The Reading / Listening - 2018 - Level 6

The year 2018 is just days old, but already there are indications it will be a great 12 months. This is according to a poll conducted by the international news service BNE. The service's top pollster asked pertinent questions about whether people were optimistic or pessimistic about the year ahead. A resounding 100 per cent of survey participants responded positively. They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year, both in their personal lives and in terms of national and global issues. All those who took part in the survey were of the opinion that 2018 would be significantly better than the year 2017. A BNE spokesman said he was heartened by the responses and wished everyone good fortune.

The survey questioned participants' views on their hopes for their own life, as well as for the fate of the Earth. An overwhelming majority of people were convinced they would carry out their New Year resolutions. In particular, people were determined to get in shape, stop procrastinating, save money, and improve their English ability. Others said they would use their smartphones less often, eat less fast food and chocolate, and make sure their homes are always very, very tidy. Most participants were positive about the world in 2018. They thought there would be fewer wars, less pollution and an increase in goodwill shown to the less fortunate. Everyone hoped for more peace, love, happiness and prosperity.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    2018 - Level 4  or  2018 - Level 5

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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. NEW YEAR: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the New Year. 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?

       2018 / indications / poll / international / news / optimistic / pessimistic / fortune /
       views / majority / resolutions / English ability / smartphones / tidy / wars / peace

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

3. THE BEST: Students A strongly believe the year 2018 will be the best ever; Students B strongly believe it won't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. RESOLUTIONS: What are your New Year resolutions? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

 

What?

Why?

English

 

 

Health

 

 

Money

 

 

Bad habits

 

 

Friends

 

 

Hobbies

 

 

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

5. 2017: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the year "2017". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. HOPES: Rank these with your partner. Put your most important hopes for 2018 at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Greater tolerance
  • More security
  • Better food
  • More money
  • Fewer wars
  • Better leaders
  • Less poverty
  • More equality

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. indications a. Organized and carried out.
      2. according to b. Made more cheerful or confident.
      3. poll c. A sign or piece of information that shows something.
      4. conducted d. An assessment of public opinion by questioning a sample of people.
      5. pertinent e. As stated, said or written by.
      6. pessimistic f. Relevant or applicable to a particular matter.
      7. heartened g. Tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.

    Paragraph 2

      8. fate h. The greater number of.
      9. majority i. Completely certain about something.
      10. convinced j. Friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitudes towards others.
      11. resolutions k. The course of someone's life, or the outcome of a particular situation for someone or something; destiny.
      12. procrastinating l. Wealth and success.
      13. goodwill m. Delaying or postponing actions; put off doing something.
      14. prosperity n. Firm decisions to do or not to do something (often these decisions are made on New Year's Day).

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says there are already signs that 2018 will be a great year.     T / F
  2. All of the participants in a survey were positive about 2018.     T / F
  3. The participants thought global issues would not be so wonderful.     T / F
  4. Half of the participants thought 2018 would be better than 2017.     T / F
  5. Less than half of the people think their New Year resolutions will last.     T / F
  6. Most of the people are determined to stop putting things off.     T / F
  7. Most people want to make more use of their smartphones in 2018.     T / F
  8. Everyone hoped for greater prosperity and more goodwill.     T / F

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

  1. indications
  2. conducted
  3. pessimistic
  4. responded
  5. significantly
  6. views
  7. fate
  8. procrastinating
  9. tidy
  10. prosperity
  1. opinions
  2. answered
  3. wealth
  4. carried out
  5. destiny
  6. signs
  7. neat
  8. gloomy
  9. putting things off
  10. considerably

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

  1. indications it will
  2. according
  3. whether people were optimistic or
  4. in terms of national
  5. 2018 would be significantly
  6. the fate
  7. An overwhelming
  8. stop
  9. an increase in goodwill shown
  10. more peace, love, happiness
  1. pessimistic about the year
  2. to the less fortunate
  3. better
  4. to a poll
  5. of the Earth
  6. procrastinating
  7. be a great 12 months
  8. and prosperity
  9. and global issues
  10. majority of people

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
pertinent
terms
according
fortune
pessimistic
days
opinion
positively

The year 2018 is just (1) ____________ old, but already there are indications it will be a great 12 months. This is (2) ____________ to a poll conducted by the international news service BNE. The service's top pollster asked (3) ____________ questions about whether people were optimistic or (4) ____________ about the year ahead. A resounding 100 per cent of survey participants responded (5) ____________. They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year, both in their personal lives and in (6) ____________ of national and global issues. All those who took part in the survey were of the (7) ____________ that 2018 would be significantly better than the year 2017. A BNE spokesman said he was heartened by the responses and wished everyone good (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
fate
wars
procrastinating
hoped
views
goodwill
particular
tidy

