The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Europe wants to change the system for refugees coming to Europe. They are shocked by the Lampedusa tragedy. More than 250 Africans drowned after their boat sank. They were not far from the beach. Almost 20,000 asylum seekers died in the Mediterranean Sea in the past ten years. After a boat sinks, European politicians ask for change, but after a little time, the talking stops and nothing happens. No one knows if the Lampedusa disaster will lead to action from Europe. One idea is more money for search and rescue operations that will cover the area from Spain to Cyprus.

The answer to this problem is very difficult. The perfect solution is for Europe to open its borders to anyone. However, no country does this. It would be very unpopular in Europe. Many Europeans already want to make their borders stronger to reduce the number of people coming in. The Italian interior minister said: "[Italy is] in the middle of the Mediterranean and we have saved thousands…of lives. We now ask for some help from Europe." He added that the Mediterranean is the Africa-Europe border, not the Africa-Italy border. He called for Europe to share the responsibility.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.dw.de/eu-ministers-look-for-solutions-to-the-refugee-crisis/a-17145833
  • http://euobserver.com/justice/121712


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.

change the system for refugees

a.

to action from Europe

2.

They are shocked

b.

and nothing happens

3.

250 Africans drowned

c.

rescue operations

4.

not far

d.

by the Lampedusa tragedy

5.

in the past

e.

from the beach

6.

the talking stops

f.

coming to Europe

7.

the Lampedusa disaster will lead

g.

ten years

8.

search and

h.

after their boat sank



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

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The perfect

a.

their borders stronger

2.

It would be very

b.

of lives

3.

Europeans already want to make

c.

of the Mediterranean

4.

reduce the number of

d.

the responsibility

5.

Italy is in the middle

e.

solution

6.

we have saved thousands

f.

Europe border

7.

the Mediterranean is the Africa-

g.

unpopular in Europe

8.

He called for Europe to share

h.

people coming in

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Europe wants to (1) ___________________ for refugees coming to Europe. They are shocked by the Lampedusa tragedy. More than 250 Africans (2) ___________________ boat sank. They were not far from the beach. Almost (3) ___________________ died in the Mediterranean Sea in the past ten years. After a boat sinks, European politicians (4) ___________________, but after a little time, the talking stops and nothing happens. No one knows if the Lampedusa disaster (5) ___________________ from Europe. One idea is more money for search (6) ___________________ that will cover the area from Spain to Cyprus.

The (7) ___________________ is very difficult. The perfect solution is for Europe to open its borders to anyone. However, no country does this. It would (8) ___________________ in Europe. Many Europeans already want to make (9) ___________________ to reduce the number of people coming in. The Italian interior minister said: "[Italy is] (10) ___________________ Mediterranean and we have (11) ___________________ lives. We now ask for some help from Europe." He added that the Mediterranean is the Africa-Europe border, not the Africa-Italy border. He called (12) ___________________ the responsibility.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

EuropewantstochangethesystemforrefugeescomingtoEurope.The
yareshockedbytheLampedusatragedy.Morethan250Africansdrow
nedaftertheirboatsank.Theywerenotfarfromthebeach.Almost20,
000asylumseekersdiedintheMediterraneanSeainthepasttenyears
.Afteraboatsinks,Europeanpoliticiansaskforchange,butafteralittle
time,thetalkingstopsandnothinghappens.NooneknowsiftheLamp
edusadisasterwillleadtoactionfromEurope.Oneideaismoremoneyf
orsearchandrescueoperationsthatwillcovertheareafromSpaintoC
yprus.Theanswertothisproblemisverydifficult.Theperfectsolutioni
sforEuropetoopenitsborderstoanyone.However,nocountrydoesthi
s.ItwouldbeveryunpopularinEurope.ManyEuropeansalreadywant
tomaketheirbordersstrongertoreducethenumberofpeoplecomingi
n.TheItalianinteriorministersaid:"[Italyis]inthemiddleoftheMedit
erraneanandwehavesavedthousands…oflives.Wenowaskforsome
helpfromEurope."HeaddedthattheMediterraneanistheAfrica-Eur
opeborder,nottheAfrica-Italyborder.HecalledforEuropetosha
retheresponsibility.

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)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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