The Reading / Listening - Basic Income - Level 3

The United Nations has come up with a plan to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said the world's poorest people should get a basic income. It said the introduction of a "Temporary Basic Income" for the world's poorest people could slow the current surge in coronavirus cases. The money would allow around 2.7 billion people to stay at home. This would reduce the chances of them spreading the virus. The UNDP suggested giving the money to poor people in 132 developing countries. The cost of this would be around $199 billion per month. It said: "Unprecedented times call for unprecedented social and economic measures."

The UNDP said the basic income would mean directing money to people instead of economies. It said: "Bailouts and recovery plans cannot only focus on big markets and big business. A Temporary Basic Income would allow governments to give people in lockdown a financial lifeline, inject cash back into local economies to help keep small businesses afloat, and slow the devastating spread of COVID-19." It pointed out that the poor are the hardest hit by the pandemic. There are huge numbers of people without social insurance and many workers without contracts. There are also many low-waged women and young people. It also said refugees, migrants, and people with disabilities need financial help.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Basic Income - Level 0,  Basic Income - Level 1   or  Basic Income - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/news-centre/news/2020/Temporary_Basic_Income_to_protect_the_worlds_poorest_people_slow_COVID19.html
  • https://japantoday.com/category/world/u.n.-report-suggests-temporary-basic-income-to-help-world%27s-poorest-amid-pandemic
  • https://time.com/5870438/basic-income-payments-coronavirus-u-n/


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. BASIC INCOME: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about basic income. 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?
       United Nations / plan / spread / basic / income / surge / money / developing countries
       people / economies / lockdown / financial / pandemic / social / insurance / refugee
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BUSINESS HELP: Students A strongly believe businesses should help to give poor people a basic income; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PANDEMIC: How can we reduce the spread of coronavirus? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

A Good Idea?

A Bad Idea?

Wear a mask

 

 

Wash hands

 

 

Social distance

 

 

Alcohol wipe everything

 

 

Stay at home

 

 

Close borders

 

 
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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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5. CRORONAVIRUS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "coronavirus". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. IN NEED: Rank these with your partner. Put the people most in need at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • the low-paid
  • the young
  • the aged
  • refugees
  • migrants
  • the disabled
  • single parents
  • the homeless

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. come up with a. Only for a short period of time; not forever.
      2. temporary b. A sudden large increase.
      3. current c. Plans or actions taken to achieve a particular purpose.
      4. surge d. Belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now.
      5. reduce e. Never done or known before.
      6. unprecedented f. Think of a new idea.
      7. measures g. Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

    Paragraph 2

      8. economies h. The act of giving money to a failing business or economy to save it from collapse.
      9. bailout i. The return to being normal.
      10. recovery j. A person who had to leave their country to escape war, danger, or natural disaster.
      11. lockdown k. Introduce something to into something else to make it better; put a liquid or medicine into the body with a needle.
      12. inject l. A state of not being allowed to go out of your house for security reasons.
      13. pandemic m. All of the areas of a government, country or area that are about money.
      14. refugee n. A disease that is all over a whole country or the world.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The UN said giving money to the poor would slow down COVID-19.     T / F
  2. The UN said the basic income should be a temporary measure.     T / F
  3. A basic income would let over 2.5bn people stay at home.     T / F
  4. A basic income would cost $199bn a year.     T / F
  5. The UN said it is more important to give money to businesses.     T / F
  6. The UN said the basic income would inject money into local economies.   T / F
  7. The article says there are very few people without social insurance.     T / F
  8. The article said migrants and refugees did not need the basic income.     T / F

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

  1. come up with
  2. temporary
  3. surge
  4. suggested
  5. unprecedented
  6. allow
  7. inject
  8. pointed out
  9. huge
  10. help
  1. push
  2. unheard of
  3. assistance
  4. highlighted
  5. short-term
  6. large
  7. recommended
  8. thought of
  9. let
  10. rise

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

  1. The United Nations has come up
  2. the world's poorest people
  3. slow the current surge
  4. reduce the chances of them
  5. unprecedented
  6. directing money to people instead
  7. Bailouts and
  8. give people in lockdown a
  9. It pointed out that the poor are the
  10. refugees, migrants, and
  1. financial lifeline
  2. times
  3. spreading the virus
  4. people with disabilities
  5. with a plan to help
  6. hardest hit
  7. in coronavirus cases
  8. recovery plans
  9. should get a basic income
  10. of economies

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
developing
current
poorest
measures
reduce
plan
per
introduction

