The Reading / Listening - COP26 - Level 6

Presidents, prime ministers and dignitaries from nearly 200 nations have descended on the city of Glasgow in Scotland. They are congregating for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference – COP26. However, one notable person seems to have been omitted from the invitation list. That person is 18-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Ms Thunberg is in Glasgow for the global summit, but is unsure as to whether she will be allowed to attend any of the meetings. Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I don't know. It's very unclear. Not officially [invited]." She added: "I think that many people might be scared that if they invite too many radical young people, then that might make them look bad."

U.S. President Joe Biden will be at the event, and China's President Xi Jinping will attend via video link. President Biden was in Rome on Friday for a meeting with the Pope. A number of climate activists noted the irony of his motorcade having 95 cars in it, just two days ahead of a climate conference. Ms Thunberg criticised the conference for what she views as a lack of delegates from developing countries. She said: "We need more representation from the Global South, from the most affected people and areas." The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting the conference. He said: "COP26 must mark the beginning of the end of climate change." He added: "Too many countries are still doing too little."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    COP26 - Level 4  or  COP26 - Level 5

Sources
  • https://news.yahoo.com/greta-thunberg-london-protests-cop26-122906794.html
  • https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/thunberg-joins-london-finance-protest-before-climate-summit-2021-10-29/
  • https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19683416.climate-activist-greta-thunberg-says-cop26-invite-unclear/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. CLIMATE CHANGE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about climate change. 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?
       presidents / prime ministers / climate change / conference / activist / invitation /
       event / video link / irony / motorcade / delegate / Global South / beginning / end
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CHANGE: Students A strongly believe COP26 will bring about the necessary change; Students B strongly believe it won't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ACTION: What actions can these people take to help the planet? How effective would these actions be? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Actions

Effectiveness

Greta Thunberg

 

 

You

 

 

An oil company CEO

 

 

A social media giant CEO

 

 

The leader of the USA

 

 

The leader of China

 

 

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

  • Heat waves
  • Torrential rain
  • Blizzard
  • Freezing cold
  • Hurricane
  • Giant hailstones
  • Heavy snow
  • Tornadoes

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. dignitaries a. Worthy of attention or notice.
      2. descended on b. Believing in thorough or complete political or social change.
      3. congregating c. People considered to be important because of high rank or office.
      4. notable d. Gathering together.
      5. omitted e. Visited.
      6. summit f. Left out or excluded.
      7. radical g. A meeting between heads of government.

    Paragraph 2

      8. via h. The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite.
      9. irony i. A procession of motor vehicles, typically carrying and escorting a prominent person.
      10. motorcade j. The action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being so represented.
      11. lack k. By way of; through.
      12. delegate l. Be an indication of a significant event or stage.
      13. representation m. A person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular at a conference.
      14. mark n. The state of being without or not having enough of something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Leaders from over 200 countries are attending COP26.     T / F
  2. COP26 is taking place in the Scottish city of Edinburgh.     T / F
  3. Greta Thunberg will be able to attend many meetings at COP26.     T / F
  4. Ms Thunberg said COP26 officials may be afraid of young radicals.     T / F
  5. China's leader will attend COP26 via a video link.     T / F
  6. Joe Biden travelled in a motorcade of 100 cars to meet the Pope.     T / F
  7. Greta Thunberg said the Global South has too few delegates at COP26.    T / F
  8. The UK's Boris Johnson sais too many countries are doing too little.     T / F

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

  1. dignitaries
  2. congregating
  3. notable
  4. activist
  5. radical
  6. attend
  7. irony
  8. lack
  9. hosting
  10. mark
  1. be present at
  2. identify
  3. revolutionary
  4. gathering
  5. paradox
  6. important
  7. putting on
  8. VIPs
  9. dearth
  10. campaigner

