The Reading / Listening - Oil Tanker Attacks - Level 6

Tensions are rising in the Middle East over the latest attacks on oil tankers. The USA is blaming Iran for the attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. The tankers are owned by Japan and Norway. They were hit by blasts while navigating waters close to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Around a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait, which is just 68km at its narrowest point. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was behind the "blatant assault" on the vessels. He said the U.S. would defend itself and its allies against "Iranian aggression" in the region. However, he provided no evidence that Iran was behind the attacks.

The attacks are the second such incidents carried out against tankers in the past month. Two Saudi tankers were sabotaged in the UAE port of Fujairah last month. The U.S. says the latest tankers were hit by mines and posted a video online of supposed Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine off the hull of one of the ships. Iran's Foreign Minister described the attacks as "suspicious". He said Iran's navy was investigating them. Iran called the U.S. accusations "unfounded," "inflammatory" and "Iranophobic". The Japanese owner of one of the tankers said his vessel was struck by some kind of missile and not by a mine. The United Nations cautioned that the truth needed to be "clearly established".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Oil Tanker Attacks - Level 4  or  Oil Tanker Attacks - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/oil-tankers-attacked-in-gulf-of-oman-us-navy-says/2019/06/13/d59b784c-8db0-11e9-b162-8f6f41ec3c04_story.html?
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/iran-calls-tanker-explosions-suspicious-global-concern-grows-190613150655075.html
  • https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436925/Iran-warns-U-S-over-blame-game-through-suspicious-attacks


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. GULF OF OMAN CRISIS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Gulf of Oman Crisis. 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 / Middle East / attacks / tanker / oil / assault / aggression / region / evidence
       incident / sabotage / mine / foreign minister / suspicious / Iranophobic / navy / truth
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. WAR: Students A strongly believe there will be another war in the region; Students B strongly believe there won't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. THE PLAYERS: How can these players help de-escalate tensions over this crisis? Will they? Why (not)? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What they Can Do

Will They?

Why (Not)?

The USA's leader

 

 

 

Iran's leader

 

 

 

Saudi's leader

 

 

 

The UN's leader

 

 

 

China's leader

 

 

 

Russia's leader

 

 

 
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. OIL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "oil". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DE-ESCALATION: Rank these with your partner. Put the person who is most likely to de-escalate the situation at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Shinzo Abe
  • Dalai Lama
  • Vladimir Putin
  • the UAE leader
  • Donald Trump
  • Hassan Rouhani
  • António Guterres
  • Saudi's Crown Prince

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. blaming a. A narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water.
      2. blast b. Traveling on a desired course after planning a route.
      3. navigating c. An explosion or explosive firing, especially of a bomb.
      4. strategically d. Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another; readiness to attack or confront.
      5. strait e. Saying someone was at fault or wrong.
      6. blatant f. Relating to the gaining of overall or long-term (military) advantage.
      7. aggression g. Done openly and unashamedly.

    Paragraph 2

      8. incident h. The main body of a ship.
      9. sabotaged i. Of speech or writing arousing or intended to arouse angry or violent feelings.
      10. mine j. Having or showing a distrust of someone or something.
      11. hull k. Deliberately destroyed, damaged, or obstructed something, especially for political or military advantage.
      12. suspicious l. A ship or large boat.
      13. inflammatory m. An event or occurrence.
      14. vessel n. A type of bomb placed on or just below the surface of the ground or in the water that detonates when disturbed by a person, vehicle, or ship.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The attacked tankers were from Norway and Japan.     T / F
  2. The Strait or Hormuz is 68 miles at its narrowest point.     T / F
  3. The USA said it would defend its allies against Iran.     T / F
  4. Mike Pompeo provided lots of evidence that Iran attacked the tankers.     T / F
  5. Three tankers were attacked in the UAE earlier this month.     T / F
  6. Iran said it is investigating the "suspicious" attacks.     T / F
  7. A Japanese tanker owner said his ship hit a mine.     T / F
  8. The United Nations said it had clearly established the facts.     T / F

