The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A new report says promising children money to pass exams does not help exam grades. The report says parents could be wasting their money by using cash to get their kids to study more. However, the promise of a trip somewhere nice could encourage students to try harder and do better at school. Researchers from the University of Bristol (in England) and the University of Chicago (in the USA) looked at how promises of cash and tickets to events affected students' studying and learning. Over 10,000 pupils took part in the research throughout the year 2012. There was an improvement in classwork and homework, but this did not result in better test scores.

Lead researcher Dr Simon Burgess suggested the research looked at the wrong areas. He said it had not looked at the things that really got students to increase their effort. He added that: "Clearly, some pupils have a lot of [goals] and believe that education is a way of getting what they want out of life, but there are kids who think that working hard doesn't make a difference." He said these children think exam success is "all in your genes" because of their family background. Education expert Dr Kevan Collins said good teachers were better than promises of rewards to get children to study, especially for children from low-income families. He wrote: "What really makes the difference is how students are taught."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-29461681
  • http://www.teachingpersonnel.com/news/2014/10/3/cash-incentives-fail-to-improve-exam-results/
  • http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6444924


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. EXAMS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about exams. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

 

report / promising money / exam grades / try harder / studying / pupils / homework / research / effort / education / make a difference / family background / good teachers

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

3. STUDY HARDER: How can these things help students to study harder? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Why these will work

Why these won't work

Money

 

 

Job offers

 

 

iPads

 

 

Nice classrooms

 

 

Homework

 

 

Projects in class

 

 

 

4. MONEY: Students A strongly believe money can help students pass exams; Students B strongly believe it can't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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

5. SUCCESS: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that lead to exam success at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • money

  • homework

  • promise of university

  • teacher

  • practice tests

  • afternoon exams

  • job offers

  • parents' pride

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

A report says exam scores go down if kids are offered cash to pass.

T / F

b.

The report says the promise of a trip could get students to study more.

T / F

c.

Researchers looked at over 10,000 students for a one-year period.

T / F

d.

An improvement in classwork and homework led to higher test scores.

T / F

e.

A researcher said the research looked at the wrong things.

T / F

f.

The research said very few kids these days have goals in life.

T / F

g.

The report said some children believe exam success is genetic.

T / F

h.

The report said good teachers were important for richer children.

T / F

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

1.

pass

a.

lead to

2.

wasting

b.

particularly

3.

trip

c.

misusing

4.

affected

d.

specialist

5.

result in

e.

get through

6.

suggested

f.

truly

7.

pupils

g.

influenced

8.

expert

h.

day out

9.

especially

i.

students

10.

really

j.

indicated

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

1.

promising children

a.

to try harder

2.

parents could be wasting

b.

in the research

3.

encourage students

c.

in better test scores

4.

Over 10,000 pupils took part

d.

low-income families

5.

this did not result

e.

of life

6.

things that really got students to

f.

make a difference

7.

a way of getting what they want out

g.

money to pass exams

8.

working hard doesn't

h.

your genes

9.

exam success is all in

i.

their money

10.

especially for children from

j.

increase their effort

 

GAP FILL

A new report says (1) ____________ children money to pass exams does not help exam grades. The report says parents could be (2) ____________ their money by using cash to get their kids to study more. However, the promise of a (3) ____________ somewhere nice could encourage students to try harder and do   (4) ____________ at school. Researchers from the University of Bristol (in England) and the University of Chicago (in the USA) looked at how promises of cash and (5) ____________ to events affected students' studying and (6) ____________. Over 10,000 pupils took part in the research (7) ____________ the year 2012. There was an improvement in classwork and homework, but this did not (8) ____________ in better test scores.

 

 

learning
trip
result
better
promising
throughout
wasting
tickets

Lead researcher Dr Simon Burgess suggested the research looked at the (9) ____________ areas. He said it had not looked at the things that really got students to increase their (10) ____________. He added that: "Clearly, some pupils have a lot of [goals] and believe that education is a (11) ____________ of getting what they want out of (12) ____________, but there are kids who think that working hard doesn't make a difference." He said these children think exam success is "all in your                (13) ____________ " because of their family background. Education (14) ____________ Dr Kevan Collins said good teachers were better than promises of rewards to get children to study, especially for children from low-(15) ____________ families. He wrote: "What really makes the difference is how students are (16) ____________."

