The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The residents of a town cut off by last week's New Zealand earthquake have received a somewhat unusual but welcome air delivery – enough fast food to feed a small army. The mercy mission to the town of Kaikoura was organized by a plasterer from the town of Nelson 130 kilometres to the north. Robert Coombes, 49, spent three days gathering donations from people and bought as much fast food as he could with the cash. He filled a friend's light aircraft with 400 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken, 300 McDonald's burgers, 50 Domino's pizzas, and hundreds of candies. His cargo of tasty treats landed in Kaikoura in time for lunch on Friday. Kaikoura was the town worst hit by the magnitude 7.8 quake.

Mr Coombes explained to reporters that he wanted to "put a smile on people's faces, even if it's only for one day". He added: "There's necessities, but with kids, you need a bit more than bread and water. I just thought I'd fill the plane with junk food and bring a little bit of happiness to the place…. It's just being a good human being." Coombes said the manager of KFC and McDonald's supported his idea and their staff started work two hours earlier to prepare the goodies. Main roads and rail links to Kaikoura have been severed by massive landslides. There have been well over 2,000 aftershocks since Monday and the government is warning that there are likely to be more.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www. bbc.com/news/world-asia-38023362
  • http://www. nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11750955
  • http://www. stuff.co.nz/national/nz-earthquake/86643001/earthquake-burgers-pizzas-flown-in-to-quakehit-kaikoura


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. JUNK FOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about junk food. 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?

       residents / earthquake / welcome / delivery / donations / cash / aircraft / lunch /
       reporters / necessities / bread / water / human being / goodies / landslides

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

3. GOOD: Students A strongly believe all human beings are good; Students B strongly believe not all human beings are good.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. EARTHQUAKE: How can people help those in a town cut off by an earthquake? Discuss with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Messages
  • Food
  • Shelter
  • Children
  • Medicine
  • Rescue
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. CHICKEN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "chicken". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. GOODIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the nicest goodies at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • strawberries
  • pizza
  • cream cake
  • fries
  • chocolate
  • Pringles
  • ice cream
  • doughnut / donut

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A small army delivered fast food to a New Zealand town.     T / F
  2. The town hit by the earthquake is 130 north of a town called Nelson.     T / F
  3. A man filled a plane with 500 pizzas for the earthquake survivors.     T / F
  4. The fast food arrived in the town in time for lunch.     T / F
  5. The organizer wanted to see himself smile.     T / F
  6. The organizer said bread and water was not enough for the children.     T / F
  7. McDonald's staff started work two hours earlier to prepare the food.     T / F
  8. Kaikoura has had in excess of 2,000 aftershocks since the earthquake.    T / F

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

  1. residents
  2. somewhat
  3. mission
  4. gathering
  5. treats
  6. reporters
  7. a bit
  8. prepare
  9. severed
  10. warning
  1. journalists
  2. collecting
  3. put together
  4. slightly
  5. rather
  6. operation
  7. cut
  8. goodies
  9. cautioning
  10. inhabitants

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

  1. a somewhat unusual but welcome air
  2. enough fast food to
  3. gathering
  4. landed in Kaikoura in
  5. the town worst hit by the magnitude
  6. he wanted to put a
  7. It's just being a good human
  8. rail links to Kaikoura have been
  9. There have been well
  10. there are likely
  1. smile on people's faces
  2. 7.8 quake
  3. to be more
  4. over 2,000 aftershocks
  5. delivery
  6. severed
  7. feed a small army
  8. time for lunch
  9. being
  10. donations

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
army
north
cargo
somewhat
magnitude
light
time
donations

The residents of a town cut off by last week's New Zealand earthquake have received a (1) ____________ unusual but welcome air delivery – enough fast food to feed a small (2) ____________. The mercy mission to the town of Kaikoura was organized by a plasterer from the town of Nelson 130 kilometres to the (3) ____________. Robert Coombes, 49, spent three days gathering (4) ____________ from people and bought as much fast food as he could with the cash. He filled a friend's (5) ____________ aircraft with 400 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken, 300 McDonald's burgers, 50 Domino's pizzas, and hundreds of candies. His (6) ____________ of tasty treats landed in Kaikoura in (7) ____________ for lunch on Friday. Kaikoura was the town worst hit by the (8) ____________ 7.8 quake.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bit
being
severed
happiness
likely
smile
aftershocks
goodies

