P7 Find the Word: Gravestone for Titanic Fall Boy
plunged, connected, vessel, construction, unveiled, voyage, haunts, fracture, luxury, striking,
iceberg, ceremony
P9 Literacy Workout 1
Filling the Blanks: Bats
Bats are the only mammals that have wings and are capable of flight. Many are grotesquelooking animals with huge ears and strange faces. They produce high-pitched sounds which
bounce off nearby objects. This ‘echo’ is picked up by the bat’s large ears, and the bat uses it
to locate its prey and avoid obstacles. This is called echolocation.
Almost a quarter of all mammal species alive in the world today are bats. Nearly all are
nocturnal - active only at night. Most eat insects, but some feed on larger creatures such as
mice, or other bats. A few catch fish, and three species take blood from large birds or
mammals. Some bats feed on nectar and are important in carrying pollen from flower to
flower, while others are fruit eaters.
Most bats fly more slowly than birds, but have more control. They can turn, twist and fly
without hesitation, through small gaps that would defeat the majority of birds. Flight uses a
lot of energy. Most bats conserve their resources by letting their temperatures drop and
remaining still when they are not flying. In cool parts of the world bats hibernate in winter,
but a few species migrate to where there are better supplies of food.
There are still huge populations of many sorts of bats, but others are becoming rare, as a
result of pollution and changes in the environment.
P12 Find the Word: The Night the Martians Landed
creatures, reacted, fled, confirmed, hysterical, portion, dramatist, location, provided, popular,
aired, rival, increase, orchestra, detected, resumed, peering, wriggling, glistens, serpent
P16 Literacy Workout 2
Proofreading
Rescuers are searching for twenty-nine people. Who are still missing from the reck of a luxury
liner off the coast of Italy. The coastguard said six Bodies had been found so far he deneid a
report in an Italian newspaper that a seventh body had been found. Those unaccounted for
include fourteen germans, six Italians, four French two Americans, one Hungarian, one
Indian and one Peruvian.
The pop group Little Mix made X factor history in 2011 as they became the first Group
ever to win the tallent show. Jesy Nelson Perrie Edwards Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade
Thirlwall beat Marcus Collins in the final after a series of stunning performances on the show
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The four girls screamed with delite and. Then burst into tears when it was announced that
they had won the show.
P17 Literacy Workout 3
Filling the Blanks: Border Collies
Border collies are intelligent working dogs. Bred for livestock control, they will work
tirelessly for hours on end without complaint, even if injured. They will work even if out of
sight or hearing of their masters, locating lost sheep and returning them to the fold. When
working, the front legs and head are set low while the collie maintains eye contact with its
opponent. They react quickly to any movement to keep the herd under control.
Be prepared if you plan to keep one as a pet. They are not suited to being inside all day
long. Border collies need room to run and because of their high intelligence they need some
form of training or duties if they cannot perform their natural tasks of livestock control. Ball
or frisbee chasing can be an effective form of activity to keep the dog’s mind alert.
Border collies tend to chase or control anything that moves. Small children running in
the back yard are often targets as are bicycles or moving cars. Nipping the legs or heels are
a collie’s way of controlling sheep but can be frightening to children so care must be taken
to control this behaviour early in the dog’s life.
If you have the time to spend training and working with your border collie you will be
amazed at the skills the dog can learn and the stamina it has to perform what it has learned.
P20 Find the Word: Ghosts and what you should know about them
advent, swapping, folklore, apparition, transparent, hazy, atmosphere, associated, relative,
deserted, swaying, slinking, transformed, wreaks, havoc, tricksters, accomplices
P20 Literacy Workout 4
Two – To – Too: Choosing the right one
1. ‘Miriam and Samantha were there too ,’ she said. 2. I got two new PlayStation games for
my birthday. 3 We have a lot of work to do. 4. ‘Can I bring two of my friends?’ she asked. 5.
They complained that I was talking too loud. 6. Please give that back to me. 7. I saw two
hitchhikers while I was driving to Cork. 8.‘Too many cooks spoil the broth,’ he said. 9. I
downloaded two albums last month. 10. Are you feeling well enough to go to school today?
11. Tom had written two letters to the mayor already. 12. ‘It is too crowded in here,’ she said.
13. Kim was sent to the principal’s office. 14. My cousin brought her two dogs along to the
beach. 15. We are meeting at the cinema at half past two. 16. I meant to warn him about it but
it was too late. 17. ‘What are the two of you up to?’ he asked. 18. ‘Give me two minutes to
finish my work,’ she said. 19. There is too much salt on these crisps. 20. Celine had to walk
to school that morning.
P21 Literacy Workout 5
Proofreading
Hundreds of Fossils collected by the great scientist Charles Darwin have been found after
being missing for over 150 years the discoveries were made by scientist Howard Falcon-lang
when he stumbeld upon glass slides containing the fossils in an old wooden cabinet in a
dusty corner of the british Geological Survey. Dr Falcon-Lang picked up one of the Slides to
examin it and recognised Darwin’s Signature on it.
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Adult Wolves are usually six to seven feet in length from nose to tale and weigh between
sixty and eighty kilograms wolves have a thick layer of fur to protect them from the cold
and this furr can be grey, white red brown or black or a mixture of any of these colours.
wolves live in groups called ‘packs’ and there are usually five to fifteen wolves in a pack
P24 Find the Word: Cora Harrison
attended, possessed, bound, miserable, inhabited, picture, shelter, enough, wondered,
managed, fog, lingered, agreeable, spoilt, seldom, affectionate, expensive, rely, reluctant
P25 Literacy Workout 6
Filling the Blanks: Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick is situated near the town of Westport in County Mayo, Ireland. It is
approximately 92km from Galway City and 230km from Dublin City. The main pilgrimage
route originates in the village of Murrisk, 8km outside Westport.
Croagh Patrick’s history as a place of worship reaches back in time as far as 3,000BC. The
mountain’s popularity among religious pilgrims dates to the time of St. Patrick, who is said
to have completed a forty-day Lenten ritual of fasting and penance here. Legend also has it
that Croagh Patrick is the mountain from which he banished snakes from Ireland forever!
Each year, on the last Sunday in July, thousands of devotees from all around the world
visit the mountain for what is known as ‘Reek Sunday’, a day of worship in honour of
Ireland’s patron saint. Some people even climb the mountainside barefoot, as an act of
penance. Outdoor Masses are held throughout the day at St. Patrick’s Chapel. This is one
place in rural Ireland where you can meet and speak with people from around the globe.
