The Reading / Listening - London Subway - Level 3

U.K. police have said a man who put a bomb on a London subway train bought most of the parts for the bomb online. Police have accused an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee of planting the bomb on a busy commuter train on September 15. The bomber left his device on a packed subway carriage during the peak rush hour. The bomb exploded at Parsons Green subway station at 8.20am. It caused burns to the face and body of 30 passengers. Police said there would have been more casualties if the bomb had worked properly. It didn't detonate fully so there was less harm to humans than there could have been. Police said the bomb contained, "knives, screws, glass and similar items to increase the likelihood of death".



The bomber bought many of the ingredients for his device from the online shopping site Amazon. One of these ingredients was several hundred grams of an explosive called TATP. This is also called "Mother of Satan" because it is so powerful. Police said the bomber used it to create "maximum destruction". Reporters later checked Amazon for the ingredients and were shocked to find that the site directed them to other things that could be used to make bombs, in the "items frequently bought together" tab. Amazon said it will work to stop this happening. It said: "In light of recent events, we are reviewing our website to ensure that all these products are presented in an appropriate [way]."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    London Subway - Level 0,  London Subway - Level 1   or  London Subway - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/the-amazon-bomber-teenager-accused-11222035
  • http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/london-subway-bombing-suspect-key-ingredients-amazon-article-1.3514039
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4528410/court-hears-parsons-green-accused-ahmed-hassan-bought-bomb-ingredients-on-amazon/


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. SUBWAY TRAINS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about subway trains. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       bomb / London / subway / train / refugee / rush hour / passengers / knives / screws /
       ingredients / online shopping / powerful / frequently / recent / products / appropriate

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

3. TERRORISM: Students A strongly believe terrorism will become a thing of the past; Students B strongly believe it won't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. SAFETY: How can trains be safer? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Better safety features

How well would it work?

Stations

 

 

Carriages

 

 

Tickets

 

 

Platforms

 

 

Staff

 

 

Other _____

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. BUSY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "busy". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. TRANSPORT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best kinds of transport at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • bus
  • airplane
  • ferry
  • taxi
  • bullet train
  • subway train
  • monorail
  • tram

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. A man bought a bomb from Amazon.     T / F
  2. A 15-year-old put the bomb on a train on September 18.     T / F
  3. The bomb exploded and burnt the faces of 300 people.     T / F
  4. The bomb didn't fully explode.     T / F
  5. The explosive in the bomb is called the "Mother of Satan".     T / F
  6. The article says the bomber wanted to cause the minimum destruction.   T / F
  7. Amazon's site directed visitors to more bomb-making equipment.     T / F
  8. Amazon said it will check its website to make sure everything is OK.     T / F

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

  1. bought
  2. planting
  3. exploded
  4. casualties
  5. likelihood
  6. ingredients
  7. maximum
  8. frequently
  9. events
  10. appropriate
  1. blew up
  2. happenings
  3. chances
  4. placing
  5. greatest
  6. often
  7. purchased
  8. suitable
  9. victims
  10. parts

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. planting the bomb on a busy commuter
  2. during the peak rush
  3. Police said there would have
  4. the bomb contained knives, screws, glass
  5. increase the likelihood
  6. several hundred grams of an
  7. the bomber used it to create
  8. in the items frequently bought together
  9. In light of recent
  10. ensure that all these products are presented
  1. hour
  2. maximum destruction
  3. of death
  4. events
  5. train
  6. been more casualties
  7. explosive called TATP
  8. in an appropriate way
  9. and similar items
  10. tab

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
burns
detonate
planting
likelihood
parts
screws
casualties
packed

U.K. police have said a man who put a bomb on a London subway train bought most of the (1) ____________ for the bomb online. Police have accused an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee of (2) ____________ the bomb on a busy commuter train on September 15. The bomber left his device on a (3) ____________ subway carriage during the peak rush hour. The bomb exploded at Parsons Green subway station at 8.20am. It caused (4) ____________ to the face and body of 30 passengers. Police said there would have been more (5) ____________ if the bomb had worked properly. It didn't (6) ____________ fully so there was less harm to humans than there could have been. Police said the bomb contained, "knives, (7) ____________, glass and similar items to increase the (8) ____________ of death".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
shocked
explosive
ingredients
recent
maximum
appropriate
powerful
frequently

