The Reading / Listening - Missiles - Level 6

Russia has responded to the USA withdrawing from an arms treaty by announcing it has plans to build more missiles. News that the USA will exit the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INFT) and Russia's response raised concerns about a new arms race. Moscow immediately said it would end its own involvement in the arms limitation treaty. In addition, Russian media stated that Russia's military would develop a "100 megaton nuclear doomsday device" in response to the USA pulling out of the treaty. The INFT was signed in 1987. It was an attempt to limit the number of missiles that were capable of hitting many European capitals. It banned both countries from using short- and medium-range missiles.

The media have written extensively about a new "super-missile". This is an unstoppable, undersea, 100-megaton nuclear warhead. Experts say it is so fast it can evade all current missile defense systems. They also say it is powerful enough to cause catastrophic devastation, such as creating 100-meter tsunami waves and enough radiation to wipe out life for a thousand kilometers. One Russian newspaper wrote: "One of the 100 megaton nuclear warheads will sit off the US coast. Any US attack on Russia would be a suicidal misadventure." However, the paper omitted to mention the concept of M.A.D. - Mutually Assured Destruction. This scary scenario sees both countries wiping each other out.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Missiles - Level 4  or  Missiles - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47134028
  • https://www.thisisinsider.com/russia-threatens-us-with-nuclear-doomsday-device-after-inf-failure-2019-2
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/05/russia-plans-land-based-intermediate-missiles-in-two-years


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. MISSILES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about missiles. 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?
       Russia / arms treaty / plans / concerns / treaty / military / attempt / limit / missiles /
       media / warhead / powerful / radiation / coast / tsunami / suicidal / concept / scary
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. WORLD WAR III: Students A strongly believe there will never be a World War III; Students B strongly believe there could be in the future.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WEAPONS: How dangerous are these weapons and what can we do about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How dangerous?

What can we do about them?

Missiles

 

 

Grenades

 

 

Guns

 

 

Knives

 

 

Swords

 

 

Flamethrowers

 

 

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

  • civil war
  • drought
  • no jobs
  • foreign invasions
  • nuclear war
  • global warming
  • pandemics
  • cybercrime

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. responded a. A point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass.
      2. withdrawing b. Anxieties and worries.
      3. concerns c. The fact or condition of being connected with or participating in something.
      4. arms race d. Said or did something in reply to something.
      5. involvement e. A time or event of crisis or great danger; the last day of the world's existence.
      6. doomsday f. Removing or taking away (something) from a particular place or position.
      7. limit g. A competition between nations to get the largest amount of weapons, especially between the US and the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

    Paragraph 2

      8. extensively h. Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
      9. warhead i. Great destruction or damage.
      10. evade j. An imaginary sequence or development of events.
      11. catastrophic k. The explosive part of a missile, torpedo, or similar weapon.
      12. devastation l. Leave out or exclude (someone or something), either intentionally or forgetfully.
      13. omitted m. Escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery.
      14. scenario n. To a large or detailed degree.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. There are no concerns about a future arms race.     T / F
  2. Both Russia and the USA withdrew from the INFT arms treaty.     T / F
  3. The INFT treaty was signed in 1987.     T / F
  4. The treaty banned Russia and the USA from using long-range missiles.    T / F
  5. Russia's media have given little attention to Russia's "super-missile".     T / F
  6. Missile defense systems are not good enough to detect the missile.     T / F
  7. The missile could create 100-meter tsunami waves.     T / F
  8. The M.A.D. scenario is when the US and Russia destroy each other.     T / F

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

  1. responded
  2. build
  3. exit
  4. pulling out
  5. banned
  6. extensively
  7. fast
  8. catastrophic
  9. concept
  10. scenario
  1. prohibited
  2. disastrous
  3. reacted
  4. widely
  5. construct
  6. notion
  7. leave
  8. situation
  9. withdrawing
  10. quick

