The Reading / Listening - Eid al-Fitr - Level 6

An Emirati astronaut has sent an end-of-Ramadan greeting from space. Sultan al-Neyadi, 41, sent an Eid al-Fitr message to the world from the International Space Station. Eid al-Fitr is a short holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and service to community. Mr al-Neyadi is on a six-month mission in space. He will be the first Arab to complete a spacewalk when he undertakes a six-hour task of maintaining and upgrading equipment on the orbiting space station. In his Eid message, al-Neyadi said: "May this special occasion bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to the whole world."

Mr al-Neyadi has shared a lot of footage of Earth while on his mission. In particular, he has transfixed millions of Muslims with images of the holy site of Mecca glowing in the dark of night. His achievements have ignited an interest in technology among his compatriots in the UAE. He has received many questions about fasting in space. Most adult Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk as one of the five Pillars of Islam. Al-Neyadi explained that fasting was different in space. This is because he has to avoid activities "that could jeopardize the mission or put crew members at risk." He said he needed sufficient food "to prevent any escalation of a lack of nutrition or hydration".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Eid al-Fitr - Level 4  or  Eid al-Fitr - Level 5

Sources
  • https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2023/04/21/Emirati-astronaut-Sultan-al-Neyadi-sends-Eid-wishes-from-space-alongside-mascot-
  • https://www.space.com/uae-astronaut-ramadan-end-eid-in-space
  • https://www.khaleejtimes.com/space/watch-uae-astronaut-sultan-alneyadi-sends-eid-al-fitr-greetings-from-space


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. RAMADAN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Ramadan. 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?
       astronaut / Ramadan / greetings / space / holiday / fasting / prayer / reflection / Eid /
       Earth / mission / holy / Mecca / dawn / dusk / activities / crew / nutrition / hydration
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PRAYING: Students A strongly believe we should all pray every day; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. RELIGIOUS EVENTS: What do you know about these religious events? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Want to Know

Ramadan

 

 

Easter

 

 

Diwali

 

 

Hajj

 

 

Nowruz

 

 

Hanukkah

 

 
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. ASTRONAUT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "astronaut". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. RELIGIOUS ACTIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Praying
  • Fasting
  • Reflection
  • Donating to charity
  • Community service
  • Gift giving
  • Reading holy books
  • Attending services

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. greeting a. Acknowledge or celebrate (an important event) with a particular action.
      2. mark b. Abstaining from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance.
      3. observed c. The state of being wealthy and successful.
      4. fasting d. Celebrated or acknowledge an anniversary.
      5. undertake e. Moving in a circle round a star or planet.
      6. orbiting f. A formal expression of goodwill, said on meeting or in a written message.
      7. prosperity g. Commit oneself to and begin an enterprise or responsibility.

    Paragraph 2

      8. footage h. Caused someone to become motionless with wonder or astonishment.
      9. transfixed i. Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.
      10. holy j. An increase in the intensity or seriousness of something.
      11. compatriot k. The first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise.
      12. dawn l. A fellow citizen or national of a country.
      13. dusk m. Part of a cinema, television film or other recording about a particular event.
      14. escalation n. The stage of the day when the sun sets.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. An astronaut received many Ramadan greetings while in space.     T / F
  2. Ramadan marks the end of Eid-al-Fitr.     T / F
  3. The astronaut will be the first Arab to do a spacewalk.     T / F
  4. The astronaut has to paint the outside of the space station.     T / F
  5. The astronaut sent images of Mecca at night back to Earth.     T / F
  6. People in the UAE are now becoming more interested in technology.     T / F
  7. The astronaut said fasting in space and on Earth was the same.     T / F
  8. The astronaut said he deeded to eat enough to do his job properly.     T / F

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

  1. message
  2. marks
  3. reflection
  4. undertakes
  5. prosperity
  6. transfixed
  7. dusk
  8. jeopardize
  9. escalation
  10. lack
  1. fascinated
  2. tackles
  3. wealth
  4. threaten
  5. indicates
  6. insufficiency
  7. rise
  8. note
  9. twilight
  10. contemplation

