The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Somalia has restarted its postal system. The old postal service finished in 1991 because of wars. Mail deliveries stopped for over 20 years. Somalia is a little more peaceful now. There will be nationwide postcodes for the first time. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications told the BBC he was excited about the new service. He said people can now receive letters from abroad. The next step is for people to send letters to other countries.

The return of the postal service shows Somalia is getting back to normal. Another example of this is the country's first ever cash machine (ATM). It is in a hotel in the capital city Mogadishu. The hotel's manager said a few people used the ATM. Most guests don't know there is an ATM in Somalia. They don't have a credit card to use it. The Chinese embassy is also back, for the first time in 23 years. Somalia's leader said China is an important partner.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-29606447
  • http://www.chinatopix.com/articles/15990/20141013/china-officially-reopens-embassy-mogadishu-23-years.htm#ixzz3G5VNyLvb
  • http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/09/business/mogadishu-first-ever-atm/


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.

Somalia has restarted

a.

Telecommunications

2.

The old postal service finished

b.

countries

3.

Mail deliveries stopped for

c.

in 1991

4.

There will be nationwide postcodes

d.

over 20 years

5.

The Minister of Posts and

e.

step

6.

he was excited

f.

its postal system

7.

The next

g.

for the first time

8.

send letters to other

h.

about the new service

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.

The return of

a.

don't know

2.

Somalia is getting

b.

in 23 years

3.

Another example

c.

ever cash machine

4.

the country's first

d.

back to normal

5.

in the capital

e.

also back

6.

Most guests

f.

city

7.

The Chinese embassy is

g.

the postal service

8.

for the first time

h.

of this

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Somalia has restarted (1) ___________________. The old postal service (2) ___________________ because of wars. Mail deliveries stopped (3) ___________________. Somalia is a little more peaceful now. There will be (4) ___________________ for the first time. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications told the BBC (5) ___________________ the new service. He said people can now receive letters from abroad. The next step is for people (6) ___________________ other countries.

The return of the postal service shows Somalia (7) ___________________ normal. Another example of this is the country's (8) ___________________ machine (ATM). It is in a hotel (9) ___________________ Mogadishu. The hotel's manager said a few people used the ATM. Most (10) ___________________ there is an ATM in Somalia. They don't have a credit card to use it. The Chinese embassy (11) ___________________, for the first (12) ___________________. Somalia's leader said China is an important partner.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Somaliahasrestarteditspostalsystem.Theoldpostalservicefinishedin
1991becauseofwars.Maildeliveriesstoppedforover20years.Somaliai
salittlemorepeacefulnow.Therewillbenationwidepostcodesforthefirs
ttime.TheMinisterofPostsandTelecommunicationstoldtheBBChewas
excitedaboutthenewservice.Hesaidpeoplecannowreceivelettersfro
mabroad.Thenextstepisforpeopletosendletterstoothercountries.Th
ereturnofthepostalserviceshowsSomaliaisgettingbacktonormal.Ano
therexampleofthisisthecountry'sfirstevercashmachine(ATM).Itisina
hotelinthecapitalcityMogadishu.Thehotel'smanagersaidafewpeople
usedtheATM.Mostguestsdon'tknowthereisanATMinSomalia.Theydo
n'thaveacreditcardtouseit.TheChineseembassyisalsoback,forthefirs
ttimein23years.Somalia'sleadersaidChinaisanimportantpartner.

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 mail for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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