Breaking News English

Will the world end on Friday? (19th December, 2012)

 

1. DOOMSDAY: Walk around the class and talk to other students about the end of the world. 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.

preparing / the past decade / the Mayan Apocalypse / calendar / doomsday / candles / Friday / tsunamis / asteroids / NASA / astronomers / English teachers / homework

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

3. APOCALYPSE: What would you do if the end of the world was near? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change and share again.

	I would….	because….
Family
Hobbies
Shopping
Facebook, etc.
House
Travel

4. ARMAGEDDON: Students A strongly believe it will never happen; Students B strongly believe it will.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

5. ASTEROIDS: An asteroid will damage the Earth next week. What are the best things to buy to prepare? Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

chocolate biscuits a shovel a kerosene heater a battery-powered radio

pre-paid telephone cards bottles of water a torch an iPad

6. CALENDAR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'calendar'. 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.	People have been getting ready for the end of the world.	T / F
b.	This latest apocalypse prediction is based on a Mayan calendar.	T / F
c.	China's government has 93 online writers on the apocalypse.	T / F
d.	A Russian leader advised people that candles would not be so useful.	T / F
e.	There are very few online stories of tsunamis or asteroids hitting us.	T / F
f.	A common story is the Earth will swallow a black hole in the galaxy.	T / F
g.	One apocalypse story about the world ending in 2003 did not happen.	T / F
h.	Teachers told students to not do homework in case the world ends.	T / F

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

1.	preparing	a.	kill
2.	decade	b.	popular
3.	predicts	c.	10 years
4.	spreading	d.	reason
5.	realise	e.	passing on
6.	common	f.	getting ready
7.	swallow	g.	in sight
8.	destroy	h.	forecasts
9.	visible	i.	eat
10.	excuse	j.	understand

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

1.	people have been preparing	a.	tsunamis and asteroids
2.	end in a day	b.	forward
3.	The Chinese government has recently	c.	candles won't help
4.	spreading	d.	to do homework
5.	once the end of the world comes,	e.	for months for the end
6.	stories about giant	f.	doomsday rumours
7.	the black hole at	g.	to the naked eye
8.	the doomsday date was moved	h.	or two
9.	it would be visible by now	i.	the centre of the galaxy
10.	an excuse not	j.	arrested 93 people

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

Many people have been (1) ____________ for months for the end of the world. There have been stories on the Internet for the     (2) ____________ decade that the world will end on December 21. This is the day of the "Mayan Apocalypse," when a Mayan calendar (3) ____________ the end of us all. However, many other people do not believe the world will end in a day or two. The Chinese government has (4) ____________ arrested 93 people for (5) ____________ doomsday rumours on the Internet. Meanwhile, in Russia, Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov (6) ____________ advised people not to buy Armageddon candles. He wrote on his website: "Does no one (7) ____________ that once the end of the world comes, (8) ____________ won't help them?"		realise predicts preparing spreading candles past sensibly recently
So what might (9) ____________ on Friday? The Internet is full of stories about giant tsunamis and asteroids that will (10) ____________ us. More common stories are that the black hole at the centre of the (11) ____________ will swallow the Earth, or that a planet called "Nibiru" will hit us. NASA says Nibiru was meant to (12) ____________ us in May 2003, but when nothing happened, "the doomsday date was moved (13) ____________ to December 2012". NASA adds: "If Nibiru was real…(14) ____________ would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be (15) ____________ by now to the naked eye." English teachers worldwide have told their students they cannot use the apocalypse as an (16) ____________ not to do homework.		forward finish destroy visible happen excuse galaxy astronomers

 
 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Many people have been preparing ______ the end of the world.
	a.  the fourth month b.  four months c.  for four months d.  for months for
2)	There have been stories on the Internet ______ that the world will end
	a.  for the post decade b.  for the past decade c.  four a past decade d.  for the last decade
3)	…a Mayan calendar predicts ______.
	a.  the end of overalls b.  the end of all of us c.  the end over us all d.  the end of us all
4)	However, many other people do not believe the world will ______.
	a.  ending a day or two b.  end dinner in a day or two c.  end in a day or two d.  end in a deity
5)	advised people not to buy ______
	a.  Armageddon corn dolls b.  Armageddon can dolls c.  Armageddon candles d.  Armageddon candies
6)	The Internet is full of stories about ______
	a.  giant tsunami and asteroid b.  giant asteroids and tsunamis c.  giant tsunamis and steroids d.  giant tsunamis and asteroids
7)	the black hole ______ the galaxy will swallow the Earth
	a.  at the centre of b.  in the middle of c.  at the century of d.  at the sender of
8)	the doomsday date ______ December 2012
	a.  was moved four would two b.  was moved for wood to c.  was moved forward to d.  was mooed forward to
9)	it would be visible by now ______
	a.  to the naked die b.  to the nude eye c.  to the naked eye d.  to the no kid eye
10)	use the apocalypse ______ homework
	a.  as an excuse not to do b.  as an excuse to not do c.  as annex cues not to do d.  as an exercise not to do

