The Reading / Listening - Crucible - Level 3

The online retail giant Amazon has released its first ever big-budget PC game. The game is called Crucible. It is a science-fiction shooter game. It has many unusual characters that have special powers. Crucible is currently only available in North America, where people can download it from the video distribution website Steam. Amazon said the game will be available in other parts of the world soon. Crucible was created by Amazon Game Studios and Relentless Studios and is free. Amazon is a newcomer in the video games market. It hopes to become a major producer of games. Many experts on video games believe Crucible could be very successful. They say it could be a rival to the game Fortnite.

Crucible is set in an apocalyptic world on a fictional planet in outer space. Very few people can walk around outside on this planet. Players can go outside but they must hunt and kill different creatures and monsters. They must also collect a special material called "essence". This helps players level up and become stronger. Mike Frazzini, the vice president of Amazon Games, spoke about Crucible. He said he hoped it would help people to connect with each other. He told reporters: "We want to make games that resonate with a very large audience of players." He added: "One of the reasons I've always loved games is not only is it a fun form of entertainment, but it's a way to connect with others."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Crucible - Level 0 Crucible - Level 1   or  Crucible - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.pcgamer.com/amazons-pvp-shooter-crucible-is-now-live-on-steam/
  • https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-play-crucible-amazons-free-pc-game-that-everyones-talking-about/
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/19/tech/amazon-crucible-new-game/index.html


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. PC GAMES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about PC games. 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?
       online / retail / giant / science fiction / download / studios / newcomer / successful /
       apocalyptic / planet / outer space / material / creatures / monsters / connect / games
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SCIENCE FICTION: Students A strongly believe science fiction is the best movies, books and games genre; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PLAYING GAMES: What are the good and bad things about playing these kinds of games? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good Things

Bad Things

PC games

 

 

Board games

 

 

Card games

 

 

Sports

 

 

Guessing games

 

 

Role-playing games

 

 

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

  • Fortnite
  • soccer
  • snap (card game)
  • charades
  • Angry Birds
  • Chess
  • Monopoly
  • Tag (park game)

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. retail a. A very large company or organization.
      2. giant b. Now; at the present time.
      3. science fiction c. A person or thing competing with another person or thing to win something or be better at something.
      4. currently d. Stories about space or the future.
      5. newcomer e. A person who has a lot of knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
      6. expert f. The sale of things in shops or online.
      7. rival g. A person or thing that has recently arrived in a place or joined a group or activity.

    Paragraph 2

      8. set h. About the end of the world.
      9. apocalyptic i. From a story or literature.
      10. fictional j. A thing, event, performance, or activity designed to make people have fun.
      11. creature k. Something from which another thing is or can be made.
      12. material l. An animal or imaginary animal, not a human being.
      13. connect m. A story, play, movie, or scene happening at a specified time or in a specified place.
      14. entertainment n. Join people together.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article called Amazon an online giant.     T / F
  2. Amazon's new PC game is only available in North America.     T / F
  3. Crucible will cost around $10 to download and play.     T / F
  4. Experts have said Crucible could be a rival to the game Fortnite.     T / F
  5. The game Crucible is set in a jingle in the Amazon rainforest.     T / F
  6. If gamers collect a material called essence, they can level up.     T / F
  7. A vice president hoped the game would help people connect.     T / F
  8. The vice president said games were the best form of entertainment.     T / F

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

  1. online
  2. unusual
  3. currently
  4. newcomer
  5. rival
  6. apocalyptic
  7. creatures
  8. hoped
  9. audience
  10. form
  1. characters
  2. beginner
  3. following
  4. strange
  5. expected
  6. challenger
  7. Internet
  8. kind
  9. doomsday
  10. presently

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

  1. The online retail
  2. unusual characters that
  3. currently only available
  4. Amazon is a newcomer in the
  5. They say it could be a rival
  6. Crucible is set in an apocalyptic
  7. They must also collect a special
  8. it would help people to connect
  9. resonate with a very large
  10. a fun form
  1. video games market
  2. to the game Fortnite
  3. of entertainment
  4. material called "essence"
  5. have special powers
  6. audience of players
  7. world
  8. giant Amazon
  9. with each other
  10. in North America

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
available
retail
created
experts
currently
rival
shooter
major

