The Reading / Listening - Thai Cave Rescue - Level 3

There is good news about the twelve boys and their football coach who are trapped in a Thai cave. They are alive and well. The group was missing for nine days, but was found by rescuers yesterday. Thailand has been praying for them to be found since they went missing on June 23. The search for the group was 24-hour news in Thailand. It was unclear where they were or whether or not they were still alive. The boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach went missing. They went into the cave in northern Thailand when it was dry, but there was suddenly heavy rain. This blocked the exit to the cave. The rain flooded it and the boys and their coach were trapped.

The bad news is that the soccer team could be trapped in the cave for months. Rescuers have to wait until the water recedes (goes down) before the team can get out. Another possibility is for the boys to learn to dive. If they do that, they can get out sooner. However, none of the boys can swim. Rescuers say they may have to take food, medicine and supplies to the boys for the next four months. They are currently trying to put power and telephone lines in the cave. Two British rescue divers who found the boys said they were all happy, but very, very hungry. The rescuers took a video of them. A mother of one of the boys described her happiness. She said: "I'm so happy I can't put it into words."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Thai Cave Rescue - Level 0 Thai Cave Rescue - Level 1   or  Thai Cave Rescue - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44692813
  • http://www.asiaone.com/
  • https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1496678/rescuers-seek-totally-safe-cave-extraction-for-boys


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

Warm-ups

1. CAVES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about caves. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       good news / trapped / cave / rescuers / Thailand / 24-hour news / missing / flooded /
       bad news / soccer team / possibility / medicine / supplies / power / hungry / words
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. RESCUE: Students A strongly believe billions of dollars should be spent on rescuing the boys; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TRAPPED: How could the boys cope with being trapped in the cave? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Problems

Solutions

The dark

 

 

Fear

 

 

No food

 

 

Relations with others

 

 

Boredom

 

 

Missing family

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. FLOOD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "flood". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. NEWS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best news stories at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • celebrity
  • technology
  • environment
  • local
  • good news
  • bad news
  • sports
  • business

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. trapped a. Not having any water in it or on it.
      2. rescuers b. Put something in the way to stop something happening.
      3. praying c. When water enters towns, houses etc. and causes problems.
      4. unclear d. Caught in a place that you cannot get out of.
      5. dry e. Privately asking a god or higher power for help.
      6. blocked f. Not easy to see, hear, or understand.
      7. flooded g. People who save someone from a dangerous or difficult situation.

    Paragraph 2

      8. recedes h. At the present time; now.
      9. dive i. Lots of things that we keep for when we need them.
      10. medicine j. Goes or moves back or further away from an earlier position.
      11. supplies k. The state of being happy.
      12. currently l. Swim underwater using special equipment.
      13. happiness m. Describe something; talk about how you feel.
      14. put it into words n. Drugs or other things we eat or drink to make us better when we are ill.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Thirteen people are trapped in a cave in Thailand.     T / F
  2. The article said this story broke on a news station called 24-Hour News.  T / F
  3. The soccer coach who is with the boys is 35 years old.     T / F
  4. The entrance to the cave was half-flooded when they first went in.     T / F
  5. The soccer team could have to stay in the cave for months.     T / F
  6. The article said a navy time would teach the boys to dive.     T / F
  7. The article said rescuers are putting telephone lines in the cave.     T / F
  8. A mother was so happy she found it hard to say what she wanted.     T / F

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

  1. well
  2. found
  3. unclear
  4. blocked
  5. exit
  6. recedes
  7. possibility
  8. sooner
  9. supplies
  10. described
  1. earlier
  2. obstructed
  3. option
  4. discovered
  5. explained
  6. healthy
  7. stocks
  8. way out
  9. uncertain
  10. goes down

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

  1. They are alive
  2. Thailand has been praying
  3. there was suddenly heavy
  4. This blocked the
  5. The boys and their coach
  6. the soccer team could be trapped
  7. Rescuers have to wait until the water
  8. Another possibility is for the boys
  9. A mother of one of the boys described
  10. I'm so happy I can't put
  1. exit to the cave
  2. her happiness
  3. and well
  4. in the cave for months
  5. rain
  6. to learn to dive
  7. for them to be found
  8. it into words
  9. were trapped
  10. recedes

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
praying
missing
alive
flooded
coach
rescuers
heavy
unclear

