The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A publishing company plans to print all of the articles from the Wikipedia website. PediaPress hopes to print the entire contents of Wikipedia in 1,000 books, each containing 1,200 pages. Wikipedia has over 4.3 million articles and 2.6 billion words. Over 20 million volunteers have helped to write it. The project will see the physical version of Wikipedia on nearly 1.2 million pages of print. The page numbers will continue from book to book and the final page will be number 1,193,014. PediaPress needs $50,000 to start the project. It wants people to donate money so it can go ahead with the first copy. The company has already printed number one of the thousand books. It includes the articles from "A" to "A76 motorway".

Many people are questioning why PediaPress wants to print out such a huge website. They say it will be out of date as soon as it starts printing. A spokesperson from PediaPress said the company wants to show the world just how big Wikipedia really is. He said: "We think that the best way to experience the size of Wikipedia is by transforming it into the physical medium of books." He added: "Containing the most volumes and edited by the largest number of contributors, the printed edition will be a work of record-breaking dimensions." The company may take the books on a world tour. After that, it will donate them to a big public library.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/printing-all-wikipedia-1-000-books-its-not-joke-n33916
  • http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/pediapress-wants-to-print-the-complete-english-wikipedia-in-1000-books/
  • http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-02/18/the-wikipedia-books-project


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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. WIKIPEDIA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Wikipedia. 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.

 

publishing / articles / Wikipedia / volunteers / print / project / donate money / books / questioning / website / out of date / experience / record-breaking / world tour / library

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

3. BOOKS: How important are these books for you? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

 

How important?

Why?

How useful?

Why?

Encyclopedia

 

 

 

 

Travel guide

 

 

 

 

Biography

 

 

 

 

Computer manual

 

 

 

 

Investment guide

 

 

 

 

Religious book

 

 

 

 

4. PRINTED: Students A strongly believe printed books are better than books on websites; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  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. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Rank these encyclopedia sections with your partner. Put the most interesting at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • countries

  • flowers

  • architecture

  • inventions

  • wars

  • fish

  • diseases

  • languages

6. PRINT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "print". 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.

Wikipedia end its website and become a book instead.

T / F

b.

There are around 2.6 billion words on the Wikipedia website.

T / F

c.

The last page number in the books will be 1,000,000.

T / F

d.

A publishing company has already printed book number one.

T / F

e.

Many people think the book is a great idea.

T / F

f.

The book will be out of date once printing begins.

T / F

g.

The book will break many publishing records.

T / F

h.

The publisher will sell the book to whoever pays the most money.

T / F

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

1.

publishing

a.

actually

2.

entire

b.

edition

3.

containing

c.

changing

4.

version

d.

printing

5.

donate

e.

querying

6.

questioning

f.

whole

7.

huge

g.

sizes

8.

really

h.

including

9.

transforming

i.

give

10.

dimensions

j.

enormous

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

1.

A publishing company plans to print

a.

big Wikipedia really is

2.

the entire

b.

money

3.

the physical

c.

contents

4.

donate

d.

questioning why

5.

It includes the articles from

e.

all of the articles

6.

Many people are

f.

of date

7.

it will be out

g.

library

8.

show the world just how

h.

"A" to "A76 motorway"

9.

record-

i.

version

10.

public

j.

breaking

GAP FILL

A publishing company plans to print all of the (1) ____________ from the Wikipedia website. PediaPress hopes to print the (2) ____________ contents of Wikipedia in 1,000 books, each containing 1,200 pages. Wikipedia has over 4.3 million articles and 2.6 (3) ____________ words. Over 20 million (4) ____________ have helped to write it. The project will see the physical version of Wikipedia on nearly 1.2 million pages of print. The page numbers will continue from book to book and the (5) ____________ page will be number 1,193,014. PediaPress needs $50,000 to start the project. It wants people to (6) ____________ money so it can go ahead with the first (7) ____________. The company has already printed number one of the thousand books. It (8) ____________ the articles from "A" to "A76 motorway".

 

 

volunteers
includes
billion
copy
articles
final
entire
donate

Many people are (9) ____________ why PediaPress wants to print out such a huge website. They say it will be out of (10) ____________ as soon as it starts printing. A spokesperson from PediaPress said the company wants to show the world just how big Wikipedia (11) ____________ is. He said: "We think that the best way to experience the size of Wikipedia is by (12) ____________ it into the physical medium of books." He added: "Containing the most volumes and (13) ____________ by the largest number of (14) ____________, the printed edition will be a work of record-(15) ____________ dimensions." The company may take the books on a world tour. After that, it will donate them to a big (16) ____________ library.

