Listen to the 30 Minute News Bulletin and Try to Answer As Many Questions As You Can

English2Go.net – THE TOTAL NEWS WORKSHEET 30 November 2004 Page 1

Discussion Questions

WORLD DEBT

Many poor countries face huge amounts of foreign debt which is money owed to another country. A global banking group recently wiped out eighty percent of Iraq's foreign debt, including $1 billion owed to Australia.

 Why do you think Iraq has such a large debt?  When poorer countries borrow from global lending groups like The World Bank, what is the money normally used for? o o o o o o

 Do you think richer countries should erase all the debts of poorer nations? Why / Why not?

SCHOOL TRANSITION

One of the biggest steps in life is going from primary school to high school. For many people, the transition can be a scary experience.

 Do you remember your first day of high school? What was it like?  What do you think are the most difficult things about starting at a new school?

KIDS TRIATHLON

Kids around Australia are taking up the challenge of completing triathlons. TTN catches up with some of the competitors at last week’s Superkidz Triathlon to find out how fit you have to be.

 What is a triathlon?  Have you or anyone else in your class ever competed in a triathlon?  Which part of a triathlon do you think you would be best at?

FAVOURITE STORIES

TTN reporters, Scott and Emma, talk about their favourite stories from this year.

 What do you think was the most interesting story covered by TTN since you have been watching the program? English2Go.net – THE TOTAL NEWS WORKSHEET 30 November 2004 Page 2

WORLD DEBT

Many poor countries face huge amounts of foreign debt which is money owed to another country. A global banking group recently wiped out eighty percent of Iraq's foreign debt, including $1 billion owed to Australia.

A. Short Answers

1. How much do the following countries owe in foreign debt?  Somalia - ...... billion dollars  Russia - ...... billion dollars  Australia - ...... billion dollars  Iraq - ...... billion dollars

2. What is one of the reasons for Iraq's massive debt? ...... 3. In 1991, why did the UN demand $200 million from Iraq? ......

The World Bank is the biggest of the three global lending groups. They're an international development organisation and how their money is spent is determined by the member countries. Like normal loans, these loans still have to be paid back, but only with a small amount of interest or none at all.

B. Complete the table

Year the World Bank was established

(1)………………………………… Number of countries contributing money

(2)………………………………… Amount of money lent this year

(3)………………………………… What loans are used for  (5) building schools, roads, railways and…………..  training teachers  (6) supplying safe……………………………  health care

Bono, the lead singer of U2, has led a campaign to erase third world debt. He argues that much of the money borrowed by the world's poorest nations has been stolen by dictators while western countries did little to stop them. He also says that paying these debts locks poor nations in a cycle of poverty.

C. Short Answers

1. What is the main reason why paying these debts locks poor nations in a cycle of poverty? ...... 2. In which year did several international lenders introduce the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative? ...... 3. How much money in debt relief does the Initiative provide to poor countries? ...... 4. What did the poor countries promise in return? Improving health and social welfare and building ...... English2Go.net – THE TOTAL NEWS WORKSHEET 30 November 2004 Page 3

SCHOOL TRANSITION

One of the biggest steps in life is going from primary school to high school. For many people, the transition can be a scary experience.

Complete the sentences with no more than 3 words

1. At first, high school can seem daunting with so many classrooms and people ………………………… 2. Everything seems to be bigger than your last school and that can make you feel ……………………… 3. Most schools have a series of transition days where a peer group leader shows you around, explains where everything is, and they will be there to help in the ………………………… 4. The teachers are there to ………………………… 5. High school can be noisy and it can be difficult finding the canteen, the computers and most importantly the ………………………… 6. But everyone seems to be really friendly and by the time these students come back next year they will feel really ………………………………

YERONGA MEDIA KIDS

A year seven class at Yeronga State School have put away the maths and science books and they're teaching themselves how to make a news story. They sent a letter to TTN asking for help.

Making a news story involves a number of different steps. Before you listen, number each step (1-4) in the order you think you will hear them

The stories are presented and filmed

Before the final stories are shown, promotional posters are made, invitations are sent out and video

equipment is ordered

The stories have to be edited into a finished product

The storyboard is done and the scripts are written English2Go.net – THE TOTAL NEWS WORKSHEET 30 November 2004 Page 4

POLAR CUBS

Two 10-month old polar bear cubs, Star and Coeur, have just arrived in Australia. They were orphaned when their mother was killed in northern Canada. They will be part of a breeding program when they're adults.

1. What does the French word Coeur mean? a. ‘cry of the heart' b. ‘cry in the dark' 2. Where did the plane which brought them to Australia stop on the way? a. Asia b. Europe 3. How are they now? a. stressed b. relaxed 4. How long do they have to stay in a quarantined area? ………………………… 5. How many polar bears are left:  In the wild - …………………………  In captivity - ………………………… 6. How much will they weigh when they are adults? ………………………… 7. What do they eat? (name 2 of the foods mentioned) …………………………………………………

 How many kilometres are in a light year?

A. 6 Trillion B. 93 million C. 10 million

SHOWBIZ SPECIAL

Complete the gaps with one word only

Now 17, Nikki Webster's just sat her final high school (1)……………………………and brought out a "best of" CD. So how does she do it? Well, a performing arts school with (2)……………………………who understand she's got a busy career and some good planning to make sure Nikki can actually get to class. Now devoted to full-time performing and maybe some (3)……………………………, Nikki says it's tough, but it's possible. English2Go.net – THE TOTAL NEWS WORKSHEET 30 November 2004 Page 5

Another group is starting stage-life young in the annual "Schools Spectacular" - a one-hundred-and- twenty year (4)……………………………where young singers, dancers and musicians from public schools hit Sydney all hoping for some (5)…………………………… and maybe a big break.

KIDS TRIATHLON

Kids around Australia are taking up the challenge of completing triathlons. TTN catches up with some of the competitors at last week’s Superkidz Triathlon to find out how fit you have to be.

A. True or False

1. At the recent Superkidz Triathlon, 500 kids took part. T / F 2. The Superkidz Triathlon was held in NSW. T / F 3. The Superkidz Triathlon involved a 3km run. T / F 4. The minimum age for competitors was 10 years old. T / F

B. Complete the table with the missing dates

KIDS TRIATHLONS IN 2005 Sydney February 13 Melbourne (1) ……………………… Canberra February 27 Perth (2) ……………………… Brisbane (3) ……………………… Hobart (4) ……………………… Adelaide March 13

FAVOURITE STORIES

TTN reporters, Scott and Emma, talk about their favourite stories this year – tick the ones they mention

Scott Emma Election night Learning how to shear  English2Go.net – THE TOTAL NEWS WORKSHEET 30 November 2004 Page 6

Interviewing Harry Kewell Catching up with the guys from Lord of the Rings