The Reading / Listening - the Arts - Level 3

The government in the United Kingdom has announced it will give nearly $2 billion to help support the country's arts industry. The money will go to theatres, concert halls, galleries, museums and other cultural venues. It will help people who have had a hard time during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include actors, writers, composers, make-up artists, costumers and support staff. The UK government said the money represents, "the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture". It added: "The money will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic. It will help them stay afloat while their doors are closed."

The UK is world famous for its arts. People across the globe know and love cultural icons like Shakespeare, The Beatles and James Bond. Britain's theatres, museums and galleries attract millions of tourists every year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries, to gigs performed in local basement venues, the UK's cultural industry is the beating heart of this country." The UK's Culture Secretary said: "Our arts and culture are the soul of our nation. They make our country great and are the centre of our world-beating and fast growing creative industries. This money will help safeguard the sector for future generations."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    the Arts - Level 0 the Arts - Level 1   or  the Arts - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/news/157-billion-investment-to-protect-britains-world-class-cultural-arts-and-heritage-institutions
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/05/boris-johnson-uk-lifeline-arts-heritage-sector-afloat
  • https://metro.co.uk/2020/07/05/boris-unveils-1570000000-rescue-fund-theatres-museums-galleries-12949483/


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. THE ARTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the arts. 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?
       government / announce / arts / industry / theatre / make-up / pandemic / help /
       famous / icon / gallery / musical / exhibition / venue / basement / creative / future
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THEATRES AND MUSEUMS: Students A strongly believe theatres and museums are an essential part of our life; Students B strongly believe they aren't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ARTS: How much do you like these? How important are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Much You Like Them

Importance

Plays

 

 

Opera

 

 

Art exhibitions

 

 

Musicals

 

 

Concerts

 

 

Movies

 

 

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

  • Shakespeare
  • The Beatles
  • Mr Bean
  • James Bond
  • The royal family
  • Fish and chips
  • Tea
  • Chicken tikka masala

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. announced a. Cultural, unspoiled countryside, and historic buildings that belong to the people of a country or the world.
      2. support b. An area of the economy (e.g. steel, health, IT, tourism. etc.).
      3. industry c. When a disease is all over a whole country or the world.
      4. venue d. Made a public and usually formal declaration about something.
      5. pandemic e. The action or process of putting money into something to try and get more money back later.
      6. investment f. Help or give money to help someone or something survive.
      7. heritage g. The place where something happens, especially an organized event such as a concert, conference, or sports event.

    Paragraph 2

      8. globe h. Holding the attention of someone so they cannot stop looking or thinking about it.
      9. icon i. The heart and spirit of someone or something.
      10. attract j. All the people born and living at about the same time.
      11. mesmerising k. A famous person or thing that is a symbol of something.
      12. soul l. Keep away from danger or harm; protect.
      13. safeguard m. Cause to come to a place or join in a venture by offering something of interest.
      14. generation n. The earth.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The UK government is giving the arts over £2 billion.     T / F
  2. The money will go to theatres, galleries and sporting venues.     T / F
  3. The money will help make-up artists.     T / F
  4. The UK government called the money a lifeline.     T / F
  5. The article said Shakespeare is not so famous around the world today.    T / F
  6. Boris Johnson likes to attend the Iconic Theatre in London.     T / F
  7. Boris Johnson spoke about memorising exhibitions.     T / F
  8. The money will help to protect the future of the arts in the UK.     T / F

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

  1. announced
  2. support
  3. venues
  4. provide
  5. hit
  6. globe
  7. tourists
  8. gigs
  9. nation
  10. safeguard
  1. visitors
  2. give
  3. back
  4. protect
  5. country
  6. stated
  7. concerts
  8. affected
  9. places
  10. world

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

  1. help support the
  2. people who have had a hard
  3. the biggest ever one-
  4. hit hard
  5. It will help them stay afloat while
  6. The UK is world
  7. cultural icons
  8. attract millions
  9. the beating
  10. safeguard the sector for future
  1. generations
  2. by the pandemic
  3. like Shakespeare
  4. famous for its arts
  5. country's arts industry
  6. heart of this country
  7. off investment
  8. their doors are closed
  9. of tourists
  10. time

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
support
vital
venues
while
announced
hard
industry
represents

