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businessman / legal limbo / ex-prisoners / jails / lacked / debts / air ticket home / philanthropist / inspired / economic downturn / education loan / Ramadan / reunited

How to make them give (more)?

How much more?

World leaders

Sports stars

Internet billionaires

Office workers

University students

Company CEOs

• the cell
• other prisoners
• the food
• prison bars

• the stigma
• boredom
• not seeing family
• the shower room

a.

A businessman living in India has helped Emirati prisoners in the UAE.

T / F

b.

The prisoners have all served their sentences.

T / F

c.

The businessman will repatriate 10,000 more later this year.

T / F

d.

All of the prisoners were sentenced because they owed money.

T / F

e.

The UAE's economic woes inspired the businessman to act.

T / F

f.

The businessman felt sorry for labourers who lost their jobs.

T / F

g.

The ex-prisoners won't get home until after Ramadan.

T / F

h.

The businessman said he wants to bring prisoners' families to the UAE.

T / F

1.

businessman

a.

prison terms

2.

limbo

b.

remembered

3.

sentences

c.

pay for

4.

afford

d.

burdened

5.

secure

e.

energy

6.

inspired

f.

entrepreneur

7.

saddled

g.

in prison

8.

recalled

h.

uncertainty

9.

behind bars

i.

motivated

10.

effort

j.

guarantee

1.

3,700 prisoners trapped in a

a.

to their imprisonment

2.

They had all served

b.

downturn

3.

pay off the debts that led

c.

bars

4.

secure the

d.

legal limbo

5.

sentenced over

e.

time for Ramadan

6.

economic

f.

their sentences

7.

…and were left saddled

g.

with their families

8.

a lot of people behind

h.

unpaid debts

9.

returned home in

i.

prisoners' release

10.

reunited

j.

with debt

An Indian businessman in the UAE has helped repatriate nearly 3,700 prisoners trapped in a legal (1) ____________ in the United Arab Emirates. The ex-prisoners are from (2) ____________ nations including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Pakistan. They had all (3) ____________ their sentences but remained in UAE jails because they lacked the money to pay (4) ____________ the debts that led to their imprisonment, and could not (5) ____________ the air ticket home. Firoz G. Merchant, 54, owner of the Pure Gold jewellery company, has spent about 3.7 million dirham ($1,000,000) to (6) ____________ the prisoners' release. He plans to help out another 1,000 (7) ____________ later this year. Mr Merchant said he only helps people who were sentenced over (8) ____________ debts.

secure
served
unpaid
limbo
afford
various
inmates
off

Philanthropist Mr Merchant said he was (9) ____________ to start helping release prisoners following the UAE's economic (10) ____________ in 2010. Thousands of construction workers were laid off and were left (11) ____________ with debt from education loans, credit cards and unpaid housing rent. He recalled: "There were a lot of people behind (12) ____________, especially labourers….It opened my eyes that this is my duty." He added that it was important for him to (13) ____________ the men returned home in (14) ____________ for Ramadan, which starts in the UAE this year on July 10th. He told reporters: "Ramadan is the month for giving, so I want to put greater (15) ____________ into getting these prisoners back to their own countries...and (16) ____________ with their families."

effort
saddled
time
inspired
ensure
downturn
reunited
bars

1)

repatriate nearly 3,700 prisoners trapped in ______

a.  a legal limb beau
b.  a legal lingo
c.  a legally in bow
d.  a legal limbo

2)

They had all served their sentences but ______

a.  remain in UAE jails
b.  remaining in UAE jails
c.  remained in UAE jails
d.  remains in UAE jails

3)

they lacked the money to pay off the debts that led ______

a.  to their in prison meant
b.  to their imprisonment
c.  to their imprison meant
d.  to their imprisoned men

4)

He plans to help out another ______

a.  1,000 inmates later
b.  1,000 intimates later
c.  1,000 in mates later
d.  1,000 mates in later

5)

he only helps people who were sentenced ______

a.  over unpaid debts
b.  other unpaid debts
c.  owe the unpaid debts
d.  overly unpaid debts

6)

start helping release prisoners following the ______

a.  UAE's economics downturn
b.  UAE's economical downturn
c.  UAE's economically downturn
d.  UAE's economic downturn

7)

Thousands of construction workers ______

a.  were laid off
b.  were paid off
c.  were raid off
d.  were made off

8)

______ debt from education loans, credit cards and unpaid housing rent

a.  left saddled which
b.  left saddled with
c.  left saddled wish
d.  left saddled without

9)

There were a lot of people behind bars, ______

a.  especial labourers
b.  especially labourers
c.  and spatially labourers
d.  and special labourers

10)

getting these prisoners back to their own countries...______ their families

a.  and reunions with
b.  and reuniting with
c.  and reunites with
d.  and reunited with

1.