Mr Coombes explained to reporters that he wanted to "put a (9) ____________ on people's faces, even if it's only for one day". He added: "There's necessities, but with kids, you need a (10) ____________ more than bread and water. I just thought I'd fill the plane with junk food and bring a little bit of (11) ____________ to the place…. It's just being a good human (12) ____________." Coombes said the manager of KFC and McDonald's supported his idea and their staff started work two hours earlier to prepare the (13) ____________. Main roads and rail links to Kaikoura have been (14) ____________ by massive landslides. There have been well over 2,000 (15) ____________ since Monday and the government is warning that there are (16) ____________ to be more.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  received a somewhat unusual but ______ delivery
     a.  welcomed air
     b.  welcomes air
     c.  welcoming air
     d.  welcome air

2)  gathering donations from people and bought as much fast food as he could ______
     a.  with the cash
     b.  with the stash
     c.  with the cache
     d.  with the catch

3)  300 McDonald's burgers, 50 Domino's pizzas, and ______
     a.  hundreds of candies
     b.  hundreds of candles
     c.  hundreds of caddies
     d.  hundreds of cabbies

4)  His cargo of tasty treats landed in Kaikoura in ______
     a.  time for lunch
     b.  times for lunch
     c.  timely for luncheon
     d.  timed for luncheon

5)  Kaikoura was the town worst hit by the ______
     a.  multitude 7.8 quake
     b.  magnitude 7.8 quake
     c.  miniscule 7.8 quake
     d.  magnified 7.8 quake

6)  Mr Coombes explained to reporters that he wanted to put a smile ______
     a.  on people's laugh
     b.  on people's heads
     c.  on people's mouth
     d.  on people's faces

7)  fill the plane with junk food and bring a little bit of happiness ______
     a.  too the place
     b.  to a place
     c.  to the place
     d.  to the plaice

8)  McDonald's supported his idea and their staff started work two hours earlier to ______
     a.  prepare the baddies
     b.  prepare the good deeds
     c.  prepare the goodness
     d.  prepare the goodies

9)  Main roads and rail links to Kaikoura have been severed by ______
     a.  missive landslides
     b.  massive lands rides
     c.  massive landslides
     d.  massively landslide

10)  the government is warning that there are ______
     a.  likely to be mere
     b.  likely to be moor
     c.  likely to be more
     d.  likely to be amore

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The residents of a town (1) ___________________ last week's New Zealand earthquake have received a (2) ___________________ but welcome air delivery – enough fast (3) ___________________ small army. The mercy mission to the town of Kaikoura was organized by a plasterer from the town of Nelson 130 kilometres to the north. Robert Coombes, 49, spent three days gathering donations from people and (4) ___________________ fast food as he could (5) ___________________. He filled a friend's light aircraft with 400 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken, 300 McDonald's burgers, 50 Domino's pizzas, and hundreds of candies. His (6) ___________________ treats landed in Kaikoura in time for lunch on Friday. Kaikoura was the town worst hit by the magnitude 7.8 quake.

Mr Coombes explained to reporters that he wanted (7) _________________ on people's faces, even if it's only for one day". He added: "There's necessities, but with kids, (8) ___________________ more than bread and water. I just (9) ___________________ the plane with junk food and bring (10) ___________________ happiness to the place…. It's just being a good human being." Coombes said the manager of KFC and McDonald's supported his idea and their staff started work two hours earlier to prepare the goodies. Main (11) ___________________ rail links to Kaikoura have been severed by massive landslides. There have been well over 2,000 aftershocks since Monday and the government is warning that there are (12) ___________________ more.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say there was enough fast food to feed?
  2. What is the job of the man who organized the flight?
  3. How many pieces of chicken went on the aircraft?
  4. What did the flight land in time for?
  5. What is the name of the town that was worst hit by the earthquake?
  6. What did the man want to put on people's faces?
  7. Who did the man say needed more than bread and water?
  8. How many hours earlier did McDonald's staff work to help with the food?
  9. What cut the main roads and rail links to the town?
  10. How many aftershocks have hit the town?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say there was enough fast food to feed?
a) the armies of the world
b) a small army
c) an army of children
d) the New Zealand army

2) What is the job of the man who organized the flight?
a) pastry chef
b) pasta maker
c) pilot
d) plasterer

3) How many pieces of chicken went on the aircraft?
a) 50
b) 300
c) 400
d) hundreds

4) What did the flight land in time for?
a) lunch
b) sunset
c) sunrise
d) dinner

5) What is the name of the town that was worst hit by the earthquake?
a) Karnataka
b) Kaikoura
c) Karakoram
d) Kia Ora

6) What did the man want to put on people's faces?
a) smiles
b) eggs
c) face paint
d) Ronald McDonald masks

7) Who did the man say needed more than bread and water?
a) McDonald's staff
b) pensioners
c) kids
d) human beings

8) How many hours earlier did McDonald's staff work to help with the food?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

9) What cut the main roads and rail links to the town?
a) the Internet
b) heavy machinery
c) a damaged river
d) massive landslides

10) How many aftershocks have hit the town?
a) around 2,000
b) less than 2,000
c) over 2,000
d) exactly 2,000

Role play

Role A — Chocolate

You think chocolate is the best treat. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their treats. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): strawberries, fries or ice cream.

