Famous Places: The Demilitarized Zone

Famous Places
The Demilitarized Zone
Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

1. Have you heard of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)? If
so, what do you know about it? What do you think the
The demilitarized zone, or DMZ, spans the border between North word “demilitarized” means?
and South Korea. This 2.5-by-151-mile strip of land is dotted with
2. What kind of governments were established in North
landmines, bunkers and criss-crossed by barbed wire. Nearly one and South Korea at the end of the Korean War?
million North Korean soldiers patrol the DMZ, while South Korea
has some 600,000 troops on its side, and support from the U.S. 3. Why do you think the DMZ was established?
military as a part of U.N. Command. 4. Have you heard the expression “The Cold War”? What
do you think this means?
At the end of World War II in 1945, the border between North and
South Korea was the 38th parallel. The Soviet army kept control 5. What is a landmine?
over the northern region, and North Korea developed a communist
government. At the end of the Korean War in 1953, the border was
moved to a line just north of the 38th parallel, and the DMZ was
established on either side of the line to be a buffer between the two
countries.
Ten years after the DMZ was created, a U.S. helicopter was
captured in North Korean territory. The two pilots were held for a
year, until the U.S. admitted it had violated the 1953 agreement by
crossing the line. Another U.S. helicopter was shot down in 1969.
The most violent clash occurred when North Koreans killed two
U.S. soldiers who were trimming tree branches in the DMZ to
improve their view.
Conflicts in the DMZ also have taken place below ground. In 1974,
a South Korean patrol found the first tunnel from North Korea. A COMPREHENSION ✍
second was discovered in 1975 and, in 1978, U.N. Command troops
discovered a tunnel from the North Korean side that ran for nearly a A. True or False. Read the statements below. If the
statement is true, write T beside the sentence. If it is
mile 246 feet below the surface, and was large enough to drive a
false, write F. If it is false, correct the information.
jeep through. A steel door now blocks off the tunnel at the border.
The South Korean end is a popular tourist attraction. 1. The DMZ is a heavily protected area.
2. North Korea has a larger army than South Korea.

In 2000, officials from both Koreas agreed to fix roads and railways
to reconnect the two countries. They have tried to reconnect people 3. The Korean War ended in 1945.
as well. In June 2000, they agreed to allow reunions of some of the
4. The DMZ was created to be a tourist attraction between
1.2 million family members separated by the border.
North and South Korea.
Despite its dangers, the DMZ continues to be a top tourist 5. Transportation between North and South Korea has
destination as a wildlife and agricultural refuge, and as a living Cold improved since 2000.
War museum.
1
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Famous Places
B. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in complete sentences.
1. What is the DMZ and why was it created?

2. How is the DMZ protected?
3. Explain briefly how Korea became separated?
4. What kind of conflict occurred between North Korea and the U.S. in 1963?
5. What was the most violent clash in the DMZ and why did this happen?
6. What have the governments of North and South Korea done to try to reconnect their people?
7. Why is the DMZ a popular tourist destination?
DISCUSS
VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍
1. Name several countries, other than
A. Match the word on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
Korea, that have been separated by civil
war in the last 100 years. Also think of
_____ 1. span a) cut
several countries that have been
_____ 2. bunker b) accept as true that you did something wrong
reunited. What led to the reunification
_____ 3. patrol c) coming together again after a long separation
of these countries?
_____ 4. troops d) extend across from one side to another
_____ 5. support e) an underground passage
2. Do you know anyone that has come
_____ 6. buffer f) using great force
from a country that has been separated
_____ 7. captured g) a strong, underground place used for protection
by civil war? If so, what impact did that
_____ 8. admit h) not allow anything to move through
separation have on his/her life?
_____ 9. violate i) go around an area to check for trouble
_____ 10. violent j) taken by force; made a prisoner 3. Would you like to visit the DMZ? Why
_____ 11. clash k) help or why not?
_____ 12. trim l) a conflict, fight, disagreement
_____ 13. tunnel m) soldiers 4. Do you think that North and South
_____ 14. block off n) break an agreement Korea will eventually be re-united?
_____ 15. reunion o) something that helps to lessen the effects of a Explain your answer.
fight or comes between two fighting parties
B. Find a word or expression in the article that means:
1. the line dividing two states, countries, or regions __________________

