Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on World Habitat Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
The first Monday in October each year is World Habitat Day. It was started by the United Nations. The UN said the idea is for us to “reaffirm that adequate shelter is a basic human right”. It also said we must “focus on the conditions of cities and towns…to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future”. The UN hopes this day will play a part in changing the future. The organization asks the world to “join us in support of World Habitat Day, as we raise our voices and declare that the lack of decent, affordable housing is unacceptable.” It says: “Durable, adequate housing can and should be made a priority everywhere- in your community, in your town, in your country, in our world.”
The United Nations is focusing on planning our urban future. It hopes to raise awareness of the need to improve the way designers build new towns and cities. There are major new challenges in the 21st century. For many people, housing is a serious problem. One-third of those who live in cities (one billion people) live in slums. They have no access to clean water or sanitation. These unhealthy conditions lead to disease and many social problems. Many cities and towns are also feeling the effects of climate change, population growth and economic instability. Many people lost their homes in the 2008-2009 financial crisis. World Habitat Day is a time to focus on these problems and to start working on solutions.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
adequate shelter is a basic
a.
part
2
collective
b.
housing
3.
play a
c.
voices
4.
raise our
d.
human right
5.
affordable
e.
a priority
6.
should be made
f.
responsibility
Paragraph 2
1.
planning our
a.
build new towns
2
the way designers
b.
of climate change
3.
no access to clean water
c.
conditions
4.
unhealthy
d.
urban future
5.
feeling the effects
e.
on solutions
6.
start working
f.
or sanitation
LISTENING GAP FILL
The first Monday in October each year is World Habitat Day. It __________________ United Nations. The UN said the idea is for us to “reaffirm that adequate shelter __________________ right”. It also said we must “focus on the conditions of cities and towns…to remind __________________ collective responsibility for the future”. The UN hopes this day will play a part in changing the future. The organization asks the world to “join __________________ World Habitat Day, as we raise our voices and declare that the lack of decent, affordable housing is unacceptable.” It says: “Durable, __________________ and should __________________ everywhere- in your community, in your town, in your country, in our world.”
The United Nations is focusing on planning __________________. It hopes to raise awareness of the need to improve the way designers build new towns and cities. There are __________________ in the 21st century. For many people, housing is a serious problem. One-third of those who live in cities (one billion people) __________________. They have no access to clean water or sanitation. These unhealthy conditions lead to disease and many social problems. Many cities and towns are also __________________ of climate change, population growth and economic instability. Many __________________ homes in the 2008-2009 financial crisis. World Habitat Day is a time to focus on these problems and to start __________________.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
The first Monday in October ____________ year is World Habitat Day. It was started by the United Nations. The UN said the idea is for us to “reaffirm that adequate ____________ is a basic human right”. It also said we must “focus on the conditions of cities and towns…to ____________ the world of its collective responsibility for the future”. The UN hopes this day will play a ____________ in changing the future. The organization asks the world to “join us in support of World Habitat Day, as we ____________ our voices and declare that the lack of ____________, affordable housing is unacceptable.” It says: “Durable, ____________ housing can and should be made a ____________ everywhere- in your community, in your town, in your country, in our world.”
remind raise adequate each shelter priority part decent
The United Nations is focusing on planning our ____________ future. It hopes to raise awareness of the need to improve the ____________ designers build new towns and cities. There are major new ____________ in the 21st century. For many people, housing is a serious problem. One-third of those who live in cities (one billion people) live in ____________. They have no access to clean water or sanitation. These unhealthy conditions ____________ to disease and many social problems. Many cities and towns are also feeling the ____________ of climate change, population growth and economic instability. Many people lost their homes in the 2008-2009 financial ____________. World Habitat Day is a time to focus on these problems and to start ____________ on solutions.
lead urban effects challenges working slums way crisis
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
The first Monday in October all / each year is World Habitat Day. It was started by the United Nations. The UN said the idea is for us to “reaffirm that adequate / adequately shelter is a basic human right”. It also said we must “focus on / in the conditions of cities and towns…to remind the world of its collective / collection responsibility for the future”. The UN hopes this day will play a party / part in changing the future. The organization asks the world to “join us in supportive / support of World Habitat Day, as we raise our voices and declare that the lack of decent, afforded / affordable housing is unacceptable.” It says: “Durable, adequate housing can and should be made a prioritize / priority everywhere- in your community, in your town, in your country, in our world.”
