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Nigeria becomes Africa's biggest economy (7th April, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Nigeria has changed the way it measures its gross domestic product (GDP) and has announced it is now Africa's largest economy. It is the first time the continent's most populous nation has claimed the top spot. Nigeria "rebased" its gross domestic product data to incorporate newer industries that were not accounted for under the old GDP measuring rules. The inclusion of sectors such as telecommunications, information technology, movie production and online commerce has pushed the country above the traditional economic powerhouse, South Africa. Nigeria's statisticians say GDP for 2013 totalled $510 billion, considerably bigger than South Africa's GDP of $370 billion.

Rebasing of GDP is what most countries do every three years to account for the economic contributions of new and emerging industries. Nigeria hadn't rebased its economy in two decades. In this time, many new industries have blossomed. Nigeria's chief statistician Dr Yemi Kale said the new figures do not mean Nigerians are suddenly richer. He explained: "It's just about measuring better and more accurately. It does not mean that within 24 hours, something miraculous has happened." Nigeria's Tribune newspaper wrote: "Although pockets of vast wealth exist, most of Nigeria's estimated 170 million people still live on $2 a day, while key services such as water and electricity provision are poor."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26913497
http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/top-stories/item/2894-nigeria-now-africa-s-largest-economy
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-04-06/nigerian-economy-overtakes-south-africa-s-after-gdp-data-rebased

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. ECONOMICS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about economics. 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.

changed / economy / populous / GDP / incorporate / information technology / billion / account / contributions / emerging industries / statistics / measuring / miraculous / key

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

3. ECONOMICS: What can countries do to do these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What your country does	What your country needs to do
Lower inflation
Cut unemployment
Attract investment
Make taxes fair
Reduce national debt
Help the poor

4. WORLD BIGGEST: Students A strongly believe it is better if the USA is the biggest economy; Students B strongly believe it is better if China is the biggest economy. 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. INDUSTRIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• tourism

• IT / high-tech

• telecommunications

• hotel and catering

• steel production

• mining

• movie production

• retail

6. STATISTICS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "statistics". 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 World Bank changed the way Nigeria measures its GDP.	T / F
b.	It is the first time Nigeria has been Africa's biggest economy.	T / F
c.	Movie production helped Nigeria become Africa's biggest economy.	T / F
d.	Nigeria's GDP is just $100 million bigger than South Africa's.	T / F
e.	Most countries rebase their economies every three years or so.	T / F
f.	The last time Nigeria rebased its economy was in 1964.	T / F
g.	A statistician said a miracle had not taken place in the past 24 hours.	T / F
h.	A newspaper said most Kenyans still live on a dollar a day.	T / F

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

1.	measures	a.	absorb
2.	announced	b.	propelled
3.	incorporate	c.	materialising
4.	pushed	d.	extraordinary
5.	considerably	e.	calculates
6.	emerging	f.	huge
7.	blossomed	g.	supply
8.	miraculous	h.	developed
9.	vast	i.	made public
10.	provision	j.	significantly

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

1.	Nigeria has changed the way it measures	a.	bigger than South Africa's
2.	the continent's most	b.	not accounted for
3.	newer industries that were	c.	services
4.	online	d.	emerging industries
5.	considerably	e.	its gross domestic product
6.	what most countries do	f.	accurately
7.	new and	g.	every three years
8.	measuring better and more	h.	wealth exist
9.	pockets of vast	i.	commerce
10.	key	j.	populous nation

GAP FILL

Nigeria has changed the way it (1) ____ its gross domestic product (GDP) and has announced it is now Africa's largest economy. It is the first time the continent's most (2) ____ nation has claimed the top (3) ____. Nigeria "rebased" its gross domestic product (4) ____ to incorporate newer industries that were not accounted for under the old GDP measuring (5) ____. The inclusion of sectors such as telecommunications, information technology, movie production and online (6) ____ has pushed the country above the traditional economic (7) ____, South Africa. Nigeria's statisticians say GDP for 2013 totalled $510 billion, (8) ____ bigger than South Africa's GDP of $370 billion.

rules
considerably
populous
data
measures
commerce
powerhouse
spot

Rebasing of GDP is what most countries do every three years to account for the economic (9) ____ of new and emerging industries. Nigeria hadn't rebased its economy in two (10) ____. In this time, many new industries have (11) ____. Nigeria's chief statistician Dr Yemi Kale said the new figures do not mean Nigerians are suddenly (12) ____. He explained: "It's just about measuring better and more (13) ____. It does not mean that within 24 hours, something (14) ____ has happened." Nigeria's Tribune newspaper wrote: "Although pockets of vast (15) ____ exist, most of Nigeria's estimated 170 million people still live on $2 a day, while (16) ____ services such as water and electricity provision are poor."

