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Pie-eating contest ends because pies too big (23rd December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The annual World Pie Eating Championships in England ended in disaster on Friday because the pies were too big. A competition worker made a mistake and ordered pies that were the wrong size. In fact, the pies used in the contest were twice as big as the rules say they should be. The pies for the competition in Wigan, England, got delivered to a nearby divorce party. The competition was stopped when organisers said the rules had been broken. The competition pies should be a diameter of 12cm and a depth of 3.5cm. The meat and potatoes in the pies should be no more than cubes of 1cm. Barry Rigby, 37, a part-time fitness instructor, had set the fastest time of 42.6 seconds.

The annual World Pie Eating Championship is usually held at Harry's Bar in Wigan, England. It has been held since 1992. It started with competitors trying to eat meat and potato pies as fast as they could. However, in 2006, a vegetable pie was added after pressure from England's Vegetarian Society. The speed-eating competition has had a few problems in the past. In 2005, there were protests because the pies were not from Wigan. A year later, the competition had to change to meet government healthy-eating guidelines. Contestants then had to eat one pie as quickly as they could instead of as many pies as they could. And in 2007, disaster happened when the competition ran out of pies.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/world-pie-eating-championships-declared-8313400
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Pie_Eating_Championship
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/offbeat/2014/12/20/world-pie-eating-champs-abandoned.html#sthash.IQxVBQRp.dpuf

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. SPEED EATING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about speed eating. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

disaster / mistake / wrong size / divorce / rules / meat / potatoes / cubes / fitness / annual / pressure / vegetarian / speed eating / problems / healthy eating / guidelines

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. PIES: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What?	Why?
Best filling
Best size
Best pastry
Best time to eat it
Best food to eat it with
Best sauce to put on top

4. HEALTHY: Students A strongly believe pies are very healthy; Students B strongly believe they are not. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

5. FILLINGS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best pi fillings at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• steak and kidney

• leek and onion

• pumpkin

• chicken

• apple

• fish

• blueberry

• pecan

6. DISASTER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "disaster". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	The pie-eating contest happens every four years, like the Olympics.	T / F
b.	A worker from the competition ordered the wrong size of pies.	T / F
c.	The pies that were meant for the competition went to a divorce party.	T / F
d.	The potatoes in the pie should be larger than cubes of 1cm.	T / F
e.	The pie-eating competition started over 50 years ago in England.	T / F
f.	A vegetarian pie was added to the competition in 2006.	T / F
g.	In 2005, people were angry about where the pies were made.	T / F
h.	In 2007, organisers got too many pies and hundreds were left over.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	ended	a.	regulations
2.	mistake	b.	yearly
3.	rules	c.	complaints
4.	delivered	d.	error
5.	fastest	e.	competitors
6.	annual	f.	quickest
7.	started	g.	finished
8.	protests	h.	recommendations
9.	guidelines	i.	taken
10.	contestants	j.	began

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	ended in	a.	3.5cm
2.	twice	b.	of 1cm
3.	a depth of	c.	of 42.6 seconds
4.	no more than cubes	d.	eating guidelines
5.	set the fastest time	e.	out of pies
6.	It has been held	f.	quickly as they could
7.	The speed-	g.	disaster
8.	meet government healthy-	h.	since 1992
9.	eat one pie as	i.	eating competition
10.	the competition ran	j.	as big

GAP FILL

The annual World Pie Eating Championships in England ended in (1) ____________ on Friday because the pies were too big. A competition worker made a mistake and ordered pies that were the wrong (2) ____________. In fact, the pies used in the contest were twice as big as the (3) ____________ say they should be. The pies for the competition in Wigan, England, got delivered to a nearby (4) ____________ party. The competition was stopped when organisers said the rules had been (5) ____________. The competition pies should be a diameter of 12cm and a (6) ____________ of 3.5cm. The meat and potatoes in the pies should be no more than (7) ____________ of 1cm. Barry Rigby, 37, a part-time fitness instructor, had (8) ____________ the fastest time of 42.6 seconds.

broken
disaster
rules
depth
size
set
cubes
divorce

The annual World Pie Eating Championship is usually (9) ____________ at Harry's Bar in Wigan, England. It has been held (10) ____________ 1992. It started with competitors trying to eat meat and potato pies as (11) ____________ as they could. However, in 2006, a vegetable pie was added after (12) ____________ from England's Vegetarian Society. The speed-eating competition has had a few problems in the (13) ____________. In 2005, there were (14) ____________ because the pies were not from Wigan. A year later, the competition had to change to meet government healthy-eating guidelines. Contestants then had to eat one pie as quickly as they could (15) ____________ of as many pies as they could. And in 2007, disaster happened when the competition (16) ____________ out of pies.

