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Level 3 - 11th April 2024

Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast

FREE online quizzes, mp3 listening and more for this lesson here:
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

Contents
The Article 2 Discussion (Student-Created Qs) 15
Warm-Ups 3 Language Work (Cloze) 16
Vocabulary 4 Spelling 17
Before Reading / Listening 5 Put The Text Back Together 18
Gap Fill 6 Put The Words In The Right Order 19
Match The Sentences And Listen 7 Circle The Correct Word 20
Listening Gap Fill 8 Insert The Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) 21
Comprehension Questions 9 Punctuate The Text And Add Capitals 22
Multiple Choice - Quiz 10 Put A Slash ( / ) Where The Spaces Are 23
Role Play 11 Free Writing 24
After Reading / Listening 12 Academic Writing 25
Student Survey 13 Homework 26
Discussion (20 Questions) 14 Answers 27

Please try Levels 0, 1 and 2 (they are easier).

Twitter twitter.com/SeanBanville

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THE ARTICLE

From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

The culture ministry of the Russian republic of Chechnya has made a

rule about what speed of music people can listen to. The ministry has
banned songs that are too fast or too slow. It made an announcement
about the tempo of songs allowed. It said: "From now on, all musical,
vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of between
80 to 116 beats per minute." The new standard, which starts at 80 beats
per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music.
However, the Russian national anthem is usually played at 76 beats per
minute. There has been no word from the culture ministry about whether
the anthem can be played. It seems likely the anthem will be an
exception to the new rule.

The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to

protect Chechnya's culture and traditions. The Moscow Times said it was,
"to root out any hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan
Kadyrov, said the ban was to make music, "conform to the Chechen
mentality". He added: "Borrowing musical culture from other people's is
inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We must
bring to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage
of the Chechen people." Local artists have until June the 1st to rewrite
their songs to follow the new tempo. People in Chechnya will no longer be
able to listen to techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and
Taylor Swift.

Sources: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/04/05/chechnya-forbids-music-outside-80-116-bpm-
tempo-a84755
https://www.politico.eu/article/culture-ministry-russian-republic-chechnya-ban-western-songs/
https://news.sky.com/story/chechnya-bans-music-that-is-too-fast-or-too-slow-13110266

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 2
WARM-UPS

1. MUSIC: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about music.
Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will
the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

culture ministry / Chechnya / music / tempo / beats per minute / national anthem /
traditions / Westernization / ban / the future / heritage / techno music / songs

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. TRADITIONAL MUSIC: Students A strongly believe traditional music is

better than modern-day music; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners
again and talk about your conversations.

4. SPEED: Would you like these things to be faster or slower? Why? Complete this
table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Faster or Slower? Why?

Music

Driving

Download

Talking

Reading

Eating

5. TEMPO: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate
with the word "tempo". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them.
Together, put the words into different categories.

6. MUSIC: Rank these with your partner. Put the best music genres at the top. Change
partners often and share your rankings.

• Folk • Opera
• Classical • Jazz
• Rap • Pop
• Techno • Ambient

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 3
VOCABULARY MATCHING
Paragraph 1

1. ministry a. A public statement or message that tells

people about something important or new.
2. republic b. A group of people who work together to help
manage a government or organization.
3. announcement c. About the voice, or speaking and singing.

4. vocal d. Have a close similarity; match or agree

almost exactly.
5. correspond e. A country or state where people elect
representatives to make decisions for them,
rather than having a king or queen.
6. national f. Something or someone that is different from
the usual or expected.
7. exception g. Relating to a whole country; involving all
the people of a country.

Paragraph 2

8. ban (verb) h. To keep someone or something safe from

harm or danger.
9. protect i. To follow the rules or standards.

10. root out j. To not allow something to happen.

