Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Bamboo and Pandas

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Bamboo shortage a risk to pandas (13th November, 2012)

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20 ONLINE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES

DICTATION

* 26-page lesson
* 2-page MINI lesson

LISTEN

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

READING

The study predicts that nearly all the bamboo in China's Qinling Mountains could disappear by the end of this century because of global warming. That means pandas would have nothing to eat. The study said: "Results suggest that almost the entire panda habitat in the [Qinling] region may disappear by the end of the 21st century." The researchers said the only chance of survival the panda has is if they move higher up the mountains. Scientist Jianguo Liu warned that we must start helping pandas now, saying: "It is tough, but I think there's still hope, if we take action now." Panda lovers are shocked at this latest bad news. Panda expert Chang Leng said it was time for the world to wake up and help the panda.

Sources:
AFP - http://www.afp.com/en/node/668958
LiveScience - http://www.livescience.com/24697-giant-panda-climate-change-bamboo-impact.html

WARM-UPS

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1. PANDAS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about pandas. Change partners often. Share your findings with your first partner.

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

giant panda / endangered list / decades / forests / big threat / survival / bamboo / predicts / global warming / habitat / 21st century / mountains / tough / bad news / help

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

3. HELP THE PANDA: How? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

	What to do to help	How to start	Chances of success
Letters
Internet
Friends
Bamboo
Zoos
China

4. SURVIVE: Students A strongly believe the giant panda will survive in the wild; Students B strongly believe it has no chance. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. BAD NEWS: What global warming news is worst? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

pandas have no bamboo
Arctic ice melting
more hurricanes
malaria to spread

air-conditioning ban
droughts and desertification
increase in health problems
loss of biodiversity

6. GLOBAL WARMING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the term 'global warming'. 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 giant panda will soon be put on the endangered list.	T / F
b.	The article gives seven reasons for the fall in panda numbers.	T / F
c.	Bamboo is disappearing because of a bug that is eating it.	T / F
d.	Around 99% of a panda's diet is bamboo.	T / F
e.	A report said the bamboo in a Chinese mountain range may disappear.	T / F
f.	The report says the bamboo could disappear in the next two decades.	T / F
g.	Pandas may survive if there is bamboo higher up the mountains.	T / F
h.	A panda expert said the world should wake up and help the panda.	T / F

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

1.	endangered	a.	danger
2.	several	b.	difficult
3.	gone	c.	a number of
4.	threat	d.	food
5.	diet	e.	threatened
6.	predicts	f.	likelihood
7.	entire	g.	specialist
8.	chance	h.	whole
9.	tough	i.	disappeared
10.	expert	j.	forecasts

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

1.	The giant panda is already on	a.	because of global warming
2.	The number of pandas in the world has	b.	38 kg of bamboo
3.	The panda is now facing another big	c.	lovers
4.	Bamboo is pretty much the only	d.	the world to wake up
5.	An adult panda needs around	e.	been falling for decades.
6.	disappear by the end of this century	f.	end of the 21st century
7.	disappear by the	g.	the panda has
8.	the only chance of survival	h.	food the panda eats
9.	Panda	i.	the endangered list
10.	Chang Leng said it was time for	j.	threat to its survival

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

The giant panda is already on the endangered (1) ____________. The number of pandas in the world has been falling for (2) ____________. There are several reasons for this. One is that many of the panda's forests have gone. They have been cut (3) ____________ to make towns and cities. Another is the fact that the animal (4) ____________ very slowly and has few cubs (baby pandas). The panda is now facing another big threat to its (5) ____________ – a shortage of food. A new report shows that bamboo, the panda's main food, is disappearing because of (6) ____________ change. Bamboo is (7) ____________ much the only food the panda eats. Ninety-nine per cent of its diet is bamboo. An (8) ____________ panda needs around 38 kilograms of bamboo every day.

climate
adult
decades
breeds
list
pretty
down
survival

The study predicts that (9) ____________ all the bamboo in China's Qinling Mountains could disappear by the (10) ____________ of this century because of global warming. That means pandas would have nothing to eat. The study said: "Results suggest that almost the (11) ____________ panda habitat in the [Qinling] region may disappear by the end of the 21st century." The researchers said the only (12) ____________ of survival the panda has is if they move (13) ____________ up the mountains. Scientist Jianguo Liu warned that we must start helping pandas now, saying: "It is (14) ____________, but I think there's still hope, if we take action now." Panda lovers are (15) ____________ at this latest bad news. Panda expert Chang Leng said it was time for the world to (16) ____________ up and help the panda.

