The Reading / Listening - Sri Lanka Blasts - Level 1

Over 207 people died in suicide bombings in Sri Lanka. There were eight bombs in churches and hotels. Bombers attacked three churches where there were religious services for Easter, one of the biggest events in the Christian calendar. Three luxury hotels were also hit. There is now a curfew in the country. People must be alert and report anything suspicious. The government has blocked social media sites. Police have arrested seven suspects.

World leaders spoke about the attacks. Pope Francis said: "I pray for the injured and all those who are suffering." The Catholic Church said it was a sad situation. It said: "We never expected such a thing to happen...on Easter Sunday." Donald Trump said the USA is ready to help "the great people of Sri Lanka". Turkey said the bombs were "an assault on all of humanity". Sri Lanka's president is worried the violence could lead to instability in his country.

Note: At the time of uploading, the death toll was 310.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Sri Lanka Blasts - Level 0 Sri Lanka Blasts - Level 2   or  Sri Lanka Blasts - Level 3

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48001720
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/sri-lanka-bombings-explosions-easter-sunday-colombo-churches-hotels-2019-04-21-live-updates/
  • https://www.dw.com/en/easter-sunday-blasts-belie-sri-lankas-calm-facade/a-48422430


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. people died in
  2. there were religious
  3. one of the
  4. Three luxury hotels
  5. There is now a curfew
  6. be alert and report
  7. The government has blocked
  8. Police have arrested
  1. biggest events
  2. social media sites
  3. in the country
  4. seven suspects
  5. services for Easter
  6. were also hit
  7. suicide bombings
  8. anything suspicious

Paragraph 2

  1. World leaders spoke about
  2. I pray
  3. all those who
  4. We never expected such
  5. the USA is ready
  6. an assault on all
  7. Sri Lanka's president
  8. could lead
  1. are suffering
  2. is worried
  3. to help
  4. to instability
  5. of humanity
  6. the attacks
  7. a thing to happen
  8. for the injured

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Over 207 (1) ___________________ suicide bombings in Sri Lanka. There were (2) ___________________ churches and hotels. Bombers attacked three (3) ___________________ were religious services for Easter, one of the biggest events in the Christian calendar. Three (4) ___________________ also hit. There is now a curfew in the country. People must be alert and (5) ___________________. The government has blocked social media sites. Police have (6) ___________________.

World leaders (7) ___________________ attacks. Pope Francis said: "I pray for the (8) ___________________ those who are suffering." The Catholic Church said it was a sad situation. It said: "We never expected (9) ___________________ to happen...on Easter Sunday." Donald Trump said the USA is (10) ___________________ "the great people of Sri Lanka". Turkey said the bombs were "an assault (11) ___________________ humanity". Sri Lanka's president is worried the violence could lead to instability (12) ___________________.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Over207peoplediedinsuicidebombingsinSriLanka.Therewereeightb
ombsinchurchesandhotels.Bombersattackedthreechurcheswhereth
erewerereligiousservicesforEaster,oneofthebiggesteventsintheChri
stiancalendar.Threeluxuryhotelswerealsohit.Thereisnowacurfewint
hecountry.Peoplemustbealertandreportanythingsuspicious.Thegov
ernmenthasblockedsocialmediasites.Policehavearrestedsevensusp
ects.Worldleadersspokeabouttheattacks.PopeFrancissaid:"Iprayfor
theinjuredandallthosewhoaresuffering."TheCatholicChurchsaiditwa
sasadsituation.Itsaid:"Weneverexpectedsuchathingtohappen...onE
asterSunday."DonaldTrumpsaidtheUSAisreadytohelp"thegreatpeo
pleofSriLanka".Turkeysaidthebombswere"anassaultonallofhumanit
y".SriLanka'spresidentisworriedtheviolencecouldleadtoinstabilityin
hiscountry.

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 — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You