An archaeological excavation by the National Monuments Service commenced on 2
August 1994. It discovered evidence of Christian activity but also showed that Croagh Patrick
was a place of tremendous importance in the pre-Christian era, as indicated by the discovery
of a Celtic hillfort encircling the summit of the mountain.
The exciting discovery of a dry stone oratory push back further in time our knowledge
of pilgrimage architecture on the summit. It is akin to the Gallarus Oratory in County Kerry
and has been radiocarbon dated to between 430 and 890AD.
P28 Find the Word: A Continent with a Difference
government, treaty, prohibits, temperature, frigid, descends, constant, survive, principal,
species, creatures, nutritious, adapts, expedition, tragically, heroic
P28 Literacy Workout 7
There – Their – They’re: Choosing the right one
1. They’re leaving the country tomorrow. 2. What is in that box over there? 3. The architect
said there is a problem with their house. 4. The neighbours said they’re coming over later.
5. Just leave it there on the table, please. 6. Does James know the way there? 7. I left all of their
shoes over there by the door. 8. We told everyone to bring their partners. 9. Their house was
sold. 10. Yesterday there was an accident on our road. 11. They’re crazy! 12. I know where
their house is but I’ve never been there. 13. Was it their own car or did they rent it? 14. There
is no such thing as unicorns. 15. Sam felt that there was someone watching him. 16. I think
they’re tired after such a long day. 17. There was no one there when we got to the station.
18. Do you know their address? 19. They’re very friendly people. 20. She thought there was
something odd about their behaviour.
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P31 Word Scramble 1
trek lyric hovel posture active kindly jealous chimney
P31 Literacy Workout 8
Proofreading
A turkish man named Sultan Kösen is the world’s tallest man He was mesured by Guinness
World Records in february 2011 and is eight foot three inches tall. Kösen’s parents three
brothers and his sister are all of normal height. But he has a health problem which causes him
to keep growing. Kösen also has the largist Hands in the world and size twenty-eight feet.
Michelangelo was an Italian renaissance artist who painted the seiling of the Sistine chapel
between 1508 and 1512. He painted many images of stories. From the Bible, including Adam
and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Noah and the Great flood and the prophets Jonah Isaiah and
Daniel. Michelangelo also painted The last Judgment on the wall behind the alter of the
Sistine Chapel which is a massive painting of the second coming of Christ.
P34 Find the Word: Fables
approached, capture, pit, pounced, relaxed, whispered, deserts, celebrate, retreat, consider,
outwit, proposal, solve, applause
P35 Literacy Workout 9
Were – Where – We’re: Choosing the right one
1. Niall thought they were due to arrive on Thursday. 2. ‘If we’re late they will leave without
us,’ said Fiona. 3. Where did you go for lunch? 4. Were you at the match last week? 5. He
asked where the doctor lived. 6. The cats were purring. 7. ‘When we’re concentrating our
teacher is happy,’ said Deirdre. 8. Emma wanted to find out where they would meet. 9. We’re
going to cycle to where the match is being played,’ he said. 10. Do you know where we went
wrong? 11. We played well but Italy were the better team today. 12. I can’t remember where
we were at the time. 13. The man said that we were rude to him. 14. ‘Does your brother know
where he is going?’ Sinéad asked. 15. Jack knows that we’re not angry with him. 16. Joan
couldn’t remember where she had left her purse. 17. ‘We’re at the place where we met last
time,’ she said. 18. There were seven people ahead of me in the queue. 19. We were extremely
happy about the result. 20. Robert went to where his friends hang out near the park.
P38 Find the Word: Mysterious Sightings
mysterious, appear, aircraft, meteors, estimated, term, frequently, weird, geology, chatted,
colleagues, crescent, vicinity, observers, luminous, intense, editor, fake, interviewed,
migration
P40 Word Scramble 2
knot maize graph hunter joyful played advance magical
P41 Literacy Workout 10
Filling the Blanks: Sea horses
A sea horse is not a horse at all. Sea horses get their names because their profile resembles
that of a regular horse. A sea-horse is actually a fish.
Sea horses are not good swimmers. They do not swim horizontally like other fish. They
swim vertically or upright. Because of this they cannot move around as easily as other fish.
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To help them move they use a fin on their back, which is called a dorsal fin. They also use
small fins located behind their eyes called pectoral fins. They do not have a fin on their tails
like other fish so they wrap their tails around coral when they want to rest. Sea horses can
die of exhaustion so it is important for them to rest.
Sea horses can change colour to blend into their surroundings and avoid predators. They
can be red, black, brown, yellow, grey or white. They carry their young in pouches like a
kangaroo. They feed through long snouts and their diet consists of plankton, crustaceans
and shrimp.
They are covered in bone plates which are like a suit of armour. This protects them from
predators but makes it difficult for them to move.
P45 Find the Word: Tom Crean – the Greatest Polar Hero of All
enlist, major, deserted, volunteered, wasteland, majority, promoted, remained, trek,
deteriorate, symptoms, companions, rations, blizzard, delayed, modest, sombre, eventually,
stranded, hazardous
P47 Literacy Workout 11
Proofreading
1. Death Valley is an infamus desert valley in the state of california in the United States of
America It is situated within the Mojave Desert, which is a huge desert covering parts of
the states of California, Nevada Arizona and Utah. Death valley is the lowest hotest and
driest part of the United States. the highest temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was
57.6 degrees Celsius in july 1913.
2. Billy the kid was a notorius outlaw in the Old West. His mother was an irish immigrant
who travelled to New York in the 1840s. Billy the Kid was abandoned by his father and
his mother died when he was still very young He went on to become the most feared
Gunfighter of his day. he was also said to be a smart charming and fun-loving caracter.
He was shot dead by a Sheriff named Pat Garrett.
P47 Word Scramble 3
lamb linen otter future chapel outrun bargain chemist
P50 Find the Word: Three Men in a Boat
opportunities, pursue, seize, regretfully, choppy, hurricane, gleaming, marina, pollock,
contemplate, recently, galley, ruefully, parliament, talented, propeller, pirates, hazards,
odyssey
P51 Literacy Workout 12
Filling the Blanks The Garda Dog Support Unit
The Garda Dog Unit celebrated fifty years in existence in 2010. Over the years the unit has
grown and become an integral part of policing. The main Dog Support Unit is based at
Kilmainham Garda Station, Dublin and there is another dog unit in the southern region.
