The Reading / Listening - Kashmir - Level 3

Tensions are growing between India and Pakistan. Many people are worried that the two nuclear-armed countries are heading for war. Pakistan carried out air raids and shot down two Indian military jets on Wednesday. They captured an Indian fighter pilot. He is now being held by Pakistan's Army. This happened a day after Indian warplanes dropped bombs on Pakistani territory. India said it was bombing a terrorist base linked to the suicide car bombing on February 14 that killed at least 40 Indian police officers in Indian-controlled Kashmir. It is the first time Indian warplanes have struck inside Pakistan since a war in 1971. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for peace talks.

Pakistan closed its airspace on Wednesday because of the tensions. Several international airlines have suspended flights to Pakistan and to some parts of India. Airlines that fly over India and Pakistan to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia had to re-route flights to avoid the region. Aviation expert Mark Martin said about 800 flights a day use the India-Pakistan air corridor. He said it was "very critical" for airlines. He added: "You can't fly over China, so you have to fly over Pakistan and India and go to Southeast Asia and Australia. Most of the traffic destined for Bangkok and Singapore will have to fly over Iran and then possibly take a detour." Thousands of passengers were stranded by the crisis.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Kashmir - Level 0,  Kashmir - Level 1   or  Kashmir - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/india-pakistan-crisis-disrupts-international-flights-190227150404910.html
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/27/asia/pakistan-india-flight-disruption-intl/index.html
  • https://www.thenational.ae/uae/transport/uae-airlines-suspend-flights-to-pakistan-amid-military-escalation-1.830938


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. KASHMIR: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Kashmir. 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?
       tensions / nuclear / war / air raids / warplanes / territory / terrorist / peace talks /
       airspace / international / flights / region / traffic / Singapore / passengers / crisis
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FRIENDS: Students A strongly believe Pakistan and India will be best of friends one day; Students B strongly believe they won't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WORRIED: What worries you about these areas of the world? What should happen for you to worry less? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Worries

How to reduce those worries

Pakistan-India

 

 

Korean Peninsular

 

 

Crimea

 

 

Syria

 

 

Venezuela

 

 

Your country

 

 
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. PILOT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "pilot". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TENSIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that most increase your tension at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • your looks
  • job
  • your English
  • sport
  • money
  • global warming
  • your weight
  • neighbors

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. tension a. Taken and held by the enemy or by someone who wants to take your freedom.
      2. armed b. Killing yourself; taking your own life.
      3. military c. Very bad or dangerous relations between people or countries.
      4. captured d. About the army, navy of air force.
      5. territory e. Having a gun, knife, nuclear weapon, missile, etc.
      6. at least f. An area of land controlled by a country or army.
      7. suicide g. Not less than.

    Paragraph 2

      8. airspace h. Stopping something from working for a short time.
      9. suspended i. Keep away from someone or something.
      10. avoid j. Very, very, very, very important.
      11. region k. The area in the sky above a country that airplanes can fly in.
      12. expert l. A different way of getting from A to B because the normal way is closed.
      13. critical m. Someone who knows everything about a subject.
      14. detour n. An area.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. People aren't so concerned about war between India and Pakistan.     T / F
  2. Pakistan shot down three Indian military jets.     T / F
  3. A suicide car bomb killed 40 or more Indian police officers.     T / F
  4. The last time India bombed Pakistan was in 1949.     T / F
  5. Pakistan opened its airspace on Wednesday.     T / F
  6. Airlines that have to fly over Pakistan to Asia have been re-routed.     T / F
  7. The India-Pakistan air corridor sees around 800 flights a day.     T / F
  8. The crisis has stranded thousands of passengers.     T / F

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

  1. growing
  2. worried
  3. territory
  4. linked
  5. talks
  6. closed
  7. avoid
  8. expert
  9. detour
  10. stranded
  1. shut
  2. connected
  3. specialist
  4. concerned
  5. helpless
  6. increasing
  7. land
  8. diversion
  9. discussions
  10. stay away from