In what kind of situation were the prisoners trapped?

2.

How far through their prison terms are the men?

3.

What can't the men afford to do?

4.

What is the philanthropist's occupation?

5.

Who specifically does the philanthropist help?

6.

When did the philanthropist first feel inspired to help?

7.

What happened to thousands of labourers in 2010?

8.

What loans did the article mention?

9.

When did the philanthropist want the men home by?

10.

Who does he want the workers to be with?

1.

In what kind of situation were the prisoners trapped?

6.

When did the philanthropist first feel inspired to help?

a) a perilous one
b) a state of legal uncertainty
c) a business situation
d) one without food

a) July 10th
b) last year
c) 2010
d) Ramadan

2.

How far through their prison terms are the men?

7.

What happened to thousands of labourers in 2010?

a) just started
b) half way through
c) a few months to go
d) all the way through

a) they took out education loans
b) the got a pay raise
c) they met the philanthropist
d) they lost their jobs

3.

What can't the men afford to do?

8.

What loans did the article mention?

a) buy an air ticket
b) work in the UAE again
c) buy the philanthropist a gift
d) the limbo

a) education loans
b) bad loans
c) cheap loans
d) car loans

4.

What is the philanthropist's occupation?

9.

When did the philanthropist want the men home by?

a) CEO of a charity
b) prison owner
c) jewellery company owner
d) construction company boss

a) Ramadan
b) the end of the year
c) the middle of next month
d) no special time

5.

Who specifically does the philanthropist help?

10.

Who does he want the workers to be with?

a) anyone in prison
b) men with debts
c) construction workers
d) 1,000 inmates

a) him
b) their families
c) labourers
d) each other

Role  A – Poor university students

You think poor university students are most deserving of charity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their projects don't need so much money. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): elderly homeless, medical research or the World Wildlife Fund.

Role  B – Elderly homeless

You think elderly homeless are most deserving of charity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their projects don't need so much money. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): poor university students, medical research or the World Wildlife Fund.

Role  C – Medical research

You think medical research is most deserving of charity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their projects don't need so much money. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): elderly homeless, poor university students or the World Wildlife Fund.

Role  D – World Wildlife Fund

You think the World Wildlife Fund is most deserving of charity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their projects don't need so much money. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): elderly homeless, medical research or poor university students.

serve

sentence

• legal
• various
• remained
• afford
• spent
• 1,000

• inspired
• laid
• bars
• eyes
• Ramadan
• families

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

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

c)

Have you had good / bad / any experiences with debt?

d)

What do you think of Mr Merchant's actions?

e)

What do you think being in legal limbo in the UAE would be like?

f)

Should there be a system to find funds to repatriate such prisoners?

g)

Wouldn't it be cheaper for the UAE to send the men home rather than keep them in prison?

h)

Would you give to a charity to help men such as those in the article?

i)

What three adjectives best describe Mr Merchant (and why)?

j)

What do you think of Mr Merchant's policy to only help debtors?

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Shakespeare said, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be". Do you agree?

c)

Is it fair to imprison someone for being unable to repay a car loan?

d)

How can we encourage more philanthropy in the world?

e)

Do you prefer news like this or news of war, protests and spying?

f)

How dangerous is it to take out loans and use credit cards?

g)

Is it the duty of all of us to give regularly to charity (or volunteer)?

h)

What difference has Mr Merchant made to people's lives?

i)

Why are some rich people so philanthropic and others so mean?

j)

What questions would you like to ask Mr Merchant?

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.

________________________________________________________

1.

(a)

hula

(b)

salsa

(c)

limbo

(d)

break

2.

(a)

served

(b)

serviced

(c)

severed

(d)

servitude

3.

(a)

off

(b)

up

(c)

on

(d)

in

4.

(a)

imprisonment

(b)

in prison

(c)

imprison

(d)

inmates

5.

(a)

secrete

(b)

secret

(c)

seclude

(d)

secure

6.

(a)

around

(b)

under

(c)

through

(d)

over

7.

(a)

release

(b)

released

(c)

releasing

(d)

releases

8.

(a)

held

(b)

taken

(c)

put

(d)

laid

9.

(a)

saddled

(b)

booted

(c)

blanketed

(d)

bridled

10.

(a)

blocks

(b)

bars

(c)

rods

(d)

bricks

11.

(a)

returnee

(b)

returned

(c)

returning

(d)

returns

12.

(a)

reunited

(b)

untied

(c)

reunified

(d)

revitalised

Paragraph 1

1.

from ivsuoar nations

2.

