Breaking News English

* 26-page lesson
    (40 exercises)
 

* 2-page MINI lesson
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* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Listen & spell

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    (10 sentences)

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* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

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* Text Jumble

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

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* Missing words

* Gap-fill

The United Nations has voted to update the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state. The historic vote took place on Thursday in a packed session at the U.N. headquarters. More than two-thirds of the 193 member states were needed to approve the motion for Palestine to be recognized. It was passed 138-9 with 41 abstentions. Many European countries, Russia, China, India and Brazil voted in favour of recognizing the Palestinians. The USA, Canada and Israel were among those voting against, while Germany, Britain, Australia and Colombia abstained. The vote came 65 years to the day that the U.N. adopted a resolution recommending the partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Israel dismissed the vote as "negative political theatre" and announced the building of 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Celebrations broke out across the West Bank as news of the vote came through. The fact that the U.N. has implicitly recognized Palestine's sovereignty was greeted as a major diplomatic victory. Veteran Palestinian peace negotiator Hannan Ashrawi told reporters what the recognition meant for Palestine: "Getting state status is what empowers the Palestinians, what defines our territory as occupied, what defines our relationships regionally and with the rest of the world," she said. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped the U.N. vote would "breathe new life into [peace] negotiations" with Israel. He said it was "the last chance to save the two-state solution". Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The resolution…won't change anything on the ground. It won't advance the establishment of a Palestinian state, but rather, put it further off."

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/world/middleeast/Palestinian-Authority-United-Nations-Israel.html?_r=0
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57556369/palestinian-vote-at-u.n-brings-recognition-but-is-a-far-cry-from-statehood/

 

WARM-UPS

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Palestine is now a full member country of the United Nations.	T / F
b.	Three–quarters of the U.N. voted for the resolution on Palestine.	T / F
c.	Colombia and Germany voted neither 'yes' nor 'no'.	T / F
d.	A U.N. resolution partitioned Palestine on the same day 65 years ago.	T / F
e.	Palestinians in the West Bank did not party at the news.	T / F
f.	Palestinian negotiator Hannan Ashwari said the resolution meant little.	T / F
g.	Palestine's leader said the resolution could reignite the peace process.	T / F
h.	Israel's leader said the resolution would not reignite the peace process.	T / F

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

1.	update	a.	suddenly started
2.	status	b.	rejected
3.	motion	c.	forward
4.	abstained	d.	proposal
5.	dismissed	e.	colonized
6.	broke out	f.	upgrade
7.	sovereignty	g.	reignite
8.	occupied	h.	position
9.	breathe new life into	i.	independence
10.	advance	j.	declined to vote

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

1.	voted to update the	a.	the motion
2.	a packed session	b.	state solution
3.	approve	c.	theatre
4.	It was passed 138-9 with	d.	Palestine's sovereignty
5.	negative political	e.	status of Palestine
6.	Celebrations broke	f.	on the ground
7.	the U.N. has implicitly recognized	g.	41 abstentions
8.	breathe new life into	h.	out across the West Bank
9.	the last chance to save the two-	i.	at the U.N. headquarters
10.	The resolution won't change anything	j.	peace negotiations

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

The United Nations has voted to update the status of Palestine to a non-member (1) ____________ state. The (2) ____________ vote took place on Thursday in a (3) ____________ session at the U.N. headquarters. More than two-thirds of the 193 member states were needed to (4) ____________ the motion for Palestine to be recognized. It was passed 138-9 with 41 abstentions. Many European countries, Russia, China, India and Brazil voted in      (5) ____________ of recognizing the Palestinians. The USA, Canada and Israel were among those voting against, while Germany, Britain, Australia and Colombia (6) ____________. The vote came 65 years to the day that the U.N. adopted a resolution recommending the (7) ____________ of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Israel dismissed the vote as "negative political (8) ____________ " and announced the building of 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.		abstained approve historic theatre observer partition packed favour
Celebrations (9) ____________ out across the West Bank as news of the vote came through. The fact that the U.N. has implicitly recognized Palestine's sovereignty was (10) ____________ as a major diplomatic victory. Veteran Palestinian peace negotiator Hannan Ashrawi told reporters what the recognition meant for Palestine: "Getting state status is what (11) ____________ the Palestinians, what defines our territory as occupied, what  (12) ____________ our relationships regionally and with the rest of the world," she said. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped the U.N. vote would "(13) ____________ new life into [peace] negotiations" with Israel. He said it was "the last chance to save the two-state (14) ____________ ". Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The resolution…won't change anything on the (15) ____________. It won't advance the establishment of a Palestinian state, but rather, put it (16) ____________ off."		further greeted breathe solution broke defines ground empowers