fast
held
instead
since
past
ran
pressure
protests

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The annual World Pie Eating Championships in England ______
	a. ended in disaster b. ended on disaster c. ended at disaster d. ended by disaster
2)	A competition worker made a mistake and ordered pies that were ______
	a. the wrong sized b. the wrong sizing c. the wrong seize d. the wrong size
3)	the pies used in the contest were twice as big as the ______ should be
	a. rules speak they b. rules talk they c. rules say they d. rules voice they
4)	The competition was stopped when organisers said the rules ______
	a. had being broken b. have been broken c. had been broken d. have being broken
5)	The meat and potatoes in the pies should be no more than ______
	a. cubes of 1cm b. cubs of 1cm c. clubs of 1cm d. crumbs of 1cm
6)	The annual World Pie Eating Championship is usually ______
	a. held to Harry's Bar b. held at Harry's Bar c. held on Harry's Bar d. held for Harry's Bar
7)	The speed-eating competition has had a few problems ______
	a. in the past b. in the passed c. in the parsed d. in the paste
8)	A year later, the competition had to change to meet government ______
	a. healthier-eating guidelines b. health-eaten guidelines c. healthy-eaten guidelines d. healthy-eating guidelines
9)	Contestants then had to eat one pie as quickly ______
	a. as they would b. as they can c. as they could d. as they cold
10)	And in 2007, disaster happened when the competition ______
	a. ran cut of pies b. ran in of pies c. ran up of pies d. ran out of pies

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The annual World Pie Eating Championships in England (1) ___________________ Friday because the pies were too big. A competition worker made a mistake (2) ___________________ that were the wrong size. In fact, the pies used in the contest (3) ___________________ as the rules say they should be. The pies for the competition in Wigan, England, got delivered to a (4) ___________________. The competition was stopped when organisers said the rules (5) ___________________. The competition pies should be a diameter of 12cm and a depth of 3.5cm. The meat and potatoes in the pies should be no more than cubes of 1cm. Barry Rigby, 37, a part-time fitness instructor, (6) ___________________ time of 42.6 seconds.

The annual World Pie Eating Championship (7) ___________________ at Harry's Bar in Wigan, England. It has been held since 1992. It started with competitors (8) ___________________ and potato pies as fast as they could. However, in 2006, a vegetable (9) ___________________ pressure from England's Vegetarian Society. The speed-eating competition has had a few (10) ___________________. In 2005, there were protests because the pies were not from Wigan. A year later, the competition had to change to meet government (11) ___________________. Contestants then had to eat one pie as quickly as they could instead of as many pies as they could. And in 2007, disaster happened when the (12) ___________________ of pies.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How often do the World Pie Eating Championships take place?
2.	Who made a mistake and ordered pies that were the wrong size?
3.	Where did the competition pies go to?
4.	How deep should the competition pies be?
5.	What is the job of the man with the quickest time?
6.	When was the first World Pie Eating Championships?
7.	When did the competition add a vegetarian pie?
8.	What happened in 2005?
9.	When did the competition change to meet healthy-eating guidelines?
10.	What disaster happened in 2007?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How often do the World Pie Eating Championships take place?	6.	When was the first World Pie Eating Championships?
	a) every four years b) every year c) every two years d) every three years		a) 1992 b) 1982 c) 1972 d) 1962
2.	Who made a mistake and ordered pies that were the wrong size?	7.	When did the competition add a vegetarian pie?
	a) a hotel b) a speed eater c) a competition worker d) a chef		a) 2008 b) 2005 c) 2007 d) 2006
3.	Where did the competition pies go to?	8.	What happened in 2005?
	a) a bakery b) a supermarket c) a wedding party d) a divorce party		a) food poisoning b) price rises c) protests d) health scare
4.	How deep should the competition pies be?	9.	When did the competition change to meet healthy-eating guidelines?
	a) 4cm b) 3.5cm c) 3cm d) 2.75cm		a) 2003 b) 2004 c) 2005 d) 2006
5.	What is the job of the man with the quickest time?	10.	What disaster happened in 2007?
	a) fitness instructor b) chef c) baker d) farmer		a) no one entered the competition b) they ran out of pies c) a fire d) mad cow disease

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Meat pie

You think meat pie is the tastiest kind of pie. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so tasty. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): potato pie, apple pie or ice cream pie.

