The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Turkish police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against protestors outside the offices of a national newspaper. The demonstrators were protesting against the takeover of a newspaper by Turkey's government. Authorities seized control of the company that owns Turkey's best-selling newspaper Zaman. It once supported President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became a fierce critic. Authorities say Zaman has links to a US-based Muslim cleric, who the government says plotted a coup to oust President Erdogan. Commentators say it is a blow for freedom in Turkey.

The takeover of Zaman has sparked concerns in Europe about Turkey joining the European Union. An EU spokesperson said it threatened recent progress made by Turkey. Germany's foreign affairs committee said, "the violent action against a critical newspaper" and "the fact that the government takes over the whole paper is a severe blow…against the freedom of press". The editor-in-chief of Zaman's English newspaper said: "Our [final] headline is about us again, and that should give an idea about the kind of democracy in the country. There's no rule of law left in Turkey."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1654121/paper-takeover-protesters-tear-gassed-in-turkey
  • http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-turkey-zaman-newspaper-takeover-20160305-story.html
  • http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/police-disperse-supporters-of-zaman-media-group.aspx?pageID=238&nid=96076


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.

police used tear

a.

oust President Erdogan

2.

rubber

b.

control

3.

Authorities seized

c.

critic

4.

Turkey's best-

d.

freedom in Turkey

5.

a fierce

e.

gas

6.

has links to a US-

f.

bullets

7.

plotted a coup to

g.

based Muslim cleric

8.

a blow for

h.

selling newspaper



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.

The takeover of Zaman has

a.

made by Turkey

2.

it threatened recent progress

b.

action

3.

foreign

c.

democracy

4.

violent

d.

sparked concerns

5.

the government takes

e.

chief

6.

editor-in-

f.

of law left

7.

give an idea about the kind of

g.

over the whole paper

8.

There's no rule

h.

affairs

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Turkish police (1) ___________________, rubber bullets and water cannon against protestors (2) ___________________ of a national newspaper. The demonstrators were protesting against (3) ___________________ a newspaper by Turkey's government. Authorities seized control of the company that owns Turkey's (4) ___________________ Zaman. It once supported President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then (5) ___________________. Authorities say Zaman has links to a US-based Muslim cleric, who the government says plotted a coup to oust President Erdogan. Commentators say (6) ___________________ freedom in Turkey.

The takeover of Zaman has (7) ___________________ in Europe about Turkey joining the European Union. An EU spokesperson said it threatened recent (8) ___________________ Turkey. Germany's foreign affairs committee said, "the violent (9) ___________________ critical newspaper" and "the fact that the government (10) ___________________ paper is a severe blow…against the freedom of press". The editor-in-chief of Zaman's English newspaper said: "Our [final] headline (11) ___________________, and that should give an idea about the kind of democracy in the country. There's (12) ___________________ left in Turkey."

NEWSPAPERS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about newspapers 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 newspapers for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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