Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Freedom Of Information Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Freedom of Information Day is celebrated every year on March 16. This is the day on which the 4th United States President James Madison was born. He was behind America’s Bill of Rights, which encourages government to be open and honest with its people. James Madison died in 1836 and it took 130 years following his death for the Freedom of Information Act to pass into law in 1966. The Act changed the way the people had access to government information from a need to know basis to a right to know basis. It meant government became more transparent and less corrupt. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution that made March 16 Freedom of Information Day.
What information is it exactly that people should have free access to? Freedom of information is many things. It is the accessibility of information held by governments. This is never total freedom. Ronald Reagan said that some privacy and secrecy was necessary to protect national interests. There is also the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the Internet and information technology. This is often called digital rights. These are so new there are many issues that are difficult to resolve. Freedom of information also concerns censorship on the Web, another minefield for legislators to deal with. In an age where information gives people power, it is more and more important to be aware of this day.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
celebrated every
a.
and less corrupt
2
encourages government to be open
b.
year on March 16
3.
it took 130 years
c.
a resolution
4.
the way the people had access to
d.
following his death
5.
government became more transparent
e.
and honest with its people
6.
Ronald Reagan signed
f.
government information
Paragraph 2
1.
Freedom of information is
a.
people power
2
privacy and secrecy was necessary to
b.
many things
3.
the right to freedom
c.
aware of this day
4.
many issues that are difficult
d.
protect national interests
5.
an age where information gives
e.
to resolve
6.
it is more and more important to be
f.
of expression
LISTENING GAP FILL
Freedom of Information Day is celebrated _________________ March 16. This is the day on which the 4th United States President James Madison was born. _________________ America’s Bill of Rights, which encourages government to be open and honest with its people. James Madison died in 1836 and it took 130 years _________________ for the Freedom of Information Act to pass into law in 1966. The Act changed the way the _________________ to government information from a need to know _________________ to know basis. It meant government became more transparent _________________. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution that made March 16 Freedom of Information Day.
What information _________________ people should have free access to? Freedom of information is many things. It is the accessibility of information held by governments. _________________ freedom. Ronald Reagan said that some privacy and secrecy was necessary to protect national interests. There is also the protection of the right to ___________________ with regards to the Internet and information technology. This is often called digital rights. These _________________ are many issues that are difficult to resolve. Freedom of information also concerns censorship on the Web, another minefield for legislators _________________. In an age where information gives people power, it is more and more important to be _________________.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Freedom of Information Day is celebrated every year on March 16. This is the day on __________ the 4th United States President James Madison was born. He was __________ America’s Bill of Rights, which encourages government to be open and __________ with its people. James Madison died in 1836 and it took 130 years following his death for the Freedom of Information Act to __________ into law in 1966. The Act changed the way the __________ had access to government information from a need to know __________ to a right to know basis. It meant government became more transparent and __________ corrupt. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan __________ a resolution that made March 16 Freedom of Information Day.
basis behind signed pass which less people honest
What information is it exactly that people should have __________ access to? Freedom of information is many __________. It is the accessibility of information held by governments. This is never __________ freedom. Ronald Reagan said that some privacy and secrecy was necessary to __________ national interests. There is also the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the Internet and information technology. This is often called __________ rights. These are so new there are many issues that are difficult to resolve. Freedom of information also __________ censorship on the Web, another minefield for legislators to __________ with. In an age where information gives people power, it is more and more important to be __________ of this day.
digital aware protect things deal free concerns total
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Freedom of Information Day is celebration / celebrated every year on March 16. This is the day on which / when the 4th United States President James Madison was born. He was behind / late America’s Bill of Rights, which encourages government to be open and honesty / honest with its people. James Madison died in 1836 and it took 130 years following / follow his death for the Freedom of Information Act to pass into law in 1966. The Act changed the way the people had access to government information from a need / needy to know basis to a right to know basis. It meant government became more transparent and less corruption / corrupt. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution / revolution that made March 16 Freedom of Information Day.