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

  1. Tensions are growing
  2. the two nuclear-
  3. Pakistan carried
  4. linked to the suicide
  5. the first time Indian warplanes
  6. Pakistan closed its
  7. Aviation
  8. 800 flights a day use the
  9. possibly take a
  10. Thousands of passengers were
  1. airspace on Wednesday
  2. detour
  3. car bombing
  4. India-Pakistan air corridor
  5. armed countries
  6. stranded by the crisis
  7. have struck inside Pakistan
  8. between India and Pakistan
  9. expert
  10. out air raids

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
raids
base
jets
talks
growing
struck
bombs
least

Tensions are (1) ____________ between India and Pakistan. Many people are worried that the two nuclear-armed countries are heading for war. Pakistan carried out air (2) ____________ and shot down two Indian military (3) ____________ on Wednesday. They captured an Indian fighter pilot. He is now being held by Pakistan's Army. This happened a day after Indian warplanes dropped (4) ____________ on Pakistani territory. India said it was bombing a terrorist (5) ____________ linked to the suicide car bombing on February 14 that killed at (6) ____________ 40 Indian police officers in Indian-controlled Kashmir. It is the first time Indian warplanes have (7) ____________ inside Pakistan since a war in 1971. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for peace (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
avoid
critical
airspace
detour
parts
traffic
flights
expert

Pakistan closed its (9) ____________ on Wednesday because of the tensions. Several international airlines have suspended (10) ____________ to Pakistan and to some (11) ____________ of India. Airlines that fly over India and Pakistan to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia had to re-route flights to (12) ____________ the region. Aviation (13) ____________ Mark Martin said about 800 flights a day use the India-Pakistan air corridor. He said it was "very (14) ____________ " for airlines. He added: "You can't fly over China, so you have to fly over Pakistan and India and go to Southeast Asia and Australia. Most of the (15) ____________ destined for Bangkok and Singapore will have to fly over Iran and then possibly take a (16) ____________." Thousands of passengers were stranded by the crisis.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  worried that the two nuclear-armed countries are ______
     a.  heading forewarn
     b.  heading forewarned
     c.  heading forewarns
     d.  heading for war
2)  This happened a day after Indian warplanes dropped bombs on ______
     a.  Pakistani territorial
     b.  Pakistani territory
     c.  Pakistani terror tree
     d.  Pakistani tertiary
3)  India said it was bombing a terrorist base linked to the ______
     a.  suicide car bombing
     b.  Suez-style car bombing
     c.  sue aside car bombing
     d.  Sue a sidecar bombing
4)  It is the first time Indian warplanes have ______ Pakistan
     a.  stuck inside
     b.  strike inside
     c.  stricken inside
     d.  struck inside
5)  Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has called ______
     a.  for peace talk
     b.  for peace talks
     c.  for peace talkies
     d.  for peace talking

6)  Pakistan closed its airspace on Wednesday because of ______
     a.  they're tensions
     b.  a tensions
     c.  the tensions
     d.  them tensions
7)  Pakistan to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia had to re-route flights to ______
     a.  evade the region
     b.  avoid the legion
     c.  evade the regional
     d.  avoid the region
8) use the India-Pakistan air corridor. He said it was "______" for airlines
     a.  very critically
     b.  very critter call
     c.  very critic all
     d.  very critical
9) destined for Bangkok and Singapore will have to fly over Iran and then possibly ______
     a.  take a detour
     b.  take a detox
     c.  take the detour
     d.  make the detox
10)  Thousands of passengers were stranded ______
     a.  buy the cry sis
     b.  by the crisis
     c.  by a crisis
     d.  by the cry sis

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Tensions (1) ___________________ India and Pakistan. Many people are worried that the two nuclear-armed countries are heading for war. Pakistan carried (2) ___________________ and shot down two Indian military jets on Wednesday. They captured an Indian fighter pilot. He is now being held by Pakistan's Army. This happened (3) ___________________ Indian warplanes dropped bombs on Pakistani territory. India said it was bombing a terrorist base linked to (4) ___________________ bombing on February 14 that killed at least 40 Indian police officers in Indian-controlled Kashmir. It is the first time Indian warplanes (5) ___________________ Pakistan since a war in 1971. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has called (6) ___________________.

