The Reading / Listening - Death Penalty - Level 6

The Malaysian government has stated it intends to abolish the death penalty in a move that has been welcomed by human rights campaigners. Malaysia's Law Minister said: "The death penalty will be abolished. Full stop." He added: "Since we are abolishing the sentence, all executions should not be carried out." There are currently over 1,267 people on death row in Malaysia who are set to win a reprieve. The law minister said prisoners on death row would be released or have their sentences commuted. He said: "When commuted, they would have to face life imprisonment because there had been several deaths that were caused by the offender and so they were sentenced to death."

Malaysia's decision was hailed by Amnesty International. Its Secretary General Kumi Naidoo said: "Malaysia must now join the 106 countries who have turned their backs for good on the ultimate cruel, inhumane, degrading punishment. The world is watching." Mr Naidoo added: "There is no time to waste. The death penalty should have been consigned to the history books long ago. Malaysia's new government has promised to deliver on human rights, and today's announcement is an encouraging sign, but much more needs to be done." There are still 23 countries that retain the death penalty. According to Amnesty International, there were 993 executions recorded worldwide in 2017.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Death Penalty - Level 4  or  Death Penalty - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2168140/malaysian-government-agrees-abolish-death-penalty-move
  • https://www.newsweek.com/malaysia-announces-it-will-abolish-death-penalty-all-crimes-1165110
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/malaysia-abolish-death-penalty-181011083607761.html


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. THE DEATH PENALTY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the death penalty. 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?
       Malaysia / death penalty / abolished / executions / prisoners / sentences / death /
       Amnesty International / ultimate / cruel / inhumane / history books / worldwide
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: Students A strongly believe the death penalty is a good thing; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SENTECES: What are the pros and cons of these punishments? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons
Capital punishment    
Community service    
Fines    
Naming and shaming    
Loss of job / property    
Wearing ID chip    
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. HUMAN RIGHTS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "human rights". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CAMPAIGNERS: Rank these with your partner. Put the campaigners you would support most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Lower taxes
  • Immigration
  • Jobs
  • Gun ownership
  • Human rights
  • Global warming
  • Anti-racism
  • Anti-corruption

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1. intends a. A person or thing that does something wrong, or causes problems.
2. campaigners b. Plans that something happens or functions in a particular way.
3. sentence c. Reduced a court sentence, especially a sentence of death, to one less severe.
4. executions d. A person who actively promotes the goals of a cause.
5. commuted e. The carrying out of a sentence of death.
6. several f. The punishment given for someone found guilty by a court, or fixed by law for a particular offense.
7. offender g. More than two but not many.

    Paragraph 2

8. hailed h. Talked about something enthusiastically.
9. for good i. Continue to have something; keep possession of
10. ultimate j. Forever.
11. cruel k. Giving someone support or confidence; supportive.
12. inhumane l. The best achievable or imaginable of its kind.
13. encouraging m. Willfully causing pain or suffering to others.
14. retain n. Without compassion for misery or suffering.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Human rights campaigners have hailed Malaysia's decision.     T / F
  2. There are over one thousand prisoners on death row in Malaysia.     T / F
  3. Prisoners on death row will now have to serve life sentences.     T / F
  4. The prisoners on death row have killed thousands of people.     T / F
  5. Fewer than 106 countries have abolished the death penalty.     T / F
  6. Amnesty International said this issue should be in a history book.     T / F
  7. There are 23 countries that still have the death penalty.     T / F
  8. Amnesty International said there were over 1,000 executions in 2017.     T / F

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

  1. intend
  2. move
  3. abolishing
  4. released
  5. degrading
  6. for good
  7. offender
  8. consigned
  9. encouraging
  10. worldwide
  1. scrapping
  2. heartening
  3. set free
  4. forever
  5. put
  6. plan
  7. humiliating
  8. globally
  9. action
  10. lawbreaker

