Gibraltar should be returned to Spain. Britain's government said that could only happen if the people of Gibraltar (14) ____________ for it. The British prime minister told his Spanish (15) ____________: "This issue should not damage our bilateral (16) ____________. However there was a real risk of this happening."

vote
stands
base
counterpart
relations
under
pro
square

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The ships will make a stop on their way to ______
	a. the Middle West b. the Middle East c. the Middle South d. the Middle North
2)	Many people think the stopover ______
	a. is bad timing b. is bad timings c. is bad times d. is bad-time inn
3)	Spain then said it might start ______
	a. changing 50 euros b. charge in 50 euros c. charging 50 euros d. charge 150 euros
4)	Spain started searching people entering Spain as ______
	a. securely against terrorism b. securities against terrorism c. secretary against terrorism d. security against terrorism
5)	Motorists had to wait for up to six ______
	a. hours up the border b. hours at the border c. hours to the border d. hour sat the border
6)	Gibraltar is a small area of land measuring just ______
	a. 6.8 round kilometers b. 6.8 oval kilometers c. 6.8 square kilometers d. 6.8 triangular kilometers
7)	Many parts of Gibraltar look like a piece ______
	a. of mainly land Britain b. of mains land Britain c. of mainland Britain d. of main landing Britain
8)	that could only happen if the people of Gibraltar ______
	a. vote of it b. vote for it c. vote four it d. vote from it
9)	This issue should not damage ______
	a. our unilateral relations b. our trilateral relations c. our biannual relations d. our bilateral relations
10)	However there was a real risk ______
	a. of this happening b. of this happen in c. of this happens d. of this happened

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Britain (1) ___________________ ten warships to Gibraltar on Monday. The ships will make a stop (2) ___________________ the Middle East. Many people think the stopover is bad timing because relations between Britain and Spain have become bad recently. Spain (3) ___________________ Gibraltar's government put concrete blocks on the seabed. It said this was to let sea life grow and to stop Spanish boats fishing nearby. Spain then said it (4) ___________________ euros (about $67) for people to travel across the border between Gibraltar and Spain. (5) ___________________ when Spain started searching people entering Spain as security against terrorism. Motorists had to (6) ___________________ hours at the border.

Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. It became (7) ___________________ Britain's Royal Navy. Gibraltar is a small area of land measuring just 6.8 square kilometers, south of Cadiz. The 430-meter-tall Rock of Gibraltar (8) ___________________. The population is around 30,000 and most of them (9) ___________________. Many parts of Gibraltar look like a piece of mainland Britain. Spain has argued for decades that Gibraltar (10) ___________________ Spain. Britain's government said that could only happen if the people of Gibraltar vote for it. The British prime minister told (11) ___________________: "This issue should not damage our bilateral relations. However there was (12) ___________________ happening."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How many warships are on their way to Gibraltar?
2.	Where are the ships going after Gibraltar?
3.	What did Gibraltar put on the seabed?
4.	How much did Spain want to charge to cross the border?
5.	Where did people have to wait 6 hours?
6.	When did Spain give Britain Gibraltar?
7.	How tall is the Rock of Gibraltar?
8.	How many people live in Gibraltar?
9.	What did Britain say needs to happen for Gibraltar to return to Spain?
10.	What risk did the British leader talk about?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How many warships are on their way to Gibraltar?	6.	When did Spain give Gibraltar to Britain?
	a) 8 b) 10 c) 28 d) 73		a) 1713 b) 1317 c) 1730 d) 1370
2.	Where are the ships going after Gibraltar?	7.	How tall is the Rock of Gibraltar?
	a) North Korea b) Afghanistan c) India d) the Middle East		a) 410 meters b) 420 meters c) 430 meters d) 440 meters
3.	What did Gibraltar put on the seabed?	8.	How many people live in Gibraltar?
	a) blocks b) rods c) nets d) mines		a) 30,000 b) 13,000 c) 300,000 d) 330,000
4.	How much did Spain want to charge to cross the border?	9.	What did Britain say needs to happen for Gibraltar to return to Spain?
	a) 40 euros b) 45 euros c) 50 euros d) 55 euros		a) people must vote b) war c) a United Nations decision d) Spain can buy it back
5.	Where did people have to wait 6 hours?	10.	What risk did the British leader talk about?
	a) on a ship b) the border c) on a train d) in a fish restaurant		a) issues b) no more fish near Gibraltar c) war d) damaged relations

ROLE PLAY

Role A – A Gibraltarian

You think Gibraltar should always be a British territory. Tell the others three reasons why. You don't think Spain should have Gibraltar. Tell the others three reasons why.

Role B – Spanish prime minister

You think Britain should return Gibraltar to Spain. Tell the others three reasons why. You are very unhappy with the British prime minister. Tell the others three reasons why.

