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Controversy PDF

The document discusses a proposed law in Norway that would ban begging and make it illegal to give money or food to beggars. The law is controversial and opponents argue it criminalizes poverty. Currently, begging is legal in Norway but some local councils ban it. Supporters argue the law targets organized begging rings, but critics say it punishes people who are already vulnerable. The richest country in Europe would be criminalizing its poorest citizens.

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122 views

Controversy PDF

The document discusses a proposed law in Norway that would ban begging and make it illegal to give money or food to beggars. The law is controversial and opponents argue it criminalizes poverty. Currently, begging is legal in Norway but some local councils ban it. Supporters argue the law targets organized begging rings, but critics say it punishes people who are already vulnerable. The richest country in Europe would be criminalizing its poorest citizens.

Uploaded by

Vero Nika
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A A GENERAL ENGLISH

Controversy
Lesson code: 112R-H17F-2KV3 PRE-INTERMEDIATE

1 Warm-up
Is it a good idea to give money to beggars?

2 Key words
Match the underlined words to the correct definitions:

1. The government wants to ban smoking in public places.


2. The book is very controversial a lot of people disagree with the author's ideas.
3. He thanked them for their kindness and support.
4. She didn't believe me. She accused me of lying.
5. It's illegal to drive without a license.

a. against the law


b. causing a lot of angry disagreement
c. make illegal
d. said that someone did something bad or wrong
e. the act or quality of being friendly and generous

3 Reading
You are going to read an article about a proposal to ban begging in Norway. Decide if the following
statements are true (T) or false (F) and then read the text to check your answers.

1. Under the proposed law, people who offer money or food to beggars can go to prison for up to 2 years.
2. The government proposed the new law because there are too many beggars on the streets.
3. Norway's parliament started debating the ban on begging five years ago.
4. At the moment, begging is legal everywhere in Norway.
5. The new law is controversial.
6. Norway is Europe's richest country.

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 1/4


Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
c
Linguahouse.com
Controversy
A A A A GENERAL ENGLISH

Norway proposes to ban beggars and


people who try to help them
Norway's justice minister says the law is needed to stop people who run begging
networks as an `organized business'

1 Norway has proposed a controversial new law. If the new law becomes a reality, it will be illegal to
help beggars on the streets. If this happens, people who offer money or food to beggars can go to
prison for between six months to a year, and organized begging will become a crime.
2 City authorities in Oslo are angry about the proposal, but Norway's justice minister Anders Anundsen
said the law was needed to stop people who run begging networks as an "organized business".
3 Norway's parliament started debating the ban on begging last year, because of the high number of
beggars on the streets. Individual councils are already able to ban begging, but now the government
wants a nationwide ban.

4 Inger Husby, from Oslo, often invites homeless people into her house. She is afraid that her `kindness'
will become illegal if the proposal becomes a law.
5 "They have stayed here several times," she said. "I give them a packed lunch, and I fill their cups with
cocoa. I wash their clothes when they need it and they come for dinner from time to time."
6 Karin Andersen, a member of parliament for the Socialist Left Party, tweeted her anger at the proposal
and accused the government of criminalizing poor people.
7 "Europe's richest country criminalizes Europe's poorest people," she said.

Adapted from The Independent, by Roisin O'connor Wednesday, February 4th, 2015

4 Phrases from the text


Match the verbs on the left with the nouns and phrases on the right.

1. propose a. a law
2. go b. a reality
3. become c. for dinner
4. come d. money or food
5. offer e. to prison
Now make your own sentences using the above phrases.

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 2/4


Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
c
Linguahouse.com
Controversy
A A A A GENERAL ENGLISH

5 Find the word


Find a word in the text which means ...

1. manage (verb, SUBTITLE)


2. everywhere in the country (P3, adjective)
3. people who don't have a home (P4, phrase)
4. sent a message via Twitter (P6, verb in the past simple)
5. makes illegal (verb, P7)

6 Grammar - First conditional


Complete the sentences below from the text.

becomes can go happens becomes will be will become

1. If the new law becomes a reality, it illegal to help beggars on the streets.
2. If this , people who offer money or food to beggars to prison for
between six months to a year.
3. She is afraid that her `kindness' illegal if the proposal a law.
The above structure is called the first conditional. We use the first conditional to say what will happen in a
certain situation in the future. A first conditional sentence contains two halves:

If + present simple, will/can + verb

The negative uses don't and won't:


If the new law doesn't become a reality, it won't be illegal to help beggars on the streets.
Do not use will with if.
If I see him, I will tell him.
NOT: If I will see him, I will tell him.

7 Practice 1
Complete these first conditional sentences with the present simple or `will'. Only use contractions for
negatives - e.g. won't/don't.

1. If you (not/wake up) early, you will be late.


2. If I pass my exams, I (be) very happy.
3. You can go to bed early if you (finish) your homework on time.
4. If it rains tonight, I (not/go) out.
5. If you (drive) too fast, you will have an accident.

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 3/4


Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
c
Linguahouse.com
Controversy
A A A A GENERAL ENGLISH

6. Your dinner (get) cold if you wait too long.


7. I'll be asleep if you (call) me too late.
8. If you go outside without a sweater, you (get) ill.
9. If you (not/invite) him, he won't come.
10. If you eat too much chocolate, you (become) fat.

8 Practice 2
Look at the possible future situations below. Form a sentence with `if' for each one like in the example.

If it rains this weekend, I won't go out.

It will rain this weekend.


You will have a holiday next month.
You will get up earlier than usual tomorrow morning.

You will lose something important tomorrow.


You will speak English fluently in 5 years' time.
You won't go out this weekend.

You will move to another country.


You won't be hungry later.
You will eat too much.
You will be late for your next lesson.

You will go to bed later than usual tonight.

9 Talking point
Discuss any of the questions below:

1. What do you think of Norway's proposed law?


2. Is begging a problem in your country?
3. Are there any controversial laws in your country?

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 4/4


Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
c
Linguahouse.com

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