easy english news - shopify...easy english news supplementary activities contents to the teacher...

October, 2013

Easy English NEWS Supplementary Activities

Contents

To the Teacher

Cloze Exercises

Will Obamacare Affect You? Shopping for Groceries, Part One United Nations Day Columbus Day Ask Elizabeth About Measurements President Obama Speaks to Students Valley of Fire State Park Harry Houdini, Master Magician Syria in the News

Which Word Does not Belong?

Short Answer Tests Will Obama Care Affect You? Shopping for Groceries Events in October Ask Elizabeth About Measurements Valley of Fire State Park Harry Houdini, Master Magician Syria in the News

Answers

Wordsin black printwith a star (*)

are in WORD HELP

on page 12.

What’s Inside?

Elizabeth Claire’ s

NEWSEasy English

Events in October .....................2, 3This Is Your Page .........................4Ask Elizabeth: U.S. Measurements ..................5Obama Speaks to Students ...........5America the Beautiful: Valley of Fire ...........................6Heroes and History: Harry Houdini ..........................7Idiom Corner ................................8Funny Stuff ..................................8Crossword Puzzle .........................8Conversations in a Supermarket...........9Syria in the News .......................10Answers to Puzzle ......................11Let’s Talk About It .....................11Word Help ..................................12

Volume XIX Number 2October 2013See page 10 for prices and ordering information

Life in the U.S.A. Shopping for groceries*

An American supermarket is a big adventure* for newcomers. It takes time to learn where to find what you need. It takes

time to understand American food labels*, and how to prepare American food.

Before you shop, make a list of what

you need. Get a shopping cart*, and come with me!

Do you have a small child with you? Put the child in the safety seat in the shopping cart. Don’t leave your child alone in the cart. Don’t let the child stand up in the shopping cart. The cart can tip over*.

The supermarket has many aisles*. A sign tells what is in that aisle. The labels on canned foods and frozen foods have pictures that tell what is inside.

There are many different areas in a A woman shopping in a supermarket with her baby Bigstockphoto.com

supermarket. For example, there is a meat department, a dairy* department, a produce* department, a frozen-foods department, a paper goods* aisle, canned goods aisles, and others. There may be a delicatessen*, a bakery, and a florist*, too.

(Part one)The Patient* Protection and

Affordable* Care Act became a law on March 23, 2010. People often call it Obamacare*.

The government wants everyone to have health insurance* starting January 1, 2014.

There are many parts to the law. Some parts of the law are already working. For example, children up to the age of 26 can stay insured on their family’s health insurance plan.

Who will have health insurance?

People who work full-time for big companies (50+ employees) may have a health insurance plan with their employers

A grocery list Bigstockphoto.com

(continued on page 9)

Will Obamacare affect* you?or will get one by January 1, 2015.

Other people will buy insurance themselves. If their income* is low, the government will help them to pay for the cost of insurance.

People over 65 or disabled*, will get Medicare*.

People with very low income will get Medicaid*. After January 1, 2014, Medicaid will also cover adults

(continued on page 11)

A team of doctors and nurses perform surgery on a patient in an operating room. Bigstockphoto.com

who have no children. Until then, it covers only low-income children, their parents, and low-income disabled people.

©ElizabethClaire/Easy English NEWS October,2013.TeachersandsubscriberstoEasy English NEWSmayphotocopythesepagesforusewiththeirownclasses.Allotherrightsreserved.

To the Teacher

ThankyouforpurchasingthesupplementarytestsforEasy English NEWSforSeptember2013toJune2014.I’mhopingitwillsaveyoumanyhoursofworkeachmonthandwillhelpexpandyourstudentsreadingskills,vocabulary,andretentionofimportantinformation.

Youcangeteachmonth’seditionoftestsbygoingtothewebsite,loggingintoyouraccountandfindingthecurrenttestforthemonthbythefirstofthemonth.Yourone-timepaymentwillentitleyoutoallofthemonth’stestsduringtheschoolyearastheyareavailable.IfyoustartyoursubscriptiontoEasy English NEWS laterintheyear,orendyoursubscriptionbeforeJune,youcanstillgetthefullyear’ssupplyoftests...manyareusefulwithorwithoutEasy English NEWS.

