The Reading / Listening - Pearl Harbor - Level 3

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Japan's surprise attack on the base on December 7, 1941 led to the United States joining World War II. Mr Abe did not apologize for the attack but did offer his condolences. He said: "President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people around the world, as the Prime Minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here." Mr Abe also paid tribute to those who died in the attack. He said: "We must never repeat the horrors of war again. This is the solemn vow the people of Japan have taken." President Obama welcomed Mr Abe, "in the spirit of friendship".

A total of 353 Japanese aircraft attacked the US base at Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 US personnel. The 75-minute attack also damaged or destroyed 19 US Navy warships. Mr Abe is the first Japanese leader for decades to visit Pearl Harbor and the first to visit a memorial on the site of the sunken battleship the USS Arizona. Mr Abe acknowledged the US role in rebuilding Japan after WWII. He said: "When the war ended and Japan was a nation in burnt-out ruins as far as the eye could see, suffering miserable poverty, it was the USA and its good people that generously sent us food to eat and clothes to wear." He added that the friendship between the USA and Japan was an everlasting "alliance of hope".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Pearl Harbor - Level 0,  Pearl Harbor - Level 1   or  Pearl Harbor - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38438714
  • https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-12-27/abe-to-answer-obama-s-hiroshima-visit-with-trip-to-pearl-harbor
  • http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Japan-s-Abe-offers-condolences-at-Pearl-Harbor-for-victims-of-war


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. PEARL HARBOR: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Pearl Harbor. 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?

       United States / naval / base / apologize / condolences / paid tribute / horrors / war /
       aircraft / personnel / damaged / decades / memorial / ruins / miserable / poverty

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

3. WWIII: Students A strongly believe World War III will happen; Students B strongly believe it will never happen.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. WWII PLACES: What do you know about these WWII places? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What we know about these places

Pearl Harbor

 

Hiroshima

 

Auschwitz

 

Dunkirk

 

Guadalcanal

 

El Alamein

 
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. PEARL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "pearl". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. NO MORE WAR: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to avoid war between countries at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • The United Nations
  • Nuclear deterrent
  • Cultural exchanges
  • Leaders' meetings
  • Education
  • Trade
  • Aid
  • Sport

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Japan's Prime Minister visited an Army base in Hawaii.     T / F
  2. Shinzo Abe did not make an apology.     T / F
  3. Shinzo Abe offered his condolences to those who lost their lives.     T / F
  4. Mr Abe said Japan's people made a vow to avoid the horrors of war.     T / F
  5. There were 353 Japanese planes involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor.  T / F
  6. More than 100 U.S. ships were destroyed or damaged in the attack.     T / F
  7. Mr Abe thanked the USA for giving him food and clothes.     T / F
  8. Mr Abe said the US and Japan were in an "alliance of friendship".     T / F

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

  1. base
  2. apologize
  3. condolences
  4. died
  5. vow
  6. personnel
  7. ruins
  8. miserable
  9. friendship
  10. hope
  1. employees
  2. passed away
  3. unhappy
  4. promise
  5. say sorry
  6. optimism
  7. headquarters
  8. relationship
  9. remains
  10. sympathy

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

  1. Japan's surprise attack
  2. Mr Abe did not apologize
  3. Mr Abe also paid
  4. We must never repeat the horrors
  5. Obama welcomed Mr Abe in the
  6. A total of 353 Japanese aircraft
  7. damaged or destroyed
  8. the first Japanese leader for
  9. Japan was a nation in burnt-
  10. people that generously
  1. tribute to those who died
  2. of war again
  3. sent us food
  4. 19 US Navy warships
  5. for the attack
  6. on the base
  7. decades to visit
  8. out ruins
  9. spirit of friendship
  10. attacked the US base

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
offer
tribute
led
friendship
base
vow
apologize
sincere

