, Dated June 26, 2014 Newsademic.com American English edition Activities Newsademic.com The informative easy to read introduction to world news Activities Answer Key Advanced version
ISIS and the battle for Iraq (Page 1) Instructions: Read the article ISIS and the battle for Iraq. Answer questions 1-16. 1. Who is the Nouri al-maliki? The prime minister of Iraq. 2. What are the main religious and ethnic groups in Iraq? Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims and Kurds. 3. What does ISIS stand for? The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. 4. For what reason did the U.S. and several other countries invade Iraq in 2003? Leaders of the U.S. claimed that Iraq was developing WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction); they believed that the Iraqi leader (Saddam Hussein) would use them to threaten or attack other countries in the Middle East. 5. What is happening in Syria? Several armed groups (including ISIS) are fighting against the Syrian army; the army supports Syria s president; the armed groups are fighting to overthrow the president (Bashar al-assad) and his government. 6. What do Mr. al-maliki critics accuse him of? Favoring Shia Muslims over Iraq s other religious and ethnic groups. 7. What is the Levant? The area around the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. 8. 15% of all Muslims in the world are Shias. Where do these people mainly live? Large numbers of Shia Muslims live in Iran and southern Iraq; Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Bahrain also have big Shia communities.
ISIS and the battle for Iraq (Page 1) continued 9. Why are many people in the U.S. and Britain unhappy about the invasion and occupation of Iraq? They believe that it was illegal under international law; no WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) were ever found. 10. What will and what might the American military advisers do in Iraq? (Expected to) help Iraqi army commanders; may also be used to pass information about possible targets to American fighter planes. 11. What do the leaders of ISIS say about countries like Iraq and Syria? What do they plan to do? They do not recognize countries like Iraq and Syria. They plan to set up a new Sunni Islamic state that will cover a large area of the Middle East. 12. What is the Peshmerga? The army of the Kurdish people, who live in northeast Iraq. 13. When did American troops leave Iraq? At the end of 2011. 14. What did the American and other foreign troops help to create in Iraq? A new Iraqi army and police force. 15. Who was Saddam Hussein and what happened to him? Former Iraqi leader who controlled the country for 20 years; was captured after the American-led invasion; court decided that he was guilty of crimes against the Iraqi people; sentenced to death. 16. Why would it be surprising if the leaders of Iran and the U.S. have to work together? Because for many years the two countries have been enemies.
Ceasefire in Ukraine (Page 7) Instructions: Read the article Ceasefire in Ukraine. Check either true or false for the following statements. TRUE FALSE 1. Russia annexed Crimea. 2. Viktor Yanukovych signed a trade agreement, or deal, with the European Union (EU). 3. Many ethnic Russians live in the western part of Ukraine. 4. Petro Poroshenko is a successful and wealthy businessman. 5. Mr. Yanukovych fled the country and went to Russia. 6. Valdimir Putin is the president of Ukraine. 7. Ukraine used to be part of the Russian-led Soviet Union. 8. The separatists ordered a unilateral ceasefire. 9. Problems began in Ukraine at the end of last year. 10. Donetsk and Luhansk are two Russian-speaking parts of Ukraine.
New World Heritage Sites (Page 5) Instructions: Read the article New World Heritage Sites. The answers to the questions are given for 1-8. Write the questions. 1. Q. How many World Heritage Sites are there? A. 1007. 2. Q. Which modern-day country was the Inca civilization centered on? A. Peru. 3. Q. Which country has the most World Heritage Sites? A. Italy. 4. Q. Which country has the most natural World Heritage Sites? A. Australia. 5. Q. In how many countries are there World Heritage Sites? A. 161. 6. Q. By what name is Ayers Rock also known? Which large sandstone rock formation in Australia is an example of a natural Word Heritage Site? A. Uluru. 7. Q. What is the name of the cave in southern France that has just become a new cultural World Heritage Site? Where are the oldest known examples of human art? A. The Chauvet-Pont-d Arc Cave. 8. Q. How long did the World Heritage Committee annual meeting (which was held in Doha) last for? A. Ten days.
