The Reading / Listening - Level 0

The USA and Cuba are friends again. It is the first time for over fifty years. Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro want normal relations. They want new diplomatic and economic ties. They want to say goodbye to the past. The two countries have talked secretly for a year. Pope Francis helped them.

The USA will not say that Cuba supports terrorism. It will be easier to travel to Cuba. There will be better telephone links. Trade between the two countries will restart. There has been no trade since 1960. Mr Castro worked hard to restore ties with the USA. He said Cuba and the USA must live together in peace.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 1,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30516740
  • http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=107963
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/opinion/a-new-beginning-with-cuba.html?_r=0


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.

The USA and Cuba

a.

to the past

2.

It is the first

b.

fifty years

3.

for over

c.

them

4.

normal

d.

time

5.

diplomatic and

e.

are friends again

6.

They want to say goodbye

f.

for a year

7.

talked secretly

g.

relations

8.

Pope Francis helped

h.

economic ties


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.

supports

a.

links

2.

It will be easier to

b.

hard

3.

better telephone

c.

terrorism

4.

Trade between the two countries

d.

with the USA

5.

There has been no trade

e.

travel to Cuba

6.

Mr Castro worked

f.

in peace

7.

restore ties

g.

since 1960

8.

live together

h.

will restart

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The USA and Cuba (1) ___________________. It is the first time for (2) ___________________. Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro want (3) ___________________. They want new diplomatic (4) ___________________. They want to say goodbye to the past. The two countries (5) ___________________ for a year. Pope Francis (6) ___________________.

The USA will not say that Cuba (7) ___________________. It will be easier to travel to Cuba. (8) ___________________ telephone links. Trade between the two countries (9) ___________________. There has been (10) ___________________ 1960. Mr Castro worked (11) ___________________ ties with the USA. He said Cuba and the USA must live (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheUSAandCubaarefriendsagain.Itisthefirsttimeforoverfiftyyears.P
residentsBarackObamaandRaulCastrowantnormalrelations.Theywa
ntnewdiplomaticandeconomicties.Theywanttosaygoodbyetothepas
t.Thetwocountrieshavetalkedsecretlyforayear.PopeFrancishelpedth
em.TheUSAwillnotsaythatCubasupportsterrorism.Itwillbeeasiertotr
aveltoCuba.Therewillbebettertelephonelinks.Tradebetweenthetwo
countrieswillrestart.Therehasbeennotradesince1960.MrCastrowork
edhardtorestoretieswiththeUSA.HesaidCubaandtheUSAmustliveto
getherinpeace.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about Cuba for 10 minutes. Read and talk about your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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