11. Westernization k. To find and remove something completely.

12. conform l. Something that is passed down from the

past, such as traditions, beliefs, or objects.
13. heritage m. Becoming influenced by the culture,
customs, or ideas of Western countries.
14. artists n. People who create art, such as paintings,
sculptures, music, or literature, etc.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 4
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

1. Chechnya's Ministry of Sound has banned up-tempo music. T/F

2. Chechnya has set a beats per minute range for allowable music. T/F
3. Most modern-day pop music is above 116 beats per minute. T/F
4. Russia's national anthem is slower than Chechnya's tempo range. T/F
5. The music ban is to protect Chechnya's culture from Westernization. T/F
6. Chechnya's leader said techno music is bad for mental health. T/F
7. Local artists were asked to rewrite their songs to fit the tempo range. T/F
8. People in Chechnya can still listen to all of Beyonce's songs. T/F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: (The words in bold are from the news article.)

1. rule a. special case

2. banned b. follow
3. allowed c. prohibited
4. correspond d. tunes
5. exception e. safeguard
6. protect f. regulation
7. root out g. match up with
8. conform to h. history
9. heritage i. permitted
10. songs j. destroy

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1. The culture ministry of the Russian a. 80 to 116 beats per minute

2. a tempo of between b. artists
3. much slower than a lot of modern- c. to the new rule
4. Russian national d. our children
5. the anthem will be an exception e. day pop music
6. root out any hint f. able to listen
7. the future of g. anthem
8. cultural h. of Westernization
9. Local i. heritage
10. longer be j. republic of Chechnya

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 5
GAP FILL
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

The culture ministry of the Russian (1) _____________________ of tempo

Chechnya has made a (2) _____________________ about what speed of starts

music people can listen to. The ministry has banned songs that are
republic
too fast or too slow. It made an announcement about the
word
(3) _____________________ of songs allowed. It said: "From now on, all
musical, (4) _____________________ and choreographic works should vocal

correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." exception

The new standard, which (5) _____________________ at 80 beats per
rule
minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music.
anthem
However, the Russian national (6) _____________________ is usually
played at 76 beats per minute. There has been no
(7) _____________________ from the culture ministry about whether
the anthem can be played. It seems likely the anthem will be an
(8) _____________________ to the new rule.

The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to musical

(9) _____________________ Chechnya's culture and traditions. The longer
Moscow Times said it was, "to root out any
hint
(10) _____________________ of Westernization". Chechnya's leader,
artists
Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make music, "conform to
the Chechen (11) _____________________". He added: "Borrowing protect

(12) _____________________ culture from other people's is follow

inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said:
mentality
"We must bring to the people and to the (13) _____________________
future
of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local
(14) _____________________ have until June the 1st to rewrite their
songs to (15) _____________________ the new tempo. People in
Chechnya will no (16) _____________________ be able to listen to
techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 6
LISTENING – Guess the answers. Listen to check.
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

1) The culture ministry of the Russian republic of Chechnya has ______

a. made a real
b. made a rule
c. made a ruler
d. made a gruel
2) The ministry has banned songs that are too fast ______
a. or to slow
b. or too slow
c. or so slow
d. or very slow
3) works should correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116 ______
a. beats par minute
b. beats per minute
c. beats pear minute
d. beats pear minute
4) However, the Russian national ______
a. anthem is usual
b. anthem is usually
c. anthem is unusually
d. anthem is unusual
5) It seems likely the anthem will ______
a. be an exception
b. be an excepting
c. be an accepting
d. be an except shun
6) The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to ______
a. protect Chechnya's vulture
b. protect Chechnya's cultured
c. protect Chechnya's cultural
d. protect Chechnya's culture
7) The Moscow Times said it was to root out any ______
a. hint toff Westernization
b. hint oft Westernization
c. hint off Westernization
d. hint of Westernization
8) Kadyrov said the ban was to make music conform to ______
a. the Chechen mentality
b. the Chechen meant ability
c. the Chechen men tally tea
d. the Chechen mental lately
9) We must bring to the people and to the future of our children ______
a. a cultural heritage
b. the cultural heritage
c. the culturally heritage
d. the cultural hermitage
10) Local artists have until June the 1st to ______
a. recite their songs
b. relight their songs
c. rewrite their songs
d. alight their songs

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 7
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

The (1) ____________________ the Russian republic of Chechnya has made

a rule about what (2) ____________________ people can listen to. The

ministry has banned songs that are too fast or too slow. It made an

announcement about the (3) ____________________ allowed. It said: "From

now on, all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a

tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." (4) ____________________,

which starts at 80 beats per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-

day pop music. However, the Russian (5) ____________________ usually

played at 76 beats per minute. There has been no word from the culture

ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems likely the

anthem will be (6) ____________________ the new rule.

