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Pope says World War III pretty much here (16th September, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Pope Francis has announced that the world is pretty much in the grips of its third world war. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church said the spate of conflicts being fought around the world were effectively a "piecemeal" third world war. Speaking at a World War I memorial in Italy, the Pontiff stated: "War is madness. Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war - one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres and destruction." He added: "War is irrational. Its only plan is to bring destruction. It seeks to grow by destroying." He said the motives behind countries or groups going to war were "greed, intolerance, the lust for power".

Pope Francis has made a number of repeated appeals for an end to the conflicts around the world. He has focused on those in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and many parts of Africa. Despite his anti-war stance, he has stated the use of force would be legitimate to stop "unjust aggression" by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He called on all people to have a "conversion of heart" and stop putting selfish aims above those of humanity as a whole. Francis compared the pointless loss of life in WWI to what is happening globally today. He said: "For each one of the fallen of this senseless massacre, for all the victims of the mindless wars, in every age, humanity needs to weep, and this is the time to weep."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/14/uk-pope-war-idUKKBN0H808R20140914
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/09/13/pope-urges-world-to-shed-apathy-toward-new-threats/15575343/
http://www.gulf-times.com/uk-europe/183/details/408132/pope%3A-current-conflicts-may-amount-to-wwiii

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. WAR: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about war. 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?

pretty much / conflicts / memorial / madness / massacres / destruction / irrational / appeal / anti-war stance / legitimate / humanity / senseless / mindless / victims / weep

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

3. CONFLICTS: What are the causes and how and when will they end? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Causes	How will they end?	When?
Syria
Iraq
Ukraine
Gaza
Afghanistan
Somalia

4. MADNESS: Students A strongly believe all war is madness; Students B strongly believe there can be just wars. 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. MOTIVES: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest motives for war at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• territorial dispute

• religion

• water

• ethnic tensions

• oil

• assassinations

• lust for power

• empire building

6. VICTIMS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "victims". 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 Pope said the war in terror is World War III.	T / F
b.	The Pope was speaking from an old World War I battlefield.	T / F
c.	The pope said war was "madness" and "irrational".	T / F
d.	A "lust for power" was one of the motives the Pope gave for war.	T / F
e.	The Pope does not condone the use of force against Islamic State.	T / F
f.	Pope Francis hopes everyone will have a change of heart.	T / F
g.	Francis compared the suffering of WWII with the suffering of today.	T / F
h.	The Pope said we need to weep for those who have died in all wars.	T / F

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

1.	announced	a.	slaughter
2.	spate	b.	stupid
3.	effectively	c.	succession
4.	massacres	d.	hunger
5.	lust	e.	position
6.	appeals	f.	declared
7.	stance	g.	pleas
8.	conversion	h.	sufferers
9.	pointless	i.	pretty much
10.	victims	j.	change

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

1.	pretty much in the grips of	a.	repeated appeals
2.	the spate of	b.	going to war
3.	crimes, massacres and	c.	its third world war
4.	the motives behind countries or groups	d.	of life
5.	greed, intolerance, the lust	e.	stance
6.	made a number of	f.	destruction
7.	anti-war	g.	wars
8.	stop putting selfish aims above those	h.	for power
9.	pointless loss	i.	of humanity as a whole
10.	victims of the mindless	j.	conflicts being fought

GAP FILL

Pope Francis has announced that the world is (1) ___________ much in the grips of its third world war. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church said the (2) ___________ of conflicts being fought around the world were effectively a "piecemeal" third world war. Speaking at a World War I (3) ___________ in Italy, the Pontiff stated: "War is madness. Even today, after the second (4) ___________ of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war - one fought piecemeal, with crimes, (5) ___________ and destruction." He added: "War is irrational. Its only plan is to bring (6) ___________. It seeks to grow by destroying." He said the (7) ___________ behind countries or groups going to war were "greed, intolerance, the (8) ___________ for power".

spate
destruction
pretty
motives
failure
lust
massacres
memorial

Pope Francis has made a number of repeated (9) ___________ for an end to the (10) ___________ around the world. He has focused on those in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and many parts of Africa. Despite his anti-war stance, he has stated the use of (11) ___________ would be legitimate to stop "(12) ___________ aggression" by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He called on all people to have a "conversion of heart" and stop putting (13) ___________ aims above those of humanity as a whole. Francis compared the pointless (14) ___________ of life in WWI to what is happening globally today. He said: "For each one of the (15) ___________ of this senseless massacre, for all the victims of the mindless wars, in every (16) ___________, humanity needs to weep, and this is the time to weep."