 

way
life
income
effort
taught
expert
wrong
genes

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

promising children money to pass exams does not ______

 

a.  help exam gradients
b.  help exam grades
c.  help exam glades
d.  help exam jades

2)

The report says parents could be ______

 

a.  wasting their money
b.  washing their money
c.  way sting their money
d.  waste in their money

3)

the promise of a trip somewhere nice could encourage students ______

 

a.  to try hard
b.  to try hard a
c.  to try hardly
d.  to try harder

4)

how promises of cash and tickets to events ______

 

a.  infected students
b.  effected students
c.  affected students
d.  reflected students

5)

…an improvement in classwork and homework, but this did not result in ______

 

a.  better test scores
b.  better test scores
c.  better test scores
d.  better test scores

6)

He said it had not looked at the things that really got students to ______

 

a.  increase their efforts
b.  increase their effort
c.  increase their effect
d.  increase their effects

7)

believe that education is a way of getting what they ______

 

a.  want out from life
b.  want out of life
c.  want out for life
d.  want out this life

8)

there are kids who think that working hard doesn't ______

 

a.  make a different
b.  make a differences
c.  make a difference
d.  make a differ rants

9)

He said these children think exam success is all ______

 

a.  in your jeans
b.  in your zones
c.  in your genies
d.  in your genes

10)

good teachers were better than ______

 

a.  promise is of rewards
b.  promises of rewards
c.  promise soft rewards
d.  promise or rewards

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new report says promising children (1) ___________________ does not help exam grades. The report says parents could be (2) ___________________ by using cash to get their kids to study more. However, the (3) ___________________ somewhere nice could encourage students to try harder and do better at school. Researchers from the University of Bristol (in England) and the University of Chicago (in the USA) looked at how promises of cash and tickets (4) ___________________ students' studying and learning. Over 10,000 (5) ___________________ the research throughout the year 2012. There was an improvement in classwork and homework, but this did not (6) ___________________ test scores.

Lead researcher Dr Simon Burgess suggested the research looked at the wrong areas. He said it had not looked (7) ___________________ really got students to increase their effort. He added that: "Clearly, some pupils have a lot of [goals] and believe that education (8) ___________________ what they want out of life, (9) ___________________ who think that working hard doesn't make a difference." He said these children think exam success is "(10) ___________________" because of their family background. Education expert Dr Kevan Collins said good teachers were better than promises of (11) ___________________ children to study, especially for children from low-income families. He wrote: "What really makes the difference is (12) ___________________."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What does promising money to children not help?

2.

What can encourage students to study more?

3.

How many universities took part in this research?

4.

How many students took part in this research?

5.

What two things in the research improved?

6.

What did the lead researcher say the research looked at?

7.

What do some students have a lot of?

8.

What do some students think is because of your genes?

9.

What did an expert say was better than rewards?

10.

Which students really need good teachers?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What does promising money to children not help?

6.

What did the lead researcher say the research looked at?

 

a) universities
b) schools
c) parents
d) exam success

 

a) 5 subjects
b) the wrong things
c) high schools
d) teachers

2.

What can encourage students to study more?

7.

What do some students have a lot of?

 

a) music
b) trips
c) an iPad
d) red ink

 

a) time
b) problems
c) money
d) goals

3.

How many universities took part in this research?

8.

What do some students think is because of your genes?

 

a) 4
b) 3
c) 2
d) 1

 

a) exam success
b) money
c) ability at English
d) genetics

4.

How many students took part in this research?

9.

What did an expert say was better than rewards?

 

a) more than 10,000
b) exactly 10,000
c) just under 10,000
d) 10,000

 

a) games
b) money
c) good teachers
d) a university place

5.

What two things in the research improved?

10.

Which students really need good teachers?

 

a) maths and English
b) test scores and exam grades
c) classwork and homework
d) discipline and punctuality

 

a) elite students
b) poorer students
c) high school students
d) English students

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Money

You think money is the best way to get students to pass exams. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't work. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): practice tests, afternoon exams or parents.