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited the United States naval (1) ____________ at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Japan's surprise attack on the base on December 7, 1941 (2) ____________ to the United States joining World War II. Mr Abe did not (3) ____________ for the attack but did (4) ____________ his condolences. He said: "President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people around the world, as the Prime Minister of Japan, I offer my (5) ____________ and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here." Mr Abe also paid (6) ____________ to those who died in the attack. He said: "We must never repeat the horrors of war again. This is the solemn (7) ____________ the people of Japan have taken." President Obama welcomed Mr Abe, "in the spirit of (8) ____________ ".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
role
decades
poverty
total
everlasting
attack
sunken
nation

A (9) ____________ of 353 Japanese aircraft attacked the US base at Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 US personnel. The 75-minute (10) ____________ also damaged or destroyed 19 US Navy warships. Mr Abe is the first Japanese leader for (11) ____________ to visit Pearl Harbor and the first to visit a memorial on the site of the (12) ____________ battleship the USS Arizona. Mr Abe acknowledged the US (13) ____________ in rebuilding Japan after WWII. He said: "When the war ended and Japan was a (14) ____________ in burnt-out ruins as far as the eye could see, suffering miserable (15) ____________, it was the USA and its good people that generously sent us food to eat and clothes to wear." He added that the friendship between the USA and Japan was an (16) ____________ "alliance of hope".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited the United States ______
     a.  naval based
     b.  naval basis
     c.  naval basin
     d.  naval base

2)  Mr Abe did not apologize for the attack but did offer ______
     a.  his conferences
     b.  his condolences
     c.  his condolence
     d.  his contraptions

3)  I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost ______
     a.  them lives here
     b.  their lives here
     c.  their live there
     d.  their live there

4)  We must never repeat the horrors ______
     a.  off war again
     b.  on war again
     c.  of war again
     d.  if war again

5)  President Obama welcomed Mr Abe, "in the ______"
     a.  spirits off friendship
     b.  spirit of friends ship
     c.  spirits of friendship
     d.  spirit of friendship

6)  353 Japanese aircraft attacked the US base at Pearl Harbor, killing ______
     a.  2,403 US personnel
     b.  2,403 US personal
     c.  2,403 US person all
     d.  2,403 US purse on all

7)  visit Pearl Harbor and the first to visit a memorial on the site of the ______
     a.  sunk in battled ship
     b.  sunken battleship
     c.  sunk and battleship
     d.  sunken battled ship

8)  When the war ended and Japan was a nation in ______
     a.  burnt-up ruins
     b.  burnt-out ruins
     c.  burnt-on ruins
     d.  burnt-off ruins

9)  it was the USA and its good people that ______ food
     a.  generous re-sent us
     b.  generosity sent us
     c.  generous recent us
     d.  generously sent us

10) the friendship between the USA and Japan was an everlasting "______"
     a.  alliances of hop
     b.  alliance off hop
     c.  alliance of hope
     d.  alliance on hope

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited the United States (1) ___________________ Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Japan's surprise attack on the base on December 7, 1941 led to the United States joining World War II. Mr Abe did not apologize (2) ___________________ but did offer his condolences. He said: "President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people (3) ___________________, as the Prime Minister of Japan, I (4) ___________________ and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here." Mr Abe also paid tribute to those who died in the attack. He said: "We must (5) ___________________ horrors of war again. This is the solemn vow the people of Japan have taken." President Obama welcomed Mr Abe, "(6) ___________________ friendship".

A total of 353 Japanese aircraft attacked (7) ___________________ Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 US personnel. The 75-minute (8) ___________________ or destroyed 19 US Navy warships. Mr Abe is the first Japanese leader (9) ___________________ visit Pearl Harbor and the first to visit a memorial on the site of the sunken battleship the USS Arizona. Mr Abe acknowledged the US (10) ___________________ Japan after WWII. He said: "When the war ended and Japan was a nation in burnt-out ruins as far as the eye could see, (11) ___________________ poverty, it was the USA and its good people that generously sent us food to eat and clothes to wear." He added that the friendship between the USA and Japan was an everlasting "(12) ___________________".

