The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Somalia has restarted its postal system for the first time in over 20 years. The old postal service collapsed in 1991 because of wars. Mail deliveries stopped for two decades. Somalia is now a little more peaceful. There will be nationwide postcodes with the new service. This is a first for Somalia. Mohamed Ibrahim, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, told the BBC that he was excited about the new postal service. He said that Somalis would be able to receive letters from abroad. He said the next step would be for people to send letters to other countries.

The return of the postal service is an example of Somalia getting back to normal. Another recent example is the new cash machine (ATM) at a luxury hotel in the capital city Mogadishu. It is Somalia's first ever ATM. The hotel's manager said a few people have used the new machine. He said most customers don't know there is an ATM in Somalia. He explained that most local people don't have a credit card to use the ATM. Another example of Somalia returning to normal is the reopening of the Chinese embassy for the first time in 23 years. Somalia's leader said China is an important partner.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-29606447
  • http://www.chinatopix.com/articles/15990/20141013/china-officially-reopens-embassy-mogadishu-23-years.htm#ixzz3G5VNyLvb
  • http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/09/business/mogadishu-first-ever-atm/


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.

Somalia has restarted its

a.

for two decades

2.

for the first time in

b.

Telecommunications

3.

The old postal service collapsed in

c.

step

4.

Mail deliveries stopped

d.

postal system

5.

nationwide

e.

the new postal service

6.

the Minister of Posts and

f.

over 20 years

7.

he was excited about

g.

postcodes

8.

the next

h.

1991



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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.

an example of Somalia

a.

city

2.

Another recent

b.

don't have a credit card

3.

luxury

c.

example

4.

capital

d.

embassy

5.

few people have used

e.

hotel

6.

most local people

f.

the new machine

7.

the reopening of the Chinese

g.

in 23 years

8.

for the first time

h.

getting back to normal

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Somalia has restarted its postal system (1) ___________________ in over 20 years. The old postal service collapsed in 1991 because of wars. Mail deliveries stopped (2) ___________________. Somalia is now a (3) ___________________. There will be nationwide postcodes with (4) ___________________. This is a first for Somalia. Mohamed Ibrahim, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, told the BBC (5) ___________________ about the new postal service. He said that Somalis would be able to receive letters from abroad. He said the (6) ___________________ for people to send letters to other countries.

The return of the postal service (7) ___________________ Somalia getting back to normal. Another recent example is the new cash machine (ATM) (8) ___________________ in the capital city Mogadishu. It is Somalia's first ever ATM. The hotel's manager said (9) ___________________ used the new machine. He said most customers (10) ___________________ is an ATM in Somalia. He explained that most local people don't have a credit card to use the ATM. Another example of Somalia (11) ___________________ is the reopening of the Chinese embassy for (12) ___________________ 23 years. Somalia's leader said China is an important partner.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Somaliahasrestarteditspostalsystemforthefirsttimeinover20years.
Theoldpostalservicecollapsedin1991becauseofwars.Maildeliveriess
toppedfortwodecades.Somaliaisnowalittlemorepeaceful.Therewillb
enationwidepostcodeswiththenewservice.ThisisafirstforSomalia.Mo
hamedIbrahim,theMinisterofPostsandTelecommunications,toldthe
BBCthathewasexcitedaboutthenewpostalservice.HesaidthatSomali
swouldbeabletoreceivelettersfromabroad.Hesaidthenextstepwould
beforpeopletosendletterstoothercountries.Thereturnofthepostalser
viceisanexampleofSomaliagettingbacktonormal.Anotherrecentexa
mpleisthenewcashmachine(ATM)ataluxuryhotelinthecapitalcityMog
adishu.ItisSomalia'sfirsteverATM.Thehotel'smanagersaidafewpeop
lehaveusedthenewmachine.Hesaidmostcustomersdon'tknowtherei
sanATMinSomalia.Heexplainedthatmostlocalpeopledon'thaveacred
itcardtousetheATM.AnotherexampleofSomaliareturningtonormalist
hereopeningoftheChineseembassyforthefirsttimein23years.Somali
a'sleadersaidChinaisanimportantpartner.

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)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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