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

  1. it intends to
  2. welcomed by
  3. over 1,267 people
  4. have their sentences
  5. they would have to face life
  6. Malaysia's decision was hailed
  7. 106 countries who have turned
  8. There is no time to
  9. today's announcement is
  10. much more needs
  1. waste
  2. commuted
  3. imprisonment
  4. by Amnesty International
  5. on death row
  6. to be done
  7. abolish the death penalty
  8. an encouraging sign
  9. their backs for good
  10. human rights campaigners

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
abolished
reprieve
life
move
sentenced
executions
abolish
sentences

The Malaysian government has stated it intends to (1) ____________ the death penalty in a (2) ____________ that has been welcomed by human rights campaigners. Malaysia's Law Minister said: "The death penalty will be (3) ____________. Full stop." He added: "Since we are abolishing the sentence, all (4) ____________ should not be carried out." There are currently over 1,267 people on death row in Malaysia who are set to win a (5) ____________. The law minister said prisoners on death row would be released or have their (6) ____________ commuted. He said: "When commuted, they would have to face (7) ____________ imprisonment because there had been several deaths that were caused by the offender and so they were (8) ____________ to death."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
waste
sign
hailed
recorded
cruel
retain
backs
books

Malaysia's decision was (9) ____________ by Amnesty International. Its Secretary General Kumi Naidoo said: "Malaysia must now join the 106 countries who have turned their (10) ____________ for good on the ultimate (11) ____________, inhumane, degrading punishment. The world is watching." Mr Naidoo added: "There is no time to (12) ____________. The death penalty should have been consigned to the history (13) ____________ long ago. Malaysia's new government has promised to deliver on human rights, and today's announcement is an encouraging (14) ____________, but much more needs to be done." There are still 23 countries that (15) ____________ the death penalty. According to Amnesty International, there were 993 executions (16) ____________ worldwide in 2017.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  it intends to abolish the death penalty in a move that ______
     a.  has being welcomed
     b.  has been welcomed
     c.  has bean welcomed
     d.  has be in welcomed
2)  Since we are abolishing the sentence, all executions should not ______
     a.  be carried up
     b.  be carried on
     c.  be carried doubt
     d.  be carried out
3)  1,267 people on death row in Malaysia who are set to ______
     a.  win a reap reef
     b.  win a reap rife
     c.  win a reprieve
     d.  win a re-prove
4)  When commuted, they would have to face ______
     a.  life in prison meant
     b.  lie fin prison meant
     c.  life in prism mint
     d.  life imprisonment
5)  deaths that were caused by the offender and so they were ______
     a.  sentenced to death
     b.  sentenced too death
     c.  sentenced two death
     d.  sentenced through death

6)  Malaysia must now join the 106 countries who have turned their ______
     a.  blacks for good
     b.  back spore good
     c.  back sphere good
     d.  backs for good
7)  There is no time to waste. The death penalty should have been ______ history books
     a.  consign to the
     b.  constrained to the
     c.  consigned to the
     d.  cone signed to the
8)  promised to deliver on human rights, and today's announcement is ______
     a.  an encouraging sign
     b.  an encourage in sign
     c.  an encouraged sigh
     d.  an encouraging sigh
9)  There are still 23 countries that ______ penalty
     a.  retrain the death
     b.  retain a death
     c.  retrain then death
     d.  retain the death
10)  there were 993 executions recorded ______
     a.  worldwide in 2017
     b.  world width in 2017
     c.  whirled wide in 2017
     d.  would wide in 2017

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Malaysian government has stated it (1) ___________________ the death penalty in a move that has (2) ___________________ human rights campaigners. Malaysia's Law Minister said: "The death penalty will be abolished. Full stop." He added: "Since (3) ___________________ the sentence, all executions should not be carried out." There are currently over 1,267 people (4) ___________________ in Malaysia who are set to win a reprieve. The law minister said prisoners on death row would be released or have their sentences commuted. He said: "When commuted, they would have (5) ___________________ imprisonment because there had been several deaths that were caused (6) ___________________ and so they were sentenced to death."

