The Reading / Listening - Level 1

A publisher wants to print all 4.3 million of the articles from Wikipedia.com. There will be 1,000 books, each with 1,200 pages. Over 20 million volunteers wrote Wikipedia's 2.6 billion words. The publisher says the 1.2 million pages will start from number one and end at number 1,193,014. It needs $50,000 and wants people to donate money so it can print the first copy. It already printed book number one - the articles from "A" to "A76 motorway".

People are asking why anyone wants a book of Wikipedia. It will be out of date when it starts printing. The company wants to show just how big Wikipedia is. It said the best way to experience this is by making physical books. The project will break records. It will have the most volumes, written by the largest number of contributors. The publisher may take the books on a world tour. After that, it will give them to a big public library.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/printing-all-wikipedia-1-000-books-its-not-joke-n33916
  • http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/pediapress-wants-to-print-the-complete-english-wikipedia-in-1000-books/
  • http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-02/18/the-wikipedia-books-project


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.

print all 4.3 million

a.

volunteers

2.

There will be 1,000 books,

b.

book number one

3.

Over 20 million

c.

from number one

4.

the 1.2 million pages will start

d.

of the articles

5.

end at

e.

to "A76 motorway"

6.

donate

f.

each with 1,200 pages

7.

It already printed

g.

number 1,193,014

8.

the articles from "A"

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.

People are

a.

experience this

2.

It will be out

b.

library

3.

show just how

c.

of contributors

4.

the best way to

d.

of date

5.

The project will break

e.

a world tour

6.

the largest number

f.

asking why

7.

take the books on

g.

big Wikipedia is

8.

public

h.

records

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A publisher (1) ___________________ 4.3 million of the articles from Wikipedia.com. There will be 1,000 books, each with 1,200 pages. Over (2) ___________________ wrote Wikipedia's 2.6 billion words. The publisher says the 1.2 million pages will start from number (3) ___________________ number 1,193,014. It needs $50,000 and wants people (4) ___________________ it can (5) ___________________. It already printed book number one - the articles from (6) ___________________.

People (7) ___________________ anyone wants a book of Wikipedia. It will (8) ___________________ when it starts printing. The company wants to show just how big Wikipedia is. It said the best (9) ___________________ is by making physical books. The project (10) ___________________. It will have the most volumes, (11) ___________________ number of contributors. The publisher may take the books on a world tour. After that, it will give them (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Apublisherwantstoprintall4.3millionofthearticlesfromWikipedia.
com.Therewillbe1,000books,eachwith1,200pages.Over20millio
nvolunteerswroteWikipedia's2.6billionwords.Thepublishersayst
he1.2millionpageswillstartfromnumberoneandendatnumber1,1
93,014.Itneeds$50,000andwantspeopletodonatemoneysoitcan
printthefirstcopy.Italreadyprintedbooknumberone-theartic
lesfrom"A"to"A76motorway".Peopleareaskingwhyanyonewants
abookofWikipedia.Itwillbeoutofdatewhenitstartsprinting.Theco
mpanywantstoshowjusthowbigWikipediais.Itsaidthebestwaytoe
xperiencethisisbymakingphysicalbooks.Theprojectwillbreakreco
rds.Itwillhavethemostvolumes,writtenbythelargestnumberofco
ntributors.Thepublishermaytakethebooksonaworldtour.Aftertha
t,itwillgivethemtoabigpubliclibrary.

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 Wikipedia 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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