Britney Spears' music scares off pirates (31st October, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Ship captains in the Indian Ocean are using a new tactic to keep pirates away – songs sung by U.S. pop star Britney Spears. An officer with Britain's merchant navy, Rachel Owens, said Britney Spears' songs did a good job against Somali pirates. Ms Owens, 34, said: "[Britney's] songs were chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most. These guys can't stand Western culture or music, making Britney’s hits perfect." A spokesman for a security company said playing loud pop music was an effective way of stopping attacks on ships. He said not all shipping companies choose Britney Spears' music. He added: "Each security company will have its own music choice."

This is not the first time loud music has been used to scare people. It has even been used as a form of torture. Prison guards at Guantanamo Bay started using music in 2003 to keep prisoners awake. In 2008, prisoners had to listen to very loud music for weeks and months. A former Guantanamo prisoner, Ruhal Ahmed, explained that the loud music played in his cell for weeks at a time was worse than being beaten up. He said: "It makes you feel like you are going mad." Many people think prisons must stop playing loud music to someone for days or weeks at a time. A human rights charity called Reprieve has started a campaign to end it. It wants rock stars to ban prisons from using their music for torture.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.ibtimes.com/britney-spears-scares-somali-pirates-hit-songs-used-fend-thieves-1443454
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/britney-spears-music-blasted-out-2646660
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-worthington/a-history-of-music-tortur_b_151109.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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. LOUD MUSIC: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about loud music. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

ships / captains / Indian Ocean / pop songs / pirates / Western culture / perfect / loud / the first time / torture / prisoners / being beaten up / going mad / human rights

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

3. KEEP PIRATES AWAY: How good are these at keeping pirates away? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Tactic	Good points	Bad points
Loud pop music
Water cannon
Taking photos of them
Gunfire
More patrol boats
Arresting pirate leaders

4. PIRACY: Students A strongly believe piracy will stop one day; Students B strongly believe it will never stop. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. MUSIC: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• pop

• folk

• jazz

• classical

• blues

• techno

• hip-hop / rap

• rock and roll

6. POP SONG: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the term "pop song". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Ships are scaring away pirates in the Atlantic Ocean using loud music.	T / F
b.	The music of Britney Spears is scaring away Somali pirates.	T / F
c.	The pirates hate the music because they hate Western culture.	T / F
d.	All shipping companies play Britney Spears' songs to Somali pirates.	T / F
e.	This is the first time music is being used to scare people.	T / F
f.	The article says Guantanamo Bay prisoners were tortured with music.	T / F
g.	A prisoner said loud music for weeks was worse than being beaten up.	T / F
h.	Pop stars started a campaign to end music being used for torture.	T / F

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

1.	tactic	a.	selected
2.	good	b.	crazy
3.	chosen	c.	frighten
4.	can't stand	d.	plan
5.	stopping	e.	hate
6.	scare	f.	ex-
7.	form	g.	effective
8.	former	h.	stop
9.	mad	i.	preventing
10.	ban	j.	kind

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

1.	Ship captains	a.	stand Western culture
2.	they thought the pirates	b.	form of torture
3.	These guys can't	c.	its own music choice
4.	an effective way	d.	used to scare people
5.	Each security company will have	e.	in the Indian Ocean
6.	loud music has been	f.	like you are going mad
7.	used as a	g.	rights charity
8.	for weeks	h.	of stopping attacks
9.	It makes you feel	i.	at a time
10.	a human	j.	would hate them most

GAP FILL

Ship captains in the Indian Ocean are using a new (1) ____________ to keep pirates away – songs sung by U.S. pop star Britney Spears. An (2) ____________with Britain's merchant navy, Rachel Owens, said Britney Spears' songs did a good (3) ____________against Somali pirates. Ms Owens, 34, said: "[Britney's] songs were (4) ____________by the security team because they thought the pirates would (5) ____________them most. These guys can't (6) ____________Western culture or music, making Britney's hits perfect." A spokesman for a security company said playing loud pop music was an (7) ____________way of stopping attacks on ships. He said not all shipping companies choose Britney Spears' music. He added: "Each security company will have its (8) ____________music choice."

hate
effective
job
own
tactic
chosen
officer
stand

This is not the first time loud music has been used to (9) ____________people. It has even been used as a (10) ____________of torture. Prison guards at Guantanamo Bay started using music in 2003 to keep prisoners (11) ____________. In 2008, prisoners had to listen to very loud music for weeks and months. A (12) ____________Guantanamo prisoner, Ruhal Ahmed, explained that the loud music played in his cell for weeks at a (13) ____________was worse than being beaten up. He said: "It makes you feel like you are going (14) ____________." Many people think prisons must stop playing loud music to someone for days or weeks at a time. A human (15) ____________charity called Reprieve has started a campaign to end it. It wants rock stars to (16) ____________prisons from using their music for torture.