Pakistan (7) ___________________ on Wednesday because of the tensions. Several international airlines have suspended flights to Pakistan and to some parts of India. Airlines (8) ___________________ India and Pakistan to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia had to re-route flights to avoid the region. Aviation expert Mark Martin said about 800 (9) ___________________ use the India-Pakistan air corridor. He said it was (10) ___________________ airlines. He added: "You can't fly over China, so you have to fly over Pakistan and India and go to Southeast Asia and Australia. Most of the (11) ___________________ Bangkok and Singapore will have to fly over Iran and then possibly take a detour." Thousands of passengers were stranded (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say is growing between India and Pakistan?
  2. How long after India dropped bombs on Pakistan was a pilot captured?
  3. When did a suicide car bombing kill at least 40 Indian police officers?
  4. When was the last time India dropped bombs inside Pakistan?
  5. What did Imran Khan call for?
  6. What did Pakistan close on Wednesday?
  7. What have several international airlines done?
  8. Who is Mark Martin?
  9. Where might people going to Bangkok and Singapore have to fly over?
  10. What happened to thousands of passengers?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say is growing between India and Pakistan?
a) tensions
b) trade
c) a border
d) a tree
2) How long after India dropped bombs on Pakistan was a pilot captured?
a) an hour
b) a week
c) one day
d) instantly
3) When did a suicide car bombing kill at least 40 Indian police officers?
a) February 13
b) February 14
c) February 12
d) February 15
4) When was the last time India dropped bombs inside Pakistan?
a) 1969
b) 1972
c) 1970
d) 1971
5)  What did Imran Khan call for?
a) peace talks
b) war
c) more time
d) order

6) What did Pakistan close on Wednesday?
a) its airports
b) shops
c) an embassy
d) its airspace
7) What have several international airlines done?
a) cancelled flights to Pakistan
b) suspended flights to Pakistan
c) hired jet fighters
d) grounded planes
8) Who is Mark Martin?
a) an expert on Pakistan
b) a passenger
c) a historian on India
d) an aviation expert
9) Where might people going to Bangkok and Singapore have to fly over?
a) Sri Lanka
b) China
c) Iran
d) Alaska
10) What happened to thousands of passengers?
a) they lost money
b) they were stranded
c) they were injured
d) they slept at an airport

Role play

Role  A – Money
You think money is the thing that causes people the most tension. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't cause as much tension. Also, tell the others which is the least tension-causing of these (and why): global warming, one's job or sport.

Role  B – Global Warming
You think global warming is the thing that causes people the most tension. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't cause as much tension. Also, tell the others which is the least tension-causing of these (and why): money, one's job or sport.

Role  C – Job
You think one's job is the thing that causes people the most tension. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't cause as much tension. Also, tell the others which is the least tension-causing of these (and why): global warming, money or sport.

Role  D – Sport
You think sport is the thing that causes people the most tension. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't cause as much tension. Also, tell the others which is the least tension-causing of these (and why): global warming, one's job or money.

After reading / listening

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

'India'

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

    • and 'Pakistan'.

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

    • • 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:

    • airspace
    • some
    • region
    • 800
    • traffic
    • thousands
    • tensions
    • raids
    • held
    • base
    • 40
    • 1971

    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 - Kashmir crisis halts flights to Pakistan

    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 'nuclear'?
    3. What do you know about Kashmir?
    4. How worried are you by this crisis?
    5. What do you know about relations between India and Pakistan?
    6. Is it possible for war to break out between the two countries?
    7. Should Pakistan return the Indian fighter pilot?
    8. Was India right to bomb a terrorist base in Pakistan?
    9. Would peace talks be effective?
    10. What advice do you have for the leaders of India and Pakistan?

    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 'crisis'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why has Pakistan closed its airspace?
    5. How will this crisis affect air travel?
    6. Which country would you prefer to travel to?
    7. Will Pakistan and India ever be friends?
    8. What would you do to end this crisis?
    9. What would you do if you were stranded?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Pakistan's Prime Minister?

