Iran and Saudi Arabia in war of words

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

There is a war of words between Iran and Saudi Arabia after the execution of a Shia Muslim cleric. He was among 47 men killed on terrorism charges. Saudi leaders said the cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, had led anti-government protests in 2011-2012. Mr Al-Nimr said he never carried weapons or called for violence. He had encouraged people to use "the roar of the word" instead. Iran said al-Nimr was killed for being a Shia Muslim. Saudi Arabia is largely Sunni Muslim.

There were protests against the execution in the Iranian capital Tehran. The Saudi Arabian embassy was set on fire. Iran said Saudi Arabia would pay a "heavy price" for the execution. Saudi Arabia said Iran should stay out of what was an internal Saudi matter. The foreign ministry said Mr al-Nimr was killed for breaking the law and not for being a Shia Muslim. It said: "There is no difference between what a person does regardless of his ethnic origin."

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/iran-saudi-arabia-wage-war-words-executions-160103104216327.html
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/iranian-threats-should-not-be-accepted-1.1647793
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/saudi-executions-nimr-iran_56893488e4b014efe0dab27d?5xjyk3xr&utm_hp_ref=world

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 war of words between	a.	government protests
2.	a Shia	b.	of the word
3.	killed on terrorism	c.	Iran and Saudi Arabia
4.	led anti-	d.	largely Sunni Muslim
5.	he never carried	e.	Muslim cleric
6.	called for	f.	weapons
7.	use the roar	g.	charges
8.	Saudi Arabia is	h.	violence

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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.	There were protests	a.	embassy
2.	the Iranian capital	b.	origin
3.	The Saudi Arabian	c.	a "heavy price"
4.	set	d.	against the execution
5.	Saudi Arabia would pay	e.	difference
6.	an internal Saudi	f.	Tehran
7.	There is no	g.	matter
8.	regardless of his ethnic	h.	on fire

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

There is a war of words between Iran and Saudi Arabia (1) ___________________ a Shia Muslim cleric. He was among 47 men killed (2) ___________________. Saudi leaders said the cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, had led anti-government protests in 2011-2012. Mr Al-Nimr (3) ___________________ weapons or called for violence. (4) ___________________ people to use "(5) ___________________" instead. Iran said al-Nimr was (6) ___________________ Shia Muslim. Saudi Arabia is largely Sunni Muslim.

There were (7) ___________________ execution in the Iranian capital Tehran. The Saudi Arabian embassy (8) ___________________. Iran said Saudi Arabia would pay (9) ___________________ for the execution. Saudi Arabia said Iran should (10) ___________________ was an internal Saudi matter. The foreign ministry said Mr al-Nimr was killed (11) ___________________ law and not for being a Shia Muslim. It said: "There is no difference between what a person does (12) ___________________ ethnic origin."

IRAN & SAUDI ARABIA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Iran & Saudi Arabia 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 Iran & Saudi Arabia for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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