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Belgium arrests two over New Year terror plot (31st December, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Police in Belgium say they have arrested two people suspected of planning terror attacks in Brussels on New Year's Eve. Police initially made six arrests but later released four without charge. Investigators found military clothing and Islamic State propaganda in the houses, but no weapons or explosives. They issued a statement, saying: "Our investigation revealed serious threats of an attack on symbolic places in Brussels during the celebrations for New Year's Eve." The two suspects were arrested following searches Sunday and Monday in Brussels and across Belgium. The police did not say whether the suspects were male or female, nor if they were looking for other suspects.

The arrests are not linked to the November Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed. Brussels has been on high alert since those attacks, with intelligence reports suggesting an attack of some kind was coming. In the wake of the Paris attacks, schools, universities and the Metro were shut down in Brussels for several days in November. The city was put on the highest state of alert as authorities warned of a "serious and imminent" terror threat. Brussels has also been at the centre of investigations into the Paris attacks after it emerged that two of the Paris suicide bombers had lived in Belgium. Other major European cities are also on alert and police have warned citizens to be vigilant.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://news.sky.com/story/1613679/two-held-over-brussels-new-years-terror-plot
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35192511
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/two-people-with-isis-propaganda-7085757

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. TERROR: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about terror. 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?

police / planning / arrests / weapons / investigation / symbolic / searches / suspects / linked / high alert / intelligence / several days / imminent / authorities / vigilant

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

3. PEACE: Students A strongly believe there will be peace on Earth one day; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. SYMBOLIC PLACES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• Eiffel Tower

• Big Ben

• Sydney Opera House

• Pyramids

• The White House

• The Great Wall of China

• The Kremlin

• Machu Picchu

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. ARRESTS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "arrests". 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.	Police have arrested several people in Paris over a suspected attack.	T / F
b.	Police made six arrests but they let four people go.	T / F
c.	Police found weapons and explosives in the houses of those arrested.	T / F
d.	The police did not say whether the suspects were men or women.	T / F
e.	Police say the arrests are linked to the Paris attacks in November.	T / F
f.	Brussels was put on the second highest state of alert in November.	T / F
g.	Two of the Paris attackers lived in Brussels.	T / F
h.	European police have asked citizens to be vigilant.	T / F

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

1.	planning	a.	locations
2.	initially	b.	because of
3.	propaganda	c.	connected
4.	places	d.	information
5.	whether	e.	became known
6.	linked	f.	organising
7.	in the wake of	g.	on the lookout
8.	imminent	h.	at first
9.	emerged	i.	fast approaching
10.	vigilant	j.	if

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

1.	Police initially made six arrests but	a.	also on alert
2.	no weapons	b.	for New Year's Eve
3.	serious threats	c.	terror threat
4.	during the celebrations	d.	later released four
5.	police did not say whether the suspects	e.	reports
6.	intelligence	f.	of an attack
7.	put on the highest	g.	citizens to be vigilant
8.	authorities warned of a serious and imminent	h.	were male or female
9.	Other major European cities are	i.	state of alert
10.	police have warned	j.	or explosives

GAP FILL

Police in Belgium say they have arrested two people (1) ____________ of planning terror attacks in Brussels on New Year's Eve. Police initially made six (2) ____________ but later released four without charge. Investigators found (3) ____________ clothing and Islamic State propaganda in the houses, but no weapons or explosives. They (4) ____________ a statement, saying: "Our investigation revealed serious threats of an attack on (5) ____________ places in Brussels during the celebrations for New Year's Eve." The two suspects were arrested following (6) ____________ Sunday and Monday in Brussels and across Belgium. The police did not say (7) ____________ the suspects were male or female, nor if they were looking for (8) ____________ suspects.

issued
suspected
searches
military
other
arrests
whether
symbolic

The arrests are not (9) ____________ to the November Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed. Brussels has been on high (10) ____________ since those attacks, with intelligence reports suggesting an attack of some kind was coming. In the (11) ____________ of the Paris attacks, schools, universities and the Metro were shut down in Brussels for (12) ____________ days in November. The city was put on the highest state of alert as authorities warned of a "(13) ____________ and imminent" terror threat. Brussels has also been at the centre of investigations into the Paris attacks after it (14) ____________ that two of the Paris suicide bombers had lived in Belgium. Other (15) ____________ European cities are also on alert and police have warned citizens to be (16) ____________.