 

transforming
contributors
really
public
questioning
edited
date
breaking

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

A publishing company plans to print ______

 

a.  all of the article
b.  all of the particles
c.  all of the articles
d.  all of the art it calls

2)

PediaPress hopes to print the entire ______

 

a.  contents of Wikipedia
b.  contains of Wikipedia
c.  containers of Wikipedia
d.  content of Wikipedia

3)

Over 20 million volunteers have helped ______

 

a.  to write it
b.  to write this
c.  to write for it
d.  to write on it

4)

PediaPress needs $50,000 to ______

 

a.  start the projector
b.  start the projection
c.  start the project
d.  start the projects

5)

It wants people to donate money so it can go ahead with ______

 

a.  the fast copy
b.  the fist copy
c.  the frost copy
d.  the first copy

6)

They say it will be ______

 

a.  out of dates
b.  out of dating
c.  out of date
d.  out of dated

7)

the company wants to show the world just how big ______

 

a.  Wikipedia really this
b.  Wikipedia really is
c.  Wikipedia really has
d.  Wikipedia real it is

8)

transforming it into the physical ______

 

a.  media of books
b.  mediums of books
c.  medium of books
d.  median of books

9)

the printed edition will be a work of record-______

 

a.  breaking dimensions
b.  broken dimensions
c.  break in dimensions
d.  breaking in dimensions

10)

After that, it will donate them to a big ______

 

a.  publicly library
b.  public library
c.  publics library
d.  publicity library

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A publishing company (1) ___________________ of the articles from the Wikipedia website. PediaPress hopes to print (2) ___________________ of Wikipedia in 1,000 books, each containing 1,200 pages. Wikipedia has over 4.3 million articles and 2.6 billion words. Over 20 million volunteers have helped to write it. The project will see (3) ___________________ of Wikipedia on nearly 1.2 million pages of print. The page numbers will continue from (4) ___________________ the final page will be number 1,193,014. PediaPress needs $50,000 to start the project. It wants people to donate money (5) ___________________ with the first copy. The company has already printed number (6) ___________________ books. It includes the articles from "A" to "A76 motorway".

Many people (7) ___________________ PediaPress wants to print out such a huge website. They say it will be out (8) ___________________ as it starts printing. A spokesperson from PediaPress said the company wants to show the (9) ___________________ Wikipedia really is. He said: "We think that the best way to experience the size of Wikipedia is by transforming it into (10) ___________________ books." He added: "Containing the most volumes and edited by the largest (11) ___________________, the printed edition will be a work of record-breaking dimensions." The company may take the books (12) ___________________. After that, it will donate them to a big public library.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What kind of company is PediaPress?

2.

How many pages will each book have?

3.

How many volunteers have helped write Wikipedia?

4.

What does PediaPress need to start printing the book?

5.

What is the name of the first article in book one?

6.

What will happen to the book once it starts printing?

7.

What does PediaPress want to show the world?

8.

What will the Wikipedia book break?

9.

Where might PediaPress take the books?

10.

Who will PediaPress eventually give the books to?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What kind of company is PediaPress?

6.

What will happen to the book once it starts printing?

 

a) a publishing company
b) an Internet site
c) a public relations company
d) a retail store

 

a) the ink will run out
b) it'll become a bestseller
c) other companies will print websites
d) it'll be out of date

2.

How many pages will each book have?

7.

What does PediaPress want to show the world?

 

a) 2.6 billion
b) 1,000
c) 1,200
d) 4.3 million

 

a) its new printing methods
b) its new factory
c) how big Wikipedia is
d) its logo

3.

How many volunteers have helped write Wikipedia?

8.

What will the Wikipedia book break?

 

a) over 200,000,000
b) over 2,000,000
c) over 22,000,000
d) over 20,000,000

 

a) people's backs
b) records
c) bookshelves
d) time

4.

What does PediaPress need to start printing the book?

9.

Where might PediaPress take the books?

 

a) permission from Wikipedia
b) $50,000
c) customers
d) a lot of ink

 

a) the White House
b) Wikipedia's headquarters
c) around the world
d) local schools

5.

What is the name of the first article in book one?

10.

Who will PediaPress eventually give the books to?

 

a) "A"
b) "Aardvark"
c) "AAA"
d) "An"

 

a) a student
b) a library
c) Wikipedia
d) the headquarters of the Internet

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Encyclopedia

You think an encyclopedia is the most important book. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their books. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): an English grammar book, a religious book or a world atlas.

