The Reading / Listening - Sri Lanka Blasts - Level 0

Over 207 people died in suicide bombings in Sri Lanka. Bombers attacked three churches. They had religious services for Easter, one of the biggest events in the Christian calendar. Three luxury hotels were also hit. People must report anything suspicious. Police have arrested seven people.

Pope Francis said: "I pray for the injured and all those who are suffering." The Catholic Church said it never thought such a thing would happen on Easter Sunday. The USA said it is ready to help "the great people of Sri Lanka". Turkey said the bombs were attacks "on all of humanity". Sri Lanka is unstable at the moment.

Note: At the time of uploading, the death toll was 310.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Sri Lanka Blasts - Level 1,  Sri Lanka Blasts - Level 2   or  Sri Lanka Blasts - Level 3

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48001720
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/sri-lanka-bombings-explosions-easter-sunday-colombo-churches-hotels-2019-04-21-live-updates/
  • https://www.dw.com/en/easter-sunday-blasts-belie-sri-lankas-calm-facade/a-48422430


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. people died in suicide
  2. Bombers attacked
  3. religious services
  4. one of the biggest
  5. in the Christian
  6. Three luxury hotels
  7. report anything
  8. Police have arrested
  1. were also hit
  2. events
  3. seven people
  4. for Easter
  5. three churches
  6. suspicious
  7. bombings
  8. calendar

Paragraph 2

  1. I pray
  2. all those who
  3. it never thought such a
  4. Easter
  5. The USA said it
  6. help the great
  7. attacks on all
  8. Sri Lanka is unstable
  1. is ready
  2. of humanity
  3. are suffering
  4. at the moment
  5. people of Sri Lanka
  6. thing would happen
  7. for the injured
  8. Sunday

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Over 207 people (1) ___________________ bombings in Sri Lanka. Bombers (2) ___________________. They had religious services for Easter, (3) ___________________ biggest events in the Christian calendar. (4) ___________________ were also hit. People (5) ___________________ suspicious. Police have (6) ___________________.

Pope Francis said: "I (7) ___________________ injured and all those (8) ___________________." The Catholic Church said it never thought (9) ___________________ would happen on Easter Sunday. The USA said it is (10) ___________________ "the great people of Sri Lanka". Turkey (11) ___________________ were attacks "on all of humanity". Sri Lanka is unstable (12) ___________________.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Over207peoplediedinsuicidebombingsinSriLanka.Bombersattacked
threechurches.TheyhadreligiousservicesforEaster,oneofthebiggest
eventsintheChristiancalendar.Threeluxuryhotelswerealsohit.People
mustreportanythingsuspicious.Policehavearrestedsevenpeople.Pop
eFrancissaid:"Iprayfortheinjuredandallthosewhoaresuffering."The
CatholicChurchsaiditneverthoughtsuchathingwouldhappenonEaste
rSunday.TheUSAsaiditisreadytohelp"thegreatpeopleofSriLanka".Tu
rkeysaidthebombswereattacks"onallofhumanity".SriLankaisunstab
leatthemoment.

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 — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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