The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Police in Belgium have arrested two people suspected of planning terror attacks on New Year's Eve. Police initially made six arrests but released four people. Investigators found military clothing and Islamic State propaganda, but no weapons or explosives. They said: "Our investigation revealed serious threats of an attack on symbolic places in Brussels during the celebrations for New Year's Eve." The two suspects were arrested following searches in Brussels and across Belgium. The police did not say whether the suspects were male or female, nor if they were looking for other suspects.

The arrests are not linked to the November Paris attacks in which 130 people died. Brussels has been on high alert since Paris. In the wake of those attacks, schools, universities and the Metro were shut in Brussels for several days. The city was put on the highest state of alert as authorities warned of a "serious and imminent" threat. Brussels has been at the centre of investigations into the Paris attacks after it emerged that two of the suicide bombers had lived in Belgium. Other major European cities are also on alert. Police are warning citizens to be vigilant.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1613679/two-held-over-brussels-new-years-terror-plot
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35192511
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/two-people-with-isis-propaganda-7085757


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.

two people suspected of

a.

for New Year's Eve

2.

military

b.

following searches

3.

Our investigation revealed serious

c.

planning terror attacks

4.

an attack on symbolic

d.

other suspects

5.

during the celebrations

e.

clothing

6.

The two suspects were arrested

f.

not say

7.

The police did

g.

places

8.

looking for

h.

threats



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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

The arrests are not linked to the November

a.

state of alert

2.

In the wake

b.

are also on alert

3.

The city was put on the highest

c.

Paris attacks

4.

a serious and

d.

to be vigilant

5.

at the centre of

e.

bombers

6.

suicide

f.

of those attacks

7.

Other major European cities

g.

investigations

8.

Police are warning citizens

h.

imminent threat

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Police in Belgium (1) ___________________ people suspected of planning terror attacks on New Year's Eve. Police (2) ___________________ arrests but released four people. Investigators found military clothing and Islamic State propaganda, but no (3) ___________________. They said: "Our investigation revealed (4) ___________________ an attack on symbolic places in Brussels during the celebrations for New Year's Eve." The two suspects were arrested (5) ___________________ in Brussels and across Belgium. The police did not say whether the suspects were male or female, nor if they (6) ___________________ other suspects.

The arrests (7) ___________________ to the November Paris attacks in which 130 people died. Brussels has been (8) ___________________ since Paris. In the wake of those attacks, schools, universities and the Metro were shut in Brussels (9) ___________________. The city was put on the highest state of alert as authorities warned of a "serious and imminent" threat. Brussels has been (10) ___________________ investigations into the Paris attacks after it emerged (11) ___________________ suicide bombers had lived in Belgium. Other major European cities are also on alert. Police are warning citizens (12) ___________________.

TERROR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about terror in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

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)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about terror for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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