The Reading / Listening - God - Level 3

The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has made people angry. He said he would resign if anyone can prove that God exists. President Duterte has a history of upsetting people with his religious beliefs. He recently made many people in his largely Roman Catholic country angry by calling God stupid. On Friday, he questioned the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. In particular, he challenged what the Church says about sin. He asked why sin can only be removed from children by paying money to the Church. He said: "Where is the logic of God there?" The 73-year-old leader said that he wanted "one single witness" who has a picture or a selfie that a human was "able to talk to and see God".

Opponents of the president hit back at him by calling him "one evil man". Senator Antonio Trillanes said the president's comments showed that Mr Duterte lied, had no heart and was a ruthless leader. Despite his comments, President Duterte said he did believe in God. He said: "There is a universal mind somewhere which controls the universe." Duterte is very popular in the Philippines for his policies on drugs and crime. He has spent the past few years fighting a war on drugs in which hundreds of people have been killed. He also appeared at an event in which customs officials crushed illegally imported luxury cars. He has agreed to meet religious leaders at a meeting on Monday to ease tensions.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    God - Level 0 God - Level 1   or  God - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/07/07/philippines-duterte-vows-to-resign-if-anybody-can-prove-god-exists.html
  • http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/07/07/Rodrigo-Duterte-Christian-God-exists-resign.html
  • https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/07/1831416/duterte-show-me-proof-god-exists-and-ill-resign


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. GOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about God. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       president / angry / God / religious belief / stupid / sin / logic / witness / picture / selfie
       opponents / evil / ruthless / universe / popular / crime / drugs / luxury cars / meeting
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EXISTS: Students A strongly believe people can prove that God exists; Students B strongly believe they can't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. RELIGION: What do you know and want to know about these different religions? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I know

What I want to know

Buddhism

 

 

Christianity

 

 

Hinduism

 

 

Islam

 

 

Judaism

 

 

Sikhism

 

 

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

5. ANGRY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "angry". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SEVEN DEADLY SINS: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst sins at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • lust
  • gluttony
  • greed
  • sloth
  • wrath
  • envy
  • pride
  • your idea _______

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. resign a. Lives; is found, especially in a particular place or situation.
      2. exists b. Things you are sure are true.
      3. upsetting c. Voluntarily leave a job or other position.
      4. beliefs d. A bad action that goes against what God sees is good.
      5. principles e. Rules or beliefs that control a person's or an organization's behavior.
      6. sin f. A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place.
      7. witness g. Making someone/people unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

    Paragraph 2

      8. opponents h. Stress and difficult relations between people.
      9. evil i. Actions and plans made and used by a government, party, business, or person.
      10. ruthless j. Came into sight; become visible or noticeable.
      11. policies k. Someone who competes against or fights another in a contest, game, or argument.
      12. appeared l. One hundred per cent bad.
      13. crushed m. Squeezed and pressed until it becomes flat or almost flat.
      14. tensions n. Having or showing no pity or compassion for others.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. President Duterte will resign next month.     T / F
  2. President Duterte often upsets people when talking about religion.     T / F
  3. The president asked questions about the Catholic Church.     T / F
  4. The president asked about the church's logic regarding sin.     T / F
  5. An opponent of the president called him the devil.     T / F
  6. President Duterte said he believed in God.     T / F
  7. President Duterte said nothing controls the universe.     T / F
  8. President Duterte has refused to meet religious leaders.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. resign
  2. prove
  3. beliefs
  4. principles
  5. logic
  6. opponents
  7. ruthless
  8. popular
  9. appeared
  10. tensions
  1. hard-hearted
  2. truths
  3. arrived
  4. show
  5. rivals
  6. ill feeling
  7. quit
  8. reason
  9. well-liked
  10. views

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Duterte has made
  2. Duterte has a history of
  3. he questioned the principles of the
  4. he challenged what the Church
  5. a human was able to talk
  6. Opponents of the president hit
  7. a ruthless
  8. his policies on
  9. illegally imported
  10. to ease
  1. Roman Catholic Church
  2. leader
  3. luxury cars
  4. upsetting people
  5. back at him
  6. people angry
  7. tensions
  8. says about sin
  9. drugs and crime
  10. to and see God

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
paying
history
stupid
witness
resign
logic
challenged
recently