The United Nations has come up with a (1) _____________________ to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said the world's (2) _____________________ people should get a basic income. It said the (3) _____________________ of a "Temporary Basic Income" for the world's poorest people could slow the (4) _____________________ surge in coronavirus cases. The money would allow around 2.7 billion people to stay at home. This would (5) _____________________ the chances of them spreading the virus. The UNDP suggested giving the income to poor people in 132 (6) _____________________ countries. The cost of this would be around $199 billion (7) _____________________ month. It said: "Unprecedented times call for unprecedented social and economic (8) _____________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
business
pointed
low
income
lockdown
disabilities
instead
insurance

The UNDP said the basic (9) _____________________ would mean directing money to people (10) _____________________ of economies. It said: "Bailouts and recovery plans cannot only focus on big markets and big (11) _____________________. A Temporary Basic Income would allow governments to give people in (12) _____________________ a financial lifeline, inject cash back into local economies to help keep small businesses afloat, and slow the devastating spread of COVID-19." It (13) _____________________ out that the poor are the hardest hit by the pandemic. There are huge numbers of people without social (14) _____________________ and many workers without contracts. There are also many (15) _____________________-waged women and young people. It also said refugees, migrants, and people with (16) _____________________ need financial help.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The United Nations has come up with a plan to help slow ______ COVID-19
     a.  the spread off
     b.  the spread oft
     c.  the spread of
     d.  the spread over
2)  a "Temporary Basic Income" for the world's poorest people could slow ______
     a.  the current sarge
     b.  the current splurge
     c.  the current scourge
     d.  the current surge
3)  The UNDP suggested giving the income to poor people in ______
     a.  132 developing countries
     b.  132 developing country
     c.  132 developing country's
     d.  132 developing countrified
4)  The cost of this would be around $199 ______
     a.  billion poor month
     b.  billion par month
     c.  billion per month
     d.  billion perm month
5)  Unprecedented times call for unprecedented social ______
     a.  and economic measured
     b.  and economic measures
     c.  and economic measure is
     d.  and economics measures

6)  The UNDP said the basic income would mean directing money to people ______
     a.  instead off economies
     b.  instead of economies
     c.  instead of economise
     d.  instead of economics
7)  Bailouts and recovery plans cannot only focus on big ______ business
     a.  market and big
     b.  mark its and big
     c.  mark it sand big
     d.  markets and big
8)  would allow governments to give people in lockdown ______
     a.  a financials lifeline
     b.  a financial lifeline
     c.  a financially lifeline
     d.  a finance shall lifeline
9)  inject cash back into local economies to help keep small ______
     a.  businesses afloat
     b.  businesses a floats
     c.  business is afloat
     d.  business is a float
10)  It also said refugees, migrants, and ______
     a.  people within disabilities
     b.  people wither disabilities
     c.  people with disabilities
     d.  people wit disabilities

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations has (1) ____________________ a plan to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said the world's (2) ____________________ get a basic income. It said the introduction of a "Temporary Basic Income" for the world's poorest people could slow the (3) ____________________ coronavirus cases. The money would allow around 2.7 billion people to (4) ____________________. This would reduce the chances of them spreading the virus. The UNDP suggested giving the income to poor people in (5) ____________________. The cost of this would be around $199 billion per month. It said: "Unprecedented times call for unprecedented social (6) ____________________."

The UNDP said the basic income (7) ____________________ money to people instead of economies. It said: "Bailouts and recovery plans cannot (8) ____________________ big markets and big business. A Temporary Basic Income would allow governments to give people in (9) ____________________ lifeline, inject cash back into local economies to help keep small businesses afloat, and slow (10) ____________________ of COVID-19." It pointed out that the poor are the hardest hit by the pandemic. There are (11) ____________________ people without social insurance and many workers without contracts. There are also many low-waged women and young people. It also said refugees, migrants, and people (12) ____________________ financial help.

Comprehension questions

  1. What part of the UN has come up with a plan?
  2. How many people could stay at home if they got a basic income?
  3. How many countries would the basic income help?
  4. How much would the basic income cost each month?
  5. What kind of times did the UN say we are living in?
  6. Who would get the money instead of economies?
  7. How long would the basic income be for?
  8. Who did the article say were hardest hit by the pandemic?
  9. What kind of insurance do many people not have?
  10. What kind of help did the UN say people needed?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What part of the UN has come up with a plan?
a) the UNPD
b) the UNDP
c) the UPND
d) the UPDN
2)  How many people could stay at home if they got a basic income?
a) exactly 2.7 billion
b) just over 2.7 billion
c) around 2.7 billion
d) just less than 2.7 billion
3)  How many countries would the basic income help?
a) 138
b) 136
c) 134
d) 132
4)  How much would the basic income cost each month?
a) around $599 billion
b) around $399 billion
c) around $199 billion
d) around $299 billion
5)  What kind of times did the UN say we are living in?
a) unprecedented times
b) difficult times
c) troubling times
d) these times