Therearedozensofwaystousethetestsincludedinthissupplementarypacket.Experimenttoseewhichmethodsworkbestforyourclasses,oryoucanalternatewaysyouusethemtoprovidemorevarietyinlessons.SometechniqueswillbebetterforstudentswithlesscommandofEnglish,andothersappropriateforthosewithgreaterfluency.

CLOZE EXERCISES

Thepurposeoftheclozeexercisesistopresentasmallamountofimportantmaterialinanotherformattoenhancecomprehensionandretention,andreinforcevocabulary.

Theclozeexercisesmaybeusedbeforeorafterreadingthearticle.Theyaretakendirectlyfromarticlesinthepapersostudentscanchecktheirownorothers’workbyreferringbacktothearticle.Ifyouassignaclozeexercisebeforereadingthearticle,itservesasanintroductiontoreadingthefullarticle.Usethiswithstudentswithbetterreadingability.

Foradvancedstudents:Coverupthewordboxatthebottomofthepagebeforeduplicatingtheclozeexer-cises.Studentscanworkindividually,orinpairsorsmallgroups.

Asaspellingtest:Dictatethesentencesincludingthemissingwordforthestudentstowritein.

Ascopypractice:Studentscancopytheentireselec-tionforwritingpractice,fillinginthemissingwords.

WHICH WORD DOES NOT BELONG

Studentsthinkaboutthefourwordsineachitem,anddecidehowthreeofthewordsgotogetherwhileafourthonedoesnotfitinthecategory.Theanswerstothisarenotnecessarilyfirm,soitshouldn’tberegardedasawrittentest.It’sbesttohavestudentscircletheirchoices,andthendiscusstheminclass.Studentsshouldbeabletogivetheirreasonsforchoosingawordthatdoesn’tbelong.Anygoodreasonmakestheiranswercorrect.

Studentscanworkinsmallgroupstodiscussthereasonsfortheiranswers.Theycanwriteouttheirreasonsforthedecision.Teachthepattern:A,B,andDareall______.Cisnota_____.Or,B,C,andDareallkindsof______.Aisnot.OrYoucanfindA,B,andCina________.Andsoforth.

SHORT ANSWER TESTS.

Youmaygivethesetestsaspreteststolearnwhatstudentsalreadyknowaboutthetopicandagainasposttests.

Afterreadingthearticle,studentscanreadthequestionsaloudandgivetheanswersorally.

Youcanletthestudentsdothetestsas“openbook(newspaper)test”afterreadingthearticleinclassorforhomework.

Studentscanworkinpairsorgroupstocomeupwiththeanswersafterhavingreadthearticle.StudentscanusetheAnswerPagetocorrecttheirownorothers’answers.

Youcangivethesametestaweekormorelatertoevaluatetheretentionoftheinformation.

©Elizabeth Claire, Easy English NEWS.

Teachers may photocopy these pages for use with their own classes. All other rights reserved.

Name___________________________________________________ Date ___________________

Will Obamacare Affect You?

ThePatientProtectionandAffordableCareActbecamea____________________onMarch23,

2010.People____________________callitObamacare.

Thegovernmentwants____________________tohavehealthinsurancestartingJanuary1,2014.

Therearemany____________________tothelaw.Somepartsofthelaware

____________________working.Forexample,____________________uptotheageof26canstay

insuredontheirfamily’shealthinsuranceplan.

Whowillhavehealthinsurance?

Peoplewhoworkfull-timeforbigcompanies(50+employees)mayhaveahealthinsuranceplanwiththeir

____________________orwillgetonebyJanuary1,2015.

Otherpeoplewillbuyinsurance____________________.Iftheirincomeislow,the

____________________willhelpthemtopayforthecostofinsurance.

Peopleover65ordisabled,willget____________________

WORD BANK

themselves children Medicare law parts

often everyone employers government already

Easy English NEWS Cloze Exercises, October 2013

From October, 2013 Easy English NEWS ©Elizabeth Claire, Inc.

