The Reading / Listening - Takeaway Food - Level 3

The Italian city of Milan wants to introduce a law to ban the sale of takeaway food after midnight. The reason for this is to help local residents sleep. Many people have complained to the local government about the noise on the streets at night. There are often large and noisy groups of late-night revellers in downtown Milan. Local officials have decided to ban all takeaway food and drink in 12 districts of the city. Some of these areas are well known for their "wild" nightlife. The takeaway ban means people would not be able to buy pizza or ice cream after 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and after 1:30 a.m. at weekends and on public holidays. It would come into effect from mid-May and last until November.

Milan's deputy mayor explained why the ban was important. He said: "The goal is to seek a balance between socialising and entertainment, and the peace and tranquillity of residents." However, there are also many people who oppose the ban. A spokesperson for an Italian retail association said the ban on post-midnight food and drink would not stop the noise. He said: "A rule banning people from drinking a bottle of water or eating an ice cream or pizza while taking a stroll…won't solve a thing, as people will still stay outside." He asked: "Do you think a 25-year-old is going to go home at the stroke of midnight simply because they can't get a takeout?" He added: "What about tourists who want to eat ice cream?"

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Takeaway Food - Level 0,  Takeaway Food - Level 1   or  Takeaway Food - Level 2

Sources
  • https://news.sky.com/story/milan-poised-to-ban-ice cream-pizza-and-more-after-midnight-after-new-proposed-law-13121064
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/21/do-they-realise-what-theyre-doing-milan-takes-on-ice cream-sellers-in-war-on-wild-nightlife
  • https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/milan-bans-pizza-ice cream-midnight-crackdown-night-time-chaos/


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. TAKEAWAY FOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about takeaway food. 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?
       Milan / law / ban / takeaway food / midnight / noise / the streets at night / ice cream
       balance / goal / socializing / entertainment / peace / tranquillity / pizza / tourists
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BAN: Students A strongly believe takeaway food should be banned; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. LATE-NIGHT ACTIVITIES: What are the good and bad things about these late-night activities? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good Things

Bad Things

Eating    
Watching TV    
Dancing    
Star gazing    
Midnight swim    
Drinking    
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. ITALIAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Italian". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MIDNIGHT SNACKS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best midnight snacks at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Pizza
  • Toast
  • Peanuts
  • Fried chicken
  • Muesli
  • Bananas
  • Brownie
  • Curry

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. introduce a. People who are having a good time at a party or celebration.
      2. sale b. Bring something into use or operation for the first time.
      3. residents c. People who live in a place.
      4. revellers d. The fun things people do in the evening or at night, like going to parties or concerts.
      5. downtown e. When something starts to be used or followed.
      6. nightlife f. The exchange of thngs for money.
      7. come into effect g. The central part of a city where there are many buildings and shops.

    Paragraph 2

      8. mayor h. Buying and selling things in stores.
      9. seek i. To find the answer to a problem and fix it.
      10. tranquillity j. To walk in a relaxed way, often without a particular destination.
      11. retail k. When everything is calm, peaceful and quiet.
      12. association l. A group of people who work or do things together because they have similar interests.
      13. stroll m. The leader of a city or town.
      14. solve n. To look for something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Nobody can buy takeaway food in the Italian city of Milan.     T / F
  2. The article says there are many noisy groups of people in uptown Milan.  T / F
  3. The takeaway ban starts later at the weekends.     T / F
  4. The takeaway ban is for about six months of the year.     T / F
  5. The ban should be a balance between people having fun and sleeping.    T / F
  6. A retail spokesperson said the ban would definitely stop the noise.     T / F
  7. The spokesman said all 25-year-olds will go home after midnight.     T / F
  8. The spokesman said tourists might want to eat ice cream.     T / F

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

  1. introduce
  2. residents
  3. officials
  4. districts
  5. last
  6. important
  7. seek
  8. oppose
  9. stroll
  10. simply
  1. be against
  2. start
  3. essential
  4. just
  5. representatives
  6. continue
  7. walk
  8. locals
  9. look for
  10. areas

