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U.S.A. starts air strikes in Iraq (11th August, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The USA has started targeting forces of the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. Several US air strikes have taken out heavy weaponry that the Islamic State captured from the Iraqi army. President Obama said the new attacks are to protect American residents in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name from ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The group now controls a quarter of Iraq (including the country's largest dam), and a third of Syria. Mr Obama made it clear that there would be no boots on the ground. He said: "Even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq."

Another reason for the air strikes on the IS is to protect Iraq's Yazidi people and other minority groups. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion includes elements of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The IS told the Yazidis to convert to Islam, pay a tax, or face death. Earlier this week the UN warned of a humanitarian catastrophe with the possibility of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the IS. The IS have reportedly taken hundreds of Yazidi women hostage. Obama said the latest US military action is also, "a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-08/09/c_133543405.htm
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/744142
http://www.aawsat.net/2014/08/article55335215

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. IRAQ: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Iraq. 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?

targeting / heavy weaponry / captured / capital / autonomous / third / boots / troops / reason / ethnically / religion / humanitarian / catastrophe / ethnic cleansing / trapped

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. SOLUTIONS: Would these things provide an answer to problems in Iraq? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good points	Bad points
US boots on the ground
Support for Iraqi army
Money for reconstruction
Divide Iraq by religious beliefs
Long-term bombing of IS
Aid drops for refugees

4. 10 YEARS: Students A strongly believe life in Iraq will be worse in 10 years than it is now; Students B strongly believe life will be better. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. WEAPONRY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "weaponry". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	The USA and Britain has started bombing the IS group in Iraq.	T / F
b.	Barack Obama said he wants to protect U.S. residents in Iraq.	T / F
c.	The group IS used to be called ISIS and ISIL.	T / F
d.	Barack Obama has not ruled out sending troops into Iraq.	T / F
e.	The air strikes are to help the IS stop attacking minority groups.	T / F
f.	The IS said the Yazidis must choose between Islam, tax or death.	T / F
g.	Reports are that thousands of Yazidi women have been kidnapped.	T / F
h.	A million Yazidi people have been trapped by the IS.	T / F

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

1.	targeting	a.	disaster
2.	weaponry	b.	self-governing
3.	captured	c.	defend
4.	autonomous	d.	arms
5.	combat	e.	parts
6.	protect	f.	aiming at
7.	elements	g.	fighting
8.	convert	h.	confronting
9.	catastrophe	i.	seized
10.	facing	j.	change

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

1.	air strikes have taken	a.	other minority groups
2.	the capital of Iraq's autonomous	b.	hands of the IS
3.	The group now controls	c.	on the ground
4.	there would be no boots	d.	or face death
5.	combat troops will not be	e.	Kurdistan region
6.	protect Iraq's Yazidi people and	f.	a quarter of Iraq
7.	Their religion includes	g.	returning to fight
8.	convert to Islam, pay a tax,	h.	help save thousands
9.	ethnic cleansing at the	i.	elements of Judaism
10.	a humanitarian effort to	j.	out heavy weaponry

GAP FILL

The USA has started (1) ____________ forces of the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. Several US air strikes have taken out (2) ____________ weaponry that the Islamic State (3) ____________ from the Iraqi army. President Obama said the new attacks are to (4) ____________ American residents in Erbil, the (5) ____________ of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name from ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The group now (6) ____________ a quarter of Iraq (including the country's largest dam), and a third of Syria. Mr Obama made it clear that there would be no (7) ____________ on the ground. He said: "Even as we (8) ____________ Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq."

protect
support
captured
controls
targeting
boots
heavy
capital

Another (9) ____________ for the air strikes on the IS is to protect Iraq's Yazidi people and other (10) ____________ groups. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion includes (11) ____________ of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The IS told the Yazidis to convert to Islam, pay a (12) ____________, or face death. Earlier this week the UN warned of a humanitarian (13) ____________ with the possibility of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the IS. The IS have reportedly taken hundreds of Yazidi women (14) ____________. Obama said the latest US military action is also, "a humanitarian (15) ____________ to help save thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost (16) ____________ death".