Role  B – Practice tests

You think practice tests are the best way to get students to pass exams. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't work. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): money, afternoon exams or parents.

Role  C – Afternoon exams

You think afternoon exams are the best way to get students to pass exams. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't work. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): practice tests, money or parents.

Role  D – Parents

You think parents are the best way to get students to pass exams. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't work. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why):  practice tests, afternoon exams or money.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

exam

test

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • help
  • parents
  • trip
  • tickets
  • part
  • result
  • wrong
  • lot
  • hard
  • success
  • good
  • really

EXAMS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about exams 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.

EXAMS DISCUSSION

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

1)

What did you think when you read the headline?

2)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'exam'?

3)

Are you good at passing exams?

4)

What things made you study hard?

5)

Do you have any regrets about exams?

6)

What's the most important thing to do to pass exams?

7)

What do you do the night before an exam?

8)

How have exams helped you in your life?

9)

Would money help you get a better exam score?

10)

What's the saddest you've felt about an exam?

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

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

11)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12)

What's the best way to get kids to study?

12)

Do children understand how important exams are?

14)

Is there a better way to test children without exams?

15)

What exam scores that you got would you like to change?

16)

Does education help you get what you want out of life?

17)

Does a person's genes help with exam success?

18)

Who was the best teacher you ever had?

19)

What makes a great teacher a great teacher?

20)

What questions would you like to ask the head researcher?

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 new report says promising children money to (1) ____ exams does not help exam grades. The report says parents could be (2) ____ their money by using cash to get their kids to study more. However, the promise of a trip somewhere nice could encourage students to try harder and do (3) ____ at school. Researchers from the University of Bristol (in England) and the University of Chicago (in the USA) looked at how promises (4) ____ cash and tickets to events affected students' studying and learning. Over 10,000 pupils took part (5) ____ the research throughout the year 2012. There was an improvement in classwork and homework, but this did not (6) ____ in better test scores.

Lead researcher Dr Simon Burgess suggested the research looked at the (7) ____ areas. He said it had not looked at the things that (8) ____ got students to increase their effort. He added that: "Clearly, some pupils have a lot of [goals] and believe that education is a (9) ____ of getting what they want out of life, but there are kids who think that working hard doesn't make a difference." He said these children think exam success is "(10) ____ in your genes" because of their family background. Education expert Dr Kevan Collins said good teachers were better than promises of rewards (11) ____ get children to study, especially for children from low-income families. He wrote: "What (12) ____ makes the difference is how students are taught."

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

1.

(a)

pass

(b)

passed

(c)

passing

(d)

passes

2.

(a)

wasted

(b)

wastes

(c)

wasting

(d)

waste

3.

(a)

best

(b)

good

(c)

better

(d)

goodly

4.

(a)

for

(b)

from

(c)

if

(d)

of

5.

(a)

by

(b)

at

(c)

in

(d)

to

6.

(a)

score

(b)

result

(c)

answer

(d)

mark

7.

(a)

long

(b)

wrong

(c)

mistaken

(d)

reverse

8.

(a)

so

(b)

really

(c)

such

(d)

true

9.

(a)

manner

(b)

style

(c)

way

(d)

approach

10.

(a)

whole

(b)

every

(c)

each

(d)

all

11.

(a)

at

(b)

as

(c)

for

(d)

to

12.

(a)

realism

(b)

reality

(c)

real

(d)

really

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

gpsrimion children money

2.

parents could be naiwtsg their money

3.

gaenrocue students to try harder

4.

events aecffted students' studying

5.

hotuohgrut the year 2012

6.

There was an ntipeovemrm

Paragraph 2

7.

increase their ftfeor

8.

doesn't make a cdeferenfi

9.

exam ssecucs is "all in your genes"

10.

Education ertpex Dr Kevan Collins

11.

promises of adsrerw

12.

low-onmeic families

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

teachers were better than promises of rewards to get children to study, especially for children from low-

(    )

of Chicago (in the USA) looked at how promises of cash and tickets to events affected students' studying

(    )

Lead researcher Dr Simon Burgess suggested the research looked at the wrong areas. He said it had not looked

(    )

at the things that really got students to increase their effort. He added that: "Clearly, some

(    )

pupils have a lot of [goals] and believe that education is a way of getting what they want out of

1  )

A new report says promising children money to pass exams does not help exam

(    )

more. However, the promise of a trip somewhere nice could encourage students to try harder and do

(    )

success is "all in your genes" because of their family background. Education expert Dr Kevan Collins said good

(    )

and learning. Over 10,000 pupils took part in the research throughout the

(    )

life, but there are kids who think that working hard doesn't make a difference." He said these children think exam

(    )

income families. He wrote: "What really makes the difference is how students are taught."