The Garda dogs assist in searches for suspects of crimes and for evidence which may have
been discarded. The dogs are also trained to work in serious public order disturbances. Most
of the Garda dogs are ‘detector’ dogs. These dogs are trained to locate illegal drugs and
explosives. The remaining dogs are ‘cadaver’ dogs and help to recover missing persons and
dead bodies.
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Potential Garda dogs are assessed for around four weeks and, if suitable, they start the
training programme at the Dog Unit. It can take at least eight weeks to train a dog to search
for drugs and explosives, and up to fourteen weeks to train for patrols and to search for
people. After the training is completed the dog and its handler start duty immediately,
although ongoing training is continued on a very regular basis. The dogs live in their
handler’s home, so they build a trusting and close relationship with their handler, although
they understand the difference between work and off duty.
Because of their keen sense of smell, dogs can do what no human or machine can. Many
discoveries of people, drugs and explosives would be impossible without their assistance.
P54 Find the Word: People Down Under
inhabitants, scientists, canoes, amounts, extended, currently, estimate, likely, reason, horizon,
occurred, searing, curious, tribes, weapons, carved, chartered, fleet, purpose, expedition
P58 Find the Word: Going on Holiday?
minimise, endure, prolonged, drought, neighbours, conserve, depression, alternatively,
capillary, provide, fortnight, emerged
P58 Word Scramble 4
quit, occur, grasp, collar, malice, parish, initial, hamster
P59 Literacy Workout 13
Filling the Blanks: Balloons
Hot air is lighter than cold air and so it rises. To make a balloon fly, the air inside it must be
heated. Modern balloons carry gas burners to do this. If the burner is turned on, the balloon
rises. When the air inside cools, the balloon loses height.
Toy balloons are not filled with hot air but still rise up. They are filled with helium gas,
which is lighter than air. Hydrogen is the lightest gas and was used in passenger-carrying
balloons and airships until the 1930s. Unfortunately it catches fire easily and, after a series
of bad accidents, it ceased to be used. In recent years balloons are again being used for
transport but they are filled with helium, which cannot burn, and which is now more readily
available than it was in the 1930s.
Nowadays the most common balloon flights are for pleasure or sport. Balloon festivals are
held in many countries and bring together balloonists for competitions.
The balloon is made of nylon and can be as large as a house when it is inflated. For storing,
it folds into a parcel that is small enough to fit in a car boot. There is a panel at the top which
is attached with Velcro tape. This is ripped off after landing to allow the hot air to escape
quickly.
Hanging under the balloon from wires or ropes is the basket. This is not very large and
on a long flight it can be very cold and uncomfortable, although the excitement and superb
views make up for this. The basket also carries the gas cylinders and instruments, which the
crew need to calculate their height, direction, and how much fuel they still have. The gas
burner is fixed to the basket’s frame. It is like a large camping gas stove and is used in short
bursts to keep the balloon at the chosen height. Balloons go where the wind takes them and
an experienced pilot will change altitude to use the winds to best advantage.
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P61 Find the Word: Be Very Afraid
snarling, pose, confused, familiar, conclusions, ancestors, frequently, gloomy, dense, outlaws,
roamed, extinct
P64 Find the Word: I’m off to a Flying Start
familiar, towers, snag, rookie, simulator, nervous, panic, dreading, runway, instinct, error,
react, manage, complicated, steer, massive, attempt, aviation, incredibly, challenging
P65 Word Scramble 5
quiz prowl stalk wither tricky soccer reverse iceberg
P68 Find the Word: Halloween
glimmering, fleeting, seldom, mischief, predict, livestock, benefit, disguise, conquered,
combined, commemorating, orchards, festivities, initials, martyrs
P69 Literacy Workout 14
Were; Where; We’re – Choosing the right one
1. They were seen running through the fields last night. 2. Do you know where the nearest
hardware store is? 3. ‘I hate to say it but I think we’re lost,’ he said. 4. He wanted to know
where the keys were kept. 5. She asked the children if they were tired. 6. We were late for
class again. 7. We’re not going anywhere until we get paid,’ the man shouted. 8. Can you
remember where we took the wrong turn? 9. The teacher said that we’re the best class she
has ever taught. 10. ‘Where do you think we’re going to get the money to pay for this?’ asked
Keith’s mother.
P71 Find the Word: Putting children’s ready-meals to the test
bombarded, obesity, nutrition, dietician, tackle, cereals, vegetables, implications, joint,
internally, externally, inclined, diminish
P72 Literacy Workout 15
Proofreading
On 17 january 2012 one of the world’s greatest sportsmen the boxer Muhammad ali,
celebrated his seventieth birthday. Ali is a three-time world heavywait champion boxer and
is often referred to as simply ‘the Greatest’ Ali had some memorable fights with Joe Frazier
George Foreman and Leon Spinks among others. but he is also known for his wit warm
personality and for speeking out against injustice.
The russian tenis player Maria Sharapova has won twenty-four WTA singles titles
Sharapova has also won three Grand Slam singles titles: at Wimbledon in 2004 the US open
in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008. Sharapova lives and tranes in the United States she
is sponsored by nike and is said to be the highest paid female athlete in the world.
P73 Literacy Workout 16
Adverbs List A:
angrily, annually, bitterly, bravely, busily, cautiously, easily, equally,
frequently, gracefully, heavily, honestly, newly, noisily, patiently,
quickly, rapidly, rarely, responsibly, scornfully, secretly, tidily.
Adverbs List B:
attentively, fatally, feebly, gently, gradually, harshly, hungrily, idly,
immediately, leisurely, loyally, nobly, pitifully, practically, predictably,
probably, sensibly, skillfully, steadily, suitably, tidily, wearily
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P75 Find the Word: Motorcyclists Beware
released, representing, pillion, urging, ensure, protective, vulnerability, reflective, executive,
regard, junctions, cautious
P78 Find the Word: Paragliding
soaring, airstrip, airborne, alternative, portable, parachutes, modifications, manoeuvrable,
fabric, increasing, enthusiasts, extremely
P78 Word Scramble 6
slab punch grimy kicked garden filter flavour dolphin
P79 Literacy Workout 17
Proverbs
(a) silence (b) lift (c) ill, blows (d) choosers (e) bridges (f) peanuts, monkeys (g) public (h)
leap (i) grow (j) gained (k) turn (l) company
P83 Literacy Workout 18
Filling the Blanks: Spiders
Spiders belong to a group of animals known as ‘Arachnids’. They have a two-part body, four
pairs of legs and two pincers.
