Taliban leader killed in Pakistan (4th November, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan was killed in a drone attack on Friday. Hakimullah Mehsud was the most wanted man in Pakistan. He died in the remote Waziristan region of north-western Pakistan. Three other people died in the drone strike. In 2010, the U.S. government said it would pay $5 million for information about where Mr Mehsud lived. The U.S. wanted him for a deadly attack on one of its military bases in Afghanistan in 2009. Seven Americans and a Jordanian died in that attack. The Pakistan government told America that it "strongly condemns the U.S. drone strike". The Taliban said: "We confirm with great [sadness] that our [great] leader was martyred in a drone attack."

Hakimullah Mehsud became leader of the Pakistan Taliban in 2009, following the death of the previous leader in a drone attack. Mehsud showed how much damage he could create in Pakistan soon after he became leader. He was behind five terror attacks in a single day in three different Pakistani cities. Five days later, there were three different attacks in the city of Lahore. American intelligence officials say he was also behind a planned terror attack in New York's Times Square in 2010. Security sources say his death is a major blow to the Taliban in Pakistan. It might also be bad news for peace talks between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. The two sides had been talking for months.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/01/world/asia/pakistan-violence/
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-26417-The-rise-and-fall-of-Hakimullah

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. THE TALIBAN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Taliban. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

drone attack / most wanted man / information / military base / condemns / martyred / previous leader / damage / terror attacks / security sources / major blow / peace talks

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

3. PEACE: How can peace come to these regions? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Peace in…	How?	Will this happen? (Why/not?)
Pakistan
Syria
Colombia
Somalia
Mexico (Drug War)
Iraq

4. DRONES: Students A strongly believe drone attacks should be banned; Students B strongly believe they are necessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. BRING PEACE: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put who / what can bring peace in Pakistan the quickest at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• Pakistan / Taliban talks

• The U.N. Security Council

• The White House

• Regional leaders

• Pakistan's people

• Time

• The Taliban

• Pakistan's leader

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

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	The leader of Afghanistan's Taliban was killed in an attack in Pakistan.	T / F
b.	The leader was not the only person killed in the attack.	T / F
c.	The attack cost the USA $5 million.	T / F
d.	Pakistan is unhappy that the USA killed a Taliban leader.	T / F
e.	Hakimullah Mehsud had been a Taliban leader for over 10 years.	T / F
f.	The leader before him also died in a drone strike.	T / F
g.	Mehsud carried out a terror attack in New York's Times Square.	T / F
h.	Mehsud's death might be bad for peace talks in Pakistan.	T / F

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

1.	leader	a.	responsible for
2.	remote	b.	organised
3.	deadly	c.	sorrow
4.	condemn	d.	far off
5.	sadness	e.	shock
6.	previous	f.	lethal
7.	behind	g.	former
8.	single	h.	head
9.	planned	i.	one
10.	blow	j.	criticise

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

1.	the remote	a.	strike
2.	drone	b.	a planned terror attack
3.	military	c.	a drone attack
4.	it strongly	d.	for peace
5.	martyred in	e.	of the previous leader
6.	following the death	f.	had been talking
7.	officials say he was also behind	g.	Waziristan region
8.	a major	h.	condemns the U.S. drone strike
9.	bad news	i.	blow to the Taliban
10.	The two sides	j.	bases

GAP FILL

The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan was killed in a drone attack on Friday. Hakimullah Mehsud was the most (1) ____________ man in Pakistan. He died in the (2) ____________ Waziristan region of north-western Pakistan. Three other people died in the drone strike. In 2010, the U.S. government said it would pay $5 million for (3) ____________ about where Mr Mehsud lived. The U.S. wanted him for a (4) ____________ attack on one of its military (5) ____________ in Afghanistan in 2009. Seven Americans and a Jordanian died in that attack. The Pakistan government told America that it "strongly (6) ____________ the U.S. drone strike". The Taliban said: "We (7) ____________ with great [sadness] that our [great] leader was (8) ____________ in a drone attack."

bases
martyred
condemns
wanted
information
confirm
remote
deadly

Hakimullah Mehsud became leader of the Pakistan Taliban in 2009, (9) ____________ the death of the previous leader in a drone attack. Mehsud (10) ____________ how much damage he could create in Pakistan soon after he became leader. He was (11) ____________ five terror attacks in a single day in three different Pakistani cities. Five days later, there were three (12) ____________ attacks in the city of Lahore. American intelligence officials say he was also behind a (13) ____________ terror attack in New York's Times Square in 2010. Security sources say his death is a major (14) ____________ to the Taliban in Pakistan. It might also be (15) ____________ news for peace talks between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. The two (16) ____________ had been talking for months.

