| U.S. gun association silent on Newtown massacre (17th December, 2012) |
America's National Rifle Association (NRA) is still staying silent on the mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, USA in which 27 people died, including 20 children aged six and seven. Two days after the massacre, the USA's powerful pro-gun organisation has yet to make any kind of statement on the tragedy that has shaken America. The mass murder of 20 innocent children by a gunman seems to have stunned the NRA into silence. The "Huffington Post" writes about the NRA's disappearance from social media sites since the tragedy, saying: "The NRA has disappeared from both Twitter and Facebook since the events that occurred on Friday."
The NRA announced on Facebook the day before the killings that it had accumulated 1.7 million fans. The organization's Facebook page has now completely vanished. Clicking on the link in a Google search sends you to your own timeline. Many Americans are now questioning more than ever whether owning a gun should be a right. Stories of multiple shootings are a regular part of American news, to the extent that many no longer get a headline. In other countries, such tragedies prompt national soul searching. President Obama has promised to take "meaningful action" on gun control, although he has yet to expand on what that means. Americans now expect a battle on the future of gun ownership and the right to bear arms.
Sources:
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-nras-facebook-page-disappeared-right-after-the-newtown-massacre-2012-12#ixzz2FDDFybL1
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/16/us/connecticut-school-shooting/
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/15/15926718-newtown-gunman-forced-his-way-into-school-police-say?lite
WARM-UPS
1. GUNS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about guns. Change partners often 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.
rifles / staying silent / mass shooting / tragedy / innocent children / social media sites / Facebook fans / vanished / the right to own a gun / soul searching / meaningful action
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GUN OWNERSHIP: Who should be allowed to have a gun? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.
Who?
Why (not)?
Safety precautions
Police officers
Farmers
Security guards
Bank staff
Anyone over 21
Soldiers
4. GUN CONTROL: Students A strongly believe no one should be allowed to have a gun in their house; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
MY e-BOOK
See a sample5. WEAPONS: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the worst at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.
- guns
- the Internet
- knives
- words
- tanks
- tear gas
- biological weapons
- fists
6. SHOOTING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'shooting'. 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.
A powerful gun organization has not commented on the shooting.
T / F
b.
The NRA has said it will not comment on the tragedy.
T / F
c.
The "Huffington Post" has been stunned into silence by the incident.
T / F
d.
The NRA has avoided Twitter and Facebook for two days.
T / F
e.
The NRA welcomed its 1.7 millionth fan the day before the shootings.
T / F
f.
Many shootings in the USA are no longer headline news.
T / F
g.
President Obama has promised strict new gun controls.
T / F
h.
Most Americans expect the issue of gun control to go away quietly.
T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1.
silent
a.
trigger
2.
massacre
b.
shocked
3.
shaken
c.
vanished
4.
stunned
d.
slaughter
5.
disappeared
e.
carry
6.
announced
f.
rocked
7.
accumulated
g.
recurrent
8.
regular
h.
tight-lipped
9.
prompt
i.
collected
10.
bear
j.
declared
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1.
staying silent
a.
soul searching
2.
has yet to make
b.
from social media sites
3.
the tragedy that has
c.
1.7 million fans
4.
stunned the
d.
any kind of statement
5.
the NRA's disappearance
e.
on what that means
6.
it had accumulated
f.
completely vanished
7.
The organization's Facebook page has now
g.
on the mass shooting
8.
owning a gun
h.
