The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Uruguay has become the first country to legalise the production and distribution of marijuana. It is the only nation where the government has total control of the commercialisation of marijuana (also called cannabis). Uruguay's President Jose Mujica said he wants to stop the activities of drug traffickers and put them out of business. He hopes that his legalisation and the monitoring of marijuana sales by the state will reduce dependence on the drug and drug-related crime. Mr Mujica said he knew that it was "an experiment" which had no guarantee of being successful.

The legalisation goes against an international treaty on drug control. Uruguay signed the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs. This limits the use of cannabis "to medical and scientific purposes". The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was surprised that Uruguay had decided to break the agreement, which is supported internationally. The INCB warned the move could backfire and not protect young people. It could have the opposite effect and encourage younger people to try drugs. There might contribute to more addiction and other problems among Uruguay's youth.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://en.mercopress.com/2013/12/11/first-obstacle-for-uruguay-s-marijuana-bill-it-violates-international-convention-on-drug-control
  • http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-12-11/uruguay-oks-first-national-market-for-legal-pot
  • http://www.economywatch.com/features/uruguay-legalises-marijuana-trade.12-12.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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

the production and distribution

a.

of business

2.

the government has

b.

related crime

3.

stop the activities of drug

c.

total control

4.

put them out

d.

being successful

5.

reduce dependence

e.

of marijuana

6.

drug-

f.

"an experiment"

7.

he knew that it was

g.

on the drug

8.

no guarantee of

h.

traffickers


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 legalisation goes against

a.

of cannabis

2.

drug

b.

internationally

3.

This limits the use

c.

agreement

4.

medical and

d.

control

5.

break the

e.

effect

6.

supported

f.

an international treaty

7.

the move could

g.

scientific purposes

8.

It could have the opposite

h.

backfire

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Uruguay has become the first country (1) ___________________ production and distribution of marijuana. It is the only nation where the government has (2) ___________________ commercialisation of marijuana (also called cannabis). Uruguay's President Jose Mujica said he wants to stop the activities (3) ___________________ and put them out of business. He hopes that his legalisation (4) ___________________ of marijuana sales by the state will (5) ___________________ the drug and drug-related crime. Mr Mujica said he knew that it was "an experiment" (6) ___________________ of being successful.

The legalisation goes against an international (7) ___________________. Uruguay signed the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs. This limits the use of cannabis "to (8) ___________________ purposes". The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was surprised that Uruguay had decided to (9) ___________________, which is supported internationally. The INCB warned the (10) ___________________ and not protect young people. It could have (11) ___________________ and encourage younger people to try drugs. There might contribute (12) ___________________ and other problems among Uruguay's youth.

THE WAR ON DRUGS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the War on Drugs 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.

 

 

 

 

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)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about the War on Drugs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You