The government in the United Kingdom has (1) _____________________ it will give nearly $2 billion to help support the country's arts (2) _____________________. The money will go to theatres, concert halls, galleries, museums and other cultural (3) _____________________. It will help people who have had a hard time during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include actors, writers, composers, make-up artists, costumers and (4) _____________________ staff. The UK government said the money (5) _____________________, "the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture". It added: "The money will provide a lifeline to (6) _____________________ cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit (7) _____________________ by the pandemic. It will help them stay afloat (8) _____________________ their doors are closed."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
iconic
heart
safeguard
famous
performed
fast
attract
nation

The UK is world (9) _____________________ for its arts. People across the globe know and love cultural icons like Shakespeare, The Beatles and James Bond. Britain's theatres, museums and galleries (10) _____________________ millions of tourists every year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "From (11) _____________________ theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries, to gigs (12) _____________________ in local basement venues, the UK's cultural industry is the beating (13) _____________________ of this country." The UK's Culture Secretary said: "Our arts and culture are the soul of our (14) _____________________. They make our country great and are the centre of our world-beating and (15) _____________________ growing creative industries. This money will help (16) _____________________ the sector for future generations."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) announced it will give nearly $2 billion to help support the ______
     a.  country's arts industrial
     b.  country's arts industries
     c.  country's arts industry
     d.  country's arts in dust tree
2) money will go to theatres, concert halls, galleries, museums and ______
     a.  another cultural venues
     b.  others cultural venues
     c.  other cultural venues
     d.  the others cultural venues
3) government said the money represents, "the biggest ever one-off investment ______
     a.  on UK culture
     b.  in UK culture
     c.  at UK culture
     d.  by UK culture
4)  The money will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and ______
     a.  hermitage organisations
     b.  inherit age organisations
     c.  inherited organisations
     d.  heritage organisations
5)  It will help them stay afloat while their ______
     a.  doors are closed
     b.  doors are closet
     c.  doors are closes
     d.  doors are closer

6)  The UK is world famous for its arts. People across the globe know and ______
     a.  love cultural icons
     b.  love cultural eye cons
     c.  love culturally cons
     d.  love cultural I cans
7) exhibitions at our world-class galleries, to gigs performed in ______
     a.  locally basement venues
     b.  low call basement venues
     c.  local basement venues
     d.  low CAL basement venues
8)  the UK's cultural industry is the beating ______ country
     a.  hearth of this
     b.  hart of this
     c.  heart of this
     d.  hearty of this
9)  great and are the centre of our world-beating and fast growing ______
     a.  creatively industries
     b.  creativity industries
     c.  creative industries
     d.  creatives industries
10)  This money will help safeguard the sector ______
     a.  for future generational
     b.  for future generations
     c.  for future generate shuns
     d.  for futures generations

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The government in the United Kingdom has announced it (1) ____________________ $2 billion to help support the country's arts industry. The money will go to theatres, (2) ____________________, museums and other cultural venues. It will help people who have had a hard (3) ____________________ COVID-19 pandemic. These include actors, writers, composers, make-up artists, costumers (4) ____________________. The UK government said the money represents, "the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture". It added: "The money will (5) ____________________ to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic. It will help them (6) ____________________ their doors are closed."

The UK is world famous for its arts. People (7) ____________________ know and love cultural icons like Shakespeare, The Beatles and James Bond. Britain's theatres, museums and galleries (8) ____________________ tourists every year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries, to gigs performed (9) ____________________ venues, the UK's cultural industry is the beating heart of this country." The UK's Culture Secretary said: "Our arts and culture are (10) ____________________ our nation. They make our country great and are the centre of our world-beating and fast (11) ____________________. This money will help safeguard the (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. How much money will the UK give its arts industry?
  2. What kind of halls did the article say the money would help?
  3. What kind of artists did the article say the money would help?
  4. What kind of investment did the UK government describe?
  5. What will the money help organisations do while their doors are closed?
  6. What did the article say the UK is famous for?
  7. What did the Prime Minister say was happening in local basements?
  8. What did the UK's Prime Minister call the UK's cultural industry?
  9. What did the Culture Secretary say was the soul of the UK?
  10. Who will the money safeguard the arts sector for?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much money will the UK give its arts industry?
a) exactly $2 billion
b) nearly $2 billion
c) around $2 billion
d) over $2 billion
2) What kind of halls did the article say the money would help?
a) conference halls
b) big halls
c) the halls of power
d) concert halls
3) What kind of artists did the article say the money would help?
a) watercolour artists
b) graffiti artists
c) make-up artists
d) modern artists
4) What kind of investment did the UK government describe?
a) a one-off investment
b) a tiny investment
c) a risky investment
d) a risk-free investment
5) What will the money help organisations do while their doors are closed?
a) invest
b) stay afloat
c) pay staff
d) produce plays