Name___________________________________________________ Date ___________________

Shopping for Groceries: Part 1

AnAmerican____________________isabigadventurefornewcomers.Ittakestimetolearnhowto

findwhatyou____________________.Ittakestimeto____________________Americanfoodlabels,

andhowtoprepareAmericanfood.Beforeyoushop,makea____________________ofwhatyou

need.Getashoppingcart,andcomewithme!

Doyouhaveasmall____________________withyou?Putthechildinthesafetyseatinthe

shoppingcart.Don’t____________________yourchildaloneinthecart.Don’tletthechildstandup

intheshoppingcart.Thecartcan____________________over.

Thesupermarkethasmany____________________.Asigntellswhatisinthataisle.Thelabelson

cannedfoodsand____________________foodshavepicturesthattellwhatisinside.

Therearemanydifferentareasinasupermarket.Forexample,thereisameatdepartment,adairy

department,a____________________department,afrozen-foodsdepartment,apapergoodsaisle,

cannedgoodsaisles,andothers.Theremaybeadelicatessen,abakery,andaflorist,too.

WORD BANKfrozen list aisles supermarket understand

need child produce tip leave


WORD BANKliteracy birthday member improve disasters

peace international human prevent World


Name_______________________________________ Date ________________

United Nations Day

October24isthe____________________oftheUnitedNations.TheU.N.beganwith51nations

in1945,attheendof____________________WarII.ThefoundershopedthattheU.N.couldkeep

____________________intheworld.Todaythereare193____________________nations.

TheU.N.hasotherpurposes:

•to____________________conditionsindevelopingcountries

•tohelpcoloniesgainindependencewithoutwar

•tosetstandardsof____________________law

•toincrease____________________

•to____________________famine

•tofightdisease

•toprotect____________________rightsaroundtheworld.

TheU.N.alsohelpspeoplewhentherearenatural____________________.

Name_________________________________________________ Date _____________________

Columbus Day

Thesecond____________________inOctoberisColumbusDay.Thisisadaytohonorthe

bold____________________ofthepastandpresent.Governmentofficesandmanybanksare

____________________.Some____________________areclosed.

OnOctober12,1492,____________________Columbuslandedina“NewWorld.”Hehadsailed

westfrom____________________,lookingforawaytogettoJapan,China,andIndia.Atthattime,

nooneinEuropeknewthatthereweretwo____________________ontheothersideoftheAtlantic

Ocean.

ManySpanish,Portuguese,French,Dutch,andEnglishpeoplecameto____________________in

theyearsafterColumbus“discovered”it.

ChristopherColumbussailedforthekingandqueenofSpain.However,Columbuswas

____________________.ItalianAmericanscelebratehimastheirhero.TheyorganizeColumbusDay

____________________inmanycities.

WORD BANK

schools Christopher Monday closed parades

Spain continents Italian America explorers


Name_________________________________________________ Date _____________________

Ask Elizabeth (About Measuring)

Wemeasureaperson’s____________________infeetandinches: Hector is five feet, eight

____________________ tall.

Weoftenleave____________________theword inches. Weusethe____________________,not

thepluralof foot. Wecansay, He’s five foot ____________________.

Small____________________maybemeasuredin inches: The baby is 19 inches long. The child is

33 inches ____________________.

Weuseinchesto____________________sizesforsomekindsofclothing:belts,men’spants,shirts,

andsuits,andladies’blousesand____________________.

Wealsouseinchestomeasurefurniture,curtains,tablecloths,andsheets: My curtains are 48 inches

____________________ and 63 inches long.

This table is 48 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 36 inches high.

WORD BANKeight inches tall wide measure

children singular height out sweaters


Name_________________________________________________ Date _____________________

President Obama Speaks to Students

“Iwanttotalkabouttheresponsibilityeachofyouhasforyour____________________.

“Everyoneofyouhas____________________thatyou’regoodat.Everysingleoneofyouhas

somethingto____________________.

“SoIwantto____________________allofyou,what’syourcontributiongoingtobe?What

____________________areyougoingtosolve?Whatdiscoverieswillyoumake?

“No____________________whatyouwanttodowithyourlife,I____________________that

you’llneedaneducationtodoit.Youcannotdropoutof____________________andjustdropintoa

goodjob.You’vegotto____________________foritandlearnforit.

