The Reading / Listening - Eid al-Adha - Level 6

Tens of thousands of Muslims in Australia have gathered to pray for rain for Australia's drought-afflicted farmers. The prayers were incorporated into the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Dozens of mosques included prayers for rain in their celebrations for the holy celebration. Eid al-Adha is one of Islam's holiest festivals. It is often referred to as the Festival of Sacrifice and is celebrated by sharing food with family, neighbours, as well as the poor and needy. The biggest gathering was at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque, which was attended by over 30,000 Muslims. An imam of the mosque said: "God will send down rainfall. It is our duty to help Australians, especially the farmers."

Australia is currently undergoing its most devastating drought in living memory. The whole of New South Wales, the country's most populous state, is in drought. A state farmers' spokeswoman, Kathleen Curry, told the ABC news agency how much farmers appreciated the support and thoughts of the Muslim community. She said: "I think it really touched the heart of our farmers during this period." She added: "Every little bit helps." Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently committed $1.3 billion in relief funds for farmers to safeguard their livelihoods The disturbing thing is that it is currently winter in Australia and the hot summer weather is looming and threatening to worsen the situation.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Eid al-Adha - Level 4  or  Eid al-Adha - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-22/muslim-rain-prayer-call-to-end-the-drought-for-farmers/10152076
  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-45267434
  • https://www.sbs.com.au/news/muslim-australians-pray-for-drought-breaking-rain-during-eid-celebrations


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. PRAYER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about prayer. 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?
       thousands / pray / rain / festival / celebration / sacrifice / neighbours / mosque / duty
       currently / devastating / drought / community / farmers / livelihoods / winter / hot
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PRAYING: Students A strongly believe in the power of prayer; Students B strongly don't believe in the power of prayer.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FESTIVALS: What do you know about these festivals? What do you want to know? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Want to Know

Eid

 

 

Ramadan

 

 

Diwali

 

 

Hanukkah

 

 

Easter

 

 

Nirvana

 

 

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. DROUGHT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "drought". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. NATURAL DISASTERS: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst natural disasters at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • avalanche
  • typhoon
  • landslide
  • volcano
  • drought
  • earthquake
  • wildfire
  • flood

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.

gathered

a.

Took in or contained something as part of a whole; included.

2.

drought

b.

Came together; assembled.

3.

afflicted

c.

About a problem or illness that causes pain or suffering to; affected or troubled.

4.

incorporated

d.

An act of giving up something valued for something else regarded as more important or worthy.

5.

referred to

e.

A moral or legal obligation; a responsibility.

6.

sacrifice

f.

A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.

7.

duty

g.

Mentioned or alluded to.

    Paragraph 2

8.

devastating

h.

Assistance, especially in the form of food, clothing, or money, given to those in special need or difficulty.

9.

populous

i.

Of an event regarded as ominous or threatening seem about to happen.

10.

appreciated

j.

Causing anxiety; worrying.

11.

relief

k.

Be grateful for something.

12.

livelihoods

l.

Ways of securing the necessities of life.

13.

disturbing

m.

Highly destructive or damaging.

14.

looming

n.

Having a large population; densely populated.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. One hundred thousand Muslims prayed for rain.     T / F
  2. Ten different mosques in Australia took part in the prayers.     T / F
  3. The article said Muslims share food with the needy during Eid.     T / F
  4. More than 30,000 Muslims prayed at one temple in Sydney.     T / F
  5. The article said Australia's drought is the worst in the country's history.   T / F
  6. New South Wales farmers were appreciative of the Muslims' prayers.     T / F
  7. Australia has allocated $1.3 billion in aid for farmers.     T / F
  8. The article suggested the drought situation will be over soon.     T / F

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

  1. gathered
  2. afflicted
  3. incorporated
  4. duty
  5. especially
  6. currently
  7. devastating
  8. appreciated
  9. relief
  10. looming
  1. valued
  2. included
  3. presently
  4. catastrophic
  5. on the horizon
  6. congregated
  7. aid
  8. particularly
  9. troubled
  10. obligation

