My 1,000
Ideas
e-Book

Breaking News English

HOME  |  HELP MY SITE  |  000s MORE FREE LESSONS
 
My 1,000
Ideas
e-Book
 
 
 LEVEL 6  PRINT  LISTEN  READ  GRAMMAR  SPELL  WORDS


 See also...
   Level 4
   Level 5


* 26-page lesson
    (40 exercises)

 

* 2-page MINI
    lesson

* MP3 (British)

* MP3 (USA)

* MP3 (20 Qs)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation -
    (10 sentences)

* Speed Read
    (4 speeds)

* Jumble 1

* Jumble 2

* No spaces

* Text jumble

* Gap-fill

* The/An/A Gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Initials

* Initials only

* No letters

.....

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

Iran's Rouhani addresses UN General Assembly (27th September, 2013)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nation's General Assembly on Tuesday, calling for "constructive engagement" with countries including the USA. He pointed out that Iran, "does not seek to increase tensions with the United States". He added he wanted to work with other nations, "based on mutual respect and common interest". The speech is seen by many as a considerable change of direction in Iran's foreign policy and could potentially herald new relations with America. The two countries have been bitter foes for the past four decades. President Rouhani also pledged never to develop nuclear weapons, telling delegates they had no place whatsoever in the defence of his country.


 

The Iranian leader spoke at length about Iran's nuclear program. He stressed that: "Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran's security and defence doctrine, and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions." He hinted that Iran could be ready to let U.N. inspectors back into the country's nuclear facilities, saying: "Our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and all reasonable concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear program." Mr Rouhani also tried to expel the notion that Iran was a danger to the Middle East. He said: "Iran poses absolutely no threat to the world or the region," and added that the "so-called Iranian threat" was imaginary.

Try Level 4 or Level 5

Sources:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-09/25/c_132747521.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/world/middleeast/irans-new-president-in-first-un-appearance-preaches-tolerance-says-his-country-is-no-threat.html?_r=0



 

WARM-UPS

SHARE THIS LESSON: E-Mail RSS

1. IRAN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Iran. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

UN General Assembly / engagement / mutual respect / new relations / foes / defence / nuclear program / national interests / peaceful / danger / Middle East / imaginary

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

3. RELATIONS: What are your country's relations like with these nations? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good points

Bad points

USA

 

 

China

 

 

Russia

 

 

India

 

 

Japan

 

 

Iran

 

 

4. FRIENDS: Students A strongly believe America and Iran will soon be friends; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

5. DANGER TO THE WORLD: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the most dangerous at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • nuclear conflict

  • global warming

  • cyber-war

  • lack of education

  • corporate greed

  • terrorism

  • overpopulation

  • water scarcity

6. UNITED NATIONS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the United Nations. 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.

Iran's president called for "restrictive engagement" with other nations.

T / F

b.

The president said he didn't want to make things worse with the USA.

T / F

c.

The speech left little hope for improving relations with the USA.

T / F

d.

Mr Rouhani made no promises about nuclear weapons.

T / F

e.

Mr Rouhani spoke for a long time about nuclear weapons.

T / F

f.

UN weapons inspectors may be allowed back into Iran's nuclear plants.

T / F

g.

Rouhani said Iran represented no danger to the Middle East.

T / F

h.

Rouhani said the "Iranian threat" was very much a reality.

T / F

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

1.

addressed

a.

go against

2.

constructive

b.

look for

3.

seek

c.

is

4.

mutual

d.

belief

5.

herald

e.

talked to

6.

doctrine

f.

vital

7.

contradict

g.

reciprocal

8.

imperative

h.

helpful

9.

expel

i.

signal

10.

poses

j.

get rid of

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

1.

Hassan Rouhani addressed

a.

and ethical convictions

2.

constructive

b.

respect

3.

based on mutual

c.

the United Nations

4.

bitter

d.

of mass destruction

5.

no place

e.

at length

6.

The Iranian leader spoke

f.

absolutely no threat

7.

weapons

g.

whatsoever

8.

contradict our fundamental religious

h.

foes

9.

national interests make it

i.

engagement

10.

