The Reading / Listening - Level 2

A new project that started in Germany will build the world's first building for Christians, Jews and Muslims to pray in. It is called the 'House of One'. It should open in 2016. People can donate money to help build it. The project will cost €43.5 million. The idea started in 2009 when archaeologists digging in Berlin found the city's earliest church. An architect called Wilfried Kuehn then decided it would be a good idea to build a multi-religion building on the same site. He said: "We quickly agreed that something visionary and forward-looking should be built on what is the founding site of Berlin."

A Jewish leader said Berlin was the best place for the building because it was where the extermination of the Jews was planned in World War II. He said: "Berlin is the city of wounds and miracles. Now, the first house in the world for three religions is to be built here." The Christian leader agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of the peaceful fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful coexistence of believers from different faiths." A Muslim leader hoped the building would let different religions understand each other better. He wanted "children to have a future in which diversity is the norm".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/welcome-to-berlins-house-of-one--a-church-synagogue-and-mosque-9507002.html
  • http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/473515-germany-gets-first-multi-faith-prayer-site.html
  • http://freepressjournal.in/where-jews-christians-muslims-unite-in-prayer/


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.

A new project that

a.

money to help build it

2.

It should open

b.

2009

3.

People can donate

c.

building

4.

The idea started in

d.

started in Germany

5.

archaeologists

e.

agreed

6.

a multi-religion

f.

and forward-looking

7.

We quickly

g.

in 2016

8.

something visionary

h.

digging in Berlin



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.

Berlin was the

a.

of the Berlin Wall

2.

planned in

b.

for three religions

3.

Berlin is the city of wounds

c.

is the norm

4.

the first house in the world

d.

other better

5.

the peaceful fall

e.

and miracles

6.

believers from

f.

best place

7.

religions understand each

g.

World War II

8.

a future in which diversity

h.

different faiths

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A new project that started in Germany (1) ___________________ first building for Christians, Jews and Muslims to pray in. It is called the 'House of One'. It (2) ___________________ 2016. People can donate money (3) ___________________. The project will cost €43.5 million. The idea started in 2009 when archaeologists digging in Berlin found the (4) ___________________. An architect called Wilfried Kuehn then decided it would be a good idea to build a multi-religion building (5) ___________________. He said: "We quickly agreed that something visionary and forward-looking should be (6) ___________________ founding site of Berlin."

A Jewish leader said Berlin (7) ___________________ for the building because it was where the extermination of the Jews was planned in World War II. He said: "Berlin (8) ___________________ and miracles. Now, the first house (9) ___________________ three religions is to be built here." The Christian leader agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of (10) ___________________ the Berlin Wall and the peaceful coexistence of believers from different faiths." A Muslim leader hoped the building (11) ___________________ religions understand each other better. He wanted "children to have a future in which (12) ___________________ ".

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnewprojectthatstartedinGermanywillbuildtheworld'sfirstbuildin
gforChristians,JewsandMuslimstoprayin.Itiscalledthe'HouseofOn
e'.Itshouldopenin2016.Peoplecandonatemoneytohelpbuildit.The
projectwillcost€43.5million.Theideastartedin2009whenarchaeolo
gistsdigginginBerlinfoundthecity'searliestchurch.Anarchitectcalle
dWilfriedKuehnthendecideditwouldbeagoodideatobuildamulti-
religionbuildingonthesamesite.Hesaid:"Wequicklyagreedthatsom
ethingvisionaryandforward-lookingshouldbebuiltonwhatisthefo
undingsiteofBerlin."AJewishleadersaidBerlinwasthebestplacefort
hebuildingbecauseitwaswheretheexterminationoftheJewswaspla
nnedinWorldWarII.Hesaid:"Berlinisthecityofwoundsandmiracles.
Now,thefirsthouseintheworldforthreereligionsistobebuilthere."Th
eChristianleaderagreed,saying:"Berlinisthecityofthepeacefulfallo
ftheBerlinWallandthepeacefulcoexistenceofbelieversfromdifferen
tfaiths."AMuslimleaderhopedthebuildingwouldletdifferentreligion
sunderstandeachotherbetter.Hewanted"childrentohaveafuturein
whichdiversityisthenorm".

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

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d)

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e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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