The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said NATO is one of Russia's biggest dangers. NATO is a North American and European defence treaty. Countries guarantee to act if any member state is threatened. Tensions between Russia and NATO started after the end of WWII. The rival, Russian-led Warsaw Pact started in 1955 and led to the Cold War intensifying. Relations worsened again last week when former Russian ally Ukraine made new efforts to join NATO. Russia accused NATO of using Ukraine as a "frontline of confrontation".

Mr Putin said that for the first time, Russia would use conventional weapons "as part of strategic deterrent measures" if Russia is under threat. A NATO spokeswoman said the NATO was following international law over Ukraine and was not threatening Russia. She said NATO will assess Ukraine's readiness to join the alliance in the same way as with any other country. She added: "This is an issue between NATO and the individual countries aspiring to membership." She said Russia's actions in Ukraine were breaking international law and threatening European security.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-signs-new-military-doctrine-as-ukraine-moves-toward-nato/513917.html
  • http://www.tehrantimes.com/world/120496-russia-nato-biggest-threat-
  • http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-identifies-nato-us-as-major-threats/2574605.html


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.

one of Russia's biggest

a.

act

2.

defence

b.

ally Ukraine

3.

guarantee to

c.

treaty

4.

The rival, Russian-

d.

of confrontation

5.

Relations worsened

e.

dangers

6.

former Russian

f.

again last week

7.

made new efforts

g.

led Warsaw Pact

8.

using Ukraine as a frontline

h.

to join NATO



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

use conventional

a.

join the alliance

2.

part of strategic deterrent

b.

spokeswoman

3.

if Russia is under

c.

security

4.

A NATO

d.

weapons

5.

NATO was following

e.

threat

6.

assess Ukraine's readiness to

f.

international law

7.

an issue between NATO and

g.

measures

8.

threatening European

h.

the individual countries

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Russian President Vladimir Putin (1) ___________________ one of Russia's biggest dangers. NATO is a North American and European defence treaty. Countries (2) ___________________ if any member state is threatened. Tensions between Russia and NATO (3) ___________________ of WWII. The rival, Russian-led Warsaw Pact started (4) ___________________ the Cold War intensifying. Relations (5) ___________________ week when former Russian ally Ukraine made new efforts to join NATO. Russia accused NATO of using Ukraine as a "(6) ___________________".

Mr Putin said that for the first time, Russia would (7) ___________________ "as part of strategic (8) ___________________" if Russia is under threat. A NATO spokeswoman said the NATO (9) ___________________ law over Ukraine and was not threatening Russia. She said NATO will assess Ukraine's readiness to (10) ___________________ in the same way as with any other country. She added: "This (11) ___________________ NATO and the individual countries aspiring to membership." She said Russia's actions in Ukraine were breaking international law and (12) ___________________.

NATO SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about NATO 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.

 

 

 

 

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)

________________________________________________________

 

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about NATO 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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