The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Pope Francis has said the world is pretty much in the grips of its third world war. The Roman Catholic leader said all the conflicts being fought around the world pretty much meant there is a third world war. Speaking at a war memorial in Italy, the Pope said: "War is madness. Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war." He added: "War is irrational. Its only plan is to bring destruction. It seeks to grow by destroying." He said the motives behind countries going to war were greed, intolerance and the "lust for power".

Pope Francis has made repeated appeals for an end to the world's conflicts. He has focused on Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and parts of Africa. Despite his anti-war position, he said force would be legitimate to stop "unjust aggression" by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He asked people to have a "conversion of heart" and stop putting selfish aims above those of humanity. Francis compared the loss of life in WWI to what is happening today. He said that for all the victims of "mindless wars" and "senseless massacres," in every age, "humanity needs to weep, and this is the time to weep".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/14/uk-pope-war-idUKKBN0H808R20140914
  • http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/09/13/pope-urges-world-to-shed-apathy-toward-new-threats/15575343/
  • http://www.gulf-times.com/uk-europe/183/details/408132/pope%3A-current-conflicts-may-amount-to-wwiii


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 world is pretty much in the grips

a.

is madness

2.

all the conflicts being fought

b.

memorial in Italy

3.

a war

c.

going to war

4.

War

d.

around the world

5.

perhaps one can speak

e.

bring destruction

6.

Its only plan is to

f.

power

7.

the motives behind countries

g.

of a third war

8.

lust for

h.

of its third world war



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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

repeated appeals for an end

a.

those of humanity

2.

Despite his anti-

b.

be legitimate

3.

he said force would

c.

of heart

4.

stop unjust

d.

of mindless wars

5.

He asked people to have a conversion

e.

to the world's conflicts

6.

stop putting selfish aims above

f.

massacres

7.

the victims

g.

war position

8.

senseless

h.

aggression

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Pope Francis has said the world is (1) ___________________ grips of its third world war. The Roman Catholic leader said (2) ___________________ fought around the world pretty much meant there is a third world war. Speaking at (3) ___________________ Italy, the Pope said: "War is madness. Even today, after the second (4) ___________________ world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war." He added: "War is irrational. Its only plan is (5) ___________________. It seeks to grow by destroying." He said the motives behind countries going to war were greed, intolerance and (6) ___________________.

Pope Francis has made (7) ___________________ for an end to the world's conflicts. He has focused on Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and parts of Africa. Despite (8) ___________________, he said force would be legitimate to stop "(9) ___________________" by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He asked people to have a (10) ___________________  and stop putting selfish aims above those of humanity. Francis compared the loss of life in WWI to what is happening today. He said that for all the victims (11) ___________________ and "senseless massacres," in every age, "humanity needs to weep, and this (12) ___________________".

WAR SURVEY

Write five interesting 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.

 

 

 

 

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)

________________________________________________________

 

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a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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