Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Almost no poor countries by 2035 (25th January, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The man who started Microsoft, Bill Gates, has predicted that by 2035, there will be almost no poor countries in the world. Today, the World Bank says there are 35 poor countries. Most of the people who live in them are on low or no incomes. Gates said that nearly all these countries will be richer in the next 20 years. He wrote: "Every nation in South America, Asia, and Central America (with the possible exception of Haiti), and most in coastal Africa will have joined the ranks of today's middle-income nations." He added: "When I was born, most countries in the world were poor. In the next two decades desperately poor countries will become the exception rather than the rule."

Mr Gates said some countries will still be poor. These include North Korea, Haiti and nations in central Africa. He said the good news was that: "Nearly 90% will have a higher income than India does today." He believes countries will become richer by copying their more successful neighbours. Countries will also benefit from new medicines, better seeds for farmers, and the Internet. Gates said many countries that were very poor just a few decades ago are now doing well. He said China, India, Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty years ago but now have growing economies. He said there was still a lot of work to do and that, "more than one billion people live in extreme poverty, so it's not time to celebrate".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. POOR COUNTRIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about poor countries. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

Microsoft / predicted / World Bank / income / richer / Asia / the next two decades / nations / good news / copying / successful / neighbours / medicine / growing / poverty

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. PREDICTIONS: What do you predict will happen by 2035? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Your prediction	Is this good or bad? Why?
The Internet
World peace
English
Technology
Education
Money

4. RICHER: Students A strongly believe there will be no poor countries in 50 years from now; Students B strongly believe there will be. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. GOOD NEWS: Rank these (good?) news items and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• no more poor countries

• humans reach Mars

• the last ever war ends

• now we can live to be 200

• energy made from air

• free Internet everywhere

• world becomes vegetarian

• whole world speaks English

6. POOR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "poor". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	The founder of Microsoft predicted countries would get richer.	T / F
b.	The World Bank says there are 38 poor countries in the world today.	T / F
c.	It says in the article Haiti might still be poor in 20 years from now.	T / F
d.	Bill Gates said most countries were poor when he was born.	T / F
e.	Mr Gates said North Korea would become a rich country in 20 years.	T / F
f.	Countries will get richer by copying countries that have become rich.	T / F
g.	The economy in Botswana is getting smaller.	T / F
h.	Bill Gates said we should all be celebrating.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	predicted	a.	earnings
2.	incomes	b.	getting bigger
3.	nation	c.	almost
4.	decade	d.	forecasted
5.	desperately	e.	party
6.	nearly	f.	imitating
7.	copying	g.	country
8.	growing	h.	maximum
9.	extreme	i.	ten years
10.	celebrate	j.	seriously

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	The man who	a.	income nations
2.	there will be almost no poor	b.	economies
3.	on low or	c.	poor countries
4.	joined the ranks of today's middle-	d.	in extreme poverty
5.	desperately	e.	to celebrate
6.	good	f.	started Microsoft
7.	better seeds	g.	no incomes
8.	growing	h.	for farmers
9.	one billion people live	i.	countries in the world
10.	it's not time	j.	news

GAP FILL

The man who started Microsoft, Bill Gates, has (1) ____________ that by 2035, there will be almost no poor countries in the world. Today, the World Bank says there are 35 poor countries. Most of the people who live in them are on low or no (2) ____________. Gates said that nearly all these countries will be richer in the next 20 years. He wrote: "Every (3) ____________ in South America, Asia, and Central America (with the (4) ____________ exception of Haiti), and most in (5) ____________ Africa will have joined the ranks of today's (6) ____________ -income nations." He added: "When I was born, most countries in the world were poor. In the next two (7) ____________ desperately poor countries will become the exception (8) ____________ than the rule."

possible
decades
predicted
rather
middle
incomes
nation
coastal

Mr Gates said some countries will still be poor. These (9) ____________ North Korea, Haiti and nations in central Africa. He said the good (10) ____________ was that: "Nearly 90% will have a higher income than India does today." He believes countries will become richer by (11) ____________ their more successful neighbours. Countries will also benefit from new (12) ____________, better seeds for farmers, and the Internet. Gates said many countries that were very poor just a (13) ____________ decades ago are now doing well. He said China, India, Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty years ago but now have (14) ____________ economies. He said there was still a lot of (15) ____________ to do and that, "more than one billion people live in extreme poverty, so it's not time to (16) ____________ ".