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

  1. prayers were incorporated into the
  2. one of Islam's holiest
  3. as well as the poor
  4. An imam of
  5. It is our duty
  6. its most devastating drought in
  7. the country's most
  8. it really touched the heart
  9. Every little
  10. the hot summer weather
  1. living memory
  2. bit helps
  3. the mosque
  4. of our farmers
  5. populous state
  6. Muslim festival
  7. and needy
  8. is looming
  9. to help Australians
  10. festivals

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
needy
included
duty
afflicted
especially
gathered
referred
holiest

Tens of thousands of Muslims in Australia have (1) ____________ to pray for rain for Australia's drought-(2) ____________ farmers. The prayers were incorporated into the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Dozens of mosques (3) ____________ prayers for rain in their celebrations for the holy celebration. Eid al-Adha is one of Islam's (4) ____________ festivals. It is often (5) ____________ to as the Festival of Sacrifice and is celebrated by sharing food with family, neighbours, as well as the poor and (6) ____________. The biggest gathering was at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque, which was attended by over 30,000 Muslims. An imam of the mosque said: "God will send down rainfall. It is our (7) ____________ to help Australians, (8) ____________ the farmers."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
safeguard
populous
touched
disturbing
currently
looming
bit
appreciated

Australia is (9) ____________ undergoing its most devastating drought in living memory. The whole of New South Wales, the country's most (10) ____________ state, is in drought. A state farmers' spokeswoman, Kathleen Curry, told the ABC news agency how much farmers (11) ____________ the support and thoughts of the Muslim community. She said: "I think it really (12) ____________ the heart of our farmers during this period." She added: "Every little (13) ____________ helps." Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently committed $1.3 billion in relief funds for farmers to (14) ____________ their livelihoods. The (15) ____________ thing is that it is currently winter in Australia and the hot summer weather is (16) ____________ and threatening to worsen the situation.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Muslims in Australia have gathered to pray for rain for Australia's ______
     a.  drought-afflicted farmers
     b.  drought-affected farmers
     c.  drought-affliction farmers
     d.  drought-afflict it farmers
2)  The prayers were incorporated into the Muslim ______ al-Adha
     a.  festive all of Eid
     b.  festival off Eid
     c.  festival of Eid
     d.  festive all off Eid
3)  mosques included prayers for rain in their celebrations ______ celebration
     a.  for the holly
     b.  four a holy
     c.  fore the holy
     d.  for the holy
4)  celebrated by sharing food with family, neighbours, as well as the ______
     a.  poor end need he
     b.  paw and needy
     c.  paw end needy
     d.  poor and needy
5)  It is our duty to help Australians, ______ farmers
     a.  especially a
     b.  especially the
     c.  especially them
     d.  especially they

6)  Australia is currently undergoing its most devastating ______ memory
     a.  drought in live in
     b.  drought in liven
     c.  drought in living
     d.  drought in live on
7)  The whole of New South Wales, the country's most ______, is in drought
     a.  populous state
     b.  populace state
     c.  pop you lass state
     d.  pop Yule as state
8) Curry told the ABC news agency how much farmers ______ support
     a.  depreciate it the
     b.  appreciated the
     c.  appreciated a
     d.  depreciated the
9)  I think it really touched the heart of our farmers ______
     a.  during his period
     b.  during this period
     c.  enduring this period
     d.  during these period
10) it is currently winter in Australia and the hot summer ______
     a.  weather is looming
     b.  weather is loom in
     c.  weather is blooming
     d.  weather is gloomy

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Tens (1) ___________________ Muslims in Australia have gathered to pray for rain for Australia's (2) ___________________. The prayers were incorporated into the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Dozens of mosques included prayers for rain in their celebrations (3) ___________________ celebration. Eid al-Adha is one of Islam's holiest festivals. It is often referred to as the Festival of Sacrifice and is celebrated by (4) ___________________ family, neighbours, as well as the poor and needy. The biggest gathering was at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque, which (5) ___________________ over 30,000 Muslims. An imam of the mosque said: "God will send down rainfall. It is (6) ___________________ help Australians, especially the farmers."

