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China ends one-child policy (1st November, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

China has ended its decades-long one-child policy to allow all couples to have two children. The ruling Communist Party of China made the announcement on Thursday. The one-child policy, officially called the family planning policy, was a population control measure that was introduced in 1979. Policy makers hoped to restrict the country's surging population and therefore control rates of poverty. It wasn't adhered to strictly and many exceptions were allowed. In 2007, around 36 per cent of China's population was subject to a strict one-child restriction. An additional 53 per cent was allowed to have a second child if the first child was a girl. The new two-child policy will reverse China's very low fertility rate.

The new two-child policy is expected to provide a huge economic boost for China and prevent it from developing into an ageing society. China’s labour force reached a peak of 940 million in 2012. However, this decreased to 930 million in 2014 and was expected to fall by another 29 million by 2020. Predictions from Peking University are that there will be an average of 2.5 million extra newborns per year. This will result in more workers and an additional $11.8 billion in annual consumption. Shares in many international baby goods companies jumped by over 10 per cent after the news was announced. The new policy will affect around 100 million couples.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-10/29/c_134763645.htm
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2015-10/30/content_22325870.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/30/china-population-stocks-idUSH9N11M01420151030
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy

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. CHILDREN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about children. 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?

couples / announcement / family planning / population / poverty / strictly / additional / boost / ageing society / labour force / predictions / consumption / 100 million

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

3. NEWBORNS: What must parents think about when they have a new baby and what are the problems? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Considerations	Problems
Name
Health
Schools
Sleep
Work
Food

4. POPULATION CONTROL: Students A strongly believe all countries should control the number of their population; Students B strongly believe this shouldn't happen. 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. BABIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best thing about babies at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• clothes

• feet

• laughter

• sleep

• feeding time

• burping time

• bath time

• play time

6. COUPLE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "couple". 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.	China's one-child policy was over 100 years old.	T / F
b.	All couples can now have two children.	T / F
c.	Under the one-child policy, all couples were allowed only one child.	T / F
d.	The new policy will reinforce China's low fertility rate.	T / F
e.	The two-child policy will provide economic benefits to China.	T / F
f.	The number of workers in China was at its greatest in 2012.	T / F
g.	Peking University predicts 2.5 million extra babies a year in China.	T / F
h.	The two-child policy will affect nearly a billion couples.	T / F

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

1.	allow	a.	stop
2.	announcement	b.	observed
3.	measure	c.	spending
4.	adhered to	d.	statement
5.	additional	e.	forecasts
6.	boost	f.	permit
7.	prevent	g.	stimulus
8.	predictions	h.	action
9.	consumption	i.	rose
10.	jumped	j.	extra

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

1.	China has ended its decades-	a.	poverty
2.	officially called the family planning	b.	annual consumption
3.	control rates of	c.	fertility rate
4.	allowed to have a second child if the	d.	boost for China
5.	reverse China's very low	e.	100 million couples
6.	provide a huge economic	f.	long one-child policy
7.	prevent it from developing into an	g.	baby goods companies
8.	an additional $11.8 billion in	h.	first child was a girl
9.	Shares in many international	i.	ageing society
10.	The new policy will affect around	j.	policy

GAP FILL

China has ended its decades-long one-child (1) ____________ to allow all couples to have two children. The (2) ____________ Communist Party of China made the announcement on Thursday. The one-child policy, (3) ____________ called the family planning policy, was a population control measure that was introduced in 1979. Policy makers hoped to restrict the country's (4) ____________ population and therefore control rates of poverty. It wasn't adhered to (5) ____________ and many exceptions were allowed. In 2007, around 36 per cent of China's population was (6) ____________ to a strict one-child restriction. An additional 53 per cent was (7) ____________ to have a second child if the first child was a girl. The new two-child policy will reverse China's very low (8) ____________ rate.

ruling
surging
subject
officially
fertility
policy
allowed
strictly

The new two-child policy is expected to provide a (9) ____________ economic boost for China and prevent it from developing into an ageing (10) ____________. China’s labour force reached a (11) ____________ of 940 million in 2012. However, this decreased to 930 million in 2014 and was expected to fall by another 29 million by 2020. Predictions from Peking University are that there will be an (12) ____________ of 2.5 million extra newborns per year. This will (13) ____________ in more workers and an additional $11.8 billion in (14) ____________ consumption. Shares in many international baby goods companies (15) ____________ by over 10 per cent after the news was announced. The new policy will affect around 100 million (16) ____________.

