The Reading / Listening - Level 5

When someone gets a big salary, we say they earn "telephone numbers". A man in New York is suing the city (and others) for so much it is impossible to think of a comparison. Anton Purisima, 62, is suing for two undecillion. Most English speakers would not know or have heard of the word for this amount. It is two undecillion – a two followed by 36 zeros. The only people who might use this word are astrophysicists and astronomers. Two undecillion dollars is, in fact, more than all the money in the whole world. Even more than all the wealth created throughout our entire history.

So what did New York City do so wrong to be sued for such an amazingly huge sum? Mr Purisima is suing the city (and local hospitals, LaGuardia Airport, the transportation system, a bakery and a dog owner) for "civil-rights violations, personal injury, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, fraud, attempted murder, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and conspiracy to defraud". All because a "rabies-infected" dog bit his finger on a city bus; then, a "Chinese couple" took photos of him without asking; and he is overcharged for coffee at LaGuardia Airport.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 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.

A man in New York

a.

by 36 zeros

2.

it is impossible to think

b.

created

3.

Most English speakers

c.

use this word

4.

a two followed

d.

of a comparison

5.

The only people who might

e.

entire history

6.

more than all the money

f.

is suing the city

7.

all the wealth

g.

in the whole world

8.

throughout our

h.

would not know



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.

sued for such an amazingly

a.

distress

2.

the transportation

b.

violations

3.

civil-rights

c.

without asking

4.

attempted

d.

system

5.

emotional

e.

for coffee

6.

a "rabies-infected"

f.

murder

7.

took photos of him

g.

dog bit his finger

8.

he is overcharged

h.

huge sum

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

When (1) ___________________ salary, we say they earn "telephone numbers". A man in New York is suing the city (and others) for so much it is impossible to (2) ___________________. Anton Purisima, 62, is suing for two undecillion. Most English speakers (3) ___________________ have heard of the word for this amount. It is two undecillion – (4) ___________________ 36 zeros. The only people who might use this word are astrophysicists and astronomers. Two undecillion (5) ___________________ than all the money in the whole world. Even more than all the wealth created throughout (6) ___________________.

So what did New York City do so wrong (7) ___________________ an amazingly huge sum? Mr Purisima is suing the city (and local hospitals, LaGuardia Airport, the (8) ___________________, a bakery and a dog owner) for "(9) ___________________, personal injury, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, fraud, attempted murder, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and (10) ___________________ ". All because a "rabies-infected" dog (11) ___________________ city bus; then, a "Chinese couple" took photos of him 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.

 

 

 

 

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.

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You