Malaysia's decision (7) ___________________ Amnesty International. Its Secretary General Kumi Naidoo said: "Malaysia must now join the 106 countries who have turned their backs (8) ___________________ the ultimate cruel, inhumane, degrading punishment. The world is watching." Mr Naidoo added: "There is no (9) ___________________. The death penalty should have been consigned to the history books long ago. Malaysia's new government has promised (10) ___________________ human rights, and today's announcement is an encouraging sign, but much more needs to be done." There are still 23 countries (11) ___________________ death penalty. According to Amnesty International, there (12) ___________________ recorded worldwide in 2017.

Comprehension questions

  1. Who has welcomed the Malaysian government's decision?
  2. Who said the death penalty would be abolished, "full stop".
  3. How many people are on death row in Malaysia?
  4. What are people on death row set to win?
  5. What sentence will the death penalty be reduced to?
  6. Who is Kumi Naidoo?
  7. How many countries have abolished the death penalty?
  8. Who did Mr Naidoo say was watching?
  9. How many countries still have the death penalty?
  10. How many people did Amnesty International say were executed last year?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who has welcomed the Malaysian government's decision?
a) prison guards
b) Malaysian people
c) prisoners
d) human rights campaigners
2) Who said the death penalty would be abolished, "full stop"?
a) prisoners
b) Malaysia's Law Minister
c) Amnesty International
d) the head of the UN
3) How many people are on death row in Malaysia?
a) around 1,267
b) exactly 1,267
c) more than 1,267
d) just fewer than 1,267
4) What are people on death row set to win?
a) a reprieve
b) an award
c) some money
d) freedom
5) What sentence will the death penalty be reduced to?
a) 25 years
b) community service
c) life imprisonment
d) solitary confinement

6) Who is Kumi Naidoo?
a) a prisoner
b) Amnesty International's boss
c) a prison guard
d) a Malaysian politician
7) How many countries have abolished the death penalty?
a) 103
b) 104
c) 105
d) 106
8) Who did Mr Naidoo say was watching?
a) the world
b) prisoners
c) Amnesty International
d) prison bosses
9) How many countries still have the death penalty?
a) 21
b) 22
c) 23
d) 24
10) How many people did Amnesty International say were executed last year?
a) 939
b) 993
c) 399
d) 999

Role play

Role  A – Human Rights
You think human rights is the most important thing to campaign for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their issues are not as worthy. Also, tell the others which is the issue you would not campaign for of these (and why): anti-corruption, immigration or global warming.
Role  B – Anti-Corruption
You think anti-corruption is the most important thing to campaign for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their issues are not as worthy. Also, tell the others which is the issue you would not campaign for of these (and why): human rights, immigration or global warming.
Role  C – Immigration
You think immigration is the most important thing to campaign for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their issues are not as worthy. Also, tell the others which is the issue you would not campaign for of these (and why): anti-corruption, human rights or global warming.
Role  D – Global Warming
You think global warming is the most important thing to campaign for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their issues are not as worthy. Also, tell the others which is the issue you would not campaign for of these (and why): anti-corruption, immigration or human rights.

After reading / listening

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

'death'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'penalty'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • hailed
    • join
    • waste
    • ago
    • deliver
    • 993
    • move
    • full
    • since
    • win
    • commuted
    • face

    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 - Malaysia to abolish the death penalty

    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 'death'?
    3. What do you think of the death penalty?
    4. What do you think of human rights campaigners?
    5. What do you think of death row?
    6. What does the death penalty achieve?
    7. Should life imprisonment mean imprisonment forever?
    8. What is the best way to deal with serious criminals?
    9. What do you think of prisons?
    10. What sentence would you give to killers?

