Breaking News English

Date: Sep 18, 2007
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WARM-UPS

1. WAR: Walk around the class and talk to other students about war. 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.

foreign ministers / nuclear programmes / being furious / retaliation / logic / skin / denying things / rejection / economic sanctions / military attacks / catastrophe

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. QUICK ROLE PLAY: Students A are the French foreign minister; Students B are the Iranian foreign minister. Role play a meeting between them. After the role play, talk about your roles – do you really believe what you said?

4. CONFLICTS: With your partner(s), talk about these conflicts. What do you know about them? When and how will they end?

Gaza - Israel Darfur Myanmar – Karen ethnic group Iraq

Afghanistan The war on terror Colombia - FARC other ______________

5. DANGER LANDS: With your partner(s), talk about which of these countries are dangerous. What are the dangers?

Iran France America Finland

Zimbabwe North Korea Swaziland China

6. IRAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with Iran. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

7. QUICK DEBATE: Students A think the French foreign minister should apologize for his remarks; Students B think there’s nothing wrong with what he said. Change partners often. After your debates, share what you talked about.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	France has put many of its troops on standby to fight Iraq.	T / F
b.	France has said Europe may have to go it alone against Iraq.	T / F
c.	Iran’s news agency accused France of having an American skin.	T / F
d.	The agency still thinks US actions are more illogical.	T / F
e.	Iranian authorities say they want nuclear power, not weapons.	T / F
f.	Iran has said no to buying cheap power from its neighbours.	T / F
g.	Teheran has said it is thinking of imposing sanctions on the UN.	T / F
h.	An Iranian general warned US bases in Iraq are within reach.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	sparked	a.	provocative
2	disguise	b.	disaster
3.	will	c.	continually
4.	inflammatory	d.	desire
5.	illogical	e.	reject
6.	deny	f.	ignited
7.	repeatedly	g.	inspector
8.	sanctions	h.	full of holes
9.	watchdog	i.	penalties
10.	catastrophe	j.	camouflage

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

1.	prepare for war with Iran	a.	of building a nuclear arsenal
2	Europe should be prepared	b.	response
3.	His comments have sparked	c.	a tone that is even harder
4.	The agency issued a stinging	d.	to act alone
5.	They have adopted	e.	in catastrophe for US missions
6.	deny that it has any intention	f.	over its nuclear programme
7.	Teheran has repeatedly	g.	sanctions or punishments
8.	further economic	h.	protests and outrage in Teheran
9.	any military attack on Iran will result	i.	our range
10.	well within	j.	rejected United Nation requests

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Prepare for war with Iran, says France
 

France’s foreign minister has __________ the world that it may have to prepare for war with Iran over its nuclear programme: "We have to prepare for the __________, and the worst is war," he stated. He even said Europe should be prepared to __________ alone to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons. His comments have __________ protests and outrage in Teheran. Iran’s official news agency is furious and __________ by saying France was really the USA in disguise, and that the country “has taken on American skin". The agency issued a __________ response to what it calls France’s total lack of logic: "The occupants of France’s presidential palace have become the __________ of the will of Washington. They have adopted a __________ that is even harder, more inflammatory and more illogical than that of America’s," it said.		stinging act retaliated tone warned sparked worst executors
Iran continues to __________ that it has any intention of building a nuclear arsenal. Teheran says it only wants nuclear power to __________ the country with electricity. The West is unconvinced, especially as Teheran has repeatedly __________ United Nation requests to give up its nuclear programme and buy __________ electricity from neighbouring countries. Iran has also warned that any further economic sanctions or punishments could result in a __________ abandoning of co-operation with the UN nuclear __________, the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iranian army bosses have also made it very clear to the USA that any military attack on Iran will __________ in catastrophe for US missions in the region. A top general warned that American positions in Iraq and Afghanistan "are __________ within our range".		subsidized result rejected watchdog total deny well supply

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Prepare for war with Iran, says France

France’s foreign minister _______________________ that it may have to prepare for war with Iran over its nuclear programme: "We have to _______________________, and the worst is war," he stated. He even said Europe should be prepared _______________________ Iran developing nuclear weapons. His comments have sparked protests and outrage in Teheran. Iran’s official news agency is furious _______________________ France was really the USA in disguise, and that the country “has taken on American skin". The agency _______________________ to what it calls France’s total lack of logic: "The occupants of France’s presidential palace have become the executors of the will of Washington. They have adopted a tone that is even harder, more inflammatory and _______________________ of America’s," it said.

Iran continues to _______________________ intention of building a nuclear arsenal. Teheran says it only wants nuclear power _______________________ electricity. The West is unconvinced, especially as Teheran has repeatedly rejected United Nation requests to give up its nuclear programme and _______________________ neighbouring countries. Iran has also warned that any further economic sanctions or punishments could _______________________ of co-operation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iranian army bosses have also made it very clear to the USA that any military attack on Iran _______________________ US missions in the region. A top general warned that American positions in Iraq and Afghanistan "are well within our range".

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘foreign’ and ‘minister’.

foreign

minister

• Share your findings with your partners.
• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article 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.

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:

warned worst outrage skin will illogical

deny unconvinced subsidized bosses result range

STUDENT WAR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about WAR 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. How serious do you think the foreign minister is?
3. How worried do you think Iran is?
4. Do you think the foreign minister should apologize for or resign over his comments?
5. What do you guess Europeans think about the minister’s comments?
6. Do you think France is becoming more like the UK and following everything the USA does?
7. Do you think France is displaying a total lack of logic?
8. How inflammatory are the comments to ordinary Iranians?
9. How would you react if Europe prepared for war with Iran?
10. When was the last time you were furious and retaliated?