Australia is currently undergoing its most devastating drought (7) ___________________. The whole of New South Wales, the country's most populous state, (8) ___________________. A state farmers' spokeswoman, Kathleen Curry, told the ABC news agency how much farmers appreciated the (9) ___________________ of the Muslim community. She said: "I think it really touched the heart of our farmers (10) ___________________." She added: "Every little bit helps." Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently committed $1.3 billion (11) ___________________ for farmers to safeguard their livelihoods. The disturbing thing is that it is currently winter in Australia and the hot summer weather (12) ___________________ threatening to worsen the situation.

Comprehension questions

  1. How many Muslims gathered in Australia to pray for rain?
  2. How many mosques took part in the prayers for rain?
  3. What is Eid al-Adha also known as?
  4. How many Muslims attended a mosque in Sydney?
  5. What did an imam say God would send down?
  6. What Australian state was mentioned in the article?
  7. What news agency did a farmers' spokesperson talk to?
  8. What did a farmers' spokeswoman say the prayers touched in farmers?
  9. How much aid money has Australia's government set aside for farmers?
  10. What did the article say was looming?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many Muslims gathered in Australia to pray for rain?
a) hundreds of thousands
b) millions
c) tens of thousands
d) thousands
2) How many mosques took part in the prayers for rain?
a) dozens
b) half-a-dozen
c) hundreds
d) 61
3) What is Eid al-Adha also known as?
a) Festival of Sacrifice
b) Festival of Giving
c) Festival of Food
d) Festival of the Needy
4) How many Muslims attended a mosque in Sydney?
a) around 30,000
b) over 30,000
c) just under 30,000
d) exactly 30,000
5) What did an imam say God would send down?
a) clouds
b) good news
c) a message
d) rainfall

6) What Australian state was mentioned in the article?
a) Victoria
b) New South Wales
c) South Australia
d) Queensland
7) What news agency did a farmers' spokesperson talk to?
a) ABC
b) BBC
c) CBC
d) DCB
8) What did a farmers' spokeswoman say the prayers touched in farmers?
a) their minds
b) their land
c) their heart
d) their wallet
9) How much aid money has Australia's government set aside for farmers?
a) $1.1 billion
b) $1.8 billion
c) $1.2 billion
d) $1.3 billion
10) What did the article say was looming?
a) hot summer weather
b) wool
c) clouds
d) a bumper harvest

Role play

Role  A – Droughts
You think droughts are the worst natural disasters. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their disasters aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): earthquakes, floods or typhoons.

Role  B – Earthquakes
You think earthquakes are the worst natural disasters. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their disasters aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): droughts, floods or typhoons.

Role  C – Floods
You think floods are the worst natural disasters. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their disasters aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): earthquakes, droughts or typhoons.

Role  D – Typhoons
You think typhoons are the worst natural disasters. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their disasters aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): earthquakes, floods or droughts.

After reading / listening

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

'pray'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'rain'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • most
    • state
    • support
    • during
    • relief
    • hot
    • tens
    • festival
    • festivals
    • poor
    • over
    • duty

    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 - Australian Muslims pray for rain during Eid

    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 'pray'?
    3. What do you know about the Muslim festival of Eid?
    4. What do you think of prayer?
    5. Why do you think drought is affecting Australia so much?
    6. What does drought do for a country?
    7. What holy festivals do you celebrate?
    8. What sacrifices in life do you make?
    9. What do you do to help the poor and needy?
    10. How great is it tens of thousands of Muslims are praying for rain?

    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 'rain'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about the drought in Australia?
    5. Have any of your prayers ever been answered?
    6. What is the worst weather that you have experienced?
    7. Who in the world needs our prayers?
    8. What are the difficulties of being a farmer?
    9. What more can Australia's government do in the drought?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Australian farmers?