blossomed
miraculous
contributions
wealth
richer
key
decades
accurately

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Nigeria has changed the way it measures its gross ______
	a. domestic production b. domestically product c. domestic product d. domestic products
2)	It is the first time the continent's most ______ has…
	a. popular as nation b. populated nation c. populous nations d. populous nation
3)	incorporate newer industries that were not ______
	a. account it for b. accounted of c. accounted four d. accounted for
4)	pushed the country above the traditional ______
	a. economic powerhouse b. economic powered house c. economic power houses d. economic power housed
5)	considerably bigger than South Africa's GDP ______
	a. of $370 million b. of $370 billion c. of $317 billion d. of $317 million
6)	account for the economic contributions of new and _____
	a. emerge in industries b. emerging industries c. emergent industries d. a merging industries
7)	In this time, many new industries ______
	a. has blossomed b. having blossomed c. have blossomed d. has blossoms
8)	It's just about measuring better ______
	a. and more accurate b. and more accurately c. and most accurate d. and most accurately
9)	Although pockets of vast ______
	a. wealth exist… b. wealth exists… c. wealth egg sits… d. wealth exits…
10)	…while key services such as water and electricity ______
	a. provision are poor b. provisions are poor c. provision all poor d. provision aren't poor

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Nigeria has changed (1) ___________________ its gross domestic product (GDP) and has announced it is now Africa's largest economy. It is the first time the continent's most populous nation has (2) ___________________. Nigeria "rebased" its gross domestic product data to incorporate newer industries that were not accounted (3) ___________________ GDP measuring rules. The inclusion of sectors such as telecommunications, information technology, movie production (4) ___________________ has pushed the country (5) ___________________ economic powerhouse, South Africa. Nigeria's statisticians say GDP for 2013 totalled $510 billion, (6) ___________________ South Africa's GDP of $370 billion.

Rebasing of GDP is what most countries do every three years to account for the economic contributions (7) ___________________ industries. Nigeria hadn't rebased its economy in two decades. In this time, many new (8) ___________________. Nigeria's chief statistician Dr Yemi Kale said the new (9) ___________________ Nigerians are suddenly richer. He explained: "It's just about measuring (10) ___________________. It does not mean that within 24 hours, something (11) ___________________." Nigeria's Tribune newspaper wrote: "Although pockets of vast wealth exist, most of Nigeria's estimated 170 million people still live on $2 a day, (12) ___________________ as water and electricity provision are poor."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What did Nigeria change?
2.	How many times has Nigeria been the biggest economy before?
3.	What were not accounted for under old measuring rules?
4.	Which country is the traditional powerhouse?
5.	Who calculated Nigeria's 2013 GDP?
6.	What do most countries do to their GDP every three years?
7.	How long had it been since Nigeria rebased its economy?
8.	Who is Dr Yemi Kale
9.	What did the statistician say had not suddenly happened?
10.	How many Nigerians still live on $2 a day?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What did Nigeria change?	6.	What do most countries do to their GDP every three years?
	a) its economic system b) the way it measures GDP c) laws d) its currency		a) rebase it b) celebrate it c) round it up d) convert it to U.S. dollars
2.	How many times has Nigeria been the biggest economy before?	7.	How long had it been since Nigeria rebased its economy?
	a) three b) two c) one d) none		a) a decade and a half b) a time eternal c) 20 years d) 12 years
3.	What were not accounted for under old measuring rules?	8.	Who is Dr Yemi Kale
	a) newer industries b) ratios and indices c) profits of oil companies d) balance sheets		a) Nigeria's chief statistician b) editor of Nigeria's biggest newspaper c) a union leader d) a surgeon
4.	Which country is the traditional powerhouse?	9.	What did the statistician say had not suddenly happened?
	a) Kenya b) Congo c) South Africa d) Egypt		a) a miracle b) the economy doubling c) the mobile phone industry d) measurements
5.	Who calculated Nigeria's 2013 GDP?	10.	How many Nigerians still live on $2 a day?
	a) the prime minister b) Nigerian statisticians c) a top accountancy company d) the World Bank		a) 17 million b) 117 million c) 70 million d) 170 million

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Tourism

You think tourism will be the most important industry in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their industry won't be so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): green energy, information technology or retail.