Role B — Strawberries

You think strawberries are the best treats. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their treats. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): chocolate, fries or ice cream.

Role C — Fries

You think fries are the best treats. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their treats. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): strawberries, chocolate or ice cream.

Role D — Ice Cream

You think ice cream is the best treat. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their treats. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): strawberries, fries or chocolate.

After reading / listening

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

'junk'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'food'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • smile
    • kids
    • place
    • idea
    • links
    • 2,000
    • unusual
    • mission
    • north
    • spent
    • 50
    • worst

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Emergency junk food flown to earthquake town

    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 'earthquake'?
    3. What do you know about earthquakes?
    4. What should you do when an earthquake starts?
    5. What do you think about what you read?
    6. Should government money mean people do not need to donate?
    7. How good an idea was the fast food delivery?
    8. What do you think the Kaikoura residents thought?
    9. What do you think of Mr Coombes?
    10. What's your favourite junk food, and why?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you do to make people smile?
    3. What have you smiled about today?
    4. Who is the nicest person you know?
    5. Are all human beings good?
    6. Why does junk food make us feel so good?
    7. How can we help people hit by earthquakes?
    8. How would your town survive if it was cut off?
    9. What advice do you have for the residents of Kaikoura?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Coombes?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The residents of a town cut (1) ____ by last week's New Zealand earthquake have received a somewhat unusual but (2) ____ air delivery – enough fast food to feed a small army. The mercy (3) ____ to the town of Kaikoura was organized by a plasterer from the town of Nelson 130 kilometres to the north. Robert Coombes, 49, spent three days gathering (4) ____ from people and bought as much fast food as he could with the cash. He filled a friend's (5) ____ aircraft with 400 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken, 300 McDonald's burgers, 50 Domino's pizzas, and hundreds of candies. His cargo of tasty treats landed in Kaikoura in (6) ____ for lunch on Friday. Kaikoura was the town worst hit by the magnitude 7.8 quake.

    Mr Coombes explained to reporters that he wanted to "put a smile (7) ____ people's faces, (8) ____ if it's only for one day". He added: "There's necessities, but with kids, you need a bit more than bread and water. I just thought I'd fill the plane with junk food and bring a (9) ____ bit of happiness to the place…. It's just being a good human being." Coombes said the manager of KFC and McDonald's supported his idea and their staff started work two hours earlier to prepare the (10) ____. Main roads and rail links to Kaikoura have been (11) ____ by massive landslides. There have been well over 2,000 aftershocks since Monday and the government is warning that there are (12) ____ to be more.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     up     (d)     off    
    2. (a)     come in     (b)     pleased     (c)     greetings     (d)     welcome    
    3. (a)     missive     (b)     mission     (c)     mansion     (d)     measure    
    4. (a)     donation     (b)     donates     (c)     donations     (d)     donating    
    5. (a)     light     (b)     flight     (c)     weight     (d)     heavy    
    6. (a)     time     (b)     timed     (c)     timely     (d)     timing    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    8. (a)     even     (b)     ever     (c)     every     (d)     eventually    
    9. (a)     few     (b)     little     (c)     much     (d)     some    
    10. (a)     baddies     (b)     goodness     (c)     goodies     (d)     goods    
    11. (a)     served     (b)     several     (c)     severed     (d)     saved    
    12. (a)     likelihood     (b)     likely     (c)     liking     (d)     liked

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The triesensd of a town
    2. air vrdelyei
    3. The reycm mission
    4. gathering oodnsiant from people
    5. His oagrc of tasty treats
    6. hit by the tindeguma 7.8 quake

    Paragraph 2

    1. There's sceietssnie
    2. prepare the gsieodo
    3. rail links to Kaikoura have been rseevde
    4. seavmis landslides
    5. well over 2,000 thscoafsekr
    6. the eegmnnorvt is warning…

    Put the text back together

    (    )     as he could with the cash. He filled a friend's light aircraft with 400 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken,

    (    )     of Kaikoura was organized by a plasterer from the town of Nelson 130 kilometres to the

    (    )     day". He added: "There's necessities, but with kids, you need a bit more than bread and water. I just thought I'd fill

    (    )     Mr Coombes explained to reporters that he wanted to "put a smile on people's faces, even if it's only for one

    (    )     The residents of a town cut off by last week's New Zealand earthquake have received a somewhat unusual

    (    )     since Monday and the government is warning that there are likely to be more.

