The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Lakhdar Brahimi, the head of Syria's peace talks, has apologised to Syrians. His job was to help end Syria's civil war. Syria's government and rebel leaders are talking to end the war. It is the second time they have talked. There are many difficult problems. Syrians want a peace deal. They are tired of the fighting. Over 140,000 have died in the three-year war and three million need aid. Mr Brahimi told both sides to think about their responsibilities.

Both sides were angry after the talks. Brahimi asked if they really wanted more talks. There is no date for more talks. The UK said the breakdown was very sad and "a serious setback in the search for peace". Syria's opposition said Syria's government was not serious, and that, "there is nothing positive we can take from this". Syria's government blamed the opposition for being "amateurs". Mr Brahimi said: "I very much hope there will be a third round."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/16/world/u-n-very-sorry-as-syria-talks-end-in-failure/
  • http://www.dawn.com/news/1087325/un-envoy-sorry-as-syria-talks-break-off-in-failure
  • http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-1-233008-Syria-peace-talks-break-down-as-death-toll-passes-140,000


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

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

the head of Syria's

a.

they have talked

2.

apologised

b.

rebel leaders

3.

His job was to help end

c.

aid

4.

Syria's government and

d.

problems

5.

It is the second time

e.

peace talks

6.

There are many difficult

f.

deal

7.

Syrians want a peace

g.

Syria's civil war

8.

three million need

h.

to Syrians

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Both sides were angry

a.

can take from this

2.

Brahimi asked if they really

b.

for more talks

3.

There is no date

c.

was not serious

4.

a serious setback in the

d.

a third round

5.

Syria's opposition said Syria's government

e.

after the talks

6.

there is nothing positive we

f.

wanted more talks

7.

Syria's government blamed

g.

search for peace

8.

I very much hope there will be

h.

the opposition

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Lakhdar Brahimi, (1) ___________________ peace talks, has apologised to Syrians. His job (2) ___________________ Syria's civil war. Syria's government and rebel leaders are talking to end the war. It is (3) ___________________ they have talked. There are many difficult problems. Syrians (4) ___________________. They are (5) ___________________. Over 140,000 have died in the three-year war and three million need aid. Mr Brahimi told both sides to think about (6) ___________________.

Both sides were (7) ___________________ talks. Brahimi asked if they really wanted more talks. There (8) __________________ more talks. The UK said the (9) ___________________ sad and "a serious setback in the search for peace". Syria's opposition said Syria's government (10) ___________________, and that, "there is nothing positive we (11) ___________________ ". Syria's government blamed the opposition for being "amateurs". Mr Brahimi said: "I very (12) ___________________ will be a third round."

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

LakhdarBrahimi,theheadofSyria'speacetalks,hasapologisedtoS
yrians.HisjobwastohelpendSyria'scivilwar.Syria'sgovernmenta
ndrebelleadersaretalkingtoendthewar.Itisthesecondtimetheyh
avetalked.Therearemanydifficultproblems.Syrianswantapeace
deal.Theyaretiredofthefighting.Over140,000havediedinthethre
e-yearwarandthreemillionneedaid.MrBrahimitoldbothsidesto
thinkabouttheirresponsibilities.Bothsideswereangryafterthetal
ks.Brahimiaskediftheyreallywantedmoretalks.Thereisnodatefo
rmoretalks.TheUKsaidthebreakdownwasverysadand"aseriouss
etbackinthesearchforpeace".Syria'soppositionsaidSyria'sgover
nmentwasnotserious,andthat,"thereisnothingpositivewecantak
efromthis".Syria'sgovernmentblamedtheoppositionforbeing"a
mateurs".MrBrahimisaid:"Iverymuchhopetherewillbeathirdrou
nd."

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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