They had all evsdre their sentences

3.

pay off the tedbs

4.

could not foafdr the air ticket home

5.

ersuce the prisoners' release

6.

another 1,000 emanits

Paragraph 2

7.

ohtlrpspitniha Mr Merchant

8.

irtnnousotcc workers

9.

this is my dytu

10.

nrseue the men returned home

11.

greater fotrfe

12.

enedutir with their families

(    )

bars, especially labourers….It opened my eyes that this is my duty." He added that it was important

(    )

out another 1,000 inmates later this year. Mr Merchant said he only helps people who were sentenced over unpaid debts.

(    )

effort into getting these prisoners back to their own countries...and reunited with their families."

(    )

limbo in the United Arab Emirates. The ex-prisoners are from various nations including

(    )

loans, credit cards and unpaid housing rent. He recalled: "There were a lot of people behind

(  1  )

An Indian businessman in the UAE has helped repatriate nearly 3,700 prisoners trapped in a legal

(    )

Philanthropist Mr Merchant said he was inspired to start helping release prisoners following the UAE's economic

(    )

for him to ensure the men returned home in time for Ramadan, which starts in the UAE this

(    )

spent about 3.7 million dirham ($1,000,000) to secure the prisoners' release. He plans to help

(    )

jails because they lacked the money to pay off the debts that led to their imprisonment, and could not

(    )

afford the air ticket home. Firoz G. Merchant, 54, owner of the Pure Gold jewellery company, has

(    )

downturn in 2010. Thousands of construction workers were laid off and were left saddled with debt from education

(    )

Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Pakistan. They had all served their sentences but remained in UAE

(    )

year on July 10th. He told reporters: "Ramadan is the month for giving, so I want to put greater

1.

limbo    legal    a    in   trapped   prisoners   3,700   nearly   Repatriate.    

2.

to     the     the     pay     They     debts     money     lacked     off.    

3.

prisoners'    about    the    $1,000,000    Spent    secure    to    release.    

4.

inmates     this     Help     another     later     year     out     1,000.    

5.

over     sentenced     were     who     People     debts     unpaid.    

6.

prisoners     to     start     He     helping     was     release     inspired.    

7.

off     laid     were     workers     construction     of     Thousands.    

8.

saddled     Left     loans     education     from     debt     with.    

9.

my     this     duty     opened     that     my     It     eyes     is.    

10.

back     into     getting     Put     these     greater     prisoners     effort.    

AnIndianbusinessmanintheUAEhashelpedrepatriatenearly3,700prisoners
trappedinalegallimbointheUnitedArabEmirates.Theex-prisonersarefrom
variousnationsincludingBangladesh,India,IndonesiaandPakistan.Theyhad
allservedtheirsentencesbutremainedinUAEjailsbecausetheylackedthemoney
topayoffthedebtsthatledtotheirimprisonment,andcouldnotaffordtheairticket
home.FirozG.Merchant,54,ownerofthePureGoldjewellerycompany,hasspent
about3.7milliondirham($1,000,000)tosecuretheprisoners'release.Heplans
tohelpoutanother1,000inmateslaterthisyear.MrMerchantsaidheonlyhelps
peoplewhoweresentencedoverunpaiddebts.PhilanthropistMrMerchantsaidhe
wasinspiredtostarthelpingreleaseprisonersfollowingtheUAE'seconomic
downturnin2010.Thousandsofconstructionworkerswerelaidoffandwereleft
saddledwithdebtfromeducationloans,creditcardsandunpaidhousingrent.He
recalled:"Therewerealotofpeoplebehindbars,especiallylabourers….Itopened
myeyesthatthisismyduty."Headdedthatitwasimportantforhimtoensurethe
menreturnedhomeintimeforRamadan,whichstartsintheUAEthisyearon
July10th.Hetoldreporters:"Ramadanisthemonthforgiving,soIwanttoput
greatereffortintogettingtheseprisonersbacktotheirowncountries...and
reunitedwiththeirfamilies."

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

1.

businessman

a.

entrepreneur

2.

limbo

b.

uncertainty

3.

sentences

c.

prison terms

4.

afford

d.

pay for

5.

secure

e.

guarantee

6.

inspired

f.

motivated

7.

saddled

g.

burdened

8.

recalled

h.

remembered

9.

behind bars

i.

in prison

10.

effort

j.

energy

1.

A legal limbo

2.

All they way

3.

Clear their debts and buy an air ticket

4.

He owns a jewelry company

5.

Men sentenced over unpaid debts

6.

2010

7.

They lost their jobs

8.

Education loans

9.

Ramadan

10.

Their families

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

10.

b