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of place is Pearl Harbor?
  2. What did the USA do after the attack on Pearl Harbor?
  3. What did Mr Abe not do?
  4. Who did Mr Abe pay his respects to?
  5. What did Mr Abe say we must never repeat again?
  6. How many Japanese aircraft took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor?
  7. How many US warships were destroyed or damaged?
  8. What is the name of the battleship where there is a memorial?
  9. What did the USA send Japan after WWII?
  10. What kind of alliance did Mr Abe say Japan and the USA had?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of place is Pearl Harbor?
a) a spying base
b) an air force base
c) a naval base
d) an Army base

2) What did the USA do after the attack on Pearl Harbor?
a) it joined World War II
b) nothing
c) it built a thousand ships
d) it called for an end to war

3) What did Mr Abe not do?
a) bow
b) apologize
c) sleep
d) pray

4) Who did Mr Abe pay his respects to?
a) Japanese air force pilots
b) Barack Obama
c) today's Americans
d) those who died

5) What did Mr Abe say we must never repeat again?
a) attack
b) solemn vows
c) the horrors of war
d) battleships

6) How many Japanese aircraft took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor?
a) 2,403
b) 353
c) 2,304
d) 535

7) How many US warships were destroyed or damaged?
a) 16
b) 17
c) 18
d) 19

8) What is the name of the battleship where there is a memorial?
a) USS Arkansas
b) USS Arizona
c) USS Alabama
d) USS Alaska

9) What did the USA send Japan after WWII?
a) ships and airplanes
b) food and clothes
c) dollars
d) toys

10) What kind of alliance did Mr Abe say Japan and the USA had?
a) an alliance of hope
b) a strong alliance
c) a business alliance
d) an alliance of peace

Role play

Role A —Trade

You think trade is the best way of avoiding war between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): the United Nations, a nuclear deterrent or cultural exchanges.

Role B —The United Nations

You think the United Nations is the best way of avoiding war between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): trade, a nuclear deterrent or cultural exchanges.

Role C —Nuclear Deterrent

You think a nuclear deterrent is the best way of avoiding war between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): the United Nations, trade or cultural exchanges.

Role D —Cultural Exchanges

You think cultural exchanges are the best way of avoiding war between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why):  the United Nations, a nuclear deterrent or trade.

After reading / listening

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

'pearl'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'harbor'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • 353
    • 75
    • decades
    • role
    • eat
    • hope
    • naval
    • surprise
    • joining
    • around
    • lost
    • spirit

    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 - Japan Prime Minister visits Pearl Harbor

    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 name 'Pearl Harbor''?
    3. What was the importance of Pearl Harbor during WWII?
    4. How important is Mr Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor?
    5. How important is Japan's message of 'no more war'?
    6. What do you think of Mr Abe's words?
    7. Why do we keep on repeating the 'horrors of war'?
    8. What is the best way to pay tribute to those who died in a war?
    9. Who are your country's biggest war heroes?
    10. What can be learnt from the friendship between Japan and the US?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you know about Pearl Harbor?
    3. Should Mr Abe have apologized for the attack on Pearl Harbor?
    4. How important is Japan's friendship with the USA today?
    5. Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?
    6. How important was it that the USA helped rebuild Japan after WWII?
    7. How can we avoid a third world war?
    8. What should countries do in an 'alliance of hope'?
    9. What advice do you have for leaders of countries at war?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Prime Minister Abe?

    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)

    Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited the United States (1) ____ base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Japan's (2) ____ attack on the base on December 7, 1941 led to the United States joining World War II. Mr Abe did not (3) ____ for the attack but did offer his condolences. He said: "President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people around the world, as the Prime Minister of Japan, I (4) ____ my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here." Mr Abe also paid tribute to (5) ____ who died in the attack. He said: "We must never repeat the horrors of war again. This is the solemn vow the people of Japan have taken." President Obama welcomed Mr Abe, "(6) ____ the spirit of friendship".

