English
A compilation of newsTicker
articles and exercises
February, 2012
CONTENT
(A2) LIMBLESS DUMMIES....................................................................................................2
(A2) NEW SPECIES................................................................................................................4
(B2) TITANIUM MESH COVERING......................................................................................6
(A2) BLADE RAID....................................................................................................................8
(A2) DREAMING OF MEDALS............................................................................................10
(B2) TINY CREATURE'S......................................................................................................12
(A2) ONE BILLION YEARS AGO........................................................................................14
(A2) FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF..............................................................................16
(B1) BIG CATCH....................................................................................................................18
(B2) WASHED AND WELL TRAVELLED......................................................................... 20
(B2) FROM HOLIDAY TO WHEELCHAIR.........................................................................22
(A2) SPARKLING GUTS...................................................................................................... 24
(B1) SUCCESSFUL AT FALLING...................................................................................... 26
(B2) LARGE PREY................................................................................................................28
(B2) FATAL FOOD.................................................................................................................30
newsLetter - 1
Published: 12-01-30 - 12-02-05
(A2) LIMBLESS DUMMIES
A wild ride!
Thorpe park, in Surrey, England, is a theme park with a brand new roller coaster. The
roller coaster, known as 'The Swarm', has recently had its first test run, but instead of
real life passengers, it was filled with dummies.
The Swarm travels up to 100km per hour, has taken a year to build, and involves a
life-sized church.
When the dummies taking part in the test run returned to the starting point after their
wild ride, many were without limbs and severely scratched!!
The park has since called in an emergency response team to work on the ride, in
order that it comply with health and safety standards. It is due to open to the public in
March this year.
Limbless dummies are one thing, limbless thrill-seekers are absolutely unthinkable!
newsLetter - 2
EXERCISE
LIMBLESS DUMMIES
A wild ride!
A1 For its first test run, what kind of passengers travelled on the roller coaster?
A2 How fast can The Swarm travel?
A3 When the roller coaster returned to the starting point on its test run, what had
happened to the passengers?
A4 How did the theme park respond to the outcome of this test run?
A5 What is described as being 'absolutely unthinkable'?
B1 Write any new words on the whiteboard, and discuss their meanings as a class.
B2 Next to each new word, write a new sentence using these words, to show that you
understand their meanings.
B3 As a class, read through the article out loud in order to practice pronunciation.
Work on any difficult words until you can pronounce them without hesitating.
C1 Watch this You Tube clip of The Swarm roller coaster ride.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HifEwyuL7ZE
C2 Make a list of adjectives that would describe this experience. What sensations
would you imagine your body would feel? Bear in mind that you could be travelling at
100km per hour!
D1 Discuss in groups any rides you have been on. Make a list of these rides.
Discuss which rides are the most scary and why? What kind of rides might make you
feel sick or dizzy?
newsLetter - 3
Published: 12-01-30 - 12-02-05
(A2) NEW SPECIES
Red cage a giveaway
Bird-watchers in New Zealand have been tracking the movements of a bird, first seen
in 2009.
The bird looked just like a hawk, but with red feathers. Photographs taken by excited
bird-watchers were sent into the local newspaper, creating interest in what was
thought to be the discovery of a possible new species.
Just recently however, one of these birds was discovered dead by the roadside, and it
was obvious that the red feathers had in fact been spray-painted red.
The SPCA began their investigation, and Grant Michael Teahan was uncovered
through a You Tube prank, involving the catching of a wild magpie in a cage covered
in red spray paint.
Teahan, a farmer on New Zealand's North Island, was charged this week with two
counts of ill-treating an animal. He had trapped the animals, painted their feathers
red, and let them go, just for fun.
He will be sentenced on January 30th, and may appeal his conviction.
newsLetter - 4
EXERCISE
NEW SPECIES
Red cage a giveaway
A1 What feature made this bird seem like a new species?
A2 What bird did it resemble?
A3 How was it discovered that this bird was not a new species?
A4 What was the You Tube clip about, that resulted in Teahan being uncovered?
A5 What was Grant Michael Teahan found guilty of?
B1 Write any new words on the whiteboard, and as a class, discuss their meanings.
B2 On the whiteboard, write a list of the adjectives in this passage.
B3 Where possible, write antonyms for these adjectives.