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

  1. it has plans
  2. develop a 100 megaton nuclear
  3. an attempt to
  4. capable of hitting many
  5. short- and medium-
  6. The media have written extensively about
  7. it can evade all current missile
  8. enough radiation to wipe
  9. Any US attack on Russia would be a
  10. This scary scenario sees both countries
  1. a new "super-missile"
  2. suicidal misadventure
  3. range missiles
  4. defense systems
  5. to build more missiles
  6. doomsday device
  7. out life
  8. European capitals
  9. wiping each other out
  10. limit the number

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
concerns
responded
banned
device
capable
treaty
exit
attempt

Russia has (1) ____________ to the USA withdrawing from an arms treaty by announcing it has plans to build more missiles. News that the USA will (2) ____________ the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INFT) and Russia's response raised (3) ____________ about a new arms race. Moscow immediately said it would end its own involvement in the arms limitation (4) ____________. In addition, Russian media stated that Russia's military would develop a "100 megaton nuclear doomsday (5) ____________" in response to the USA pulling out of the treaty. The INFT was signed in 1987. It was an (6) ____________ to limit the number of missiles that were (7) ____________ of hitting many European capitals. It (8) ____________ both countries from using short- and medium-range missiles.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
warhead
radiation
concept
warheads
scenario
responded
catastrophic
suicidal

The media have written (9) ____________ about a new "super-missile". This is an unstoppable, undersea, 100-megaton nuclear (10) ____________. Experts say it is so fast it can evade all current missile defense systems. They also say it is powerful enough to cause (11) ____________ devastation, such as creating 100-meter tsunami waves and enough (12) ____________ to wipe out life for a thousand kilometers. One Russian newspaper wrote: "One of the 100 megaton nuclear (13) ____________ will sit off the US coast. Any US attack on Russia would be a (14) ____________ misadventure." However, the paper omitted to mention the (15) ____________ of M.A.D. - Mutually Assured Destruction. This scary (16) ____________ sees both countries wiping each other out.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Russia has responded to the USA withdrawing from ______
     a.  an arms treaty
     b.  a harms treaty
     c.  alarms treaty
     d.  an alms treaty
2)  Russia's response raised concerns about a ______
     a.  new arms pace
     b.  new arms trace
     c.  new arms brace
     d.  new arms race
3)  Moscow immediately said it would end its own involvement in the arms ______
     a.  limitation treat it
     b.  limitation tree tee
     c.  limitation treaty
     d.  limitation treat tea
4)  Russia's military would develop a "100 megaton nuclear ______"
     a.  dooms daily device
     b.  doom stay device
     c.  domes day device
     d.  doomsday device
5)  limit the number of missiles that were capable of hitting many ______
     a.  European capitalize
     b.  European cap it all
     c.  European cape pit ails
     d.  European capitals

6)  This is an unstoppable, undersea, 100-megaton ______
     a.  nuclear warhead
     b.  nuclear warn head
     c.  nuclear warring head
     d.  nuclear wore head
7)  cause catastrophic devastation, such as creating 100-meter ______
     a.  tsunami wave
     b.  tsunami waves
     c.  tsunami waives
     d.  tsunami waive
8)  Any US attack on Russia would be ______ misadventure
     a.  a suicidal
     b.  as suicidal
     c.  as suicide all
     d.  a suet side all
9)  However, the paper omitted to mention ______ M.A.D.
     a.  the concept if
     b.  the concept of
     c.  the concept off
     d.  the concept toff
10)  This scary scenario sees both countries ______ out
     a.  wiping each other
     b.  wipe in each other
     c.  wipe ping each other
     d.  wiping each other

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Russia has (1) ___________________ USA withdrawing from an arms treaty by announcing it has plans to (2) ___________________. News that the USA will exit the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INFT) and Russia's (3) ___________________ about a new arms race. Moscow immediately said it would end its own involvement in the arms limitation treaty. In addition, Russian media stated that Russia's (4) ___________________ a "100 megaton nuclear doomsday device" in response to the USA pulling out of the treaty. The INFT was signed in 1987. It was an (5) ___________________ the number of missiles that were (6) ___________________ many European capitals. It banned both countries from using short- and medium-range missiles.