6) What did the article say the UK is famous for?
a) its arts
b) opera
c) tea
d) fish and chips
7) What did the Prime Minister say was happening in local basements?
a) art
b) plays
c) gigs
d) street theatre
8) What did the UK's Prime Minister call the UK's cultural industry?
a) a beating heart
b) breathing lungs
c) the brains
d) the arms and legs
9) What did the Culture Secretary say was the soul of the UK?
a) opera
b) music
c) blues
d) the arts

10) Who will the money safeguard the arts sector for?
a) theatres
b) artists
c) future generations
d) galleries

Role play

Role  A – The Beatles
You think The Beatles is the best thing about British culture. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the royal family, fish and chips or tea.

Role  B – The Royal Family
You think the royal family is the best thing about British culture. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): The Beatles, fish and chips or tea.

Role  C – Fish and Chips
You think fish and chips is the best thing about British culture. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the royal family, The Beatles or tea.

Role  D – Tea
You think tea is the best thing about British culture. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the royal family, fish and chips or The Beatles.

After reading / listening

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

'rescue'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'arts'.

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

    • nearly
    • go
    • hard
    • ever
    • vital
    • stay
    • across
    • attract
    • local
    • soul
    • fast
    • future

    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 - the Arts

    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 'arts'?
    3. What do you think of the arts?
    4. What arts do you like?
    5. How has coronavirus affected the arts in your country?
    6. What arts is your country good at?
    7. What do you think of museums?
    8. What is your favourite museum?
    9. How proud are you of your country's culture?
    10. How important is heritage and culture?

    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 'theatre'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of the UK's culture?
    5. What parts of the UK's culture do you like?
    6. What is the "beating heart" of your country?
    7. How creative are you?
    8. What area of the arts would you like to work in?
    9. What is the greatest ever example of the arts?
    10. What questions would you like to ask an unemployed actor?

    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)

    The government in the United Kingdom has (1) ____ it will give nearly $2 billion to help support the country's arts (2) ____. The money will go to theatres, concert halls, galleries, museums and other cultural venues. It will help people who have had a (3) ____ time during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include actors, writers, composers, make-up artists, costumers and support (4) ____. The UK government said the money represents, "the biggest ever one-off investment (5) ____ UK culture". It added: "The money will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic. It will help them stay afloat (6) ____ their doors are closed."

    The UK is world famous for its arts. People across the (7) ____ know and love cultural icons like Shakespeare, The Beatles and James Bond. Britain's theatres, museums and galleries (8) ____ millions of tourists every year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions at our world-class galleries, to (9) ____ performed in local basement venues, the UK's cultural industry is the (10) ____ heart of this country." The UK's Culture Secretary said: "Our arts and culture are the (11) ____ of our nation. They make our country great and are the centre of our world-beating and fast growing creative industries. This money will help (12) ____ the sector for future generations."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     announced     (b)     announce     (c)     announces     (d)     announcing    
    2. (a)     industrialise     (b)     industrious     (c)     industry     (d)     industrial    
    3. (a)     harden     (b)     hardly     (c)     hard     (d)     hardy    
    4. (a)     stifle     (b)     stuff     (c)     stiff     (d)     staff    
    5. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    6. (a)     what     (b)     while     (c)     whom     (d)     which    
    7. (a)     globule     (b)     globally     (c)     global     (d)     globe    
    8. (a)     detract     (b)     attract     (c)     retract     (d)     contact    
    9. (a)     digs     (b)     figs     (c)     gigs     (d)     wigs    
    10. (a)     beaten     (b)     berating     (c)     bleating     (d)     beating    
    11. (a)     pop     (b)     rock     (c)     blues     (d)     soul    
    12. (a)     lifeguard     (b)     safeguard     (c)     mudguard     (d)     bodyguard

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the country's arts dysrtniu
    2. money will go to theatres, concert halls, ilgelresa ...
    3. museums and other cultural vneuse
    4. writers, sroosmpec, make-up artists
    5. The money will provide a ifenleli
    6. hit hard by the dacnepim