Role C – British prime minister

Gibraltar will be British forever. Tell the others three reasons why. You are very unhappy with the Spanish prime minister. Tell the others three reasons why.

Role D – Geography professor

You think it's time for countries to redraw the world map. There are many countries that "own" land that is thousands of miles away. This is wrong. Tell the others three reasons why. You think Britain should return Gibraltar to Spain.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

war

ship

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:

send
timing
blocks
50
security
six

1713
6.8
430
30,000
decades
risk

GIBRALTAR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Gibraltar 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.

GIBRALTAR 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 'Gibraltar'?
c)	What do you know about Gibraltar?
d)	What do you think about what you read?
e)	Do you think Spain is right to get angry?
f)	Is it OK for Spain to charge people to enter Spain from Gibraltar?
g)	Will the warships going to Gibraltar make relations worse?
h)	What do you think of Britain's navy?
i)	What questions would you like to ask Britain's prime minister?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What do you know about British history?
c)	Should countries that have land thousands of miles away return it?
d)	Should Spain accept they signed a treaty to give Gibraltar away?
e)	If the people want to be British, why is Spain arguing?
f)	Do you think the people should vote?
g)	What other places are countries arguing or fighting over?
h)	What solution would make Spain and Britain happy?
i)	What questions would you like to ask Spain's prime minister?

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.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Britain says it will send ten warships to Gibraltar on Monday. The ships will make a (1) ____ on their way to the Middle East. Many people think the stopover is bad (2) ____ because relations between Britain and Spain have become bad (3) ____. Spain got angry after Gibraltar's government put concrete blocks on the seabed. It said this was to let sea life grow and to stop Spanish boats fishing (4) ____. Spain then said it might start (5) ____ 50 euros (about $67) for people to travel across the border between Gibraltar and Spain. Tensions increased again when Spain started searching people entering Spain as security against terrorism. Motorists had to wait for (6) ____ to six hours at the border.

Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 (7) ____ the Treaty of Utrecht. It became an important base for Britain's Royal Navy. Gibraltar is a small area of land (8) ____ just 6.8 square kilometers, south (9) ____ Cadiz. The 430-meter-tall Rock of Gibraltar stands in the center. The population is around 30,000 and most of them are very (10) ____-British. Many parts of Gibraltar look like a piece of mainland Britain. Spain has argued for decades that Gibraltar should be returned to Spain. Britain's government said that could only happen if the people of Gibraltar (11) ____ for it. The British prime minister told his Spanish counterpart: "This issue should not damage our bilateral relations. However there was a (12) ____ risk of this happening."

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

1.	(a)	stopper	(b)	stoppage	(c)	stop	(d)	stopping
2.	(a)	timing	(b)	timer	(c)	times	(d)	time
3.	(a)	recently	(b)	decently	(c)	absently	(d)	sentry
4.	(a)	nearby	(b)	nearly	(c)	farther	(d)	watered
5.	(a)	charges	(b)	charging	(c)	charger	(d)	charged
6.	(a)	as	(b)	over	(c)	down	(d)	up
7.	(a)	over	(b)	in	(c)	under	(d)	through
8.	(a)	measures	(b)	measured	(c)	measurable	(d)	measuring
9.	(a)	of	(b)	to	(c)	in	(d)	at
10.	(a)	pro	(b)	pre	(c)	par	(d)	per
11.	(a)	help	(b)	vote	(c)	pay	(d)	mail
12.	(a)	really	(b)	realty	(c)	real	(d)	reality

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	aoletsinr between Britain and Spain
2.	encerotc blocks
3.	Spain then said it might start nghigrac
4.	oinstnse increased again
5.	teyricus against terrorism
6.	tirsoosmt had to wait for up to six hours
Paragraph 2
7.	reamisngu just 6.8 square kilometers
8.	The appoiolntu is around 30,000
9.	a piece of lndimana Britain
10.	Spain has argued for daedsce
11.	Britain's terngoevmn
12.	The British prime minister told his Spanish utrecnaprto

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( 1 )	Britain says it will send ten warships to Gibraltar on Monday. The ships will make a stop on their
( )	counterpart: "This issue should not damage our bilateral relations. However there was a real risk of this happening."
( )	way to the Middle East. Many people think the stopover is bad timing because relations
( )	nearby. Spain then said it might start charging 50 euros (about $67) for people to travel
( )	across the border between Gibraltar and Spain. Tensions increased again when Spain started
( )	base for Britain's Royal Navy. Gibraltar is a small area of land measuring just 6.8 square kilometers, south
( )	happen if the people of Gibraltar vote for it. The British prime minister told his Spanish
( )	searching people entering Spain as security against terrorism. Motorists had to wait for up to six hours at the border.
( )	decades that Gibraltar should be returned to Spain. Britain's government said that could only
( )	British. Many parts of Gibraltar look like a piece of mainland Britain. Spain has argued for
( )	between Britain and Spain have become bad recently. Spain got angry after Gibraltar's government put concrete
( )	of Cadiz. The 430-meter-tall Rock of Gibraltar stands in the center. The population is around 30,000 and most of them are very pro-
( )	blocks on the seabed. It said this was to let sea life grow and to stop Spanish boats fishing
( )	Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. It became an important