B4 What is meant by 'giveaway', 'uncovered', 'was charged', and 'two counts'?
Discuss other uses of these phrases.
C1 Go to this web address - rnzspca.org.nz/ . What is the full name of this
organisation, and what do the letters stand for in the acronym?
C2 Read a little about the organisation. In your own words, explain what SPCA is all
about, and what they do to help people and animals.
C3 Read your reports out loud to the class.
newsLetter - 5
Published: 12-01-30 - 12-02-05
(B2) TITANIUM MESH COVERING
Peroxide no cure
Autollo, 32 years of age, was working in his workshop in Orlando Park, US, on
Tuesday, January 24th, using a nail gun. The gun recoiled close to him, and he felt
the point of the gun make contact with his head.
When he came into the house, he showed his fiancee, Gail Gaenzala, who applied
peroxide to his wound.
The next day, after plowing snow and waking from a nap, he felt somewhat nauseous.
He wasn't overly concerned, but his wife felt that it would be a precautionary measure
to take a trip to the nearest hospital for an examination.
Doctors thought it prudent to take an x-ray of his head, and to their surprise
discovered a nail embedded in his brain. It had come within three millimetres of the
part of the brain that controls motor function!
The surgery to remove the nail took two hours, and the part of his skull that was
removed to enable access to the nail, was not replaced as it was feared that it may
have become contaminated by the nail. Instead, he has titanium mesh protecting the
opening.
Gail reported that Autollo had managed to post a photo of the nail on Facebook whilst
in the ambulance en-route to the surgical hospital, and said: "We should get
Discovery Channel up here to film this. I'm one of those medical miracles!"
newsLetter - 6
EXERCISE
TITANIUM MESH COVERING
Peroxide no cure
A1 Describe in your own words what happened to Autollo.
A2 What did his wife do to help him?
A3 What was so remarkable about the positioning of the embedded nail?
A4 Why was it that the piece of skull taken away to give access to the nail was not put
back in place?
A5 What was it that Autollo did whilst in the ambulance?
B1 On the whiteboard, write all the verbs from this passage.
B2 Next to each verb, write its tense and write two more tenses of each verb (eg
present simple and past perfect).
B3 In pairs, discuss which words in each sentence have more than one meaning.
Discuss the other meanings of these words, and write new sentences to show that
you understand how to use the words differently.
B4 Practice reading for each other, sentence by sentence, to check your
pronunciation.
C1 What is the motor function part of the brain called? What would be the likely
outcome if the nail had penetrated that region of Autollo's brain? Go to the following
web page address. As you read it, write down any new words and look up their
meanings. www.waiting.com/brainfunction.html
C2 In groups, discuss outrageous or miraculous stories you know of, where people
escaped severe injury in an accident? Retell one of these stories, describing what
happened in as much detail as possible! Include a description of the emotions you
experienced (or if it wasn't something that happened to you, the emotions you
imagine would have been experienced).
C3 Read your stories out loud to the class.
newsLetter - 7
Published: 12-02-06 - 12-02-12
(A2) BLADE RAID
Trouble sleeping
In Massachusetts, USA, the FBI raided an apartment. They used a chainsaw to break
open the door.
Judy Sanchez awoke to the sound of heavy footsteps, and as she approached the
living room, she saw a blade coming through her front door. A loud voice yelled: "FBI,
get down!", so she lay on the living room floor, as an FBI agent held a gun to her
head.
It was some thirty minutes of sheer terror before Judy was released, and the FBI
apologised. They had been conducting an investigation on drug dealing and illegal
weapons.
Wrong information led to them breaking into the wrong apartment.
Judy now sleeps with a base ball bat next to her bed.
newsLetter - 8
EXERCISE
BLADE RAID
Trouble sleeping
A1 What did the FBI use to break into the apartment?
A2 What was Judy commanded to do by the FBI?
A3 What had the FBI been conducting an investigation on?
A4 What does Judy now have next to her bed as she sleeps?
B1 Write any new words on the whiteboard. Discuss their meanings as a class.
B2 Are there any words in this passage that have more than one meaning?
B3 Write the words with more than one meaning on the board, and write sentences
next to each word to illustrate their different meanings.
C1 What is meant by the term 'mistaken identity'?
