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Date: Dec 15, 2006
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1,000 IDEAS FOR ESL CLASSES: Breaking News English.com's e-Book

THE ARTICLE

Tests show Diana driver was drunk

Almost ten years after the death of Britain's Diana, Princess of Wales, investigations are still going on to find out why she died. New DNA tests show the driver of Diana’s car was drunk when he was driving Diana and her partner Dodi Fayed back to their hotel in Paris. The tests are part of a BBC probe into the tragic car accident. A BBC documentary, How Diana Died: The Conspiracy Files, reveals new evidence on the driver of the Mercedes, Henri Paul. DNA data reveal he had three times the permitted level of alcohol in his blood. This supports the theory at the time of the accident that the driver was at fault for the high-speed collision. Many people believe he was driving fast to escape the paparazzi, who were chasing Diana and Dodi. A two-year French investigation concluded in 1999 that Henri Paul was drunk behind the wheel.

Diana’s death shocked the world. Many theories sprang up in the days, weeks and months following the tragedy. Many people believe it was planned by British authorities who did not want Diana to marry Dodi Fayed because he was a Muslim. Dodi’s father Mohammed Al Fayed, owner of the exclusive London department store Harrods, tried for many years to put the blame on Queen Elizabeth’s husband. He accused the Duke of Edinburgh of arranging the death to stop the future king of England, Diana’s son William, from having a Muslim stepfather. One of the more inventive theories was that farmers in Holland plotted Diana’s death to boost sales of Dutch flowers. Debate is sure to continue after Britain’s Lord Stevens published the British government’s inquiry. As expected, he concluded the crash was simply a “tragic accident”.

WARM-UPS

1. DIANA: Diana, Princess of Wales was one of the biggest celebrities and well-known faces in the world. What do you know about her? Find out as much as you can from your partner. Change partners often to build up your information.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

Princesses / Wales / investigations / DNA / documentaries / alcohol / paparazzi / being drunk / conspiracy theories / Prince William / flowers / accidents / car crashes

Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently.

3. ROYALS: Imagine you are a royal. Decide if you are a prince or princess, an emperor or empress, a sultan or sultana, a sheikh or sheikhah. Talk to the other “royals” in the class about the following:

  • The good things about being royal
  • The bad things about being royal
  • The royals in your family
  • Other royals in other countries
  • Countries that have no royal family
  • Clothes
  • Official duties
  • Dinner
  • Worthy causes
  • Other _____________

4. QUICK DEBATE: Students A believe having a monarchy and royal family is  a great idea. Students B believe monarchies are a bad idea and that it’s better to have people like George W. and Laura Bush. Debate this with your partners. Change partners often.

5. OPINIONS:  In pairs / groups, write down the opinions on monarchies of the following people. Change partners and exchange opinions. Talk about whether or not you agree with these opinions.

a.    A king / queen

b.    The leader of the government

c.     A homeless person

d.    A taxpayer

e.    The elected leader of a republic

f.     The paparazzi

g.    A souvenir shop owner

h.    Other_________________

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

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.

Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash five years ago.

T / F

b.

The driver had three times the permitted level of alcohol in his blood.

T / F

c.

Diana’s car was trying to escape terrorists on motorbikes.

T / F

d.

A 1999 French investigation showed the driver was sober.

T / F

e.

There were very few theories about Diana’s death after the crash.

T / F

f.

Some people believed the British government arranged the accident.

T / F

g.

One theory was that Dutch flower growers plotted Diana’s death.

T / F

h.

An official British enquiry concluded the death was a tragic accident.

T / F

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

a.

going on

investigation

b.

driver

devastating

c.

probe

emerged

d.

conspiracy

improve

e.

collision

chauffeur

f.

sprang up

plot

g.

exclusive

novel

h.

inventive

continuing

i.

boost

crash

j.

tragic

upmarket

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

a.

Almost ten years

new evidence on the driver

b.

investigations are still

sales of Dutch flowers

c.

part of a BBC probe

fault for the high-speed collision

d.

reveals

on Queen Elizabeth’s husband

e.

the driver was at

the wheel

f.

drunk behind

after the death

g.

Many theories

more inventive theories

h.

put the blame

going on

i.

One of the

sprang up

j.

boost

into the tragic car accident


WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words in the column on the right into the gaps in the text.

Tests show Diana driver was drunk
 

Almost ten years after the death of Britain's Diana, Princess of Wales, investigations are ________ going on to find out why she died. New DNA tests show the driver of Diana’s car was drunk when he was driving Diana and her partner Dodi Fayed back to their hotel in Paris. The tests are part of a BBC ________ into the tragic car accident. A BBC documentary, How Diana Died: The Conspiracy Files, reveals new ________ on the driver of the Mercedes, Henri Paul. DNA data ________ he had three times the ________ level of alcohol in his blood. This supports the theory at the time of the accident that the driver was at ________ for the high-speed collision. Many people believe he was driving fast to ________ the paparazzi, who were chasing Diana and Dodi. A two-year French investigation concluded in 1999 that Henri Paul was drunk ________ the wheel.

