Man sues New York City for $2,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

Man sues New York City for $2,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (21st May, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

When someone gets a big salary, we say they earn "telephone numbers". A man in New York is suing the city for so much it is difficult to think of a comparison. Anton Purisima is suing for two undecillion. This amount is two undecillion – a two followed by 36 zeros. Only astrophysicists and astronomers might need this figure. Two undecillion dollars is more than all the money in the whole world, and more than all the wealth created in history.

So what did New York City do so wrong? Mr Purisima is suing the city, hospitals, LaGuardia Airport, the transportation system, a bakery and a dog owner for many things. These include civil-rights violations, personal injury, discrimination, attempted murder, and emotional distress. All because a "rabies-infected" dog bit his finger on a bus; then, a "Chinese couple" took photos of him without asking; and he pays too much for coffee at LaGuardia Airport.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.ibtimes.com/who-anton-purisima-meet-man-suing-nyc-two-undecillion-dollars-1585981
http://time.com/103826/anton-purisima-lawsuit-nyc/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/man-files-lawsuit-for-2000-decillion-thats-36-zeros-after-being-bitten-by-a-dog-and-having-his-photograph-taken-by-a-chinese-couple-9396725.html

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.	someone gets	a.	by 36 zeros
2.	it is difficult to think	b.	wealth created in history
3.	a two followed	c.	of a comparison
4.	astronomers might need	d.	the whole world
5.	all the money in	e.	a big salary
6.	more than all the	f.	this figure

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 transportation	a.	violations
2.	civil-rights	b.	photos of him without asking
3.	emotional	c.	much for coffee
4.	a "rabies-infected" dog bit	d.	distress
5.	a "Chinese couple" took	e.	system
6.	he pays too	f.	his finger

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

When someone (1) ___________________, we say they earn "telephone numbers". A man in New York is (2) ___________________ much it is difficult to (3) ___________________. Anton Purisima is suing for two undecillion - a two (4) ___________________ zeros. Only astrophysicists and astronomers might (5) ___________________. Two undecillion dollars is more than all the money in the whole world, and more (6) ___________________ created in history.

So what did New York City (7) ___________________? Mr Purisima is suing the city, hospitals, LaGuardia Airport, (8) ___________________, a bakery and a dog owner for many things. These (9) ___________________ violations, personal injury, discrimination, (10) ___________________, and emotional distress. All because a "rabies-infected" dog bit his finger on a bus; then, a "Chinese couple" (11) ___________________ without asking; and (12) ___________________ coffee at LaGuardia Airport.

LAWSUITS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about lawsuits 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)	________________________________________________________

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

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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