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

  1. people have complained
  2. large and noisy groups of
  3. drink in 12
  4. at weekends and
  5. It would come into effect
  6. The goal is to seek a
  7. the peace and tranquillity of
  8. taking a stroll won't solve a
  9. go home at the stroke
  10. tourists who want
  1. districts of the city
  2. to eat ice cream
  3. residents
  4. late-night revellers
  5. thing
  6. on public holidays
  7. of midnight
  8. from mid-May
  9. to the local government
  10. balance

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
able
until
reason
noisy
wild
introduce
districts
residents

The Italian city of Milan wants to (1) _____________________ a law to ban the sale of takeaway food after midnight. The (2) ____________________ for this is to help local (3) ___________________ sleep. Many people have complained to the local government about the noise on the streets at night. There are often large and (4) _____________________ groups of late-night revellers in downtown Milan. Local officials have decided to ban all takeaway food and drink in 12 (5) _____________________ of the city. Some of these areas are well known for their "(6) _____________________" nightlife. The takeaway ban means people would not be (7) _____________________ to buy pizza or ice cream after 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and after 1:30 a.m. at weekends and on public holidays. It would come into effect from mid-May and last (8) _____________________ November.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
oppose
drinking
tourists
important
stroke
ban
peace
solve

Milan's deputy mayor explained why the ban was (9) _____________________. He said: "The goal is to seek a balance between socialising and entertainment, and the (10) _____________________ and tranquillity of residents." However, there are also many people who (11) _____________________ the ban. A spokesperson for an Italian retail association said the (12) _____________________ on post-midnight food and drink would not stop the noise. He said: "A rule banning people from (13) _____________________ a bottle of water or eating an ice cream or pizza while taking a stroll…won't (14) _____________________ a thing, as people will still stay outside." He asked: "Do you think a 25-year-old is going to go home at the (15) _____________________ of midnight simply because they can't get a takeout?" He added: "What about (16) _____________________ who want to eat ice cream?"

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The reason for this is to help ______
     a.  local residence sleep
     b.  local presidents sleep
     c.  local residues sleep
     d.  local residents sleep
2)  people have complained to the local government about the noise on the ______
     a.  streets sat night
     b.  streets at night
     c.  streets at nightly
     d.  street sat night
3)  Local officials have decided to ban all takeaway food and drink ______
     a.  in 12 distinct
     b.  in 12 detracts
     c.  in 12 districts
     d.  in 12 destructs
4)  after 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and after 1:30 a.m. at weekends and ______
     a.  in publicly holidays
     b.  on private holidays
     c.  in public holidays
     d.  on public holidays
5)  It would come into effect from mid-May and ______
     a.  last until November
     b.  until last November
     c.  lots until November
     d.  lasting until November

6)  Milan's deputy mayor explained why the ______
     a.  ban was important
     b.  ban was importance
     c.  ban was importantly
     d.  ban was import tent
7)  seek a balance between socialising and entertainment, and the peace and ______
     a.  tranquillity off residents
     b.  tranquillity of residents
     c.  tranquillity oft residents
     d.  tranquillity over residents
8)  Italian retail association said the ban on post-midnight food and drink would not ______
     a.  atop the noise
     b.  stop the noise
     c.  strop the noise
     d.  slop the noise
9)  eating an ice cream or pizza while taking a stroll…won't ______
     a.  solve a things
     b.  absolve a thing
     c.  sieve a thing
     d.  solve a thing
10)  a 25-year-old is going to go home at the ______
     a.  strobe of midnight
     b.  stride of midnight
     c.  spoke of midnight
     d.  stroke of midnight

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Italian city of Milan wants (1) ____________________ law to ban the sale of takeaway food after midnight. The reason (2) ____________________ to help local residents sleep. Many people have complained to the local government about the noise on the (3) ____________________. There are often large and noisy groups of late-night revellers in downtown Milan. Local officials (4) ____________________ ban all takeaway food and drink in 12 districts of the city. Some of these areas are well known for (5) ____________________. The takeaway ban means people would not be able to buy pizza or ice cream after 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and after 1:30 a.m. at weekends and on public holidays. It would (6) ____________________ from mid-May and last until November.