The (7) ____________________ that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is

to protect Chechnya's culture and traditions. The Moscow Times said it was,

"to (8) ____________________ hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader,

Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make music,

"(9) ____________________ Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing

musical culture from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev,

Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We (10) ____________________ the

people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen

people." Local (11) ____________________ June the 1st to rewrite their

songs to follow the new tempo. People in Chechnya will no

(12) ____________________ to listen to techno music, or many songs by

Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 8
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

1. What Chechen ministry made a rule about the speed of music?

2. What is the beats per minute range of the music that is allowed?

3. What is 80 beats per minute slower than?

4. What is usually played at 76 beats per minute?

5. What might be an exception to the music speed rule?

6. What will the music ban protect in Chechnya?

7. What might the ban root out any hint of?

8. What did Chechnya's leader say was inadmissible?

9. What do local artists have until June the 1st to do?

10. Whose songs might be affected in Chechnya besides Beyonce and Drake?

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 9
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

1) What Chechen ministry made a 6) What will the music ban protect in
rule about the speed of music? Chechnya?
a) the Ministry of Sound a) Chechnya's culture and traditions
b) the culture ministry b) Chechnya's artists
c) the Ministry of Music c) Chechnya's recording studios
d) the music ministry d) Chechnya's music charts

2) What is the beats per minute 7) What might the ban root out any
range of the music that is allowed? hint of?
a) 76-116 a) country music
b) 80-120 b) bad music
c) 76-120 c) Westernization
d) 80-116 d) love songs

3) What is 80 beats per minute 8) What did Chechnya's leader say

slower than? was inadmissible?
a) a lot of modern-day pop a) borrowing musical culture
b) Chechnya's folk dances b) rock music
c) an average drummer c) waltzes and samba
d) hand clapping d) tap dancing

4) What is usually played at 76 beats 9) What do local artists have until

per minute? June the 1st to do?
a) a popular Chechen folk song a) rewrite their songs
b) Happy Birthday b) write new songs
c) Russia's national anthem c) delete their songs
d) the music for Chechnya's news d) learn Chechen instruments

5) What might be an exception to 10) Whose songs might be affected in

the music speed rule? Chechnya besides Beyonce and
a) 70 beats per minute Drake?
b) Russia's national anthem a) The Beatles
c) the Internet b) Ed Sheeran
d) classical music c) Eminem
d) Taylor Swift

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 10
ROLE PLAY
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

Role A – Classical
You think classical is the best music genre. Tell the others
three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres.
Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):
techno, pop or rap.

Role B – Techno
You think techno is the best music genre. Tell the others three
reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also,
tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical,
pop or rap.

Role C – Pop
You think pop is the best music genre. Tell the others three
reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also,
tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): techno,
classical or rap.

Role D – Rap
You think rap is the best music genre. Tell the others three
reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also,
tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): techno,
pop or classical.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 11
AFTER READING / LISTENING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'music' and 'tempo'.

music tempo

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down

some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.

Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new,
interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,

pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try
to recall how they were used in the text:

• republic • protect
• allowed • leader
• vocal • borrowing
• standard • future
• modern • June
• likely • able

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 12
MUSIC SURVEY
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

Write five GOOD questions about music in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student
must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3

_____________ _____________ _____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 13
MUSIC DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. What did you think when you read the headline?

2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'music'?
3. What kinds of music do you like?
4. What do you think of your country's traditional music?
5. What do you think of Chechnya's music ban?
6. Do you prefer fast or slow music?
7. Which is better, music or songs?
8. What do you think of your national anthem?
9. What are your favourite songs?
10. What advice do you have for music lovers in Chechnya?

Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
Thousands more free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MUSIC DISCUSSION
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12. What do you think of when you hear the word 'tempo'?
13. What do you think about what you read?
14. What do you think of Westernization?
15. What other cultures are affecting your own?
16. What is the 'mentality' of your culture?
17. Is it OK to borrow music from other cultures?
18. What music from other cultures do you like?
19. What do you think of techno music?
20. What questions would you like to ask Chechnya's culture ministry?

