The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The coach of England's soccer team, Roy Hodgson, has told his players they must sing their national anthem at each game of the World Cup. The tournament kicks off on June 12th. The first game is Brazil against Croatia. The eyes of the world will be on the event. Mr Hodgson wants people to see the pride his players have to play for England. He wants his players to be "loud and proud". Hodgson told reporters: "We are happy to be wearing that England shirt. We are proud to be England players…so when the national anthem comes…we sing it."

In the past, England players have not sung the national anthem. Hodgson started it for his teams two years ago. He said: "They've been doing it for two years and perhaps we need to remind them." He was worried that players did not know all the words to Britain's national anthem. He said: "We're great until the second verse comes along….We don't really know that." The manager wants his players to have the same passion as other teams. He said: "You very rarely play an international match against opponents who haven’t got their hands on their hearts."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.express.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/479608/Roy-Hodgson-My-boys-will-be-in-tune
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2645597/England-players-told-passion-belting-national-anthem-matches.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27658211


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.

his players they must sing

a.

"loud and proud"

2.

each

b.

will be on the event

3.

The tournament kicks

c.

be England players

4.

The eyes of the world

d.

their national anthem

5.

see the pride

e.

that England shirt

6.

He wants his players to be

f.

his players have

7.

We are happy to be wearing

g.

game of the World Cup

8.

We are proud to

h.

off on June 12th


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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

In the

a.

the words

2.

They've been doing

b.

past

3.

we need to

c.

on their hearts

4.

players did not know all

d.

verse

5.

the second

e.

match

6.

have the same passion

f.

remind them

7.

play an international

g.

as other teams

8.

got their hands

h.

it for two years

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The coach of England's soccer team, Roy Hodgson, has told his players they must sing their national anthem (1) ___________________ World Cup. The tournament kicks off on June 12th. (2) ___________________ Brazil against Croatia. The eyes of the world will (3) ___________________. Mr Hodgson wants people to (4) ___________________ players have to play for England. He wants his players to be "loud and proud". Hodgson told reporters: "We are (5) ___________________ that England shirt. (6) ___________________ England players…so when the national anthem comes…we sing it."

In the past, England players (7) ___________________ national anthem. Hodgson started it for his teams two years ago. He said: "They've (8) ___________________ two years and perhaps we need to remind them." He (9) ___________________ players did not know all the words to Britain's national anthem. He said: "We're great until (10) ___________________ comes along….We don't really know that." The manager wants his players to have the same passion (11) ___________________. He said: "You very rarely play an international match against opponents who haven't got their (12) ___________________."

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThecoachofEngland'ssoccerteam,RoyHodgson,hastoldhisplayerst
heymustsingtheirnationalanthemateachgameoftheWorldCup.The
tournamentkicksoffonJune12th.ThefirstgameisBrazilagainstCroa
tia.Theeyesoftheworldwillbeontheevent.MrHodgsonwantspeoplet
oseethepridehisplayershavetoplayforEngland.Hewantshisplayers
tobe"loudandproud".Hodgsontoldreporters:"Wearehappytobewe
aringthatEnglandshirt.WeareproudtobeEnglandplayers…sowhent
henationalanthemcomes…wesingit."Inthepast,Englandplayersha
venotsungthenationalanthem.Hodgsonstarteditforhisteamstwoy
earsago.Hesaid:"They'vebeendoingitfortwoyearsandperhapswen
eedtoremindthem."Hewasworriedthatplayersdidnotknowallthew
ordstoBritain'snationalanthem.Hesaid:"We'regreatuntilthesecon
dversecomesalong….Wedon'treallyknowthat."Themanagerwants
hisplayerstohavethesamepassionasotherteams.Hesaid:"Youvery
rarelyplayaninternationalmatchagainstopponentswhohaven'tgott
heirhandsontheirhearts."

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 national anthems 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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