chance
shocked
end
wake
nearly
higher
entire
tough

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The giant panda is already on the
	a. dentures list. b. dangerous list. c. indigenous list. d. endangered list.
2)	They have been cut down to
	a. make towns and cities. b. make bamboo toys and gifts. c. make chopsticks. d. make room for humans.
3)	The panda is now ______ to its survival
	a. forcing a national big tread b. facing other big threads c. forcing a further treat d. facing another big threat
4)	Bamboo is ______ food the panda eats
	a. pretty much the only b. much only the pretty c. only the pretty much d. the only much pretty
5)	An adult panda ______ kilograms of bamboo every day.
	a. needs around 308 b. eats around 308 c. needs around 38 d. eats around 38
6)	disappear _______ this century
	a. by theme of b. be an end of c. be all and end all d. by the end on
7)	the only chance of survival the panda ______ move higher up the mountains
	a. had is if they b. haze is in there c. have is if there d. has is if they
8)	It is tough, but I think …
	a. there are still hopes b. there's still hope c. the hopes are still d. the hope is still
9)	_______ are shocked at this latest bad news.
	a. Panda lovers b. Lovely pandas c. Loving pandas d. Panda lovelies
10)	… time for the world to ______ and help the panda.
	a. weigh cup b. wake up c. go to bed d. take a nap

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The giant panda is already (1) ________________________ list. The number of pandas in the world has been (2) ________________________. There are several reasons for this. One is that many of the panda's forests have gone. They have been cut down to make towns and cities. Another is the fact that the animal (3) ________________________ and has few cubs (baby pandas). The panda is now facing another big (4) ________________ – a shortage of food. A new report shows that bamboo, the panda's main food, is disappearing (5) ________________________. Bamboo is pretty much the only food the panda eats. Ninety-nine per cent of its diet is bamboo. An adult panda (6) ________________________ of bamboo every day.

The study (7) ________________________ the bamboo in China's Qinling Mountains could disappear (8) ________________________ century because of global warming. That means pandas would have nothing to eat. The study said: "Results suggest (9) ________________________ panda habitat in the [Qinling] region may disappear by the end of the 21st century." The researchers said (10) ________________________ survival the panda has is if they move higher up the mountains. Scientist Jianguo Liu warned that (11) ________________________ pandas now, saying: "It is tough, but I think there's still hope, if we take action now." Panda lovers are shocked at this latest bad news. Panda expert Chang Leng said it was time for the (12) ________________________ and help the panda.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What kind of list is the panda on?
2.	Why have the panda's forests disappeared?
3.	What does the article say about the panda's breeding habits?
4.	What does the figure of 99 mean?
5.	What kind of panda eats around 38 kg of bamboo a day?
6.	When might the Qinling Mountains bamboo disappear?
7.	What did the study say the panda must do to survive?
8.	What did Jianguo Liu say must start now?
9.	Who did this latest news shock?
10.	What did Chang Leng say it was time for the world to do?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is on the endangered list?	6.	How much of the Qinling Mountains bamboo could disappear?
	a) A gentle panda. b) The giant panda. c) The gentle panda. d) A giant panda.		a) Between 60% to 80% of it. b) Around two-thirds of it. c) Nearly all of it. d) Half of it.
2.	How many reasons does the article give for falling panda numbers?	7.	Why is the bamboo now disappearing?
	a) Severe. b) Seventeen. c) Seven. d) Several.		a) Floods and forest fires. b) Too many hungry pandas. c) A bamboo-eating bug. d) Global warming.
3.	What are baby pandas called?	8.	How many chances do researchers say the pandas have?
	a) Cubs. b) Calves. c) Cuties. d) Chicks.		a) One. b) Plenty. c) Enough. d) Several.
4.	What is the panda now facing?	9.	What has shocked panda lovers?
	a) A short, sharp shock. b) A shotgun and floods. c) A shortage of food. d) A short age to live.		a) The latest bad news. b) The late, late news. c) The latest sad news. d) The last piece of shocking news.
5.	How much of what a panda eats is bamboo?	10.	What must wake up to help the panda?
	a) 98% b) 99% c) 99.8% d) 99.9%		a) Hunters. b) The world. c) Scientists. d) Baby pandas.

ROLE PLAY

Role A – A giant panda

Your ancestors have lived in the mountains for tens of thousands of years. It is your home. You hate humans. Think of three reasons why. You want them to knock down their cities. Tell them to stop making pollution that warms the Earth. If the pandas die, humans will also die.

Role B – A zoo keeper

You want to take more pandas from the mountains and put them in zoos. Pandas will survive forever in zoos. People also want to see cute baby pandas. Looking at baby pandas is a great education for children. You will get a lot of money for every panda that is in your zoo.

