Tensions escalate in Ukraine

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Tensions are rising in Ukraine after president Viktor Yanukovych left the country. Thousands of protestors fought bloody battles in the capital, Kiev for weeks. They wanted Mr Yanukovych's resignation. Many people were shot dead by riot police. The protestors also wanted economic reforms and closer ties with the European Union. Most people in east Ukraine voted for Mr Yanukovych and lean more towards Russia than the EU. There was little violence there.

The USA said Mr Yanukovych is no longer Ukraine's president. It warned Russia to stay out of Ukrainian affairs, saying: "We strongly support Ukraine's territorial integrity." Fears are that Ukraine could break in two. Pro-Russian separatists are active in the region of Crimea. Gunmen in Russian uniforms were guarding Crimea's main airport. Russia sent 150,000 troops to the Ukrainian border. This made Ukraine warn Russia against "military aggression".

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10666557/Keep-out-of-Ukraine-America-tells-Russia.html
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/ukraine-warns-russia-as-tensions-build/495390.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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	protestors fought bloody	a.	police
2.	riot	b.	Russia than the EU
3.	economic	c.	battles
4.	closer ties	d.	violence there
5.	lean more towards	e.	reforms
6.	There was little	f.	with the European Union

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	It warned Russia to stay	a.	warn Russia
2.	Ukraine's territorial	b.	out of Ukrainian affairs
3.	Pro-Russian	c.	aggression
4.	Gunmen in	d.	integrity
5.	This made Ukraine	e.	Russian uniforms
6.	military	f.	separatists

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Tensions are rising in Ukraine after president Viktor Yanukovych left the country. Thousands of protestors (1) ___________________ in the capital, Kiev for weeks. They wanted Mr Yanukovych's resignation. Many people were shot (2) ___________________. The protestors also wanted economic reforms (3) ___________________ the European Union. (4) ___________________ Ukraine voted for Mr Yanukovych and (5) ___________________ Russia than the EU. There (6) ___________________.

The USA said Mr Yanukovych (7) ___________________ president. It warned Russia (8) ___________________ Ukrainian affairs, saying: "We strongly support Ukraine's (9) ___________________." Fears are that Ukraine could break in two. Pro-Russian (10) ___________________ in the region of Crimea. Gunmen in Russian (11) ___________________ Crimea's main airport. Russia sent 150,000 troops to the Ukrainian border. This made Ukraine warn Russia (12) ___________________.

UKRAINE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Ukraine 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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