Iran poses

j.

imperative



 

GAP FILL

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (1) ____________ the United Nation's General Assembly on Tuesday, calling for "(2) ____________ engagement" with countries including the USA. He pointed out that Iran, "does not seek to increase (3) ____________ with the United States". He added he wanted to work with other nations, "based on (4) ____________ respect and common interest". The speech is seen by many as a considerable change of direction in Iran's foreign (5) ____________ and could potentially herald new relations with America. The two countries have been bitter (6) ____________ for the past four decades. President Rouhani also (7) ____________ never to develop nuclear weapons, telling delegates they had no place (8) ____________ in the defence of his country.

 

 

mutual
tensions
pledged
addressed
whatsoever
foes
constructive
policy

The Iranian leader spoke at (9) ____________ about Iran's nuclear program. He stressed that: "Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction have no (10) ____________ in Iran's security and defence doctrine, and contradict our fundamental religious and (11) ____________ convictions." He hinted that Iran could be ready to let U.N. inspectors back into the country's nuclear (12) ____________, saying: "Our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and all reasonable (13) ____________ about Iran's peaceful nuclear program." Mr Rouhani also tried to expel the (14) ____________ that Iran was a danger to the Middle East. He said: "Iran poses absolutely no (15) ____________ to the world or the region," and added that the "so-called Iranian threat" was (16) ____________.

 

notion
ethical
threat
concerns
length
imaginary
place
facilities


 
 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nation's ______

 

a.  General Assembled
b.  General Assemblies
c.  General Assembly
d.  General Assemble

2)

calling for "constructive ______"

 

a.  re-engagement
b.  engage meant
c.  engaged meant
d.  engagements

3)

He added he wanted to work with other nations, based on mutual respect ______

 

a.  and commoner interest
b.  and commons interest
c.  and commonality interest
d.  and common interest

4)

could potentially herald new ______

 

a.  relation with America
b.  relationship with America
c.  relations with America
d.  relationships with America

5)

telling delegates they had ______ in the defence of his country

 

a.  no place whenever
b.  no place what, so never
c.  no place that so ever
d.  no place whatsoever

6)

Nuclear weapons and other weapons ______

 

a.  of mass destruction
b.  of massive construction
c.  of mass destructing
d.  of massive destruction

7)

contradict our fundamental religious and ______

 

a.  ethics convictions
b.  ethic convictions
c.  ethical convictions
d.  ethically convictions

8)

Our national interests ______

 

a.  make it imperative
b.  make this imperative
c.  make that imperative
d.  make kit imperative

9)

Mr Rouhani also tried to ______

 

a.  expel the motion
b.  expel the nation
c.  expel the notion
d.  expel the no shun

10)

Iran ______ no threat to the world or the region

 

a.  supposes absolutely
b.  imposes absolutely
c.  deposes absolutely
d.  poses absolutely

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nation's General Assembly on Tuesday, calling for "(1) ___________________ " with countries including the USA. He pointed out that Iran, "does not seek to increase tensions with the United States". He added he wanted to work with other nations, "based (2) ___________________ and common interest". The speech is seen by many (3) ___________________ change of direction in Iran's foreign policy and could (4) ___________________ relations with America. The two countries have been (5) ___________________ past four decades. President Rouhani also pledged never to develop nuclear weapons, telling delegates they had (6) ___________________ in the defence of his country.

The Iranian leader (7) ___________________ about Iran's nuclear program. He stressed that: "Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran's security (8) ___________________, and contradict our fundamental religious (9) ___________________." He hinted that Iran could be ready to let U.N. inspectors back into the country's nuclear facilities, saying: "Our national interests (10) __________________ that we remove any and all reasonable concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear program." Mr Rouhani also (11) ___________________ notion that Iran was a danger to the Middle East. He said: "Iran poses absolutely no threat to the world or the region," and added that the "(12) ___________________" was imaginary.


 
 

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

Where did President Rouhani make his speech?

2.

