Iran has expressed its anger and dissatisfaction with Google after the name 'Persian Gulf' disappeared from Google Maps. Iran is threatening to sue Google and take other measures that will result in "serious damages" if the search engine giant does not reinstate the name on its maps. Google's action means the body of water between Iran and several Arab states is now nameless. Iran's Foreign Minister, Ramin Mehmanparast, said: "We have put it on our agenda to make an official complaint." He said it was "Google's shameless act to drop the name 'Persian Gulf'". He added that: "Omitting the name 'Persian Gulf' is akin to playing with the feelings and realities of the Iranian people."
The name of the waterway has caused friction between Iran and its Arab neighbours for decades. The Arab states of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait also have coastlines that border the gulf. Iran says the gulf has been known as the 'Persian Gulf' for centuries. A 2004 website aimed at Internet surfers searching for 'Arabian Gulf' says: "The gulf you are looking for is unavailable. No body of water by that name has ever existed. The correct name is Persian Gulf, which always has been, and will always remain, Persian." In 2010, Iran said it would ban airlines using the term 'Arabian Gulf' from its airspace. Google rejected Iran's claims, saying it had never named the waterway.
1. MAPS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about maps. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
| anger / dissatisfaction / sue / search engine / Google Maps / agenda / complaint / waterway / friction / coastlines / Internet surfers / Persian Gulf / airspace / rejected |
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FRICTION: What do you know about friction in the world? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.
Friction between | What I know | How to resolve it |
North & South Korea |
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USA and Iran |
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UK and Argentina |
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Sudan & South Sudan |
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Israel & Palestine |
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Kosovo & Serbia |
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4. GULF: Students A strongly believe it's the Persian Gulf; Students B strongly believe it's the Arabian Gulf. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
5. FRICTION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'friction'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a. | Iran is threatening to take legal action against Google over its maps. | T / F |
b. | The water between Iran and Arab nations is nameless on Google Maps. | T / F |
c. | Iran has already made an official complaint against Google. | T / F |
d. | Iran said Google has not hurt the feelings or Iranians. | T / F |
e. | The name of the waterway is divisive for Iranians and Arabs. | T / F |
f. | Iran said it has been the 'Persian Gulf' for hundreds of years. | T / F |
g. | No Internet search will provide information on the term 'Arabian Gulf'. | T / F |
h. | Iran allows international pilots to use the term 'Arabian Gulf' over Iran. | T / F |
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1. | expressed | a. | put back |
2 | anger | b. | block |
3. | sue | c. | leaving out |
4. | reinstate | d. | communicated |
5. | omitting | e. | accurate |
6. | friction | f. | stay |
7. | states | g. | fury |
8. | correct | h. | nations |
9. | remain | i. | take legal action |
10. | ban | j. | conflict |
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1. | Iran has expressed its anger | a. | take other measures |
2 | Iran is threatening to sue Google and | b. | airlines |
3. | body | c. | on our agenda |
4. | We have put it | d. | friction |
5. | drop the | e. | of water |
6. | caused | f. | the gulf |
7. | coastlines that border | g. | and dissatisfaction |
8. | Internet | h. | Iran's claims |
9. | Iran said it would ban | i. | name 'Persian Gulf' |
10. | Google rejected | j. | surfers |
WHILE READING / LISTENING
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Iran has expressed its (1) ____________ and dissatisfaction with Google after the name 'Persian Gulf' disappeared from Google Maps. Iran is threatening to (2) ____________ Google and take other measures that will result in "serious damages" if the search engine (3) ____________ does not reinstate the name on its maps. Google's action means the (4) ____________ of water between Iran and several Arab states is now (5) ____________. Iran's Foreign Minister, Ramin Mehmanparast, said: "We have put it on our agenda to make an official (6) ____________." He said it was "Google's shameless act to (7) ____________ the name 'Persian Gulf'". He added that: "Omitting the name 'Persian Gulf' is akin to (8) ____________ with the feelings and realities of the Iranian people." |
complaint | |
The name of the waterway has caused (9) ____________ between Iran and its Arab neighbours for decades. The Arab (10) ____________ of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait also have coastlines that (11) ____________ the gulf. Iran says the gulf has been known as the 'Persian Gulf' for centuries. A 2004 website (12) ____________ at Internet surfers searching for 'Arabian Gulf' says: "The gulf you are looking for is unavailable. No body of water by that name has ever (13) ____________. The correct name is Persian Gulf, which always has been, and will always (14) ____________, Persian." In 2010, Iran said it would (15) ____________ airlines using the term 'Arabian Gulf' from its airspace. Google (16) ____________ Iran's claims, saying it had never named the waterway. |
remain |
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
Iran _____________________ and dissatisfaction with Google after the name 'Persian Gulf' disappeared from Google Maps. Iran is threatening to sue Google and _____________________ that will result in "serious damages" if the search engine giant _____________________ the name on its maps. Google's action means the body of water between Iran and several Arab states is now nameless. Iran's Foreign Minister, Ramin Mehmanparast, said: "We have put _____________________ to make an official complaint." He said it was "Google's shameless act _____________________ 'Persian Gulf'". He added that: "Omitting the name 'Persian Gulf' _____________________ with the feelings and realities of the Iranian people."