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Many people (1) ______________________ months for the end of the world. There have been stories on the Internet (2) ____________________ the world will end on December 21. This is the day of the "Mayan Apocalypse," when a Mayan calendar (3) ______________________ all. However, many other people do not believe the world will end in a day or two. The Chinese government (4) ______________________ 93 people for spreading doomsday rumours on the Internet. Meanwhile, in Russia, Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov (5) ______________________ not to buy Armageddon candles. He wrote on his website: "Does no one realise     (6) ______________________ world comes, candles won't help them?"

So what might happen on Friday? The Internet is full of stories about giant tsunamis and (7) ______________________ us. More common stories are that the black hole at the centre of the (8) ______________________ the Earth, or that a planet called "Nibiru" will hit us. NASA says Nibiru was        (9) ______________________ in May 2003, but when nothing happened, "the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012". NASA adds: "If Nibiru was real…astronomers would have (10) ______________________ at least the past decade, and it (11) ______________________ to the naked eye." English teachers worldwide have told their students they cannot use the apocalypse (12) ______________________ to do homework.

 
 

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How long have some people been preparing for the end of the world?
2.	For how long have stories the world will end on Friday been online?
3.	What thing was used to predict the end of the world?
4.	Why did China's government arrest people?
5.	What did Ramzan Kadyrov say about buying candles?
6.	What stories is the Internet full of?
7.	What might a black hole do to the Earth?
8.	When was the last apocalypse meant to have taken place?
9.	What is the name of the planet that is meant to destroy us?
10.	What warning have teachers given to students?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	For how long have people been preparing for the end of the world?	6.	What do stories say tsunamis and asteroids will do to us?
	a) months b) years c) decades d) days		a) make us go fishing b) make us better prepared c) frighten us d) finish us
2.	What predicts the end of us all?	7.	What is at the centre of the galaxy?
	a) a Mayan god b) the stars c) a calendar d) the Internet		a) a Mayan god b) a black hole c) nothing d) a peanut
3.	How many people were arrested in China?	8.	What organisation talks about a planet called Nibiru?
	a) 19 and 3 b) 93 c) 1993 d) 39		a) the UFO club b) WWW c) the United Nations d) NASA
4.	Who is Ramzan Kadyrov?	9.	What was the date of the last doomsday?
	a) owner of the world's biggest candle     factory b) a Mayan calendar maker c) the world's top astronomer d) the leader of Chechnya		a) there wasn't one b) Friday c) May 2003 d) May 2023
5.	What did Ramzan Kadyrov tell people would not help them?	10.	What should students not use the apocalypse as an excuse for?
	a) candles b) the police c) candies d) the Russian government		a) sleeping all Friday b) not doing homework c) not going to school d) throwing away school books

 
 

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Student A You did not do Friday's homework because you believed stories of the apocalypse your teacher told you. Now you are in trouble. It's not fair. Tell the others three reasons why. You are angry with your teacher for telling you about the apocalypse. You hate Student B – he/she thinks he/she is perfect.

Role  B – Teacher Student A did not do his homework… for the tenth time this month. He/She always uses any excuse he/she can think of. You mentioned the apocalypse in your class. The student was asleep (again) when you said the apocalypse would not happen. You want the student punished.

Role  C – Student A's Parent Your child is a perfect student. Tell the others three reasons why. If he/she is in trouble at school, it's the teacher's fault. The teacher gives too much homework. You think it is wrong for teachers to teach things like the apocalypse in class. Tell the others three reasons why.