C2 Write a short story called 'Mistaken Identity'.
newsLetter - 9
Published: 12-02-06 - 12-02-12
(A2) DREAMING OF MEDALS
Late start
Super heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, will compete at the Olympic Games in
London, 2012.
At 22 years of age, he has come a long way from his days as an unmotivated
teenager, who didn't get out of bed until noon. It wasn't until he was 18, when his
cousin dragged him to a gym in Finchley, that his life dramatically turned around. It
was at this gym that Anthony discovered the world of boxing.
Reflecting on his road to success, Anthony says to anyone who finds themselves
stuck in a rut: "Instead of lying in all day, set your alarm for eight o'clock, take yourself
down the library. Educating yourself is important and opens your mind to other
things. Instead of being locked in a cage, try something new."
newsLetter - 10
EXERCISE
DREAMING OF MEDALS
Late start
A1 In which weight division is Anthony Joshua?
A2 At what age did Anthony discover boxing?
A3 How did Anthony become introduced to boxing?
A4 What does Anthony say to anyone stuck in a rut?
B1 Write any new words on the whiteboard. As a class, discuss their meanings.
B2 In pairs, write down one word from each sentence, and test each other's spelling
of these words.
B3 Using some of these new words, write a short story about what you did on your
weekend. Read your story out loud to the class.
C1 In groups, watch this You Tube clip about Anthony Joshua. Take notes on the
report. Write a few questions about what is reported, including questions about the
comments made by his mother. Quiz other groups about this report.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGWupXbA-S4&feature=related
newsLetter - 11
Published: 12-02-06 - 12-02-12
(B2) TINY CREATURE'S
Rainforest home
The world's smallest vertebrate has recently been discovered. Its scientific name is
paedophryne amauensis and it is tinier than an M & M. This animal is a frog and was
found on a recent field study in southern Papua New Guinea.
The species was discovered in 2010, but was only announced last month. These tiny
frogs seem to live almost entirely on the rainforest floor in Papua New Guinea,
amongst the leaf litter. They are extremely good jumpers, and can jump 30 times
longer than their body length.
In order to catch these frogs, scientists listened for their high pitched calls, and then
zeroed in on the source of the noise. But it was incredibly difficult to see them with the
naked eye, as they were so well camouflaged.
Trying to photograph them was also problematic as they hopped away the moment
the camera was in place. The solution was to photograph them amongst the leaf litter
and locate them by zooming in, using the camera lens.
They are thought to have survived on mites and very small insects that would not be
palatable to larger vertebrates.
newsLetter - 12
EXERCISE
TINY CREATURE'S
Rainforest home
A1 What animal has has recently been discovered?
A2 What classification of animal is this?
A3 Describe how far these animals can jump?
A4 In your own words, describe the way in which they were photographed, and what
things made it problematic?
A5 Describe their habitat and their diet.
B1 In pairs, write down key words from each sentence. Prompted by the key words,
quiz one another as to what was communicated in each sentence.
B2 Make a list of the adjectives.
B3 In pairs write a poem using these adjectives.
C1 In order to view this frog, watch this short You Tube clip.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X73CrgoCFJg&feature=related
C2 What is a vertebrate? Find out what other types of animals fit into this classification
of animals.
What are invertebrates? Find out what types of animals fit into this classification of
animals.
newsLetter - 13
Published: 12-02-13 - 12-02-19
(A2) ONE BILLION YEARS AGO
Mineral hopes
It is commonly believed that it was one billion years ago, when a meteorite crashed
into Mid Western Australia. The crater that it left, is hoped to be full of copper and zinc.
A similar crater exists in Canada, and has been extensively mined. The minerals
found there have created considerable wealth. Sudbury Mining Centre, Canada is
responsible for a huge proportion of the world's copper and zinc supplies.
Michael Jones of Impact Minerals Limited, in Australia, said: "The meteorite impacts
the Earth, fractures the Earth's crust, and that allows a lot of hot fluids to circulate
through the crust, and it leaches the minerals and metals and focuses them."
Miners contain their excitement, while they wait for the results of the exploration.
newsLetter - 14
EXERCISE
ONE BILLION YEARS AGO
Mineral hopes
A1 Where in Australia did the meteorite land?
A2 It is hoped that certain minerals might be found in the crater caused by this
meteorite. What minerals are they?