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	Monday ten will Gibraltar warships send on to It.
2.	to East stop way Middle a their the Make on.
3.	blocks Gibraltar's on government the put seabed concrete.
4.	euros then might 50 Spain it charging said start.
5.	for had border hours up to at to wait Motorists the six.
6.	for Navy became base Royal It important Britain's an.
7.	of Gibraltar look like a piece of mainland Britain Parts.
8.	vote That could only happen if the people of Gibraltar.
9.	relations not damage This our issue bilateral should.
10.	there was a real risk of this happening However ,.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Britain says it will send ten warships to Gibraltar on Monday. The ships will make a stop / start on their way / why to the Middle East. Many people think the stopover is bad timing / times because relations between Britain and Spain have become bad recent / recently. Spain got angry after Gibraltar's government put concrete block / blocks on the seabed. It said this was to let sea life grow / growth and to stop Spanish boats fishing nearby / nearly. Spain then said it might start charging / changing 50 euros (about $67) for people to travel across the border between Gibraltar and Spain. Tensions increased again when Spain started search / searching people entering Spain as security against terrorism. Motorists had to wait for up / down to six hours at the border.

Spain gave Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under / over the Treaty of Utrecht. It became an important basic / base for Britain's Royal Navy. Gibraltar is a small area of land measured / measuring just 6.8 square kilometers, south of / at Cadiz. The 430-meter-tall Rock of Gibraltar stands in the center. The population is around 30,000 and most / much of them are very pro-British / pre-British. Many parts of Gibraltar look like a piece / peace of mainland Britain / British. Spain has argued for decades that Gibraltar should be returned to Spain. Britain's government said that could only happening / happen if the people of Gibraltar vote for it. The British prime minister told his Spanish counterpart: "This issue / tissue should not damage our bilateral relations. However there was a real risk of this happening."

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_t__n s_ys _t w_ll s_nd t_n w_rsh_ps t_ G_br_lt_r _n M_nd_y. Th_ sh_ps w_ll m_k_ _ st_p _n th__r w_y t_ th_ M_ddl_ __st. M_ny p__pl_ th_nk th_ st_p_v_r _s b_d t_m_ng b_c__s_ r_l_t__ns b_tw__n Br_t__n _nd Sp__n h_v_ b_c_m_ b_d r_c_ntly. Sp__n g_t _ngry _ft_r G_br_lt_r's g_v_rnm_nt p_t c_ncr_t_ bl_cks _n th_ s__b_d. _t s__d th_s w_s t_ l_t s__ l_f_ gr_w _nd t_ st_p Sp_n_sh b__ts f_sh_ng n__rby. Sp__n th_n s__d _t m_ght st_rt ch_rg_ng 50 __r_s (_b__t $67) f_r p__pl_ t_ tr_v_l _cr_ss th_ b_rd_r b_tw__n G_br_lt_r _nd Sp__n. T_ns__ns _ncr__s_d _g__n wh_n Sp__n st_rt_d s__rch_ng p__pl_ _nt_r_ng Sp__n _s s_c_r_ty _g__nst t_rr_r_sm. M_t_r_sts h_d t_ w__t f_r _p t_ s_x h__rs _t th_ b_rd_r.

Sp__n g_v_ G_br_lt_r t_ Br_t__n _n 1713 _nd_r th_ Tr__ty _f _tr_cht. _t b_c_m_ _n _mp_rt_nt b_s_ f_r Br_t__n's R_y_l N_vy. G_br_lt_r _s _ sm_ll _r__ _f l_nd m__s_r_ng j_st 6.8 sq__r_ k_l_m_t_rs, s__th _f C_d_z. Th_ 430-m_t_r-t_ll R_ck _f G_br_lt_r st_nds _n th_ c_nt_r. Th_ p_p_l_t__n _s _r__nd 30,000 _nd m_st _f th_m _r_ v_ry pr_-Br_t_sh. M_ny p_rts _f G_br_lt_r l__k l_k_ _ p__c_ _f m__nl_nd Br_t__n. Sp__n h_s _rg__d f_r d_c_d_s th_t G_br_lt_r sh__ld b_ r_t_rn_d t_ Sp__n. Br_t__n's g_v_rnm_nt s__d th_t c__ld _nly h_pp_n _f th_ p__pl_ _f G_br_lt_r v_t_ f_r _t. Th_ Br_t_sh pr_m_ m_n_st_r t_ld h_s Sp_n_sh c__nt_rp_rt: "Th_s _ss__ sh__ld n_t d_m_g_ __r b_l_t_r_l r_l_t__ns. H_w_v_r th_r_ w_s _ r__l r_sk _f th_s h_pp_n_ng."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