The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has made people angry. He said he would (1) ____________ if anyone can prove that God exists. President Duterte has a (2) ____________ of upsetting people with his religious beliefs. He (3) ____________ made many people in his largely Roman Catholic country angry by calling God (4) ____________. On Friday, he questioned the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. In particular, he (5) ____________ what the Church says about sin. He asked why sin can only be removed from children by (6) ____________ money to the Church. He said: "Where is the (7) ____________ of God there?" The 73-year-old leader said that he wanted "one single (8) ____________ " who has a picture or a selfie that a human was "able to talk to and see God".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
believe
officials
comments
policies
tensions
evil
fighting
universe

Opponents of the president hit back at him by calling him "one (9) ____________ man". Senator Antonio Trillanes said the president's (10) ____________ showed that Mr Duterte lied, had no heart and was a ruthless leader. Despite his comments, President Duterte said he did (11) ____________ in God. He said: "There is a universal mind somewhere which controls the (12) ____________." Duterte is very popular in the Philippines for his (13) ____________ on drugs and crime. He has spent the past few years (14) ____________ a war on drugs in which hundreds of people have been killed. He also appeared at an event in which customs (15) ____________ crushed illegally imported luxury cars. He has agreed to meet religious leaders at a meeting on Monday to ease (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has ______
     a.  made people angrily
     b.  made people angry
     c.  made people angered
     d.  made people angers
2)  President Duterte has a history of upsetting people with his ______
     a.  religious believes
     b.  religious beliefs
     c.  religiously beliefs
     d.  religiously believes
3)  In particular, he challenged what the Church ______
     a.  says about sin
     b.  says about thin
     c.  says about thing
     d.  says about things
4) Where is the logic of God there? The 73-year-old leader said that he wanted ______
     a.  won single witness
     b.  won singles witnesses
     c.  one single witness
     d.  one single witnesses
5)  who has a picture or a selfie that a human was "able to talk to ______"
     a.  and sea God
     b.  and seeing God
     c.  and seen God
     d.  and see God

6)  Opponents of the president hit back at him by calling him "______"
     a.  one evil men
     b.  one devil man
     c.  one evil man
     d.  won devil man
7)  the president's comments showed that Mr Duterte lied, had no heart and ______ leader
     a.  was a toothless
     b.  was a useless
     c.  was a ruthless
     d.  was a roofless
8)  He said: "There is a universal mind somewhere which ______ universe."
     a.  controls that
     b.  controls this
     c.  control the
     d.  controls the
9)  He also appeared at an event in which customs officials crushed illegally ______ cars
     a.  import it luxury
     b.  imported luxuries
     c.  in port it luxury
     d.  imported luxury
10)  He has agreed to meet religious leaders at a meeting on Monday ______
     a.  to ease tensions
     b.  to wheeze tensions
     c.  two easy tensions
     d.  tweeze tensions

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, (1) ___________________ angry. He said he would resign if anyone can prove that God exists. President Duterte has (2) ___________________ upsetting people with his religious beliefs. He recently made many people in his largely Roman Catholic (3) ___________________ calling God stupid. On Friday, he questioned the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. In particular, (4) ___________________ the Church says about sin. He asked why sin can only be removed from children by paying money to the Church. He said: "Where is (5) ___________________ God there?" The 73-year-old leader said that he wanted "one single witness" who has a picture or a selfie (6) ___________________ was "able to talk to and see God".

Opponents of the president (7) ___________________ him by calling him "one evil man". Senator Antonio Trillanes said the president's comments showed that Mr Duterte lied, (8) ___________________ and was a ruthless leader. Despite his comments, President Duterte said he did believe in God. He said: "There is (9) ___________________ somewhere which controls the universe." Duterte is very popular in the Philippines for his policies on drugs and crime. He has (10) ___________________ few years fighting a war on drugs in which hundreds of people have been killed. He also appeared (11) ___________________ in which customs officials crushed illegally imported luxury cars. He has agreed to meet religious leaders at a meeting on Monday (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say President Duterte has a history of doing?
  2. What did President Duterte recently call God that made people angry?
  3. When did Mr Duterte question the principles of the Catholic Church?
  4. Who did President Duterte say people had to pay to remove sin?
  5. How old is President Duterte?
  6. What kind of man did a senator call President Duterte?
  7. What did President Duterte say he believed in?
  8. What did President Duterte say controlled the universe?
  9. Who crushed illegally imported luxury cars?
  10. What will President Duterte try to ease at a meeting on Monday?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say President Duterte has a history of doing?
a) paying money
b) sinning
c) questioning God
d) upsetting people
2) What did President Duterte recently call God that made people angry?
a) logical
b) stupid
c) great
d) non-existent
3) When did Mr Duterte question the principles of the Catholic Church?
a) on Monday
b) on Saturday
c) on Friday
d) on Sunday
4) Who did President Duterte say people had to pay to remove sin?
a) the Roman Catholic Church
b) a committee
c) the government
d) the department of sin
5) How old is President Duterte?
a) 72
b) 71
c) 73
d) 70

