The Reading / Listening - Level 5

India's government will scrap 287 out-of-date laws that date back to British rule in the 19th century. India's Law Minister Ravi Prasad is responsible for the "clean-up" of India's legal system. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him to streamline laws and make India an easier place to live and do business in. India's legal system has hundreds of strange laws introduced by the British. Mr Prasad said some laws are "laughable" and have "no place in a modern and democratic India". Even without the 287 laws, India will still have thousands of regulations that get in the way of business.

The laws will be removed in November. It will then not be illegal to fly a kite without police permission. A 1934 law said a kite was an aircraft. One law that irritates factory owners requires them to have red buckets of water and sand, even if their buildings have modern sprinkler systems for fires. Another oddity to go is the Motor Vehicles Act, that says a safety inspector must have clean teeth. The Registration of Foreigners' Act, which makes foreigners staying in India for more than 180 days report his/her movements, is also going. This should give a boost to India's tourism industry.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-wields-the-axe-on-her-majesty-s-laughable-laws/article1-1272727.aspx
  • http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/british-colonial-law-treasure-findings-her-majesty-ravi-shankar-prasad/1/394613.html
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-29516976


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

India's government will scrap

a.

system

2.

date back

b.

democratic India

3.

responsible

c.

and do business in

4.

India's legal

d.

287 out-of-date laws

5.

Narendra Modi told him to

e.

for the "clean-up"

6.

an easier place to live

f.

in the way of business

7.

a modern and

g.

streamline laws

8.

regulations that get

h.

to British rule



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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

illegal to fly

a.

more than 180 days

2.

without police

b.

factory owners

3.

One law that irritates

c.

to go

4.

modern sprinkler

d.

a kite

5.

Another oddity

e.

to India's tourism industry

6.

foreigners staying in India for

f.

permission

7.

report his/her

g.

systems

8.

give a boost

h.

movements

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

India's government will scrap 287 (1) ___________________ date back to British rule (2) ___________________. India's Law Minister Ravi Prasad is responsible for the "clean-up" of (3) ___________________. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him to streamline laws and make India an easier place to live (4) ___________________. India's legal system has hundreds of strange laws introduced by the British. Mr Prasad said some laws are "laughable" and have " (5) ___________________ and democratic India". Even without the 287 laws, India will still have thousands (6) ___________________ in the way of business.

The laws will be removed in November. It will (7) ___________________ to fly a kite without police permission. A 1934 law said a kite was an aircraft. One law that irritates factory owners (8) ___________________ have red buckets of water and sand, even if their buildings (9) ___________________ systems for fires. Another oddity to go is the Motor Vehicles Act, that says a (10) ___________________ have clean teeth. The Registration of Foreigners' Act, which makes foreigners staying in India (11) ___________________ 180 days report his/her movements, is also going. This (12) ___________________ to India's tourism industry.

LAWS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about laws 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.

 

 

 

 

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 laws for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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