What did President Rouhani call for?

3.

What does he want to base international cooperation on?

4.

What is the speech a change in?

5.

What has no place in Iran's defence policy?

6.

For how long did Mr Rouhani speak?

7.

What might Iran be ready to do?

8.

How did Mr Rouhani describe his country's nuclear program?

9.

What poses no threat to the Middle East?

10.

What did Mr Rouhani say was imaginary?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

Where did President Rouhani make his speech?

6.

For how long did Mr Rouhani speak?

 

a) the U.N. Security Council
b) the U.N. General Assembly
c) the U.N. International School
d) the U.N. Conference Room

 

a) a long time
b) briefly
c) longer than anyone else
d) 58 minutes

2.

What did President Rouhani call for?

7.

What might Iran be ready to do?

 

a) constitutional re-engagement
b) constrictive engagement
c) constitutional engagement
d) constructive engagement

 

a) start producing nuclear energy
b) dismantle its nuclear power plants
c) let inspectors back
d) let the USA re-open its embassy

3.

What does he want to base international cooperation on?

8.

How did Mr Rouhani describe his country's nuclear program?

 

a) mutual respect and common interest
b) mutually common respect and
    interest
c) common respect and mutual interest
d) commonly mutual interest and
    respect

 

a) as being peaceful
b) as being the world's best
c) as being almost complete
d) as being environmentally friendly

4.

What is the speech a change in?

9.

What poses no threat to the Middle East?

 

a) order
b) volume
c) direction
d) speed

 

a) Iran
b) war
c) neighbours
d) tensions

5.

What has no place in Iran's defence policy?

10.

What did Mr Rouhani say was imaginary?

 

a) arguments
b) nuclear weapons
c) war
d) whatsoever

 

a) threats to Iran
b) the idea the USA was an enemy
c) danger in the Middle East
d) the "so-called Iranian threat"

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Hassan Rouhani

You are convinced you can increase Iran's importance in the world. Tell the others three reasons why. You want to restore relations with the USA. Tell Mr Obama to end the sanctions against your country. Tell him there's no need for inspectors as Iran has no nuclear weapons.

Role  B – Barack Obama

You would like to make friends with Iran. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell Mr Rouhani he must allow inspectors into nuclear plants before talks can go ahead. Sanctions can go if Iran opens up to U.S. investment. Ask Mr Rouhani to re-open the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

Role  C – Iranian Citizen A

You don't think anything will come of talks between your country and the USA. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell Mr Rouhani he should not trust Obama. He must not let foreign weapons inspectors into Iran. Tell Obama he should not tell other countries what to do.

Role  D – Iranian Citizen B

You think President Rouhani offers the brightest hope for Iran for decades. Tell the others three reasons why. Ask Mr Rouhani to do everything Obama asks. That way Iran will become economically strong again. Disagree with everything Citizen B says. Tell Obama to help Iran.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

middle

east

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • calling
  • seek
  • based
  • policy
  • bitter
  • region
  • length
  • place
  • hinted
  • remove
  • tried
  • so

IRAN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Iran 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.

 

 

 

 

  • 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.

IRAN 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 'Iran'?

c)

What do you think of Hassan Rouhani's speech?

d)

What must happen for "constructive engagement" to take place?

e)

What do you know about the history of US-Iranian relations?

f)

Do you think we will see a new Iran on the world stage?

g)

What is the next step for Iran and the US to forge better ties?

h)

How would good relations between Iran and America change the world?

i)

Do you think Iran has nuclear weapons?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

How is President Rouhani different to former leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?

c)

What could Iran do to help peace in the region?

d)

Should all countries end their own nuclear weapons programs?

e)

Should nations apologise to Iran if inspectors find no nuclear weapons?

f)

What do you think Iran will be like in 20 years from now?

g)

What advice would you give to President Rouhani?

h)

Does Iran have the right to nuclear weapons considering other countries have them?

i)

What questions would you like to ask President Rouhani?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nation's General Assembly on Tuesday, (1) ____ for "constructive engagement" with countries including the USA. He pointed (2) ____ that Iran, "does not (3) ____ to increase tensions with the United States". He added he wanted to work with other nations, "based on mutual respect and common interest". The speech is seen by many (4) ____ a considerable change of direction in Iran's foreign policy and could potentially herald new relations with America. The two countries have been (5) ____ foes for the past four decades. President Rouhani also pledged never to develop nuclear weapons, telling delegates they had no place (6) ____ in the defence of his country.

