READING COMPREHENSION

Before Reading

1 Identify the words in the box that have a similar meaning to conflict. agreement • clash • dispute • rebellion • peace

2 Before reading the following text, focus on its first paragraph and source. What do you expect to read about in the text?

Suggested answers: Conflicts (in society)./(Dealing with and) managing conflicts.

Reading

Defining Conflict

Language Note organise, recognise (BrE) = organize, recognize (AmE)

lash out: ataque root: de origem threat: ameaça

(...) Conflict is inevitable, normal and dynamic hence should be seen as a major part of relationship. Hence, people have to learn how to deal with and manage conflicts to avoid violent lash outs. (…)

The way a society is organised can create both the root causes of conflict and the conditions in which it’s likely to occur. Any society which is organised so that some people are treated unequally and unjustly, is likely to erupt into conflict, especially if its leaders don’t represent all the members of that society. If an unequal and unjust society is reformed, then conflicts will be rare. (…)

Human beings have basic needs. Everyone needs to be recognised as an individual with a personal identity; everyone needs to be able to feel safe. If these needs aren’t met, people protest, and protesting can lead to rebellion and violence. Many people find their identity and security in their cultural group and its particular point of view - so clashes between different cultural groups also lead to disputes that can easily turn violent.

If people learn to understand that differing cultures and opinions are not inevitably a threat to each other, they will also learn how to manage their differences co-operatively and peacefully. (…)

ADENIJI, Don Michael Olalekan (Ed.). Dynamics of conflict management. Abuja: Garamond Projects Limited, 2015. p. 11, 14, 21, 22.

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4 What is the main aim of the text? Choose a or b a. To provide a new definition for “conflict”. b. To discuss some important causes of conflict. a. When a society is organized in a way that people are treated unequally and unjustly. b. When people learn to understand that differing cultures are not a threat to each other. c. When a person is not recognized as an individual with a personal identity. d. When the leaders of a society don’t represent all members of that society. a. Conflict is certain to happen and plays an important role in relationships. b. Conflicts will occur if an unequal and unjust society is reformed. c. Differing cultures are a threat to each other. a. In “a major part of relationship” (1st paragraph), major means b. In “learn how to deal with and manage conflicts” (1st paragraph), deal with is equivalent in meaning to c. In “(…) is likely to erupt into conflict” (2nd paragraph), be likely to expresses d. In “(…) and protesting can lead to rebellion and violence” (3rd paragraph), can is equivalent in meaning to e. In “If people learn to understand that differing cultures and opinions are not inevitably a threat to each other, they will also learn how to manage their differences co-operatively and peacefully” (4th paragraph), they refers to

5 According to the text, what can create the main causes of conflict?

The way a society is organized.

6 Based on the text, what are some examples of causes of conflict? Choose the correct items.

7 In your notebook, write T (True) or F (False). Then, correct the false statement(s).

F: Suggested answer: Conflicts will be rare if an unequal and unjust society is reformed.

F: Differing cultures are not a threat to each other.

8 Choose the correct item that completes each statement.

I. important, significant.

II. unimportant, insignificant.

I. cope with.

II. get along with.

I. certainty.

II. probability.

I. may/might.

II. must.

I. differences.

II. people.

Exercício 4 Comente com os/as estudantes que o objetivo deste exercício é a compreensão global do texto, e não detalhada. Lembre a eles/as que podem se apoiar no vocabulário já conhecido e nas palavras parecidas com o português.