few
celebrate
news
medicines
include
work
copying
growing

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Most of the people who live in them are on low ______
	a. or not incomes b. or non incomes c. or no incomes d. or know incomes
2)	Gates said that nearly all these countries ______
	a. will be richest b. will be richer c. will be rich d. will be richly
3)	Every nation in South America, Asia, and ______
	a. Centrally America b. Central America c. Centre America d. Sent to America
4)	joined the ranks of today's middle-______
	a. income nations b. income nationals c. income nay shuns d. income nation
5)	In the next two decades, desperately poor countries will ______
	a. become the exceptions b. become the exceptional c. become the expectation d. become the exception
6)	countries will become richer by copying their more ______
	a. success full neighbours b. successfully neighbours c. success fall neighbours d. successful neighbours
7)	Gates said many countries that were very poor just ______
	a. a few decades ago b. a phew decades ago c. a flew decades ago d. a full decades ago
8)	Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty years ago but now have ______
	a. grow in economies b. growling economies c. grew in economies d. growing economies
9)	more than one billion people live in ______
	a. extremist poverty b. extremely poverty c. extreme poverty d. extremes poverty
10)	it's not time ______
	a. to celebrate b. to celebrates c. to celebrated d. to celebrating

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The man who started Microsoft, Bill Gates, (1) ___________________ by 2035, there will be almost no poor countries in the world. Today, the World Bank (2) ___________________ 35 poor countries. Most of the people who live in them (3) ___________________ incomes. Gates said that nearly all these countries will be richer in the next 20 years. He wrote: "Every nation in South America, (4) ___________________ America (with the possible exception of Haiti), and most in coastal Africa will have joined the ranks of today's (5) ___________________." He added: "When I was born, most countries in the world were poor. In the next two decades desperately poor countries will become the exception (6) ___________________."

Mr Gates said some countries will still be poor. These include North Korea, Haiti and (7) ___________________ Africa. He said the good news was that: "Nearly 90% will have (8) ___________________ India does today." He believes countries will become (9) ___________________ their more successful neighbours. Countries will also benefit from new medicines, better seeds for farmers, and the Internet. Gates said many countries that were very (10) ___________________ ago are now doing well. He said China, India, Brazil and Botswana (11) ___________________ years ago but now have growing economies. He said there was still a lot of work to do and that, "more than one billion people live (12) ___________________, so it's not time to celebrate".

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How many poor countries are there (according to the World Bank)?
2.	When will most of these poor countries be richer?
3.	Which Central American country might not be richer?
4.	What did Bill Gates say most countries were like when he was born?
5.	What countries will be the exception rather than the rule in 20 years?
6.	In which part of Africa will countries still be poor?
7.	How does Mr Gates think countries will become richer?
8.	What will farmers get?
9.	How many countries did the article mention that were doing better?
10.	How many people live in extreme poverty?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How many poor countries are there (according to the World Bank)?	6.	In which part of Africa will countries still be poor?
	a) 25 b) 28 c) 35 d) 38		a) the south b) central Africa c) the Indian Ocean countries d) north of the Sahara
2.	When will most of these poor countries be richer?	7.	How does Mr Gates think countries will become richer?
	a) in the next 20 year b) by the end of the century c) in 2050 d) by 2082		a) by copying their neighbours b) with foreign aid c) by using the Internet d) they will find gold
3.	Which Central American country might not be richer?	8.	What will farmers get?
	a) Haiti b) Cuba c) Belize d) Panama		a) more rain b) money from the World Bank c) better seeds d) new tractors
4.	What did Bill Gates say most countries were like when he was born?	9.	How many countries did the article mention that were doing better?
	a) far away b) poor c) exotic d) unknown		a) 7 b) 6 c) 5 d) 4
5.	What countries will be the exception rather than the rule in 20 years?	10.	How many people live in extreme poverty?
	a) those in the U.N. b) Austria and Australia c) ones that have many resources d) desperately poor ones		a) more than one billion b) 897,652,002 c) less than 1,000,000,000 d) 500,000,000

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Humans reach Mars

You think humans reaching Mars is the best news. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things about there news that aren't so great. Also, tell the others which is the most impossible of these (and why): the last ever war ending, free Internet being everywhere or there being no more poor countries.