Role B – Potato pie

You think potato pie is the tastiest kind of pie. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so tasty. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): meat pie, apple pie or ice cream pie.

Role C – Apple pie

You think apple pie is the tastiest kind of pie. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so tasty. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): potato pie, meat pie or ice cream pie.

Role D – Ice cream pie

You think ice cream pie is the tastiest kind of pie. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so tasty. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): potato pie, apple pie or meat pie.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'meat' and 'potato'.

meat

potato

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

ended
mistake
twice
nearby
rules
set

held
trying
pressure
few
later
2007

PIES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about pies 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.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

PIES DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'pie'?
3)	What kind of pies do you like?
4)	How would you do in a pie-eating competition?
5)	Is a pie-eating competition a waste of food?
6)	Why are there things like pie-eating competitions?
7)	What do you think about what you read?
8)	Should the competition have continued with the larger pies?
9)	How quickly could you eat a 12cm pie?
10)	What kind of training do champion pie-eaters need to do?

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Would you like to take part in or look at this competition?
13)	What do you think the rules are for this competition?
14)	What do you think of speed-eating contests?
15)	What things can you eat very quickly?
16)	Is it unfair that some contestants can have vegetable pies?
17)	Where are the best pies in the world from?
18)	What kind of pies are there in your country's cuisine?
19)	What fillings would you like to put in a pie?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the organisers?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The annual World Pie Eating Championships in England ended (1) ____ disaster on Friday because the pies were too big. A competition worker (2) ____ a mistake and ordered pies that were the wrong size. In fact, the pies used in the contest were (3) ____ as big as the rules say they should be. The pies for the competition in Wigan, England, (4) ____ delivered to a nearby divorce party. The competition was stopped when organisers said the rules had been broken. The competition pies should be a diameter of 12cm and a (5) ____ of 3.5cm. The meat and potatoes in the pies should be no more than cubes of 1cm. Barry Rigby, 37, a part-time fitness instructor, had (6) ____ the fastest time of 42.6 seconds.

The annual World Pie Eating Championship is usually (7) ____ at Harry's Bar in Wigan, England. It has been held since 1992. It started with competitors trying to eat meat and potato pies as fast (8) ____ they could. However, in 2006, a vegetable pie was added (9) ____ pressure from England's Vegetarian Society. The speed-eating competition has had a few problems in the past. In 2005, there were protests (10) ____ the pies were not from Wigan. A year later, the competition had to change to (11) ____ government healthy-eating guidelines. Contestants then had to eat one pie as quickly as they could instead of as many pies as they could. And in 2007, disaster happened when the competition (12) ____ out of pies.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	at	(d)	of
2.	(a)	baked	(b)	did	(c)	made	(d)	tool
3.	(a)	double	(b)	two	(c)	twice	(d)	twos
4.	(a)	had	(b)	did	(c)	went	(d)	got
5.	(a)	deep	(b)	deeps	(c)	depth	(d)	depend
6.	(a)	let	(b)	set	(c)	get	(d)	pet
7.	(a)	holding	(b)	held	(c)	holds	(d)	hold
8.	(a)	has	(b)	as	(c)	is	(d)	was
9.	(a)	from	(b)	so	(c)	after	(d)	when
10.	(a)	however	(b)	although	(c)	so	(d)	because
11.	(a)	meter	(b)	mete	(c)	meat	(d)	meet
12.	(a)	jogged	(b)	paced	(c)	walked	(d)	ran

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	The nnlaau World Pie Eating Championships
2.	ended in tareisds
3.	got viddleree
4.	a nearby eidorcv party
5.	a pthde of 3.5cm
6.	a part-time fitness crstnuitro
Paragraph 2
7.	asululy held at Harry's Bar
8.	after rrsuepse from England's Vegetarian Society
9.	In 2005, there were srspetto
10.	meet government healthy-eating unseedligi
11.	tsatsontenc then had to eat one pie
12.	etniasd of as many pies as they could

