Pope says World War III pretty much here

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Pope Francis has said we are pretty much involved in a third world war because of all the conflicts being fought globally. He was speaking at a war memorial in Italy. He said: "War is madness….Perhaps one can speak of a third war." He added: "War is irrational. Its only plan is to bring destruction." He said the reasons countries went to war were greed, intolerance and the "lust for power".

Francis has made many appeals to end conflicts. He has focused on Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and parts of Africa. He hates war but said force could be used to stop "unjust aggression" by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He asked people to have a "conversion of heart" and to care about all of humanity. Francis compared WWI to the "mindless wars" and "senseless massacres" of today. He said, "humanity needs to weep" for the victims.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/14/uk-pope-war-idUKKBN0H808R20140914
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/09/13/pope-urges-world-to-shed-apathy-toward-new-threats/15575343/
http://www.gulf-times.com/uk-europe/183/details/408132/pope%3A-current-conflicts-may-amount-to-wwiii

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.	we are pretty much involved	a.	bring destruction
2.	all the conflicts being	b.	to war
3.	War is	c.	power
4.	Its only plan is to	d.	in a third world war
5.	the reasons countries went	e.	madness
6.	lust for	f.	fought globally

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.	Francis has made many	a.	"conversion of heart"
2.	He has focused	b.	could be used
3.	He hates war but said force	c.	aggression
4.	stop unjust	d.	appeals to end conflicts
5.	He asked people to have a	e.	for the victims
6.	humanity needs to weep	f.	on Gaza

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Pope Francis has said (1) ___________________ involved in a third world war because of all (2) ___________________ fought globally. He was speaking (3) ___________________ in Italy. He said: "War is madness….Perhaps (4) ___________________ a third war." He added: "War is irrational. Its only plan is to (5) ___________________." He said the reasons countries went to (6) ___________________, intolerance and the "lust for power".

Francis has made many (7) ___________________ conflicts. He has focused on Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and parts of Africa. He hates (8) ___________________ could be used to stop "(9) ___________________" by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He asked people to have a "(10) ___________________" and to care about all of humanity. Francis compared WWI to the (11) ___________________ "senseless massacres" of today. He said, "humanity (12) ___________________" the victims.

WAR SURVEY

Write five interesting questions about war 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site