6)  Who would get the money instead of economies?
a) people
b) politicians
c) banks
d) nurses
7)  How long would the basic income be for?
a) a week or two
b) a few years
c) until the end of the pandemic
d) it will be temporary
8)  Who did the article say were hardest hit by the pandemic?
a) heavier people
b) the aged
c) the poor
d) children
9)  What kind of insurance do many people not have?
a) home insurance
b) car insurance
c) health insurance
d) social insurance
10)  What kind of help did the UN say people needed?
a) urgent help
b) financial help
c) help finding masks
d) urgent help

Role play

Role  A – The Low-Paid
You think the low-paid should be the first to get a basic income. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people should not be first. Also, tell the others which of these should not get a basic income (and why): the aged, refugees or single parents.

Role  B – The Aged
You think the aged should be the first to get a basic income. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people should not be first. Also, tell the others which of these should not get a basic income (and why): the low-paid, refugees or single parents.

Role  C – Refugees
You think refugees should be the first to get a basic income. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people should not be first. Also, tell the others which of these should not get a basic income (and why): the aged, the low-paid or single parents.

Role  D – Single Parents
You think single parents should be the first to get a basic income. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people should not be first. Also, tell the others which of these should not get a basic income (and why): the aged, refugees or the low-paid.

After reading / listening

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

'basic'

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

    • and 'income'.

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

    • • 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:

    • plan
    • poorest
    • introduction
    • current
    • 132
    • 199
    • instead
    • focus
    • inject
    • hit
    • also
    • financial

    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 - Basic Income

    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 'income'?
    3. What do you think of the United Nations?
    4. How would you slow the spread of COVID-19?
    5. What do you think of giving poor people a basic income?
    6. Why might a basic income slow the spread of COVID-19?
    7. What do you do to reduce the spread of COVID-19?
    8. What do you think the pandemic will be like at the end of this year?
    9. In what other ways could the UN help developing countries?
    10. Why are these "unprecedented times"?

    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 'poor'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What does the United Nations do?
    5. Is it better to give money to help companies or people?
    6. Why have many bailouts focused on big companies?
    7. Why are the poor the hardest hit in the pandemic?
    8. How has the pandemic affected refugees and migrants?
    9. How has your government coped with the pandemic?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the UNDP?

    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 United Nations has come up with a plan (1) ____ help slow the spread of COVID-19. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said the world's poorest people should get a basic income. It said the (2) ____ of a "Temporary Basic Income" for the world's poorest people could slow the (3) ____ surge in coronavirus cases. The money would allow around 2.7 billion people to (4) ____ at home. This would reduce the chances of them spreading the virus. The UNDP suggested giving the (5) ____ to poor people in 132 developing countries. The cost of this would be around $199 billion per month. It said: "Unprecedented times call for unprecedented social and economic (6) ____."

    The UNDP said the basic income would mean (7) ____ money to people instead of economies. It said: "Bailouts and recovery plans cannot only focus (8) ____ big markets and big business. A Temporary Basic Income would allow governments to give people in lockdown a financial lifeline, (9) ____ cash back into local economies to help keep small businesses afloat, and slow the devastating spread of COVID-19." It pointed (10) ____ that the poor are the hardest hit by the pandemic. There are huge numbers of people without social insurance and many workers without contracts. There are also many (11) ____-waged women and young people. It also said refugees, migrants, and people with disabilities (12) ____ financial help.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     to     (b)     for     (c)     by     (d)     of    
    2. (a)     intro     (b)     introduction     (c)     introduce     (d)     introduces    
    3. (a)     currants     (b)     currant     (c)     currency     (d)     current    
    4. (a)     sty     (b)     stay     (c)     slay     (d)     say    
    5. (a)     outcome     (b)    money     (c)     income     (d)     comings    
    6. (a)     grades     (b)     levels     (c)     measures     (d)     ratio    
    7. (a)     buying     (b)     going     (c)     directing     (d)     making    
    8. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    9. (a)     jab     (b)     syringe     (c)     needle     (d)     inject    
    10. (a)     down     (b)     up     (c)     in     (d)     out    
    11. (a)     low     (b)     small     (c)     down     (d)     tiny    
    12. (a)     needy     (b)     needless     (c)     need     (d)     necessary

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. It said the ndotctiunior of...
    2. slow the current erusg
    3. This would cerude the chances
    4. spreading the vsuir
    5. 132 ovipnedegl countries
    6. economic ausemres