    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)

    Tens of thousands of Muslims in Australia have (1) ____ to pray for rain for Australia's drought-afflicted farmers. The prayers were (2) ____ into the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Dozens of mosques included prayers for rain in their celebrations for the (3) ____ celebration. Eid al-Adha is one of Islam's holiest festivals. It is often referred to as the Festival of Sacrifice and is celebrated by (4) ____ food with family, neighbours, as well as the poor and (5) ____. The biggest gathering was at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque, which was attended by over 30,000 Muslims. An imam of the mosque said: "God will send down rainfall. It is our (6) ____ to help Australians, especially the farmers."

    Australia is currently undergoing its most devastating drought (7) ____ living memory. The whole of New South Wales, the country's most (8) ____ state, is in drought. A state farmers' spokeswoman, Kathleen Curry, told the ABC news agency how much farmers appreciated the support and (9) ____ of the Muslim community. She said: "I think it really touched the heart of our farmers during this period." She added: "Every little (10) ____ helps." Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently committed $1.3 billion in (11) ____ funds for farmers to safeguard their livelihoods. The disturbing thing is that it is currently winter in Australia and the hot summer weather is (12) ____ and threatening to worsen the situation.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     gathering     (b)     gathers     (c)     gathered     (d)     gather    
    2. (a)     incorporated     (b)     incorporate     (c)     incorporates     (d)     incorporation    
    3. (a)     holy     (b)     wholly     (c)     holistic     (d)     holing    
    4. (a)     sharing     (b)     shares     (c)     shared     (d)     share    
    5. (a)     nerdy     (b)     needy     (c)     needing     (d)     needed    
    6. (a)     jury     (b)     duly     (c)     booty     (d)     duty    
    7. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     populace     (b)     populate     (c)     population     (d)     populous    
    9. (a)     thoughts     (b)     things     (c)     thoughtless     (d)     thoughtful    
    10. (a)     bit     (b)     bite     (c)     byte     (d)     bits    
    11. (a)     belief     (b)     relief     (c)     devil     (d)     reef    
    12. (a)     grooming     (b)     looming     (c)     blooming     (d)     booming

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Australia's gdtohru-afflicted farmers
    2. rocrtnoadeip into the Muslim festival
    3. one of Islam's olishte festivals
    4. ecbtraelde by sharing food
    5. ttdenead by over 30,000 Muslims
    6. elieycapsl the farmers

    Paragraph 2

    1. its most ivdaasntgte
    2. the country's most upupsool state
    3. farmers pterdapcaei the support
    4. the Muslim ontymimuc
    5. safeguard their esidhlviolo
    6. threatening to enwors the situation

    Put the text back together

    1  ) Tens of thousands of Muslims in Australia have gathered to pray for rain for Australia's drought-afflicted
    (...)  funds for farmers to safeguard their livelihoods. The disturbing thing is that it is currently winter
    (...)  festivals. It is often referred to as the Festival of Sacrifice and is celebrated by sharing food
    (...)  in Australia and the hot summer weather is looming and threatening to worsen the situation.
    (...)  said: "God will send down rainfall. It is our duty to help Australians, especially the farmers."
    (...)  bit helps." Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently committed $1.3 billion in relief
    (...)  agency how much farmers appreciated the support and thoughts of the Muslim
    (...)  Australia is currently undergoing its most devastating drought in living memory. The whole of New South Wales, the country's most
    (...)  with family, neighbours, as well as the poor and needy. The biggest gathering was at
    (...)  Sydney's Lakemba Mosque, which was attended by over 30,000 Muslims. An imam of the mosque
    (...)  of mosques included prayers for rain in their celebrations for the holy celebration. Eid al-Adha is one of Islam's holiest
    (...)  populous state, is in drought. A state farmers' spokeswoman, Kathleen Curry, told the ABC news
    (...)  farmers. The prayers were incorporated into the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Dozens
    (...)  community. She said: "I think it really touched the heart of our farmers during this period." She added: "Every little