Role  B – English grammar book

You think an English grammar book is the most important book. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their books. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): an encyclopedia, a religious book or a world atlas.

Role  C – Religious book

You think a religious book is the most important book. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their books. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): an English grammar book, an encyclopedia or a world atlas.

Role  D – World atlas

You think a world atlas is the most important book. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their books. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): an English grammar book, a religious book or an encyclopedia.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

million

book

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • plans
  • 1,200
  • words
  • continue
  • start
  • A76
  • questioning
  • date
  • big
  • size
  • record
  • world

WIKIPEDIA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Wikipedia 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.

WIKIPEDIA DISCUSSION

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

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What do you imagine when you hear the word 'book'?

c)

What do you think of this project?

d)

What do you think of Wikipedia?

e)

What is the best website to find out information (and why)?

f)

Is printing the Wikipedia website a waste of paper?

g)

Do you think anyone will ever read all of the books?

h)

Would you donate money to this project? Why/Why not?

i)

Do you prefer to find out things from books or websites?

j)

Should the company also print the million pages in different languages?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Why do you think PediaPress wants to make a million-page book?

c)

Does the world need to see how big Wikipedia is?

d)

Is Wikipedia better than other encyclopedias?

e)

Is it important that the books will be "record-breaking"?

f)

If you helped write a Wikipedia article, what would you write about?

g)

Would you go to see the books when they go on tour?

h)

If the books will be out of date, will they have any use?

i)

Do you think anyone would use the books in a library?

j)

What questions would you like to ask the PediaPress boss?

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

A publishing company plans to print (1) ____ of the articles from the Wikipedia website. PediaPress hopes to print the entire (2) ____ of Wikipedia in 1,000 books, each containing 1,200 pages. Wikipedia has over 4.3 million articles and 2.6 billion words. Over 20 million volunteers have (3) ____ to write it. The project will see the physical version of Wikipedia on nearly 1.2 million pages of print. The page numbers will continue from book to book and the (4) ____ page will be number 1,193,014. PediaPress needs $50,000 to start the project. It wants people to donate money so it can (5) ____ ahead with the first copy. The company has already printed number one of the thousand books. It (6) ____ the articles from "A" to "A76 motorway".

Many people are (7) ____ why PediaPress wants to print out such a huge website. They say it will be out of (8) ____ as soon as it starts printing. A spokesperson from PediaPress said the company wants to show the world just how big Wikipedia really (9) ____. He said: "We think that the best way to experience the size of Wikipedia is by transforming it into the physical (10) ____ of books." He added: "Containing the most volumes and (11) ____ by the largest number of contributors, the printed edition will be a work of record-breaking dimensions." The company may take the books on a world (12) ____. After that, it will donate them to a big public library.

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

1.

(a)

entire

(b)

every

(c)

whole

(d)

all

2.

(a)

contains

(b)

contents

(c)

contexts

(d)

compacts

3.

(a)

helps

(b)

helped

(c)

helping

(d)

help

4.

(a)

finally

(b)

finale

(c)

final

(d)

finalised

5.

(a)

print

(b)

steam

(c)

go

(d)

pull

6.

(a)

includes

(b)

puts

(c)

reads

(d)

writes

7.

(a)

questioners

(b)

questioning

(c)

questions

(d)

questioned

8.

(a)

date

(b)

year

(c)

time

(d)

space

9.

(a)

has

(b)

is

(c)

be

(d)

does

10.

(a)

large

(b)

small

(c)

medium

(d)

fit

11.

(a)

editors

(b)

edition

(c)

edited

(d)

edit

12.

(a)

tourist

(b)

tourism

(c)

tours

(d)

tour

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

A nliushpibg company

2.

print all of the irletacs from the Wikipedia website.

3.

print the tineer contents

4.

20 million eolnuesrvt have helped to write it

5.

the physical eovirns of Wikipedia

6.

It wants people to adneto money

Paragraph 2

7.

people are niigoetsqun why

8.

A pesnkoosrspe from PediaPress

9.

the best way to cenxepeeir the size

10.

Containing the most omvusel

11.

the printed oitedni

12.

it will detnoa them to a big public library

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

version of Wikipedia on nearly 1.2 million pages of print. The page numbers will continue from book

(    )

on a world tour. After that, it will donate them to a big public library.

