Rare stamp sells for $9.5 million

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A new world record was set for the sale of a stamp. The 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta was sold in New York for $9.48 million. It is the fourth time the stamp has broken the record. The auction house, Sotheby's said: "That price will be hard to beat, and likely won't be exceeded unless the British Guiana itself comes up for sale again in the future." An expert on stamps at the British Library said the sale was like buying the 'Mona Lisa'.

An anonymous buyer bought the stamp. An heir to the du Pont chemical fortune was the last owner. He is in prison for killing an Olympic wrestler. A 12-year-old stamp collector first found the stamp in 1873. He sold it a few years later for about $50 in today's money. It has since had a dozen owners. Sotheby's said: "This is the most valuable item in the world by weight. It's just a tiny piece of paper." They were happy a collector bought it.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/rare-stamp-set-record-nyc-auction-24169833
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/18/one-cent-magenta-stamp-sold-millions/10729109/
http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/18/luxury/stamp-auction/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	A new world record	a.	for sale again
2.	auction	b.	hard to beat
3.	That price will be	c.	was set
4.	and likely won't	d.	house
5.	comes up	e.	on stamps
6.	An expert	f.	be exceeded

MY e-BOOK

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

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	An anonymous	a.	by weight
2.	An heir to the du Pont	b.	a collector bought it
3.	stamp	c.	piece of paper
4.	the most valuable item in the world	d.	buyer
5.	It's just a tiny	e.	collector
6.	They were happy	f.	chemical fortune

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A new world record (1) ___________________ of a stamp. The 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta was sold in New York for $9.48 million. It is the fourth time the stamp (2) ___________________ record. The auction house, Sotheby's said: "That price will (3) ___________________, and likely won't (4) ___________________ the British Guiana itself comes up for sale again in the future." (5) ___________________ at the British Library said the sale was like (6) ___________________.

An (7) ___________________ bought the stamp. An heir to the du Pont (8) ___________________ the last owner. He is in prison for killing an Olympic wrestler. A 12-year-old (9) ___________________ found the stamp in 1873. He sold it a few years later for about $50 (10) ___________________. It has since had (11) ___________________. Sotheby's said: "This is the most valuable item in the world by weight. It's (12) ___________________ paper." They were happy a collector bought it.

STAMPS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about stamps in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

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

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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