The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, 90, died early Friday morning. He was the world's oldest leader. He was in hospital a few weeks ago with an infection. His 79-year-old brother Salman is the new king. World leaders have paid their respects. US President Barack Obama talked about the king. He said he was a good friend of the USA. Obama also said the king worked for peace and stability in the Middle East. The British Prime Minister David Cameron said people will remember Abdullah for his "commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths".

King Abdullah was born in 1924. He was the son of former King Abdulaziz. He grew up in palaces and worked in positions that prepared him to be king. In 1961, he became mayor of Mecca - his first official job. In 1963, he became commander of the Saudi army. He became King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in 2005. Many newspapers are writing that Abdullah reformed his country slowly. He let women join the country's parliament. The BBC said that the king "hinted" that more Saudi Arabian women could go to work.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   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.

stability in the Middle East

2.

He was in hospital a

b.

remember Abdullah

3.

World leaders have

c.

oldest leader

4.

he was a good

d.

faiths

5.

the king worked for peace and

e.

paid their respects

6.

people will

f.

to peace

7.

his commitment

g.

few weeks ago

8.

strengthening understanding between

h.

friend of the USA


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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 born

a.

of the Saudi army

2.

He was the son of

b.

job

3.

positions that prepared

c.

country's parliament

4.

he became mayor

d.

former King Abdulaziz

5.

his first official

e.

his country

6.

commander

f.

in 1924

7.

Abdullah reformed

g.

of Mecca

8.

He let women join the

h.

him to be king

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, (1) ___________________ Friday morning. He was the world's oldest leader. He was in hospital a few weeks ago (2) ___________________. His 79-year-old brother Salman is the new king. World leaders have (3) ___________________. US President Barack Obama talked about the king. He said he was a good friend of the USA. Obama also said the king worked for (4) ___________________ in the Middle East. The British Prime Minister David Cameron (5) ___________________ remember Abdullah for his "commitment to peace and for strengthening (6) ___________________".

King Abdullah was born in 1924. He was (7) ___________________ King Abdulaziz. He (8) ___________________ and worked in positions that prepared him to be king. In 1961, he became mayor of Mecca - his (9) ___________________. In 1963, he became (10) ___________________ Saudi army. He became King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in 2005. Many newspapers are writing that Abdullah (11) ___________________ slowly. He let women join the country's parliament. The BBC said that the (12) ___________________ more Saudi Arabian women could go to work.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

SaudiArabia'sKingAbdullah,90,diedearlyFridaymorning.Hewasthew
orld'soldestleader.Hewasinhospitalafewweeksagowithaninfection.H
is79-year-oldbrotherSalmanisthenewking.Worldleadershavepaidth
eirrespects.USPresidentBarackObamatalkedabouttheking.Hesaidh
ewasagoodfriendoftheUSA.Obamaalsosaidthekingworkedforpeace
andstabilityintheMiddleEast.TheBritishPrimeMinisterDavidCameron
saidpeoplewillrememberAbdullahforhis"commitmenttopeaceandfor
strengtheningunderstandingbetweenfaiths".KingAbdullahwasborni
n1924.HewasthesonofformerKingAbdulaziz.Hegrewupinpalacesan
dworkedinpositionsthatpreparedhimtobeking.In1961,hebecamem
ayorofMecca-hisfirstofficialjob.In1963,hebecamecommanderofth
eSaudiarmy.HebecameKingofSaudiArabiaandCustodianoftheTwoH
olyMosquesin2005.ManynewspapersarewritingthatAbdullahreform
edhiscountryslowly.Heletwomenjointhecountry'sparliament.TheBB
Csaidthattheking"hinted"thatmoreSaudiArabianwomencouldgotow
ork.

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)

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f)

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g)

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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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