Role  D – Student B You think your teacher is the best ever. His/Her classes are always fun and everyone learns a lot – except Student A. Tell the others three reasons why. Your teacher clearly explained the apocalypse could never happen. Student A was asleep – again. He's/She's a very bad student.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

end

world

• 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:

months calendar two 93 advised help

giant common destroy adds eye excuse

END OF THE WORLD SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the end of the world 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.

END OF THE WORLD 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 'apocalypse'?
c)	What do you think of "end of the world" stories?
d)	Do you like "end of the world" movies?
e)	What do you think of Nostradamus and other such prophecies?
f)	What did you hear about the world ending on Friday?
g)	What would you do if the world was going to end next week?
h)	Why do you think people believe these stories?
i)	How useful would candles be if the world was going to end?
j)	Are these stories bigger because of the Internet?

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What do you think about stories that asteroids will destroy the Earth?
c)	What do you know about black holes?
d)	What do you think of the story that the planet Nibiru will hit us?
e)	What other dates about the end of the world do you know about?
f)	How might the world end?
g)	Are you interested in astronomy?
h)	Is the apocalypse story a good excuse to not do homework?
i)	What's your best excuse to not do homework?
j)	What questions would you like to ask an "end of the world" expert?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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

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

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

Many people have been (1) ____ for months for the end of the world. There have been stories on the Internet for the (2) ____ decade that the world will end on December 21. This is the day of the "Mayan Apocalypse," when a Mayan calendar (3) ____ the end of us all. However, many other people do not believe the world will end in a day or (4) ____. The Chinese government has recently arrested 93 people for (5) ____ doomsday rumours on the Internet. Meanwhile, in Russia, Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov sensibly advised people not to buy Armageddon candles. He wrote on his website: "Does no one realise that once the end of the world comes, candles won't (6) ____ them?"

So what might happen on Friday? The Internet is (7) ____ of stories about giant tsunamis and asteroids that will finish us. More (8) ____ stories are that the black hole at the centre of the galaxy will (9) ____ the Earth, or that a planet called "Nibiru" will hit us. NASA says Nibiru was (10) ____ to destroy us in May 2003, but when nothing happened, "the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012". NASA adds: "If Nibiru was real…astronomers would have been tracking it for at (11) ____ the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye." English teachers worldwide have told their students they cannot use the apocalypse as an (12) ____ not to do homework.

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

1.	(a)	prepares	(b)	preparation	(c)	preparing	(d)	prepare
2.	(a)	past	(b)	post	(c)	pest	(d)	paste
3.	(a)	predicts	(b)	contracts	(c)	convicts	(d)	protects
4.	(a)	two	(b)	toe	(c)	to	(d)	too
5.	(a)	stretching	(b)	spreading	(c)	applying	(d)	unrolling
6.	(a)	helping	(b)	helpless	(c)	helpful	(d)	help
7.	(a)	fill	(b)	fall	(c)	full	(d)	fell
8.	(a)	commoner	(b)	commonly	(c)	commons	(d)	common
9.	(a)	swallow	(b)	accept	(c)	stand	(d)	drink
10.	(a)	means	(b)	meant	(c)	meaning	(d)	meanie
11.	(a)	last	(b)	least	(c)	lost	(d)	lest
12.	(a)	except	(b)	exclusice	(c)	excuse	(d)	exchange

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	people have been iagprpnre for months
2.	a Mayan enadlarc
3.	spreading doomsday ormuurs (UK)  /  mrurso (USA)
4.	Kadyrov sensibly evdaisd people
5.	Does no one irlazee (USA)  /  Does no one selirae (UK)
6.	lcendsa won't help them
Paragraph 2
7.	giant tsunamis and sdsoerait
8.	at the rtenec (UK) / ectner (USA) of the galaxy
9.	awslwol the Earth
10.	the doomsday date was moved frdoawr
11.	it would be sbeiliv
12.	an euexcs not to do homework

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )	Internet. Meanwhile, in Russia, Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov sensibly advised
(    )	on the Internet for the past decade that the world will end on December 21. This is the day of the "Mayan
(    )	happened, "the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012". NASA adds: "If Nibiru was
(    )	students they cannot use the apocalypse as an excuse not to do homework.
(    )	end in a day or two. The Chinese government has recently arrested 93 people for spreading doomsday rumours on the
(    )	people not to buy Armageddon candles. He wrote on his website: "Does no
(    )	So what might happen on Friday? The Internet is full of stories about giant tsunamis and
(  1  )	Many people have been preparing for months for the end of the world. There have been stories
(    )	real…astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be
(    )	Earth, or that a planet called "Nibiru" will hit us. NASA says Nibiru was meant to destroy us in May 2003, but when nothing
(    )	Apocalypse," when a Mayan calendar predicts the end of us all. However, many other people do not believe the world will
(    )	asteroids that will finish us. More common stories are that the black hole at the centre of the galaxy will swallow the
(    )	one realise that once the end of the world comes, candles won't help them?"
(    )	visible by now to the naked eye." English teachers worldwide have told their