peak
huge
result
jumped
average
couples
society
annual

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	the family planning policy was a population control measure that was ______
	a. introduced on 1979 b. introduced at 1979 c. introduced to 1979 d. introduced in 1979
2)	restrict the country's surging population and therefore ______ poverty
	a. control rate of b. control ratios of c. control rates of d. control rats of
3)	In 2007, around 36 per cent of China's population was subject _______-child restriction
	a. to a strictly one- b. to a strict one- c. to a slick one- d. to a sick one-
4)	An additional 53 per cent was allowed to have a second child if the first ______
	a. child was the girl b. child were a girl c. child was a girl d. child were the girl
5)	The new two-child policy will reverse China's very ______
	a. lowly fertility rate b. lows fertility rate c. slow fertility rate d. low fertility rate
6)	The new two-child policy is expected to provide a huge economic ______
	a. boast for China b. boost for China c. beast for China d. best for China
7)	China’s labour force reached a peak of 940 ______
	a. millions in 2012 b. million in 2012 c. millions in 2020 d. million in 2020
8)	this decreased to 930 million in 2014 and was expected to fall by another 29 ______
	a. million to 2020 b. million by 2020 c. million on 2020 d. million at 2020
9)	there will be an average of 2.5 million extra ______
	a. newborns pair year b. newborn per year c. newborns per year d. newborns purr year
10)	Shares in many international baby goods companies jumped by over 10 per cent ______
	a. after the news b. after that news c. after this news d. after then news

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

China has ended its decades-long one-child (1) ___________________ all couples (2) ___________________ children. The ruling Communist Party of China made the announcement on Thursday. The one-child policy, officially called the family planning policy, was a population (3) ___________________ that was introduced in 1979. Policy makers hoped to restrict the country's (4) ___________________ and therefore control rates of poverty. It wasn't adhered to strictly and many exceptions were allowed. In 2007, around 36 per cent of China's population (5) ___________________ strict one-child restriction. An additional 53 per cent was allowed to have a second child if the first child was a girl. The new two-child policy will reverse China's very (6) ___________________.

The new two-child policy is expected (7) ___________________ huge economic boost for China and prevent it from developing into an ageing society. China’s labour force (8) ___________________ of 940 million in 2012. However, this decreased to 930 million in 2014 (9) ___________________ to fall by another 29 million by 2020. Predictions from Peking University are that there will (10) ___________________ 2.5 million extra newborns per year. This will result in more workers and an additional $11.8 billion (11) ___________________ consumption. Shares in many international baby goods companies jumped by over 10 per cent after the news was announced. The new policy (12) ___________________ 100 million couples.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Who made the announcement the one-child policy had ended?
2.	When was the one-child policy introduced?
3.	What was surging that the Chinese government wanted to restrict?
4.	What percentage of China's population had to stick to one child?
5.	What does China want to reverse that is currently very low?
6.	What kind of boost will the new two-child policy provide China?
7.	What was the peak of China's labour force?
8.	How many newborns are expected each year?
9.	How much will annual consumption rise be because of the new policy?
10.	How many couples will the new policy affect?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who made the announcement the one-child policy had ended?	6.	What kind of boost will the new two-child policy provide China?
	a) The Ministry of Welfare b) the Population Department c) the Family Planning Unit d) the Communist Party		a) a positive one b) an energy boost c) an economic one d) a quick one
2.	When was the one-child policy introduced?	7.	What was the peak of China's labour force?
	a) 1977 b) 1979 c) 1081 d) 1989		a) 940 million b) 914 million c) 904 million d) 919 million
3.	What was surging that the Chinese government wanted to restrict?	8.	How many newborns are expected each year?
	a) family planning b) poverty c) controls d) the population		a) 250,000 b) 25,000,000 c) 2.5 million d) 2.5 billion
4.	What percentage of China's population had to stick to one child?	9.	How much will annual consumption rise be because of the new policy?
	a) 38% b) 53% c) 36% d) 18%		a) $118 million b) $11.8 billion c) $11.8 million d) $118 billion
5.	What does China want to reverse that is currently very low?	10.	How many couples will the new policy affect?
	a) policies b) restrictions c) poverty d) fertility rates		a) 100 million b) 100 billion c) 10 million d) 10 billion

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Clothes

You think clothes are the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): sleeping time, feeding time or play time.