6) What kind of man did a senator call President Duterte?
a) great
b) evil
c) kind
d) sinful
7) What did President Duterte say he believed in?
a) the Church
b) the Philippines
c) himself
d) God
8) What did President Duterte say controlled the universe?
a) a universal mind
b) an unknown force
c) God
d) space energy
9) Who crushed illegally imported luxury cars?
a) carmakers
b) the Church
c) customs officials
d) senators
10) What will President Duterte try to ease at a meeting on Monday?
a) relief
b) tensions
c) pain
d) pressure

Role play

Role  A – Lust
You think lust is the worst sin. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sins aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): greed, sloth or wrath.

Role  B – Greed
You think greed is the worst sin. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sins aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): lust, sloth or wrath.

Role  C – Sloth
You think sloth is the worst sin. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sins aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): greed, lust or wrath.

Role  D – Wrath
You think wrath is the worst sin. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sins aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): greed, sloth or lust.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'prove'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'God'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • hit
    • heart
    • mind
    • policies
    • war
    • agreed
    • resign
    • religious
    • largely
    • challenged
    • why
    • able

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Philippines president to resign if someone proves God exists

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'God'?
    3. Do you believe in God?
    4. How can someone prove that God exists?
    5. What do you think of President Duterte of the Philippines?
    6. Should President Duterte resign?
    7. What do you think of people calling God "stupid"?
    8. What is sin?
    9. What should we do about sin?
    10. What is God?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'resign'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Are people who believe in God good?
    5. What do you think controls the universe?
    6. What did you learn about God when you were younger?
    7. What should leaders do about drugs and crime?
    8. Should religion be a part of a country's laws?
    9. What advice do you have for President Duterte?
    10. What questions would you like to ask God?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has made people (1) ____. He said he would resign if anyone can prove that God exists. President Duterte has a (2) ____ of upsetting people with his religious beliefs. He recently made many people in his largely Roman Catholic country angry (3) ____ calling God stupid. On Friday, he questioned the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. In (4) ____, he challenged what the Church says about sin. He asked why sin can only be removed from children by paying money to the Church. He said: "Where is the logic (5) ____ God there?" The 73-year-old leader said that he wanted "one single witness" who has a picture or a selfie that a human was "(6) ____ to talk to and see God".

    Opponents of the president hit (7) ____ at him by calling him "one evil man". Senator Antonio Trillanes said the president's comments showed that Mr Duterte lied, had no heart and was a (8) ____ leader. Despite his comments, President Duterte said he did believe in God. He said: "There is a universal mind somewhere which controls the universe." Duterte is very (9) ____ in the Philippines for his policies on drugs and crime. He has spent the past few years fighting a war (10) ____ drugs in which hundreds of people have been killed. He also appeared at an event (11) ____ which customs officials crushed illegally imported luxury cars. He has agreed to meet religious leaders at a meeting on Monday to (12) ____ tensions.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     anger     (b)     angry     (c)     angrily     (d)     angered    
    2. (a)     historical     (b)     history     (c)     histories     (d)     historian    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     as     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    4. (a)     peculiar     (b)     particular     (c)     polar     (d)     particle    
    5. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     at    
    6. (a)     ability     (b)     enabling     (c)     able     (d)     abloom    
    7. (a)     forward     (b)     under     (c)     back     (d)     up    
    8. (a)     bless     (b)     unless     (c)     ruthless     (d)     mess    
    9. (a)     populace     (b)     populate     (c)     polar     (d)     popular    
    10. (a)     as     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    11. (a)     in     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     such    
    12. (a)     tease     (b)     please     (c)     ease     (d)     easy

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. his lgieiruos beliefs
    2. the iincrplpes of the Roman Catholic Church
    3. In rctiaulpar, he challenged what the Church says
    4. the oglic of God
    5. he wanted one single itnewss
    6. a picture or a esflie

    Paragraph 2

    1. the president's mcemonts
    2. a htrluses leader
    3. a nieusrval mind
    4. controls the iuevnrse
    5. He also epaaperd at an event
    6. ease estoinns