A3 In which country is there a similar crater?
A4 Who is waiting for the results of the exploration, with contained excitement?
B1 Write any new words on the whiteboard. Discuss their meanings as a class.
B2 Also write words on the whiteboard that you don't know how to pronounce.
Practice their pronunciation.
B3 As a class, read the entire article out loud, sentence by sentence, attempting to
finish at the same time.
B4 What is meant by 'contain their excitement'?
B5 Write a short story about an incident where you were forced to contain your
excitement.
B6 Read your stories out loud to the class.
C1 Watch this You Tube clip
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI-RA6YTqZY&feature=related
C2 In pairs, find out some facts about meteorites. What are they? Where do they
come from? What happens to them as they enter the Earth's atmosphere?
C3 Look at this web-page showing the craters found in Australia. In groups, discuss
the issue of meteorites falling to earth.
www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/australias-meteorite-craters.htm
newsLetter - 15
Published: 12-02-13 - 12-02-19
(A2) FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF
Waxed to perfection
Australia will soon have its very own Madame Tussauds. This world-famous wax
works museum, is due to open in Sydney, Australia, in May. It will contain some 70
figures, 50 percent of which will be Australia's home-grown legends.
The unveiling of the latest wax figure to be created for the museum, was at the Sofitel,
in Melbourne, February 9th. When singer-songwriter and style icon, Dannii Minogue,
came face to face with her mirror image, she 'freaked out' at the likeness.
It took over 800 hours for sculptors and artists to create this lifelike statue. Each of her
body measurements had to be completely accurate. One by one, each strand of hair
was inserted, along with each of her eye lashes.
Minogue will be joined by Nicole Kidman and Huge Jackman, as well as Johnny
Depp and Lady Gaga, to name a few.
newsLetter - 16
EXERCISE
FACE TO FACE WITH HERSELF
Waxed to perfection
A1 What new tourist attraction is due to open in Australia, in May?
A2 What is Dannii Minogue known for?
A3 How did Dannii react when she came face to face with her mirror image?
A4 How long did it take to create this sculpture, and who were the people working on
it?
B1 In pairs, discuss any words that you may be seeing and hearing for the first time.
Find out their meanings!
B2 Again in pairs, write down key words from each sentence. Prompted by the key
words, quiz one another as to what was communicated in each sentence.
C1 In pairs, find out about Madame Tussauds. How did it come about, and where
was the first Madame Tussauds wax museum? Write about Madame Tussaud's life.
What and who did she use as models? Read your findings out loud to the class.
C2 Continuing in pairs, watch this You Tube clip and take notes. Write 4 questions to
quiz other pairs as to the content of this clip. Ask one another your questions, and of
course reply to the questions asked by other pairs!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIleXAySuIA&feature=related
newsLetter - 17
Published: 12-02-13 - 12-02-19
(B1) BIG CATCH
An understatement
Haj Kasim bought a fish, which, generally speaking, has no commercial value.
Instead, he bought it purely to appreciate the efforts of those who caught it. He was
allowed to keep the fish for three days, in order for the public to view it. He would
then sell it to the poultry food business.
The fish was none other than a whale shark, and weighed some 15,000 lbs and was
35 foot long.
The whale shark was found almost dead and had been caught in fishing nets,
approximately 90 miles away from the shore. It was brought to Karachi Harbour in
Pakistan, by fishermen who described it as the catch of their lives!
The whale shark can live for approximately 70 years, and is found in tropical waters.
Despite their threatening appearance, they are known as the gentle giants of the sea,
and pose no real threat to humans. They feed almost entirely on plankton.
newsLetter - 18
EXERCISE
BIG CATCH
An understatement
A1 Why did Haj Kasim buy this big fish, and what kind of fish was it?
A2 Where was it found?
A3 What did Haj Kasim plan to do with the fish?
A4 What facts do we learn from this article about the eating habits of these fish, and
whether or not they are dangerous?
B1 Write any new words on the whiteboard, and next to each new word, what kind of
word it is(e.g. noun, adjective, verb, etc.).
B2 In pairs, test one another's spelling. Choose one word from each sentence, and
test your partner. Swap.
B3 Discuss in groups, what is meant by: 'an understatement', 'catch of their lives' and
'pose no real threat'?
