The Reading / Listening - Level 1

California has the worst drought in its history. Water supplies are at very low levels. The government has done many things to try to stop water running out. Farmers will now help. They will cut back on using water by 25 per cent. This will be voluntary. California's governor also cut water use in cities by 25 per cent. This made many city people angry. They did not want to be the only ones to have to use less water.

California's water system serves over 30 million people. It waters six million acres of farmland. It is the world's biggest water system. It has many problems. Too many people want too little water. Farmers say they need it most because they grow food. People in the cities say they need it to live. People who own golf courses and swimming pools also use a lot of water. California’s population will be almost 50 million in the year 2020.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article21701118.html#storylink=cpy
  • http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-water-rights-20150522-story.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_in_California


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.

the worst drought

a.

many things

2.

Water supplies are

b.

by 25 per cent

3.

The government has done

c.

the only ones

4.

try to stop water

d.

people angry

5.

They will cut

e.

in its history

6.

cut water use in cities

f.

back on using water

7.

This made many city

g.

at very low levels

8.

They did not want to be

h.

running out



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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.

California's water

a.

because they grow food

2.

It is the world's

b.

population

3.

Too many people want

c.

biggest water system

4.

Farmers say they need it most

d.

year 2020

5.

People in the cities say

e.

too little water

6.

People who own

f.

system

7.

California's

g.

they need it to live

8.

almost 50 million in the

h.

golf courses

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

California has (1) ___________________ in its history. Water supplies (2) ___________________ levels. The government has done many things (3) ___________________ water running out. Farmers will now help. They will (4) ___________________ using water by 25 per cent. This will be voluntary. California's governor also cut water (5) ___________________ 25 per cent. This made many city people angry. They did not want to be the only ones to have (6) ___________________.

California's (7) ___________________ over 30 million people. It waters six million acres of farmland. (8) ___________________ biggest water system. It has many problems. (9) ___________________ want too little water. Farmers say they need it most because (10) ___________________. People in the cities say they need it to live. (11) ___________________ courses and swimming pools also use a lot of water. California's population will be almost 50 million (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Californiahastheworstdroughtinitshistory.Watersuppliesareatveryl
owlevels.Thegovernmenthasdonemanythingstotrytostopwaterrunn
ingout.Farmerswillnowhelp.Theywillcutbackonusingwaterby25perc
ent.Thiswillbevoluntary.California'sgovernoralsocutwateruseincitie
sby25percent.Thismademanycitypeopleangry.Theydidnotwanttobe
theonlyonestohavetouselesswater.California'swatersystemserveso
ver30millionpeople.Itwaterssixmillionacresoffarmland.Itistheworld
'sbiggestwatersystem.Ithasmanyproblems.Toomanypeoplewantto
olittlewater.Farmerssaytheyneeditmostbecausetheygrowfood.Peo
pleinthecitiessaytheyneedittolive.Peoplewhoowngolfcoursesandswi
mmingpoolsalsousealotofwater.California'spopulationwillbealmost
50millionintheyear2020.

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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