They don’t have antennae, but instead have bristly hairs on their body and legs, which
are used to pick up signals and messages. Spiders can actually taste things with their feet.
All spiders are carnivorous, but they have small mouths, so in order to eat they inject
deadly poison into their victims with their sharp fangs. The poison contains digestive fluids
which turn the insides of their victims into a kind of soup. The spider then drinks their
insides leaving just an empty skin.
Some spiders spin webs to catch their food. Unfortunate victims, like flies, get trapped on
the sticky strands of the web, and then the spider moves in for the kill. Other spiders hunt
by stalking their prey.
P85 Find the Word: Walkers Stray on to Army Firing Range
incidents, artillery, range , responding, assistance, descended, zone, defence forces, alert,
concerned, trio, disorientated, visibility, compasses, spokesperson
P89 Find the Word: The Story of the Electric Guitar
overtaken, expensive, ideal, accompany, capable, disadvantage, experimented,
collaborations, favoured, manufacturers, hollow, mellow, approached, completed, instant,
identical
P91 Find the Word: End of an Era
cockpit, astronauts, glided, final, emotions, museum, capsules, dwindling, redundancies,
witnessed, duplicated, colleagues
P96 Word Scramble 7
yawn giant spice dolmen brooch author extreme measure
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P97 Literacy Workout 19
Proofreading
In the passed the vast majority of the World drove on the left-hand side of the road. Today
about two-thirds of the world drives on the right-hand side and one third drives on the lefthand side countries that drive on the right-hand side include the United States, Russia China
and most of the EU. The United Kingdom, Ireland India and australia are amung the
countries that drive on the left
On 12 May 2011 Irish pop duo Jedward represented Ireland at the eurovision Song
Contest held in the city of düsseldorf in Germany. The cheaky pair made it through. To the
final on 14 May 2011 and achieved eighth place. They performed the Song ‘Lipstick’ which
has since been released as the first singel from their second album Victory ‘Lipstick’ reached
Number one in the Irish charts.
P100 Find the Word: Prevention is Better than Cure
recovered, historian, plague, immunity, risks, technique, contagious, isolated, sceptical,
eradicated, responsible, infectious, surgeon, milkmaids, breakthrough, incision, symptoms,
undaunted, ridiculed, clergy
P101 Literacy Workout 20
Proverbs
(a) louder (b) crawl (c) longest (d) heat, kitchen (e) mended (f) perfect (g) built (h) iron (i)
cheap (j) greener, fence (k) strokes (l) masters.
P103 Find the Word: Humpback Whale Spotted
sighted, dinghy, encountered, confirmed, yacht, permitting, coincidence, whalers, inhabit,
commercially, researching, migrations
P106 Find the Word: The Riddle of Lough Ness Monster
exploited, attraction, abating, prehistoric, vanished, binoculars, concentrating, surface, eerie,
swiftly, numerous, carcasses
P107 Literacy Workout 21
Filling the Blanks: Sharks
Sharks are amazing creatures. They come in a huge variety of colours, shapes and sizes.
There are over four hundred species of shark.
The largest shark is the whale shark. It can measure up to eighteen metres long. It is
estimated that a whale shark can live for up to one hundred and fifty years. Many of the
smaller sharks can live for between twenty and thirty years. The smallest shark is the dwarf
lantern shark. It is only fifteen to twenty centimetres long.
Shark skin is extremely tough. Sharks do not have scales like other fish. Their skin is
covered in small plates coated in enamel. This is the substance that our teeth are made from.
Shark teeth usually fall out after one week. Shark teeth are arranged in rows so that when one
falls out another can take its place within a day. A shark can have as many as fifteen rows of
teeth in each jaw but most only have five rows of teeth.
P110 Find the Word: Matt Groening
instantly, ideal, popular, devise, audience, moderately, homemaker, siblings, syndicated
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P110 Word Scramble 8
plot pearl exist/exits health police simple builder explode
P111 Literacy Workout 22
Proverbs
(a) calm (b) good, end (c) crying, spilt (d) bed, lie (e) no (f) count, chickens (g) broken (h)
cradle, world (i) dogs, fleas (j) well (k) rains (l) early, worm.
P114 Find the Word: Panto Time
auditorium, clamped, scribbling, choreographer, sequence, pantomime, crew, complicated,
costume, schedule, complaining, rely, risk, vital, concern, exact, predominantly, audience,
amused, rushed
P115 Literacy Workout 23
Filling the Blanks: Snakes
There are around three thousand species of snake in the world. About 375 species are
venomous.
Some snakes, like the python, are so big that they can swallow a deer whole, while others
are only a few centimetres long. The Anaconda can grow up to twelve metres in length, while
the smallest snake is only five centimetres long.
Some snakes can climb trees, others live underground and many swim in lakes. Snakes
come in a variety of colours. Snakes that have dull colouring usually use it as camouflage.
Brightly coloured snakes are usually poisonous.
Snakes are mostly found in tropical countries but can survive in cold countries. There are
snakes living in Iceland and even in Antarctica.
Snakes, like all reptiles, are cold blooded. This means that they cannot control their body
temperature. They must rely on the sun and on their environment to control it.
Snakes can survive for days without food. This is because they have a slow metabolism.
A king cobra can go for months without food.
P119 Find the Word: The Mystery of the Marie Celeste
launched, mishaps, extensive, cargo, manufacture, hold, unmanned, vessel, voyage, mutiny,
observed, courage
P127 Literacy Workout 24
Filling the Blanks: Google Hits the Highway
Google is well known for its internet search engine but last year the company hit the highway.
It sent a fleet of six self-driving cars into the world. Each had a contraption on the top that
looked like a wide metal headband topped by a small, spinning cylinder. People rode inside,
but only to give directions and ensure that the car ran correctly.
The cars zipped all around northern California. They navigated the turns of the Pacific
Coast Highway, a narrow road that hugs California’s rugged coastline. They crossed the
Golden Gate Bridge and zigzagged down the eight tight turns of San Francisco’s Lombard
Street, one of the most crooked streets in the world. All in all, the cars drove 225,300
kilometres.
The company wasn’t just showing off. Google’s researchers have safety in mind, and the
computer programs behind these cars are designed to turn roads into safer places. A
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computerised car, they say, can’t be distracted by phone calls or iPods. Using video cameras,
radar sensors and lasers, the cars detect other cars and obstacles, which can help to avoid
crashes. Around the world each year, traffic accidents kill more than one million people and
injure 50 million others.
