Central African Republic in chaos, says UN (28th November, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The United Nations has warned that the Central African Republic (CAR) needs urgent help. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said it was "descending into complete chaos before our eyes". The landlocked nation has been slowly moving towards a state of total anarchy since rebels seized power in March. Mr Eliasson called for the strengthening of the African Union's military presence in the country. He suggested turning it into an official UN peacekeeping operation. Mr Eliasson warned: "If this situation is left to fester, it may develop into a religious and ethnic conflict with long-standing consequences - even a civil war that could spread into neighbouring countries."

Rebels known as the Seleka replaced former President Bozize with their own commander Michel Djotodia. Mr Djotodia later disbanded the rebels but they regrouped and formed armed gangs, which now control most of the impoverished country. Mr Eliasson said: "The population is enduring suffering beyond imagination. As we see far too often, women and children are bearing the brunt. Human rights violations are mounting. The use of child soldiers is rising. Sexual violence is growing. There are widespread reports of looting, illegal checkpoints, extortion, illegal arrests and detentions, torture and summary executions." He warned that: "The CAR is becoming a breeding ground for extremists."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25095471
http://allafrica.com/stories/201311260201.html?viewall=1
http://www.voanews.com/content/un-considers-options-in-central-african-republic/1797673.html

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. CHAOS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about chaos. 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.

urgent help / chaos / anarchy / rebels / peacekeeping force / ethnic conflict / civil war / armed gangs / impoverished / suffering / human rights / sexual violence / torture

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

3. THE CAR: How can the world help the Central African Republic? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Pros	Cons
UN Peacekeeping
Arm the government
Regional conference
Refugee camps
Invest heavily in the CAR
Military invasion

4. NORMALITY: Students A strongly believe normality will return to the CAR; Students B strongly believe chaos will prevail. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. ANARCHY: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the worst at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• no laws

• corrupt government

• violence

• looting

• no schools

• no shops

• armed gangs

• extremism

6. CONFLICT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "conflict". 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 UN says the CAR is now beyond help.	T / F
b.	Rebels took control of the country in September.	T / F
c.	The UN wants the African Union to serve as peacekeepers in the CAR.	T / F
d.	The UN is worried the CAR's internal strife may spill over its borders.	T / F
e.	Armed gangs are in control of most of the CAR.	T / F
f.	The UN said the middle class is bearing the brunt of the suffering.	T / F
g.	There have been very few reports of looting in the country.	T / F
h.	The UN warned the country is being used by extremists.	T / F

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

1.	urgent	a.	deteriorate
2.	descending	b.	broke up
3.	anarchy	c.	poor
4.	presence	d.	sliding
5.	fester	e.	leader
6.	commander	f.	desperate
7.	disbanded	g.	blackmail
8.	impoverished	h.	existence
9.	brunt	i.	lawlessness
10.	extortion	j.	full force

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

1.	descending into complete chaos	a.	operation
2.	moving towards a state of	b.	reports of looting
3.	an official UN peacekeeping	c.	neighbouring countries
4.	develop into a religious	d.	but they regrouped
5.	a civil war that could spread into	e.	total anarchy
6.	Mr Djotodia later disbanded the rebels	f.	impoverished country
7.	control most of the	g.	ground for extremists
8.	women and children are bearing	h.	and ethnic conflict
9.	There are widespread	i.	before our eyes
10.	becoming a breeding	j.	the brunt

GAP FILL

The United Nations has warned that the Central African Republic (CAR) needs (1) ____________ help. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said it was "descending into complete chaos before our (2) ____________ ". The landlocked nation has been slowly moving towards a state of (3) ____________ anarchy since rebels seized power in March. Mr Eliasson called for the strengthening of the African Union's military (4) ____________ in the country. He suggested turning it into an official UN peacekeeping (5) ____________. Mr Eliasson warned: "If this situation is left to (6) ____________, it may develop into a religious and ethnic conflict with long-standing (7) ____________ - even a civil war that could spread into (8) ____________ countries."

presence
neighbouring
urgent
total
fester
eyes
consequences
operation

Rebels known as the Seleka replaced (9) ____________ President Bozize with their own commander Michel Djotodia. Mr Djotodia later (10) ____________ the rebels but they regrouped and formed armed gangs, which now control most of the impoverished country. Mr Eliasson said: "The population is enduring (11) ____________ beyond imagination. As we see far too often, women and children are bearing the (12) ____________. Human rights violations are (13) ____________. The use of child soldiers is rising. Sexual violence is growing. There are widespread reports of (14) ____________, illegal checkpoints, extortion, illegal arrests and (15) ____________, torture and summary executions." He warned that: "The CAR is becoming a (16) ____________ ground for extremists."