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

  1. Presidents, prime ministers
  2. descended
  3. one notable person seems to
  4. the global
  5. too many radical
  6. attend via
  7. activists noted the irony
  8. We need more representation from
  9. mark the beginning
  10. Too many countries are still
  1. have been omitted
  2. the Global South
  3. young people
  4. video link
  5. of his motorcade
  6. doing too little
  7. and dignitaries
  8. of the end
  9. on the city
  10. summit

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
notable
attend
radical
list
dignitaries
unclear
congregating
summit

Presidents, prime ministers and (1) _____________________ from nearly 200 nations have descended on the city of Glasgow in Scotland. They are (2) _____________________ for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference - COP26. However, one (3) _____________________ person seems to have been omitted from the invitation (4) _____________________. That person is 18-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Ms Thunberg is in Glasgow for the global (5) _____________________, but is unsure as to whether she will be allowed to (6) _____________________ any of the meetings. Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I don't know. It's very (7) _____________________. Not officially [invited]." She added: "I think that many people might be scared that if they invite too many (8) _____________________ young people, then that might make them look bad."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ahead
end
representation
via
hosting
views
irony
affected

U.S. President Joe Biden will be at the event, and China's President Xi Jinping will attend (9) _____________________ video link. President Biden was in Rome on Friday for a meeting with the Pope. A number of climate activists noted the (10) _____________________ of his motorcade having 95 cars in it, just two days (11) _____________________ of a climate conference. Ms Thunberg criticised the conference for what she (12) _____________________ as a lack of delegates from developing countries. She said: "We need more (13) _____________________ from the Global South, from the most (14) _____________________ people and areas." The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is (15) _____________________ the conference. He said: "COP26 must mark the beginning of the (16) _____________________ of climate change." He added: "Too many countries are still doing too little."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  dignitaries from nearly 200 nations have ______ city
     a.  descend did on the
     b.  descent it on the
     c.  descending on the
     d.  descended on the
2)  However, one notable person seems to ______
     a.  have been remitted
     b.  have been omitted
     c.  have been committed
     d.  have been submitted
3)  but is unsure as to whether she will be allowed to attend ______ meetings
     a.  many of the
     b.  ennui of the
     c.  any of the
     d.  aim of the
4)  she said: "I don't know. It's very unclear. ______
     a.  Not official invited
     b.  Not officially invite it
     c.  Not officially invited
     d.  Not officially invite
5)  people might be scared that if they invite too many ______
     a.  radically young people
     b.  ready call young people
     c.  radio call young people
     d.  radical young people

6)  Biden will be at the event, and China's President Xi Jinping will ______ link
     a.  attend via video
     b.  attend viral video
     c.  attend vial video
     d.  attend vie a video
7)  A number of climate activists noted the ______ motorcade
     a.  ironic of his
     b.  irony oft his
     c.  irony off his
     d.  irony of his
8)  Ms Thunberg criticised the conference for what she views as a ______
     a.  lacks of delegates
     b.  slack of delegates
     c.  lack of delegates
     d.  lackey of delegates
9)  COP26 must mark the beginning of the end ______
     a.  of climate changed
     b.  of climb ate change
     c.  of climate change
     d.  of climb at change
10)  He added: "Too many countries are still ______."
     a.  done too little
     b.  doom too little
     c.  dewy too little
     d.  doing too little

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Presidents, prime ministers (1) ____________________ nearly 200 nations have (2) ____________________ city of Glasgow in Scotland. They are congregating for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference - COP26. However, one notable person seems to have (3) ____________________ the invitation list. That person is 18-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Ms Thunberg is in Glasgow for the global summit, but (4) ____________________ to whether she will be allowed to attend any of the meetings. Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I don't know. It's very unclear. (5) ____________________." She added: "I think that many people might be scared that if they invite too many (6) ____________________, then that might make them look bad."