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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1. Did you like reading this article?
2. Do you think Iran is building nuclear weapons?
3. Is a nuclear armed Iran any different from a nuclear armed USA, France, Britain, India, Israel…?
4. Do you think Iran should listen to the United Nations?
5. Do you think economic sanctions are effective?
6. What is the danger of Iran not co-operating with the IAEA?
7. What would the consequences be of Iranian attacks on US positions in Iraq and Afghanistan?
8. What would you do to resolve this situation?
9. What questions would you like to ask France’s foreign minister?
10. Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

1. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
2. Was there a question you didn’t like?
3. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
4. What did you like talking about?
5. Which was the most difficult question?

LANGUAGE

CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.

Prepare for war with Iran, says France

France’s foreign minister has (1) ____ the world that it may have to prepare for war with Iran over its nuclear programme: "We have to prepare for the worst, and the (2) ____ is war," he stated. He even said Europe should be prepared to act alone to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons. His comments have (3) ____ protests and outrage in Teheran. Iran’s official news agency is furious and retaliated by saying France was really the USA (4) ____ disguise, and that the country “has taken on American skin". The agency issued a stinging response to what it calls France’s (5) ____ lack of logic: "The occupants of France’s presidential palace have become the executors of the (6) ____ of Washington. They have adopted a tone that is even harder, more inflammatory and more illogical than that of America’s," it said.

Iran continues to deny that it has any intention (7) ____ building a nuclear arsenal. Teheran says it only wants nuclear power to supply the country with electricity. The West is unconvinced, especially as Teheran has (8) ____ rejected United Nation requests to (9) ____ up its nuclear programme and buy subsidized electricity from neighbouring countries. Iran has also warned that any further economic sanctions or punishments could result (10) ____ a total abandoning of co-operation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iranian army bosses have also made it very (11) ____ to the USA that any military attack on Iran will result in catastrophe for US missions in the region. A top general warned that American positions in Iraq and Afghanistan "are well (12) ____ our range".

1.	(a)	warned	(b)	warmed	(c)	waxed	(d)	waned
2.	(a)	least	(b)	most	(c)	worst	(d)	prepare
3.	(a)	spanked	(b)	sparked	(c)	sparkled	(d)	spiked
4.	(a)	on	(b)	in	(c)	out	(d)	of
5.	(a)	every	(b)	whole	(c)	all	(d)	total
6.	(a)	can	(b)	would	(c)	will	(d)	must
7.	(a)	of	(b)	for	(c)	by	(d)	to
8.	(a)	repeats	(b)	repeatedly	(c)	repeated	(d)	repeat
9.	(a)	blow	(b)	pull	(c)	take	(d)	give
10.	(a)	out	(b)	on	(c)	in	(d)	of
11.	(a)	clear	(b)	clarity	(c)	clears	(d)	clearly
12.	(a)	with	(b)	within	(c)	without	(d)	wither

WRITING: 

Write about war for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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HOMEWORK

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 France’s foreign minister. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. WAR POSTER: Make a poster showing different wars around the world. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about the effects of a European attack on Iran. Include imaginary interviews with Iran’s president and the French foreign minister.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. LETTER: Write a letter to the French foreign minister. Ask him three questions about his comments. Give him three pieces of advice on how to make the world a safer place. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. T

c. T

d. F

e. T

f. T

g. F

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	sparked	a.	ignited
2	disguise	b.	camouflage
3.	will	c.	desire
4.	inflammatory	d.	provocative
5.	illogical	e.	full of holes
6.	deny	f.	reject
7.	repeatedly	g.	continually
8.	sanctions	h.	penalties
9.	watchdog	i.	inspector
10.	catastrophe	j.	disaster

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	prepare for war with Iran	a.	over its nuclear programme
2	Europe should be prepared	b.	to act alone
3.	His comments have sparked	c.	protests and outrage in Teheran
4.	The agency issued a stinging	d.	response
5.	They have adopted	e.	a tone that is even harder
6.	deny that it has any intention	f.	of building a nuclear arsenal
7.	Teheran has repeatedly	g.	rejected United Nation requests
8.	further economic	h.	sanctions or punishments
9.	any military attack on Iran will result	i.	in catastrophe for US missions
10.	well within	j.	our range

GAP FILL:

Prepare for war with Iran, says France

France’s foreign minister has warned the world that it may have to prepare for war with Iran over its nuclear programme: "We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," he stated. He even said Europe should be prepared to act alone to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons. His comments have sparked protests and outrage in Teheran. Iran’s official news agency is furious and retaliated by saying France was really the USA in disguise, and that the country “has taken on American skin". The agency issued a stinging response to what it calls France’s total lack of logic: "The occupants of France’s presidential palace have become the executors of the will of Washington. They have adopted a tone that is even harder, more inflammatory and more illogical than that of America’s," it said.

Iran continues to deny that it has any intention of building a nuclear arsenal. Teheran says it only wants nuclear power to supply the country with electricity. The West is unconvinced, especially as Teheran has repeatedly rejected United Nation requests to give up its nuclear programme and buy subsidized electricity from neighbouring countries. Iran has also warned that any further economic sanctions or punishments could result in a total abandoning of co-operation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iranian army bosses have also made it very clear to the USA that any military attack on Iran will result in catastrophe for US missions in the region. A top general warned that American positions in Iraq and Afghanistan "are well within our range".

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - a

2 -c

3 - b

4 - d

5 - d

6 - c

7 -a

8 - b

9 -d

10 - c

11 - a

12 - b

 

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