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The United Nations has voted to update the status of Palestine ______.
	a.  to a non-observer member state. b.  to a non-member observation state. c.  to a non-member observer state. d.  to a no-membership observer state.
2)	The historic vote took place on Thursday in a ______ headquarters.
	a.  pact session at the U.N. b.  U.N.-packed at the session c.  session packed at the U.N. d.  packed session at the U.N.
3)	More than ______ member states were needed to approve the motion ...
	a.  two-fifths of the 193 b.  two-thirds of the 193 c.  twenty-third of the 193 d.  two-thirty of the 193
4)	It was passed ______ abstentions.
	a.  139-8 with 41 b.  13-89 with 41 c.  138-9 with 14 d.  138-9 with 41
5)	Israel dismissed the vote as _______
	a.  "negatively political theatre" b.  "positive political theatre" c.  "negative politically theatre" d.  "negative political theatre"
6)	Celebrations broke out across the West Bank ______ came through.
	a.  was news of the vote b.  has news on the vote c.  bad news if the vote d.  as news of the vote
7)	the U.N. ______ Palestine's sovereignty
	a.  has implicitly reorganized b.  has implicitly recognized c.  as implicitly recognized d.  has explicitly recognized
8)	Getting state status ______ the Palestinians
	a.  is what empowers b.  is that empowers c.  is what then powers d.  is what them powers
9)	he hoped the U.N. vote ______ [peace] negotiations
	a.  would freeze new life into b.  would breed new life into c.  would bleed new life into d.  would breathe new life into
10)	The resolution…won't change anything._____.
	a.  on a ground b.  on the ground c.  in the grounds d.  on the cloud

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations has voted (1) _____________________ of Palestine to a non-member observer state. The historic vote took place on Thursday in a packed session at the U.N. headquarters. More (2) ____________________ 193 member states were needed to approve the motion for Palestine to be recognized. It was passed 138-(3) _____________________. Many European countries, Russia, China, India and Brazil voted in favour of recognizing the Palestinians. The USA, Canada and (4) _________________ voting against, while Germany, Britain, Australia and Colombia abstained. The vote came 65 years (5) _____________________ U.N. adopted a resolution recommending the partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Israel dismissed the vote as "(6) _____________________ " and announced the building of 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Celebrations (7) _____________________ West Bank as news of the vote came through. The fact that the U.N. has implicitly recognized Palestine's sovereignty (8) _____________________ diplomatic victory. Veteran Palestinian peace negotiator Hannan Ashrawi told reporters what the recognition meant for Palestine: "(9) _____________________ what empowers the Palestinians, what defines our territory as occupied, what defines our relationships (10) _____________________ rest of the world," she said. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped the U.N. vote would "breathe new life into [peace] negotiations" with Israel. He said it was "the last chance (11) _____________________ solution". Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The resolution…won't change anything on the ground. It won't advance the establishment of a Palestinian state, but     (12) _____________________."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What is Palestine's new status at the U.N.?
2.	What proportion of votes was needed to pass the motion?
3.	What did 41 countries do at the U.N. vote?
4.	What happened at the U.N. 65 years ago on November 29?
5.	How did Israel describe the passing of the resolution?
6.	What happened across the West Bank when they heard the news?
7.	Who is Hannan Ashrawi?
8.	What did Mahmoud Abbas hope the resolution would do?
9.	What did Mahmoud Abbas say had a last chance of being saved?
10.	Who said the resolution would change nothing on the ground?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is Palestine's new U.N. status?	6.	What did Hannan Ashrawi say empowers the Palestinians?
	a) member observer non-state b) full-member observer state c) non-member observer state d) member non-observer state		a) being a veteran peace negotiator b) getting state status c) sitting at the U.N. d) defining territory
2.	What was needed to pass the motion?	7.	What did Mahmoud Abbas hope the vote would do?
	a) more than two-thirds of the votes b) more than 230 votes c) more than two-thirds of U.S. support d) more than two-thirds of Palestine		a) change Benjamin Netanyahu's mind b) get the USA to back the motion c) cause Palestinians to breathe again d) breathe new life into peace talks
3.	What was the result of the vote?	8.	What did Mahmoud Abbas say had a last chance of being saved?
	a) 13-89 with 41 abstentions b) 138-9 with 14 abstentions c) 139-8 with 41 abstentions d) 138-9 with 41 abstentions		a) Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu b) the two-state solution c) the Palestinian people d) regional dreams
4.	What did Germany, Britain, Australia and Colombia do?	9.	What did Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu say about the resolution?
	a) They voted 'no'. b) They did not vote. c) They walked out. d) They argued.		a) it would change nothing b) it changes everything c) it was a welcome change d) it was time for a change
5.	How did Israel describe the vote?	10.	What did Netanyahu say about the creation of a Palestinian state?
	a) "positive political theatre" b) "negatively politicized theatre" c) "negative political theatre" d) "negative political theatrics"		a) it had to happen b) it will never happen c) It is imminent d) It is further off