Role C – A scientist

You have just finished research that is bad news for pandas. All the bamboo will disappear in 20 years. People want more cities in the mountains. Global warming means more insects will move north and eat all the bamboo. The only chance pandas have is if humans all live next to the sea. You hate zoos.

Role D – A bamboo farmer

You can grow enough bamboo for pandas to eat 50 kg a day. You cannot take the bamboo to the mountains, but you can take it to the zoos in the city. You also want to sell pandas as pets. You make lots of money and pandas have a nice life in people's gardens eating bamboo all day.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

giant

panda

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:

already
several
down
another
main
diet

global
entire
chance
hope
shocked
wake

PANDAS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about pandas 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.

PANDAS 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 'panda'?
c)	What do you think of pandas?
d)	How can we protect pandas and their food and habitat?
e)	Do you think we will stop cutting down the forests where pandas live?
f)	If you were a panda, what would you say to humans?
g)	Have you ever seen a panda? Tell me about it.
h)	What would it be like to eat just one thing all day, every day?
i)	How can we slow down climate change?
j)	What do you know about pandas?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Why do people like pandas so much?
c)	Do you think we can save the bamboo in the Qinling Mountains?
d)	How sad would you be if all the pandas disappeared?
e)	Why isn't this story big news on the television, Internet, radio, etc.?
f)	We must start taking action now, but what can we do to help pandas?
g)	Are you a panda lover? Why (not)?
h)	Will the world wake up? Why (not)?
i)	What questions would you like to ask a panda?
j)	What do you think his/her answer might be?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

The giant panda is already on the (1) ____ list. The number of pandas in the world has been falling for decades. There are (2) ____ reasons for this. One is that many of the panda's forests have gone. They have been cut down to make towns and cities. Another is the fact that the animal (3) ____ very slowly and has few cubs (baby pandas). The panda is now facing another big (4) ____ to its survival – a shortage of food. A new report shows that bamboo, the panda's (5) ____ food, is disappearing because of climate change. Bamboo is pretty much the only food the panda eats. Ninety-nine per cent of its (6) ____ is bamboo. An adult panda needs around 38 kilograms of bamboo every day.

The study predicts that nearly all the bamboo in China's Qinling Mountains could disappear (7) ____ the end of this century because of global warming. That means pandas would have (8) ____ to eat. The study said: "Results suggest that almost the entire panda habitat in the [Qinling] region may disappear by the end of the 21st (9) ____." The researchers said the only (10) ____ of survival the panda has is if they move higher up the mountains. Scientist Jianguo Liu warned that we must start helping pandas now, saying: "It is tough, but I think there's still hope, if we (12) ____ action now." Panda (11) ____ are shocked at this latest bad news. Panda expert Chang Leng said it was time for the world to wake up and help the panda.

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

1.	(a)	endangered	(b)	dangers	(c)	endangers	(d)	dangerously
2.	(a)	number	(b)	much	(c)	several	(d)	variety
3.	(a)	bleed	(b)	braids	(c)	breeds	(d)	plaids
4.	(a)	treat	(b)	threaten	(c)	treatment	(d)	threat
5.	(a)	gain	(b)	pain	(c)	main	(d)	vain
6.	(a)	weight	(b)	diet	(c)	eating	(d)	snacks
7.	(a)	on	(b)	by	(c)	as	(d)	of
8.	(a)	no	(b)	nothing	(c)	not	(d)	none
9.	(a)	decade	(b)	millennium	(c)	century	(d)	year
10.	(a)	threat	(b)	risk	(c)	chance	(d)	strength
11.	(a)	lover	(b)	loving	(c)	loves	(d)	lovers
12.	(a)	be	(b)	meet	(c)	let	(d)	take

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	The giant panda is already on the edaedgernn list
2.	falling for cesaded
3.	the panda's rtosefs have gone
4.	facing another big rahtet to its survival
5.	disappearing because of eaitmlc change
6.	An tauld panda
Paragraph 2
7.	… because of global awmirgn
8.	the entire panda hittaab
9.	disappear by the end of the 21st utnceyr
10.	move higher up the oaiutnnms
11.	there's still hope, if we take ntoaci now
12.	Panda lovers are ocheksd at this latest bad news

