Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Osama Bin Laden. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Osama Bin Laden was born into a wealthy Saudi Arabian family in 1957 and grew up in a privileged world. He left it in the 1980s to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which is where he formed Al Qaeda. He declared war on the USA in 1998 and is believed to be the mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks. He was killed in May, 2011 by US forces in Pakistan.
At university, he was deeply interested in religion. He believed that Sharia law was the only way ahead for Muslims. He called for Muslims to oppose ideas like pan-Arabism, communism and democracy. He left college in 1979 to fight the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. He believes Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban was "the only Islamic country" in the Muslim world.
In the late ‘90s, he called it a duty for Muslims to kill Western civilians and soldiers. He wanted the West to withdraw their armies from Muslim countries and stop supporting Israel. The world knew Osama Bin Laden’s name after the 9-11 attacks. The American FBI say they have clear evidence linking him to the attacks, although Bin Laden has always denied any involvement.
America and its allies spent ten years and considerable resources trying to find Bin Laden. He was the USA’s most wanted man for much of this time. He evaded capture despite a $25m bounty on his head. Bin Laden was killed in a house outside Islamabad on May 1st, 2011. In the West he was the embodiment of world terrorism; to others he was a hero who fought two superpowers.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
wealthy
a.
reject
2
invasion
b.
very
3.
mastermind
c.
control
4.
deeply
d.
brains
5.
oppose
e.
rich
6.
rule
f.
attack
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
civilians
g.
association
8.
withdraw
h.
personification
9.
involvement
i.
sizable
10.
considerable
j.
ordinary citizens
11
evaded
k
pull out
12
embodiment
l
escaped
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
1.
born into a wealthy
a.
way ahead for Muslims
2
believed to be the mastermind
b.
of world terrorism
3.
Sharia law was the only
c.
their armies
4.
oppose ideas
d.
behind the 9-11 attacks
5.
Afghanistan under the
e.
him to the attacks
6.
He wanted the West to withdraw
f.
Saudi Arabian family
7.
clear evidence linking
g.
and its allies
8.
America
h.
like pan-Arabism
9.
He evaded capture
i.
rule of the Taliban
10.
he was the embodiment
j.
despite a $25m bounty
LISTENING GAP FILL
Osama Bin Laden ____________________ Saudi Arabian family in 1957 and grew ____________________ world. He left it in the 1980s to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which is where he formed Al Qaeda. He ____________________ USA in 1998 and is believed to be ____________________ the 9-11 attacks. He was killed in May, 2011 by US forces in Pakistan.
At university, he was ________________ religion. He believed that Sharia law ________________ ahead for Muslims. He called for Muslims to oppose ideas like pan-Arabism, communism and democracy. He left college in 1979 __________________ invasion in Afghanistan. He believes Afghanistan __________________ the Taliban was "the only Islamic country" in the Muslim world.
In the late ‘90s, he ______________ Muslims to kill Western civilians and soldiers. He wanted the West __________________ armies from Muslim countries and stop supporting Israel. The world knew Osama Bin Laden’s name after the 9-11 attacks. The American FBI say they have clear __________________ the attacks, although Bin Laden has always denied __________________.
America and its ____________________ and considerable resources trying to find Bin Laden. He was the USA’s most wanted man for much of this time. He ____________________ a $25m ____________________. Bin Laden was killed in a house outside Islamabad on May 1st, 2011. In the West he was the embodiment of world terrorism; to others he ____________________ two superpowers.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Osama Bin Laden was born into a wealth / wealthy Saudi Arabian family in 1957 and grew up in a privileged / pride world. He left it in the 1980s to fight the Soviet invaded / invasion of Afghanistan, which is where he formed Al Qaeda. He declared war to / on the USA in 1998 and is beliefs / believed to be the mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks. He was killed in May, 2011 by / for US forces in Pakistan.
At university, he was deep / deeply interested in religion. He believed that Sharia law was the only way / ways ahead for Muslims. He called for Muslims to oppose ideas like pan-Arabism, communism and democracy. He left college in 1979 to fight the Soviet invaded / invasion in Afghanistan. He believes Afghanistan under the rule by / of the Taliban was "the only Islamic country" in the Muslim world.
In the late ‘90s, he called it a duty / duties for Muslims to kill Western civilians and soldiers. He wanted the West to withdrew / withdraw their armies from Muslim countries and stop supporting Israel. The world knew Osama Bin Laden’s name after the 9-11 attacks. The American FBI say they have clear / clearly evidence linking him to the attacks, although Bin Laden has always denied many / any involvement.