The media have written (7) ___________________ new "super-missile". This is an unstoppable, undersea, 100-megaton nuclear warhead. Experts say it is so fast it (8) ___________________ current missile defense systems. They also say it is powerful (9) ___________________ catastrophic devastation, such as creating 100-meter tsunami waves and enough (10) ___________________ out life for a thousand kilometers. One Russian newspaper wrote: "One of the 100 megaton nuclear warheads will sit off the US coast. Any US attack on Russia would (11) ___________________ misadventure." However, the paper omitted to mention the concept of M.A.D. - Mutually Assured Destruction. (12) ___________________ sees both countries wiping each other out.

Comprehension questions

  1. What are Russia and the USA withdrawing from?
  2. What kind of race are people worried about?
  3. How powerful is the nuclear device newspapers say Russia has built?
  4. In what year was the INFT signed?
  5. What missiles were the USA and Russia banned from using?
  6. What can the new missile evade?
  7. How high might tsunami waves be if the missile exploded?
  8. Where will one of the nuclear devices be located?
  9. What kind of "misadventure" did Russia say an attack on it would be?
  10. What does M.A.D. mean?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What are Russia and the USA withdrawing from?
a) a peace conference
b) an arms treaty
c) an exit
d) concerns
2)  What kind of race are people worried about?
a) an unwinnable race
b) a master race
c) a two-horse race
d) an arms race
3) How powerful is the nuclear device newspapers say Russia has built?
a) 100 megatons
b) 1,000 megatons
c) 10,000 megatons
d) 100,000 megatons
4) In what year was the INFT signed?
a) 1789
b) 1879
c) 1987
d) 1978
5) What missiles were the USA and Russia banned from using?
a) long-range missiles
b) short-and medium-range missiles
c) 1,000 megaton missiles
d) hydrogen missiles

6) What can the new missile evade?
a) missile defense systems
b) radar
c) drones
d) hacking
7) How high might tsunami waves be if the missile exploded?
a) 20 meters
b) 200 meters
c) 100 meters
d) 10 meters
8) Where will one of the nuclear devices be located?
a) off the US coast
b) on the moon
c) on the border with Europe
d) near Alaska
9) What kind of "misadventure" did Russia say an attack on it would be?
a) a suicidal misadventure
b) a doomsday misadventure
c) a missile misadventure
d) a nuclear misadventure
10) What does M.A.D. mean?
a) Megaton Arms Defense
b) Missile Attack Deterrent
c) Mad And Destructive
d) Mutually Assured Destruction

Role play

Role  A – Nuclear War
You think nuclear war is the scariest thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as scary. Also, tell the others which is the least scary of these (and why): cybercrime, there being no jobs or global warming.

Role  B – Cybercrime
You think cybercrime is the scariest thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as scary. Also, tell the others which is the least scary of these (and why): nuclear war, there being no jobs or global warming.

Role  C – No Jobs
You think there being no jobs is the scariest thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as scary. Also, tell the others which is the least scary of these (and why): cybercrime, nuclear war or global warming.

Role  D – Global Warming
You think global warming is the scariest thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as scary. Also, tell the others which is the least scary of these (and why): cybercrime, there being no jobs or nuclear war.

After reading / listening

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

'nuclear'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'missile'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • extensively
    • fast
    • powerful
    • sit
    • attack
    • scary
    • announcing
    • exit
    • own
    • addition
    • signed
    • range

    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 - Russia planning to develop more missiles

    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 'missile'?
    3. What do you think of nuclear missiles?
    4. What do you know about arms races?
    5. Why did the USA withdraw from the treaty?
    6. Was Russia right to respond in the way it did?
    7. What do you think of the term 'doomsday device'?
    8. What do you know about the Cold War?
    9. What are relations like between Russia and the USA?
    10. What advice do you have for Russia and the USA?

    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 'weapon'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of a 'super-missile'?
    5. How afraid should the USA be of an 'unstoppable' missile?
    6. Do you think the USA and Russia would ever attack each other?
    7. Will we ever have a World War III?
    8. How scary is this news?
    9. What do you know about Mutually Assured Destruction?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the leaders?

