Post-reading Activity

Task 1. Answer the questions.

1. What is the definition of terrorism?

2. What is terrorism as sociologists see it?

3. Can you explain the term “state terrorism”?

4. What are the characteristic features of modern terrorism?

5. What are the most notorious terrorist organizations?

6. What measures are being taken against the threat of terrorism by the international community?

7. What is the lesson to be learned from “Afganistan”?

8. In your opinion what specific help must be given to poor countries under development?

Task 2. Work in small groups. Consider the following topics for discussion and be ready to present your arguments afterwords.

1. Now when the threat of terrorism is omnipresent, many people realize that liberal western society has been too broadminded or too permissive with those Islamists who abuse the freedom of religion.

2. As long as many terrorist acts are perpetrated by Islamist fundamentalists, there is a very strong anti-Muslim sentiment in the West. Is this justifiable and why?

3. Some people maintain that we are entering into the age of terrorism where nations like America are extremely vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Listening practice

Text 1. Hostage

Pre-listening Activity

Answer the following questions.

1. What should we do if our lives are threatened?

2. Is saving lives more important than anything?

Listening Activity

Task 1. Listen to the story. Ali has taken Flight 144 many times. It was always long and boring. But this time, something has happened. Listen to his story and find out: What has happened on the flight?

Task 2. Read the following statements. What do you think is the best thing to do? Check the views you agree with.

а) The government should never give in. If they give in to the terrorists, more hijackings will occur in the future.

b) The plane should be allowed to fly to some other country whose government will talk to the terrorists.

c) The government should talk to the terrorists. The passengers’ lives are the most important thing.

d) Another organization, like the United Nations, should talk to the terrorists.

e) The police or army should secretly attack the plane and kill the terrorists.

Now exchange your ideas with a classmate.

Task 3. In our society there are many kinds of threats. What should we do? For each case, decide what to do.

1. You are the president of a large company. A man phones you and threatens you. He says if you don’t pay him $ 100,000 he will bomb the company building. What would you do?

a) pay him b) tell the police c) ignore him d) other:

2. You are in an elevator with a big man. He tells you to give him your money. He doesn’t seem to have a gun or knife. What would you do?

a) give him your money b)try to get out of the elevator

c) ignore him d) other

3. You are the prime minister of your country. One of your ministers was kidnapped by terrorists. They say the government must free 10 people from prison or they will kill the minister. What would you do?

a) free the prisoner b) try to talk to the terrorists

c) ignore them d) other.

Do you know any other situations like these?

Text 2. Death Penalty

Pre-listening Activity

Answer the following questions.

1. Does society have a right to kill people?

2. How should a murderer be punished?