Saudi Arabia has built the world’s first underwater mosque. A group of divers constructed the aquatic place of worship off the Saudi coast close to the border with Jordan. It is made from plastic pipes filled with sand. One of the divers Hamadan bin Salim Al Masoudi told the “Al Madina” newspaper: “One of our colleagues came up with this idea last summer and we decided to carry it out.” He added: “When we put the final touches on it, it was time for afternoon prayers, so we performed group prayers.” It is not yet certain whether the mosque will be open for prayers to the general public. Worshippers would need to don scuba diving equipment and there is currently no call to prayer.
The building of the mosque comes as a variety of companies in neighbouring United Arab Emirates has unveiled plans to build underwater hotels. The Dubai-based shipbuilding company Drydocks World penned a deal to develop undersea hotels in Dubai with a Swiss firm. One such project is the World Discus Hotel, a discus-shaped underwater complex. It will be one of five underwater establishments planned by the two companies. The plans are seen as another sign of Dubai’s cutting-edge prowess in the luxury hotel sector. Drydocks chairman Khamis Juma Buamim told reporters: “The discussions are to build these around the world, not just in the UAE.”
1. UNDERWATER BUILDINGS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about underwater buildings. Change partners often and share what you heard.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
|
world’s first / underwater / mosque / place of worship / final touches / prayers / variety / unveiled plans / penned a deal / underwater complex / cutting-edge / luxury |
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. UNDERWATER: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.
| Underwater… |
Pros |
Cons |
mosque |
|
|
shopping mall |
|
|
restaurant |
|
|
gym |
|
|
city |
|
|
English class |
|
|
4. WONDERFUL: Students A strongly believe underwater complexes are a wonderful idea; Students B strongly believe they are stupid. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
5. AQUATIC: What are the best things to do under the water? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners and share your rankings again.
- pray in a place of worship
- eat in a restaurant
- photograph fish
- visit shipwrecks
|
- shop at an underwater mall
- relax
- study marine life
- escape the heat
|
6. WORSHIP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘worship’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
| a. |
The world’s first underwater mosque has been built in a Saudi lake. |
T / F |
b. |
The structure of the mosque is made from sand-filled plastic. |
T / F |
c. |
The idea for the mosque came from some scuba divers. |
T / F |
d. |
People do not need any special apparatus to enter the mosque to pray. |
T / F |
e. |
The article says the UAE will also build underwater mosques. |
T / F |
f. |
A UAE company has plans to build a discus-shaped hotel under the sea. |
T / F |
g. |
A company called Drydocks is planning to build five underwater hotels. |
T / F |
h. |
The Drydocks chairman only wants to build underwater hotels in Dubai. |
T / F |
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
| 1. |
constructed |
a. |
skill |
2. |
aquatic |
b. |
details |
3. |
touches |
c. |
assortment |
4. |
don |
d. |
apparatus |
5. |
equipment |
e. |
revealed |
6. |
variety |
f. |
built |
7. |
unveiled |
g. |
network |
8. |
penned |
h. |
marine |
9. |
complex |
i. |
put on |
10. |
prowess |
j. |
signed |
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
| 1. |
the aquatic place |
a. |
touches on it |
2. |
off the Saudi coast close to the |
b. |
to prayer |
3. |
put the final |
c. |
plans |
4. |
Worshippers would need to don |
d. |
border with Jordan |
5. |
there is currently no call |
e. |
shaped underwater complex |
6. |
unveiled |
f. |
edge prowess |
7. |
penned |
g. |
of worship |
8. |
a discus- |
h. |
sector |
9. |
Dubai’s cutting- |
i. |
scuba diving equipment |
10. |
in the luxury hotel |
j. |
a deal |
WHILE READING / LISTENING
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Saudi Arabia has built the world’s first underwater mosque. A group of divers (1) ____________ the aquatic place of (2) ____________ off the Saudi coast close to the border with Jordan. It is made from plastic (3) ____________ filled with sand. One of the divers Hamadan bin Salim Al Masoudi told the “Al Madina” newspaper: “One of our colleagues (4) ____________ up with this idea last summer and we decided to carry it out.” He added: “When we put the final (5) ____________ on it, it was time for afternoon prayers, so we (6) ____________ group prayers.” It is not yet certain whether the mosque will be open for prayers to the general public. Worshippers would need to don scuba diving (7) ____________ and there is currently no (8) ____________ to prayer.