    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)

    Russia has (1) ____ to the USA withdrawing from an arms treaty by announcing it has plans to build more missiles. News that the USA will (2) ____ the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INFT) and Russia's response (3) ____ concerns about a new arms race. Moscow immediately said it would end its own involvement in the arms limitation treaty. In addition, Russian media stated that Russia's military would develop a "100 megaton nuclear doomsday (4) ____" in response to the USA pulling out of the treaty. The INFT was signed in 1987. It was an attempt to limit the number of missiles that were (5) ____ of hitting many European capitals. It (6) ____ both countries from using short- and medium-range missiles.

    The media have written (7) ____ about a new "super-missile". This is an unstoppable, undersea, 100-megaton nuclear (8) ____. Experts say it is so fast it can evade all current missile defense systems. They also say it is powerful enough to cause catastrophic devastation, such as creating 100-meter tsunami waves and enough radiation to (9) ____ out life for a thousand kilometers. One Russian newspaper wrote: "One of the 100 megaton nuclear warheads will sit off the US (10) ____. Any US attack on Russia would be a suicidal misadventure." However, the paper (11) ____ to mention the concept of M.A.D. - Mutually Assured Destruction. This scary (12) ____ sees both countries wiping each other out.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     responsive     (b)     responds     (c)     responded     (d)     responsible    
    (a)     exit     (b)     way out     (c)     retreat     (d)     portal    
    (a)     raised     (b)     risen     (c)     arose     (d)     riser    
    (a)     device     (b)     devil     (c)     devout     (d)     divine    
    (a)     capacity     (b)     able     (c)     ability     (d)     capable    
    (a)     boned     (b)     branded     (c)     binned     (d)     banned    
    (a)     extensively     (b)     extension     (c)     extensive     (d)     extending    
    (a)     warmonger     (b)     warfare     (c)     warrior     (d)     warhead    
    (a)     wipe     (b)     swipe     (c)     whip     (d)     wide    
    (a)     coats     (b)     coast     (c)     costs     (d)     cost    
    (a)     emitted     (b)     omitted     (c)     remitted     (d)     formatted    
    (a)     scenario     (b)     cheerio     (c)     lothario     (d)     curio

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the USA whwitadgrni from an arms treaty
    2. Russia's rosnspee raised concerns
    3. the arms litmioiant treaty
    4. Russia's marliity would
    5. a 100 megaton nuclear aomsdody device
    6. missiles that were elapcba

    Paragraph 2

    1. written lenexesyivt about a new "super-missile"
    2. 100-megaton nuclear awehdar
    3. osathtccapri devastation
    4. a iuacsidl misadventure
    5. dmiteto to mention
    6. scary esnoirac

    Put the text back together

    (...)  waves and enough radiation to wipe out life for a thousand kilometers. One Russian newspaper wrote: "One
    (...)  systems. They also say it is powerful enough to cause catastrophic devastation, such as creating 100-meter tsunami
    (...)  of hitting many European capitals. It banned both countries from using short- and medium-range missiles.
    (...)  concerns about a new arms race. Moscow immediately said it would end its own
    (...)  misadventure." However, the paper omitted to mention the concept of M.A.D. - Mutually
    1  ) Russia has responded to the USA withdrawing from an arms treaty by announcing it has plans to build more
    (...)  The media have written extensively about a new "super-missile". This is an unstoppable, undersea, 100-
    (...)  Assured Destruction. This scary scenario sees both countries wiping each other out.
    (...)  involvement in the arms limitation treaty. In addition, Russian media stated that Russia's military
    (...)  out of the treaty. The INFT was signed in 1987. It was an attempt to limit the number of missiles that were capable
    (...)  missiles. News that the USA will exit the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INFT) and Russia's response raised
    (...)  of the 100 megaton nuclear warheads will sit off the US coast. Any US attack on Russia would be a suicidal
    (...)  would develop a "100 megaton nuclear doomsday device" in response to the USA pulling
    (...)  megaton nuclear warhead. Experts say it is so fast it can evade all current missile defense

