BTN WHOLE EPISODE ACTIVITIES Published by Grabaword.com on 26/07/2016 Page 5 / 5
Crossbenchers (0:27 - 3:42)
After the recent federal election, Malcolm Turnbull was returned as Australia’s Prime Minister.
Focus Questions
Ø Which political party does Malcolm Turnbull lead? What are some of the other parties?
Ø Why did it take longer than usual for the election result to be finalized?
Ø Malcolm Turnbull and his party won the election but their “troubles might be far from over” – why?
Ø The government has a majority of seats in the House of Representatives but not in the Senate. Why is this a big issue for the government? What is the Senate? What does it do?
Ø What is a “crossbencher”?
Before watching the report, try to answer as many of the questions as you can
1. How long does a term of government in Australia last? A maximum of ………………………………......
2. How long did it take for election results to be finalized in some electorates? ………………………………...... …......
3. The states and territories have an equal number of representatives in the Senate. T / F
4. No political party has a majority in the Senate. T / F
5. A crossbencher is a member of parliament who doesn’t ………………………………...... …......
6. Crossbenchers normally share the same policies and political views. T / F
7. One crossbencher is Nick Xenophon, a popular South Australian senator who wants governments to be more ………………………………...... …......
8. What can eventually happen if the senate blocks a government's bill? ………………………………...... …......
Upsetting News (5:31 - 7:17)
In this segment, BTN looks at some strategies for dealing with upsetting news in the media.
Focus Questions
Ø What are some upsetting news events that have been widely reported in the media lately?
Ø If people find some news in the media very upsetting, what can they do to help themselves feel better? Is it good to talk to someone?
Greyhound Ban (7:22 - 11:00)
The New South Wales government recently announced a ban on greyhound racing.
Focus Questions
Ø Why has the New South Wales government decided to place a ban on greyhound racing?
Ø Why are many people opposed to the ban?
Ø What will happen to racing greyhound once the ban is introduced?
Ø Do you think the ban is a good idea?
Ø Is greyhound racing a common sport around the world?
The following figure is in the report – what do you think it refers to?
· 300 thousand in Australia –
Watch the report and answer the questions
1. What did an ABC news report last year reveal about the greyhound racing industry and which also prompted an official investigation? ………………………………...... …......
2. What did the report show was being used as bait to train dogs to race? ………………………………...... …......
3. The ban has been placed on greyhound racing with immediate effect. T / F
4. Not many countries still have greyhound racing. T / F
5. Greyhound racing is already banned in some other Australian states. T / F
6. What do people in the greyhound racing industry say will be a consequence of the ban? ………………………………...... …......
7. What does Michaela, who adopted a racing greyhound, say about their nature and what they need?
They are really sweet dogs that don't need heaps of exercise but plenty of …....…......
Pokémon Go (11:17 - 15:20)
After launching recently, the new augmented reality video game Pokémon Go has become a craze all around the world.
Focus Questions
Ø What is an “augmented reality” video game? How is augmented reality technology already being used?
Ø What do you know about Pokémon Go? Why is it so popular?
Ø What are some of the benefits from playing Pokémon Go? Why do some people say it can be dangerous? What do you think?
Ø Many experts say bringing the virtual world into the physical one could be the future of gaming – do you agree? Is this a good thing?
The following figure is in the report – what do you think it refers to?
· More than 30 million –
Watch the report and answer the questions
1. Pokémon Go has more active users than …………...... …......
2. Besides augmented reality, what technology does Pokémon Go rely on? …………...... …......
3. Augmented reality technology is already being used for what? (Note down at least one thing mentioned) …………...... …......
4. Dr Dimitrios, a psychologist, thinks Pokémon Go is a bad thing. T / F
5. What do experts say could be one benefit of Pokémon Go? …………...... …...... …………...... …......
6. What do Pokémon Go fans say the game also helps them to do? …………...... …...... …………...... …......
7. What is one concern about the game? …………...... …...... …………...... …......
8. What have police asked players not to do? …………...... …...... …………...... …......
Abacus Champs (15:41 - 19:32)BTN went along to the National Abacus Maths Championships in Adelaide recently.
Ø What is an abacus? How were they originally used? Who used them? What does it help people do?
Ø Are they still used on an everyday basis?
Watch the report and answer the questions
1. The first abacuses appeared thousands of years ago and were used by …………...... …......
2. In which countries or regions are abacuses still used today? …………...... …......
3. Many people still learn how to use abacuses to do what? Help train …………...... …...... /
4. The winners at the National Abacus Maths Championships will go on to represent Australia in what? …………...... …......
farm Aid (21:50 - 24:18)
Heywire is an ABC competition that encourages young people in regional areas to share their stories. One of the winners, Callan, tells us about the day someone paid an unexpected visit to his family's cattle station.
Watch the report and answer the questions
1. What has Callan and his family been experiencing on their cattle station for the last few years? ………………………………......
2. Where does they live? ………………………………......
3. What did the man who visited their farm bring with him? ………………………………......
4. What was the importance of the gift to Callan?
a. His family really needed the supplies
b. It showed the government didn’t care about how farmers were struggling so people had to help each other
c. It showed people from urban areas cared about how farmers were struggling
5. What does Callan say at the end of his video?
Actions speak louder than words and ………………………………...... speaks louder than action.
Answer Key
Crossbenchers (0:27 - 3:42)1. three years
2. more than a week
3. F
4. T
5. belong to the major parties
6. F
7. honest and accountable
8. double dissolution / new election
Greyhound Ban (7:22 - 11:00)
· Number of dogs involved in the greyhound racing industry
1. widespread animal cruelty
2. small animals
3. F - starting in July next year
4. T – 8
5. F
6. thousands of job losses
7. cuddles
Pokémon Go (11:17 - 15:20)
· How many times Pokémon Go has been downloaded (since it launched)
1. Twitter
2. GPS
3. museum tours, instructional videos, in the classroom
4. F
5. could help fight childhood obesity and ensure kids get exercise
6. socialise, visit interesting places
7. players getting hurt (because they're not paying attention to where they're going)
8. go onto other people's property or into dangerous areas / Abacus Champs (15:41 - 19:32)
1. traders and merchants (across many of the great ancient cultures)
2. Russia, China, and Africa
3. their brains
4. an International Maths competition (in Singapore later this year)
farm Aid (21:50 - 24:18)
1. drought
2. north-western Queensland
3. a pumpkin and cardboard boxes filled with food
4. It showed people from urban areas cared about how farmers were struggling
5. compassion