The Reading / Listening - Pyramids - Level 3

Egypt has opened two of its oldest pyramids. The pyramids are in Dahshur, about 40 kilometers south of the Egyptian capital city Cairo. They are now open to the public for the first time since 1965. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Bent Pyramid at a special opening ceremony on Saturday. The Bent Pyramid was built 4,600 years ago. It was built for the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Sneferu. It is 101 meters high. Builders used new techniques to build it and archaeologists say it was an important step in the development of pyramid building. Tourists can also enter an 18-metre high "side pyramid" next to the Bent Pyramid. This was built for King Sneferu's wife Hetepheres.

The two pyramids are part of the Memphis Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Egypt hopes the opening of the pyramids will boost the country's tourism industry. Egypt was a top tourist destination but tourist numbers fell after the 2011 uprising. Ancient sites in Egypt are on the bucket lists of many people around the world. At the Bent Pyramid, tourists will be able to go through a 79-meter narrow tunnel to reach two chambers deep inside. They will also be able to see ancient treasures found inside the pyramid. Egyptian archaeologists uncovered a collection of stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi - the coffins people were buried in. Some of the sarcophagi contained mummies.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Pyramids - Level 0,  Pyramids - Level 1   or  Pyramids - Level 2

Sources
  • https://time.com/5625968/egypt-opens-pyramids/
  • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-13/egypt-opens-2-ancient-pyramids-for-first-time-since-1960s
  • https://www.gulftoday.ae/lifestyle/2019/07/13/egypt-opens-sneferu-bent-pyramid-in-dahshur-to-public


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. PYRAMIDS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about pyramids. 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?
       Egypt / pyramids / capital city / public / opening ceremony / builders / techniques
       heritage / tourism / destination / uprising / tunnel / treasure / stone / clay / mummies
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EGYPT: Students A strongly believe Egypt is the best tourist destination in the world; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CAPITAL CITY: What do you know about the capital cities of these countries? What can a tourist do there? How great are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Capital City

What You Know

Tourist Activities

How Great

Morocco

 

 

 

 

Japan

 

 

 

 

Italy

 

 

 

 

Jordan

 

 

 

 

India

 

 

 

 

Argentina

 

 

 

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

  • Machu Picchu
  • Statue of Liberty
  • The Serengeti
  • Taj Mahal
  • The Pyramids
  • Mount Fuji
  • Sydney Opera House
  • Eiffel Tower

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. capital city a. A formal religious or public occasion, typically one celebrating a particular event.
      2. the public b. Very, very, very old.
      3. gathered c. The most important city or town of a country or region, usually where its government is.
      4. ceremony d. A way of carrying out or doing a task, especially  an artistic work or a scientific procedure.
      5. ancient e. All of the people as a whole.
      6. pharaoh f. Came together.
      7. techniques g. A ruler in Egypt thousands of years ago.

    Paragraph 2

      8. boost h. A body of a human being wrapped in bandages and buried (especially in Egypt thousands of years ago).
      9. tourism i. Help something to increase or improve.
      10. industry j. The commercial organization and operation of vacations and visits to places of interest.
      11. destination k. A number of experiences or things that a person hopes to have or do during their lifetime.
      12. bucket list l. The place to which someone or something is going or being sent.
      13. treasure m. Economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories.
      14. mummy n. A very valuable object.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Egypt has opened five newly-discovered ancient pyramids.     T / F
  2. The newly-opened pyramids are north of the capital city Cairo.     T / F
  3. One of the pyramids is over 4,500 years old.     T / F
  4. Tourists and visitors will not be allowed to go inside the pyramids.     T / F
  5. Egypt hopes the new pyramids will bring more tourists to the country.     T / F
  6. Archaeologists found many ancients buckets at the pyramids.     T / F
  7. A 79-meter tunnel leads to two deep chambers inside one pyramid.     T / F
  8. Some of the sarcophagi found at the pyramids contain mummies.     T / F