looting
suffering
mounting
former
breeding
disbanded
detentions
brunt

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The United Nations has warned that the Central African Republic (CAR) ______
	a. needs urgently help b. needs urgent help c. needs urgency help d. needs emergent help
2)	it was "descending into complete chaos ______
	a. before our whys b. before our rise c. before our eyes d. before our ayes
3)	The landlocked nation has been slowly moving towards a state ______
	a. of totally anarchy b. of total anarchic c. of totally anarchic d. of total anarchy
4)	Mr Eliasson called for the strengthening of the African Union's military ______ country.
	a. presents in the b. presence in the c. presenters in the d. presentations in the
5)	develop into a religious and ethnic conflict with long-______
	a. stand in consequences b. stand on consequences c. standard consequences d. standing consequences
6)	Mr Djotodia later disbanded the rebels ______
	a. but they regrouped b. but they regroup c. but they regroups d. but they regrouping
7)	armed gangs, which now control most of the ______
	a. undernourished country b. improvised country c. impoverished country d. empowered country
8)	As we see far too often, women and children are ______
	a. barring the brunt b. bearing the brunt c. bearing the branch d. barring the branch
9)	illegal checkpoints, extortion, illegal arrests and detentions, torture and ______
	a. summary executioners b. summary executions c. summarised executions d. summarily executions
10)	He warned that: "The CAR is becoming a breeding ______
	a. grounds for extremists b. grounding for extremists c. grounded for extremists d. ground for extremists

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations has warned that the (1) ___________________ Central African Republic (CAR) needs urgent help. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said it was "descending into complete (2) ___________________ ". The landlocked nation has been slowly moving towards a state (3) ___________________ rebels seized power in March. Mr Eliasson called for the strengthening of the African Union's military presence in the country. He suggested (4) ___________________ official UN peacekeeping operation. Mr Eliasson warned: "If this situation is left to fester, it may (5) ___________________ and ethnic conflict with long-standing consequences - (6) ___________________ could spread into neighbouring countries."

Rebels known as the Seleka replaced former President Bozize with their own commander Michel Djotodia. Mr Djotodia later (7) ___________________ but they (8) ___________________ armed gangs, which now control most of the impoverished country. Mr Eliasson said: "The population is enduring (9) ___________________. As we see far too often, women and children are (10) ___________________. Human rights violations are mounting. The use of child soldiers is rising. Sexual violence is growing. There are widespread reports of (11) ___________________, extortion, illegal arrests and detentions, torture and summary executions." He warned that: "The CAR is becoming (12) ___________________ extremists."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What kind of help did the UN say the CAR needed?
2.	How did the article describe the geography of the CAR?
3.	When did rebels in the CAR seize power?
4.	Who does Jan Eliasson want to keep the peace in the CAR?
5.	What could spread into neighbouring countries?
6.	Who is Michel Djotodia?
7.	What happened to rebel groups that were broken up?
8.	How did Mr Eliasson say the population was suffering?
9.	Who is bearing the brunt of the suffering?
10.	Who is the CAR becoming a breeding ground for?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What kind of help did the UN say the CAR needed?	6.	Who is Michel Djotodia?
	a) technical help b) urgent help c) military help d) logistical help		a) a rebel commander b) an African Union leader c) the former CAR president d) a UN spokesman
2.	How did the article describe the geography of the CAR?	7.	What happened to rebel groups that were broken up?
	a) topography b) coastal c) longitude d) landlocked		a) they joined the CAR army b) they fled the country c) they reformed d) they went back to their old jobs
3.	When did rebels in the CAR seize power?	8.	How did Mr Eliasson say the population was suffering?
	a) March b) April c) May d) June		a) beyond our imagination b) a lot c) endurance d) patiently
4.	Who does Jan Eliasson want to keep the peace in the CAR?	9.	Who is bearing the brunt of the suffering?
	a) NATO b) the United Nations c) the African Union d) France		a) women and children b) the poor c) members of the old government d) rebel soldiers
5.	What could spread into neighbouring countries?	10.	Who is the CAR becoming a breeding ground for?
	a) refugees b) war c) disease d) revolution		a) scientists b) cattle owners c) farmers d) extremists

ROLE PLAY

Role A – African Union peacekeeping force

You think an African Union peacekeeping force is best for the CAR. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their solutions. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a regional conference, military intervention or letting the CAR sort out its own problems.