rights
time
awake
ban
scare
mad
form
former

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Ship captains in the Indian Ocean are using a new tactic to ______
	a. keep pirates at way b. keep pirates astray c. keep pirates away d. keep pirates a way
2)	An officer with Britain's ______
	a. merchants navy b. merchant's navy c. merchant navy d. merchandise navy
3)	These ______ Western culture or music
	a. guys can't standard b. guys can't stand c. guys can't standing d. guys can't stands
4)	A spokesman for a security company said playing loud pop music was ______
	a. an efficient way b. an effortless way c. a reflective way d. an effective way
5)	Each security company will have its ______
	a. own musically choice b. own music choice c. own musical choice d. own musician choice
6)	This is not the first time loud music has been used ______
	a. to scary people b. to stare people c. to spare people d. to scare people
7)	It has even been used as a ______
	a. firm of torture b. farm of torture c. form of torture d. from of torture
8)	loud music played in his cell for weeks at a time was worse than ______
	a. being beating up b. being beaten up c. being beat on up d. being beat ten up
9)	playing loud music to someone for days or ______
	a. weeks of a time b. weeks on a time c. week sat a time d. weeks at a time
10)	A human rights charity called Reprieve has ______
	a. started a campaign b. started the campaign c. start it a campaign d. start it the campaign

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Ship captains in the Indian Ocean are (1) ___________________ to keep pirates away – songs sung by U.S. pop star Britney Spears. An officer with Britain's merchant navy, Rachel Owens, said Britney Spears' songs did a (2) ___________________ Somali pirates. Ms Owens, 34, said: "[Britney's] songs (3) ___________________ the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most. These (4) ___________________ Western culture or music, making Britney's hits perfect." A spokesman for a security company said playing loud pop music was (5) ___________________ of stopping attacks on ships. He said not all shipping companies choose Britney Spears' music. He added: "Each security company (6) ___________________ music choice."

This is not the first time loud music has (7) ___________________ people. It has even been used as a form of torture. Prison guards at Guantanamo Bay started using music in 2003 to (8) ___________________. In 2008, prisoners had to listen to very loud music for weeks and months. A former Guantanamo prisoner, Ruhal Ahmed, explained that the loud music played in (9) ___________________ at a time was worse than (10) ___________________. He said: "It makes you feel like you are going mad." Many people think prisons must stop playing loud music to someone for days or (11) ___________________. A human rights charity called Reprieve has started a campaign to end it. It wants rock stars to ban prisons from using their (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	In which sea or ocean are ships playing Britney Spears' music?
2.	How old is Rachel Owens?
3.	Who chooses the music to play to pirates?
4.	What do the pirates think of Western culture?
5.	What did a security company say loud pop music was good for?
6.	When was music used to keep prisoners awake at Guantanamo Bay?
7.	For how long do prisoners have to listen to loud music?
8.	Who is Ruhal Ahmed?
9.	How does listening to loud music for weeks make you feel?
10.	What does a charity want rock stars to do?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1)	Ship captains in the Indian Ocean are using a new tactic to ______
	a. keep pirates at way b. keep pirates astray c. keep pirates away d. keep pirates a way
2)	An officer with Britain's ______
	a. merchants navy b. merchant's navy c. merchant navy d. merchandise navy
3)	These ______ Western culture or music
	a. guys can't standard b. guys can't stand c. guys can't standing d. guys can't stands
4)	A spokesman for a security company said playing loud pop music was ______
	a. an efficient way b. an effortless way c. a reflective way d. an effective way
5)	Each security company will have its ______
	a. own musically choice b. own music choice c. own musical choice d. own musician choice
6)	This is not the first time loud music has been used ______
	a. to scary people b. to stare people c. to spare people d. to scare people
7)	It has even been used as a ______
	a. firm of torture b. farm of torture c. form of torture d. from of torture
8)	loud music played in his cell for weeks at a time was worse than ______
	a. being beating up b. being beaten up c. being beat on up d. being beat ten up
9)	playing loud music to someone for days or ______
	a. weeks of a time b. weeks on a time c. week sat a time d. weeks at a time
10)	A human rights charity called Reprieve has ______
	a. started a campaign b. started the campaign c. start it a campaign d. start it the campaign

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Loud pop music

You think loud pop music is the best way to stop the pirates. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): taking photos, water cannon or arresting pirate leaders.

