The Reading / Listening - Remote Island - Level 6

Indian police have arrested an American tourist for allegedly travelling to a remote island to visit one of the world's most isolated tribes. The island, North Sentinel, is part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, around 1,200 km east of the Indian subcontinent. It is approximately 60 square kilometres in size. North Sentinel is a protected area and home to the Sentinelese people, an indigenous tribe who have fiercely defended their isolation from the outside world. The tourist made the prohibited journey to the island. He did not make contact with the islanders, but he did leave them a can of Diet Coke and a coconut. He could face up to five years in prison.

The Indian government has barred outsiders from visiting North Sentinel Island. This is to protect the unique Sentinelese way of life. It is also to shield the inhabitants from modern illnesses. A spokeswoman for a non-profit group that protects isolated tribes said: "It's very well known that uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe them out." Survival International said the Sentinelese are "the most isolated indigenous people in the world." In the past few decades, the islanders have killed several people who have attempted to visit the island. The recently arrested tourist described himself as a "thrill seeker".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Remote Island - Level 4  or  Remote Island - Level 5

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/04/travel/north-sentinel-island-us-tourist-arrested-intl-hnk/index.html
  • https://www.yahoo.com/news/pictured-tintin-danger-tourist-left-182937805.html
  • https://www.dw.com/en/us-tourist-arrested-for-entering-forbidden-indian-island/a-72147167


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. REMOTE ISLANDS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about remote islands. 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?
       police / arrested / remote island / tribes / archipelago / subcontinent / isolation / can /
       outsiders / unique / inhabitants / diseases / flu / the past few decades / thrill seekers
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PROTECTION: Students A strongly believe isolated tribes should be given the maximum possible protection to save their way of life; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ISOLATION: What are the pros and cons of living in these isolated places? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons

A small island

 

 

The middle of a desert

 

 

A mountaintop

 

 

A jungle

 

 

Antarctica

 

 

The Russian Steppes

 

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

  • Hawaii
  • Fiji
  • Greenland
  • Madagascar
  • The Galapagos
  • Tasmania
  • Jamaica
  • Iceland

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. allegedly a. Not allowed; not OK to do.
      2. isolated b. A group of people who live together and share the same language and culture.
      3. tribe c. A very large part of a continent, like India.
      4. archipelago d. People say something happened, but it is not proven yet.
      5. subcontinent e. The first people who lived in a place, before others came.
      6. indigenous f. Far away from other places or people.
      7. prohibited g. A group or string of islands close to each other.

    Paragraph 2

      8. barred h. The body’s power to stay healthy and fight sickness.
      9. shield i. A common sickness that gives you a fever and red spots on the skin.
      10. inhabitant j. A person who likes to do exciting or dangerous things for fun.
      11. immunity k. To protect someone or something.
      12. measles l. To destroy or remove everyone or everything completely.
      13. wipe out m. A person or animal that lives in a place.
      14. thrill seeker n. Not allowed to enter or do something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Indian police arrested a tourist on a remote island.     T / F
  2. North Sentinel Island is 1,200 km west of India.     T / F
  3. North Sentinel Island is about 60 km2 in size.     T / F
  4. The tourist left a can of coconut-flavoured cola on the island.     T / F
  5. The flu and measles could kill all of the people on North Sentinel Island.  T / F
  6. The North Sentinelese are the world's most isolated indigenous people.    T / F
  7. Several people who visited the island were killed.     T / F
  8. The tourist said he wasn't interested in excitement.     T / F

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

  1. arrested
  2. isolated
  3. archipelago
  4. indigenous
  5. prohibited
  6. unique
  7. inhabitants
  8. immunity
  9. past
  10. thrill
  1. resistance to
  2. native
  3. forbidden
  4. population
  5. island chain
  6. excitement
  7. apprehended
  8. preceding
  9. remote
  10. special

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

  1. a remote
  2. It is approximately
  3. an indigenous tribe who have
  4. He did not make
  5. He could face
  6. The Indian government has barred
  7. shield the inhabitants
  8. immunity to
  9. completely wipe
  10. described himself as a thrill
  1. 60 square kilometres in size
  2. them out
  3. up to five years in prison
  4. outsiders
  5. from modern illnesses
  6. island
  7. seeker
  8. contact with the islanders
  9. common outside diseases
  10. fiercely defended their isolation

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
archipelago
face
area
allegedly
contact
journey
isolated
fiercely