There is good news about the twelve boys and their football (1) ____________ who are trapped in a Thai cave. They are (2) ____________ and well. The group was missing for nine days, but was found by (3) ____________ yesterday. Thailand has been (4) ____________ for them to be found since they went missing on June 23. The search for the group was 24-hour news in Thailand. It was (5) ____________ where they were or whether or not they were still alive. The boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach went (6) ____________. They went into the cave in northern Thailand when it was dry, but there was suddenly (7) ____________ rain. This blocked the exit to the cave. The rain (8) ____________ it and the boys and their coach were trapped.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
sooner
currently
bad
words
possibility
hungry
recedes
supplies

The (9) ____________ news is that the soccer team could be trapped in the cave for months. Rescuers have to wait until the water (10) ____________ (goes down) before the team can get out. Another (11) ____________ is for the boys to learn to dive. If they do that, they can get out (12) ____________. However, none of the boys can swim. Rescuers say they may have to take food, medicine and (13) ____________ to the boys for the next four months. They are (14) ____________ trying to put power and telephone lines in the cave. Two British rescue divers who found the boys said they were all happy, but very, very (15) ____________. The rescuers took a video of them. A mother of one of the boys described her happiness. She said: "I'm so happy I can't put it into (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) news about the twelve boys and their football coach who are ______ Thai cave
     a.  tramped in a
     b.  traipsed in a
     c.  trapped in a
     d.  tapped in a
2)  The group was missing for nine days, but was ______ yesterday
     a.  found by rescuer
     b.  fond buy rescuers
     c.  found by rescuers
     d.  fond by rescuers
3)  It was unclear where they were or whether or not they ______
     a.  were still a live
     b.  were still a lives
     c.  were still all live
     d.  were still alive
4)  They went into the cave in northern Thailand when ______
     a.  it was drily
     b.  it was dry
     c.  it was dray
     d.  it was dire
5)  The rain flooded it and the boys and their coach ______
     a.  was trapped
     b.  been trapped
     c.  were trapped
     d.  being trapped

6)  The bad news is that the soccer team could be trapped in the ______
     a.  cave fore months
     b.  cave four months
     c.  cave for month
     d.  cave for months
7)  Rescuers have to wait until the ______
     a.  water re-seeds
     b.  water deceases
     c.  water recedes
     d.  water recede
8)  Another possibility is for the boys to ______
     a.  learn to drive
     b.  learn to dove
     c.  learn to dive
     d.  learn to dived
9)  They are currently trying to put power and telephone ______
     a.  line in
     b.  lines in
     c.  lanes in
     d.  lies in
10)  She said: "I'm so happy I can't put ______."
     a.  it into words
     b.  it into a words
     c.  it in too words
     d.  it inter words

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There is good news about the twelve boys and their football coach (1) ___________________ in a Thai cave. They are (2) ___________________. The group was missing for nine days, but was found by rescuers yesterday. Thailand has (3) ___________________ them to be found since they went missing on June 23. The search for the group was (4) ___________________ in Thailand. It was unclear where they were or (5) ___________________ they were still alive. The boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach went missing. They went into the cave in northern Thailand when it was dry, but there was (6) ___________________. This blocked the exit to the cave. The rain flooded it and the boys and their coach were trapped.

The bad news is that the soccer team (7) ___________________ in the cave for months. Rescuers have to wait until (8) ___________________ (goes down) before the team can get out. Another possibility is for the boys to learn to dive. If they do that, they can (9) ___________________. However, none of the boys can swim. Rescuers say they may have to take food, medicine (10) ___________________ the boys for the next four months. They are currently trying to put power and telephone lines in the cave. Two British (11) ___________________ found the boys said they were all happy, but very, very hungry. The rescuers took a video of them. A mother of one of the boys (12) ___________________. She said: "I'm so happy I can't put it into words."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say the boys were besides alive?
  2. How long were the boys missing before they were found?
  3. How old are the boys?
  4. What suddenly happened?
  5. What blocked the entrance to the cave?
  6. What do rescuers have to wait for the water to do?
  7. What might the boys have to learn to do?
  8. How long might the boys have to stay in the cave?
  9. What are rescuers putting in the cave?
  10. What did a mother say she could not describe?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say the boys were besides alive?
a) injured
b) well
c) happy
d) relieved
2) How long were the boys missing before they were found?
a) a week
b) 10 days
c) 8 days
d) 9 days
3) How old are the boys?
a) 11-16
b) 11-15
c) 12-17
d) 12-18
4) What suddenly happened?
a) a dam burst
b) they went the wrong way
c) it rained heavily
d) there was a landslide
5) What blocked the entrance to the cave?
a) a landslide
b) heavy rain
c) rocks
d) fallen trees

