The Reading / Listening - Level 5

An extremely rare and decorated antique egg designed by the famous Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé has been found at a used goods market in the USA. A scrap dealer bought the golden egg at a stall for $13,000. The unnamed trader wanted to sell it for the scrap value of the gold. Fortunately, no one could match his asking price so he did not scrap the egg. The egg contained a small watch. The dealer typed the name of its maker and the word "egg" into Google. He discovered he was the owner of a priceless gem. A Fabergé expert examined the egg and valued it at $33 million.

The egg was made by Fabergé for Russian Tsar Alexander III. It was last seen in public in 1902 at an exhibition. There has been considerable speculation about it since then. Kieran McCarthy, the Fabergé expert, said: "We have so many discoveries but none of them are as momentous as this." He added: "It is a wondrous event because the Easter egg is the ultimate target for every antique dealer and every enthusiast." Unfortunately, the egg might once again vanish from public view. Mr McCarthy said: "It may disappear into the deepest, darkest vaults of a collector somewhere."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://news.sky.com/story/1228581/royal-faberge-egg-worth-20m-found-at-market
  • http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/19/scrap-dealer-bargain-turns-out-to-be-faberge-egg-worth-millions/
  • http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/03/19/33-million-Faberge-Egg-discovered-by-scrap-metal-dealer/UPI-74331395259208/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

designed by the

a.

word "egg" into Google

2.

scrap

b.

famous Russian jeweller

3.

sell it for the scrap

c.

valued it at $33 million

4.

The egg contained

d.

gem

5.

typed the name of its maker and the

e.

dealer

6.

He discovered he was

f.

a small watch

7.

a priceless

g.

value of the gold

8.

A Fabergé expert examined the egg and

h.

the owner



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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

made by Fabergé for

a.

as momentous as this

2.

It was last seen in

b.

speculation

3.

considerable

c.

dealer

4.

We have so many

d.

public in 1902

5.

none of them are

e.

event

6.

It is a wondrous

f.

discoveries

7.

antique

g.

vaults

8.

the deepest, darkest

h.

Russian Tsar Alexander III

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

An extremely (1) ___________________ antique egg designed by the famous Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé has been found at a used goods market in the USA. A (2) ___________________ the golden egg at a stall for $13,000. The unnamed trader wanted to sell (3) ___________________ of the gold. Fortunately, no one could (4) ___________________ price so he did not scrap the egg. The egg contained a small watch. The dealer typed the name of its (5) ___________________ "egg" into Google. He discovered he was the (6) ___________________ gem. A Fabergé expert examined the egg and valued it at $33 million.

The egg was made by Fabergé for Russian Tsar Alexander III. It was last (7) ___________________ at an exhibition. There has been considerable speculation (8) ___________________. Kieran McCarthy, the Fabergé expert, said: "We have (9) ___________________ but none of them are as momentous as this." He added: "(10) ___________________ because the Easter egg is the ultimate target (11) ___________________ and every enthusiast." Unfortunately, the egg might once again vanish from public view. Mr McCarthy said: "It may (12) ___________________, darkest vaults of a collector somewhere."

ANTIQUES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about antiques in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about antiques for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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