The Reading / Listening - Level 6

A week after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal, the full extent of the disaster is still coming to light. The United Nations has called for further support to aid the rescue attempts. Only $53 million of the $415 million promised by countries has been given. The capital Kathmandu is struggling to deal with the sheer enormity of the destruction, while whole towns along the length of the Kathmandu Valley have been flattened. Hundreds of thousands of homes across the impoverished Himalayan nation have been damaged or destroyed, leaving more than three million people sheltering under blue tarpaulins and in need of food and medicine.

Nepal’s Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, has admitted that his government is overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and is ill-equipped to cope. He requested helicopters to help with the distribution of aid. However, the logistics of this are being hampered by the country's rugged terrain, which often makes it difficult for anything to be delivered by air. Many of the roads have been swept away by avalanches and landslides. Further exacerbating the problem is the fact that Kathmandu's international airport has only one runway, which has hindered the delivery of much-needed supplies. The U.N. World Food Program warned that it would take time for aid to reach more remote communities.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.sfgate.com/world/article/U-N-appeals-for-more-help-for-earthquake-hit-6236824.php
  • http://www.kttc.com/story/28928696/aid-begins-arriving-in-nepals-remote-quake-hit-villages
  • http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/29/us-quake-nepal-collapse-idUSKBN0NI12120150429


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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. NEPAL'S EARTHQUAKE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Nepal's earthquake. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

 

devastating / earthquake / disaster / aid / rescue / capital / impoverished / sheltering / overwhelmed / ill-equipped / logistics / rugged terrain / avalanches / runway / remote

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

3. AID PROBLEMS: How can we overcome these problems in getting aid to Nepal? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Difficulties

How to overcome them

One runway

 

 

Rugged terrain

 

 

Disease

 

 

Lack of food

 

 

Weather

 

 

Raising money

 

 

4. AID: Students A strongly believe money is the best form of aid; Students B strongly believe money isn't the best form of aid.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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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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5. DISASTER: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to have in a natural disaster at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • telephone

  • tarpaulin

  • medicine

  • matches

  • torch / flashlight

  • radio

  • knife

  • blankets

6. DEVASTATING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "devastating". 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.

The Nepal quake struck at a magnitude of 8.7 on the Richter Scale.

T / F

b.

Nepal is still waiting for most of the money it has been promised in aid.

T / F

c.

Authorities in Kathmandu is now on top of the situation in the capital.

T / F

d.

Over three million people are living under blue tarpaulin sheets.

T / F

e.

Nepal's government admitted it could not cope with the disaster.

T / F

f.

The country's rugged terrain is making it difficult to deliver aid.

T / F

g.

The article says Kathmandu's airport only has two runways.

T / F

h.

The U.N. is confident aid can reach remote communities very soon.

T / F

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

1.

struck

a.

confessed

2.

extent

b.

size

3.

coming to light

c.

making worse

4.

enormity

d.

requiring

5.

in need of

e.

scope

6.

admitted

f.

land

7.

cope

g.

hit

8.

terrain

h.

isolated

9.

exacerbating

i.

emerging

10.

remote

j.

manage

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

1.

A week after the devastating 7.8

a.

of the destruction

2.

the full extent

b.

blue tarpaulins

3.

still coming

c.

of food

4.

rescue

d.

Himalayan nation

5.

The capital Kathmandu is

e.

magnitude earthquake

6.

deal with the sheer enormity

f.

struggling

7.

along the length of

g.

of the disaster

8.

across the impoverished

h.

attempts

9.

sheltering under

i.

the Kathmandu Valley

10.

in need

j.

to light

GAP FILL

A week after the (1) ____________ 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal, the full (2) ____________ of the disaster is still coming to light. The United Nations has called for (3) ____________ support to aid the rescue (4) ____________. Only $53 million of the $415 million promised by countries has been given. The capital Kathmandu is struggling to deal with the sheer (5) ____________ of the destruction, while whole towns along the (6) ____________ of the Kathmandu Valley have been flattened. Hundreds of thousands of homes across the (7) ____________ Himalayan nation have been damaged or destroyed, leaving more than three million people sheltering under blue (8) ____________ and in need of food and medicine.

 

 

extent
enormity
devastating
impoverished
attempts
further
tarpaulins
length

Nepal's Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, has admitted that his government is overwhelmed by the (9) ____________ of the disaster and is ill-equipped to (10) ____________. He requested helicopters to help with the distribution of aid. However, the (11) ____________ of this are being hampered by the country's rugged (12) ____________, which often makes it difficult for anything to be delivered by air. Many of the roads have been swept away by (13) ____________ and landslides. Further exacerbating the problem is the (14) ____________ that Kathmandu's international airport has only one runway, which has hindered the (15) ____________ of much-needed supplies. The U.N. World Food Program warned that it would take time for aid to reach more (16) ____________ communities.

