Άρθρα με ετικέτα comprehension

Stop Ebola! Learn And Talk About It.

knowledge quote

You probably have been hearing a lot of alarming stories about Ebola lately. There is an outbreak of this virus disease in west Africa and it seems to be spreading, infecting thousands of people. A number of them unfortunately have died. There have also been confirmed  transmission cases in the USA and Europe.

Although these facts create a lot of fear and anxiety, the truth is that people all over the world are taking measures to stop it and treat those who are sick. According to the World Health Organisation there are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but two potential candidates are undergoing evaluation.We can also protect ourselves by taking simple steps like washing our hands regularly. The best thing to do is get informed, because “false knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance”.

Read some relevant articles at

dogonews.com    (there are comprehension and challenge questions at the end of this article)

kidshealth.org

student.societyforscience.org    (there is glossary for relevant vocabulary)

timeforkids.com

Lesson plan for teachers at pbs.org

Poster: ebolaposter_dosanddonts-update_unicef_final_16042014   from  CDC.gov (www.cdc.gov)  is your online source for credible health information and is the official Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

 

May Day in Australia – An Article from the 80’s

1st may

Click here to go to a news.google.com/newspapers page. Scroll to the middle of the page to find the article titled «May Day» which was published  in The Age, 1 May, 1981. You can decrease or enlarge the page by clicking on the magnifying button.

Read the article and do the following tasks:

A) Match the words with their definition:

  1. tenuous                           to allow
  2. inciting                            summarizing  
  3. institution                       to start, to open      
  4. to grant                           fixture
  5. to launch                         urging 
  6. outlining                          weak,questionable

B) Answer the questions

  1. Why was the International Workers’ Day first held?
  2. Where and when did the International Workers’ Day first begin?
  3. Who organized the march?
  4. What happened during the march?
  5. Why were four union leaders arrested and hanged?
  6. Why do we celebrate the International Workers’ Day?

C) True or False?

  1. In many countries May Day is an official out of work day for the citizens.
  2. Australia was a pioneer in allowing 8 hours work a day. 
  3. In Australia the 8 hours work demand started by people working in Melbourne’s Parliament.
  4. In Australia the 8 hours work demand started with a strike.

D) Answer briefly

  1. How does the writer explain the  “more casual approach” to celebrating May Day in Australia?
  2. How did “stubbornness” help workers in Australia establish 8 hours work a day?

Answers

A)

  1. tenuous                           weak,questionable
  2. inciting                            urging
  3. institution                      fixture
  4. to grant                           to allow
  5. to launch                        to start, to open
  6. outlining                         summarizing

B)

  1. It was a demostration aiming to establish 8 hours work a day.
  2. It began in Chicago on 1 May 1886.
  3. The march was organized by American and Canadian trade union leaders.
  4. Six workers were shot dead by the police.
  5. They were accused of causing violence and political subversion.
  6. To honor and commemorate the 1886 workers’ struggle and sacrifice to establish an eight-hour work day.

C)

  1. True
  2. True
  3. False
  4. True

D) (suggested answers)

  1. The writer thinks that May Day in Australia isn’t celebrated in a solemn way, because labor rights were won easily.
  2. They collectively stopped working and made it clear that they would not go back to work until their demands were met. This attitude made the emloyers give in.

These exercises are my personal work aiming to provide esl/efl practice for use at home or in the classroom. They are not for commercial use. If you happen to like them, please do not redistribute, but rather suggest a link back to this page.

photo credit: pixabay.com