Central African Republic in chaos, says UN

Central African Republic in chaos, says UN (28th November, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

The U.N. has asked for urgent help for the Central African Republic. The UN's Jan Eliasson said it was "descending into complete chaos". There is almost a state of anarchy after rebels took power in March. Mr Eliasson suggested strengthening the African Union's military and turn it into a peacekeeping operation. Eliasson warned if the situation continued, it could lead to religious and ethnic conflict, or even "a civil war that could spread into neighbouring countries".

Rebels replaced the president with their own leader. He later broke up the rebels but they formed armed gangs. These now control most of the country. Eliasson said the population was "suffering beyond imagination", with women and children "bearing the brunt". He said there were human rights abuses, child soldiers and looting everywhere. Other crimes included torture and executions. He said the country was "a breeding ground for extremists".

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25095471
http://allafrica.com/stories/201311260201.html?viewall=1
http://www.voanews.com/content/un-considers-options-in-central-african-republic/1797673.html

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 :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	descending into	a.	operation
2.	a state of	b.	complete chaos
3.	strengthening the African Union's	c.	neighbouring countries
4.	turn it into a peacekeeping	d.	anarchy
5.	it could lead to religious	e.	military
6.	a civil war that could spread into	f.	and ethnic conflict

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	He later broke	a.	imagination
2.	they formed armed	b.	and executions
3.	suffering beyond	c.	up the rebels
4.	… with women and children bearing	d.	for extremists
5.	Other crimes included torture	e.	gangs
6.	a breeding ground	f.	the brunt

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The U.N. has (1) ___________________ help for the Central African Republic. The UN's Jan Eliasson said it was "(2) ___________________ chaos". There is almost (3) ___________________ after rebels took power in March. Mr Eliasson suggested strengthening the African Union's military and turn it into (4) ___________________. Eliasson warned if the situation continued, it could lead to (5) ___________________ conflict, or even "a civil war that (6) ___________________ neighbouring countries".

Rebels replaced the president with their own leader. He later broke up the rebels but they (7) ___________________. These now control most of the country. Eliasson said the population was "(8) ___________________ ", with women and children "(9) ___________________ ". He said there were human rights abuses, child soldiers (10) ___________________. Other crimes included (11) ___________________. He said the country was "a breeding (12) ___________________ ".

CHAOS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about chaos 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about chaos for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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