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( 1 )	The giant panda is already on the endangered list. The number of pandas in the world has been
( )	of climate change. Bamboo is pretty much the only food the panda eats. Ninety-nine per cent
( )	of its diet is bamboo. An adult panda needs around 38 kilograms of bamboo every day.
( )	tough, but I think there's still hope, if we take action now." Panda lovers are shocked at this latest bad
( )	of food. A new report shows that bamboo, the panda's main food, is disappearing because
( )	21st century." The researchers said the only chance of survival the panda has is if they move higher
( )	gone. They have been cut down to make towns and cities. Another is the fact that the animal breeds very
( )	up the mountains. Scientist Jianguo Liu warned that we must start helping pandas now, saying: "It is
( )	eat. The study said: "Results suggest that almost the entire panda habitat in the [Qinling] region may disappear by the end of the
( )	century because of global warming. That means pandas would have nothing to
( )	falling for decades. There are several reasons for this. One is that many of the panda's forests have
( )	The study predicts that nearly all the bamboo in China's Qinling Mountains could disappear by the end of this
( )	slowly and has few cubs (baby pandas). The panda is now facing another big threat to its survival – a shortage
( )	news. Panda expert Chang Leng said it was time for the world to wake up and help the panda.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	endangered The is the panda on list giant already.
2.	animal slowly few The very has breeds and cubs.
3.	facing The another panda big is threat now.
4.	the panda eats Bamboo is pretty much the only food.
5.	panda 38 bamboo adult around of An needs kilograms.
6.	the disappear end this . by Could century of
7.	have That nothing means to pandas eat would.
8.	start now warned must pandas Liu we helping that.
9.	shocked latest are this news lovers at bad Panda.
10.	the help and up wake to world the for Time panda.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The giant panda is ready / already on the endangered list. The number of pandas in the world has been falling / failing for decades. There are several reasons for this. One is this / that many of the panda's forests have gone. They have been cut down / up to make towns and cities. Another is the fact that the animal breeds very slowly and has few puppies / cubs (baby pandas). The panda is now facing another big threat / treat to its survival – a shortage / short of food. A new report shows that bamboo, the panda's main / pain food, is disappearing because of climate change. Bamboo is pretty many / much the only food the panda eats. Ninety-nine per cent of its diet is bamboo. An adult panda needs round / around 38 kilograms of bamboo every day.

The study predicts that nearly all / every the bamboo in China's Qinling Mountains could disappear by / on the end of this century because of global warming. That means pandas would / should have nothing to eat. The study said: "Results suggest that almost the entirely / entire panda habitat in the [Qinling] region may disappear by the end of the 21st / 20th century." The researchers said the only / lonely chance of survival the panda has is if they move higher down / up the mountains. Scientist Jianguo Liu warned that we must start helping pandas now / one day, saying: "It is tough, but I think there's still hope, if we take / give action now." Panda lovers are shocked at this latest bad news. Panda expert Chang Leng said it was time for the world to wake up / nap and help the panda.

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)

Th_ g__nt p_nd_ _s _lr__dy _n th_ _nd_ng_r_d l_st. Th_ n_mb_r _f p_nd_s _n th_ w_rld h_s b__n f_ll_ng f_r d_c_d_s. Th_r_ _r_ s_v_r_l r__s_ns f_r th_s. _n_ _s th_t m_ny _f th_ p_nd_'s f_r_sts h_v_ g_n_. Th_y h_v_ b__n c_t d_wn t_ m_k_ t_wns _nd c_t__s. _n_th_r _s th_ f_ct th_t th_ _n_m_l br__ds v_ry sl_wly _nd h_s f_w c_bs (b_by p_nd_s). Th_ p_nd_ _s n_w f_c_ng _n_th_r b_g thr__t t_ _ts s_rv_v_l – _ sh_rt_g_ _f f__d. _ n_w r_p_rt sh_ws th_t b_mb__, th_ p_nd_'s m__n f__d, _s d_s_pp__r_ng b_c__s_ _f cl_m_t_ ch_ng_. B_mb__ _s pr_tty m_ch th_ _nly f__d th_ p_nd_ __ts. N_n_ty-n_n_ p_r c_nt _f _ts d__t _s b_mb__. _n _d_lt p_nd_ n__ds _r__nd 38 k_l_gr_ms _f b_mb__ _v_ry d_y.