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

  1. an end-of-Ramadan
  2. a month of fasting, prayer,
  3. maintaining and upgrading
  4. on the orbiting
  5. bring peace, happiness, and prosperity
  6. images of the holy
  7. ignited
  8. Muslims are required to fast
  9. avoid activities that could jeopardize
  10. a lack of nutrition or
  1. equipment
  2. from dawn to dusk
  3. hydration
  4. greeting from space
  5. the mission
  6. space station
  7. site of Mecca
  8. reflection, and service
  9. to the whole world
  10. an interest

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
observed
undertakes
greeting
occasion
fasting
prosperity
marks
orbiting

An Emirati astronaut has sent an end-of-Ramadan (1) _____________________ from space. Sultan al-Neyadi, 41, sent an Eid al-Fitr message to the world from the International Space Station. Eid al-Fitr is a short holiday that (2) _____________________ the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is (3) _____________________ by Muslims worldwide as a month of (4) _____________________, prayer, reflection, and service to community. Mr al-Neyadi is on a six-month mission in space. He will be the first Arab to complete a spacewalk when he (5) _____________________ a six-hour task of maintaining and upgrading equipment on the (6) _____________________ space station. In his Eid message, al-Neyadi said: "May this special (7) _____________________ bring peace, happiness, and (8) _____________________ to the whole world."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
dusk
hydration
transfixed
glowing
sufficient
footage
jeopardize
compatriots

Mr al-Neyadi has shared a lot of (9) _____________________ of Earth while on his mission. In particular, he has (10) _____________________ millions of Muslims with images of the holy site of Mecca (11) _____________________ in the dark of night. His achievements have ignited an interest in technology among his (12) _____________________ in the UAE. He has received many questions about fasting in space. Most adult Muslims are required to fast from dawn to (13) _____________________ as one of the five Pillars of Islam. Al-Neyadi explained that fasting was different in space. This is because he has to avoid activities "that could (14) _____________________ the mission or put crew members at risk." He said he needed (15) _____________________ food "to prevent any escalation of a lack of nutrition or (16) _____________________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Eid al-Fitr is a short holiday that marks the end of ______
     a.  the holly month
     b.  the holy months
     c.  the holy month
     d.  a holy month
2)  a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and ______
     a.  service too community
     b.  service took community
     c.  service two communities
     d.  service to community
3)  He will be the first Arab to ______
     a.  compete a spacewalk
     b.  complete a spacewalk
     c.  compete in a spacewalk
     d.  compete inner spacewalk
4)  a six-hour task of maintaining and upgrading equipment on the ______
     a.  orbit in space station
     b.  orbit tin space station
     c.  orbiting space station
     d.  orbit thing space station
5)  May this special occasion bring peace, ______
     a.  happiness, and prosperity
     b.  happiness, end prosperity
     c.  happiness, an prosperity
     d.  happiness, add prosperity

6)  footage of Earth while on his mission. In particular, he ______
     a.  has transfixed million
     b.  had transfixed millions
     c.  had transfixed million
     d.  has transfixed millions
7)  His achievements have ignited an interest in technology ______
     a.  among this compatriots
     b.  among his compatriots
     c.  among his compatriot
     d.  among his con patriots
8)  Most adult Muslims are required to fast from ______
     a.  dusk to dawn
     b.  born to busk
     c.  dawn to dusk
     d.  down to dark
9)  This is because he has to avoid activities ______
     a.  that could jeopardy
     b.  that should jeopardize
     c.  that could jeopardize
     d.  that would jeopardize
10)  prevent any escalation of a lack of ______
     a.  nutritional or hydrated
     b.  nutrition or hydrating
     c.  nutritious or hydration
     d.  nutrition or hydration

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An Emirati astronaut has sent an end-of-Ramadan (1) ____________________. Sultan al-Neyadi, 41, sent an Eid al-Fitr message to the world from the International Space Station. Eid al-Fitr is a short holiday that (2) ____________________ of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a (3) ____________________, prayer, reflection, and service to community. Mr al-Neyadi is on a six-(4) ____________________ space. He will be the first Arab to complete a spacewalk when he undertakes a six-hour task of maintaining and upgrading equipment (5) ____________________ space station. In his Eid message, al-Neyadi said: "May this special occasion bring peace, happiness, and (6) ____________________ whole world."

