The Reading / Listening - Silk Road - Level 6

China's President Xi Jinping has outlined an ambitious project to regenerate global growth. His government has pledged a massive $124 billion to bolster global trade along the old Silk Road route. President Xi spoke about the initiative on Sunday at a summit attended by leaders from 29 countries, as well as the heads of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The President stated that the new initiative aimed to expand trading links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond. He said the project would invest billions of dollars in infrastructure to help facilitate the free flow of goods. He told attendees at the summit that: "Trade is the important engine of economic development."

President Xi said increased global trade would make the world more peaceful. He said: "We should build an open platform of cooperation, and uphold and grow an open world economy….We will not re-tread the old path of games between foes. Instead we will create a new model of cooperation and mutual benefit." Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was impressed with President Xi's "vision and ingenuity". He said: "Such a broad sweep and scale of interlocking economic partnerships and investments is unprecedented in history. We stand at the cusp of a geo-economic revolution." Britain's finance minister told the summit his country was a "natural partner" of the project.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Silk Road - Level 4  or  Silk Road - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-silkroad-africa-idUSKBN18A02I
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39912671
  • http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-05/14/c_136282137.htm


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. GLOBAL TRADE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about global trade. 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?

       ambitious / project / global growth / summit / leaders / initiative / infrastructure /
       global trade / peaceful / platform / world economy / cooperation / mutual benefit

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

3. CHINA: Students A strongly believe China is the best country to create a more peaceful world; Students B strongly believe another country is best.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD: What can these countries do to ensure a more peaceful world? Would they do it? Why (not)? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What could they do?

Would they do it?

Why (not)?

China

 

 

 

USA

 

 

 

North Korea

 

 

 

Afghanistan

 

 

 

Saudi Arabia

 

 

 

India

 

 

 

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. GLOBAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "global". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. GROWTH: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to increase growth at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • low business taxes
  • good infrastructure
  • well-educated workers
  • low interest rates
  • investment
  • jobs
  • low oil prices
  • free trade

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. China has pledged $124 million to bolster global growth.     T / F
  2. China's president spoke to the leaders of 29 countries.     T / F
  3. Europe will not be included in the Silk Road plan.     T / F
  4. China's president said China would develop new engines.     T / F
  5. President Xi said increased global trade would help bring peace.     T / F
  6. Pakistan's president didn't have good things to say about the plan.     T / F
  7. Pakistan's president said there could be a geo-economic revolution.     T / F
  8. Britain said it was a natural partner of the Silk Road plan.     T / F

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

  1. outlined
  2. pledged
  3. initiative
  4. expand
  5. facilitate
  6. cooperation
  7. foes
  8. mutual
  9. unprecedented
  10. revolution
  1. enable
  2. common
  3. develop
  4. out of the ordinary
  5. sketched out
  6. enemies
  7. plan
  8. radical change
  9. promised
  10. joint action

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

  1. President Xi Jinping has outlined an
  2. His government has pledged a massive
  3. at a summit
  4. facilitate the free flow
  5. Trade is the important engine of
  6. make the world more
  7. mutual
  8. vision and
  9. unprecedented in
  10. We stand at the cusp
  1. peaceful
  2. economic development
  3. attended by leaders
  4. history
  5. $124 billion
  6. of a geo-economic revolution
  7. ambitious project
  8. benefit
  9. of goods
  10. ingenuity

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
invest
bolster
ambitious
engine
heads
free
initiative
links

China's President Xi Jinping has outlined an (1) ____________ project to regenerate global growth. His government has pledged a massive $124 billion to (2) ____________ global trade along the old Silk Road route. President Xi spoke about the (3) ____________ on Sunday at a summit attended by leaders from 29 countries, as well as the (4) ____________ of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The President stated that the new initiative aimed to expand trading (5) ____________ between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond. He said the project would (6) ____________ billions of dollars in infrastructure to help facilitate the (7) ____________ flow of goods. He told attendees at the summit that: "Trade is the important (8) ____________ of economic development."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
mutual
platform
revolution
peaceful
broad
natural
path
scale