blow
behind
bad
showed
sides
following
planned
different

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan was killed in ______
	a. a drone attacks b. a drone attacked c. a drone attack d. a drone attacker
2)	He died ______ Waziristan region of north-western Pakistan
	a. in the remotely b. in the rim moat c. in the ream oat d. in the remote
3)	The U.S. wanted him for a deadly attack on one of ______
	a. its military base b. its military bases c. its military basics d. its military bay seas
4)	The Pakistan government told America that it strongly ______ drone strike
	a. condemns the U.S. b. condemn the U.S. c. condemned the U.S. d. con dams the U.S.
5)	We confirm with great sadness that our great leader ______
	a. was martyr b. was martyred c. was martyrs d. was martyrdom
6)	Mehsud showed how much damage he ______ Pakistan
	a. could create in b. could creating c. could creating in d. could creation
7)	five terror attacks in ______ in three different Pakistani cities
	a. a singular day b. a singles day c. a singled day d. a single day
8)	intelligence officials say he was ______ planned terror attack in New York
	a. also bee hind a b. also before a c. also behind a d. also banned a
9)	Security sources say his death is ______
	a. a major blow b. a major blew c. a major blown d. a major blows
10)	The ______ been talking for months
	a. two sides had b. two scythes had c. two sites had d. two slides had

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan (1) ___________________ drone attack on Friday. Hakimullah Mehsud was (2) ___________________ man in Pakistan. He died in the remote Waziristan region of north-western Pakistan. Three (3) ___________________ in the drone strike. In 2010, the U.S. government said it would pay $5 million for information about where Mr Mehsud lived. The U.S. wanted (4) ___________________ attack on one of its (5) ___________________ Afghanistan in 2009. Seven Americans and a Jordanian died in that attack. The Pakistan government told America that it "strongly condemns the U.S. drone strike". The Taliban said: "We confirm with great [sadness] that our [great] leader (6) ___________________ drone attack."

Hakimullah Mehsud became leader of the Pakistan Taliban in 2009, following the death of (7) ___________________ in a drone attack. Mehsud showed how much damage (8) ___________________ Pakistan soon after he became leader. He was behind five terror attacks in a single day in three different Pakistani cities. Five days later, there (9) ___________________ attacks in the city of Lahore. American intelligence officials say he was also behind (10) ___________________ attack in New York's Times Square in 2010. Security sources say his death (11) ___________________ to the Taliban in Pakistan. It might also (12) ___________________ peace talks between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. The two sides had been talking for months.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	On what day of the week did Hakimullah Mehsud die?
2.	Where in Pakistan is Waziristan?
3.	What did the USA want for $5 million?
4.	How many people died in an attack on a U.S. military base in 2009?
5.	What feelings did the Taliban have about Hakimullah Mehsud's death?
6.	When did Hakimullah Mehsud become leader of Pakistan's Taliban?
7.	In how many cities did five attacks happen in one day?
8.	How many attacks were there in Lahore?
9.	Where in the US did officials say Mehsud planned an attack?
10.	What had the Taliban and Pakistan government been doing for months?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	On what day of the week did Hakimullah Mehsud die?	6.	When did Hakimullah Mehsud become leader of Pakistan's Taliban?
	a) Sunday b) Friday c) Monday d) Saturday		a) 2009 b) 2007 c) 2011 d) 2013
2.	Where in Pakistan is Waziristan?	7.	In how many cities did five attacks happen in one day?
	a) the north west b) the south east c) the north east d) the south west		a) 6 b) 5 c) 4 d) 3
3.	What did the USA want for $5 million?	8.	How many attacks were there in Lahore?
	a) entry to an air base b) a new drone c) thousands of visas d) Hakimullah Mehsud's address		a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4
4.	How many people died in an attack on a U.S. military base in 2009?	9.	Where in the US did officials say Mehsud planned an attack?
	a) 7 b) 8 c) 9 d) 10		a) Paris b) Islamabad c) Kabul d) New York
5.	What feelings did the Taliban have about Hakimullah Mehsud's death?	10.	What had the Taliban and Pakistan government been doing for months?
	a) great sadness b) anger c) numbness d) great frustration		a) fighting the Afghanistan Taliban b) talking c) ignoring each other d) nothing

ROLE PLAY

Role A – President Obama

You think drones are a necessary part of the war on terror. Tell the others three reasons why. You think drones are essential to target Taliban leaders. You will not listen to anyone else. Tell everyone that drones help the security of the whole world.

