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Pope attacks Europe’s throwaway culture (27th November, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Pope Francis delivered a damning message to European leaders on Tuesday when he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He denounced what he saw as Europe's 'throwaway culture' where the elderly, the terminally ill and unborn children are ignored. He said technology and economics were more important to politicians than those suffering. He told his audience: "Men and women risk being reduced to mere cogs in a machine that treats them as items of consumption to be exploited, with the result that whenever a human life no longer proves useful for that machine, it is discarded." He added: "It is the inevitable consequence of a throwaway culture, and an uncontrolled consumerism".

The Pope was very critical of Europe's politicians and systems. He warned that Europe's once dynamic, caring and artistic cultures were being eroded by red tape, saying: "The great ideas which once inspired Europe seem to have lost their attraction, only to be replaced by the bureaucratic technicalities of its institutions." He said bureaucracy was "perceived as insensitive to individual peoples, if not downright harmful". The Pope said Europe risked losing its sense of community, saying: "One of the most common diseases in Europe today is the loneliness typical of those who have no connection with others. This is especially true of the elderly, who are often abandoned to their fate, and also in the young."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/pope-denounces-throwaway-culture-of-europe-299590.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/11252345/Pope-Francis-warns-European-ideal-replaced-by-bureaucratic-technicalities-of-EU.html
http://www.catholicsun.org/2014/11/25/pope-urges-europe-to-nurture-religious-roots-sow-peace-in-its-borders/

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. EUROPE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Europe. 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?

delivered / message / leaders / terminally ill / suffering / cogs / consumption / culture / critical / dynamic / attraction / harmful / community / loneliness / connection / fate

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

3. CONTINENTS: How great are they? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How great?	Why?
Africa
Asia
Europe
South America
North America
Antarctica

4. CONSUMERISM: Students A strongly believe consumerism is a good thing; Students B strongly believe consumerism is bad. 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. INSTITUTIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• police

• mass media

• hospitals

• courts

• places of worship

• schools

• armed forces

• political parties

6. BUREAUCRACY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "bureaucracy". 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.	Pope Francis spoke to European leaders at the Vatican.	T / F
b.	Pope Francis criticized leaders for ignoring the elderly and ill.	T / F
c.	Francis said Europe was close to treating people as parts of a machine.	T / F
d.	The Pope said everyone in Europe should throw away their culture.	T / F
e.	The Pope warned that Europe's once-great culture was disappearing.	T / F
f.	Francis said bureaucracy is replacing inspiration and great ideas.	T / F
g.	Francis said Europe had lost its sense of community.	T / F
h.	Francis said loneliness is a very common disease in Europe.	T / F

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

1.	damning	a.	unrestrained
2.	denounced	b.	energetic
3.	ignored	c.	organizations
4.	items	d.	disregarded
5.	uncontrolled	e.	strong
6.	dynamic	f.	damaging
7.	eroded	g.	objects
8.	institutions	h.	deserted
9.	harmful	i.	attacked
10.	abandoned	j.	worn away

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

1.	Francis delivered a damning	a.	the European Parliament
2.	he addressed	b.	of community
3.	cogs	c.	of Europe's politicians
4.	a throwaway	d.	consumerism
5.	uncontrolled	e.	attraction
6.	The Pope was very critical	f.	culture
7.	eroded by red	g.	true of the elderly
8.	lost their	h.	in a machine
9.	Europe risked losing its sense	i.	message
10.	This is especially	j.	tape

GAP FILL

Pope Francis delivered a (1) ____________ message to European leaders on Tuesday when he (2) ____________ the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He denounced what he saw as Europe's 'throwaway culture' where the (3) ____________, the terminally ill and unborn children are ignored. He said technology and economics were more important to politicians than those (4) ____________. He told his audience: "Men and women risk being reduced to mere (5) ____________ in a machine that treats them as items of consumption to be exploited, with the result that whenever a human life no longer (6) ____________ useful for that machine, it is discarded." He added: "It is the (7) ____________ consequence of a throwaway culture, and an uncontrolled (8) ____________ ".

suffering
proves
damning
elderly
consumerism
addressed
inevitable
cogs

The Pope was very (9) ____________ of Europe's politicians and systems. He warned that Europe's once (10) ____________, caring and artistic cultures were being eroded by red tape, saying: "The great ideas which once inspired Europe seem to have lost their (11) ____________, only to be replaced by the bureaucratic technicalities of its institutions." He said bureaucracy was "(12) ____________ as insensitive to individual peoples, if not downright harmful". The Pope said Europe risked losing its (13) ____________ of community, saying: "One of the most common diseases in Europe today is the loneliness (14) ____________ of those who have no connection with others. This is (15) ____________ true of the elderly, who are often abandoned to their (16) ____________, and also in the young."