britain says it will send ten warships to gibraltar on monday the ships will make a stop on their way to the middle east many people think the stopover is bad timing because relations between britain and spain have become bad recently spain got angry after gibraltar's government put concrete blocks on the seabed it said this was to let sea life grow and to stop spanish boats fishing nearby spain then said it might start charging 50 euros (about $67) for people to travel across the border between gibraltar and spain tensions increased again when spain started searching people entering spain as security against terrorism motorists had to wait for up to six hours at the border

spain gave gibraltar to britain in 1713 under the treaty of utrecht it became an important base for britain's royal navy gibraltar is a small area of land measuring just 68 square kilometers south of cadiz the 430-meter-tall rock of gibraltar stands in the center the population is around 30000 and most of them are very pro-british many parts of gibraltar look like a piece of mainland britain spain has argued for decades that gibraltar should be returned to spain britain's government said that could only happen if the people of gibraltar vote for it the british prime minister told his spanish counterpart "this issue should not damage our bilateral relations however there was a real risk of this happening"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

BritainsaysitwillsendtenwarshipstoGibraltaronMonday.Theships
willmakeastopontheirwaytotheMiddleEast.Manypeoplethinkthes
topoverisbadtimingbecauserelationsbetweenBritainandSpainha
vebecomebadrecently.SpaingotangryafterGibraltar'sgovernmen
tputconcreteblocksontheseabed.Itsaidthiswastoletsealifegrowa
ndtostopSpanishboatsfishingnearby.Spainthensaiditmightstartc
harging50euros(about$67)forpeopletotravelacrosstheborderbet
weenGibraltarandSpain.TensionsincreasedagainwhenSpainstart
edsearchingpeopleenteringSpainassecurityagainstterrorism.Mo
toristshadtowaitforuptosixhoursattheborder.SpaingaveGibraltar
toBritainin1713undertheTreatyofUtrecht.Itbecameanimportant
baseforBritain'sRoyalNavy.Gibraltarisasmallareaoflandmeasurin
gjust6.8squarekilometers,southofCadiz.The430-meter-
tallRockofGibraltarstandsinthecenter.Thepopulationisaround30,
000andmostofthemareverypro-British.ManypartsofGibralta
rlooklikeapieceofmainlandBritain.Spainhasarguedfordecadestha
tGibraltarshouldbereturnedtoSpain.Britain'sgovernmentsaidtha
tcouldonlyhappenifthepeopleofGibraltarvoteforit.TheBritishprim
eministertoldhisSpanishcounterpart:"Thisissueshouldnotdamag
eourbilateralrelations.Howevertherewasarealriskofthishappenin
g."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

All land that countries argue about should belong to the nearest country. 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 Gibraltar. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. GIBRALTAR: Make a poster about Gibraltar. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. RELATIONS: Write a magazine article about Gibraltar. Include imaginary interviews with people who think it should stay British and people who think it should be returned to Spain.

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 someone who lives in Gibraltar. Ask him/her three questions about Gibraltar. Give him/her three of your opinions on the bad relations between Spain and Britain. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	way	a.	route
2.	recently	b.	lately
3.	let	c.	allow
4.	charging	d.	asking for money
5.	tensions	e.	friction
6.	base	f.	center
7.	center	g.	middle
8.	returned	h.	given back
9.	counterpart	i.	opposite number
10.	risk	j.	chance

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	10
2.	The Middle East
3.	Concrete blocks
4.	50 euros
5.	At the border
6.	1713
7.	430 meters
8.	30,000
9.	The people of Gibraltar must vote
10.	Damaged relations

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

10.

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

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Thank You

Breaking News English

* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

* 2-page MINI
lesson

* MP3 (British)

* MP3 (N. America)

* MP3 (20 Qs)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Read
(3 speeds)

* Jumble 1

* Jumble 2

* No spaces

* Text jumble

* Gap-fill

* The/An/A Gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Initials

* Initials only

* No letters

.....

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

Breaking News English

* 26-page lesson (40 exercises)

* 2-page MINI lesson

* MP3 (British)

* MP3 (N. America)

* MP3 (20 Qs)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation - (10 sentences)

* Speed Read (3 speeds)

* Jumble 1

* Jumble 2

* No spaces

* Text jumble

* Gap-fill

* The/An/A Gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Initials

* Initials only

* No letters

.....

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

* 2-page MINI
lesson

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Read
(3 speeds)