The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Lakhdar Brahimi, the head of the Syrian peace talks, has apologised to the Syrian people. His job was to help the sides in Syria's civil war make peace. Syria's government and rebel leaders are trying to find a way to end the war. It is the second time they have talked. There are many difficult problems to discuss. Syrians want the two sides to reach a deal. They are tired of the fighting. More than 140,000 have died in the three-year war and three million need aid. Mr Brahimi said it was better that both sides go back to Syria and think about their responsibilities.

The two sides ended their discussions angry with each other. Mr Brahimi asked if they wanted the peace talks to continue. They did not set a date for more talks. The UK said the breakdown of the talks was very sad and "a serious setback in the search for peace". Syria's opposition leader blamed Syria's government. He said: "The regime is not serious….I'm very sorry to say there is nothing positive we can take from this." Syria's government blamed the opposition, saying they were "amateurs". Mr Brahimi is still hopeful. He said: "I very much hope there will be a third round."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/16/world/u-n-very-sorry-as-syria-talks-end-in-failure/
  • http://www.dawn.com/news/1087325/un-envoy-sorry-as-syria-talks-break-off-in-failure
  • http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1-233008-Syria-peace-talks-break-down-as-death-toll-passes-140,000


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

the head of the Syrian

a.

war make peace

2.

apologised

b.

responsibilities

3.

help the sides in Syria's civil

c.

to the Syrian people

4.

Syria's government and

d.

to reach a deal

5.

the second time they

e.

rebel leaders

6.

There are many difficult

f.

peace talks

7.

Syrians want the two sides

g.

problems to discuss

8.

think about their

h.

have talked


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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The two sides ended their discussions

a.

peace talks to continue

2.

Brahimi asked if they wanted the

b.

be a third round

3.

They did not set a date

c.

search for peace

4.

the breakdown of the talks

d.

can take from this

5.

a serious setback in the

e.

for more talks

6.

there is nothing positive we

f.

angry

7.

Syria's government blamed

g.

was very sad

8.

I very much hope there will

h.

the opposition

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Lakhdar Brahimi, (1) ___________________ Syrian peace talks, has apologised to the Syrian people. His (2) ___________________ the sides in Syria's civil war make peace. Syria's government and rebel leaders are trying (3) ___________________ end the war. It is the second time they have talked. There are many difficult problems to discuss. Syrians want the two sides (4) ___________________. They are tired of the fighting. More than 140,000 have died in the three-year war and (5) ___________________. Mr Brahimi said it was better that (6) ___________________ to Syria and think about their responsibilities.

The two sides ended their (7) ___________________ each other. Mr Brahimi asked if they wanted the peace talks to continue. They did not (8) ___________________ talks. The UK said the breakdown of the talks was very sad and "(9) ___________________ the search for peace". Syria's opposition leader blamed Syria's government. He said: "The regime (10) ___________________ ….I'm very sorry to say there is (11) ___________________ can take from this." Syria's government blamed the opposition, saying they were "amateurs". Mr Brahimi is still hopeful. He said: "I (12) ___________________ there will be a third round."

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

LakhdarBrahimi,theheadoftheSyrianpeacetalks,hasapologisedt
otheSyrianpeople.HisjobwastohelpthesidesinSyria'scivilwarmak
epeace.Syria'sgovernmentandrebelleadersaretryingtofindawayt
oendthewar.Itisthesecondtimetheyhavetalked.Therearemanydif
ficultproblemstodiscuss.Syrianswantthetwosidestoreachadeal.T
heyaretiredofthefighting.Morethan140,000havediedinthethree-
yearwarandthreemillionneedaid.MrBrahimisaiditwasbetterthatb
othsidesgobacktoSyriaandthinkabouttheirresponsibilities.Thetw
osidesendedtheirdiscussionsangrywitheachother.MrBrahimiask
ediftheywantedthepeacetalkstocontinue.Theydidnotsetadatefor
moretalks.TheUKsaidthebreakdownofthetalkswasverysadand"a
serioussetbackinthesearchforpeace".Syria'soppositionleaderbla
medSyria'sgovernment.Hesaid:"Theregimeisnotserious….I'mve
rysorrytosaythereisnothingpositivewecantakefromthis."Syria'sg
overnmentblamedtheopposition,sayingtheywere"amateurs".Mr
Brahimiisstillhopeful.Hesaid:"Iverymuchhopetherewillbeathirdr
ound."

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

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b)

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c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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g)

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h)

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

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d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about peace talks for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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