The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The year 2016 may be one of the best years for people to keep their New Year's resolutions. These are the promises we make to ourselves at the beginning of the year to lose weight, save money, etc. About half of all adults make New Year’s resolutions but fewer than 10 per cent keep them. Many people make goals at the beginning of January but give up by February. The main reason people give up is because they are too hard. People think it is easy to change their behaviour. Many resolutions need a lot of strength and many habits are difficult to change.

Researchers asked people about their resolutions for 2016. The top one was to live life to the fullest. Nearly half of those who took the survey said this would be one of their goals for 2016. The second most popular resolution was to live a healthier lifestyle - 41.1% of people said this would be one of their aims. Losing weight was third on the list and wanting to spend more time with family and friends was fourth. Young people are making more resolutions than older people. Those aged 18-34 made an average of three resolutions for 2016, while older people decided on just two.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/new-year-2016-resolutions-how-to-keep-them-a6792876.html
  • http://time.com/money/4163867/top-new-years-resolution-2016/
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/kori-mclaine-/life-changing-new-years-r_b_8900602.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.

2016 may be one of

a.

give up

2.

lose

b.

a lot of strength

3.

About half

c.

it is easy

4.

The main reason people

d.

the best years

5.

People think

e.

weight

6.

change their

f.

to change

7.

Many resolutions need

g.

behaviour

8.

many habits are difficult

h.

of all adults



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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Researchers asked people

a.

time with family

2.

The top one was to live

b.

goals for 2016

3.

Nearly half of those who

c.

on just two

4.

one of their

d.

took the survey

5.

The second most

e.

18-34

6.

wanting to spend more

f.

about their resolutions

7.

Those aged

g.

popular resolution

8.

people decided

h.

life to the fullest

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The year 2016 (1) ___________________ the best years for people to keep their New Year's resolutions. These (2) ___________________ we make to ourselves at the beginning of the year to lose weight, save money, etc. (3) ___________________ adults make New Year’s resolutions but fewer than 10 per cent keep them. Many people make goals (4) ___________________ of January but give up by February. (5) ___________________ people give up is because they are too hard. People think it is easy to change their behaviour. Many resolutions need a lot of strength and (6) ___________________ difficult to change.

Researchers (7) ___________________ their resolutions for 2016. The top one was to live (8) ___________________. Nearly half of those who took the survey said this would be one of their goals for 2016. The second (9) ___________________ resolution was to live a healthier lifestyle - 41.1% of people said this would be one of their aims. Losing weight was third on the list and (10) ___________________ more time with family and friends was fourth. Young people are making (11) ___________________ than older people. Those aged 18-34 made an average of three resolutions for 2016, while older people (12) __________________ two.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Theyear2016maybeoneofthebestyearsforpeopletokeeptheirNewYe
ar'sresolutions.Thesearethepromiseswemaketoourselvesatthebegi
nningoftheyeartoloseweight,savemoney,etc.Abouthalfofalladultsm
akeNewYear’sresolutionsbutfewerthan10percentkeepthem.Manyp
eoplemakegoalsatthebeginningofJanuarybutgiveupbyFebruary.The
mainreasonpeoplegiveupisbecausetheyaretoohard.Peoplethinkitise
asytochangetheirbehaviour.Manyresolutionsneedalotofstrengthan
dmanyhabitsaredifficulttochange.Researchersaskedpeopleaboutth
eirresolutionsfor2016.Thetoponewastolivelifetothefullest.Nearlyhal
fofthosewhotookthesurveysaidthiswouldbeoneoftheirgoalsfor2016.
Thesecondmostpopularresolutionwastoliveahealthierlifestyle-41.
1%ofpeoplesaidthiswouldbeoneoftheiraims.Losingweightwasthirdo
nthelistandwantingtospendmoretimewithfamilyandfriendswasfourt
h.Youngpeoplearemakingmoreresolutionsthanolderpeople.Thosea
ged18-34madeanaverageofthreeresolutionsfor2016,whileolderpe
opledecidedonjusttwo.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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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 New Year's resolutions 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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