The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, 90, died Friday morning. He was the world's oldest leader. He was in hospital a few weeks ago. His brother Salman is the new king. World leaders said kind words. Barack Obama said Abdullah was a good friend of the USA. Obama also said the king worked for peace in the Middle East. Britain's Prime Minister said people will remember Abdullah for his work for peace and for "strengthening understanding between faiths".

King Abdullah was born in 1924. His early years prepared him to be king. In 1961, he became mayor of Mecca - his first official job. In 1963, he became leader of the Saudi army. He became King of Saudi Arabia in 2005. Many newspapers say that Abdullah changed his country slowly. He let women join the country's parliament. The BBC said that the king wanted more Saudi Arabian women to find jobs and work.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30945324
  • http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/01/king-abdullah-saudi-arabia-dies-150122232049573.html
  • http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20150123231436
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_of_Saudi_Arabia


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.

He was the world's

a.

few weeks ago

2.

He was in hospital a

b.

remember Abdullah

3.

World

c.

oldest leader

4.

a good friend

d.

between faiths

5.

the king worked

e.

leaders

6.

people will

f.

peace

7.

work for

g.

of the USA

8.

strengthening understanding

h.

for peace


MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

King Abdullah was

a.

of Mecca

2.

His early

b.

country slowly

3.

prepared him

c.

years

4.

he became mayor

d.

job

5.

his first official

e.

of the Saudi army

6.

he became leader

f.

born in 1924

7.

Abdullah changed his

g.

parliament

8.

join the country's

h.

to be king

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, 90, died Friday morning. He was (1) ___________________. He was in hospital (2) ___________________. His brother Salman is the new king. World leaders said kind words. Barack Obama said Abdullah was (3) ___________________ the USA. Obama also said the king (4) ___________________ the Middle East. Britain's Prime Minister said (5) ___________________ Abdullah for his work for peace and for "strengthening understanding (6) ___________________".

King Abdullah (7) ___________________. His early years (8) ___________________ king. In 1961, he became mayor of Mecca - (9) ___________________. In 1963, he became leader of the Saudi army. (10) ___________________ of Saudi Arabia in 2005. Many newspapers say that Abdullah (11) ___________________ slowly. He let women join the country's parliament. The BBC said that the king wanted more Saudi Arabian (12) ___________________ jobs and work.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

SaudiArabia'sKingAbdullah,90,diedFridaymorning.Hewastheworld'
soldestleader.Hewasinhospitalafewweeksago.HisbrotherSalmanist
henewking.Worldleaderssaidkindwords.BarackObamasaidAbdullah
wasagoodfriendoftheUSA.Obamaalsosaidthekingworkedforpeacein
theMiddleEast.Britain'sPrimeMinistersaidpeoplewillrememberAbdul
lahforhisworkforpeaceandfor"strengtheningunderstandingbetween
faiths".KingAbdullahwasbornin1924.Hisearlyyearspreparedhimtob
eking.In1961,hebecamemayorofMecca-hisfirstofficialjob.In1963,h
ebecameleaderoftheSaudiarmy.HebecameKingofSaudiArabiain200
5.ManynewspaperssaythatAbdullahchangedhiscountryslowly.Helet
womenjointhecountry'sparliament.TheBBCsaidthatthekingwanted
moreSaudiArabianwomentofindjobsandwork.

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 King Abdullah 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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