The Reading / Listening - Alabama Abortion - Level 6

Two high-profile groups in the USA have filed a lawsuit to challenge the near-total abortion ban in the state of Alabama. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the non-profit organization Planned Parenthood want the law overturned. The ACLU tweeted: "We've been clear. If you attack our constitutional right to reproductive freedom, we will sue." The bill is called the "Human Life Protection Act". It bans all abortions in the state, except when it "is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk" to the mother. The bill criminalizes the procedure and reclassifies abortion as a Class A crime. Doctors who perform an abortion could be imprisoned for up to 99 years.

Passions are running high in Alabama over the abortion bill. One of the biggest points of contention with the bill is that it contains no exceptions for incest and rape. President Donald Trump said he did not support the ban because of the lack of exceptions. The Alabama House of Representatives and the state Senate overwhelmingly rejected attempts to include those exceptions in the law. Alabama's governor said even after incest and rape, life is of the utmost importance. She said: "This legislation stands as a powerful testament...that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God." The two groups pushing for the law to be reversed said it was a "manmade public health emergency".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Alabama Abortion - Level 4  or  Alabama Abortion - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48401063
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alabama-abortion-law-aclu-and-planned-parenthood-file-lawsuit-against-alabamas-near-total-abortion-law/
  • https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/nation/2019/05/24/alabama-abortion-law-planned-parenthood-aclu-sue-block-ban/1220001001/


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. ABORTION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about abortion. 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?
       high profile / lawsuit / challenge / non-profit / constitutional / freedom / imprisoned /
       passion / disagreement / exceptions / governor / legislation / precious / life / health
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. WOMEN ONLY: Students A strongly believe only women should decide laws on abortion; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BAN: Should these things be banned? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Ban?

Why?

Abortion

 

 

Guns

 

 

Drugs

 

 

Public protests

 

 

Words

 

 

Ivory

 

 
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See a sample

5. LAW: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "law". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. LIFE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most difficult stage of life at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • 15
  • 30
  • 55
  • 80
  • in the womb
  • the first week
  • one year
  • seven years

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. filed a. Ended or reverse a previous system, decision, situation, etc.
      2. ban b. A surgical operation.
      3. overturned c. Submitted a legal document, application, or charge to be placed on record.
      4. reproductive d. An official or legal prohibition.
      5. right e. Related to the creating of babies or young.
      6. procedure f. A moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way.
      7. imprisoned g. Put or kept in prison.

    Paragraph 2

      8. exception h. Something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event, or quality.
      9. lack i. A person or thing that is excluded from a general statement or does not follow a rule.
      10. overwhelmingly j. Most extreme; greatest.
      11. utmost k. Greatly loved or treasured.
      12. testament l. The state of being without or not having enough of something.
      13. precious m. Regarded with great respect by a particular religion, group, or individual.
      14. sacred n. To a very great degree.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Three groups in the USA have filed lawsuits against an abortion bill.     T / F
  2. The ACLU said it would not sue the state of Alabama.     T / F
  3. Abortion in Alabama is now a Class B crime.     T / F
  4. A doctor in Alabama could get 99 years in prison for performing abortions. T / F
  5. People disagree over what exceptions there are to abortion.     T / F
  6. President Trump said he supported the bill.     T / F
  7. Alabama's governor said every life was precious.     T / F
  8. Two groups called the bill a "manmade public health emergency".     T / F

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

  1. high-profile
  2. sue
  3. necessary
  4. procedure
  5. perform
  6. exceptions
  7. support
  8. utmost
  9. testament
  10. reversed
  1. unavoidable
  2. demonstration
  3. carry out
  4. take legal action
  5. back
  6. prominent
  7. greatest
  8. overturned
  9. operation
  10. special cases