    (    )     300 McDonald's burgers, 50 Domino's pizzas, and  hundreds of candies. His cargo of tasty treats landed in Kaikoura in

    (    )     north. Robert Coombes, 49, spent three days gathering donations from people and bought as much fast food

    (    )     by massive landslides. There have been well over 2,000 aftershocks

    (    )     being." Coombes said the manager of KFC and McDonald's supported his idea and their staff started work two hours

    (    )     but welcome air delivery – enough fast food to feed a small army. The mercy mission to the town

    (    )     the plane with junk food and bring a little bit of happiness to the place…. It's just being a good human

    (    )     time for lunch on Friday. Kaikoura was the town worst hit by the magnitude 7.8 quake.

    (    )     earlier to prepare the goodies. Main roads and rail links to Kaikoura have been severed

    Put the words in the right order

    1. air   but   unusual   somewhat   a   Received   delivery   welcome   .
    2. a   feed   to   food   fast   Enough   army   small   .
    3. the   Bought   as   as   he   much   could   fast   cash   food   with .
    4. in   cargo   treats   Kaikoura   His   tasty   in   time   of   landed   .
    5. 7.8   the   The   worst   by   quake   town   hit   magnitude   .
    6. a   He   smile   wanted   on   to   people's   put   faces   .
    7. a   human   It's   being   good   being   just   .
    8. goodies  work   earlier   the   started  hours   prepare   Staff   two   to  .
    9. Main   rail   Kaikoura   severed   and   to   been   roads   links   have   .
    10. There   have   been   2,000   well   aftershocks   over   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The residents of a town cut in / off by last week's New Zealand earthquake have received a somewhat / something unusual but welcome air delivery – enough fast food to feed the / a small army. The mercy mission to the town of Kaikoura was organized by / at a plasterer from the town of Nelson 130 kilometres of / to the north. Robert Coombes, 49, spent three days gathering donations from people and bought as much fast food as he would / could with the cash. He filled a friend's light / heavy aircraft with 400 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken, 300 McDonald's burgers, 50 Domino's pizzas, and hundreds / hundred of candies. His cargo of tasty threats / treats landed in Kaikoura in time for lunch on Friday. Kaikoura was the town worst hit by the multitude / magnitude 7.8 quake.

    Mr Coombes explained / explanation to reporters that he wanted to "put a smile on / in people's faces, even if it's only for one day". He added: "There's necessities, but with / without kids, you need a bit more than bread and water. I just thought I'd fill the plane with junk food and bring a little bit of happy / happiness to the place…. It's just being / been a good human being." Coombes said the manager of KFC and McDonald's support / supported his idea and their staff / stuff started work two hours earlier to prepare the good / goodies. Main roads and rail links to Kaikoura have been severed / served by massive landslides. There have been well over 2,000 aftershocks since Monday and the government is waning / warning that there are likely to be more.

    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_ r_s_d_nts _f _ t_wn c_t _ff by l_st w__k's N_w Z__l_nd __rthq__k_ h_v_ r_c__v_d _ s_m_wh_t _n_s__l b_t w_lc_m_ __r d_l_v_ry – _n__gh f_st f__d t_ f__d _ sm_ll _rmy. Th_ m_rcy m_ss__n t_ th_ t_wn _f K__k__r_ w_s _rg_n_z_d by _ pl_st_r_r fr_m th_ t_wn _f N_ls_n 130 k_l_m_tr_s t_ th_ n_rth. R_b_rt C__mb_s, 49, sp_nt thr__ d_ys g_th_r_ng d_n_t__ns fr_m p__pl_ _nd b__ght _s m_ch f_st f__d _s h_ c__ld w_th th_ c_sh. H_ f_ll_d _ fr__nd's l_ght __rcr_ft w_th 400 p__c_s _f K_nt_cky Fr__d Ch_ck_n, 300 McD_n_ld's b_rg_rs, 50 D_m_n_'s p_zz_s, _nd h_ndr_ds _f c_nd__s. H_s c_rg_ _f t_sty tr__ts l_nd_d _n K__k__r_ _n t_m_ f_r l_nch _n Fr_d_y. K__k__r_ w_s th_ t_wn w_rst h_t by th_ m_gn_t_d_ 7.8 q__k_.