America and its allies spend / spent ten years and considerable resources / resource trying to find Bin Laden. He was the USA’s most wanted man for much / many of this time. He evaded capture despite a $25m bounty on / in his head. Bin Laden was killed in a house outside Islamabad on May 1st, 2011. In the West he was the embodiment of / by world terrorism; to others / other he was a hero who fought two superpowers.
SPELLING
These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Osama Bin Laden was born into a alwyeht Saudi Arabian family
2.
fight the Soviet nsinoiva of Afghanistan
3.
He elaerddc war on the USA
4.
the ramsitemnd behind the 9-11 attacks
Paragraph 2
5.
he was deeypl interested in religion
6.
the only way aehda for Muslims
7.
fight the Soviet iasovnni in Afghanistan
8.
Afghanistan udrne the rule of the Taliban
Paragraph 3
9.
he called it a tuyd for Muslims
10.
He wanted the West to withdraw their miarse from Muslim countries
11.
elrac evidence linking him to the attacks
12.
Bin Laden has always edendi any involvement
Paragraph 4
13.
America and its llseia
14.
He evaded rcpauet
15.
a $25m nbtyuo on his head
16.
a hero who fought two peeuprrowss
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
to withdraw their armies from Muslim countries and stop supporting Israel. The world knew Osama Bin Laden’s
( )
wanted man for much of this time. He evaded capture despite a $25m bounty on his
( 1 )
Osama Bin Laden was born into a wealthy Saudi Arabian family in 1957 and grew up in a
( )
privileged world. He left it in the 1980s to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which is where he formed
( )
him to the attacks, although Bin Laden has always denied any involvement.
( )
for Muslims. He called for Muslims to oppose ideas like pan-Arabism, communism and democracy. He left college in 1979 to fight
( )
head. Bin Laden was killed in a house outside Islamabad on May 1st, 2011. In the West he was the embodiment of
( )
Al Qaeda. He declared war on the USA in 1998 and is believed to be the mastermind
( )
America and its allies spent ten years and considerable resources trying to find Bin Laden. He was the USA’s most
( )
behind the 9-11 attacks. He was killed in May, 2011 by US forces in Pakistan.
( )
At university, he was deeply interested in religion. He believed that Sharia law was the only way ahead
( )
world terrorism; to others he was a hero who fought two superpowers.
( )
In the late ‘90s, he called it a duty for Muslims to kill Western civilians and soldiers. He wanted the West
( )
name after the 9-11 attacks. The American FBI say they have clear evidence linking
( )
the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. He believes Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban was "the only Islamic country" in the Muslim world.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
Saudi family into wealthy Arabian born a
2.
the on war declared He 1998 in USA
3.
religion in interested deeply was he
4.
to oppose ideas like pan-Arabism He called for Muslims
5.
rule the Afghanistan the of Taliban under
6.
withdraw to West the wanted He armies their
7.
the evidence attacks linking they him have to clear
8.
most was wanted the man USA’s He
9.
a He $ evaded 25m capture bounty despite.
10.
he was a hero who fought two superpowers To others.
OSAMA BIN LADEN DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Osama Bin Laden?
2.
Would you like to meet Osama Bin Laden?
3.
What would you like to know about Osama Bin Laden and why?
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Osama Bin Laden. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. OSAMA BIN LADEN POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Osama Bin Laden. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Osama Bin Laden. Include an imaginary interview with those who knew him.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
wealthy
a.
rich
2
invasion
b.
attack
3.
mastermind
c.
brains
4.
deeply
d.
very
5.
oppose
e.
reject
6.
rule
f.
control
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
civilians
g.
ordinary citizens
8.
withdraw
h.
pull out
9.
involvement
i.
association
10.
considerable
j.
sizable
11
evaded
k
escaped
12
embodiment
l
personification
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
born into a wealthy
a.
Saudi Arabian family
2
believed to be the mastermind
b.
behind the 9-11 attacks
3.
Sharia law was the only
c.
way ahead for Muslims
4.
oppose ideas
d.
like pan-Arabism
5.
Afghanistan under the
e.
rule of the Taliban
6.
He wanted the West to withdraw
f.
their armies
7.
clear evidence linking
g.
him to the attacks
8.
America
h.
and its allies
9.
He evaded capture
i.
despite a $25m bounty
10.
he was the embodiment
j.
of world terrorism
ALL OTHER EXERCISES
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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