Role B – Sleeping time

You think sleeping time is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): clothes, feeding time or play time.

Role C – Feeding time

You think feeding time is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): sleeping time, clothes or play time.

Role D – Play time

You think play time is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): sleeping time, feeding time or clothes.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

one

child

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:

decades
officially
measure
population
2007
low

huge
peak
fall
extra
good
100

CHILDREN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about children 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.

CHILDREN 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 'child'?
3)	What do you know about China's one-child policy?
4)	How can we control overpopulation?
5)	What's the best number of children to have?
6)	Which are better, boys or girls?
7)	How balanced is the population in your country, regarding age?
8)	What is the problem of a low fertility rate?
9)	Does your country do anything to control its population?
10)	What problems are associated with overpopulation?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What do you think of China's new two-child policy?
13)	How will the two-child policy affect China?
14)	What are the problems of an ageing society?
15)	What else can China do to boost its labour force?
16)	Should couples be allowed to have as many children as they want?
17)	What other kinds of companies will benefit from more babies?
18)	How many children would you like?
19)	Is it better for kids to have lots of brothers and sisters?
20)	What questions would you like to ask China's leaders?

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

China has ended its decades-long one-child policy to (1) ____ all couples to have two children. The (2) ____ Communist Party of China made the announcement on Thursday. The one-child policy, officially called the family planning policy, was a population control (3) ____ that was introduced in 1979. Policy makers hoped to restrict the country's (4) ____ population and therefore control rates of poverty. It wasn't adhered to strictly and many exceptions were allowed. In 2007, around 36 per cent of China's population was (5) ____ to a strict one-child restriction. An additional 53 per cent was allowed to have a second child if the first child was a girl. The new two-child policy will (6) ____ China's very low fertility rate.

The new two-child policy is expected to provide a (7) ____ economic boost for China and prevent it from developing into an (8) ____ society. China’s labour force reached a peak of 940 million in 2012. However, this decreased to 930 million in 2014 and was expected to fall (9) ____ another 29 million by 2020. Predictions from Peking University are that there will be an average of 2.5 million extra (10) ____ per year. This will result in more workers and an additional $11.8 billion in annual consumption. Shares in many international baby goods companies (11) ____ by over 10 per cent after the news was announced. The new policy will affect around 100 million (12) ____.

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

1.	(a)	allow	(b)	permission	(c)	do	(d)	try
2.	(a)	ruler	(b)	rules	(c)	ruling	(d)	ruled
3.	(a)	modicum	(b)	algebra	(c)	ratio	(d)	measure
4.	(a)	sugaring	(b)	surging	(c)	smattering	(d)	surfing
5.	(a)	subjunctive	(b)	subjectively	(c)	subjective	(d)	subject
6.	(a)	reserve	(b)	sever	(c)	reverse	(d)	severe
7.	(a)	enormous	(b)	huge	(c)	upped	(d)	rapture
8.	(a)	ageing	(b)	ageless	(c)	ageism	(d)	age-old
9.	(a)	by	(b)	to	(c)	at	(d)	of
10.	(a)	newbies	(b)	patients	(c)	newborns	(d)	sisters
11.	(a)	sprinted	(b)	crawled	(c)	hopped	(d)	jumped
12.	(a)	twins	(b)	couples	(c)	siblings	(d)	doctors

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	allow all ueospcl to have two children
2.	a population control rusmaee
3.	restrict the country's rggnusi population
4.	It wasn't raheedd to strictly
5.	a strict one-child intirecstor
6.	China's very low ietylftri rate
Paragraph 2
7.	an nggeia society
8.	etxdcpee to fall by another 29 million
9.	inprisecdto from Peking University
10.	2.5 million extra wonsnerb
11.	annual pcosmniuont
12.	after the news was cnennodua