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

  1. filed a
  2. non-
  3. reproductive
  4. in order to prevent
  5. could be imprisoned
  6. Passions are running
  7. it contains no exceptions
  8. the state Senate overwhelmingly
  9. every life is a sacred
  10. a manmade public
  1. profit organization
  2. health emergency
  3. a serious health risk
  4. high
  5. freedom
  6. rejected attempts
  7. lawsuit
  8. gift from God
  9. for up to 99 years
  10. for incest and rape

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
risk
sue
filed
crime
overturned
imprisoned
profit
necessary

Two high-profile groups in the USA have (1) ____________ a lawsuit to challenge the near-total abortion ban in the state of Alabama. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the non-(2) ____________ organization Planned Parenthood want the law (3) ____________. The ACLU tweeted: "We've been clear. If you attack our constitutional right to reproductive freedom, we will (4) ____________." The bill is called the "Human Life Protection Act". It bans all abortions in the state, except when it "is (5) ____________ in order to prevent a serious health (6) ____________ " to the mother. The bill criminalizes the procedure and reclassifies abortion as a Class A (7) ____________. Doctors who perform an abortion could be (8) ____________ for up to 99 years.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
lack
precious
rejected
manmade
points
sacred
high
importance

Passions are running (9) ____________ in Alabama over the abortion bill. One of the biggest (19) ____________ of disagreement with the bill is that it contains no exceptions for incest and rape. President Donald Trump said he did not support the ban because of the (11) ____________ of exceptions. The Alabama House of Representatives and the state Senate overwhelmingly (12) ____________ attempts to include those exceptions in the law. Alabama's governor said even after incest and rape, life is of the utmost (13) ____________. She said: "This legislation stands as a powerful testament...that every life is (14) ____________ and that every life is a (15) ____________ gift from God." The two groups pushing for the law to be reversed said it was a "(16) ____________ public health emergency".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  groups in the USA have filed a lawsuit to challenge the near-______
     a.  total abortion ban
     b.  totally abortion ban
     c.  totals abortion ban
     d.  totaled abortion ban
2)  If you attack our constitutional right to reproductive freedom, ______
     a.  we will so
     b.  we will sow
     c.  we will sew
     d.  we will sue
3)  except when it is necessary in order to prevent a _______
     a.  seriously health risk
     b.  serious health risk
     c.  serious healthy risk
     d.  serious health risky
4)  The bill criminalizes the procedure and reclassifies abortion as ______
     a.  a Class A grime
     b.  a Class A chime
     c.  a Class A crime
     d.  a Class A cline
5)  Doctors who perform an abortion could ______
     a.  be in prisoned
     b.  be imprison
     c.  be imp risen
     d.  be imprisoned

6)  One of the biggest points of disagreement ______
     a.  within the bill
     b.  wither the bill
     c.  wither bill
     d.  with the bill
7)  the state Senate overwhelmingly rejected attempts to include ______
     a.  those exception
     b.  those exceptions
     c.  them exceptions
     d.  them exception
8)  Alabama's governor said even after incest and rape, life is of ______ importance
     a.  the utmost
     b.  the at most
     c.  the at must
     d.  the at mostly
9)  that every life is precious and that every life is a ______ God
     a.  scared gift from
     b.  sacred gift from
     c.  scarred gift from
     d.  sack rid gift from
10)  the law to be reversed said it was a "manmade public ______
     a.  health emergent see
     b.  health emerging sea
     c.  healthy emergent sea
     d.  health emergency

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Two high-profile groups in the USA have (1) ___________________ to challenge the near-total abortion ban in the state of Alabama. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), (2) ___________________ organization Planned Parenthood want the law overturned. The ACLU tweeted: "We've been clear. If you attack our constitutional (3) ___________________ freedom, we will sue." The bill is called the "Human Life Protection Act". It bans all abortions in the (4) ___________________ it "is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk" to the mother. The bill (5) ___________________ and reclassifies abortion as a Class A crime. Doctors who perform an abortion could be (6) ___________________ to 99 years.