catastrophe
effort
tax
minority
certain
reason
hostage
elements

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The USA has started targeting forces of the Islamic State (IS) ______
	a. in northern Iraq b. in northerly Iraq c. in north and Iraq d. in north in Iraq
2)	Several US air strikes have taken out ______
	a. heavily weaponry b. heaving weaponry c. heavies weaponry d. heavy weaponry
3)	protect American residents in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's ______
	a. autonomous Kurdistan regional b. autonomous Kurdistan region c. autonomous Kurdistan legions d. autonomous Kurdistan legion
4)	Mr Obama made it clear that there would be no ______ ground
	a. shoes on the b. slippers on the c. boots on the d. sneakers on the
5)	American combat troops will not be ______ in Iraq
	a. returned to fight b. return in to fight c. returned in to fight d. returning to fight
6)	protect Iraq's Yazidi people and other ______
	a. minorities groups b. minority groups c. minor city groups d. majority groups
7)	he Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion includes ______, Christianity…
	a. elements off Judaism b. elements of Judaism c. element of Judaism d. element off Judaism
8)	The IS told the Yazidis to convert to Islam, pay a tax, ______
	a. or facing death b. or facial death c. or faced death d. or face death
9)	a humanitarian catastrophe with the possibility of ethnic cleansing ______ the IS
	a. at the hands of b. at the palms of c. at the fingers of d. at the fists of
10)	trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing ______
	a. almost certainly death b. almost certainty death c. almost certain death d. almost certainties death

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The USA has started (1) ___________________ the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. Several US air strikes have taken (2) ___________________ that the Islamic State captured from the Iraqi army. President Obama said the new attacks (3) ___________________ American residents in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name from ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The (4) ___________________ quarter of Iraq (including the country's largest dam), and a third of Syria. Mr Obama made it clear that there would be no (5) ___________________. He said: "Even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American (6) ___________________ be returning to fight in Iraq."

Another (7) ___________________ strikes on the IS is to protect Iraq's Yazidi people and other minority groups. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion (8) ___________________ Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The IS told the Yazidis to (9) ___________________, pay a tax, or face death. Earlier this week the UN warned of a humanitarian catastrophe with the possibility (10) ___________________ at the hands of the IS. The IS have reportedly taken hundreds of Yazidi women hostage. Obama said the (11) ___________________ is also, "a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing (12) ___________________ ".

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What did U.S. air strikes destroy?
2.	Who does President Obama want to protect in Erbil?
3.	How much of Iraq does the IS control?
4.	What did President Obama say there would not be on the ground?
5.	Who did President Obama say would not be fighting in Iraq?
6.	Which other groups does the U.S. want to protect besides the Yazidis?
7.	What ethnic background are the Yazidis?
8.	What did the UN warn of?
9.	Who has reportedly been taken hostage by the IS?
10.	Where are thousands of Yazidis trapped?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What did U.S. air strikes destroy?	6.	Which other groups does the U.S. want to protect besides the Yazidis?
	a) a town b) a mountain top c) a border crossing d) weapons		a) the WHO b) minority groups c) charity workers d) British residents
2.	Who does President Obama want to protect in Erbil?	7.	What ethnic background are the Yazidis?
	a) U.S. troops b) U.S. residents c) refugees d) the Iraqi army		a) Saudi b) Turkish c) Persian d) Kurdish
3.	How much of Iraq does the IS control?	8.	What did the UN warn of?
	a) 15% b) 35% c) 25% d) 45%		a) a humanitarian catastrophe b) a long war c) famine d) a refugee problem
4.	What did President Obama say there would not be on the ground?	9.	Who has reportedly been taken hostage by the IS?
	a) boots b) gloves c) hats d) knee caps		a) journalists b) Iraqi army officers c) hundreds of Yazidi women d) Iraqi politicians
5.	Who did President Obama say would not be fighting in Iraq?	10.	Where are thousands of Yazidis trapped?
	a) NATO b) the U.N. c) U.S. troops d) Britain		a) on the border b) on a mountain c) in their homes d) in a bombed town

ROLE PLAY

Role A – U.S. boots on the ground

You think putting US boots on the ground is the best way to help Iraq. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ideas. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these ideas (and why): support for Iraqi army, dividing Iraq by religious beliefs or money for reconstruction.

Role B – Support for the Iraqi army

You think support for the Iraqi army is the best way to help Iraq. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ideas. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these ideas (and why): putting US boots on the ground, dividing Iraq by religious beliefs or money for reconstruction.