Driverless trains have been running safely for years. In Detroit an automated train has
been shuttling people since 1987. At airports such as Denver International Airport, automated
trains take people to their planes. In some ways, automated trains are less complex; they
move only forwards or backwards, accelerating or braking. Building automated cars is a
more complicated project.
P133 Find the Word: Rosie’s Gift Part 1
severe, genius, somersaults, hail, ignored, interruption, elements, dangerous, muttered,
embarrassment, fortune, murderer, marble, bounce, garret, frightening, justice, mimicking
P137 Find the Word: Rosie’s Gift Part 2
tremendous, conversation, dismissed, convinced, diamond, century, sparse, fascinated,
impending, recoiled, enthusiastically, paused, isolated, separated, sombre, occurred,
astonished
P139 Find the Word: The Anniversary Part 1
recalled, vowing, sentence, struck, warder, taunted, remission, incident, salvation, provoke,
react, marvel, convict, strode, notice, proprietor
P142 Find the Word: The Anniversary Part 2
fascinate, spectators, louts, emotions, tormentors, famished, morsel, glancing
P142 Word Scramble 9
after noisy youth yellow taller garden motion attract
P143 Literacy Workout 25
Filling the Blanks: Vampire Bats
Vampire bats are not a myth. They really do exist. There are three different species of vampire
bat living in South America.
The vampire bat has a wingspan of around twenty centimetres. Its body is about the size
of an adult’s thumb. They are quite small. They feed on the blood of pigs, horses, cattle and
large birds. However, they don’t suck out the blood. They wait until the animal is asleep and
then they use their sharp teeth to make tiny cuts in the skin. The bat’s saliva contains a
chemical that stops the animal’s blood from clotting. As the animal bleeds, the bat laps up
the blood. The animal does not wake up because the bat’s saliva also contains a chemical
that numbs the skin.
Scientists have discovered that the saliva of the vampire bat is better at stopping blood
from clotting than any known medicine. One day the vampire bat may have a part to play
in the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.
Vampire bats are considered to be pests in South America where there are huge cattle
ranches. The bats are attracted to the sleeping cattle and there are programmes in place to get
rid of them.
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P147 Find the Word: Collision Course
grazed, betray, ambulance, surge, conductor, twirled, pausing
P150 Find the Word: Mayday Part 1
glancing, giant, passengers, routine, instantly, guilt, grumbled, simultaneously
P153 Find the Word: Mayday Part 2
obviously, reassure, rapidly, dimming, repeated, procedure, astonishment, jammed
P153 Literacy Workout 26
Proofreading
A dutch teenager named Laura Dekker has become the youngest Sailor to circumnavigate the
globe on her own at the age of sixteen. Dekker set sail from the caribbean island of st Martin
on 21 Janaury 2011 and returned from her round-the-world trip a year and a day later on the
21 january 2012. Dekker actually wanted to attempt the feet. When she was only fourteen but
was prevented from doing so by the Dutch authorities.
Jocelyn Bell-Burnell is an Astronomer and one of Ireland’s most importent scientists. In
1967, while she was a research student at Cambridge University she discovered pulsars by
observing the universe through radio telescopes. A Pulsar is a special type of star that is very
small but very heavy Many people think Bell-Burnell should have won a nobel prize for the
discovery but it was actually awarded to her superviser, professor Anthony Hewish.
P160 Word Scramble 10
zebra lying panic outfit muscle liquid invite brother
P161 Literacy Workout 27
Proverbs
1. lie 2. proof, eating 3. smoke 4. failure 5. stranger 6. pence, themselves 7. do 8. much 9. fish
10. spice 11. tune, fiddle 12. have, cake
P165 Find the Word: Death of a Chimney Sweep
frightened, hearth, risks, monster, courtyard, strolled, glanced, thinner, impatiently, ragged,
interference, soot, pavement, murder, smile, plunged
P169 Find the Word: The Goalkeeper’s Revenge
gleaming, satisfied, dash, arranging, threatened, league, inspector, directed, continue,
grunted, removed, hesitated, organised, factories, scolded, accepted, interfere, cunning
P170 Literacy Workout 28
Filling the Blanks: Bill Naughton
Bill Naughton was born in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo in 1910. When he was four, he
emigrated with his parents to Bolton, a town in Lancashire in the north west of England. He
left school at the age of fourteen and worked as a weaver, coal-bagger and lorry-driver before
he started writing fulltime. Bill Naughton wrote many plays, novels, short stories and
children’s books. His writing is largely inspired by people and events from working class life
in Lancashire in the period between the wars.
His play June Evening was televised in July 1960. The story is set around a Lancashire
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street with a corner shop and is credited with being the inspiration for the long-running
television serial, Coronation Street, which first went on air in 1961.
His most famous play, Alfie, was made into a film, starring Michael Caine. Two other
plays of his, Spring and Port Wine and The Family Way were also made into successful films.
The collection of short stories The Goalkeeper’s Revenge: And Other Stories was very popular
when it was published in 1967. His 1977 children’s novel My Pal Spadger is an account of his
childhood in 1920s Bolton. Bill Naughton died in 1992 in The Isle of Man.
P172 Literacy Workout 29
Proofreading
The medal ceremony for the 2011 Winter Youth Olympics in the austrian city of Innsbruck
had to be abandond after the discovery of an unexploded World war Two bomb nearby. The
two hundred and fifty kilogram Bomb was found by construction workers it took explosive
expurts four hours to defuse the bomb The Innsbruck police said there had been a significant
Threat to public safety.
King minos of Crete had a labyrinth beneath his royal palace This labyrinth was an
extremly complicated Maze where Minos kept the Minotaur a dangerous creature which
was half man and half bull. The hero Theseus entered the labyrinth fought the Minotaur and
killed it with his bear hands. Theseus had also carried a ball of thread and unwound it.
Behind him as he walked through the labyrinth so he could find his way back out.
P173 Literacy Workout 30
Filling the Blanks: Walking in the Countryside
Farmland is private property and access is only available with the goodwill and tolerance of
farmers. While most farmers do not object to walkers crossing their land, others do not wish
to permit access. Their wishes must always be complied with.
Remember, farmland is a working environment and all persons who enter do so at their
own risk. Under the law, there is an obligation on entrants to take all necessary steps to ensure
their own safety.
Entrants are also responsible for any damage to private property, livestock and crops
resulting from their actions. If crossing farmland, ensure your presence is unobtrusive and
does not interfere with farming activities.
