Egypt opens extension of Suez Canal

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Egypt's president attended a ceremony to open an extension of the Suez Canal. The original canal, built in 1869, took 10 years to build. The new canal was built in 12 months. Experts said it would take five years. The canal joins the Mediterranean and Red seas. The president sailed up the canal in his yacht to attend the opening. The same yacht was the first ship to sail through the canal a century-and-a-half ago. The new canal is Egypt's "gift to the world".

Egypt hopes the canal will boost the economy. The head of the Suez Canal Authority said it was important Egypt earned money from its waterways in the future. He said: "If I can't handle this and turn it into revenue for [Egypt], alternative routes will emerge." He hopes revenue will increase to $13.2 billion by 2023. That means shipping traffic must double by 2023. This needs a 9% increase in global trade. Some economists doubt if this will happen.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/11787279/Egypt-launches-new-Suez-Canal-celebration.html
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/08/06/egypt-seeks-to-boost-economy-through-expansion-of-suez-canal/
http://www.albawaba.com/business/suez-canal-inauguration-kickstarts-new-way-trade-egypt-727878

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.	Egypt's president attended	a.	canal in his yacht
2.	The original	b.	a-half ago
3.	Experts said it would	c.	a ceremony
4.	The canal joins the Mediterranean	d.	to the world
5.	The president sailed up the	e.	canal
6.	the first ship to sail	f.	take five years
7.	a century-and-	g.	through the canal
8.	Egypt's gift	h.	and Red seas

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

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	Egypt hopes the canal	a.	emerge
2.	earned money from its	b.	if this will happen
3.	If I can't handle this and	c.	waterways
4.	alternative routes will	d.	will boost the economy
5.	revenue will increase	e.	turn it into revenue
6.	shipping traffic must	f.	global trade
7.	a 9% increase in	g.	double by 2023
8.	economists doubt	h.	to $13.2 billion

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Egypt's president (1) ___________________ to open an extension of the Suez Canal. The original canal, built in 1869, (2) ___________________ build. The new canal was built in 12 months. Experts said it would take five years. (3) ___________________ Mediterranean and Red seas. The president sailed (4) ___________________ his yacht to attend the opening. The same yacht (5) ___________________ to sail through the canal a century-and-a-half ago. The new canal is Egypt's "(6) ________________ ".

Egypt hopes the canal (7) ___________________ economy. The head of the Suez Canal Authority said it was important Egypt (8) _______________ waterways in the future. He said: "If I (9) ___________________ and turn it into revenue for [Egypt], (10) ___________________ will emerge." He hopes revenue (11) ___________________ $13.2 billion by 2023. That means shipping traffic must double by 2023. This needs a 9% increase in global trade. Some economists (12) ___________________ happen.

CANALS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about canals 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.

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)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about canals for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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