Some people from six places can go to China without a special paper for 15 days. These places are France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. They can do this from December this year until November next year. Before, most people needed this special paper to go to China. Only people from Singapore and Brunei did not need it.

China did not let many people come in because of a big sickness. But now, they are starting to let people come again. Before the sickness, many people from all over the world went to China to see things and have fun. Now, China is trying to let more people come to visit and do work. This new way without the special paper is a test to see if it works well.

Original news source: China trials visa-free travel for six countries (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Write down some words related to the article on small pieces of paper (e.g. China, travel, sickness, paper, visit). Divide the class into two teams. One person from each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word on the piece of paper without speaking. The team members will try to guess the word within a certain time limit. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair will read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. They can take turns sharing their summaries with the class. Encourage them to use simple sentences and vocabulary that they are familiar with.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you think it is a good idea for China to let people from certain countries visit without a special paper?” Give each student a small piece of paper and ask them to write “yes” or “no” as their answer. Collect the papers and tally the results on the board. Then, ask a few students to explain their reasons for their answer.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down some words from the article on small pieces of paper (e.g. China, travel, sickness, paper, visit). Divide the class into pairs. One person from each pair will pick a word and draw a picture to represent that word, while the other person guesses what the word is. They can take turns being the drawer and the guesser. Encourage them to use simple and clear drawings.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the students to imagine what the situation will be like in China in the future regarding travel restrictions. Will more countries be allowed to visit without a special paper? Will the special paper requirement come back? Have the students write down their predictions and then share with a partner. Encourage them to give reasons for their predictions using the information from the article.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Which six places can go to China without a special paper?
2. When can people from these places go to China without a special paper?
3. Who were the only people who didn’t need a special paper before this new rule?
4. Why didn’t China let many people come in before?
5. What did people from all over the world used to do in China before the sickness?
6. What is China trying to do now?
7. Why is China testing this new way without the special paper?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some people from six places can go to China without a special paper for 15 days. These places are France, Germany, Italy, the (1)______, (2)______, and Malaysia. They can do this from December this (3)______ until November (4)______ year. Before, most people needed this special paper to go to China. Only people from Singapore and Brunei did not need it.

China did not let many (5)______ come in because of a big sickness. But now, they are starting to let people come again. Before the sickness, many people from all over the (6)______ went to China to see (7)______ and have fun. Now, China is trying to let more people come to visit and do (8)______. This new way without the special paper is a test to see if it works well.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a special paper?
2. How would you feel if you could go to China without a special paper?
3. Do you like to travel? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for countries to let people visit and do work? Why or why not?
5. What do you think people can see and do in China?
6. Have you ever been to China? If not, would you like to go? Why or why not?
7. How do you think China is trying to let more people come to visit and do work?
8. What do you think a big sickness means?
9. Do you think it’s a good idea for China to test this new way without the special paper? Why or why not?
10. How do you think people from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia feel about being able to go to China without a special paper?
11. What other countries do you think should be allowed to go to China without a special paper? Why?
12. How do you think China will decide if this new way without the special paper works well?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. places
2. paper
3. people
4. sickness
5. world
6. visit
7. work
8. test

Meanings:
(a) To do a job or task for money
(b) Locations or areas
(c) Humans or individuals
(d) The entire planet and all its countries
(e) A trial or experiment to see if something works well
(f) A special document or card
(g) To go see or explore a place
(h) A big illness or disease
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which six places can go to China without a special paper for 15 days?
(a) Singapore and Brunei
(b) France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia
(c) Russia, Spain, Germany, and Mongolia
(d) Paris, London, Berlin, and Tokyo

2. When can people from the six places go to China without a special paper?
(a) From January to December every year
(b) Only in the summer months
(c) From December this year until November next year
(d) Only on weekends

3. Why did China not let many people come in before?
(a) Because they didn’t like tourists
(b) Because they were too busy
(c) Because they didn’t have enough space
(d) Because of a big sickness

4. What did people from all over the world do in China before the sickness?
(a) See things and have fun
(b) Work and study
(c) Sleep and eat
(d) Stay at home

5. What is China trying to do now?
(a) Let more people come to visit and do work
(b) Close its borders to everyone
(c) Stop people from visiting other countries
(d) Build more hospitals

6. What is the new way to go to China without a special paper?
(a) A secret way only some people know about
(b) A long and difficult process
(c) A test to see if it works well
(d) A way to make money

7. Who did not need a special paper to go to China before?
(a) People from France and Germany
(b) People from Singapore and Brunei
(c) People from Italy and Spain
(d) People from the Netherlands and Malaysia

8. How long can people stay in China without a special paper?
(a) 30 days
(b) 1 year
(c) Forever
(d) 15 days

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. China wants more people to visit and work, so they are testing this new way without the special paper.
2. The six countries are the United States, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Japan, and Australia.
3. Before, most people needed a special paper to go to China.
4. This new rule starts from December this year and lasts until November next year.
5. China allowed many people to come in because of a big sickness.
6. Now, China is starting to let people come again.
7. People from six countries cannot visit China without a special paper for 15 days.
8. People from Singapore and Brunei needed the special paper before.
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. Who can go to China without a special paper for 15 days?
2. Which countries are included in the list of places that can go to China without a special paper?
3. When can people start going to China without a special paper?
4. Why did China not let many people come in before?
5. Why is China trying to let more people come to visit and do work now?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Which six places can go to China without a special paper?
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.

2. When can people from these places go to China without a special paper?
From December this year until November next year.

3. Who were the only people who didn’t need a special paper before this new rule?
People from Singapore and Brunei.

4. Why didn’t China let many people come in before?
Because of a big sickness.

5. What did people from all over the world used to do in China before the sickness?
They used to go to China to see things and have fun.

6. What is China trying to do now?
China is trying to let more people come to visit and do work.

7. Why is China testing this new way without the special paper?
China is testing this new way to see if it works well.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Netherlands
(2) Spain
(3) year
(4) next
(5) people
(6) world
(7) things
(8) work
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. places
Answer: (b) Locations or areas

2. paper
Answer: (f) A special document or card

3. people
Answer: (c) Humans or individuals

4. sickness
Answer: (h) A big illness or disease

5. world
Answer: (d) The entire planet and all its countries

6. visit
Answer: (g) To go see or explore a place

7. work
Answer: (a) To do a job or task for money

8. test
Answer: (e) A trial or experiment to see if something works well
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Which six places can go to China without a special paper for 15 days?
Answer: (b) France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia

2. When can people from the six places go to China without a special paper?
Answer: (c) From December this year until November next year

3. Why did China not let many people come in before?
Answer: (d) Because of a big sickness

4. What did people from all over the world do in China before the sickness?
Answer: (a) See things and have fun

5. What is China trying to do now?
Answer: (a) Let more people come to visit and do work

6. What is the new way to go to China without a special paper?
Answer: (c) A test to see if it works well

7. Who did not need a special paper to go to China before?
Answer: (b) People from Singapore and Brunei

8. How long can people stay in China without a special paper?
Answer: (d) 15 days
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. China wants more people to visit and work, so they are testing this new way without the special paper. (Answer: True)
2. The six countries are the United States, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Japan, and Australia. (Answer: False)
3. Before, most people needed a special paper to go to China. (Answer: True)
4. This new rule starts from December this year and lasts until November next year. (Answer: True)
5. China allowed many people to come in because of a big sickness. (Answer: False)
6. Now, China is starting to let people come again. (Answer: True)
7. People from six countries cannot visit China without a special paper for 15 days. (Answer: False)
8. People from Singapore and Brunei needed the special paper before. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