The Reading / Listening - Level 2

California has the worst drought in its history. Water supplies are at dangerously low levels. The state government has done many things to try to prevent water shortages. Yesterday, farmers stepped in to help to conserve water. California's farmers have agreed to cut back on water use by 25 per cent. This will be voluntary. This agreement follows action by California's governor to cut water use in cities by 25 per cent. This was started as an emergency plan but it made many city people angry. They did not want to be the only ones to have to cut back on water.

California's water system serves over 30 million people and waters six million acres of farmland. It is the world's biggest and most productive water system. It also has the most problems because too many people want too little water. Farmers say it is important they get water first because they grow food. However, crops like almonds need a lot of water. People in the cities say they need water to live. There is also demand from golf courses and from rich people in the state for their swimming pools. California’s population will be almost 50 million by the year 2020.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article21701118.html#storylink=cpy
  • http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-water-rights-20150522-story.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_in_California


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.

California has the worst drought

a.

by California's governor

2.

Water supplies are at dangerously

b.

back on water

3.

help to

c.

use by 25 per cent

4.

cut back on water

d.

low levels

5.

This agreement follows action

e.

people angry

6.

This was started as an emergency

f.

in its history

7.

it made many city

g.

conserve water

8.

the only ones to have to cut

h.

plan



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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

California's water system serves

a.

too little water

2.

the world's biggest and most

b.

year 2020

3.

too many people want

c.

a lot of water

4.

Farmers say it is important they

d.

over 30 million people

5.

crops like almonds need

e.

from golf courses

6.

People in the cities say

f.

productive water system

7.

There is also demand

g.

get water first

8.

50 million by the

h.

they need water to live

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

California has (1) ___________________ its history. Water supplies are at dangerously low levels. The state government has done many things (2) ___________________ water shortages. Yesterday, farmers stepped in to help (3) ___________________. California's farmers have agreed (4) ___________________ water use by 25 per cent. This will be voluntary. This agreement follows action by California's governor to cut water use in cities by 25 per cent. This was started (5) ___________________ plan but it made many city people angry. They did not want to be the (6) ___________________ to cut back on water.

California's water (7) ___________________ 30 million people and waters six million acres of farmland. It is the world's biggest and most productive water system. (8) ___________________ most problems because too many people want (9) ___________________. Farmers say it is important they get water first because they grow food. However, crops like almonds need a lot of water. People in the cities (10) ___________________ to live. There is also demand from golf courses and from rich people in the (11) ___________________ swimming pools. California's population will be almost 50 million (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Californiahastheworstdroughtinitshistory.Watersuppliesareatdang
erouslylowlevels.Thestategovernmenthasdonemanythingstotrytop
reventwatershortages.Yesterday,farmerssteppedintohelptoconser
vewater.California'sfarmershaveagreedtocutbackonwateruseby25
percent.Thiswillbevoluntary.ThisagreementfollowsactionbyCaliforn
ia'sgovernortocutwateruseincitiesby25percent.Thiswasstartedasan
emergencyplanbutitmademanycitypeopleangry.Theydidnotwantto
betheonlyonestohavetocutbackonwater.California'swatersystemse
rvesover30millionpeopleandwaterssixmillionacresoffarmland.Itisth
eworld'sbiggestandmostproductivewatersystem.Italsohasthemost
problemsbecausetoomanypeoplewanttoolittlewater.Farmerssayitis
importanttheygetwaterfirstbecausetheygrowfood.However,cropsli
kealmondsneedalotofwater.Peopleinthecitiessaytheyneedwatertoli
ve.Thereisalsodemandfromgolfcoursesandfromrichpeopleinthestat
efortheirswimmingpools.California'spopulationwillbealmost50millio
nbytheyear2020.

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)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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