“Americadependsonyou.Weneedeachofyoutodevelopyourtalentsandyourskillsandyour

mindssoyoucanhelpussolveourmost____________________problems.

WORD BANK

something problems work difficult ask

education matter school guarantee offer


Name_________________________________________________ Date _____________________

Valley of Fire State Park

ValleyofFireStateParkisinOverton,____________________.Itistheoldestand

____________________stateparkinNevada.

ThenameValleyofFirecomesfromthe____________________sandstonethere.Thesandstoneis

red____________________oftheironoxideinit.

For____________________ofyears,windhasshapedthesandstonetomakemanyinterestingrock

____________________.

ValleyofFireisintheMojave[mo-HAH-vee]____________________.Itgetsjustfourinchesof

____________________everyyear.Duringthesummer,____________________canreach120

degreesF.Springandfallarethebest____________________tovisitValleyofFire.

WORD BANKmillions Desert Nevada red seasons

temperatures largest because rain formations


Name_________________________________________________ Date _____________________

Harry Houdini, Master Magician

TheChineseWaterTortureCell

ManyofHoudini’sactswere____________________.Hisgreatest____________________act

wasthe“ChineseWaterTortureCell.”Alarge____________________boxonstagewasfilled

withwater.Houdini’s____________________puthandcuffsonhiswristsandchainsonhis

____________________.TheyloweredHoudini____________________thewaterupside-down.

Thentheyputa____________________overthebox.Thisscaredhis____________________.They

wereafraidhewould____________________ifhecouldn’tgetoutofhisunderwatertrap.Theywere

so____________________whenhecameoutsafely.

WORD BANKaudience into escape glass curtain

drown glad dangerous assistants feet


Name_________________________________________________ Date _____________________

Syria in the News

Acivil____________________hasbeengoingoninthecountryofSyriafortwoyears.Many

differentgroupsofSyriansarefightingagainstthegovernmentof____________________Basharal-

Assad.

SomefighterscametoSyriafromother____________________tohelptherebels.Oneofthese

groupsistheterroristorganization,____________________.Morethan100,000peoplehavediedin

thiswar.SixmillionSyrianshavehadtoleavetheir____________________.Twomillionofthem

haveleft____________________.TheyhavegonetoTurkey,Iraq,Egypt,Lebanon,Jordan,andItaly.

Thosecountriesdonothaveenoughspace,food,or____________________tohelptherefugees.

Peopleinmanycountriesare____________________.Poisongasrecentlykilledmorethana

thousandpeople,____________________manychildren.TherearereportsthatSyria’sgovernmentdid

it.Otherssaythattherebelsdidit.Theuseofpoisongasinwaris____________________.Butwho

arethepolicemenwhocanstopit?

WORD BANKforbidden alarmed Syria Al-Qaeda President

countries homes money including war


Name_______________________________________ Date ________________

October 2013: Which Word Does Not Belong?

Threewordsineachrowgotogether.Oneworddoesnotbelongwiththem.Drawacirclearoundthewordthatdoesnotbelong.Beabletoexplainyourreasons.

