U.N. makes first ever cut in staff

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

The U.N. will cut staff for the first time ever. It OK'd its first cut since it first started in 1945. There will be 219 fewer positions, or two per cent of all U.N. jobs. The U.N. will also freeze pay rises and benefits for a year or two. Pressure from member states led to the reduced spending. Many countries are struggling to pay their contributions to the U.N. They are still suffering from the austerity measures they took after the global financial crisis.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said the cuts were "crucial" and would reduce unnecessary jobs. He said other organisations are also taking measures to reduce costs and services. He added: "Our shared goal should be to ensure that the U.N. can maximise the results that it delivers with the amount of resources that member states are…able to provide." The U.S. pays 22 per cent of the U.N. budget and is the U.N.'s biggest financial contributor.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-27/united-nations-makes-first-staff-cut-since-1945-in-budget.html
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-12-27/united-nations-makes-first-staff-cut-since-1945-in-budget-deal
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/12/27/us-un-budget-idINBRE9BQ0JX20131227

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.	for the first	a.	spending
2.	219 fewer	b.	time ever
3.	The U.N. will also freeze	c.	measures
4.	reduced	d.	financial crisis
5.	austerity	e.	pay rises
6.	after the global	f.	positions

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 U.S. ambassador	a.	unnecessary jobs
2.	reduce	b.	goal
3.	taking measures to	c.	financial contributor
4.	shared	d.	the results
5.	maximise	e.	to the U.N.
6.	the U.N.'s biggest	f.	reduce costs

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The U.N. will cut (1) ___________________ time ever. It OK'd its first cut since it first started in 1945. There will be 219 (2) ___________________, or two per cent of all U.N. jobs. The U.N. will also (3) ___________________ and benefits for a year or two. Pressure from member states led to the (4) ___________________. Many countries are struggling to pay their contributions to the U.N. They are (5) ___________________ the austerity measures they took after the (6) ___________________.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said the (7) ___________________ and would (8) ___________________. He said other organisations are also taking (9) ___________________ costs and services. He added: "Our shared goal should be to (10) ___________________ can maximise the results that it delivers with the (11) ___________________ that member states are…able to provide." The U.S. pays 22 per cent of the U.N. budget and is the U.N.'s (12) ___________________.

THE UNITED NATIONS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the United Nations 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 the United Nations for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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