 

cope
avalanches
delivery
scale
remote
terrain
fact
logistics

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

A week after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake ______

 

a.  that struck Nepal
b.  that stricken Nepal
c.  that strikes Nepal
d.  that strike Nepal

2)

the full extent of the disaster is still ______

 

a.  coming too light
b.  coming two light
c.  coming to light
d.  coming through light

3)

The United Nations has called for further support to aid ______

 

a.  the rescuer attempts
b.  the rescued attempts
c.  the rescue attempts
d.  the rescues attempts

4)

struggling to deal with the sheer ______ destruction

 

a.  enormity for the
b.  enormity of the
c.  enormity by the
d.  enormity on the

5)

leaving more than three million people sheltering ______

 

a.  under blue tar pulling
b.  under blue tar pull ins
c.  under blue tarpaulins
d.  under blue tarpaulin

6)

his government is overwhelmed by the scale ______

 

a.  on the disaster
b.  off the disaster
c.  for the disaster
d.  of the disaster

7)

He requested helicopters to help with the ______

 

a.  distribution of aid
b.  distribution evade
c.  distribution off aid
d.  distributing of aid

8)

the logistics of this are being hampered by the country's ______

 

a.  rugged terracing
b.  rugged terrain
c.  rug get terrain
d.  rug it terrain

9)

Many of the roads have been swept away by ______

 

a.  avalanches and landslide
b.  avalanche and landslides
c.  avalanche and landslide
d.  avalanches and landslides

10)

it would take time for aid to reach more ______

 

a.  remotes communities
b.  remoter communities
c.  remotely communities
d.  remote communities

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A week (1) ___________________ 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal, the full extent of the disaster is still (2) ___________________. The United Nations has called for further (3) ___________________ the rescue attempts. Only $53 million of the $415 million promised by countries has been given. The capital Kathmandu is (4) ___________________ with the sheer enormity of the destruction, while whole towns along the length of the Kathmandu Valley have been flattened. Hundreds of thousands of homes (5) ___________________ Himalayan nation have been damaged or destroyed, leaving more than three million people sheltering under blue tarpaulins and (6) ___________________ and medicine.

Nepal's Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, (7) ___________________ his government is overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and is (8) ___________________. He requested helicopters to help with the distribution of aid. However, (9) ___________________ this are being hampered by the country's rugged terrain, which often makes it difficult for anything (10) ___________________ air. Many of the roads have been swept away by avalanches and landslides. (11) ___________________ the problem is the fact that Kathmandu's international airport has only one runway, which has hindered the delivery of much-needed supplies. The U.N. World Food Program warned that it would take time for aid to reach (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What was the magnitude of the earthquake that struck Nepal?

2.

How much money has Nepal so far received?

3.

What is struggling to deal with the enormity of the destruction?

4.

Where have whole towns been flattened?

5.

What are millions of people sheltering under?

6.

What did Nepal's leader say his government is overwhelmed by?

7.

What is making the logistics of aid delivery difficult?

8.

What have avalanches swept away?

9.

How many runways does Kathmandu's international airport have?

10.

Where did the U.N. say it would take time to get aid to?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What was the magnitude of the earthquake that struck Nepal?

6.

What did Nepal's leader say his government is overwhelmed by?

 

a) 7.6
b) 7.8
c) 6.7
d) 8.7

 

a) the scale of the disaster
b) the aid community
c) the rebuilding
d) money

2.

How much money has Nepal so far received?

7.

What is making the logistics of aid delivery difficult?

 

a) $45 million
b) $54 million
c) $35 million
d) $53 million

 

a) snow
b) a lack of money
c) Nepal's rugged terrain
d) too few aid workers

3.

What is struggling to deal with the enormity of the destruction?

8.

What have avalanches swept away?

 

a) Kathmandu
b) the WHO
c) a village community
d) a charity

 

a) roads
b) power lines
c) mountains
d) snow

4.

Where have whole towns been flattened?

9.

How many runways does Kathmandu's international airport have?

 

a) downtown Kathmandu
b) on Mount Everest
c) in the Kathmandu Valley
d) On the border with China

 

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

5.

What are millions of people sheltering under?

10.

Where did the U.N. say it would take time to get aid to?