Titan s magic island (Page 10) Instructions: Read the article Titan s magic island. Draw a line to connect the correct links. The first is done for you. NASA Moons Cassini Titan Methane ESA The Earth Ethane Ganymede Sea Mare Jupiter Huygens Saturn 62 Netherlands
Were dinosaurs mesotherms? (Page 12) Instructions: Read the article Were dinosaurs mesotherms? and fill in the spider diagram below with the details. ENDOTHERMS comes form Greek words meaning within and heat ; warm-blooded animals control their body temperature; able to keep it at the same level whether outside temperature is hot, warm or cold; some food eaten used to produce heat energy; need good food supply; most have some form of insulation (feathers, fur and layers of fat) to reduce heat loss; able to survive in a wider range of temperatures. METOBOLIC RATE chemical process that takes place inside all living things; controls growth, energy production and the removal of waste; warm-blooded (endotherms) have faster metabolic rate than coldblooded (ectotherms). ECTOTHERMS comes from Greek words meaning outside and heat ; cold-blooded animals cannot control their body temperature; it changes with the temperature around them; little insulation; heat easily lost or absorbed; need to avoid temperature extremes; very slow when surroundings get too hot or too cold; do not have to eat so much food. MESOTHERMS comes from Greek words meaning intermediate and heat ; not cold-blooded and not warm-blooded but in between ; in today s world not many mesotherms; examples include certain types of shark, leatherback turtles and tuna fish; have some control of their body temperature; recent study suggest dinosaurs may have been mesotherms.
World refugees (Page 11) Instructions: Read the article World refugees. Answer questions 1-8. 1. What is the UNHCR and what does it do? The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; where there are refugee problems it helps by providing shelter (mainly tents), food, water, and medical treatment; produces a report each year that contains information about total numbers of refugees and which countries they come from. 2. What are economic migrants? Asylum-seeker / person who tries to enter another country illegally; seeking a better life in a more wealthy, or developed, country. 3. Who is the head of the UNHCR? What does he say is the best way to reduce the number of refugees? António Guterres; end existing wars and stop new ones from starting. 4. What or who are internally displaced people? People who are forced to leave their homes and move to another part of their country (because they are in danger). 5. List some of the countries with large numbers of refugees. Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, and the Central African Republic (C.A.R.). 6. Why is Lebanon mentioned in the report? The country is looking after the most number of refugees compared to its own population (for every 1,000 Lebanese people there are 178 refugees). 7. What are refugees and what might they be in danger of? may be in danger of persecution or physical harm because of nationality, religion, or for being part of a particular social or political group. 8. What is the UNHCR s total refugee figure and why is this noteworthy? 51.2 million; the first time that the number has been over 50 million since 1945, or the end of the Second World War.
World Map (Page 13) Instructions: Solve these anagrams. Each answer is a country that appears on the World Map. Each anagram has one extra letter. Together the extra letters form another anagram. The answer is a mystery country. One is already done for you. 1. A R I T N T I R A N 2. YINEAK I K E N Y A 3. OBLOANEN O L E B A N O N 4. AOLRMIOCB R C O L O M B I A 5. ENRSKIUA S U K R A I N E 6. ITRIAIKAB A K I R I B A T I 7. AAISCULRTA C A U S T R A L I A 8. GYNAMECR C G E R M A N Y 9. RATAAQ A Q A T A R Mystery country = C O S T A R I C A
Elimination Instructions: Read issue 226. Now eliminate from the list 13 pairs of words or phrases that go together. You will have one word or phrase left over. That is the answer. One pair is already done for you. Acidification (1) Coral (2) Apes (3) Colombia (4) Aleuts (5) Tectonic plates (6) Unangan people (5) Ayers Rock (7) Elephants (8) Primates (3) Carbon dioxide (1) Earthquakes (6) South Korea (9) Refugees (10) Samsung (9) Aztecs (11) Ivory (8) Pakistan (12) Atoll (2) UNHCR (10) Midsummer Uluru (7) Birds (13) Tribal Areas (12) Farc (4) Endotherms (13) Mexico (11) Odd one out = MIDSUMMER
multiple choice quiz Instructions: Read issue 226 and circle the correct answers for questions 1-10. 1. If you have arachnophobia, what are you scared of? a. Heights b. Enclosed spaces c. Snakes d. Spiders e. Wasps 2. In which country is the Al-Jazeera Company based? a. Saudi Arabia b. Bahrain c. Oman d. Kuwait e. Qatar 3. What does a speleologist do? a. Collect coins b. Make compasses c. Explore caves d. Study light particles e. Remember long numbers 4. Which planet in the Solar System has a moon called Titan? a. Saturn b. Jupiter c. Neptune d. Mars e. Uranus 5. Who has just been reelected as the president of Colombia? a. Álvaro Uribe b. Juan Manuel Santos c. César Gaviria d. Hugo Chávez e. Nicolás Maduro 6. Which of the following is a monotreme? a. Wombat b. Possum c. Kangaroo d. Platypus e. Koala 7. Who is the boss of the Amazon Company? a. Marissa Mayer b. Bill Gates c. Jack Ma d. Tim Cook e. Jeff Bezos 8. How many states make up the U.S.? a. 48 b. 49 c. 50 d. 51 e. 52 9. In which European city will the House of One be built? a. Berlin b. Paris c. London d. Rome e. Madrid 10. Who was Herodotus? a. Persian astronomer b. Roman general c. Babylonian doctor d. Ancient Egyptian pharaoh e. Ancient Greek historian