The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Venezuela has taken a big step to deal with the country's energy problems. It told all state employees to work just two days a week. They were already on four days a week after Fridays became a no-work day. Around 2.8 million public workers will now have five days off a week. The president said: "We are going to have Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as non-working days." Employees will still be paid in full, despite the shorter working week.

The government blames the crisis on droughts and on El Nino. The Guri region, home to the nation's biggest dam, was compared to a desert. Critics say bad management, a lack of investment and corruption are to blame. People are facing daily disruptions to their lives. Women have to use hair dryers less and shopping malls have to use their own electricity generators. Electricity is being rationed and the clocks went back to provide more evening sunlight.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 5 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://time.com/4308909/venezuela-two-day-work-week-energy-crisis/
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/27/pic--pub-venezuela-introduces-two-day-week-to-save-energy/
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36145184


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.

taken a big

a.

off a week

2.

deal with the country's

b.

paid in full

3.

state

c.

energy problems

4.

They were already on

d.

million public workers

5.

Around 2.8

e.

working week

6.

have five days

f.

step

7.

Employees will still be

g.

four days a week

8.

despite the shorter

h.

employees



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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.

The government blames the crisis

a.

of investment

2.

home to the

b.

rationed

3.

compared

c.

disruptions to their lives

4.

a lack

d.

went back

5.

People are facing daily

e.

nation's biggest dam

6.

electricity

f.

on droughts

7.

Electricity is being

g.

to a desert

8.

the clocks

h.

generators

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Venezuela has taken a big (1) ___________________ the country's energy problems. (2) ___________________ employees to work just two days a week. They (3) ___________________ four days a week after Fridays became a no-work day. Around 2.8 million (4) ___________________ will now have five days off a week. The president said: "We are going to have Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (5) ___________________ days." Employees will still be paid in full, (6) ___________________ working week.

The government (7) ___________________ on droughts and on El Nino. The Guri region, home to the nation's biggest dam, (8) _________________ a desert. Critics say bad management, (9) ___________________ investment and corruption are to blame. People (10) __________________ disruptions to their lives. Women have to use hair dryers less and shopping malls have (11) ___________________ electricity generators. Electricity is being rationed and the clocks went back (12) ___________________ evening sunlight.

THE WORKING WEEK SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the working week 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.

 

 

 

 

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)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about the working week for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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