NRA into silence
9.
such tragedies prompt national
i.
shaken America
10.
he has yet to expand
j.
should be a right
WHILE READING / LISTENING
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
America's National Rifle Association (NRA) is still staying (1) ____________ on the (2) ____________ shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, USA in which 27 people died, including 20 children aged six and seven. Two days after the (3) ____________, the USA's powerful pro-gun organisation has yet to make (4) ____________ kind of statement on the tragedy that has shaken America. The mass murder of 20 (5) ____________ children by a gunman seems to have (6) ____________ the NRA into silence. The "Huffington Post" writes about the NRA's disappearance from social media sites since the tragedy, saying: "The NRA has (7) ____________ from both Twitter and Facebook since the events that (8) ____________ on Friday."
any
stunned
mass
occurred
silent
innocent
massacre
disappeared
The NRA (9) ____________ on Facebook the day before the killings that it had accumulated 1.7 million fans. The organization's Facebook page has now completely (10) ____________. Clicking on the link in a Google search sends you to your own timeline. Many Americans are now (11) ____________ more than ever whether owning a gun should be a right. Stories of (12) ____________ shootings are a regular part of American news, to the (13) ____________ that many no longer get a headline. In other countries, such tragedies (14) ____________ national soul searching. President Obama has promised to take "meaningful action" on gun control, although he has yet to (15) ____________ on what that means. Americans now expect a battle on the future of gun ownership and the right to (16) ____________ arms.
questioning
bear
announced
multiple
prompt
vanished
expand
extent
LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.
1)
America's National Rifle Association (NRA) ______ the mass shooting
a. is staying on silent still
b. is still staying silent on
c. is still stay in sigh lent on
d. is staying silent still on2)
the USA's powerful pro-gun organisation ______ of statement on the tragedy
a. has any yet to make kind
b. has to yet make any kind
c. has yet to make kind any
d. has yet to make any kind3)
The mass murder of 20 innocent children by a gunman ______ NRA into silence.
a. seems stunned to have the
b. seems to have stunned the
c. seen stew have stunned the
d. seems too have stunned a4)
the NRA's disappearance from social media ______
a. sits sins the tragedy
b. sights sins the tragedy
c. since sites the tragedy
d. sites since the tragedy5)
The NRA has disappeared from both Twitter and Facebook ______ Friday.
a. since the events that occurred on
b. since the events then occurred on
c. since the events what occurred on
d. since some events that occurred on6)
The NRA announced on Facebook the day before the killings ______ 1.7 million fans
a. that it had accumulated
b. at it had vacuumed late
c. that had it accumulated
d. that it accumulated had7)
Clicking on the link in a Google ______ own timeline.
a. search ends you too to your
b. search sends yours to you
c. search sends you to your
d. search sends you two to your8)
questioning ______ owning a gun should be a right.
a. more than ever whether
b. more than never whether
c. more now than whether
d. more than even weather9)
In other countries, ______ soul searching.
a. such tragedies promote national
b. such tragedy as this prompts national
c. such tragedies prompt national
d. such tragedy is prompting national10)
a battle on the future of gun ownership and ______
a. the right to forearms
b. the right two bare arms
c. the right to bear arms
d. the righteous bear armsLISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
America's National Rifle Association (NRA) is (1) _____________________ the mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, USA in which 27 people died, including 20 children aged six and seven. Two days after the massacre, the (2) _____________________ organisation has yet to make any kind of statement on the (3) _____________________ America. The mass murder of 20 innocent children by a gunman (4) _________________ the NRA into silence. The "Huffington Post" writes about the NRA's (5) _____________________ media sites since the tragedy, saying: "The NRA has disappeared from both Twitter and Facebook since the events (6) _____________________."
The NRA announced on Facebook the day before the killings that it had (7) _____________________ fans. The organization's Facebook page has (8) _____________________. Clicking on the link in a Google search sends you to your own timeline. Many Americans are now questioning more than ever (9) _____________________ should be a right. Stories of multiple shootings are a regular part of American news, (10) ___________________ no longer get a headline. In other countries, (11) _____________________ national soul searching. President Obama has promised to take "meaningful action" on gun control, although (12) _____________________ what that means. Americans now expect a battle on the future of gun ownership and the right to bear arms.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1.
What does the abbreviation NRA stand for?
2.
How many people died in the tragedy?
3.
What has the NRA not done since the tragedy?
4.
What has the shooting stunned the NRA into?
5.
What has the NRA disappeared from since the tragedy?
6.
How many Facebook fans did the NRA reach on Friday?
7.
