Casa ESL · B2 Upper Intermediate · Unit 12 of 20 · Step 2
Global movement and advanced relative clauses
Name
Date
Vocabulary
displacement
nounThe forced movement of people from their home region.
"War has caused the displacement of millions of families."
asylum
nounProtection granted by a country to someone who has fled their home country.
"They applied for asylum after crossing the border."
assimilate
verbTo absorb into the cultural tradition of a population or group.
"Many immigrants struggle to assimilate while preserving their heritage."
sovereignty
nounThe supreme authority of a state to govern itself.
"Nations guard their sovereignty when setting immigration policies."
diaspora
nounThe dispersion of a people from their original homeland.
"The Irish diaspora spread across North America and Australia."
undocumented
adjectiveLacking official papers or legal immigration status.
"Undocumented workers often face exploitation and low wages."
integrate
verbTo combine or be accepted into a larger group or society.
"Language programmes help newcomers integrate into their communities."
remittance
nounMoney sent by a migrant worker to their family in their home country.
"Remittances account for a significant share of some nations' GDP."
Grammar Focus
Advanced relative clauses
In formal English, a preposition can precede the relative pronoun: 'the policy about which they disagreed' (instead of 'the policy which they disagreed about'). Non-defining relative clauses with 'which' can refer to an entire preceding clause: 'She passed the exam, which surprised everyone.' These clauses are always set off by commas.
The country to which they fled offered them immediate protection.
The programme in which she enrolled provided free language classes.
He was granted asylum, which allowed him to work legally.
The government tightened border controls, which many people criticised.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete each sentence with an appropriate preposition + which or 'which' referring to the whole clause.
1. The bridge they crossed had been closed for months.
2. She was offered a place at the university, delighted her parents.
3. The organisation he worked provided legal aid to refugees.
4. The boat they arrived was barely seaworthy.
5. The policy was reversed, came as a relief to many families.
Exercise 2
Match the beginning of each sentence with the correct ending.
Reading
Between Two Worlds
Maria arrived in Germany at the age of fourteen, a country about which she knew almost nothing. Her family had fled Syria during the civil war, a conflict which displaced over twelve million people. The refugee centre in which they were housed was overcrowded but safe. Maria enrolled in an integration programme, which gave her access to German lessons and school placement. Within two years she was fluent, which surprised even her teachers. Yet she often felt caught between two identities — the Syrian heritage from which she drew strength and the German culture into which she was steadily assimilating. She joined a youth organisation through which she met other young refugees. Together, they campaigned for better support services, which eventually led to new funding from the local government. Maria now studies law, a field in which she hopes to advocate for displaced families. Her story illustrates a truth about migration: it is not merely a journey across borders but a profound transformation of the self.
1. What challenges did Maria face after arriving in Germany?
2. How did Maria contribute to her community?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Write a paragraph (8–10 sentences) about a person — real or imagined — who migrated to a new country. Use at least three advanced relative clauses (preposition + which, or 'which' referring to a whole clause).
Example: Ahmed left the town in which he had grown up and travelled to Canada, a country about which he had read extensively. He was accepted into a language programme, which allowed him to improve his English rapidly. The community centre at which he volunteered became a second home.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. over which · 2. which · 3. for which · 4. in which · 5. which
Exercise 2
1. The region from which → they originated has been devastated by conflict. · 2. She learned the local language quickly, → which helped her find employment. · 3. The documents on which → their application depended were lost in transit. · 4. Border controls were relaxed, → which led to a sharp increase in crossings. · 5. The community to which → they belonged organised a welcome event.
Reading Comprehension
1. Maria faced an overcrowded refugee centre, the need to learn a new language, and the difficulty of navigating between her Syrian heritage and her new German identity. · 2. She joined a youth organisation through which she campaigned for better support services for refugees, which eventually led to new local government funding.