The bomber bought many of the (9) ____________ for his device from the online shopping site Amazon. One of these ingredients was several hundred grams of an (10) ____________ called TATP. This is also called "Mother of Satan" because it is so (11) ____________. Police said the bomber used it to create "(12) ____________ destruction". Reporters later checked Amazon for the ingredients and were (13) ____________ to find that the site directed them to other things that could be used to make bombs, in the "items (14) ____________ bought together" tab. Amazon said it will work to stop this happening. It said: "In light of (15) ____________ events, we are reviewing our website to ensure that all these products are presented in an (16) ____________ [way]."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  accused an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee of planting the bomb ______ train
     a.  on a busily commuter
     b.  on a busy computer
     c.  on a busily computer
     d.  on a busy commuter

2)  The bomber left his device on a packed subway carriage during the ______
     a.  peaked rush hour
     b.  peak rush hour
     c.  peak rushed hour
     d.  peak rush hourly

3)  Police said there would have been ______
     a.  more casualty
     b.  more casualties
     c.  more casual ties
     d.  more casual at ease

4)  It didn't detonate fully so there was less ______
     a.  harming to humans
     b.  harmed to humans
     c.  harms to humans
     d.  harm to humans

5)  knives, screws, glass and similar items to increase the ______
     a.  like this hood of death
     b.  lie key hood of death
     c.  like key hood of death
     d.  likelihood of death

6)  The bomber bought many of the ingredients for his device from the ______ site
     a.  online shop in
     b.  online shopped in
     c.  online shopping
     d.  online shopper in

7)  One of these ingredients was several hundred grams of an ______ TATP
     a.  explosive called
     b.  explosively called
     c.  explosives called
     d.  explosion called

8)  Police said the bomber used it to create "______"
     a.  maxi mum destruction
     b.  maxim um destruction
     c.  max e-mum destruction
     d.  maximum destruction

9)  things that could be used to make bombs, in the "items frequently ______" tab
     a.  bought to gather
     b.  brought to gather
     c.  bought too gather
     d.  bought together

10) reviewing our website to ensure that all these products are presented in ______
     a.  an inappropriate way
     b.  an appropriate way
     c.  an appropriately way
     d.  an appropriacy way

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

U.K. police have said a man who (1) ___________________ a London subway train bought most (2) ___________________ for the bomb online. Police have accused an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee of planting the bomb on a busy commuter train on September 15. The bomber (3) ___________________ on a packed subway carriage during the peak rush hour. The bomb exploded at Parsons Green subway station at 8.20am. It caused burns (4) ___________________ body of 30 passengers. Police said there would have been more casualties if the bomb had worked properly. It didn't detonate fully so there (5) ___________________ to humans than there could have been. Police said the bomb contained, "knives, screws, glass and similar items to increase (6) ___________________ death".

The bomber bought many of the ingredients (7) ___________________ the online shopping site Amazon. One of these ingredients was several hundred (8) ___________________ explosive called TATP. This is also called "Mother of Satan" because it is so powerful. Police said the bomber (9) ___________________"maximum destruction". Reporters later checked Amazon for the ingredients and were shocked (10) ___________________ the site directed them to other things that could be used to make bombs, in the "items frequently bought (11) ___________________. Amazon said it will work to stop this happening. It said: "In light of recent events, we are reviewing our website to ensure (12) ___________________ products are presented in an appropriate [way]."

Comprehension questions

  1. How old do police think the bomber is?
  2. At what time did the bomb explode?
  3. How many casualties were there?
  4. What didn't the bomb do?
  5. What did screws and glass in the bomb increase the likelihood of?
  6. How much TATP did the bomber use?
  7. Why is TATP called the "Mother of Satan"?
  8. Who checked the Amazon website?
  9. Who said it would work to stop this happening?
  10. What is Amazon doing to its website?




Multiple choice quiz

1) How old do police think the bomber is?
a) 17
b) 18
c) 19
d) 20

2) At what time did the bomb explode?
a) 8.50am
b) 8.40am
c) 8.30am
d) 8.20am

3) How many casualties were there?
a) 30
b) 40
c) 50
d) 60

4) What didn't the bomb do?
a) close the transport system
b) go off
c) explode fully
d) cause fatalities

5) What did screws and glass in the bomb increase the likelihood of?
a) subway stations closing
b) death
c) a transport ban
d) more bombs

6) How much TATP did the bomber use?
a) several hundred grams
b) 86 grams
c) 2 kilos
d) no one knows

7) Why is TATP called the "Mother of Satan"?
a) that's it's real name
b) that's the maker's name
c) it's so powerful
d) that's what the bomber called it

8) Who checked the Amazon website?
a) reporters
b) visitors
c) the police
d) passengers

9) Who said it would work to stop this happening?
a) Amazon
b) London Transport
c) the police
d) passengers

10) What is Amazon doing to its website?
a) monitoring it
b) changing its colours
c) updating it
d) reviewing it

Role play

Role  A – A Bullet Train

You think a bullet train is the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds of transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): subway train, monorail or a tram.