(    )

of date as soon as it starts printing. A spokesperson from PediaPress said the company wants to show

(    )

to book and the final page will be number 1,193,014. PediaPress needs $50,000 to

1  )

A publishing company plans to print all of the articles from the Wikipedia website. PediaPress hopes to print the entire

(    )

"Containing the most volumes and edited by the largest number of contributors, the printed

(    )

Many people are questioning why PediaPress wants to print out such a huge website. They say it will be out

(    )

articles and 2.6 billion words. Over 20 million volunteers have helped to write it. The project will see the physical

(    )

start the project. It wants people to donate money so it can go ahead with the first copy. The company has already

(    )

the world just how big Wikipedia really is. He said: "We think that the best

(    )

printed number one of the thousand books. It includes the articles from "A" to "A76 motorway".

(    )

way to experience the size of Wikipedia is by transforming it into the physical medium of books." He added:

(    )

edition will be a work of record-breaking dimensions." The company may take the books

(    )

contents of Wikipedia in 1,000 books, each containing 1,200 pages. Wikipedia has over 4.3 million

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

all    of    the    articles    A    publishing    company    plans   to    print.    

2.

books     1,000     pages     1,200     ,     each     In     containing.    

3.

to     million     helped     it     20     have     write     Over    volunteers.    

4.

continue     to     The     will     book     numbers    from    book    page.    

5.

go    can    it    so   money    Donate    copy    first   the    with   ahead.    

6.

printing    as    date    be     it    as     out   It    starts   soon    of    will.    

7.

is     the     how     really     Show     just     Wikipedia     world     big.    

8.

Wikipedia     best     experience     of     The     to     size     way     the.    

9.

number     largest     the     by     Edited     contributors     of.    

10.

will     to     public     It     them     big     donate     a     library.    

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A publishing company plans to print all / every of the articles from the Wikipedia website. PediaPress hopes to print the entry / entire contents of Wikipedia in 1,000 books, each containing / contains 1,200 pages. Wikipedia has over 4.3 million prepositions / articles and 2.6 billion words. Over 20 million volunteers / voluntary have helped to write it. The project will see the physical / physically version of Wikipedia on nearly 1.2 million pages of print / printed. The page numbers will continue from book to / and book and the final page / book will be number 1,193,014. PediaPress needs $50,000 to start the project. It wants people to donate money so it can go ahead with the first copy. The company has already / still printed number one of the thousand books. It includes the articles from "A" to "A76 motorway".

Many people are questioning / questioned why PediaPress wants to print in / out such a huge website. They say it will be out from / of date as soon as it starts printing. A spokesperson from PediaPress said the company wants to show / showing the world just how big Wikipedia real / really is. He said: "We think that a / the best way to experience the size of Wikipedia is by transforming / transform it into the physical medium of books." He added: "Containing the mist / most volumes and edited by the largest number of contributors, the printed edition will be a worked / work of record-breaking dimensions." The company may take the books on a world tour. After that, it will donate them to a big publicly / public library.

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)

_ p_bl_sh_ng c_mp_ny pl_ns t_ pr_nt _ll _f th_ _rt_cl_s fr_m th_ W_k_p_d__ w_bs_t_. P_d__Pr_ss h_p_s t_ pr_nt th_ _nt_r_ c_nt_nts _f W_k_p_d__ _n 1,000 b__ks, __ch c_nt__n_ng 1,200 p_g_s. W_k_p_d__ h_s _v_r 4.3 m_ll__n _rt_cl_s _nd 2.6 b_ll__n w_rds. _v_r 20 m_ll__n v_l_nt__rs h_v_ h_lp_d t_ wr_t_ _t. Th_ pr_j_ct w_ll s__ th_ phys_c_l v_rs__n _f W_k_p_d__ _n n__rly 1.2 m_ll__n p_g_s _f pr_nt. Th_ p_g_ n_mb_rs w_ll c_nt_n__ fr_m b__k t_ b__k _nd th_ f_n_l p_g_ w_ll b_ n_mb_r 1,193,014. P_d__Pr_ss n__ds $50,000 t_ st_rt th_ pr_j_ct. _t w_nts p__pl_ t_ d_n_t_ m_n_y s_ _t c_n g_ _h__d w_th th_ f_rst c_py. Th_ c_mp_ny h_s _lr__dy pr_nt_d n_mb_r _n_ _f th_ th__s_nd b__ks. _t _ncl_d_s th_ _rt_cl_s fr_m "_" t_ "_76 m_t_rw_y".