Role B – Pacifist

You are shocked that the USA is using drones. Tell the others three reasons why. Drones kill innocent people. It is the same as murder. Tell everyone it was a mistake to kill Hakimullah Mehsud. He was talking to Pakistan about peace.

Role C – Taliban Boss

You think the USA made a huge mistake when it killed Hakimullah Mehsud. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell Barack Obama he must leave Pakistan alone. Tell everyone that only Pakistani people can help with Pakistan's problems.

Role D – Pakistan Leader

You are very, very angry with Barack Obama. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell Obama he has no idea about how to bring peace to Pakistan. Ask him why the USA killed Hakimullah Mehsud when he was in talks with the Pakistan government.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

major

blow

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:

Friday
wanted
$5 million
bases
strongly
great

following
damage
single
city
sources
sides

THE TALIBAN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the Taliban 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.

THE TALIBAN DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'Taliban'?
c)	What do the Taliban believe in?
d)	What do you think about he drone strike on Hakimullah Mehsud?
e)	Will Hakimullah Mehsud's death change anything in Pakistan?
f)	How will the Taliban react to Mehsud's death?
g)	Will the attack affect US-Pakistan relations?
h)	Why do so many men join the Taliban?
i)	What do you think of the use of drones to target people?

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

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 the Taliban?
c)	Will the death of Hakimullah Mehsud make the Taliban stronger?
d)	What's the best way for Pakistan to sort out its problems?
e)	What will Pakistan look like in 20 years from now?
f)	Has the attack on Hakimullah Mehsud damaged peace talks?
g)	Do you think the Taliban will ever be part of Pakistan's government?
h)	Should the United Nations enter Pakistan?
i)	What questions would you like to ask Pakistan's leader?

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

The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan was killed in a drone attack on Friday. Hakimullah Mehsud was the most (1) ____ man in Pakistan. He died in the (2) ____ Waziristan region of north-western Pakistan. Three other people died in the drone (3) ____. In 2010, the U.S. government said it would pay $5 million for information about where Mr Mehsud lived. The U.S. wanted him for a deadly attack on one of its military (4) ____ in Afghanistan in 2009. Seven Americans and a Jordanian died in that attack. The Pakistan government told America that it "(5) ____ condemns the U.S. drone strike". The Taliban said: "We confirm with great [sadness] that our [great] leader was (6) ____ in a drone attack."

Hakimullah Mehsud became leader of the Pakistan Taliban in 2009, (7) ____ the death of the (8) ____ leader in a drone attack. Mehsud showed how much damage he could create in Pakistan soon after he became leader. He was behind five terror attacks in a (9) ____ day in three different Pakistani cities. Five days later, there were three different attacks in the city of Lahore. American intelligence officials say he was also (10) ____ a planned terror attack in New York's Times Square in 2010. Security sources say his death is a major (11) ____ to the Taliban in Pakistan. It might also be bad news for peace talks between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. The two (12) ____ had been talking for months.

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

1.	(a)	wants	(b)	wanted	(c)	wanting	(d)	want
2.	(a)	faint	(b)	aloof	(c)	beyond	(d)	remote
3.	(a)	striking	(b)	strike	(c)	struck	(d)	stricken
4.	(a)	basis	(b)	basics	(c)	bases	(d)	bastes
5.	(a)	strongly	(b)	strength	(c)	strong	(d)	strongest
6.	(a)	martyred	(b)	martyr	(c)	martyrs	(d)	martyring
7.	(a)	accompanying	(b)	shadowing	(c)	resulting	(d)	following
8.	(a)	previous	(b)	prevails	(c)	prevalence	(d)	prevents
9.	(a)	solitary	(b)	single	(c)	individual	(d)	unwed
10.	(a)	before	(b)	become	(c)	behind	(d)	because
11.	(a)	gust	(b)	puff	(c)	blow	(d)	sound
12.	(a)	angles	(b)	sides	(c)	corners	(d)	shapes

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	the remote Waziristan eiognr of north-western Pakistan
2.	pay $5 million for ioforannmit
3.	a ledday attack
4.	iymiratl bases
5.	it "strongly mesodncn the U.S. drone strike"
6.	mrdratye in a drone attack
Paragraph 2
7.	the death of the viuporse leader
8.	how much gamade
9.	three reeffnitd Pakistani cities
10.	intelligence csfailoif
11.	eyriucst sources
12.	a aojmr blow