Passions (7) ___________________ in Alabama over the abortion bill. One of the biggest points of disagreement with the bill is that it contains no exceptions for incest and rape. President Donald Trump said he did not support the ban because of the (8) ___________________. The Alabama House of Representatives and the state Senate overwhelmingly (9) ___________________ include those exceptions in the law. Alabama's governor said even after incest and rape, life is of (10) ___________________. She said: "This legislation stands as a powerful testament...that every life is precious and that every life is a (11) ___________________ God." The two groups pushing for the law to be reversed said it was a "(12) ___________________ emergency".

Comprehension questions

  1. How many groups in the USA filed a lawsuit challenging an abortion bill?
  2. What do the groups want regarding the law?
  3. What did the groups say was a constitutional right?
  4. What does the article say the bill does to the procedure of abortion?
  5. For how long could a doctor be imprisoned for performing an abortion?
  6. What did the article say was running high in Alabama?
  7. Why did Donald Trump say he didn't support the bill?
  8. What rejected the exceptions besides Alabama's state Senate?
  9. What did Alabama's state governor say every life was?
  10. What kind of emergency did the groups call the law?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  How many groups in the USA filed a lawsuit challenging an abortion bill?
a) 4
b) 2
c) 3
d) 1
2) What do the groups want regarding the law?
a) they want it amended
b) they want it discussed more
c) they want it strengthened
d) they want it overturned
3) What did the groups say was a constitutional right?
a) pro-choice
b) pro-life
c) reproductive freedom
d) contraception
4) What does the article say the bill does to the procedure of abortion?
a) criminalizes it
b) makes it safer
c) makes it more dangerous
d) standardizes it
5) For how long could a doctor be imprisoned for performing an abortion?
a) 10 years
b) up to 99 years
c) 5-10 years
d) 25 years

6) What did the article say was running high in Alabama?
a) passions
b) blood pressure
c) temperatures
d) debates
7) Why did Donald Trump say he didn't support the bill?
a) he has to be impartial
b) it wasn't clear enough
c) it lacked exceptions
d) it's not his job
8) What rejected the exceptions besides Alabama's state Senate?
a) the House of Representatives
b) the parliament
c) the government
d) the judiciary
9) What did Alabama's state governor say every life was?
a) so. so precious
b) worth saving
c) a member of society
d) a sacred gift from God
10) What kind of emergency did the groups call the law?
a) a life emergency
b) a population emergency
c) a manmade public health emergency
d) a philosophical emergency

Role play

Role  A – In The Womb
You think being in the womb is the most difficult stage of life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ages aren't as difficult. Also, tell the others which is the least difficult of these (and why): 15 years old, 55 years old or 80 years old.

Role  B – Fifteen Years Old
You think 15 years old is the most difficult stage of life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ages aren't as difficult. Also, tell the others which is the least difficult of these (and why): being in the womb, 55 years old or 80 years old.

Role  C – Fifty-Five Years Old
You think 55 years old is the most difficult stage of life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ages aren't as difficult. Also, tell the others which is the least difficult of these (and why): 15 years old, being in the womb or 80 years old.

Role  D – Eighty Years Old
You think 80 years old is the most difficult stage of life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ages aren't as difficult. Also, tell the others which is the least difficult of these (and why): 15 years old, 55 years old or being in the womb.

After reading / listening

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

'human'

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

    • and 'life'.

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

    • • 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:

    • biggest
    • support
    • attempts
    • utmost
    • God
    • health
    • filed
    • overturned
    • clear
    • freedom
    • order
    • 99

    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 - Alabama state sued over abortion bill

    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 'human'?
    3. What do you know about the Alabama abortion bill?
    4. Why are the groups filing a lawsuit?
    5. Should reproductive freedom be protected?
    6. What do you think of the Alabama abortion bill?
    7. Do you agree with the law regarding abortion in your country?
    8. Do you think abortion should be criminalized?
    9. Should men or women create abortion laws?
    10. Should doctors be imprisoned for performing abortions?