Role B – A regional conference

You think a regional conference is best for the CAR. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their solutions. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): an African Union peacekeeping force, military intervention or letting the CAR sort out its own problems.

Role C – Military intervention

You think military intervention is best for the CAR. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their solutions. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a regional conference, an African Union peacekeeping force or letting the CAR sort out its own problems.

Role D – Let the CAR sort its problems out

You think letting the CAR sort out its own problems is best for the CAR. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their solutions. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a regional conference, military intervention or an African Union peacekeeping force.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

complete

chaos

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:

urgent
eyes
seized
presence
fester
spread

former
formed
beyond
rising
reports
ground

CHAOS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about chaos 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.

CHAOS IN THE C.A.R. 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 'chaos'?
c)	What do you know about the Central African Republic?
d)	Why is the UN only acting now if rebels seized power in March?
e)	People believe there could be genocide. How can we stop this?
f)	What urgent help does the CAR need?
g)	What happens (and doesn't happen) in a state of total anarchy?
h)	Should the African Union or United Nations keep the peace in the CAR?
i)	What "long-standing consequences" might there be?
j)	What would happen if the CAR's unrest spread to its neighbours?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	How easy is it for rebels to replace your country's leader?
c)	What would you think if you woke up one morning to find rebels were in power in your country?
d)	When has your country been in chaos? What happened?
e)	Why do the poor always suffer?
f)	How can women and children in the CAR be protected?
g)	Will those who violate human rights ever be caught and tried?
h)	Would the intervention of foreign troops help stop the chaos?
i)	Should the USA intervene to stop people being killed?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Jan Eliasson about the CAR?

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

The United Nations has warned that the Central African Republic (CAR) needs (1) ____ help. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said it was "descending into complete chaos before our (2) ____ ". The landlocked nation has been slowly moving towards a state of total anarchy since rebels (3) ____ power in March. Mr Eliasson called for the strengthening of the African Union's military (4) ____ in the country. He suggested turning it into an official UN peacekeeping operation. Mr Eliasson warned: "If this situation is left to (5) ____, it may develop into a religious and ethnic conflict with long-(6) ____ consequences - even a civil war that could spread into neighbouring countries."

Rebels known as the Seleka replaced former President Bozize with their own commander Michel Djotodia. Mr Djotodia later (7) ____ the rebels but they regrouped and formed armed gangs, which now control most of the (8) ____ country. Mr Eliasson said: "The population is enduring suffering (9) ____ imagination. As we see far too often, women and children are bearing the (10) ____. Human rights violations are mounting. The use of child soldiers is rising. Sexual violence is growing. There are (11) ____ reports of looting, illegal checkpoints, extortion, illegal arrests and detentions, torture and summary executions." He warned that: "The CAR is becoming a (12) ____ ground for extremists."

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

1.	(a)	urgency	(b)	urgently	(c)	urging	(d)	urgent
2.	(a)	minds	(b)	heads	(c)	faces	(d)	eyes
3.	(a)	sized	(b)	seized	(c)	ceased	(d)	creased
4.	(a)	presents	(b)	pretense	(c)	presence	(d)	prevalence
5.	(a)	pester	(b)	fasten	(c)	fester	(d)	hasten
6.	(a)	standing	(b)	sitting	(c)	kneeling	(d)	striding
7.	(a)	extended	(b)	disbanded	(c)	compounded	(d)	confounded
8.	(a)	impoverished	(b)	impoverish	(c)	impoverishes	(d)	impoverishing
9.	(a)	beneath	(b)	beyond	(c)	behind	(d)	behest
10.	(a)	brand	(b)	bland	(c)	brunt	(d)	branch
11.	(a)	widely	(b)	width	(c)	widespread	(d)	widens
12.	(a)	weeding	(b)	seeding	(c)	feeding	(d)	breeding

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	gcennideds into complete chaos before our eyes
2.	a state of total crhaayn since rebels seized power
3.	the African Union's military cseerepn in the country
4.	develop into a religious and tihenc conflict
5.	long-standing sqncnesocuee
6.	a civil war that could spread into roenguinhbgi countries
Paragraph 2
7.	Mr Djotodia later dbeidsand the rebels
8.	control most of the edisopevrmhi country
9.	The population is gniurend suffering beyond imagination
10.	Human rights ioovnltsai are mounting
11.	titxreoon, illegal arrests and detentions
12.	The CAR is becoming a breeding ground for trtiesxsme

