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India to remove 287 laughable laws (10th October, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The Indian government will scrap 287 obsolete laws that date back to the 19th century, when India was under British rule. India's Law Minister Ravi Prasad is overseeing a "clean-up" of India's legal system. He has been instructed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to streamline the statute book and make India an easier place in which to live and do business. India's legislature is mired in hundreds of arcane laws introduced in the times of the British Empire. Mr Prasad called some of the laws "laughable" and had "no place in a modern and democratic India". Prasad has a tough task ahead of him. Even after this initial cull, the country will still have thousands of regulations that are obstacles to business.

The repeal of the laws will take effect from November. After then, it will no longer be illegal to fly a kite without police permission. A 1934 law classified a kite as an aircraft. A law that is a constant source of irritation to factory owners is one that requires them to have red buckets full of water and sand, even if their buildings are equipped with state-of-the-art sprinkler systems. Another oddity to go is the Motor Vehicles Act, that says a car safety inspector must have clean teeth. Also going is the Registration of Foreigners' Act, 1939, which requires foreigners staying in India for more than 180 days to report his/her movements. This should give a boost to India's tourism industry.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-wields-the-axe-on-her-majesty-s-laughable-laws/article1-1272727.aspx
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/british-colonial-law-treasure-findings-her-majesty-ravi-shankar-prasad/1/394613.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-29516976

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. LAWS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about laws. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

government / obsolete laws / the 19th century / legal system / democratic / cull / illegal / irritation / sprinkler systems / safety inspector / boost / tourism industry

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

3. LEGILSLATION: Make some new legislation? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

New law	Laws existing today	New law(s)	Why?
The Internet
Travel
Domestic violence
Pets
Mobile phones
Terrorism

4. BUSINESS: Students A strongly believe laws are an obstacle to business; Students B strongly believe laws help business. 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. IMPORTANT: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important laws at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• driving

• cybercrime

• domestic violence

• shoplifting

• burglary

• corporate corruption

• libel

• terrorism

6. LEGAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "legal". 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.	Most of the laws India will scrap are over 500 years old.	T / F
b.	India's Prime Minister has asked that the legal system be cleaned up.	T / F
c.	Many laws to go are ones that fine people for laughing.	T / F
d.	There will still be thousands more regulations that hinder business.	T / F
e.	The laws will be repealed starting in January next year.	T / F
f.	Factory owners must still keep red buckets of sand and water for fires.	T / F
g.	A law stated car safety inspectors had to have clean teeth.	T / F
h.	Long-stay foreigners will no longer need to report their movements.	T / F

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

1.	obsolete	a.	improve
2.	rule	b.	hindrances
3.	overseeing	c.	authorisation
4.	mired	d.	governance
5.	obstacles	e.	peculiarity
6.	permission	f.	supervising
7.	irritation	g.	out-of-date
8.	state-of-the-art	h.	bogged down
9.	oddity	i.	annoyance
10.	boost	j.	modern

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

1.	scrap	a.	in which to live
2.	overseeing a "clean-up"	b.	of irritation
3.	an easier place	c.	obstacles to business
4.	Prasad has a tough	d.	effect from November
5.	regulations that are	e.	sprinkler systems
6.	The repeal of the laws will take	f.	of India's legal system
7.	without police	g.	tourism industry
8.	a constant source	h.	task ahead of him
9.	state-of-the-art	i.	permission
10.	give a boost to India's	j.	287 obsolete laws

GAP FILL

The Indian government will (1) ____________ 287 obsolete laws that date back to the 19th century, when India was under British rule. India's Law Minister Ravi Prasad is (2) ____________ a "clean-up" of India's legal system. He has been instructed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to (3) ____________ the statute book and make India an easier place in which to live and do business. India's (4) ____________ is mired in hundreds of arcane laws introduced in the (5) ____________ of the British Empire. Mr Prasad called some of the laws "laughable" and had "no (6) ____________ in a modern and democratic India". Prasad has a tough (7) ____________ ahead of him. Even after this initial cull, the country will still have thousands of regulations that are (8) ____________ to business.

task
legislature
scrap
times
streamline
obstacles
overseeing
place

The repeal of the laws will take (9) ____________ from November. After then, it will no longer be illegal to fly a kite without police (10) ____________. A 1934 law (11) ____________ a kite as an aircraft. A law that is a constant (12) ____________ of irritation to factory owners is one that requires them to have red buckets full of water and sand, even if their buildings are (13) ____________ with state-of-the-art sprinkler systems. Another oddity to go is the Motor Vehicles Act, that says a car safety (14) ____________ must have clean teeth. Also going is the Registration of Foreigners' Act, 1939, which (15) ____________ foreigners staying in India for more than 180 days to report his/her (16) ____________. This should give a boost to India's tourism industry.

