Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, has asked the military for help in planting rice because of a serious drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern. The long period of dry weather has led to a decrease in rice production, which means that the prices of rice are going up and there is a risk to the country’s food supply. President Widodo has asked army officers to make use of recent rain in some areas and help with the planting. Usually, rice is planted in October, but this year it has been delayed. The president made a video on YouTube where he visited central Java and encouraged the military to come forward and help the farmers with planting. In the past, the involvement of the armed forces has helped Indonesia produce enough food for itself, according to Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman. The recent agreement between the agriculture ministry and the Indonesian army means that military personnel will help with farming and use army-owned land that is not being used for rice planting. The agriculture ministry will provide the seedlings and machinery.

Original news source: Indonesia asks military to help farmers plant rice (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a copy of the article. Ask them to read the article and summarize the main points in a few sentences. Each group can then present their summary to the class.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pen/pencil. Ask them to read the article and choose a scene or concept from the article to sketch. After they have finished their sketch, have them share their drawing with a partner and explain what it represents.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team comes to the board. Give each student a word from the list and they must draw a picture to represent the word. Their team members must guess the word based on the drawing. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes. In that time, one student must summarize the article to their partner. After the time is up, the roles switch and the other student must summarize the article to their partner. After both students have had a chance to speak, they can discuss any differences or similarities in their summaries.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the students to imagine that they are government officials in Indonesia. In groups, have them discuss and make predictions about the possible consequences of the drought on the country’s economy, food supply, and population. Each group can then present their predictions to the class and discuss the likelihood of each scenario.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why has Indonesia’s president asked the military for help in planting rice?
2. What has the El Niño weather pattern caused in Indonesia?
3. How has the drought affected rice production in Indonesia?
4. Why are the prices of rice going up in Indonesia?
5. What did President Widodo ask army officers to do?
6. When is rice usually planted in Indonesia?
7. What did President Widodo do in the video he made on YouTube?
8. How has the involvement of the armed forces helped Indonesia in the past?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Indonesia’s (1)______, Joko Widodo, has (2)______ the military for help in planting rice because of a serious drought caused by the El Niño (3)______ pattern. The long period of dry weather has led to a decrease in rice production, which means that the (4)______ of rice are going up and there is a risk to the country’s food (5)______. (6)______ Widodo has asked army officers to make use of (7)______ rain in some (8)______ and help with the planting. Usually, rice is planted in October, but this year it has been delayed. The president made a video on YouTube where he visited central Java and (9)______ the military to come forward and help the farmers with planting. In the past, the (10)______ of the armed forces has (11)______ Indonesia produce enough food for itself, according to Agriculture Minister (12)______ Sulaiman. The recent (13)______ between the agriculture (14)______ and the Indonesian army means that military personnel will help with (15)______ and use army-owned land that is not being used for rice planting. The agriculture ministry will (16)______ the seedlings and machinery.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think about President Widodo asking the military for help in planting rice?
2. How would you feel if there was a serious drought in your country?
3. Do you think it’s a good idea for the military to help with farming? Why or why not?
4. What is the El Niño weather pattern?
5. How do you think the decrease in rice production will affect the country’s food supply?
6. Do you like rice? Why or why not?
7. What do you think about President Widodo using YouTube to communicate with the public?
8. How do you think the recent rain in some areas will help with planting rice?
9. What is the role of the agriculture ministry in this situation?
10. How do you think the involvement of the armed forces can help Indonesia produce enough food for itself?
11. Do you think it’s important for a country to be self-sufficient in food production? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the increase in rice prices will affect people’s daily lives?
13. Have you ever experienced a drought in your country? How did it affect you?
14. What do you think about using army-owned land for rice planting?
15. How do you think the military personnel will benefit from helping with farming?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. drought
2. military
3. agriculture
4. seedlings
5. machinery
6. personnel
7. involvement
8. produce
9. supply
10. delayed
11. encouraged
12. ministry
13. agreement
14. president
15. pattern

Meanings:
(A) The total amount of something that is available or that can be provided
(B) The armed forces of a country
(C) People who work for an organization or company
(D) A formal arrangement or decision made between two or more parties
(E) The practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for growing crops
(F) Tools or equipment designed to perform specific tasks, often complex and large
(G) Young plants that have recently started to grow and will be transplanted
(H) Gave someone the confidence or hope to do something
(I) A long period without rain, which can cause water shortage
(J) A repeated design or recurring sequence in a system or piece of work
(K) The elected head of a country or government
(L) A government department responsible for a particular area of activity
(M) To create or make something, especially crops or goods
(N) Participation or engagement in a particular activity or event
(O) Happening at a later time than expected or intended
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why has Indonesia’s president asked the military for help in planting rice?
(a) The military has experience in farming.
(b) The president wants to give the military something to do.
(c) There is a serious drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern.
(d) The military owns a lot of land suitable for rice planting.

2. What has the long period of dry weather caused in Indonesia?
(a) An increase in rice production.
(b) A decrease in the price of rice.
(c) A decrease in rice production.
(d) An increase in the country’s food supply.

3. When is rice usually planted in Indonesia?
(a) November.
(b) October.
(c) December.
(d) January.

4. What did President Widodo do to encourage the military to help with planting?
(a) He wrote a letter to the military.
(b) He gave a speech on television.
(c) He visited the military in person.
(d) He made a video on YouTube.

5. According to Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, what has the involvement of the armed forces done in the past?
(a) Helped Indonesia produce enough food for itself.
(b) Caused a decrease in rice production.
(c) Increased the prices of rice.
(d) Led to a risk to the country’s food supply.