    A total of 353 Japanese aircraft attacked the US base at Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 US (7) ____. The 75-minute attack also damaged or destroyed 19 US Navy warships. Mr Abe is the first Japanese leader (8) ____ decades to visit Pearl Harbor and the first to visit a memorial on the site of the (9) ____ battleship the USS Arizona. Mr Abe acknowledged the US role (10) ____ rebuilding Japan after WWII. He said: "When the war ended and Japan was a nation in burnt-out ruins as (11) ____ as the eye could see, suffering miserable poverty, it was the USA and its good people that generously sent us food to eat and clothes to wear." He added that the friendship between the USA and Japan was an everlasting "alliance of (12) ____ ".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     navel     (b)     novel     (c)     naval     (d)     nouvelle    
    2. (a)     surprise     (b)     surprised     (c)     surprises     (d)     surprising    
    3. (a)     apologize     (b)     apologies     (c)     apology     (d)     applies    
    4. (a)     offer     (b)     offering     (c)     afford     (d)     effort    
    5. (a)     them     (b)     those     (c)     this     (d)     they're    
    6. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    7. (a)     persona     (b)     personal     (c)     personnel     (d)     personally    
    8. (a)     of     (b)     from     (c)     four     (d)     for    
    9. (a)     sunken     (b)     shrunken     (c)     sinking     (d)     sink    
    10. (a)     in     (b)     to     (c)     by     (d)     as    
    11. (a)     for     (b)     far     (c)     from     (d)     fry    
    12. (a)     rope     (b)     cope     (c)     hope     (d)     soap

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the United States nvlaa base at Pearl Harbor
    2. Mr Abe did not plieoozag (USA) / gsaioopel (UK) for the attack
    3. offer my crensie and everlasting condolences
    4. Mr Abe also paid iuettbr to those who died
    5. the nsmeol vow the people of Japan have taken
    6. in the sitipr of friendship

    Paragraph 2

    1. killing 2,403 US selorennp
    2. damaged or tedosdrye 19 US Navy warships
    3. the first Japanese leader for cdesdea to visit
    4. the first to visit a alimemor
    5. suffering miserable terypvo
    6. an everlasting "cleanila of hope"

    Put the text back together

    (    )     minute attack also damaged or destroyed 19 US Navy warships. Mr Abe is the first Japanese leader for

    (    )     war ended and Japan was a nation in burnt-out ruins as far as the eye could see, suffering miserable

    (    )     of America and the people around the world, as the Prime Minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting

    (    )     have taken." President Obama welcomed Mr Abe, "in the spirit of friendship".

    (    )     died in the attack. He said: "We must never repeat the horrors of war again. This is the solemn vow the people of Japan

    (    )     apologize for the attack but did offer his condolences. He said: "President Obama, the people of the United States

    (    )     A total of 353 Japanese aircraft attacked the US base at Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 US personnel. The 75-

    (    )     battleship the USS Arizona. Mr Abe acknowledged the US role in rebuilding Japan after WWII. He said: "When the

    (    )     decades to visit Pearl Harbor and the first to visit a memorial on the site of the sunken

    (    )     wear." He added that the friendship between the USA and Japan was an everlasting "alliance of hope".

    (    )     condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here." Mr Abe also paid tribute to those who

    (    )     attack on the base on December 7, 1941 led to the United States joining World War II. Mr Abe did not

    (    )     poverty, it was the USA and its good people that generously sent us food to eat and clothes to

    (  1  )     Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Japan's surprise

