The Reading / Listening - World Record - Level 6

There seems to be a record-breaking feat for just about everything these days. Who knew there was a world record for making the tallest stack of M&Ms? Well, there is, and the record has been broken. British civil engineer Will Cutbill, 23, attempted the balance-defying challenge while trying to stave off the boredom of being cooped up during a COVID lockdown. He used all his architectural and design skills, with a dose of physics know-how, to stack a pile of the multi-colored button-shaped chocolates five M&Ms high. Many people might think that is a beatable record but Mr Cutbill challenged anybody to try and better his balancing accomplishment.

Mr Cutbill spoke about why he set out to break the M&M stacking record. He said: "I've had a lifelong ambition to break a Guinness World Records title. I've always wanted one. I've bought the book every year and have always dreamed of one day reading my name in it." He said he got the idea while he was partaking of his favourite chocolaty confection during the lockdown. He was curious to know how many of the chocolates he could put on top of each other. He said: "It takes time, but if you stick at it, you will find a way to do it." He added: "This has inspired me. I want to let my creative juices flow and see what else I may be good at and then attack it with the same determination I did here."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    World Record - Level 4  or  World Record - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/06/28/man-breaks-guinness-world-record-tallest-stack-m-ms/5371006001/
  • https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2021/6/tallest-stack-of-mms-record-broken-by-brit-662361
  • https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/guinness-world-record-tallest-ever-20864812


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. M&Ms: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about M&Ms. 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?
       record / feat / civil / engineer / balance / challenge / design / skills / chocolates / try /
       ambition / book / every year / idea / curious / inspired / creative / juices / be good at
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. M&Ms STACKING: Students A strongly believe stacking M&Ms is a great record to hold; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WORLD RECORDS: Are these good world records? What training do you need to break them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good?

Training?

M&Ms stacking

 

 

Hot-dog eating

 

 

Sleepless hours

 

 

Most tattooed person

 

 

Most sit-ups

 

 

Most languages spoken

 

 

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

  • Running 100 metres
  • Tallest person
  • Most travelled
  • Biggest vocabulary
  • Highest IQ
  • Fastest at typing
  • Longest hair
  • Fastest reader

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. feat a. Avert or delay something bad or dangerous.
      2. stack b. Improve on or surpass an existing or previous level or achievement.
      3. defying c. An achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength.
      4. stave off d. An action or quality being almost impossible to do.
      5. cooped up e. A pile of objects, usually one that is neatly arranged.
      6. dose f. Confined in a small space.
      7. better g. An amount or quantity of something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. ambition h. Eating or drinking something.
      9. partaking (of) i. A dish or delicious thing made with sweet ingredients.
      10. confection j. Move along steadily and continuously.
      11. curious k. A strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.
      12. inspired l. Firmness in wanting to do something.
      13. flow m. Filled someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
      14. determination n. Eager to know or learn something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says everyone knows about the M&Ms world record.     T / F
  2. The man who broke the M&Ms world record is an engineer.     T / F
  3. The man used his skills in physics and design to break the record.     T / F
  4. The man challenged people to better his record.     T / F
  5. The man bought a Guinness World Records book every year.     T / F
  6. The record holder's favourite chocolate is actually a Snickers bar.     T / F
  7. The man got the idea for the record from looking at a juice carton.  T / F
  8. The man wants to find other things he is good at.     T / F

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

  1. feat
  2. stack
  3. cooped up
  4. dose
  5. challenged
  6. ambition
  7. confection
  8. curious
  9. creative
  10. determination
  1. intrigued
  2. measure
  3. sweet
  4. pile
  5. aspiration
  6. artistic
  7. achievement
  8. resolve
  9. confined
  10. dared

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

  1. a record-breaking
  2. civil
  3. stave
  4. being cooped up
  5. that is a beatable
  6. I've had a lifelong
  7. partaking of his favourite
  8. He was curious
  9. This has
  10. let my creative
  1. during a COVID lockdown
  2. juices flow
  3. record
  4. chocolaty confection
  5. engineer
  6. inspired me
  7. feat
  8. ambition
  9. to know how many
  10. off the boredom