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	one-child restriction. An additional 53 per cent was allowed to have a second child if the first child
( )	planning policy, was a population control measure that was introduced in 1979. Policy makers hoped to restrict
( )	Communist Party of China made the announcement on Thursday. The one-child policy, officially called the family
( )	exceptions were allowed. In 2007, around 36 per cent of China's population was subject to a strict
( )	the country's surging population and therefore control rates of poverty. It wasn't adhered to strictly and many
( 1 )	China has ended its decades-long one-child policy to allow all couples to have two children. The ruling
( )	developing into an ageing society. China’s labour force reached a peak of 940 million in 2012. However, this decreased
( )	announced. The new policy will affect around 100 million couples.
( )	was a girl. The new two-child policy will reverse China's very low fertility rate.
( )	University are that there will be an average of 2.5 million extra newborns per year. This will result in more
( )	The new two-child policy is expected to provide a huge economic boost for China and prevent it from
( )	to 930 million in 2014 and was expected to fall by another 29 million by 2020. Predictions from Peking
( )	goods companies jumped by over 10 per cent after the news was
	workers and an additional $11.8 billion in annual consumption. Shares in many international baby

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	child - one long - decades its ended has China policy .
2.	was 1979 population that in A measure introduced control .
3.	to child a restriction strict one Subject - .
4.	second first a girl the have a if to was child Allowed child .
5.	fertility China's low rate Reverse very .
6.	provide economic China to huge for Expected a boost .
7.	developing into Prevent an it ageing from society .
8.	force peak million labour a 940 China’s reached of .
9.	many in Shares companies goods baby international .
10.	new affect million The will 100 policy around couples .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

China has ended its decades-long one-child policy to allow all / every couples to have two children. The ruler / ruling Communist Party of China made the announcement on Thursday. The one-child policy, official / officially called the family planning policy, was a population control measured / measure that was introduced in 1979. Policy makers hoped / hoping to restrict the country's surging / sagging population and therefore control rates of poverty / plenty. It wasn't adhered to strictly and many contraptions / exceptions were allowed. In 2007, around 36 per cent of China's population was subject to a strict one-child restriction / restricted. An additional 53 per cent was allowed to have a second child if the first child was a girl. The new two-child policy will reverse / reserve China's very low fertility rate.

The new two-child policy is expected / expectation to provide a huge economic boast / boost for China and prevent it from developing into an ageing / ageless society. China’s labour force reached a peak / peek of 940 million in 2012. However, this decreased to 930 million in 2014 and was expected to fall by another / further 29 million by 2020. Predictions from Peking University are that there will be an average of 2.5 million addition / extra newborns per year. This will result on / in more workers and an additional $11.8 billion in / on annual consumption. Shares in many international baby goods companies jumped at / by over 10 per cent after the news was announcement / announced. The new policy will affect around 100 million couples.

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)

Ch_n_ h_s _nd_d _ts d_c_d_s-l_ng _n_-ch_ld p_l_cy t_ _ll_w _ll c__pl_s t_ h_v_ tw_ ch_ldr_n. Th_ r_l_ng C_mm_n_st P_rty _f Ch_n_ m_d_ th_ _nn__nc_m_nt _n Th_rsd_y. Th_ _n_-ch_ld p_l_cy, _ff_c__lly c_ll_d th_ f_m_ly pl_nn_ng p_l_cy, w_s _ p_p_l_t__n c_ntr_l m__s_r_ th_t w_s _ntr_d_c_d _n 1979. P_l_cy m_k_rs h_p_d t_ r_str_ct th_ c__ntry's s_rg_ng p_p_l_t__n _nd th_r_f_r_ c_ntr_l r_t_s _f p_v_rty. _t w_sn't _dh_r_d t_ str_ctly _nd m_ny _xc_pt__ns w_r_ _ll_w_d. _n 2007, _r__nd 36 p_r c_nt _f Ch_n_'s p_p_l_t__n w_s s_bj_ct t_ _ str_ct _n_-ch_ld r_str_ct__n. _n _dd_t__n_l 53 p_r c_nt w_s _ll_w_d t_ h_v_ _ s_c_nd ch_ld _f th_ f_rst ch_ld w_s _ g_rl. Th_ n_w tw_-ch_ld p_l_cy w_ll r_v_rs_ Ch_n_'s v_ry l_w f_rt_l_ty r_t_.

