Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on International Literacy Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
September 8 is a very important day all around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the importance of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim is to focus on how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for each country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the past few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other kinds of information technology.
Around 780 million adults in the world today lack basic literacy skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and two-thirds of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear relation between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with low literacy rates. Literacy affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read health warnings are less likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can save lives.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
a very important day all
a.
rates
2
it highlights the importance
b.
use computers
3.
statistics for literacy
c.
around the world
4.
a key sign of how developed
d.
information technology
5.
the ability to be able to
e.
of reading
6.
other kinds of
f.
a society is
Paragraph 2
1.
lack basic
a.
are women
2
two-thirds of these
b.
and severe poverty
3.
the highest rates
c.
literacy skills
4.
a clear relation between illiteracy
d.
killer diseases
5.
more discrimination
e.
of illiteracy
6.
less likely to catch
f.
against women
LISTENING GAP FILL
September 8 is a very important day all around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it _____________________ of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its _____________________ how important reading, writing _____________________ individuals, as well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO _____________________ the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for each country. Literacy _____________________ developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the past few decades. It now includes _____________________ to use computers and other kinds of information technology.
Around 780 million adults in the world _____________________ skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and _____________________ women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there _____________________ between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries _____________________. Literacy affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People _____________________ health warnings are less likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. _____________________.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
September 8 is a very important day ___________ around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it ___________ the importance of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its ___________ is to focus on how important reading, writing and ___________ are to individuals, as well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the ___________ of literacy and provides statistics for literacy ___________ for each country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the ___________ few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other ___________ of information technology.
rates numeracy past highlights all kinds aim status
Around 780 million adults in the world today ___________ basic literacy skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and two-___________ of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, ___________ by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear ___________ between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with ___________ literacy rates. Literacy affects many ___________ of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read health warnings are ___________ likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can ___________ lives.
low followed less lack save thirds aspects relation
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
September 8 is a very important day all / every around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the importance of / by reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim / aiming is to focus on how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as good / well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status / statues of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for each country. Literacy is a key sign / signs of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot under / over the past few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other kind / kinds of information technology.
Around 780 million adults in the world today lack / less basic literacy skills. One in / on five adults is illiterate, and two-thirds of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed / following by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear / clearly relation between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination for / against women in countries with low literacy rates. Literacy effects / affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read healthy / health warnings are less likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can save / saving lives.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
September 8 is a very important day (1) ____ around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the importance (2) ____ reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim is to focus (3) ____ how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as well as to societies and (4) ____. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for (5) ____ country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the (6) ____ few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other kinds of information technology.
Around 780 million adults in the world today (7) ____ basic literacy skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and two-thirds of (8) ____ are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a (9) ____ relation between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with low literacy rates. Literacy (10) ____ many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read health warnings are less (11) ____ to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can (12) ____ lives.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
every
(b)
each
(c)
all
(d)
whole
2.
(a)
of
(b)
by
(c)
at
(d)
to
3.
(a)
on
(b)
in
(c)
by
(d)
with
4.
(a)
nationality
(b)
national
(c)
nationalize
(d)
nations
5.
(a)
per
(b)
among
(c)
each
(d)
all
6.
(a)
past
(b)
parsed
(c)
passed
(d)
psst
7.
(a)
lacking
(b)
lack
(c)
lack of
(d)
lacks
8.
(a)
them
(b)
they
(c)
these
(d)
us
9.
(a)
clearly
(b)
cleared
(c)
clears
(d)
clear
10.
(a)
effects
(b)
affords
(c)
affronts
(d)
affects
11.
(a)
liked
(b)
likely
(c)
likes
(d)
likelihood
12.
(a)
saving
(b)
save
(c)
savings
(d)
savior
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
all uadrno the world.
2.
writing and ncuryaem
3.
the ttssau of literacy
4.
literacy rsaet
5.
the past few ecasedd
6.
information nhgeooctly
Paragraph 2
7.
lack caisb literacy skills
8.
two-dtsrih of these are women
9.
ewfldloo by sub-Saharan Africa
10.
discrimination siaagnt women
11.
Literacy affects many astpcse of a society
12.
less likely to catch rlklei diseases
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
use computers and other kinds of information technology.
( )
likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can save lives.
( )
rates for each country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has
( )
rates. Literacy affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for
( )
is to focus on how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as well
( )
as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy
( )
illiterate, and two-thirds of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west
( )
importance of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim
( )
Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear relation between
( )
illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with low literacy
( )
developed a lot over the past few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to
( )
International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read health warnings are less
( 1 )
September 8 is a very important day all around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the
( )
Around 780 million adults in the world today lack basic literacy skills. One in five adults is
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
day all A around very the important world.
2.
the of highlights importance reading It.
3.
literacy for Statistics country each for rates.
4.
lot decades over the Developed past a few.
5.
technology information of kinds other and Computers.
6.
One five is in adults illiterate.
7.
A and clear severe relation poverty between illiteracy.
8.
There more against is discrimination women.
9.
many affects Literacy society a of aspects.
10.
diseases Less to killer likely catch.
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
Write five questions about International Literacy 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 International Literacy 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 International Literacy Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about International Literacy 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 International Literacy 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.