Role B – Green Energy

You think green energy will be the most important industry in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their industry won't be so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): tourism, information technology or retail.

Role C – Information Technology

You think information technology will be the most important industry in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their industry won't be so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): green energy, tourism or retail.

Role D – Retail

You think retail will be the most important industry in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their industry won't be so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): green energy, information technology or tourism.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

gross

domestic

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:

measures
top
data
such
above
considerably

three
decades
suddenly
better
24
2

ECONOMICS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about economics 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.

ECONOMICS 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 'economics'?
c)	How interested are you in economics?
d)	What do you know about the GDP of your country?
e)	Is it important to have a good knowledge of economics?
f)	Will being number one change anything for Nigeria?
g)	What new industries are growing in your country?
h)	What economic theories do you know about?
i)	What good economics news have you heard about recently?
j)	How do you think South Africa feels about not being top?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What things are included in GDP?
c)	How would you explain GDP to someone who didn't know what it was?
d)	Why do you think Nigeria hadn't rebased in two decades?
e)	Do you like statistics?
f)	How are your personal economics?
g)	Which country has the best economy? Why do you think so?
h)	Does understanding economics improve your life?
i)	What condition is the world economy in?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Dr Yemi Kale?

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

Nigeria has changed the way it measures (1) ____ gross domestic product (GDP) and has announced it is now Africa's largest economy. It is the first time the continent's most (2) ____ nation has claimed the top spot. Nigeria "rebased" its gross domestic product data to (3) ____ newer industries that were not accounted for under the old GDP measuring rules. The (4) ____ of sectors such as telecommunications, information technology, movie production and online commerce has pushed the country (5) ____ the traditional economic powerhouse, South Africa. Nigeria's statisticians say GDP for 2013 totalled $510 billion, (6) ____ bigger than South Africa's GDP of $370 billion.

Rebasing of GDP is what most countries do every three years to (7) ____ for the economic contributions of new and emerging industries. Nigeria hadn't rebased its economy in two (8) ____. In this time, many new industries have (9) ____. Nigeria's chief statistician Dr Yemi Kale said the new figures do not mean Nigerians are suddenly richer. He explained: "It's just about (10) ____ better and more accurately. It does not mean that within 24 hours, something miraculous has happened." Nigeria's Tribune newspaper wrote: "Although (11) ____ of vast wealth exist, most of Nigeria's estimated 170 million people still live on $2 a day, while (12) ____ services such as water and electricity provision are poor."

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

1.	(a)	net	(b)	whole	(c)	every	(d)	its
2.	(a)	population	(b)	popular	(c)	poplars	(d)	populous
3.	(a)	grain	(b)	incorporate	(c)	refurbish	(d)	unhinge
4.	(a)	inclusive	(b)	include	(c)	inclusion	(d)	included
5.	(a)	higher	(b)	upper	(c)	above	(d)	heighten
6.	(a)	considerably	(b)	considered	(c)	consideration	(d)	considers
7.	(a)	profit	(b)	account	(c)	balance	(d)	gross
8.	(a)	decades	(b)	periods	(c)	quarters	(d)	years
9.	(a)	bloomed	(b)	blossomed	(c)	blessed	(d)	ballooned
10.	(a)	outlining	(b)	gauging	(c)	measuring	(d)	plotting
11.	(a)	collars	(b)	cuffs	(c)	pockets	(d)	lapels
12.	(a)	hole	(b)	chain	(c)	lock	(d)	key

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	the way it ruemases its gross domestic product
2.	the continent's most uusloppo nation
3.	rateponocir newer industries
4.	The inoulinsc of sectors such as telecommunications
5.	the traditional economic oepowrehus
6.	dcyseoilrbna bigger
Paragraph 2
7.	economic oboctrsninuti
8.	enrgimge industries
9.	many new industries have obmsdleso
10.	more yeccrltaau
11.	something clsoruiuma has happened
12.	services such as water and electricity nrvsooipi