Role B – The last ever war ends

You think the last ever war ending is the best news. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things about there news that aren't so great. Also, tell the others which is the most impossible of these (and why): humans reaching Mars, free Internet being everywhere or there being no more poor countries.

Role C – Free Internet everywhere

You think free Internet being everywhere is the best news. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things about there news that aren't so great. Also, tell the others which is the most impossible of these (and why): the last ever war ending, humans reaching Mars or there being no more poor countries.

Role D – No more poor countries

You think there being no more poor countries is the best news. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things about there news that aren't so great. Also, tell the others which is the most impossible of these (and why): the last ever war ending, free Internet being everywhere or humans reaching Mars.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'poor' and 'country'.

poor

country

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

started
35
20
joined
born
rule

still
90
copying
few
30
billion

POOR COUNTRIES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about poor countries 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.

POOR COUNTRIES DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'poor'?
c)	Do you think Bill Gates' prediction will come true?
d)	Why are countries poor?
e)	Is your country rich or poor? Why do you say so?
f)	How will the world change if no country is poor?
g)	What can rich countries do to help poor countries?
h)	How has the Internet helped countries to become richer?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What is the biggest thing that keeps a country poor?
c)	What needs to happen in North Korea and Haiti for them to be richer?
d)	How important is education in making a country richer
e)	Are the richest countries the best ones in which to live?
f)	Will there always be millions of people living in poverty?
g)	How would your society change if no one was poor?
h)	What questions would you like to ask Bill Gates?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The man who started Microsoft, Bill Gates, has (1) ____ that by 2035, there will be almost no poor countries in the world. Today, the World Bank says there are 35 poor countries. Most of the people who live in them are on (2) ____ or no incomes. Gates said that nearly all (3) ____ countries will be richer in the next 20 years. He wrote: "Every nation in South America, Asia, and Central America (with the (4) ____ exception of Haiti), and most in coastal Africa will have joined the ranks of today's middle-income nations." He added: "When I was (5) ____, most countries in the world were poor. In the next two decades desperately poor countries will become the exception rather than the (6) ____."

Mr Gates said some countries will still be poor. These (7) ____ North Korea, Haiti and nations in central Africa. He said the (8) ____ news was that: "Nearly 90% will have a higher income than India does today." He believes countries will become richer by (9) ____ their more successful neighbours. Countries will also benefit from new medicines, better (10) ____ for farmers, and the Internet. Gates said many countries that were very poor just a few decades ago are now doing well. He said China, India, Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty years ago but now have (11) ____ economies. He said there was still a lot of work to do and that, "more than one billion people live in extreme poverty, so it's not (12) ____ to celebrate".

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	predicted	(b)	contradicted	(c)	addicted	(d)	conscripted
2.	(a)	slow	(b)	flow	(c)	low	(d)	glow
3.	(a)	them	(b)	this	(c)	these	(d)	that
4.	(a)	impossible	(b)	possibility	(c)	possibly	(d)	possible
5.	(a)	born	(b)	birth	(c)	baby	(d)	birthday
6.	(a)	ruled	(b)	rule	(c)	ruling	(d)	ruler
7.	(a)	inclusive	(b)	includes	(c)	including	(d)	include
8.	(a)	well	(b)	good	(c)	fine	(d)	right
9.	(a)	echoing	(b)	reproducing	(c)	copying	(d)	aping
10.	(a)	swedes	(b)	speeds	(c)	steeds	(d)	seeds
11.	(a)	grows	(b)	growling	(c)	grew	(d)	growing
12.	(a)	party	(b)	time	(c)	now	(d)	soon

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	ecdipdert that by 2035, there will be…
2.	Every noiatn in South America,
3.	most in staaolc Africa
4.	middle-ocinme
5.	In the next two caeedsd
6.	become the epxoicnte rather than the rule
Paragraph 2
7.	antelcr Africa
8.	their more cuslsseufc neighbours
9.	benefit from new scndemiie
10.	have growing oeinemosc
11.	one lioblin people
12.	it's not time to acblreeet