U.S. President Joe Biden will be at the event, and China's President Xi Jinping will (7) ____________________ link. President Biden was in Rome on Friday for a meeting with the Pope. A number of climate activists (8) ____________________ of his motorcade having 95 cars in it, just two days ahead of a climate conference. Ms Thunberg criticised the conference for what she views as a (9) ____________________ from developing countries. She said: "We need more representation from the Global South, from the (10) ____________________ and areas." The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting the conference. He said: "COP26 must mark the (11) ____________________ end of climate change." He added: "Too many countries are still (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. How many nations are sending leaders and dignitaries to COP26?
  2. How many COP meetings have there been before the current one?
  3. Where is Greta Thunberg?
  4. How many COP26 meetings will Greta Thunberg attend?
  5. Who did Greta Thunberg say many people might be scared of inviting?
  6. Who did U.S. President Joe Biden meet on Friday?
  7. How many cars were in the President's motorcade?
  8. Where did Greta Thunberg say there was a lack of delegates from?
  9. Who is hosting COP26?
  10. What did the UK leader say is doing too little?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  How many nations are sending leaders and dignitaries to COP26?
a) exactly 200
b) nearly 200
c) well over 200
d) around 200
2) How many COP meetings have there been before the current one?
a) seven
b) none
c) 24
d) 25
3) Where is Greta Thunberg?
a) in New York
b) in Sweden
c) in Glasgow
d) in the Amazon
4) How many COP26 meetings will Greta Thunberg attend?
a) She's not sure.
b) all of them
c) one or two
d) 12
5) Who did Greta Thunberg say many people might be scared of inviting?
a) climate activists
b) radical young people
c) their leaders
d) people in affected countries

6) Who did U.S. President Joe Biden meet on Friday?
a) the Pope
b) Boris Johnson
c) President Xi Jinping
d) Greta Thunberg
7) How many cars were in the President's motorcade?
a) 93
b) 94
c) 95
d) 92
8) Where did Greta Thunberg say there was a lack of delegates from?
a) developing countries
b) the USA
c) Russia
d) Vanuatu
9) Who is hosting COP26?
a) the IPCC
b) the UN
c) the WHO
d) Boris Johnson
10) What did the UK leader say many countries are doing?
a) more than enough
b) enough
c) too little
d) next to nothing

Role play

Role  A – Heat Waves
You think a heat waves are the worst weather events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): torrential rain, freezing cold or giant hailstones.

Role  B – Torrential Rain
You think torrential rain is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): heat waves, freezing cold or giant hailstones.

Role  C – Freezing Cold
You think freezing cold is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): torrential rain, heat waves or giant hailstones.

Role  D – Giant Hailstones
You think giant hailstones is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): torrential rain, freezing cold or heat waves.

After reading / listening

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

'climate'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'conference'.

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

    • 200
    • one
    • 18
    • unsure
    • unclear
    • radical
    • via
    • Friday
    • 95
    • lack
    • areas
    • little

    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 - COP26

    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 'invitation'?
    3. What do you know about COP26?
    4. What do you think of international climate change conferences?
    5. What do leaders need to agree on at COP26?
    6. How hopeful are you that COP26 will bring change?
    7. Why has Greta Thunberg not been invited to the conference?
    8. Should Greta Thunberg have been invited to the conference?
    9. What do you think of Greta Thunberg?
    10. What advice do you have for Greta Thunberg?

    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 'climate change'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What advice do you have for the leaders at COP26?
    5. What do you want your nation's leader to say at COP26
    6. Does Joe Biden need a 95-car motorcade?
    7. What must happen to satisfy nations from the Global South?
    8. Will COP26 "mark the beginning of the end of climate change"?
    9. Are "too many countries still doing too little"?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the leaders at COP26?