conflicts
selfish
appeals
fallen
unjust
age
force
loss

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	pretty much ______ its third world war
	a. in the gripes of b. in the grips of c. in the clips of d. in the cribs of
2)	Speaking at a World ______
	a. War I memorials b. War I memorialise c. War I memorial d. War I memory all
3)	perhaps one can speak of a third war - ______
	a. one fought piecemeal b. one fought peace meal c. one fought pieced meal d. one fought peace male
4)	War is irrational. Its only plan is ______
	a. to brink destruction b. to bling destruction c. to blink destruction d. to bring destruction
5)	the motives behind countries or groups going to war were "greed, intolerance, ______"
	a. the lust for power b. the rust for power c. the must for power d. the just for power
6)	Pope Francis has made a number of ______
	a. repeat it appeals b. repetitive appeals c. repeated appeals d. repeating appeals
7)	he has stated the use of force ______
	a. would be legitimated b. would be ledge it a mate c. would be legit a mat d. would be legitimate
8)	He called on all people to have a "______"
	a. converse on of heart b. conversion of heart c. conversing of heart d. conversation of heart
9)	For each one of the fallen of this ______
	a. senseless massacres b. sensed less massacre c. sensed less massacres d. senseless massacre
10)	for all the victims of the mindless wars, ______
	a. in every ages b. in every age c. in every aged d. in every aging

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Pope Francis has announced that the world (1) ___________________ grips of its third world war. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church said the (2) ___________________ being fought around the world were effectively a "piecemeal" third world war. Speaking at a World (3) ___________________ Italy, the Pontiff stated: "War is madness. Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war - one fought piecemeal, (4) ___________________ and destruction." He added: "War is irrational. Its only plan is (5) ___________________. It seeks to grow by destroying." He said the motives behind countries or groups going to war were "greed, intolerance, (6) ___________________".

Pope Francis has made a number (7) ___________________ for an end to the conflicts around the world. He has focused on those in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and many parts of Africa. Despite (8) ___________________, he has stated the use of force would be legitimate to (9) ___________________ by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He called on all people to have a "conversion of heart" and stop (10) ___________________ above those of humanity as a whole. Francis compared the pointless loss of life in WWI to what is happening globally today. He said: "For (11) ___________________ of this senseless massacre, for all the victims of the mindless wars, in every age, (12) ___________________, and this is the time to weep."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What did the Pope say the world was in the grips of?
2.	Where did the Pope make his announcement?
3.	What two adjectives did Pope Francis use to describe war?
4.	According to the Pope, how does war grow?
5.	What motive for war did the Pope give besides greed and intolerance?
6.	What has Francis made a number of?
7.	What did he say could be legitimate against the Islamic State?
8.	What did he ask people to stop putting above the aims of humanity?
9.	What did the Pope compare today's conflicts to?
10.	What did the Pope say we needed to do for the fallen?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What did the Pope say the world was in the grips of?	6.	What has Francis made a number of?
	a) madness b) a third world war c) panic d) crazy leaders		a) appeals to end conflicts b) mistakes c) visits to war-torn areas d) repetitions
2.	Where did the Pope make his announcement?	7.	What did he say could be legitimate against the Islamic State?
	a) the UN General Assembly b) the Vatican c) on a WWI battlefield d) at a war memorial		a) ideology b) prayer c) the use of force d) stances
3.	What two adjectives did Pope Francis use to describe war?	8.	What did he ask people to stop putting above the aims of humanity?
	a) madness and irrational b) conflicted and failed c) greedy and intolerant d) massacred and destroyed		a) selfish aims b) conflict c) hatred d) massacres
4.	According to the Pope, how does war grow?	9.	What did the Pope compare today's conflicts to?
	a) sporadically b) exponentially c) by destroying d) piecemeal		a) WWI b) WWII c) the war on terror d) tribal conflicts
5.	What motive for war did the Pope give besides greed and intolerance?	10.	What did the Pope say we needed to do for the fallen?
	a) ethnic tensions b) a lust for power c) oil d) empire building		a) build a memorial b) light candles c) pray d) weep

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Iraq

You think the war in Iraq is the biggest problem. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why the war in their countries isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these will be resolved soonest (and why): Afghanistan, Ukraine or Syria.