serious
alert
major
several
vigilant
linked
wake
emerged

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Police initially made six arrests but later released four ______
	a. without charged b. without charges c. without charge d. without charging
2)	military clothing and Islamic State propaganda in the houses, but no ______
	a. weapon or explosives b. weapons or explosives c. weapon or explosive d. weapons or explosive
3)	Our investigation revealed serious threats of an attack on symbolic places in Brussels ______
	a. during the celebrations b. during the celebration c. during all celebrations d. during these celebrations
4)	The two suspects were arrested following searches Sunday and Monday in Brussels ______
	a. and a cross Belgium b. and across Belgium c. an across Belgium d. an a cross Belgium
5)	The police did not say whether the suspects were ______
	a. male to female b. male and female c. male for female d. male or female
6)	The arrests are not linked to the November Paris attacks in which 130 ______
	a. people are killed b. people were killed c. people there killed d. people which killed
7)	intelligence reports suggesting an attack of some ______
	a. kinds was coming b. kindly was coming c. kindness was coming d. kind was coming
8)	The city was put on the highest state of alert as authorities warned of a ______
	a. seriously and imminent b. serious but imminent c. serious and imminent d. seriously but imminent
9)	Brussels has also been at the centre of investigations into the Paris attacks ______
	a. after it emerges b. after it emerged c. after it re-re-emerged d. after it emerges
10)	Other major European cities are also on alert and police have warned citizens ______
	a. to be vigilant b. to be vigilance c. to be vigil ant d. to been vigilant

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Police in Belgium say they have arrested two (1) ___________________ of planning terror attacks in Brussels on New Year's Eve. Police initially made six arrests but later (2) ___________________ without charge. Investigators found military clothing and Islamic State (3) ___________________ the houses, but no weapons or explosives. They issued a statement, saying: "Our investigation revealed serious threats of an attack (4) ___________________ in Brussels during the celebrations for New Year's Eve." The two suspects were arrested (5) ___________________ Sunday and Monday in Brussels and across Belgium. The police did not say whether the suspects were male or female, nor if they were looking (6) ___________________.

The arrests are (7) ___________________ the November Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed. Brussels has been (8) ___________________ since those attacks, with intelligence reports suggesting an attack of some kind was coming. (9) ___________________ the Paris attacks, schools, universities and the Metro were shut down in Brussels for several days in November. The city was put on the highest (10) ___________________ as authorities warned of a "serious and imminent" terror threat. Brussels has (11) ___________________ centre of investigations into the Paris attacks after it emerged that two of the Paris suicide bombers had lived in Belgium. Other major European cities are also on alert and police have warned citizens (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Where did police say the attacks were being planned?
2.	What did police not find in the houses of those arrested?
3.	What kind of places do the police think the suspects want to hit?
4.	When did the searches take place?
5.	Are the suspects the police arrested men or women?
6.	What did police say the attacks were not linked to?
7.	How long were schools closed for in Brussels in November?
8.	What state of alert was Brussels put on?
9.	How many of the Paris suicide bombers lived in Brussels?
10.	What have European police told people to be?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Where did police say the attacks were being planned?	6.	What did police say the attacks were not linked to?
	a) the France-Belgium border b) Paris c) Brussels d) all across Belgium		a) Al Qaeda b) the Paris attacks c) Yemen d) Afghanistan
2.	What did police not find in the houses of those arrested?	7.	How long were schools closed for in Brussels in November?
	a) explosives and weapons b) leaders c) mobile phones d) maps		a) many days b) a few days c) seven days d) several days
3.	What kind of places do the police think the suspects want to hit?	8.	What state of alert was Brussels put on?
	a) public places b) symbolic places c) parks d) libraries		a) red b) the highest c) blue d) moderate
4.	When did the searches take place?	9.	How many of the Paris suicide bombers lived in Brussels?
	a) Monday and Tuesday b) Tuesday and Wednesday c) Saturday and Sunday d) Sunday and Monday		a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
5.	Are the suspects the police arrested men or women?	10.	What have European police told people to be?
	a) women b) men c) police didn't say d) both		a) vigilant b) careful c) safe d) happy

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Eiffel Tower

You think the Eiffel Tower is the best place. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their places aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China or the White House.