Remember:
1. Do not interfere with livestock, crops, machinery or other property.
2. Guard against all risks of fire, especially near forests.
3. Leave all farm gates as you find them.
4. Always keep children under close control and supervision.
5. Avoid entering farmland containing livestock. Your presence can cause stress to
livestock and even endanger your own safety.
6. Do not enter farmland if you have dogs with you, even if they are on a leash, unless
you have the permission of the landowner.
7. Take your litter home.
8. Avoid making any unnecessary noise.
9. Protect wildlife, plants and trees.
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P176 Find the Word: War Horse Part 1
eerie, remnants, sabre, galvanised, bedlam, carnage
P178 Word Scramble 11
dwell fruit gauze uproar system number labour captain
P179 Literacy Workout 31
Proverbs
1. brass 2. lunch 3. one 4. wrongs 5. mice, play 6. way 7. water 8. stone 9. purse, ear 10.
omelette,eggs 11. hare, hunt 12. tricks
P186 Find the Word: Christmas Morning
restless, rough, ashamed, information, foresight, sensible, practise, truculently, tossing,
particularly, dreadful, entirely, confused, disappointed, instant, baffled, quivering,
deprecatingly, benevolent, exacerbated
P187 Literacy Workout 32
Proofreading
Many people know the word ‘aardvark’ as the first word in the Dictionary but know very
little about the animal itself. The aardvark is a pig-like creature with a nose like an ant-eater
and ears like a donkey it has an excelent sense of smell great hearing strong claws and thick
skin. Aardvarks are found only in africa and they feed on ants termites and a special type of
friut called the aardvark cucumber.
The glove and shoe prints of the pop star Michael jackson were aded to the courtyard of
the famous Grauman’s chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Jackson’s three children, Prince Paris
and Blanket, were there to honour their late Father and to make the imprints in the wet
concret. Many fans and Celebrities turned up to see the ceremony and listened to, the three
children talk about the legacy of their father the King of pop.
P187 Word Scramble 12
awake flask verse puzzle parrot longer kidnap cyclone
P191 Find the Word: Titanic – An Edwardian Girl’s Diary 1912
decision, drenched, respond, gradually, persuaded, transferred, aimlessly, succumbed,
capsizing
P203 Literacy Workout 33
Filling the Blanks: X Factor
Do you watch the X Factor? Love it or hate it, it’s hard to get away from the most popular
television show in Britain. Every week millions of people tune in to see the next batch of
hopefuls showcase their talent before a panel of judges and a live studio audience.
Here are a few facts about the show. Last year the loudest audience was the London
audience. During the course of boot camp and the audition tour, over 14,980 bottles of water
were drunk.
The judges and the crew on the tour managed to consume thirty trolley loads of snacks.
The judges ate 490 chocolate bars. The judges also drank ten large bottles of water per day
and used three limes a day in the water.
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During the search for the X Factor winner, 1,500 miles are covered.
Leona Lewis, who won the X Factor in 2006 has sold over ten million albums worldwide.
She has had number one singles in thirty-two countries and is the first UK female debut
artist to get a number 1 album in the US.
Alexandra Burke who was the winner in 2008, sold over a million copies of her first single
‘Hallelujah’! She has since had two BRIT nominations for Best British Single.
P211 Literacy Workout 34
Proofreading
Americans celebrate the Birthday of the sivil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. every year
on the third monday in January. This holiday is known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and is
a celebration of his life the civil rights movement and of racial equality. King was awarded
the nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work to end racial segragation and discrimination.
Through nonviolent means. he was assassinated in 1968.
Heracles is the greatest hero in greek mythology. His father was Zeus, the king of the
gods and his mother was a mortle woman named Alcemene. His most famous deeds are the
twelve Labours of Heracles which include stories of how he killed a fearsome lion destroyed
a serpent-like creature called a Hydra and captured cerberus the masive three-headed dog
which guarded the gates of the underworld.
P211 Word Scramble 13
blaze index smoke rocket nozzle packet object dustbin
P215 Find the Word: Snakehead
impact, shock, imagination, crammed, hurtling, gravity, neoprene, pacific, chaotic, puppet,
disbelief, rendezvous, plummeted, astronauts
P215 Literacy Workout 35
Proofreading
More than sixty people, most of them homeless have died in a cold snap across Eastern
europe. The temperature in Ukraine fell to minus 33 degrees celsius Bosnia experienced
tempratures of minus 31 degrees celsius and Poland Romania and bulgaria experienced
minus 30 degrees celsius. Some countries had to call in the army. to help secur food and
medical supplies and set up Emergency shelters for the homeless.
The british broadcasting groop Sky has announced that it is to create more than 800 jobs
when it opens a new customer service centre in Dublin. The new Jobs will be created over
the next two years and will include positions in customer service human resourses and in
Management. The new customer service centre will be situated in the burlington plaza in
Dublin’s city centre
P233 Word Scramble 14
royal mixer jewel senior normal poster member extreme
P237 Literacy Workout 36
Proofreading
One of the most amazing substances found in nature is Spider’s silk. Most species of spider
have Glands to produce silk for different purposes, including building a web capturing prey
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and protecting their eggs spider’s silk is five times stronger than steal more elastic than a
ruber band and is so light that a strand long enough to circle the earth would weigh less than
a bar of soap
Pieces of chinese porcelain have been acheiving very high prices at auctions in Ireland in
recent years The reason for this is that wealthy Chinese Collectors are buying up items which
represent the country’s Imperial past. A huge amount of Chinese porcelain was exported to
Europe. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Experts point out that even those pieces
with modest valuations, can become the subject of frenzied bidding and sell for large summs
of money.
P241 Word Scramble 15
awful knife owner expect divide jumble frozen hopeful
P245 Literacy Workout 37
Filling the Blanks: Losing their bottle
In 2009 Washington University in St. Louis became the first college in the United States to
stop selling bottled water. Since then, more than a dozen small colleges have done the same.
The ban isn’t because the schools don’t want students to have easy access to water. Instead,
the goal is to encourage students to bring reusable bottles to save money and, more
importantly, to save the environment.
Many people believe that producing and using bottled water wastes money and harms
the environment. They say that bottled water is unnecessary because public water supplies
in the US are among the best in the world. These people believe that water fountains and
reusable bottles with easy access to filling stations are a better choice.
But the makers of bottled water argue that plastic bottles make up a small portion of the
nation’s total waste. They say it’s unfair to single out their product when so many other items
are packaged in plastic containers. Plus, water is a healthy option compared to some sodas
and juices which are also sold at school.