    Paragraph 2

    1. cultural nosic
    2. tctarta millions of tourists
    3. musicals, mesmerising einbthiioxs
    4. the soul of our nniaot
    5. This money will help drguaaesf the sector
    6. for future orgnnseitae

    Put the text back together

    (...)  culture are the soul of our nation. They make our country great and are the centre of our world-beating and fast
    (...)  and other cultural venues. It will help people who have had a hard time during the COVID-19
    (...)  across the country hit hard by the pandemic. It will help them stay afloat while their doors are closed."
    (...)  of tourists every year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising exhibitions
    (...)  pandemic. These include actors, writers, composers, make-up artists, costumers and support
    (...)  at our world-class galleries, to gigs performed in local basement venues, the UK's cultural industry is the beating
    (...)  off investment in UK culture". It added: "The money will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations
    (...)  Shakespeare, The Beatles and James Bond. Britain's theatres, museums and galleries attract millions
    (...)  heart of this country." The UK's Culture Secretary said: "Our arts and
    (...)  The UK is world famous for its arts. People across the globe know and love cultural icons like
    (...)  staff. The UK government said the money represents, "the biggest ever one-
    1  ) The government in the United Kingdom has announced it will give nearly $2 billion to help
    (...)  growing creative industries. This money will help safeguard the sector for future generations."
    (...)  support the country's arts industry. The money will go to theatres, concert halls, galleries, museums

    Put the words in the right order

    1. arts   to   country's   help   Nearly   the   industry   .   $2 billion
    2. Help   time   .   a   who   hard   have   had   people
    3. biggest   investment   one-off   ever   culture   .   UK   in   The
    4. the   the   across   hit   pandemic   .   country   Organisations   by
    5. their   afloat   while   doors   Stay   closed   .   are
    6. the   across   People   globe   icons   .   cultural   love
    7. year   .   millions   attract   Galleries   of   tourists   every
    8. of   country   .   is   beating   heart   this   the   Industry
    9. the   are   arts   Our   our   of   nation   .   soul
    10. help   This   the   money   will   safeguard   sector   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The government in the United Kingdom has announcing / announced it will give nearly $2 billion to help support the country's artistically / arts industry. The money will come / go to theatres, concert halls, galleries, museums and other cultural venues / venue. It will help people who have had a hard time during / doing the COVID-19 pandemic. These include actors, writers, composers, make-up artists, costumers and support stuff / staff. The UK government said the money represents / represent, "the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture". It added: "The money will provide a lifetime / lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across that / the country hit hard by the pandemic. It will help them stay afloat / float while their doors are closed."

    The UK is world famous by / for its arts. People across the globe know and love cultural icons like / likely Shakespeare, The Beatles and James Bond. Britain's theatres, museums and galleries attractive / attract millions of tourists every year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "From iconic theatre and musicals, mesmerising / memorising exhibitions at our world-class galleries, to gigs performed in / of local basement venues, the UK's cultural industry is the beating lungs / heart of this country." The UK's Culture Secretary said: "Our arts and culture are the sole / soul of our nation. They make our country grate / great and are the centre of our world-beating and feast / fast growing creative industries. This money will help / helpful safeguard the sector for future generations."

    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)

    T h_ g_v_r n m_n t _n t h_ U n_t_d K_n g d_m h_s _n n__ n c_d _t w_l l g_v_ n__ r l y $ 2 b_l l__ n t_ h_l p s_p p_r t t h_ c__ n t r y ' s _r t s _n d_s t r y . T h_ m_n_y w_l l g_ t_ t h__ t r_s , c_n c_r t h_l l s , g_l l_r__ s , m_s__ m s _n d _t h_r c_l t_r_l v_n__ s . I t w_l l h_l p p__ p l_ w h_ h_v_ h_d _ h_r d t_m_ d_r_n g t h_ C O V I D - 1 9 p_n d_m_c . T h_s_ _n c l_d_ _c t_r s , w r_t_r s , c_m p_s_r s , m_k_-_p _r t_s t s , c_s t_m_r s _n d s_p p_r t s t_f f . T h_ U K g_v_r n m_n t s__ d t h_ m_n_y r_p r_s_n t s , " t h_ b_g g_s t _v_r _n_-_f f _n v_s t m_n t _n U K c_l t_r_" . I t _d d_d : " T h_ m_n_y w_l l p r_v_d_ _ l_f_l_n_ t_ v_t_l c_l t_r_l _n d h_r_t_g_ _r g_n_s_t__ n s _c r_s s t h_ c__ n t r y h_t h_r d b y t h_ p_n d_m_c . I t w_l l h_l p t h_m s t_y _f l__ t w h_l_ t h__ r d__ r s _r_ c l_s_d . "