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

  1. rising
  2. blaming
  3. blasts
  4. blatant
  5. evidence
  6. carried out
  7. supposed
  8. suspicious
  9. inflammatory
  10. established
  1. alleged
  2. flagrant
  3. proof
  4. found
  5. accusing
  6. provocative
  7. conducted
  8. escalating
  9. questionable
  10. explosions

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

  1. The USA is blaming
  2. close to the strategically important
  3. just 68km at
  4. the U.S. would defend itself
  5. no evidence that Iran was behind
  6. Two Saudi tankers were
  7. removing an unexploded
  8. He said Iran's navy was
  9. his vessel was struck by some
  10. the truth needed to be
  1. the attacks
  2. mine
  3. clearly established
  4. investigating them
  5. Strait of Hormuz
  6. Iran for the attacks
  7. kind of missile
  8. and its allies
  9. sabotaged
  10. its narrowest point

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
allies
blaming
evidence
narrowest
strategically
vessels
blasts
fifth

Tensions are rising in the Middle East over the latest attacks on oil tankers. The USA is (1) ____________ Iran for the attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. The tankers are owned by Japan and Norway. They were hit by (2) ____________ while navigating waters close to the (3) ____________ important Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Around a (4) ____________ of the world's oil passes through the Strait, which is just 68km at its (5) ____________ point. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was behind the "blatant assault" on the (6) ____________. He said the U.S. would defend itself and its (7) ____________ against "Iranian aggression" in the region. However, he provided no (8) ____________ that Iran was behind the attacks.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hull
established
sabotaged
suspicious
some
incidents
mines
accusations

The attacks are the second such (9) ____________ carried out against tankers in the past month. Two Saudi tankers were (10) ____________ in the UAE port of Fujairah last month. The U.S. says the latest tankers were hit by (11) ____________ and posted a video online of supposed Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine off the (12) ____________ of one of the ships. Iran's Foreign Minister described the attacks as "(13) ____________". He said Iran's navy was investigating them. Iran called the U.S. (14) ____________ "unfounded," "inflammatory" and "Iranophobic". The Japanese owner of one of the tankers said his vessel was struck by (15) ____________ kind of missile and not by a mine. The United Nations cautioned that the truth needed to be "clearly (16) ____________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Tensions are rising in the Middle East over the latest attacks ______
     a.  annoy tankers
     b.  embroil tankers
     c.  inner tankers
     d.  on oil tankers
2)  They were hit by blasts while ______
     a.  navigation waters
     b.  navigate in waters
     c.  navigate on waters
     d.  navigating waters
3)  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was behind ______
     a.  the play tent assault
     b.  the plate ant assault
     c.  the blade ant assault
     d.  the blatant assault
4)  He said the U.S. would defend itself ______
     a.  and it sullies
     b.  and its sullies
     c.  and its allies
     d.  and its Sallies
5)  However, he provided no evidence that Iran was ______
     a.  beyond the attacks
     b.  behind the attacks
     c.  behest the attacks
     d.  beneath the attacks

6)  tankers in the past month. Two Saudi tankers were ______ UAE
     a.  sabotage in the
     b.  sabotaged in the
     c.  subterfuge in the
     d.  saber charged in the
7)  supposed Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine ______
     a.  off the hull
     b.  off the cull
     c.  off the full
     d.  off the bull
8)  Iran's Foreign Minister described the attacks ______
     a.  as suspiciously
     b.  as suspicions
     c.  as suspiciously
     d.  as so specials
9)  the tankers said his vessel was struck by some kind of missile and ______
     a.  not bye a mine
     b.  not buy a mine
     c.  not buyer mine
     d.  not by a mine
10)  The United Nations cautioned that the truth needed to ______
     a.  been clear established
     b.  be clear re-established
     c.  be clearly established
     d.  been clearly established

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Tensions are rising in the Middle East over the (1) ___________________ oil tankers. The USA is blaming Iran for the attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. The tankers (2) ___________________ Japan and Norway. They were hit (3) ___________________ navigating waters close to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Around a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait, which is just 68km (4) ___________________ point. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was behind the "blatant assault" on the vessels. He said the U.S. would defend itself and (5) ___________________ "Iranian aggression" in the region. However, he provided (6) ___________________ Iran was behind the attacks.