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 14
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________
Copyright © breakingnewsenglish.com 2024

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 15
LANGUAGE - CLOZE
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

The (1) ____ ministry of the Russian republic of Chechnya has made a rule about
what speed of music people can listen to. The ministry has (2) ____ songs that are
too fast or too slow. It made an announcement about the tempo of songs (3) ____.
It said: "From now on, all musical, vocal and choreographic works should
correspond (4) ____ a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new
standard, which starts at 80 beats per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-
day pop music. However, the Russian national anthem is usually played (5) ____ 76
beats per minute. There has been no word from the culture ministry about whether
the anthem can be played. It seems (6) ____ the anthem will be an exception to the
new rule.

The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too (7) ____-tempo is to protect
Chechnya's culture and traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to (8) ____ out
any hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was
to make music, "conform (9) ____ the Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing
musical culture from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's
culture minister, said: "We must (10) ____ to the people and to the future of our
children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local artists have until June
the 1st to rewrite their songs to (11) ____ the new tempo. People in Chechnya will
no longer be (12) ____ to listen to techno music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake
and Taylor Swift.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1. (a) cultural (b) cultured (c) culture (d) cultures

2. (a) banned (b) bend (c) binned (d) band

3. (a) allowed (b) let (c) permit (d) given
4. (a) to (b) of (c) at (d) on

5. (a) in (b) on (c) up (d) at

6. (a) liked (b) likeable (c) likes (d) likely
7. (a) down (b) fall (c) low (d) drop

8. (a) trunk (b) twig (c) branch (d) root

9. (a) to (b) of (c) at (d) up
10. (a) borrow (b) bring (c) lend (d) stick

11. (a) chase (b) follow (c) pursue (d) shadow

12. (a) able (b) can (c) ability (d) capable

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 16
SPELLING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

Paragraph 1

1. The culture isnirmty

2. the Russian ipcbleru of Chechnya

3. It made an canonteenunm

4. the mpoet of songs

5. the Russian national mteahn

6. an neoeicxtp to the new rule

Paragraph 2

7. tctpreo Chechnya's culture

8. conform to the Chechen nilatymet

9. the utuerf of our children

10. cultural itehgear

11. Local artstsi

12. ctnoeh music

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 17
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

Number these lines in the correct order.

( ) of songs allowed. It said: "From now on, all musical, vocal and
choreographic works should correspond

( ) said the ban was to make music, "conform to the Chechen

mentality". He added: "Borrowing musical culture

( 1 ) The culture ministry of the Russian republic of Chechnya has made

a rule about what speed of music people

( ) The ban on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to

protect Chechnya's culture and

( ) anthem is usually played at 76 beats per minute. There has been

no word from the culture

( ) per minute, is much slower than a lot of modern-day pop music.

However, the Russian national

( ) June the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow the new tempo. People
in Chechnya will no

( ) longer be able to listen to techno music, or many songs by

Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

( ) to a tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new

standard, which starts at 80 beats

( ) to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen

people." Local artists have until

( ) can listen to. The ministry has banned songs that are too fast or
too slow. It made an announcement about the tempo

( ) ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems likely

the anthem will be an exception to the new rule.

( ) from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's

culture minister, said: "We must bring to the people and

( ) traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to root out any hint of
Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov,

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 18
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

1. culture The of republic the of ministry Chechnya .

2. people speed of music listen What can to .

3. The are too banned ministry fast . songs that

4. anthem national . is usually at Russia's 76 bpm played

5. has There from no the word been ministry .

6. ban music up-tempo . The on that is too

7. hint to out root It's of Westernization . any

8. Chechen Make mentality . conform the to music

9. rewrite their have songs . Local to artists

10. longer to People be no able listen . will

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 19
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

The culture ministry of the Russian republic at / of Chechnya has made a

rule about what speed of music people can listen on / to. The ministry has

banned songs that are too fast or so / too slow. It made an announcement /

announce about the tempo of songs allowed. It said: "From know / now on,

all musical, vocal and choreographic works should respond / correspond to a

tempo of between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new standard, which

starts at 80 beats per minute, is many / much slower than a lot of modern-

day pop music. However, the Russian national anthem is usual / usually

played at 76 beats per minute. There has been no word / vocabulary from

the culture ministry about whether the anthem can be played. It seems

likely the anthem will be an exception / except to the new rule.