6. What will the military use to help with farming?
(a) Machinery owned by the agriculture ministry.
(b) Army-owned land that is not being used for rice planting.
(c) Seedlings provided by the agriculture ministry.
(d) All of the above.

7. What is the main purpose of the recent agreement between the agriculture ministry and the Indonesian army?
(a) To ensure there is enough food for the country.
(b) To give the military something to do.
(c) To increase rice production.
(d) To decrease the prices of rice.

8. What is the president’s name?
(a) Amran Sulaiman.
(b) El Niño.
(c) None of the above.
(d) Joko Widodo.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The dry weather has not caused a decrease in rice production, leading to higher prices and a potential risk to the country’s food supply.
2. Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, has asked the military for help in planting rice due to a serious drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern.
3. The involvement of the armed forces in the past has not helped Indonesia produce enough food for itself, according to Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman.
4. The agriculture ministry will not provide the necessary seedlings and machinery for the military’s assistance in farming.
5. The military will not make use of recent rain in some areas to aid in the planting process.
6. Usually, rice is planted in October, but this year it has been delayed due to the drought.
7. President Widodo made a video on YouTube where he visited central Java and encouraged the military to assist farmers with planting.
8. The recent agreement between the agriculture ministry and the Indonesian army means that military personnel will help with farming.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why has Indonesia’s president asked the military for help in planting rice?
2. What has caused the decrease in rice production in Indonesia?
3. When is rice usually planted in Indonesia and why has it been delayed this year?
4. How has the involvement of the armed forces helped Indonesia in the past?
5. What is the recent agreement between the agriculture ministry and the Indonesian army?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why has Indonesia’s president asked the military for help in planting rice?
– Indonesia’s president has asked the military for help in planting rice because of a serious drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern.

2. What has the El Niño weather pattern caused in Indonesia?
– The El Niño weather pattern has caused a serious drought in Indonesia.

3. How has the drought affected rice production in Indonesia?
– The drought has led to a decrease in rice production in Indonesia.

4. Why are the prices of rice going up in Indonesia?
– The decrease in rice production caused by the drought has led to an increase in rice prices in Indonesia.

5. What did President Widodo ask army officers to do?
– President Widodo asked army officers to make use of recent rain in some areas and help with planting rice.

6. When is rice usually planted in Indonesia?
– Rice is usually planted in October in Indonesia.

7. What did President Widodo do in the video he made on YouTube?
– In the video, President Widodo visited central Java and encouraged the military to come forward and help the farmers with planting.

8. How has the involvement of the armed forces helped Indonesia in the past?
– In the past, the involvement of the armed forces has helped Indonesia produce enough food for itself.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) president
(2) asked
(3) weather
(4) prices
(5) supply
(6) President
(7) recent
(8) areas
(9) encouraged
(10) involvement
(11) helped
(12) Amran
(13) agreement
(14) ministry
(15) farming
(16) provide
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. drought
Answer: (I) A long period without rain, which can cause water shortage

2. military
Answer: (B) The armed forces of a country

3. agriculture
Answer: (E) The practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for growing crops

4. seedlings
Answer: (G) Young plants that have recently started to grow and will be transplanted

5. machinery
Answer: (F) Tools or equipment designed to perform specific tasks, often complex and large

6. personnel
Answer: (C) People who work for an organization or company

7. involvement
Answer: (N) Participation or engagement in a particular activity or event

8. produce
Answer: (M) To create or make something, especially crops or goods

9. supply
Answer: (A) The total amount of something that is available or that can be provided

10. delayed
Answer: (O) Happening at a later time than expected or intended

11. encouraged
Answer: (H) Gave someone the confidence or hope to do something

12. ministry
Answer: (L) A government department responsible for a particular area of activity

13. agreement
Answer: (D) A formal arrangement or decision made between two or more parties

14. president
Answer: (K) The elected head of a country or government

15. pattern
Answer: (J) A repeated design or recurring sequence in a system or piece of work
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why has Indonesia’s president asked the military for help in planting rice?
Answer: (c) There is a serious drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern.

2. What has the long period of dry weather caused in Indonesia?
Answer: (c) A decrease in rice production.

3. When is rice usually planted in Indonesia?
Answer: (b) October.

4. What did President Widodo do to encourage the military to help with planting?
Answer: (d) He made a video on YouTube.

5. According to Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, what has the involvement of the armed forces done in the past?
Answer: (a) Helped Indonesia produce enough food for itself.

6. What will the military use to help with farming?
Answer: (b) Army-owned land that is not being used for rice planting.

7. What is the main purpose of the recent agreement between the agriculture ministry and the Indonesian army?
Answer: (a) To ensure there is enough food for the country.

8. What is the president’s name?
Answer: (d) Joko Widodo.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The dry weather has not caused a decrease in rice production, leading to higher prices and a potential risk to the country’s food supply. (Answer: False)
2. Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, has asked the military for help in planting rice due to a serious drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern. (Answer: True)
3. The involvement of the armed forces in the past has not helped Indonesia produce enough food for itself, according to Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman. (Answer: False)
4. The agriculture ministry will not provide the necessary seedlings and machinery for the military’s assistance in farming. (Answer: False)
5. The military will not make use of recent rain in some areas to aid in the planting process. (Answer: False)
6. Usually, rice is planted in October, but this year it has been delayed due to the drought. (Answer: True)
7. President Widodo made a video on YouTube where he visited central Java and encouraged the military to assist farmers with planting. (Answer: True)
8. The recent agreement between the agriculture ministry and the Indonesian army means that military personnel will help with farming. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