Milan's deputy mayor (7) ____________________ ban was important. He said: "The goal is to seek a balance between socialising and entertainment, and the (8) ____________________ of residents." However, there are also many people (9) ____________________ ban. A spokesperson for an Italian retail association said the ban on post-midnight food and drink would not stop the noise. He said: "A rule banning people from drinking a (10) ____________________ or eating an ice cream or pizza while taking a stroll…won't (11) ____________________, as people will still stay outside." He asked: "Do you think a 25-year-old is going to go home at the (12) ____________________ simply because they can't get a takeout?" He added: "What about tourists who want to eat ice cream?"

Comprehension questions

  1. Who in Milan wants to sleep?
  2. Where in Milan are there late-night revellers?
  3. What kind of nightlife are some areas of Milan known for?
  4. From when does the ban start on Saturdays?
  5. When will the ban start?
  6. Who explained the importance of the ban?
  7. What goal does the ban seek to achieve?
  8. What did a retail association spokesperson say the ban would solve?
  9. When did the spokesperson say a 25-year-old would not go home?
  10. Who did the spokesperson say might want to eat ice cream?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who in Milan wants to sleep?
a) everyone
b) local residents
c) takeaway restaurant owners
d) revellers
2) Where in Milan are there late-night revellers?
a) in the suburbs
b) on the outskirts
c) uptown
d) downtown
3) What kind of nightlife are some areas of Milan known for?
a) wild nightlife
b) cool nightlife
c) quiet nightlife
d) boring nightlife
4) From when does the ban start on Saturdays?
a) 11:30 p.m.
b) 12:30 a.m.
c) 1:30 a.m.
d) 2:30 a.m.
5) When will the ban start?
a) the end of May
b) mid-May
c) the beginning of May
d) May the 11th

6) Who explained the importance of the ban?
a) Milan's deputy mayor
b) a late-night reveller
c) an ice cream seller
d) a pizza chef
7) What goal does the ban seek to achieve?
a) healthier people
b) no takeaways at all
c) a balance
d) totally quiet streets
8) What did a retail association spokesperson say the ban would solve?
a) not a single thing
b) noise pollution
c) everything
d) maths problems
9) When did the spokesperson say a 25-year-old would not go home?
a) at the stroke of midnight
b) at the weekends
c) Monday mornings
d) in the afternoon
10) Who did the spokesperson say might want to eat ice cream?
a) late-night revellers
b) children
c) pizza chefs
d) tourists

Role play

Role  A – Pizza
You think pizza is the best midnight snack. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their snacks. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): fried chicken, a banana or curry.
Role  B – Fried Chicken
You think fried chicken is the best midnight snack. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their snacks. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): pizza, a banana or curry.
Role  C – A Banana
You think a banana is the best midnight snack. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their snacks. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): fried chicken, pizza or curry.
Role  D – Curry
You think curry is the best midnight snack. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their snacks. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): fried chicken, a banana or pizza.

After reading / listening

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

'ban'

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

    • and 'takeaway'.

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

    • • 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:

    • introduce
    • complained
    • large
    • areas
    • weekdays
    • effect
    • important
    • peace
    • oppose
    • stop
    • home
    • simply

    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 - Takeaway Food

    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 'Italy'?
    3. What do you think of takeaway food?
    4. What do you think of the takeaway ban?
    5. What do you think of eating after midnight?
    6. Are there any food laws in your town?
    7. How noisy is it where you live?
    8. What do you think of late-night revellers?
    9. What kind of nightlife do you like?
    10. Should there be a ban on alcohol at certain 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 'takeaway food'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should there be a balance between entertainment and tranquillity?
    5. Do you think the ban would stop the noise?
    6. How might the ban damage businesses in Milan?
    7. Do you think young people will go home at midnight?
    8. How unfair might the ban be to tourists in Milan?
    9. What takeaway food do you like most?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Milan's restaurant owners?