Indian police have arrested an American tourist for (1) _________________________________ travelling to a remote island to visit one of the world's most (2) _________________________________ tribes. The island, North Sentinel, is part of the Andaman and Nicobar (3) _________________________________ in the Bay of Bengal, around 1,200 km east of the Indian subcontinent. It is approximately 60 square kilometres in size. North Sentinel is a protected (4) _________________________________ and home to the Sentinelese people, an indigenous tribe who have (5) _________________________________ defended their isolation from the outside world. The tourist made the prohibited (6) _________________________________ to the island. He did not make (7) _________________________________ with the islanders, but he did leave them a can of Diet Coke and a coconut. He could (8) _________________________________ up to five years in prison.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
wipe
unique
isolated
thrill
attempted
immunity
barred
decades

The Indian government has (9) _________________________________ outsiders from visiting North Sentinel Island. This is to protect the (10) _________________________________ Sentinelese way of life. It is also to shield the inhabitants from modern illnesses. A spokeswoman for a non-profit group that protects (11) _________________________________ tribes said: "It's very well known that uncontacted peoples have no (12) _________________________________ to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely (13) _________________________________ them out." Survival International said the Sentinelese are "the most isolated indigenous people in the world." In the past few (14) _________________________________, the islanders have killed several people who have (15) _________________________________ to visit the island. The recently arrested tourist described himself as a "(16) _________________________________ seeker".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  travelling to a remote island to visit one of the world's ______
     a.  most isolated tribe
     b.  most isolate tribes
     c.  most isolate it tribes
     d.  most isolated tribes
2)  It is approximately 60 square ______
     a.  kilometres in size
     b.  kilometres on size
     c.  kilometres an size
     d.  kilometres sin size
3)  an indigenous tribe who have fiercely ______
     a.  defence their isolation
     b.  defended their isolation
     c.  defended they're isolation
     d.  defended their isolated
4)  The tourist made the prohibited journey ______
     a.  to the Iceland
     b.  to the island
     c.  to the islander
     d.  to the islet
5)  He could face up to five ______
     a.  years to prison
     b.  years at prison
     c.  years on prison
     d.  years in prison

6)  It is also to shield the inhabitants ______
     a.  from modern illnesses
     b.  from modernity illnesses
     c.  frame modern illnesses
     d.  farm modern illnesses
7)  A spokeswoman for a non-profit group that ______
     a.  protect isolated tribes
     b.  projects isolated tribes
     c.  protects isolated tribes
     d.  pretext isolated tribes
8)  to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely ______
     a.  wipe them on
     b.  wipe them under
     c.  wipe them over
     d.  wipe them out
9)  In the past few decades, the islanders have ______
     a.  killed seven people
     b.  killed seventeen people
     c.  killed several people
     d.  killed servile people
10)  The recently arrested tourist described himself as ______
     a.  a trill seeker
     b.  a thrill seeker
     c.  a shrill seeker
     d.  a thriller seeker

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Indian police (1) _______________________________________________ American tourist for allegedly travelling to a remote island to visit one of the world's (2) _______________________________________________. The island, North Sentinel, is part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, around 1,200 km east of the Indian subcontinent. It (3) _______________________________________________ square kilometres in size. North Sentinel is a protected area and home to the Sentinelese people, an indigenous tribe (4) _______________________________________________ defended their isolation from the outside world. The tourist made the (5) _______________________________________________ the island. He did not make contact with the islanders, but he did leave them a can of Diet Coke and a coconut. He could (6) _______________________________________________ five years in prison.

The Indian government (7) _______________________________________________ from visiting North Sentinel Island. This is to (8) _______________________________________________ Sentinelese way of life. It is also to shield the inhabitants from modern illnesses. A spokeswoman for a non-profit group that (9) _______________________________________________ said: "It's very well known that uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like (10) _______________________________________________, which could completely wipe them out." Survival International said the Sentinelese are "the most isolated indigenous people in the world." In the (11) _______________________________________________, the islanders have killed several people who have attempted to visit the island. The recently arrested tourist described himself as (12) _______________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of land mass is North Sentinel Island part of?
  2. How big is North Sentinel Island?
  3. From whom have the tribe defended themselves against?
  4. What did the tourist leave on the island besides a soft drink?
  5. For how long could the tourist end up in prison?
  6. What unique thing does India want to protect?
  7. What does India want to shield the Sentinelese from?
  8. What could completely wipe the Sentinelese out?
  9. How many people have died visiting the island in the past few decades?
  10. What did the tourist describe himself as being?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of land mass is North Sentinel Island part of?
a) a spit
b) a peninsular
c) a cape
d) an archipelago
2) How big is North Sentinel Island?
a) 40 square kilometres
b) 60 square kilometres
c) 80 square kilometres
d) 100 square kilometres
3) From whom have the tribe defended themselves against?
a) poachers
b) rival tribes
c) the outside world
d) multinational companies
4) What did the tourist leave on the island besides a soft drink?
a) a coconut
b) footprints
c) a message in the sand
d) a smartphone
5) For how long could the tourist end up in prison?
a) six months
b) up to fifty years
c) up to five years
d) up to five weeks

