The Reading / Listening - Walking - Level 3

A British man has completed an amazing 28-year walk around the world. Former soldier Karl Bushby, 57, arrived home in the city of Hull in England on Monday. He started his adventure in November 1998 in Chile, South America. His plan was to walk all the way home without using cars, boats, buses, trains, or airplanes. During his journey, he travelled about 58,000 kilometres through 29 countries. He crossed frozen seas, deserts, mountains, and jungles. He also faced many dangers. These included encountering polar bears and kidnappers, and spending time in a Russian prison. His journey was expected to take 12 years. However, problems with money, visas, and borders made his trip a lot longer.

Thousands of people welcomed Mr Bushby home. He was very happy to finally finish his journey. His mother was waiting outside his childhood home to greet him. Bushby joked: "Sorry to keep you waiting." He also told the cheering crowd that many people around the world had helped him get home. He said he could not have done it alone. Britain's Prime Minister congratulated him on his achievement. He praised Bushby's determination and belief in himself. Bushby told the Guardian newspaper that he wasn't so interested in walking. He said: "It's boring as hell." That didn't stop him walking across four continents. A documentary will be made about Bushby's adventure called "Walk of Life".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Walking - Level 0,  Walking - Level 1   or  Walking - Level 2

Sources
  • https://brobible.com/culture/article/british-karl-bushby-returns-home-after-36000-mile-walk-around-earth/
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/2/british-adventurer-karl-bushby-returns-home-after-28-year-walk-around-world
  • https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/nov/02/karl-bushby-uk-hull-28-year-walk-across-world


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. WALKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about walking. 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?
       walk / soldier / adventure / home / crossing frozen seas / dangers / polar bears / trip
       childhood home / cheering / crowd / alone / achievement / determination / jungles
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. AROUND THE WORLD: Students A strongly believe everyone should try to travel around the world; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ADVENTURE: What are the good and bad things about these adventures? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good Things

Bad Things

Walk around the world

 

 

Start a company

 

 

Go to the Moon

 

 

Visit 190 countries

 

 

Climb the seven summits

 

 

Sail around the world

 

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

  • Starting a business
  • Graduating university
  • Travelling the world
  • Financial independence
  • Buying a house
  • Finding true love
  • Becoming super fit
  • Mastering English

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. completed a. Finished doing something.
      2. soldier b. A place where people are kept when they have broken the law.
      3. adventure c. A person who is a member of an army.
      4. journey d. Had to deal with a difficult or dangerous situation.
      5. faced e. An exciting experience, often with new or unusual things happening.
      6. prison f. A long trip from one place to another.
      7. borders g. The lines between two countries or areas.

    Paragraph 2

      8. welcomed h. Something good that you have done successfully.
      9. greet i. A large group of people in one place.
      10. cheering j. Made someone feel happy and comfortable in a new place.
      11. crowd k. The strong feeling that you will keep trying until you do something.
      12. achievement l. To say hello to someone.
      13. determination m. The very large areas of land on Earth, such as Asia and Africa.
      14. continents n. Shouting happily to show that you like or support someone.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The man who walked around the world was a soldier.     T / F
  2. The man started his walk in the late 80s.     T / F
  3. The man walked across over 30 countries.     T / F
  4. The man's original plan was for a 12-year walk.     T / F
  5. The man's mother was waiting at the local city hall for her son.     T / F
  6. The man apologized to his mother for being early.     T / F
  7. The man told a newspaper he didn't really like walking.     T / F
  8. The man crossed six of Earth's seven continents.     T / F

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

  1. completed
  2. plan
  3. journey
  4. encountering
  5. problems
  6. welcomed
  7. helped
  8. determination
  9. boring
  10. documentary
  1. greeted
  2. dull
  3. difficulties
  4. film
  5. assisted
  6. finished
  7. meeting
  8. idea
  9. will power
  10. trip

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

  1. A British man has completed
  2. His plan was to
  3. He also
  4. spending time
  5. problems with money, visas,
  6. Thousands of people welcomed
  7. He said he could not have done
  8. He praised Bushby's determination and
  9. That didn't stop him crossing
  10. A documentary will be made about
  1. faced many dangers
  2. four continents
  3. and borders
  4. walk all the way home
  5. belief in himself
  6. an amazing 28-year walk
  7. Bushby's adventure
  8. it alone
  9. in a Russian prison
  10. Mr Bushby home

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
travelled
amazing
frozen
prison
way
borders
started
dangers