Mr al-Neyadi has shared a lot (7) ____________________ Earth while on his mission. In particular, he has transfixed millions of Muslims with images of the holy site of Mecca (8) ____________________ dark of night. His achievements have ignited an interest in technology among (9) ____________________ the UAE. He has received many questions about fasting in space. Most adult Muslims are required to (10) ____________________ to dusk as one of the five Pillars of Islam. Al-Neyadi explained that fasting was different in space. This is because he has to avoid activities "that (11) ____________________ mission or put crew members at risk." He said he needed sufficient food "to prevent any escalation of (12) ____________________ or hydration".

Comprehension questions

  1. How old is the astronaut?
  2. What does Eid-al-Fitr mark the end of?
  3. How long will the astronaut stay in space?
  4. How many Arabs before r al-Neyadi have done a spacewalk?
  5. What does Mr al-Neyadi have to upgrade?
  6. What has Mr al-Neyadi shared?
  7. Who is more interested in technology because of Mr al-Neyadi's work?
  8. How many Pillars of Islam are there?
  9. What does Mr al-Neyadi want to avoid jeopardizing?
  10. What does Mr al-Neyadi need to keep up besides nutrition?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How old is the astronaut?
a) 39
b) 40
c) 41
d) 42
2) What does Eid-al-Fitr mark the end of?
a) Ramadan
b) Eid
c) spring
d) praying
3) How long will the astronaut stay in space?
a) a year
b) 6 months
c) 8 months
d) 10 months
4) How many Arabs before r al-Neyadi have done a spacewalk?
a) 3
b) 2
c) 1
d) none
5) What does Mr al-Neyadi have to upgrade?
a) qualifications
b) fitness
c) equipment
d) his phone OS

6) What has Mr al-Neyadi shared?
a) his opinions and ideas
b) footage of Earth
c) food
d) his email address
7) Who is more interested in technology because of Mr al-Neyadi's work?
a) people in Saudi Arabia
b) children
c) his crew members
d) Emiratis
8) How many Pillars of Islam are there?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7
9) What does Mr al-Neyadi want to avoid jeopardizing?
a) the ISS
b) the mission
c) Earth
d) space
10) What does Mr al-Neyadi need to keep up besides nutrition?
a) hydration
b) his fitness
c) his motivation
d) his knowledge

Role play

Role  A – Praying
You think praying is the best religious act. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their acts aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): fasting, reading holy books or gift giving.

Role  B – Fasting
You think fasting is the best religious act. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their acts aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): praying, reading holy books or gift giving.

Role  C – Reading Holy Books
You think reading holy books is the best religious act. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their acts aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): fasting, praying or gift giving.

Role  D – Gift Giving
You think gift giving is the best religious act. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their acts aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): fasting, reading holy books or praying.

After reading / listening

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

'space'

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

    • and 'Ramadan'.

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

    • • 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:

    • sent
    • short
    • worldwide
    • six
    • task
    • special
    • footage
    • holy
    • interest
    • dawn
    • avoid
    • lack

    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 - Eid al-Fitr

    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 'Ramadan'?
    3. What do you know about Ramadan?
    4. What greeting would you give to the world?
    5. What do you think of going into space?
    6. How spiritual is fasting from dawn to dusk?
    7. Should we all pray every day?
    8. How often do you reflect on your life?
    9. What service do you do for your community?
    10. What would bring peace and prosperity to the world?

    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 'astronaut'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Would you like to be an astronaut?
    5. What do you know about the holy site of Mecca?
    6. What do you know about the five Pillars of Islam?
    7. Is a month a good length of time for Ramadan?
    8. Should all countries make the Eids national holidays?
    9. How important is the moon in your culture?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr al-Neyadi?

