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U.S. city of Detroit goes bankrupt (21st July, 2013)

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	a powerhouse of	a.	funds
2.	filed for	b.	city finances
3.	no longer pay	c.	bankruptcy
4.	help restructure	d.	questioning their future
5.	continue	e.	its bills
6.	major pension	f.	American industry
7.	underfunded	g.	to function
8.	workers are now	h.	by over $3.5 billion

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	a shining example of	a.	generated its success
2.	the nickname	b.	sustainable path
3.	uncared-for	c.	had been cut off
4.	factories that	d.	financial collapse
5.	key	e.	American business success
6.	street lights	f.	suburbs
7.	not on a	g.	"Motor City"
8.	This led to its	h.	services would continue

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Detroit used to (1) ___________________ American industry. Yesterday, it went (2) ___________________ bankruptcy – the biggest U.S. city to do so.  Its emergency financial manager said the (3) ___________________ pay its bills, and was a huge $20 billion in debt. He asked the court to help (4) ___________________ so it could continue to function. He named over 100,000 creditors, including major pension funds and 10,000 public workers. Detroit's pension system is (5) ___________________ $3.5 billion. Many present and past police officers, firefighters and public service workers are now (6) ___________________.

Half a century ago, Detroit was (7) ___________________ American business success. Its huge car industry gave it the nickname "Motor City". However, this former middle-class city has (8) ___________________ suburbs full of empty houses and (9) ___________________. The factories that generated its success have almost disappeared. The city said key services would continue, but street (10) ___________________. The city mayor said Detroit was not on (11) ___________________. He said the city borrowed too much money and did not pay into pension funds or pay its bills. This led (12) ___________________.

BANKRUPTCY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about bankruptcy 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

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