permission
source
inspector
requires
effect
movements
classified
equipped

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The Indian government will scrap 287 obsolete laws that ______ the 19th century
	a. dates back to b. dated back to c. date back to d. dating back to
2)	He has been instructed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to streamline ______
	a. the stature book b. the statute book c. the statue d. the stat you book
3)	India's legislature is mired in hundreds ______
	a. of arcade laws b. of arc cane laws c. of are cane laws d. of arcane laws
4)	Prasad has a tough ______ him
	a. task ahead of b. task ahead with c. task ahead for d. task ahead if
5)	the country will still have thousands of regulations ______
	a. that are tentacles b. that are icicles c. that are receptacles d. that are obstacles
6)	The repeal of the laws will ______ November
	a. take effect from b. take affect from c. take infect from d. take reflect from
7)	After then, it will no longer be illegal to fly a kite without ______
	a. police permissions b. police persimmon c. police Parmesan d. police permission
8)	A law that is a constant source of irritation ______
	a. to factory owners b. to factories owners c. to factory's owners d. to factories' owners
9)	even if their buildings are equipped with ______ sprinkler systems
	a. state-of-the-yurt b. state-of-the-yard c. state-of-the-art d. state-of-the-hard
10)	This should give a boost to India's ______
	a. touristic industry b. touring industry c. tourism industry d. tourists industry

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The Indian government will scrap 287 obsolete laws (1) ___________________ the 19th century, when India was under British rule. India's Law Minister Ravi Prasad is (2) ___________________ of India's legal system. He has been instructed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to streamline (3) ___________________ and make India an easier place in which to live and do business. India's legislature (4) ___________________ of arcane laws introduced in the times of the British Empire. Mr Prasad called some of the laws "laughable" and had "no place in a modern and democratic India". Prasad has (5) ___________________ of him. Even after this initial cull, the country will still have thousands of regulations (6) ___________________ business.

The repeal of the laws will (7) ___________________ November. After then, it will no longer be illegal to fly a kite without police permission. A 1934 law classified a kite as an aircraft. A law that is (8) ___________________ of irritation to factory owners is one that requires them to have red buckets full of water and sand, even if their buildings are equipped (9) ___________________ sprinkler systems. Another (10) ___________________ the Motor Vehicles Act, that says a (11) ___________________ must have clean teeth. Also going is the Registration of Foreigners' Act, 1939, which requires foreigners staying in India for more than 180 days to report his/her movements. This should (12) ___________________ India's tourism industry.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	When do some of the 287 laws date back to?
2.	What is the title of the person cleaning up the laws?
3.	What does the Prime Minister want streamlined?
4.	In what times were many of the arcane laws introduced?
5.	What does the article say the laws are an obstacle to?
6.	From whom did people need permission to fly a kite?
7.	Who got irritated at a law requiring red fire buckets of sand and water?
8.	What did the Motor Vehicles Act require safety inspectors to have?
9.	When was the Registration of Foreigners' Act introduced?
10.	What will benefit from the repeal of the Registration of Foreigners' Act?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	When do some of the 287 laws date back to?	6.	From whom did people need permission to fly a kite?
	a) the turn of the century b) the 19th century c) the dawn of history d) the middle ages		a) the police b) the India Kite-Flyer Association c) the local airport d) the Kite Minister
2.	What is the title of the person cleaning up the laws?	7.	Who got irritated at a law requiring red fire buckets of sand and water?
	a) Person Who Cleans Up Laws b) Legislative Streamliner c) Law Minister d) Cleaner of Laws		a) politicians b) red bucket makers c) restaurants d) factory owners
3.	What does the Prime Minister want streamlined?	8.	What did the Motor Vehicles Act require safety inspectors to have?
	a) prisons b) law exams c) courts d) the statute book		a) a high school certificate b) a car c) clean teeth d) a first-aid licence
4.	In what times were many of the arcane laws introduced?	9.	When was the Registration of Foreigners' Act introduced?
	a) the good times b) the British Empire c) the times of the Raj d) World War II		a) 1639 b) 1739 c) 1839 d) 1939
5.	What does the article say the laws are an obstacle to?	10.	What will benefit from the repeal of the Registration of Foreigners' Act?
	a) business b) judges c) common sense d) laughing		a) new laws b) India's tourism industry c) India's currency d) the U.S. Embassy

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Road safety

You think road safety is where new laws are most needed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't need new laws. Also, tell the others which is the last of these to need new laws (and why): terrorism, corruption in government or cybercrime.