Role B – Pyramids

You think the Pyramids is the best place. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their places aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China or the White House.

Role C – Great Wall of China

You think the Great Wall of China is the best place. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their places aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower or the White House.

Role D – The White House

You think the White House is the best place. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their places aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China or the Eiffel Tower.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

terror

plot

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:

initially
houses
serious
during
across
other

linked
alert
wake
several
emerged
vigilant

TERROR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about terror 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.

TERROR DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'terror'?
3)	What do you think about what you read?
4)	How worried are you about terror attacks?
5)	Why do you think Belgium is a target?
6)	What can governments do to reduce the likelihood of terror attacks?
7)	How do authorities get intelligence on terror attacks?
8)	Should people modify their behaviour because of possible attacks?
9)	How dangerous is it to be a police officer fighting terror?
10)	Will terror attacks ever completely disappear?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Do you think authorities are doing a good job of preventing attacks?
13)	Why do the terror groups carry out attacks?
14)	What would you do if your town was shut down for four days?
15)	What happens during the highest state of alert?
16)	How vigilant are you?
17)	Would you ever move house to avoid terror attacks?
18)	Is the world safer or more dangerous than it was 20 years ago?
19)	What message do you have for those planning attacks?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the police chiefs?

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

Police in Belgium say they have (1) ____ two people suspected of planning terror attacks in Brussels on New Year's Eve. Police (2) ____ made six arrests but later released four without charge. Investigators found military clothing and Islamic State propaganda in the houses, but no weapons or (3) ____. They issued a statement, saying: "Our investigation revealed serious threats of an attack on symbolic places in Brussels (4) ____ the celebrations for New Year's Eve." The two suspects were arrested following searches Sunday and Monday in Brussels and across Belgium. The police did not say (5) ____ the suspects were male or female, (6) ____ if they were looking for other suspects.

The arrests are not (7) ____ to the November Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed. Brussels has been on (8) ____ alert since those attacks, with intelligence reports suggesting an attack of some kind was coming. In the (9) ____ of the Paris attacks, schools, universities and the Metro were shut down in Brussels for several days in November. The city was put on the highest (10) ____ of alert as authorities warned of a "serious and imminent" terror threat. Brussels has also been at the centre of investigations into the Paris attacks after it (11) ____ that two of the Paris suicide bombers had lived in Belgium. Other major European cities are also on alert and police have warned citizens to be (12) ____.

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

1.	(a)	arrest	(b)	arrests	(c)	arresting	(d)	arrested
2.	(a)	initialled	(b)	initial	(c)	initials	(d)	initially
3.	(a)	exploded	(b)	explosions	(c)	expletives	(d)	exterminations
4.	(a)	while	(b)	around	(c)	during	(d)	as
5.	(a)	whether	(b)	what	(c)	while	(d)	whichever
6.	(a)	nor	(b)	not	(c)	non	(d)	noq
7.	(a)	licked	(b)	lichen	(c)	likened	(d)	linked
8.	(a)	high	(b)	nigh	(c)	neigh	(d)	height
9.	(a)	nap	(b)	wake	(c)	sleep	(d)	rise
10.	(a)	condition	(b)	country	(c)	state	(d)	nation
11.	(a)	emergent	(b)	emergency	(c)	emerged	(d)	emergencies
12.	(a)	vagrant	(b)	vigilant	(c)	valiant	(d)	variant

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	Police inayiltli made six arrests
2.	Investigators found iytimlar clothing
3.	no weapons or psleioxesv
4.	Our investigation ealevder serious threats
5.	aesnbltrieoc for New Year's Eve
6.	looking for other sescptus
Paragraph 2
7.	nlegteiilcen reports
8.	for elvrsae days
9.	hiiusorttea warned of a…
10.	a serious and iimtmenn terror threat
11.	sciuied bombers
12.	police have warned citizens to be ntgivali

