Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on World Toilet Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
November the 19th is World Toilet Day (WTD). This day celebrates the importance of something we never really think about too much – the toilet. Imagine life without one. There are many world issues regarding toilets. WTD is a global day of action to raise awareness of the fact that millions of people have no clean toilet. This creates serious health problems in many countries. No toilets or sewage systems means human waste is in the streets. This gets into the water supply and affects crops. WTD is run by the World Toilet Organization. This is a worldwide non-profit group that aims to increase the number of toilets in poor countries. It has a global network of over 200 different organizations in 56 countries.
Toilets have been around for thousands of years. The first known toilets and sewage systems were in the Indus Valley, in India and Pakistan. The modern flush toilet dates back to the sixteenth century. It was designed by an Englishman called John Harrington in 1596. It took another 250 years for his invention to become popular. In the late nineteenth century, rich Londoners installed them in their houses. Toilet design stayed the same for the next three hundred years. Modern technology is now changing the toilet. Japanese makers are making “smart” toilets that can analyze our waste and give us a report on our health. These may help keep all of us healthier in the future by checking our blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
something we never really
a.
no clean toilet
2
Imagine life
b.
supply
3.
millions of people have
c.
waste
4.
human
d.
think about
5.
the water
e.
network
6.
a global
f.
without one
Paragraph 2
1.
been around for
a.
in their houses
2
modern
b.
now changing
3.
dates back to
c.
flush toilet
4.
Londoners installed them
d.
thousands of years
5.
Modern technology is
e.
blood pressure
6.
checking our
f.
the sixteenth century
LISTENING GAP FILL
November the 19th is World Toilet Day (WTD). This day celebrates the importance of something we never really ____________________ – the toilet. Imagine ____________________. There are many world issues regarding toilets. WTD is a global day of action to raise awareness ____________________ millions of people have no clean toilet. This creates serious health problems in many countries. No toilets or sewage systems means human ____________________ streets. This gets into the water supply and affects crops. WTD is run by the World Toilet Organization. This is a worldwide non-profit group ____________________ the number of toilets in poor countries. It has ____________________ of over 200 different organizations in 56 countries.
Toilets ____________________ for thousands of years. The first known toilets and sewage systems were in the Indus Valley, in India and Pakistan. The modern flush toilet ____________________ sixteenth century. It was designed by an Englishman called John Harrington in 1596. It took another 250 years for ____________________ popular. In the late nineteenth century, rich Londoners installed them in their houses. Toilet design ____________________ the next three hundred years. Modern technology is now changing the toilet. Japanese makers are making “smart” toilets that can ____________________ and give us a report on our health. These may help keep all of us healthier in the future by checking our blood pressure and ____________________.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
November the 19th is World Toilet Day (WTD). This day celebrates the importance of something we never ____________ think about too much – the toilet. Imagine ____________ without one. There are many world issues regarding toilets. WTD is a global day of ____________ to raise awareness of the fact that millions of people have no clean toilet. This creates ____________ health problems in many countries. No toilets or sewage systems means human ____________ is in the streets. This gets into the water supply and affects ____________. WTD is run by the World Toilet Organization. This is a worldwide non-profit group that aims to increase the number of toilets in ____________ countries. It has a global ____________ of over 200 different organizations in 56 countries.
action really crops waste network serious life poor
Toilets have been ____________ for thousands of years. The first known toilets and sewage systems were in the Indus Valley, in India and Pakistan. The modern ____________ toilet dates back to the sixteenth century. It was designed by an Englishman called John Harrington in 1596. It took another 250 years for his ____________ to become popular. In the late nineteenth century, rich Londoners ____________ them in their houses. Toilet design ____________ the same for the next three hundred years. Modern technology is now changing the toilet. Japanese makers are making “____________” toilets that can analyze our waste and give us a report on our ____________. These may help keep all of us healthier in the future by checking our blood pressure and blood sugar ____________.
flush installed health around levels stayed invention smart
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
November the 19th is World Toilet Day (WTD). This day celebrates the importance of something we never real / really think about too much – the toilet. Imagine life without one. There are many world issues regarding / regrading toilets. WTD is a global day of action to rise / raise awareness of the fact that millions of people have no clean toilet. This creates / creation serious health problems in many countries. No toilets or sewage systems means / meaning human waste is in the streets. This gets into the water supply and effects / affects crops. WTD is run by the World Toilet Organization. This is a worldwide non-profit / non-cost group that aims to increase the number of toilets in poor / poorly countries. It has a global network of over 200 different organizations in 56 countries.
