If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
landing – in this context, the action of bringing soldiers onto land that is controlled by the enemy
commemorate – to do something to show that you remember and respect someone important or an important event in the past
peacekeeping mission – an official job to stop people fighting and to maintain peace
poppy – a red flower (see image below the Answers)
biodegradable – if something is biodegradable, it breaks down naturally in a way that does not harm the environment
cemetery – the place where dead people are buried
lawnmower – a machine for cutting grass
tag – a small piece of paper attached to something to show what it is, who owns it, or how much it costs
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Who do we remember on Anzac Day?
- When was Anzac Day first marked in New Zealand?
- Why is Monday a public holiday?
- When are shops closed?
- How many conflicts were included in the Anzac Day Act of 1966?
- Who will be officially commemorated now?
- What will the new poppies be made of?
- What two reasons for this change are given?
- Where will the new poppies be made? Why?
News story
Next Saturday is Anzac Day, the day we remember people who have served in war for New Zealand. Anzac Day has been marked in New Zealand since 1916, the year after the landings at Gallipoli, Turkey, in World War 1. Because Anzac Day is on Saturday, there is a public holiday on Monday. All shops are closed on Saturday until 1pm. There are two slight changes to Anzac Day this year.
The first change is the result of a new law passed in February this year. This law allows for formal recognition of all those who have served New Zealand in times of war. It is an amendment to the Anzac Day Act of 1966, which only covered six specified conflicts. Now, anyone who has served New Zealand in wars and warlike situations will be officially commemorated. For example, it will include people who served in peacekeeping missions and those who served in medical units during wars.
The second slight change this year is to the poppies that people wear before and on Anzac Day. The Royal New Zealand RSA (Returned and Services Association) is introducing a new, more sustainable poppy, made from biodegradable paper. The previous poppies had some plastic in them. The change is happening because the machines that made those poppies in Christchurch for decades are no longer in use. Furthermore, the plastic poppies caused issues at cemeteries such as being caught up in lawnmowers. The new poppies will be made in England because the cost to manufacture them in New Zealand was too high. They have a leaf instead of the white RSA tag. RSA collectors will offer both types of poppy this year until the old plastic poppies have been used up.
If you want to learn more about Anzac Day, listen to the story from 2024.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. Who do we remember on Anzac Day?
People who have served in war for New Zealand
b. When was Anzac Day first marked in New Zealand?
1916
c. Why is Monday a public holiday?
Because Anzac Day is on Saturday
d. When are shops closed?
On Saturday until 1pm
e. How many conflicts were included in the Anzac Day Act of 1966?
Six
f. Who will be officially commemorated now?
Anyone who has served New Zealand in wars and warlike situations, e.g. people who served in peacekeeping missions and those who served in medical units during wars
g. What will the new poppies be made of?
Biodegradable paper
h. What two reasons for this change are given?
The machines that made those poppies in Christchurch for decades are no longer in use; the plastic poppies caused issues at cemeteries such as being caught up in lawnmowers
i. Where will the new poppies be made? Why?
In England because the cost to manufacture them in New Zealand was too high.
Image
The old poppy which is being replaced this year
