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World Cup Insured for $9 Billion (7th June, 2010)


 

The BBC reports the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been insured for more than $9 billion. Anyone with a stake in the event has taken out insurance. This includes FIFA (the governing body that runs world football), national teams, television companies covering the tournament and advertisers. The insurance cover includes delays to games and injuries to players. An insurance spokeswoman said: "If the opening ceremony is delayed, that will affect the broadcasters, because they've got their advertising slots in place.” She also said the final was insured: “If the final has to be delayed, for whatever reason, people might want money back for their tickets." Players are insured for up to $40 million each if they get injured, depending on how big a star they are.

FIFA decided not to insure the cancellation of the World Cup. Officials said they chose not to cover this risk because “even if the event is delayed for any reason, it is extremely unlikely that it would be called off”. South Africa has been working hard to ensure the event takes place safely. There have been several terrorism threats so the government has beefed up its security. South Africa’s Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa said the country is prepared and “will take no chances” with security. “The police force is ready…Police will be everywhere, ready for anything. This is the epitome of our security plan; we will cover every corner because we do not have any no-go areas,” he said. He will use 41,000 police officers, 100 BMW patrol cars, 10 water cannons and surveillance equipment.


 
 

WARM-UPS

1. THE WORLD CUP: Walk around the class and talk to other students about the World Cup. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

reports / insurance / TV companies / injuries / delays / opening ceremonies / tickets / officials / risk / terrorism / taking chances / security / BMW patrol cars / surveillance

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. INSURANCE: How much insurance would you need to insure these things? Complete this table. Share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change and share again.

Thing

Insured value

Why?

Your teeth

 

 

Your favourite thing

 

 

Your English

 

 

Your singing ability

 

 

Your photos / music

 

 

Your weekends

 

 

4. FOOTBALL: Students A strongly believe football is the greatest sport in the world; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. VALUABLE: Which of these are worth most at the 2010 World Cup? Rank them and share your rankings with your partner. Change partners and share your rankings again.

  • The players
  • The stadia
  • The referees
  • The trophy
  • The fans
  • The security officials
  • The mascot
  • The goals

6. RISK: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘risk’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.


 
 

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.

The World Cup trophy has been insured for almost $9 billion.

T / F

b.

Television companies have taken out insurance for the World Cup.

T / F

c.

The timing of the opening ceremony and final is insured.

T / F

d.

Players are insured up to a maximum of $4 million each.

T / F

e.

The World Cup is not insured for the event being cancelled.

T / F

f.

South African police are still waiting for their first terrorist threat.

T / F

g.

South African police are getting extra beef to make them stronger.

T / F

h.

The police will use 100 BMW patrol cars during the World Cup.

T / F

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

1.

stake

a.

very

2

governing

b.

interruptions

3.

runs

c.

out of bounds

4.

delays

d.

ruling

5.

reason

e.

abandonment

6.

cancellation

f.

monitoring

7.

extremely

g.

interest

8.

beefed up

h.

cause

9.

no-go

i.

strengthened

10.

surveillance

j.

manages

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

1.

insured for

a.

a star they are

2

Anyone with a

b.

every corner

3.

the governing body that

c.

is delayed

4.

If the opening ceremony

d.

stake in the event

5.

depending on how big

e.

be called off

6.

insure the cancellation

f.

equipment

7.

it is extremely unlikely that it would

g.

more than $9 billion

8.

the government has beefed

h.

of the World Cup

9.

we will cover

i.

runs world football

10.

surveillance

j.

up its security

 

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

The BBC reports the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been ____________ for more than $9 billion. Anyone with a stake in the ____________ has taken out insurance. This includes FIFA (the governing body that runs world football), national teams, television companies ____________ the tournament and advertisers. The insurance cover includes delays to games and ____________ to players. An insurance spokeswoman said: "If the opening ____________ is delayed, that will affect the broadcasters, because they've got their advertising ____________ in place.” She also said the final was insured: “If the final has to be delayed, for whatever ____________, people might want money back for their tickets." Players are insured for up to $40 million each if they get injured, ____________ on how big a star they are.