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

  1. public
  2. techniques
  3. ancient
  4. enter
  5. built
  6. boost
  7. fell
  8. chambers
  9. uncovered
  10. contained
  1. methods
  2. go in
  3. came across
  4. decreased
  5. people
  6. rooms
  7. very old
  8. included
  9. constructed
  10. increase

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

  1. Egypt has opened two
  2. They are now open
  3. Hundreds of people gathered
  4. Builders used new
  5. it was an important
  6. the pyramids will boost the country's
  7. Egypt was a top tourist
  8. bucket
  9. through a 79-meter
  10. Some of the sarcophagi contained
  1. techniques to build it
  2. mummies
  3. tourism industry
  4. outside
  5. narrow tunnel
  6. lists
  7. of its oldest pyramids
  8. destination
  9. to the public
  10. step

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
enter
step
built
public
gathered
ancient
south
opening

Egypt has opened two of its oldest pyramids. The pyramids are in Dahshur, about 40 kilometers (1) ____________ of the Egyptian capital city Cairo. They are now open to the (2) ____________ for the first time since 1965. Hundreds of people (3) ____________ outside the Bent Pyramid at a special (4) ____________ ceremony on Saturday. The Bent Pyramid was built 4,600 years ago. It was built for the (5) ____________ Egyptian pharaoh Sneferu. It is 101 meters high. Builders used new techniques to build it and archaeologists say it was an important (6) ____________ in the development of pyramid building. Tourists can also                      (7) ____________ an 18-metre high "side pyramid" next to the Bent Pyramid. This was (8) ____________ for King Sneferu's wife Hetepheres.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
collection
boost
tourist
narrow
part
mummies
bucket
treasures

The two pyramids are (9) ____________ of the Memphis Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Egypt hopes the opening of the pyramids will (10) ____________ the country's tourism industry. Egypt was a top tourist destination but              (11) ____________ numbers fell after the 2011 uprising. Ancient sites in Egypt are on the (12) ____________ lists of many people around the world. At the Bent Pyramid, tourists will be able to go through a 79-meter (13) ____________ tunnel to reach two chambers deep inside. They will also be able to see ancient          (14) ____________ found inside the pyramid. Egyptian archaeologists uncovered a (15) ____________ of stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi - the coffins people were buried in. Some of the sarcophagi contained (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Egypt has opened two of its ______
     a.  oldest pyramids
     b.  olden pyramids
     c.  old its pyramids
     d.  old dissed pyramids
2)  about 40 kilometers south of the Egyptian ______ Cairo
     a.  cap it all city
     b.  cap italic city
     c.  capital city
     d.  cap it tall city
3)  They are now open to the public for the first ______ 1965
     a.  times since
     b.  time since
     c.  times ins
     d.  time stints
4)  new techniques to build it and archaeologists say it was an ______
     a.  importance step
     b.  importance steps
     c.  important steppe
     d.  important step
5)  Tourists can also enter an 18-metre high "side pyramid" ______ Bent Pyramid
     a.  next at the
     b.  next two the
     c.  next to the
     d.  next too the

6)  Egypt hopes the opening of the pyramids will boost the country's ______
     a.  tour risen industry
     b.  tourism industry
     c.  to risen industry
     d.  too risen industry
7)  Egypt was a top tourist destination but tourist numbers fell after ______
     a.  the 2011 uprising
     b.  the 2011 up risen
     c.  the 2011 up rise in
     d.  the 2011 up raising
8)  At the Bent Pyramid, tourists will be able to go through a 79-meter ______
     a.  narrowed tunnel
     b.  narrowly tunnel
     c.  narrow tunnel
     d.  narrows tunnel
9)  They will also be able to see ancient treasures ______
     a.  found insides
     b.  found inside
     c.  found in sides
     d.  found in sided
10)  Some of the sarcophagi ______
     a.  contained daddies
     b.  contained kiddies
     c.  contained aunties
     d.  contained mummies

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Egypt has opened two (1) ___________________ pyramids. The pyramids are in Dahshur, about 40 kilometers south of the Egyptian capital city Cairo. They are now open to the public (2) ___________________ time since 1965. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Bent Pyramid at                            (3) ___________________ ceremony on Saturday. The Bent Pyramid was built 4,600 years ago. It was built (4) ___________________ Egyptian pharaoh Sneferu. It is 101 meters high. Builders used new techniques to build it and archaeologists say it was an (5) ___________________ the development of pyramid building. Tourists (6) ___________________ an 18-metre high "side pyramid" next to the Bent Pyramid. This was built for King Sneferu's wife Hetepheres.

