The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Singapore has celebrated its fiftieth birthday. It became an independent country on August 8th, 1965. The high point of the celebrations was the largest fireworks display ever seen in Singapore. Thousands of people gathered in the streets. The country has been counting down since New Year's Eve. There have been hundreds of events to mark the fifty-year birthday. Singapore's Prime Minister gave a special message to the nation. He said: "The journey ahead is uncharted. But we must press on, because we aspire to do better for ourselves and our children."

Singapore has come a long way in the past fifty years. It became independent from Britain when it was thrown out of the Federation of Malaysia. It was very poor back then but the leadership of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made Singapore wealthy. He died earlier this year. There was an empty seat for him at the parade. Singapore is the fourth most important global financial centre. It is the world's second busiest port. A woman said she felt sad that Mr Lee did not live long enough to see the anniversary. She said: "We definitely feel that something is missing this year."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ndp-2015--50-years-and-counting-143325681.html
  • http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singaporeans-celebrate-50th-national-day-with-nostalgic-and-touching-parade-at-the-padang
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33815132


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.

celebrated its

a.

country

2.

It became an independent

b.

better for ourselves

3.

The high point

c.

in the streets

4.

the largest fireworks

d.

since New Year's Eve

5.

Thousands of people gathered

e.

fiftieth birthday

6.

counting down

f.

year birthday

7.

mark the fifty-

g.

of the celebrations

8.

we aspire to do

h.

display ever seen



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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.

Singapore has come a long way

a.

then

2.

It became

b.

seat for him at the parade

3.

It was very poor back

c.

in the past fifty years

4.

Lee Kuan Yew made

d.

long enough

5.

There was an empty

e.

independent from Britain

6.

important global

f.

is missing this year

7.

Mr Lee did not live

g.

Singapore wealthy

8.

definitely feel that something

h.

financial centre

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Singapore (1) ___________________ fiftieth birthday. It became an independent country on August 8th, 1965. (2) ___________________ celebrations was the largest fireworks display ever seen in Singapore. Thousands (3) ___________________ in the streets. The country has been counting down since New Year's Eve. There have been hundreds of (4) ___________________ fifty-year birthday. Singapore's Prime Minister gave a special message to the nation. He said: "The journey (5) ___________________. But we must press on, because we (6) ___________________ for ourselves and our children."

Singapore has (7) ___________________ in the past fifty years. It became independent from Britain (8) ___________________ out of the Federation of Malaysia. It was very (9) ___________________ the leadership of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made Singapore wealthy. He (10) ___________________ year. There was an empty seat for him at the parade. Singapore is the fourth most important (11) ___________________. It is the world's second busiest port. A woman said she felt sad that Mr Lee did not live long enough to see the anniversary. She said: "We (12) ___________________ something is missing this year."

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Singaporehascelebrateditsfiftiethbirthday.Itbecameanindependent
countryonAugust8th,1965.Thehighpointofthecelebrationswasthela
rgestfireworksdisplayeverseeninSingapore.Thousandsofpeoplegat
heredinthestreets.ThecountryhasbeencountingdownsinceNewYear'
sEve.Therehavebeenhundredsofeventstomarkthefifty-yearbir
thday.Singapore'sPrimeMinistergaveaspecialmessagetothenation.
Hesaid:"Thejourneyaheadisuncharted.Butwemustpresson,because
weaspiretodobetterforourselvesandourchildren."Singaporehascom
ealongwayinthepastfiftyyears.ItbecameindependentfromBritainwh
enitwasthrownoutoftheFederationofMalaysia.Itwasverypoorbackth
enbuttheleadershipoffoundingPrimeMinisterLeeKuanYewmadeSing
aporewealthy.Hediedearlierthisyear.Therewasanemptyseatforhima
ttheparade.Singaporeisthefourthmostimportantglobalfinancialcent
re.Itistheworld'ssecondbusiestport.AwomansaidshefeltsadthatMrL
eedidnotlivelongenoughtoseetheanniversary.Shesaid:"Wedefinitel
yfeelthatsomethingismissingthisyear."

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 Singapore 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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