6) What unique thing does India want to protect?
a) an ecosystem
b) the Sentinelese way of life
c) the North Sentinel Island beaches
d) the Sentinelese language
7) What does India want to shield the Sentinelese from?
a) the press
b) global warming
c) uncertain markets
d) modern illnesses
8) What could completely wipe the Sentinelese out?
a) flu or measles
b) global warming
c) AI
d) a coconut shortage
9) How many people have died visiting the island in the past few decades?
a) loads
b) one
c) several
d) a dozen
10) What did the tourist describe himself as being?
a) a shrill speaker
b) a thrill seeker
c) a trill streaker
d) a trim sneaker

Role play

Role  A – Hawaii
You think Hawaii is the best island. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their island. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Greenland, Jamaica or Iceland.

Role  B – Greenland
You think Greenland is the best island. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their island. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Hawaii, Jamaica or Iceland.

Role  C – Jamaica
You think Jamaica is the best island. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their island. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Greenland, Hawaii or Iceland.

Role  D – Iceland
You think Iceland is the best island. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their island. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Greenland, Jamaica or Hawaii.

After reading / listening

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

'remote'

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

    • and 'island'.

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

    • • 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:

    • allegedly
    • part
    • size
    • home
    • outside
    • face
    • protect
    • shield
    • group
    • wipe
    • past
    • thrill

    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 - Remote Island

    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 'remote'?
    3. What do you think of remote islands?
    4. Would you like to live on a small island?
    5. What do you think of isolated tribes?
    6. What should we do to protect isolated peoples?
    7. What do you think of the arrest of the tourist?
    8. What can we learn from people with no contact with the modern world?
    9. Why should the islanders be left alone?
    10. What do you think of the tourist leaving a can of Coke?

    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 'island'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What would you like to know about the Sentinelese people?
    5. What are the advantages of living in an isolated place?
    6. Where is the most remote place you've been to?
    7. Would you rather live on a remote island or in a big city?
    8. What do you think will happen to the island in the future?
    9. How much of a thrill seeker are you?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the tourist?

    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)

    Indian police have (1) ____ an American tourist for allegedly travelling to a remote island to visit one of the world's most (2) ____ tribes. The island, North Sentinel, is part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago (3) ____ the Bay of Bengal, around 1,200 km east of the Indian subcontinent. It is approximately 60 square kilometres (4) ____ size. North Sentinel is a protected area and home to the Sentinelese people, an indigenous tribe who have fiercely defended their isolation from the outside world. The tourist (5) ____ the prohibited journey to the island. He did not make contact with the islanders, but he did leave them a can of Diet Coke and a coconut. He could (6) ____ up to five years in prison.

    The Indian government has (7) ____ outsiders from visiting North Sentinel Island. This is to protect the unique Sentinelese way of life. It is also to (8) ____ the inhabitants from modern illnesses. A spokeswoman for a non-profit group that protects isolated tribes said: "It's very well known that uncontacted peoples have no immunity (9) ____ common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe them (10) ____." Survival International said the Sentinelese are "the most isolated indigenous people in the world." In the past few decades, the islanders have killed (11) ____ people who have attempted to visit the island. The recently arrested tourist described himself as a "(12) ____ seeker".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     arrested     (b)     detested     (c)     attested     (d)     bested    
    2. (a)     isolating     (b)     isolation     (c)     isolated     (d)     isolate    
    3. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    4. (a)     on     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    5. (a)     tripped     (b)     been     (c)     made     (d)     went    
    6. (a)     head     (b)     face     (c)     back     (d)     front    
    7. (a)     jarred     (b)     barred     (c)     marred     (d)     starred    
    8. (a)     wield     (b)     shield     (c)     yield     (d)     field    
    9. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     by    
    10. (a)     over     (b)     in     (c)     down     (d)     out    
    11. (a)     numerate     (b)     severe     (c)     numeral     (d)     several    
    12. (a)     procedure     (b)     design     (c)     alley     (d)     thrill

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. gllyaelde travelling to a remote island
    2. the Andaman and Nicobar arochilagep
    3. 1,200 km east of the Indian cubntnneotsi
    4. It is yralamipotxep 60 square kilometres in size
    5. an eudiosnnig tribe
    6. the bopdheitir journey to the island

