Indian PM says no to temple in his name

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A temple named to honour India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to be renamed. Supporters of India's leader hoped to open the temple on Sunday. They have abandoned the idea because Modi is horrified by the idea of a temple in his name. His supporters have already unveiled a statue of him sitting under the symbol of his political party. Modi said it was "against India's great traditions" and that, "building such temples is not what our culture teaches us".

People do not know what to do with the temple and statue. Some want to replace the statue with a Hindu god. Others think the statue should stay to honour Mr Modi. The man who donated the land for the temple said: "We love Modi and worship him because he is the finest leader we have ever had." Another supporter believes Modi is an incarnation of God, as he changed things for the better. Modi said people should instead work towards a cleaner India.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://news.sky.com/story/1426159/indian-pm-calls-halt-to-temple-dedication
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-31433695
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-idol-covered-inauguration-cancelled-after-PM-tweets-against-it/articleshow/46210645.cms

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.	A temple named to honour	a.	our culture teaches us
2.	might have to	b.	statue of him
3.	Supporters	c.	great traditions
4.	hoped to open the	d.	be renamed
5.	Modi is horrified	e.	temple on Sunday
6.	unveiled a	f.	of India's leader
7.	it was against India's	g.	by the idea
8.	building such temples is not what	h.	India's Prime Minister

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	People do not know what	a.	worship him
2.	replace the statue	b.	land for the temple
3.	Others think the	c.	with a Hindu god
4.	The man who donated the	d.	of God
5.	We love Modi and	e.	to do with the temple
6.	he is the finest leader	f.	cleaner India
7.	an incarnation	g.	we have ever had
8.	work towards a	h.	statue should stay

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

(1) ___________________ honour India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi might have to be renamed. Supporters of India's (2) ___________________ the temple on Sunday. They have (3) ___________________ because Modi is horrified by the idea of a temple (4) ___________________. His supporters have already unveiled a statue of him sitting (5) ___________________ his political party. Modi said it was "against India's great traditions" and that, "building such temples is not what (6) ___________________".

People do (7) ___________________ with the temple and statue. Some want to (8) ___________________ with a Hindu god. Others think the statue should stay to honour Mr Modi. The man (9) ___________________ land for the temple said: "We love Modi (10) ___________________ because he is the finest leader (11) ___________________." Another supporter believes Modi is an incarnation of God, as he changed things for the better. Modi said people should (12) ___________________ a cleaner India.

TEMPLES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about temples 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 temples for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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