The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Rebels fighting in Iraq and Syria have set up their own state. It is a caliphate (an Islamic nation). The rebels are from ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). They are also called ISIL (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). The rebels have been fighting for an area from Aleppo in northern Syria to Diyala in eastern Iraq. It said online that its leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and that he would be "leader for Muslims everywhere".

Wikipedia says ISIS wants more land. It wants parts of Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Turkey, and Cyprus. It is a Sunni Muslim group. It says the governments of Iraq and Syria dislike it. Wikipedia said: "ISIS had close links with al-Qaeda until 2014, but…al-Qaeda cut all ties with the group." Al Qaeda did not like attacks on civilians that killed thousands. Iraq will use military jets it bought from Russia to fight the rebels.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28082962
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_in_Iraq_and_the_Levant
  • http://www.omantribune.com/index.php?page=news&id=170644&heading=Top%20News


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.

Rebels fighting

a.

State of Iraq and Syria)

2.

set up their

b.

Iraq

3.

The rebels are from ISIS (the Islamic

c.

own state

4.

They are also called

d.

in northern Syria

5.

The rebels have

e.

everywhere

6.

from Aleppo

f.

in Iraq

7.

eastern

g.

been fighting

8.

leader for Muslims

h.

ISIL

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.

Wikipedia says ISIS

a.

dislike it

2.

It wants parts

b.

on civilians

3.

It is a Sunni Muslim

c.

of Jordan

4.

the governments of Iraq and Syria

d.

links with al-Qaeda

5.

ISIS had close

e.

jets

6.

al-Qaeda cut all ties

f.

wants more land

7.

attacks

g.

group

8.

military

h.

with the group

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

(1) ___________________ Iraq and Syria (2) ___________________ state. It is a caliphate (an Islamic nation). The rebels are from ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). (3) ___________________ ISIL (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). The rebels have (4) ___________________ an area from Aleppo in northern Syria to Diyala in eastern Iraq. It (5) ___________________ its leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and that (6) ___________________ for Muslims everywhere".

Wikipedia says ISIS (7) ___________________. It wants parts of Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, (8) ___________________. It is a Sunni Muslim group. It (9) ___________________ of Iraq and Syria dislike it. Wikipedia said: "ISIS had close links with al-Qaeda until 2014, but…al-Qaeda (10) ___________________ the group." Al Qaeda did not like (11) ___________________ that killed thousands. Iraq will use military jets it bought from Russia (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

RebelsfightinginIraqandSyriahavesetuptheirownstate.Itisacalip
hate(anIslamicnation).TherebelsarefromISIS(theIslamicStateof
IraqandSyria).TheyarealsocalledISIL(theIslamicStateinIraqand
theLevant).TherebelshavebeenfightingforanareafromAleppoinn
orthernSyriatoDiyalaineasternIraq.ItsaidonlinethatitsleaderisAb
uBakral-Baghdadi,andthathewouldbe"leaderforMuslimsever
ywhere".WikipediasaysISISwantsmoreland.ItwantspartsofJorda
n,Israel,Palestine,Lebanon,Turkey,andCyprus.ItisaSunniMuslim
group.ItsaysthegovernmentsofIraqandSyriadislikeit.Wikipedias
aid:"ISIShadcloselinkswithal-Qaedauntil2014,but…al-Qaedac
utalltieswiththegroup."AlQaedadidnotlikeattacksonciviliansthat
killedthousands.IraqwillusemilitaryjetsitboughtfromRussiatofig
httherebels.

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)

________________________________________________________

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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 Iraq 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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