    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 Italian city of Milan wants to introduce a law to ban the (1) ____ of takeaway food after midnight. The reason for this is to help local residents sleep. Many people have complained to the local government about the noise on the streets (2) ____ night. There are often large and (3) ____ groups of late-night revellers in downtown Milan. Local officials have decided to ban (4) ____ takeaway food and drink in 12 districts of the city. Some of these areas are well known for their "wild" nightlife. The takeaway ban means people would not be (5) ____ to buy pizza or ice cream after 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and after 1:30 a.m. at weekends and on public holidays. It would come into (6) ____ from mid-May and last until November.

    Milan's deputy mayor explained (7) ____ the ban was important. He said: "The goal is to seek a balance (8) ____ socialising and entertainment, and the peace and tranquillity of residents." However, there are also many people who (9) ____ the ban. A spokesperson for an Italian retail association said the ban on post-midnight food and drink would not stop the noise. He said: "A rule banning people from drinking a bottle of water or eating an ice cream or pizza while taking a (10) ____ …won't solve a thing, as people will still stay outside." He asked: "Do you think a 25-year-old is going to go home at the (11) ____ of midnight simply because they can't get a takeout?" He added: "What about (12) ____ who want to eat ice cream?"

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     sell     (b)     sale     (c)     sail     (d)     sells    
    2. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     on    
    3. (a)     nosy     (b)     noisy     (c)     noise     (d)     noiseless    
    4. (a)     whole     (b)     all     (c)     entire     (d)     each    
    5. (a)     abled     (b)     ability     (c)     capable     (d)     able    
    6. (a)     infect     (b)     reflect     (c)     effect     (d)     confect    
    7. (a)     why     (b)     which     (c)     whomsoever     (d)     what    
    8. (a)     thus     (b)     among     (c)     between     (d)     middle    
    9. (a)     opposer     (b)     opposing     (c)     opposite     (d)     oppose    
    10. (a)     stroll     (b)     troll     (c)     trolley     (d)     droll    
    11. (a)     stroke     (b)     rub     (c)     caress     (d)     hold    
    12. (a)     tourists     (b)     touristy     (c)     tours     (d)     tourism

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. itcondure a law
    2. help local reitensds sleep
    3. Many people have ipoealdmcn
    4. the local vrmentogne
    5. Local sfaioiclf
    6. known for their "wild" fhiietlgn

    Paragraph 2

    1. Milan's deputy mayor dpixnlaee why
    2. The goal is to seek a aalebnc
    3. peace and lilryuantitq
    4. an Italian retail snoscaiatio
    5. go home at the krtsoe of midnight
    6. otruisst who want to eat ice cream

    Put the text back together

    (...)  they can't get a takeout?" He added: "What about tourists who want to eat ice cream?"
    (...)  people who oppose the ban. A spokesperson for an Italian retail association said the ban on post-midnight food
    (...)  able to buy pizza or ice cream after 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and after 1:30 a.m. at weekends
    (...)  of water or eating an ice cream or pizza while taking a stroll…won't solve a thing, as people will still stay
    (...)  outside." He asked: "Do you think a 25-year-old is going to go home at the stroke of midnight simply because
    (  1  )   The Italian city of Milan wants to introduce a law to ban the sale of takeaway food after midnight. The reason
    (...)  and drink would not stop the noise. He said: "A rule banning people from drinking a bottle
    (...)  on the streets at night. There are often large and noisy groups of late-night revellers in downtown Milan. Local
    (...)  areas are well known for their "wild" nightlife. The takeaway ban means people would not be
    (...)  for this is to help local residents sleep. Many people have complained to the local government about the noise
    (...)  officials have decided to ban all takeaway food and drink in 12 districts of the city. Some of these
    (...)  Milan's deputy mayor explained why the ban was important. He said: "The goal is to seek a
    (...)  and on public holidays. It would come into effect from mid-May and last until November.
    (...)  balance between socialising and entertainment, and the peace and tranquillity of residents." However, there are also many