    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 'penalty'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Amnesty International?
    5. Will the death penalty be abolished in all countries?
    6. How inhumane is the death penalty?
    7. What other things should be consigned to the history books?
    8. What other human rights issues need addressing?
    9. What more needs to be done?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Malaysia's leader?

    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 Malaysian government has stated it (1) ____ to abolish the death penalty in a move that has been (2) ____ by human rights campaigners. Malaysia's Law Minister said: "The death penalty will be abolished. Full (3) ____." He added: "Since we are abolishing the sentence, all executions should not be carried out." There are (4) ____ over 1,267 people on death row in Malaysia who are set to win a reprieve. The law minister said prisoners on death row would be released or have their sentences (5) ____. He said: "When commuted, they would have to face life imprisonment because there had been several deaths that were caused by the offender and so they were sentenced (6) ____ death."

    Malaysia's decision was (7) ____ by Amnesty International. Its Secretary General Kumi Naidoo said: "Malaysia must now join the 106 countries who have turned their (8) ____ for good on the ultimate cruel, inhumane, degrading punishment. The world is watching." Mr Naidoo added: "There is no time (9) ____ waste. The death penalty should have been consigned to the history books long ago. Malaysia's new government has promised to deliver (10) ____ human rights, and today's announcement is an encouraging sign, but much more needs to be (11) ____." There are still 23 countries that retain the death penalty. According to Amnesty International, there were 993 (12) ____ recorded worldwide in 2017.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     contends     (b)     portends     (c)     intends     (d)     amends    
    2. (a)     welcomed     (b)     pleased     (c)     met     (d)     glad    
    3. (a)     stop     (b)     energy     (c)     time     (d)     full-grown    
    4. (a)     currently     (b)     currency     (c)     concurrent     (d)     curricula     
    5. (a)     comparable     (b)     compacted     (c)     computed     (d)     commuted    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     to    
    7. (a)     hailed     (b)     holed     (c)     failed     (d)     fooled    
    8. (a)     tops     (b)     sides     (c)     fronts     (d)     backs    
    9. (a)     to     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    10. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     as     (d)     to    
    11. (a)     does     (b)     done     (c)     do     (d)     doing    
    12. (a)     executions     (b)     exclusions     (c)     exertions     (d)     excerpts

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. human rights npaimegcars
    2. all iocxtuense should not be carried out
    3. There are ryelnrcut over 1,267 people
    4. win a rerveiep
    5. have their sentences mtmcdoeu
    6. deaths that were caused by the erfondfe

    Paragraph 2

    1. ultimate cruel, hanumnei...
    2. ieagnrgdd punishment
    3. cegsdinno to the history books
    4. today's noutnaenmnce
    5. an gourciaenng sign
    6. countries that aitern the death penalty

    Put the text back together

    (...)  sign, but much more needs to be done." There are still 23 countries that retain the death penalty. According
    (...)  reprieve. The law minister said prisoners on death row would be released or have their sentences
    (...)  Malaysia's decision was hailed by Amnesty International. Its Secretary General Kumi Naidoo said: "Malaysia must now join
    (...)  commuted. He said: "When commuted, they would have to face life imprisonment because there had been several
    (...)  deaths that were caused by the offender and so they were sentenced to death."
    (...)  to Amnesty International, there were 993 executions recorded worldwide in 2017.
    (...) The Malaysian government has stated it intends to abolish the death penalty in a move that has been welcomed
    (...)  stop." He added: "Since we are abolishing the sentence, all executions should not be carried
    (...)  to deliver on human rights, and today's announcement is an encouraging
    (...)  by human rights campaigners. Malaysia's Law Minister said: "The death penalty will be abolished. Full
    (...)  have been consigned to the history books long ago. Malaysia's new government has promised
    (...)  out." There are currently over 1,267 people on death row in Malaysia who are set to win a
    (...)  the 106 countries who have turned their backs for good on the ultimate cruel, inhumane, degrading
    (...)  punishment. The world is watching." Mr Naidoo added: "There is no time to waste. The death penalty should