Th_ st_dy pr_d_cts th_t n__rly _ll th_ b_mb__ _n Ch_n_'s Q_nl_ng M__nt__ns c__ld d_s_pp__r by th_ _nd _f th_s c_nt_ry b_c__s_ _f gl_b_l w_rm_ng. Th_t m__ns p_nd_s w__ld h_v_ n_th_ng t_ __t. Th_ st_dy s__d: "R_s_lts s_gg_st th_t _lm_st th_ _nt_r_ p_nd_ h_b_t_t _n th_ [Q_nl_ng] r_g__n m_y d_s_pp__r by th_ _nd _f th_ 21st c_nt_ry." Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d th_ _nly ch_nc_ _f s_rv_v_l th_ p_nd_ h_s _s _f th_y m_v_ h_gh_r _p th_ m__nt__ns. Sc__nt_st J__ng__ L__ w_rn_d th_t w_ m_st st_rt h_lp_ng p_nd_s n_w, s_y_ng: "_t _s t__gh, b_t _ th_nk th_r_'s st_ll h_p_, _f w_ t_k_ _ct__n n_w." P_nd_ l_v_rs _r_ sh_ck_d _t th_s l_t_st b_d n_ws. P_nd_ _xp_rt Ch_ng L_ng s__d _t w_s t_m_ f_r th_ w_rld t_ w_k_ _p _nd h_lp th_ p_nd_.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the giant panda is already on the endangered list the number of pandas in the world has been falling for decades there are several reasons for this one is that many of the panda's forests have gone they have been cut down to make towns and cities another is the fact that the animal breeds very slowly and has few cubs (baby pandas) the panda is now facing another big threat to its survival – a shortage of food a new report shows that bamboo the panda's main food is disappearing because of climate change bamboo is pretty much the only food the panda eats ninety-nine per cent of its diet is bamboo an adult panda needs around 38 kilograms of bamboo every day

the study predicts that nearly all the bamboo in china's qinling mountains could disappear by the end of this century because of global warming that means pandas would have nothing to eat the study said "results suggest that almost the entire panda habitat in the [qinling] region may disappear by the end of the 21st century" the researchers said the only chance of survival the panda has is if they move higher up the mountains scientist jianguo liu warned that we must start helping pandas now saying "it is tough but i think there's still hope if we take action now" panda lovers are shocked at this latest bad news panda expert chang leng said it was time for the world to wake up and help the panda

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thegiantpandaisalreadyontheendangeredlist.Thenumberofpandasintheworldhas
beenfallingfordecades.Thereareseveralreasonsforthis.Oneisthatmanyofthepand
a'sforestshavegone.Theyhavebeencutdowntomaketownsandcities.Anotheristhe
factthattheanimalbreedsveryslowlyandhasfewcubs(babypandas).Thepandais
nowfacinganotherbigthreattoitssurvival–ashortageoffood.Anewreportshowsthat
bamboo,thepanda'smainfood,isdisappearingbecauseofclimatechange.Bamboois
prettymuchtheonlyfoodthepandaeats.Ninetyninepercentofitsdietisbamboo.An
adultpandaneedsaround38kilogramsofbambooeveryday.Thestudypredictsthat
nearlyallthebambooinChina'sQinlingMountainscoulddisappearbytheendofthis
centurybecauseofglobalwarming.Thatmeanspandaswouldhavenothingtoeat.The
studysaid:"Resultssuggestthatalmosttheentirepandahabitatinthe[Qinling]region
maydisappearbytheendofthe21stcentury."Theresearcherssaidtheonlychance
ofsurvivalthepandahasisiftheymovehigherupthemountains.ScientistJianguoLiu
warnedthatwemuststarthelpingpandasnow,saying:"Itistough,butIthinkthere's
stillhope,ifwetakeactionnow."Pandaloversareshockedatthislatestbadnews.Panda
expertChangLengsaiditwastimefortheworldtowakeupandhelpthepanda.

FREE WRITING

Write about pandas for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

We must wake up and help the giant panda. Unfortunately, the world is too lazy, stupid and greedy. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 giant pandas. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PANDAS: Make a poster about pandas. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. QINLING: Write a magazine article about the pandas in the Qinling Mountains and the shortage of bamboo. Include imaginary interviews with some pandas.

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 a panda lover. Ask him/her three questions about pandas. Give him/her three ideas how to help the pandas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	endangered	a.	threatened
2.	several	b.	a number of
3.	gone	c.	disappeared
4.	threat	d.	danger
5.	diet	e.	food
6.	predicts	f.	forecasts
7.	entire	g.	whole
8.	chance	h.	likelihood
9.	tough	i.	difficult
10.	expert	j.	specialist

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The endangered list.
2.	To make cities and towns.
3.	It breeds very slowly.
4.	It's the percentage of bamboo in a panda's diet.
5.	An adult one.
6.	By the end of the (21st) century.
7.	Move higher up the mountains.
8.	We (people) must start helping pandas now.
9.	Panda lovers.
10.	Wake up and help the panda.

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

10.

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Breaking News English

Bamboo shortage a risk to pandas (13th November, 2012)

* 26-page lesson * 2-page MINI lesson

LISTEN

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Text Jumble

* Missing words

* No letters

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

* Initials only

* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

* No spaces

* Gap-fill

* 10 sentences

* Spelling