    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 'life'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should abortion be allowed in cases of rape and incest?
    5. Is ' life is a sacred gift from God'?
    6. Is abortion murder?
    7. Should women have the right to choose?
    8. Is the abortion law a 'manmade public health emergency'?
    9. What advice do you have for the lawmakers?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the lawmakers?

    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)

    Two high-profile groups in the USA have (1) ____ a lawsuit to challenge the near-total abortion ban in the state (2) ____ Alabama. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the non-profit organization Planned Parenthood want the law overturned. The ACLU tweeted: "We've been (3) ____. If you attack our constitutional right to reproductive freedom, we will (4) ____." The bill is called the "Human Life Protection Act". It bans all abortions in the state, except when it "is necessary in (5) ____ to prevent a serious health risk" to the mother. The bill criminalizes the procedure and reclassifies abortion as a Class A crime. Doctors who (6) ____ an abortion could be imprisoned for up to 99 years.

    Passions are (7) ____ high in Alabama over the abortion bill. One of the biggest points of contention with the bill is that it contains no (8) ____ for incest and rape. President Donald Trump said he did not support the ban because of the lack of exceptions. The Alabama House of Representatives and the state Senate overwhelmingly rejected attempts (9) ____ include those exceptions in the law. Alabama's governor said even after incest and rape, life is of the (10) ____ importance. She said: "This legislation stands as a powerful testament...that every life is precious and that every life is a (11) ____ gift from God." The two groups (12) ____ for the law to be reversed said it was a "manmade public health emergency".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     failed     (b)     filled     (c)     foiled     (d)     filed    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     from     (c)     off     (d)     of    
    3. (a)     clarity     (b)     clear     (c)     clearness     (d)     clearly    
    4. (a)     suit     (b)     sew     (c)     sue     (d)     sow    
    5. (a)     order     (b)     demand     (c)     tell     (d)     sequence    
    6. (a)     perform     (b)     function     (c)     appear     (d)     behave    
    7. (a)     darting     (b)     sprinting     (c)     jogging     (d)     running    
    8. (a)     exceptions     (b)     excerpts     (c)     except     (d)     excepts    
    9. (a)     at     (b)     to     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    10. (a)     mostly     (b)     utterly     (c)     utmost     (d)     most    
    11. (a)     scared     (b)     scarred     (c)     sacred     (d)     sacredly    
    12. (a)     poking     (b)     pushing     (c)     forcing     (d)     elbowing

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. ncelehagl the near-total abortion ban
    2. want the law eouvrdrnet
    3. attack our inlsuatntiotco right
    4. urdcrpiovtee freedom
    5. The bill criminalizes the dropereuc
    6. could be dompeirsni for up to 99 years

    Paragraph 2

    1. it contains no eposcntexi
    2. overwhelmingly rteecjed
    3. This ilaslgtieon stands
    4. a arcsed gift from God
    5. pushing for the law to be evrreesd
    6. a manmade public health eeegrnmcy

    Put the text back together

    (...)  after incest and rape, life is of the utmost importance. She said: "This legislation stands
    (  1  ) Two high-profile groups in the USA have filed a lawsuit to challenge the near-total abortion ban in the
    (...)  the law overturned. The ACLU tweeted: "We've been clear. If you attack our constitutional
    (...)  rejected attempts to include those exceptions in the law. Alabama's governor said even
    (...)  groups pushing for the law to be reversed said it was a "manmade public health emergency".
    (...)  abortions in the state, except when it "is necessary in order to prevent a serious health
    (...)  risk" to the mother. The bill criminalizes the procedure and reclassifies abortion as a Class A
    (...)  not support the ban because of the lack of exceptions. The Alabama House of Representatives and the state Senate overwhelmingly
    (...)  crime. Doctors who perform an abortion could be imprisoned for up to 99 years.
    (...)  Passions are running high in Alabama over the abortion bill. One of the biggest points of
    (...)  as a powerful testament...that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God." The two
    (...)  disagreement with the bill is that it contains no exceptions for incest and rape. President Donald Trump said he did
    (...)  right to reproductive freedom, we will sue." The bill is called the "Human Life Protection Act". It bans all
    (...)  state of Alabama. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the non-profit organization Planned Parenthood want