    T h_ U K _s w_r l d f_m__ s f_r _t s _r t s . P__ p l_ _c r_s s t h_ g l_b_ k n_w _n d l_v_ c_l t_r_l _c_n s l_k_ S h_k_s p__ r_, T h_ B__ t l_s _n d J_m_s B_n d . B r_t__ n ' s t h__ t r_s , m_s__ m s _n d g_l l_r__ s _t t r_c t m_l l__ n s _f t__ r_s t s _v_r y y__ r . P r_m_ M_n_s t_r B_r_s J_h n s_n s__ d : " F r_m _c_n_c t h__ t r_ _n d m_s_c_l s , m_s m_r_s_n g _x h_b_t__ n s _t __ r w_r l d - c l_s s g_l l_r__ s , t_ g_g s p_r f_r m_d _n l_c_l b_s_m_n t v_n__ s , t h_ U K ' s c_l t_r_l _n d_s t r y _s t h_ b__ t_n g h__ r t _f t h_s c__ n t r y . " T h_ U K ' s C_l t_r_ S_c r_t_r y s__ d : " O_r _r t s _n d c_l t_r_ _r_ t h_ s__ l _f __ r n_t__ n . T h_y m_k_ __ r c__ n t r y g r__ t _n d _r_ t h_ c_n t r_ _f __ r w_r l d - b__ t_n g _n d f_s t g r_w_n g c r__ t_v_ _n d_s t r__ s . T h_s m_n_y w_l l h_l p s_f_g__ r d t h_ s_c t_r f_r f_t_r_ g_n_r_t__ n s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the government in the united kingdom has announced it will give nearly 2 billion to help support the countrys arts industry the money will go to theatres concert halls galleries museums and other cultural venues it will help people who have had a hard time during the covid19 pandemic these include actors writers composers makeup artists costumers and support staff the uk government said the money represents the biggest ever oneoff investment in uk culture it added the money will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic it will help them stay afloat while their doors are closed

    the uk is world famous for its arts people across the globe know and love cultural icons like shakespeare the beatles and james bond britains theatres museums and galleries attract millions of tourists every year prime minister boris johnson said from iconic theatre and musicals mesmerising exhibitions at our worldclass galleries to gigs performed in local basement venues the uks cultural industry is the beating heart of this country the uks culture secretary said our arts and culture are the soul of our nation they make our country great and are the centre of our worldbeating and fast growing creative industries this money will help safeguard the sector for future generations

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThegovernmentintheUnitedKingdomhasannounceditwillgivenearly
    $2billiontohelpsupportthecountry'sartsindustry.Themoneywillgotot
    heatres,concerthalls,galleries,museumsandotherculturalvenues.It
    willhelppeoplewhohavehadahardtimeduringtheCOVID-19pandemi
    c.Theseincludeactors,writers,composers,make-upartists,costume
    rsandsupportstaff.TheUKgovernmentsaidthemoneyrepresents,"the
    biggesteverone-offinvestmentinUKculture".Itadded:"Themoneywil
    lprovidealifelinetovitalculturalandheritageorganisationsacrossthec
    ountryhithardbythepandemic.Itwillhelpthemstayafloatwhiletheirdo
    orsareclosed."TheUKisworldfamousforitsarts.Peopleacrosstheglobe
    knowandloveculturaliconslikeShakespeare,TheBeatlesandJamesBo
    nd.Britain'stheatres,museumsandgalleriesattractmillionsoftourists
    everyyear.PrimeMinisterBorisJohnsonsaid:"Fromiconictheatreand
    musicals,mesmerisingexhibitionsatourworld-classgalleries,togigs
    performedinlocalbasementvenues,theUK'sculturalindustryisthebea
    tingheartofthiscountry."TheUK'sCultureSecretarysaid:"Ourartsand
    culturearethesoulofournation.Theymakeourcountrygreatandarethe
    centreofourworld-beatingandfastgrowingcreativeindustries.Thismo
    neywillhelpsafeguardthesectorforfuturegenerations."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Spending money on the arts is very, very important. 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. THE ARTS: Make a poster about the arts. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ESSENTIAL: Write a magazine article about the arts being an essential part of the money government spends. 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 the arts. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can better support the arts. 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

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

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