The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Panasonic will pay its Japanese staff in China "pollution pay". This is because of China's poor air quality. No one knows who will get the extra money, or how much it is. Panasonic had no plans to give the payment to Chinese staff. Workers who work in other countries get extra pay for phone calls, restaurants or furniture. Panasonic is the first company to give extra money because of pollution. Other companies in China might now copy Panasonic.

Pollution is a big problem in China. The WHO said it was 15 times higher than healthy levels. China said it is fighting a "war on pollution". Air quality in China was below healthy levels in almost every major city last year. There are a few reasons why it has become so bad. China's economic success means there are thousands more factories. China uses coal for most of its energy. In addition, there are thousands more cars on China's roads.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26555874
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/03/13/business/panasonic-china-staff-get-pay-for-pollution/


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.

pay its Japanese

a.

the extra money

2.

his is because of China's

b.

no plans

3.

No one knows who will get

c.

poor air quality

4.

Panasonic had

d.

calls

5.

give the payment

e.

staff in China

6.

extra pay for phone

f.

now copy Panasonic

7.

Panasonic is the first company to

g.

to Chinese staff

8.

Other companies in China might

h.

give extra 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.

Pollution is a big

a.

quality

2.

15 times

b.

every major city

3.

healthy

c.

success

4.

it is fighting

d.

higher

5.

Air

e.

problem in China

6.

in almost

f.

most of its energy

7.

economic

g.

levels

8.

China uses coal for

h.

a "war on pollution"

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Panasonic (1) ___________________ Japanese staff in China "pollution pay". (2) ___________________ China's poor air quality. No one knows who will get the extra money, or how much it is. Panasonic (3) ___________________ give the payment to Chinese staff. Workers (4) ___________________ countries get extra pay for phone calls, restaurants or furniture. Panasonic (5) ___________________ to give extra money because of pollution. Other companies in (6) ___________________ Panasonic.

Pollution (7) ___________________ China. The WHO said it was 15 times higher (8) ___________________. China said it is fighting a "war on pollution". Air quality in China was below healthy levels (9) ___________________ major city last year. There are a few reasons (10) ___________________ so bad. China's economic (11) ___________________ are thousands more factories. China uses coal for most of its energy. In addition, there are thousands (12) ___________________ China's roads.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

PanasonicwillpayitsJapanesestaffinChina"pollutionpay".Thisisbe
causeofChina'spoorairquality.Nooneknowswhowillgettheextram
oney,orhowmuchitis.Panasonichadnoplanstogivethepaymentto
Chinesestaff.Workerswhoworkinothercountriesgetextrapayforp
honecalls,restaurantsorfurniture.Panasonicisthefirstcompanyto
giveextramoneybecauseofpollution.OthercompaniesinChinamig
htnowcopyPanasonic.PollutionisabigprobleminChina.TheWHOsa
iditwas15timeshigherthanhealthylevels.Chinasaiditisfightinga"
waronpollution".AirqualityinChinawasbelowhealthylevelsinalmo
steverymajorcitylastyear.Thereareafewreasonswhyithasbecom
esobad.China'seconomicsuccessmeanstherearethousandsmoref
actories.Chinausescoalformostofitsenergy.Inaddition,therearet
housandsmorecarsonChina'sroads.

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 pollution for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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