The Reading / Listening - Missile Defense System - Level 6

Relations between the USA and Turkey have soured following the purchase by Turkey of a Russian missile defense system. Turkey received the first deliveries of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system on Friday. The USA had warned Turkey not to buy defense equipment from Russia. The USA and Turkey are both allies in NATO - a defense organization created in 1949 to counter any possible military aggression by Russia. NATO consists of 29 North American and European nations. The USA has the biggest military among the member states. In recent years, Turkey has been establishing closer ties with Russia. This has caused security concerns for the USA and other NATO member countries.

The U.S. has warned Turkey it will face economic sanctions if it goes ahead and installs the S-400 defense system. It also said Turkey would not be allowed to play any part in a program to manufacture the USA's high-tech F-35 fighter jets. The U.S. wants Turkey to buy its Patriot missile defense system instead. U.S. officials argue the Russian system would be incompatible with NATO systems and would expose F-35 fighter jets to possible Russian subterfuge. Turkey said the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not pose a threat to the NATO alliance. Turkey's president said the decision to purchase the S-400 system did not mean it is seeking "alternatives" in its relations with the West.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Missile Defense System - Level 4  or  Missile Defense System - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48962885
  • https://www.foxnews.com/world/russian-s-400-defense-systems-arrive-in-turkey
  • https://tass.com/defense/1068288
  • https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkey-russian-s-400-hardware-deployment-starts/1529747


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. MISSILE DEFENSE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about missile defense systems. 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?
       relations / purchase / missile / defence / equipment / military / NATO / security /
       economic / sanctions / manufacture / fighter jets / subterfuge / threat / alternatives
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. RUSSIA: Students A strongly believe Turkey should not but Russian defence equipment; Students B strongly believe it should if it wants to.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DEFENCE: How should countries defend themselves against these things? How effective would the defences be? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Defence

Effectiveness

Missile attack

 

 

Land invasion

 

 

Cyber attack

 

 

Chemical attack

 

 

Sanctions

 

 

Global warming

 

 
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. MISSILE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "missile". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important ties for countries at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • sporting ties
  • political ties
  • historical ties
  • technology ties
  • military ties
  • economic ties
  • cultural ties
  • religious ties

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. soured a. Things that unite or link people.
      2. delivery b. Made or became unpleasant, acrimonious, or difficult.
      3. allies c. Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another.
      4. counter d. The formal or symbolic handing over of property.
      5. aggression e. Respond to hostile speech or action.
      6. military f. A group of nations taking military action together.
      7. ties g. The armed forces of a country.

    Paragraph 2

      8. sanctions h. Actions taken by a nation to force another to conform to an international agreement or correct behaviour.
      9. install i. Of one or more things available as another possibility.
      10. manufacture j. Place or fix equipment or machinery in position ready for use.
      11. incompatible k. Present or constitute a problem, danger, or difficulty.
      12. subterfuge l. Make something on a large scale using machinery.
      13. pose m. Equipment, machinery, computer programs, etc. not capable of being used in combination.
      14. alternative n. Deceit and trickery used in order to achieve one's goal.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article reported on scoured relations between the USA and Turkey.    T / F
  2. Russia will make its first delivery of equipment in the year 2020.     T / F
  3. NATO was created in 1949.     T / F
  4. NATO now consists of over 30 countries.     T / F
  5. Turkey has threatened the USA with economic sanctions.     T / F
  6. The US wants Turkey to buy an American-made missile defence system.  T / F
  7. The US is worried about Russian subterfuge.     T / F
  8. Turkey said it isn't trying to find alternatives to the West.     T / F

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

  1. soured
  2. purchase
  3. equipment
  4. aggression
  5. ties
  6. sanctions
  7. incompatible
  8. subterfuge
  9. threat
  10. alternatives
  1. gear
  2. substitutes
  3. spoiled
  4. trickery
  5. acquisition
  6. hostility
  7. danger
  8. links
  9. unsuited
  10. penalties