    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)

    Tensions are (1) ____ between India and Pakistan. Many people are worried that the two nuclear-armed countries are (2) ____ for war. Pakistan carried out air raids and shot down two Indian military jets on Wednesday. They (3) ____ an Indian fighter pilot. He is now being held by Pakistan's Army. This happened a day after Indian warplanes dropped bombs on Pakistani territory. India said it was bombing a terrorist base linked (4) ____ the suicide car bombing on February 14 that killed (5) ____ least 40 Indian police officers in Indian-controlled Kashmir. It is the first time Indian warplanes have struck inside Pakistan since a war in 1971. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has (6) ____ for peace talks.

    Pakistan closed its airspace on Wednesday because (7) ____ the tensions. Several international airlines have suspended (8) ____ to Pakistan and to some parts of India. Airlines that fly over India and Pakistan to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia had to re-route flights to (9) ____ the region. Aviation expert Mark Martin said about 800 flights a day use the India-Pakistan air (10) ____. He said it was "very critical" for airlines. He added: "You can't fly over China, so you have to fly over Pakistan and India and go to Southeast Asia and Australia. Most of the traffic destined (11) ____ Bangkok and Singapore will have to fly over Iran and then possibly take a detour." Thousands of passengers were stranded by the (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     growing     (b)     growth     (c)     grown     (d)     grower    
    2. (a)     backing     (b)     legging     (c)     heading     (d)     footing    
    3. (a)     raptured     (b)     catapulted     (c)     captured     (d)     capped    
    4. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     on     (d)     to    
    5. (a)     as     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    6. (a)     whispered     (b)     called     (c)     voiced     (d)     talked    
    7. (a)     for     (b)     of     (c)     to     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     flies     (b)     flights     (c)     flying     (d)     flown    
    9. (a)     rate     (b)     fear     (c)     avoid     (d)     travel    
    10. (a)     alley     (b)     hall     (c)     lobby     (d)     corridor    
    11. (a)     on     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     for    
    12. (a)     catastrophe     (b)     accident     (c)     mishap     (d)     crisis

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the two ralnuec-armed countries
    2. two Indian atilyimr jets
    3. They trcpdaeu an Indian fighter pilot
    4. dropped bombs on Pakistani yirotertr
    5. the ucsdiei car bombing
    6. in Indian-rllnocteod Kashmir

    Paragraph 2

    1. because of the sonntise
    2. airlines have ssdeupden flights
    3. re-route flights to vdaio the region
    4. the India-Pakistan air rdrioorc
    5. the traffic dieendst for Bangkok
    6. Thousands of agersnpsse were stranded

    Put the text back together

    (...)  Pakistan closed its airspace on Wednesday because of the tensions. Several international airlines have suspended flights
    (...)  a detour." Thousands of passengers were stranded by the crisis.
    (...)  armed countries are heading for war. Pakistan carried out air raids and shot down two Indian military
    (...)  officers in Indian-controlled Kashmir. It is the first time Indian warplanes have struck inside Pakistan since a war
    (...)  flights a day use the India-Pakistan air corridor. He said it was "very critical" for airlines. He added: "You can't fly
    (...)  in 1971. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for peace talks.
    (...)  day after Indian warplanes dropped bombs on Pakistani territory. India said it was bombing a terrorist
    (...)  and Australia. Most of the traffic destined for Bangkok and Singapore will have to fly over Iran and then possibly take
    (...)  base linked to the suicide car bombing on February 14 that killed at least 40 Indian police
    (  1  ) Tensions are growing between India and Pakistan. Many people are worried that the two nuclear-
    (...)  over China, so you have to fly over Pakistan and India and go to Southeast Asia
    (...)  East, and Asia had to re-route flights to avoid the region. Aviation expert Mark Martin said about 800
    (...)  jets on Wednesday. They captured an Indian fighter pilot. He is now being held by Pakistan's Army. This happened a
    (...)  to Pakistan and to some parts of India. Airlines that fly over India and Pakistan to Europe, the Middle