    Put the words in the right order

    1. wants   Italian   to   The   a   law   .   introduce   city
    2. reason   The   this   for   residents   .   to   is   help
    3. people   the   local   have   complained   government   .   to   Many
    4. of   areas   known   .   are   Some   well   these
    5. would   into   It   mid-May   .   from   effect   come
    6. to   goal   a   The   seek   is   balance   .
    7. oppose   who   many   the   There   are   ban   .   people
    8. an   spokesperson   retail   A   for   association   .   Italian
    9. while   stroll   .   Eating   ice   taking   cream   an   a
    10. stroke   midnight   .   Go   at   home   of   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The Italian city off / of Milan wants to introduce a law to ban the sells / sale of takeaway food after midnight. The reasons / reason for this is to help local residents sleep. Many people have complained to / on the local government about the noise on the streets in / at night. There are often large and noisy groups of late-night revellers in downtown Milan. Local officials have decided to ban whole / all takeaway food and drink in 12 districts of the city. Some of them / these areas are well known for their "wild" nightlife. The takeaway ban means people would not be able / ability to buy pizza or ice cream after 12:30 a.m. on weekdays and after 1:30 a.m. at weekends and on / in public holidays. It would come into affect / effect from mid-May and last until November.

    Milan's deputy mayor explained what / why the ban was important. He said: "The goal is to seek / peek a balance between socialising and entertainment, and the peace / piece and tranquillity of residents." However, there are additional / also many people who oppose / opposite the ban. A spokesperson for an Italian retail association said the ban on post-midnight food and drink would not stop the noisy / noise. He said: "A rule banning people from drinking a bottle of water or eating an ice cream or pizza while taking a troll / stroll…won't solve a thing, was / as people will still stay outside." He asked: "Do you think a 25-year-old is going to go home at the stroke of midnight simply because / however they can't get a takeout?" He added: "What about tourism / tourists who want to eat ice cream?"

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  _t_l__n  c_ty  _f  M_l_n  w_nts  t_  _ntr_duc_  _  l_w  t_  b_n  th_  s_l_  _f  t_k__w_y  f__d  _ft_r  m_dn_ght.  Th_  r__s_n  f_r  th_s  _s  t_  h_lp  l_c_l  r_s_d_nts  sl__p.  M_ny  p__pl_  h_v_  c_mpl__n_d  t_  th_  l_c_l  g_v_rnm_nt  _b_ut  th_  n__s_  _n  th_  str__ts  _t  n_ght.  Th_r_  _r_  _ft_n  l_rg_  _nd  n__sy  gr_ups  _f  l_t_-n_ght  r_v_ll_rs  _n  d_wnt_wn  M_l_n.  L_c_l  _ff_c__ls  h_v_  d_c_d_d  t_  b_n  _ll  t_k__w_y  f__d  _nd  dr_nk  _n  12  d_str_cts  _f  th_  c_ty.  S_m_  _f  th_s_  _r__s  _r_  w_ll  kn_wn  f_r  th__r  "w_ld"  n_ghtl_f_.  Th_  t_k__w_y  b_n  m__ns  p__pl_  w_uld  n_t  b_  _bl_  t_  buy  p_zz_  _r  _c_  cr__m  _ft_r  12:30  _.m.  _n  w__kd_ys  _nd  _ft_r  1:30  _.m.  _t  w__k_nds  _nd  _n  publ_c  h_l_d_ys.  _t  w_uld  c_m_  _nt_  _ff_ct  fr_m  m_d-M_y  _nd  l_st  unt_l  N_v_mb_r.