What do you think: should schools ban the bottle?
P247 Word Scramble 16
cycle extra chart expand invent mother tennis jumping
P251 Literacy Workout 38
Filling the Blanks: Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar.
The New Year begins on the first day of the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in February,
and the festivities continue for fifteen days.
At Chinese New Year celebrations, people wear red clothes, give children money in red
envelopes and set off firecrackers. Red symbolises fire, which the Chinese believe drives
away bad luck. Family members gather at each other’s homes for extravagant meals. Chinese
New Year ends with a lantern festival. People hang decorated lanterns in temples and carry
lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon. The highlight of the lantern
festival is often the dragon dance. The dragon – which can stretch a hundred feet long – is
typically made of silk, paper and bamboo.
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P255 Literacy Workout 39
Proofreading
A painting of empress Elisabeth of Austria has been found behind a Wardrobe in kennels in
Co. meath. The valuable oil painting, in a frame decarated with scrolling shamrock depicts
the Empress Elisabeth on horseback while hunting in the irish countryside. It was
commissioned by the empress who gave it to the Ward union Hunt folowing a visit to Ireland
in 1880. The painting was lost, decades ago and only rediscovered last year.
Social networking giant facebook is to be flowted on the public stock exchange in a move
that will raise at least $5 billion for the californian Company. The company is valued at $80100 billion. Mark zuckerberg, the 27-year-old co-founder and chief executive of the site is
the largest shareholder in Facebook with a 28.4 per cent stake this stake will be worth over
$25 bilion after the flotation.
P257 Word Scramble 17
asked eagle diver/drive spider purple guzzle extent knuckle
P259 Literacy Workout 40
Proofreading
More than one hundrid people are missing and feared dead after a Ferry sank off the coast
of Papua New Guinea Australia’s Maritime Safety authority (AMSA) said two hundred and
nineteen people had been rescued after eight, vessels and three hellicopters were dispatched
to the scene where the ferry went down. Spokeswoman carly Lusk said a greater loss of life
may have been avoided as the Sea conditions were very good
There has been much debate over a strain of the avian flu virus that sceintists have created
in laboratories in holland which can spread readily between Mammals. The avian influenza
virus rarely infects Humans but when it does it causes severe, disease and a high rate of
mortality many people believe it is iresponsible to create such dangerous viruses in the lab
and that they could be used for Harm if they fell into the wrong hands.
P261 Literacy Workout 41
Filling the Blanks: Yawning
Do you think that a great big yawn means you are really bored? Well, if you do, then you
cannot possibly be further from the truth. Many researchers think yawning is essential to
increase the oxygen intake to the lungs. A few, on the other hand, insist that yawning is
similar to stretching, as it increases blood pressure and heart beat rate.
While both research findings are correct, new studies show that yawning actually perk
you up instead of doing the opposite (as many of us seem to think). Scientists point out that
we have a tendency to yawn before a big event – athletes yawn before a race, pilots yawn
before take-off and students yawn before an exam.
Humans are not the only ones affected by the yawning bug. Animals have been observed
to yawn before feeding time while wild animals have a tendency to yawn before a fight.
The act is also highly contagious so if you spot someone with their mouth open, chances
are, you too will follow suit. New findings suggest that yawning may be signalling a need
for change.
Despite all these advancements, scientists still haven’t figured out why we yawn before
bed-time, but then again, that is our way of demanding a change – enough of the television,
time to go to bed!
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P263 Word Scramble 18
climb frown viking thread/dearth minute/minuet famous resort measure
P265 Literacy Workout 42
Proofreading
This year’s TG4 Young traditional Musician of the Year is Waterford uillean piper Caoimhín
Ó feargháil. Ó Feargháil was born near chicago in the United States but moved back to the
southeast, of Ireland at the age of seven. The waterford piper David Power was his teecher
and an early influence on Ó Feargháil. who also acknowledges seamus Ennis as an important
influince on his playing style.
Benny Lewis an electronic engineer from Co. Cavan has spent the past eight years
travelling the world learning more than twenty languages. Lewis was only avarage at
languages when he was at school but at the age of Twenty-one he decided to immerse,
himself in foreign languages and learn through socialising and communication Lewis’s
websight is now the busiest language Blog on the internet and he has written a very
successful book, on his learning methods.
P285 Literacy Workout 43
Filling the Blanks: Shandon
Dating back to the sixth century, the Church of St Anne in Shandon rises high above Cork city.
Shandon’s eight bells weigh over six tonnes and are commemorated in the song ‘The Bells
of Shandon’. Visitors can climb the tower and take in the stunning views below and will
even get a chance to ring the bells.
Shandon is a district in Cork city, its name deriving from the Gaelic term Sean Dún
meaning ‘Old Fort’. In medieval times it was known as the Church of St Mary’s. However,
after its destruction in 1690, during the Siege of Cork, the present day church of St. Anne
was erected in 1693. Its location was formerly Mallow Lane, which has also been renamed
Shandon Street.
The building consists of two vastly different types of stone. The red sandstone was taken
from the original walls of the Shandon Castle and the limestone was obtained from the ruins
of the North Mall Franciscan Abbey. As you approach the Shandon area you can vividly see
the red and white coloured stone of St Anne’s. Its first rector was the great-great-grandfather
of the first president of Ireland, Dr Douglas Hyde.
P293 Word Scramble 19
windy melon/lemon decent eleven island juggle zoology mixture
P293 Literacy Workout 44
Proofreading
Angelo Dundee, the legindary boxing trainer has died of a heart attack at Ninety years of age.
Dundee trained Muhammad Ali, Sugar ray Leonard George Foreman and many other world
champions. Dundee was inducted into the Boxing Hall of fame in 1994 and was one of
boxing’s most charismatic and admired characters Dundee passed away at his home in
florida surounded by family and friends.
The Government was hopeful that anglo Irish Bank’s extensive Art collection could be
sold to raise a signifigant amount of money for the country However it has turned out that
most of the three hundred and twenty peices of art are worth very little. about one-third of
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the Paintings have been valued as worthless and another one hundred, paintings have an
estimated value of less than €500. There are just one hundred Artworks that may be worth
more significant amounts.
P299 Literacy Workout 45
Filling the Blanks: Zebras
Zebras, those black and white striped animals, are distant cousins of the horse. They are
found only in Africa and are virtually untamable. One would think the stripes would make
them very conspicuous but among the tall grass the pattern is an excellent camouflage.