Role B – Terrorism

You think terrorism is where new laws are most needed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't need new laws. Also, tell the others which is the last of these to need new laws (and why): road safety, corruption in government or cybercrime.

Role C – Corruption in government

You think corruption in government is where new laws are most needed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't need new laws. Also, tell the others which is the last of these to need new laws (and why): terrorism, road safety or cybercrime.

Role D – Cybercrime

You think cybercrime is where new laws are most needed. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't need new laws. Also, tell the others which is the last of these to need new laws (and why): terrorism, corruption in government or road safety.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

legal

system

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:

date
clean
easier
times
modern
thousands

effect
police
red
art
teeth
180

LAWS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about laws 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.

LAWS DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'law'?
3)	What do you think about what you read?
4)	What are the craziest laws in your country?
5)	Have you ever broken the law?
6)	What laws in your country would you like to change?
7)	Do laws get in the way of doing business?
8)	What laws stop you from doing things you want to do?
9)	What one law would you like to introduce?
10)	How would you describe your country's legal system?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How much will the lives of Indians change without these laws?
13)	What laws would you like your country to repeal?
14)	Should the U.N. make the laws for every country?
15)	Is a law that requires inspectors to have clean teeth a good law?
16)	What laws do we need for the Internet?
17)	Should foreigners in a country be subject to different laws?
18)	Would you like to be a lawmaker?
19)	How will the repeal of the laws help India's tourism?
20)	What questions would you like to ask India's Law Minister?

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

The Indian government will (1) ____ 287 obsolete laws that date back to the 19th century, when India was under British (2) ____. India's Law Minister Ravi Prasad is overseeing a "clean-up" of India's legal system. He has been instructed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to streamline the (3) ____ book and make India an easier place in which to live and do business. India's legislature is mired (4) ____ hundreds of arcane laws introduced in the times of the British Empire. Mr Prasad called some of the laws "laughable" and had "(5) ____ place in a modern and democratic India". Prasad has a tough task ahead of him. Even after this initial cull, the country will still have thousands of regulations that are obstacles (6) ____ business.

The repeal of the laws will take effect from November. After then, it will no (7) ____ be illegal to fly a kite without police permission. A 1934 law classified a kite (8) ____ an aircraft. A law that is a constant source of irritation to factory owners is one that requires them to have red buckets full of water and sand, even if their buildings are (9) ____ with state-of-the-art sprinkler systems. Another (10) ____ to go is the Motor Vehicles Act, that says a car safety inspector must have clean teeth. Also (11) ____ is the Registration of Foreigners' Act, 1939, which requires foreigners staying in India for more than 180 days to report his/her movements. This should (12) ____ a boost to India's tourism industry.

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

1.	(a)	scrape	(b)	scarper	(c)	scupper	(d)	scrap
2.	(a)	ruled	(b)	ruler	(c)	ruling	(d)	rule
3.	(a)	stature	(b)	statute	(c)	statue	(d)	status
4.	(a)	at	(b)	on	(c)	in	(d)	by
5.	(a)	not	(b)	any	(c)	no	(d)	some
6.	(a)	to	(b)	by	(c)	as	(d)	so
7.	(a)	lengthen	(b)	longer	(c)	longing	(d)	lengthy
8.	(a)	as	(b)	for	(c)	in	(d)	by
9.	(a)	equipment	(b)	equipped	(c)	equips	(d)	equipping
10.	(a)	evenness	(b)	strangely	(c)	oddity	(d)	peculiar
11.	(a)	goer	(b)	went	(c)	going	(d)	go-to
12.	(a)	shell out	(b)	lend	(c)	furnish	(d)	give

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	scrap 287 osotelbe laws
2.	lntsaeimer the statute book
3.	India's lseutgrlaei
4.	a modern and iatcdmcoer India
5.	thousands of oirnuslgtae
6.	sacetsolb to business
Paragraph 2
7.	The eplrae of the laws
8.	A 1934 law cdelsfiais a kite as an aircraft
9.	a constant source of aitoritinr
10.	uqppeied with state-of-the-art sprinkler systems
11.	a car safety nircpetos
12.	a boost to India's tsrmuio industry