    Mr C__mb_s _xpl__n_d t_ r_p_rt_rs th_t h_ w_nt_d t_ "p_t _ sm_l_ _n p__pl_'s f_c_s, _v_n _f _t's _nly f_r _n_ d_y". H_ _dd_d: "Th_r_'s n_c_ss_t__s, b_t w_th k_ds y__ n__d _ b_t m_r_ th_n br__d _nd w_t_r. _ j_st th__ght _'d f_ll th_ pl_n_ w_th j_nk f__d _nd br_ng _ l_ttl_ b_t _f h_pp_n_ss t_ th_ pl_c_…. _t's j_st b__ng _ g__d h_m_n b__ng." C__mb_s s__d th_ m_n_g_r _f KFC _nd McD_n_ld's s_pp_rt_d h_s _d__ _nd th__r st_ff st_rt_d w_rk tw_ h__rs __rl__r t_ pr_p_r_ th_ g__d__s. M__n r__ds _nd r__l l_nks t_ K__k__r_ h_v_ b__n s_v_r_d by m_ss_v_ l_ndsl_d_s. Th_r_ h_v_ b__n w_ll _v_r 2,000 _ft_rsh_cks s_nc_ M_nd_y _nd th_ g_v_rnm_nt _s w_rn_ng th_t th_r_ _r_ l_k_ly t_ b_ m_r_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the residents of a town cut off by last week's new zealand earthquake have received a somewhat unusual but welcome air delivery – enough fast food to feed a small army the mercy mission to the town of kaikoura was organized by a plasterer from the town of nelson 130 kilometres to the north robert coombes 49 spent three days gathering donations from people and bought as much fast food as he could with the cash he filled a friend's light aircraft with 400 pieces of kentucky fried chicken 300 mcdonald's burgers 50 domino's pizzas and hundreds of candies his cargo of tasty treats landed in kaikoura in time for lunch on friday kaikoura was the town worst hit by the magnitude 78 quake

    mr coombes explained to reporters that he wanted to "put a smile on people's faces even if it's only for one day" he added "there's necessities but with kids, you need a bit more than bread and water i just thought i'd fill the plane with junk food and bring a little bit of happiness to the place… it's just being a good human being" coombes said the manager of kfc and mcdonald's supported his idea and their staff started work two hours earlier to prepare the goodies main roads and rail links to kaikoura have been severed by massive landslides there have been well over 2000 aftershocks since monday and the government is warning that there are likely to be more

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theresidentsofatowncutoffbylastweek'sNewZealandearthquakehav
    ereceivedasomewhatunusualbutwelcomeairdelivery–enoughfastfo
    odtofeedasmallarmy.ThemercymissiontothetownofKaikourawasorg
    anizedbyaplastererfromthetownofNelson130kilometrestothenorth.
    RobertCoombes,49,spentthreedaysgatheringdonationsfrompeople
    andboughtasmuchfastfoodashecouldwiththecash.Hefilledafriend'sli
    ghtaircraftwith400piecesofKentuckyFriedChicken,300McDonald'sb
    urgers,50Domino'spizzas,andhundredsofcandies.Hiscargooftastytr
    eatslandedinKaikouraintimeforlunchonFriday.Kaikourawasthetown
    worsthitbythemagnitude7.8quake.MrCoombesexplainedtoreporter
    sthathewantedto"putasmileonpeople'sfaces,evenifit'sonlyforoneda
    y".Headded:"There'snecessities,butwithkidsyouneedabitmorethan
    breadandwater.IjustthoughtI'dfilltheplanewithjunkfoodandbringali
    ttlebitofhappinesstotheplace….It'sjustbeingagoodhumanbeing."Co
    ombessaidthemanagerofKFCandMcDonald'ssupportedhisideaandth
    eirstaffstartedworktwohoursearliertopreparethegoodies.Mainroads
    andraillinkstoKaikourahavebeenseveredbymassivelandslides.Ther
    ehavebeenwellover2,000aftershockssinceMondayandthegovernme
    ntiswarningthattherearelikelytobemore.

    Free writing

    Write about junk food for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    All human beings are basically good people. 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 the recent New Zealand earthquake. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. JUNK FOOD: Make a poster about junk food. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. EARTHQUAKES: Write a magazine article about rescue efforts after earthquakes. Include imaginary interviews with rescuers and rescued.

    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 earthquakes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how best to help survivors of earthquakes in the first few days. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You