The bold wavy lines of a zebra blend in with the tall, wavy grass plains of Africa where
these animals live. The bold stripe may even serve to break up the shape of the zebra. If a
zebra is standing still in such surroundings, a lion, its chief predator, may overlook it
completely.
It doesn’t matter that the zebra’s stripes are black and white and the grass is dusty brown
or green, because the lion is colour-blind. This may benefit an individual zebra in some
situations, but is it likely that a large herd of zebra would be able to escape a lion’s notice?
This is exactly where it helps the zebra most. Zebra herds are very large but they stay very
close to one another. When all the zebras stick together in a herd, the pattern of stripes blends
together. This is confusing to the lion. All it can see is a large, moving, striped mass instead
of many individual zebras. The lion has trouble picking out individual zebras and it is harder
still for the lion to recognise which way each zebra is moving.
Each zebra pattern is unique, like a fingerprint; no two zebras are exactly alike. What is
truly amazing is that zebras can recognise other zebras from their body stripe. A mother can
instantly spot her colt in a herd.
P301 Word Scramble 20
horse/shore opera emblem fleece grease hammer section/notices pumpkin
P305 Literacy Workout 46
Filling the Blanks: Venice
Most people all over the world travel by road. In a city in Italy, however, waterways make
up the primary commuting routes. The city of Venice, rich in architectural marvels, is best
known for its canals. Unfortunately, this beautiful city of flat-bottomed boats (gondolas),
churches and quaint cobbled streets is sinking, and sinking fast.
Known as the ‘Queen of the Adriatic’, Venice is situated on 120 islands formed by canals
in the lagoon between the mouths of the Po and the Piave rivers, at the northern extremity
of the Adriatic Sea. Even the bits of firm ground have rather boggy foundations and all this
is slowly being eroded.
The existing ground water table and the global climate change that has raised sea levels
by several inches, are proving disastrous for the city. As sea-ice melts and water levels rise,
floods in Venice are going from bad to worse. Buildings are already feeling the impact of this
phenomenon, with their foundations literally being shaken.
Take for example one of the most famous landmarks of Venice, the 900-year-old St. Mark’s
Basilica, a famous cathedral that now leans slightly to the left because of its unstable
foundation. Experts warn that the city may sink an additional eight inches in the next fifty
years. Many worried residents have already started to move to drier regions in Italy’s
mainland.
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P309 Word Scramble 21
scale ruler gather hurley select timber voucher thirsty
P309 Literacy Workout 47
Proofreading
Kieran Behan, the second ever Irish gymnast to qualify for the olympics has had to overcome
advercity many times in his Career. When he was ten years of age complications, from
surgery on his leg left Kieran in a wheelchair. He returned to gymnastics over a year later but
then fell off the high bar and suffered a serius head injury. Which put him in a wheelchair
once again. Three years later, however, kieran returned to gymnastics training.
An Irishman has become the only man on the plannet to run seven marathons on seven
continents in less than five days. Richard donovan broke his own previous world record by
completing this extraordinary feat in four days twenty-two hours and three minites.
Donovan a father-of-one began his epic journey in antarctica running his first marathon in
minus twenty degrees Celsius. He finished his run in Sydney, australia. In total he ran 183
Miles.
P321 Word Scramble 22
mixer waste custom insult rocket oxygen yoghurt weekend
P325 Literacy Workout 48
Proofreading
Perseus was the greek hero who killed the gorgon medusa. Medusa was a snake-haired
monstere whose terrifying gaze turned men into stone Before Perseus confronted Medusa the
gods gave him several magical gifts, including a helmet which made him invisible sandals
which allowed him to fly and a polished sheild. Perseus was able to look at the Reflection of
Medusa in his shield without being turned to stone He sneaked up, on Medusa and cut her
head off.
The australian platypus is one of the World’s strangest creatures. It is a small furry mamal
with a bill like a duck a tail like a beaver and venomous claws on its hind feet, It is an
excellent swimmer and spends most of its time in streams and rivers. the platypus is also one
of the few mammals to lay eggs. Its distinctive bill, is covered in special cells which allow the
platypus to sense movemint and electrical fields in the water
P333 Word Scramble 23
orbit peace frozen injury jungle lagoon zooming varnish
P334 Literacy Workout 49
Filling the Blanks: Tintin
The beloved TV show and comic book series comes to life on the big screen. Join Tintin and
his pal Snowy as they delve into a deadly mystery in The Adventures of Tintin.
Tintin, a young journalist, stumbles upon an ancient mystery after purchasing an old
model ship from an antique dealer. A dangerous man named Sakharine asks to buy the ship,
but Tintin refuses to sell. He realises that the ship must be more valuable than it looks. After
Sakharine’s men ransack Tintin’s apartment and steal the ship, Tintin and Snowy find the
important piece that was left behind – a small tube containing an ancient message, the very
thing that the bad men are looking for.
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Sakharine kidnaps Tintin and takes him aboard a stolen ship, hoping to get some answers.
Tintin escapes, however, along with the drunken captain of the ship called Haddock, whose
ancestors just happen to have played a major role in this great mystery. Tintin, Snowy and
the captain embark on an adventure where they nearly drown in the ocean, crash in the
desert, are overtaken by a raging flood and shot down by Sakharine and his pals.
The Adventures of Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg, is a lifelike animated film which the
whole family will love. It is filmed with rich action scenes and tons of laugh-out-loud
moments.
P335 Literacy Workout 50
Filling the Blanks: Faulty Flight Message
Horrified passengers on board a British Airways flight were mistakenly told to prepare
themselves for a crash landing following a technical glitch.
An automatic crash message, which was played 35,000 feet in the air on the night flight from
Miami bound for Heathrow, shook passengers.
The pre-recorded message said: ‘This is an emergency announcement. We may shortly need
to make an emergency landing on water.’
As fear filled the cabin, an air stewardess came over the tannoy to tell distressed passengers
to ignore the announcement.
According to passengers, the error wasn’t properly explained by staff until after the plane
had landed at Heathrow and apology letters were handed out.
A British Airways spokesman told BBC News that the crash message was played in error.
‘There was a technical fault and the announcement was triggered. However, cabin crew
cancelled it immediately and the problem was quickly rectified. It’s rare but can happen on
all modern airlines as they use the same system.’
One passenger from Edinburgh spoke of the terrifying ordeal. ‘It was about 3 a.m. An alarm
sounded and we were told we were about to land in the sea. I thought we were going to die.
My wife was crying and passengers were screaming. Then they played an announcement
telling us to just ignore the warnings.’
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