The online (1) ____________ giant Amazon has released its first ever big-budget PC game. The game is called Crucible. It is a science-fiction (2) ____________ game. It has many unusual characters that have special powers. Crucible is (3) ____________ only available in North America, where people can download it from the video distribution website Steam. Amazon said the game will be (4) ____________ in other parts of the world soon. Crucible was (5) ____________ by Amazon Game Studios and Relentless Studios and is free. Amazon is a newcomer in the video games market. It hopes to become a (6) ____________ producer of games. Many (7) ____________ on video games believe Crucible could be very successful. They say it could be a (8) ____________ to the game Fortnite.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
essence
hoped
reasons
apocalyptic
connect
hunt
resonate
level

Crucible is set in an (9) ____________ world on a fictional planet in outer space. Very few people can walk around outside on this planet. Players can go outside but they must (10) ____________ and kill different creatures and monsters. They must also collect a special material called "(11) ____________ ". This helps players (12) ____________ up and become stronger. Mike Frazzini, the vice president of Amazon Games, spoke about Crucible. He said he (13) ____________ it would help people to connect with each other. He told reporters: "We want to make games that (14) ____________ with a very large audience of players." He added: "One of the (15) ____________ I've always loved games is not only is it a fun form of entertainment, but it's a way to (16) ____________ with others."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The online retail giant Amazon has released its first ______ PC game
     a.  ever big-budget
     b.  every big-budget
     c.  even big-budget
     d.  never big-budget
2)  It has many unusual characters that ______
     a.  have specially powers
     b.  have species powers
     c.  have special powers
     d.  have specs powers
3) in North America, where people can download it from the ______
     a.  video distributing website
     b.  video distribute website
     c.  video distribute on website
     d.  video distribution website
4)  Amazon is a newcomer in the ______
     a.  video games market
     b.  video games mark it
     c.  video games mar kit
     d.  video games marked it
5)  Crucible could be very successful. They say it could ______
     a.  be a libel
     b.  be a rival
     c.  be a revel
     d.  be a level

6)  Crucible is set in an apocalyptic world on a fictional planet ______
     a.  in outer space
     b.  in out a space
     c.  in out as space
     d.  inner to space
7)  Very few people can walk around outside ______
     a.  on this plant
     b.  on this plan it
     c.  on this plane it
     d.  on this planet
8)  They must also collect a special material ______
     a.  called "S" sense
     b.  called "S" cents
     c.  called "essence"
     d.  called essential
9)  We want to make games that resonate with a very large ______
     a.  audience off players
     b.  audience off plays
     c.  audiences of players
     d.  audience of players
10)  not only is it a fun form of entertainment, but it's a way to ______
     a.  connect within others
     b.  connect with others
     c.  connect without others
     d.  connect wither others

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The (1) ___________________ Amazon has released its first ever big-budget PC game. The game is called Crucible. It is a science-                                   (2) ___________________. It has many unusual characters that have special powers. Crucible is currently (3) ___________________ North America, where people can download it from the video distribution website Steam. Amazon said the game (4) ___________________ in other parts of the world soon. Crucible was created by Amazon Game Studios and Relentless Studios and is free. Amazon is a newcomer in the video games market. It hopes to become (5) ___________________ of games. Many experts on video games believe Crucible could be very successful. They say it could (6) ___________________ to the game Fortnite.

Crucible is set (7) ___________________ world on a fictional planet in outer space. Very few people can walk around outside on this planet. Players can go outside but they must hunt and (8) ___________________ and monsters. They must also collect (9) ___________________ called "essence". This helps players level up and become stronger. Mike Frazzini, the vice president of Amazon Games, spoke about Crucible. He (10) ___________________ it would help people to connect with each other. He told reporters: "We want to make games that resonate with a (11) ___________________ of players." He added: "One of the reasons I've always loved games is not only is it a fun form of entertainment, but it's a way to (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article call Amazon in the first sentence?
  2. What kind of game is Crucible?
  3. When will Crucible be available outside of North America?
  4. How much will Crucible cost?
  5. What did experts say Crucible could be a rival to?
  6. In what kind of world is Crucible set?
  7. What is the name of the special material that players must collect?
  8. Who is Mike Frazzini?
  9. Who does Mike Frazzini want games to connect with?
  10. What did Mike Frazzini say games are a fun form of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article call Amazon in the first sentence?
a) amazing
b) the world's biggest company
c) an online retail giant
d) a monster
2) What kind of game is Crucible?
a) a science fiction shooter game
b) a first-person shooter game
c) PvP
d) massively multiplayer online
3) When will Crucible be available outside of North America?
a) 2021
b) in six months
c) only when the game is successful in the USA
d) soon
4) How much will Crucible cost?
a) $9.99
b) nothing
c) $0.99
d) $1.95
5) What did experts say Crucible could be a rival to?
a) GTA
b) Angry Birds
c) Fortnite
d) Zoom