    Put the text back together

    (...)  sin. He asked why sin can only be removed from children by paying money to the Church. He said: "Where is the
    1  ) The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has made people angry. He said he would resign if anyone can prove
    (...)  Opponents of the president hit back at him by calling him "one evil man". Senator Antonio Trillanes said the
    (...)  that God exists. President Duterte has a history of upsetting people with his religious beliefs. He recently made many
    (...)  logic of God there?" The 73-year-old leader said that he wanted "one single witness" who has a
    (...)  people in his largely Roman Catholic country angry by calling God stupid. On Friday, he questioned the principles
    (...)  of the Roman Catholic Church. In particular, he challenged what the Church says about
    (...)  the universe." Duterte is very popular in the Philippines for his policies on drugs and crime. He has spent
    (...)  his comments, President Duterte said he did believe in God. He said: "There is a universal mind somewhere which controls
    (...)  president's comments showed that Mr Duterte lied, had no heart and was a ruthless leader. Despite
    (...)  the past few years fighting a war on drugs in which hundreds of people have been
    (...)  picture or a selfie that a human was "able to talk to and see God".
    (...)  killed. He also appeared at an event in which customs officials crushed illegally imported luxury
    (...)  cars. He has agreed to meet religious leaders at a meeting on Monday to ease tensions.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. that   If   can   prove   anyone   God   exists   .
    2. of   Duterte   history   a   has   upsetting   people   .
    3. made   He   people   angry   .   his   in   country   recently
    4. what   He   says   about   Church   challenged   the   sin   .
    5. single   a   who   One   has   witness   picture   or   selfie   .
    6. of   hit   president   the   back   Opponents   at   him   .
    7. universal   somewhere   A   controls   which   mind   the   universe   .
    8. the   spent   He   past   has   years   few   fighting   .
    9. crushed   Customs   imported   illegally   officials   luxury   cars   .
    10. religious   meet   Agreed   leaders   to   a   at   meeting   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has made people angrily / angry. He said he would resign if anyone can proof / prove that God exists. President Duterte has a history of upsetting people with his religiously / religious beliefs. He recently made many people / persons in his largely Roman Catholic country angry as / by calling God stupid. On Friday, he questioned the principles / principals of the Roman Catholic Church. In particular, he challenged / challenge what the Church says about sin. He asked why sin can only be removal / removed from children by paying money to the Church. He said: "Where is the logic of God there?" The 73-year-old leader said that they / he wanted "one single witness" who has a picture or / of a selfie that a human was "able to talk to and see God".

    Opponents of / for the president hit back at him as / by calling him "one evil man". Senator Antonio Trillanes said the president's comments showing / showed that Mr Duterte lied, had no / any heart and was a ruthless leader. Despite his comments, President Duterte said he did believe in God. He said: "There is a universal minds / mind somewhere which controls the universe." Duterte is very populated / popular in the Philippines for his policies on drugs and crime. He has spent the passed / past few years fighting a war on drugs in which hundreds of people have being / been killed. He also appeared at an event in which customs official / officials crushed illegally imported luxury cars. He has agreed to meet religious leaders at a meeting on Monday to ease / tease tensions.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    T h_ p r_s_d_n t _f t h_ P h_l_p p_n_s , R_d r_g_ D_t_r t_, h_s m_d_ p__ p l_ _n g r y . H_ s__ d h_ w__ l d r_s_g n _f _n y_n_ c_n p r_v_ t h_t G_d _x_s t s . P r_s_d_n t D_t_r t_ h_s _ h_s t_r y _f _p s_t t_n g p__ p l_ w_t h h_s r_l_g___s b_l__ f s . H_ r_c_n t l y m_d_ m_n y p__ p l_ _n h_s l_r g_l y R_m_n C_t h_l_c c__ n t r y _n g r y b y c_l l_n g G_d s t_p_d . O n F r_d_y , h_ q__ s t__ n_d t h_ p r_n c_p l_s _f t h_ R_m_n C_t h_l_c C h_r c h . I n p_r t_c_l_r , h_ c h_l l_n g_d w h_t t h_ C h_r c h s_y s _b__ t s_n . H_ _s k_d w h y s_n c_n _n l y b_ r_m_v_d f r_m c h_l d r_n b y p_y_n g m_n_y t_ t h_ C h_r c h . H_ s__ d : " W h_r_ _s t h_ l_g_c _f G_d t h_r_? " T h_ 7 3 - y__ r -_l d l__ d_r s__ d t h_t h_ w_n t_d "_n_ s_n g l_ w_t n_s s " w h_ h_s _ p_c t_r_ _r _ s_l f__ t h_t _ h_m_n w_s "_b l_ t_ t_l k t_ _n d s__ G_d " .