C1 Read this web page about whale shark reproduction, and write a fact sheet along
with any other facts you can find out about these amazing creatures.
www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/whale-shark-birth.html
C2 Watch this You Tube clip of divers with whale sharks, and discuss whether or not
you would like to swim in the ocean with them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSRnsx8mv9g&feature=related
newsLetter - 19
Published: 12-02-13 - 12-02-19
(B2) WASHED AND WELL TRAVELLED
Unexpected baggage
Ms Banwell Moore returned home to Somerset, England, after a wonderful holiday in
the Cape Verde islands with an unusual souvenir. Not only was it unusual, but she
hadn't at all intended to bring it home.
After returning home and doing a load of washing, it was then that she discovered her
curious stowaway. The stowaway, which Ms Moore had become fond of, and had
named Larry, was a rare, 6 inch long, Chioninia lizard. He had survived a 3,000 mile
flight in a freezing baggage hold, and then the delicate cycle in her washing machine.
Larry was stunned and cold when she found him. Screaming, she ran to the phone to
call her daughter, who also screamed at the news, but with laughter!
Larry now lives in the Tropiquaria Wildlife Park in Watchet, some 25 miles from Ms
Banwell's home. The owner of the wildlife park was extremely happy to receive Larry,
saying: "It is very rare - Cape Verde islands is one of those places with native species
found nowhere else in the world, it's so remote."
newsLetter - 20
EXERCISE
WASHED AND WELL TRAVELLED
Unexpected baggage
A1 Where had Ms Banwell Moore been for her holiday?
A2 What unexpected 'souvenir' did she find when she returned to her home in
England?
A3 In your own words, describe the journey of this 'souvenir'. How and where was it
ultimately found?
A4 What was the name given to the 'souvenir', and where did it end up going to live?
A5 Why was the new owner so happy to receive this 'souvenir'?
B1 Write on the whiteboard, five nouns from this passage. Discuss as a class, other
ways in which these nouns can be used.
B2 Take turns at writing a new sentence next to each of the nouns, and where
possible showing another use and meaning of the word.
C1 Find out about the Chioninia lizard. What kind of animal is this and what kind of
habitat does it live in?`
C2 In groups, find out about the Cape Verde islands. Make a list of interesting facts
about the place, and then design a tourist brochure to entice people to come and
holiday there.
newsLetter - 21
Published: 12-02-13 - 12-02-19
(B2) FROM HOLIDAY TO WHEELCHAIR
Flesh-eating mystery
Brian Holman had been in a wheelchair, unable to walk, for three and half years.
Whilst on holidays in Turkey, he developed a blister on his leg, but the wound got
worse and worse. He was facing the prospect of amputation, as the mysterious flesheating condition that kept him bound, refused to heal.
Brian was forced to take morphine to ease the pain, and had two operations to
remove the infected skin. The condition indeed seemed incurable.
Then one day, as he sat in his Farehem home, in Hampshire, England, he began
watching a documentary, that told the story of a woman who had suffered a similar
fate. She had been bitten by a Brown Recluse Spider, a small, but poisonous spider
found in Turkey! Brian was filled with hope, that he had inadvertently stumbled upon
a diagnosis for his own condition.
Brian consulted his GP, who referred him to Pauline Edney, a specialist clinical nurse.
Pauline was initially horrified at the state of his leg, but after 6 weeks of cleaning,
dressing and compressing the wound, it completely healed.
The spider's venom had resulted in some nerve damage, but ultimately, Brian had his
life back, and he was oh so grateful!
newsLetter - 22
EXERCISE
FROM HOLIDAY TO WHEELCHAIR
Flesh-eating mystery
A1 What was the first symptom to appear on Brian Holman's body? Where was he
when this occurred?
A2 What was the horrible prospect that Brian Holman faced? What condition did he
suffer from?
A3 Describe what happened, as a result of Brian watching a certain documentary on
television?
A4 What was the initial reaction of the clinical nurse who treated him?
A5 What did the nurse do to his leg to treat it?
B1 In pairs, discuss any new words and write down the meanings of each of them.
B2 Write new sentences using these new words to show you understand their
meanings.
B3 Continuing in pairs, write down key words from each sentence. Prompted by the
key words, quiz one another as to what was communicated in each sentence.