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
dose
feat
better
stave
beatable
stack
engineer
multi

There seems to be a record-breaking (1) _____________________ for just about everything these days. Who knew there was a world record for making the tallest (2) _____________________ of M&Ms? Well, there is, and the record has been broken. British civil (3) _____________________ Will Cutbill, 23, attempted the balance-defying challenge while trying to (4) _____________________ off the boredom of being cooped up during a COVID lockdown. He used all his architectural and design skills, with a (5) _____________________ of physics know-how, to stack a pile of the (6) _____________________ -colored button-shaped chocolates five M&Ms high. Many people might think that is a (7) _____________________ record but Mr Cutbill challenged anybody to try and (8) _____________________ his balancing accomplishment.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
title
juices
confection
determination
inspired
lifelong
partaking
curious

Mr Cutbill spoke about why he set out to break the M&M stacking record. He said: "I've had a (9) _____________________ ambition to break a Guinness World Records (10) _____________________. I've always wanted one. I've bought the book every year and have always dreamed of one day reading my name in it." He said he got the idea while he was (11) _____________________ of his favourite chocolaty (12) _____________________ during the lockdown. He was (13) _____________________ to know how many of the chocolates he could put on top of each other. He said: "It takes time, but if you stick at it, you will find a way to do it." He added: "This has (14) _____________________ me. I want to let my creative (15) _____________________ flow and see what else I may be good at and then attack it with the same (16) _____________________ I did here."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  There seems to be a record-breaking feat for just about ______
     a.  everything them days
     b.  everything these days
     c.  everything those days
     d.  everything this day
2)  the balance-defying challenge while trying to stave off the boredom of ______
     a.  being coped up
     b.  being cooped up
     c.  being caped up
     d.  being coup pup
3)  He used all his architectural and design skills, with a ______
     a.  does of physics
     b.  dose of physics
     c.  dos of physics
     d.  doze of physics
4)  stack a pile of the multi-colored button-shaped chocolates ______
     a.  five M&Ms nigh
     b.  five M&Ms high
     c.  five M&Ms height
     d.  five M&Ms neigh
5)  Mr Cutbill challenged anybody to try and better ______
     a.  his balance in accomplishment
     b.  his balancing accomplish meant
     c.  his balance in accomplish amend
     d.  his balancing accomplishment

6)  Mr Cutbill spoke about why he set out to break the ______
     a.  M&M stocking record
     b.  M&M sticking record
     c.  M&M stacking record
     d.  M&M stuck in record
7)  He said he got the idea while he was partaking of his ______
     a.  favourite chocolaty confetti
     b.  favourite chocolaty confection
     c.  favourite chocolaty compunction
     d.  favourite chocolaty defection
8)  curious to know how many of the chocolates he could put on top ______
     a.  off each other
     b.  of each other
     c.  aft each other
     d.  oft each other
9)  This has inspired me. I want to let my ______
     a.  creative juicy flow
     b.  creative juice is flow
     c.  creative juices flow
     d.  creative juiced flow
10)  what else I may be good at and then attack it with ______
     a.  the same determination
     b.  the same determine a shun
     c.  the same deter my nation
     d.  the same determine nation

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There seems to be a record-breaking (1) ____________________ about everything these days. Who knew there was a world record for making the (2) ____________________ M&Ms? Well, there is, and the record has been broken. British civil engineer Will Cutbill, 23, (3) ____________________-defying challenge while trying to stave off the boredom of being (4) ____________________ a COVID lockdown. He used all his architectural and design skills, with a (5) ____________________ know-how, to stack a pile of the multi-colored button-shaped chocolates five M&Ms high. Many people might think that is a beatable record but Mr Cutbill challenged anybody to (6) ____________________ his balancing accomplishment.