The Iranian leader spoke at (7) ____ about Iran's nuclear program. He stressed that: "Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran's security and defence doctrine, and (8) ____ our fundamental religious and ethical convictions." He hinted that Iran could be ready to let U.N. inspectors back into the country's nuclear (9) ____, saying: "Our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and (10) ____ reasonable concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear program." Mr Rouhani also tried to expel the (11) ____ that Iran was a danger to the Middle East. He said: "Iran (12) ____ absolutely no threat to the world or the region," and added that the "so-called Iranian threat" was imaginary.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

calls

(b)

called

(c)

calling

(d)

call

2.

(a)

out

(b)

in

(c)

to

(d)

up

3.

(a)

seek

(b)

seem

(c)

seed

(d)

seep

4.

(a)

as

(b)

has

(c)

was

(d)

is

5.

(a)

pungent

(b)

acrid

(c)

sour

(d)

bitter

6.

(a)

whomsoever

(b)

whenever

(c)

wherever

(d)

whatsoever

7.

(a)

length

(b)

long

(c)

lengthy

(d)

longing

8.

(a)

catalyst

(b)

cathartic

(c)

contract

(d)

contradict

9.

(a)

facilities

(b)

luminaries

(c)

oratories

(d)

vestiges

10.

(a)

every

(b)

all

(c)

total

(d)

whole

11.

(a)

motion

(b)

notion

(c)

lotion

(d)

potion

12.

(a)

posses

(b)

supposes

(c)

deposes

(d)

poses

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

calling for "constructive enmgegenat"

2.

increase nseiosnt

3.

lumuat respect

4.

aedlhr new relations

5.

Rouhani also gelddpe never to develop nuclear weapons

6.

no place orstevwahe

Paragraph 2

7.

weapons of mass esturitondc

8.

defence oendcrit

9.

ethical ncnivcisoot

10.

let U.N. pescrontsi back

11.

make it veatreiimp

12.

the "so-called Iranian threat" was gaimniyra

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

threat to the world or the region," and added that the "so-called Iranian threat" was imaginary.

(    )

change of direction in Iran's foreign policy and could potentially herald new relations with America. The two countries have been bitter

(    )

to increase tensions with the United States". He added he wanted to work with other nations, "based

(    )

The Iranian leader spoke at length about Iran's nuclear program. He stressed that: "Nuclear weapons

(    )

foes for the past four decades. President Rouhani also pledged never to develop nuclear weapons,

(    )

imperative that we remove any and all reasonable concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear program." Mr Rouhani also tried to expel

(    )

on mutual respect and common interest". The speech is seen by many as a considerable

(    )

telling delegates they had no place whatsoever in the defence of his country.

(    )

the notion that Iran was a danger to the Middle East. He said: "Iran poses absolutely no

(    )

our fundamental religious and ethical convictions." He hinted that Iran could be ready to let U.N.

1  )

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the United Nation's General Assembly on Tuesday, calling

(    )

and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran's security and defence doctrine, and contradict

(    )

inspectors back into the country's nuclear facilities, saying: "Our national interests make it

(    )

for "constructive engagement" with countries including the USA. He pointed out that Iran, "does not seek

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

including    countries    with    engagement    Constructive    USA    the.    

2.

He     wanted     with     he     work     nations     added     to     other.    

3.

of     Seen     as    change    many    considerable    direction    by     a.    

4.

also     nuclear    pledged    weapons    never    to    Rouhani    develop.    

5.

no   had   They   country  his   of  defence   the   in   whatsoever  place.

6.

to     could     back     let     be     UN.     ready     Iran     inspectors.    