Role C – Divide Iraq by religious beliefs

You think dividing Iraq by religious beliefs is the best way to help Iraq. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ideas. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these ideas (and why): support for Iraqi army, putting US boots on the ground or money for reconstruction.

Role D – Money for reconstruction

You think money for reconstruction is the best way to help Iraq. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ideas. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these ideas (and why): support for Iraqi army, dividing Iraq by religious beliefs or putting US boots on the ground.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

air

strike

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:

northern
heavy
capital
quarter
boots
returning

minority
elements
pay
hands
effort
certain

IRAQ SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Iraq 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.

IRAQ DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'Iraq'?
c)	What do you think of the new air strikes on Iraq?
d)	What do you know about the IS (formerly ISIS and ISIL)?
e)	How long do you think the US will be in Iraq this time?
f)	How has the IS managed to take over so much territory?
g)	What is the danger of the IS becoming stronger?
h)	Are the USA, UK, etc. responsible for the turmoil in Iraq?
i)	Does the USA have a responsibility to stop the IS?
j)	What will happen if US troops once again enter Iraq?

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What do you know about the Yazidi people?
c)	A Baghdad priest said Christianity is facing its worst crisis ever. What do you think?
d)	Why does the IS want to rid Iraq of the Yazidis and others?
e)	How can so many people be trapped on a mountain?
f)	Why are humanitarian catastrophes becoming more common?
g)	What should the world do to help the Yazidis?
h)	Do you think things in Iraq will get even worse from now?
i)	What will Iraq and Syria be like in five years from now?
j)	What questions would you like to ask President Obama?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The USA has started targeting forces of the Islamic State (IS) in (1) ____ Iraq. Several US air strikes have taken out (2) ____ weaponry that the Islamic State captured from the Iraqi army. President Obama said the new attacks are to protect American (3) ____ in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name from ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The group (4) ____ controls a quarter of Iraq (including the country's largest dam), and a third of Syria. Mr Obama made it (5) ____ that there would be no boots on the ground. He said: "Even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American combat (6) ____ will not be returning to fight in Iraq."

Another reason for the air strikes on the IS is to protect Iraq's Yazidi people and other minority groups. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion (7) ____ elements of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The IS told the Yazidis to convert to Islam, pay a tax, or (8) ____ death. Earlier this week the UN warned of a humanitarian catastrophe with the possibility of ethnic (9) ____ at the hands of the IS. The IS have reportedly taken hundreds of Yazidi women (10) ____. Obama said the latest US military action is also, "a humanitarian (11) ____ to help save thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain (12) ____ ".

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	northeasterly	(b)	northernmost	(c)	northerly	(d)	northern
2.	(a)	heavily	(b)	weighty	(c)	overweight	(d)	heavy
3.	(a)	residences	(b)	residents	(c)	residence	(d)	resides
4.	(a)	momentarily	(b)	present	(c)	now	(d)	current
5.	(a)	clear	(b)	clearly	(c)	clarity	(d)	clearance
6.	(a)	troops	(b)	soldier	(c)	force	(d)	division
7.	(a)	allows	(b)	use	(c)	with	(d)	includes
8.	(a)	face	(b)	head	(c)	mind	(d)	skull
9.	(a)	cleaning	(b)	cleansing	(c)	rinsing	(d)	purifying
10.	(a)	kidnap	(b)	seize	(c)	hostage	(d)	detainee
11.	(a)	effect	(b)	efficient	(c)	effort	(d)	effigy
12.	(a)	exit	(b)	death	(c)	termination	(d)	curtains

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	taken out heavy rypawnoe
2.	dauptecr from the Iraqi army
3.	protect American ssedntrie in Erbil
4.	Iraq's uonsouaotm Kurdistan region
5.	take the fight to these rsrtisorte
6.	American mbcota troops
Paragraph 2
7.	Iraq's Yazidi people and other iroyntim groups
8.	The Yazidis are lecahityln Kurdish
9.	Their religion includes eenstelm of Judaism
10.	ethnic enncgsila at the hands of the IS
11.	warned of a aimnruaaithn catastrophe
12.	taken hundreds of Yazidi women astegho