Mr Cutbill spoke about why he set out to break the M&M stacking record. He said: "I've had (7) ____________________ to break a Guinness World Records title. I've always wanted one. I've bought (8) ____________________ year and have always dreamed of one day reading my name in it." He said he got the idea while (9) ____________________ of his favourite chocolaty confection during the lockdown. He was (10) ____________________ how many of the chocolates he could put on top of each other. He said: "It takes time, but if you (11) ____________________, you will find a way to do it." He added: "This has inspired me. I want to let my (12) ____________________ and see what else I may be good at and then attack it with the same determination I did here."

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say there is for everything these days?
  2. What is the job of the guy who broke the record?
  3. What did the guy try to stave off while attempting the record?
  4. What colours were the M&Ms in the record pile?
  5. What did the record holder challenge people to do?
  6. What was the guy's lifelong ambition?
  7. How often did the guy buy the Guinness Book of Records?
  8. Where had the guy hoped to see his name?
  9. What did the guy want to let flow?
  10. What else did the guy want to see?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the article say there is for everything these days?
a) record-breaking feet
b) a record-breaking feat
c) a record holder
d) big feet
2)  What is the job of the guy who broke the record?
a) a Guinness Book of Records editor
b) an M&Ms museum curator
c) a confectioner
d) a civil engineer
3) What did the guy try to stave off while attempting the record?
a) boredom
b) putting on weight
c) a sweet tooth
d) frustration
4) What colours were the M&Ms in the record pile?
a) primary and secondary colours
b) pastel colours
c) they were multi-coloured
d) all the colours of the rainbow
5) What did the record holder challenge people to do?
a) eat M&Ms
b) better his record
c) pile 10 M&Ms on top of each other
d) make a stack of 100 M&Ms

6) What was the guy's lifelong ambition?
a) to break a record
b) to break an M&Ms eating record
c) to be famous
d) to me a master confectioner
7) How often did the guy buy the Guinness Book of Records?
a) once a decade
b) every two years
c) every year
d) every other year
8) Where had the guy hoped to see his name?
a) in the Guinness Book of Records
b) in lights
c) on TV
d) in newspapers
9) What did the guy want to let flow?
a) his creative juices
b) electricity
c) rivers
d) his internal energy
10) What else did the guy want to see?
a) a Snickers record broken
b) black M&Ms
c) the world
d) what he may be good at

Role play

Role  A – Running 100 Metres
You think being the fastest runner over 100 metres is the best record to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their records. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): the most travelled, having the biggest vocabulary or being the fastest reader.

Role  B – Most Travelled
You think being the most travelled is the best record to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their records. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): the fastest runner over 100 metres, having the biggest vocabulary or being the fastest reader.

Role  C – Biggest Vocabulary
You think having the biggest vocabulary is the best record to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their records. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): the most travelled, the fastest runner over 100 metres or being the fastest reader.

Role  D – Fastest Reader
You think being the fastest reader is the best record to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their records. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): the most travelled, having the biggest vocabulary or the fastest runner over 100 metres.

After reading / listening

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

'world'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'record'.

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

    • seems
    • knew
    • stave
    • dose
    • pile
    • try
    • ambition
    • dreamed
    • idea
    • curious
    • find
    • good

    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 - World Record

    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 'world record'?
    3. What do you think of an M&M stacking world record?
    4. How hard is it to stack five M&Ms?
    5. What world record would you like to break?
    6. Why are people so interested in world records?
    7. Do you need engineering skills to break the M&M stacking record?
    8. What does a civil engineer do?
    9. What do you know about physics?
    10. What do you think of M&Ms?

    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 'engineer'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What is your lifelong ambition?
    5. Which book would you like to see your name in?
    6. What are your favourite chocolaty things?
    7. Do you always stick at things?
    8. How important are our creative juices?
    9. How determined are you to succeed in the things you do?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Cutbill?