Role B – Afghanistan

You think the war in Afghanistan is the biggest problem. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why the war in their countries isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these will be resolved soonest (and why): Iraq, Ukraine or Syria.

Role C – Ukraine

You think the war in Ukraine is the biggest problem. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why the war in their countries isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these will be resolved soonest (and why): Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria.

Role D – Syria

You think the war in Syria is the biggest problem. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why the war in their countries isn't as bad. Also, tell the others which of these will be resolved soonest (and why): Afghanistan, Ukraine or Iraq.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

war

conflict

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:

pretty
spate
memorial
failure
plan
motives

number
stance
force
aims
each
time

WAR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about war 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.

WAR 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 'war'?
c)	Do you also think World War III is pretty much here?
d)	What do you think of the Pope's phrase, "War is madness"?
e)	WWI was "the war to end all wars". What went wrong?
f)	Is war a failure of leaders to find a non-violent solution?
g)	Many wars are based on religion. Can religious leaders stop them?
h)	Why are there so many wars nowadays?
i)	Is it too easy for countries to declare war on others?
j)	Are wars a failure of the United Nations?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Is a leader a war criminal if he/she declares war or invades another country?
c)	Would there be fewer wars if leader's children fought in them?
d)	Will there ever be an end to war?
e)	Are humans naturally aggressive and intolerant?
f)	Is there ever a "just" war?
g)	Will the Pope's words have any effect?
h)	What was the worst war ever?
i)	Will weeping for the fallen change anything?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the Pope?

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

Pope Francis has announced that the world is pretty much in the (1) ____ of its third world war. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church said the (2) ____ of conflicts being fought around the world were effectively a "piecemeal" third world war. (3) ____ at a World War I memorial in Italy, the Pontiff stated: "War is madness. Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps (4) ____ can speak of a third war - one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres and destruction." He added: "War is irrational. Its only plan is to bring destruction. It seeks to grow (5) ____ destroying." He said the motives behind countries or groups going to war were "greed, intolerance, the (6) ____ for power".

Pope Francis has made a number of repeated appeals (7) ____ an end to the conflicts around the world. He has focused on (8) ____ in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and many parts of Africa. Despite his anti-war stance, he has stated the use of force would be legitimate to stop "(9) ____ aggression" by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He called (10) ____ all people to have a "conversion of heart" and stop putting selfish aims above those of humanity as a whole. Francis compared the (11) ____ loss of life in WWI to what is happening globally today. He said: "For each one of the fallen of this senseless massacre, for all the (12) ____ of the mindless wars, in every age, humanity needs to weep, and this is the time to weep."

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

1.	(a)	grips	(b)	clips	(c)	gripes	(d)	gripped
2.	(a)	spite	(b)	spat	(c)	spate	(d)	spit
3.	(a)	Spoke	(b)	Spoken	(c)	Speaking	(d)	Bespoke
4.	(a)	only	(b)	once	(c)	two	(d)	one
5.	(a)	by	(b)	as	(c)	in	(d)	of
6.	(a)	must	(b)	lust	(c)	just	(d)	bust
7.	(a)	at	(b)	to	(c)	with	(d)	for
8.	(a)	them	(b)	those	(c)	they	(d)	these
9.	(a)	justice	(b)	justly	(c)	unjust	(d)	judicial
10.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	of	(d)	at
11.	(a)	pointing	(b)	pointy	(c)	pointed	(d)	pointless
12.	(a)	weapons	(b)	victims	(c)	ideologies	(d)	ceasefires

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	lytivfecfee a "piecemeal" third world war
2.	a World War I arilemmo in Italy
3.	after the second lefiaru
4.	War is rrnolitaia
5.	Its only plan is to bring siotrdtnuec
6.	greed, anerloinect, the lust for power
Paragraph 2
7.	a number of repeated spalpea
8.	the use of force would be egimettali
9.	stop "unjust gneraiossg"
10.	have a "ovnsenrico of heart"
11.	the nilptseso loss of life
12.	senseless smaresac