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	or female, nor if they were looking for other suspects.
( )	of the Paris attacks, schools, universities and the Metro were shut down in Brussels for several days in
( )	celebrations for New Year's Eve." The two suspects were arrested following searches
( )	clothing and Islamic State propaganda in the houses, but no weapons or explosives. They issued a
( )	that two of the Paris suicide bombers had lived in Belgium. Other major European
( )	statement, saying: "Our investigation revealed serious threats of an attack on symbolic places in Brussels during the
( )	threat. Brussels has also been at the centre of investigations into the Paris attacks after it emerged
( )	Eve. Police initially made six arrests but later released four without charge. Investigators found military
( )	cities are also on alert and police have warned citizens to be vigilant.
( )	The arrests are not linked to the November Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed. Brussels has been on high
( 1 )	Police in Belgium say they have arrested two people suspected of planning terror attacks in Brussels on New Year's
( )	alert since those attacks, with intelligence reports suggesting an attack of some kind was coming. In the wake
( )	November. The city was put on the highest state of alert as authorities warned of a "serious and imminent" terror
( )	Sunday and Monday in Brussels and across Belgium. The police did not say whether the suspects were male

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	attacks suspected of Arrested planning two terror people .
2.	released Police six later made but four initially arrests .
3.	attack Serious on threats symbolic of places an .
4.	were suspects two The searches following arrested .
5.	male The police did not say whether the suspects were .
6.	high those Brussels on since been alert attacks has .
7.	highest state of alert . The city was put on the
8.	in Belgium Two of the Paris suicide bombers had lived .
9.	alert cities are Other also major on European .
10.	vigilant be to citizens warned have Police .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Police in Belgium say they have arrested two people suspicious / suspected of planning terror attacks in Brussels on New Year's Eve. Police initialised / initially made six arrests but later released four without / within charge. Investigators found military / militarily clothing and Islamic State propaganda in the houses, but no weapons or explosions / explosives. They issued a statement, saying: "Our investigation revealed seriously / serious threats of an attack on symbol / symbolic places in Brussels during the celebrations for New Year's Eve." The two suspects were arrested followed / following searches Sunday and Monday in Brussels and across Belgium. The police did not say whether / weather the suspects were male or female, nor if they were looking for another / other suspects.

The arrests are not linked / linking to the November Paris attacks in which 130 people were killing / killed. Brussels has been on high alert since those attacks, with intelligence reports / reported suggesting an attack of some kind was coming. In the woke / wake of the Paris attacks, schools, universities and the Metro were shut down in Brussels for few / several days in November. The city was put on / in the highest state of alert was / as authorities warned of a "serious and imminent / imminently" terror threat. Brussels has also been at the centre of investigations into the Paris attacks after it emergency / emerged that two of the Paris suicide bombers had lived in Belgium. Other major European cities are also on alert and police have warned citizens to be vigilance / vigilant.

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_l_c_ _n B_lg__m s_y th_y h_v_ _rr_st_d tw_ p__pl_ s_sp_ct_d _f pl_nn_ng t_rr_r _tt_cks _n Br_ss_ls _n N_w Y__r's _v_. P_l_c_ _n_t__lly m_d_ s_x _rr_sts b_t l_t_r r_l__s_d f__r w_th__t ch_rg_. _nv_st_g_t_rs f__nd m_l_t_ry cl_th_ng _nd _sl_m_c St_t_ pr_p_g_nd_ _n th_ h__s_s, b_t n_ w__p_ns _r _xpl_s_v_s. Th_y _ss__d _ st_t_m_nt, s_y_ng: "__r _nv_st_g_t__n r_v__l_d s_r___s thr__ts _f _n _tt_ck _n symb_l_c pl_c_s _n Br_ss_ls d_r_ng th_ c_l_br_t__ns f_r N_w Y__r's _v_." Th_ tw_ s_sp_cts w_r_ _rr_st_d f_ll_w_ng s__rch_s S_nd_y _nd M_nd_y _n Br_ss_ls _nd _cr_ss B_lg__m. Th_ p_l_c_ d_d n_t s_y wh_th_r th_ s_sp_cts w_r_ m_l_ _r f_m_l_, n_r _f th_y w_r_ l__k_ng f_r _th_r s_sp_cts.