perceived
critical
especially
sense
dynamic
fate
attraction
typical

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	…on Tuesday when ______ European Parliament
	a. he addresses the b. he addressed the c. he address the d. he add rest the
2)	… where the elderly, the terminally ill and unborn ______
	a. children are ignores b. children are ignore c. children are ignoring d. children are ignored
3)	Men and women risk being reduced to mere ______
	a. clogs in a machine b. cogs in a machine c. cobs in a machine d. claps in a machine
4)	whenever a human life no longer proves useful for that machine, ______
	a. it is this card it b. it is discard it c. it is discarded d. it this carded
5)	It is the inevitable consequence of a throwaway culture, and an ______
	a. uncontrolled consumerism b. controlled consumerism c. an controlled consumerism d. controlling consumerism
6)	The Pope was very critical of Europe's ______
	a. politicians and system b. politicians and systems c. politician and system d. politician and systems
7)	Europe's once dynamic, caring and artistic cultures were being ______
	a. eroded by led tape b. eroded by lead tape c. eroded by red tape d. eroded by read tape
8)	The great ideas which once inspired Europe seem to have ______
	a. lost their attractive b. lost their attraction c. lost their attracting d. lost their a traction
9)	The Pope said Europe risked losing its ______
	a. sense of commune a tea b. sense of commute city c. sense of community d. sense of come munity
10)	the loneliness typical of those who have no ______
	a. connection for others b. connection with others c. connection by others d. connection as others

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Pope Francis (1) ___________________ message to European leaders on Tuesday when he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He denounced what he saw as Europe's (2) '___________________' where the elderly, the terminally ill and unborn children are ignored. He said technology and economics were more important to politicians than those suffering. He (3) ___________________: "Men and women risk being reduced to mere cogs in a machine that (4) ___________________ of consumption to be exploited, with the result that whenever a human life no longer (5) ___________________ that machine, it is discarded." He added: "It is the inevitable consequence of a throwaway culture, and an (6) ___________________ ".

The Pope was very critical of Europe's politicians and systems. He warned that Europe's (7) ___________________ and artistic cultures were being eroded by red tape, saying: "The great ideas (8) ___________________ Europe seem to have lost their attraction, only to be replaced by the (9) ___________________ of its institutions." He said bureaucracy was "perceived as insensitive to individual peoples, if (10) ___________________ ". The Pope said Europe risked losing its sense of community, saying: "One of the most common diseases in Europe today is (11) ___________________ of those who have no connection with others. This is especially true of the elderly, who are often (12) ___________________ fate, and also in the young."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	To whom did Pope Francis deliver a message?
2.	What did Francis say happened to the elderly, ill and unborn?
3.	What machine parts did Francis compare men and women to?
4.	What did Francis say happens to humans if the machine has no use for them?
5.	What did Francis say was uncontrolled?
6.	What did Francis say was eroding Europe's cultures?
7.	What did Francis say had lost their attraction?
8.	What did Francis say was insensitive?
9.	What did Francis say was one of Europe's most common diseases?
10.	Who did Francis say was abandoned?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	To whom did Pope Francis deliver a message?	6.	What did Francis say was eroding Europe's cultures?
	a) company CEOs b) pilgrims c) the poor d) European leaders		a) the Internet b) red tape c) pop culture d) the weather
2.	What did Francis say happened to the elderly, ill and unborn?	7.	What did Francis say had lost their attraction?
	a) they were hurt b) they were ignored c) they received lots of help d) nothing		a) churches b) communities c) magnets d) great ideas
3.	What machine parts did Francis compare men and women to?	8.	What did Francis say was insensitive?
	a) pistons b) spark plugs c) cogs d) pulleys		a) bureaucracy b) the Internet c) his teeth d) the World Bank
4.	What did Francis say happens to humans if the machine has no use for them?	9.	What did Francis say was one of Europe's most common diseases?
	a) they are discarded b) they are used again c) they join the jobless queues d) they stay at home		a) greed b) jealousy c) loneliness d) hypertension
5.	What did Francis say was uncontrolled?	10.	Who did Francis say was abandoned?
	a) commercialism b) cannibalism c) consumerism d) cynicism		a) the head of the EU b) the elderly (and young) c) politicians d) Jesus

ROLE PLAY

Role A – The police

You think the police are the most important institution in a country. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): mass media, the courts or political parties are.