A B C D

1.healthinsurance hospital Obamacare Medicaid

2.debitcard shoppingcart checkoutcounter courtesydesk

3.dairy produce aisle delicatessen

4.barcode expresslane scanner receipt

5.storecredit refund money shelf

6.Vikings Columbus Steinbeck Irishsailors

7.witch ghost tradition jack-o’-lantern

8.inch acre foot yard

9.rattlesnake lizard tortoise bighornsheep

10.Italy Jordan Turkey Israel

11.talent skill ability challenge

12.picture petroglyph drawing writing


Name _______________________________________ Date ________________

Easy English NEWS Short-Answer Tests, October 2013

I. Will Obamacare Affect You?

1.WhatisthecorrectnameforObamacare?_______________________________________

__________________________________

2.BywhenwillAmericansneedtohavehealthinsurance?___________________________

3.Whowillsubsidizepeoplewhocannotaffordtobuyinsurance?_____________________

4.Whatkindofinsurancewilldisabledpeopleorpeopleover65get?__________________

5.Untilwhatagecanchildrenbeinsuredontheirparents’healthinsurance?_____________

6.Whatistheminimumtaxin2014forapersonwhodoesnothavehealthinsurance?______

7.Willillegalimmigrantshavetopaythetaxiftheydon’thaveinsurance?YESNO

8.Willthegovernmenthelppaythemedicalbillsforpeoplewithnoinsurance?YESNO

9.Musthospitalsgivelife-savingcareforpeoplewhohavenohealthinsurance?YESNO

10.Musthospitalsgivefreecaretopeoplewithnon-emergency illnesswhodonothave

insurance?YESNO

©ElizabethClaire/Easy English NEWS October,2013.TeachersandsubscriberstoEasy English NEWSmayphotocopythisquizforusewiththeirownclasses.Allotherrightsreserved.

Name _______________________________________ Date ________________

©ElizabethClaire/Easy English NEWS October,2013.TeachersandsubscriberstoEasy English NEWSmayphotocopythisquizforusewiththeirownclasses.

II. Shopping for Groceries

1.Whatcanyouputgroceriesinsoyoudon’thavetocarrytheminasupermarket?

_______________________________

2.Whatisthespacewhereyouwalkbetweensetsofshelvescalled?___________________

3.Inwhatdepartmentcanyoufindmilk?________________________

4.Inwhatdepartmentcanyoufindfruitandvegetables?________________________

5.Atwhatcountercanyoubuymeatformakingsandwiches?________________________

6.Wheredoyougowhenyouwanttoreturnsomethingtothestore?____________________

7.Whichcheckoutlanecanyouusewhenyouhaveonlytwoitems?___________________

8.Whatdoesthecashierscantogetthepriceofanitem?________________________

9.Afterpayingforyourgroceries,whatshouldyoukeep,incaseyouneedtoreturn

something?____________________________

10.Ifyougotothecourtesycountertoreturnsomethingyoupaidfor,whatmightyouget?

________________________ or___________________________________

Name _______________________________________ Date ________________

III. Events in October

1.WhatethnicgroupcelebratesisheritageandhistoryfromSeptember15toOctober14?

_______________________________________

2.WhatnationalgroupofAmericanscelebratesaspecialdayonOctober6?

_______________________

3.WhatholidayisthesecondMondayofOctober?__________________________________

4.WhatnationalitywasChristopherColumbus?____________________________________

5.OnwhatdaydidColumbuslandinthe“NewWorld?”_____________________________

6.WhendidpeoplefromAsiacrossoveralandbridgetoNorthAmerica?_______________

7.HowmanydifferentgroupsofpeoplewerelivinginAmericawhenColumbusarrived

here?___________________________

8.WhocametoNorthAmericaaroundtheyear600CE?_____________________________

9.WhatwasthenameoftheVikingsettlementinNorthAmerica?______________________

10.Whenwasthatsettlement?______________________________

11.Howlongdiditlast?_______________________________________


Name _______________________________________ Date ________________


12.WhatspecialweekisOctober6toOctober12?__________________________________

13.Howshouldstudentsleaveschoolduringafiredrill?___________________________________

14.Howoftenshouldyoutestyoursmokedetectors?______________________________

15.WhatimportantMuslimholidaybeginsOctober14?_______________________________

16.ThisEidcelebratestheactofaprophet.Who?___________________________________

17.WhatholidayisOctober31?______________________________________________

18.Whatdochildrensaywhentheygototheirneighbors’homesonthisholiday?

____________________________________________________

19.Whatdopeoplemakefromapumpkinonthisholiday?___________________________________

20.HowmanymembersarethereoftheUnitedNations?____________________________________

21.AfterwhatwardidtheUnitedNationsgetstarted?______________________________________

22.WhatarethesixofficiallanguagesoftheUnitedNations?________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

23.WhoistheSecretarygeneraloftheU.N.?______________________________________

24.WherearetheUnitedNationsgeneralheadquarters?_____________________________________

Events in October (continued)

IV. Ask Elizabeth (About Measurements)

1.WhatunitsofmeasuredoAmericansusefortellinghowtallapersonis?