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Mahmoud Abbas You are so happy. Tell the others three reasons why. You want urgent peace talks with Israel. If an agreement cannot be reached in the next six months, it never will. You are disappointed the USA voted against the resolution. Tell the others three reasons why.

Role  B – Benjamin Netanyahu You think the vote was a joke - negative political theatre. Tell the others 3 reasons why. Now is not the time for peace talks. Tell the others 3 reasons why. You think Abbas is living in a dream world. Tell the others 3 reasons why. Ban Ki-moon is a nice man but he doesn't understand the Middle East.

Role  C – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon You want to be the guy who finally brings peace to the Middle East. You can do it. Tell the others three reasons why. You must be tough with Netanyahu. You must tell Abbas he can't have everything he wants. Tell Clinton her views are not helping the peace process.

Role  D – Hillary Clinton You told reporters the U.N. vote has put "further obstacles in the path to peace". Tell the others 3 reasons why you think so. You fully support what Netanyahu says. You think Ban Ki-moon is just on a personal mission to get the Nobel Peace Prize. Tell Abbas peace may come in the next fifty years.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

landmark

decision

• 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:

observer 193 41 65 negative 3,000

fact major rest life ground further

PALESTINE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Palestine 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.

PALESTINE 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 name 'Palestine'?
c)	What do you think of the historic vote?
d)	Why did countries vote against the motion?
e)	Why do you think countries like Germany and the U.K. abstained?
f)	How does the vote change things in the Middle East?
g)	What does Israel mean when it called the vote "negative political theatre"?
h)	Is Israel sending a message to the world by announcing the building of 3,000 new homes on the West Bank?
i)	What questions would you like to ask Benjamin Netanyahu?
j)	What do you think his answers might be?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What do you know about Israel-Palestine relations over the past 65 years?
c)	Do you think Palestine is now on its way to becoming a full U.N. member state?
d)	How long will Palestinian celebrations last, and why?
e)	Do you think the vote will "breathe new life into peace negotiations"?
f)	What needs to happen for there to be a two-state solution?
g)	Is the USA a help or hindrance in negotiations?
h)	Why does Benjamin Netanyahu think the vote now means the creation of a Palestinian state is further away?
i)	What questions would you like to ask Mahmoud Abbas?
j)	What do you think his answers might be?

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.	________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

The United Nations has voted to (1) ____ the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state. The historic vote took place on Thursday in a (2) ____ session at the U.N. headquarters. More than two-thirds of the 193 member states were needed to approve the (3) ____ for Palestine to be recognized. It was passed 138-9 with 41 abstentions. Many European countries, Russia, China, India and Brazil voted in favour of (4) ____ the Palestinians. The USA, Canada and Israel were among those voting against, while Germany, Britain, Australia and Colombia abstained. The vote (5) ____ 65 years to the day that the U.N. adopted a resolution recommending the partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Israel dismissed the vote (6) ____ "negative political theatre" and announced the building of 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Celebrations broke (7) ____ across the West Bank as news of the vote came through. The fact that the U.N. has implicitly recognized Palestine's sovereignty was (8) ____ as a major diplomatic victory. Veteran Palestinian peace negotiator Hannan Ashrawi told reporters what the recognition meant for Palestine: "Getting state status is what (9) ____ the Palestinians, what defines our territory as occupied, what defines our relationships regionally and with the rest of the world," she said. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped the U.N. vote would "(10) ____  new life into [peace] negotiations" with Israel. He said it was "the last chance to save the two-state solution". Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The resolution…won't change anything on the (11) ____. It won't advance the establishment of a Palestinian state, but rather, put it further (12) ____."