What happens if you click on a Google search of the NRA's Facebook page?
8.
What do gun shootings prompt in other countries?
9.
What has President Obama promised?
10.
What are Americans expecting a battle on the future of?
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
1.
What does NRA mean?
6.
How many Facebook fans did the NRA have the day before the shooting?
a) No Rifles Anonymous
b) Non-Rifling Action
c) National Rifle Association
d) New Rifle Act
a) less than its target
b) 1.7 million
c) a record number
d) not enough2.
What is the NRA staying silent on?
7.
Where does clicking a Google link for the NRA's Facebook page take you?
a) the mass shooting
b) gun control
c) its members
d) churches
a) to the NRA Facebook page
b) back to the Google search page
c) to a "page not found" page
d) to your own timeline3.
What has the NRA not made on the tragedy?
8.
What are multiple shootings a regular part of?
a) a press release
b) a statement
c) an apology
d) a speech
a) cartoons
b) American news
c) life in America's mid-west states
d) Barack Obama's speeches4.
What has the tragedy stunned the NRA into?
9.
What do mass shootings prompt in other countries?
a) action
b) discussions on the need for gun
control
c) talks about disbanding
d) silence
a) higher gun ownership
b) national soul searching
c) tougher gun control laws
d) attacks on gun clubs5.
What news organisation wrote about the NRA disappearing from Facebook?
10.
What has President Obama promised to take?
a) CNN
b) The Washington Post
c) The Huffington Post
d) The Connecticut Times
a) meaningful action
b) guns away from society
c) the NRA to court
d) time to think
ROLE PLAY
Role A – Barack Obama
You think the time has come to take guns out of society. Tell the others three reasons why. You will not listen to politicians who say, "people kill people; guns don't kill people". Banning guns is now your biggest aim as President. You think gun crime embarrasses the USA around the world.
Role B – NRA chairman
You are tired of the same arguments every time there's a tragedy. Tell the others three reasons why. The problem is society. More money should be spent on mental health issues to stop people going on mass shootings. People in America need guns to protect themselves.
Role C – Anti-gun Jo Public
You want all guns removed from American society. Tell the others three reasons why. You don't understand why in America gun ownership is a right but free healthcare is not. You think Obama is weak and cannot get anything done on gun control. The NRA chairman is crazy.
Role D – Pro-gun Jo Public
You need your gun. Tell the others three reasons why. Guns are a part of America's tradition. Guns keep society feeling safe. No one will try to burgle your house because people know you have five guns. The police cannot be everywhere to protect you. Guns can.
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'gun' and 'control'.
gun
control
- 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:
- staying
- massacre
- statement
- stunned
- social
- events
- 1.7
- link
- questioning
- stories
- soul
- bear
GUN OWNERSHIP SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about gun ownership 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.
GUN OWNERSHIP 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 'gun'?
c)
Why do you think the NRA is staying silent?
d)
What do you think of gun laws in your country?
e)
Should guns laws be made tougher?
f)
What are the arguments put forward by those for owning guns?
g)
Do you think what happened in Newtown will lead to greater gun control in the USA?
h)
Many people in America still believe it is a right to own a gun, even after the Newtown massacre. Why do they believe this?
i)
Would you fee safer if you had a gun?
j)
What do you think of the phrase, "guns don't kill people; people kill people"?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a)
Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)
Why do Americans have such a strong liking for guns?
c)
What are the arguments put forward by those against gun ownership?
d)
Does gun ownership help keep a society safer?
e)
What do you think of the regularity of mass shootings in the USA?
f)
What "meaningful action" can President Obama take?
g)
Do you think the issue of gun control will now dominate U.S. politics?
h)
What do you think the NRA will eventually say about Newtown?
i)
Where do you think gun laws will be in the USA 50 years from now?
j)
What questions would you like to ask the head of the NRA?