 

 

evidence
escape
still
permitted
behind
fault
probe
reveal

Diana’s death shocked the world. Many theories ________ up in the days, weeks and months following the tragedy. Many people believe it was planned by British ________ who did not want Diana to marry Dodi Fayed because he was a Muslim. Dodi’s father Mohammed Al Fayed, owner of the ________ London department store Harrods, tried for many years to put the ________ on Queen Elizabeth’s husband. He accused the Duke of Edinburgh of arranging the death to stop the future king of England, Diana’s son William, from having a Muslim ________. One of the more ________ theories was that farmers in Holland ________ Diana’s death to boost sales of Dutch flowers. Debate is sure to continue after Britain’s Lord Stevens published the British government’s inquiry. As expected, he ________ the crash was simply a “tragic accident”.

 

plotted
exclusive
stepfather
concluded
blame
sprang
inventive
authorities


LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Tests show Diana driver was drunk

Almost ten years after _________________ Britain's Diana, Princess of Wales, investigations are still going on to find out why she died. New DNA tests show the driver of Diana’s car was drunk when he was driving Diana and her partner Dodi Fayed back to their hotel in Paris. The tests are part of a _________________  tragic car accident. A BBC documentary, How Diana Died: The Conspiracy Files, reveals new evidence on the driver of the Mercedes, Henri Paul. DNA data reveal he had three times the _________________ alcohol in his blood. This supports the theory at the time of the accident that the driver _________________ the high-speed collision. Many people believe he was driving fast to escape the paparazzi, who were chasing Diana and Dodi. A two-year French investigation concluded in 1999 that Henri Paul was drunk _________________.

Diana’s death shocked the world. Many theories _________________ days, weeks and months following the tragedy. Many people believe it was planned by British _________________  not want Diana to marry Dodi Fayed because he was a Muslim. Dodi’s father Mohammed Al Fayed, owner of the exclusive London department store Harrods, tried for many years _________________ Queen Elizabeth’s husband. He accused the Duke of Edinburgh of arranging the death to stop the future king of England, Diana’s son William, from having _________________. One of the more inventive theories was that farmers in Holland plotted Diana’s death to boost sales of Dutch flowers. Debate is sure to continue after Britain’s Lord Stevens published the British government’s inquiry. As expected, he concluded the crash was _________________ .

 

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘DNA’ and ‘tests’.

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

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

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

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

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

5. STUDENT “DIANA” SURVEY: In pairs / groups, write down questions about Diana, Princess of Wales, her life and her legacy.

  • Ask other classmates your questions and note down their answers.
  • Go back to your original partner / group and compare your findings.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

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

·      still

·      probe

·      conspiracy

·      permitted

·      collision

·      wheel

·      sprang

·      authorities

·      exclusive

·      stepfather

·      boost

·      tragic


DISCUSSION

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

a.    Did the headline make you want to read the article?

b.    Did anything in the article surprise you?

c.    What do you think of Diana, Princess of Wales?

d.    Do you think monarchies are a good thing?

e.    How would the world be different if Diana were alive today?

f.     Would you like to be a prince or princess?

g.    What do you think of the Dutch flower growers conspiracy theory?

h.    What other conspiracy theories do you know about Diana’s death?

i.      Do you think it’s possible the British authorities planned the death?

j.     Do you think having a Muslim person marrying into the British monarchy would be good for inter-religious relations?

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

a.    Did you like reading this article?

b.    What do you think about what you read?

c.    Are you surprised investigations are still going on after ten years?

d.    What punishment should drunk drivers receive?

e.    Do you think the British princes William and Harry will follow in their mother’s footsteps and do lots of charity work?

f.     Are there unexplained deaths of high profile people in your country?

g.    Do you think Dodi Fayed’s father should accept the British enquiry’s conclusion that the death was simply a “tragic accident”?

h.    What question would you like to have asked Diana?

i.      What do you think her answer would have been?

j.     Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

a.    What was the most interesting thing you heard?

b.    Was there a question you didn’t like?

c.    Was there something you totally disagreed with?

d.    What did you like talking about?

e.    Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

ROYAL INTERVIEW: You will interview a royal person. Choose a royal from anywhere in the world. Write interview questions using the prompts below. Interview your “royal” partner. Write a magazine article on your interview.

The good things about being royal

 

 

 

The bad things about being royal

 

 

 

The royals in your family

 

 

 

Other royals in other countries

 

 

 

Countries that have no royal family

 

 

 

Clothes

 

 

 

Official duties

 

 

 

Dinner

 

 

 

Worthy causes

 

 

 

Other _____________

 

 

 

LANGUAGE

CORRECT WORD: Choose the correct words from a – d below and write them in the article.