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

1.	(a)	use-by date	(b)	update	(c)	dated	(d)	date
2.	(a)	packing	(b)	packed	(c)	packaging	(d)	pack up
3.	(a)	locomotion	(b)	demotion	(c)	commotion	(d)	motion
4.	(a)	recognizes	(b)	recognizing	(c)	recognition	(d)	recognize
5.	(a)	arrived	(b)	departed	(c)	went	(d)	came
6.	(a)	was	(b)	has	(c)	as	(d)	is
7.	(a)	out	(b)	over	(c)	down	(d)	in
8.	(a)	pleased	(b)	written	(c)	greeted	(d)	thanked
9.	(a)	implants	(b)	compounds	(c)	confounds	(d)	empowers
10.	(a)	breathe	(b)	paste	(c)	concrete	(d)	birth
11.	(a)	ground	(b)	earth	(c)	floor	(d)	mud
12.	(a)	off	(b)	up	(c)	high	(d)	last

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	non-member brerveso state
2.	The ritiosch vote took place on Thursday
3.	oepvpar the motion
4.	Australia and Colombia aseaindbt
5.	the iraiptotn of Palestine
6.	cunenoand the building of 3,000 new homes
Paragraph 2
7.	rtceeolisabn broke out across the West Bank
8.	Palestine's orvesnygiet
9.	Palestinian peace tneaoroigt
10.	what defines our rrytiteor as occupied
11.	our relationships nllregiyoa
12.	the two-state luonisto

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )	negotiator Hannan Ashrawi told reporters what the recognition meant for Palestine: "Getting state status is what empowers
(    )	life into [peace] negotiations" with Israel. He said it was "the last chance to save the two-state solution". Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said:
(    )	the world," she said. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped the U.N. vote would "breathe new
(    )	states were needed to approve the motion for Palestine to be recognized. It was passed 138-9 with 41
(    )	vote took place on Thursday in a packed session at the U.N. headquarters. More than two-thirds of the 193 member
(    )	Celebrations broke out across the West Bank as news of the vote came through. The fact that the U.N. has implicitly
(    )	day that the U.N. adopted a resolution recommending the partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Israel dismissed the vote
(  1  )	The United Nations has voted to update the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state. The historic
(    )	the Palestinians, what defines our territory as occupied, what defines our relationships regionally and with the rest of
(    )	recognized Palestine's sovereignty was greeted as a major diplomatic victory. Veteran Palestinian peace
(    )	abstentions. Many European countries, Russia, China, India and Brazil voted in favour of recognizing the Palestinians. The USA, Canada and Israel were among
(    )	those voting against, while Germany, Britain, Australia and Colombia abstained. The vote came 65 years to the
(    )	"The resolution…won't change anything on the ground. It won't advance the establishment of a Palestinian state, but rather, put it further off."
(    )	as "negative political theatre" and announced the building of 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	UN     has    voted    to    update    the    status    of    Palestine     The.
2.	abstentions     was     41     It     138-9     with     passed.
3.	the     recommending     resolution     A     Palestine     of     partition.
4.	as     Israel     negative     dismissed     political    the    theatre     vote.
5.	in    3,000    of    the    new    The    West    homes     building     Bank.
6.	Bank     West     the     across     out     broke     Celebrations.
7.	has     UN     The     sovereignty    Palestine's    recognized     implicitly.
8.	into     peace     Breathe     negotiations     new     with     life     Israel.
9.	chance     to     save     the    two     -     state    solution     The     last.
10.	the     won't     ground     change    anything     The     on     resolution.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The United Nations has voted to date / update the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state. The historic / history vote took place on Thursday in a packed / packing session at the U.N. headquarters. More than two-thirds of the 193 member states were needed to disprove / approve the motion for Palestine to be recognized. It was passed 138-9 with 41 abstentions. Many European countries, Russia, China, India and Brazil voted in / on favour of recognizing the Palestinians. The USA, Canada and Israel were among those voted / voting against, while Germany, Britain, Australia and Colombia abstained. The vote came / went 65 years to the day that the U.N. adopted a resolution recommending the party / partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states. Israel dismissed / dismisses the vote as "negative political theatre" and announced the building / builders of 3,000 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Celebrations broke out / in across the West Bank as news of the vote came through / though. The fact that the U.N. has implicitly recognized Palestine's sovereignty was greeted / pleased as a major diplomatic victory. Veteran / Veterinary Palestinian peace negotiator Hannan Ashrawi told reporters what the recognition meant for Palestine: "Getting / Got state status is what empowers the Palestinians, what defines our territory was / as occupied, what defines our relationships regionally and with the last / rest of the world," she said. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped the U.N. vote would "breath / breathe new life into [peace] negotiations" with Israel. He said it was "the last chance to save the two-state solution". Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said: "The resolution…won't change anything on the floor / ground. It won't advance the establishment of a Palestinian state, but rather, put it further last / off."