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	of the impoverished country. Mr Eliasson said: "The population is enduring suffering beyond imagination. As we see far too
( )	presence in the country. He suggested turning it into an official UN peacekeeping
( )	operation. Mr Eliasson warned: "If this situation is left to fester, it may develop into a religious and ethnic
( )	disbanded the rebels but they regrouped and formed armed gangs, which now control most
( )	power in March. Mr Eliasson called for the strengthening of the African Union's military
( )	conflict with long-standing consequences - even a civil war that could spread into neighbouring countries."
( )	Rebels known as the Seleka replaced former President Bozize with their own commander Michel Djotodia. Mr Djotodia later
( )	of child soldiers is rising. Sexual violence is growing. There are widespread
( )	executions." He warned that: "The CAR is becoming a breeding ground for extremists."
( )	help. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said it was "descending into complete chaos before
( )	reports of looting, illegal checkpoints, extortion, illegal arrests and detentions, torture and summary
( 1 )	The United Nations has warned that the Central African Republic (CAR) needs urgent
( )	our eyes". The landlocked nation has been slowly moving towards a state of total anarchy since rebels seized
( )	often, women and children are bearing the brunt. Human rights violations are mounting. The use

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	before descending chaos eyes was complete our It into.
2.	anarchy a state Slowly of moving total towards.
3.	Turning UN it peacekeeping into operation an official.
4.	into and develop religious conflict may a ethnic It.
5.	neighbouring A that into war spread countries civil could.
6.	formed gangs They and armed regrouped.
7.	imagination beyond suffering enduring is population The.
8.	are children and Women brunt the bearing.
9.	use The rising is soldiers child of.
10.	CAR a for The becoming ground is breeding extremists.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The United Nations has warned that the Central African Republic (CAR) needs urgent / urgently help. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said it was "descending into complete chaotic / chaos before our eyes". The landlocked / unlocked nation has been slowly moving towards a state of total / totally anarchy since rebels sized / seized power in March. Mr Eliasson called for the strengthening of the African Union's militia / military presence in the country. He suggested turning it onto / into an official UN peacekeeping operation. Mr Eliasson warned: "If this experience / situation is left to fester, it may process / develop into a religious and ethnic conflict with long-standing consequences – ever / even a civil war that could spread into neighbouring countries."

Rebels known as the Seleka replaced firmer / former President Bozize with their own commander Michel Djotodia. Mr Djotodia later rebranded / disbanded the rebels but they regrouped / recollected and formed armed gangs, which now control most of the poverty / impoverished country. Mr Eliasson said: "The population is ending / enduring suffering beyond imagination. As we see / view far too often, women and children are bearing the bland / brunt. Human rights violations are mounting / hilly. The use of child soldiers is rising. Sexual violence is growing. There are widespread reports of looting, illegal checkpoints, exhibition / extortion, illegal arrests and detentions, torture and summary executions." He warned that: "The CAR is becoming a breeding / weeding ground for extremists."

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)

Th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns h_s w_rn_d th_t th_ C_ntr_l _fr_c_n R_p_bl_c (C_R) n__ds _rg_nt h_lp. Th_ _N D_p_ty S_cr_t_ry-G_n_r_l J_n _l__ss_n s__d _t w_s "d_sc_nd_ng _nt_ c_mpl_t_ ch__s b_f_r_ __r _y_s". Th_ l_ndl_ck_d n_t__n h_s b__n sl_wly m_v_ng t_w_rds _ st_t_ _f t_t_l _n_rchy s_nc_ r_b_ls s__z_d p_w_r _n M_rch. Mr _l__ss_n c_ll_d f_r th_ str_ngth_n_ng _f th_ _fr_c_n _n__n's m_l_t_ry pr_s_nc_ _n th_ c__ntry. H_ s_gg_st_d t_rn_ng _t _nt_ _n _ff_c__l _N p__c_k__p_ng _p_r_t__n. Mr _l__ss_n w_rn_d: "_f th_s s_t__t__n _s l_ft t_ f_st_r, _t m_y d_v_l_p _nt_ _ r_l_g___s _nd _thn_c c_nfl_ct w_th l_ng-st_nd_ng c_ns_q__nc_s - _v_n _ c_v_l w_r th_t c__ld spr__d _nt_ n__ghb__r_ng c__ntr__s."