Toilets have been around for thousand / thousands of years. The first known / knowing toilets and sewage systems were in the Indus Valley, in India and Pakistan. The modern flush toilet date / dates back to the sixteenth century. It was designed by an Englishman called John Harrington in 1596. It gave / took another 250 years for his invention to become popular. In the late nineteenth century, rich Londoners installed them in them / their houses. Toilet design stayed the same for the next three hundred years. Modern technology is now changed / changing the toilet. Japanese makers are making “smart” toilets that can analyze / analysis our waste and give us a report on our health. These may help keep all of us healthier in the future by checking our blood pressure and blood candy / sugar levels.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
November the 19th is World Toilet Day (WTD). This day celebrates the (1) ____ of something we never really think about too (2) ____ – the toilet. Imagine life without one. There are many world issues regarding toilets. WTD is a global day of action to (3) ____ awareness of the fact that millions of people have no clean toilet. This creates serious health problems in many countries. No toilets or sewage systems means human (4) ____ is in the streets. This gets into the water supply and affects crops. WTD is run by the World Toilet Organization. This is a worldwide (5) ____-profit group that aims to increase the number of toilets in poor countries. It has a global network of over 200 different organizations (6) ____ 56 countries.
Toilets have been (7) ____ for thousands of years. The first known toilets and sewage systems were in the Indus Valley, in India and Pakistan. The modern flush toilet (8) ____ back to the sixteenth century. It was designed by an Englishman called John Harrington in 1596. It took another 250 years for his invention to (9) ____ popular. In the late nineteenth century, rich Londoners installed them in their houses. Toilet design stayed the same for the (10) ____ three hundred years. Modern technology is now changing the toilet. Japanese makers are making “smart” toilets that can analyze our waste and give us a report (11) ____ our health. These may help keep all of us healthier in the future by checking our blood pressure and blood (12) ____ levels.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
imports
(b)
important
(c)
importance
(d)
importantly
2.
(a)
much
(b)
many
(c)
most
(d)
more
3.
(a)
rise
(b)
raise
(c)
up
(d)
higher
4.
(a)
wastes
(b)
wasted
(c)
wasting
(d)
waste
5.
(a)
non
(b)
not
(c)
no
(d)
no-no
6.
(a)
on
(b)
in
(c)
at
(d)
to
7.
(a)
around
(b)
there
(c)
square
(d)
abound
8.
(a)
dating
(b)
date
(c)
dates
(d)
dated
9.
(a)
come
(b)
be
(c)
became
(d)
become
10.
(a)
rest
(b)
next
(c)
all
(d)
around
11.
(a)
in
(b)
to
(c)
on
(d)
at
12.
(a)
sugary
(b)
sugared
(c)
sugarless
(d)
sugar
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the apmitcenor of something
2.
Imagine life itwohut one
3.
irase awareness
4.
iressou health problems
5.
the water lupysp
6.
a global nreokwt
Paragraph 2
7.
toilets and sewage ysstmse
8.
modern lsuhf toilet
9.
the late nineteenth tunryce
10.
Toilet sngide
11.
analyze our estwa
12.
boodl pressure
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
houses. Toilet design stayed the same for the next three hundred years. Modern technology is now changing
( )
waste is in the streets. This gets into the water supply and affects crops. WTD is run by the
( )
health. These may help keep all of us healthier in the future by checking our blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
( )
years for his invention to become popular. In the late nineteenth century, rich Londoners installed them in their
( )
day of action to raise awareness of the fact that millions of people have no clean toilet. This creates serious
( )
really think about too much – the toilet. Imagine life without one. There are many world issues regarding toilets. WTD is a global
( )
systems were in the Indus Valley, in India and Pakistan. The modern flush toilet dates back to the sixteenth
( )
century. It was designed by an Englishman called John Harrington in 1596. It took another 250
( )
health problems in many countries. No toilets or sewage systems means human
( )
Toilets have been around for thousands of years. The first known toilets and sewage
( )
World Toilet Organization. This is a worldwide non-profit group that aims to increase the number of toilets in
( )
poor countries. It has a global network of over 200 different organizations in 56 countries.
( 1 )
November the 19th is World Toilet Day (WTD). This day celebrates the importance of something we never
( )
the toilet. Japanese makers are making “smart” toilets that can analyze our waste and give us a report on our
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
much really think Something about we too never.
2.
global raise day awareness of action A to.
3.
health serious creates This problems.
4.
the supply This into water gets.
5.
toilets Increase in the poor number countries of.
6.
for Toilets thousands have of been years around.
7.
back the century Dates to sixteenth.
8.
Rich houses their in them installed Londoners.
9.
makers making toilets Japanese are smart.
10.
healthier keep all These of may us help.
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 Toilet Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about World Toilet 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 Toilet 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.