Role B – Mass media

You think the mass media are the most important institution in a country. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): the police, the courts or political parties are.

Role C – Courts

You think the courts are the most important institution in a country. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): mass media, the police or political parties are.

Role D – Political parties

You think political parties are the most important institution in a country. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): mass media, the courts or the police.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

European

leaders

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:

message
saw
important
cogs
life
inevitable

critical
red
lost
harmful
common
fate

EUROPE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Europe 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.

EUROPE 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 'Europe'?
3)	What are the good and bad things about Europe?
4)	What does the Pope mean by 'throwaway culture'?
5)	How much of a throwaway culture is there in your country?
6)	How can Europe change so the Pope will be happy?
7)	When do you feel like a cog in a machine?
8)	Are technology and economics more important than people?
9)	Do you ever feel exploited?
10)	What are the bad things about consumerism?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What are you critical of about your country?
13)	Was Europe of old better than today's Europe?
14)	How important is Europe?
15)	Has bureaucracy in Europe reduced artistry and creativity?
16)	How can bureaucracy be harmful to people?
17)	How much community is there in your country?
18)	How does your country help people who are weak and lonely?
19)	Why do societies so often abandon the elderly?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Pope Francis?

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

Pope Francis delivered a (1) ____ message to European leaders on Tuesday when he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He denounced (2) ____ he saw as Europe's 'throwaway culture' where the elderly, the (3) ____ ill and unborn children are ignored. He said technology and economics were more important to politicians than those suffering. He told his audience: "Men and women risk (4) ____ reduced to (5) ____ cogs in a machine that treats them as items of consumption to be exploited, with the result that whenever a human life no longer proves useful for that machine, it is discarded." He added: "It is the inevitable consequence (6) ____ a throwaway culture, and an uncontrolled consumerism".

The Pope was very (7) ____ of Europe's politicians and systems. He warned that Europe's (8) ____ dynamic, caring and artistic cultures were being eroded by red tape, saying: "The great ideas which once inspired Europe seem to have lost their attraction, (9) ____ to be replaced by the bureaucratic technicalities of its institutions." He said bureaucracy was "perceived (10) ____ insensitive to individual peoples, if not downright harmful". The Pope said Europe risked losing its sense of community, saying: "One of the most common diseases in Europe today is the loneliness (11) ____ of those who have no connection with others. This is especially true of the elderly, who are often abandoned (12) ____ their fate, and also in the young."

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

1.	(a)	damning	(b)	damming	(c)	darning	(d)	drumming
2.	(a)	that	(b)	such	(c)	what	(d)	when
3.	(a)	terminus	(b)	terminal	(c)	terminally	(d)	terminated
4.	(a)	having	(b)	taking	(c)	doing	(d)	being
5.	(a)	mere	(b)	more	(c)	mare	(d)	mire
6.	(a)	to	(b)	of	(c)	by	(d)	as
7.	(a)	social	(b)	partial	(c)	tactical	(d)	critical
8.	(a)	twice	(b)	once	(c)	threefold	(d)	fourfold
9.	(a)	these	(b)	thus	(c)	only	(d)	anytime
10.	(a)	is	(b)	was	(c)	has	(d)	as
11.	(a)	personal	(b)	sole	(c)	unique	(d)	typical
12.	(a)	of	(b)	to	(c)	by	(d)	on

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	Pope Francis delivered a inmdagn message
2.	he dadessedr the European Parliament
3.	arylntemil ill
4.	items of consumption to be tleidoxep
5.	the bvlaineiet consequence
6.	uncontrolled sioenmucrms
Paragraph 2
7.	artlcici of Europe's politicians
8.	ideas which once ripeidns Europe
9.	lost their tnoitatcra
10.	ssniivetnei to individual peoples
11.	iyplact of those who have no connection
12.	naaeondbd to their fate