________________________or______________________

2.WhatunitsofmeasuredoAmericansusetotalkaboutplaysinafootballgame?

_______________________________

3.Howmanyinchesareinonefoot?________________________

4.Howmanyfeetareinoneyard?________________________

5.Howmanyfeetareinamile?________________________

6.Howmanysquarefeetareinonesquareyard?________________________

7.Howmanyacresareinonesquaremile?________________________

8.Howmanyinchesareinoneyard?_______________

Name _______________________________________ Date ________________


Name _______________________________________ Date ________________


V. Valley of Fire State Park

1.InwhatstateisValleyofFireStatePark?________________________

2.Whatkindofstonegivestheparkitsname?_________________________

3.Howhighdothetemperaturesgointhesummer?_____________

4._________________________________________arepicturesthatsomeonedrewonthe

rocksthousandsofyearsago.

5.Whatcausedtheinterestingrockformations?_________________________


VI. Harry Houdini, Master Magician1.WherewasHoudiniborn?___________________________________

2.Whatwashisrealname?_____________________________________

3.HowoldwasHoudiniwhenheleftschool?_________________________________

4.WhodidHoudinimarry?____________________________________

5.WhatwasHoudini’sgreatestescapeact?__________________________________

6.Whodospiritualmediumssaytheycancontact?______________________________

7.WhatdidHoudinigiveBesssoshewouldknowasigncamefromhim?______________

8.WhatrupturedwhenayoungmanhitHoudiniinthestomach?_______________________

9.HowmuchdidHoudini’swifeoffertoanymediumwhocouldcontactherhusband?

______________________________________

10.OnwhatdaydomagiciansholdseancestotrytocontactthespiritofHoudini?

________________________________________

Name _______________________________________ Date ________________

VII. Syria in the News

1.WhoisthepresidentofSyria?_____________________________________

2.WhatishappeninginSyria?______________________________________

3.Howmanypeoplehavediedinthewar?____________________________

4.HowmanySyrianshavehadtoleavetheirhomes?_____________________________

5.HowmanySyriansleftthecountry?_____________________________

6.WhatcountriesarenexttoSyria?____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7.WhatkilledmorethanathousandpeopleinSyriaandalarmedmanypeoplearoundthe

world?____________________________________

Name _______________________________________ Date ________________


I. How Will Obamacare Affect You?

1.ThePatientProtectionandAffordableCareAct2.January1,20143.thegovernment4.Medicare5.266.$957.No8.No9.Yes10.No

II. Shopping for Groceries

1.shoppingcart2.aisle3.dairy4.produce6.courtesydesk7delicatessen(deli)8.expresslane9.barcode10.receipt11.refundorastorecredit

III. Events in October

1.Hispanic2.German3.ColumbusDay4.Italian5.October12,14926.20,000yearsago7.3,0008.Irish9.Vinland10.986CE11.16years12.FirePreventionWeek13.quicklyandquietly14.onceamonth15.Eidal-Adha16.Abraham17.Halloween18.Trickortreat

19.jack-o’-lantern20.19321.WorldWarII22.English,French,Spanish,Russian,Chinese,Arabic23.BanKi-moon24.NewYorkCity

IV. Ask Elizabeth (About Measurements)

1.feetandinches2.yards3.124.35.5,2806.97.6408.36

V. Valley of Fire State Park

1.Nevada2.sandstone3.120degreesF.4.petroglyphs5.winderosion

VI. Harry Houdini, Master Magician

1.Hungary2.ErikWeisz3.12yearsold4.BessRahner5.ChineseWaterTortureCell6.thedead;peoplewhodied7.asecretcodeword8.hisappendix9.$10,00010.Halloween

VII Syria in the News

1.Basharal-Assad2.civilwar3.100,0004.6,000,0005.2,000,.0006.Jordan,Lebanon,Israel,Turkey,Iraq7.Poisongas

October 2013 Answers to Easy English NEWS

Short-Answer Tests


easy english news - shopify...easy english news supplementary activities contents to the teacher...

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