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)

Th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns h_s v_t_d t_ _pd_t_ th_ st_t_s _f P_l_st_n_ t_ _ n_n-m_mb_r _bs_rv_r st_t_. Th_ h_st_r_c v_t_ t__k pl_c_ _n Th_rsd_y _n _ p_ck_d s_ss__n _t th_ _.N. h__dq__rt_rs. M_r_ th_n tw_-th_rds _f th_ 193 m_mb_r st_t_s w_r_ n__d_d t_ _ppr_v_ th_ m_t__n f_r P_l_st_n_ t_ b_ r_c_gn_z_d. _t w_s p_ss_d 138-9 w_th 41 _bst_nt__ns. M_ny __r_p__n c__ntr__s, R_ss__, Ch_n_, _nd__ _nd Br_z_l v_t_d _n f_v__r _f r_c_gn_z_ng th_ P_l_st_n__ns. Th_ _S_, C_n_d_ _nd _sr__l w_r_ _m_ng th_s_ v_t_ng _g__nst, wh_l_ G_rm_ny, Br_t__n, __str_l__ _nd C_l_mb__ _bst__n_d. Th_ v_t_ c_m_ 65 y__rs t_ th_ d_y th_t th_ _.N. _d_pt_d _ r_s_l_t__n r_c_mm_nd_ng th_ p_rt_t__n _f P_l_st_n_ _nt_ s_p_r_t_ _r_b _nd J_w_sh st_t_s. _sr__l d_sm_ss_d th_ v_t_ _s "n_g_t_v_ p_l_t_c_l th__tr_" _nd _nn__nc_d th_ b__ld_ng _f 3,000 n_w h_m_s _n th_ W_st B_nk _nd __st J_r_s_l_m.

C_l_br_t__ns br_k_ __t _cr_ss th_ W_st B_nk _s n_ws _f th_ v_t_ c_m_ thr__gh. Th_ f_ct th_t th_ _.N. h_s _mpl_c_tly r_c_gn_z_d P_l_st_n_'s s_v_r__gnty w_s gr__t_d _s _ m_j_r d_pl_m_t_c v_ct_ry. V_t_r_n P_l_st_n__n p__c_ n_g_t__t_r H_nn_n _shr_w_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs wh_t th_ r_c_gn_t__n m__nt f_r P_l_st_n_: "G_tt_ng st_t_ st_t_s _s wh_t _mp_w_rs th_ P_l_st_n__ns, wh_t d_f_n_s __r t_rr_t_ry _s _cc_p__d, wh_t d_f_n_s __r r_l_t__nsh_ps r_g__n_lly _nd w_th th_ r_st _f th_ w_rld," sh_ s__d. P_l_st_n__n pr_s_d_nt M_hm__d _bb_s s__d h_ h_p_d th_ _.N. v_t_ w__ld "br__th_ n_w l_f_ _nt_ [p__c_] n_g_t__t__ns" w_th _sr__l. H_ s__d _t w_s "th_ l_st ch_nc_ t_ s_v_ th_ tw_-st_t_ s_l_t__n". _sr__l_ l__d_r B_nj_m_n N_t_ny_h_ s__d: "Th_ r_s_l_t__n…w_n't ch_ng_ _nyth_ng _n th_ gr__nd. _t w_n't _dv_nc_ th_ _st_bl_shm_nt _f _ P_l_st_n__n st_t_, b_t r_th_r, p_t _t f_rth_r _ff."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the united nations has voted to update the status of palestine to a non-member observer state the historic vote took place on thursday in a packed session at the un headquarters more than two-thirds of the 193 member states were needed to approve the motion for palestine to be recognized it was passed 138-9 with 41 abstentions many european countries russia china india and brazil voted in favour of recognizing the palestinians the usa canada and israel were among those voting against while germany britain australia and colombia abstained the vote came 65 years to the day that the un adopted a resolution recommending the partition of palestine into separate arab and jewish states israel dismissed the vote as "negative political theatre" and announced the building of 3000 new homes in the west bank and east jerusalem