    O p p_n_n t s _f t h_ p r_s_d_n t h_t b_c k _t h_m b y c_l l_n g h_m "_n_ _v_l m_n " . S_n_t_r A n t_n__ T r_l l_n_s s__ d t h_ p r_s_d_n t ' s c_m m_n t s s h_w_d t h_t M r D_t_r t_ l__ d , h_d n_ h__ r t _n d w_s _ r_t h l_s s l__ d_r . D_s p_t_ h_s c_m m_n t s , P r_s_d_n t D_t_r t_ s__ d h_ d_d b_l__ v_ _n G_d . H_ s__ d : " T h_r_ _s _ _n_v_r s_l m_n d s_m_w h_r_ w h_c h c_n t r_l s t h_ _n_v_r s_. " D_t_r t_ _s v_r y p_p_l_r _n t h_ P h_l_p p_n_s f_r h_s p_l_c__ s _n d r_g s _n d c r_m_. H_ h_s s p_n t t h_ p_s t f_w y__ r s f_g h t_n g _ w_r _n d r_g s _n w h_c h h_n d r_d s _f p__ p l_ h_v_ b__ n k_l l_d . H_ _l s_ _p p__ r_d _t _n _v_n t _n w h_c h c_s t_m s _f f_c__ l s c r_s h_d _l l_g_l l y _m p_r t_d l_x_r y c_r s . H_ h_s _g r__ d t_ m__ t r_l_g___s l__ d_r s _t _ m__ t_n g _n M_n d_y t_ __ s_ t_n s__ n s .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the president of the philippines rodrigo duterte has made people angry he said he would resign if anyone can prove that god exists president duterte has a history of upsetting people with his religious beliefs he recently made many people in his largely roman catholic country angry by calling god stupid on friday he questioned the principles of the roman catholic church in particular he challenged what the church says about sin he asked why sin can only be removed from children by paying money to the church he said where is the logic of god there the 73yearold leader said that he wanted one single witness who has a picture or a selfie that a human was able to talk to and see god

    opponents of the president hit back at him by calling him one evil man senator antonio trillanes said the presidents comments showed that mr duterte lied had no heart and was a ruthless leader despite his comments president duterte said he did believe in god he said there is a universal mind somewhere which controls the universe duterte is very popular in the philippines for his policies on drugs and crime he has spent the past few years fighting a war on drugs in which hundreds of people have been killed he also appeared at an event in which customs officials crushed illegally imported luxury cars he has agreed to meet religious leaders at a meeting on monday to ease tensions.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThepresidentofthePhilippines,RodrigoDuterte,hasmadepeopleangr
    y.HesaidhewouldresignifanyonecanprovethatGodexists.PresidentD
    utertehasahistoryofupsettingpeoplewithhisreligiousbeliefs.Herecen
    tlymademanypeopleinhislargelyRomanCatholiccountryangrybycalli
    ngGodstupid.OnFriday,hequestionedtheprinciplesoftheRomanCath
    olicChurch.Inparticular,hechallengedwhattheChurchsaysaboutsin.
    Heaskedwhysincanonlyberemovedfromchildrenbypayingmoneytot
    heChurch.Hesaid:"WhereisthelogicofGodthere?"The73-year-oldlea
    dersaidthathewanted"onesinglewitness"whohasapictureoraselfieth
    atahumanwas"abletotalktoandseeGod".Opponentsofthepresidenthi
    tbackathimbycallinghim"oneevilman".SenatorAntonioTrillanessaidt
    hepresident'scommentsshowedthatMrDutertelied,hadnoheartandw
    asaruthlessleader.Despitehiscomments,PresidentDutertesaidhedid
    believeinGod.Hesaid:"Thereisauniversalmindsomewherewhichcont
    rolstheuniverse."DuterteisverypopularinthePhilippinesforhispolicie
    sondrugsandcrime.Hehasspentthepastfewyearsfightingawarondru
    gsinwhichhundredsofpeoplehavebeenkilled.Healsoappearedatanev
    entinwhichcustomsofficialscrushedillegallyimportedluxurycars.Heh
    asagreedtomeetreligiousleadersatameetingonMondaytoeasetensio
    ns.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    How can someone prove that God exists?

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. GOD: Make a poster about God. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. EXIST: Write a magazine article about God. Include imaginary interviews with people God exists and with people who believe God doesn't exist.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on God. Ask him/her three questions about God. Give him/her three of your opinions on God. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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