    Put the words in the right order

    1. lawsuit   ban   .   A   to   challenge   near-total   the   abortion
    2. right   attack   reproductive   our   freedom   .   You   constitutional   to
    3. bans   It   all   the   in   state   .   abortions
    4. health   risk   a   the   to   mother   .   Prevent   serious
    5. who   abortion   perform   could   Doctors   an   be   imprisoned   .
    6. over   bill   .   Passions   are   running   the   abortion   high
    7. biggest   the   with   The   of   points   disagreement   bill   .
    8. legislation   testament   .   a   This   as   stands   powerful
    9. sacred   life   a   Every   God   .   from   gift   is
    10. health   was   public   emergency   .   It   a   manmade

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Two high-profile groups in the USA have flied / filed a lawsuit to challenge the near-total abortion ban on / in the state of Alabama. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the non-profit organization Planned Parenthood want the law overturned / overturning. The ACLU tweeted: "We've been clear. If you attack your / our constitutional right to reproductive freedom, we will sue / sew." The bill is called the "Human Life Protection Act". It bans all abortions in the state, accept / except when it "is necessary in sequence / order to prevent a serious health risk" at / to the mother. The bill criminalizes the procedure and reclassifies abortion was / as a Class A crime. Doctors who perform an abortion could be imprisoned for / from up to 99 years.

    Passions are ruining / running high in Alabama over the abortion bill. One of the biggest points of disagreement / contraption with the bill is that it contains no exceptions from / for incest and rape. President Donald Trump said he did not support / suppose the ban because of the lack of exceptions. The Alabama House of Representatives and the state Senate overwhelming / overwhelmingly rejected attempts to include those exceptions in / on the law. Alabama's governor said even after incest and rape, life is of the most / utmost importance. She said: "This legislation stands was / as a powerful testament...that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred / scared gift from God." The two groups pushing for the law to be reversed said it was a "manmade public health emergent / emergency".

    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 w_ h_g h - p r_f_l_ g r__ p s _n t h_ U S A h_v_ f_l_d _ l_w s__ t t_ c h_l l_n g_ t h_ n__ r - t_t_l _b_r t__ n b_n _n t h_ s t_t_ _f A l_b_m_. T h_ A m_r_c_n C_v_l L_b_r t__ s U n__ n ( A C L U ) , _n d t h_ n_n - p r_f_t _r g_n_z_t__ n P l_n n_d P_r_n t h__ d w_n t t h_ l_w _v_r t_r n_d . T h_ A C L U t w__ t_d : " W_' v_ b__ n c l__ r . I f y__ _t t_c k __ r c_n s t_t_t__ n_l r_g h t t_ r_p r_d_c t_v_ f r__ d_m , w_ w_l l s__ . " T h_ b_l l _s c_l l_d t h_ " H_m_n L_f_ P r_t_c t__ n A c t " . I t b_n s _l l _b_r t__ n s _n t h_ s t_t_, _x c_p t w h_n _t "_s n_c_s s_r y _n _r d_r t_ p r_v_n t _ s_r___s h__ l t h r_s k " t_ t h_ m_t h_r . T h_ b_l l c r_m_n_l_z_s t h_ p r_c_d_r_ _n d r_c l_s s_f__ s _b_r t__ n _s _ C l_s s A c r_m_. D_c t_r s w h_ p_r f_r m _n _b_r t__ n c__ l d b_ _m p r_s_n_d f_r _p t_ 9 9 y__ r s .