6) In what kind of world is Crucible set?
a) a crazy world
b) an apocalyptic world
c) the Amazon jungle
d) in Stone Age Africa
7) What is the name of the special material that players must collect?
a) presence
b) sense
c) common sense
d) essence
8) Who is Mike Frazzini?
a) a gaming world champion
b) Amazon Games' Vice President
c) a game designer
d) a game critic
9) Who does Mike Frazzini want games to resonate with?
a) a large audience
b) journalists
c) other games
d) Amazon

10) What did Mike Frazzini say games are a fun form of?
a) free time
b) leisure
c) technology
d) entertainment

Role play

Role  A – Soccer
You think soccer is the best game. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): chess, Monopoly or charades.

Role  B – Chess
You think chess is the best game. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): soccer, Monopoly or charades.

Role  C – Monopoly
You think Monopoly is the best game. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): chess, soccer or charades.

Role  D – Charades
You think charades is the best game. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): chess, Monopoly or soccer.

After reading / listening

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

'PC'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'game'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • giant
    • shooter
    • download
    • soon
    • free
    • rival
    • planet
    • hunt
    • material
    • hoped
    • large
    • way

    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 - Crucible

    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 'PC'?
    3. What do you think of Amazon?
    4. What are your favourite PC games?
    5. What kinds of games are best?
    6. Are computers or smartphones best to play games on?
    7. Should there be a daily limit to time spent playing games?
    8. Is it better to play games alone or with other people?
    9. How can games benefit us?
    10. What is the best game ever?

    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 'game'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of PC games?
    5. What is an apocalyptic world?
    6. Why do people like science fiction?
    7. How good are you at playing video games?
    8. How good are games at connecting people?
    9. How much fun are PC games?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Amazon's boss?

    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)

    The online (1) ____ giant Amazon has released its first ever big-budget PC game. The game is called Crucible. It is a science-fiction (2) ____ game. It has many unusual characters that have special (3) ____. Crucible is currently only available in North America, where people can download it from the video distribution website Steam. Amazon said the game will be available in (4) ____ parts of the world soon. Crucible was created by Amazon Game Studios and Relentless Studios and is free. Amazon is a newcomer in the video games market. It hopes (5) ____ become a major producer of games. Many experts on video games believe Crucible could be very successful. They say it could be a (6) ____ to the game Fortnite.

    Crucible is (7) ____ in an apocalyptic world on a fictional planet in outer space. Very (8) ____ people can walk around outside on this planet. Players can go outside but they must hunt and kill different creatures and monsters. They must also collect a special material (9) ____ "essence". This helps players level up and become stronger. Mike Frazzini, the vice president of Amazon Games, spoke about Crucible. He said he hoped it would help people to connect (10) ____ each other. He told reporters: "We want to make games that resonate with a very large (11) ____ of players." He added: "One of the reasons I've always loved games is not only is it a fun form of entertainment, but it's a (12) ____ to connect with others."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     trail     (b)     trial     (c)     retail     (d)     retell    
    2. (a)     shooter     (b)     sheeting     (c)     shouting     (d)     chatting    
    3. (a)     powers     (b)     power     (c)     powerful     (d)     powered    
    4. (a)     other     (b)     another     (c)     others     (d)     the others    
    5. (a)     by     (b)     to     (c)     for     (d)     of    
    6. (a)     revel     (b)     rebel     (c)     level     (d)     rival    
    7. (a)     met     (b)     let     (c)     set     (d)     bet    
    8. (a)     reduce     (b)     lower     (c)     much     (d)     few    
    9. (a)     called     (b)     name     (c)     label     (d)     title    
    10. (a)     on     (b)     with     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    11. (a)     spectacle     (b)     audience     (c)     listeners     (d)     viewers    
    12. (a)     how     (b)     which     (c)     way     (d)     when

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The online riatle giant Amazon
    2. its first ever big-tbgeud PC game
    3. It has many unusual rehrsatcac
    4. the video stontdruiiib website
    5. Many repetsx on video games
    6. a ravli to the game Fortnite

    Paragraph 2

    1. an apocalyptic world on a inoftlcia planet
    2. different srrtuaece and monsters
    3. They must also collect a special eitmarla
    4. the vice eeirsdpnt of Amazon
    5. a very large neeaudci of players
    6. a way to ocnecnt with others