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	37, a part-time fitness instructor, had set the fastest time of 42.6 seconds.
( )	The annual World Pie Eating Championships in England ended in disaster on Friday because the pies were too
( )	of 3.5cm. The meat and potatoes in the pies should be no more than cubes of 1cm. Barry Rigby,
( )	as they could. And in 2007, disaster happened when the competition ran out of pies.
( )	held since 1992. It started with competitors trying to eat meat and potato pies as fast as they
( )	competition in Wigan, England, got delivered to a nearby divorce party. The competition was stopped when
( )	could. However, in 2006, a vegetable pie was added after pressure from England's Vegetarian Society. The speed-
( )	eating guidelines. Contestants then had to eat one pie as quickly as they could instead of as many pies
( )	eating competition has had a few problems in the past. In 2005, there were protests because
( )	the pies were not from Wigan. A year later, the competition had to change to meet government healthy-
( )	big. A competition worker made a mistake and ordered pies that were the wrong
( )	organisers said the rules had been broken. The competition pies should be a diameter of 12cm and a depth
( 1 )	The annual World Pie Eating Championship is usually held at Harry's Bar in Wigan, England. It has been
( )	size. In fact, the pies used in the contest were twice as big as the rules say they should be. The pies for the

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	the wrong size Ordered . pies that were
2.	the contest were twice as big The pies used in.
3.	of The should diameter pies a 12cm competition be.
4.	than pies more the 1cm no in of be meat cubes should The.
5.	seconds 42.6 of time fastest the set had Rigby.
6.	started eat with meat competitors trying It to.
7.	vegetable pie was added However , in 2006 , a.
8.	pies were Protests not because from the Wigan.
9.	healthy Change - to eating meet guidelines government.
10.	happened competition of Disaster the out when ran pies.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The annual / annually World Pie Eating Championships in England ended on / in disaster on Friday because the pies were too big. A competition working / worker made a mistake and ordered pies that were the wrong size. In facts / fact, the pies used / useful in the contest were twice as big as the rules say they should be. The pies for the competition in Wigan, England, got delivered / delivery to a nearby divorce / divorced party. The competition was stopped when organisers said the rules had been broke / broken. The competition pies should be a diameter of 12cm and a depth / deep of 3.5cm. The meat and potatoes in the pies should be no more than cubs / cubes of 1cm. Barry Rigby, 37, a part-time fitness instructor, had set the fastest time of 42.6 seconds.

The annual World Pie Eating Championship is usually held / holding at Harry's Bar in Wigan, England. It has been held since / for 1992. It started with competitors trying / tried to eat meat and potato pies as fast as they could. However, in 2006, a vegetable pie was plus / added after pressure from England's Vegetarian Society. The speed-eating competition has had a few problems in the passed / past. In 2005, there were protests so / because the pies were not from Wigan. A year / yearly later, the competition had to change to meet government healthy-eating gridlines / guidelines. Contestants then had to eat one pie as quickly as they could rather / instead of as many pies as they could. And in 2007, disaster happened / happening when the competition ran out of pies.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ _nn__l W_rld P__ __t_ng Ch_mp__nsh_ps _n _ngl_nd _nd_d _n d_s_st_r _n Fr_d_y b_c__s_ th_ p__s w_r_ t__ b_g. _ c_mp_t_t__n w_rk_r m_d_ _ m_st_k_ _nd _rd_r_d p__s th_t w_r_ th_ wr_ng s_z_. _n f_ct, th_ p__s _s_d _n th_ c_nt_st w_r_ tw_c_ _s b_g _s th_ r_l_s s_y th_y sh__ld b_. Th_ p__s f_r th_ c_mp_t_t__n _n W_g_n, _ngl_nd, g_t d_l_v_r_d t_ _ n__rby d_v_rc_ p_rty. Th_ c_mp_t_t__n w_s st_pp_d wh_n _rg_n_s_rs s__d th_ r_l_s h_d b__n br_k_n. Th_ c_mp_t_t__n p__s sh__ld b_ _ d__m_t_r _f 12cm _nd _ d_pth _f 3.5cm. Th_ m__t _nd p_t_t__s _n th_ p__s sh__ld b_ n_ m_r_ th_n c_b_s _f 1cm. B_rry R_gby, 37, _ p_rt-t_m_ f_tn_ss _nstr_ct_r, h_d s_t th_ f_st_st t_m_ _f 42.6 s_c_nds.