The name of the waterway _____________________ between Iran and its Arab neighbours for decades. _____________________ Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait also have _____________________ the gulf. Iran says the gulf has been known as the 'Persian Gulf' for centuries. A 2004 website aimed at Internet surfers searching for 'Arabian Gulf' says: "The gulf you are looking _____________________. No body of water by that name has ever existed. The correct name is Persian Gulf, which always has been, and _____________________, Persian." In 2010, Iran said it would ban airlines using the term 'Arabian Gulf' _____________________. Google rejected Iran's claims, saying it had never named the waterway.
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'express' and 'anger'.
- Share your findings with your partners.
- Make questions using the words you found.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
- Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
- Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:
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MAPS SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about maps 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. |
- Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
- Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
PERSIAN GULF / MAPS DISCUSSION
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
a) | What did you think when you read the headline? |
b) | What springs to mind when you hear the word 'map'? |
c) | What do you think of what you read? |
d) | Persian Gulf or Arabian Gulf? |
e) | Can Iran have any success against Google in the courts? |
f) | Why do you think Iran is so angry that Google has omitted the name? |
g) | What other "serious damage" could Iran do? |
h) | Are there any areas of your country that has a disputed name? |
i) | Is Google playing with the feelings of Iranians? |
j) | What do you think of Google Maps? |
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STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a) | Did you like reading this article? |
b) | What do you know about the history of the Persian Gulf? |
c) | What do you know of the history between Iran and its Arab neighbours? |
d) | Do you think the friction between Iran and its Arab neighbours could become serious? |
e) | Do you think the United Nations should intervene and decide on a name for the waterway that everyone has to use? |
f) | What do you think of the website that says the 'Arabian Gulf' has never existed? |
g) | The British call the waterway between England and France the English Channel. Do you think that upsets the French? |
h) | Is Iran right to ban pilots from using the term 'Arabian Gulf' above its airspace? |
i) | Do you think the waterway should just be called 'The Gulf'? |
j) | What questions would you like to ask Iran's Foreign Minister Ramin Mehmanparast? |
LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE
Iran has expressed its (1) ____ and dissatisfaction with Google after the name 'Persian Gulf' disappeared from Google Maps. Iran is threatening to (2) ____ Google and take other measures that will result in "serious damages" if the search engine giant does not (3) ____ the name on its maps. Google's action means the body of water between Iran and several Arab states is now (4) ____. Iran's Foreign Minister, Ramin Mehmanparast, said: "We have put it on our agenda to make an (5) ____ complaint." He said it was "Google's shameless act to drop the name 'Persian Gulf'". He added that: "Omitting the name 'Persian Gulf' is (6) ____ to playing with the feelings and realities of the Iranian people."