The survey questioned participants' (9) ____________ on their hopes for their own life, as well as for the (10) ____________ of the Earth. An overwhelming majority of people were convinced they would carry out their New Year resolutions. In (11) ____________, people were determined to get in shape, stop (12) ____________, save money, and improve their English ability. Others said they would use their smartphones less often, eat less fast food and chocolate, and make sure their homes are always very, very (13) ____________. Most participants were positive about the world in 2018. They thought there would be fewer (14) ____________, less pollution and an increase in (15) ____________ shown to the less fortunate. Everyone (16) ____________ for more peace, love, happiness and prosperity.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The year 2018 is just days old, but already there are indications it will be a ______
     a.  greatly 12 months
     b.  greater 12 months
     c.  greatness 12 months
     d.  great 12 months

2)  pertinent questions about whether people were optimistic ______
     a.  or pest a mystic
     b.  or pestle mist stick
     c.  or peers a missed tick
     d.  or pessimistic

3)  They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year, both in their ______
     a.  personal lives
     b.  personally lives
     c.  personalize lives
     d.  personality lives

4)  those who took part in the survey were of the opinion that 2018 would ______
     a.  be significance better
     b.  be significantly bettered
     c.  be significance bettered
     d.  be significantly better

5)  he was heartened by the responses and wished everyone ______
     a.  good fortunate
     b.  good fortunately
     c.  good fortune
     d.  good fort tune

6)  views on their hopes for their own life, as well as for the ______ Earth
     a.  fate of the
     b.  fete of the
     c.  feat of the
     d.  feet of the

7)  In particular, people were determined to get in shape, ______ ,…
     a.  stop pro caster nothing
     b.  stop pro craters noting
     c.  stop pro crusty nothing
     d.  stop procrastinating

8)  eat less fast food and chocolate, and make sure their homes are always ______
     a.  verily, very tidy
     b.  very, very tidy
     c.  very, verily tidy
     d.  verily, verily tidy

9)  there would be fewer wars, less pollution and an increase in ______ the less fortunate
     a.  good well showing to
     b.  good while shown to
     c.  goodwill shown to
     d.  good will showing to

10)  Everyone hoped for more peace, love, happiness ______
     a.  and pro scarcity
     b.  and dross parity
     c.  and pro spear ratty
     d.  and prosperity

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The year 2018 is (1) ___________________, but already there are indications it will be a great 12 months. This (2) ___________________ a poll conducted by the international news service BNE. The service's top pollster asked pertinent questions about whether people were optimistic (3) ___________________ the year ahead. A resounding 100 per cent of survey participants (4) ___________________. They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year, both in their personal lives (5) ___________________ of national and global issues. All those who took part in the survey were of the opinion that 2018 would be significantly better than the year 2017. A BNE spokesman said he was heartened by the responses and wished (6) ___________________.

The survey questioned participants' views on their hopes for their own life, as well as for (7) ___________________ the Earth. An overwhelming majority of people were convinced they (8) ___________________ their New Year resolutions. In particular, people were determined to (9) ___________________, stop procrastinating, save money, and improve their English ability. Others said they would use their smartphones less often, eat less fast food and chocolate, and (10) ___________________ homes are always very, very tidy. Most participants were positive about the world in 2018. They thought there would be fewer wars, less pollution and an increase (11) ___________________ to the less fortunate. Everyone hoped for more peace, love, (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the news service BNE carry out?
  2. What percent of people responded positively to a survey?
  3. What kind of issues did the people say 2018 would be wonderful for?
  4. What did the survey participants say 2018 would be better than?
  5. What did a BNE spokesman wish everyone?
  6. What did participants answer questions on the fate of?
  7. How many people were convinced they would carry out their resolutions?
  8. What did many people say they wanted to stop doing?
  9. What did many people resolve to keep tidy?
  10. What did people think would be shown more of to the less fortunate?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the news service BNE carry out?
a) a statue of the numbers 2017
b) a poll
c) a rare feat
d) a computer

2)  What per cent of people responded positively to a survey?
a) 1.1%
b) 50%
c) 99%
d) 100%

3) What kind of issues did the people say 2018 would be wonderful for?
a) global issues
b) social issues
c) financial issues
d) women's issues

