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Date: May 20, 2007
THE ARTICLERussia accused of cyber-war against EstoniaThe Estonian government has called in NATO Internet experts to try and stop hackers who are creating online havoc in the Baltic nation. In the past three weeks, there have been many cyber attacks on Estonia’s governmental and private Internet sites, causing a lot of financial damage. It has also shown how vulnerable a country can be in cyberspace. Many Estonian politicians believe there is a “cyber-war” going on. Initial attacks appear to have originated from Russia, although the Kremlin has strongly denied any wrongdoing. The first attack coincided with fierce rioting by gangs of Estonia's Russian minority. They were angry after authorities removed a Soviet-era war memorial from its spot in the centre of the capital Tallnin. The statue was relocated to a war cemetery just outside of the city. The possibility of a “virtual war” has sparked a potentially serious diplomatic crisis. At a meeting in Russia on Friday, a European Union chief told Russia’s president Vladimir Putin that any attack on Estonia was the same as an attack on the whole of the EU. Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said that cyber attacks such as this one will "become more of an issue" in the future. He added that cyber terrorism was becoming much more of a threat to the world as familiarity with hacking technology grows and more criminals get involved in information technology. Estonia is a very “wired” country and needs maximum security to stay ahead of the hackers. It conducts its general elections online and most of the population uses Internet banking. WARM-UPS1. CYBERSPACE: Walk around the class and talk to other students about cyberspace. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your original partner(s) and share what you found out. 2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently. 3. “WIRED” SOCIETIES: How wired is your society? How wired would you like it to be? With your partner(s), talk about the everyday parts of your lives that you would like to see wired. Use this table to help you:
4. FUTURE WARS: Which of these things do you think countries will fight wars over? Talk about this with your partner(s). Rank them from 10 (extremely likely) to 1 (highly unlikely).
5. CYBER HEADLINES: In pairs / groups, talk about these headlines. What are the stories behind them? Change partners and share stories.
6. QUICK DEBATE: Have this quick debate with your partner(s). Students A think Russia is at cyber-war with Estonia; students B think Russia is not at cyber-war with Estonia. Change partners and topics every two minutes. 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 into the gaps in the text. Russia accused of cyber-war against Estonia
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The Estonian government has called in NATO Internet ________ to try and stop hackers who are creating online ________ in the Baltic nation. In the past three weeks, there have been many cyber attacks on Estonia’s governmental and ________ Internet sites, causing a lot of financial damage. It has also shown how ________ a country can be in cyberspace. Many Estonian politicians believe there is a “cyber-war” going on. ________ attacks appear to have originated from Russia, although the Kremlin has strongly ________ any wrongdoing. The first attack coincided with fierce rioting by gangs of Estonia's Russian minority. They were angry after authorities removed a Soviet-era war ________ from its spot in the centre of the capital Tallnin. The statue was relocated to a war ________ just outside of the city. |
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memorial |
The possibility of a “virtual war” has ________ a potentially serious diplomatic crisis. At a meeting in Russia on Friday, a European Union ________ told Russia’s president Vladimir Putin that any attack on Estonia was the same as an attack on the ________ of the EU. Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said that cyber attacks such as this one will "become more of an ________ " in the future. He added that cyber terrorism was becoming much more of a ________ to the world as familiarity with hacking technology grows and more criminals get ________ in information technology. Estonia is a very “wired” country and needs ________ security to stay ahead of the hackers. It ________ its general elections online and most of the population uses Internet banking. |
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involved |
Listen and fill in the spaces.
The Estonian government ____________________ Internet experts to try and stop hackers who are ____________________ in the Baltic nation. In the past three weeks, there have been many cyber attacks on Estonia’s governmental and private Internet sites, ____________________ financial damage. It has also shown how vulnerable ____________________ cyberspace. Many Estonian politicians believe there is a “cyber-war” going on. Initial ____________________ originated from Russia, although the Kremlin has strongly ____________________. The first attack coincided with fierce rioting by gangs of Estonia's Russian minority. They were angry after authorities removed a Soviet-era war memorial ____________________ centre of the capital Tallnin. The statue was relocated to a war cemetery just outside of the city.
The possibility of a “virtual war” ____________________ serious diplomatic crisis. At a meeting in Russia on Friday, a European Union chief told Russia’s president Vladimir Putin that any attack on Estonia ____________________ attack on the whole of the EU. Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said that cyber attacks ____________________ "become more of an issue" in the future. He added that cyber terrorism was becoming much ____________________ the world as familiarity with hacking technology grows and more criminals get involved in information technology. Estonia is a very “wired” country and needs maximum security ____________________ the hackers. It conducts its general elections online and most of the population uses Internet banking.
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘cyber’ and ‘space’.
cyber |
space
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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 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 exactly how these were used in the text:
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Write five GOOD questions about CYBERSPACE 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.
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STUDENT 1 _____________ |
STUDENT 2 _____________ |
STUDENT 3 _____________ |
Q.1. |
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Q.2. |
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Q.3. |
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Q.4. |
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Q.5. |
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STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.
CYBER ATTACK:
What would you do if cyber-terrorists attacked you? With your partner(s), decide how dangerous these actions might be. Agree on the steps you would take in these situations:
Form of attack |
Dangers |
Your actions |
Cyber-terrorists take over your e-mail accounts |
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Cyber-terrorists get hold of your bank and credit cards |
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Cyber-terrorists monitor your daily movements |
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Cyber-terrorists take your name away |
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Cyber-terrorists cancel your ID cards and passport |
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Cyber-terrorists copy your fingerprint and DNA information |
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CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from ad below in the article.
