Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice
Language: Words That Go Together, New Sentences
Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions
Answers
Think Ahead: What matters most when punishing someone for a serious crime?
a) The harm done
b) The person's reasons for committing the crime
c) The person's chance of changing
Vocab List
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the planned execution of Nidal Hasan will be public, with a livestream allowing people to watch. He said allowing the public to watch was part of the punishment’s purpose: showing that attacks within the military carry serious consequences.
Speaking to Real America’s Voice, Hegseth said a firing squad of soldiers would carry out the sentence at Fort Hood, Texas, at 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 3. A Defense Department official later confirmed that the execution would be livestreamed. It would be the first US military execution in more than 60 years.
Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, killed 13 people and wounded dozens more at a medical processing center at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009. A military jury sentenced him to death in 2013. After he exhausted his appeals, President Donald Trump approved the sentence on Hegseth’s recommendation.
Hegseth described the shooting as a radical Islamist attack carried out in uniform within the military. Explaining why the execution would be public, he said people needed to understand that there were “serious consequences for these types of things.” His remarks linked the choice of a military firing squad with the decision to let the public watch.
The announcement therefore concerned not only how the sentence would be carried out, but also who would see it. Hegseth’s stated aim was to make the execution a visible demonstration of the government’s response to the attack.
A Military Execution in Public View
Think Ahead: What matters most when punishing someone for a serious crime?
a) The harm done
b) The person's reasons for committing the crime
c) The person's chance of changing
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execution (n.)
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livestream (n.)
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firing squad (n. phrase)
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carry out (phr. v.)
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sentence (n.)
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psychiatrist (n.)
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jury (n.)
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appeal (n.)
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exhaust (v.)
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radical (adj.)
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the planned execution of Nidal Hasan will be public, with a livestream allowing people to watch. He said allowing the public to watch was part of the punishment’s purpose: showing that attacks within the military carry serious consequences.
Speaking to Real America’s Voice, Hegseth said a firing squad of soldiers would carry out the sentence at Fort Hood, Texas, at 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 3. A Defense Department official later confirmed that the execution would be livestreamed. It would be the first US military execution in more than 60 years.
Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, killed 13 people and wounded dozens more at a medical processing center at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009. A military jury sentenced him to death in 2013. After he exhausted his appeals, President Donald Trump approved the sentence on Hegseth’s recommendation.
Hegseth described the shooting as a radical Islamist attack carried out in uniform within the military. Explaining why the execution would be public, he said people needed to understand that there were “serious consequences for these types of things.” His remarks linked the choice of a military firing squad with the decision to let the public watch.
The announcement therefore concerned not only how the sentence would be carried out, but also who would see it. Hegseth’s stated aim was to make the execution a visible demonstration of the government’s response to the attack.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- The public execution is meant to show that attacks within the military have serious consequences. Correct answer
- The execution shows how military justice reaches a final decision after a long appeals process.
- The execution is important because it ends more than 60 years without a US military execution.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Hegseth said letting the public watch the execution would help show the serious consequences of attacks within the military. TRUEFALSE True
2. Trump approved Hasan’s death sentence while Hasan was still appealing it. TRUEFALSE False
3. Soldiers are scheduled to carry out the execution at the same military base where Hasan committed the attack. TRUEFALSE True
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. Why does the article mention that the execution would be the first US military execution in more than 60 years?
a) To explain how long Hasan’s case has been moving through the courts.
b) To show how unusual carrying out this military sentence would be.Correct
c) To show when the military began using firing squads for executions.
2. How does the article present Hasan’s relationship to the military at the time of the attack?
a) He was a military member who carried out an attack within the military.Correct
b) He was a civilian medical specialist who worked alongside military staff.
c) He was a former soldier who returned to the base as a visitor.
3. What is the relationship between the jury’s 2013 decision and Hegseth’s announcement?
a) The jury selected the execution method; Hegseth announced the death sentence.
b) The jury recommended a punishment; Hegseth announced his choice of sentence.
c) The jury imposed the death sentence; Hegseth announced plans to carry it out.Correct
4. What did the Defense Department official’s statement add to Hegseth’s announcement?
a) It explained which members of the public would attend at Fort Hood.
b) It confirmed that people would be able to watch through a livestream.Correct
c) It identified which broadcaster would provide live coverage.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the planned execution of Nidal Hasan will be public, with a livestream allowing people to watch. He said allowing the public to watch was part of the punishment’s (1) : showing that attacks within the military carry serious consequences.