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

  1. Relations between the USA and
  2. defense
  3. military
  4. This has caused security
  5. NATO member
  6. it will face economic
  7. manufacture the USA's high-
  8. incompatible with
  9. pose a threat to
  10. seeking "alternatives" in its relations
  1. with the West
  2. sanctions
  3. countries
  4. NATO systems
  5. aggression
  6. Turkey have soured
  7. the NATO alliance
  8. concerns for the USA
  9. tech F-35 fighter jets
  10. equipment

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
military
deliveries
concerns
allies
soured
ties
counter
warned

Relations between the USA and Turkey have (1) ____________ following the purchase by Turkey of a Russian missile defense system. Turkey received the first (2) ____________ of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system on Friday. The USA had (3) ____________ Turkey not to buy defense equipment from Russia. The USA and Turkey are both (4) ____________ in NATO - a defense organization created in 1949 to (5) ____________ any possible military aggression by Russia. NATO consists of 29 North American and European nations. The USA has the biggest (6) ____________ among the member states. In recent years, Turkey has been establishing closer (7) ____________ with Russia. This has caused security (8) ____________ for the USA and other NATO member countries.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
instead
sanctions
incompatible
pose
play
relations
installs
subterfuge

The U.S. has warned Turkey it will face economic (9) ____________ if it goes ahead and (10) ____________ the S-400 defense system. It also said Turkey would not be allowed to (11) ____________ any part in a program to manufacture the USA's high-tech F-35 fighter jets. The U.S. wants Turkey to buy its Patriot missile defense system (12) ____________. U.S. officials argue the Russian system would be (13) ____________ with NATO systems and would expose F-35 fighter jets to possible Russian (14) ____________. Turkey said the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not (15) ____________ a threat to the NATO alliance. Turkey's president said the decision to purchase the S-400 system did not mean it is seeking "alternatives" in its (16) ____________ with the West.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Relations between the USA and Turkey have soured following ______ Turkey
     a.  the purchased by
     b.  the perch chase by
     c.  the purr chase by
     d.  the purchase by
2)  Turkey not to buy defense equipment from Russia. The USA and Turkey are ______
     a.  both allied in NATO
     b.  both ails in NATO
     c.  both alleys in NATO
     d.  both allies in NATO
3)  The USA has the biggest military among the ______
     a.  member states
     b.  members states
     c.  member straits
     d.  members traits
4)  In recent years, Turkey has been establishing ______ Russia
     a.  closer sties with
     b.  closer tiles with
     c.  closer ties with
     d.  closer times with
5)  This has caused security ______ USA
     a.  cornering for the
     b.  corners for the
     c.  concerned for the
     d.  concerns for the

6)  The U.S. has warned Turkey it will face economic ______ goes
     a.  suctions if it
     b.  sanctions if it
     c.  thank shuns if it
     d.  sank shuns if it
7)  It also said Turkey would not be allowed to play any part ______
     a.  inner program
     b.  in app program
     c.  in a program
     d.  in a pogrom
8)  The U.S. wants Turkey to buy its Patriot missile defense ______
     a.  system in ted
     b.  systems instep
     c.  systems instead
     d.  system instead
9)  expose F-35 fighter jets to possible ______
     a.  Russia's sub the fugue
     b.  Russian subterfuge
     c.  Russia's sub tofu
     d.  Russian subtle fugue
10)  integrated into NATO systems and would not pose a threat to ______
     a.  the NATO alliance
     b.  the NATO dalliance
     c.  the NATO reliance
     d.  the NATO ally ants

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Relations between the USA and Turkey (1) ___________________ the purchase by Turkey of a Russian missile defense system. Turkey received (2) ___________________ of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system on Friday. The USA had warned Turkey not to buy defense equipment from Russia. The USA and Turkey (3) ___________________ in NATO - a defense organization created in 1949 to (4) ___________________ military aggression by Russia. NATO consists of 29 North American and European nations. The USA has the (5) ___________________ the member states. In recent years, Turkey has been establishing closer ties with Russia. This has (6) ___________________ for the USA and other NATO member countries.