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	terrorists, American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq."
( )	Another reason for the air strikes on the IS is to protect Iraq's Yazidi people and other minority
( )	controls a quarter of Iraq (including the country's largest dam), and a third of Syria. Mr Obama made it
( )	death. Earlier this week the UN warned of a humanitarian catastrophe with the possibility
( )	hostage. Obama said the latest US military action is also, "a humanitarian effort to help save
( )	and Zoroastrianism. The IS told the Yazidis to convert to Islam, pay a tax, or face
( )	thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death".
( )	Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name from ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The group now
( 1 )	The USA has started targeting forces of the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. Several US air
( )	strikes have taken out heavy weaponry that the Islamic State captured from the Iraqi
( )	army. President Obama said the new attacks are to protect American residents in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous
( )	groups. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion includes elements of Judaism, Christianity, Islam
( )	clear that there would be no boots on the ground. He said: "Even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these
( )	of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the IS. The IS have reportedly taken hundreds of Yazidi women

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	The started of State has forces Islamic USA targeting the.
2.	taken US out air heavy strikes weaponry have.
3.	quarter group of now Iraq controls a The.
4.	that Made the no there it ground boots would clear on be.
5.	fight in Iraq Combat troops will not be returning to.
6.	Another the on for strikes IS reason air the.
7.	Yazidis to The the convert told to Islam IS.
8.	IS the of hands the at cleansing ethnic of possibility The.
9.	taken Reportedly hostage women Yazidi of hundreds.
10.	of are a Thousands who on Yazidis trapped mountain.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The USA has started targeting / targeted forces of the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. Several US air strikes have taken out heavily / heavy weaponry that the Islamic State captured / catapulted from the Iraqi army. President Obama said the new attacks are / be to protect American residents in Erbil, the capital of / for Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. IS recently changed its name as / from ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The group now controls a quarter of Iraq (including / inclusive the country's largest dam), and a thirdly / third of Syria. Mr Obama made it clear that there would be no boots / shoes on the ground. He said: "Even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American combat troops will not be returned / returning to fight in Iraq."

Another reason for the air strikes on / in the IS is to protect Iraq's Yazidi people and other minors / minority groups. The Yazidis are ethnically Kurdish. Their religion includes / including elements of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism. The IS told the Yazidis to conversion / convert to Islam, pay a tax, or face / facing death. Earlier this week the UN warned of a humanitarian catastrophe with / within the possibility of ethnic cleansing at the palms / hands of the IS. The IS have reportedly taken hundred / hundreds of Yazidi women hostage. Obama said the latest US military action is also, "a humanitarian effort / efforts to help save thousands of [Yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certainly / certain death".

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)

Th_ _S_ h_s st_rt_d t_rg_t_ng f_rc_s _f th_ _sl_m_c St_t_ (_S) _n n_rth_rn _r_q. S_v_r_l _S __r str_k_s h_v_ t_k_n __t h__vy w__p_nry th_t th_ _sl_m_c St_t_ c_pt_r_d fr_m th_ _r_q_ _rmy. Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_ s__d th_ n_w _tt_cks _r_ t_ pr_t_ct _m_r_c_n r_s_d_nts _n _rb_l, th_ c_p_t_l _f _r_q's __t_n_m__s K_rd_st_n r_g__n. _S r_c_ntly ch_ng_d _ts n_m_ fr_m _S_S (th_ _sl_m_c St_t_ _n _r_q _nd Syr__). Th_ gr__p n_w c_ntr_ls _ q__rt_r _f _r_q (_ncl_d_ng th_ c__ntry's l_rg_st d_m), _nd _ th_rd _f Syr__. Mr _b_m_ m_d_ _t cl__r th_t th_r_ w__ld b_ n_ b__ts _n th_ gr__nd. H_ s__d: "_v_n _s w_ s_pp_rt _r_q_s _s th_y t_k_ th_ f_ght t_ th_s_ t_rr_r_sts, _m_r_c_n c_mb_t tr__ps w_ll n_t b_ r_t_rn_ng t_ f_ght _n _r_q."