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	go is the Motor Vehicles Act, that says a car safety inspector must have clean
( )	even if their buildings are equipped with state-of-the-art sprinkler systems. Another oddity to
( )	The repeal of the laws will take effect from November. After then, it will no longer be illegal
( )	book and make India an easier place in which to live and do business. India's legislature is mired
( )	task ahead of him. Even after this initial cull, the country will still have thousands of regulations that are obstacles to business.
( 1 )	The Indian government will scrap 287 obsolete laws that date back to the 19th century, when India was
( )	to fly a kite without police permission. A 1934 law classified a kite as an aircraft. A law that is a constant source
( )	teeth. Also going is the Registration of Foreigners' Act, 1939, which requires foreigners staying in India for
( )	"laughable" and had "no place in a modern and democratic India". Prasad has a tough
( )	up" of India's legal system. He has been instructed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to streamline the statute
( )	under British rule. India's Law Minister Ravi Prasad is overseeing a "clean-
( )	in hundreds of arcane laws introduced in the times of the British Empire. Mr Prasad called some of the laws
( )	more than 180 days to report his/her movements. This should give a boost to India's tourism industry.
( )	of irritation to factory owners is one that requires them to have red buckets full of water and sand,

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	laws back 19th Obsolete date the that to century .
2.	Make easier which an in live India place to .
3.	of is hundreds laws legislature in arcane India's mired .
4.	Prasad ahead has of a him tough task .
5.	that are Thousands obstacles of to regulations business .
6.	November The repeal of the laws will take effect from .
7.	to fly a kite It will no longer be illegal .
8.	an A classified as law kite aircraft 1934 a .
9.	state- systems sprinkler art the- with Equipped of- .
10.	should boost tourism This a India's give to industry .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The Indian government will scrap / scrape 287 obsolete laws that date back to the 19th century, when India was under British ruler / rule. India's Law Minister Ravi Prasad is sightseeing / overseeing a "clean-up" of India's legal system. He has been instructed / instructions by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to streamline the stature / statute book and make India an easier place in which to live and do business. India's legislature is mired / mixed in hundreds of arcane / arcade laws introduced in the times of the British Empire. Mr Prasad called some of the laws "laughable" and had "no place / places in a modern and democratic India". Prasad has a tough ask / task ahead of him. Even after this initial cull, the country will still have thousands of regulations that are obstacles at / to business.

The repeal of the laws will take effect / affect from November. After then, it will no longer be illegal to fly a kite with / without police permission. A 1934 law classified a kite as the / an aircraft. A law that is a constant sauce / source of irritation to factory owners is one that requires them to have red buckets full / filled of water and sand, even if their buildings are equipped with state-of-the-art sprinkler systems. Another odd / oddity to go is the Motor Vehicles Act, that says a car safety inspection / inspector must have clean teeth. Also going / went is the Registration of Foreigners' Act, 1939, which requires / requiring foreigners staying in India for more than 180 days to report his/her movements. This should give a boast / boost to India's tourism industry.

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)

Th_ _nd__n g_v_rnm_nt w_ll scr_p 287 _bs_l_t_ l_ws th_t d_t_ b_ck t_ th_ 19th c_nt_ry, wh_n _nd__ w_s _nd_r Br_t_sh r_l_. _nd__'s L_w M_n_st_r R_v_ Pr_s_d _s _v_rs___ng _ "cl__n-_p" _f _nd__'s l_g_l syst_m. H_ h_s b__n _nstr_ct_d by Pr_m_ M_n_st_r N_r_ndr_ M_d_ t_ str__ml_n_ th_ st_t_t_ b__k _nd m_k_ _nd__ _n __s__r pl_c_ _n wh_ch t_ l_v_ _nd d_ b_s_n_ss. _nd__'s l_g_sl_t_r_ _s m_r_d _n h_ndr_ds _f _rc_n_ l_ws _ntr_d_c_d _n th_ t_m_s _f th_ Br_t_sh _mp_r_. Mr Pr_s_d c_ll_d s_m_ _f th_ l_ws "l__gh_bl_" _nd h_d "n_ pl_c_ _n _ m_d_rn _nd d_m_cr_t_c _nd__". Pr_s_d h_s _ t__gh t_sk _h__d _f h_m. _v_n _ft_r th_s _n_t__l c_ll, th_ c__ntry w_ll st_ll h_v_ th__s_nds _f r_g_l_t__ns th_t _r_ _bst_cl_s t_ b_s_n_ss.