The two pyramids (7) ___________________ the Memphis Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Egypt hopes the opening of the pyramids will boost the country's tourism industry. Egypt was (8) ___________________ destination but tourist numbers fell after the 2011 uprising. Ancient sites in Egypt are on (9) ___________________ of many people around the world. At the Bent Pyramid, tourists will be able to go through a 79-meter narrow (10) ___________________ two chambers deep inside. They will also be able to (11) ___________________ found inside the pyramid. Egyptian archaeologists uncovered a collection (12) ___________________ and wooden sarcophagi - the coffins people were buried in. Some of the sarcophagi contained mummies.

Comprehension questions

  1. How many pyramids has Egypt recently opened?
  2. How far are the pyramids from Egypt's capital city?
  3. How high is the Bent Pyramid?
  4. What did the builders use to build the pyramids?
  5. How high is the smallest of the pyramids?
  6. What is the UNESCO site the pyramids are part of?
  7. When did the article say tourist numbers started to fall?
  8. What lists did the article say people around the world have?
  9. How long is a tunnel that leads to two chambers in the Bent Pyramid?
  10. What was found inside some sarcophagi?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many pyramids has Egypt recently opened?
a) 5
b) 4
c) 3
d) 2
2) How far are the pyramids from Egypt's capital city?
a) exactly 40kms
b) about 40kms
c) just under 40kms
d) just over 40kms
3) How high is the Bent Pyramid?
a) 111 meters
b) 107 meters
c) 100 meters
d) 101 meters
4) What did the builders use to build the pyramids?
a) new cement
b) technical experts
c) new techniques
d) new bricks
5) How high is the smallest of the pyramids?
a) 16 meters
b) 17 meters
c) 15 meters
d) 18 meters

6) What is the UNESCO site the pyramids are part of?
a) Giza
b) Heliopolis
c) The Memphis Necropolis
d) Thebes
7) When did the article say tourist numbers started to fall?
a) 2011
b) 2002
c) 2015
d) 2009
8) What lists did the article say people around the world have?
a) shopping lists
b) top-ten lists
c) bucket lists
d) to-do lists
9) How long is a tunnel that leads to two chambers in the Bent Pyramid?
a) 77 meters
b) 79 meters
c) 76 meters
d) 70 meters
10) What was found inside some sarcophagi?
a) mummies
b) aunties
c) daddies
d) kiddies

Role play

Role  A – The Pyramids

You think the Pyramids is the world's best tourist site. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sites. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower.

Role  B – Machu Picchu

You think Machu Picchu is the world's best tourist site. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sites. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower.

Role  C – The Taj Mahal

You think the Taj Mahal is the world's best tourist site. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sites. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Machu Picchu, the Pyramids or the Eiffel Tower.

Role  D – The Eiffel Tower

You think the Eiffel Tower is the world's best tourist site. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sites. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal or the Pyramids.

After reading / listening

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

'ancient'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'pyramid'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • part
    • boost
    • bucket
    • 79
    • see
    • some
    • oldest
    • public
    • ago
    • new
    • 18
    • wife

    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 - Egypt opens ancient pyramids for first time since 1960s

    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 'ancient'?
    3. What do you know about Egypt's Pyramids?
    4. How important are the Pyramids?
    5. How were the Pyramids built?
    6. What was the purpose of the Pyramids?
    7. What was life like 4,600 years ago?
    8. What was life as an Egyptian pharaoh like?
    9. Why do people like to visit the Pyramids?
    10. What three adjectives best describe the Pyramids?

    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 'pyramid'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about pyramids in other countries?
    5. What UNESCO sites does your country have?
    6. What are your country's best tourist sites?
    7. What is on your bucket list?
    8. Would you like to sleep in a Pyramid at night alone?
    9. What do you know about mummies?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the archaeologists?