4) What did the survey participants say 2018 would be better than?
a) chocolate
b) the 20th century
c) 2017
d) 2000

5) What did a BNE spokesman wish everyone?
a) luck
b) good fortune
c) success
d) lots of money

6) What did participants answer questions on the fate of?
a) the Earth
b) their government
c) themselves
d) the population

7) How many people were convinced they would carry out their resolutions?
a) over 10 million
b) all of them
c) an overwhelming majority
d) 23,799,852

8) What did many people say they wanted to stop doing?
a) procrastinating
b) being poor
c) studying English
d) using their smartphones

9) What did many people resolve to keep tidy?
a) their home
b) their hair
c) their clothes
d) their desktop

10) What did people think would be shown more of to the less fortunate?
a) food
b) smiles
c) charity
d) goodwill

Role play

Role  A – Fewer Wars

You think fewer wars is the most important hope for 2018. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their hopes aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): better leaders, less poverty or more security.

Role  B – Better Leaders

You think better leaders is the most important hope for 2018. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their hopes aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): fewer wars, less poverty or more security.

Role  C – Less Poverty

You think less poverty is the most important hope for 2018. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their hopes aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): better leaders, fewer wars or more security.

Role  D – More Security

You think more security is the most important hope for 2018. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their hopes aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why):  better leaders, less poverty or fewer wars.

After reading / listening

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

'great'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'year'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • life
    • carry
    • ability
    • fast
    • fewer
    • love
    • just
    • poll
    • ahead
    • thought
    • part
    • wished

    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 - 2018 to be a great year

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'year'?
    3. How do you feel about 2018?
    4. What are you optimistic and pessimistic about regarding 2018?
    5. What do you think 2018 will be like for you?
    6. What do you think 2018 will be like for the world?
    7. What did you think of the year 2017?
    8. What do you hope will happen in 2018?
    9. What bad things might happen in 2018?
    10. What has been the best year of your life, and why?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the year '2018'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What New Year resolutions do you have?
    5. How much of a procrastinator are you?
    6. What will you do to improve your English ability this year?
    7. How possible is it for you to use your smartphone less this year?
    8. What are your thoughts on the number of wars in 2018?
    9. What will lead to more love in the world?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the pollster?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The year 2018 is just days old, but already there are (1) ____ it will be a great 12 months. This is according to a (2) ____ conducted by the international news service BNE. The service's top pollster asked pertinent questions about whether people were optimistic or pessimistic about the year (3) ____. A resounding 100 per cent of survey participants responded (4) ____. They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year, both in their personal lives and in terms (5) ____ national and global issues. All those who took part in the survey were (6) ____ the opinion that 2018 would be significantly better than the year 2017. A BNE spokesman said he was heartened by the responses and wished everyone good fortune.

    The survey questioned participants' views on their hopes for their own life, as well as for the (7) ____ of the Earth. An overwhelming majority of people were convinced they would carry (8) ____ their New Year resolutions. In particular, people were determined to get in (9) ____, stop procrastinating, save money, and improve their English ability. Others said they would use their smartphones less often, eat (10) ____ fast food and chocolate, and make sure their homes are always very, very tidy. Most participants were positive about the world in 2018. They thought there would be (11) ____ wars, less pollution and an increase in goodwill shown to the less fortunate. Everyone hoped for more peace, love, happiness and (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     indications     (b)     inclinations     (c)     indignations     (d)     imaginations    
    2. (a)     doll     (b)     moll     (c)     poll     (d)     toll    
    3. (a)     heading     (b)     headed     (c)     ahead     (d)     header    
    4. (a)     posits     (b)     positive     (c)     positives     (d)     positively    
    5. (a)     over     (b)     off     (c)     of     (d)     under    
    6. (a)     off     (b)     of     (c)     over     (d)     as    
    7. (a)     feat     (b)     fate     (c)     fete     (d)     feet    
    8. (a)     in     (b)     out     (c)     off     (d)     to    
    9. (a)     snap     (b)     slap     (c)     shape     (d)     stare    
    10. (a)     fewer     (b)     reduced     (c)     reducing     (d)     less    
    11. (a)     less     (b)     reducing     (c)     reduction     (d)     fewer    
    12. (a)     prosper     (b)     prosperous     (c)     prosper     (d)     prosperity

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. daosciiintn it will be a great 12 months
    2. asked irpnttene questions
    3. whether people were optimistic or esiisitmcsp
    4. survey participants responded tipsioveyl
    5. enedtaehr by the responses
    6. wished everyone good enrtufo

    Paragraph 2

    1. An overwhelming rmoyatij of people
    2. people were ivcnoendc they would
    3. reedtmnied to get in shape
    4. stop aicaonprngttirs
    5. goodwill shown to the less nruatteof
    6. peace, love, happiness and perrpyitso

    Put the text back together

    (    )     personal lives and in terms of national and global issues. All those who took part in the survey were of

    (    )     questions about whether people were optimistic or pessimistic about the year ahead. A resounding 100 per cent

    (    )     food and chocolate, and make sure their homes are always very, very tidy. Most participants were positive

    (    )     The survey questioned participants' views on their hopes for their own life, as well as for the

    (    )     he was heartened by the responses and wished everyone good fortune.

