Small Island, Big Impact: The Tilos Integration Model

 

Which place looks more welcoming? Name 3 words that come to mind for each picture.

What makes a community view refugees as an 'opportunity' rather than a 'burden?

Comprehension cards

Part 1: Detailed Reading Comprehension

Answer the following questions based on the text using your own words where possible.

1. How did Tilos' reputation before the arrival of refugees differ from its current recognition?

2. In what ways does Mayor Maria Kamma suggest that small communities can solve the wider European refugee problem?

3. Contrast the living conditions of refugees on Tilos with those residing in camps on other islands like Rhodes, Lesbos, or Chios.

4. What historical factors caused the depopulation of Tilos, specifically in villages like Mikro Chorio?

5. Explain how the proposed cheese factory project could create a mutually beneficial relationship between local residents and refugees.

Part 2: Fact Checking (True / False / Not Stated)

Read the statements below. Write TRUE, FALSE, or NOT STATED. For TRUE and FALSE statements, cite the line or phrase from the text that supports your answer.

1. Tilos has hosted around 70 refugees, which equals more than 10% of the island’s permanent population.

2. refugee mothers on Tilos are required to work in local tavernas and bakeries.

3. Syrian children must reach a fluent level in Greek before they are permitted to join local schools.

4. Ian Beesley noted that local residents were universally opposed to hosting refugees on the island.

5. Most of the Syrian families on Tilos intend to stay on the island permanently rather than move elsewhere in Europe.

Part 3: Vocabulary in Context

A. Match the words/phrases from the text (1–6) with their correct contextual meanings (A–F).

Word / Phrase	Meaning
1. Languish in limbo	A. To enter and become an active part of a social group or society.
2. Clings to	B. Remaining in a difficult situation without making progress or knowing what will happen next.
3. Integrated	C. Is situated high up or attached closely to a steep side of a hill/mountain.
4. Depopulation	D. Financial support or a financial backbone of a system/region.
5. Mainstay	E. To change or expand into new areas or activities to reduce risk.
6. Diversify	F. The significant reduction of a region's inhabitant count over time.

B. Gap Fill: Complete the sentences using the target vocabulary from the box in the correct form.

languish in limbo | integrate | depopulation | mainstay | diversify

1. Without new economic opportunities, rural villages often suffer from severe ____________ as young people leave for big cities.

2. Tourism remains the economic ____________ of many Greek islands during the summer months.

3. Thousands of asylum seekers continue to ____________ in overcrowded facilities while waiting for their paperwork to be processed.

4. To avoid relying solely on seasonal visitors, local planners are trying to ____________ the island's economy through small-scale agriculture.

5. Providing language classes is one of the fastest ways to help newcomers ____________ into the local workforce.

Part 4: Critical Text Analysis & Inference

Choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) based on the implicit meaning of the text.

1. Why does the author mention the "pygmy elephants" and "15,000 goats" throughout the article?

   • A. To prove that Tilos is mainly an agricultural island with no room for tourism.

   • B. To highlight the island's quiet, isolated nature and small scale compared to its unique initiatives.

   • C. To explain why refugees find it difficult to find housing on the island.

   • D. To show that the island's main income comes from paleontological excavations.

2. What tone does the author adopt toward the Tilos refugee integration initiative?

   • A. Highly skeptical and critical of local government spending.

   • B. Neutral and purely statistical without personal accounts.

   • C. Largely positive, emphasizing humanitarian success and community cooperation.

   • D. Concerned about the long-term environmental impact on the island.

Unit 2 Grammar Practice 

Section 1: Advanced & Mixed Conditionals

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in brackets to form 2nd, 3rd, or Mixed Conditionals.

1. If every island in the Aegean ____________ (welcome) a few refugee families, the overall situation across Europe ____________ (be) much easier to manage.

2. If the inhabitants of Mikro Chorio ____________ (not leave) the island after WWII, the village ____________ (not be) abandoned today.

3. The Mayor of Tilos ____________ (not suggest) exporting their model if the integration project ____________ (fail) to show positive results.

4. If larger cities ____________ (offer) organized employment opportunities like Tilos does, fewer asylum seekers ____________ (languish) in limbo today.

Section 2: Expressing Contrast & Comparison

Rewrite the sentences using the prompt word in bold so that the second sentence has the same meaning as the first.

1. Refugees on other islands suffer from high stress levels, but refugees on Tilos feel safer and happier.

   UNLIKE

2. Large camps in Greece are often overcrowded, whereas the Livadia camp on Tilos is well-kept and spacious.

   IN CONTRAST

3. Conditions on Tilos are far better than the conditions in the old slaughter yard on Rhodes.

   IMMEASURABLY

   Conditions on Tilos are 

Section 3: Passive Voice & Reporting Style

Rewrite the following active sentences into the Passive Voice, maintaining the same tense.

1. Paleontologists discovered the remains of pygmy elephants in a cave on Tilos.

   ==> The remains of pygmy elephants ______________________________________

2. A Greek NGO and UNHCR established the camp in Livadia about a year ago.

   ==> The camp in Livadia ______________________________________

3. Local business owners employ adult refugees in bakeries, shops, and seafront tavernas.

   ==> Adult refugees ______________________________________________

Section 4: Participle Clauses (Reduced Clauses)

Combine the two sentences into one sophisticated sentence using a Present (-ing) or Past (-ed) Participle clause.

1. Tilos is a quiet island. It features crimson bougainvillea that cascades over whitewashed houses.

   ==> Tilos is a quiet island, ____________________________________________

2. Megalo Chorio is the capital of Tilos. It clings to the craggy slopes of a mountain.

   ==> Megalo Chorio, ________________________________, is the capital of Tilos.

3. Mohsen Barak led his young daughter by the hand. He explained how much better life is on Tilos.

   ==> ________________________________________________, Mohsen Barak explained how much better life is on Tilos.

Section 5: Stative vs. Dynamic Verbs

Choose the correct verb form (Simple Present or Present Continuous) based on context.

1. The local residents believe / are believing that small-scale integration is the most effective approach.

2. Thousands of goats wander / are wandering through the herb-scented mountains of Tilos every day.

3. The number of refugees on the island seems / is seeming small, but it represents a high percentage of the resident population.

4. Look! The children play / are playing safely in the playground near the port.

Section 6: Gerunds vs. Infinitives (-ing vs. To-Infinitive)

Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets (to-infinitive or -ing).

The island council decided 1. ____________ (build) a local cheese factory in order 2. ____________ (take) advantage of the island's goat milk production. Local officials hope 3. ____________ (create) sustainable jobs for both locals and newcomers. Refusing 4. ____________ (sit) around with nothing to do, many adult refugees enjoy 5. ____________ (work) alongside island residents. Furthermore, young Syrian children love 6. ____________ (attend) daily language classes to help them prepare for school.