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	Europe seem to have lost their attraction, only to be replaced by the bureaucratic technicalities
( )	of its institutions." He said bureaucracy was "perceived as insensitive to individual peoples, if not downright
( )	reduced to mere cogs in a machine that treats them as items of consumption to be exploited, with the result
( )	Parliament in Strasbourg. He denounced what he saw as Europe's 'throwaway culture' where
( )	true of the elderly, who are often abandoned to their fate, and also in the young."
( )	that whenever a human life no longer proves useful for that machine, it is discarded." He added:
( )	important to politicians than those suffering. He told his audience: "Men and women risk being
( )	harmful". The Pope said Europe risked losing its sense of community, saying: "One of the most common
( )	Pope Francis delivered a damning message to European leaders on Tuesday when he addressed the European
( )	diseases in Europe today is the loneliness typical of those who have no connection with others. This is especially
( )	the elderly, the terminally ill and unborn children are ignored. He said technology and economics were more
( )	dynamic, caring and artistic cultures were being eroded by red tape, saying: "The great ideas which once inspired
( 1 )	The Pope was very critical of Europe's politicians and systems. He warned that Europe's once
( )	"It is the inevitable consequence of a throwaway culture, and an uncontrolled consumerism".

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	Francis to delivered European a leaders damning message.
2.	are ill ignored and unborn The children terminally.
3.	cogs Being in reduced a to machine mere.
4.	life no Whenever longer a proves human useful.
5.	of consequence inevitable The culture throwaway a.
6.	of Pope Europe's was politicians very critical The.
7.	tape by being cultures eroded red . were Artistic
8.	risked Europe said Pope The community of sense its losing.
9.	those no others of have with Typical who connection.
10.	especially is This elderly the of true.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Pope Francis delivered / delivery a damning message to European leaders on Tuesday when he addressed / address the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He denounced what he saw / seen as Europe's 'throwaway culture' where the elderly, the terminal / terminally ill and unborn children are ignored. He said technology and economics were more / mere important to politicians than them / those suffering. He told his audience: "Men and women risk being reduced to mere clogs / cogs in a machine that treats them has / as items of consumption to be exploited, with the result that whenever a human life no longer proves / proof useful for that machine, it is discarded." He added: "It is the inevitable consequence of a throwaway culture, and an uncontrolled consumer / consumerism".

The Pope was very critical / crucial of Europe's politicians and systems. He warned that Europe's once dynamic / dynamism, caring and artistic cultures were being eroded / evaded by red tape, saying: "The great ideas which once insipid / inspired Europe seem to have lost their attraction, only to be replaced by the bureaucratic techniques / technicalities of its institutions." He said bureaucracy was "perceived as / was insensitive to individual peoples, if not downright / upright harmful". The Pope said Europe risked losing its sensed / sense of community, saying: "One of the most common diseases in Europe today is the lonely / loneliness typical of those who have no connection with others. This is especially true of the elderly, who are often abandoned to their fate / fete, and also in the young."

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)

P_p_ Fr_nc_s d_l_v_r_d _ d_mn_ng m_ss_g_ t_ __r_p__n l__d_rs _n T__sd_y wh_n h_ _ddr_ss_d th_ __r_p__n P_rl__m_nt _n Str_sb__rg. H_ d_n__nc_d wh_t h_ s_w _s __r_p_'s 'thr_w_w_y c_lt_r_' wh_r_ th_ _ld_rly, th_ t_rm_n_lly _ll _nd _nb_rn ch_ldr_n _r_ _gn_r_d. H_ s__d t_chn_l_gy _nd _c_n_m_cs w_r_ m_r_ _mp_rt_nt t_ p_l_t_c__ns th_n th_s_ s_ff_r_ng. H_ t_ld h_s __d__nc_: "M_n _nd w_m_n r_sk b__ng r_d_c_d t_ m_r_ c_gs _n _ m_ch_n_ th_t tr__ts th_m _s _t_ms _f c_ns_mpt__n t_ b_ _xpl__t_d, w_th th_ r_s_lt th_t wh_n_v_r _ h_m_n l_f_ n_ l_ng_r pr_v_s _s_f_l f_r th_t m_ch_n_, _t _s d_sc_rd_d." H_ _dd_d: "_t _s th_ _n_v_t_bl_ c_ns_q__nc_ _f _ thr_w_w_y c_lt_r_, _nd _n _nc_ntr_ll_d c_ns_m_r_sm".