The U.S. has warned Turkey it will (7) ___________________ if it goes ahead and installs the S-400 defense system. It also said Turkey would not be allowed to play any part in a (8) ___________________ the USA's high-tech F-35 fighter jets. The U.S. wants Turkey to buy its Patriot missile defense system instead. U.S. (9) ___________________ Russian system would be incompatible with NATO systems and would expose F-35 fighter jets to (10) ___________________. Turkey said the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not (11) ___________________ to the NATO alliance. Turkey's president said the decision to purchase the S-400 system did not mean it (12) ___________________ in its relations with the West.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say had happened to US-Turkish relations?
  2. When did Turkey get its first delivery of equipment?
  3. When was NATO created?
  4. How many countries are members of NATO?
  5. What has Turkey been establishing recently?
  6. What did the US warn Turkey it might have to face?
  7. What programme will Turkey not be able to take part in?
  8. What does the US want Turkey to buy from it?
  9. What is the US worried about regarding Russia and F35s?
  10. What did Turkey say it is not seeking?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say had happened to US-Turkish relations?
a) they had reached danger levels
b) they had improved
c) they had died
d) they had soured
2) When did Turkey get its first delivery of equipment?
a) three weeks ago
b) Friday
c) last month
d) six months ago
3) When was NATO created?
a) 1948
b) 1952
c) 1949
d) 1950
4) How many countries are members of NATO?
a) 29
b) 30
c) 28
d) 32
5) What has Turkey been establishing recently?
a) military bases
b) advanced weapons
c) closer ties with Russia
d) home truths

6) What did the US warn Turkey it might have to face?
a) the East
b) economic sanctions
c) a cold winter
d) a tough decade ahead
7) What programme will Turkey not be able to take part in?
a) a TV programme
b) a military programme
c) a computer software programme
d) the F-35 fighter jet programme
8) What does the US want Turkey to buy from it?
a) its Patriot missile defense system
b) tanks
c) software
d) oil
9) What is the US worried about regarding Russia and F35s?
a) attacks from Russian jets
b) spying
c) Russian subterfuge
d) copying the technology
10) What did Turkey say it is not seeking?
a) an arms race
b) alternatives in its relations with the West
c) war
d) bad relations with the USA

Role play

Role  A – Military Ties
You think military ties are the most important between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ties aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): economic ties, cultural ties or religious ties.

Role  B – Economic Ties
You think economic ties are the most important between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ties aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): religious ties, cultural ties or military ties.

Role  C – Cultural Ties
You think cultural ties are the most important between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ties aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): economic ties, religious ties or military ties.

Role  D – Religious Ties
You think religious ties are the most important between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ties aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): economic ties, cultural ties or military ties.

After reading / listening

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

'missile'

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

    • and 'defense'.

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

    • • 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:

    • face
    • play
    • instead
    • expose
    • pose
    • mean
    • soured
    • first
    • warned
    • both
    • 29
    • caused

    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 - Turkey's Russian missile defense system purchase angers U.S.

    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 'missile'?
    3. What do you know about missiles?
    4. What do you think about missiles?
    5. Should the USA be telling Turkey not to buy missile defense systems?
    6. What do you know about NATO?
    7. How important are military alliances?
    8. What do you think of your country's allies?
    9. Are there any problems with Turkey having closer ties with Russia?
    10. What advice do you have for Turkey's president?

    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 'defense'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think about missile defense systems?
    5. How effective are economic sanctions?
    6. Should Turkey buy the USA's Patriot missile defense system?
    7. What do you know about US relations with Russia?
    8. Do you think Russia would use the S-400 system for subterfuge?
    9. What alternatives are there to relations with the West?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Turkey's president?

    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)

    Relations between the USA and Turkey have (1) ____ following the purchase by Turkey of a Russian missile defense system. Turkey received the first (2) ____ of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system on Friday. The USA had warned Turkey not to buy defense (3) ____ from Russia. The USA and Turkey are both allies in NATO - a defense organization created in 1949 to (4) ____ any possible military aggression by Russia. NATO (5) ____ of 29 North American and European nations. The USA has the biggest military among the member states. In recent years, Turkey has been establishing closer (6) ____ with Russia. This has caused security concerns for the USA and other NATO member countries.