The United Nations is focusing on / in planning our urban future. It hopes to rise / raise awareness of the need to improve the way designers build new towns and cities. There are majority / major new challenges in the 21st century. For many people, housing is a serious problem. One-third of those who live in cities (one billion people) live in slams / slums. They have no access to clean water or sanitary / sanitation. These unhealthy conditions lead to disease and many social problems. Many cities and towns are also feeling the affects / effects of climate change, population growing / growth and economic instability. Many people lost their homes in the 2008-2009 financial crisis. World Habitat Day is a time to focus on these problems and to start working on solutions / solves.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
The first Monday in October (1) ____ year is World Habitat Day. It was started by the United Nations. The UN said the (2) ____ is for us to “reaffirm that adequate shelter is a basic human right”. It also said we must “focus on the conditions of cities and towns…to (3) ____ the world of its collective responsibility for the future”. The UN hopes this day will play a part in changing the future. The organization (4) ____ the world to “join us in support of World Habitat Day, as we raise our voices and declare that the lack of (5) ____, affordable housing is unacceptable.” It says: “Durable, adequate housing can and should be (6) ____ a priority everywhere- in your community, in your town, in your country, in our world.”
The United Nations is focusing on planning our urban future. It hopes to (7) ____ awareness of the need to improve the way designers build new towns and cities. There are (8) ____ new challenges in the 21st century. For many people, housing is a serious problem. One-(9) ____ of those who live in cities (one billion people) live in slums. They have no access to clean water or sanitation. These unhealthy conditions lead to disease and many (10) ____ problems. Many cities and towns are also feeling the effects of climate change, population (11) ____ and economic instability. Many people lost their homes in the 2008-2009 financial crisis. World Habitat Day is a time to focus on these problems and to start (12) ____ on solutions.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
all
(b)
each
(c)
whole
(d)
entire
2.
(a)
ideas
(b)
ideals
(c)
ideally
(d)
idea
3.
(a)
remind
(b)
remember
(c)
memorize
(d)
memories
4.
(a)
orders
(b)
speaks
(c)
asks
(d)
talks
5.
(a)
recently
(b)
descend
(c)
decently
(d)
decent
6.
(a)
done
(b)
made
(c)
taken
(d)
putting
7.
(a)
raise
(b)
rise
(c)
up
(d)
heighten
8.
(a)
majority
(b)
majority
(c)
major
(d)
majors
9.
(a)
third
(b)
three
(c)
thirty
(d)
thirds
10.
(a)
socially
(b)
social
(c)
socialize
(d)
socials
11.
(a)
growing
(b)
growers
(c)
grown
(d)
growth
12.
(a)
worker
(b)
workable
(c)
working
(d)
workaholic
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a icbas human right
2.
the nsdtiocnio of cities
3.
nggniach the future
4.
raise our soivce
5.
eqaudaet housing
6.
in your mncmyotiu
Paragraph 2
7.
planning our urnba future
8.
the need to oirevmp
9.
a isrusoe problem
10.
no ccases to clean water
11.
the ectsfef of climate change
12.
working on uoitolnss
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
The United Nations is focusing on planning our urban future. It hopes to raise
( )
2008-2009 financial crisis. World Habitat Day is a time to focus on these problems and to start working on solutions.
( )
of cities and towns…to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future”. The UN hopes this day will
( )
awareness of the need to improve the way designers build new towns and cities. There are major new
( )
to “reaffirm that adequate shelter is a basic human right”. It also said we must “focus on the conditions
( )
the effects of climate change, population growth and economic instability. Many people lost their homes in the
( )
play a part in changing the future. The organization asks the world to “join us in support of World Habitat Day, as we raise our
( )
voices and declare that the lack of decent, affordable housing is unacceptable.” It says: “Durable, adequate
( )
conditions lead to disease and many social problems. Many cities and towns are also feeling
( )
in cities (one billion people) live in slums. They have no access to clean water or sanitation. These unhealthy
( )
challenges in the 21st century. For many people, housing is a serious problem. One-third of those who live
( )
in your community, in your town, in your country, in our world.”
( )
housing can and should be made a priority everywhere-
( 1 )
The first Monday in October each year is World Habitat Day. It was started by the United Nations. The UN said the idea is for us
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
Adequate right human basic a is shelter.
2.
cities on the We conditions must of focus.
3.
part in changing the future This day will play a.
4.
Day support of Join World us Habitat in.
5.
can a and priority should be Housing made.
6.
planning urban on our future Focusing.
7.
Improve towns new build designers way the.
8.
water clean to access no have They.
9.
to unhealthy lead disease These conditions.
10.
problems these on focus to time A.
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
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 World Habitat Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about World Habitat 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 World Habitat 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.