    Paragraph 2

    1. crryeevo plans
    2. a financial nleelifi
    3. keep small businesses tlofaa
    4. slow the gsdtnaaitev spread
    5. people without oasicl insurance
    6. need ailcnifna help

    Put the text back together

    (...)  and recovery plans cannot only focus on big markets and big business. A Temporary Basic Income would allow
    (...)  The UNDP said the basic income would mean directing money to people instead of economies. It said: "Bailouts
    (...)  reduce the chances of them spreading the virus. The UNDP suggested giving the income
    (...)  in coronavirus cases. The money would allow around 2.7 billion people to stay at home. This would
    (...)  (UNDP) said the world's poorest people should get a basic income. It said the introduction
    (...)  insurance and many workers without contracts. There are also many low-waged women and young people. It also said
    (...)  of a "Temporary Basic Income" for the world's poorest people could slow the current surge
    (...)  help keep small businesses afloat, and slow the devastating spread of COVID-19." It pointed
    (  1  ) The United Nations has come up with a plan to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The United Nations Development Programme
    (...)  to poor people in 132 developing countries. The cost of this would be around $199 billion
    (...)  out that the poor are the hardest hit by the pandemic. There are huge numbers of people without social
    (...)  per month. It said: "Unprecedented times call for unprecedented social and economic measures."
    (...)  refugees, migrants, and people with disabilities need financial help.
    (...)  governments to give people in lockdown a financial lifeline, inject cash back into local economies to

    Put the words in the right order

    1. a   people   basic   should   The   get   income   .   poorest
    2. people   at   home   .   stay   Allow   2.7 billion   to   around
    3. the   virus   .   the   chances   of   Reduce   spreading   them
    4. poor   132   countries   .   developing   for   in   people   Income
    5. of   The   $199 billion   this   be   would  .   cost   around
    6. economies   .   people   money   Directing   to   instead   of
    7. plans   focus   big   markets   .   on   Recovery   only   cannot
    8. a   financial   people   lockdown   in   lifeline   .   Give
    9. are   The   by   poor   pandemic   .   hardest   hit   the
    10. disabilities   people   help   .   Migrants   need   and   with   financial

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The United Nations has come up / down with a plan to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said the world's poverty / poorest people should get a basic income. It said the introduction / intro of a "Temporary Basic Income" for the world's poorest people could show / slow the current surge in coronavirus cases. The money would allow / disallow around 2.7 billion people to stay at home. This would reduce / deduce the chances of them spread / spreading the virus. The UNDP suggestion / suggested giving the income to poor people in 132 developing countries. The cost of this would have / be around $199 billion per month. It said: "Unprecedented times call for unprecedented socially / social and economic measures."

    The UNDP said the basic income would meaning / mean directing money to people instead of / for economies. It said: "Bailouts / Ballots and recovery plans cannot only hocus pocus / focus on big markets and big business. A Temporary Basic Income would allow governments to give people at / in lockdown a financial lifeline, inject / injection cash back into local economies to help keep small businesses afloat, and slow the devastating spread of COVID-19." It pointed in / out that the poor are the hardest hit by the pandemic. There are hug / huge numbers of people without social insurance and many workers without contracts. There are also much / many low-waged women and young people. It also said refugees, migrants, and people with disabilities need financial help / helping.

    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_ U n_t_d N_t__ n s h_s c_m_ _p w_t h _ p l_n t_ h_l p s l_w t h_ s p r__ d _f C O V I D - 1 9 . T h_ U n_t_d N_t__ n s D_v_l_p m_n t P r_g r_m m_ ( U N D P ) s__ d t h_ w_r l d ' s p__ r_s t p__ p l_ s h__ l d g_t _ b_s_c _n c_m_. I t s__ d t h_ _n t r_d_c t__ n _f _ " T_m p_r_r y B_s_c I n c_m_" f_r t h_ w_r l d ' s p__ r_s t p__ p l_ c__ l d s l_w t h_ c_r r_n t s_r g_ _n c_r_n_v_r_s c_s_s . T h_ m_n_y w__ l d _l l_w _r__ n d 2 . 7 b_l l__ n p__ p l_ t_ s t_y _t h_m_. T h_s w__ l d r_d_c_ t h_ c h_n c_s _f t h_m s p r__ d_n g t h_ v_r_s . T h_ U N D P s_g g_s t_d g_v_n g t h_ m_ n_y t_ p__ r p__ p l_ _n 1 3 2 d_v_l_p_n g c__ n t r__ s . T h_ c_s t _f t h_s w__ l d b_ _r__ n d $ 1 9 9 b_l l__ n p_r m_n t h . I t s__ d : " U n p r_c_d_n t_d t_m_s c_l l f_r _n p r_c_d_n t_d s_c__ l _n d _c_n_m_c m__ s_r_s . "