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	"War is irrational. Its only plan is to bring destruction. It seeks to grow by destroying." He said the motives
( )	aims above those of humanity as a whole. Francis compared the pointless loss of life in WWI to what is happening
( )	behind countries or groups going to war were "greed, intolerance, the lust for power".
( )	war stance, he has stated the use of force would be legitimate to stop "unjust aggression" by
( )	Roman Catholic Church said the spate of conflicts being fought around the world were effectively a "piecemeal" third
( )	world war. Speaking at a World War I memorial in Italy, the Pontiff stated: "War is
( 1 )	Pope Francis has announced that the world is pretty much in the grips of its third world war. The leader of the
( )	globally today. He said: "For each one of the fallen of this senseless
( )	speak of a third war - one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres and destruction." He added:
( )	Pope Francis has made a number of repeated appeals for an end to the conflicts around the
( )	world. He has focused on those in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and many parts of Africa. Despite his anti-
( )	massacre, for all the victims of the mindless wars, in every age, humanity needs to weep, and this is the time to weep."
( )	the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He called on all people to have a "conversion of heart" and stop putting selfish
( )	madness. Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	spate being the The conflicts around of fought world.
2.	second war failure of After another the world.
3.	of Perhaps a one third can war speak.
4.	to is plan only Its destruction bring.
5.	behind groups war motives or to The countries going.
6.	conflicts the to end an for appeals repeated of number A.
7.	legitimate He has stated the use of force would be.
8.	aims above those of humanity as a whole Putting selfish.
9.	the fallen of this senseless massacre For each one of.
10.	the in mindless victims For every wars of all age , the.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Pope Francis has announced that the world is pretty / petty much in the grips of its third world war. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church said the spate / spite of conflicts being fought around the world were effectively a "piecemeal" third world war. Speaking at a World War I memorandum / memorial in Italy, the Pontiff stated: "War is madness. Even today, after the second failed / failure of another world war, perhaps only / one can speak of a third war - one fought piecemeal, with crimes, macabre / massacres and destruction." He added: "War is irrationally / irrational. Its only plan is to bring destruction / destroying. It seeks to grow by destroying." He said the motives / motifs behind countries or groups going to war were "greed, intolerance, the must / lust for power".

Pope Francis has made a numeral / number of repeated appeals for an end to the conflicts around the world. He has focused in / on those in Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and many parts of Africa. Despite / Spite his anti-war stints / stance, he has stated the use of force / forcing would be legitimate to stop "unjust aggression" by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He called in / on all people to have a "conversion of heart" and stop putting selfless / selfish aims above those of humanity as a whole / wholly. Francis compared the pointless loss of life in WWI to what is happening globally today. He said: "For each one of the falls / fallen of this senseless massacre, for all the victims of the mindless wars, in every age, humanity / human needs to weep, and this is the time to weep."

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)

P_p_ Fr_nc_s h_s _nn__nc_d th_t th_ w_rld _s pr_tty m_ch _n th_ gr_ps _f _ts th_rd w_rld w_r. Th_ l__d_r _f th_ R_m_n C_th_l_c Ch_rch s__d th_ sp_t_ _f c_nfl_cts b__ng f__ght _r__nd th_ w_rld w_r_ _ff_ct_v_ly _ "p__c_m__l" th_rd w_rld w_r. Sp__k_ng _t _ W_rld W_r _ m_m_r__l _n _t_ly, th_ P_nt_ff st_t_d: "W_r _s m_dn_ss. _v_n t_d_y, _ft_r th_ s_c_nd f__l_r_ _f _n_th_r w_rld w_r, p_rh_ps _n_ c_n sp__k _f _ th_rd w_r - _n_ f__ght p__c_m__l, w_th cr_m_s, m_ss_cr_s _nd d_str_ct__n." H_ _dd_d: "W_r _s _rr_t__n_l. _ts _nly pl_n _s t_ br_ng d_str_ct__n. _t s__ks t_ gr_w by d_str_y_ng." H_ s__d th_ m_t_v_s b_h_nd c__ntr__s _r gr__ps g__ng t_ w_r w_r_ "gr__d, _nt_l_r_nc_, th_ l_st f_r p_w_r".