Th_ P_p_ w_s v_ry cr_t_c_l _f __r_p_'s p_l_t_c__ns _nd syst_ms. H_ w_rn_d th_t __r_p_'s _nc_ dyn_m_c, c_r_ng _nd _rt_st_c c_lt_r_s w_r_ b__ng _r_d_d by r_d t_p_, s_y_ng: "Th_ gr__t _d__s wh_ch _nc_ _nsp_r_d __r_p_ s__m t_ h_v_ l_st th__r _ttr_ct__n, _nly t_ b_ r_pl_c_d by th_ b_r___cr_t_c t_chn_c_l_t__s _f _ts _nst_t_t__ns." H_ s__d b_r___cr_cy w_s "p_rc__v_d _s _ns_ns_t_v_ t_ _nd_v_d__l p__pl_s, _f n_t d_wnr_ght h_rmf_l". Th_ P_p_ s__d __r_p_ r_sk_d l_s_ng _ts s_ns_ _f c_mm_n_ty, s_y_ng: "_n_ _f th_ m_st c_mm_n d_s__s_s _n __r_p_ t_d_y _s th_ l_n_l_n_ss typ_c_l _f th_s_ wh_ h_v_ n_ c_nn_ct__n w_th _th_rs. Th_s _s _sp_c__lly tr__ _f th_ _ld_rly, wh_ _r_ _ft_n _b_nd_n_d t_ th__r f_t_, _nd _ls_ _n th_ y__ng."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

pope francis delivered a damning message to european leaders on tuesday when he addressed the european parliament in strasbourg he denounced what he saw as europe's 'throwaway culture' where the elderly the terminally ill and unborn children are ignored he said technology and economics were more important to politicians than those suffering he told his audience "men and women risk being reduced to mere cogs in a machine that treats them as items of consumption to be exploited with the result that whenever a human life no longer proves useful for that machine it is discarded" he added "it is the inevitable consequence of a throwaway culture and an uncontrolled consumerism"

the pope was very critical of europe's politicians and systems he warned that europe's once dynamic caring and artistic cultures were being eroded by red tape saying "the great ideas which once inspired europe seem to have lost their attraction only to be replaced by the bureaucratic technicalities of its institutions" he said bureaucracy was "perceived as insensitive to individual peoples if not downright harmful" the pope said europe risked losing its sense of community saying "one of the most common diseases in europe today is the loneliness typical of those who have no connection with others this is especially true of the elderly who are often abandoned to their fate and also in the young"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

PopeFrancisdeliveredadamningmessagetoEuropeanleadersonTues
daywhenheaddressedtheEuropeanParliamentinStrasbourg.Hedeno
uncedwhathesawasEurope's'throwawayculture'wheretheelderly,th
eterminallyillandunbornchildrenareignored.Hesaidtechnologyande
conomicsweremoreimportanttopoliticiansthanthosesuffering.Hetol
dhisaudience:"Menandwomenriskbeingreducedtomerecogsinamac
hinethattreatsthemasitemsofconsumptiontobeexploited,withtheres
ultthatwheneverahumanlifenolongerprovesusefulforthatmachine,it
isdiscarded."Headded:"Itistheinevitableconsequenceofathrowaway
culture,andanuncontrolledconsumerism".ThePopewasverycriticalof
Europe'spoliticiansandsystems.HewarnedthatEurope'soncedynami
c,caringandartisticcultureswerebeingerodedbyred tape,sayi
ng:"ThegreatideaswhichonceinspiredEuropeseemtohavelosttheirat
traction,onlytobereplacedbythebureaucratictechnicalitiesofitsinstit
utions."Hesaidbureaucracywas"perceivedasinsensitivetoindividual
peoples,ifnotdownrightharmful".ThePopesaidEuroperiskedlosingits
senseofcommunity,saying:"OneofthemostcommondiseasesinEuro
petodayisthelonelinesstypicalofthosewhohavenoconnectionwithoth
ers.Thisisespeciallytrueoftheelderly,whoareoftenabandonedtotheir
fate,andalsointheyoung."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Europe is the greatest continent on Earth. 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 Europe. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. EUROPE: Make a poster about Europe past and present. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. CONSUMERISM: Write a magazine article about consumerism. 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 an expert on Europe. Ask him/her three questions about Europe. Give him/her three of your opinions on the god and bad points about Europe. 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

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	damning	a.	strong
2.	denounced	b.	attacked
3.	ignored	c.	disregarded
4.	items	d.	objects
5.	uncontrolled	e.	unrestrained
6.	dynamic	f.	energetic
7.	eroded	g.	worn away
8.	institutions	h.	organizations
9.	harmful	i.	damaging
10.	abandoned	j.	deserted

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	European leaders
2.	They are ignored
3.	Cogs
4.	They are discarded
5.	Consumerism
6.	Red tape
7.	Great ideas
8.	Bureaucracy
9.	Loneliness
10.	The elderly (and young)

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

9.

c

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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Pope attacks Europe’s throwaway culture (27th November, 2014)

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