    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)

    An Emirati astronaut has sent an end-of-Ramadan (1) ____ from space. Sultan al-Neyadi, 41, sent an Eid al-Fitr message to the world from the International Space Station. Eid al-Fitr is a short holiday that (2) ____ the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, (3) ____, and service to community. Mr al-Neyadi is on a six-month mission in space. He will be the first Arab to complete a spacewalk when he (4) ____ a six-hour task of maintaining and upgrading equipment on the (5) ____ space station. In his Eid message, al-Neyadi said: "May this special occasion bring peace, happiness, and (6) ____ to the whole world."

    Mr al-Neyadi has shared a lot of (7) ____ of Earth while on his mission. In particular, he has transfixed millions of Muslims with images of the holy site of Mecca (8) ____ in the dark of night. His achievements have ignited an interest in technology among his compatriots in the UAE. He has received many questions about fasting in space. Most adult Muslims are required to fast from dawn to (9) ____ as one of the five Pillars of Islam. Al-Neyadi explained that fasting was different in space. This is because he has to (10) ____ activities "that could jeopardize the mission or put crew members (11) ____ risk." He said he needed sufficient food "to prevent any escalation of a lack of nutrition or (12) ____".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     greet     (b)     grating     (c)     greeting     (d)     gloating    
    (a)     marks     (b)     parks     (c)     harks     (d)     larks    
    (a)     reflection     (b)     rejection     (c)     refraction     (d)     ratification    
    (a)     undertakes     (b)     retakes     (c)     overtakes     (d)     intakes    
    (a)     orbits     (b)     orbiting     (c)     orbit     (d)     orbital    
    (a)     severity     (b)     verity     (c)     sincerity     (d)     prosperity    
    (a)     backing     (b)     kneeling     (c)     footage     (d)     brainwaves    
    (a)     growling     (b)     growth     (c)     glowering     (d)     glowing    
    (a)     dusk     (b)     rusk     (c)     husk     (d)     busk    
    (a)     evade     (b)     avoid     (c)     void     (d)     avid    
    (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    (a)     gradation     (b)     placation     (c)     hydration     (d)     inflation

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. An amriEit astronaut
    2. derbvseo by Muslims worldwide
    3. fasting, prayer, fclenoteri and service
    4. maintaining and upgrading nqemptiue
    5. on the iritnbgo space station
    6. happiness and tspiperryo

    Paragraph 2

    1. shared a lot of etfoago of Earth
    2. among his tsctroiaomp
    3. iajozepder the mission
    4. He said he needed ifuiensftc food
    5. prevent any etclasoani
    6. a lack of ounttniir or hydration

    Put the text back together

    (...)   mission in space. He will be the first Arab to complete a spacewalk when he undertakes a six-hour task of maintaining
    (...)   members at risk." He said he needed sufficient food "to prevent any escalation of a lack of nutrition or hydration".
    (  1  ) An Emirati astronaut has sent an end-of-Ramadan greeting from space. Sultan al-Neyadi, 41, sent
    (...)   and upgrading equipment on the orbiting space station. In his Eid message, al-Neyadi said: "May this
    (...)   special occasion bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to the whole world."
    (...)   compatriots in the UAE. He has received many questions about fasting in space. Most adult Muslims are
    (...)   worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and service to community. Mr al-Neyadi is on a six-month
    (...)   of night. His achievements have ignited an interest in technology among his
    (...)   holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is observed by Muslims
    (...)   millions of Muslims with images of the holy site of Mecca glowing in the dark
    (...)   was different in space. This is because he has to avoid activities "that could jeopardize the mission or put crew
    (...)   an Eid al-Fitr message to the world from the International Space Station. Eid al-Fitr is a short
    (...)   Mr al-Neyadi has shared a lot of footage of Earth while on his mission. In particular, he has transfixed
    (...)   required to fast from dawn to dusk as one of the five Pillars of Islam. Al-Neyadi explained that fasting