Speaking to Real America’s Voice, Hegseth said a firing squad of (2) would carry out the sentence at Fort Hood, Texas, at 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 3. A Defense Department official later (3) that the execution would be livestreamed. It would be the first US military execution in more than 60 years.
Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, killed 13 people and (4) dozens more at a medical processing center at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009. A military jury sentenced him to death in 2013. After he exhausted his appeals, President Donald Trump approved the sentence on Hegseth’s recommendation.
Hegseth described the shooting as a radical Islamist attack carried out in uniform within the military. Explaining why the execution would be public, he said people needed to (5) that there were “serious consequences for these types of things.” His remarks linked the choice of a military firing squad with the decision to let the public watch.
The announcement therefore concerned not only how the sentence would be carried out, but also who would see it. Hegseth’s stated aim was to make the execution a (6) demonstration of the government’s response to the attack.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
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Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
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Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. carry outf) a sentence
2. seriouse) consequences
3. exhaustd) all appeals
4. statedc) aim
5. makeb) a recommendation
6. radicala) beliefs
a) beliefs
b) a recommendation
c) aim
d) all appeals
e) consequences
f) a sentence
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
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We watched the concert on a {blank} because tickets had sold out.
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The kitchen staff must {blank} daily safety checks before serving food.
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The judge gave the driver a six-month prison {blank} for dangerous driving.
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Her doctor referred her to a {blank} due to signs of severe depression.
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During the trial, the {blank} asked to see the shop's security video.
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Her lawyer filed an {blank} because the court had ignored important evidence.
New Sentences
appeal / carry out / execution / exhaust / jury / livestream / psychiatrist / sentence
- We watched the concert on a because tickets had sold out.
- The kitchen staff must daily safety checks before serving food.
- The judge gave the driver a six-month prison for dangerous driving.
- Her doctor referred her to a due to signs of severe depression.
- During the trial, the asked to see the shop's security video.
- Her lawyer filed an because the court had ignored important evidence.
Discussion Builder
1) Reason 2) Contrast
Q: What should be the main purpose of a criminal sentence: punishment, public safety, or helping someone change?
A:Q: Where should we draw the line between public justice and public entertainment?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: What should be the main purpose of a criminal sentence: punishment, public safety, or helping someone change?
A: Public safety should come first, protecting people is more important than punishing criminals.
given that / even though
Public safety should come first, given that protecting people is more important than punishing criminals.
Q: Where should we draw the line between public justice and public entertainment?
A: Justice should be open to the public; , executions should not become entertainment.
nevertheless / therefore
Justice should be open to the public; nevertheless, executions should not become entertainment.
Discussion Questions
- What’s your reaction to the decision to livestream an execution?
- What should be the main purpose of a criminal sentence: punishment, public safety, or helping someone change?
- Do you think public executions discourage crime?
- Where should we draw the line between public justice and public entertainment?
- How might soldiers feel about being ordered to carry out an execution?
- Should soldiers be punished differently from civilians for serious crimes?
- Is life in prison a better punishment than execution?
Discussion Questions
- What’s your reaction to the decision to livestream an execution?
- What should be the main purpose of a criminal sentence: punishment, public safety, or helping someone change?
- Do you think public executions discourage crime?
- Where should we draw the line between public justice and public entertainment?
- How might soldiers feel about being ordered to carry out an execution?
- Should soldiers be punished differently from civilians for serious crimes?
- Is life in prison a better punishment than execution?
Answers
Listening: (1) purpose, (2) soldiers, (3) confirmed, (4) wounded, (5) understand, (6) visible
Main Idea: The public execution is meant to show that attacks within the military have serious consequences.
True or False:
- True. Hegseth said public viewing would highlight the consequences of such attacks.
- False. Trump approved the sentence after Hasan had exhausted his appeals, following Hegseth’s recommendation.
- True. The execution is planned for Fort Hood, where Hasan killed 13 people in 2009.
Multiple Choice: b, a, c, b
Vocabulary:
- carry out: a sentence
- serious: consequences
- exhaust: all appeals
- stated: aim
- make: a recommendation
- radical: beliefs
New Sentences: 1. livestream; 2. carry out; 3. sentence; 4. psychiatrist; 5. jury; 6. appeal
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast.
- given that
- nevertheless