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	for     the     the     Preparing     for     of     months     end     world.
2.	past     the     decade     Internet     for     Stories     the     on.
3.	believe    two    end   not  or  will  do  day  world   People   a     the   in.
4.	candles     Armageddon     buy     to     not     people     Advised.
5.	the    them   candles   world  end   won't  comes  of  Once   ,  help  the.
6.	is     stories     tsunamis     Internet     of     giant    The    full     about.
7.	at     of     hole     centre     galaxy     black     the     the     The.
8.	December   The    was   to   date   forward   2012   doomsday   moved.
9.	at     least     Tracking     the     it     past     for     decade.
10.	the   apocalypse   as   an    excuse    not    to    do    homework     Use.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Many people have been preparation / preparing for months for the end of the world. There have been stories on the Internet for the post / past decade that the world will end / ending on December 21. This is the day of the "Mayan Apocalypse," when a Mayan calendar prediction / predicts the end of us all. However, many other / others people do not believe the world will end in a day or / nor two. The Chinese government has recently / recent arrested 93 people for spreading doomsday rumours at / on the Internet. Meanwhile, in Russia, Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov sensibly advice / advised people not to buy Armageddon candles. He wrote on his website: "Does no one realise that once the end of the world coming / comes, candles won't help them?"

So what might happen on Friday? The Internet is full / fill of stories about giant tsunamis and asteroids that will finish we / us. More common stories are that the black hole at the centre of the galaxy will gulp / swallow the Earth, or that a planet called "Nibiru" will hit us. NASA says Nibiru was meant / meaning to destroy us in May 2003, but when nothing happened, "the doomsday date was moved / changed forward to December 2012". NASA adds: "If Nibiru was really / real…astronomers would have been tracking it for at least / last the past decade, and it would be invisible / visible by now to the naked / nude eye." English teachers worldwide have told their students they cannot use the apocalypse as an excuse / exercise not to do homework.

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_ny p__pl_ h_v_ b__n pr_p_r_ng f_r m_nths f_r th_ _nd _f th_ w_rld. Th_r_ h_v_ b__n st_r__s _n th_ _nt_rn_t f_r th_ p_st d_c_d_ th_t th_ w_rld w_ll _nd _n D_c_mb_r 21. Th_s _s th_ d_y _f th_ "M_y_n _p_c_lyps_," wh_n _ M_y_n c_l_nd_r pr_d_cts th_ _nd _f _s _ll. H_w_v_r, m_ny _th_r p__pl_ d_ n_t b_l__v_ th_ w_rld w_ll _nd _n _ d_y _r tw_. Th_ Ch_n_s_ g_v_rnm_nt h_s r_c_ntly _rr_st_d 93 p__pl_ f_r spr__d_ng d__msd_y r_m__rs _n th_ _nt_rn_t. M__nwh_l_, _n R_ss__, Ch_chny_ l__d_r R_mz_n K_dyr_v s_ns_bly _dv_s_d p__pl_ n_t t_ b_y _rm_g_dd_n c_ndl_s. H_ wr_t_ _n h_s w_bs_t_: "D__s n_ _n_ r__l_s_ th_t _nc_ th_ _nd _f th_ w_rld c_m_s, c_ndl_s w_n't h_lp th_m?"

