Making peace is a marathon

Making peace is a marathon

Let's run.

Exercise 01

Read the sentences and categorize them according to what you see on the TED talk.

Open Ended

Write the letters of the sentences in the order you listen they happen.

Exercise 02

Find and correct five errors in the summary of the first part of the talk. Then watch the first part (0.00–3.43) of the talk again and check your answers. 

Summary

The idea of starting a marathon came to May El-Khalil while she was recovering from a terrible rail crash. As a result, she spent two years in hospital and had six surgical operations. During this difficult time, she needed an objective to look forward to, and wanted to give something back to her doctors. After she got out of hospital, she visited and spoke with lots of people in different parts of the city. They shared their stories and together they built trust. They all agreed that together, they would show the politicians that Lebanon wanted to live in peace and harmony.

Exercise 03

Watch the second part (4.44–7.24) of the talk again. Answer the questions.

Questions

• What year was the first Beirut Marathon held?

• What national tragedy occurred in 2005?

• How was the 2005 Marathon a turning point?

• Between 2006 and 2009, what three things did Lebanon lose?

• In those same years, what did the country not lose?

• How many countries were represented in the 2012 Marathon?

Exercise 04

Watch the third part (7.25 to the end) of the talk again. Are these sentences true or false? Choose the correct answer.

Sentences

• As the BMA has grown larger, the organizers have included more professional runners and not allowed as many inexperienced runners to join in.

• More than four thousand runners joined a separate race, just for women. 

• The BMA has helped raise money to promote peace and cooperation in Lebanon. 

• Neighbouring countries such as Iraq and Syria have said they think the event should be stopped. 

• El-Khalil's main message is that realistically, peace is probably an impossible goal.

Multiple Choice

1. As the BMA has grown larger, the organizers have included more professional runners and not allowed as many inexperienced runners to join in.

Multiple Choice

2. More than four thousand runners joined a separate race, just for women.

Multiple Choice

3. The BMA has helped raise money to promote peace and cooperation in Lebanon.

Multiple Choice

4. Neighbouring countries such as Iraq and Syria have said they think the event should be stopped.

Multiple Choice

5. El-Khalil's main message is that realistically, peace is probably an impossible goal.

Question

Do you think sport always encourages harmony?