7.

it     national     make     imperative     Our     interests.    

8.

The    East    Middle    the    to   danger   a    was   Iran    that   notion.

9.

region   the    or    world   the   to   threat  no   absolutely   poses  Iran.

10.

Iranian     called     threat"     was     imaginary     The     "so     -     .    

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressing / addressed the United Nation's General Assembly on Tuesday, calling for "constructive / construction engagement" with countries inclusive / including the USA. He pointed out that Iran, "does not seem / seek to increase tensions with the United States". He added he wanted to work with other nations, "based on / in mutual respect and common interested / interest". The speech is seen by many as a considerable / considerate change of direction in Iran's foreign policy and could potentially herald new relations with America. The two countries have been sour / bitter foes for the past four decades. President Rouhani also plagued / pledged never to develop nuclear weapons, telling delegates they had no place whatsoever / whomsoever in the defence of his country.

The Iranian leader spoke at longing / length about Iran's nuclear program. He stressed that: "Nuclear weapons and other weapons of massive / mass destruction have no place in Iran's security and defence doctrine, and contradict / contracted our fundamental religious and ethical / ethics convictions." He hinged / hinted that Iran could be ready to let U.N. inspectors back into the country's nuclear facilities, saying / said: "Our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and total / all reasonable concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear program." Mr Rouhani also tried to repeal / expel the notion that Iran was a danger to the Middle East. He said: "Iran poses / posses absolutely no threat to the world or the region," and added that the "so-called  / this-called Iranian threat" was imaginary.

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)

_r_n__n Pr_s_d_nt H_ss_n R__h_n_ _ddr_ss_d th_ _n_t_d N_t__n's G_n_r_l _ss_mbly _n T__sd_y, c_ll_ng f_r "c_nstr_ct_v_ _ng_g_m_nt" w_th c__ntr__s _ncl_d_ng th_ _S_. H_ p__nt_d __t th_t _r_n, "d__s n_t s__k t_ _ncr__s_ t_ns__ns w_th th_ _n_t_d St_t_s". H_ _dd_d h_ w_nt_d t_ w_rk w_th _th_r n_t__ns, "b_s_d _n m_t__l r_sp_ct _nd c_mm_n _nt_r_st". Th_ sp__ch _s s__n by m_ny _s _ c_ns_d_r_bl_ ch_ng_ _f d_r_ct__n _n _r_n's f_r__gn p_l_cy _nd c__ld p_t_nt__lly h_r_ld n_w r_l_t__ns w_th _m_r_c_. Th_ tw_ c__ntr__s h_v_ b__n b_tt_r f__s f_r th_ p_st f__r d_c_d_s. Pr_s_d_nt R__h_n_ _ls_ pl_dg_d n_v_r t_ d_v_l_p n_cl__r w__p_ns, t_ll_ng d_l_g_t_s th_y h_d n_ pl_c_ wh_ts__v_r _n th_ d_f_nc_ _f h_s c__ntry.

Th_ _r_n__n l__d_r sp_k_ _t l_ngth _b__t _r_n's n_cl__r pr_gr_m. H_ str_ss_d th_t: "N_cl__r w__p_ns _nd _th_r w__p_ns _f m_ss d_str_ct__n h_v_ n_ pl_c_ _n _r_n's s_c_r_ty _nd d_f_nc_ d_ctr_n_, _nd c_ntr_d_ct __r f_nd_m_nt_l r_l_g___s _nd _th_c_l c_nv_ct__ns." H_ h_nt_d th_t _r_n c__ld b_ r__dy t_ l_t _.N. _nsp_ct_rs b_ck _nt_ th_ c__ntry's n_cl__r f_c_l_t__s, s_y_ng: "__r n_t__n_l _nt_r_sts m_k_ _t _mp_r_t_v_ th_t w_ r_m_v_ _ny _nd _ll r__s_n_bl_ c_nc_rns _b__t _r_n's p__c_f_l n_cl__r pr_gr_m." Mr R__h_n_ _ls_ tr__d t_ _xp_l th_ n_t__n th_t _r_n w_s _ d_ng_r t_ th_ M_ddl_ __st. H_ s__d: "_r_n p_s_s _bs_l_t_ly n_ thr__t t_ th_ w_rld _r th_ r_g__n," _nd _dd_d th_t th_ "s_-c_ll_d _r_n__n thr__t" w_s _m_g_n_ry.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