Role  B – A Subway Train

You think a subway train is the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds of transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bullet train, monorail or a tram.

Role  C – A Monorail

You think a monorail is the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds of transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): subway train, bullet train or a tram.

Role  D – A Tram / Street Car

You think a tram is the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds of transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  subway train, monorail or bullet train.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'bomb'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'online'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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 how they were used in the text:

    • online
    • grams
    • create
    • checked
    • together
    • ensure
    • most
    • packed
    • 8.20
    • 30
    • fully
    • death




    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - London bomber buys bomb parts from Amazon

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'subway'?
    3. What do you think of subway trains?
    4. How safe is your city?
    5. What do you think of the non-stop terror attacks?
    6. How can we make our cities safer?
    7. Is the world getting more dangerous?
    8. Why are there so many bombings around the world?
    9. Does terror make you change your daily life?
    10. What do you know about this news?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'train'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How can items to make a bomb be on Amazon?
    5. How can stores make sure they sell no dangerous items?
    6. What can websites do to reduce terror attacks?
    7. What do you think of the website Amazon?
    8. Is your country getting safer or more dangerous?
    9. How safe will the world be in 10 years from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a terrorism expert?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________





    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    U.K. police have said a man who (1) ____ a bomb on a London subway train bought most of the parts for the bomb (2) ____. Police have accused an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee of (3) ____ the bomb on a busy commuter train on September 15. The bomber left his device on a packed subway carriage during the (4) ____ rush hour. The bomb exploded at Parsons Green subway station at 8.20am. It caused burns to the face and body of 30 passengers. Police said there would have been more (5) ____ if the bomb had worked properly. It didn't detonate fully so there was less harm to humans than there could have been. Police said the bomb contained, "knives, screws, glass and (6) ____ items to increase the likelihood of death".

    The bomber bought many of the ingredients for his (7) ____ from the online shopping site Amazon. One of these ingredients was several hundred grams of an explosive called TATP. This is also called "Mother of Satan" because it is so (8) ____. Police said the bomber used it to create "maximum (9) ____". Reporters later checked Amazon for the ingredients and were shocked to find that the site directed them to (10) ____ things that could be used to make bombs, in the "items (11) ____ bought together" tab. Amazon said it will work to stop this happening. It said: "In light of recent events, we are reviewing our website to ensure that all these products are (12) ____ in an appropriate [way]."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     puts     (b)     putting     (c)     put     (d)     putter    
    2. (a)     online     (b)     inline     (c)     offline     (d)     rip line    
    3. (a)     seeding     (b)     scattering     (c)     sewing     (d)     planting    
    4. (a)     poke     (b)     peak     (c)     perk     (d)     park    
    5. (a)     casualness     (b)     causalities     (c)     casualties     (d)     casuals    
    6. (a)     similitudes     (b)     similarity     (c)     simile     (d)     similar     
    7. (a)     advice     (b)     device     (c)     vice     (d)     avarice    
    8. (a)     powerless     (b)     powers     (c)     powerfully     (d)     powerful    
    9. (a)     destruction     (b)     destructive     (c)     destructs     (d)     destructiveness    
    10. (a)     the others     (b)     others     (c)     another     (d)     other    
    11. (a)     frequents     (b)     frequented     (c)     frequently     (d)     frequency    
    12. (a)     presented     (b)     presents     (c)     presentation     (d)     presenter

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. an 18-year-old Iraqi rgueeef
    2. a packed subway rgrcaeai
    3. 30 ssneresapg
    4. there would have been more luiastcesa
    5. screws, glass and mrsiial items
    6. increase the ielkhoildo of death

    Paragraph 2

    1. the ingredients for his ieecvd
    2. several hundred grams of an ioeesvpxl
    3. create mxmaumi destruction
    4. items fruyenteql bought together
    5. In light of eercnt events
    6. in an iaoeprpprat way

    Put the text back together

    (  1  )     U.K. police have said a man who put a bomb on a London subway train bought most of the parts for the bomb

    (    )     ensure that all these products are presented in an appropriate [way]."