(    )

grades. The report says parents could be wasting their money by using cash to get their kids to study

(    )

year 2012. There was an improvement in classwork and homework, but this did not result in better test scores.

(    )

better at school. Researchers from the University of Bristol (in England) and the University

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

children    to    exams    Promising    money    pass   .   

2.

wasting    by    be    money    cash    could    their    using    Parents   .   

3.

and    students    do    to    better    try    harder    Encourage   .   

4.

research    the    in    part    took    pupils    10,000    Over   .   

5.

in    This    better    did    test    not    scores    result   .   

6.

suggested   looked   wrong   Burgess   research   the   the   at   areas  .

7.

to   increase   their   effort   The   things   that   really   got   students  .

8.

they    want    out    Education    is    a    way    of    getting    what   .   

9.

Think    make    that    a    working    difference    hard    doesn't   .   

10.

low    Especially    -    for    income    children    families    from   .   

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new report says promising / promised children money to pass exams does not help exam grades. The report says parents could be wasted / wasting their money by using cash to / for get their kids to study more. However, the promise of a trip somewhere nice could encouraging / encourage students to try / trial harder and do better at school. Researchers from the University of Bristol (in England) and the University of Chicago (in the USA) looked at how promises of cash and tickets / ticket to events affected students' studying / studied and learning. Over 10,000 pupils took partner / part in the research throughout the year 2012. There was an improvement in / on classwork and homework, but this did not result in / at better test scores.

Lead researcher Dr Simon Burgess suggested / suggestion the research looked at the wrong arenas / areas. He said it had not looked at the things that real / really got students to increase their effort / effortless. He added that: "Clearly, some pupils have a lot of [goals] and belief / believe that education is a way of getting what they want out / in of life, but there are kids who think that working hard doesn't make a difference / different." He said these children think exam success is "all in your jeans / genes" because of their family background. Education expert Dr Kevan Collins said good teachers were better than promises of forwards / rewards to get children to study, especially for children from low-income families. He wrote: "What really makes the difference is how students are teach / taught."

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)

_ n_w r_p_rt s_ys pr_m_s_ng ch_ldr_n m_n_y t_ p_ss _x_ms d__s n_t h_lp _x_m gr_d_s. Th_ r_p_rt s_ys p_r_nts c__ld b_ w_st_ng th__r m_n_y by _s_ng c_sh t_ g_t th__r k_ds t_ st_dy m_r_. H_w_v_r, th_ pr_m_s_ _f _ tr_p s_m_wh_r_ n_c_ c__ld _nc__r_g_ st_d_nts t_ try h_rd_r _nd d_ b_tt_r _t sch__l. R_s__rch_rs fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f Br_st_l (_n _ngl_nd) _nd th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f Ch_c_g_ (_n th_ _S_) l__k_d _t h_w pr_m_s_s _f c_sh _nd t_ck_ts t_ _v_nts _ff_ct_d st_d_nts' st_dy_ng _nd l__rn_ng. _v_r 10,000 p_p_ls t__k p_rt _n th_ r_s__rch thr__gh__t th_ y__r 2012. Th_r_ w_s _n _mpr_v_m_nt _n cl_ssw_rk _nd h_m_w_rk, b_t th_s d_d n_t r_s_lt _n b_tt_r t_st sc_r_s.