6) What do rescuers have to wait for the water to do?
a) become warmer
b) get higher
c) recede
d) get clearer
7) What might the boys have to learn to do?
a) live together
b) be patient
c) climb
d) dive
8) How long might the boys have to stay in the cave?
a) four months
b) four weeks
c) 14 days
d) 40 days
9) What are rescuers putting in the cave?
a) telephone lines
b) heaters
c) radar
d) water pumps
10) What did a mother say she could not describe?
a) her fears
b) her happiness
c) her sadness
d) her excitement

Role play

Role  A – Good News
You think good news is the best news to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their news. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): sports news, local news or business news.

Role  B – Sports News
You think sports is the best news to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their news. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): good news, local news or business news.

Role  C – Local News
You think local news is the best news to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their news. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): sports news, good news or business news.

Role  D – Business News
You think business news is the best news to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their news. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): sports news, local news or good news.

After reading / listening

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

'cave'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'rescue'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

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

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

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

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

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

    • months
    • out
    • dive
    • food
    • happy
    • words
    • good
    • nine
    • 24
    • 11
    • dry
    • exit

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

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

    Discussion - Thai soccer boys cave rescue planned

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'cave'?
    3. What do you know about this news?
    4. What do you know about caves?
    5. How scary would it be to be trapped in a cave?
    6. How do you think the boys are feeling?
    7. What would you do in this situation?
    8. Have you ever been trapped somewhere?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    10. What advice do you have for the boys?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'rescue'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why are newspapers mostly full of bad news?
    5. What would it be like to spend four months in a cave?
    6. How could the rescuers get the boys out more quickly?
    7. What feelings do you think the boys' mothers have?
    8. What do you think of caving?
    9. Have you ever found something difficult to put into words?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the boys?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    There is good news about the twelve boys and their football coach who are trapped in a Thai cave. They are (1) ____ and well. The group was missing for nine days, but was found (2) ____ rescuers yesterday. Thailand has been praying (3) ____ them to be found since they went missing on June 23. The search for the group was 24-hour news in Thailand. It was unclear where they were or (4) ____ or not they were still alive. The boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach (5) ____ missing. They went into the cave in northern Thailand when it was dry, but there was suddenly heavy rain. This (6) ____ the exit to the cave. The rain flooded it and the boys and their coach were trapped.

    The bad news is that the soccer team could be trapped in the cave for months. Rescuers have to wait (7) ____ the water recedes (goes down) before the team can get out. Another (8) ____ is for the boys to learn to dive. If they do that, they can get out sooner. However, none of the boys can swim. Rescuers say they may have to take food, (9) ____ and supplies to the boys for the next four months. They are currently trying to put power and telephone lines (10) ____ the cave. Two British rescue divers who found the boys said they were all happy, but very, very hungry. The rescuers (11) ____ a video of them. A mother of one of the boys described her happiness. She said: "I'm so happy I can't put it into (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     lives     (b)     live     (c)     lived     (d)     alive    
    2. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    3. (a)     as     (b)     for     (c)     on     (d)     by    
    4. (a)     weather     (b)     wither     (c)     whether     (d)     wetter    
    5. (a)     took     (b)     gone     (c)     went     (d)     had    
    6. (a)     blocked     (b)     booked     (c)     blanked     (d)     baked    
    7. (a)     whether     (b)     until     (c)     such     (d)     usually    
    8. (a)     possibility     (b)     possible     (c)     possibilities     (d)     impossible    
    9. (a)     drug     (b)     medicine     (c)     cures     (d)     vaccines    
    10. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    11. (a)     done     (b)     filming     (c)     took     (d)     shoot    
    12. (a)     paragraphs     (b)     letters     (c)     syllables     (d)     words

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. They are vilae and well
    2. found by eucserrs yesterday
    3. It was ncleuar where
    4. there was ueddnsly heavy rain
    5. This lockbed the exit
    6. The rain ooldfed it

    Paragraph 2

    1. wait until the water crdeees
    2. Another osiibplstiy
    3. take food, ecidimne and supplies
    4. They are errcntuly trying
    5. very, very ugnhry
    6. the boys rscdibeed her happiness