    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)

    Egypt has opened two of its (1) ____ pyramids. The pyramids are in Dahshur, about 40 kilometers south (2) ____ the Egyptian capital city Cairo. They are now open to the public for the first time since 1965. Hundreds of people (3) ____ outside the Bent Pyramid at a special opening ceremony on Saturday. The Bent Pyramid was built 4,600 years ago. It was (4) ____ for the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Sneferu. It is 101 meters high. Builders used new techniques to build it and archaeologists say it was an important (5) ____ in the development of pyramid building. Tourists can also (6) ____ an 18-metre high "side pyramid" next to the Bent Pyramid. This was built for King Sneferu's wife Hetepheres.

    The two pyramids are part of the Memphis Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Egypt hopes the opening of the pyramids will (7) ____ the country's tourism industry. Egypt was a top tourist destination but tourist (8) ____ fell after the 2011 uprising. Ancient sites in Egypt are on the bucket lists of many people around the world. At the Bent Pyramid, tourists will be (9) ____ to go through a 79-meter narrow tunnel to reach two chambers (10) ____ inside. They will also be able to see ancient treasures found inside the pyramid. Egyptian archaeologists uncovered a collection (11) ____ stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi - the coffins people were buried in. Some of the sarcophagi contained (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     ageing     (b)     elder     (c)     olden     (d)     oldest    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    3. (a)     gathering     (b)     gathered     (c)     gather     (d)     gatherer    
    4. (a)     builds     (b)     building     (c)     built     (d)     builder    
    5. (a)     steppe     (b)     steep     (c)     step     (d)     strep    
    6. (a)     enter     (b)     entrance     (c)     entry     (d)     entrant    
    7. (a)     beast     (b)     boost     (c)     baste     (d)     beauts    
    8. (a)     numbers     (b)     letters     (c)     digits     (d)     numerals    
    9. (a)     capable     (b)     able     (c)     ability     (d)     abled    
    10. (a)     depth     (b)     deepen     (c)     deep     (d)     deeps    
    11. (a)     off     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     at    
    12. (a)     daddies     (b)     kiddies     (c)     grannies     (d)     mummies

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the Egyptian pctiaal city Cairo
    2. open to the ubpilc for the first time
    3. Hundreds of people aehtrged outside
    4. a special opening eremocny
    5. built for the nicaent Egyptian pharaoh
    6. an important step in the evldmpoeent

    Paragraph 2

    1. boost the country's rutiosm industry
    2. uckbet lists
    3. a 79-meter arnorw tunnel
    4. etusarres found inside the pyramid
    5. a llcectooin of stone
    6. the offcnis people were buried in

    Put the text back together

    (...)  ceremony on Saturday. The Bent Pyramid was built 4,600 years ago. It was built for the ancient Egyptian
    (...)  pharaoh Sneferu. It is 101 meters high. Builders used new techniques to build it and archaeologists say it was an important
    (...)  coffins people were buried in. Some of the sarcophagi contained mummies.
    (...)  archaeologists uncovered a collection of stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi - the
    (...)  world. At the Bent Pyramid, tourists will be able to go through a 79-meter narrow tunnel to reach two chambers deep
    (...)  of the Egyptian capital city Cairo. They are now open to the public for the first time
    (...)  after the 2011 uprising. Ancient sites in Egypt are on the bucket lists of many people around the
    (...)  of the pyramids will boost the country's tourism industry. Egypt was a top tourist destination but tourist numbers fell
    (...)  inside. They will also be able to see ancient treasures found inside the pyramid. Egyptian
    (  1  ) Egypt has opened two of its oldest pyramids. The pyramids are in Dahshur, about 40 kilometers south
    (...)  step in the development of pyramid building. Tourists can also enter an 18-metre high "side pyramid" next
    (...)  The two pyramids are part of the Memphis Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Egypt hopes the opening
    (...)  to the Bent Pyramid. This was built for King Sneferu's wife Hetepheres.
    (...)  since 1965. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Bent Pyramid at a special opening