    (    )     their English ability. Others said they would use their smartphones less often, eat less fast

    (    )     the opinion that 2018 would be significantly better than the year 2017. A BNE spokesman said

    (    )     resolutions. In particular, people were determined to get in shape, stop procrastinating, save money, and improve

    1 )     The year 2018 is just days old, but already there are indications it will be a great 12 months. This is according

    (    )     to a poll conducted by the international news service BNE. The service's top pollster asked pertinent

    (    )     of survey participants responded positively. They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year, both in their

    (    )     in goodwill shown to the less fortunate. Everyone hoped for more peace, love, happiness and prosperity.

    (    )     fate of the Earth. An overwhelming majority of people were convinced they would carry out their New Year

    (    )     about the world in 2018. They thought there would be fewer wars, less pollution and an increase

    Put the words in the right order

    1. be   12   are   will   great   There   it   a   months   indications   .
    2. pessimistic  or   about   whether  people   were  optimistic  Questions   .
    3. per   100   resounding   A   participants   survey   of   cent   .
    4. better   significantly   be   would   2018   that   opinion   The   .
    5. A   heartened   spokesman   by   said   the   he   responses   was   .
    6. questioned   survey   The   hopes   their   on   views   participants'   .
    7. people   convinced   overwhelming   of   were   An   majority   .
    8. shape   ,   determined   in   particular   were   get   In   people   to   .
    9. world   participants   positive   the   Most   were   about   .
    10. to   increase   the   in   less   goodwill   fortunate   shown   An   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The year 2018 is just days old, but already there are inclinations / indications it will be a great 12 months. This is according to a poll conducted by the international news service BNE. The service's top polling / pollster asked pertinent / patent questions about whether people were optimistic or pessimistic about the year ahead / heading. A resounding / rescinding 100 per cent of survey participants / participates responded positively. They all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year, both / all in their personal lives and in / on terms of national and global issues. All those who took part in the survey were off / of the opinion that 2018 would be significantly better than the year 2017. A BNE spokesman said he was heartened by the responses and wished everyone good fortune / fortunate.

    The survey questioned participants' views on their hopes for their own life, as well as for the fete / fate of the Earth. An overwhelming majority for / of people were convinced they would carry in / out their New Year resolutions. In particular, people were determined to get on / in shape, stop / start procrastinating, save money, and improve their English ability. Another / Others said they would use their smartphones less often, eat less fast food and chocolate, and make sure their homes are always verily / very, very tidy. Most participants were positive about the world in 2018. They thought there would be fewer / less wars, less pollution and an increase in goodwill shown to the less fortune / fortunate. Everyone hoped for more peace, love, happiness and prosperity / prosper.

    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)

    Th_ y__r 2018 _s j_st d_ys _ld, b_t _lr__dy th_r_ _r_ _nd_c_t__ns _t w_ll b_ _ gr__t 12 m_nths. Th_s _s _cc_rd_ng t_ _ p_ll c_nd_ct_d by th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l n_ws s_rv_c_ BN_. Th_ s_rv_c_'s t_p p_llst_r _sk_d p_rt_n_nt q__st__ns _b__t wh_th_r p__pl_ w_r_ _pt_m_st_c _r p_ss_m_st_c _b__t th_ y__r _h__d. _ r_s__nd_ng 100 p_r c_nt _f s_rv_y p_rt_c_p_nts r_sp_nd_d p_s_t_v_ly. Th_y _ll th__ght 2018 w__ld b_ _ w_nd_rf_l y__r, b_th _n th__r p_rs_n_l l_v_s _nd _n t_rms _f n_t__n_l _nd gl_b_l _ss__s. _ll th_s_ wh_ t__k p_rt _n th_ s_rv_y w_r_ _f th_ _p_n__n th_t 2018 w__ld b_ s_gn_f_c_ntly b_tt_r th_n th_ y__r 2017. _ BN_ sp_k_sm_n s__d h_ w_s h__rt_n_d by th_ r_sp_ns_s _nd w_sh_d _v_ry_n_ g__d f_rt_n_.

