The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The electronics company Panasonic will pay its Japanese staff in China "pollution pay". It wants workers to have more money because of China's poor air quality. No one knows how many people will get the extra money, or how much the additional pay is. Panasonic had no plans to give the payment to its Chinese staff. Workers who work in other countries usually get extra pay for phone calls, restaurants or furniture. Panasonic is maybe the first company to give money to its workers because of pollution. Other companies in China may now do the same as Panasonic.

Pollution is a big problem in China. The World Health Organization said pollution was 15 times higher than healthy levels. China's Premier said his country would fight a "war on pollution". A newspaper reported that: "Air quality [in China] was below national standards in almost every major city last year." There are a few reasons why pollution in China has become so bad. The country's economic success means there are thousands more factories. China also uses coal for most of its energy. In addition, there are thousands more cars than before on China's roads.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   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.

electronics

a.

plans

2.

poor air

b.

first

3.

No one knows how many people

c.

quality

4.

Panasonic had no

d.

company

5.

Workers who

e.

will get the extra money

6.

extra pay for phone

f.

now do the same

7.

Panasonic is maybe the

g.

calls

8.

Other companies in China may

h.

work in other countries



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.

standards

2.

15 times

b.

levels

3.

healthy

c.

"war on pollution"

4.

fight a

d.

success

5.

below national

e.

higher

6.

There are a few reasons

f.

for most of its energy

7.

economic

g.

problem in China

8.

China also uses coal

h.

why

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The (1) ___________________ Panasonic will pay its Japanese staff in China "pollution pay". It wants (2) ___________________ more money because of China's poor air quality. No one knows how many people (3) ___________________ money, or how much the additional pay is. Panasonic (4) ___________________ the payment to its Chinese staff. Workers who work in other countries usually get extra (5) ___________________, restaurants or furniture. Panasonic is maybe the first company to give money to its workers because of pollution. Other companies in China (6) ___________________ as Panasonic.

Pollution (7) ___________________ China. The World Health Organization said pollution (8) ___________________ than healthy levels. China's Premier said his country (9) ___________________ pollution". A newspaper reported that: "Air quality [in China] was below national standards in (10) ___________________ city last year." There are a few reasons why pollution in China has become so bad. The country's (11) ___________________ means there are thousands more factories. China also uses coal for most of its energy. In addition, (12) ___________________ cars than before on China's roads.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheelectronicscompanyPanasonicwillpayitsJapanesestaffinChin
a"pollutionpay".ItwantsworkerstohavemoremoneybecauseofChi
na'spoorairquality.Nooneknowshowmanypeoplewillgettheextra
money,orhowmuchtheadditionalpayis.Panasonichadnoplanstogi
vethepaymenttoitsChinesestaff.Workerswhoworkinothercountri
esusuallygetextrapayforphonecalls,restaurantsorfurniture.Pana
sonicismaybethefirstcompanytogivemoneytoitsworkersbecause
ofpollution.OthercompaniesinChinamaynowdothesameasPanas
onic.PollutionisabigprobleminChina.TheWorldHealthOrganizatio
nsaidpollutionwas15timeshigherthanhealthylevels.China'sPremi
ersaidhiscountrywouldfighta"waronpollution".Anewspaperrepor
tedthat:"Airquality[inChina]wasbelownationalstandardsinalmos
teverymajorcitylastyear."ThereareafewreasonswhypollutioninC
hinahasbecomesobad.Thecountry'seconomicsuccessmeansther
earethousandsmorefactories.Chinaalsousescoalformostofitsene
rgy.Inaddition,therearethousandsmorecarsthanbeforeonChina's
roads.

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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