Th_ _nn__l W_rld P__ __t_ng Ch_mp__nsh_p _s _s__lly h_ld _t H_rry's B_r _n W_g_n, _ngl_nd. _t h_s b__n h_ld s_nc_ 1992. _t st_rt_d w_th c_mp_t_t_rs try_ng t_ __t m__t _nd p_t_t_ p__s _s f_st _s th_y c__ld. H_w_v_r, _n 2006, _ v_g_t_bl_ p__ w_s _dd_d _ft_r pr_ss_r_ fr_m _ngl_nd's V_g_t_r__n S_c__ty. Th_ sp__d-__t_ng c_mp_t_t__n h_s h_d _ f_w pr_bl_ms _n th_ p_st. _n 2005, th_r_ w_r_ pr_t_sts b_c__s_ th_ p__s w_r_ n_t fr_m W_g_n. _ y__r l_t_r, th_ c_mp_t_t__n h_d t_ ch_ng_ t_ m__t g_v_rnm_nt h__lthy-__t_ng g__d_l_n_s. C_nt_st_nts th_n h_d t_ __t _n_ p__ _s q__ckly _s th_y c__ld _nst__d _f _s m_ny p__s _s th_y c__ld. _nd _n 2007, d_s_st_r h_pp_n_d wh_n th_ c_mp_t_t__n r_n __t _f p__s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the annual world pie eating championships in england ended in disaster on friday because the pies were too big a competition worker made a mistake and ordered pies that were the wrong size in fact the pies used in the contest were twice as big as the rules say they should be the pies for the competition in wigan england got delivered to a nearby divorce party the competition was stopped when organisers said the rules had been broken the competition pies should be a diameter of 12cm and a depth of 35cm the meat and potatoes in the pies should be no more than cubes of 1cm barry rigby 37 a part-time fitness instructor had set the fastest time of 426 seconds

the annual world pie eating championship is usually held at harry's bar in wigan england it has been held since 1992 it started with competitors trying to eat meat and potato pies as fast as they could however in 2006 a vegetable pie was added after pressure from england's vegetarian society the speed-eating competition has had a few problems in the past in 2005 there were protests because the pies were not from wigan a year later the competition had to change to meet government healthy-eating guidelines contestants then had to eat one pie as quickly as they could instead of as many pies as they could and in 2007 disaster happened when the competition ran out of pies

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheannualWorldPieEatingChampionshipsinEnglandendedindisaster
onFridaybecausethepiesweretoobig.Acompetitionworkermadeamis
takeandorderedpiesthatwerethewrongsize.Infact,thepiesusedinthe
contestweretwiceasbigastherulessaytheyshouldbe.Thepiesfortheco
mpetitioninWigan,England,gotdeliveredtoanearbydivorceparty.The
competitionwasstoppedwhenorganiserssaidtheruleshadbeenbroke
n.Thecompetitionpiesshouldbeadiameterof12cmandadepthof3.5c
m.Themeatandpotatoesinthepiesshouldbenomorethancubesof1cm
.BarryRigby,37,apart-timefitnessinstructor,hadsetthefastesttimeof
42.6seconds.TheannualWorldPieEatingChampionshipisusuallyheld
atHarry'sBarinWigan,England.Ithasbeenheldsince1992.Itstartedwi
thcompetitorstryingtoeatmeatandpotatopiesasfastastheycould.Ho
wever,in2006,avegetablepiewasaddedafterpressurefromEngland's
VegetarianSociety.Thespeed-eatingcompetitionhashadafewproble
msinthepast.In2005,therewereprotestsbecausethepieswerenotfro
mWigan.Ayearlater,thecompetitionhadtochangetomeetgovernmen
thealthy-eatingguidelines.Contestantsthenhadtoeatonepieasquic
klyastheycouldinsteadofasmanypiesastheycould.Andin2007,disast
erhappenedwhenthecompetitionranoutofpies.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Speed-eating contests are a waste of good food. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about speed-eating competitions. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PIES: Make a poster about pies. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SPEED EATING: Write a magazine article about speed eating competitions. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on pies. Ask him/her three questions about pies. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	ended	a.	finished
2.	mistake	b.	error
3.	rules	c.	regulations
4.	delivered	d.	taken
5.	fastest	e.	quickest
6.	annual	f.	yearly
7.	started	g.	began
8.	protests	h.	complaints
9.	guidelines	i.	recommendations
10.	contestants	j.	competitors

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Every year
2.	A competition worker
3.	A divorce party
4.	3.5cm
5.	A fitness instructor
6.	1992
7.	2006
8.	There were protests
9.	2006
10.	The competition ran out of pies

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Pie-eating contest ends because pies too big (23rd December, 2014)

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