    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)

    Presidents, prime ministers and (1) ____ from nearly 200 nations have descended on the city of Glasgow in Scotland. They are congregating for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference - COP26. However, one (2) ____ person seems to have been (3) ____ from the invitation list. That person is 18-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Ms Thunberg is in Glasgow for the global (4) ____, but is unsure as to whether she will be allowed to attend any (5) ____ the meetings. Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I don't know. It's very unclear. Not officially [invited]." She added: "I think that many people might be scared that if they invite too many (6) ____ young people, then that might make them look bad."

    U.S. President Joe Biden will be at the event, and China's President Xi Jinping will attend (7) ____ video link. President Biden was in Rome on Friday for a meeting with the Pope. A number of climate activists noted the (8) ____ of his motorcade having 95 cars in it, just two days ahead of a climate conference. Ms Thunberg criticised the conference for what she views (9) ____ a lack of delegates from developing countries. She said: "We need more representation from the Global South, from the most (10) ____ people and areas." The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting the conference. He said: "COP26 must (11) ____ the beginning of the end of climate change." He added: "Too many countries are still doing too (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     dignities     (b)     indignities     (c)     dignitaries     (d)     indignant    
    2. (a)     notable     (b)     memorandum     (c)     dictated     (d)     memory    
    3. (a)     omitted     (b)     remitted     (c)     submitted     (d)     committed    
    4. (a)     summit     (b)     peak     (c)     nadir     (d)     zenith    
    5. (a)     on     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    6. (a)     physically     (b)     wholesome     (c)     draconian     (d)     radical    
    7. (a)     via     (b)     vial     (c)     viral     (d)     fiat    
    8. (a)     phony     (b)     pony     (c)     ebony     (d)     irony    
    9. (a)     as     (b)     'twas     (c)     was     (d)     ease    
    10. (a)     effected     (b)     affected     (c)     reflective     (d)     infective    
    11. (a)     usurp     (b)     mark     (c)     correct     (d)     impart    
    12. (a)     little     (b)     few     (c)     insufficient     (d)     less

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. prime ministers and enaitsdrgii
    2. sededndec on the city of Glasgow
    3. They are onrieggtagcn
    4. one notable person seems to have been oidttme
    5. the vioatniint list
    6. too many caldari young people

    Paragraph 2

    1. A number of climate tistsvaci
    2. noted the oriyn
    3. his odmrcetao having 95 cars
    4. a lack of deesaegtl
    5. We need more ettpainsreenro
    6. Boris Johnson is hosting the eennreccof

    Put the text back together

    (...)  conference for what she views as a lack of delegates from developing countries. She said: "We need more
    (...)  hosting the conference. He said: "COP26 must mark the beginning of the end of
    1  ) Presidents, prime ministers and dignitaries from nearly 200 nations have descended on the city
    (...)  unclear. Not officially [invited]." She added: "I think that many people might be
    (...)  person seems to have been omitted from the invitation list. That person is 18-year-old Swedish climate
    (...)  to whether she will be allowed to attend any of the meetings. Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I don't know. It's very
    (...)  of Glasgow in Scotland. They are congregating for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference - COP26. However, one notable
    (...)  representation from the Global South, from the most affected people and areas." The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is
    (...)  scared that if they invite too many radical young people, then that might make them look bad."
    (...)  irony of his motorcade having 95 cars in it, just two days ahead of a climate conference. Ms Thunberg criticised the
    (...)  activist Greta Thunberg. Ms Thunberg is in Glasgow for the global summit, but is unsure as
    (...)  climate change." He added: "Too many countries are still doing too little."
    (...)  link. President Biden was in Rome on Friday for a meeting with the Pope. A number of climate activists noted the
    (...)  U.S. President Joe Biden will be at the event, and China's President Xi Jinping will attend via video

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Nearly   have   descended   200   nations   the   on   city   .
    2. seems   omitted   .   have   been   to   person   notable   One
    3. whether   allowed   .   as   unsure   She's   she'll   be   to
    4. be   think   scared   .   people   might   I   many   that
    5. young   invite   they   radical   many   too   If   people   .
    6. motorcade   .   activists   noted   the   Climate   his   of   irony
    7. climate   days   two   of   ahead   a   Just   conference   .
    8. We   the   more   Global   South   .   from   need   representation
    9. of   climate   change   .   The   of   the   end   beginning
    10. still   many   Too   too   countries   doing   little   .   are