    Th_ s_rv_y q__st__n_d p_rt_c_p_nts' v__ws _n th__r h_p_s f_r th__r _wn l_f_, _s w_ll _s f_r th_ f_t_ _f th_ __rth. _n _v_rwh_lm_ng m_j_r_ty _f p__pl_ w_r_ c_nv_nc_d th_y w__ld c_rry __t th__r N_w Y__r r_s_l_t__ns. _n p_rt_c_l_r, p__pl_ w_r_ d_t_rm_n_d t_ g_t _n sh_p_, st_p pr_cr_st_n_t_ng, s_v_ m_n_y, _nd _mpr_v_ th__r _ngl_sh _b_l_ty. _th_rs s__d th_y w__ld _s_ th__r sm_rtph_n_s l_ss _ft_n, __t l_ss f_st f__d _nd ch_c_l_t_, _nd m_k_ s_r_ th__r h_m_s _r_ _lw_ys v_ry, v_ry t_dy. M_st p_rt_c_p_nts w_r_ p_s_t_v_ _b__t th_ w_rld _n 2018. Th_y th__ght th_r_ w__ld b_ f_w_r w_rs, l_ss p_ll_t__n _nd _n _ncr__s_ _n g__dw_ll sh_wn t_ th_ l_ss f_rt_n_t_. _v_ry_n_ h_p_d f_r m_r_ p__c_, l_v_, h_pp_n_ss _nd pr_sp_r_ty.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the year 2018 is just days old but already there are indications it will be a great 12 months this is according to a poll conducted by the international news service bne the service's top pollster asked pertinent questions about whether people were optimistic or pessimistic about the year ahead a resounding 100 per cent of survey participants responded positively they all thought 2018 would be a wonderful year both in their personal lives and in terms of national and global issues all those who took part in the survey were of the opinion that 2018 would be significantly better than the year 2017 a bne spokesman said he was heartened by the responses and wished everyone good fortune

    the survey questioned participants' views on their hopes for their own life as well as for the fate of the earth an overwhelming majority of people were convinced they would carry out their new year resolutions in particular people were determined to get in shape stop procrastinating save money and improve their english ability others said they would use their smartphones less often eat less fast food and chocolate and make sure their homes are always very very tidy most participants were positive about the world in 2018 they thought there would be fewer wars less pollution and an increase in goodwill shown to the less fortunate everyone hoped for more peace love happiness and prosperity

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theyear2018isjustdaysold,butalreadythereareindicationsitwillbeag
    reat12months.Thisisaccordingtoapollconductedbytheinternationaln
    ewsserviceBNE.Theservice'stoppollsteraskedpertinentquestionsab
    outwhetherpeoplewereoptimisticorpessimisticabouttheyearahead.
    Aresounding100percentofsurveyparticipantsrespondedpositively.T
    heyallthought2018wouldbeawonderfulyear,bothintheirpersonallive
    sandintermsofnationalandglobalissues.Allthosewhotookpartinthesu
    rveywereoftheopinionthat2018wouldbesignificantlybetterthanthey
    ear2017.ABNEspokesmansaidhewasheartenedbytheresponsesand
    wishedeveryonegoodfortune.Thesurveyquestionedparticipants'vie
    wsontheirhopesfortheirownlife,aswellasforthefateoftheEarth.Anove
    rwhelmingmajorityofpeoplewereconvincedtheywouldcarryouttheir
    NewYearresolutions.Inparticular,peopleweredeterminedtogetinsha
    pe,stopprocrastinating,savemoney,andimprovetheirEnglishability.
    Otherssaidtheywouldusetheirsmartphoneslessoften,eatlessfastfoo
    dandchocolate,andmakesuretheirhomesarealwaysvery,verytidy.M
    ostparticipantswerepositiveabouttheworldin2018.Theythoughtther
    ewouldbefewerwars,lesspollutionandanincreaseingoodwillshowntot
    helessfortunate.Everyonehopedformorepeace,love,happinessandp
    rosperity.

    Free writing

    Write about 2018 for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The year 2018 will be the best ever. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. 2018: Make a poster about 2018. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. THE BEST YEAR EVER: Write a magazine article about 2018 being the best year ever. Include imaginary interviews with people who think this is true, and with those who don't think this is true.

    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 2018. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your predictions for this year. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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