 

a) tin
b) tarpaulins
c) open skies
d) ruins

 

a) the government
b) downtown Kathmandu
c) Bhutan
d) more remote communities

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Telephone

You think a telephone is the best thing to have in a natural disaster. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a tarpaulin, matches or blankets.

Role  B – Tarpaulin

You think a tarpaulin is the best thing to have in a natural disaster. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a telephone, matches or blankets.

Role  C – Matches

You think matches are the best things to have in a natural disaster. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): a tarpaulin, a telephone or blankets.

Role  D – Blankets

You think blankets are the best things to have in a natural disaster. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why):  a tarpaulin, matches or a telephone.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

rescue

 

attempt

 

 

  • 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:

  • struck
  • called
  • sheer
  • length
  • nation
  • blue
  • admitted
  • cope
  • aid
  • rugged
  • swept
  • remote

NEPAL'S EARTHQUAKE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Nepal's earthquake 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.

NEPAL'S EARTHQUAKE DISCUSSION

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

1)

What did you think when you read the headline?

2)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'earthquake'?

3)

Why do earthquakes happen?

4)

What do you know about the magnitude of earthquakes?

5)

Is the money promised by the world enough?

6)

What can the world do to help Nepal?

7)

What can you do to help Nepal?

8)

What is the enormity of the damage in Nepal?

9)

How do people rebuild their lives?

10)

What now for those affected by the earthquake?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

11)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12)

How big and damaging is a 7.8 magnitude earthquake?

13)

What do you know about the response of Nepal's leader?

14)

Should Nepal have been better prepared?

15)

What are the logistics involved in distributing aid in Nepal?

16)

Is the United Nations prepared enough for such catastrophes?

17)

What message would you give to the people of Nepal?

18)

How would your town cope with a natural disaster?

19)

How would you cope with a natural disaster?

20)

What questions would you like to ask Nepal's leader?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A week after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that (1) ____ Nepal, the full extent of the disaster is still coming to (2) ____. The United Nations has called for further support to aid the rescue attempts. Only $53 million of the $415 million promised by countries has been given. The capital Kathmandu is (3) ____ to deal with the sheer enormity of the destruction, while whole towns along the (4) ____ of the Kathmandu Valley have been flattened. Hundreds of thousands of homes across the (5) ____ Himalayan nation have been damaged or destroyed, leaving more than three million people sheltering under blue tarpaulins and (6) ____ need of food and medicine.

Nepal's Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, has admitted (7) ____ his government is overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and is ill-equipped to cope. He requested helicopters to help with the distribution of aid. However, the (8) ____ of this are being hampered by the country's (9) ____ terrain, which often makes it difficult for anything to be delivered by air. Many of the roads have been swept (10) ____ by avalanches and landslides. Further exacerbating the problem is the (11) ____ that Kathmandu's international airport has only one runway, which has hindered the delivery of much-needed supplies. The U.N. World Food Program warned that it would take time for aid to reach (12) ____ remote communities.

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

1.

(a)

struck

(b)

stricken

(c)

strikes

(d)

strike

2.

(a)

dark

(b)

day

(c)

light

(d)

night

3.

(a)

struggles

(b)

struggled

(c)

struggling

(d)

struggle

4.

(a)

long

(b)

longing

(c)

longs

(d)

length

5.

(a)

impoverished

(b)

famished

(c)

distinguished

(d)

relinquished

6.

(a)

up

(b)

in

(c)

of

(d)

by

7.

(a)

for

(b)

which

(c)

what

(d)

that

8.

(a)

stalls

(b)

logistics

(c)

gates

(d)

coordinates

9.

(a)

dogged

(b)

haggard

(c)

rugged

(d)

legged

10.

(a)

over

(b)

away

(c)

on

(d)

through

11.

(a)

rumour

(b)

revelation

(c)

story

(d)

fact

12.

(a)

much

(b)

more

(c)

main

(d)

multi

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

the gventaaitds 7.8 magnitude earthquake

2.

he full nxteet of the disaster

3.

aid the recuse attempts

4.

struggling to deal with the sheer mynoerit

5.

across the edhirsvoemip Himalayan nation

6.

sheltering under blue psiltranau

Paragraph 2

7.

his government is eedewrhmovl

8.

the silsoctgi of this

9.

the country's rugged artrnie

10.