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
America's National Rifle Association (NRA) is still (1) ____ silent on the mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, USA in which 27 people died, including 20 children aged six and seven. Two days after the (2) ____, the USA's powerful pro-gun organisation has yet to make any kind of statement on the tragedy that has (3) ____ America. The mass murder of 20 innocent children by a gunman seems to have stunned the NRA (4) ____ silence. The "Huffington Post" writes about the NRA's disappearance from social (5) ____ sites since the tragedy, saying: "The NRA has disappeared from both Twitter and Facebook since the events that (6) ____ on Friday."
The NRA announced on Facebook the day before the killings that it had (7) ____ 1.7 million fans. The organization's Facebook page has now completely (8) ____. Clicking on the link in a Google search sends you to your own timeline. Many Americans are now questioning more than ever (9) ____ owning a gun should be a right. Stories of multiple shootings are a regular part of American news, to the (10) ____ that many no longer get a headline. In other countries, such tragedies prompt national (11) ____ searching. President Obama has promised to take "meaningful action" on gun control, although he has yet to expand on what that means. Americans now expect a battle on the future of gun ownership and the right to (12) ____ arms.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1.
(a)
stays
(b)
staid
(c)
staying
(d)
stayed
2.
(a)
massacre
(b)
massacred
(c)
genocide
(d)
bloodletting
3.
(a)
shaken
(b)
trodden
(c)
rotten
(d)
embolden
4.
(a)
into
(b)
from
(c)
via
(d)
entered
5.
(a)
medium
(b)
media
(c)
median
(d)
mediate
6.
(a)
eventuate
(b)
dawned
(c)
befell
(d)
occurred
7.
(a)
heaped up
(b)
stashed
(c)
accumulated
(d)
assembled
8.
(a)
varnished
(b)
vanquished
(c)
vandalised
(d)
vanished
9.
(a)
whether
(b)
when
(c)
whence
(d)
whenever
10.
(a)
extent
(b)
extend
(c)
extensive
(d)
extenuate
11.
(a)
seal
(b)
soul
(c)
sell
(d)
sole
12.
(a)
dog
(b)
wild
(c)
bear
(d)
tame
SPELLING
Paragraph 1
1.
ryetamelen school
2.
days after the mrsaasec
3.
the tedygra that has shaken America
4.
20 ionetcnn children
5.
the NRA's iansapedacpre
6.
the events that ruercdco on Friday
Paragraph 2
7.
it had alctdeumcau 1.7 million fans
8.
oyelmleptc vanished
9.
reehthw owning a gun should be a right
10.
national soul aesghricn
11.
nuamilefgn action
12.
the right to brea arms
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
make any kind of statement on the tragedy that has shaken America. The mass murder of 20 innocent
( )
sends you to your own timeline. Many Americans are now questioning more than ever whether owning
( )
longer get a headline. In other countries, such tragedies prompt national soul searching. President Obama has
( )
aged six and seven. Two days after the massacre, the USA's powerful pro-gun organisation has yet to
( )
children by a gunman seems to have stunned the NRA into silence. The "Huffington Post" writes
( )
promised to take "meaningful action" on gun control, although he has yet to expand
( )
on what that means. Americans now expect a battle on the future of gun ownership and the right to bear arms.
( )
fans. The organization's Facebook page has now completely vanished. Clicking on the link in a Google search
( )
The NRA announced on Facebook the day before the killings that it had accumulated 1.7 million
( 1 )
America's National Rifle Association (NRA) is still staying silent on the mass shooting at
( )
an elementary school in Connecticut, USA in which 27 people died, including 20 children
( )
a gun should be a right. Stories of multiple shootings are a regular part of American news, to the extent that many no
( )
about the NRA's disappearance from social media sites since the tragedy, saying: "The NRA has disappeared
( )
from both Twitter and Facebook since the events that occurred on Friday."
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
1.
an elementary school Staying silent on the mass shooting at.
2.
20 including , died people 27 seven and six aged children.
3.
A the has on that America statement tragedy shaken.
4.
20 innocent children by a gunman The mass murder of.
5.
NRA's The sites media social from disappearance.
6.
vanished completely has page Facebook organization's The.