    (    )     to make bombs, in the "items frequently bought together" tab. Amazon said it will work to stop this

    (    )     happening. It said: "In light of recent events, we are reviewing our website to

    (    )     screws, glass and similar items to increase the likelihood of death".

    (    )     train on September 15. The bomber left his device on a packed subway carriage during the peak rush

    (    )     was several hundred grams of an explosive called TATP. This is also called "Mother of Satan" because it is so

    (    )     there was less harm to humans than there could have been. Police said the bomb contained, "knives,

    (    )     powerful. Police said the bomber used it to create "maximum destruction". Reporters later checked

    (    )     The bomber bought many of the ingredients for his device from the online shopping site Amazon. One of these ingredients

    (    )     online. Police have accused an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee of planting the bomb on a busy commuter

    (    )     Amazon for the ingredients and were shocked to find that the site directed them to other things that could be used

    (    )     passengers. Police said there would have been more casualties if the bomb had worked properly. It didn't detonate fully so

    (    )     hour. The bomb exploded at Parsons Green subway station at 8.20am. It caused burns to the face and body of 30

    Put the words in the right order

    1. on   a   man   London   who   subway   put   train   a   A   bomb   .
    2. bomb  busy  15  commuter  Planting  train  on  on  a   September  the  .
    3. The   his   a   carriage   left   on   subway   bomber   device   packed   .
    4. have   would   there   said   Police   casualties   more   been   .
    5. was   detonate   less   fully   harm   so   It   there   didn't   .
    6. ingredients   device   bought   the  
    7. called   explosive   an   of   grams   hundred   Several   TATP   .
    8. create   Police  bomber   to  destruction   the  it  maximum  said  used  .
    9. to   things   used   Other   bombs   could   make   that   be   .
    10. an   products   appropriate   are   way   presented   All   in   these   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    U.K. police have said a man who put / puts a bomb on a London subway train bought most of the parts for the bomb offline / online. Police have accused an 18-year-old Iraqi refuge / refugee of planting the bomb on a busy commuter / computer train on September 15. The bomber left his device on a packed / packaged subway carriage during the peak rush hour. The bomb exploded / explosion at Parsons Green subway station at 8.20am. It caused burns / burnt to the face and body of 30 passengers. Police said there would have been more causes / casualties if the bomb had worked properly. It didn't detonate fully so there was less harmful / harm to humans than there could have been. Police said the bomb contained, "knives, screws, glass and similar items to increase the likelihood of dead / death".

    The bomber bought many of the greedy / ingredients for his device from the online shopping site Amazon. One of these / them ingredients was several hundred grams of an explosion / explosive called TATP. This is also called "Mother of Satan" because it is so powerful / power. Police said the bomber used it to / for create "maximum destruction". Reporters later checking / checked Amazon for the ingredients and were shocking / shocked to find that the site directed them to other things that could be use / used to make bombs, in the "items frequently bought together" tab. Amazon said it will work to stop this happening. It said: "In flight / light of recent events, we are reviewing our website to ensure that all these products are presented in an appropriate way / weigh."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _.K. p_l_c_ h_v_ s__d _ m_n wh_ p_t _ b_mb _n _ L_nd_n s_bw_y tr__n b__ght m_st _f th_ p_rts f_r th_ b_mb _nl_n_. P_l_c_ h_v_ _cc_s_d _n 18-y__r-_ld _r_q_ r_f_g__ _f pl_nt_ng th_ b_mb _n _ b_sy c_mm_t_r tr__n _n S_pt_mb_r 15. Th_ b_mb_r l_ft h_s d_v_c_ _n _ p_ck_d s_bw_y c_rr__g_ d_r_ng th_ p__k r_sh h__r. Th_ b_mb _xpl_d_d _t P_rs_ns Gr__n s_bw_y st_t__n _t 8.20_m. _t c__s_d b_rns t_ th_ f_c_ _nd b_dy _f 30 p_ss_ng_rs. P_l_c_ s__d th_r_ w__ld h_v_ b__n m_r_ c_s__lt__s _f th_ b_mb h_d w_rk_d pr_p_rly. _t d_dn't d_t_n_t_ f_lly s_ th_r_ w_s l_ss h_rm t_ h_m_ns th_n th_r_ c__ld h_v_ b__n. P_l_c_ s__d th_ b_mb c_nt__n_d, "kn_v_s, scr_ws, gl_ss _nd s_m_l_r _t_ms t_ _ncr__s_ th_ l_k_l_h__d _f d__th."