Further gbcireenxata the problem

11.

hindered the dyrvieel

12.

reach more emeort communities

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

with the sheer enormity of the destruction, while whole towns along the length of the Kathmandu Valley have been

(    )

by the scale of the disaster and is ill-equipped to cope. He requested helicopters to

(    )

nation have been damaged or destroyed, leaving more than three million people sheltering

(    )

Nepal's Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, has admitted that his government is overwhelmed

(    )

of the $415 million promised by countries has been given. The capital Kathmandu is struggling to deal

(    )

coming to light. The United Nations has called for further support to aid the rescue attempts. Only $53 million

(    )

much-needed supplies. The U.N. World Food Program warned that it would take time for aid to reach more remote communities.

(    )

by the country's rugged terrain, which often makes it difficult for anything to be delivered by

(    )

help with the distribution of aid. However, the logistics of this are being hampered

(    )

air. Many of the roads have been swept away by avalanches and landslides. Further exacerbating

(    )

under blue tarpaulins and in need of food and medicine.

(    )

flattened. Hundreds of thousands of homes across the impoverished Himalayan

1  )

A week after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal, the full extent of the disaster is still

(    )

the problem is the fact that Kathmandu's international airport has only one runway, which has hindered the delivery of

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

7.8   the   devastating   week   A   earthquake   magnitude   after   .  

2.

further   aid   attempts   for   to   rescue   Called   support   the   .  

3.

the   the   destruction   sheer   enormity   Deal   of   with   .  

4.

nation   Homes   the   Himalayan   across   impoverished   .  

5.

people   million   Three   tarpaulins   blue   under   sheltering   .  

6.

is   overwhelmed  by   the  scale   of  the   disaster  His  government  .

7.

aid   He   requested  helicopters  to   help   with  the   distribution  of   .

8.

are   the   this   hampered   ,   of   being   However   logistics   .  

9.

swept   avalanches   the   been   by   of   have   away   Many   roads   .  

10.

more   for   reach   communities   time   to   remote   Take   aid   .  

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A week after the devastating / devastation 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal, the full extent / extend of the disaster is still came / coming to light. The United Nations has called for farther / further support to aid the rescue attempts. Only $53 million of the $415 million promised by countries has been given. The capital Kathmandu is struggling to dealt / deal with the sheer enormity of the destruction / destructing, while whole towns along the length of the Kathmandu Valley have been flattered / flattened. Hundreds of thousands of homes across the improvised / impoverished Himalayan nation have been damaged or destroyed, left / leaving more than three million people sheltering under blue tarpaulins and in needy / need of food and medicine.

Nepal's Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, has admission / admitted that his government is overwhelmed by the scale / scales of the disaster and is ill-equipment / ill-equipped to cope. He requested helicopters to help with the distribution of aid. However, the statistics / logistics of this are being hampered by the country's rugged terrain / terrine, which often makes it difficult for anything to be delivered by sky / air. Many of the roads have been swept away / over by avalanches and landslides. Further exacerbating / excruciating the problem is the fact that Kathmandu's international airport has only one runaway / runway, which has hindered the delivery of much-needed supplies. The U.N. World Food Program warned that it would take time for aid to reach more remotely / remote communities.

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)

_ w__k _ft_r th_ d_v_st_t_ng 7.8 m_gn_t_d_ __rthq__k_ th_t str_ck N_p_l, th_ f_ll _xt_nt _f th_ d_s_st_r _s st_ll c_m_ng t_ l_ght. Th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns h_s c_ll_d f_r f_rth_r s_pp_rt t_ __d th_ r_sc__ _tt_mpts. _nly $53 m_ll__n _f th_ $415 m_ll__n pr_m_s_d by c__ntr__s h_s b__n g_v_n. Th_ c_p_t_l K_thm_nd_ _s str_ggl_ng t_ d__l w_th th_ sh__r _n_rm_ty _f th_ d_str_ct__n, wh_l_ wh_l_ t_wns _l_ng th_ l_ngth _f th_ K_thm_nd_ V_ll_y h_v_ b__n fl_tt_n_d. H_ndr_ds _f th__s_nds _f h_m_s _cr_ss th_ _mp_v_r_sh_d H_m_l_y_n n_t__n h_v_ b__n d_m_g_d _r d_str_y_d, l__v_ng m_r_ th_n thr__ m_ll__n p__pl_ sh_lt_r_ng _nd_r bl__ t_rp__l_ns _nd _n n__d _f f__d _nd m_d_c_n_.