L__d r_s__rch_r Dr S_m_n B_rg_ss s_gg_st_d th_ r_s__rch l__k_d _t th_ wr_ng _r__s. H_ s__d _t h_d n_t l__k_d _t th_ th_ngs th_t r__lly g_t st_d_nts t_ _ncr__s_ th__r _ff_rt. H_ _dd_d th_t: "Cl__rly, s_m_ p_p_ls h_v_ _ l_t _f [g__ls] _nd b_l__v_ th_t _d_c_t__n _s _ w_y _f g_tt_ng wh_t th_y w_nt __t _f l_f_, b_t th_r_ _r_ k_ds wh_ th_nk th_t w_rk_ng h_rd d__sn't m_k_ _ d_ff_r_nc_." H_ s__d th_s_ ch_ldr_n th_nk _x_m s_cc_ss _s "_ll _n y__r g_n_s" b_c__s_ _f th__r f_m_ly b_ckgr__nd. _d_c_t__n _xp_rt Dr K_v_n C_ll_ns s__d g__d t__ch_rs w_r_ b_tt_r th_n pr_m_s_s _f r_w_rds t_ g_t ch_ldr_n t_ st_dy, _sp_c__lly f_r ch_ldr_n fr_m l_w-_nc_m_ f_m_l__s. H_ wr_t_: "Wh_t r__lly m_k_s th_ d_ff_r_nc_ _s h_w st_d_nts _r_ t__ght."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new report says promising children money to pass exams does not help exam grades the report says parents could be wasting their money by using cash to get their kids to study more however the promise of a trip somewhere nice could encourage students to try harder and do better at school researchers from the university of bristol (in england) and the university of chicago (in the usa) looked at how promises of cash and tickets to events affected students' studying and learning over 10000 pupils took part in the research throughout the year 2012 there was an improvement in classwork and homework but this did not result in better test scores

lead researcher dr simon burgess suggested the research looked at the wrong areas he said it had not looked at the things that really got students to increase their effort he added that "clearly some pupils have a lot of [goals] and believe that education is a way of getting what they want out of life but there are kids who think that working hard doesn't make a difference" he said these children think exam success is "all in your genes" because of their family background education expert dr kevan collins said good teachers were better than promises of rewards to get children to study especially for children from low-income families he wrote "what really makes the difference is how students are taught"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Anewreportsayspromisingchildrenmoneytopassexamsdoesnothelp
examgrades.Thereportsaysparentscouldbewastingtheirmoneybyus
ingcashtogettheirkidstostudymore.However,thepromiseofatripsom
ewherenicecouldencouragestudentstotryharderanddobetteratscho
ol.ResearchersfromtheUniversityofBristol(inEngland)andtheUniver
sityofChicago(intheUSA)lookedathowpromisesofcashandticketstoe
ventsaffectedstudents'studyingandlearning.Over10,000pupilstoo
kpartintheresearchthroughouttheyear2012.Therewasanimprovem
entinclassworkandhomework,butthisdidnotresultinbettertestscores
.LeadresearcherDrSimonBurgesssuggestedtheresearchlookedatth
ewrongareas.Hesaidithadnotlookedatthethingsthatreallygotstuden
tstoincreasetheireffort.Headdedthat:"Clearly,somepupilshavealoto
f[goals]andbelievethateducationisawayofgettingwhattheywantout
oflife,buttherearekidswhothinkthatworkingharddoesn'tmakeadiffer
ence."Hesaidthesechildrenthinkexamsuccessis"allinyourgenes"bec
auseoftheirfamilybackground.EducationexpertDrKevanCollinssaidg
oodteacherswerebetterthanpromisesofrewardstogetchildrentostud
y,especiallyforchildrenfromlow-incomefamilies.Hewrote:"Whatreallym
akesthedifferenceishowstudentsaretaught."

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Students would be more successful if they got cash for passing exams. 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 how to pass exams. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. CASH TO STUDY: Write a magazine article about giving children money to pass exams. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

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 an expert on exams. Ask him/her three questions about exams. Give him/her three of your ideas on the best way to pass exams. 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

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

pass

a.

get through

2.

wasting

b.

misusing

3.

trip

c.

day out

4.

affected

d.

influenced

5.

result in

e.

lead to

6.

suggested

f.

indicated

7.

pupils

g.

students

8.

expert

h.

specialist

9.

especially

i.

particularly

10.

really

j.

truly

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Exam success

2.

A trip somewhere nice

3.

Two

4.

Over 10,000

5.

Classwork and homework

6.

The wrong things

7.

Goals

8.

Exam success

9.

Good teachers

10.

Those from low-income families

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

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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