|
|
performed
came
worship
equipment
constructed
call
pipes
touches
|
The building of the mosque comes as a (9) ____________ of companies in neighbouring United Arab Emirates has (10) ____________ plans to build underwater hotels. The Dubai-based shipbuilding company Drydocks World (11) ____________ a deal to develop undersea hotels in Dubai with a Swiss firm. One (12) ____________ project is the World Discus Hotel, a discus-shaped underwater (13) ____________. It will be one of five underwater establishments planned by the two companies. The plans are seen as another (14) ____________ of Dubai’s cutting-edge (15) ____________ in the luxury hotel (16) ____________. Drydocks chairman Khamis Juma Buamim told reporters: “The discussions are to build these around the world, not just in the UAE.” |
|
sign
such
unveiled
complex
prowess
variety
sector
penned |
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
Saudi Arabia has _____________________ underwater mosque. A group of divers constructed the aquatic _____________________ the Saudi coast close to the border with Jordan. It is made from _____________________ with sand. One of the divers Hamadan bin Salim Al Masoudi told the “Al Madina” newspaper: “One of our colleagues came _____________________ last summer and we decided to carry it out.” He added: “When we put the _____________________, it was time for afternoon prayers, so we performed group prayers.” It is not yet certain whether the mosque will be open for prayers to the general public. Worshippers would need to don scuba diving equipment and there is _____________________ prayer.
The building of the mosque _____________________ of companies in neighbouring United Arab Emirates has _____________________ build underwater hotels. The Dubai-based shipbuilding company Drydocks World _____________________ develop undersea hotels in Dubai with a Swiss firm. One such project is the World Discus Hotel, a discus-shaped underwater complex. It _____________________ underwater establishments planned by the two companies. The plans are seen as another sign of Dubai’s _____________________ in the luxury hotel sector. Drydocks chairman Khamis Juma Buamim told reporters: “The discussions are _____________________ the world, not just in the UAE.”
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘under’ and ‘water’.
- 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:
- first
- place
- filled
- up
- afternoon
- don
|
- variety
- based
- such
- planned
- edge
- just
|
UNDERWATER BUILDINGS SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about underwater buildings 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.
|
|
|
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- 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.
UNDERWATER BUILDINGS DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
| a) |
What did you think when you read the headline? |
b) |
What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘mosque’? |
c) |
What do you think of the idea of an underwater mosque (or any other place of worship)? |
d) |
Would an underwater place of worship have any advantages over a place on land? |
e) |
Do you think the quality of worshipping would be any better under water? |
f) |
Do you think the underwater mosque will be popular? |
g) |
What difficulties would there be praying and worshipping under water? |
h) |
What would people need to do differently to worship under the sea? |
i) |
Would you choose to visit an underwater place of worship? |
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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
| a) |
Did you like reading this article? |
b) |
Would you like to stay at an underwater hotel? |
c) |
What is the attraction of staying at an underwater hotel? |
d) |
What are the dangers of staying at an underwater hotel? |
e) |
Do you think there’ll be hotels in space one day? |
f) |
What other underwater buildings would you like to see built? |
g) |
Do you think there’ll ever be an underwater town? |
h) |
Would thousands of underwater buildings reduce or add to the world’s climate problems? |
i) |
What questions would you like to ask the builder of the mosque? |
LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE
Saudi Arabia has built the world’s first underwater mosque. A (1) ____ of divers constructed the aquatic place of worship (2) ____ the Saudi coast close to the border with Jordan. It is made from plastic pipes filled with sand. One of the divers Hamadan bin Salim Al Masoudi told the “Al Madina” newspaper: “One of our colleagues (3) ____ up with this idea last summer and we decided to (4) ____ it out.” He added: “When we put the final (5) ____ on it, it was time for afternoon prayers, so we performed group prayers.” It is not yet certain whether the mosque will be open for prayers to the general public. Worshippers would need to (6) ____ scuba diving equipment and there is currently no call to prayer.
The building of the mosque comes (7) ____ a variety of companies in neighbouring United Arab Emirates has (8) ____ plans to build underwater hotels. The Dubai-based shipbuilding company Drydocks World (9) ____ a deal to develop undersea hotels in Dubai with a Swiss firm. One (10) ____ project is the World Discus Hotel, a discus-shaped underwater complex. It will be one of five underwater establishments planned by the two companies. The plans are seen as another sign of Dubai’s cutting-(11) ____ prowess in the luxury hotel (12) ____. Drydocks chairman Khamis Juma Buamim told reporters: “The discussions are to build these around the world, not just in the UAE.”
