Reading Activity Pre-­‐reading vocabulary and phrases – The following vocabulary will help you understand the reading text better. Match the words with the definitions. The first one is done for you. 1. Battling d a) the money it costs for day to day things like food, shelter, transportation 2. Utilities b) to direct the attention or thoughts of 3. Living expenses c) a quality, accomplishment, etc., that fits a person for some function, office, or the like. 4. Resources d) to fight 5. Agency e) to make a difficult or upsetting situation easier to deal with 6. Referred f) something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model. 7. Qualifications g) not long ago 8. (Alberta) standards h) relaxed the kids 9. Lighten the load i) a public service, as a telephone or electric-­‐light system 10. Recently j) to get a profession 11. Secured a job k) to pay for 12. Settled the children l) a source of money, supply, support, food, or aid to be 13. Cover all the costs m) to pay all the bills with the money one has 14. Make ends meet n) an organization, company, or bureau that provides some service for another (Answers in the appendix) 11 Reading strategies: Using the title to predict what is in the reading Thinking about the title of a reading before you read activates your prior knowledge that you have about the topic. Vocabulary words, images and ideas that you connect with the reading topic should help you understand the reading better. Try it! 1. Before reading, look at the titles of each of the three readings. 2. For each title, brainstorm and write down any ideas, words or images that you can think of. 3. Next, read the passages and write down any key words from the passage into the third column. Did what you wrote down in your brainstorming section connect to what was found in each reading? Not much left Brainstorm – before reading Key words and ideas that relate to after rent the title from the reading New to Canada Brainstorm – before reading Key words and ideas that relate to the title from the reading 12 Not enough money to cover all the costs and groceries Brainstorm – before reading Key words and ideas that relate to the title from the reading 4. Do you think these readings were appropriately named? 5. Can you think of a better or different name of any of them? 13 Not much left after rent Posted on January 12, 2012 Pam is a young woman who has been battling breast cancer for years. Her disease has taken her strength, her job, and her security. The province provides $530 per month to cover rent, food, transportation, utilities, and all her other living expenses. After paying $430 for rent, Pam is left without the food and the strength she needs to keep fighting. Edmonton’s Food Bank has been able to provide her with food and resources for accessing further help from agencies in our community. New to Canada Posted on January 12, 2012 I was referred to Edmonton’s Food Bank by a newcomer’s agency in the city, I just moved here from Croatia and planned to work as an engineer. I found out that my qualifications from Croatia don’t meet Alberta standards and I have to go back to school. I’m currently working as a night janitor and am saving for school but it is a still a struggle to make ends meet living in a new city. The Food Bank helped lighten the load so I can focus on my studies. Not enough money to cover all the costs and groceries Posted on January 12, 2012 Recently, a mother and her two children moved to Edmonton. The mother secured a job, an apartment and settled the children into day care and school. When the bills arrived at the end of the month, she found there was not enough money to cover all the costs and groceries. She turned to Edmonton’s Food Bank for help until she can find a better paying job. Success: Two months later, the mother received a raise and made a small donation to Edmonton’s Food Bank in appreciation of its support. Readings excerpted from http://edmontonsfoodbank.com/stories/ with permission. Other testimonials abot Edmontonians who have used the Food Bank can be found at this site. 14 Reading for Meaning: Comprehension Read these questions and then read each story and answer all of the questions. 1. Not much left after rent a) What does this mean: “Her disease has taken her strength, her job, and her security”? b) Does the province provide enough money for Pam’s living expenses? c) What does it mean to “battle breast cancer”? 2. New to Canada a) How did the man find out about the Food Bank? b) Why can’t this man work in his trained profession? c) How has the man supported himself since coming to Canada? d) What is included in the “load” in the term “lighten the load”? 3. Not enough money to cover all the costs and groceries a) What is another way to say “secured” a job and/or an apartment? b) How long did the woman use the Food Bank for? c) How did the mother thank the Food Bank for its’ help? (Answers in the appendix) 15 Writing These reading passages use some interesting expressions to describe the circumstances these people have faced. The expressions used cannot be separated, or they will lose their meaning. Writers use this type of language to paint a picture for the reader so the reader can almost feel or see the words. Look at each set of expressions below and write a short passage about yourself (or someone you know), using each expression. Battle against Keep fighting 1. When did you, or someone you know, have to battle against something and keep on fighting? Make ends meet Lighten the load Struggle to 2. When did you, or someone you know, have to make ends meet? What lightened the load? What did you/they struggle to do? 16 Secured a job Cover the costs Turned to someone (or something) 3. When did you, or someone you know, have trouble securing a job, covering the costs and turning and then to someone for help or support? 4. Lastly, have you ever needed to use the Food Bank? Write about what happened and try to use as many of the expressions above as possible. 17