2. a place many people like to visit (two possibilities) __________________
3. a long, narrow piece of material or land __________________
4. a type of military vehicle or car that is strong and can move easily over bad roads __________________
5. marked with lines that cross __________________
6. army __________________
7. wire with short, sharp points used for fences, etc. __________________
2
Famous Places
ANSWER KEY
Please note: The reading for this topic is also available in full-page format at the end of the lesson (page 4).
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
1-5. Individual answers.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
A. True or False
1. T 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T
B. Written Answers
1. The DMZ is a 2.5-by-151-mile strip of land dotted with landmines, bunkers and criss-crossed by barbed wire. The
DMZ was established after the end of the Korean War on either side of the border between North and South Korea to
be a buffer between the two countries.
2. The DMZ is protected by nearly one million North Korean soldiers, while South Korea has some 600,000 troops on its
side, and support from the U.S. military as a part of U.N. Command.
3. At the end of World War II in 1945, the border between North and South Korea was the 38th parallel. The Soviet army
kept control over the northern region, and North Korea developed a communist government. At the end of the Korean
War in 1953, the border was moved to a line just north of the 38th parallel, and the DMZ was established on either side
of the line to be a buffer between the two countries.
4. In 1963, a U.S. helicopter was captured in North Korean territory. The two pilots were held for a year, until the U.S.
admitted it had violated the 1953 agreement by crossing the line.
5. The most violent clash occurred when North Koreans killed two U.S. soldiers who were trimming tree branches in the
DMZ to improve their view.
6. The two governments have tried, since June of 2000, to reconnect people by allowing reunions of some of the 1.2 mil-
lion family members separated by the border.
7. The DMZ is a top tourist destination for its wildlife and agricultural refuge, and as a living Cold War museum.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Matching
1. d 2. g 3. i 4. m 5. k 6. o 7. j 8. b
9. n 10. f 11. l 12. a 13. e 14. h 15. c
B. Choose the correct word

1. border 2. destination; attraction 3. strip 4. jeep 5. criss-cross
6. military 7. barbed wire
3
Famous Places
The demilitarized zone, or DMZ, spans the border between North and South Korea. This 2.5-by-151-mile
strip of land is dotted with landmines, bunkers and criss-crossed by barbed wire. Nearly one million North
Korean soldiers patrol the DMZ, while South Korea has some 600,000 troops on its side, and support from
the U.S. military as a part of U.N. Command.
At the end of World War II in 1945, the border between North and South Korea was the 38th parallel. The
Soviet army kept control over the northern region, and North Korea developed a communist government. At
the end of the Korean War in 1953, the border was moved to a line just north of the 38th parallel, and the
DMZ was established on either side of the line to be a buffer between the two countries.
Ten years after the DMZ was created, a U.S. helicopter was captured in North Korean territory. The two
pilots were held for a year, until the U.S. admitted it had violated the 1953 agreement by crossing the line.
Another U.S. helicopter was shot down in 1969. The most violent clash occurred when North Koreans killed
two U.S. soldiers who were trimming tree branches in the DMZ to improve their view.
Conflicts in the DMZ also have taken place below ground. In 1974, a South Korean patrol found the first
tunnel from North Korea. A second was discovered in 1975 and, in 1978, U.N. Command troops discovered a
tunnel from the North Korean side that ran for nearly a mile 246 feet below the surface, and was large enough
to drive a jeep through. A steel door now blocks off the tunnel at the border. The South Korean end is a
popular tourist attraction.
In 2000, officials from both Koreas agreed to fix roads and railways to reconnect the two countries. They
have tried to reconnect people as well. In June 2000, they agreed to allow reunions of some of the 1.2 million
family members separated by the border.
Despite its dangers, the DMZ continues to be a top tourist destination as a wildlife and agricultural refuge,
and as a living Cold War museum.
4

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Famous Places

The Demilitarized Zone

Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀

2. North Korea has a larger army than South Korea.

1. What is the DMZ and why was it created?

B. Find a word or expression in the article that means:

1. the line dividing two states, countries, or regions __________________

1-5. Individual answers.

B. Choose the correct word

The Demilitarized Zone

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