The attacks are the (7) ___________________ carried out against tankers in the past month. Two Saudi tankers were (8) ___________________ UAE port of Fujairah last month. The U.S. says the latest tankers were hit by mines and posted a video (9) ___________________ Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine off the hull of one of the ships. Iran's Foreign Minister described the (10) ___________________. He said Iran's navy was investigating them. Iran called the U.S. accusations "unfounded," "inflammatory" and "Iranophobic". The Japanese owner of one of the tankers said his (11) ___________________ by some kind of missile and not by a mine. The United Nations cautioned that the truth needed to (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say was rising in the Middle East?
  2. Which countries own the two oil tankers that were attacked?
  3. How much of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz?
  4. How wide is the Strait of Hormuz at its narrowest point?
  5. What did the article say Mike Pompeo did not provide evidence of?
  6. How many oil tankers were attacked in the UAE?
  7. What did Iran's Foreign Minister described the attacks as being?
  8. What did Iran call the US accusations besides unfounded and inflammatory?
  9. What did a tanker owner say his ship was hit by?
  10. What did the United Nations say needed to be "clearly established"?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What did the article say was rising in the Middle East?
a) oil prices
b) tensions
c) arguments
d) sea levels
2) Which countries own the two oil tankers that were attacked?
a) India and China
b) the USA and UK
c) Saudi Arabia and the UAE
d) Japan and Norway
3) How much of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz?
a) a fifth
b) a quarter
c) two-thirds
d) three-quarters
4) How wide is the Strait of Hormuz at its narrowest point?
a) 58km
b) 86km
c) 68km
d) 85km
5) What did the article say Mike Pompeo did not provide evidence of?
a) missiles
b) Iran being behind the attacks
c) mines
d) the time of the attacks

6) How many oil tankers were attacked in the UAE?
a) 4
b) 3
c) 2
d) 4
7) What did Iran's Foreign Minister described the attacks as being?
a) wrong
b) worrying
c) baseless
d) suspicious
8) What did Iran call the US accusations besides unfounded and inflammatory?
a) Iranophobic
b) wrong
c) worrying
d) shocking
9) What did a tanker owner say his ship was hit by?
a) some kind of missile
b) a mine
c) a bomb-filled boat
d) a rocket-propelled grenade
10) What did the United Nations say needed to be "clearly established"?
a) who did it
b) the truth
c) vision
d) mines

Role play

Role  A – Donald Trump
You think Donald Trump is the most likely to de-escalate the crisis. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people wouldn't de-escalate the situation. Also, tell the others who is the least likely of these to do so (and why): Hassan Rouhani, Dalai Lama or Shinzo Abe.

Role  B – Hassan Rouhani
You think Hassan Rouhani is the most likely to de-escalate the crisis. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people wouldn't de-escalate the situation. Also, tell the others who is the least likely of these to do so (and why): Donald Trump, Dalai Lama or Shinzo Abe.

Role  C – Dalai Lama
You think the Dalai Lama is the most likely to de-escalate the crisis. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people wouldn't de-escalate the situation. Also, tell the others who is the least likely of these to do so (and why): Hassan Rouhani, Donald Trump or Shinzo Abe.

Role  D – Shinzo Abe
You think Shinzo Abe is the most likely to de-escalate the crisis. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people wouldn't de-escalate the situation. Also, tell the others who is the least likely of these to do so (and why): Hassan Rouhani, Dalai Lama or Donald Trump .

After reading / listening

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

'oil'

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

    • and 'tanker'.

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

    • • 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:

    • second
    • port
    • video
    • hull
    • owner
    • truth
    • latest
    • blaming
    • while
    • fifth
    • secretary
    • evidence

    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 - Tensions over oil-tanker attacks in Gulf of Oman

    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 'oil'?
    3. What do you know about the Oman Gulf crisis?
    4. Who do you think is behind the attacks?
    5. How high are tensions rising?
    6. Why would Iran attack oil tankers close to its coast?
    7. What might further attacks do to relations in the region?
    8. Why did Mike Pompeo blame Iran without any evidence?
    9. What might the USA do to defend its allies in the region?
    10. How worried are you about what is going on?