    Put the words in the right order

    1. has   its   two   Egypt   of   opened   oldest   pyramids   .
    2. kilometers   About   of   south   40   the   Egyptian   capital   .
    3. to   the   public   for   the   Open   first   time   .
    4. was   the   for   built   ancient   It   Egyptian   pharaoh   .
    5. was   important   It   in   step   an   the   development   .
    6. boost   will   The   the   pyramids   tourism   country's   industry   .
    7. fell   Tourist   the   after   numbers   2011   uprising   .
    8. lists   bucket   the   of   On   many   people   .
    9. ancient   treasures   found   inside   See   the   pyramid   .
    10. archaeologists   a   uncovered   Egyptian   collection   of   stone   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Egypt has opened two of its oldest / eldest pyramids. The pyramids are in Dahshur, about 40 kilometers south off / of the Egyptian capital city Cairo. They are now open to / at the public for the first time for / since 1965. Hundreds of people garnered / gathered outside the Bent Pyramid at a special opening ceremony on Saturday. The Bent Pyramid was building / built 4,600 years ago. It was built for the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Sneferu. It is 101 meters big / high. Builders used new techniques to build it and archaeologists say it was an importance / important step in the development of pyramid building. Tourists can also enter / entry an 18-metre high "side pyramid" next to the Bent Pyramid. This was built / builds for King Sneferu's wife Hetepheres.

    The two pyramids are partners / part of the Memphis Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Egypt hopes the opening of the pyramids will boast / boost the country's tourism industry. Egypt was a top / topping tourist destination but tourist numbers fell after the 2011 uprising / risen. Ancient sites in Egypt are on the bucket / pail lists of many people around the world. At the Bent Pyramid, tourists will be ability / able to go through a 79-meter narrow tunnel to reach two chambers deeply / deep inside. They will also be able to see / seen ancient treasures found inside the pyramid. Egyptian archaeologists uncovered a collection / collector of stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi - the coffins people were buried / burial in. Some of the sarcophagi contained mummies.

    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)

    E g y p t h_s _p_n_d t w_ _f _t s _l d_s t p y r_m_d s . T h_ p y r_m_d s _r_ _n _n D_h s h_r , _b__ t 4 0 k_l_m_t_r s s__ t h _f t h_ E g y p t__ n c_p_t_l c_t y C__ r_. T h_y _r_ n_w _p_n t_ t h_ p_b l_c f_r t h_ f_r s t t_m_ s_n c_ 1 9 6 5 . H_n d r_d s _f p__ p l_ g_t h_r_d __ t s_d_ t h_ B_n t P y r_m_d _t _ s p_c__ l _p_n_n g c_r_m_n y _n S_t_r d_y . T h_ B_n t P y r_m_d w_s b__ l t 4 , 6 0 0 y__ r s _g_. I t w_s b__ l t f_r t h_ _n c__ n t E g y p t__ n p h_r__ h S n_f_r_. I t _s 1 0 1 m_t_r s h_g h . B__ l d_r s _s_d n_w t_c h n_q__ s t_ b__ l d _t _n d _r c h___l_g_s t s s_y _t w_s _n _m p_r t_n t s t_p _n t h_ d_v_l_p m_n t _f p y r_m_d b__ l d_n g . T__ r_s t s c_n _l s_ _n t_r _n 1 8 - m_t r_ h_g h " s_d_ p y r_m_d " n_x t t_ t h_ B_n t P y r_m_d . T h_s w_s b__ l t f_r K_n g S n_f_r_' s w_f_ H_t_p h_r_s .