 

 

 

injuries
insured
slots
covering
depending
event
reason
ceremony

FIFA decided not to insure the ____________ of the World Cup. Officials said they chose not to ____________ this risk because “even if the event is delayed for any reason, it is extremely ____________ that it would be called off”. South Africa has been working hard to ensure the event takes place safely. There have been ____________ terrorism threats so the government has ____________ up its security. South Africa’s Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa said the country is prepared and “will take no chances” with security. “The police force is ____________ …Police will be everywhere, ready for anything. This is the epitome of our security plan; we will cover every ____________ because we do not have any ____________ areas,” he said. He will use 41,000 police officers, 100 BMW patrol cars, 10 water cannons and surveillance equipment.

 

 

unlikely
ready
cover
no-go
cancellation
corner
several
beefed

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The BBC reports the 2010 FIFA World Cup has ____________________ more than $9 billion. Anyone with a ____________________ has taken out insurance. This includes FIFA (the governing body that runs world football), national teams, television companies covering the tournament and advertisers. The insurance cover includes ____________________ and injuries to players. An insurance spokeswoman said: "If the opening ceremony is delayed, ____________________ broadcasters, because they've got their advertising slots in place.” She also said the final was insured: “If the final ____________________, for whatever reason, people might want money back for their tickets." Players are insured for up to $40 million each if they get injured, depending on ____________________ are.

FIFA decided ____________________ cancellation of the World Cup. Officials said they chose not to cover this risk because “even if the event is delayed for any reason, it is ____________________ that it would be called off”. South Africa has been working hard to ____________________ takes place safely. There have been several terrorism threats so the government ____________________ security. South Africa’s Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa said the country is prepared and “will take no chances” with security. “The police force is ready…Police will be everywhere, ready for anything. This ____________________ security plan; we will cover every corner because we do not have any no-go areas,” he said. He will use 41,000 police officers, 100 BMW patrol cars, 10 water cannons and ____________________.


 
 

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

insurance

cover

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • stake
  • runs
  • delays
  • affect
  • reason
  • big
  • chose
  • extremely
  • ensure
  • beefed
  • ready
  • areas

STUDENT THE 2010 WORLD CUP SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the 2010 World Cup 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.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

THE 2010 WORLD CUP DISCUSSION

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

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘insurance’?

c)

Do you think the insurance figure of $9 billion is too high?

d)

What kind of insurance do you have?

e)

Do you think insurance is worth the money?

f)

What could go wrong at the World Cup to make insurance companies pay out?

g)

How do you think insurance companies work out how much to charge for players’ injuries?

h)

What do you think of the insurance industry?

i)

Do you think a soccer star is worth $40 million?

j)

What do you think it’d be like to be at the final?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)

Did you like reading this article?

b)

Why do you think there is no insurance for the cancellation of the World Cup?

c)

Do you think South Africa has got everything right for the World Cup?

d)

How likely do you think it is there’ll be a terrorist attack?

e)

What do you think will be the biggest problem for South Africa’s police?

f)

Will the World Cup be good for South Africans?

g)

How will a World Cup in Africa be different?

h)

Why is football the most popular sport in the world?

i)

Who do you think will win? Who do you want to win?

j)

What questions would you like to ask a player playing at the Finals?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

The BBC reports the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been insured for more than $9 billion. Anyone with a (1) ____ in the event has taken (2) ____ insurance. This includes FIFA (the governing body that (3) ____ world football), national teams, television companies covering the tournament and advertisers. The insurance cover includes delays to games and injuries to players. An insurance spokeswoman said: "If the opening ceremony is delayed, that will affect the broadcasters, because they've got their advertising (4) ____ in place.” She also said the final was insured: “If the final has to be delayed, for (5) ____ reason, people might want money back for their tickets." Players are insured for up to $40 million each if they get injured, depending on (6) ____ big a star they are.