The ban in / on music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to protect

Chechnya's culture and traditional / traditions. The Moscow Times said it

was, "to root in / out any hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader,

Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make / do music, "conform / confirm

to the Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing / Lending musical culture

from other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture

minister, said: "We must brought / bring to the people and to the future of

our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people." Local art / artists

have until June the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow / chase the new

tempo. People in Chechnya will no longer be able / ability to listen to techno

music, or many songs by Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and
why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 20
INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

Th_ c_lt_r_ m_n_stry _f th_ R_ss__n r_p_bl_c _f

Ch_chny_ h_s m_d_ _ r_l_ _b__t wh_t sp__d _f m_s_c
p__pl_ c_n l_st_n t_. Th_ m_n_stry h_s b_nn_d s_ngs
th_t _r_ t__ f_st _r t__ sl_w. _t m_d_ _n
_nn__nc_m_nt _b__t th_ t_mp_ _f s_ngs _ll_w_d. _t
s__d: "Fr_m n_w _n, _ll m_s_c_l, v_c_l _nd
ch_r__gr_ph_c w_rks sh__ld c_rr_sp_nd t_ _ t_mp_ _f
b_tw__n 80 t_ 116 b__ts p_r m_n_t_." Th_ n_w
st_nd_rd, wh_ch st_rts _t 80 b__ts p_r m_n_t_, _s
m_ch sl_w_r th_n _ l_t _f m_d_rn-d_y p_p m_s_c.
H_w_v_r, th_ R_ss__n n_t__n_l _nth_m _s _s__lly
pl_y_d _t 76 b__ts p_r m_n_t_. Th_r_ h_s b__n n_
w_rd fr_m th_ c_lt_r_ m_n_stry _b__t wh_th_r th_
_nth_m c_n b_ pl_y_d. _t s__ms l_k_ly th_ _nth_m
w_ll b_ _n _xc_pt__n t_ th_ n_w r_l_.

Th_ b_n _n m_s_c th_t _s t__ _p-t_mp_ _r t__ d_wn-

t_mp_ _s t_ pr_t_ct Ch_chny_'s c_lt_r_ _nd tr_d_t__ns.
Th_ M_sc_w T_m_s s__d _t w_s, "t_ r__t __t _ny
h_nt _f W_st_rn_z_t__n". Ch_chny_'s l__d_r, R_mz_n
K_dyr_v, s__d th_ b_n w_s t_ m_k_ m_s_c, "c_nf_rm
t_ th_ Ch_ch_n m_nt_l_ty". H_ _dd_d: "B_rr_w_ng
m_s_c_l c_lt_r_ fr_m _th_r p__pl_'s _s _n_dm_ss_bl_."
M_s_ D_d__v, Ch_chny_'s c_lt_r_ m_n_st_r, s__d: "W_
m_st br_ng t_ th_ p__pl_ _nd t_ th_ f_t_r_ _f __r
ch_ldr_n th_ c_lt_r_l h_r_t_g_ _f th_ Ch_ch_n p__pl_."
L_c_l _rt_sts h_v_ _nt_l J_n_ th_ 1st t_ r_wr_t_ th__r
s_ngs t_ f_ll_w th_ n_w t_mp_. P__pl_ _n Ch_chny_
w_ll n_ l_ng_r b_ _bl_ t_ l_st_n t_ t_chn_ m_s_c, _r
m_ny s_ngs by B_y_nc_, Dr_k_ _nd T_yl_r Sw_ft.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 21
PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