_n_th_r r__s_n f_r th_ __r str_k_s _n th_ _S _s t_ pr_t_ct _r_q's Y_z_d_ p__pl_ _nd _th_r m_n_r_ty gr__ps. Th_ Y_z_d_s _r_ _thn_c_lly K_rd_sh. Th__r r_l_g__n _ncl_d_s _l_m_nts _f J_d__sm, Chr_st__n_ty, _sl_m _nd Z_r__str__n_sm. Th_ _S t_ld th_ Y_z_d_s t_ c_nv_rt t_ _sl_m, p_y _ t_x, _r f_c_ d__th. __rl__r th_s w__k th_ _N w_rn_d _f _ h_m_n_t_r__n c_t_str_ph_ w_th th_ p_ss_b_l_ty _f _thn_c cl__ns_ng _t th_ h_nds _f th_ _S. Th_ _S h_v_ r_p_rt_dly t_k_n h_ndr_ds _f Y_z_d_ w_m_n h_st_g_. _b_m_ s__d th_ l_t_st _S m_l_t_ry _ct__n _s _ls_, "_ h_m_n_t_r__n _ff_rt t_ h_lp s_v_ th__s_nds _f [Y_z_d_s] wh_ _r_ tr_pp_d _n _ m__nt__n w_th__t f__d _nd w_t_r _nd f_c_ng _lm_st c_rt__n d__th".

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the usa has started targeting forces of the islamic state (is) in northern iraq several us air strikes have taken out heavy weaponry that the islamic state captured from the iraqi army president obama said the new attacks are to protect american residents in erbil the capital of iraq's autonomous kurdistan region is recently changed its name from isis (the islamic state in iraq and syria) the group now controls a quarter of iraq (including the country's largest dam) and a third of syria mr obama made it clear that there would be no boots on the ground he said "even as we support iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists american combat troops will not be returning to fight in iraq"

another reason for the air strikes on the is is to protect iraq's yazidi people and other minority groups the yazidis are ethnically kurdish their religion includes elements of judaism christianity islam and zoroastrianism the is told the yazidis to convert to islam pay a tax or face death earlier this week the un warned of a humanitarian catastrophe with the possibility of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the is the is have reportedly taken hundreds of yazidi women hostage obama said the latest us military action is also "a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of [yazidis] who are trapped on a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheUSAhasstartedtargetingforcesoftheIslamicState(IS)innorthe
rnIraq.SeveralUSairstrikeshavetakenoutheavyweaponrythatthe
IslamicStatecapturedfromtheIraqiarmy.PresidentObamasaidthe
newattacksaretoprotectAmericanresidentsinErbil,thecapitalofIr
aq'sautonomousKurdistanregion.ISrecentlychangeditsnamefro
mISIS(theIslamicStateinIraqandSyria).Thegroupnowcontrolsaq
uarterofIraq(includingthecountry'slargestdam),andathirdofSyri
a.MrObamamadeitclearthattherewouldbenobootsontheground.
Hesaid:"EvenaswesupportIraqisastheytakethefighttotheseterro
rists,AmericancombattroopswillnotbereturningtofightinIraq."An
otherreasonfortheairstrikesontheISistoprotectIraq'sYazidipeopl
eandotherminoritygroups.TheYazidisareethnicallyKurdish.Their
religionincludeselementsofJudaism,Christianity,IslamandZoroa
strianism.TheIStoldtheYazidistoconverttoIslam,payatax,orface
death.EarlierthisweektheUNwarnedofahumanitariancatastrophe
withthepossibilityofethniccleansingatthehandsoftheIS.TheIShav
ereportedlytakenhundredsofYazidiwomenhostage.Obamasaidth
elatestUSmilitaryactionisalso,"ahumanitarianefforttohelpsaveth
ousandsof[Yazidis]whoaretrappedonamountainwithoutfoodand
waterandfacingalmostcertaindeath".

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

The U.S. should use air strikes and troops to defeat the IS. 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 the IS (or ISIS or ISIL). Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. IRAQ: Make a poster about Iraq. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. AIR STRIKES: Write a magazine article about America's air strikes on Iraq. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.

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 Iraq. Ask him/her three questions about the situation. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to bring peace to the country. 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

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	targeting	a.	aiming at
2.	weaponry	b.	arms
3.	captured	c.	seized
4.	autonomous	d.	self-governing
5.	combat	e.	fighting
6.	protect	f.	defend
7.	elements	g.	parts
8.	convert	h.	change
9.	catastrophe	i.	disaster
10.	facing	j.	confronting

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Heavy weaponry
2.	U.S. citizens
3.	A quarter
4.	Boots
5.	American combat troops
6.	Minority groups
7.	Kurdish
8.	A humanitarian crisis
9.	Hundreds of Yazidi women
10.	On a mountain

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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U.S.A. starts air strikes in Iraq (11th August, 2014)

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