Th_ _rr_sts _r_ n_t l_nk_d t_ th_ N_v_mb_r P_r_s _tt_cks _n wh_ch 130 p__pl_ w_r_ k_ll_d. Br_ss_ls h_s b__n _n h_gh _l_rt s_nc_ th_s_ _tt_cks, w_th _nt_ll_g_nc_ r_p_rts s_gg_st_ng _n _tt_ck _f s_m_ k_nd w_s c_m_ng. _n th_ w_k_ _f th_ P_r_s _tt_cks, sch__ls, _n_v_rs_t__s _nd th_ M_tr_ w_r_ sh_t d_wn _n Br_ss_ls f_r s_v_r_l d_ys _n N_v_mb_r. Th_ c_ty w_s p_t _n th_ h_gh_st st_t_ _f _l_rt _s __th_r_t__s w_rn_d _f _ "s_r___s _nd _mm_n_nt" t_rr_r thr__t. Br_ss_ls h_s _ls_ b__n _t th_ c_ntr_ _f _nv_st_g_t__ns _nt_ th_ P_r_s _tt_cks _ft_r _t _m_rg_d th_t tw_ _f th_ P_r_s s__c_d_ b_mb_rs h_d l_v_d _n B_lg__m. _th_r m_j_r __r_p__n c_t__s _r_ _ls_ _n _l_rt _nd p_l_c_ h_v_ w_rn_d c_t_z_ns t_ b_ v_g_l_nt.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

police in belgium say they have arrested two people suspected of planning terror attacks in brussels on new year's eve police initially made six arrests but later released four without charge investigators found military clothing and islamic state propaganda in the houses but no weapons or explosives they issued a statement saying "our investigation revealed serious threats of an attack on symbolic places in brussels during the celebrations for new year's eve" the two suspects were arrested following searches sunday and monday in brussels and across belgium the police did not say whether the suspects were male or female nor if they were looking for other suspects

the arrests are not linked to the november paris attacks in which 130 people were killed brussels has been on high alert since those attacks with intelligence reports suggesting an attack of some kind was coming in the wake of the paris attacks schools universities and the metro were shut down in brussels for several days in november the city was put on the highest state of alert as authorities warned of a "serious and imminent" terror threat brussels has also been at the centre of investigations into the paris attacks after it emerged that two of the paris suicide bombers had lived in belgium other major european cities are also on alert and police have warned citizens to be vigilant

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

PoliceinBelgiumsaytheyhavearrestedtwopeoplesuspectedofplannin
gterrorattacksinBrusselsonNewYear'sEve.Policeinitiallymadesixarr
estsbutlaterreleasedfourwithoutcharge.Investigatorsfoundmilitary
clothingandIslamicStatepropagandainthehouses,butnoweaponsore
xplosives.Theyissuedastatement,saying:"Ourinvestigationrevealed
seriousthreatsofanattackonsymbolicplacesinBrusselsduringthecele
brationsforNewYear'sEve."Thetwosuspectswerearrestedfollowings
earchesSundayandMondayinBrusselsandacrossBelgium.Thepoliced
idnotsaywhetherthesuspectsweremaleorfemale,noriftheywerelooki
ngforothersuspects.ThearrestsarenotlinkedtotheNovemberParisatt
acksinwhich130peoplewerekilled.Brusselshasbeenonhighalertsince
thoseattacks,withintelligencereportssuggestinganattackofsomekin
dwascoming.InthewakeoftheParisattacks,schools,universitiesandt
heMetrowereshutdowninBrusselsforseveraldaysinNovember.Thecit
ywasputonthehigheststateofalertasauthoritieswarnedofa"seriousa
ndimminent"terrorthreat.Brusselshasalsobeenatthecentreofinvesti
gationsintotheParisattacksafteritemergedthattwooftheParissuicide
bombershadlivedinBelgium.OthermajorEuropeancitiesarealsoonale
rtandpolicehavewarnedcitizenstobevigilant.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

All cities should increase their state of alert regarding terror attacks. 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 terror. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. HIGH ALERT: Write a magazine article about keeping cities on the highest state of alert. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

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 security. Ask him/her three questions about how to make cities secure from terror attacks. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to increase security. 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

T

c

F

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	planning	a.	organising
2	initially	b.	at first
3.	propaganda	c.	information
4.	places	d.	locations
5.	whether	e.	if
6.	linked	f.	connected
7.	in the wake of	g.	because of
8.	imminent	h.	fast approaching
9.	emerged	i.	became known
10.	vigilant	j.	on the lookout

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Brussels
2.	Explosives and weapons
3.	Symbolic places
4.	Sunday and Monday
5.	Police didn't say
6.	The Paris attacks
7.	Several days
8.	The highest
9.	2
10.	Vigilant

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

9.

b

10.

a

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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Belgium arrests two over New Year terror plot (31st December, 2015)

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