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Harbor   Abe   visited   has  at  base  naval  States  United  the  Pearl   .
    2. 7,   1941   Japan's  surprise   attack   on   the   base   on   December   .
    3. for  apologize  not  did  Abe  condolences  his  offer  did  but  attack  the  .
    4. those   to  tribute   paid  also   Abe   Mr   attack   the   in   died   who   .
    5. again  repeat   war"  never   said:  of  must   He   horrors   "We   .   the
    6. base   of   aircraft   US   total   Japanese   the   A   353   attacked   .
    7. visit   Mr   leader   Japanese   first   the   is   Abe   decades   for   to   .
    8. memorial  to  battleship  of  on  visit  The  the  the  a  first  sunken  site  .
    9. A   as   see   far   burnt-out   could   as   in   eye   ruins   nation   the   .
    10. us   food  The   USA   and  its   good  people  that   generously   sent   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited / visiting the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Japan's surprise attack on the basis / base on December 7, 1941 led to the United States joined / joining World War II. Mr Abe did not apologize / apologies for the attack but did offer him / his condolences. He said: "President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people around / abound the world, as the Prime Minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the soles / souls of those who lost their lives here." Mr Abe also paid / paying tribute to those who died in the attack. He said: "We must never repeat the horrors / horrific of war again. This is the solemn vow / wow the people of Japan have taken." President Obama welcomed Mr Abe, "in the spirit of friendship".

    A totally / total of 353 Japanese aircraft attacked the US base at Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 US personal / personnel. The 75-minute attack also damaged or destroyed / destruction 19 US Navy warships. Mr Abe is the first Japanese leader for decades / decade to visit Pearl Harbor and the first to visit a memory / memorial on the site of the sunken battleship the USS Arizona. Mr Abe acknowledged the US roll / role in rebuilding Japan after WWII. He said: "When the war ended and Japan was a nation / national in burnt-out ruins as far as the eye could seen / see, suffering miserable poverty, it was the USA and its / that good people that generously sent us food to eat and clothes to wear." He added that the friendship among / between the USA and Japan was an everlasting "alliance of hope".

    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)

    J_p_n's Pr_m_ M_n_st_r Sh_nz_ _b_ h_s v_s_t_d th_ _n_t_d St_t_s n_v_l b_s_ _t P__rl H_rb_r _n H_w___. J_p_n's s_rpr_s_ _tt_ck _n th_ b_s_ _n D_c_mb_r 7, 1941 l_d t_ th_ _n_t_d St_t_s j__n_ng W_rld W_r __. Mr _b_ d_d n_t _p_l_g_z_ f_r th_ _tt_ck b_t d_d _ff_r h_s c_nd_l_nc_s. H_ s__d: "Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_, th_ p__pl_ _f th_ _n_t_d St_t_s _f _m_r_c_ _nd th_ p__pl_ _r__nd th_ w_rld, _s th_ Pr_m_ M_n_st_r _f J_p_n, _ _ff_r my s_nc_r_ _nd _v_rl_st_ng c_nd_l_nc_s t_ th_ s__ls _f th_s_ wh_ l_st th__r l_v_s h_r_." Mr _b_ _ls_ p__d tr_b_t_ t_ th_s_ wh_ d__d _n th_ _tt_ck. H_ s__d: "W_ m_st n_v_r r_p__t th_ h_rr_rs _f w_r _g__n. Th_s _s th_ s_l_mn v_w th_ p__pl_ _f J_p_n h_v_ t_k_n." Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_ w_lc_m_d Mr _b_, "_n th_ sp_r_t _f fr__ndsh_p".