    Paragraph 2

    1. protect the qniueu Sentinelese way of life
    2. shield the tntihbsanai from modern illnesses
    3. no ntimiyum to common outside diseases
    4. flu or mslesea
    5. the Sentinelese are the most lioasdet
    6. described himself as a llhtir seeker

    Put the text back together

    (    )         60 square kilometres in size. North Sentinel is a protected area and home to the Sentinelese people, an indigenous
    (    )         archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, around 1,200 km east of the Indian subcontinent. It is approximately
    (    )         can of Diet Coke and a coconut. He could face up to five years in prison.
    (    )         few decades, the islanders have killed several people who have attempted to visit
    (    )         for a non-profit group that protects isolated tribes said: "It's very well known that uncontacted peoples have no
    (    )         immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe
    (  1  )       Indian police have arrested an American tourist for allegedly travelling to a remote island to
    (    )         journey to the island. He did not make contact with the islanders, but he did leave them a
    (    )         Sentinelese way of life. It is also to shield the inhabitants from modern illnesses. A spokeswoman
    (    )         The Indian government has barred outsiders from visiting North Sentinel Island. This is to protect the unique
    (    )         the island. The recently arrested tourist described himself as a "thrill seeker".
    (    )         them out." Survival International said the Sentinelese are "the most isolated indigenous people in the world." In the past
    (    )         tribe who have fiercely defended their isolation from the outside world. The tourist made the prohibited
    (    )         visit one of the world's most isolated tribes. The island, North Sentinel, is part of the Andaman and Nicobar

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Visit   tribes   isolated   world's   most   the   one   of   .
    2. It   size   kilometres   square   approximately   60   is   in   .
    3. Fiercely   world   outside   the   from   isolation   their   defended   .
    4. He   islanders   the   with   contact   make   not   did   .
    5. Face   in   years   five   to   up   prison   .
    6. The   visiting   from   outsiders   barred   has   government   Indian   .
    7. Protect   life   of   Sentinelese   way   unique   the   .
    8. It   illnesses   modern   from   inhabitants   the   shields   .
    9. Have   diseases   outside   common   to   immunity   no   .
    10. The   seeker   thrill   a   as   himself   described   tourist   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Indian police have arrested an American tourist for allegorically / allegedly travelling to a remote / remotely island to visit one of the world's most isolated tribal / tribes. The island, North Sentinel, is part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, around 1,200 km east of the Indian subcontinent / incontinent. It is approximately 60 square kilometres in / on size. North Sentinel is a protected area and homely / home to the Sentinelese people, an indigenous tribe who have fearsome / fiercely defended their isolation from the outside world. The tourist made the prohibited / prohibition journey to the island. He did not make contact / contract with the islanders, but he did leave them a can of Diet Coke and a coconut. He could face / down up to five years in prison.

    The Indian government has jarred / barred outsiders from visiting North Sentinel Island. This is to protect / project the unique Sentinelese way of life. It is also to wield / shield the inhabitants from modern / modernity illnesses. A spokeswoman for a non-profit group that protects isolated tribes said: "It's very well known that uncontracted / uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe them out / in." Survival International said the Sentinelese are "the most / must isolated indigenous people in the world." In the past few decades, the islanders have killed several people who have attempted to visit an / the island. The recent / recently arrested tourist described himself as a "trill / thrill seeker".

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

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

    _nd__n  p_l_c_  h_v_  _rr_st_d  _n  _m_r_c_n  t__r_st  f_r  _ll_g_dly  tr_v_ll_ng  t_  _  r_m_t_  _sl_nd  t_  v_s_t  _n_  _f  th_  w_rld's  m_st  _s_l_t_d  tr_b_s.  Th_  _sl_nd,  N_rth  S_nt_n_l,  _s  p_rt  _f  th_  _nd_m_n  _nd  N_c_b_r  _rch_p_l_g_  _n  th_  B_y  _f  B_ng_l,  _r__nd  1,200  km  __st  _f  th_  _nd__n  s_bc_nt_n_nt.  _t  _s  _ppr_x_m_t_ly  60  sq__r_  k_l_m_tr_s  _n  s_z_.  N_rth  S_nt_n_l  _s  _  pr_t_ct_d  _r__  _nd  h_m_  t_  th_  S_nt_n_l_s_  p__pl_,  _n  _nd_g_n__s  tr_b_  wh_  h_v_  f__rc_ly  d_f_nd_d  th__r  _s_l_t__n  fr_m  th_  __ts_d_  w_rld.  Th_  t__r_st  m_d_  th_  pr_h_b_t_d  j__rn_y  t_  th_  _sl_nd.  H_  d_d  n_t  m_k_  c_nt_ct  w_th  th_  _sl_nd_rs,  b_t  h_  d_d  l__v_  th_m  _  c_n  _f  D__t  C_k_  _nd  _  c_c_n_t.  H_  c__ld  f_c_  _p  t_  f_v_  y__rs  _n  pr_s_n.