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	now Africa's largest economy. It is the first time the continent's most populous
( )	industries that were not accounted for under the old GDP measuring rules. The inclusion of sectors such
( )	happened." Nigeria's Tribune newspaper wrote: "Although pockets of vast wealth exist, most of Nigeria's estimated
( )	decades. In this time, many new industries have blossomed. Nigeria's chief statistician Dr Yemi Kale said the new
( )	statisticians say GDP for 2013 totalled $510 billion, considerably bigger than South Africa's GDP of $370 billion.
( )	170 million people still live on $2 a day, while key services such as water and electricity provision are poor."
( )	commerce has pushed the country above the traditional economic powerhouse, South Africa. Nigeria's
( )	Rebasing of GDP is what most countries do every three years to account for the economic
( )	nation has claimed the top spot. Nigeria "rebased" its gross domestic product data to incorporate newer
( )	accurately. It does not mean that within 24 hours, something miraculous has
( 1 )	Nigeria has changed the way it measures its gross domestic product (GDP) and has announced it is
( )	contributions of new and emerging industries. Nigeria hadn't rebased its economy in two
( )	as telecommunications, information technology, movie production and online
( )	figures do not mean Nigerians are suddenly richer. He explained: "It's just about measuring better and more

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1404/140407-nigeria-economy.html

1.	it gross way its product the measures domestic Changed.
2.	nation top The populous the most claimed spot continent's.
3.	such sectors of inclusion The telecommunications as.
4.	powerhouse Above S the . traditional Africa economic.
5.	South of than GDP $370bn bigger Africa's Considerably.
6.	years 3 every do countries most what is GDP of Rebasing.
7.	decades its economy Nigeria in hadn't two rebased.
8.	It's and just more about accurately measuring better.
9.	, something Within miraculous 24 has hours happened.
10.	a day 170 million people still live on $ 2.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Nigeria has changed the way it measuring / measures its gross domestic product (GDP) and has announcements / announced it is now Africa's largest economy. It is the first time the continent's most population / populous nation has claimed the top / stop spot. Nigeria "rebased" its gross domestic product data to incorporate / inculcate newer industries that were not accounted for under the old GDP measuring rules / rulers. The inclusion of sectors such like / as telecommunications, information technology, movie production and inline / online commerce has pushed the country above the traditional economic / economically powerhouse, South Africa. Nigeria's statisticians say GDP for 2013 totalled $510 billion, consideration / considerably bigger than South Africa's GDP of $370 billion.

Rebasing / Debasing of GDP is what most countries do every three years to account of / for the economic contributions of new and emerging industries. Nigeria hadn't rebased its economy in / over two decades. In this time, many new industries have blessed / blossomed. Nigeria's chief statistician Dr Yemi Kale said the new figures do not meant / mean Nigerians are suddenly richer. He explained: "It's just about measuring better and more accurate / accurately. It does not mean that within / without 24 hours, something miraculous / miracle has happened." Nigeria's Tribune newspaper wrote: "Although pockets of fast / vast wealth exist, most of Nigeria's estimated 170 million people still live / lively on $2 a day, while key services such as water and electricity provision are poverty / poor."

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)

N_g_r__ h_s ch_ng_d th_ w_y _t m__s_r_s _ts gr_ss d_m_st_c pr_d_ct (GDP) _nd h_s _nn__nc_d _t _s n_w _fr_c_'s l_rg_st _c_n_my. _t _s th_ f_rst t_m_ th_ c_nt_n_nt's m_st p_p_l__s n_t__n h_s cl__m_d th_ t_p sp_t. N_g_r__ "r_b_s_d" _ts gr_ss d_m_st_c pr_d_ct d_t_ t_ _nc_rp_r_t_ n_w_r _nd_str__s th_t w_r_ n_t _cc__nt_d f_r _nd_r th_ _ld GDP m__s_r_ng r_l_s. Th_ _ncl_s__n _f s_ct_rs s_ch _s t_l_c_mm_n_c_t__ns, _nf_rm_t__n t_chn_l_gy, m_v__ pr_d_ct__n _nd _nl_n_ c_mm_rc_ h_s p_sh_d th_ c__ntry _b_v_ th_ tr_d_t__n_l _c_n_m_c p_w_rh__s_, S__th _fr_c_. N_g_r__'s st_t_st_c__ns s_y GDP f_r 2013 t_t_ll_d $510 b_ll__n, c_ns_d_r_bly b_gg_r th_n S__th _fr_c_'s GDP _f $370 b_ll__n.

