The Reading / Listening - Level 2

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

Wikipedia says ISIS thinks the state should be bigger. It wants parts of Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Turkey, and Cyprus. It is a Sunni Muslim group and says the governments of Iraq and Syria dislike it. It had links to Al Qaeda when it first started but those links have been cut. Wikipedia said: "ISIS had close links with al-Qaeda until 2014, but in February…al-Qaeda cut all ties with the group." Al Qaeda did not agree with attacks on civilians that have left thousands dead. Iraq has received several military jets from Russia to help fight the rebels.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   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 the governments

a.

for Muslims everywhere

2.

set up

b.

Syria

3.

The rebels are from

c.

their own state

4.

They are also

d.

announcing the new state

5.

northern

e.

the new state

6.

ISIL put a post online

f.

of Iraq and Syria

7.

the head of

g.

the group ISIS

8.

he would be leader

h.

called 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.

ISIS thinks the state

a.

ties with the group

2.

It wants

b.

dislike it

3.

the governments of Iraq and Syria

c.

to Al Qaeda

4.

It had links

d.

jets

5.

those links have

e.

should be bigger

6.

al-Qaeda cut all

f.

civilians

7.

attacks on

g.

parts of Jordan

8.

military

h.

been cut

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

(1) ___________________ governments of Iraq and Syria have set up their own state. It is a caliphate (an Islamic nation). The rebels (2) ___________________ ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). They are also called ISIL (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). (3) ___________________ from Aleppo in northern Syria to Diyala in eastern Iraq. The rebels (4) ___________________ for that area. ISIL put a (5) ___________________ the new state. It said ISIL's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi would be the head of the new state, and that (6) ___________________ for Muslims everywhere".

Wikipedia says ISIS thinks the (7) ___________________. It wants parts of Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Turkey, and Cyprus. It is a Sunni Muslim group and says (8) ___________________ Iraq and Syria dislike it. (9) ___________________ Al Qaeda when it first started but those links (10) ___________________. Wikipedia said: "ISIS had close links with al-Qaeda until 2014, but in February…al-Qaeda (11) ___________________ the group." Al Qaeda did not agree with attacks on civilians that have left thousands dead. Iraq has received (12) ___________________ from Russia to help fight the rebels.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

RebelsfightingthegovernmentsofIraqandSyriahavesetuptheirow
nstate.Itisacaliphate(anIslamicnation).Therebelsarefromthegro
upISIS(theIslamicStateofIraqandSyria).TheyarealsocalledISIL(
theIslamicStateinIraqandtheLevant).ThestatestretchesfromAle
ppoinnorthernSyriatoDiyalaineasternIraq.Therebelshavebeenfi
ghtingforthatarea.ISILputapostonlineannouncingthenewstate.It
saidISIL'sleaderAbuBakral-Baghdadiwouldbetheheadofthenew
state,andthathewouldbe"leaderforMuslimseverywhere".Wikiped
iasaysISISthinksthestateshouldbebigger.ItwantspartsofJordan,
Israel,Palestine,Lebanon,Turkey,andCyprus.ItisaSunniMuslimgr
oupandsaysthegovernmentsofIraqandSyriadislikeit.Ithadlinksto
AlQaedawhenitfirststartedbutthoselinkshavebeencut.Wikipedias
aid:"ISIShadcloselinkswithal-Qaedauntil2014,butinFebruary
…al-Qaedacutalltieswiththegroup."AlQaedadidnotagreewitha
ttacksonciviliansthathaveleftthousandsdead.Iraqhasreceivedse
veralmilitaryjetsfromRussiatohelpfighttherebels.

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)

________________________________________________________

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 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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