the culture ministry of the russian republic of chechnya has made a rule

about what speed of music people can listen to the ministry has banned

songs that are too fast or too slow it made an announcement about the

tempo of songs allowed it said from now on all musical vocal and

choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of between 80 to 116

beats per minute the new standard which starts at 80 beats per minute is

much slower than a lot of modernday pop music however the russian

national anthem is usually played at 76 beats per minute there has been no

word from the culture ministry about whether the anthem can be played it

seems likely the anthem will be an exception to the new rule

the ban on music that is too uptempo or too downtempo is to protect

chechnyas culture and traditions the moscow times said it was to root out

any hint of westernization chechnyas leader ramzan kadyrov said the ban

was to make music conform to the chechen mentality he added borrowing

musical culture from other peoples is inadmissible musa dadaev chechnyas

culture minister said we must bring to the people and to the future of our

children the cultural heritage of the chechen people local artists have until

june the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow the new tempo people in

chechnya will no longer be able to listen to techno music or many songs by

beyonce drake and taylor swift

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 22
PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

ThecultureministryoftheRussianrepublicofChechnyahasmadearulea

boutwhatspeedofmusicpeoplecanlistento.Theministryhasbannedso

ngsthataretoofastortooslow.Itmadeanannouncementaboutthetem

poofsongsallowed.Itsaid:"Fromnowon,allmusical,vocalandchoreog

raphicworksshouldcorrespondtoatempoofbetween80to116beatspe

rminute."Thenewstandard,whichstartsat80beatsperminute,ismuch

slowerthanalotofmodern-daypopmusic.However,theRussiannation

alanthemisusuallyplayedat76beatsperminute.Therehasbeennowor

dfromthecultureministryaboutwhethertheanthemcanbeplayed.Itse

emslikelytheanthemwillbeanexceptiontothenewrule.Thebanonmusi

cthatistooup-tempoortoodown-tempoistoprotectChechnya'scultur

eandtraditions.TheMoscowTimessaiditwas,"torootoutanyhintofWes

ternization".Chechnya'sleader,RamzanKadyrov,saidthebanwastom

akemusic,"conformtotheChechenmentality".Headded:"Borrowing

musicalculturefromotherpeople'sisinadmissible."MusaDadaev,Chec

hnya'scultureminister,said:"Wemustbringtothepeopleandtothefutu

reofourchildrentheculturalheritageoftheChechenpeople."Localartist

shaveuntilJunethe1sttorewritetheirsongstofollowthenewtempo.Peo

pleinChechnyawillnolongerbeabletolistentotechnomusic,ormanyso

ngsbyBeyonce,DrakeandTaylorSwift.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 23
FREE WRITING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

Write about music for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 24
ACADEMIC WRITING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2404/240411-music-tempo.html

Traditional music is better than pop music. Discuss.

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Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 25
HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the

text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to
build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news
story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MUSIC: Make a poster about music. Show your work to your

classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. TRADITIONAL MUSIC: Write a magazine article about governments

promoting traditional folk music over pop music. Include imaginary
interviews with people who are for and against this.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any
new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next

stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the
next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on music. Ask him/her three

questions about music. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to
your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your
questions.

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 26
ANSWERS

VOCABULARY (p.4)
1. b 2. e 3. a 4. c 5. d 6. g 7. f
8. j 9. h 10. k 11. m 12. i 13. l 14. n

TRUE / FALSE (p.5)

1 F 2 T 3 F 4 T 5 T 6 F 7 T 8 F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.5)

1. f 2. c 3. i 4. g 5. a

6. e 7. j 8. b 9. h 10. d

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.9) WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER (p.19)

1. The culture ministry 1. The culture ministry of the republic of Chechnya.

2. 80-116 2. What speed of music people can listen to.
3. A lot of modern-day pop 3. The ministry banned songs that are too fast.
4. Russia's national anthem 4. Russia's national anthem is usually played at 76
bpm.
5. Russia's national anthem 5. There has been no word from the ministry.
6. Chechnya's culture and traditions 6. The ban on music that is too up-tempo.
7. Westernization 7. It's to root out any hint of Westernization.
8. Borrowing musical culture 8. Make music conform to the Chechen mentality.
9. Rewrite their songs 9. Local artists have to rewrite their songs.
10. Taylor Swift 10. People will no longer be able to listen.

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.10)

1. b 2. d 3. a 4. c 5. b 6. a 7. c 8. a 9. a 10. d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Level 3 Chechnya bans music that is too slow or too fast – 11th April 2024
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2024 27