iranian president hassan rouhani addressed the united nation's general assembly on tuesday calling for "constructive engagement" with countries including the usa he pointed out that iran "does not seek to increase tensions with the united states" he added he wanted to work with other nations "based on mutual respect and common interest" the speech is seen by many as a considerable change of direction in iran's foreign policy and could potentially herald new relations with america the two countries have been bitter foes for the past four decades president rouhani also pledged never to develop nuclear weapons telling delegates they had no place whatsoever in the defence of his country

the iranian leader spoke at length about iran's nuclear program he stressed that "nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction have no place in iran's security and defence doctrine and contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions" he hinted that iran could be ready to let un inspectors back into the country's nuclear facilities saying "our national interests make it imperative that we remove any and all reasonable concerns about iran's peaceful nuclear program" mr rouhani also tried to expel the notion that iran was a danger to the middle east he said "iran poses absolutely no threat to the world or the region" and added that the "so-called iranian threat" was imaginary

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

IranianPresidentHassanRouhaniaddressedtheUnitedNation'sGeneralAssem
blyonTuesday,callingfor"constructiveengagement"withcountriesincludingth
eUSA.HepointedoutthatIran,"doesnotseektoincreasetensionswiththeUnited
States".Headdedhewantedtoworkwithothernations,"basedonmutualrespect
andcommoninterest".Thespeechisseenbymanyasaconsiderablechangeofdir
ectioninIran'sforeignpolicyandcouldpotentiallyheraldnewrelationswithAmeri
ca.Thetwocountrieshavebeenbitterfoesforthepastfourdecades.PresidentRou
hanialsopledgednevertodevelopnuclearweapons,tellingdelegatestheyhadno
placewhatsoeverinthedefenceofhiscountry.TheIranianleaderspokeatlengtha
boutIran'snuclearprogram.Hestressedthat:"Nuclearweaponsandotherweap
onsofmassdestructionhavenoplaceinIran'ssecurityanddefencedoctrine,andc
ontradictourfundamentalreligiousandethicalconvictions."HehintedthatIranc
ouldbereadytoletU.N.inspectorsbackintothecountry'snuclearfacilities,saying
:"Ournationalinterestsmakeitimperativethatweremoveanyandallreasonable
concernsaboutIran'speacefulnuclearprogram."MrRouhanialsotriedtoexpelth
enotionthatIranwasadangertotheMiddleEast.Hesaid:"Iranposesabsolutelyn
othreattotheworldortheregion,"andaddedthatthe"so-calledIranianthreat"w
asimaginary.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and Contrast Iran and the USA.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 Hassan Rouhani's speech. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. IRAN: Make a poster about Iran. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT: Write a magazine article about what's next for Iran in its international relations. Include imaginary interviews with President Rouhani, President Obama and another world leader.

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 President Rouhani. Ask him three questions about Iran. Give him ideas on how Iran can make the world a safer place. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

addressed

a.

talked to

2.

constructive

b.

helpful

3.

seek

c.

look for

4.

mutual

d.

reciprocal

5.

herald

e.

signal

6.

doctrine

f.

belief

7.

contradict

g.

go against

8.

imperative

h.

vital

9.

expel

i.

get rid of

10.

poses

j.

is

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

The United Nation's General Assembly

2.

Constructive engagement

3.

Mutual respect and common interest

4.

Iran's foreign policy

5.

Nuclear weapons

6.

A long time (at length)

7.

Let inspectors back

8.

As being peaceful

9.

Iran

10.

The "so-called Iranian threat"

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You

Copyright © 2004-2023 by Sean Banville | Links | About | Privacy Policy