    The U.S. has warned Turkey it will (7) ____ economic sanctions if it goes ahead and installs the S-400 defense system. It also said Turkey would not be allowed to play any (8) ____ in a program to manufacture the USA's high-tech F-35 fighter jets. The U.S. wants Turkey to buy its Patriot missile defense system (9) ____. U.S. officials argue the Russian system would be incompatible with NATO systems and would expose F-35 fighter jets to possible Russian (10) ____. Turkey said the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not (11) ____ a threat to the NATO alliance. Turkey's president said the decision to purchase the S-400 system did not mean it is seeking "alternatives" (12) ____ its relations with the West.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     soared     (b)     scored     (c)     soured     (d)     seared    
    2. (a)     deliveries     (b)     delivery     (c)     delivered     (d)     deliver    
    3. (a)     equips     (b)     equipment     (c)     equipped     (d)     equipping    
    4. (a)     countenance     (b)     countrified     (c)     countenance     (d)     count    
    5. (a)     composes     (b)     contrives     (c)     consists     (d)     contrasts    
    6. (a)     ropes     (b)     ties     (c)     strings     (d)     threads    
    7. (a)     face     (b)     skull     (c)     head     (d)     visage    
    8. (a)     party     (b)     parted     (c)     partner     (d)     part    
    9. (a)     rather     (b)     prefer     (c)     instead     (d)     alternative    
    10. (a)     centrifuge     (b)     fugue     (c)     frugal     (d)     subterfuge    
    11. (a)     hose     (b)     pose     (c)     nose     (d)     lose    
    12. (a)     in     (b)     up     (c)     at     (d)     of

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Relations between the USA and Turkey have oursed
    2. the first lievdreeis
    3. The USA and Turkey are both llaeis in NATO
    4. grasseigon by Russia
    5. The USA has the biggest itilamry
    6. This has caused security oncercns

    Paragraph 2

    1. it will face economic acsitnons
    2. cmopiitabnle with NATO systems
    3. possible Russian ftuberguse
    4. einttedrga into NATO systems
    5. pose a threat to the NATO lnaeacil
    6. it is seeking alsetvnriate

    Put the text back together

    (...)  equipment from Russia. The USA and Turkey are both allies in NATO - a defense organization created
    (  1  ) Relations between the USA and Turkey have soured following the purchase by Turkey of a
    (...)  years, Turkey has been establishing closer ties with Russia. This has caused security concerns for the USA and other NATO member countries.
    (...)  S-400 missile defense system on Friday. The USA had warned Turkey not to buy defense
    (...)  The U.S. has warned Turkey it will face economic sanctions if it goes ahead and installs the S-400 defense system. It also said Turkey would
    (...)  Russian missile defense system. Turkey received the first deliveries of the Russian-made
    (...)  North American and European nations. The USA has the biggest military among the member states. In recent
    (...)  to purchase the S-400 system did not mean it is seeking "alternatives" in its relations with the West.
    (...)  subterfuge. Turkey said the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems
    (...)  in 1949 to counter any possible military aggression by Russia. NATO consists of 29
    (...)  argue the Russian system would be incompatible with NATO systems and would expose F-35 fighter jets to possible Russian
    (...)  jets. The U.S. wants Turkey to buy its Patriot missile defense system instead. U.S. officials
    (...)  and would not pose a threat to the NATO alliance. Turkey's president said the decision
    (...)  not be allowed to play any part in a program to manufacture the USA's high-tech F-35 fighter

    Put the words in the right order

    1. between   USA   the   have   soured   .   and   Turkey   Relations
    2. any   Russia   .   military   by   aggression   Counter   possible
    3. states   .   military   among   member   the   The   biggest
    4. has   closer   ties   with   Turkey   establishing   been   Russia   .
    5. has   for   This   security   caused   USA   .   the   concerns
    6. face   it   goes   ahead   .   sanctions   economic   It'll   if
    7. be   wouldn't   a   to   allowed   part   .   Turkey   play
    8. possible   F-35   fighter   to   jets   Expose   Russian   subterfuge   .
    9. NATO   a   threat   to   alliance   .   Pose   the
    10. relations   .   seeking   in   is   alternatives   its   It