    Th_  _nd__n  g_v_rnm_nt  h_s  b_rr_d  __ts_d_rs  fr_m  v_s_t_ng  N_rth  S_nt_n_l  _sl_nd.  Th_s  _s  t_  pr_t_ct  th_  _n_q__  S_nt_n_l_s_  w_y  _f  l_f_.  _t  _s  _ls_  t_  sh__ld  th_  _nh_b_t_nts  fr_m  m_d_rn  _lln_ss_s.  _  sp_k_sw_m_n  f_r  _  n_n-pr_f_t  gr__p  th_t  pr_t_cts  _s_l_t_d  tr_b_s  s__d:  "_t's  v_ry  w_ll  kn_wn  th_t  _nc_nt_ct_d  p__pl_s  h_v_  n_  _mm_n_ty  t_  c_mm_n  __ts_d_  d_s__s_s  l_k_  fl_  _r  m__sl_s,  wh_ch  c__ld  c_mpl_t_ly  w_p_  th_m  __t."  S_rv_v_l  _nt_rn_t__n_l  s__d  th_  S_nt_n_l_s_  _r_  "th_  m_st  _s_l_t_d  _nd_g_n__s  p__pl_  _n  th_  w_rld."  _n  th_  p_st  f_w  d_c_d_s,  th_  _sl_nd_rs  h_v_  k_ll_d  s_v_r_l  p__pl_  wh_  h_v_  _tt_mpt_d  t_  v_s_t  th_  _sl_nd.  Th_  r_c_ntly  _rr_st_d  t__r_st  d_scr_b_d  h_ms_lf  _s  _  "thr_ll  s__k_r".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    indian police have arrested an american tourist for allegedly travelling to a remote island to visit one of the world's most isolated tribes the island north sentinel is part of the andaman and nicobar archipelago in the bay of bengal around 1200 km east of the indian subcontinent it is approximately 60 square kilometres in size north sentinel is a protected area and home to the sentinelese people an indigenous tribe who have fiercely defended their isolation from the outside world the tourist made the prohibited journey to the island he did not make contact with the islanders but he did leave them a can of diet coke and a coconut he could face up to five years in prison

    the indian government has barred outsiders from visiting north sentinel island this is to protect the unique sentinelese way of life it is also to shield the inhabitants from modern illnesses a spokeswoman for a non profit group that protects isolated tribes said it's very well known that uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles which could completely wipe them out survival international said the sentinelese are the most isolated indigenous people in the world in the past few decades the islanders have killed several people who have attempted to visit the island the recently arrested tourist described himself as a thrill seeker

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    IndianpolicehavearrestedanAmericantouristforallegedlytravellingto
    aremoteislandtovisitoneoftheworld'smostisolatedtribes.Theisland,
    NorthSentinel,ispartoftheAndamanandNicobararchipelagointheBay
    ofBengal,around1,200kmeastoftheIndiansubcontinent.Itisapproxi
    mately60squarekilometresinsize.NorthSentinelisaprotectedareaan
    dhometotheSentinelesepeople,anindigenoustribewhohavefiercelyd
    efendedtheirisolationfromtheoutsideworld.Thetouristmadetheprohi
    bitedjourneytotheisland.Hedidnotmakecontactwiththeislanders,but
    hedidleavethemacanofDietCokeandacoconut.Hecouldfaceuptofivey
    earsinprison.TheIndiangovernmenthasbarredoutsidersfromvisiting
    NorthSentinelIsland.ThisistoprotecttheuniqueSentinelesewayoflife.
    Itisalsotoshieldtheinhabitantsfrommodernillnesses.Aspokeswoman
    foranon-profitgroupthatprotectsisolatedtribessaid:"It'sverywellkno
    wnthatuncontactedpeopleshavenoimmunitytocommonoutsidedise
    aseslikefluormeasles,whichcouldcompletelywipethemout."Survival
    InternationalsaidtheSentineleseare"themostisolatedindigenouspeo
    pleintheworld."Inthepastfewdecades,theislandershavekilledseveral
    peoplewhohaveattemptedtovisittheisland.Therecentlyarrestedtouri
    stdescribedhimselfasa"thrillseeker".

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We need to do all we can to protect isolated tribes. 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. REMOTE ISLANDS: Make a poster about remote islands. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SAFEGUARDS: Write a magazine article about safeguarding indigenous people who live on remote islands. 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 remote islands. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to protect indigenous people. 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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