Downward spiral of war, crisis and need to worsen in 2020, fears top UN official

This is a list of key vocabulary and expressions from the article in order of how useful they are. The student must choose 6 items from the list to study in the lesson.

To cope with something

To acknowledge something

To worsen

To carry out

A bloke

A drought

To deteriorate

An outbreak of something

Dire

To overthrow

To resort to something

To bear the brunt of something

15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.

1. Do you think the world will get better or worse this year?

2. Do you think your life will get better or worse this year?

3. Was it professional for Mark Lowcock to be so pessimistic?

4. What are the biggest problems that the world faces this year?

5. What is your prediction for the future of the global warming problem?

6. How can we tackle this problem?

7. What is your prediction for the future of the migrant crisis?

8. How can we tackle this problem?

9. Why are women more vulnerable to negative changes in the world?

10. Do you think we need a world government?

11. Has there ever been a better time to be alive than now?

12. Have there been any positive changes or trends in the last year?

13. Are people becoming more or less kind?

14. Do you think that wealthy countries have a responsibility to give poorer countries aid money?

15. Do you think that aid money helps poorer countries?