The Reading / Listening - Level 5

A painting by the "guerilla artist" Banksy is currently the focus of a big argument in England. The painting appeared overnight on a building. The leader of a youth club saw it and was shocked when he discovered it was a Banksy and could be worth up to $150,000. He took it off the wall and kept it in the youth club. However, the city mayor said the leader had no right to take the painting as it was on a city building. The mayor wants the painting put back. The leader said it would be vandalised and hopes to sell it to raise money for the youth club. He has since received death threats.

The painting is called "Mobile Lovers" and shows a man and woman hugging while checking their mobile phones over each other's shoulder. Many people all over the world over want art from the mysterious artist, only known by the fake name Banksy. Many Banksy paintings have been removed from walls and have caused similar spats. Wikipedia says Banksy's work combines, "dark humour with graffiti" using a "distinctive stenciling technique." Banksy's work describes politics and society. People believe it is "against the spirit of Banksy and street art" to remove the paintings.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-27050321
  • http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/apr/15/banksy-mobile-lovers-bristol-youth-club
  • http://www.metro.co.uk/2014/04/16/gym-boss-in-banksy-mural-row-receives-death-threats-4701634/


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.

guerilla

a.

put back

2.

the focus

b.

artist

3.

worth up

c.

vandalised

4.

the leader had no

d.

to $150,000

5.

The mayor wants the painting

e.

death threats

6.

The leader said it would be

f.

of a big argument

7.

raise

g.

right to take the painting

8.

He has since received

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.

a man and woman

a.

politics and society

2.

checking their

b.

name Banksy

3.

over each

c.

humour with graffiti

4.

known by the fake

d.

of Banksy

5.

Banksy's work combines dark

e.

hugging

6.

a distinctive stenciling

f.

other's shoulder

7.

Banksy's work describes

g.

mobile phones

8.

against the spirit

h.

technique

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A painting by (1) ___________________ Banksy is currently the focus of a big argument in England. The painting (2) ___________________ on a building. The leader of a youth club saw it and was shocked when he (3) ___________________ Banksy and could be worth up to $150,000. He took it off the wall (4) ___________________ youth club. However, the city mayor said the leader had no right to take the painting as it was on a city building. The mayor wants the (5) ___________________. The leader said it would be vandalised and hopes to sell it to raise money for the youth club. He has since (6) ___________________.

The painting is called "Mobile Lovers" (7) ___________________ and woman hugging while checking their mobile phones (8) ___________________ shoulder. Many people all over the world over want art from (9) ___________________, only known by the fake name Banksy. Many Banksy paintings have been (10) ___________________ and have caused similar spats. Wikipedia says Banksy's work combines, "dark humour with graffiti" (11) ___________________ stenciling technique." Banksy's work describes politics and society. People believe it (12) ___________________ of Banksy and street art" to remove the paintings.

STREET ART SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about street art 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.

 

 

 

 

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)

________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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