7.
The own you Google link timeline to search in your sends a.
8.
regular American Multiple a of are part news shootings.
9.
tragedies national searching Such prompt soul.
10.
the gun Expect on of battle future ownership a.
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
America's National Rifle Association (NRA) is still staying / stayed silent on the mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, USA in which 27 people died, including 20 children aged six and seven. Two days after the massacre / massacred, the USA's powerful pre-gun / pro-gun organisation has yet / so far to make any kind of statement on the tragedy that has shaken / rotten America. The mass murder of 20 innocent / innocence children by a gunman seems to have stamped / stunned the NRA into silence. The "Huffington Post" writes about the NRA's disappearance from social medium / media sites since the tragedy / tragic, saying: "The NRA has disappeared from both Twitter and Facebook since the events that occurred / occurrence on Friday."
The NRA announced on Facebook the day before the killings that it had accumulated / accumulates 1.7 million fans. The organization's Facebook page has now completely / completion vanished. Clicking on the link in a Google search sends / invites you to your own timeline. Many Americans are now questioning more than never / ever whether owning a gun should be a right / wrong. Stories of multiple shootings are a regular / regularly part of American news, to the extent / extend that many no longer get a headline. In other countries, such tragedies prompt / promotion national soul searching. President Obama has promised to take "meaningful action" on gun control, although he has yet to expand / expend on what that means. Americans now expect a battle on the future of gun ownership and the right to bear / bare arms.
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)
_m_r_c_'s N_t__n_l R_fl_ _ss_c__t__n (NR_) _s st_ll st_y_ng s_l_nt _n th_ m_ss sh__t_ng _t _n _l_m_nt_ry sch__l _n C_nn_ct_c_t, _S_ _n wh_ch 27 p__pl_ d__d, _ncl_d_ng 20 ch_ldr_n _g_d s_x _nd s_v_n. Tw_ d_ys _ft_r th_ m_ss_cr_, th_ _S_'s p_w_rf_l pr_-g_n _rg_n_s_t__n h_s y_t t_ m_k_ _ny k_nd _f st_t_m_nt _n th_ tr_g_dy th_t h_s sh_k_n _m_r_c_. Th_ m_ss m_rd_r _f 20 _nn_c_nt ch_ldr_n by _ g_nm_n s__ms t_ h_v_ st_nn_d th_ NR_ _nt_ s_l_nc_. Th_ "H_ff_ngt_n P_st" wr_t_s _b__t th_ NR_'s d_s_pp__r_nc_ fr_m s_c__l m_d__ s_t_s s_nc_ th_ tr_g_dy, s_y_ng: "Th_ NR_ h_s d_s_pp__r_d fr_m b_th Tw_tt_r _nd F_c_b__k s_nc_ th_ _v_nts th_t _cc_rr_d _n Fr_d_y."
Th_ NR_ _nn__nc_d _n F_c_b__k th_ d_y b_f_r_ th_ k_ll_ngs th_t _t h_d _cc_m_l_t_d 1.7 m_ll__n f_ns. Th_ _rg_n_z_t__n's F_c_b__k p_g_ h_s n_w c_mpl_t_ly v_n_sh_d. Cl_ck_ng _n th_ l_nk _n _ G__gl_ s__rch s_nds y__ t_ y__r _wn t_m_l_n_. M_ny _m_r_c_ns _r_ n_w q__st__n_ng m_r_ th_n _v_r wh_th_r _wn_ng _ g_n sh__ld b_ _ r_ght. St_r__s _f m_lt_pl_ sh__t_ngs _r_ _ r_g_l_r p_rt _f _m_r_c_n n_ws, t_ th_ _xt_nt th_t m_ny n_ l_ng_r g_t _ h__dl_n_. _n _th_r c__ntr__s, s_ch tr_g_d__s pr_mpt n_t__n_l s__l s__rch_ng. Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_ h_s pr_m_s_d t_ t_k_ "m__n_ngf_l _ct__n" _n g_n c_ntr_l, _lth__gh h_ h_s y_t t_ _xp_nd _n wh_t th_t m__ns. _m_r_c_ns n_w _xp_ct _ b_ttl_ _n th_ f_t_r_ _f g_n _wn_rsh_p _nd th_ r_ght t_ b__r _rms.
PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
america's national rifle association (nra) is still staying silent on the mass shooting at an elementary school in connecticut usa in which 27 people died including 20 children aged six and seven two days after the massacre the usa's powerful pro-gun organisation has yet to make any kind of statement on the tragedy that has shaken america the mass murder of 20 innocent children by a gunman seems to have stunned the nra into silence the "huffington post" writes about the nra's disappearance from social media sites since the tragedy saying "the nra has disappeared from both twitter and facebook since the events that occurred on friday"
the nra announced on facebook the day before the killings that it had accumulated 17 million fans the organization's facebook page has now completely vanished clicking on the link in a google search sends you to your own timeline many americans are now questioning more than ever whether owning a gun should be a right stories of multiple shootings are a regular part of american news to the extent that many no longer get a headline in other countries such tragedies prompt national soul searching president obama has promised to take "meaningful action" on gun control although he has yet to expand on what that means americans now expect a battle on the future of gun ownership and the right to bear arms
PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
America'sNationalRifleAssociation(NRA)isstillstayingsilentonthemassshootingat
anelementaryschoolinConnecticut,USAinwhich27peopledied,including20children
agedsixandseven.Twodaysafterthemassacre,theUSA'spowerfulpro-gun
organisationhasyettomakeanykindofstatementonthetragedythathasshaken
America.Themassmurderof20innocentchildrenbyagunmanseemstohavestunned
theNRAintosilence.The"HuffingtonPost"writesabouttheNRA'sdisappearancefrom
socialmediasitessincethetragedy,saying:"TheNRAhasdisappearedfromboth
TwitterandFacebooksincetheeventsthatoccurredonFriday."TheNRAannounced
onFacebookthedaybeforethekillingsthatithadaccumulated1.7millionfans.The
organization'sFacebookpagehasnowcompletelyvanished.Clickingonthelinkina
Googlesearchsendsyoutoyourowntimeline.ManyAmericansarenowquestioning
morethaneverwhetherowningagunshouldbearight.Storiesofmultipleshootings
arearegularpartofAmericannews,totheextentthatmanynolongergetaheadline.
Inothercountries,suchtragediespromptnationalsoulsearching.PresidentObama
haspromisedtotake"meaningfulaction"onguncontrol,althoughhehasyetto
expandonwhatthatmeans.Americansnowexpectabattleonthefutureofgun
ownershipandtherighttobeararms.FREE WRITING
Write about gun ownership for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
Guns are responsible for hundreds of murders. Gun ownership should be a criminal offence. 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 gun ownership around the world. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. GUN CRIME: Make a poster about gun crime. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. NRA: Write a magazine article about the NRA's silence over the Newtown massacre. Include imaginary interviews with an NRA leader and someone opposed to gun ownership.
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 the head of the NRA. Ask him three questions about gun ownership. Give him three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE (p.4)
a
T
b
F
c
F
d
T
e
T
f
T
g
F
h
F
SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)
1.
silent
a.
tight-lipped
2.
massacre
b.
slaughter
3.
shaken
c.
rocked
4.
stunned
d.
shocked
5.
disappeared
e.
vanished
6.
announced
f.
declared
7.
accumulated
g.
collected
8.
regular
h.
recurrent
9.
prompt
i.
trigger
10.
bear
j.
carry
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)
1.
National Rifle Association
2.
27
3.
Made any kind of statement on it
4.
Silence
5.
Social Media sites
6.
1.7 million
7.
You get to your own timeline
8.
National soul searching
9.
Meaningful action
10.
Gun ownership and the right to bear arms
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)
1.
c
2.
a
3.
b
4.
d
5.
c
6.
b
7.
d
8.
b
9.
b
10.
a
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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