The name of the waterway has caused (7) ____ between Iran and its Arab neighbours for decades. The Arab states of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait also have coastlines that (8) ____ the gulf. Iran says the gulf has been known as the 'Persian Gulf' for centuries. A 2004 website aimed (9) ____ Internet surfers searching for 'Arabian Gulf' says: "The gulf you are looking for is (10) ____. No body of water by that name has ever existed. The correct name is Persian Gulf, which always has been, and will always (11) ____, Persian." In 2010, Iran said it would ban airlines using the term 'Arabian Gulf' from its airspace. Google rejected Iran's claims, (12) ____ it had never named the waterway.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. | (a) | angry | (b) | angers | (c) | angrily | (d) | anger |
2. | (a) | sew | (b) | rue | (c) | sue | (d) | use |
3. | (a) | reinvent | (b) | reinstate | (c) | reinvigorate | (d) | rein |
4. | (a) | nameless | (b) | stateless | (c) | blameless | (d) | faultless |
5. | (a) | officer | (b) | officially | (c) | official | (d) | officialdom |
6. | (a) | aching | (b) | kind | (c) | skin | (d) | akin |
7. | (a) | faction | (b) | friction | (c) | fruition | (d) | fission |
8. | (a) | border | (b) | bed | (c) | edging | (d) | pot |
9. | (a) | to | (b) | at | (c) | as | (d) | for |
10. | (a) | destroyed | (b) | extinction | (c) | unavailable | (d) | remained |
11. | (a) | remain | (b) | ongoing | (c) | apparent | (d) | so |
12. | (a) | said | (b) | says | (c) | say | (d) | saying |
WRITING
Write about maps for 10 minutes. Correct your partner's paper.
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HOMEWORK
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 out more about the Persian Gulf. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAPS: Make a poster about maps. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. PERSIAN GULF: Write a magazine article about the Persian Gulf. Include imaginary interviews with someone who supports that name and someone who prefers 'Arabian Gulf'.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Iran's Foreign Minister Ramin Mehmanparast. Ask him three questions about the Persian Gulf and his dispute with Google. Give him three pieces of advice. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE:
a. | T | b. | T | c. | F | d. | F | e. | T | f. | T | g. | F | h. | F |
SYNONYM MATCH:
1. | expressed | a. | communicated |
2 | anger | b. | fury |
3. | sue | c. | take legal action |
4. | reinstate | d. | put back |
5. | omitting | e. | leaving out |
6. | friction | f. | conflict |
7. | states | g. | nations |
8. | correct | h. | accurate |
9. | remain | i. | stay |
10. | ban | j. | block |
PHRASE MATCH:
1. | Iran has expressed its anger | a. | and dissatisfaction |
2 | Iran is threatening to sue Google and | b. | take other measures |
3. | body | c. | of water |
4. | We have put it | d. | on our agenda |
5. | drop the | e. | name 'Persian Gulf' |
6. | caused | f. | friction |
7. | coastlines that border | g. | the gulf |
8. | Internet | h. | surfers |
9. | Iran said it would ban | i. | airlines |
10. | Google rejected | j. | Iran's claims |
GAP FILL:
Iran anger at Google over Persian Gulf
Iran has expressed its (1) anger and dissatisfaction with Google after the name 'Persian Gulf' disappeared from Google Maps. Iran is threatening to (2) sue Google and take other measures that will result in "serious damages" if the search engine (3) giant does not reinstate the name on its maps. Google's action means the (4) body of water between Iran and several Arab states is now (5) nameless. Iran's Foreign Minister, Ramin Mehmanparast, said: "We have put it on our agenda to make an official (6) complaint." He said it was "Google's shameless act to (7) drop the name 'Persian Gulf'". He added that: "Omitting the name 'Persian Gulf' is akin to (8) playing with the feelings and realities of the Iranian people."
The name of the waterway has caused (9) friction between Iran and its Arab neighbours for decades. The Arab (10) states of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait also have coastlines that (11) border the gulf. Iran says the gulf has been known as the 'Persian Gulf' for centuries. A 2004 website (12) aimed at Internet surfers searching for 'Arabian Gulf' says: "The gulf you are looking for is unavailable. No body of water by that name has ever (13) existed. The correct name is Persian Gulf, which always has been, and will always (14) remain, Persian." In 2010, Iran said it would (15) ban airlines using the term 'Arabian Gulf' from its airspace. Google (16) rejected Iran's claims, saying it had never named the waterway.
LANGUAGE WORK
1 - d | 2 - c | 3 - b | 4 - a | 5 - c | 6 - d | 7 - b | 8 - a | 9 - b | 10 -c | 11 - a | 12 - d |