B4 Write down five of the verbs in the passage. Next to each verb write a sentence
using the verb in the past tense.
C1 Try to find pictures on the net of this Brown Recluse Spider. Find out more
information about how to treat such a bite. Write a list of instructions on how to treat it.
C2 In groups, research other dangerous spiders. Make a list of 10 dangerous spiders
and the countries in which they are found. Alongside each spider, write the
symptoms that can occur when one is bitten, and what must be done to avoid
becoming seriously affected to the point of death. Find pictures of these spiders and
make a poster with the gathered information. If possible, display your posters on the
wall in the classroom.
newsLetter - 23
Published: 12-02-20 - 12-02-26
(A2) SPARKLING GUTS
Three years kept safe
Whilst managing a tourist dairy farm in Lang Lang, Australia, in 2009, Will Jelbart and
his wife Sarah were told of a young male visitor who had lost his wedding ring. One
of their young calves had sucked it from his finger! The calf, whose name was Yogie,
ended up at the butcher's last week.
Duane Thomas and Will Jelbart searched Yogie's stomachs for 30 minutes, looking
for the ring. Eventually they made the sparkling find!
"We were quite lucky, because we'd actually given up looking for it. We weren't 100
per cent sure if that was the cow that had swallowed the ring," Mr Thomas said.
Three years in the cow's stomach, and the ring looked as good as new. They are now
asking for the owner of the ring to come forward.
newsLetter - 24
EXERCISE
SPARKLING GUTS
Three years kept safe
A1 What business were Will Jelbart and his wife Sarah managing?
A2 What happened to a young man visiting this business?
A3 Why was Mr Thomas not sure they would find the ring?
A4 Describe the condition of the ring when it was found. How long had it been in the
calf's stomach?
B1 Write any new words on the whiteboard, and discuss their meanings as a class.
B2 In pairs, write down key words from each sentence. Prompted by the key words,
quiz one another as to what was communicated in each sentence.
B3 Together, write an advertisement to put in the local newspaper, in order to find the
owner of the ring.
B4 Read your advertisements out loud to the class.
C1 Find out about Lang Lang. Where in Australia is it? What else is it famous for?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lang_Lang,_Victoria
C2 In pairs, find out what names are given to the young, of eight different animals.
Share your findings with the rest of the class
newsLetter - 25
Published: 12-02-20 - 12-02-26
(B1) SUCCESSFUL AT FALLING
Short hospital stays
Robert 'Choc' Thornton is one of Britain's most successful jump jockeys. He has
ridden 1,037 winners, from 8,023 races. He is also known as one of the unluckiest
jockeys in the industry. After 367 falls, he has earned the title, 'Britain's most accidentprone jockey'.
Currently, he is laid up with a broken arm, after a fall at Hereford. After hitting the
deck, he was confident he had managed to avoid injury... until his horse got up,
trampling his arm under foot, and breaking it!
Robert has broken all 24 ribs, and shattered his right collar bone six times, as well as
his left collar bone three times. He has also torn ligaments and tendons, besides
shattering several teeth, since he began riding professionally in 1995.
Despite his 42 injuries, the jockey has never been in hospital more than five days. He
has vowed that the day he gives up riding will be the day that he retires from the
profession.
newsLetter - 26
EXERCISE
SUCCESSFUL AT FALLING
Short hospital stays
A1 What does Robert 'Choc' Thornton do for a living?
A2 What bones has Mr Thornton broken?
A3 Describe what happened the most recent time he was injured?
A4 What is the longest stay he has had in hospital, and how many injuries in total has
he sustained?
A5 What did Mr Thornton vow, with regard to when he would give up his profession?
B1 Read through the article as a class slowly, sentence by sentence, going over and
over words that are difficult to pronounce. Increase the speed, aiming to finish at the
same time.
B2 In pairs, find all the nouns in the passage.
B3 Together, write a poem using these nouns. Read your poems out loud to the class.
B4 What does 'accident-prone' and 'hitting the deck' mean?
C1 Find out what a Grand National horse riding event is. Describe in detail what the
horse and its rider must accomplish in such a competition.
newsLetter - 27
Published: 12-02-20 - 12-02-26
(B2) LARGE PREY
A waiting game
Well camouflaged, and waiting at the bottom of the ocean floor, is a silent predator.