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	Africa. He said the good news was that: "Nearly 90% will have a higher income than India
( )	of Haiti), and most in coastal Africa will have joined the ranks of today's middle-
( )	years ago but now have growing economies. He said there was still a lot of work to do and that, "more than one
( )	income nations." He added: "When I was born, most countries in the world were poor. In the next two
( )	poor just a few decades ago are now doing well. He said China, India, Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty
( )	decades, desperately poor countries will become the exception rather than the rule."
( )	no poor countries in the world. Today, the World Bank says there are 35 poor countries. Most of the people who
( 1 )	The man who started Microsoft, Bill Gates, has predicted that by 2035, there will be almost
( )	live in them are on low or no incomes. Gates said that nearly all these countries will be richer in
( )	does today." He believes countries will become richer by copying their more successful neighbours. Countries will also
( )	Mr Gates said some countries will still be poor. These include North Korea, Haiti and nations in central
( )	the next 20 years. He wrote: "Every nation in South America, Asia, and Central America (with the possible exception
( )	billion people live in extreme poverty, so it's not time to celebrate".
( )	benefit from new medicines, better seeds for farmers, and the Internet. Gates said many countries that were very

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	be almost no poor countries By 2035 , there will.
2.	incomes no or low on are them in live who People.
3.	be richer in the next 20 years These countries will.
4.	born, When were in I poor the most was world countries.
5.	the Become rule the than rather exception.
6.	higher income than India Nearly 90% will have a.
7.	more richer successful by neighbours copying their Become.
8.	new from benefit also will Countries medicines.
9.	there said He do to work of lot a still was.
10.	people extreme More billion in one live poverty than.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The man who started Microsoft, Bill Gates, has prediction / predicted that by 2035, there will be almost not / no poor countries in the world. Today, the World Bank says there are 35 poor / poorly countries. Most of the people who live in them are on short / low or no incomes. Gates said that near / nearly all these countries will be richer in the past / next 20 years. He wrote: "Every nation / national in South America, Asia, and Central America (with the possible exception / expectation of Haiti), and most in coastal Africa will have joined the ranks of today's middle-income nations." He added: "When I was birth / born, most countries in the world were poor. In the next two decades desperately poor countries will become the exception rather / instead than the rule."

Mr Gates said some countries will still be / do poor. These include North Korea, Haiti and nations in centre / central Africa. He said the good news was that: "Nearly / Nearby 90% will have a higher income than India is / does today." He believes countries will become richer by pasting / copying their more successful neighbours. Countries will also / too benefit from new medicines, better seeds for farmers, and the Internet. Gates said many countries that were very poor just a few / two decades ago are now doing well. He said China, India, Brazil and Botswana were poor thirty years ago but now have grows / growing economies. He said there was still a lot of work to do and this / that, "more than one billion people live in extreme poverty, so it's not time to / for celebrate".

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ m_n wh_ st_rt_d M_cr_s_ft, B_ll G_t_s, h_s pr_d_ct_d th_t by 2035, th_r_ w_ll b_ _lm_st n_ p__r c__ntr__s _n th_ w_rld. T_d_y, th_ W_rld B_nk s_ys th_r_ _r_ 35 p__r c__ntr__s. M_st _f th_ p__pl_ wh_ l_v_ _n th_m _r_ _n l_w _r n_ _nc_m_s. G_t_s s__d th_t n__rly _ll th_s_ c__ntr__s w_ll b_ r_ch_r _n th_ n_xt 20 y__rs. H_ wr_t_: "_v_ry n_t__n _n S__th _m_r_c_, _s__, _nd C_ntr_l _m_r_c_ (w_th th_ p_ss_bl_ _xc_pt__n _f H__t_), _nd m_st _n c__st_l _fr_c_ w_ll h_v_ j__n_d th_ r_nks _f t_d_y's m_ddl_-_nc_m_ n_t__ns." H_ _dd_d: "Wh_n _ w_s b_rn, m_st c__ntr__s _n th_ w_rld w_r_ p__r. _n th_ n_xt tw_ d_c_d_s d_sp_r_t_ly p__r c__ntr__s w_ll b_c_m_ th_ _xc_pt__n r_th_r th_n th_ r_l_."

