Meet young people from across the Commonwealth and explore their lives, cultures and perspectives β while practising present tenses and key vocabulary.
Read the texts about three young people from different Commonwealth countries. Then answer the comprehension questions below.
Priya, 16 β New Delhi, India
My name is Priya and I live in New Delhi, one of the biggest cities in the world. India is a country of incredible contrasts β ancient temples stand next to modern shopping centres, and dozens of different languages are spoken every day. At school, I study in English and Hindi. I love cricket, which is practically a religion here, and I am training to become a badminton player. My favourite subject is science because I want to study medicine at university. One thing that surprises people is that India has a huge film industry β Bollywood produces more films each year than Hollywood.
Jake, 15 β Auckland, New Zealand
Kia ora! That's how we say "hello" in MΔori, the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand. I'm Jake and I grew up in Auckland, which is the largest city in the country. New Zealand is famous for its stunning landscapes β we have volcanoes, fjords, glaciers and beautiful beaches all in one small country. I spend my weekends surfing or hiking in the bush. In New Zealand, the MΔori culture is a really important part of our national identity. We learn about MΔori history at school and many of my friends can perform the haka, the traditional MΔori dance. I'm proud to live in a country where two cultures are so closely connected.
Amara, 17 β Nairobi, Kenya
I'm Amara and I come from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. Kenya is a member of the Commonwealth and gained its independence from Britain in 1963. I go to a secondary school where lessons are taught in both Swahili and English. My school days are long β we start at seven in the morning and often finish at five in the afternoon. After school, I help my mother at her market stall, where she sells fresh fruit and vegetables. Kenya is famous for its amazing wildlife, and I sometimes visit national parks with my family. Long-distance running is incredibly popular here β Kenyan athletes have won more Olympic medals in running events than almost any other country.
1 Priya studies at school in English and .
2 Priya wants to study at university.
3 Jake lives in , the largest city in New Zealand.
4 "Kia ora" is a greeting in .
5 Kenya gained its independence from Britain in .
6 Amara's school day begins at .
7 Amara helps her mother at a after school.
8 Kenya is especially well-known for its athletes in .
Complete each sentence by choosing the correct present tense form. Pay attention to whether the sentence describes a permanent fact, a habit, or something happening right now.
Simple present: for facts, habits, and repeated actions β She studies science.
Present progressive: for actions happening right now or around now β She is training for a competition.
Present perfect: for actions with a connection to the present β Kenya has won many Olympic medals.
Present perfect progressive: for actions that started in the past and are still continuing β She has been learning English for five years.
1 Priya to become a badminton player at the moment. (action ongoing now)
2 Bollywood more films each year than Hollywood. (permanent fact)
3 Jake his weekends surfing or hiking. (regular habit)
4 Many of Jake's friends the haka. (general ability/fact)
5 Amara's school at seven in the morning every day. (regular schedule)
6 Kenyan athletes more Olympic medals in running events than almost any other country. (past result with present relevance)
7 Look β Jake right now. (happening at this moment)
8 Amara her mother at the market stall since she was twelve. (started in the past, still ongoing)
Match each word or phrase to its correct meaning. All words are related to the Commonwealth or the cultures you read about.
1 A group of countries, most of which were once part of the British Empire, that work together:
2 The original people who lived in a place before settlers arrived:
3 The freedom of a country to govern itself without being controlled by another nation:
4 A traditional form of dance or ceremony that expresses a group's identity:
5 The way of life, traditions, arts and beliefs shared by a group of people:
6 Things that are very different from each other within the same place or situation:
7 A large area of protected land where wild animals live, usually open to visitors:
8 A feeling of pride and belonging that comes from being part of a particular group or nation:
Write a text (80β120 words) about one of the following topics. Use vocabulary from Exercise C and at least two different present tense forms.
Topic 1 β Your national identity: What makes your country special? Think about traditions, culture, language, landscape or sport. What are you proud of? What surprises visitors?
Topic 2 β Same same but different: Priya, Jake and Amara all go to school, enjoy sport and help their families β but their daily lives are very different. Write about what these three teens have in common and what makes each culture unique.
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