    Put the words in the right order

    1. has   USA   responded   withdrawing   .   the   to   Russia
    2. concerns   race   .   raised   arms   about   Russia   new   a
    3. immediately   end   said   would   its   Moscow   involvement   .   it
    4. pulling   response   USA   out   .   the   In   to
    5. of   number   the   limit   attempt   to   An   missiles   .
    6. evade   defense   It   systems   .   missile   can   all   current
    7. 1,000km   .   radiation   life   out   to   wipe   for   Enough
    8. coast   .   warheads   US   the   will   off   Nuclear   sit
    9. concept   to   mention   M.A.D   .   Omitted   the   of
    10. sees   each   scenario   other   out   .   countries   wiping   This

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Russia has responded / response to the USA withdrawing from an arms treaty by announcement / announcing it has plans to build more missiles. News that the USA will exit / entrance the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INFT) and Russia's response raised / arose concerns about a new arms race. Moscow immediately said it would end its self / own involvement in the arms limitation treaty. In plus / addition, Russian media stated that Russia's military would develop a "100 megaton nuclear doomsday device" in response / distress to the USA pulling out of the treaty. The INFT was signed in 1987. It was an attempt / address to limit the number of missiles that were capable / capability of hitting many European capitals. It banned both countries from using short- and medium-range / brand missiles.

    The media have written extension / extensively about a new "super-missile". This is an unstoppable, undersea, 100-megaton nuclear warmonger / warhead. Experts say it is so fast it can evade / invade all current missile defense systems. They also say it is powerful enough / very to cause catastrophic devastation, such was / as creating 100-meter tsunami waves and enough radiation to wipe / whip out life for a thousand kilometers. One Russian newspaper wrote: "One of the 100 megaton nuclear warheads will sit / crouch off the US coast. Any US attack on Russia would be a suicide / suicidal misadventure." However, the paper omitted / permitted to mention the concept of M.A.D. - Mutually Assured Destruction. This scary scenario sees both countries wiping each / one other out.

    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)

    R_s s__ h_s r_s p_n d_d t_ t h_ U S A w_t h d r_w_n g f r_m _n _r m s t r__ t y b y _n n__ n c_n g _t h_s p l_n s t_ b__ l d m_r_ m_s s_l_s . N_w s t h_t t h_ U S A w_l l _x_t t h_ I n t_r m_d__ t_ N_c l__ r F_r c_s T r__ t y ( I N F T ) _n d R_s s__ ' s r_s p_n s_ r__ s_d c_n c_r n s _b__ t _ n_w _r m s r_c_. M_s c_w _m m_d__ t_l y s__ d _t w__ l d _n d _t s _w n _n v_l v_m_n t _n t h_ _r m s l_m_t_t__ n t r__ t y . I n _d d_t__ n , R_s s__ n m_d__ s t_t_d t h_t R_s s__ ' s m_l_t_r y w__ l d d_v_l_p _ " 1 0 0 m_g_t_n n_c l__ r d__ m s d_y d_v_c_" _n r_s p_n s_ t_ t h_ U S A p_l l_n g __ t _f t h_ t r__ t y . T h_ I N F T w_s s_g n_d _n 1 9 8 7 . I t w_s _n _t t_m p t t_ l_m_t t h_ n_m b_r _f m_s s_l_s t h_t w_r_ c_p_b l_ _f h_t t_n g m_n y E_r_p__ n c_p_t_l s . I t b_n n_d b_t h c__ n t r__ s f r_m _s_n g s h_r t - _n d m_d__ m - r_n g_ m_s s_l_s .