Role B – Taking photos

You think taking photos is the best way to stop the pirates. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): loud pop music, water cannon or arresting pirate leaders.

Role C – Water cannon

You think water cannon is the best way to stop the pirates. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): taking photos, loud pop music or arresting pirate leaders.

Role D – Arresting pirate leaders

You think arresting pirate leaders is the best way to stop the pirates. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): taking photos, water cannon or loud pop music.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

pop

song

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:

tactic
job
hate
perfect
stopping
each

first
guards
2008
cell
mad
rock

LOUD MUSIC SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about loud music 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

LOUD MUSIC DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'pirate'?
c)	What's the best way to stop pirates attacking ships?
d)	What do you think of playing loud pop music to stop pirates?
e)	Would loud music stop you doing something?
f)	How does loud music make you feel?
g)	How could the pirates hate the music so much?
h)	What other things could loud music stop?
i)	What music would you play to stop the pirates?
j)	How do you think Britney Spears feels about her music scaring pirates?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Is music a form of torture?
c)	Would loud music stop you from sleeping?
d)	How do you feel when someone plays loud music on their iPod in public?
e)	Why would loud music for weeks be worse than being beaten up?
f)	What's the best music to play loud?
g)	What pop star's music would you hate to listen to?
h)	Is loud music bad for you?
i)	Should more rock stars join the Reprieve campaign?
j)	What questions would you like to ask a pirate scared of pop music?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Ship captains in the Indian Ocean are using a new (1) ____ to keep pirates away – songs sung by U.S. pop star Britney Spears. An officer with Britain's merchant navy, Rachel Owens, said Britney Spears' songs did a good (2) ____ against Somali pirates. Ms Owens, 34, said: "[Britney's] songs were (3) ____ by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most. These guys can't (4) ____ Western culture or music, making Britney's hits perfect." A spokesman for a security company said playing loud pop music was an effective way (5) ____ stopping attacks on ships. He said not all (6) ____ companies choose Britney Spears' music. He added: "Each security company will have its own music choice."

This is not the first time loud music has been used to (7) ____ people. It has even been used as a form of torture. Prison guards at Guantanamo Bay started using music in 2003 to keep prisoners (8) ____. In 2008, prisoners had to listen to very loud music for weeks and months. A former Guantanamo prisoner, Ruhal Ahmed, explained that the loud music played in his cell for weeks at a (9) ____ was worse than being beaten (10) ____. He said: "It makes you feel like you are (11) ____ mad." Many people think prisons must stop playing loud music to someone for days or weeks at a time. A human (12) ____ charity called Reprieve has started a campaign to end it. It wants rock stars to ban prisons from using their music for torture.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	tact	(b)	tactical	(c)	tactic	(d)	tactics
2.	(a)	job	(b)	task	(c)	errand	(d)	work
3.	(a)	chose	(b)	chosen	(c)	choice	(d)	choose
4.	(a)	bow	(b)	sit	(c)	kneel	(d)	stand
5.	(a)	at	(b)	by	(c)	of	(d)	as
6.	(a)	ships	(b)	shipping	(c)	shipment	(d)	shipped
7.	(a)	scare	(b)	scary	(c)	scared	(d)	scar
8.	(a)	wakey-wakey	(b)	wake up	(c)	woke	(d)	awake
9.	(a)	span	(b)	period	(c)	time	(d)	length
10.	(a)	over	(b)	down	(c)	over	(d)	up
11.	(a)	go	(b)	going	(c)	gone	(d)	been
12.	(a)	rights	(b)	lefts	(c)	wrongs	(d)	properly

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	Ship pstiacna in the Indian Ocean
2.	using a new cicatt to keep pirates away
3.	These guys can't stand Western ulrtcue
4.	making Britney's hits etecpfr
5.	an ffeetivec way of stopping attacks on ships
6.	Each utersyic company will have its own music choice
Paragraph 2
7.	used to caers people
8.	used as a form of urttero
9.	keep rsisrneop awake
10.	worse than being taneeb up
11.	A human hgtsir charity
12.	started a gcaminap to end it