M_ny p__pl_ _r_ q__st__n_ng why P_d__Pr_ss w_nts t_ pr_nt __t s_ch _ h_g_ w_bs_t_. Th_y s_y _t w_ll b_ __t _f d_t_ _s s__n _s _t st_rts pr_nt_ng. _ sp_k_sp_rs_n fr_m P_d__Pr_ss s__d th_ c_mp_ny w_nts t_ sh_w th_ w_rld j_st h_w b_g W_k_p_d__ r__lly _s. H_ s__d: "W_ th_nk th_t th_ b_st w_y t_ _xp_r__nc_ th_ s_z_ _f W_k_p_d__ _s by tr_nsf_rm_ng _t _nt_ th_ phys_c_l m_d__m _f b__ks." H_ _dd_d: "C_nt__n_ng th_ m_st v_l_m_s _nd _d_t_d by th_ l_rg_st n_mb_r _f c_ntr_b_t_rs, th_ pr_nt_d _d_t__n w_ll b_ _ w_rk _f r_c_rd-br__k_ng d_m_ns__ns." Th_ c_mp_ny m_y t_k_ th_ b__ks _n _ w_rld t__r. _ft_r th_t, _t w_ll d_n_t_ th_m t_ _ b_g p_bl_c l_br_ry.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a publishing company plans to print all of the articles from the wikipedia website pediapress hopes to print the entire contents of wikipedia in 1000 books each containing 1200 pages wikipedia has over 43 million articles and 26 billion words over 20 million volunteers have helped to write it the project will see the physical version of wikipedia on nearly 12 million pages of print the page numbers will continue from book to book and the final page will be number 1193014 pediapress needs $50000 to start the project it wants people to donate money so it can go ahead with the first copy the company has already printed number one of the thousand books it includes the articles from "a" to "a76 motorway"

many people are questioning why pediapress wants to print out such a huge website they say it will be out of date as soon as it starts printing a spokesperson from pediapress said the company wants to show the world just how big wikipedia really is he said "we think that the best way to experience the size of wikipedia is by transforming it into the physical medium of books" he added "containing the most volumes and edited by the largest number of contributors the printed edition will be a work of record-breaking dimensions" the company may take the books on a world tour after that it will donate them to a big public library

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ApublishingcompanyplanstoprintallofthearticlesfromtheWikiped
iawebsite.PediaPresshopestoprinttheentirecontentsofWikipediai
n1,000books,eachcontaining1,200pages.Wikipediahasover4.3
millionarticlesand2.6billionwords.Over20millionvolunteershave
helpedtowriteit.TheprojectwillseethephysicalversionofWikipedia
onnearly1.2millionpagesofprint.Thepagenumberswillcontinuefr
ombooktobookandthefinalpagewillbenumber1,193,014.PediaPr
essneeds$50,000tostarttheproject.Itwantspeopletodonatemon
eysoitcangoaheadwiththefirstcopy.Thecompanyhasalreadyprint
ednumberoneofthethousandbooks.Itincludesthearticlesfrom"A"
to"A76motorway".ManypeoplearequestioningwhyPediaPresswa
ntstoprintoutsuchahugewebsite.Theysayitwillbeoutofdateassoo
nasitstartsprinting.AspokespersonfromPediaPresssaidthecompa
nywantstoshowtheworldjusthowbigWikipediareallyis.Hesaid:"W
ethinkthatthebestwaytoexperiencethesizeofWikipediaisbytransf
ormingitintothephysicalmediumofbooks."Headded:"Containingt
hemostvolumesandeditedbythelargestnumberofcontributors,th
eprintededitionwillbeaworkofrecord-breakingdimensions."The
companymaytakethebooksonaworldtour.Afterthat,itwilldonatet
hemtoabigpubliclibrary.

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Books are better than websites. 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 Wikipedia book. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Write a magazine article about which is better – a book version of an encyclopedia or an online version. Include imaginary interviews with an encyclopedia publisher and an online encyclopedia boss.

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 boss of Wikipedia. Ask him/her three questions about Wikipedia. Give him/her three of your ideas on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

publishing

a.

printing

2.

entire

b.

whole

3.

containing

c.

including

4.

version

d.

edition

5.

donate

e.

give

6.

questioning

f.

querying

7.

huge

g.

enormous

8.

really

h.

actually

9.

transforming

i.

changing

10.

dimensions

j.

sizes

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

A publishing company

2.

1,200

3.

About 20 million

4.

$50,000

5.

"A"

6.

It will be out of date

7.

How big Wikipedia is

8.

Records

9.

On a world tour

10.

A big public library

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

10.

b

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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