    Put the words in the right order

    1. on   Indian   military   jets   Wednesday   .   down   two   Shot
    2. day   A   Indian   bombs   .   after   dropped   warplanes
    3. to   A   the   suicide   car-bombing   .   linked   base   terrorist
    4. inside   .   time   The   warplanes   Indian   first   struck   have
    5. Minister   for   called   has   Prime   peace   talks   .   Pakistan's
    6. its   tensions   .   because   the   of   closed   Pakistan   airspace
    7. international  airlines  to  Pakistan  .  Several  have   suspended   flights
    8. for   very   it   said   He   airlines   .   critical   was
    9. Iran   and   take   possibly   over   detour   .   a   Fly
    10. crisis   .   stranded   Thousands   were   of   by   the   passengers

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Tensions are grown / growing between India and Pakistan. Many people are worried that the two nuclear-armed countries are facing / heading for war. Pakistan carried in / out air raids and shot down two Indian military jets on Wednesday. They captured / catapulted an Indian fighter pilot. He is now being / been held by Pakistan's Army. This happened a day after Indian warplanes dropped / fell bombs on Pakistani territory. India said it was bombing a terrorist base / bases linked to the suicide car bombing on February 14 that killed at / as least 40 Indian police officers in Indian-controlled Kashmir. It is the first time Indian warplanes have stuck / struck inside Pakistan since a war in 1971. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for peace talks / talk.

    Pakistan closed its airspace / space on Wednesday because of the tenses / tensions. Several international airlines have suspected / suspended flights to Pakistan and to some parts / partners of India. Airlines that fly over India and Pakistan to Europe, the Middle / Center East, and Asia had to re-route flights to avoid the reign / region. Aviation expert Mark Martin said about 800 flights a day use the India-Pakistan air corridor / lobby. He said it was "very critical" for airlines. He added: "You can't fly over China, so you have to fly over Pakistan and India and go to Southeast Asia and Australia. Most of the traffic destiny / destined for Bangkok and Singapore will have to fly over Iran and then possibly take a detour / detox." Thousands of passengers were stranded by / of the crisis.

    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__ n s _r_ g r_w_n g b_t w__ n I n d__ _n d P_k_s t_n . M_n y p__ p l_ _r_ w_r r__ d t h_t t h_ t w_ n_c l__ r -_r m_d c__ n t r__ s _r_ h__ d_n g f_r w_r . P_k_s t_n c_r r__ d __ t __ r r__ d s _n d s h_t d_w n t w_ I n d__ n m_l_t_r y j_t s _n W_d n_s d_y . T h_y c_p t_r_d _n I n d__ n f_g h t_r p_l_t . H_ _s n_w b__ n g h_l d b y P_k_s t_n ' s A r m y . T h_s h_p p_n_d _ d_y _f t_r I n d__ n w_r p l_n_s d r_p p_d b_m b s _n P_k_s t_n_ t_r r_t_r y . I n d__ s__ d _t w_s b_m b_n g _ t_r r_r_s t b_s_ l_n k_d t_ t h_ s__ c_d_ c_r b_m b_n g _n F_b r__ r y 1 4 t h_t k_l l_d _t l__ s t 4 0 I n d__ n p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s _n I n d__ n - c_n t r_l l_d K_s h m_r . I t _s t h_ f_r s t t_m_ I n d__ n w_r p l_n_s h_v_ s t r_c k _n s_d_ P_k_s t_n s_n c_ _ w_r _n 1 9 7 1 . P_k_s t_n ' s P r_m_ M_n_s t_r I m r_n K h_n h_s c_l l_d f_r p__ c_ t_l k s .