R_b_s_ng _f GDP _s wh_t m_st c__ntr__s d_ _v_ry thr__ y__rs t_ _cc__nt f_r th_ _c_n_m_c c_ntr_b_t__ns _f n_w _nd _m_rg_ng _nd_str__s. N_g_r__ h_dn't r_b_s_d _ts _c_n_my _n tw_ d_c_d_s. _n th_s t_m_, m_ny n_w _nd_str__s h_v_ bl_ss_m_d. N_g_r__'s ch__f st_t_st_c__n Dr Y_m_ K_l_ s__d th_ n_w f_g_r_s d_ n_t m__n N_g_r__ns _r_ s_dd_nly r_ch_r. H_ _xpl__n_d: "_t's j_st _b__t m__s_r_ng b_tt_r _nd m_r_ _cc_r_t_ly. _t d__s n_t m__n th_t w_th_n 24 h__rs, s_m_th_ng m_r_c_l__s h_s h_pp_n_d." N_g_r__'s Tr_b_n_ n_wsp_p_r wr_t_: "_lth__gh p_ck_ts _f v_st w__lth _x_st, m_st _f N_g_r__'s _st_m_t_d 170 m_ll__n p__pl_ st_ll l_v_ _n $2 _ d_y, wh_l_ k_y s_rv_c_s s_ch _s w_t_r _nd _l_ctr_c_ty pr_v_s__n _r_ p__r."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

nigeria has changed the way it measures its gross domestic product (gdp) and has announced it is now africa's largest economy it is the first time the continent's most populous nation has claimed the top spot nigeria "rebased" its gross domestic product data to incorporate newer industries that were not accounted for under the old gdp measuring rules the inclusion of sectors such as telecommunications information technology movie production and online commerce has pushed the country above the traditional economic powerhouse south africa nigeria's statisticians say gdp for 2013 totalled $510 billion considerably bigger than south africa's gdp of $370 billion

rebasing of gdp is what most countries do every three years to account for the economic contributions of new and emerging industries nigeria hadn't rebased its economy in two decades in this time many new industries have blossomed nigeria's chief statistician dr yemi kale said the new figures do not mean nigerians are suddenly richer he explained "it's just about measuring better and more accurately it does not mean that within 24 hours something miraculous has happened" nigeria's tribune newspaper wrote "although pockets of vast wealth exist most of nigeria's estimated 170 million people still live on $2 a day while key services such as water and electricity provision are poor"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Nigeriahaschangedthewayitmeasuresitsgrossdomesticproduct(G
DP)andhasannounceditisnowAfrica'slargesteconomy.Itisthefirstti
methecontinent'smostpopulousnationhasclaimedthetopspot.Nig
eria"rebased"itsgrossdomesticproductdatatoincorporatenewerin
dustriesthatwerenotaccountedforundertheoldGDPmeasuringrule
s.Theinclusionofsectorssuchastelecommunications,informationte
chnology,movieproductionandonlinecommercehaspushedthecou
ntryabovethetraditionaleconomicpowerhouse,SouthAfrica.Nigeri
a'sstatisticianssayGDPfor2013totalled$510billion,considerablybi
ggerthanSouthAfrica'sGDPof$370billion.RebasingofGDPiswhatm
ostcountriesdoeverythreeyearstoaccountfortheeconomiccontribu
tionsofnewandemergingindustries.Nigeriahadn'trebaseditsecono
myintwodecades.Inthistime,manynewindustrieshaveblossomed.
Nigeria'schiefstatisticianDrYemiKalesaidthenewfiguresdonotmea
nNigeriansaresuddenlyricher.Heexplained:"It'sjustaboutmeasuri
ngbetterandmoreaccurately.Itdoesnotmeanthatwithin24hours,s
omethingmiraculoushashappened."Nigeria'sTribunenewspaperw
rote:"Althoughpocketsofvastwealthexist,mostofNigeria'sestimat
ed170millionpeoplestillliveon$2aday,whilekeyservicessuchaswat
erandelectricityprovisionarepoor."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Economies are only for rich people. 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 economics. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. TOP SPOT: Write a magazine article about Nigeria being number one in Africa. Include imaginary interviews with poor and rich Nigerians

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 an economist. Ask him/her three questions about economics. Give him/her three of your opinions on the world economy. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	measures	a.	absorb
2.	announced	b.	propelled
3.	incorporate	c.	materialising
4.	pushed	d.	extraordinary
5.	considerably	e.	calculates
6.	emerging	f.	huge
7.	blossomed	g.	supply
8.	miraculous	h.	developed
9.	vast	i.	made public
10.	provision	j.	significantly

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The way it measures GDP
2.	None
3.	Newer industries
4.	South Africa
5.	Statisticians
6.	Rebase it
7.	Two decades
8.	Nigeria's chief statistician
9.	A miracle
10.	170 million

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

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

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Nigeria becomes Africa's biggest economy (7th April, 2014)

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