FIFA decided not to insure the cancellation of the World Cup. Officials said they chose not to (7) ____ this risk because “even if the event is delayed for any reason, it is extremely unlikely that it would be called (8) ____”. South Africa has been working hard to ensure the event takes place safely. There have been several terrorism threats so the government has (9) ____ up its security. South Africa’s Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa said the country is prepared and “will take no chances” (10) ____ security. “The police force is ready…Police will be everywhere, ready for anything. This is the epitome of our security plan; we will cover every corner because we do not have any (11)____ -go areas,” he said. He will use 41,000 police officers, 100 BMW patrol cars, 10 water cannons and surveillance   (12) ____.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

steak

(b)

stalk

(c)

streak

(d)

stake

2.

(a)

out

(b)

in

(c)

over

(d)

up

3.

(a)

ruins

(b)

runs

(c)

rains

(d)

reigns

4.

(a)

slats

(b)

slits

(c)

salts

(d)

slots

5.

(a)

what

(b)

what for

(c)

whatever

(d)

whatsoever

6.

(a)

why

(b)

how

(c)

which

(d)

what

7.

(a)

close

(b)

wrap

(c)

coat

(d)

cover

8.

(a)

in

(b)

on

(c)

up

(d)

off

9.

(a)

chickened

(b)

beefed

(c)

fished

(d)

barbecued

10.

(a)

by

(b)

on

(c)

of

(d)

with

11.

(a)

not

(b)

none

(c)

no

(d)

non

12.

(a)

equipment

(b)

kit

(c)

thing

(d)

security

WRITING

Write about the 2010 World Cup for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the 2010 World Cup. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. THE 2010 WORLD CUP: Make a poster about the 2010 World Cup. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. CANCELLED: Write a magazine article about the World Cup being cancelled. Include imaginary interviews with the head of FIFA and angry fans.

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. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of FIFA. Ask him three questions about the 2010 World Cup. Give him three pieces of advice for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a.

F

b.

T

c.

T

d.

F

e.

T

f.

F

g.

F

h.

T

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.

stake

a.

interest

2

governing

b.

ruling

3.

runs

c.

manages

4.

delays

d.

interruptions

5.

reason

e.

cause

6.

cancellation

f.

abandonment

7.

extremely

g.

very

8.

beefed up

h.

strengthened

9.

no-go

i.

out of bounds

10.

surveillance

j.

monitoring

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

insured for

a.

more than $9 billion

2

Anyone with a

b.

stake in the event

3.

the governing body that

c.

runs world football

4.

If the opening ceremony

d.

is delayed

5.

depending on how big

e.

a star they are

6.

insure the cancellation

f.

of the World Cup

7.

it is extremely unlikely that it would

g.

be called off

8.

the government has beefed

h.

up its security

9.

we will cover

i.

every corner

10.

surveillance

j.

equipment

GAP FILL:

World Cup insured for $9 billion

The BBC reports the 2010 FIFA World Cup has been insured for more than $9 billion. Anyone with a stake in the event has taken out insurance. This includes FIFA (the governing body that runs world football), national teams, television companies covering the tournament and advertisers. The insurance cover includes delays to games and injuries to players. An insurance spokeswoman said: "If the opening ceremony is delayed, that will affect the broadcasters, because they've got their advertising slots in place.” She also said the final was insured: “If the final has to be delayed, for whatever reason, people might want money back for their tickets." Players are insured for up to $40 million each if they get injured, depending on how big a star they are.

FIFA decided not to insure the cancellation of the World Cup. Officials said they chose not to cover this risk because “even if the event is delayed for any reason, it is extremely unlikely that it would be called off”. South Africa has been working hard to ensure the event takes place safely. There have been several terrorism threats so the government has beefed up its security. South Africa’s Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa said the country is prepared and “will take no chances” with security. “The police force is ready…Police will be everywhere, ready for anything. This is the epitome of our security plan; we will cover every corner because we do not have any no-go areas,” he said. He will use 41,000 police officers, 100 BMW patrol cars, 10 water cannons and surveillance equipment.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - d

2 - a

3 - b

4 - c

5 - c

6 - b

7 - d

8 - a

9 - b

10 - d

11 - c

12 - a

 

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