R_b_ls kn_wn _s th_ S_l_k_ r_pl_c_d f_rm_r Pr_s_d_nt B_z_z_ w_th th__r _wn c_mm_nd_r M_ch_l Dj_t_d__. Mr Dj_t_d__ l_t_r d_sb_nd_d th_ r_b_ls b_t th_y r_gr__p_d _nd f_rm_d _rm_d g_ngs, wh_ch n_w c_ntr_l m_st _f th_ _mp_v_r_sh_d c__ntry. Mr _l__ss_n s__d: "Th_ p_p_l_t__n _s _nd_r_ng s_ff_r_ng b_y_nd _m_g_n_t__n. _s w_ s__ f_r t__ _ft_n, w_m_n _nd ch_ldr_n _r_ b__r_ng th_ br_nt. H_m_n r_ghts v__l_t__ns _r_ m__nt_ng. Th_ _s_ _f ch_ld s_ld__rs _s r_s_ng. S_x__l v__l_nc_ _s gr_w_ng. Th_r_ _r_ w_d_spr__d r_p_rts _f l__t_ng, _ll_g_l ch_ckp__nts, _xt_rt__n, _ll_g_l _rr_sts _nd d_t_nt__ns, t_rt_r_ _nd s_mm_ry _x_c_t__ns." H_ w_rn_d th_t: "Th_ C_R _s b_c_m_ng _ br__d_ng gr__nd f_r _xtr_m_sts."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the united nations has warned that the central african republic (car) needs urgent help the un deputy secretary-general jan eliasson said it was "descending into complete chaos before our eyes" the landlocked nation has been slowly moving towards a state of total anarchy since rebels seized power in march mr eliasson called for the strengthening of the african union's military presence in the country he suggested turning it into an official un peacekeeping operation mr eliasson warned "if this situation is left to fester it may develop into a religious and ethnic conflict with long-standing consequences - even a civil war that could spread into neighbouring countries"

rebels known as the seleka replaced former president bozize with their own commander michel djotodia mr djotodia later disbanded the rebels but they regrouped and formed armed gangs which now control most of the impoverished country mr eliasson said "the population is enduring suffering beyond imagination as we see far too often women and children are bearing the brunt human rights violations are mounting the use of child soldiers is rising sexual violence is growing there are widespread reports of looting illegal checkpoints extortion illegal arrests and detentions torture and summary executions" he warned that "the car is becoming a breeding ground for extremists"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheUnitedNationshaswarnedthattheCentralAfricanRepublic(CAR)needsurgen
thelp.TheUNDeputySecretary-GeneralJanEliassonsaiditwas"descendingint
ocompletechaosbeforeoureyes".Thelandlockednationhasbeenslowlymovingto
wardsastateoftotalanarchysincerebelsseizedpowerinMarch.MrEliassoncalledf
orthestrengtheningoftheAfricanUnion'smilitarypresenceinthecountry.Hesugg
estedturningitintoanofficialUNpeacekeepingoperation.MrEliassonwarned:"Ift
hissituationislefttofester,itmaydevelopintoareligiousandethnicconflictwithlon
g-standingconsequences-evenacivilwarthatcouldspreadintoneighbouringco
untries."RebelsknownastheSelekareplacedformerPresidentBozizewiththeirow
ncommanderMichelDjotodia.MrDjotodialaterdisbandedtherebelsbuttheyregr
oupedandformedarmedgangs,whichnowcontrolmostoftheimpoverishedcount
ry.MrEliassonsaid:"Thepopulationisenduringsufferingbeyondimagination.Asw
eseefartoooften,womenandchildrenarebearingthebrunt.Humanrightsviolatio
nsaremounting.Theuseofchildsoldiersisrising.Sexualviolenceisgrowing.There
arewidespreadreportsoflooting,illegalcheckpoints,extortion,illegalarrestsand
detentions,tortureandsummaryexecutions."Hewarnedthat:"TheCARisbecomi
ngabreedinggroundforextremists."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Why do the poorest people always suffer the most? How can we change this? Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the Central African Republic. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Write a magazine article about the Central African Republic. Include imaginary interviews with a citizen of the country and the UN Deputy Secretary-General.

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 the Central African Republic's leader. Ask him three questions about the chaos in the country. Give him three ideas on how to reduce the suffering of the people. 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

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	urgent	a.	desperate
2.	descending	b.	sliding
3.	anarchy	c.	lawlessness
4.	presence	d.	existence
5.	fester	e.	deteriorate
6.	commander	f.	leader
7.	disbanded	g.	broke up
8.	impoverished	h.	poor
9.	brunt	i.	full force
10.	extortion	j.	blackmail

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Urgent help
2.	As being landlocked
3.	March
4.	The African Union
5.	(Civil) war
6.	A rebel commander
7.	They regrouped into armed gangs
8.	Beyond our imagination
9.	Women and children
10.	Extremists

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 ;-)

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Central African Republic in chaos, says UN (28th November, 2014)

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