    Put the words in the right order

    1. for   Australia's   drought-afflicted   farmers   .   for   Pray   rain
    2. prayers   Muslim   into   were   incorporated   the   The   festival   .
    3. rain   .   included   of   mosques   prayers   for   Dozens
    4. to   Sacrifice   .   as   the   Festival   of   Referred
    5. farmers   .   It's   Australians,   help   especially   to   our   duty
    6. its   Undergoing   memory   .   most   in   living   devastating   drought
    7. is   most   in   drought   .   country's   state   The   populous
    8. community   .   Farmers   support   the   the   of   Muslim   appreciated
    9. our   farmers   .   touched   It   the   heart   really   of
    10. situation   .   worsen   is   threatening   Summer   weather   to   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Tens of / for thousands of Muslims in Australia have gathered to / for pray for rain for Australia's drought-afflicted farmers. The prayers were incorporated onto / into the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Dozens of mosques included prayers to / for rain in their celebrations for the holy celebratory / celebration. Eid al-Adha is one of Islam's holiest festivals. It is often referred / refers to as the Festival of Sacrifice and is celebrated at / by sharing food with family, neighbours, as well as the poor and needy / needed. The biggest gathering was at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque, which was attention / attended by over 30,000 Muslims. An imam of the mosque said: "God will send down rainfall. It is our duty / duly to help Australians, especially the farmers."

    Australia is currently / currency undergoing its most devastating drought in living memorial / memory. The whole of New South Wales, the country's most populous / population state, is in drought. A state farmers' spokeswoman, Kathleen Curry, told the ABC news agency how much farmers appreciated the supports / support and thoughts of the Muslim community. She said: "I think it real / really touched the heart of our farmers during this period." She added: "Every little bit / bite helps." Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recent / recently committed $1.3 billion in / on relief funds for farmers to safeguard their livelihoods. The disturbance / disturbing thing is that it is currently winter in Australia and the hot summer weather is looming and threatening to worse / worsen the situation.

    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_n s _f t h__ s_n d s _f M_s l_m s _n A_s t r_l__ h_v_ g_t h_r_d t_ p r_y f_r r__ n f_r A_s t r_l__ ' s d r__ g h t -_f f l_c t_d f_r m_r s . T h_ p r_y_r s w_r_ _n c_r p_r_t_d _n t_ t h_ M_s l_m f_s t_v_l _f E_d _l - A d h_. D_z_n s _f m_s q__ s _n c l_d_d p r_y_r s f_r r__ n _n t h__ r c_l_b r_t__ n s f_r t h_ h_l y c_l_b r_t__ n . E_d _l - A d h_ _s _n_ _f I s l_m ' s h_l__ s t f_s t_v_l s . I t _s _f t_n r_f_r r_d t_ _s t h_ F_s t_v_l _f S_c r_f_c_ _n d _s c_l_b r_t_d b y s h_r_n g f__ d w_t h f_m_l y , n__ g h b__ r s , _s w_l l _s t h_ p__ r _n d n__ d y . T h_ b_g g_s t g_t h_r_n g w_s _t S y d n_y ' s L_k_m b_ M_s q__ , w h_c h w_s _t t_n d_d b y _v_r 3 0 , 0 0 0 M_s l_m s . A n _m_m _f t h_ m_s q__ s__ d : " G_d w_l l s_n d d_w n r__ n f_l l . I t _s __ r d_t y t_ h_l p A_s t r_l__ n s , _s p_c__ l l y t h_ f_r m_r s . "