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	sources say his death is a major blow to the Taliban in Pakistan. It might also be bad news for peace
( )	bases in Afghanistan in 2009. Seven Americans and a Jordanian died in that attack. The Pakistan
( )	for information about where Mr Mehsud lived. The U.S. wanted him for a deadly attack on one of its military
( )	Hakimullah Mehsud became leader of the Pakistan Taliban in 2009, following the death
( )	of the previous leader in a drone attack. Mehsud showed how much damage he could create in Pakistan soon
( )	after he became leader. He was behind five terror attacks in a single day in three different
( )	intelligence officials say he was also behind a planned terror attack in New York's Times Square in 2010. Security
( )	talks between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. The two sides had been talking for months.
( )	wanted man in Pakistan. He died in the remote Waziristan region of north-western Pakistan. Three
( 1 )	The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan was killed in a drone attack on Friday. Hakimullah Mehsud was the most
( )	"We confirm with great [sadness] that our [great] leader was martyred in a drone attack."
( )	other people died in the drone strike. In 2010, the U.S. government said it would pay $5 million
( )	Pakistani cities. Five days later, there were three different attacks in the city of Lahore. American
( )	government told America that it "strongly condemns the U.S. drone strike". The Taliban said:

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	was The the Pakistan of in killed leader Taliban.
2.	remote of western The region - Waziristan north Pakistan.
3.	in Three the other drone people strike died.
4.	on its attack of bases deadly one military A.
5.	attack great martyred drone Our was a leader in.
6.	create much damage Mehsud he showed could how.
7.	He was behind five terror attacks in a single day.
8.	also behind a planned terror attack Officials say he was.
9.	might bad peace It be for also news talks.
10.	two for sides months had been The talking.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The leader of the Taliban in Pakistan was killed in a drone attacking / attack on Friday. Hakimullah Mehsud was the most wanted / wants man in Pakistan. He died in the remote / remotely Waziristan region of north-western Pakistan. Three other people dead / died in the drone strike. In 2010, the U.S. government said it would payment / pay $5 million for information about where Mr Mehsud lived. The U.S. wanted him for a deadly attack on one of its military basis / bases in Afghanistan in 2009. Seven Americans and a Jordanian died in there / that attack. The Pakistan government told America that it "strongly / strengthen condemns the U.S. drone strike". The Taliban said: "We conform / confirm with great [sadness] that our [great] leader was martyred / martyrdom in a drone attack."

Hakimullah Mehsud became leader of the Pakistan Taliban in 2009, followed / following the death of the previous / previously leader in a drone attack. Mehsud showed how much damage / damaging he could create in Pakistan soon after he became leader. He was before / behind five terror attacks in a single / singles day in three different Pakistani cities. Five days later, there were three different attacks in the cities / city of Lahore. American intelligence officials say he was also behind a planned / plant terror attack in New York's Times Square in 2010. Security sources / sauces say his death is a major blow to the Taliban in Pakistan. It might also be bad news from / for peace talks between the Pakistani government and the Taliban. The two sides / sidings had been talking for months.

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_ l__d_r _f th_ T_l_b_n _n P_k_st_n w_s k_ll_d _n _ dr_n_ _tt_ck _n Fr_d_y. H_k_m_ll_h M_hs_d w_s th_ m_st w_nt_d m_n _n P_k_st_n. H_ d__d _n th_ r_m_t_ W_z_r_st_n r_g__n _f n_rth-w_st_rn P_k_st_n. Thr__ _th_r p__pl_ d__d _n th_ dr_n_ str_k_. _n 2010, th_ _.S. g_v_rnm_nt s__d _t w__ld p_y $5 m_ll__n f_r _nf_rm_t__n _b__t wh_r_ Mr M_hs_d l_v_d. Th_ _.S. w_nt_d h_m f_r _ d__dly _tt_ck _n _n_ _f _ts m_l_t_ry b_s_s _n _fgh_n_st_n _n 2009. S_v_n _m_r_c_ns _nd _ J_rd_n__n d__d _n th_t _tt_ck. Th_ P_k_st_n g_v_rnm_nt t_ld _m_r_c_ th_t _t "str_ngly c_nd_mns th_ _.S. dr_n_ str_k_". Th_ T_l_b_n s__d: "W_ c_nf_rm w_th gr__t [s_dn_ss] th_t __r [gr__t] l__d_r w_s m_rtyr_d _n _ dr_n_ _tt_ck."