Lying motionless, and simply waiting for its prey to pass by, is the wobbegong shark.
Whilst diving off Great Keppel Island, part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Daniela
Ceccarelli was fortunate enough to be able to witness, and capture on film, a
wobbegong shark devouring a very large meal indeed: another whole shark!
The wobbegong has a dislocating jaw and backward pointing teeth, so that it can eat
disproportionately large prey, such as this poor unsuspecting brown-banded bamboo
shark.
National Geographic has just released the classic photo Daniela took.
As
spectacular as the photo is, it is not at all uncommon for wobbegong to be found
eating such large meals.
Humans too have suffered bites from wobbegong sharks, but not as a result of an
outright attack. Such incidents were more likely caused by someone inadvertently
treading on one of them, in shallow water, the shark bite then being a reflex defense
response.
newsLetter - 28
EXERCISE
LARGE PREY
A waiting game
A1 What animal is found waiting at the bottom of the ocean floor?
A2 Where in the world was Daniela, when she photographed this animal?
A3 What enables these animals to devour such large prey?
A4 If a human is bitten by a wobbegong, what is the most likely reason for this?
B1 Write all new words on the whiteboard.
B2 If you know the meanings of any of these words, write a sentence next to the word
you know, showing how to correctly use that word. Discuss these sentences as a
class, correcting each other respectfully, where necessary:)
C1 In groups, discuss other animals that eat disproportionately large prey? What
animals are they, and what prey do they eat?
C2 Where is The Great Barrier Reef? What can you find out about this wonder of the
world? Write a facts sheet.
C3 Make a travel brochure, advertising this place as a travel destination, showing
headlines describing the wonderful sights one might see there. Display your
brochures!
newsLetter - 29
Published: 12-02-20 - 12-02-26
(B2) FATAL FOOD
Assumed entertainment
A restaurant in the US advertises its meals in a rather provocative way. The
advertising campaign, certainly not aiming to provoke one to a healthy diet, brags
about the potentially lethal nature of the food one will consume as a guest at the
restaurant.
Whilst dining there, one can order a single, double, triple, or quadruple bypass
burger, flat-liner fries cooked in lard, and butterfat milkshakes. The meat consumed
on each burger ranges from 230g per burger, up to 800g, and up to 8,000 calories!
Any one weighing over 350 lbs is invited to dine free. The warning issued on the
restaurant's website is: "Taste definitely worth dying for".
Last week, one unfortunate diner almost proved them right! Whilst consuming a triple
bypass burger at this Las Vegas restaurant, he suffered a heart attack.
Customers dining there thought it was part of the entertainment provided. While he
suffered the heart attack, sweating and shaking, they took photographs of the poor
man.
It is the first actual cardiac incident at the restaurant, aptly named, The Heart Attack
Grill! Fortunately this customer survived. It remains to be seen however, whether or
not he will return for another triple bypass burger at The Heart Attack Grill!
newsLetter - 30
EXERCISE
FATAL FOOD
Assumed entertainment
A1 What is unusual about the restaurant this article describes?
A2 What are the names of the meals one can order, at this restaurant?
A3 What is the warning issued on the restaurant's website?
A4 Describe in your own words, what happened to the customer at this restaurant last
week, and how the other patrons responded?
A5 What is the name of the restaurant?
B1 In pairs, discuss the passage, and the meanings of any new words.
B2 What is a 'quadruple by-pass'? Explain why this is a provocative name for a
burger.
B3 Find out the meaning of the term, 'flat-line'. What is lard? In your own words, write
a description of 'flat-liner fries cooked in lard'.
B4 In groups, discuss and research, other English expressions using the words, die,
death, or dying. Write them on the whiteboard and discuss as a class.
C1 Look at this picture of a 'quadruple bypass':
www.heartattackgrill.com/picture/Quadruple.jpg.
Can you imagine eating this meal, and how long do you think it would take you?
What other ingredients are in this burger? List them.
C2 Design a short menu that has a healthy food focus. Come up with names for each
item that would inspire one to want to eat healthily.
D1 Discuss in groups whether you think promoting food in the way it is promoted at
The Heart Attack Grill is positive or negative. Debate the topic as a class.
newsLetter - 31