    Put the words in the right order

    1. end   of   the   Ramadan   .   of   month   holy   The
    2. mission   six-month   in   is   Al-Neyadi   space   .   on   a
    3. spacewalk   .   first   to   He's   complete   the   a   Arab
    4. equipment   orbiting   Upgrading   the   on   space   station   .
    5. special   and   occasion   prosperity   .   May   this   peace   bring
    6. an   in   His   ignited   interest   technology   .   achievements   have
    7. to   dawn   required   dusk   .   fast   to   They're   from
    8. was   in   space   .   that   different   explained   fasting   Al-Neyadi
    9. activities   the   could   that   jeopardize   Avoid   mission   .
    10. nutrition   .   lack   of   Prevent   of   escalation   a   any

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An Emirati astronaut has sent an end-of-Ramadan greet / greeting from space. Sultan al-Neyadi, 41, mailed / sent an Eid al-Fitr message to the world from the International Space Station. Eid al-Fitr is a short holiday that marks / harks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is observant / observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fast / fasting, prayer, reflection, and service to community. Mr al-Neyadi is on a six-month mission in / on space. He will be the first Arab to complete a spacewalk when he overtakes / undertakes a six-hour task of maintaining and upgrading equipment on the orbiting / orbit space station. In his Eid message, al-Neyadi said: "May this specially / special occasion bring peace, happiness, and prosperity / prosper to the whole world."

    Mr al-Neyadi has shared a lot of footage / heading of Earth while on his mission. In peculiar / particular, he has transfixed millions of Muslims with images / imaginings of the holy site of Mecca glowing on / in the dark of night. His achievements have ignited / enflamed an interest in technology among those / his compatriots in the UAE. He has received many questions about fasting in space. Most adult Muslims are required to fast from dawn to rusk / dusk as one of the five Pillars of Islam. Al-Neyadi explained that fasting was different in space. This is because he has to evade / avoid activities "that could jeopardize the mission or put crew members at / for risk." He said he needed sufficient food "to prevent any escalation / escalator of a lack of nutrition or hydration".

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _n  _m_r_t_  _str_n__t  h_s  s_nt  _n  _nd-_f-R_m_d_n  gr__t_ng  fr_m  sp_c_.  S_lt_n  _l-N_y_d_,  41,  s_nt  _n  __d  _l-F_tr  m_ss_g_  t_  th_  w_rld  fr_m  th_  _nt_rn_t__n_l  Sp_c_  St_t__n.  __d  _l-F_tr  _s  _  sh_rt  h_l_d_y  th_t  m_rks  th_  _nd  _f  th_  h_ly  m_nth  _f  R_m_d_n.  R_m_d_n  _s  _bs_rv_d  by  M_sl_ms  w_rldw_d_  _s  _  m_nth  _f  f_st_ng,  pr_y_r,  r_fl_ct__n,  _nd  s_rv_c_  t_  c_mm_n_ty.  Mr  _l-N_y_d_  _s  _n  _  s_x-m_nth  m_ss__n  _n  sp_c_.  H_  w_ll  b_  th_  f_rst  _r_b  t_  c_mpl_t_  _  sp_c_w_lk  wh_n  h_  _nd_rt_k_s  _  s_x-h__r  t_sk  _f  m__nt__n_ng  _nd  _pgr_d_ng  _q__pm_nt  _n  th_  _rb_t_ng  sp_c_  st_t__n.  _n  h_s  __d  m_ss_g_,  _l-N_y_d_  s__d:  "M_y  th_s  sp_c__l  _cc_s__n  br_ng  p__c_,  h_pp_n_ss,  _nd  pr_sp_r_ty  t_  th_  wh_l_  w_rld."

