Listening Comprehension for Advanced Students of English: Reaction to Osama bin Laden death
The following commentary was recorded by me last week, not long after the death of Osama bin Laden. This is not intended to be controversial in any way. Please overlook it if you feel offended by the viewpoints expressed herein.
This is for advanced learners of English to practice their listening skills. This will not be easy.
Click on "watch this thread" and remember to answer the questions in **full answers** (sentences!), if possible. And do not edit your work.
Answer the following ten questions taking your answers from the recording:
1) What was the biggest news story of the week?
2) According to this recording, how did Osama bin Laden die?
3) What do some people think will come to an end because this happened?
4) What do some people believe about the effect of bin Laden's philosophies on Al Qaeda?
5) What is not the same thing as revenge?
6) I quoted three different people in this recording. Who were they?
7) Who did I quote about Christians?
8) What did he say that a Christian doesn't ever do?
9) Who was the author I quoted?
10) What was it that gave the author pleasure?
The text will be posted once the thread has been corrected
5 Answers
1) What was the biggest news story of the week?
It's the death of Osama Bin Laden
2) According to this recording, how did Osama bin Laden die?
In the hand At the hands of the US special forces in Pakistan
3) What do some people think will come to an end because this happened?
To some this marks the end of the so called ''war on terror'' by The United Sates. States
4) What do some people believe about the effect of bin Laden's philosophies on Al Qaeda?
**Some think that Bin Laden's philosophies had permeated the Al Qaida Organization and that another leader will come to emerge advance his ideas? (I can't figure out this one)
5) What is not the same thing as revenge?
Revenge is never redemption.
6) I quoted three different people in this recording. Who were they?
Your friend, a spokesman from the Vatican and Mark Twain.
7) Who did I quote about Christians?
a spokesman from the Vatican.
8) What did he say that a Christian doesn't ever do?
A Christian never rejoices in the death of any man, no matter how evil.
9) Who was the author I quoted?
Mark Twain.
10) What was it that gave the author pleasure?
Reading some obituaries
Thank you so much 
Hmmmm, it appears that Lovely lovely and Cogumela are the only two people learning English on this site.
I loved it Greg, I wish I was learning English so I could participate.
I'm not advanced, and this one was really hard, but I wanted to have a try. Your voice is fascinating!!! Thank you, Goyo!
These exercises are really helpful!
1) What was the biggest news story of the week?
The biggest news story of the week is the death of Osama bin Laden.
2) According to this recording, how did Osama bin Laden die?
I don't know this one, let's say, he died killed in an intervencion intervention of the Special Forces in Pakistan.
I was looking for "He died at the hands of the Special Forces."
3) What do some people think will come to an end because this happened?
Some people think the so called "war of terror" will come to an end after his death.
4) What do some people believe about the effect of bin Laden's philosophies on Al Qaeda?
I didn't understand well this one this one well.: Some people believes believe that bin Laden's philosophies set permit have permeated the Al Qaeda organization completely, and then that another leader will emerge to advance his ideas.
5) What is not the same thing as revenge?
Revenge is never the same as redemption.
6) I quoted three different people in this recording. Who were they?
You quoted a friend of yours, a spokesman from the Vatican, and the American author and humourist, Mark Twain.
7) Who did I quote about Christians?
You quoted a spokesman from the Vatican.
8) What did he say that a Christian doesn't ever do?
A Christian never rejoices at the death of any man, no matter how evil.
9) Who was the author I quoted?
You quoted the American author and humourist, Mark Twain.
10) What was it that gave the author pleasure?
What gave him pleasure is having read some obituaries.
Great job, everyone! Here is the text:
The biggest news story of the week is the death of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of US special forces in Pakistan. And everyone seems to have an opinion about it, one way or another. To some, this marks the end of the so-called war on terror by the United States. Others caution us that Bin Laden’s philosophies have permeated the Al Qaida organization completely and that another leader will emerge to advance his ideas. Many in America are celebrating the death of Bin Laden. But a Facebook friend of mine warns us:
“America, temper your celebration of the death of Bin Laden. Revenge is never redemption. Purported 'Al-Qaeda sleeper cells' hiding on U.S. soil are the new threat and could exact 'their' type of revenge over the death of Osama Bin Laden on our innocent citizens again. No more bloodshed, please.”
I think that’s good advice.
And then there is the question of whether it is morally right to celebrate the death of anyone at all, even the most heinous criminal.
According to a spokesman from the Vatican, a Christian never rejoices in the death of any man, no matter how evil, but instead reflects on the serious responsibility that each and every one of us has before God and before man.
?In an ideal world, that would be true, and I wish I could say that about myself, but I can’t. The truth is, I’m more like the American author and humorist, Mark Twain, who said, "I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure."
