The Reading / Listening - 2018 - Level 4

The year 2018 is new, but there are signs it will be a great year. A poll carried out by a news service asked whether people were optimistic or pessimistic about the year ahead. Everyone responded positively. They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year for themselves and the world. Everyone believed that 2018 would be much better than 2017. A spokesman said the responses made him happy. He wished everyone good luck.

The survey asked people about their life and about the Earth. Most people were confident of carrying out their New Year resolutions. In particular, to get in shape, to stop putting things off, save money, and improve their English. Others will use their smartphones less, eat less fast food, and tidy their homes. Most people were positive about the world. They thought there would be fewer wars, more love and peace, less pollution, and more kindness for the poor.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    2018 - Level 5 or  2018 - Level 6

Sources
  • BreakingNewsEnglish.com


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. there are signs it
  2. asked whether people
  3. pessimistic about
  4. 2018 would be a
  5. for themselves
  6. 2018 would be much
  7. the responses
  8. He wished everyone
  1. made him happy
  2. the year ahead
  3. good luck
  4. were optimistic
  5. will be a great year
  6. and the world
  7. wonderful year
  8. better

Paragraph 2

  1. people were
  2. get in
  3. stop putting
  4. tidy their
  5. Most people were positive
  6. They thought there would be
  7. more love
  8. more kindness
  1. about the world
  2. and peace
  3. confident
  4. for the poor
  5. things off
  6. homes
  7. shape
  8. fewer wars

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The year 2018 is new, but there (1) ___________________ will be a great year. A poll carried out by a news service (2) ___________________ were optimistic or pessimistic about (3) ___________________. Everyone responded positively. (4) ___________________ 2018 would be a wonderful year for themselves (5) ___________________. Everyone believed that 2018 would be much better than 2017. A spokesman said the responses made him happy. He (6) ___________________ luck.

The survey asked people (7) ___________________ and about the Earth. Most people were (8) ___________________ out their New Year resolutions. In particular, to get in shape, to stop (9) ___________________, save money, and improve their English. Others will use their smartphones less, (10) ___________________ food, and tidy their homes. Most people were positive about the world. They thought there would (11) ___________________, more love and peace, less pollution, and more (12) ___________________ poor.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Theyear2018isnew,buttherearesignsitwillbeagreatyear.Apollcarrie
doutbyanewsserviceaskedwhetherpeoplewereoptimisticorpessimis
ticabouttheyearahead.Everyonerespondedpositively.Theyallthoug
ht2018wouldbeawonderfulyearforthemselvesandtheworld.Everyon
ebelievedthat2018wouldbemuchbetterthan2017.Aspokesmansaidt
heresponsesmadehimhappy.Hewishedeveryonegoodluck.Thesurve
yaskedpeopleabouttheirlifeandabouttheEarth.Mostpeoplewereconfi
dentofcarryingouttheirNewYearresolutions.Inparticular,togetinsha
pe,tostopputtingthingsoff,savemoney,andimprovetheirEnglish.Oth
erswillusetheirsmartphonesless,eatlessfastfood,andtidytheirhomes
.Mostpeoplewerepositiveabouttheworld.Theythoughttherewouldbe
fewerwars,moreloveandpeace,lesspollution,andmorekindnessforth
epoor.

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

Write about this topic 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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