The Reading / Listening - Level 1

New relations are starting between the USA and Cuba. It will be the first time for over fifty years. President Barack Obama said he wanted to get relations with Cuba back to normal. He wants to restart diplomatic and economic ties and break free from the past. Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have talked secretly for over a year, with help from Pope Francis.

The USA will do many things to reset relations. It will no longer say that Cuba supports terrorism. Americans will be able to travel to and do business in Cuba. There will be Internet and communication links. A big change is the restart of trade between the two countries. There has been none since 1960. Mr Castro said he has worked hard to restore ties with the USA. He said: "We must learn the art of coexisting with our differences."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30516740
  • http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=107963
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/opinion/a-new-beginning-with-cuba.html?_r=0


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.

New relations are

a.

back to normal

2.

the first time for

b.

secretly for over a year

3.

get relations with Cuba

c.

starting

4.

restart diplomatic

d.

from Pope Francis

5.

break free

e.

and economic ties

6.

re-establish diplomatic

f.

over fifty years

7.

The two sides have talked

g.

relations

8.

with help

h.

from the past



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The USA will do many things

a.

communication links

2.

It will no

b.

our differences

3.

travel to and do

c.

since 1960

4.

Internet and

d.

to reset relations

5.

the restart of trade between

e.

business in Cuba

6.

There has been none

f.

learn

7.

We must

g.

longer say

8.

the art of coexisting with

h.

the two countries

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

New relations (1) ___________________ the USA and Cuba. It will be the first (2) ___________________ fifty years. President Barack Obama said he wanted (3) ___________________ with Cuba back to normal. He wants to restart diplomatic and economic ties and (4) ___________________ the past. Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have (5) ___________________ diplomatic relations." The two sides have talked secretly for over a year, (6) ___________________ Pope Francis.

The USA will (7) ___________________ reset relations. It will no longer say that Cuba supports terrorism. Americans will be able to travel (8) ___________________ in Cuba. There will be Internet and communication links. A big (9) ___________________ of trade between the two countries. There has been (10) ___________________. Mr Castro said he has worked hard (11) ___________________ the USA. He said: "We must learn the art of coexisting (12) ___________________."

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

NewrelationsarestartingbetweentheUSAandCuba.Itwillbethefirstti
meforoverfiftyyears.PresidentBarackObamasaidhewantedtogetrela
tionswithCubabacktonormal.Hewantstorestartdiplomaticandecono
mictiesandbreakfreefromthepast.CubanPresidentRaulCastrosaid:"
Wehaveagreedtore-establishdiplomaticrelations."Thetwosidesha
vetalkedsecretlyforoverayear,withhelpfromPopeFrancis.TheUSAwil
ldomanythingstoresetrelations.ItwillnolongersaythatCubasupports
terrorism.AmericanswillbeabletotraveltoanddobusinessinCuba.The
rewillbeInternetandcommunicationlinks.Abigchangeistherestartoft
radebetweenthetwocountries.Therehasbeennonesince1960.MrCast
rosaidhehasworkedhardtorestoretieswiththeUSA.Hesaid:"Wemustl
earntheartofcoexistingwithourdifferences."

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

Lesson3

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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