A British man has completed an (1) ______________________________________________ 28-year walk around the world. Former soldier Karl Bushby, 57, arrived home in the city of Hull in England on Monday. He (2) ______________________________________________ his adventure in November 1998 in Chile, South America. His plan was to walk all the (3) ______________________________________________ home without using cars, boats, buses, trains, or airplanes. During his journey, he (4) ______________________________________________ about 58,000 kilometres through 29 countries. He crossed (5) ______________________________________________ seas, deserts, mountains, and jungles. He also faced many (6) ______________________________________________. These included encountering polar bears and kidnappers, and spending time in a Russian (7) ______________________________________________. His journey was expected to take 12 years. However, problems with money, visas, and (8) ______________________________________________ made his trip a lot longer.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
alone
interested
childhood
belief
documentary
welcomed
boring
crowd

Thousands of people (9) ______________________________________________ Mr Bushby home. He was very happy to finally finish his journey. His mother was waiting outside his (10) ______________________________________________ home to greet him. Bushby joked: "Sorry to keep you waiting." He also told the cheering (11) ______________________________________________ that many people around the world had helped him get home. He said he could not have done it (12) ______________________________________________. Britain's Prime Minister congratulated him on his achievement. He praised Bushby's determination and (13) ______________________________________________ in himself. Bushby told the Guardian newspaper that he wasn't so (14) ______________________________________________ in walking. He said: "It's (15) ______________________________________________ as hell." That didn't stop him crossing four continents. A (16) ______________________________________________ will be made about Bushby's adventure called "Walk of Life".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A British man has completed an amazing 28-year walk ______
     a.  abound the world
     b.  around a world
     c.  around the world
     d.  aground the world
2)  His plan was to walk all the way home ______
     a.  without using cars
     b.  without usage cars
     c.  without use in cars
     d.  with doubt using cars
3)  He crossed frozen seas, deserts, ______
     a.  mountains, end jungles
     b.  mountains, sand jungles
     c.  mountains, and jungles
     d.  mountainous, and jungles
4)  His journey was expected to ______
     a.  taken 12 years
     b.  takes 12 years
     c.  take 12 years
     d.  took 12 years
5)  However, problems with money, visas, and borders made his trip ______
     a.  allot longer
     b.  a lot long
     c.  a lot lengthen
     d.  a lot longer

6)  He was very happy to finally ______
     a.  finished his journey
     b.  finishes his journey
     c.  finisher his journey
     d.  finish his journey
7)  His mother was waiting outside his childhood home ______
     a.  to great him
     b.  to greet him
     c.  to grate him
     d.  to greed him
8)  many people around the world had helped ______
     a.  him get homes
     b.  him got home
     c.  him get home
     d.  his get home
9)  He praised Bushby's determination and ______
     a.  belief on himself
     b.  belief in himself
     c.  belief in his self
     d.  believe in himself
10)  A documentary will be made ______
     a.  about Bushby's adventurous
     b.  about Bushby's adventured
     c.  about Bushby's advantage
     d.  about Bushby's adventure

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A British man (1) __________________________________________________ amazing 28-year walk around the world. Former soldier Karl Bushby, 57, arrived home in the city of Hull in England on Monday. He started (2) __________________________________________________ November 1998 in Chile, South America. His plan was to walk all the way home without using cars, boats, buses, (3) __________________________________________________. During his journey, he travelled about 58,000 kilometres through 29 countries. He (4) __________________________________________________, deserts, mountains, and jungles. He also faced many dangers. These included encountering polar bears and kidnappers, (5) __________________________________________________ in a Russian prison. His journey was expected to take 12 years. However, problems with money, visas, and borders made his trip (6) __________________________________________________.

Thousands (7) __________________________________________________ Mr Bushby home. He was very happy to finally (8) __________________________________________________. His mother was waiting outside his childhood home to greet him. Bushby joked: "Sorry to keep you waiting." He also told the (9) __________________________________________________ many people around the world had helped him get home. He said he could not have done it alone. Britain's Prime Minister (10) __________________________________________________ his achievement. He praised Bushby's determination (11) __________________________________________________ himself. Bushby told the Guardian newspaper that he wasn't so interested in walking. He said: "It's (12) __________________________________________________." That didn't stop him crossing four continents. A documentary will be made about Bushby's adventure called "Walk of Life".