    T h_ U N D P s__ d t h_ b_s_c _n c_m_ w__ l d m__ n d_r_c t_n g m_n_y t_ p__ p l_ _n s t__ d _f _c_n_m__ s . I t s__ d : " B__ l__ t s _n d r_c_v_r y p l_n s c_n n_t _n l y f_c_s _n b_g m_r k_t s _n d b_g b_s_n_s s . A T_m p_r_r y B_s_c I n c_m_ w__ l d _l l_w g_v_r n m_n t s t_ g_v_ p__ p l_ _n l_c k d_w n _ f_n_n c__ l l_f_l_n_, _n j_c t c_s h b_c k _n t_ l_c_l _c_n_m__ s t_ h_l p k__ p s m_l l b_s_n_s s_s _f l__ t , _n d s l_w t h_ d_v_s t_t_n g s p r__ d _f C O V I D - 1 9 . " I t p__ n t_d __ t t h_t t h_ p__ r _r_ t h_ h_r d_s t h_t b y t h_ p_n d_m_c . T h_r_ _r_ h_g_ n_m b_r s _f p__ p l_ w_t h__ t s_c__ l _n s_r_n c_ _n d m_n y w_r k_r s w_t h__ t c_n t r_c t s . T h_r_ _r_ _l s_ m_n y l_w - w_g_d w_m_n _n d y__ n g p__ p l_. I t _l s_ s__ d r_f_g__ s , m_g r_n t s , _n d p__ p l_ w_t h d_s_b_l_t__ s n__ d f_n_n c__ l h_l p .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the united nations has come up with a plan to help slow the spread of covid19 the united nations development programme undp said the worlds poorest people should get a basic income it said the introduction of a temporary basic income for the worlds poorest people could slow the current surge in coronavirus cases the money would allow around 27 billion people to stay at home this would reduce the chances of them spreading the virus the undp suggested giving the income to poor people in 132 developing countries the cost of this would be around 199 billion per month it said unprecedented times call for unprecedented social and economic measures

    the undp said the basic income would mean directing money to people instead of economies it said bailouts and recovery plans cannot only focus on big markets and big business a temporary basic income would allow governments to give people in lockdown a financial lifeline inject cash back into local economies to help keep small businesses afloat and slow the devastating spread of covid19 it pointed out that the poor are the hardest hit by the pandemic there are huge numbers of people without social insurance and many workers without contracts there are also many lowwaged women and young people it also said refugees migrants and people with disabilities need financial help

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheUnitedNationshascomeupwithaplantohelpslowthespreadofCOVI
    D-19.TheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)saidthewo
    rld'spoorestpeopleshouldgetabasicincome.Itsaidtheintroductionofa
    "TemporaryBasicIncome"fortheworld'spoorestpeoplecouldslowthec
    urrentsurgeincoronaviruscases.Themoneywouldallowaround2.7bill
    ionpeopletostayathome.Thiswouldreducethechancesofthemspreadi
    ngthevirus.TheUNDPsuggestedgivingthemoneytopoorpeoplein132
    developingcountries.Thecostofthiswouldbearound$199billionperm
    onth.Itsaid:"Unprecedentedtimescallforunprecedentedsocialandec
    onomicmeasures."TheUNDPsaidthebasicincomewouldmeandirectin
    gmoneytopeopleinsteadofeconomies.Itsaid:"Bailoutsandrecoveryp
    lanscannotonlyfocusonbigmarketsandbigbusiness.ATemporaryBasi
    cIncomewouldallowgovernmentstogivepeopleinlockdownafinanciall
    ifeline,injectcashbackintolocaleconomiestohelpkeepsmallbusinesse
    safloat,andslowthedevastatingspreadofCOVID-19."Itpointedoutth
    atthepoorarethehardesthitbythepandemic.Therearehugenumberso
    fpeoplewithoutsocialinsuranceandmanyworkerswithoutcontracts.T
    herearealsomanylow-wagedwomenandyoungpeople.Italsosaidref
    ugees,migrants,andpeoplewithdisabilitiesneedfinancialhelp.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Governments should give all poor people income paid for by companies. 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. BASIC INCOME: Make a poster about basic income. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BUSINESSES: Write a magazine article about businesses paying extra money to give poor people a basic income. 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 basic income. Ask him/her three questions about basic income. 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

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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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