    T h_ t w_ p y r_m_d s _r_ p_r t _f t h_ M_m p h_s N_c r_p_l_s , _ U N E S C O W_r l d H_r_t_g_ S_t_. E g y p t h_p_s t h_ _p_n_n g _f t h_ p y r_m_d s w_l l b__ s t t h_ c__ n t r y ' s t__ r_s m _n d_s t r y . E g y p t w_s _ t_p t__ r_s t d_s t_n_t__ n b_t t__ r_s t n_m b_r s f_l l _f t_r t h_ 2 0 1 1 _p r_s_n g . A n c__ n t s_t_s _n E g y p t _r_ _n t h_ b_c k_t l_s t s _f m_n y p__ p l_ _r__ n d t h_ w_r l d . A t t h_ B_n t P y r_m_d , t__ r_s t s w_l l b_ _b l_ t_ g_ t h r__ g h _ 7 9 - m_t_r n_r r_w t_n n_l t_ r__ c h t w_ c h_m b_r s d__ p _n s_d_. T h_y w_l l _l s_ b_ _b l_ t_ s__ _n c__ n t t r__ s_r_s f__ n d _n s_d_ t h_ p y r_m_d . E g y p t__ n _r c h__ l_g_s t s _n c_v_r_d _ c_l l_c t__ n _f s t_n_, c l_y _n d w__ d_n s_r c_p h_g_ - t h_ c_f f_n s p__ p l_ w_r_ b_r__ d _n . S_m_ _f t h_ s_r c_p h_g_ c_n t__ n_d m_m m__ s .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    egypt has opened two of its oldest pyramids the pyramids are in dahshur about 40 kilometers south of the egyptian capital city cairo they are now open to the public for the first time since 1965 hundreds of people gathered outside the bent pyramid at a special opening ceremony on saturday the bent pyramid was built 4600 years ago it was built for the ancient egyptian pharaoh sneferu it is 101 meters high builders used new techniques to build it and archaeologists say it was an important step in the development of pyramid building tourists can also enter an 18metre high side pyramid next to the bent pyramid this was built for king sneferus wife hetepheres

    the two pyramids are part of the memphis necropolis a unesco world heritage site egypt hopes the opening of the pyramids will boost the countrys tourism industry egypt was a top tourist destination but tourist numbers fell after the 2011 uprising ancient sites in egypt are on the bucket lists of many people around the world at the bent pyramid tourists will be able to go through a 79meter narrow tunnel to reach two chambers deep inside they will also be able to see ancient treasures found inside the pyramid egyptian archaeologists uncovered a collection of stone clay and wooden sarcophagi  the coffins people were buried in some of the sarcophagi contained mummies.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Egypthasopenedtwoofitsoldestpyramids.ThepyramidsareininDahsh
    ur,about40kilometerssouthoftheEgyptiancapitalcityCairo.Theyaren
    owopentothepublicforthefirsttimesince1965.Hundredsofpeoplegat
    heredoutsidetheBentPyramidataspecialopeningceremonyonSaturd
    ay.TheBentPyramidwasbuilt4,600yearsago.Itwasbuiltfortheancient
    EgyptianpharaohSneferu.Itis101metershigh.Buildersusednewtech
    niquestobuilditandarchaeologistssayitwasanimportantstepinthedev
    elopmentofpyramidbuilding.Touristscanalsoenteran18-metrehigh
    "sidepyramid"nexttotheBentPyramid.ThiswasbuiltforKingSneferu's
    wifeHetepheres.ThetwopyramidsarepartoftheMemphisNecropolis,a
    UNESCOWorldHeritageSite.Egypthopestheopeningofthepyramidsw
    illboostthecountry'stourismindustry.Egyptwasatoptouristdestinatio
    nbuttouristnumbersfellafterthe2011uprising.AncientsitesinEgyptar
    eonthebucketlistsofmanypeoplearoundtheworld.AttheBentPyramid
    ,touristswillbeabletogothrougha79-meternarrowtunneltoreachtwoc
    hambersdeepinside.Theywillalsobeabletoseeancienttreasuresfound
    insidethepyramid.Egyptianarchaeologistsuncoveredacollectionofst
    one,clayandwoodensarcophagi-thecoffinspeoplewereburiedin.Som
    eofthesarcophagicontainedmummies.

    Free writing

    Write about pyramids for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The Pyramids in Egypt are the greatest tourist attractions in the world. 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. THE PYRAMIDS: Make a poster about pyramids. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TOURISM: Write a magazine article about tourism. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.
    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. THE PYRAMIDS: Write a letter to an expert on pyramids. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. 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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