    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 seems to be a record-breaking (1) ____ for just about everything these days. Who knew there was a world record for making the tallest stack of M&Ms? Well, there is, and the record has been broken. British (2) ____ engineer Will Cutbill, 23, attempted the balance-defying challenge while trying to (3) ____ off the boredom of being cooped up during a COVID lockdown. He used all his architectural and design skills, with a (4) ____ of physics know-how, to stack a pile of the multi-colored button-shaped chocolates five M&Ms (5) ____. Many people might think that is a beatable record but Mr Cutbill challenged anybody to try and (6) ____ his balancing accomplishment.

    Mr Cutbill spoke about why he set (7) ____ to break the M&M stacking record. He said: "I've had a (8) ____ ambition to break a Guinness World Records title. I've always wanted one. I've bought the book every year and have always dreamed of one day reading my name in it." He said he got the idea while he was partaking (9) ____ his favourite chocolaty confection during the lockdown. He was (10) ____ to know how many of the chocolates he could put on top of each other. He said: "It takes time, but if you (11) ____ at it, you will find a way to do it." He added: "This has inspired me. I want to let my creative (12) ____ flow and see what else I may be good at and then attack it with the same determination I did here."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     fleet     (b)     feet     (c)     feat     (d)     afoot    
    (a)     civil     (b)     civilian     (c)     civility     (d)     civic    
    (a)     stave     (b)     starve     (c)     stale     (d)     stage    
    (a)     dose     (b)     does     (c)     doze     (d)     dos    
    (a)     heighten     (b)     high     (c)     heightens     (d)     highest    
    (a)     bettering     (b)     batter     (c)     betterment     (d)     better    
    (a)     in     (b)     of     (c)     out     (d)     as    
    (a)     likelihood     (b)     livelihood     (c)     living     (d)     lifelong    
    (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    (a)     courteous     (b)     curious     (c)     curvaceous     (d)     callous    
    (a)     adhere     (b)     stick     (c)     glue     (d)     plaster    
    (a)     liquids     (b)     waters     (c)     juices     (d)     fluids

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a record-breaking tfea
    2. British civil enineger
    3. the balance-inedfyg challenge
    4. boredom of being dpoeoc up
    5. crateacuitrlh and design skills
    6. his balancing antmemclhspioc

    Paragraph 2

    1. I've had a lifelong amintbio
    2. he got the idea while he was rkptaigan
    3. his favourite chocolaty ocenncifto
    4. This has sinreipd me
    5. ireectav juices
    6. with the same nttaiimdneeor

    Put the text back together

    (...)  but Mr Cutbill challenged anybody to try and better his balancing accomplishment.
    (...)  for making the tallest stack of M&Ms? Well, there is, and the record has been broken. British civil
    (...)  Mr Cutbill spoke about why he set out to break the M&M stacking record. He said: "I've had a lifelong
    (...)  engineer Will Cutbill, 23, attempted the balance-defying challenge while trying to stave
    (...)  skills, with a dose of physics know-how, to stack a pile of the multi-colored button-
    1  ) There seems to be a record-breaking feat for just about everything these days. Who knew there was a world record
    (...)  ambition to break a Guinness World Records title. I've always wanted one. I've bought the book every year and have always
    (...)  flow and see what else I may be good at and then attack it with the same determination I did here."
    (...)  off the boredom of being cooped up during a COVID lockdown. He used all his architectural and design
    (...)  of his favourite chocolaty confection during the lockdown. He was curious to know how many of the chocolates he could
    (...)  put on top of each other. He said: "It takes time, but if you stick at it, you will find a
    (...)  dreamed of one day reading my name in it." He said he got the idea while he was partaking
    (...)  way to do it." He added: "This has inspired me. I want to let my creative juices
    (...)  shaped chocolates five M&Ms high. Many people might think that is a beatable record

