The Reading / Listening - Level 5

The U.N. is cutting staff for the first time ever. The General Assembly approved its first cut since the international body was created in 1945. The decision means 219 fewer positions, or two per cent of all U.N. posts. The General Assembly also authorised freezes on pay rises and benefits. It acted because of pressure from member states to reduce spending. Many countries say they are struggling to meet their share of contributions. They say they are still suffering from austerity measures taken after the global financial crisis.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said the cuts were "crucial" and would eliminate unnecessary or out-of-date jobs. He told the General Assembly: "When the budgets and crucial services of many…organisations have been squeezed, these measures will hold…costs in place." He added: "Our shared goal should be to ensure that the U.N. can maximise the results that it delivers with the amount of resources that member states are collectively able to provide." The U.S. pays 22 per cent of the U.N. budget and is the biggest financial contributor.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-27/united-nations-makes-first-staff-cut-since-1945-in-budget.html
  • http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-12-27/united-nations-makes-first-staff-cut-since-1945-in-budget-deal
  • http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/12/27/us-un-budget-idINBRE9BQ0JX20131227


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

cutting staff for

a.

states

2.

the international

b.

financial crisis

3.

freezes on pay

c.

spending

4.

pressure from member

d.

body

5.

reduce

e.

the first time ever

6.

struggling to meet

f.

measures

7.

still suffering from austerity

g.

rises

8.

after the global

h.

their share



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The U.S. ambassador

a.

squeezed

2.

the cuts were

b.

the U.N. budget

3.

unnecessary or

c.

"crucial"

4.

organisations have been

d.

the results

5.

shared

e.

contributor

6.

maximise

f.

out-of-date jobs

7.

22 per cent of

g.

to the U.N.

8.

the biggest financial

h.

goal

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The U.N. is cutting staff for (1) ___________________. The General Assembly approved its (2) ___________________ international body was created in 1945. The decision means (3) ___________________, or two per cent of all U.N. posts. The General Assembly also (4) ___________________ pay rises and benefits. It acted because of pressure from member states to reduce spending. Many countries say they (5) ___________________ their share of contributions. They say they are still (6) ___________________ measures taken after the global financial crisis.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said the (7) ___________________ would eliminate unnecessary (8) ___________________. He told the General Assembly: "When the budgets and crucial services of many…organisations have (9) ___________________ measures will hold…costs in place." He added: "Our (10) ___________________ to ensure that the U.N. can maximise the results that it delivers with the amount of resources that member states (11) ___________________ to provide." The U.S. pays 22 per cent of the U.N. budget and is the (12) ___________________.

THE UNITED NATIONS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about The United Nations 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about the United Nations for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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