President Xi said increased global trade would make the world more (9) ____________. He said: "We should build an open (10) ____________ of cooperation, and uphold and grow an open world economy….We will not re-tread the old (11) ____________ of games between foes. Instead we will create a new model of cooperation and (12) ____________ benefit." Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was impressed with President Xi's "vision and ingenuity". He said: "Such a (13) ____________ sweep and (14) ____________ of interlocking economic partnerships and investments is unprecedented in history. We stand at the cusp of a geo-economic (15) ____________." Britain's finance minister told the summit his country was a "(16) ____________ partner" of the project.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Xi Jinping has outlined an ambitious project to ______ growth
     a.  degenerate global
     b.  renegade global
     c.  regent aid global
     d.  regenerate global

2)  His government has pledged a massive $124 billion to ______ trade
     a.  holster global
     b.  bolster global
     c.  gold star global
     d.  all star global

3)  President Xi spoke about the initiative on Sunday ______
     a.  at the summit
     b.  at a summit
     c.  alt a summit
     d.  attack a summit

4)  aimed to expand trading links between Asia, Africa, Europe ______
     a.  and behind
     b.  and beyond
     c.  and yonder
     d.  and Beyonce

5)  invest billions of dollars in infrastructure to help facilitate the free ______
     a.  flow off goods
     b.  flow of good
     c.  flow off good
     d.  flow of goods

6)  President Xi said increased global trade would make the world ______
     a.  more peacefully
     b.  more peas fully
     c.  more peace full
     d.  more peaceful

7)  build an open platform of cooperation, and uphold and grow an ______
     a.  open worldly economy
     b.  one world economy
     c.  open world economy
     d.  open world economize

8)  We will not re-tread the old path of games ______
     a.  between hoes
     b.  between toes
     c.  between does
     d.  between foes

9)  scale of interlocking economic partnerships and investments is ______ history
     a.  in press it dented in
     b.  umpire scented in
     c.  unprecedented in
     d.  sun-press indented in

10)  Britain's finance minister told the summit his country was ______
     a.  a "neutral partner"
     b.  a "natural partner"
     c.  a "nocturnal partner"
     d.  a "nationally partner"

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

China's President Xi Jinping (1) ___________________ ambitious project to regenerate global growth. His government has pledged a massive $124 (2) ___________________ global trade along the old Silk Road route. President Xi spoke about the initiative on Sunday (3) ___________________ by leaders from 29 countries, (4) ___________________ heads of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The President stated that the new initiative (5) ___________________ trading links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond. He said the project would invest billions of dollars in infrastructure to help facilitate the (6) ___________________. He told attendees at the summit that: "Trade is the important engine of economic development."

President Xi (7) ___________________ trade would make the world more peaceful. He said: "We should (8) ___________________ platform of cooperation, and uphold and grow an open world economy….We will not re-tread the old (9) ___________________ between foes. Instead we will create a new model of cooperation and mutual benefit." Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (10) ___________________ President Xi's "vision and ingenuity". He said: "Such (11) ___________________ and scale of interlocking economic partnerships and investments is unprecedented in history. We stand at the cusp of a geo-economic revolution." Britain's (12) ___________________ told the summit his country was a "natural partner" of the project.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does China's President Xi Jinping want to regenerate?
  2. How much money has China promised in its initiative?
  3. How many world leaders attended a summit?
  4. What did President Xi say infrastructure would help the free flow of?
  5. What did President Xi say was an engine of economic development?
  6. What did President Xi say increased global trade would result in?
  7. What kind of world economy did President Xi talk about?
  8. Who was impressed with President Xi's "vision and ingenuity"?
  9. What did Pakistan's prime minister say the world was on the cusp of?
  10. Which country said it was a "natural partner" of the project?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does China's President Xi Jinping want to regenerate?
a) power plants
b) talks
c) global growth
d) population

2) How much money has China promised in its initiative?
a) $124 billion
b) $125 billion
c) $126 billion
d) $127 billion

3) How many world leaders attended a summit?
a) 28
b) 29
c) 30
d) 31

4) What did President Xi say infrastructure would help the free flow of?
a) skills
b) oil
c) water
d) goods

5) What did President Xi say was an engine of economic development?
a) trains
b) Toyota
c) trade
d) a turbo

6) What did President Xi say increased trade would result in?
a) chaos
b) a more peaceful world
c) overpopulation
d) inflation

7) What kind of world economy did President Xi talk about?
a) an agricultural economy
b) a richer economy
c) a planned economy
d) an open economy

8) Who was impressed with President Xi's "vision and ingenuity"?
a) the UN Secretary-General
b) Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
c) the IMF
d) the USA

9) What did Pakistan's prime minister say the world was on the cusp of?
a) a geographical collapse
b) a geo-economic revolution
c) a geological fault
d) a geo-thermal meltdown

10) Which country said it was a "natural partner" of the project?
a) Britain
b) India
c) Pakistan
d) the USA

Role play

Role  A – Investment

You think investment is the best way to promote global growth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): free trade, good infrastructure or low interest rates.

Role  B – Free Trade

You think free trade is the best way to promote global growth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): investment, good infrastructure or low interest rates.

Role  C – Good Infrastructure

You think good infrastructure is the best way to promote global growth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): free trade, investment or low interest rates.

Role  D – Low Interest Rates

You think low interest rates is the best way to promote global growth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why):  free trade, good infrastructure or investment.

After reading / listening

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

'silk'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'road'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • build
    • grow
    • games
    • mutual
    • sweep
    • natural
    • ambitious
    • bolster
    • leaders
    • expand
    • beyond
    • engine

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - China outlines Silk Road plan for global trade

    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 'silk'?
    3. What do you know about China's President Xi Jinping?
    4. What do you think of this project?
    5. What can countries do to increase global growth?
    6. What do you know about the Silk Road?
    7. How is economic growth in your country?
    8. Who are your country's most important trading partners?
    9. What infrastructure does your country need?
    10. What do you think of free trade?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'road'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why would increased global trade make the world more peaceful?
    5. What difficulties are there when countries try to cooperate with trade?
    6. What are your countries traditional foes?
    7. What is a geo-economic revolution?
    8. What could go wrong with this project?
    9. How successful do you think this project will be?
    10. What questions would you like to ask China's President Xi Jinping?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    China's President Xi Jinping has (1) ____ an ambitious project to regenerate global growth. His government has pledged a (2) ____ $124 billion to bolster global trade along the old Silk Road route. President Xi spoke about the (3) ____ on Sunday at a summit attended by leaders from 29 countries, as well as the heads of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The President stated that the new initiative aimed (4) ____ expand trading links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond. He said the project would invest billions of dollars (5) ____ infrastructure to help facilitate the free flow of goods. He told attendees at the summit that: "Trade is the (6) ____ engine of economic development."

    President Xi said increased global trade would make the world (7) ____ peaceful. He said: "We should build an open platform of cooperation, and (8) ____ and grow an open world economy….We will not re-tread the old path of games between (9) ____. Instead we will create a new model of cooperation and mutual benefit." Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was impressed (10) ____ President Xi's "vision and ingenuity". He said: "Such a broad sweep and scale of interlocking economic partnerships and investments is unprecedented (11) ____ history. We stand at the cusp of a geo-economic revolution." Britain's finance minister told the summit his country was a "(12) ____ partner" of the project.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     aligned     (b)     lined     (c)     outlined     (d)     underlined    
    2. (a)     massive     (b)     massed     (c)     mass     (d)     massacre    
    3. (a)     initiative     (b)     invitation     (c)     instigate     (d)     initials    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     for     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    5. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    6. (a)     imported     (b)     importantly     (c)     importance     (d)     important    
    7. (a)     more     (b)     many     (c)     much     (d)     amore    
    8. (a)     holder     (b)     holding     (c)     held     (d)     uphold    
    9. (a)     foes     (b)     does     (c)     hoes     (d)     roes    
    10. (a)     of     (b)     with     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    11. (a)     by     (b)     in     (c)     as     (d)     of    
    12. (a)     natural     (b)     naturally     (c)     nature     (d)     nurture

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. His government has pledged a sasievm $124 billion
    2. bserolt global trade
    3. a timums attended by leaders
    4. the new vietnatiii aimed to expand trading
    5. help etiaafcitl the free flow of goods
    6. engine of economic novempedlte

    Paragraph 2

    1. an open platform of oaoopnitcer
    2. lutmua benefit
    3. Nawaz Sharif was esdsrmeip
    4. vision and giiunenty
    5. ednuedecpetrn in history
    6. at the cusp of a geo-economic oovltirnue

    Put the text back together

    (    )     of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The President stated that the new initiative aimed

    (    )     pledged a massive  $124 billion to bolster global trade along the old Silk Road route. President Xi spoke about the

    (    )     benefit." Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was impressed with President Xi's "vision and

    (    )     open platform of cooperation, and uphold and grow an open world economy….We will not re-tread the old

    (    )     initiative on Sunday at a summit attended by leaders from 29 countries, as well as the heads

    (    )     path of games between foes. Instead we will create a new model of cooperation and mutual

    (    )     President Xi said increased global trade would make the world more peaceful. He said: "We should build an

    (    )     billions of dollars in infrastructure to help facilitate the free flow of goods. He told attendees at the

    (    )     summit that: "Trade is the important engine of economic development."

    (    )     minister told the summit his country was a "natural partner" of the project.

    (    )     to expand trading links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond. He said the project would invest

    (    )     ingenuity". He said: "Such a broad sweep and scale of interlocking economic partnerships and investments

    (    )     is unprecedented in history. We stand at the cusp of a geo-economic revolution." Britain's finance

    1  )     China's President Xi Jinping has outlined an ambitious project to regenerate global growth. His government has

    Put the words in the right order

    1. to   project   ambitious   an   Outlined   growth   global   regenerate   .
    2. by   At   leaders   a   from   summit   29   attended   countries   .
    3. initiative   new   The   links   trading   expand   to   aimed   .
    4. of   project   dollars   would   in   invest  infrastructure   billions   The   .
    5. engine   important   the   is   Trade   development   economic   of   .
    6. world   trade   more   would  peaceful   make   Increased  the   global   .
    7. open   an   build   should   We   cooperation   of   platform   .
    8. will   between  path   re-tread   not   foes   of   the   We   games   old   .
    9. create   cooperation   a   Instead   new   we   model   will   of   .
    10. economic   revolution   We   stand   at   the   cusp   of   a   geo   -   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    China's President Xi Jinping has outlined the / an ambitious project to regenerate global / globally growth. His government has pledged a massed / massive $124 billion to bolster / blister global trade along the old Silk Road route. President Xi spoke about the initiative on Sunday at a remit / summit attended by leaders from 29 countries, as well as the heads / faces of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The President stated that the new / newly initiative aimed to expand trading links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond / behind. He said the project would invest billions of dollars in infrastructure to help facilitate the free flowed / flow of goods. He told attendees at the summit that: "Trade is the important engineer / engine of economic development."

    President Xi said increased global trade would make the world more peaceful / peace. He said: "We should build an openly / open platform of cooperation, and uphold and growth / grow an open world economy….We will not re-tread the old path of games between foes / does. Instead we will create a new model of cooperation and mutual beneficial / benefit." Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was impressed with President Xi's "vision and ingenuity / ingenious". He said: "Such a broad swept / sweep and scale of interlocking economic partnerships and investments is unprecedented in history. We stand at the crisp / cusp of a geo-economic revolution." Britain's finance minister told the summit his / this country was a "natural / neutral partner" of the project.

    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_'s Pr_s_d_nt X_ J_np_ng h_s __tl_n_d _n _mb_t___s pr_j_ct t_ r_g_n_r_t_ gl_b_l gr_wth. H_s g_v_rnm_nt h_s pl_dg_d _ m_ss_v_  $124 b_ll__n t_ b_lst_r gl_b_l tr_d_ _l_ng th_ _ld S_lk R__d r__t_. Pr_s_d_nt X_ sp_k_ _b__t th_ _n_t__t_v_ _n S_nd_y _t _ s_mm_t _tt_nd_d by l__d_rs fr_m 29 c__ntr__s, _s w_ll _s th_ h__ds _f th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns, _nt_rn_t__n_l M_n_t_ry F_nd _nd W_rld B_nk. Th_ Pr_s_d_nt st_t_d th_t th_ n_w _n_t__t_v_ __m_d t_ _xp_nd tr_d_ng l_nks b_tw__n _s__, _fr_c_, __r_p_ _nd b_y_nd. H_ s__d th_ pr_j_ct w__ld _nv_st b_ll__ns _f d_ll_rs _n _nfr_str_ct_r_ t_ h_lp f_c_l_t_t_ th_ fr__ fl_w _f g__ds. H_ t_ld _tt_nd__s _t th_ s_mm_t th_t: "Tr_d_ _s th_ _mp_rt_nt _ng_n_ _f _c_n_m_c d_v_l_pm_nt."

    Pr_s_d_nt X_ s__d _ncr__s_d gl_b_l tr_d_ w__ld m_k_ th_ w_rld m_r_ p__c_f_l. H_ s__d: "W_ sh__ld b__ld _n _p_n pl_tf_rm _f c__p_r_t__n, _nd _ph_ld _nd gr_w _n _p_n w_rld _c_n_my….W_ w_ll n_t r_-tr__d th_ _ld p_th _f g_m_s b_tw__n f__s. _nst__d w_ w_ll cr__t_ _ n_w m_d_l _f c__p_r_t__n _nd m_t__l b_n_f_t." P_k_st_n's Pr_m_ M_n_st_r N_w_z Sh_r_f w_s _mpr_ss_d w_th Pr_s_d_nt X_'s "v_s__n _nd _ng_n__ty". H_ s__d: "S_ch _ br__d sw__p _nd sc_l_ _f _nt_rl_ck_ng _c_n_m_c p_rtn_rsh_ps _nd _nv_stm_nts _s _npr_c_d_nt_d _n h_st_ry. W_ st_nd _t th_ c_sp _f _ g__-_c_n_m_c r_v_l_t__n." Br_t__n's f_n_nc_ m_n_st_r t_ld th_ s_mm_t h_s c__ntry w_s _ "n_t_r_l p_rtn_r" _f th_ pr_j_ct.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    china's president xi jinping has outlined an ambitious project to regenerate global growth his government has pledged a massive  $124 billion to bolster global trade along the old silk road route president xi spoke about the initiative on sunday at a summit attended by leaders from 29 countries as well as the heads of the united nations international monetary fund and world bank the president stated that the new initiative aimed to expand trading links between asia africa europe and beyond he said the project would invest billions of dollars in infrastructure to help facilitate the free flow of goods he told attendees at the summit that "trade is the important engine of economic development"

    president xi said increased global trade would make the world more peaceful he said "we should build an open platform of cooperation and uphold and grow an open world economy…we will not re-tread the old path of games between foes instead we will create a new model of cooperation and mutual benefit" pakistan's prime minister nawaz sharif was impressed with president xi's "vision and ingenuity" he said "such a broad sweep and scale of interlocking economic partnerships and investments is unprecedented in history we stand at the cusp of a geo-economic revolution" britain's finance minister told the summit his country was a "natural partner" of the project

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    China'sPresidentXiJinpinghasoutlinedanambitiousprojecttoregener
    ateglobalgrowth.Hisgovernmenthaspledgedamassive$124billionto
    bolsterglobaltradealongtheoldSilkRoadroute.PresidentXispokeabou
    ttheinitiativeonSundayatasummitattendedbyleadersfrom29countri
    es,aswellastheheadsoftheUnitedNations,InternationalMonetaryFun
    dandWorldBank.ThePresidentstatedthatthenewinitiativeaimedtoex
    pandtradinglinksbetweenAsia,Africa,Europeandbeyond.Hesaidthep
    rojectwouldinvestbillionsofdollarsininfrastructuretohelpfacilitatethe
    freeflowofgoods.Hetoldattendeesatthesummitthat:"Tradeistheimp
    ortantengineofeconomicdevelopment."PresidentXisaidincreasedglo
    baltradewouldmaketheworldmorepeaceful.Hesaid:"Weshouldbuild
    anopenplatformofcooperation,andupholdandgrowanopenworldeco
    nomy….Wewillnotre-treadtheoldpathofgamesbetweenfoes.Instea
    dwewillcreateanewmodelofcooperationandmutualbenefit."Pakistan
    'sPrimeMinisterNawazSharifwasimpressedwithPresidentXi's"vision
    andingenuity".Hesaid:"Suchabroadsweepandscaleofinterlockingec
    onomicpartnershipsandinvestmentsisunprecedentedinhistory.West
    andatthecuspofageo-economicrevolution."Britain'sfinanceminister
    toldthesummithiscountrywasa"naturalpartner"oftheproject.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    China will bring more peace to the world than any other country. Discuss.

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    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 this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. GLOBAL TRADE: Make a poster about global trade. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. SILK ROAD: Write a magazine article about the Silk Road project helping to bring about world peace. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe this and with people who do not believe 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 global trade. Ask him/her three questions about global trade. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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