Th_ r_p__l _f th_ l_ws w_ll t_k_ _ff_ct fr_m N_v_mb_r. _ft_r th_n, _t w_ll n_ l_ng_r b_ _ll_g_l t_ fly _ k_t_ w_th__t p_l_c_ p_rm_ss__n. _ 1934 l_w cl_ss_f__d _ k_t_ _s _n __rcr_ft. _ l_w th_t _s _ c_nst_nt s__rc_ _f _rr_t_t__n t_ f_ct_ry _wn_rs _s _n_ th_t r_q__r_s th_m t_ h_v_ r_d b_ck_ts f_ll _f w_t_r _nd s_nd, _v_n _f th__r b__ld_ngs _r_ _q__pp_d w_th st_t_-_f-th_-_rt spr_nkl_r syst_ms. _n_th_r _dd_ty t_ g_ _s th_ M_t_r V_h_cl_s _ct, th_t s_ys _ c_r s_f_ty _nsp_ct_r m_st h_v_ cl__n t__th. _ls_ g__ng _s th_ R_g_str_t__n _f F_r__gn_rs' _ct, 1939, wh_ch r_q__r_s f_r__gn_rs st_y_ng _n _nd__ f_r m_r_ th_n 180 d_ys t_ r_p_rt h_s/h_r m_v_m_nts. Th_s sh__ld g_v_ _ b__st t_ _nd__'s t__r_sm _nd_stry.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the indian government will scrap 287 obsolete laws that date back to the 19th century when india was under british rule india's law minister ravi prasad is overseeing a "clean-up" of india's legal system he has been instructed by prime minister narendra modi to streamline the statute book and make india an easier place in which to live and do business india's legislature is mired in hundreds of arcane laws introduced in the times of the british empire mr prasad called some of the laws "laughable" and had "no place in a modern and democratic india" prasad has a tough task ahead of him even after this initial cull the country will still have thousands of regulations that are obstacles to business

the repeal of the laws will take effect from november after then it will no longer be illegal to fly a kite without police permission a 1934 law classified a kite as an aircraft a law that is a constant source of irritation to factory owners is one that requires them to have red buckets full of water and sand even if their buildings are equipped with state-of-the-art sprinkler systems another oddity to go is the motor vehicles act that says a car safety inspector must have clean teeth also going is the registration of foreigners' act 1939 which requires foreigners staying in india for more than 180 days to report his/her movements this should give a boost to india's tourism industry

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheIndiangovernmentwillscrap287obsoletelawsthatdatebacktothe
19thcentury,whenIndiawasunderBritishrule.India'sLawMinisterRav
iPrasadisoverseeinga"clean-up"ofIndia'slegalsystem.Hehasbeenin
structedbyPrimeMinisterNarendraModitostreamlinethestatutebook
andmakeIndiaaneasierplaceinwhichtoliveanddobusiness.India'sleg
islatureismiredinhundredsofarcanelawsintroducedinthetimesofthe
BritishEmpire.MrPrasadcalledsomeofthelaws"laughable"andhad"no
placeinamodernanddemocraticIndia".Prasadhasatoughtaskaheado
fhim.Evenafterthisinitialcull,thecountrywillstillhavethousandsofreg
ulationsthatareobstaclestobusiness.Therepealofthelawswilltakeeffe
ctfromNovember.Afterthen,itwillnolongerbeillegaltoflyakitewithout
policepermission.A1934lawclassifiedakiteasanaircraft.Alawthatisac
onstantsourceofirritationtofactoryownersisonethatrequiresthemtoh
averedbucketsfullofwaterandsand,eveniftheirbuildingsareequipped
withstate-of-the-artsprinklersystems.Anotherodditytogoisth
eMotorVehiclesAct,thatsaysacarsafetyinspectormusthavecleanteet
h.AlsogoingistheRegistrationofForeigners'Act,1939,whichrequiresf
oreignersstayinginIndiaformorethan180daystoreporthis/hermove
ments.ThisshouldgiveaboosttoIndia'stourismindustry.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

There should be a law that requires service personnel to have clean teeth. 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 laws. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. CLEAN TEETH: Write a magazine article about a law that says people must have clean teeth. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 a lawmaker. Ask him/her three questions about laws. Tell him/her three laws you would like to change, and why. 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

F

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	obsolete	a.	out-of-date
2.	rule	b.	governance
3.	overseeing	c.	supervising
4.	mired	d.	bogged down
5.	obstacles	e.	hindrances
6.	permission	f.	authorisation
7.	irritation	g.	annoyance
8.	state-of-the-art	h.	modern
9.	oddity	i.	peculiarity
10.	boost	j.	improve

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The 19th century
2.	Law Minister
3.	The statute book
4.	The British Empire
5.	Business
6.	The police
7.	Factory owners
8.	Clean teeth
9.	1939
10.	India's tourism industry

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

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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India to remove 287 laughable laws (10th October, 2014)

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