What information is it exactly / exact that people should have free access to? Freedom of information is many thing / things. It is the accessibility of information held by governments. This is never total freedom. Ronald Reagan said that some private / privacy and secrecy was necessary to protect national interest / interests. There is also the protection of the right to freedom of expression with / by regards to the Internet and information technology. This is often called digital / digit rights. These are so new there are many issues that are difficult to resolve. Freedom of information also concerns censorship on the Web, another minefield for legislators to deal for / with. In an age where information gives people power, it is more and more important to be aware / awareness of this day.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Freedom of Information Day is (1) ____ every year on March 16. This is the day on which the 4th United States President James Madison was born. He was (2) ____ America’s Bill of Rights, which encourages government to be open and honest with its people. James Madison (3) ____ in 1836 and it took 130 years following his death for the Freedom of Information Act to pass (4) ____ law in 1966. The Act changed the way the people had access to government information from a need to know basis to a (5) ____ to know basis. It meant government became more transparent and less corrupt. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan (6) ____ a resolution that made March 16 Freedom of Information Day.
What information is it (7) ____ that people should have free access to? Freedom of information is many things. It is the accessibility of information held by governments. This is never (8) ____ freedom. Ronald Reagan said that some privacy and secrecy was necessary to protect national interests. There is also the protection of the right to freedom (9) ____ expression with regards to the Internet and information technology. This is often called digital rights. These are so new there are many (10) ____ that are difficult to resolve. Freedom of information also concerns censorship on the Web, another minefield for legislators to (11) ____ with. In an age where information gives people power, it is more and more (12) ____ to be aware of this day.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
celebration
(b)
celebrated
(c)
celebrated
(d)
celebrates
2.
(a)
behind
(b)
late
(c)
rear
(d)
follow
3.
(a)
death
(b)
die
(c)
died
(d)
dead
4.
(a)
onto
(b)
into
(c)
so to
(d)
on
5.
(a)
rights
(b)
write
(c)
rite
(d)
right
6.
(a)
singed
(b)
signed
(c)
signs
(d)
signing
7.
(a)
exactly
(b)
exact
(c)
exacts
(d)
exacted
8.
(a)
totally
(b)
total
(c)
totals
(d)
totaled
9.
(a)
at
(b)
so
(c)
on
(d)
of
10.
(a)
issue
(b)
issued
(c)
issues
(d)
issuing
11.
(a)
deal
(b)
dealt
(c)
dealer
(d)
deals
12.
(a)
importance
(b)
importantly
(c)
imported
(d)
important
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
eaecebtrdl every year
2.
gfloiwonl his death
3.
people had scsace to government
4.
a need to know siasb
5.
less rpcuotr
6.
Ronald Reagan sdnieg a resolution
Paragraph 2
7.
many tsihgn
8.
iltaonan interests
9.
freedom of sspenrxioe
10.
difficult to olevrse
11.
information gives people rwope
12.
be waare of this day
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
issues that are difficult to resolve. Freedom of information also concerns censorship on the Web, another minefield for
( )
governments. This is never total freedom. Ronald Reagan said that some privacy and secrecy was necessary to
( )
more transparent and less corrupt. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a
( )
legislators to deal with. In an age where information gives people power, it is more and more important to be aware of this day.
( )
Internet and information technology. This is often called digital rights. These are so new there are many
( )
Freedom of Information Act to pass into law in 1966. The Act changed the way the people had access to
( )
government information from a need to know basis to a right to know basis. It meant government became
( )
have free access to? Freedom of information is many things. It is the accessibility of information held by
( )
and honest with its people. James Madison died in 1836 and it took 130 years following his death for the
( )
protect national interests. There is also the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the
( 1 )
Freedom of Information Day is celebrated every year on March 16. This is the day on which the 4th United States
( )
President James Madison was born. He was behind America’s Bill of Rights, which encourages government to be open
( )
resolution that made March 16 Freedom of Information Day.
( )
What information is it exactly that people should
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
Write five questions about Freedom of Information Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1
_____________
STUDENT 2
_____________
STUDENT 3
_____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
WRITING
Write about Freedom of Information Day for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Freedom of Information Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Freedom of Information Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Freedom of Information Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