    Mr  _l-N_y_d_  h_s  sh_r_d  _  l_t  _f  f__t_g_  _f  __rth  wh_l_  _n  h_s  m_ss__n.  _n  p_rt_c_l_r,  h_  h_s  tr_nsf_x_d  m_ll__ns  _f  M_sl_ms  w_th  _m_g_s  _f  th_  h_ly  s_t_  _f  M_cc_  gl_w_ng  _n  th_  d_rk  _f  n_ght.  H_s  _ch__v_m_nts  h_v_  _gn_t_d  _n  _nt_r_st  _n  t_chn_l_gy  _m_ng  h_s  c_mp_tr__ts  _n  th_  ___.  H_  h_s  r_c__v_d  m_ny  q__st__ns  _b__t  f_st_ng  _n  sp_c_.  M_st  _d_lt  M_sl_ms  _r_  r_q__r_d  t_  f_st  fr_m  d_wn  t_  d_sk  _s  _n_  _f  th_  f_v_  P_ll_rs  _f  _sl_m.  _l-N_y_d_  _xpl__n_d  th_t  f_st_ng  w_s  d_ff_r_nt  _n  sp_c_.  Th_s  _s  b_c__s_  h_  h_s  t_  _v__d  _ct_v_t__s  "th_t  c__ld  j__p_rd_z_  th_  m_ss__n  _r  p_t  cr_w  m_mb_rs  _t  r_sk."  H_  s__d  h_  n__d_d  s_ff_c__nt  f__d  "t_  pr_v_nt  _ny  _sc_l_t__n  _f   _ l_ck  _f  n_tr_t__n  _r  hydr_t__n".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an emirati astronaut has sent an endoframadan greeting from space sultan alneyadi 41 sent an eid alfitr message to the world from the international space station eid alfitr is a short holiday that marks the end of the holy month of ramadan ramadan is observed by muslims worldwide as a month of fasting prayer reflection and service to community mr alneyadi is on a sixmonth mission in space he will be the first arab to complete a spacewalk when he undertakes a sixhour task of maintaining and upgrading equipment on the orbiting space station in his eid message alneyadi said may this special occasion bring peace happiness and prosperity to the whole world

    mr alneyadi has shared a lot of footage of earth while on his mission in particular he has transfixed millions of muslims with images of the holy site of mecca glowing in the dark of night his achievements have ignited an interest in technology among his compatriots in the uae he has received many questions about fasting in space most adult muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk as one of the five pillars of islam alneyadi explained that fasting was different in space this is because he has to avoid activities that could jeopardize the mission or put crew members at risk he said he needed sufficient food to prevent any escalation of a lack of nutrition or hydration

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnEmiratiastronauthassentanend-of-Ramadangreetingfromspac
    e.Sultanal-Neyadi,41,sentanEidal-Fitrmessagetotheworldfromth
    eInternationalSpaceStation.Eidal-Fitrisashortholidaythatmarksth
    eendoftheholymonthofRamadan.RamadanisobservedbyMuslimswo
    rldwideasamonthoffasting,prayer,reflection,andservicetocommunit
    y.Mral-Neyadiisonasix-monthmissioninspace.HewillbethefirstArab
    tocompleteaspacewalkwhenheundertakesasix-hourtaskofmaintai
    ningandupgradingequipmentontheorbitingspacestation.InhisEidme
    ssage,al-Neyadisaid:"Maythisspecialoccasionbringpeace,happine
    ss,andprosperitytothewholeworld."Mral-Neyadihassharedaloto
    ffootageofEarthwhileonhismission.Inparticular,hehastransfixedmill
    ionsofMuslimswithimagesoftheholysiteofMeccaglowinginthedarkof
    night.Hisachievementshaveignitedaninterestintechnologyamonghi
    scompatriotsintheUAE.Hehasreceivedmanyquestionsaboutfastingi
    nspace.MostadultMuslimsarerequiredtofastfromdawntoduskasone
    ofthefivePillarsofIslam.Al-Neyadiexplainedthatfastingwasdifferenti
    nspace.Thisisbecausehehastoavoidactivities"thatcouldjeopardizeth
    emissionorputcrewmembersatrisk."Hesaidheneededsufficientfood"
    topreventanyescalationofalackofnutritionorhydration".

    Free writing

    Write about Eid al-Fitr for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    Everyone should pray at, celebrate and observe religious events.  Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    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. RAMADAN: Make a poster about Ramadan. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. PRAYER: Write a magazine article about all of us praying, especially during religious events. 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 Ramadan. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can observe religious events. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Back to the top

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You