The Reading / Listening - Level 5

The USA is targeting the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. Several air strikes have destroyed heavy weaponry that the IS captured from the Iraqi army. President Obama said the attacks are to protect US residents in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name from ISIS. The group now controls a quarter of Iraq (including the country's largest dam), and a third of Syria. Mr Obama made it clear he would support Iraqis but would not send troops to Iraq. He said: "American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq."

The air strikes are also to protect Iraq's Yazidi people. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion has elements of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The IS said Yazidis must convert to Islam, pay a tax, or face death. The UN warned of a humanitarian catastrophe and ethnic cleansing. Reports are that the IS have taken hundreds of Yazidi women hostage. Obama said the latest military action is also "a humanitarian effort" to help save thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-08/09/c_133543405.htm
  • http://en.itar-tass.com/world/744142
  • http://www.aawsat.net/2014/08/article55335215


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 USA is

a.

a quarter of Iraq

2.

air strikes have destroyed

b.

from the Iraqi army

3.

captured

c.

its name from ISIS

4.

the attacks are to

d.

largest dam

5.

IS recently changed

e.

targeting the Islamic State

6.

The group now controls

f.

protect US residents

7.

including the country's

g.

be returning

8.

combat troops will not

h.

heavy weaponry



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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.

protect Iraq's

a.

or face death

2.

The Yazidis are ethnically

b.

of Judaism

3.

Their religion has elements

c.

action

4.

convert to Islam, pay a tax,

d.

Kurdish

5.

a humanitarian

e.

certain death

6.

the latest military

f.

catastrophe

7.

a humanitarian

g.

Yazidi people

8.

facing almost

h.

effort

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The USA (1) ___________________ Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. Several air strikes have destroyed (2) ___________________ that the IS captured from the Iraqi army. President Obama said the attacks are to (3) ___________________ Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name from ISIS. The group (4) ___________________ of Iraq (including the country's largest dam), and a third of Syria. Mr Obama (5) ___________________ would support Iraqis but would not send troops to Iraq. He said: "American combat troops (6) ___________________ to fight in Iraq."

The air strikes (7) ___________________ Iraq's Yazidi people. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion has elements of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The IS said Yazidis (8) ___________________, pay a tax, or face death. The UN warned of a (9) ___________________ and ethnic cleansing. Reports are that the IS (10) ___________________ of Yazidi women hostage. Obama said the (11) ___________________ is also "a humanitarian effort" to help save thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing (12) ___________________ ".



IRAQ SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Iraq 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.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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