P_p_ Fr_nc_s h_s m_d_ _ n_mb_r _f r_p__t_d _pp__ls f_r _n _nd t_ th_ c_nfl_cts _r__nd th_ w_rld. H_ h_s f_c_s_d _n th_s_ _n G_z_, _r_q, Syr__, _kr__n_ _nd m_ny p_rts _f _fr_c_. D_sp_t_ h_s _nt_-w_r st_nc_, h_ h_s st_t_d th_ _s_ _f f_rc_ w__ld b_ l_g_t_m_t_ t_ st_p "_nj_st _ggr_ss__n" by th_ _sl_m_c St_t_ _n _r_q _nd Syr__. H_ c_ll_d _n _ll p__pl_ t_ h_v_ _ "c_nv_rs__n _f h__rt" _nd st_p p_tt_ng s_lf_sh __ms _b_v_ th_s_ _f h_m_n_ty _s _ wh_l_. Fr_nc_s c_mp_r_d th_ p__ntl_ss l_ss _f l_f_ _n WW_ t_ wh_t _s h_pp_n_ng gl_b_lly t_d_y. H_ s__d: "F_r __ch _n_ _f th_ f_ll_n _f th_s s_ns_l_ss m_ss_cr_, f_r _ll th_ v_ct_ms _f th_ m_ndl_ss w_rs, _n _v_ry _g_, h_m_n_ty n__ds t_ w__p, _nd th_s _s th_ t_m_ t_ w__p."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

pope francis has announced that the world is pretty much in the grips of its third world war the leader of the roman catholic church said the spate of conflicts being fought around the world were effectively a "piecemeal" third world war speaking at a world war i memorial in italy the pontiff stated "war is madness even today after the second failure of another world war perhaps one can speak of a third war - one fought piecemeal with crimes massacres and destruction" he added "war is irrational its only plan is to bring destruction it seeks to grow by destroying" he said the motives behind countries or groups going to war were "greed intolerance the lust for power"

pope francis has made a number of repeated appeals for an end to the conflicts around the world he has focused on those in gaza iraq syria ukraine and many parts of africa despite his anti-war stance he has stated the use of force would be legitimate to stop "unjust aggression" by the islamic state in iraq and syria he called on all people to have a "conversion of heart" and stop putting selfish aims above those of humanity as a whole francis compared the pointless loss of life in wwi to what is happening globally today he said "for each one of the fallen of this senseless massacre for all the victims of the mindless wars in every age humanity needs to weep and this is the time to weep"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

PopeFrancishasannouncedthattheworldisprettymuchinthegrips
ofitsthirdworldwar.TheleaderoftheRomanCatholicChurchsaidth
espateofconflictsbeingfoughtaroundtheworldwereeffectivelya"
piecemeal"thirdworldwar.SpeakingataWorldWarImemorialinIt
aly,thePontiffstated:"Warismadness.Eventoday,afterthesecon
dfailureofanotherworldwar,perhapsonecanspeakofathirdwar-
onefoughtpiecemeal,withcrimes,massacresanddestruction."He
added:"Warisirrational.Itsonlyplanistobringdestruction.Itseeks
togrowbydestroying."Hesaidthemotivesbehindcountriesorgrou
psgoingtowarwere"greed,intolerance,thelustforpower".PopeFr
ancishasmadeanumberofrepeatedappealsforanendtotheconflic
tsaroundtheworld.HehasfocusedonthoseinGaza,Iraq,Syria,Ukr
aineandmanypartsofAfrica.Despitehisanti-warstance,hehas
statedtheuseofforcewouldbelegitimatetostop"unjustaggression
"bytheIslamicStateinIraqandSyria.Hecalledonallpeopletohavea
"conversionofheart"andstopputtingselfishaimsabovethoseofhu
manityasawhole.FranciscomparedthepointlesslossoflifeinWWIt
owhatishappeninggloballytoday.Hesaid:"Foreachoneofthefalle
nofthissenselessmassacre,forallthevictimsofthemindlesswars,i
neveryage,humanityneedstoweep,andthisisthetimetoweep."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

There is no such thing as a just 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 the Pope's comments. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. CONFLICTS: Write a magazine article about the current global conflicts. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe they can be ended and with people who believe they can't.

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 conflict. Ask him/her three questions about the current conflicts. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to . 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	announced	a.	declared
2.	spate	b.	succession
3.	effectively	c.	pretty much
4.	massacres	d.	slaughter
5.	lust	e.	hunger
6.	appeals	f.	pleas
7.	stance	g.	position
8.	conversion	h.	change
9.	pointless	i.	stupid
10.	victims	j.	sufferers

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	A third world war
2.	At a WWI memorial
3.	"Madness" and "irrational"
4.	By destroying
5.	A lust for power
6.	Appeals to end conflicts
7.	Force
8.	Selfish aims
9.	World War I
10.	Weep

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

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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Pope says World War III pretty much here (16th September, 2014)

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