    P_k_s t_n c l_s_d _t s __ r s p_c_ _n W_d n_s d_y b_c__ s_ _f t h_ t_n s__ n s . S_v_r_l _n t_r n_t__ n_l __ r l_n_s h_v_ s_s p_n d_d f l_g h t s t_ P_k_s t_n _n d t_ s_m_ p_r t s _f I n d__ . A_r l_n_s t h_t f l y _v_r I n d__ _n d P_k_s t_n t_ E_r_p_, t h_ M_d d l_ E_s t , _n d A s__ h_d t_ r_- r__ t_ f l_g h t s t_ _v__ d t h_ r_g__ n . A v__ t__ n _x p_r t M_r k M_r t_n s__ d _b__ t 8 0 0 f l_g h t s _ d_y _s_ t h_ I n d__ - P_k_s t_n __ r c_r r_d_r . H_ s__ d _t w_s " v_r y c r_t_c_l " f_r __ r l_n_s . H_ _d d_d : " Y__ c_n ' t f l y _v_r C h_n_, s_ y__ h_v_ t_ f l y _v_r P_k_s t_n _n d I n d__ _n d g_ t_ S__ t h__ s t A s__ _n d A_s t r_l__ . M_s t _f t h_ t r_f f_c d_s t_n_d f_r B_n g k_k _n d S_n g_p_r_ w_l l h_v_ t_ f l y _v_r I r_n _n d t h_n p_s s_b l y t_k_ _ d_t__ r . " T h__ s_n d s _f p_s s_n g_r s w_r_ s t r_n d_d b y t h_ c r_s_s .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    tensions are growing between india and pakistan many people are worried that the two nucleararmed countries are heading for war pakistan carried out air raids and shot down two indian military jets on wednesday they captured an indian fighter pilot he is now being held by pakistans army this happened a day after indian warplanes dropped bombs on pakistani territory india said it was bombing a terrorist base linked to the suicide car bombing on february 14 that killed at least 40 indian police officers in indiancontrolled kashmir it is the first time indian warplanes have struck inside pakistan since a war in 1971 pakistans prime minister imran khan has called for peace talks

    pakistan closed its airspace on wednesday because of the tensions several international airlines have suspended flights to pakistan and to some parts of india airlines that fly over india and pakistan to europe the middle east and asia had to reroute flights to avoid the region aviation expert mark martin said about 800 flights a day use the indiapakistan air corridor he said it was very critical for airlines he added you cant fly over china so you have to fly over pakistan and india and go to southeast asia and australia most of the traffic destined for bangkok and singapore will have to fly over iran and then possibly take a detour thousands of passengers were stranded by the crisis

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TensionsaregrowingbetweenIndiaandPakistan.Manypeopleareworr
    iedthatthetwonuclear-armedcountriesareheadingforwar.Pakistan
    carriedoutairraidsandshotdowntwoIndianmilitaryjetsonWednesday
    .TheycapturedanIndianfighterpilot.HeisnowbeingheldbyPakistan's
    Army.ThishappenedadayafterIndianwarplanesdroppedbombsonPa
    kistaniterritory.Indiasaiditwasbombingaterroristbaselinkedtothesui
    cidecarbombingonFebruary14thatkilledatleast40Indianpoliceofficer
    sinIndian-controlledKashmir.ItisthefirsttimeIndianwarplaneshave
    struckinsidePakistansinceawarin1971.Pakistan'sPrimeMinisterImra
    nKhanhascalledforpeacetalks.PakistancloseditsairspaceonWednes
    daybecauseofthetensions.Severalinternationalairlineshavesuspend
    edflightstoPakistanandtosomepartsofIndia.AirlinesthatflyoverIndia
    andPakistantoEurope,theMiddleEast,andAsiahadtore-routeflightst
    oavoidtheregion.AviationexpertMarkMartinsaidabout800flightsada
    yusetheIndia-Pakistanaircorridor.Hesaiditwas"verycritical"forairli
    nes.Headded:"Youcan'tflyoverChina,soyouhavetoflyoverPakistana
    ndIndiaandgotoSoutheastAsiaandAustralia.Mostofthetrafficdestine
    dforBangkokandSingaporewillhavetoflyoverIranandthenpossiblyta
    keadetour."Thousandsofpassengerswerestrandedbythecrisis.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    The future of Kashmir will never be resolved. 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. KASHMIR: Make a poster about Kashmir. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. DENUCLEARIZE: Write a magazine article about India and Pakistan having to denuclearize. 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 Kashmir. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to resolve this crisis. 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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