    Put the words in the right order

    1. everything   .   record-breaking   just   A   feat   for   about
    2. stack   .   making   for   A   tallest   world   the   record
    3. off   Stave   up   .   of   the   being   boredom   cooped
    4. is   beatable   that   record   .   might   people   a   Many   think
    5. try   his   balancing   .   Challenged   anybody   and   to   better
    6. the   record   .   break   out   to   he   Why   set
    7. of   was   He   favourite   confection   .   partaking   chocolaty   his
    8. curious   was   many   .   to   He   how   know
    9. juices   flow   .   creative   want   to   my   I   let
    10. I   good   may   what   See   at   .   be   else

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    There seems / seem to be a record-breaking feat / feature for just about everything these days. Who knew there was a world record for making the tallest stack of M&Ms? Well, there is, and the record has been broken. British civil / civility engineer Will Cutbill, 23, attempted the balance-defying challenge while trying to starve / stave off the boredom of being coped / cooped up during a COVID lockdown. He used all / wholly his architectural and design skills, with a dose of / in physics know-how, to stack a pile on / of the multi-colored button-shaped chocolates five M&Ms height / high. Many people might think that is a beatable record but Mr Cutbill challenged anybody to try and better / goodlier his balancing accomplishment.

    Mr Cutbill spoke about why he set in / out to break the M&M stacking record. He said: "I've had a lifelong ambitious / ambition to break a Guinness World Records title. I've always wanted one. I've bought the book every year and have always dreamed of one / once day reading my name in it." He said he got the idea while he was partaking / parking of his favourite chocolaty confection / infection during the lockdown. He was crucial / curious to know how many of the chocolates he could put on / in top of each other. He said: "It takes time, but if you stick / stack at it, you will find a way to do it." He added: "This has inspired me. I want to let my creative juices / liquids flow and see what else I may be good at and then attack it with the similar / same determination I did here."

    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)

    Th_r_  s__ms  t_  b_  _  r_c_rd-br__k_ng  f__t  f_r  j_st  _b__t  _v_ryth_ng  th_s_  d_ys.  Wh_  kn_w  th_r_  w_s  _  w_rld  r_c_rd  f_r  m_k_ng  th_  t_ll_st  st_ck  _f  M&Ms?  W_ll,  th_r_  _s,  _nd  th_  r_c_rd  h_s  b__n  br_k_n.  Br_t_sh  c_v_l  _ng_n__r  W_ll  C_tb_ll,  23,  _tt_mpt_d  th_  b_l_nc_-d_fy_ng  ch_ll_ng_  wh_l_  try_ng  t_  st_v_  _ff  th_  b_r_d_m  _f  b__ng  c _ _p_d  _ p d_wn  d_r_ng  _  C_V_D  l_ckd_wn.  H_  _s_d  _ll  h_s  _rch_t_ct_r_l  _nd  d_s_gn  sk_lls,  w_th  _  d_s_  _f  phys_cs  kn_w-h_w,  t_  st_ck  _  p_l_  _f  th_  m_lt_-c_l_r_d  b_tt_n-sh_p_d  ch_c_l_t_s  f_v_  M&Ms  h_gh.  M_ny  p__pl_  m_ght  th_nk  th_t  _s  _  b__t_bl_  r_c_rd  b_t  Mr  C_tb_ll  ch_ll_ng_d  _nyb_dy  t_  try  _nd  b_tt_r  h_s  b_l_nc_ng  _cc_mpl_shm_nt.

