Vacation: Comprehension

Vacation pack:  comprehension.

A: From Pupil Book by Rooke and Law, p.p. 39-41. Basic answers.

P.40, (Please note that the grammar part is not included here.)

Top Block (2)

1. Question: are both reports balanced?

CRITERIA	REPORT A	REPORT B
-       In terms of giving both sides of the story	Yes. The manager of the losing team is given the opportunity to speak, and the space is sort of equally divided between both teams.	No, because the victories of Maradona are overly-represented, while giving little voice to the British team.
-       Using langue that is exaggerated or unfair.	No. Adjectives are kept to a bare minimum. The language is also tempered in describing England’s failure to carry on in the world cup.	Yes. Abundant praise and the usage of expressions such as, “stunning victory”; “The greatest” and  “glittering brilliance” show bias and lack of the ability to stick to facts.
-       Fair selection of info. (Left out / left to the end?)	Yes. Each goal is given a paragraph on its own.	The dubiousness of the first goal of Maradona is dismissed with, “… anyone can see the ref knew what he was doing”, while his second goal gets to be discussed at length with an over-dose of adjectives. The goal by the British player has been totally omitted.
-       Journalists’ opinions	Negligible, if any.	Journalist blatantly supports Maradona with expressions such as, “I thought Maradona was better.”

2. No, because the trainee shows personal bias and does not stick to information that could be verified.

3. (i) Focus on facts. (ii) Discuss the victories of both sides. (iii) Refrain from giving your own opinion.

WEEK 2: COMPREHENSION. Pupil Book by Rooke and Law, p.p. 71-72.

Answer questions on p. 72.

BLUE BLOCK

1.     A Walking Bus is a system that operates like a bus, in the sense that people (in this case, kids) join along the route (in this case, to school). Like a usual bus, there are adult supervisors. However, since everyone is walking instead of riding, there is no driver.

2.     25 minutes.

3.     In autumn.

4.     The Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Sittingbourne.

5.     The make the day of the launch extra-special.

GREEN BLOCK

1.     Report

2.     There was a special ceremony where each participant got a certificate for their efforts in making it work. Afterwards, the sponsors and supporters enjoyed a fine meal.

3.     Excited; loved; special; enjoyed; Walking Bus song; chanted; achievement.

4.     Yes, because it shows the happy group in their safety tabards with the dignitaries in front and the other supporters behind.

5.     (I want to see your own contributions here, Level 6!)

RED BLOCK

1.     The kids were happy to put on (and wear!) their safety jackets.

2.     The traffic outside the school is not as excessive as before.

3.     Improved health of the pupils and their supervisors, increased “green living” by lowering levels of pollution, and savings in terms of transport costs.

4.     They established a committee that determined the route (by getting information from parents and bus drivers); contacted the municipal authorities to inform them of their plans; established a fund for the tabards, and joined the launch on the first day.

5.     The walk went as planned, and was enjoyed by everyone.