N_p_l's Pr_m_ M_n_st_r, S_sh_l K__r_l_, h_s _dm_tt_d th_t h_s g_v_rnm_nt _s _v_rwh_lm_d by th_ sc_l_ _f th_ d_s_st_r _nd _s _ll-_q__pp_d t_ c_p_. H_ r_q__st_d h_l_c_pt_rs t_ h_lp w_th th_ d_str_b_t__n _f __d. H_w_v_r, th_ l_g_st_cs _f th_s _r_ b__ng h_mp_r_d by th_ c__ntry's r_gg_d t_rr__n, wh_ch _ft_n m_k_s _t d_ff_c_lt f_r _nyth_ng t_ b_ d_l_v_r_d by __r. M_ny _f th_ r__ds h_v_ b__n sw_pt _w_y by _v_l_nch_s _nd l_ndsl_d_s. F_rth_r _x_c_rb_t_ng th_ pr_bl_m _s th_ f_ct th_t K_thm_nd_'s _nt_rn_t__n_l __rp_rt h_s _nly _n_ r_nw_y, wh_ch h_s h_nd_r_d th_ d_l_v_ry _f m_ch-n__d_d s_ppl__s. Th_ _.N. W_rld F__d Pr_gr_m w_rn_d th_t _t w__ld t_k_ t_m_ f_r __d t_ r__ch m_r_ r_m_t_ c_mm_n_t__s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a week after the devastating 78 magnitude earthquake that struck nepal the full extent of the disaster is still coming to light the united nations has called for further support to aid the rescue attempts only $53 million of the $415 million promised by countries has been given the capital kathmandu is struggling to deal with the sheer enormity of the destruction while whole towns along the length of the kathmandu valley have been flattened hundreds of thousands of homes across the impoverished himalayan nation have been damaged or destroyed leaving more than three million people sheltering under blue tarpaulins and in need of food and medicine

nepal's prime minister sushil koirala has admitted that his government is overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster and is ill-equipped to cope he requested helicopters to help with the distribution of aid however the logistics of this are being hampered by the country's rugged terrain which often makes it difficult for anything to be delivered by air many of the roads have been swept away by avalanches and landslides further exacerbating the problem is the fact that kathmandu's international airport has only one runway which has hindered the delivery of much-needed supplies the un world food program warned that it would take time for aid to reach more remote communities

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Aweekafterthedevastating7.8magnitudeearthquakethatstruckNep
al,thefullextentofthedisasterisstillcomingtolight.TheUnitedNationsh
ascalledforfurthersupporttoaidtherescueattempts.Only$53millionof
the$415millionpromisedbycountrieshasbeengiven.ThecapitalKath
manduisstrugglingtodealwiththesheerenormityofthedestruction,wh
ilewholetownsalongthelengthoftheKathmanduValleyhavebeenflatte
ned.HundredsofthousandsofhomesacrosstheimpoverishedHimalay
annationhavebeendamagedordestroyed,leavingmorethanthreemilli
onpeopleshelteringunderbluetarpaulinsandinneedoffoodandmedici
ne.Nepal'sPrimeMinister,SushilKoirala,hasadmittedthathisgovernm
entisoverwhelmedbythescaleofthedisasterandisill-equippedtoc
ope.Herequestedhelicopterstohelpwiththedistributionofaid.Howeve
r,thelogisticsofthisarebeinghamperedbythecountry'sruggedterrain,
whichoftenmakesitdifficultforanythingtobedeliveredbyair.Manyofth
eroadshavebeensweptawaybyavalanchesandlandslides.Furtherexa
cerbatingtheproblemisthefactthatKathmandu'sinternationalairport
hasonlyonerunway,whichhashinderedthedeliveryofmuch-neede
dsupplies.TheU.N.WorldFoodProgramwarnedthatitwouldtaketimefo
raidtoreachmoreremotecommunities.

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Everyone should be fully prepared for natural disasters. 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 Nepal's earthquake. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. NEPAL'S EARTHQUAKE: Make a poster about Nepal's earthquake. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. AID: Write a magazine article about aid for Nepal. Include imaginary interviews with people who are there and with potential donors.

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 earthquake expert. Ask him/her three questions about Nepal's earthquake. Give him/her three ideas on how we can get Nepal more money. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

struck

a.

hit

2

extent

b.

scope

3.

coming to light

c.

emerging

4.

enormity

d.

size

5.

in need of

e.

requiring

6.

admitted

f.

confessed

7.

cope

g.

manage

8.

terrain

h.

land

9.

exacerbating

i.

making worse

10.

remote

j.

isolated

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

7.8

2.

$53 million

3.

Kathmandu

4.

The Kathmandu Valley

5.

Blue tarpaulins

6.

The scale of the disaster

7.

The country's rugged terrain

8.

Roads

9.

One

10.

More remote villages

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

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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