Th_ n_w tw_-ch_ld p_l_cy _s _xp_ct_d t_ pr_v_d_ _ h_g_ _c_n_m_c b__st f_r Ch_n_ _nd pr_v_nt _t fr_m d_v_l_p_ng _nt_ _n _g__ng s_c__ty. Ch_n_’s l_b__r f_rc_ r__ch_d _ p__k _f 940 m_ll__n _n 2012. H_w_v_r, th_s d_cr__s_d t_ 930 m_ll__n _n 2014 _nd w_s _xp_ct_d t_ f_ll by _n_th_r 29 m_ll__n by 2020. Pr_d_ct__ns fr_m P_k_ng _n_v_rs_ty _r_ th_t th_r_ w_ll b_ _n _v_r_g_ _f 2.5 m_ll__n _xtr_ n_wb_rns p_r y__r. Th_s w_ll r_s_lt _n m_r_ w_rk_rs _nd _n _dd_t__n_l $11.8 b_ll__n _n _nn__l c_ns_mpt__n. Sh_r_s _n m_ny _nt_rn_t__n_l b_by g__ds c_mp_n__s j_mp_d by _v_r 10 p_r c_nt _ft_r th_ n_ws w_s _nn__nc_d. Th_ n_w p_l_cy w_ll _ff_ct _r__nd 100 m_ll__n c__pl_s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

china has ended its decades-long one-child policy to allow all couples to have two children the ruling communist party of china made the announcement on thursday the one-child policy officially called the family planning policy was a population control measure that was introduced in 1979 policy makers hoped to restrict the country's surging population and therefore control rates of poverty it wasn't adhered to strictly and many exceptions were allowed in 2007 around 36 per cent of china's population was subject to a strict one-child restriction an additional 53 per cent was allowed to have a second child if the first child was a girl the new two-child policy will reverse china's very low fertility rate

the new two-child policy is expected to provide a huge economic boost for china and prevent it from developing into an ageing society china’s labour force reached a peak of 940 million in 2012 however this decreased to 930 million in 2014 and was expected to fall by another 29 million by 2020 predictions from peking university are that there will be an average of 25 million extra newborns per year this will result in more workers and an additional $118 billion in annual consumption shares in many international baby goods companies jumped by over 10 per cent after the news was announced the new policy will affect around 100 million couples

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Chinahasendeditsdecades-longone-childpolicytoallowallcouplest
ohavetwochildren.TherulingCommunistPartyofChinamadetheanno
uncementonThursday.Theone-childpolicy,officiallycalledthefamilyp
lanningpolicy,wasapopulationcontrolmeasurethatwasintroducedin1
979.Policymakershopedtorestrictthecountry'ssurgingpopulationan
dthereforecontrolratesofpoverty.Itwasn'tadheredtostrictlyandman
yexceptionswereallowed.In2007,around36percentofChina'spopulat
ionwassubjecttoastrictone-childrestriction.Anadditional53percentw
asallowedtohaveasecondchildifthefirstchildwasagirl.Thenewtwo-ch
ildpolicywillreverseChina'sverylowfertilityrate.Thenewtwo-childpoli
cyisexpectedtoprovideahugeeconomicboostforChinaandpreventitfr
omdevelopingintoanageingsociety.China’slabourforcereachedapea
kof940millionin2012.However,thisdecreasedto930millionin2014an
dwasexpectedtofallbyanother29millionby2020.PredictionsfromPeki
ngUniversityarethattherewillbeanaverageof2.5millionextranewbor
nsperyear.Thiswillresultinmoreworkersandanadditional$11.8billion
inannualconsumption.Sharesinmanyinternationalbabygoodscompan
iesjumpedbyover10percentafterthenewswasannounced.Thenewpol
icywillaffectaround100millioncouples.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

The world is becoming dangerously overpopulated. What do you think? Write about the problems and suggest some possible solutions.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 China's one-child policy. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. POPULATION CONTROL: Write a magazine article about population control. 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 population expert. Ask him/her three questions about overpopulation. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to control it. 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

F

e

T

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	allow	a.	permit
2	announcement	b.	statement
3.	measure	c.	action
4.	adhered to	d.	observed
5.	additional	e.	extra
6.	boost	f.	stimulus
7.	prevent	g.	stop
8.	predictions	h.	forecasts
9.	consumption	i.	spending
10.	jumped	j.	rose

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The Communist Party of China
2.	1979
3.	The population
4.	36
5.	The fertility rate
6.	An economic boost
7.	940 million
8.	2.5 million
9.	$11.8 billion
10.	100 million

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

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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China ends one-child policy (1st November, 2015)

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