Mr G_t_s s__d s_m_ c__ntr__s w_ll st_ll b_ p__r. Th_s_ _ncl_d_ N_rth K_r__, H__t_ _nd n_t__ns _n c_ntr_l _fr_c_. H_ s__d th_ g__d n_ws w_s th_t: "N__rly 90% w_ll h_v_ _ h_gh_r _nc_m_ th_n _nd__ d__s t_d_y." H_ b_l__v_s c__ntr__s w_ll b_c_m_ r_ch_r by c_py_ng th__r m_r_ s_cc_ssf_l n__ghb__rs. C__ntr__s w_ll _ls_ b_n_f_t fr_m n_w m_d_c_n_s, b_tt_r s__ds f_r f_rm_rs, _nd th_ _nt_rn_t. G_t_s s__d m_ny c__ntr__s th_t w_r_ v_ry p__r j_st _ f_w d_c_d_s _g_ _r_ n_w d__ng w_ll. H_ s__d Ch_n_, _nd__, Br_z_l _nd B_tsw_n_ w_r_ p__r th_rty y__rs _g_ b_t n_w h_v_ gr_w_ng _c_n_m__s. H_ s__d th_r_ w_s st_ll _ l_t _f w_rk t_ d_ _nd th_t, "m_r_ th_n _n_ b_ll__n p__pl_ l_v_ _n _xtr_m_ p_v_rty, s_ _t's n_t t_m_ t_ c_l_br_t_".

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the man who started microsoft bill gates has predicted that by 2035 there will be almost no poor countries in the world today the world bank says there are 35 poor countries most of the people who live in them are on low or no incomes gates said that nearly all these countries will be richer in the next 20 years he wrote "every nation in south america asia and central america (with the possible exception of haiti) and most in coastal africa will have joined the ranks of today's middle-income nations" he added "when i was born most countries in the world were poor in the next two decades desperately poor countries will become the exception rather than the rule"

mr gates said some countries will still be poor these include north korea haiti and nations in central africa he said the good news was that "nearly 90% will have a higher income than india does today" he believes countries will become richer by copying their more successful neighbours countries will also benefit from new medicines better seeds for farmers and the internet gates said many countries that were very poor just a few decades ago are now doing well he said china india brazil and botswana were poor thirty years ago but now have growing economies he said there was still a lot of work to do and that "more than one billion people live in extreme poverty so it's not time to celebrate"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThemanwhostartedMicrosoft,BillGates,haspredictedthatby2035,therewillb
ealmostnopoorcountriesintheworld.Today,theWorldBanksaysthereare35po
orcountries.Mostofthepeoplewholiveinthemareonlowornoincomes.Gatessai
dthatnearlyallthesecountrieswillbericherinthenext20years.Hewrote:"Every
nationinSouthAmerica,Asia,andCentralAmerica(withthepossibleexceptiono
fHaiti),andmostincoastalAfricawillhavejoinedtheranksoftoday'smiddle-inco
menations."Headded:"WhenIwasborn,mostcountriesintheworldwerepoor.I
nthenexttwodecadesdesperatelypoorcountrieswillbecometheexceptionrath
erthantherule."MrGatessaidsomecountrieswillstillbepoor.TheseincludeNort
hKorea,HaitiandnationsincentralAfrica.Hesaidthegoodnewswasthat:"Nearl
y90%willhaveahigherincomethanIndiadoestoday."Hebelievescountrieswill
becomericherbycopyingtheirmoresuccessfulneighbours.Countrieswillalsob
enefitfromnewmedicines,betterseedsforfarmers,andtheInternet.Gatessaid
manycountriesthatwereverypoorjustafewdecadesagoarenowdoingwell.Hes
aidChina,India,BrazilandBotswanawerepoorthirtyyearsagobutnowhavegro
wingeconomies.Hesaidtherewasstillalotofworktodoandthat,"morethanone
billionpeopleliveinextremepoverty,soit'snottimetocelebrate".

FREE WRITING

Write about poor countries for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Everyone in the world should have the same amount of money. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about poor countries. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. POOR COUNTRIES: Make a poster about poor countries. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. POVERTY: Write a magazine article about poverty. Include imaginary interviews with rich people and poor people.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to Bill Gates. Ask him three questions about poor countries. Give him three ideas on how to help poor countries become rich. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	predicted	a.	forecasted
2.	incomes	b.	earnings
3.	nation	c.	country
4.	decade	d.	ten years
5.	desperately	e.	seriously
6.	nearly	f.	almost
7.	copying	g.	imitating
8.	growing	h.	getting bigger
9.	extreme	i.	maximum
10.	celebrate	j.	party

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	35
2.	In the next 20 years
3.	Haiti
4.	Poor
5.	Desperately poor ones
6.	Central Africa
7.	By copying their successful neighbours
8.	Better seeds
9.	Four
10.	More than 1 billion

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Almost no poor countries by 2035 (25th January, 2014)

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS