The Reading / Listening - Sagrada Familia - Level 6

Barcelona's world-famous La Sagrada Familia basilica has finally been given a building permit 136 years after construction on the site began. The church has agreed to repay $41 million in fees that date back to 1882, which is when ground was first broken on the building. City authorities have given the church a 10-year timeframe to pay the fees. Barcelona's mayor has hailed the deal as a historic agreement. She said the funds would be allotted to municipal projects that will improve the metro system, roads, public services and local neighbourhoods. A resident tweeted: "To improve the environment of this majestic building is to improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors as well as the image of Barcelona."

La Sagrada Familia was designed by renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, a modernist artist who also designed many eye-catching, unique and eccentric buildings and parks in Barcelona. The basilica is slated for completion in 2026, exactly 100 years after Gaudi's death. Construction has continued on La Sagrada Familia for over a century without any inspections from local authorities. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica, which is distinct from a cathedral in it not being the seat of a bishop. It is now one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions, attracting an estimated 20 million visitors a year.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Sagrada Familia - Level 4  or  Sagrada Familia - Level 5

Sources
  • http://time.com/5429231/barcelona-sagrada-familia-building-permit/
  • https://www.euronews.com/2018/10/19/barcelona-s-sagrada-familia-basilica-to-pay-city-36-million-in-late-permit-fees
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Fam%C3%ADlia


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. LA SAGRADA FAMILIA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about La Sagrada Familia. 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?
       Barcelona / world famous / permit / construction / fee / historic / metro / visitors /
       designed / architect / unique / eccentric / century / church / tourist attraction / top
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PUBLIC SERVICES: Students A strongly believe money from tourist attractions should be spent on public services; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. IMPROVEMENTS: What improvements are needed in your town? Complete this table with your partner(s) and share what you wrote. Change partners often.

 

Improvements

How this would help you

Transport

 

 

Housing

 

 

Environment

 

 

Leisure

 

 

Safety

 

 

Tourism

 

 
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. BUILDING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "building". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Mount Fuji
  • Sydney Opera House
  • Serengeti
  • Antarctica
  • La Sagrada Familia
  • Pyramids
  • Machu Picchu
  • Grand Canyon

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. construction a. Relating to a city or town or its governing body.
      2. fees b. Money paid as part of a special transaction.
      3. authorities c. Acclaimed enthusiastically as being a specified thing.
      4. hailed d. The building of something, usually a large structure.
      5. allotted e. Having or showing impressive beauty or dignity.
      6. municipal f. People or organizations with power or control in a particular political or administrative area.
      7. majestic g. Gave something to someone as a share or task.

    Paragraph 2

      8. renowned h. Scheduled or planned.
      9. eye-catching i. Unconventional and slightly strange.
      10. eccentric j. Announces officially or publicly.
      11. slated k. Known or talked about by many people; famous.
      12. inspections l. Immediately appealing or noticeable.
      13. proclaimed m. Noticeably different in nature from something else of a similar type.
      14. distinct n. Careful examinations of something.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says Sagrada Familia builders applied for a permit in 1882.     T / F
  2. La Sagrada Familia will repay over $40 million in backdated fees.     T / F
  3. Barcelona city has given La Sagrada Familia ten years to pay the fees.     T / F
  4. The fees paid by La Sagrada Familia will help improve the city's Metro.    T / F
  5. La Sagrada Familia was designed by the famous painter Salvador Dali.    T / F
  6. La Sagrada Familia will be finally completed within the next decade.     T / F
  7. In 2010, La Sagrada Familia was consecrated as a cathedral.     T / F
  8. La Sagrada Familia receives between 10-12 million visitors a year.     T / F

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

  1. finally
  2. construction
  3. hailed
  4. allotted
  5. majestic
  6. renowned
  7. eccentric
  8. exactly
  9. proclaimed
  10. estimated
  1. praised
  2. magnificent
  3. precisely
  4. building
  5. quirky
  6. declared
  7. at long last
  8. approximate
  9. handed out
  10. famous

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

  1. 136 years after construction
  2. repay $41 million in fees that date
  3. a 10-year
  4. the funds would be allotted to municipal
  5. improve the environment of this majestic
  6. designed many eye-catching, unique
  7. The basilica is slated for
  8. inspections from local
  9. It is now one of Barcelona's
  10. attracting an estimated
  1. authorities
  2. and eccentric buildings
  3. building
  4. top tourist attractions
  5. timeframe
  6. back to 1882
  7. 20 million visitors a year
  8. projects
  9. on the site began
  10. completion in 2026

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hailed
finally
image
allotted
ground
majestic
agreed
resident

Barcelona's world-famous La Sagrada Familia basilica has (1) ____________ been given a building permit 136 years after construction on the site began. The church has (2) ____________ to repay $41 million in fees that date back to 1882, which is when (3) ____________ was first broken on the building. City authorities have given the church a 10-year timeframe to pay the fees. Barcelona's mayor has (4) ____________ the deal as a historic agreement. She said the funds would be (5) ____________ to municipal projects that will improve the metro system, roads, public services and local neighbourhoods. A (6) ____________ tweeted: "To improve the environment of this (7) ____________ building is to improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors as well as the (8) ____________ of Barcelona."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
eccentric
recognized
seat
renowned
attracting
modernist
inspections
distinct

La Sagrada Familia was designed by (9) ____________ Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, a (10) ____________ artist who also designed many eye-catching, unique and (11) ____________ buildings and parks in Barcelona. The basilica is slated for completion in 2026, exactly 100 years after Gaudi's death. Construction has continued on La Sagrada Familia for over a century without any (12) ____________ from local authorities. It was (13) ____________ as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica, which is (14) ____________ from a cathedral in it not being the (15) ____________ of a bishop. It is now one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions, (16) ____________ an estimated 20 million visitors a year.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The church has agreed to repay $41 million in fees that ______ 1882
     a.  late back to
     b.  rate back to
     c.  date back to
     d.  bait back to
2)  Barcelona's mayor has ______ as a historic agreement
     a.  jailed the deal
     b.  failed the deal
     c.  bailed the deal
     d.  hailed the deal
3)  She said the funds would be allotted to ______
     a.  munificent projects
     b.  principal projects
     c.  municipal projects
     d.  munitions projects
4)  A resident tweeted: "To improve the environment of this _______..."
     a.  major stick building
     b.  may static building
     c.  majesty building
     d.  majestic building
5)  improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors as well as ______ Barcelona
     a.  their imaged of
     b.  the image of
     c.  then image of
     d.  the imaged of

6) Gaudi, a modernist artist who also designed many eye-catching, ______ buildings
     a.  uniquely and eccentric
     b.  unique and eccentric
     c.  unique and eccentricity
     d.  uniquely and eccentricity
7)  The basilica is ______ completion in 2026
     a.  slated for
     b.  sated for
     c.  skated for
     d.  stated for
8)  Construction has continued on La Sagrada Familia for over a century ______
     a.  without manly inspections
     b.  without many inspections
     c.  without any inspections
     d.  without anyone inspections
9)  a minor basilica, which is distinct from a cathedral in it not being ______ a bishop
     a.  the seat of
     b.  the sofa of
     c.  the stool of
     d.  the bench of
10)  one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions, attracting ______ 20 million visitors a year
     a.  an estimate it
     b.  and estimated
     c.  an estimated
     d.  and estimate it

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Barcelona's world-famous La Sagrada Familia basilica (1) ___________________ given a building permit 136 years after construction on the site began. The church has (2) ___________________ $41 million in fees that date back to 1882, which is when ground was (3) ___________________ the building. City authorities have given the church a 10-year timeframe to pay the fees. Barcelona's mayor (4) ___________________ deal as a historic agreement. She said the funds would be allotted to municipal projects that will improve the metro system, roads, public (5) ___________________ neighbourhoods. A resident tweeted: "To improve the environment of this majestic building is to improve the quality of (6) ___________________ and visitors as well as the image of Barcelona."

La Sagrada Familia was designed by renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, a modernist (7) ___________________ designed many eye-catching, unique and eccentric buildings and parks in Barcelona. The basilica is slated for completion in 2026, (8) ___________________ after Gaudi's death. Construction (9) ___________________ La Sagrada Familia for over a century without any inspections (10) ___________________. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica, (11) ___________________ from a cathedral in it not being the seat of a bishop. It is now one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions, (12) ___________________ 20 million visitors a year.

Comprehension questions

  1. How much has La Sagrada Familia promised to pay Barcelona city?
  2. In what year did building on La Sagrada Familia begin?
  3. How long does La Sagrada Familia have to repay the backdated fees?
  4. What did Barcelona's mayor hail the agreement as?
  5. What did a tweeter say a better environment would improve the image of?
  6. Who designed La Sagrada Familia?
  7. When is La Sagrada Familia slated for completion?
  8. What was La Sagrada Familia recognized as in 1985?
  9. What did La Sagrada Familia become in 2010?
  10. Approximately how many visitors does Sagrada Familia get each year?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much has La Sagrada Familia promised to pay Barcelona city?
a) $43 million
b) $41 million
c) $39 million
d) $40 million
2) In what year did building on La Sagrada Familia begin?
a) 1890
b) 1880
c) 1828
d) 1882
3) How long does La Sagrada Familia have to repay the backdated fees?
a) ten years
b) twenty years
c) a year
d) twelve years
4) What did Barcelona's mayor hail the agreement as?
a) necessary
b) important
c) a historic agreement
d) a taxi
5) What did a tweeter say a better environment would improve the image of?
a) churches
b) Barcelona
c) Spain
d) the world

6) Who designed La Sagrada Familia?
a) Pablo Picasso
b) Salvador Dali
c) Antoni Gaudi
d) Francisco Goya
7) When is La Sagrada Familia slated for completion?
a) 2036
b) 2030
c) 2022
d) 2026
8) What was La Sagrada Familia recognized as in 1985?
a) a UNESCO World Heritage site
b) Spain's national church
c) a cathedral
d) Roman Catholic
9) What did La Sagrada Familia become in 2010?
a) a basilica
b) a cathedral
c) Spain's national church
d) Roman Catholic
10) Approximately how many visitors does Sagrada Familia get each year?
a) just over 20 million
b) about 20 million
c) slightly fewer than 20 million
d) exactly 20 million

Role play

Role  A – La Sagrada Familia
You think La Sagrada Familia is the world's best tourist attraction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their attractions. Also, tell the others which is the lest interetsing of these (and why): the Pyramids, the Grand Canyon or the Serengeti.

Role  B – The Pyramids
You think the Pyramids are the world's best tourist attraction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their attractions. Also, tell the others which is the lest interetsing of these (and why): La Sagrada Familia, the Grand Canyon or the Serengeti.

Role  C – Grand Canyon
You think the Grand Canyon is the world's best tourist attraction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their attractions. Also, tell the others which is the lest interetsing of these (and why): the Pyramids, La Sagrada Familiaor the Serengeti.

Role  D – Serengeti
You think the Serengeti is the world's best tourist attraction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their attractions. Also, tell the others which is the lest interetsing of these (and why): the Pyramids, the Grand Canyon or La Sagrada Familia.

After reading / listening

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

'building'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'permit'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • architect
    • 2026
    • century
    • 1985
    • 2010
    • 20
    • finally
    • 1882
    • 10
    • hailed
    • metro
    • image

    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 - Sagrada Familia gets building permit 136 years late

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'church'?
    3. What do you know about the Sagrada Familia?
    4. Why has the Sagrada Familia taken so long to build?
    5. How did builders build for over one hundred years without a permit?
    6. What is your favourite building in the world?
    7. What do you think of the church for repaying the fees?
    8. How important are places of worship?
    9. How could your town improve your quality of life?
    10. What do you know about Barcelona?

    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 'construction'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Antoni Gaudi?
    5. What unique buildings do you know about?
    6. What does a UNESCO listing do for a building?
    7. What are the top attractions in your town like?
    8. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    9. What is your favourite style of architecture?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Sagrada Familia boss?

    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)

    Barcelona's world-famous La Sagrada Familia basilica has finally been given a building (1) ____ 136 years after construction on the site began. The church has agreed to repay $41 million in fees that (2) ____ back to 1882, which is when (3) ____ was first broken on the building. City authorities have given the church a 10-year timeframe to pay the fees. Barcelona's mayor has (4) ____ the deal as a historic agreement. She said the (5) ____ would be allotted to municipal projects that will improve the metro system, roads, public services and local neighbourhoods. A resident tweeted: "To improve the environment of this (6) ____ building is to improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors as well as the image of Barcelona."

    La Sagrada Familia was designed by (7) ____ Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, a modernist artist who also designed many eye-catching, unique and eccentric buildings and parks in Barcelona. The basilica is (8) ____ for completion in 2026, exactly 100 years after Gaudi's death. Construction has continued on La Sagrada Familia for over a century without any (9) ____ from local authorities. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica, which is (10) ____ from a cathedral in it not being the (11) ____ of a bishop. It is now one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions, attracting an (12) ____ 20 million visitors a year.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     permit     (b)     permission     (c)     persimmon     (d)     premise    
    2. (a)     year     (b)     date     (c)     calendar     (d)     anniversary    
    3. (a)     concrete     (b)     cement     (c)     ground     (d)     mud    
    4. (a)     bailed     (b)     failed     (c)     mailed     (d)     hailed    
    5. (a)     funds     (b)     hands     (c)     bands     (d)     finds    
    6. (a)     prophesy     (b)     majestic     (c)     spiral     (d)     insight    
    7. (a)     renovated     (b)     renounced     (c)     renewed     (d)     renowned    
    8. (a)     penned     (b)     slated     (c)     chalked     (d)     inked    
    9. (a)     contraptions     (b)     cremations     (c)     inspections     (d)     implosions    
    10. (a)     district     (b)     distinct     (c)     abstract     (d)     construct    
    11. (a)     bath     (b)     bed     (c)     kitchen     (d)     seat    
    12. (a)     postulated     (b)     estimated     (c)     gauged     (d)     guessed

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. after nttsiunoccro on the site began
    2. City itirothueas
    3. a 10-year etimaremf
    4. She said the funds would be ttlolade
    5. iplaumcni projects
    6. this jmciseta building

    Paragraph 2

    1. weennrod Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi
    2. unique and tceenicrc buildings
    3. without any secnptionsi
    4. opirdalcme it a minor basilica
    5. sncditti from a cathedral
    6. an detasemti 20 million visitors

    Put the text back together

    (...)  bishop. It is now one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions, attracting an estimated 20 million visitors a year.
    (...)  mayor has hailed the deal as a historic agreement. She said the funds would be allotted to municipal projects that will
    (...)  as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed
    (...)  La Sagrada Familia was designed by renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, a modernist
    (...)  of this majestic building is to improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors as well as the image of Barcelona."
    (...)  on the site began. The church has agreed
    (...)  it a minor basilica, which is distinct from a cathedral in it not being the seat of a
    (  1  ) Barcelona's world-famous La Sagrada Familia basilica has finally been given a building permit 136 years after construction
    (...)  parks in Barcelona. The basilica is slated for completion in 2026, exactly 100 years after Gaudi's death. Construction has
    (...)  to repay $41 million in fees that date back to 1882, which is when ground was first
    (...)  broken on the building. City authorities have given the church a 10-year timeframe to pay the fees. Barcelona's
    (...)  improve the metro system, roads, public services and local neighbourhoods. A resident tweeted: "To improve the environment
    (...)  artist who also designed many eye-catching, unique and eccentric buildings and
    (...)  continued on La Sagrada Familia for over a century without any inspections from local authorities. It was recognized

    Put the words in the right order

    1. church   repay   The   agreed   fees   .   in   million   to   $41   has
    2. broken   building   .   was   ground   the   first   When   on
    3. as   deal   hailed   the   Barcelona's   mayor   historic   .
    4. be   The   projects   .   to   municipal   would   allotted   funds
    5. life   improve   the   To   citizens   .   for   of   quality
    6. modernist   artist  eye-catching   who   designed   buildings  .  many   A
    7. in   basilica   completion   is   The   slated   for   2026   .
    8. a   and   it   the   Consecrated   church   basilica   .   proclaimed
    9. tourist   top   Barcelona's   is   one   of   It   attractions   .
    10. visitors   an   Attracting   year   .   20   a   estimated   million

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Barcelona's world-famous La Sagrada Familia basilica has finale / finally been given a building permit 136 years after construction on the site / sight began. The church has agreed to repay $41 million in fees that anniversary / date back to 1882, which is when ground was first destroyed / broken on the building. City authorities have given the church a 10-year timeframe to pay the fees. Barcelona's mayor has bailed / hailed the deal as a historic / historian agreement. She said the funds would be allotment / allotted to municipal projects that will improve the metro system, roads, public services and local / locally neighbourhoods. A resident tweeted: "To improve the environment of this majestic / majesty building is to improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors as good / well as the image of Barcelona."

    La Sagrada Familia was designed by renowned / renewed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, a modernist artist who also designed many eye-watering / eye-catching, unique and eccentric / eccentricity buildings and parks in Barcelona. The basilica is stated / slated for completion in 2026, exact / exactly 100 years after Gaudi's death. Construction has continued on La Sagrada Familia for over a century without any inspections from locally / local authorities. It was recognition / recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed / reclaimed it a minor basilica, which is distinct from a cathedral in it not being the chair / seat of a bishop. It is now one of Barcelona's top tourist attractions, attracting / attractive an estimated 20 million visitors a year.

    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)

    B_r c_l_n_' s w_r l d - f_m__ s L_ S_g r_d_ F_m_l__ b_s_l_c_ h_s f_n_l l y b__ n g_v_n _ b__ l d_n g p_r m_t 1 3 6 y__ r s _f t_r c_n s t r_c t__ n _n t h_ s_t_ b_g_n . T h_ c h_r c h h_s _g r__ d t_ r_p_y $ 4 1 m_l l__ n _n f__ s t h_t d_t_ b_c k t_ 1 8 8 2 , w h_c h _s w h_n g r__ n d w_s f_r s t b r_k_n _n t h_ b__ l d_n g . C_t y __ t h_r_t__ s h_v_ g_v_n t h_ c h_r c h _ 1 0 - y__ r t_m_f r_m_ t_ p_y t h_ f__ s . B_r c_l_n_' s m_y_r h_s h__ l_d t h_ d__ l _s _ h_s t_r_c _g r__ m_n t . S h_ s__ d t h_ f_n d s w__ l d b_ _l l_t t_d t_ m_n_c_p_l p r_j_c t s t h_t w_l l _m p r_v_ t h_ m_t r_ s y s t_m , r__ d s , p_b l_c s_r v_c_s _n d l_c_l n__ g h b__ r h__ d s . A r_s_d_n t t w__ t_d : " T_ _m p r_v_ t h_ _n v_r_n m_n t _f t h_s m_j_s t_c b__ l d_n g _s t_ _m p r_v_ t h_ q__ l_t y _f l_f_ f_r c_t_z_n s _n d v_s_t_r s _s w_l l _s t h_ _m_g_ _f B_r c_l_n_. "

    L_ S_g r_d_ F_m_l__ w_s d_s_g n_d b y r_n_w n_d C_t_l_n _r c h_t_c t A n t_n_ G__ d_, _ m_d_r n_s t _r t_s t w h_ _l s_ d_s_g n_d m_n y _y_- c_t c h_n g , _n_q__ _n d _c c_n t r_c b__ l d_n g s _n d p_r k s _n B_r c_l_n_. T h_ b_s_l_c_ _s s l_t_d f_r c_m p l_t__ n _n 2 0 2 6 , _x_c t l y 1 0 0 y__ r s _f t_r G__ d_' s d__ t h . C_n s t r_c t__ n h_s c_n t_n__ d _n L_ S_g r_d_ F_m_l__ f_r _v_r _ c_n t_r y w_t h__ t _n y _n s p_c t__ n s f r_m l_c_l __ t h_r_t__ s . I t w_s r_c_g n_z_d _s _ U N E S C O W_r l d H_r_t_g_ s_t_ _n 1 9 8 5 . I n 2 0 1 0 , P_p_ B_n_d_c t X V I c_n s_c r_t_d t h_ c h_r c h _n d p r_c l__ m_d _t _ m_n_r b_s_l_c_, w h_c h _s d_s t_n c t f r_m _ c_t h_d r_l _n _t n_t b__ n g t h_ s__ t _f _ b_s h_p . I t _s n_w _n_ _f B_r c_l_n_' s t_p t__ r_s t _t t r_c t__ n s , _t t r_c t_n g _n _s t_m_t_d 2 0 m_l l__ n v_s_t_r s _ y__ r .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    barcelonas world famous la sagrada familia basilica has finally been given a building permit 136 years after construction on the site began the church has agreed to repay 41 million in fees that date back to 1882 which is when ground was first broken on the building city authorities have given the church a 10year timeframe to pay the fees barcelonas mayor has hailed the deal as a historic agreement she said the funds would be allotted to municipal projects that will improve the metro system roads public services and local neighbourhoods a resident tweeted to improve the environment of this majestic building is to improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors as well as the image of barcelona

    la sagrada familia was designed by renowned catalan architect antoni gaudi a modernist artist who also designed many eyecatching unique and eccentric buildings and parks in barcelona the basilica is slated for completion in 2026 exactly 100 years after gaudis death construction has continued on la sagrada familia for over a century without any inspections from local authorities it was recognized as a unesco world heritage site in 1985 in 2010 pope benedict xvi consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica which is distinct from a cathedral in it not being the seat of a bishop it is now one of barcelonas top tourist attractions attracting an estimated 20 million visitors a year.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Barcelona'sworld-famousLaSagradaFamiliabasilicahasfinallybeengi
    venabuildingpermit136yearsafterconstructiononthesitebegan.Thec
    hurchhasagreedtorepay$41millioninfeesthatdatebackto1882,whic
    hiswhengroundwasfirstbrokenonthebuilding.Cityauthoritieshavegi
    venthechurcha10-yeartimeframetopaythefees.Barcelona'smayor
    hashailedthedealasahistoricagreement.Shesaidthefundswouldbeall
    ottedtomunicipalprojectsthatwillimprovethemetrosystem,roads,pu
    blicservicesandlocalneighbourhoods.Aresidenttweeted:"Toimprove
    theenvironmentofthismajesticbuildingistoimprovethequalityoflifefo
    rcitizensandvisitorsaswellastheimageofBarcelona."LaSagradaFamil
    iawasdesignedbyrenownedCatalanarchitectAntoniGaudi,amodernis
    tartistwhoalsodesignedmanyeye-catching,uniqueandeccentricbu
    ildingsandparksinBarcelona.Thebasilicaisslatedforcompletionin202
    6,exactly100yearsafterGaudi'sdeath.ConstructionhascontinuedonL
    aSagradaFamiliaforoveracenturywithoutanyinspectionsfromlocalau
    thorities.ItwasrecognizedasaUNESCOWorldHeritagesitein1985.In2
    010,PopeBenedictXVIconsecratedthechurchandproclaimeditaminor
    basilica,whichisdistinctfromacathedralinitnotbeingtheseatofabisho
    p.ItisnowoneofBarcelona'stoptouristattractions,attractinganestima
    ted20millionvisitorsayear.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Places of worship are the greatest buildings in the world. 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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. LA SAGRADA FAMILIA: Make a poster about La Sagrada Familia. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BEAUTIFUL: Write a magazine article about La Sagrada Familia being the most beautiful building in the world. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 La Sagrada Familia. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on 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

    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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