    M_l_n's  d_puty  m_y_r  _xpl__n_d  why  th_  b_n  w_s  _mp_rt_nt.  H_  s__d:  "Th_  g__l  _s  t_  s__k  _  b_l_nc_  b_tw__n  s_c__l_s_ng  _nd  _nt_rt__nm_nt,  _nd  th_  p__c_  _nd  tr_nqu_ll_ty  _f  r_s_d_nts."  H_w_v_r,  th_r_  _r_  _ls_  m_ny  p__pl_  wh_  _pp_s_  th_  b_n.  _  sp_k_sp_rs_n  f_r  _n  _t_l__n  r_t__l  _ss_c__t__n  s__d  th_  b_n  _n  p_st-m_dn_ght  f__d  _nd  dr_nk  w_uld  n_t  st_p  th_  n__s_.  H_  s__d:  "_  rul_  b_nn_ng  p__pl_  fr_m  dr_nk_ng  _  b_ttl_  _f  w_t_r  _r  __t_ng  _n  _c_  cr__m  _r  p_zz_  wh_l_  t_k_ng  _  str_ll…w_n't  s_lv_  _  th_ng,  _s  p__pl_  w_ll  st_ll  st_y  _uts_d_."  H_  _sk_d:  "D_  y_u  th_nk  _  25-y__r-_ld  _s  g__ng  t_  g_  h_m_  _t  th_  str_k_  _f  m_dn_ght  s_mply  b_c_us_  th_y  c_n't  g_t  _  t_k__ut?"  H_  _dd_d:  "Wh_t  _b_ut  t_ur_sts  wh_  w_nt  t_  __t  _c_  cr__m?"

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the italian city of milan wants to introduce a law to ban the sale of takeaway food after midnight the reason for this is to help local residents sleep many people have complained to the local government about the noise on the streets at night there are often large and noisy groups of latenight revellers in downtown milan local officials have decided to ban all takeaway food and drink in 12 districts of the city some of these areas are well known for their wild nightlife the takeaway ban means people would not be able to buy pizza or ice cream after 1230 am on weekdays and after 130 am at weekends and on public holidays it would come into effect from midmay and last until november

    milans deputy mayor explained why the ban was important he said the goal is to seek a balance between socialising and entertainment and the peace and tranquillity of residents however there are also many people who oppose the ban a spokesperson for an italian retail association said the ban on postmidnight food and drink would not stop the noise he said a rule banning people from drinking a bottle of water or eating an ice cream or pizza while taking a strollwont solve a thing as people will still stay outside he asked do you think a 25yearold is going to go home at the stroke of midnight simply because they cant get a takeout he added what about tourists who want to eat ice cream

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheItaliancityofMilanwantstointroducealawtobanthesaleoftakeawa
    yfoodaftermidnight.Thereasonforthisistohelplocalresidentssleep.M
    anypeoplehavecomplainedtothelocalgovernmentaboutthenoiseont
    hestreetsatnight.Thereareoftenlargeandnoisygroupsoflate-nightre
    vellersindowntownMilan.Localofficialshavedecidedtobanalltakeawa
    yfoodanddrinkin12districtsofthecity.Someoftheseareasarewellkno
    wnfortheir"wild"nightlife.Thetakeawaybanmeanspeoplewouldnotb
    eabletobuypizzaoricecreamafter12:30a.m.onweekdaysandafter1:3
    0a.m.atweekendsandonpublicholidays.Itwouldcomeintoeffectfrom
    mid-MayandlastuntilNovember.Milan'sdeputymayorexplainedwhyt
    hebanwasimportant.Hesaid:"Thegoalistoseekabalancebetweensoci
    alisingandentertainment,andthepeaceandtranquillityofresidents."H
    owever,therearealsomanypeoplewhoopposetheban.Aspokesperson
    foranItalianretailassociationsaidthebanonpost-midnightfoodanddri
    nkwouldnotstopthenoise.Hesaid:"Arulebanningpeoplefromdrinking
    abottleofwateroreatinganicecreamorpizzawhiletakingastroll…won't
    solveathing,aspeoplewillstillstayoutside."Heasked:"Doyouthinka25
    -year-oldisgoingtogohomeatthestrokeofmidnightsimplybecauseth
    eycan'tgetatakeout?"Headded:"Whatabouttouristswhowanttoeatic
    ecream?"

    Free writing

    Write about takeaway food ban for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    It is a great idea to ban takeaway food. 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. TAKEAWAY FOOD: Make a poster about takeaway food. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BAN: Write a magazine article about banning takeaway food. 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 takeaway food. Ask him/her three questions about takeaway food. 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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