    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 'tanker'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How likely is a third Gulf War in the Middle East?
    5. Do you believe the USA or Iran?
    6. Do you think U.S. leaders are 'Iranophobic'?
    7. What would be the outcome of a conflict in the Gulf?
    8. How do you think events will develop?
    9. What can be done to reduce tensions in the Gulf region?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Iran's leaders?

    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 rising in the Middle East over the latest attacks on oil tankers. The USA is (1) ____ Iran for the attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. The tankers are owned by Japan and Norway. They were hit by (2) ____ while navigating waters close to the (3) ____ important Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Around a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait, which is just 68km at its (4) ____ point. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was behind the "blatant assault" on the vessels. He said the U.S. would defend itself and its (5) ____ against "Iranian aggression" in the region. However, he provided (6) ____ evidence that Iran was behind the attacks.

    The attacks are the second such (7) ____ carried out against tankers in the past month. Two Saudi tankers were (8) ____ in the UAE port of Fujairah last month. The U.S. says the tankers were hit by mines and posted a video online of (9) ____ Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine off the (10) ____ of one of the ships. Iran's Foreign Minister described the attacks as "suspicious". He said Iran's navy was investigating them. Iran called the U.S. (11) ____ "unfounded," "inflammatory" and "Iranophobic". The Japanese owner of one of the tankers said his vessel was struck by some kind of (12) ____ and not by a mine. The United Nations cautioned that the truth needed to be "clearly established".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     blaming     (b)     blames     (c)     blamed     (d)     blame    
    2. (a)     bastes     (b)     beasts     (c)     blasts     (d)     bats    
    3. (a)     strategy     (b)     strategic     (c)     strategically     (d)     strategise    
    4. (a)     inadequate     (b)     confined     (c)     slenderest     (d)     narrowest    
    5. (a)     relies     (b)     belies     (c)     allies     (d)     plies    
    6. (a)     non     (b)     no     (c)     not     (d)     nor    
    7. (a)     insidious     (b)     incidents     (c)     incitement     (d)     incidence    
    8. (a)     subterfuge     (b)     sabotaged     (c)     subtlest     (d)     subtracted    
    9. (a)     reposed     (b)     imposed     (c)     supposed     (d)     composed    
    10. (a)     cull     (b)     dull     (c)     full     (d)     hull    
    11. (a)     options     (b)     remedies     (c)     components     (d)     accusations    
    12. (a)     mission     (b)     missive     (c)     fissile     (d)     missile

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. while navgigatni waters
    2. the ctalgeyatirls important Strait of Hormuz
    3. 68km at its sronrweat point
    4. the lnaattb assault on the vessels
    5. defend itself and its elsila
    6. he provided no eevdince

    Paragraph 2

    1. the second such cstiinned carried out
    2. Saudi tankers were ogtbasead
    3. removing an euodenpxld mine
    4. described the attacks as isscsuiupo
    5. Iran called the U.S. natuaoscics unfounded
    6. be clearly iaseeldhbts

    Put the text back together

    (...)  on the vessels. He said the U.S. would defend itself and its allies against "Iranian aggression" in
    (  1  ) Tensions are rising in the Middle East over the latest attacks on oil tankers. The USA is blaming Iran
    (...)  "Iranophobic". The Japanese owner of one of the tankers said his vessel was struck by some
    (...)  kind of missile and not by a mine. The United Nations cautioned that the truth needed to be "clearly established".
    (...)  68km at its narrowest point. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was behind the "blatant assault"
    (...)  Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Around a fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait, which is just
    (...)  the region. However, he provided no evidence that Iran was behind the attacks.
    (...)  sabotaged in the UAE port of Fujairah last month. The U.S. says the latest tankers were hit by mines and posted
    (...)  ships. Iran's Foreign Minister described the attacks as "suspicious". He said Iran's navy was
    (...)  by Japan and Norway. They were hit by blasts while navigating waters close to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz between
    (...)  for the attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. The tankers are owned
    (...)  investigating them. Iran called the U.S. accusations "unfounded," "inflammatory" and
    (...)  a video online of supposed Iranian forces removing an unexploded mine off the hull of one of the
    (...)  The attacks are the second such incidents carried out against tankers in the past month. Two Saudi tankers were