    A_s t r_l__ _s c_r r_n t l y _n d_r g__ n g _t s m_s t d_v_s t_t_n g d r__ g h t _n l_v_n g m_m_r y . T h_ w h_l_ _f N_w S__ t h W_l_s , t h_ c__ n t r y ' s m_s t p_p_l__ s s t_t_, _s _n d r__ g h t . A s t_t_ f_r m_r s ' s p_k_s w_m_n , K_t h l__ n C_r r y , t_l d t h_ A B C n_w s _g_n c y h_w m_c h f_r m_r s _p p r_c__ t_d t h_ s_p p_r t _n d t h__ g h t s _f t h_ M_s l_m c_m m_n_t y . S h_ s__ d : " I t h_n k _t r__ l l y t__ c h_d t h_ h__ r t _f __ r f_r m_r s d_r_n g t h_s p_r__ d . " S h_ _d d_d : " E v_r y l_t t l_ b_t h_l p s . " A_s t r_l__ n P r_m_ M_n_s t_r M_l c_l m T_r n b_l l r_c_n t l y c_m m_t t_d $ 1 . 3 b_l l__ n _n r_l__ f f_n d s f_r f_r m_r s t_ s_f_g__ r d t h__ r l_v_l_h__ d s . T h_ d_s t_r b_n g t h_n g _s t h_t _t _s c_r r_n t l y w_n t_r _n A_s t r_l__ _n d t h_ h_t s_m m_r w__ t h_r _s l__ m_n g _n d t h r__ t_n_n g t_ w_r s_n t h_ s_t__ t__ n .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    tens of thousands of muslims in australia have gathered to pray for rain for australias drought afflicted farmers the prayers were incorporated into the muslim festival of eid al adha dozens of mosques included prayers for rain in their celebrations for the holy celebration eid al adha is one of islams holiest festivals it is often referred to as the festival of sacrifice and is celebrated by sharing food with family neighbours as well as the poor and needy the biggest gathering was at sydneys lakemba mosque which was attended by over 30000 muslims an imam of the mosque said god will send down rainfall it is our duty to help australians especially the farmers

    australia is currently undergoing its most devastating drought in living memory the whole of new south wales the countrys most populous state is in drought a state farmers spokeswoman kathleen curry told the abc news agency how much farmers appreciated the support and thoughts of the muslim community she said i think it really touched the heart of our farmers during this period she added every little bit helps australian prime minister malcolm turnbull recently committed 13 billion in relief funds for farmers to safeguard their livelihoods the disturbing thing is that it is currently winter in australia and the hot summer weather is looming and threatening to worsen the situation.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TensofthousandsofMuslimsinAustraliahavegatheredtoprayforrainfo
    rAustralia'sdrought-afflictedfarmers.Theprayerswereincorporatedi
    ntotheMuslimfestivalofEidal-Adha.Dozensofmosquesincludedpraye
    rsforrainintheircelebrationsfortheholycelebration.Eidal-Adhaisoneo
    fIslam'sholiestfestivals.ItisoftenreferredtoastheFestivalofSacrificea
    ndiscelebratedbysharingfoodwithfamily,neighbours,aswellasthepo
    orandneedy.ThebiggestgatheringwasatSydney'sLakembaMosque,
    whichwasattendedbyover30,000Muslims.Animamofthemosquesaid
    :"Godwillsenddownrainfall.ItisourdutytohelpAustralians,especiallyt
    hefarmers."Australiaiscurrentlyundergoingitsmostdevastatingdrou
    ghtinlivingmemory.ThewholeofNewSouthWales,thecountry'smostp
    opulousstate,isindrought.Astatefarmers'spokeswoman,KathleenCu
    rry,toldtheABCnewsagencyhowmuchfarmersappreciatedthesuppor
    tandthoughtsoftheMuslimcommunity.Shesaid:"Ithinkitreallytouche
    dtheheartofourfarmersduringthisperiod."Sheadded:"Everylittlebith
    elps."AustralianPrimeMinisterMalcolmTurnbullrecentlycommitted$
    1.3billioninrelieffundsforfarmerstosafeguardtheirlivelihoodsThedist
    urbingthingisthatitiscurrentlywinterinAustraliaandthehotsummerw
    eatherisloomingandthreateningtoworsenthesituation.

    Free writing

    Write about Eid al-Adha for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Does the power of prayer work? What have you prayed for?

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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. DROUGHTS: Make a poster about droughts. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. PRAYER: Write a magazine article about the power of prayer. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 droughts. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to survive droughts. 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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