The Estonian government has (1) ____ in NATO Internet experts to try and stop hackers who are creating online (2) ____ in the Baltic nation. In the past three weeks, there have been many cyber attacks on Estonia’s governmental and private Internet sites, causing a lot of financial damage. It has also (3) ____ how vulnerable a country can be in cyberspace. Many Estonian politicians believe there is a “cyber-war” going (4) ____. Initial attacks appear to have originated from Russia, although the Kremlin has strongly denied any (5) ____. The first attack coincided with fierce rioting by gangs of Estonia's Russian minority. They were angry after authorities removed a Soviet-era war memorial from its (6) ____ in the centre of the capital Tallnin. The statue was relocated to a war cemetery just outside of the city.
The possibility of a “virtual war” has (7) ____ a potentially serious diplomatic crisis. At a meeting in Russia on Friday, a European Union chief told Russia’s president Vladimir Putin that any attack on Estonia was the same as an attack on the (8) ____ of the EU. (9) ____, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said that cyber attacks such as this one will "become more of an issue" in the future. He added that cyber terrorism was becoming much more of a (10) ____ to the world as familiarity with hacking technology grows and more criminals (11) ____ involved in information technology. Estonia is a very “wired” country and needs maximum security to stay ahead of the hackers. It conducts its (12) ____ elections online and most of the population uses Internet banking.
1. |
(a) |
called |
(b) |
phoned |
(c) |
shouted |
(d) |
talked |
2. |
(a) |
haddock |
(b) |
havoc |
(c) |
hammock |
(d) |
hemlock |
3. |
(a) |
showing |
(b) |
shorn |
(c) |
showed |
(d) |
shown |
4. |
(a) |
over |
(b) |
out |
(c) |
on |
(d) |
in |
5. |
(a) |
wrongly |
(b) |
wrongdoing |
(c) |
wrongdoer |
(d) |
wrongful |
6. |
(a) |
jot |
(b) |
cot |
(c) |
spot |
(d) |
dot |
7. |
(a) |
sparkler |
(b) |
sparking |
(c) |
spark |
(d) |
sparked |
8. |
(a) |
whole |
(b) |
all |
(c) |
every |
(d) |
overall |
9. |
(a) |
Meanwhile |
(b) |
While |
(c) |
But |
(d) |
Although |
10. |
(a) |
thread |
(b) |
treat |
(c) |
threat |
(d) |
thrash |
11. |
(a) |
got |
(b) |
gets |
(c) |
getting |
(d) |
get |
12. |
(a) |
generate |
(b) |
general |
(c) |
gender |
(d) |
gentle |
Write about cyberspace for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.
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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 more information about the attacks on Estonia’s cyberspace. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. INTERNET POSTER: Make a poster about how the Internet has changed your life. Show your poster to your class in the next lesson. Vote on the best one(s).
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about cyber-war.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?
5. LETTER: Write a letter to a hacker. Ask him/her three questions about hacking. Give him/her three pieces of advice about stopping hacking. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
TRUE / FALSE:
a. T |
b. T |
c. F |
d. T |
e. F |
f. F |
g. T |
h. T |
SYNONYM MATCH:
a. |
experts |
specialists |
b. |
havoc |
chaos |
c. |
vulnerable |
exposed |
d. |
wrongdoing |
crime |
e. |
fierce |
violent |
f. |
sparked |
ignited |
g. |
potentially |
possibly |
h. |
issue |
problem |
i. |
involved |
mixed up |
j. |
conducts |
carries out |
PHRASE MATCH:
a. |
The Estonian government has called |
in NATO Internet experts |
b. |
creating |
online havoc |
c. |
It has also shown how |
vulnerable a country can be |
d. |
Initial attacks appear to |
have originated from Russia |
e. |
authorities removed a Soviet-era war |
memorial |
f. |
sparked a potentially |
serious diplomatic crisis |
g. |
become more of an |
issue in the future |
h. |
cyber terrorism was becoming much more |
of a threat to the world |
i. |
maximum security to stay |
ahead of the hackers |
j. |
It conducts its general |
elections online |
GAP FILL:
The Estonian government has called in NATO Internet experts to try and stop hackers who are creating online havoc in the Baltic nation. In the past three weeks, there have been many cyber attacks on Estonia’s governmental and private Internet sites, causing a lot of financial damage. It has also shown how vulnerable a country can be in cyberspace. Many Estonian politicians believe there is a “cyber-war” going on. Initial attacks appear to have originated from Russia, although the Kremlin has strongly denied any wrongdoing. The first attack coincided with fierce rioting by gangs of Estonia's Russian minority. They were angry after authorities removed a Soviet-era war memorial from its spot in the centre of the capital Tallnin. The statue was relocated to a war cemetery just outside of the city.
The possibility of a “virtual war” has sparked a potentially serious diplomatic crisis. At a meeting in Russia on Friday, a European Union chief told Russia’s president Vladimir Putin that any attack on Estonia was the same as an attack on the whole of the EU. Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said that cyber attacks such as this one will "become more of an issue" in the future. He added that cyber terrorism was becoming much more of a threat to the world as familiarity with hacking technology grows and more criminals get involved in information technology. Estonia is a very “wired” country and needs maximum security to stay ahead of the hackers. It conducts its general elections online and most of the population uses Internet banking.
LANGUAGE WORK
1 - a |
2 - b |
3 - d |
4 -c |
5 - b |
6 -c |
7 - d |
8 -a |
9 -a |
10 - c |
11 -d |
12 - b |
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