celebrations broke out across the west bank as news of the vote came through the fact that the un has implicitly recognized palestine's sovereignty was greeted as a major diplomatic victory veteran palestinian peace negotiator hannan ashrawi told reporters what the recognition meant for palestine "getting state status is what empowers the palestinians what defines our territory as occupied what defines our relationships regionally and with the rest of the world" she said palestinian president mahmoud abbas said he hoped the un vote would "breathe new life into [peace] negotiations" with israel he said it was "the last chance to save the two-state solution" israeli leader benjamin netanyahu said "the resolution…won't change anything on the ground it won't advance the establishment of a palestinian state but rather put it further off"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheUnitedNationshasvotedtoupdatethestatusofPalestinetoanon-member observerstate.ThehistoricvotetookplaceonThursdayinapackedsessionattheU.N. headquarters.Morethantwo-thirdsofthe193memberstateswereneededtoapprove themotionforPalestinetoberecognized.Itwaspassed138-9with41abstentions. ManyEuropeancountries,Russia,China,IndiaandBrazilvotedinfavourofrecognizing thePalestinians.TheUSA,CanadaandIsraelwereamongthosevotingagainst,while Germany,Britain,AustraliaandColombiaabstained.Thevotecame65yearstotheday thattheU.N.adoptedaresolutionrecommendingthepartitionofPalestineintoseparate ArabandJewishstates.Israeldismissedthevoteas"negativepoliticaltheatre"and announcedthebuildingof3,000newhomesintheWestBankandEastJerusalem. CelebrationsbrokeoutacrosstheWestBankasnewsofthevotecamethrough.Thefact thattheU.N.hasimplicitlyrecognizedPalestine'ssovereigntywasgreetedasamajor diplomaticvictory.VeteranPalestinianpeacenegotiatorHannanAshrawitoldreporters whattherecognitionmeantforPalestine:"Gettingstatestatusiswhatempowersthe Palestinians,whatdefinesourterritoryasoccupied,whatdefinesourrelationships regionallyandwiththerestoftheworld,"shesaid.PalestinianpresidentMahmoud AbbassaidhehopedtheU.N.votewould"breathenewlifeinto[peace]negotiations" withIsrael.Hesaiditwas"thelastchancetosavethetwostatesolution".Israelileader BenjaminNetanyahusaid:"Theresolution…won'tchangeanythingontheground.It won'tadvancetheestablishmentofaPalestinianstate,butrather,putitfurtheroff."

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Israel and Palestine will never agree on a two-state solution in the Middle East. It is the world's most unsolvable problem.  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 the recent U.N. resolution on Palestine. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PALESTINE: Make a poster about Palestine and its history over the past century. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. STATEHOOD: Write a magazine article about the significance of the resolution. Include imaginary interviews with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

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 Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. Ask him three questions about Palestine. Give him three of your opinions on what the future holds. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	update	a.	suddenly started
2.	status	b.	rejected
3.	motion	c.	forward
4.	abstained	d.	proposal
5.	dismissed	e.	colonized
6.	broke out	f.	upgrade
7.	sovereignty	g.	reignite
8.	occupied	h.	position
9.	breathe new life into	i.	independence
10.	advance	j.	declined to vote

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Non-member observer state
2.	(More than) two-thirds
3.	Abstain (did not vote)
4.	The U.N. adopted a resolution recommending the partition of Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states.
5.	As negative political theatre
6.	Celebrations broke out
7.	A Palestinian peace negotiator
8.	Breathe new life into peace negotiations
9.	The two-state solution
10.	Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

d

4.

b

5.

c

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

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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