    T h_ m_d__ h_v_ w r_t t_n _x t_n s_v_l y _b__ t _ n_w " s_p_r - m_s s_l_" . T h_s _s _n _n s t_p p_b l_, _n d_r s__ , 1 0 0 - m_g_t_n n_c l__ r w_r h__ d . E x p_r t s s_y _t _s s_ f_s t _t c_n _v_d_ _l l c_r r_n t m_s s_l_ d_f_n s_ s y s t_m s . T h_y _l s_ s_y _t _s p_w_r f_l _n__ g h t_ c__ s_ c_t_s t r_p h_c d_v_s t_t__ n , s_c h _s c r__ t_n g 1 0 0 - m_t_r t s_n_m_ w_v_s _n d _n__ g h r_d__ t__ n t_ w_p_ __ t l_f_ f_r _ t h__ s_n d k_l_m_t_r s . O n_ R_s s__ n n_w s p_p_r w r_t_: " O n_ _f t h_ 1 0 0 m_g_t_n n_c l__ r w_r h__ d s w_l l s_t _f f t h_ U S c__ s t . A n y U S _t t_c k _n R_s s__ w__ l d b_ _ s__ c_d_l m_s_d v_n t_r_. " H_w_v_r , t h_ p_p_r _m_t t_d t_ m_n t__ n t h_ c_n c_p t _f M . A . D . - M_t__ l l y A s s_r_d D_s t r_c t__ n . T h_s s c_r y s c_n_r__ s__ s b_t h c__ n t r__ s w_p_n g __ c h _t h_r __ t .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    russia has responded to the usa withdrawing from an arms treaty by announcing it has plans to build more missiles news that the usa will exit the intermediate nuclear forces treaty inft and russias response raised concerns about a new arms race moscow immediately said it would end its own involvement in the arms limitation treaty in addition russian media stated that russias military would develop a 100 megaton nuclear doomsday device in response to the usa pulling out of the treaty the inft was signed in 1987 it was an attempt to limit the number of missiles that were capable of hitting many european capitals it banned both countries from using short and mediumrange missiles

    the media have written extensively about a new supermissile this is an unstoppable undersea 100megaton nuclear warhead experts say it is so fast it can evade all current missile defense systems they also say it is powerful enough to cause catastrophic devastation such as creating 100meter tsunami waves and enough radiation to wipe out life for a thousand kilometers one russian newspaper wrote one of the 100 megaton nuclear warheads will sit off the us coast any us attack on russia would be a suicidal misadventure however the paper omitted to mention the concept of mad  mutually assured destruction this scary scenario sees both countries wiping each other out.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    RussiahasrespondedtotheUSAwithdrawingfromanarmstreatybyann
    ouncingithasplanstobuildmoremissiles.NewsthattheUSAwillexittheI
    ntermediateNuclearForcesTreaty(INFT)andRussia'sresponseraised
    concernsaboutanewarmsrace.Moscowimmediatelysaiditwouldendit
    sowninvolvementinthearmslimitationtreaty.Inaddition,Russianmed
    iastatedthatRussia'smilitarywoulddevelopa"100megatonnucleardo
    omsdaydevice"inresponsetotheUSApullingoutofthetreaty.TheINFT
    wassignedin1987.Itwasanattempttolimitthenumberofmissilesthat
    werecapableofhittingmanyEuropeancapitals.Itbannedbothcountrie
    sfromusingshort-andmedium-rangemissiles.Themediahavewritte
    nextensivelyaboutanew"super-missile".Thisisanunstoppable,un
    dersea,100-megatonnuclearwarhead.Expertssayitissofastitcanev
    adeallcurrentmissiledefensesystems.Theyalsosayitispowerfulenou
    ghtocausecatastrophicdevastation,suchascreating100-metertsuna
    miwavesandenoughradiationtowipeoutlifeforathousandkilometers.
    OneRussiannewspaperwrote:"Oneofthe100megatonnuclearwarhea
    dswillsitofftheUScoast.AnyUSattackonRussiawouldbeasuicidalmisa
    dventure."However,thepaperomittedtomentiontheconceptofM.A.D.
    -MutuallyAssuredDestruction.Thisscaryscenarioseesbothcountrie
    swipingeachotherout.

    Free writing

    Write about missiles for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    There will never be a Third World War. 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. MISSILES: Make a poster about missiles. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WORLD WAR III: Write a magazine article about there never being a third world war. Include imaginary interviews with people who think this is true and with those who think it is not true.
    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 missiles. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to cut down the number of missiles in the world. 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.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You