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Relations between / among the USA and Turkey have scoured / soured following the purchase by Turkey of a Russian missile defense system. Turkey received the fast / first deliveries of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system on Friday. The USA had warned Turkey not to buy defense equipment / equip from Russia. The USA and Turkey are both alliance / allies in NATO - a defense organization created in 1949 to count / counter any possible military aggression / aggressive by Russia. NATO consists of 29 North American and European nations / nationals. The USA has the biggest military among the remember / member states. In recent years, Turkey has been establishing closer ties / tries with Russia. This has caused security concerns for the USA and other NATO member countries.

    The U.S. has warned / waned Turkey it will face economic sanctions if it goes ahead and stalls / installs the S-400 defense system. It also said Turkey would not be allowed to pay / play any part in a program to manufacture the USA's high-tech F-35 fighter / fighting jets. The U.S. wants Turkey to buy its Patriot missile defense system instead / rather. U.S. officials argue the Russian system would be incompatible on / with NATO systems and would expose F-35 fighter jets to possible / possibly Russian subterfuge. Turkey said the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not poser / pose a threat to the NATO alliance. Turkey's president said the decision to purchase the S-400 system did not mean / meant it is seeking "alternatives" in its relations to / with the West.

    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)

    R_l_t__ n s   b_t w__ n   t h_  U S A  _n d   T_r k_y   h_v_  s__ r_d   f_l l_w_n g   t h_  p_r c h_s_  b y   T_r k_y  _f  _  R_s s__ n   m_s s_l_  d_f_n s_  s y s t_m .   T_r k_y   r_c__ v_d   t h_  f_r s t   d_l_v_r__ s  _f   t h_  R_s s__ n - m_d_  S - 4 0 0   m_s s_l_  d_f_n s_  s y s t_m  _n   F r_d_y .   T h_  U S A   h_d   w_r n_d   T_r k_y   n_t   t_  b_y   d_f_n s_ _q__ p m_n t   f r_m   R_s s__ .   T h_  U S A  _n d   T_r k_y  _r_  b_t h  _l l__ s  _n   N A T O   -  _  d_f_n s_ _r g_n_z_t__ n   c r__ t_d  _n   1 9 4 9   t_  c__ n t_r  _n y   p_s s_b l_  m_l_t_r y  _g g r_s s__ n   b y   R_s s__ .   N A T O   c_n s_s t s  _f   2 9   N_r t h   A m_r_c_n  _n d   E_r_p__ n   n_t__ n s .   T h_  U S A   h_s   t h_  b_g g_s t   m_l_t_r y  _m_n g   t h_  m_m b_r   s t_t_s .   I n   r_c_n t   y__ r s ,   T_r k_y   h_s   b__ n  _s t_b l_s h_n g   c l_s_r   t__ s   w_t h   R_s s__ .   T h_s   h_s   c__ s_d   s_c_r_t y   c_n c_r n s   f_r   t h_  U S A  _n d  _t h_r   N A T O   m_m b_r   c__ n t r__ s .