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
| 1. |
(a) |
group |
(b) |
gaggle |
(c) |
clutch |
(d) |
herd |
2. |
(a) |
next |
(b) |
off |
(c) |
adjacent |
(d) |
at |
3. |
(a) |
went |
(b) |
gone |
(c) |
came |
(d) |
arrived |
4. |
(a) |
lift |
(b) |
transport |
(c) |
hold |
(d) |
carry |
5. |
(a) |
grouches |
(b) |
pooches |
(c) |
pouches |
(d) |
touches |
6. |
(a) |
din |
(b) |
den |
(c) |
don |
(d) |
dan |
7. |
(a) |
as |
(b) |
was |
(c) |
is |
(d) |
has |
8. |
(a) |
welled |
(b) |
unveiled |
(c) |
spilled |
(d) |
welded |
9. |
(a) |
pined |
(b) |
pruned |
(c) |
penned |
(d) |
panned |
10. |
(a) |
such |
(b) |
some |
(c) |
so |
(d) |
as |
11. |
(a) |
rim |
(b) |
border |
(c) |
side |
(d) |
edge |
12. |
(a) |
beeline |
(b) |
sector |
(c) |
construction |
(d) |
atrium |
WRITING
Write about underwater buildings 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 out more about underwater buildings. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. UNDERWATER BUILDINGS: Make a poster about underwater buildings. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. UNDERWATER MOSQUE: Write a magazine article about the underwater mosque. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.
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. LETTER: Write a letter to the builders of the underwater mosque. Ask them three questions about it. Give them three of your opinions on it. 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. |
F |
f. |
T |
g. |
T |
h. |
F |
SYNONYM MATCH:
| 1. |
constructed |
a. |
built |
2. |
aquatic |
b. |
marine |
3. |
touches |
c. |
details |
4. |
don |
d. |
put on |
5. |
equipment |
e. |
apparatus |
6. |
variety |
f. |
assortment |
7. |
unveiled |
g. |
revealed |
8. |
penned |
h. |
signed |
9. |
complex |
i. |
network |
10. |
prowess |
j. |
skill |
PHRASE MATCH:
| 1. |
the aquatic place |
a. |
of worship |
2. |
off the Saudi coast close to the |
b. |
border with Jordan |
3. |
put the final |
c. |
touches on it |
4. |
Worshippers would need to don |
d. |
scuba diving equipment |
5. |
there is currently no call |
e. |
to prayer |
6. |
unveiled |
f. |
plans |
7. |
penned |
g. |
a deal |
8. |
a discus- |
h. |
shaped underwater complex |
9. |
Dubai’s cutting- |
i. |
edge prowess |
10. |
in the luxury hotel |
j. |
sector |
GAP FILL:
World’s first underwater mosque built
Saudi Arabia has built the world’s first underwater mosque. A group of divers (1) constructed the aquatic place of (2) worship off the Saudi coast close to the border with Jordan. It is made from plastic (3) pipes filled with sand. One of the divers Hamadan bin Salim Al Masoudi told the “Al Madina” newspaper: “One of our colleagues (4) came up with this idea last summer and we decided to carry it out.” He added: “When we put the final (5) touches on it, it was time for afternoon prayers, so we (6) performed group prayers.” It is not yet certain whether the mosque will be open for prayers to the general public. Worshippers would need to don scuba diving (7) equipment and there is currently no (8) call to prayer.
The building of the mosque comes as a (9) variety of companies in neighbouring United Arab Emirates has (10) unveiled plans to build underwater hotels. The Dubai-based shipbuilding company Drydocks World (11) penned a deal to develop undersea hotels in Dubai with a Swiss firm. One (12) such project is the World Discus Hotel, a discus-shaped underwater (13) complex. It will be one of five underwater establishments planned by the two companies. The plans are seen as another (14) sign of Dubai’s cutting-edge (15) prowess in the luxury hotel (16) sector. Drydocks chairman Khamis Juma Buamim told reporters: “The discussions are to build these around the world, not just in the UAE.”
LANGUAGE WORK
| 1 - a |
2 - b |
3 - c |
4 - d |
5 - d |
6 - c |
7 - a |
8 - b |
9 - c |
10 - a |
11 - d |
12 - b |