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	job against Somali pirates. Ms Owens, 34, said: "[Britney's] songs were chosen by the security
( )	mad." Many people think prisons must stop playing loud music to someone for days or weeks at a time. A human
( )	sung by U.S. pop star Britney Spears. An officer with Britain's merchant navy, Rachel Owens, said Britney Spears' songs did a good
( 1 )	Ship captains in the Indian Ocean are using a new tactic to keep pirates away – songs
( )	awake. In 2008, prisoners had to listen to very loud music for weeks and months. A former
( )	stand Western culture or music, making Britney's hits perfect." A spokesman for a security company said playing
( )	This is not the first time loud music has been used to scare people. It has even been used as a form
( )	loud pop music was an effective way of stopping attacks on ships. He said not all shipping companies
( )	Guantanamo prisoner, Ruhal Ahmed, explained that the loud music played in his cell
( )	team because they thought the pirates would hate them most. These guys can't
( )	of torture. Prison guards at Guantanamo Bay started using music in 2003 to keep prisoners
( )	rights charity called Reprieve has started a campaign to end it. It wants rock stars to ban prisons from using their music for torture.
( )	choose Britney Spears' music. He added: "Each security company will have its own music choice."
( )	for weeks at a time was worse than being beaten up. He said: "It makes you feel like you are going

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	tactic Captains in the Indian Ocean are using a new.
2.	the most pirates would They hate thought them.
3.	guys or can't music stand Western These culture.
4.	way ships of stopping An attacks effective on.
5.	its choice security have music Each will own company.
6.	first the not is This used been has music loud time.
7.	a form of torture It has even been used as.
8.	for weeks Prisoners had to listen to very loud music.
9.	feel are you you mad makes like going It.
10.	their Ban music prisons for from torture using.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Ship captains in the Indian Ocean are using a new tactical / tactic to keep pirates away – songs sung / singing by U.S. pop star Britney Spears. An officer with Britain's merchant navy, Rachel Owens, said Britney Spears' songs did a good work / job against Somali pirates. Ms Owens, 34, said: "[Britney's] songs were chose / chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them must / most. These guys can't sit / stand Western culture or music, making / made Britney's hits perfect / perfectly." A spokesman for a security company said playing loud pop music was an effective way of / as stopping attacks on ships. He said not all shipping companies choose Britney Spears' music. He added: "Each security company will have its own music choose / choice."

This is not the first time loud music has been used to scary / scare people. It has even been used as a form of / for torture. Prison guards at Guantanamo Bay started using / use music in 2003 to keep prisoners wakey-wakey / awake. In 2008, prisoners had / must to listen to very loud music for weeks and months. A former / farmer Guantanamo prisoner, Ruhal Ahmed, explained that the loud music played in his cell for weeks at a span / time was worse than being beaten up. He said: "It makes you feel like you are going / been mad." Many people think prisons must stop playing loud music to someone for days or weeks at a time. A human wrongs / rights charity called Reprieve has started a campaign to end it. It wants rock stars to ban prisons / prisoners from using their music for torture.

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)

Sh_p c_pt__ns _n th_ _nd__n _c__n _r_ _s_ng _ n_w t_ct_c t_ k__p p_r_t_s _w_y – s_ngs s_ng by _.S. p_p st_r Br_tn_y Sp__rs. _n _ff_c_r w_th Br_t__n's m_rch_nt n_vy, R_ch_l _w_ns, s__d Br_tn_y Sp__rs' s_ngs d_d _ g__d j_b _g__nst S_m_l_ p_r_t_s. Ms _w_ns, 34, s__d: "[Br_tn_y's] s_ngs w_r_ ch_s_n by th_ s_c_r_ty t__m b_c__s_ th_y th__ght th_ p_r_t_s w__ld h_t_ th_m m_st. Th_s_ g_ys c_n't st_nd W_st_rn c_lt_r_ _r m_s_c, m_k_ng Br_tn_y's h_ts p_rf_ct." _ sp_k_sm_n f_r _ s_c_r_ty c_mp_ny s__d pl_y_ng l__d p_p m_s_c w_s _n _ff_ct_v_ w_y _f st_pp_ng _tt_cks _n sh_ps. H_ s__d n_t _ll sh_pp_ng c_mp_n__s ch__s_ Br_tn_y Sp__rs' m_s_c. H_ _dd_d: "__ch s_c_r_ty c_mp_ny w_ll h_v_ _ts _wn m_s_c ch__c_."

