Part 1: Reading
US, UK and Australia to develop underwater drone technology. The technology, developed under the Aukus military pact, is aimed at protecting undersea cables and boosting naval defence. No deal announced after Trump meeting to make 'final determination' on Iran. The US president met his advisers, after officials confirmed the US and Iran had agreed a framework of a deal. Italy bans Kanye West and Travis Scott concerts over security concerns. Local authorities say the cancellation of other West concerts had played a role in the decision. Bound by blood: new film highlights Jamaica’s outlawed obeah belief system. Stew Peas focuses on obeah, an enduring African magic practice in Jamaica banned by colonisers in the 1700s. A new movie from award-winning Jamaican film-maker Sosiessia Nixon shines a spotlight on Jamaica’s enduring west African-based magic and spiritual healing tradition known as obeah. Nixon’s tense, feature-length suspense, Stew Peas, tells of the story of Jamaican detective Tessa, who is obsessed with an old murder case. WHO puts Ebola outbreak death rate at ‘huge’ 30-50% as chief arrives in DRC. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for ceasefire among armed groups to help avoid deaths from preventable disease. The death rate of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is between 30% and 50%, the World Health Organization has said, as its head arrived in the country to support efforts to contain the disease.
Part 2: Vocabulary (15 words)
| Word | Type | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| developed | adjective | /dɪˈvɛləpt/ | having advanced or progressed; grown |
| undersea | adjective | /ˈʌndərsiː/ | located or occurring beneath the sea |
| advisers | noun | /ædˈvaɪzərz/ | people who give advice, especially officially |
| framework | noun | /ˈfreɪmwɜːrk/ | a basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text |
| enduring | adjective | /ɪnˈdjʊərɪŋ/ | lasting over a period of time; durable |
| award-winning | adjective | /əˈwɔːrd wɪnɪŋ/ | having won an award; prize-winning |
| feature-length | adjective | /ˈfiːtʃər leŋθ/ | (of a film) long enough to fill a program |
| obsessed | adjective | əbˈsest/ | unable to stop thinking about something; preoccupied |
| outbreak | noun | /ˈaʊtbreɪk/ | a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease |
| death rate | noun phrase | /dɛθ reɪt/ | the number of deaths per unit of population per unit of time |
| ceasefire | noun | /ˈsiːsfaɪr/ | a temporary suspension of fighting, typically one in which opposing sides agree to stop aggressive actions |
| armed groups | noun phrase | /ɑːrmd ɡruːps/ | groups of people carrying weapons, often in a conflict |
| preventable | adjective | /prɪˈvɛntəbəl/ | able to be prevented or avoided |
| support | verb/noun | /səˈpɔːrt/ | to give assistance or help to; bear the weight of |
| contain | verb | /kənˈteɪn/ | to keep something under control or within limits |
Part 3: Grammar (2-3 points)
Grammar Point 1: Passive Voice
The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
Example from the text: "The technology, developed under the Aukus military pact, is aimed at protecting undersea cables..."
Structure: be + past participle (is aimed, was developed)
Grammar Point 2: Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past.
Example from the text: "...after officials confirmed the US and Iran had agreed a framework of a deal."
Structure: had + past participle (had agreed)
Grammar Point 3: Relative Clauses
Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun and are introduced by relative pronouns (who, which, that) or relative adverbs (where, when, why).
Example from the text: "Stew Peas focuses on obeah, an enduring African magic practice in Jamaica banned by colonisers in the 1700s."
The relative clause "in Jamaica banned by colonisers in the 1700s" gives more information about the magic practice.
Part 4: Exercises
Vocabulary Exercises (5 questions)
- The scientists have ______ a new technology to protect undersea cables. (developed / developing / develops)
- The president met his ______ to discuss the Iran deal. (advisers / advisories / advisors)
- The movie is ______-winning and has received international acclaim. (award / awards / awarding)
- The Ebola ______ has caused concern in the region. (outbreak / outbreaking / outbroken)
- Health workers are calling for a ______ to prevent further spread of the disease. (ceasefire / ceased fire / cease-fires)
Grammar Exercises (5 questions)
- Change the sentence to passive voice: "The Aukus military pact developed the technology."
- Use the past perfect tense: "The officials confirmed the agreement. The US president met his advisers."
- Combine the two sentences using a relative clause: "The film is about obeah. Obeah is an African magic practice banned by colonisers in the 1700s."
- Identify the tense: "The death rate of the Ebola outbreak is between 30% and 50%."
- Correct the sentence: "Health workers calls for ceasefire among armed groups."
Answer: The technology was developed by the Aukus military pact.
Answer: After the officials had confirmed the agreement, the US president met his advisers.
Answer: The film is about obeah, which is an African magic practice banned by colonisers in the 1700s.
Answer: Present simple tense.
Answer: Health workers call for a ceasefire among armed groups.
Reading Comprehension (5 questions)
- What is the purpose of the underwater drone technology being developed by the US, UK, and Australia?
- What did officials confirm about the US and Iran before the Trump meeting?
- Why did Italy ban the Kanye West and Travis Scott concerts?
- What is the main focus of the film "Stew Peas" mentioned in the Guardian article?
- What did the World Health Organization say about the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Answer: To protect undersea cables and boost naval defence.
Answer: That the US and Iran had agreed a framework of a deal.
Answer: Due to security concerns, as local authorities said the cancellation of other West concerts had played a role in the decision.
Answer: The film focuses on obeah, an enduring African magic practice in Jamaica banned by colonisers in the 1700s.
Answer: The death rate is between 30% and 50%, and they called for a ceasefire among armed groups to help contain the disease.
Part 5: Answer Key
Vocabulary Answers
1. developed
2. advisers
3. award-winning
4. outbreak
5. ceasefire
Grammar Answers
1. The technology was developed by the Aukus military pact.
2. After the officials had confirmed the agreement, the US president met his advisers.
3. The film is about obeah, which is an African magic practice banned by colonisers in the 1700s.
4. Present simple tense.
5. Health workers call for a ceasefire among armed groups.
Reading Comprehension Answers
1. To protect undersea cables and boost naval defence.
2. That the US and Iran had agreed a framework of a deal.
3. Due to security concerns, as local authorities said the cancellation of other West concerts had played a role in the decision.
4. The film focuses on obeah, an enduring African magic practice in Jamaica banned by colonisers in the 1700s.
5. The death rate is between 30% and 50%, and they called for a ceasefire among armed groups to help contain the disease.