S_ wh_t m_ght h_pp_n _n Fr_d_y? Th_ _nt_rn_t _s f_ll _f st_r__s _b__t g__nt ts_n_m_s _nd _st_r__ds th_t w_ll f_n_sh _s. M_r_ c_mm_n st_r__s _r_ th_t th_ bl_ck h_l_ _t th_ c_ntr_ _f th_ g_l_xy w_ll sw_ll_w th_ __rth, _r th_t _ pl_n_t c_ll_d "N_b_r_" w_ll h_t _s. N_S_ s_ys N_b_r_ w_s m__nt t_ d_str_y _s _n M_y 2003, b_t wh_n n_th_ng h_pp_n_d, "th_ d__msd_y d_t_ w_s m_v_d f_rw_rd t_ D_c_mb_r 2012". N_S_ _dds: "_f N_b_r_ w_s r__l…_str_n_m_rs w__ld h_v_ b__n tr_ck_ng _t f_r _t l__st th_ p_st d_c_d_, _nd _t w__ld b_ v_s_bl_ by n_w t_ th_ n_k_d _y_." _ngl_sh t__ch_rs w_rldw_d_ h_v_ t_ld th__r st_d_nts th_y c_nn_t _s_ th_ _p_c_lyps_ _s _n _xc_s_ n_t t_ d_ h_m_w_rk.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

many people have been preparing for months for the end of the world there have been stories on the internet for the past decade that the world will end on december 21 this is the day of the "mayan apocalypse" when a mayan calendar predicts the end of us all however many other people do not believe the world will end in a day or two the chinese government has recently arrested 93 people for spreading doomsday rumours on the internet meanwhile in russia chechnya leader ramzan kadyrov sensibly advised people not to buy armageddon candles he wrote on his website "does no one realise that once the end of the world comes candles won't help them"

so what might happen on friday the internet is full of stories about giant tsunamis and asteroids that will finish us more common stories are that the black hole at the centre of the galaxy will swallow the earth or that a planet called "nibiru" will hit us nasa says nibiru was meant to destroy us in may 2003 but when nothing happened "the doomsday date was moved forward to december 2012" nasa adds "if nibiru was real…astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade and it would be visible by now to the naked eye" english teachers worldwide have told their students they cannot use the apocalypse as an excuse not to do homework

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Manypeoplehavebeenpreparingformonthsfortheendoftheworld.Therehavebeen storiesontheInternetforthepastdecadethattheworldwillendonDecember21.Thisis thedayofthe"MayanApocalypse,"whenaMayancalendarpredictstheendofusall. However,manyotherpeopledonotbelievetheworldwillendinadayortwo.TheChinese governmenthasrecentlyarrested93peopleforspreadingdoomsdayrumoursonthe Internet.Meanwhile,inRussia,ChechnyaleaderRamzanKadyrovsensiblyadvised peoplenottobuyArmageddoncandles.Hewroteonhiswebsite:"Doesnoonerealise thatoncetheendoftheworldcomes,candleswon'thelpthem?"Sowhatmighthappen onFriday?TheInternetisfullofstoriesaboutgianttsunamisandasteroidsthatwillfinish us.Morecommonstoriesarethattheblackholeatthecentreofthegalaxywillswallow theEarth,orthataplanetcalled"Nibiru"willhitus.NASAsaysNibiruwasmeantto destroyusinMay2003,butwhennothinghappened,"thedoomsdaydatewasmoved forwardtoDecember2012".NASAadds:"IfNibiruwasreal…astronomerswouldhave beentrackingitforatleastthepastdecade,anditwouldbevisiblebynowtothenaked eye."Englishteachersworldwidehavetoldtheirstudentstheycannotusethe apocalypseasanexcusenottodohomework.

FREE WRITING

Write about the end of the world for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

If the world was going to end in a few days, many things would still continue normally and many people would not panic.   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 the end of the world. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ARMAGEDON: Make a poster about the Armageddon and how often it appears in movies and songs, etc. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. FRIDAY: Write a magazine article about Friday and the end of the world. Include imaginary interviews with people who are prepared and some who are not prepared.

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 Armageddon expert. Ask him/her three questions about the end of the world. Give him/her 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

T

c

F

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	preparing	a.	getting ready
2.	decade	b.	10 years
3.	predicts	c.	forecasts
4.	spreading	d.	passing on
5.	realise	e.	understand
6.	common	f.	popular
7.	swallow	g.	eat
8.	destroy	h.	kill
9.	visible	i.	in sight
10.	excuse	j.	reason

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Months
2.	For the past decade (10 years)
3.	The Mayan calendar
4.	They were spreading Doomsday rumors
5.	He said they wouldn't help
6.	Stories about giant tsunamis and asteroids
7.	Swallow it
8.	May 2003
9.	Nibiru
10.	Not to use the apocalypse as an excuse to not do homework

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

b

4.

d

5.

a

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

9.

c

10.

b

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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