H_k_m_ll_h M_hs_d b_c_m_ l__d_r _f th_ P_k_st_n T_l_b_n _n 2009, f_ll_w_ng th_ d__th _f th_ pr_v___s l__d_r _n _ dr_n_ _tt_ck. M_hs_d sh_w_d h_w m_ch d_m_g_ h_ c__ld cr__t_ _n P_k_st_n s__n _ft_r h_ b_c_m_ l__d_r. H_ w_s b_h_nd f_v_ t_rr_r _tt_cks _n _ s_ngl_ d_y _n thr__ d_ff_r_nt P_k_st_n_ c_t__s. F_v_ d_ys l_t_r, th_r_ w_r_ thr__ d_ff_r_nt _tt_cks _n th_ c_ty _f L_h_r_. _m_r_c_n _nt_ll_g_nc_ _ff_c__ls s_y h_ w_s _ls_ b_h_nd _ pl_nn_d t_rr_r _tt_ck _n N_w Y_rk's T_m_s Sq__r_ _n 2010. S_c_r_ty s__rc_s s_y h_s d__th _s _ m_j_r bl_w t_ th_ T_l_b_n _n P_k_st_n. _t m_ght _ls_ b_ b_d n_ws f_r p__c_ t_lks b_tw__n th_ P_k_st_n_ g_v_rnm_nt _nd th_ T_l_b_n. Th_ tw_ s_d_s h_d b__n t_lk_ng f_r m_nths.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the leader of the taliban in pakistan was killed in a drone attack on friday hakimullah mehsud was the most wanted man in pakistan he died in the remote waziristan region of north-western pakistan three other people died in the drone strike in 2010 the us government said it would pay $5 million for information about where mr mehsud lived the us wanted him for a deadly attack on one of its military bases in afghanistan in 2009 seven americans and a jordanian died in that attack the pakistan government told america that it "strongly condemns the us drone strike" the taliban said "we confirm with great [sadness] that our [great] leader was martyred in a drone attack"

hakimullah mehsud became leader of the pakistan taliban in 2009 following the death of the previous leader in a drone attack mehsud showed how much damage he could create in pakistan soon after he became leader he was behind five terror attacks in a single day in three different pakistani cities five days later there were three different attacks in the city of lahore american intelligence officials say he was also behind a planned terror attack in new york's times square in 2010 security sources say his death is a major blow to the taliban in pakistan it might also be bad news for peace talks between the pakistani government and the taliban the two sides had been talking for months

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheleaderoftheTalibaninPakistanwaskilledinadroneattackonFrida
y.HakimullahMehsudwasthemostwantedmaninPakistan.Hediedin
theremoteWaziristanregionofnorth-westernPakistan.Threeothe
rpeoplediedinthedronestrike.In2010,theU.S.governmentsaiditwo
uldpay$5millionforinformationaboutwhereMrMehsudlived.TheU.
S.wantedhimforadeadlyattackononeofitsmilitarybasesinAfghanis
tanin2009.SevenAmericansandaJordaniandiedinthatattack.TheP
akistangovernmenttoldAmericathatit"stronglycondemnstheU.S.d
ronestrike".TheTalibansaid:"Weconfirmwithgreat[sadness]thato
ur[great]leaderwasmartyredinadroneattack."HakimullahMehsud
becameleaderofthePakistanTalibanin2009,followingthedeathofth
epreviousleaderinadroneattack.Mehsudshowedhowmuchdamage
hecouldcreateinPakistansoonafterhebecameleader.Hewasbehind
fiveterrorattacksinasingledayinthreedifferentPakistanicities.Five
dayslater,therewerethreedifferentattacksinthecityofLahore.Amer
icanintelligenceofficialssayhewasalsobehindaplannedterrorattack
inNewYork'sTimesSquarein2010.Securitysourcessayhisdeathisa
majorblowtotheTalibaninPakistan.Itmightalsobebadnewsforpeac
etalksbetweenthePakistanigovernmentandtheTaliban.Thetwosid
eshadbeentalkingformonths.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

The USA should stop using drones to kill people. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about the Taliban. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. DRONE ATTACKS: Write a magazine article about drone attacks. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 Pakistan's leader. Ask him three questions about the Taliban. Give him three pieces of advice on what to do from now. 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

T

c

F

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	leader	a.	head
2.	remote	b.	far off
3.	deadly	c.	lethal
4.	condemn	d.	criticise
5.	sadness	e.	sorrow
6.	previous	f.	former
7.	behind	g.	responsible for
8.	single	h.	one
9.	planned	i.	organised
10.	blow	j.	shock

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Friday
2.	In the north west
3.	Information about where Hakimullah Mehsud lived
4.	Eight
5.	Great sadness
6.	2009
7.	Five
8.	Three
9.	Times Square, New York
10.	Talking

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

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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Taliban leader killed in Pakistan (4th November, 2014)

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