Almost ten years after the death of Britain's Diana, Princess of Wales, investigations are still (1) ____ on to find out why she died. New DNA tests show the driver of Diana’s car was (2) ____ when he was driving Diana and her partner Dodi Fayed back to their hotel in Paris. The tests are part of a BBC probe into the (3) ____ car accident. A BBC documentary, How Diana Died: The Conspiracy Files, (4) ____ new evidence on the driver of the Mercedes, Henri Paul. DNA data reveal he had three times the (5) ____ level of alcohol in his blood. This supports the theory at the time of the accident that the driver was at fault for the high-speed (6) ____. Many people believe he was driving fast to escape the paparazzi, who were chasing Diana and Dodi. A two-year French investigation concluded in 1999 that Henri Paul was drunk behind the wheel.

Diana’s death shocked the world. Many theories (7) ____ up in the days, weeks and months following the tragedy. Many people believe it was planned by British (8) ____ who did not want Diana to marry Dodi Fayed because he was a Muslim. Dodi’s father Mohammed Al Fayed, owner of the exclusive London department store Harrods, tried for many years to put the blame on Queen Elizabeth’s husband. He (9) ____ the Duke of Edinburgh of arranging the death to stop the future king of England, Diana’s son William, from having a Muslim stepfather. One of the more (10) ____ theories was that farmers in Holland plotted Diana’s death to (11) ____ sales of Dutch flowers. Debate is sure to continue after Britain’s Lord Stevens published the British government’s inquiry. As (12) _____, he concluded the crash was simply a “tragic accident”.

1.

(a)

goes

(b)

going

(c)

go

(d)

gone

2.

(a)

drunkard

(b)

drinker

(c)

drunk

(d)

drank

3.

(a)

tragic

(b)

tragedy

(c)

trajectory

(d)

tragically

4.

(a)

revelation

(b)

revealing

(c)

reveal

(d)

reveals

5.

(a)

permission

(b)

permitted

(c)

permit

(d)

permits

6.

(a)

collide

(b)

collapse

(c)

collision

(d)

collusion

7.

(a)

sprang

(b)

spring

(c)

sprung

(d)

springy

8.

(a)

authorise

(b)

authority

(c)

authors

(d)

authorities

9.

(a)

accusation

(b)

accuser

(c)

accosted

(d)

accused

10.

(a)

inventions

(b)

inventive

(c)

invented

(d)

inventor

11.

(a)

boost

(b)

bust

(c)

boast

(d)

best

12.

(a)

expect

(b)

expectant

(c)

expectantly

(d)

expected

HOMEWORK

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

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Diana, Princess of Wales. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MONARCHIES: Research two different monarchies from around the world. Find five differences and five similarities between them. Write a report on your findings

4. LETTER: Write a letter to a princess. Ask her three questions. Read your letter to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions. Which letter did you like best and why?


ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. T

c. F

d. F

e. F

f. T

g. T

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.

going on

continuing

b.

driver

chauffeur

c.

probe

investigation

d.

conspiracy

plot

e.

collision

crash

f.

sprang up

emerged

g.

exclusive

upmarket

h.

inventive

novel

i.

boost

improve

j.

tragic

devastating

PHRASE MATCH:

a.

Almost ten years

after the death

b.

investigations are still

going on

c.

part of a BBC probe

into the tragic car accident

d.

reveals

new evidence on the driver

e.

the driver was at

fault for the high-speed collision

f.

drunk behind

the wheel

g.

Many theories

sprang up

h.

put the blame

on Queen Elizabeth’s husband

i.

One of the

more inventive theories

j.

boost

sales of Dutch flowers

GAP FILL:

Tests show Diana driver was drunk

Almost ten years after the death of Britain's Diana, Princess of Wales, investigations are still going on to find out why she died. New DNA tests show the driver of Diana’s car was drunk when he was driving Diana and her partner Dodi Fayed back to their hotel in Paris. The tests are part of a BBC probe into the tragic car accident. A BBC documentary, How Diana Died: The Conspiracy Files, reveals new evidence on the driver of the Mercedes, Henri Paul. DNA data reveal he had three times the permitted level of alcohol in his blood. This supports the theory at the time of the accident that the driver was at fault for the high-speed collision. Many people believe he was driving fast to escape the paparazzi, who were chasing Diana and Dodi. A two-year French investigation concluded in 1999 that Henri Paul was drunk behind the wheel.

Diana’s death shocked the world. Many theories sprang up in the days, weeks and months following the tragedy. Many people believe it was planned by British authorities who did not want Diana to marry Dodi Fayed because he was a Muslim. Dodi’s father Mohammed Al Fayed, owner of the exclusive London department store Harrods, tried for many years to put the blame on Queen Elizabeth’s husband. He accused the Duke of Edinburgh of arranging the death to stop the future king of England, Diana’s son William, from having a Muslim stepfather. One of the more inventive theories was that farmers in Holland plotted Diana’s death to boost sales of Dutch flowers. Debate is sure to continue after Britain’s Lord Stevens published the British government’s inquiry. As expected, he concluded the crash was simply a “tragic accident”.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - b

2 - c

3 - a

4 - d

5 - b

6 - c

7 - a

8 - d

9 - d

10 - b

11 - a

12 - d

 

 

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