The Reading / Listening - Level 5

There is a war of words between Iran and Saudi Arabia after the execution of the Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. He was among 47 men put to death on terrorism charges. Saudi leaders said Mr al-Nimr had led anti-government protests in 2011-2012. He was previously convicted of disobedience and of carrying arms. Al-Nimr said he never carried weapons or called for violence, but had encouraged people to resist police bullets using "the roar of the word" instead. Iran's leaders said al-Nimr was killed for being a Shia Muslim. Saudi Arabia is a largely Sunni Muslim country.

There were protests against the execution in the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday. People attacked the Saudi Arabian embassy and set it on fire. Iran said Saudi Arabia would pay a "heavy price" for the execution, including the possible downfall of its government. Saudi Arabia said Iran had no right to create tensions on what was an internal Saudi matter. The foreign ministry said Mr al-Nimr was killed for breaking the law and not because he was a Shia Muslim. It said: "There is no difference between what a person does regardless of his ethnic origin or affiliation, or what he believes."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

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


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

the Shia

a.

Sunni Muslim country

2.

put to

b.

Muslim cleric

3.

He was previously convicted

c.

bullets

4.

he never carried weapons or called

d.

leaders

5.

encouraged people to resist police

e.

for violence

6.

using the roar of

f.

death

7.

Iran's

g.

the word instead

8.

Saudi Arabia is a largely

h.

of disobedience


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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

There were protests

a.

a "heavy price"

2.

the Iranian

b.

it on fire

3.

attacked the Saudi Arabian embassy and set

c.

origin

4.

Saudi Arabia would pay

d.

against the execution

5.

the possible downfall

e.

create tensions

6.

Iran had no right to

f.

the law

7.

killed for breaking

g.

capital Tehran

8.

regardless of his ethnic

h.

of its government

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

There is a war of words between Iran and Saudi Arabia (1) ___________________ the Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. He was among 47 men (2) ___________________ terrorism charges. Saudi leaders said Mr al-Nimr had led anti-government protests in 2011-2012. He was previously convicted of disobedience (3) ___________________ arms. Al-Nimr said he never carried weapons or (4) ___________________, but had encouraged people (5) ___________________ bullets using "the roar of the word" instead. Iran's leaders said al-Nimr was killed for being a Shia Muslim. Saudi Arabia (6) ___________________ Sunni Muslim country.

There (7) ___________________ the execution in the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday. People attacked the Saudi Arabian embassy (8) ___________________. Iran said Saudi Arabia would pay a "heavy price" for the execution, including (9) ___________________ of its government. Saudi Arabia said Iran (10) ___________________ create tensions on what was an internal Saudi matter. The foreign ministry said Mr al-Nimr was killed for (11) ___________________ and not because he was a Shia Muslim. It said: "There is no difference between what a person (12) ___________________ his ethnic origin or affiliation, or what he believes."

IRAN & SAUDI ARABIA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Iran & Saudi Arabia in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 



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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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