The Reading / Listening - Level 2

South Africans and people worldwide are mourning the death of Nelson Mandela. Thousands of people met in Johannesburg and Soweto to say goodbye to their country's first black president. They danced, sang, cried and prayed for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday after months of illness. South Africa's president announced Mr Mandela's death on late-night TV. He said: "Our nation has lost its greatest son." Mr Mandela spent most of his life campaigning for equal rights. He spent 27 years in jail and then became South Africa's president in 1994.

World leaders had a lot of praise for Mr Mandela. His good friend Desmond Tutu said: "God was so good to us in South Africa by giving us Nelson Mandela." Barack Obama said: "He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today, he has gone home." The UN Secretary-General said he was "a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world…if we believe, dream and work together." British leader David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. A great light has gone out in the world."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25252626
  • http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/world-reacts-to-mandela-s-death-1.1617794#.UqFvFI3fOV8
  • http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Mandelas-death-makes-global-headlines-20131206


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.

people worldwide are mourning the

a.

first black president

2.

Thousands of people

b.

they loved

3.

say goodbye to their country's

c.

rights

4.

They danced, sang, cried

d.

death of Nelson Mandela

5.

the man

e.

in jail

6.

Our nation has lost

f.

met in Johannesburg

7.

campaigning for equal

g.

and prayed

8.

He spent 27 years

h.

its greatest son


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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

World leaders had a lot of

a.

possible for our world

2.

God was so

b.

of our time

3.

He achieved more than could be

c.

earth

4.

down-to-

d.

praise for Mr Mandela

5.

Nelson Mandela showed what is

e.

and work together.

6.

if we believe, dream

f.

out in the world

7.

Nelson Mandela was a hero

g.

expected of any man

8.

A great light has gone

h.

good to us

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

South Africans and people worldwide (1) ___________________ death of Nelson Mandela. Thousands of people met in Johannesburg and Soweto (2) ___________________ their country's first black president. They danced, (3) ___________________ for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday after months of illness. South Africa's (4) ___________________ Mr Mandela's death on late-night TV. He said: "Our nation has lost its greatest son." Mr Mandela (5) ___________________ life campaigning for equal rights. He spent 27 years (6) ___________________ became South Africa's president in 1994.

World leaders (7) ___________________ for Mr Mandela. His good friend Desmond Tutu said: "God was so good to us in South Africa by giving us Nelson Mandela." Barack Obama said: "He achieved more than could (8) ___________________ any man. Today, he has gone home." The UN Secretary-General said he was "a giant for justice and (9) ___________________ inspiration". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is (10) ___________________…if we believe, dream (11) ___________________." British leader David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. A great light (12) ___________________ world."

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

SouthAfricansandpeopleworldwidearemourningthedeathofNelson
Mandela.ThousandsofpeoplemetinJohannesburgandSowetotosay
goodbyetotheircountry'sfirstblackpresident.Theydanced,sang,crie
dandprayedforthemantheyloved.MrMandeladiedaged95onThursd
ayaftermonthsofillness.SouthAfrica'spresidentannouncedMrMand
ela'sdeathonlate-nightTV.Hesaid:"Ournationhaslostitsgreates
tson."MrMandelaspentmostofhislifecampaigningforequalrights.He
spent27yearsinjailandthenbecameSouthAfrica'spresidentin1994.
WorldleadershadalotofpraiseforMrMandela.HisgoodfriendDesmon
dTutusaid:"GodwassogoodtousinSouthAfricabygivingusNelsonMa
ndela."BarackObamasaid:"Heachievedmorethancouldbeexpected
ofanyman.Today,hehasgonehome."TheUNSecretary-Generalsaid
hewas"agiantforjusticeandadown-to-earthhumaninspiration".Hea
dded:"NelsonMandelashowedwhatispossibleforourworld…ifwebeli
eve,dreamandworktogether."BritishleaderDavidCamerontweeted
:"NelsonMandelawasaheroofourtime.Agreatlighthasgoneoutinthe
world."

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

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d)

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e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about Nelson Mandela 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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