    Put the text back together

    (...)  to the cave. The rain flooded it and the boys and their coach were trapped.
    (...)  of the boys described her happiness. She said: "I'm so happy I can't put it into words."
    (...)  between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach went missing. They went into the cave in
    (...)  well. The group was missing for nine days, but was found by rescuers yesterday. Thailand has been praying
    (...)  until the water recedes (goes down) before the team can get out. Another possibility is for the boys to learn to
    (...)  for them to be found since they went missing on June 23. The search for the group was 24-hour
    (...)  The bad news is that the soccer team could be trapped in the cave for months. Rescuers have to wait
    (...)  northern Thailand when it was dry, but there was suddenly heavy rain. This blocked the exit
    1  ) There is good news about the twelve boys and their football coach who are trapped in a Thai cave. They are alive and
    (...)  power and telephone lines in the cave. Two British rescue divers who found the boys said they
    (...)  news in Thailand. It was unclear where they were or whether or not they were still alive. The boys, aged
    (...)  medicine and supplies to the boys for the next four months. They are currently trying to put
    (...)  were all happy, but very, very hungry. The rescuers took a video of them. A mother of one
    (...)  dive. If they do that, they can get out sooner. However, none of the boys can swim. Rescuers say they may have to take food,

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   There   news   good   about   is   twelve   boys   .
    2. for   group   The   the   was   search   24-hour   news   .
    3. they   not   or   were   Whether   still   alive   .
    4. blocked   the   exit   to   This   the   cave   .
    5. boys   their   and   The   coach   were   trapped   .
    6. have   to   wait   until   the   Rescuers   water   recedes   .
    7. say   have   may   they   to   Rescuers   take   food   .
    8. divers   Two   found   who   rescue   British   the   boys   .
    9. a   took   rescuers   video   The   of   them   .
    10. so   I   I'm   put   can't   happy   it   into   words   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    There is good news about the twelve boys and their football coaching / coach who are trapped in a Thai cave. They are live / alive and well. The group was missing for / from nine days, but was found by rescuers yesterday. Thailand has been praying / prayed for them to be found since they went missing on June 23. The search of / for the group was 24-hour news in Thailand. It was unclear where they were or weather / whether or not they were still alive. The boys, aged among / between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach went missing / missed. They went into the cave in northern Thailand when it was dried / dry, but there was suddenly heavy rain. This blocked the exit to the cave. The rain flood / flooded it and the boys and their coach were trapped.

    The bad news is that the soccer team could been / be trapped in the cave for months. Rescuers have to wait until the water recede / recedes (goes down) before the team can get out. Another possible / possibility is for the boys to learn to dive. If they do / done that, they can get out sooner. However, none of the boys can swimming / swim. Rescuers say they may have to take food, medicine and supplies to the boys for the soon / next four months. They are currently trying to put power / powerful and telephone lines in the cave. Two British rescue divers who found the boys said they were all happily / happy, but very, very hungry / hungrily. The rescuers took a video of them. A mother of one of the boys described her happiness. She said: "I'm so happy I can't put it into word / words."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    T h_r_ _s g__ d n_w s _b__ t t h_ t w_l v_ b_y s _n d t h__ r f__ t b_l l c__ c h w h_ _r_ t r_p p_d _n _ T h__ c_v_. T h_y _r_ _l_v_ _n d w_l l . T h_ g r__ p w_s m_s s_n g f_r n_n_ d_y s , b_t w_s f__ n d b y r_s c__ r s y_s t_r d_y . T h__ l_n d h_s b__ n p r_y_n g f_r t h_m t_ b_ f__ n d s_n c_ t h_y w_n t m_s s_n g _n J_n_ 2 3 . T h_ s__ r c h f_r t h_ g r__ p w_s 2 4 - h__ r n_w s _n T h__ l_n d . I t w_s _n c l__ r w h_r_ t h_y w_r_ _r w h_t h_r _r n_t t h_y w_r_ s t_l l _l_v_. T h_ b_y s , _g_d b_t w__ n 1 1 _n d 1 6 , _n d t h__ r 2 5 - y__ r -_l d c__ c h w_n t m_s s_n g . T h_y w_n t _n t_ t h_ c_v_ _n n_r t h_r n T h__ l_n d w h_n _t w_s d r y , b_t t h_r_ w_s s_d d_n l y h__ v y r__ n . T h_s b l_c k_d t h_ _x_t t_ t h_ c_v_. T h_ r__ n f l__ d_d _t _n d t h_ b_y s _n d t h__ r c__ c h w_r_ t r_p p_d .

