Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 25 October 2011
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN π
Mass Killings Discovered After Gaddafi’s Death
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- transitional: related to the process of changing from one thing to another
- stronghold: a location that is protected by a strong defensive group
- wounded: hurt; injured
- drainage pipe: a hollow system that carries off excess water or sewage
- abandoned: no longer used or wanted
- interim: in between terms
- liberation: freedom
Comprehension Questions
- Who took control of Sirte?
- Where was Gaddafi reportedly captured?
- Why does the report mention a hotel?
Discussion Question: While some say the death of Gaddafi represents the end of dictatorships, others say it is only the end of the beginning. What do you think?
show Answershide Answers
Mass Killings Discovered After Gaddafi’s Death
Libya’s transitional government forces took control of Sirte, Gaddafi’s last stronghold, as the former leader of Libya was captured and killed. Young fighters reportedly found the wounded dictator hiding in a drainage pipe in his hometown. Evidence suggests Gaddafi was wounded by an airstrike and then executed by his captors before being placed on public view in a cold storage facility. The bodies of at least 150 Gaddafi supporters were found in Sirte, including 53 at an abandoned hotel. Many at the hotel were bound at the wrists and had bullet wounds to the head. While Libya’s interim government declared Sunday as “Liberation Day”, human rights groups began looking into the mass killings. Amnesty International is interested in learning more about the final hours before Gadaffi’s death.
- Libya’s interim government took control of Sirte.
- Gaddafi was reportedly captured in a drainage pipe in his hometown.
- A large group of Gaddafi’s supporters were found dead at an abandoned hotel following the dictator’s death.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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