WORKING ON THE TEXT

Ex.1. SKIMMING:

a. Read the headline and the first sentence of each paragraph of the text. Pair up to discuss the topic of the article.

b. R ead the first paragraph and the last paragraph of the text. Then work in pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

c. Read the text. Get into pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

Ex.2. SCANNING:

a. While scanning the text find the answers for content-specific questions given by the teacher.

b. While scanning the text pick out the sentences containing the key words given by the teacher.

Ex.3. READING: Read and translate the text.

Ex.4. TEXT QUESTIONS: Look back at the text 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.

Ex.5. CHAT: Discuss with your classmates the key ideas of the text.

Ex.6. 1. TRUE / FALSE: Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Since the beginning of the 19-th century, there has been a continuous effort to standardize and harmonize Customs formalities with the aim of simplifying and facilitating international trade.	T / F
b.	Customs Cooperation Council is not the only intergovernmental organization competent on Customs matters.	T / F
c.	The HS multipurpose goods nomenclature is used as the basis for customs tariffs and for the compilation of international trade statistics.	T / F
d.	The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS Convention) was adopted in 1947 and came into force in 1950.	T / F
e.	The Istanbul Convention is the only one WCO instrument governing temporary admission of goods.	T / F
f.	The Arusha Declaration is a binding instrument which provides a number of basic principles to promote integrity and combat corruption within customs administrations.	T / F
g.	The goods are covered by a single document known as the ATA carnet that is secured by an international guarantee system.	T / F
h.	The HS is also used for many other purposes involving trade policy, rules of origin, monitoring of controlled goods, internal taxes, freight tariffs, transport statistics, quota controls, price monitoring, compilation of national accounts, and economic research and analysis.	T / F

Ex.7. GAP FILL: Fill in the gaps in the given sentences, using the words on the right

Since the beginning of the 20-th century, there has been a continuous effort to1) _____ and2) ______ Customs formalities with the aim of simplifying and3) ______ international trade. In 1923 the League of Nations signed in Geneva the International Convention relating to the Simplification of4) _____ _____. In 1947 was signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. In 1950 the Convention establishing Customs Cooperation Council was signed. This Council is still the only5) _____ organization competent on Customs matters. Numerous studies carried out by the Council on the principal Customs procedures such as6) _____, exportation,7) ___ ___ _____, inward and outward processing, transit, warehousing, temporary admission etc., resulted in a series and recommendations designed 8) _____ specific Customs problems. In order to achieve its objectives, the WCO has adopted a number of 9) ___ ___, including but not limited to the following: The HS multipurpose goods 10)___ is used as the basis for 11)___ ___ and for the compilation of international trade statistics. It comprises about 5000 12)___ ___, each identified by a 13)___ ___ ___ arranged in a legal and logical structure with 14)___-___ rules to achieve15) ___ classification. The HS is also used for many other purposes involving trade policy, 16) ___ ___, monitoring of controlled goods, 17)___ ___, freight tariffs, transport statistics, 18)___ ___, 19)___ ___, 20)___ of national accounts, and 21)____ ___ and analysis.

a) internal taxes b)uniform c) six digit code d)commodity groups e) customs tariffs f)economic research g)nomenclature h) customs instruments i) to solve j) quota controls k) duty-free l)admission m)importation n)intergovernmental o)Customs Formalities p)facilitating q)standardize r)harmonize s)well-defined t) rules of origin v)price monitoring w)compilation

Ex.8. VOCABULARY: Circle the words you do not understand. In groups, pick out unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

Ex.9. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recalll the situations they were used in the text:

internal taxes uniform six digit code commodity groups customs tariffs economic research nomenclature customs instruments to solve quota controls

duty-free admission importation intergovernmental Customs Formalities facilitating standardize harmonize well-defined rules of origin price monitoring

Ex.10. SUMMARY: Write down a Summary of this text.

Ex.11. SPEECH: Prepare a speech on this topic.

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