    T h_ b_d n_w s _s t h_t t h_ s_c c_r t__ m c__ l d b_ t r_p p_d _n t h_ c_v_ f_r m_n t h s . R_s c__ r s h_v_ t_ w__ t _n t_l t h_ w_t_r r_c_d_s ( g__ s d_w n ) b_f_r_ t h_ t__ m c_n g_t __ t . A n_t h_r p_s s_b_l_t y _s f_r t h_ b_y s t_ l__ r n t_ d_v_. I f t h_y d_ t h_t , t h_y c_n g_t __ t s__ n_r . H_w_v_r , n_n_ _f t h_ b_y s c_n s w_m . R_s c__ r s s_y t h_y m_y h_v_ t_ t_k_ f__ d , m_d_c_n_ _n d s_p p l__ s t_ t h_ b_y s f_r t h_ n_x t f__ r m_n t h s . T h_y _r_ c_r r_n t l y t r y_n g t_ p_t p_w_r _n d t_l_p h_n_ l_n_s _n t h_ c_v_. T w_ B r_t_s h r_s c__ d_v_r s w h_ f__ n d t h_ b_y s s__ d t h_y w_r_ _l l h_p p y , b_t v_r y , v_r y h_n g r y . T h_ r_s c__ r s t__ k _ v_d__ _f t h_m . A m_t h_r _f _n_ _f t h_ b_y s d_s c r_b_d h_r h_p p_n_s s . S h_ s__ d : " I ' m s_ h_p p y I c_n ' t p_t _t _n t_ w_r d s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    there is good news about the twelve boys and their football coach who are trapped in a thai cave they are alive and well the group was missing for nine days but was found by rescuers yesterday thailand has been praying for them to be found since they went missing on june 23 the search for the group was 24hour news in thailand it was unclear where they were or whether or not they were still alive the boys aged between 11 and 16 and their 25yearold coach went missing they went into the cave in northern thailand when it was dry but there was suddenly heavy rain this blocked the exit to the cave the rain flooded it and the boys and their coach were trapped

    the bad news is that the soccer team could be trapped in the cave for months rescuers have to wait until the water recedes goes down before the team can get out another possibility is for the boys to learn to dive if they do that they can get out sooner however none of the boys can swim rescuers say they may have to take food medicine and supplies to the boys for the next four months they are currently trying to put power and telephone lines in the cave two british rescue divers who found the boys said they were all happy but very very hungry the rescuers took a video of them a mother of one of the boys described her happiness she said im so happy i cant put it into words

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thereisgoodnewsaboutthetwelveboysandtheirfootballcoachwhoare
    trappedinaThaicave.Theyarealiveandwell.Thegroupwasmissingforn
    inedays,butwasfoundbyrescuersyesterday.Thailandhasbeenprayin
    gforthemtobefoundsincetheywentmissingonJune23.Thesearchfort
    hegroupwas24-hournewsinThailand.Itwasunclearwheretheywereo
    rwhetherornottheywerestillalive.Theboys,agedbetween11and16,a
    ndtheir25-year-oldcoachwentmissing.Theywentintothecaveinnor
    thernThailandwhenitwasdry,buttherewassuddenlyheavyrain.Thisbl
    ockedtheexittothecave.Therainfloodeditandtheboysandtheircoach
    weretrapped.Thebadnewsisthatthesoccerteamcouldbetrappedinth
    ecaveformonths.Rescuershavetowaituntilthewaterrecedes(goesdo
    wn)beforetheteamcangetout.Anotherpossibilityisfortheboystolearn
    todive.Iftheydothat,theycangetoutsooner.However,noneoftheboys
    canswim.Rescuerssaytheymayhavetotakefood,medicineandsupplie
    stotheboysforthenextfourmonths.Theyarecurrentlytryingtoputpow
    erandtelephonelinesinthecave.TwoBritishrescuediverswhofoundth
    eboyssaidtheywereallhappy,butvery,veryhungry.Therescuerstooka
    videoofthem.Amotherofoneoftheboysdescribedherhappiness.Shes
    aid:"I'msohappyIcan'tputitintowords."

    Free writing

    Write about Thai cave rescue for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Billions of dollars should be spent on rescuing the boys in the cave. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. CAVES: Make a poster about caves. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. RESCUE: Write a magazine article about the world spending billions of dollars to get the boys out of the cave early. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on caves. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on the hobby of caving. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

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

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