    P_s s__ n s _r_ r_n n_n g h_g h _n A l_b_m_ _v_r t h_ _b_r t__ n b_l l . O n_ _f t h_ b_g g_s t p__ n t s _f d_s_gr__m_nt w_t h t h_ b_l l _s t h_t _t c_n t__ n s n_ _x c_p t__ n s f_r _n c_s t _n d r_p_. P r_s_d_n t D_n_l d T r_m p s__ d h_ d_d n_t s_p p_r t t h_ b_n b_c__ s_ _f t h_ l_c k _f _x c_p t__ n s . T h_ A l_b_m_ H__ s_ _f R_p r_s_n t_t_v_s _n d t h_ s t_t_ S_n_t_ _v_r w h_l m_n g l y r_j_c t_d _t t_m p t s t_ _n c l_d_ t h_s_ _x c_p t__ n s _n t h_ l_w . A l_b_m_' s g_v_r n_r s__ d _v_n _f t_r _n c_s t _n d r_p_, l_f_ _s _f t h_ _t m_s t _m p_r t_n c_. S h_ s__ d : " T h_s l_g_s l_t__ n s t_n d s _s _ p_w_r f_l t_s t_m_n t . . . t h_t _v_r y l_f_ _s p r_c___s _n d t h_t _v_r y l_f_ _s _ s_c r_d g_f t f r_m G_d . " T h_ t w_ g r__ p s p_s h_n g f_r t h_ l_w t_ b_ r_v_r s_d s__ d _t w_s _ " m_n m_d_ p_b l_c h__ l t h _m_r g_n c y " .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    two highprofile groups in the usa have filed a lawsuit to challenge the neartotal abortion ban in the state of alabama the american civil liberties union aclu and the nonprofit organization planned parenthood want the law overturned the aclu tweeted weve been clear if you attack our constitutional right to reproductive freedom we will sue the bill is called the human life protection act it bans all abortions in the state except when it is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk to the mother the bill criminalizes the procedure and reclassifies abortion as a class a crime doctors who perform an abortion could be imprisoned for up to 99 years

    passions are running high in alabama over the abortion bill one of the biggest points of disagreement with the bill is that it contains no exceptions for incest and rape president donald trump said he did not support the ban because of the lack of exceptions the alabama house of representatives and the state senate overwhelmingly rejected attempts to include those exceptions in the law alabamas governor said even after incest and rape life is of the utmost importance she said this legislation stands as a powerful testamentthat every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from god the two groups pushing for the law to be reversed said it was a manmade public health emergency.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Twohigh-profilegroupsintheUSAhavefiledalawsuittochallengethen
    ear-totalabortionbaninthestateofAlabama.TheAmericanCivilLiberti
    esUnion(ACLU),andthenon-profitorganizationPlannedParenthood
    wantthelawoverturned.TheACLUtweeted:"We'vebeenclear.Ifyouatt
    ackourconstitutionalrighttoreproductivefreedom,wewillsue."Thebill
    iscalledthe"HumanLifeProtectionAct".Itbansallabortionsinthestate,
    exceptwhenit"isnecessaryinordertopreventaserioushealthrisk"toth
    emother.Thebillcriminalizestheprocedureandreclassifiesabortionas
    aClassAcrime.Doctorswhoperformanabortioncouldbeimprisonedfor
    upto99years.PassionsarerunninghighinAlabamaovertheabortionbill
    .Oneofthebiggestpointsofcontentionwiththebillisthatitcontainsnoex
    ceptionsforincestandrape.PresidentDonaldTrumpsaidhedidnotsupp
    ortthebanbecauseofthelackofexceptions.TheAlabamaHouseofRepr
    esentativesandthestateSenateoverwhelminglyrejectedattemptstoi
    ncludethoseexceptionsinthelaw.Alabama'sgovernorsaidevenafterin
    cestandrape,lifeisoftheutmostimportance.Shesaid:"Thislegislations
    tandsasapowerfultestament...thateverylifeispreciousandthateveryl
    ifeisasacredgiftfromGod."Thetwogroupspushingforthelawtoberever
    sedsaiditwasa"manmadepublichealthemergency".

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Women and not men should decide on abortion legislation. 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. ABORTION LAWS: Make a poster about abortion laws around the world. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WOMEN ONLY: Write a magazine article about women only creating any legislation about abortion. 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 abortion. 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

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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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