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   for   Iran   USA   The   blaming   attacks   .   is
    2. close   Navigating   to   important   waters   strategically   strait   .   the
    3. oil   world's   the   passes   A   through   .   of   fifth
    4. defend   allies   .   itself   The   and   its   U.S.   would
    5. the   Iran   was   No   behind   that   attacks   .   evidence
    6. against   carried   second   The   incidents   out   tankers   .   such
    7. the   tankers   Two   were   in   sabotaged   port   .   Saudi
    8. were   mines   .   hit   U.S.   by   tankers   The   says
    9. them   .   He   Iran's   said   navy   was   investigating
    10. needed   clearly   truth   to   The   be   established   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Tensions are risen / rising in the Middle East over the latest attacks on oil tankers. The USA is blaming Iran for the attacks in / on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday. The tankers are owned / disowned by Japan and Norway. They were hit by bastes / blasts while navigating waters close to the strategically / strategy important Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Around a fifth of the world's oil pass / passes through the Strait, which is just 68km at / of its narrowest point. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was behind the "blatant assault" on the vassals / vessels. He said the U.S. would defend itself and its allies / allied against "Iranian aggression" in the region. However, he provided / proofed no evidence that Iran was behind the attacks.

    The attacks are the second such incidental / incidents carried out against tankers in the past month. Two Saudi tankers were subterfuge / sabotaged in the UAE port of Fujairah last month. The U.S. says the latest tankers were hit by mines / miners and posted a video online of proposed / supposed Iranian forces removing / removal an unexploded mine off the bull / hull of one of the ships. Iran's Foreign Minister described the attacks was / as "suspicious". He said Iran's navy was investigating them. Iran called the U.S. accusations / accuses "unfounded," "inflammatory" and "Iranophobic". The Japanese owner of one of the tankers said his vessel was sucked / struck by some kind of missile and not by a mine. The United Nations cautioned that the truth needed to be "clearly / clarity established".

    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_ r_s_n g _n t h_ M_d d l_ E_s t _v_r t h_ l_t_s t _t t_c k s _n __ l t_n k_r s . T h_ U S A _s b l_m_n g I r_n f_r t h_ _t t_c k s _n t w_ t_n k_r s _n t h_ G_l f _f O m_n _n T h_r s d_y . T h_ t_n k_r s _r_ _w n_d b y J_p_n _n d N_r w_y . T h_y w_r_ h_t b y b l_s t s w h_l_ n_v_g_t_n g w_t_r s c l_s_ t_ t h_ s t r_t_g_c_l l y _m p_r t_n t S t r__ t _f H_r m_z b_t w__ n I r_n _n d t h_ U n_t_d A r_b E m_r_t_s . A r__ n d _ f_f t h _f t h_ w_r l d ' s __ l p_s s_s t h r__ g h t h_ S t r__ t , w h_c h _s j_s t 6 8 k m _t _t s n_r r_w_s t p__ n t . U . S . S_c r_t_r y _f S t_t_ M_k_ P_m p__ s__ d I r_n w_s b_h_n d t h_ " b l_t_n t _s s__ l t " _n t h_ v_s s_l s . H_ s__ d t h_ U . S . w__ l d d_f_n d _t s_l f _n d _t s _l l__ s _g__ n s t " I r_n__ n _g g r_s s__ n " _n t h_ r_g__ n . H_w_v_r , h_ p r_v_d_d n_ _v_d_n c_ t h_t I r_n w_s b_h_n d t h_ _t t_c k s .