    _ t_t_l _f 353 J_p_n_s_ __rcr_ft _tt_ck_d th_ _S b_s_ _t P__rl H_rb_r, k_ll_ng 2,403 _S p_rs_nn_l. Th_ 75-m_n_t_ _tt_ck _ls_ d_m_g_d _r d_str_y_d 19 _S N_vy w_rsh_ps. Mr _b_ _s th_ f_rst J_p_n_s_ l__d_r f_r d_c_d_s t_ v_s_t P__rl H_rb_r _nd th_ f_rst t_ v_s_t _ m_m_r__l _n th_ s_t_ _f th_ s_nk_n b_ttl_sh_p th_ _SS _r_z_n_. Mr _b_ _ckn_wl_dg_d th_ _S r_l_ _n r_b__ld_ng J_p_n _ft_r WW__. H_ s__d: "Wh_n th_ w_r _nd_d _nd J_p_n w_s _ n_t__n _n b_rnt-__t r__ns _s f_r _s th_ _y_ c__ld s__, s_ff_r_ng m_s_r_bl_ p_v_rty, _t w_s th_ _S_ _nd _ts g__d p__pl_ th_t g_n_r__sly s_nt _s f__d t_ __t _nd cl_th_s t_ w__r." H_ _dd_d th_t th_ fr__ndsh_p b_tw__n th_ _S_ _nd J_p_n w_s _n _v_rl_st_ng "_ll__nc_ _f h_p_".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    japan's prime minister shinzo abe has visited the united states naval base at pearl harbor in hawaii japan's surprise attack on the base on december 7 1941 led to the united states joining world war ii mr abe did not apologize for the attack but did offer his condolences he said "president obama the people of the united states of america and the people around the world as the prime minister of japan i offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here" mr abe also paid tribute to those who died in the attack he said "we must never repeat the horrors of war again this is the solemn vow the people of japan have taken" president obama welcomed mr abe "in the spirit of friendship"

    a total of 353 japanese aircraft attacked the us base at pearl harbor killing 2403 us personnel the 75-minute attack also damaged or destroyed 19 us navy warships mr abe is the first japanese leader for decades to visit pearl harbor and the first to visit a memorial on the site of the sunken battleship the uss arizona mr abe acknowledged the us role in rebuilding japan after wwii he said "when the war ended and japan was a nation in burnt-out ruins as far as the eye could see suffering miserable poverty it was the usa and its good people that generously sent us food to eat and clothes to wear" he added that the friendship between the usa and japan was an everlasting "alliance of hope"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Japan'sPrimeMinisterShinzoAbehasvisitedtheUnitedStatesnavalbas
    eatPearlHarborinHawaii.Japan'ssurpriseattackonDecember7,1941l
    edtotheUnitedStatesjoiningWorldWarII.MrAbedidnotapologizeforth
    eattackbutdidofferhiscondolences.Hesaid:"PresidentObama,thepe
    opleoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaandthepeoplearoundtheworld,asth
    ePrimeMinisterofJapan,Ioffermysincereandeverlastingcondolences
    tothesoulsofthosewholosttheirliveshere."MrAbealsopaidtributetoth
    osewhodiedintheattack.Hesaid:"Wemustneverrepeatthehorrorsofw
    aragain.ThisisthesolemnvowthepeopleofJapanhavetaken."Presiden
    tObamawelcomedMrAbe,"inthespiritoffriendship".Atotalof353Japa
    neseaircraftattackedtheUSbaseatPearlHarbor,killing2,403USperso
    nnel.The75-minuteattackalsodamagedordestroyed19USNavywar
    ships.MrAbeisthefirstJapaneseleaderfordecadestovisitPearlHarbora
    ndthefirsttovisitamemorialonthesiteofthesunkenbattleshiptheUSSA
    rizona.MrAbeacknowledgedtheUSroleinrebuildingJapanafterWWII.
    Hesaid:"WhenthewarendedandJapanwasanationinburnt-outr
    uinsasfarastheeyecouldsee,sufferingmiserablepoverty,itwastheUS
    Aanditsgoodpeoplethatgenerouslysentusfoodtoeatandclothestowe
    ar."HeaddedthatthefriendshipbetweentheUSAandJapanwasaneverl
    asting"allianceofhope".

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    All countries currently at war with each other can become good friends. Discuss.

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    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 Prime Minister Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. PEARL HARBOR: Make a poster about Pearl Harbor. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. FRIENDS: Write a magazine article about how the USA and Japan became friends after WWII. Include a paragraph on how current wars could end and the countries involved could become friends.

    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 Pearl Harbor. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how enemies can become friends. 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

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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