The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Cuba is making it easier for Cubans to buy foreign made, new and used cars. The Havana Times reports that the Council of Ministers decided "to open up the retail sale of new and used motorcycles, cars, vans and minibuses." The government will also "prioritize bicycle sales on the retail market" at very affordable prices. New laws mean the government is relaxing regulations on car ownership. Until 2011, people could not sell cars that were made after the 1959 Cuban revolution. This made Havana look like it was in a time warp. All cars were vintage models from yesteryear.

The Cuban government will control vehicle prices. It will also be the only organisation that can import foreign cars. Cubans will have to buy an imported car from the government. The Communist Party newspaper said profits from sales will improve Cuba's roads and transportation system. Car dealers are not expecting huge sales. Most people in Cuba cannot afford to buy a car. Havana resident Jorge Canso commented on this, saying: "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 4 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.

buy foreign made, new

a.

on car ownership

2.

retail

b.

warp

3.

affordable

c.

and used cars

4.

the government is relaxing regulations

d.

models from yesteryear

5.

Until 2011, people

e.

Cuban revolution

6.

after the 1959

f.

prices

7.

This made Havana look like it was in a time

g.

could not sell cars

8.

All cars were vintage

h.

sale



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.

control vehicle

a.

resident

2.

the only organisation that can

b.

Party

3.

Communist

c.

money

4.

Cuba's roads and transportation

d.

import foreign cars

5.

expecting

e.

system

6.

cannot afford

f.

prices

7.

Havana

g.

huge sales

8.

allow us to save

h.

to buy a car

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Cuba is making it easier for Cubans to (1) ___________________, new and used cars. The Havana Times reports that the Council of Ministers decided "to (2) ___________________ sale of new and used motorcycles, cars, vans and minibuses." The government (3) ___________________ bicycle sales on the retail market" (4) ___________________ prices. New laws mean the government is relaxing (5) ___________________ ownership. Until 2011, people could not sell cars that were made after the 1959 Cuban revolution. This made Havana look like it was (6) ___________________. All cars were vintage models from yesteryear.

The Cuban government will (7) ___________________. It will also be the only organisation that can (8) ___________________. Cubans will have to buy an imported car from the government. The Communist Party newspaper said profits from (9) ___________________ Cuba's roads and transportation system. Car dealers are not (10) ___________________. Most people in Cuba cannot afford to buy a car. Havana resident Jorge Canso commented on this, saying: "Yeah, I can buy one, (11) ___________________? 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)

________________________________________________________

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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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