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   It   abolish   intends   to   death   penalty   .
    2. executions   carried   not   be   All   should   out   .
    3. would   Prisoners   death   on   released   .   be   row
    4. or   sentences   released   commuted   .   have   Be   their
    5. would   face   imprisonment   .   have   to   life   They
    6. turned   countries   106   their   The   have   backs   .   who
    7. books   .   have   been   consigned   the   Should   history   to
    8. promised   to   government   has   Malaysia's   deliver   .   new
    9. the   are   countries   with   death   23   penalty   .   There
    10. in   were   There   worldwide   recorded   2017   .   executions   993

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The Malaysian government has started / stated it intends to abolish the death penalty in a move that has been welcoming / welcomed by human rights campaigners. Malaysia's Law Minister said: "The death penalty will be abolished / abolition. Full stop." He added: "Since we are abolishing the sentence, all executions should not be carried in / out." There are currently over 1,267 people on death row in Malaysia who are let / set to win a reprieve. The law minister said prisoners on death row would be released / releasing or have their sentences computed / commuted. He said: "When commuted, they would have to face / head life imprisonment because there had been several / severe deaths that were caused by the offender and so they were sentenced by / to death."

    Malaysia's decision was hailed / halted by Amnesty International. Its Secretary General Kumi Naidoo said: "Malaysia must now joint / join the 106 countries who have turned their fronts / backs for good on the ultimate cruelty / cruel, inhumane, degrading punishment. The world is watching / seeing." Mr Naidoo added: "There is no time to waste. The death penalty should have been consigned / constrained to the history books long ago. Malaysia's new government has promised to deliver in / on human rights, and today's announcement is an encourage / encouraging sign, but much more needs to be done." There are still 23 countries that retrain / retain the death penalty. According to Amnesty International, there were 993 executions recorded / accorded worldwide in 2017.

    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_ M_l_y s__ n g_v_r n m_n t h_s s t_t_d _t _n t_n d s t_ _b_l_s h t h_ d__ t h p_n_l t y _n _ m_v_ t h_t h_s b__ n w_l c_m_d b y h_m_n r_g h t s c_m p__ g n_r s . M_l_y s__ ' s L_w M_n_s t_r s__ d : " T h_ d__ t h p_n_l t y w_l l b_ _b_l_s h_d . F_l l s t_p . " H_ _d d_d : " S_n c_ w_ _r_ _b_l_s h_n g t h_ s_n t_n c_, _l l _x_c_t__ n s s h__ l d n_t b_ c_r r__ d __ t . " T h_r_ _r_ c_r r_n t l y _v_r 1 , 2 6 7 p__ p l_ _n d__ t h r_w _n M_l_y s__ w h_ _r_ s_t t_ w_n _ r_p r__ v_. T h_ l_w m_n_s t_r s__ d p r_s_n_r s _n d__ t h r_w w__ l d b_ r_l__ s_d _r h_v_ t h__ r s_n t_n c_s c_m m_t_d . H_ s__ d : " W h_n c_m m_t_d , t h_y w__ l d h_v_ t_ f_c_ l_f_ _m p r_s_n m_n t b_c__ s_ t h_r_ h_d b__ n s_v_r_l d__ t h s t h_t w_r_ c__ s_d b y t h_ _f f_n d_r _n d s_ t h_y w_r_ s_n t_n c_d t_ d__ t h . "