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Presidents, prime ministers and dignities / dignitaries from nearly 200 nations have rescinded / descended on the city of Glasgow in Scotland. They are congregation / congregating for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference - COP26. However, one notable / knotty person seems to have been omitted from the invitation list. That / Which person is 18-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Ms Thunberg is in Glasgow for the global summit / zenith, but is unsure as for / to whether she will be allowed to attend any of the meetings. Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I don't know. It's very unclear. Not official / officially [invited]." She added: "I think that many people might be scarred / scared that if they invite too many radical young people, then that might make them look bad / badly."

    U.S. President Joe Biden will be at the event, and China's President Xi Jinping will attend via / viral video link. President Biden was in Rome on Friday for a meeting with the Pope. A number / numeral of climate activists noted the ironic / irony of his motorcade / arcade having 95 cars in it, just two days ahead / heading of a climate conference. Ms Thunberg criticised the conference for what she viewpoint / views as a lack of delegates from developing / development countries. She said: "We need more representation from the Global South, from the / a most affected people and areas." The UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting / host the conference. He said: "COP26 must mark the beginning of the end of climate change." He added: "Too many countries are still doing / done too little."

    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)

    Pr_s_d_nts,  pr_m_  m_n_st_rs  _nd  d_gn_t_r__s  fr_m  n__rly  200  n_t__ns  h_v_  d_sc_nd_d  _n  th_  c_ty  _f  Gl_sg_w  _n  Sc_tl_nd.  Th_y  _r_  c_ngr_g_t_ng  f_r  th_  26th  _N  Cl_m_t_  Ch_ng_  C_nf_r_nc_  -  C_P26.  H_w_v_r,  _n_  n_t_bl_  p_rs_n  s__ms  t_  h_v_  b__n  _m_tt_d  fr_m  th_  _nv_t_t__n  l_st.  Th_t  p_rs_n  _s  18-y__r-_ld  Sw_d_sh  cl_m_t_  _ct_v_st  Gr_t_  Th_nb_rg.  Ms  Th_nb_rg  _s  _n  Gl_sg_w  f_r  th_  gl_b_l  s_mm_t,  b_t  _s  _ns_r_  _s  t_  wh_th_r  sh_  w_ll  b_  _ll_w_d  t_  _tt_nd  _ny  _f  th_  m__t_ngs.  Sp__k_ng  t_  th_  BBC,  sh_  s__d:  "_  d_n't  kn_w.  _t's  v_ry  _ncl__r.  N_t  _ff_c__lly  [_nv_t_d]."  Sh_  _dd_d:  "_  th_nk  th_t  m_ny  p__pl_  m_ght  b_  sc_r_d  th_t  _f  th_y  _nv_t_  t__  m_ny  r_d_c_l  y__ng  p__pl_,  th_n  th_t  m_ght  m_k_  th_m  l__k  b_d."

