The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Singapore celebrated its fiftieth birthday. It became independent on August 8th, 1965. The celebrations saw the largest fireworks display ever in Singapore. Thousands of people gathered in the streets. The country has been counting down since New Year's Eve. Hundreds of events marked the fifty-year birthday. Singapore's Prime Minister gave a special message to the nation. He said: "We must press on, because we aspire to do better for ourselves."

Singapore has come a long way in the past fifty years. It got independence from Britain. It was very poor but the leadership of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made it wealthy. He died earlier this year. Singapore is the world's fourth most important financial centre and the second busiest port. A woman felt sad that Mr Lee did not live long enough to see the anniversary. She said: "We definitely feel that something is missing this year."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ndp-2015--50-years-and-counting-143325681.html
  • http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singaporeans-celebrate-50th-national-day-with-nostalgic-and-touching-parade-at-the-padang
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33815132


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.

Singapore celebrated its

a.

display ever

2.

It became independent

b.

on

3.

the largest fireworks

c.

on August 8th

4.

Thousands of people gathered

d.

do better for ourselves

5.

counting down

e.

in the streets

6.

Singapore's Prime Minister gave a special

f.

since New Year's Eve

7.

We must press

g.

message to the nation

8.

we aspire to

h.

fiftieth birthday


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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Singapore has come a long way

a.

from Britain

2.

It got independence

b.

financial centre

3.

Lee Kuan Yew made

c.

is missing this year

4.

He died earlier

d.

in the past fifty years

5.

There was an empty

e.

busiest port

6.

the fourth most important global

f.

seat for him

7.

the world's second

g.

it wealthy

8.

We definitely feel that something

h.

this year

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Singapore (1) ___________________ birthday. It became independent on August 8th, 1965. The celebrations saw the largest (2) ___________________ ever in Singapore. Thousands (3) ___________________ in the streets. The country has been counting down since New Year's Eve. Hundreds (4) ___________________ the fifty-year birthday. Singapore's Prime Minister gave a special (5) ___________________. He said: "We must press on, because we (6) ___________________ for ourselves."

Singapore has (7) ___________________ the past fifty years. It got independence from Britain. It (8) ___________________ the leadership of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made it wealthy. He (9) ___________________ year. Singapore is the world's fourth most (10) ___________________ centre and the second busiest port. A woman felt sad that Mr Lee did not live (11) ___________________ the anniversary. She said: "We definitely feel that something (12) ___________________ year."

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Singaporecelebrateditsfiftiethbirthday.ItbecameindependentonAu
gust8th,1965.Thecelebrationssawthelargestfireworksdisplayeverin
Singapore.Thousandsofpeoplegatheredinthestreets.Thecountryhas
beencountingdownsinceNewYear'sEve.Hundredsofeventsmarkedth
efifty-yearbirthday.Singapore'sPrimeMinistergaveaspecialmessa
getothenation.Hesaid:"Wemustpresson,becauseweaspiretodobette
rforourselves."Singaporehascomealongwayinthepastfiftyyears.Itg
otindependencefromBritain.Itwasverypoorbuttheleadershipoffound
ingPrimeMinisterLeeKuanYewmadeitwealthy.Hediedearlierthisyear
.Singaporeistheworld'sfourthmostimportantfinancialcentreandthes
econdbusiestport.AwomanfeltsadthatMrLeedidnotlivelongenoughto
seetheanniversary.Shesaid:"Wedefinitelyfeelthatsomethingismissi
ngthisyear."

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)

________________________________________________________

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

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about Singapore for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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