    Mr  C_tb_ll  sp_k_  _b__t  why  h_  s_t  __t  t_  br__k  th_  M&M  st_ck_ng  r_c_rd.  H_  s__d:  "_'v_  h_d  _  l_f_l_ng  _mb_t__n  t_  br__k  _  G__nn_ss  W_rld  R_c_rds  t_tl_.  _'v_  _lw_ys  w_nt_d  _n_.  _'v_  b__ght  th_  b__k  _v_ry  y__r  _nd  h_v_  _lw_ys  dr__m_d  _f  _n_  d_y  r__d_ng  my  n_m_  _n  _t."  H_  s__d  h_  g_t  th_  _d__  wh_l_  h_  w_s  p_rt_k_ng  _f  h_s  f_v__r_t_  ch_c_l_ty  c_nf_ct__n  d_r_ng  th_  l_ckd_wn.  H_  w_s  c_r___s  t_  kn_w  h_w  m_ny  _f  th_  ch_c_l_t_s  h_  c__ld  p_t  _n  t_p  _f  __ch  _th_r.  H_  s__d:  "_t  t_k_s  t_m_,  b_t  _f  y__  st_ck  _t  _t,  y__  w_ll  f_nd  _  w_y  t_  d_  _t."  H_  _dd_d:  "Th_s  h_s  _nsp_r_d  m_.  _  w_nt  t_  l_t  my  cr__t_v_  j__c_s  fl_w  _nd  s__  wh_t  _ls_  _  m_y  b_  g__d  _t  _nd  th_n  _tt_ck  _t  w_th  th_  s_m_  d_t_rm_n_t__n  _  d_d  h_r_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    there seems to be a recordbreaking feat for just about everything these days who knew there was a world record for making the tallest stack of mms well there is and the record has been broken british civil engineer will cutbill 23 attempted the balancedefying challenge while trying to stave off the boredom of being cooped up during a covid lockdown he used all his architectural and design skills with a dose of physics knowhow to stack a pile of the multicolored buttonshaped chocolates five mms high many people might think that is a beatable record but mr cutbill challenged anybody to try and better his balancing accomplishment

    mr cutbill spoke about why he set out to break the mm stacking record he said ive had a lifelong ambition to break a guinness world records title ive always wanted one ive bought the book every year and have always dreamed of one day reading my name in it he said he got the idea while he was partaking of his favourite chocolaty confection during the lockdown he was curious to know how many of the chocolates he could put on top of each other he said it takes time but if you stick at it you will find a way to do it he added this has inspired me i want to let my creative juices flow and see what else i may be good at and then attack it with the same determination i did here

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thereseemstobearecord-breakingfeatforjustabouteverythingthes
    edays.Whoknewtherewasaworldrecordformakingthetalleststackof
    M&Ms?Well,thereis,andtherecordhasbeenbroken.Britishcivilengine
    erWillCutbill,23,attemptedthebalance-defyingchallengewhiletryi
    ngtostaveofftheboredomofbeingcoopedupduringaCOVIDlockdown.
    Heusedallhisarchitecturalanddesignskills,withadoseofphysicsknow-
    how,tostackapileofthemulti-coloredbutton-shapedchocolatesfiveM
    &Mshigh.ManypeoplemightthinkthatisabeatablerecordbutMrCutbill
    challengedanybodytotryandbetterhisbalancingaccomplishment.Mr
    CutbillspokeaboutwhyhesetouttobreaktheM&Mstackingrecord.Hes
    aid:"I'vehadalifelongambitiontobreakaGuinnessWorldRecordstitle.I
    'vealwayswantedone.I'veboughtthebookeveryyearandhavealways
    dreamedofonedayreadingmynameinit."Hesaidhegottheideawhilehe
    waspartakingofhisfavouritechocolatyconfectionduringthelockdown.
    Hewascurioustoknowhowmanyofthechocolateshecouldputontopofe
    achother.Hesaid:"Ittakestime,butifyoustickatit,youwillfindawaytod
    oit."Headded:"Thishasinspiredme.Iwanttoletmycreativejuicesflowa
    ndseewhatelseImaybegoodatandthenattackitwiththesamedetermi
    nationIdidhere."

    Free writing

    Write about Guinness world record for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    It is important to try to beat world records. 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. M&Ms: Make a poster about M&Ms. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WORLD RECORDS: Write a magazine article about all of us trying to break world records. 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 world records. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on world records. 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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