    _.S.  Pr_s_d_nt  J__  B_d_n  w_ll  b_  _t  th_  _v_nt,  _nd  Ch_n_'s  Pr_s_d_nt  X_  J_np_ng  w_ll  _tt_nd  v__  v_d__  l_nk.  Pr_s_d_nt  B_d_n  w_s  _n  R_m_  _n  Fr_d_y  f_r  _  m__t_ng  w_th  th_  P_p_.  _  n_mb_r  _f  cl_m_t_  _ct_v_sts  n_t_d  th_  _r_ny  _f  h_s  m_t_rc_d_  h_v_ng  95  c_rs  _n  _t,  j_st  tw_  d_ys  _h__d  _f  _  cl_m_t_  c_nf_r_nc_.  Ms  Th_nb_rg  cr_t_c_s_d  th_  c_nf_r_nc_  f_r  wh_t  sh_  v__ws  _s  _  l_ck  _f  d_l_g_t_s  fr_m  d_v_l_p_ng  c__ntr__s.  Sh_  s__d:  "W_  n__d  m_r_  r_pr_s_nt_t__n  fr_m  th_  Gl_b_l  S__th,  fr_m  th_  m_st  _ff_ct_d  p__pl_  _nd  _r__s."  Th_  _K's  Pr_m_  M_n_st_r  B_r_s  J_hns_n  _s  h_st_ng  th_  c_nf_r_nc_.  H_  s__d:  C_P26  m_st  m_rk  th_  b_g_nn_ng  _f  th_  _nd  _f  cl_m_t_  ch_ng_."  H_  _dd_d:  "T__  m_ny  c__ntr__s  _r_  st_ll  d__ng  t__  l_ttl_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    presidents prime ministers and dignitaries from nearly 200 nations have descended on the city of glasgow in scotland they are congregating for the 26th un climate change conference  cop26 however one notable person seems to have been omitted from the invitation list that person is 18yearold swedish climate activist greta thunberg ms thunberg is in glasgow for the global summit but is unsure as to whether she will be allowed to attend any of the meetings speaking to the bbc she said i dont know its very unclear not officially invited she added i think that many people might be scared that if they invite too many radical young people then that might make them look bad

    us president joe biden will be at the event and chinas president xi jinping will attend via video link president biden was in rome on friday for a meeting with the pope a number of climate activists noted the irony of his motorcade having 95 cars in it just two days ahead of a climate conference ms thunberg criticised the conference for what she views as a lack of delegates from developing countries she said we need more representation from the global south from the most affected people and areas the uks prime minister boris johnson is hosting the conference he said cop26 must mark the beginning of the end of climate change he added too many countries are still doing too little

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Presidents,primeministersanddignitariesfromnearly200nationshav
    edescendedonthecityofGlasgowinScotland.Theyarecongregatingfor
    the26thUNClimateChangeConference-COP26.However,onenotabl
    epersonseemstohavebeenomittedfromtheinvitationlist.Thatpersoni
    s18-year-oldSwedishclimateactivistGretaThunberg.MsThunbergis
    inGlasgowfortheglobalsummit,butisunsureastowhethershewillbeall
    owedtoattendanyofthemeetings.SpeakingtotheBBC,shesaid:"Idon'
    tknow.It'sveryunclear.Notofficially[invited]."Sheadded:"Ithinkthat
    manypeoplemightbescaredthatiftheyinvitetoomanyradicalyoungpe
    ople,thenthatmightmakethemlookbad."U.S.PresidentJoeBidenwillb
    eattheevent,andChina'sPresidentXiJinpingwillattendviavideolink.Pr
    esidentBidenwasinRomeonFridayforameetingwiththePope.Anumbe
    rofclimateactivistsnotedtheironyofhismotorcadehaving95carsinit,j
    usttwodaysaheadofaclimateconference.MsThunbergcriticisedtheco
    nferenceforwhatsheviewsasalackofdelegatesfromdevelopingcountr
    ies.Shesaid:"WeneedmorerepresentationfromtheGlobalSouth,from
    themostaffectedpeopleandareas."TheUK'sPrimeMinisterBorisJohns
    onishostingtheconference.Hesaid:"COP26mustmarkthebeginningo
    ftheendofclimatechange."Headded:"Toomanycountriesarestilldoin
    gtoolittle."

    Free writing

    Write about COP26 for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The COP26 summit will help to tackle climate change. 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. CLIMATE CHANGE: Make a poster about climate change. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. LAST CHANCE: Write a magazine article about COP26 being our last chance to combat climate change and save the planet. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe this and with people who do not.
    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 climate change. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to combat climate change. 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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