    Th_ b_mb_r b__ght m_ny _f th_ _ngr_d__nts f_r h_s d_v_c_ fr_m th_ _nl_n_ sh_pp_ng s_t_ _m_z_n. _n_ _f th_s_ _ngr_d__nts w_s s_v_r_l h_ndr_d gr_ms _f _n _xpl_s_v_ c_ll_d T_TP. Th_s _s _ls_ c_ll_d "M_th_r _f S_t_n" b_c__s_ _t _s s_ p_w_rf_l. P_l_c_ s__d th_ b_mb_r _s_d _t t_ cr__t_ "m_x_m_m d_str_ct__n". R_p_rt_rs l_t_r ch_ck_d _m_z_n f_r th_ _ngr_d__nts _nd w_r_ sh_ck_d t_ f_nd th_t th_ s_t_ d_r_ct_d th_m t_ _th_r th_ngs th_t c__ld b_ _s_d t_ m_k_ b_mbs, _n th_ "_t_ms fr_q__ntly b__ght t_g_th_r" t_b. _m_z_n s__d _t w_ll w_rk t_ st_p th_s h_pp_n_ng. _t s__d: "_n l_ght _f r_c_nt _v_nts, w_ _r_ r_v__w_ng __r w_bs_t_ t_ _ns_r_ th_t _ll th_s_ pr_d_cts _r_ pr_s_nt_d _n _n _ppr_pr__t_ [w_y]."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    uk police have said a man who put a bomb on a london subway train bought most of the parts for the bomb online police have accused an 18-year-old iraqi refugee of planting the bomb on a busy commuter train on september 15 the bomber left his device on a packed subway carriage during the peak rush hour the bomb exploded at parsons green subway station at 820am it caused burns to the face and body of 30 passengers police said there would have been more casualties if the bomb had worked properly it didn't detonate fully so there was less harm to humans than there could have been police said the bomb contained "knives screws glass and similar items to increase the likelihood of death"

    the bomber bought many of the ingredients for his device from the online shopping site amazon one of these ingredients was several hundred grams of an explosive called tatp this is also called "mother of satan" because it is so powerful police said the bomber used it to create "maximum destruction" reporters later checked amazon for the ingredients and were shocked to find that the site directed them to other things that could be used to make bombs in the "items frequently bought together" tab amazon said it will work to stop this happening it said "in light of recent events we are reviewing our website to ensure that all these products are presented in an appropriate [way]"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    U.K.policehavesaidamanwhoputabombonaLondonsubwaytrainbou
    ghtmostofthepartsforthebombonline.Policehaveaccusedan18-yea
    r-oldIraqirefugeeofplantingthebombonabusycommutertrainonSep
    tember15.Thebomberlefthisdeviceonapackedsubwaycarriagedurin
    gthepeakrushhour.ThebombexplodedatParsonsGreensubwaystatio
    nat8.20am.Itcausedburnstothefaceandbodyof30passengers.Police
    saidtherewouldhavebeenmorecasualtiesifthebombhadworkedprop
    erly.Itdidn'tdetonatefullysotherewaslessharmtohumansthantherec
    ouldhavebeen.Policesaidthebombcontained,"knives,screws,glassa
    ndsimilaritemstoincreasethelikelihoodofdeath".Thebomberbought
    manyoftheingredientsforhisdevicefromtheonlineshoppingsiteAmaz
    on.Oneoftheseingredientswasseveralhundredgramsofanexplosivec
    alledTATP.Thisisalsocalled"MotherofSatan"becauseitissopowerful.P
    olicesaidthebomberusedittocreate"maximumdestruction".Reporter
    slatercheckedAmazonfortheingredientsandwereshockedtofindthatt
    hesitedirectedthemtootherthingsthatcouldbeusedtomakebombs,in
    the"itemsfrequentlyboughttogether"tab.Amazonsaiditwillworktost
    opthishappening.Itsaid:"Inlightofrecentevents,wearereviewingour
    websitetoensurethatalltheseproductsarepresentedinanappropriate
    [way]."

    Free writing

    Write about London subway for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Discuss three ways to stop terrorism. Which is the best way? Why?

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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 out more about subway trains. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. SUBWAY TRAINS: Make a poster about subway trains. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. SAFETY: Write a magazine article about terrorism and public safety. Include imaginary interviews with people who think we can never be safe from terrorism.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on subway trains. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how they could be better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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