    Put the text back together

    (...)  that resonate with a very large audience of players." He added: "One of the reasons I've always
    (...)  market. It hopes to become a major producer of games. Many experts on video games
    (...)  stronger. Mike Frazzini, the vice president of Amazon Games, spoke about Crucible. He said he hoped it would
    (...)  help people to connect with each other. He told reporters: "We want to make games
    (...)  loved games is not only is it a fun form of entertainment, but it's a way to connect with others."
    (...)  powers. Crucible is currently only available in North America, where people can download
    1  ) The online retail giant Amazon has released its first ever big-budget PC game. The game is called
    (...)  around outside on this planet. Players can go outside but they must hunt and kill different creatures
    (...)  it from the video distribution website Steam. Amazon said the game will be available in other parts of the world soon. Crucible was created
    (...)  and monsters. They must also collect a special material called "essence". This helps players level up and become
    (...)  Crucible. It is a science-fiction shooter game. It has many unusual characters that have special
    (...)  by Amazon Game Studios and Relentless Studios and is free. Amazon is a newcomer in the video games
    (...)  believe Crucible could be very successful. They say it could be a rival to the game Fortnite.
    (...)  Crucible is set in an apocalyptic world on a fictional planet in outer space. Very few people can walk

    Put the words in the right order

    1. game   .   its   released   ever   first   Amazon   PC   big-budget
    2. powers   .   has   have   characters   that   many   special   It
    3. in   Available   world   soon   .   of   the   parts   other
    4. hopes   to   major   a   become   It   producer   .
    5. a   to   game   .   It   the   could   rival   be
    6. world   apocalyptic   An   on   fictional   planet   .   a
    7. few   Very   can   people   outside   .   around   walk
    8. called   .   must   material   a   special   collect   They
    9. would   It   connect   each   help   other   .   people   with
    10. the   of   games   .   always   loved   One   I've   reasons

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The online retail / trail giant Amazon has released its first ever big-budget PC game. The game is called Crucible. It is a science-fiction shot / shooter game. It has many unusual / usually characters that have special powers. Crucible is currently justly / only available in North America, where people can download them / it from the video distribution website Steam. Amazon said the game will be available in another / other parts of the world soon. Crucible was created by Amazon Game Studios and Relentless Studios and is free / freely. Amazon is a newcomer in the video games market. It fires / hopes to become a major producer of games. Many experts / expats on video games believe Crucible could be very successful. They say it could be a rebel / rival to the game Fortnite.

    Crucible is set / let in an apocalyptic world on a fictional planet in out / outer space. Very few people can walk around / abound outside on this planet. Players can go outside but they must hunt / hurt and kill different creatures and monsters. They must also collect a special material called "essence". This helps players level to / up and become stronger. Mike Frazzini, the vice president of Amazon Games, spoke / tell about Crucible. He said he hoped it would help people to correct / connect with each other. He told reporters: "We want to make games that / what resonate with a very large audience of players." He added: "One / Once of the reasons I've always loved games is not only is it a fun form of entertainment, but it's a good / way to connect with others."

    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_ _n l_n_ r_t__ l g__ n t A m_z_n h_s r_l__ s_d _t s f_r s t _v_r b_g - b_d g_t P C g_m_. T h_ g_m_ _s c_l l_d C r_c_b l_. I t _s _ s c__ n c_- f_c t__ n s h__ t_r g_m_. I t h_s m_n y _n_s__ l c h_r_c t_r s t h_t h_v_ s p_c__ l p_w_r s . C r_c_b l_ _s c_r r_n t l y _n l y _v__ l_b l_ _n N_r t h A m_r_c_, w h_r_ p__ p l_ c_n d_w n l__ d _t f r_m t h_ v_d__ d_s t r_b_t__ n w_b s_t_ S t__ m . A m_z_n s__ d t h_ g_m_ w_l l b_ _v__ l_b l_ _n _t h_r p_r t s _f t h_ w_r l d s__ n . C r_c_b l_ w_s c r__ t_d b y A m_z_n G_m_ S t_d__ s _n d R_l_n t l_s s S t_d__ s _n d _s f r__ . A m_z_n _s _ n_w c_m_r _n t h_ v_d__ g_m_s m_r k_t . I t h_p_s t_ b_c_m__ m_j_r p r_d_c_r _f g_m_s . M_n y _x p_r t s _n v_d__ g_m_s b_l__ v_ C r_c_b l_ c__ l d b_ v_r y s_c c_s s f_l . T h_y s_y _t c__ l d b__ r_v_l t_ t h_ g_m_ F_r t n_t_.

