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Date: Jun 5, 2005
Level: Easier (Try the harder lesson.) Downloads: Word Doc | PDF Doc | Listening Audio: (2:21 - 276.1 KB - 16kbps) THE ARTICLEThe Pentagon has ended its investigation into the Koran abuse scandal. Guantanamo Bay spokesman General Jay Hood described five occasions when the Koran was mistreated. On one occasion the Koran was kicked and on another it was accidentally splashed with urine. The report said a guard had gone to the toilet against a prison wall, near an air vent. General Hood reported that "the wind blew his urine through the vent" and onto a prisoner and his Koran. Newsweek magazine reported in May that a Koran was flushed in a toilet by prison guards. The article created fury and anger around the Muslim world. A total of 16 people died in protests. Muslims burned U.S. flags and shouted in the streets for revenge. As recently as June 1, the Pakistan Senate called for an international inquiry into the incident. Newsweek later said their story was probably untrue and apologized. General Hood said the Koran cases happened in 2003. He explained that prisoners and their Korans are moved thousands of times every week, so accidents can and do happen. He stated: “Mishandling a Koran at Guantanamo Bay is a rare occurrence." Camp guidelines about touching the Koran are very strict. Only Muslim clergymen, interpreters or the prisoners can touch the holy book. Guards can no longer touch it. WARM-UPS1. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words are most interesting and which are most boring.
Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently. 2. THE PENTAGON: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the Pentagon. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. 3. STORY PREDICTION: In pairs / groups, use the words from the “CHAT” activity to predict how the story in the article will unfold. Change partners and compare your stories. If you have different ideas, talk about which story you think will be closer to the article. 4. BACKGROUND SEARCH: Look at the headline. In pairs / groups, tell each other everything you know about the background to this story - the facts and timeline. Visit other pairs / groups to find out more information. When you have finished, write down three issues from your information. Give your opinions on the rights and wrongs of these issues. Find new partners and talk about rights and wrongs again. 5. PENTAGON REPORT OPINIONS: In pairs / groups, talk about the following opinions on the Koran abuse report. Which do you agree or disagree with? Do you agree/disagree slightly or strongly?
BEFORE READING / LISTENING1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
WHILE READING / LISTENINGGAP FILL: Put the words in the column on the right into the correct spaces. Pentagon reports on Koran abuse
AFTER READING / LISTENING1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘holy’ and ‘book’.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the gap fill. 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. STUDENT GUANTANAMO BAY SURVEY: In pairs / groups write down questions about Guantanamo Bay and the Koran abuse scandal.
6. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:
DISCUSSIONSTUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.
SPEAKINGNEWS REPORT: You must prepare a report for tomorrow’s morning news. Your story is the Guantanamo Bay Koran abuse. The outline for your report is in the table. Think of three things to say about each of the words below to build into your report.
After you have finished, change partners / groups. Report your news items to your new partner(s) to practice for tomorrow’s news programme. You may use the words in the column on the left as prompts. Do not look at the other column. Give each other advice / feedback to make your reports better. LISTENINGListen and fill in the spaces. Pentagon reports on Koran abuseThe Pentagon has _____ ___ ____________ into the Koran abuse scandal. Guantanamo Bay spokesman General Jay Hood described five occasions when the Koran ___ _________. On one occasion the Koran was kicked and on another it was ____________ ________ with urine. The report said a guard had gone to the toilet against a prison wall, near an air vent. General Hood reported that "the wind blew his urine through the vent" and ____ __ ________ and his Koran. Newsweek magazine reported in May that a Koran was _____ __ __ ____ by prison guards. The article created ____ ___ ______ around the Muslim world. A total of 16 people died in protests. Muslims burned U.S. flags and shouted in the streets ___ _______. As recently as June 1, the Pakistan Senate called for an international inquiry ____ ___ _________. Newsweek later said their story was probably untrue and apologized. General Hood said the _____ _____ _________ in 2003. He explained that prisoners and their Korans are moved _________ __ ______ every week, so accidents can and do happen. He stated: “Mishandling a Koran at Guantanamo Bay is __ ____ ___________." Camp guidelines about touching the Koran are very strict. Only Muslim _________, interpreters or the prisoners can touch the holy book. _______ can no longer touch it. HOMEWORK1. 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 more information on the Koran abuse scandal. Share your findings with your class in the next lesson. 3. HOLY BOOK: Choose a holy book from any religion other than your own. Make a fact sheet about the history of the book and its main teachings. Compare the histories and teachings of the different holy books in your next class. Discuss the similarities and differences in the teachings. 4. LETTER: Write a letter to Brigadier General Jay Hood telling him what you think of the conclusion of the Koran abuse scandal. Show your letter to your classmates in your next lesson. Did you all write about similar things? ANSWERSTRUE / FALSE:
SYNONYM MATCH:
PHRASE MATCH:
GAP FILL: Pentagon reports on Koran abuseThe Pentagon has ended its investigation into the Koran abuse scandal. Guantanamo Bay spokesman General Jay Hood described five occasions when the Koran was mistreated. On one occasion the Koran was kicked and on another it was accidentally splashed with urine. The report said a guard had gone to the toilet against a prison wall, near an air vent. General Hood reported that "the wind blew his urine through the vent" and onto a prisoner and his Koran. Newsweek magazine reported in May that a Koran was flushed in a toilet by prison guards. The article created fury and anger around the Muslim world. A total of 16 people died in protests. Muslims burned U.S. flags and shouted in the streets for revenge. As recently as June 1, the Pakistan Senate called for an international inquiry into the incident. Newsweek later said their story was probably untrue and apologized. General Hood said the Koran cases happened in 2003. He explained that prisoners and their Korans are moved thousands of times every week, so accidents can and do happen. He stated: “Mishandling a Koran at Guantanamo Bay is a rare occurrence." Camp guidelines about touching the Koran are very strict. Only Muslim clergymen, interpreters or the prisoners can touch the holy book. Guards can no longer touch it.
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