The Reading / Listening - Level 2

British people will soon vote on 'Brexit' - whether or not to stay in or leave the European Union (EU). 'Brexit' means Britain's, or British, exit. It is a big issue for Europe. People have strong feelings about leaving and staying. A group of 13 scientists has come together in support of staying. They are all Nobel Prize winners. The group says leaving the EU would be a "key risk" to British science. A spokesman said it was important for science that Britain stayed in Europe. He said: "Inside the EU, Britain helps steer the biggest scientific powerhouse in the world."

A top British scientist, Stephen Hawking, said Brexit would be, "a disaster for UK science". Other scientists say that Britain would get less money from the EU for research. British scientists may not work as often or as closely with European colleagues. Professor Hawking said young European scientists come to Britain to work, but this could slow down after a Brexit. However, the campaign group Scientists For Britain says Brexit would be better for British science. It says that the UK would not suffer financially from Brexit. It could still get research money from the EU.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36505736
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/06/10/13-nobel-laureates-urge-britain-to-stay-in-european-union/
  • http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-science-idUKKCN0YX05C


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. British people will soon
  2. whether or not to stay
  3. It is a big
  4. People have strong
  5. A group of 13 scientists
  6. a key risk
  7. it was important
  8. the biggest scientific
  1. has come together
  2. feelings
  3. powerhouse
  4. for science
  5. vote on 'Brexit'
  6. issue for Europe
  7. to British science
  8. in or leave

Paragraph 2

  1. A top
  2. Brexit would be a
  3. Britain would get
  4. money from the EU
  5. scientists may not work as often
  6. this could slow
  7. campaign
  8. the UK would not suffer
  1. disaster for UK science
  2. group
  3. or as closely
  4. financially
  5. less
  6. British scientist
  7. down after a Brexit
  8. for research

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

British people (1) ___________________ 'Brexit' - whether or not to stay in or leave the European Union (EU). 'Brexit' means Britain's, or British, exit. (2) ___________________ for Europe. People have (3) ___________________ leaving and staying. A group of 13 scientists has come together (4) __________________ staying. They are all Nobel Prize winners. The group says leaving the EU would (5) ___________________ British science. A spokesman said it was important for science that Britain stayed in Europe. He said: "Inside the EU, Britain (6) _________________ biggest scientific powerhouse in the world."

A top British scientist, Stephen Hawking, said Brexit would be, "a (7) ___________________ science". Other scientists say that Britain would (8) ___________________ from the EU for research. British scientists may not work as often (9) ___________________ European colleagues. Professor Hawking said young European scientists come to Britain to work, but (10) ___________________ after a Brexit. However, the campaign group Scientists For Britain says Brexit (11) ___________________ for British science. It says that the UK would not (12) ___________________ from Brexit. It could still get research money from the EU.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Britishpeoplewillsoonvoteon'Brexit'-whetherornottostayinorleav
etheEuropeanUnion(EU).'Brexit'meansBritain's,orBritish,exit.Itisab
igissueforEurope.Peoplehavestrongfeelingsaboutleavingandstayin
g.Agroupof13scientistshascometogetherinsupportofstaying.Theyar
eallNobelPrizewinners.ThegroupsaysleavingtheEUwouldbea"keyris
k"toBritishscience.Aspokesmansaiditwasimportantforsciencetha
tBritainstayedinEurope.Hesaid:"InsidetheEU,Britainhelpssteertheb
iggestscientificpowerhouseintheworld."AtopBritishscientist,Stephe
nHawking,saidBrexitwouldbe,"adisasterforUKscience".Otherscienti
stssaythatBritainwouldgetlessmoneyfromtheEUforresearch.British
scientistsmaynotworkasoftenorascloselywithEuropeancolleagues.P
rofessorHawkingsaidyoungEuropeanscientistscometoBritaintowork
,butthiscouldslowdownafteraBrexit.However,thecampaigngroupSci
entistsForBritainsaysBrexitwouldbebetterforBritishscience.Itsaysth
attheUKwouldnotsufferfinanciallyfromBrexit.Itcouldstillgetresearch
moneyfromtheEU.

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

Write about this topic 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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