    C r_c_b l_ _s s_t _n _n _p_c_l y p t_c w_r l d _n _ f_c t__ n_l p l_n_t _n __ t_r s p_c_. V_r y f_w p__ p l_ c_n w_l k _r__ n d __ t s_d_ _n t h_s p l_n_t . P l_y_r s c_n g_ __ t s_d_ b_t t h_y m_s t h_n t _n d k_l l d_f f_r_n t c r__ t_r_s _n d m_n s t_r s . T h_y m_s t _l s_ c_l l_c t _ s p_c__ l m_t_r__ l c_l l_d "_s s_n c_" . T h_s h_l p s p l_y_r s l_v_l _p _n d b_c_m_ s t r_n g_r . M_k_ F r_z z_n_, t h_ v_c_ p r_s_d_n t _f A m_z_n G_m_s , s p_k_ _b__ t C r_c_b l_. H_ s__ d h_ h_p_d _t w__ l d h_l p p__ p l_ t_ c_n n_c t w_t h __ c h _t h_r . H_ t_l d r_p_r t_r s : " W_ w_n t t_ m_k_ g_m_s t h_t r_s_n_t_ w_t h _ v_r y l_r g_ __ d__ n c_ _f p l_y_r s . " H_ _d d_d : " O n_ _f t h_ r__ s_n s I ' v_ _l w_y s l_v_d g_m_s _s n_t _n l y _s _t _ f_n f_r m _f _n t_r t__ n m_n t , b_t _t ' s _ w_y t_ c_n n_c t w_t h _t h_r s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the online retail giant amazon has released its first ever bigbudget pc game the game is called crucible it is a sciencefiction shooter game it has many unusual characters that have special powers crucible is currently only available in north america where people can download it from the video distribution website steam amazon said the game will be available in other parts of the world soon crucible was created by amazon game studios and relentless studios and is free amazon is a newcomer in the video games market it hopes to become a major producer of games many experts on video games believe crucible could be very successful they say it could be a rival to the game fortnite

    crucible is set in an apocalyptic world on a fictional planet in outer space very few people can walk around outside on this planet players can go outside but they must hunt and kill different creatures and monsters they must also collect a special material called essence this helps players level up and become stronger mike frazzini the vice president of amazon games spoke about crucible he said he hoped it would help people to connect with each other he told reporters we want to make games that resonate with a very large audience of players he added one of the reasons ive always loved games is not only is it a fun form of entertainment but its a way to connect with others

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheonlineretailgiantAmazonhasreleaseditsfirsteverbig-budgetPCg
    ame.ThegameiscalledCrucible.Itisascience-fictionshootergame.I
    thasmanyunusualcharactersthathavespecialpowers.Crucibleiscurre
    ntlyonlyavailableinNorthAmerica,wherepeoplecandownloaditfromt
    hevideodistributionwebsiteSteam.Amazonsaidthegamewillbeavaila
    bleinotherpartsoftheworldsoon.CruciblewascreatedbyAmazonGam
    eStudiosandRelentlessStudiosandisfree.Amazonisanewcomerinthe
    videogamesmarket.Ithopestobecomeamajorproducerofgames.Man
    yexpertsonvideogamesbelieveCruciblecouldbeverysuccessful.They
    sayitcouldbearivaltothegameFortnite.Crucibleissetinanapocalyptic
    worldonafictionalplanetinouterspace.Veryfewpeoplecanwalkaround
    outsideonthisplanet.Playerscangooutsidebuttheymusthuntandkilldi
    fferentcreaturesandmonsters.Theymustalsocollectaspecialmaterial
    called"essence".Thishelpsplayerslevelupandbecomestronger.MikeF
    razzini,thevicepresidentofAmazonGames,spokeaboutCrucible.Hesa
    idhehopeditwouldhelppeopletoconnectwitheachother.Hetoldreport
    ers:"Wewanttomakegamesthatresonatewithaverylargeaudienceof
    players."Headded:"OneofthereasonsI'vealwayslovedgamesisnoton
    lyisitafunformofentertainment,butit'sawaytoconnectwithothers."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    PC games are the best kind of entertainment. 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. PC GAMES: Make a poster about PC games. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. GAMES: Write a magazine article about a limit being put on the number of hours people should spend playing PC games. 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 PC games. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on PC and video games. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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