    M_l_y s__ ' s d_c_s__ n w_s h__ l_d b y A m n_s t y I n t_r n_t__ n_l . I t s S_c r_t_r y G_n_r_l K_m_ N__ d__ s__ d : " M_l_y s__ m_s t n_w j__ n t h_ 1 0 6 c__ n t r__ s w h_ h_v_ t_r n_d t h__ r b_c k s f_r g__ d _n t h_ _l t_m_t_ c r__ l , _n h_m_n_, d_g r_d_n g p_n_s h m_n t . T h_ w_r l d _s w_t c h_n g . " M r N__ d__ _d d_d : " T h_r_ _s n_ t_m_ t_ w_s t_. T h_ d__ t h p_n_l t y s h__ l d h_v_ b__ n c_n s_g n_d t_ t h_ h_s t_r y b__ k s l_n g _g_. M_l_y s__ ' s n_w g_v_r n m_n t h_s p r_m_s_d t_ d_l_v_r _n h_m_n r_g h t s , _n d t_d_y ' s _n n__ n c_m_n t _s _n _n c__ r_g_n g s_g n , b_t m_c h m_r_ n__ d s t_ b_ d_n_. " T h_r_ _r_ s t_l l 2 3 c__ n t r__ s t h_t r_t__ n t h_ d__ t h p_n_l t y . A c c_r d_n g t_ A m n_s t y I n t_r n_t__ n_l , t h_r_ w_r_ 9 9 3 _x_c_t__ n s r_c_r d_d w_r l d w_d_ _n 2 0 1 7 .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the malaysian government has stated it intends to abolish the death penalty in a move that has been welcomed by human rights campaigners malaysias law minister said the death penalty will be abolished full stop he added since we are abolishing the sentence all executions should not be carried out there are currently over 1267 people on death row in malaysia who are set to win a reprieve the law minister said prisoners on death row would be released or have their sentences commuted he said when commuted they would have to face life imprisonment because there had been several deaths that were caused by the offender and so they were sentenced to death

    malaysias decision was hailed by amnesty international its secretary general kumi naidoo said malaysia must now join the 106 countries who have turned their backs for good on the ultimate cruel inhumane degrading punishment the world is watching mr naidoo added there is no time to waste the death penalty should have been consigned to the history books long ago malaysias new government has promised to deliver on human rights and todays announcement is an encouraging sign but much more needs to be done there are still 23 countries that retain the death penalty according to amnesty international there were 993 executions recorded worldwide in 2017

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheMalaysiangovernmenthasstateditintendstoabolishthedeathpen
    altyinamovethathasbeenwelcomedbyhumanrightscampaigners.Mal
    aysia'sLawMinistersaid:"Thedeathpenaltywillbeabolished.Fullstop."
    Headded:"Sinceweareabolishingthesentence,allexecutionsshouldn
    otbecarriedout."Therearecurrentlyover1,267peopleondeathrowinM
    alaysiawhoaresettowinareprieve.Thelawministersaidprisonersonde
    athrowwouldbereleasedorhavetheirsentencescommuted.Hesaid:"
    Whencommuted,theywouldhavetofacelifeimprisonmentbecausethe
    rehadbeenseveraldeathsthatwerecausedbytheoffenderandsotheyw
    eresentencedtodeath."Malaysia'sdecisionwashailedbyAmnestyInte
    rnational.ItsSecretaryGeneralKumiNaidoosaid:"Malaysiamustnowj
    ointhe106countrieswhohaveturnedtheirbacksforgoodontheultimat
    ecruel,inhumane,degradingpunishment.Theworldiswatching."MrNa
    idooadded:"Thereisnotimetowaste.Thedeathpenaltyshouldhavebe
    enconsignedtothehistorybookslongago.Malaysia'snewgovernment
    haspromisedtodeliveronhumanrights,andtoday'sannouncementisa
    nencouragingsign,butmuchmoreneedstobedone."Therearestill23co
    untriesthatretainthedeathpenalty.AccordingtoAmnestyInternation
    al,therewere993executionsrecordedworldwidein2017.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    All countries in the world should abolish the death penalty. Discuss.

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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. THE DEATH PENALTY: Make a poster about the death penalty. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. GLOBAL ABOLITION: Write a magazine article about the end of the death penalty worldwide. 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 the death penalty. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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