Cubans can now buy a car more easily

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

It is now easier to buy foreign made, new and used cars in Cuba. The Council of Ministers of Cuba decided, "to open up the retail sale of…motorcycles, cars, vans and minibuses." Cuba will also "prioritize bicycle sales on the retail market" at cheap prices. New laws mean regulations on car ownership are less strict. Until 2011, people could not sell cars that were made after the 1959 Cuban revolution. Havana was full of vintage cars from yesteryear.

Cuba's government will control car prices. Only it will import foreign cars. Cubans will have to buy imported cars from the government. Profits from sales will improve Cuba's roads and transportation. Car dealers don't expect big sales. Most Cubans cannot afford to buy a car. Havana resident Jorge Canso said: "Yeah, I can buy one, but with what? Unfortunately our economy doesn't allow us to save money to be able to buy one."

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www. bbc.co.uk /news/world-latin-america-25450026
http://www. miamiherald.com /2013/12/19/3828433/cuba-lifts-all-restrictions-on.html
http://www. havanatimes.org /?p=100683

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.	foreign made, new	a.	1959 Cuban revolution
2.	open up the retail	b.	sales
3.	bicycle	c.	cars from yesteryear
4.	regulations on car ownership	d.	sale of motorcycles
5.	cars that were made after the	e.	are less strict
6.	Havana was full of vintage	f.	and used cars

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.	Cuba's government will control	a.	improve Cuba's roads
2.	buy imported cars	b.	buy a car
3.	Profits from sales will	c.	car prices
4.	Car dealers don't	d.	money
5.	cannot afford to	e.	expect big sales
6.	our economy doesn't allow us to save	f.	from the government

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

It is now easier to (1) ___________________, new and used cars in Cuba. The Council of Ministers of Cuba decided, "to (2) ___________________ sale of…motorcycles, cars, vans and minibuses." Cuba will also "prioritize bicycle sales on (3) ___________________ " at cheap prices. New laws mean regulations on car (4) ___________________ strict. Until 2011, people could not sell cars that were made after the (5) ___________________. Havana was (6) ___________________ from yesteryear.

Cuba's government (7) ___________________ prices. Only it will import foreign cars. Cubans will have (8) ___________________ cars from the government. Profits from (9) ___________________ Cuba's roads and transportation. Car dealers don't (10) ___________________. Most Cubans cannot (11) ___________________ a car. Havana resident Jorge Canso said: "Yeah, I can buy one, but with what? Unfortunately our economy doesn't (12) ___________________ money to be able to buy one."

CUBA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Cuba 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.

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 Cuba for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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