    T h_ _t t_c k s _r_ t h_ s_c_n d s_c h _n c_d_n t s c_r r__ d __ t _g__ n s t t_n k_r s _n t h_ p_s t m_n t h . T w_ S__ d_ t_n k_r s w_r_ s_b_t_g_d _n t h_ U A E p_r t _f F_j__ r_h l_s t m_n t h . T h_ U . S . s_y s t h_ t_n k_r s w_r_ h_t b y m_n_s _n d p_s t_d _ v_d__ _n l_n_ _f s_p p_s_d I r_n__ n f_r c_s r_m_v_n g _n _n_x p l_d_d m_n_ _f f t h_ h_l l _f _n_ _f t h_ s h_p s . I r_n ' s F_r__ g n M_n_s t_r d_s c r_b_d t h_ _t t_c k s _s " s_s p_c___s " . H_ s__ d I r_n ' s n_v y w_s _n v_s t_g_t_n g t h_m . I r_n c_l l_d t h_ U . S . _c c_s_t__ n s "_n f__ n d_d , " "_n f l_m m_t_r y " _n d " I r_n_p h_b_c " . T h_ J_p_n_s_ _w n_r _f _n_ _f t h_ t_n k_r s s__ d h_s v_s s_l w_s s t r_c k b y s_m_ k_n d _f m_s s_l_ _n d n_t b y _ m_n_. T h_ U n_t_d N_t__ n s c__ t__ n_d t h_t t h_ t r_t h n__ d_d t_ b_ " c l__ r l y _s t_b l_s h_d " .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    tensions are rising in the middle east over the latest attacks on oil tankers the usa is blaming iran for the attacks on two tankers in the gulf of oman on thursday the tankers are owned by japan and norway they were hit by blasts while navigating waters close to the strategically important strait of hormuz between iran and the united arab emirates around a fifth of the worlds oil passes through the strait which is just 68km at its narrowest point us secretary of state mike pompeo said iran was behind the blatant assault on the vessels he said the us would defend itself and its allies against iranian aggression in the region however he provided no evidence that iran was behind the attacks

    the attacks are the second such incidents carried out against tankers in the past month two saudi tankers were sabotaged in the uae port of fujairah last month the us says the latest tankers were hit by mines and posted a video online of supposed iranian forces removing an unexploded mine off the hull of one of the ships irans foreign minister described the attacks as suspicious he said irans navy was investigating them iran called the us accusations unfounded inflammatory and iranophobic the japanese owner of one of the tankers said his vessel was struck by some kind of missile and not by a mine the united nations cautioned that the truth needed to be clearly established

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TensionsarerisingintheMiddleEastoverthelatestattacksonoiltankers
    .TheUSAisblamingIranfortheattacksontwotankersintheGulfofOman
    onThursday.ThetankersareownedbyJapanandNorway.Theywerehit
    byblastswhilenavigatingwatersclosetothestrategicallyimportantStr
    aitofHormuzbetweenIranandtheUnitedArabEmirates.Aroundafiftho
    ftheworld'soilpassesthroughtheStrait,whichisjust68kmatitsnarrow
    estpoint.U.S.SecretaryofStateMikePompeosaidIranwasbehindthe"
    blatantassault"onthevessels.HesaidtheU.S.woulddefenditselfandits
    alliesagainst"Iranianaggression"intheregion.However,heprovidedn
    oevidencethatIranwasbehindtheattacks.Theattacksaretheseconds
    uchincidentscarriedoutagainsttankersinthepastmonth.TwoSaudita
    nkersweresabotagedintheUAEportofFujairahlastmonth.TheU.S.say
    sthelatesttankerswerehitbyminesandpostedavideoonlineofsuppose
    dIranianforcesremovinganunexplodedmineoffthehullofoneoftheshi
    ps.Iran'sForeignMinisterdescribedtheattacksas"suspicious".Hesaid
    Iran'snavywasinvestigatingthem.IrancalledtheU.S.accusations"unf
    ounded,""inflammatory"and"Iranophobic".TheJapaneseownerofon
    eofthetankerssaidhisvesselwasstruckbysomekindofmissileandnotb
    yamine.TheUnitedNationscautionedthatthetruthneededtobe"clearl
    yestablished".

    Free writing

    Write about the lesson page for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    It is easy to reduce tensions over the oil tanker attacks. 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. GULF OF OMAN CRISIS: Make a poster about the Gulf of Oman Crisis. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. DE-ESCALATION: Write a magazine article about the Gulf of Oman Crisis being very easy to de-escalate. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree with and disagree with 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 Gulf of Oman Crisis. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to de-escalate 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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