    T h_  U . S .   h_s   w_r n_d   T_r k_y  _t   w_l l   f_c_ _c_n_m_c   s_n c t__ n s  _f  _t   g__ s  _h__ d  _n d  _n s t_l l s   t h_  S - 4 0 0   d_f_n s_  s y s t_m .   I t  _l s_  s__ d   T_r k_y   w__ l d   n_t   b_ _l l_w_d   t_  p l_y  _n y   p_r t  _n  _  p r_g r_m   t_  m_n_f_c t_r_  t h_  U S A ' s   h_g h - t_c h   F - 3 5   f_g h t_r   j_t s .   T h_  U . S .   w_n t s   T_r k_y   t_  b_y  _t s   P_t r__ t   m_s s_l_  d_f_n s_  s y s t_m  _n s t__ d .   U . S .  _f f_c__ l s  _r g__   t h_  R_s s__ n   s y s t_m   w__ l d   b_ _n c_m p_t_b l_  w_t h   N A T O   s y s t_m s  _n d   w__ l d  _x p_s_  F - 3 5   f_g h t_r   j_t s   t_  p_s s_b l_  R_s s__ n   s_b t_r f_g_.   T_r k_y   s__ d   t h_  S - 4 0 0   w__ l d   n_t   b_ _n t_g r_t_d  _n t_  N A T O   s y s t_m s  _n d   w__ l d   n_t   p_s_ _  t h r__ t   t_  t h_  N A T O  _l l__ n c_.   T_r k_y ' s   p r_s_d_n t   s__ d   t h_  d_c_s__ n   t_  p_r c h_s_  t h_  S - 4 0 0   s y s t_m   d_d   n_t   m__ n  _t  _s   s__ k_n g   "_l t_r n_t_v_s "  _n  _t s   r_l_t__ n s   w_t h   t h_  W_s t .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    relations between the usa and turkey have soured following the purchase by turkey of a russian missile defense system turkey received the first deliveries of the russian made s400 missile defense system on friday the usa had warned turkey not to buy defense equipment from russia the usa and turkey are both allies in nato  a defense organization created in 1949 to counter any possible military aggression by russia nato consists of 29 north american and european nations the usa has the biggest military among the member states in recent years turkey has been establishing closer ties with russia this has caused security concerns for the usa and other nato member countries

    the us has warned turkey it will face economic sanctions if it goes ahead and installs the s400 defense system it also said turkey would not be allowed to play any part in a program to manufacture the usas hightech f35 fighter jets the us wants turkey to buy its patriot missile defense system instead us officials argue the russian system would be incompatible with nato systems and would expose f35 fighter jets to possible russian subterfuge turkey said the s400 would not be integrated into nato systems and would not pose a threat to the nato alliance turkeys president said the decision to purchase the s400 system did not mean it is seeking alternatives in its relations with the west.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    RelationsbetweentheUSAandTurkeyhavesouredfollowingthepurcha
    sebyTurkeyofaRussianmissiledefensesystem.Turkeyreceivedthefirs
    tdeliveriesoftheRussian-madeS-400missiledefensesystemonFriday
    .TheUSAhadwarnedTurkeynottobuydefenseequipmentfromRussia.
    TheUSAandTurkeyarebothalliesinNATO-adefenseorganizationcrea
    tedin1949tocounteranypossiblemilitaryaggressionbyRussia.NATOc
    onsistsof29NorthAmericanandEuropeannations.TheUSAhasthebigg
    estmilitaryamongthememberstates.Inrecentyears,Turkeyhasbeen
    establishingclosertieswithRussia.Thishascausedsecurityconcernsfo
    rtheUSAandotherNATOmembercountries.TheU.S.haswarnedTurke
    yitwillfaceeconomicsanctionsifitgoesaheadandinstallstheS-400de
    fensesystem.ItalsosaidTurkeywouldnotbeallowedtoplayanypartina
    programtomanufacturetheUSA'shigh-techF-35fighterjets.TheU.S
    .wantsTurkeytobuyitsPatriotmissiledefensesysteminstead.U.S.offic
    ialsarguetheRussiansystemwouldbeincompatiblewithNATOsystems
    andwouldexposeF-35fighterjetstopossibleRussiansubterfuge.Turk
    eysaidtheS-400wouldnotbeintegratedintoNATOsystemsandwoul
    dnotposeathreattotheNATOalliance.Turkey'spresidentsaidthedecisi
    ontopurchasetheS-400systemdidnotmeanitisseeking"alternative
    s"initsrelationswiththeWest.

    Free writing

    Write about missile defense system for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Turkey should not buy missile defense systems from Russia. 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. NATO: Make a poster about NATO. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. MISSILE DEFENSE: Write a magazine article about missile defense systems. 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 missile defense. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to improve missile defense. 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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