Th_s _s n_t th_ f_rst t_m_ l__d m_s_c h_s b__n _s_d t_ sc_r_ p__pl_. _t h_s _v_n b__n _s_d _s _ f_rm _f t_rt_r_. Pr_s_n g__rds _t G__nt_n_m_ B_y st_rt_d _s_ng m_s_c _n 2003 t_ k__p pr_s_n_rs _w_k_. _n 2008, pr_s_n_rs h_d t_ l_st_n t_ v_ry l__d m_s_c f_r w__ks _nd m_nths. _ f_rm_r G__nt_n_m_ pr_s_n_r, R_h_l _hm_d, _xpl__n_d th_t th_ l__d m_s_c pl_y_d _n h_s c_ll f_r w__ks _t _ t_m_ w_s w_rs_ th_n b__ng b__t_n _p. H_ s__d: "_t m_k_s y__ f__l l_k_ y__ _r_ g__ng m_d." M_ny p__pl_ th_nk pr_s_ns m_st st_p pl_y_ng l__d m_s_c t_ s_m__n_ f_r d_ys _r w__ks _t _ t_m_. _ h_m_n r_ghts ch_r_ty c_ll_d R_pr__v_ h_s st_rt_d _ c_mp__gn t_ _nd _t. _t w_nts r_ck st_rs t_ b_n pr_s_ns fr_m _s_ng th__r m_s_c f_r t_rt_r_.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

ship captains in the indian ocean are using a new tactic to keep pirates away – songs sung by us pop star britney spears an officer with britain's merchant navy rachel owens said britney spears' songs did a good job against somali pirates ms owens 34 said "[britney's] songs were chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most these guys can't stand western culture or music making britney's hits perfect" a spokesman for a security company said playing loud pop music was an effective way of stopping attacks on ships he said not all shipping companies choose britney spears' music he added "each security company will have its own music choice"

this is not the first time loud music has been used to scare people it has even been used as a form of torture prison guards at guantanamo bay started using music in 2003 to keep prisoners awake in 2008 prisoners had to listen to very loud music for weeks and months a former guantanamo prisoner ruhal ahmed explained that the loud music played in his cell for weeks at a time was worse than being beaten up he said "it makes you feel like you are going mad" many people think prisons must stop playing loud music to someone for days or weeks at a time a human rights charity called reprieve has started a campaign to end it it wants rock stars to ban prisons from using their music for torture

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ShipcaptainsintheIndianOceanareusinganewtactictokeeppiratesa
way–songssungbyU.S.popstarBritneySpears.AnofficerwithBr
itain'smerchantnavy,RachelOwens,saidBritneySpears'songsdidag
oodjobagainstSomalipirates.MsOwens,34,said:"[Britney's]songs
werechosenbythesecurityteambecausetheythoughtthepirateswou
ldhatethemmost.Theseguyscan'tstandWesterncultureormusic,ma
kingBritney'shitsperfect."Aspokesmanforasecuritycompanysaidpl
ayingloudpopmusicwasaneffectivewayofstoppingattacksonships.H
esaidnotallshippingcompanieschooseBritneySpears'music.Headde
d:"Eachsecuritycompanywillhaveitsownmusicchoice."Thisisnotthe
firsttimeloudmusichasbeenusedtoscarepeople.Ithasevenbeenuse
dasaformoftorture.PrisonguardsatGuantanamoBaystartedusingm
usicin2003tokeepprisonersawake.In2008,prisonershadtolistentov
eryloudmusicforweeksandmonths.AformerGuantanamoprisoner,R
uhalAhmed,explainedthattheloudmusicplayedinhiscellforweeksat
atimewasworsethanbeingbeatenup.Hesaid:"Itmakesyoufeellikeyo
uaregoingmad."Manypeoplethinkprisonsmuststopplayingloudmus
ictosomeonefordaysorweeksatatime.AhumanrightscharitycalledR
eprievehasstartedacampaigntoendit.Itwantsrockstarstobanprison
sfromusingtheirmusicfortorture.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Music should always be loud. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 loud music and pirates. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. PIRATES: Write a magazine article about Britney Spears' music being played to pirates. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 a security expert. Ask him/her three questions about loud music played to pirates. Give him/her three of your opinions on this. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	tactic	a.	plan
2.	good	b.	effective
3.	chosen	c.	selected
4.	can't stand	d.	hate
5.	stopping	e.	preventing
6.	scare	f.	frighten
7.	form	g.	kind
8.	former	h.	ex-
9.	mad	i.	crazy
10.	ban	j.	stop

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The Indian Ocean
2.	34
3.	The security team
4.	They can't stand it
5.	Stopping attacks on ships
6.	2003
7.	Prisoners listened to loud music for weeks and months
8.	A former Guantanamo Bay prisoner
9.	Like you're going mad
10.	Tell prisons to stop playing their music

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Britney Spears' music scares off pirates (31st October, 2014)

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