The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Bill Gates said that by 2035, there will be almost no poor countries. The World Bank says there are 35 poor countries. The people who live in them have very little money. Gates said nearly all these countries will be richer in 20 years. All of South America, Asia, and Central America (but maybe not Haiti), and most in Africa will become richer. When he was born, most countries were poor. He thinks that in the next 20 years, most of these countries will be richer.

Mr Gates said North Korea, Haiti and some African nations will still be poor. The good news is that nearly 90% of countries will be richer than India today. Gates thinks poor countries will copy their richer neighbours. They will have new medicines, better seeds and a faster Internet. Gates said China, India, Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty years ago but are now strong. He said more than one billion people are very, very poor, so "it's not time to celebrate".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/No-poor-countries-by-2035-Bill-Gates/articleshow/29226518.cms
  • http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/money/2014/01/22/bill-gates-world-will-have-almost-no-poor-countries-by-2035/


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.

there will be

a.

poor countries

2.

The World

b.

20 years

3.

there are 35

c.

almost no poor countries

4.

have very little

d.

most countries were poor

5.

All of

e.

will be richer

6.

When he was born,

f.

Bank

7.

in the next

g.

South America

8.

most of these countries

h.

money

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.

nations will still

a.

of countries

2.

good

b.

medicines

3.

nearly 90%

c.

news

4.

poor countries will copy

d.

to celebrate

5.

They will have new

e.

be poor

6.

a faster

f.

their richer neighbours

7.

more than one

g.

Internet

8.

it's not time

h.

billion people

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Bill Gates said (1) ___________________, there will be almost no poor countries. The World Bank says there are 35 poor countries. The people (2) ___________________ have very little money. Gates said nearly all these countries (3) ___________________ in 20 years. All of South America, Asia, and Central America (but maybe not Haiti), and (4) ___________________ will become richer. (5) ___________________, most countries were poor. He thinks that in the next 20 years, (6) ___________________ countries will be richer.

Mr Gates said North Korea, Haiti and some African nations will still be poor. The (7) ___________________ nearly 90% of countries will be richer (8) ___________________. Gates thinks poor countries will copy their richer neighbours. They will have (9) ___________________, better seeds and (10) ___________________. Gates said China, India, Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty years (11) ___________________ strong. He said more than one billion people are very, very poor, so "it's not (12) ___________________ ".

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

BillGatessaidthatby2035,therewillbealmostnopoorcountries.The
WorldBanksaysthereare35poorcountries.Thepeoplewholiveinth
emhaveverylittlemoney.Gatessaidnearlyallthesecountrieswillbe
richerin20years.AllofSouthAmerica,Asia,andCentralAmerica(but
maybenotHaiti),andmostinAfricawillbecomericher.Whenhewasb
orn,mostcountrieswerepoor.Hethinksthatinthenext20years,mos
tofthesecountrieswillbericher.MrGatessaidNorthKorea,Haitiands
omeAfricannationswillstillbepoor.Thegoodnewsisthatnearly90%
ofcountrieswillbericherthanIndiatoday.Gatesthinkspoorcountrie
swillcopytheirricherneighbours.Theywillhavenewmedicines,bett
erseedsandafasterInternet.GatessaidChina,India,BrazilandBots
wanawerepoorthirtyyearsagobutarenowstrong.Hesaidmorethan
onebillionpeoplearevery,verypoor,so"it'snottimetocelebrate".

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)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about poor countries 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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