Comprehension questions

  1. What job did Karl Bushby have before he started walking?
  2. When did Mr Bushby start his adventure?
  3. How many countries did Mr Bushby walk through?
  4. What animals did Mr Bushby encounter?
  5. What made Mr Bushby's trip longer besides money and border problems?
  6. How many people waited for Mr Bushby to return home?
  7. What did Mr Bushby apologize to his mother for doing?
  8. What did Britain's leader praise besides Mr Bushby's determination?
  9. What did Mr Bushby say walking was like?
  10. What is the name of the movie that will be made about Mr Bushby?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What job did Karl Bushby have before he started walking?
a) He was a teacher.
b) He was a police officer.
c) He was a firefighter.
d) He was a soldier.
2) When did Mr Bushby start his adventure?
a) 1989
b) 1988
c) 1987
d) 1986
3) How many countries did Mr Bushby walk through?
a) 27
b) 28
c) 29
d) 30
4) What animals did Mr Bushby encounter?
a) polar bears
b) grizzly bears
c) panda bears
d) sloth bears
5) What made Mr Bushby's trip longer besides money and border problems?
a) bad weather
b) natural disasters
c) visa problems
d) illnesses

6) How many people waited for Mr Bushby to return home?
a) hundreds
b) thousands
c) tens of thousands
d) hundreds of thousands
7) What did Mr Bushby apologize to his mother for doing?
a) not writing
b) walking too far
c) not telephoning
d) keeping her waiting
 
8) What did Britain's leader praise besides Mr Bushby's determination?
a) his belief
b) his fitness
c) his walking shoes
d) his passion
9) What did Mr Bushby say walking was like?
a) a real-life movie
b) a dream come true
c) boring as hell
d) exercise
10) What is the name of the movie that will be made about Mr Bushby?
a) Walk the World
b) Walk of Life
c) Walk to Live
d) The Walk

Role play

Role  A – Starting a Business
You think starting a business is the biggest achievement. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their achievements aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): travelling the world, buying a house or mastering English.

Role  B – Travelling the World
You think travelling the world is the biggest achievement. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their achievements aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): starting a business, buying a house or mastering English.

Role  C – Buying a House
You think buying a house is the biggest achievement. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their achievements aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): travelling the world, starting a business or mastering English.

Role  D – Mastering English
You think mastering English is the biggest achievement. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their achievements aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): travelling the world, buying a house or starting a business.

After reading / listening

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

'walk'

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

    • and 'world'.

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

    • • 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:

    • amazing
    • arrived
    • cars
    • faced
    • expected
    • problems
    • finish
    • sorry
    • crowd
    • alone
    • interested
    • hell

    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 - Walking

    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 'walk'?
    3. What do you think of walking?
    4. Have you ever walked a long distance?
    5. Have you ever been on an adventure?
    6. What do you think of walking around the world?
    7. Would you like to walk across deserts, mountains, and jungles?
    8. What would you do if you encountered a polar bear?
    9. Could you spend 28 years outside your country?
    10. What advice do you have for Mr Bushby?

    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 'world'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How do you think the man felt when he got home?
    5. What would you miss about your country?
    6. How many countries would you like to visit?
    7. Do you have a lot of determination?
    8. How much belief do you have in yourself?
    9. Would you like to see the documentary 'Walk of Life'?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Bushby?

    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)

    A British man has completed an (1) ____ 28-year walk around the world. Former soldier Karl Bushby, 57, arrived home in the city of Hull in England on Monday. He started his adventure (2) ____ November 1998 in Chile, South America. His plan was to walk all the (3) ____ home without using cars, boats, buses, trains, or airplanes. During his journey, he travelled about 58,000 kilometres through 29 countries. He crossed frozen seas, (4) ____, mountains, and jungles. He also faced many dangers. These included (5) ____ polar bears and kidnappers, and spending time in a Russian prison. His journey was expected to take 12 years. However, problems with money, visas, and borders made his trip a (6) ____ longer.

    Thousands of people welcomed Mr Bushby home. He was very happy (7) ____ finally finish his journey. His mother was waiting outside his childhood home to (8) ____ him. Bushby joked: "Sorry to keep you waiting." He also told the cheering crowd that many people around the world had helped him get home. He said he could not have done it (9) ____. Britain's Prime Minister congratulated him on his achievement. He praised Bushby's determination and belief (10) ____ himself. Bushby told the Guardian newspaper that he wasn't (11) ____ interested in walking. He said: "It's boring as hell." That didn't stop him crossing four continents. A documentary will be (12) ____ about Bushby's adventure called "Walk of Life".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     amazing     (b)     amazes     (c)     amazement     (d)     amazed    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     to    
    3. (a)     road     (b)     travel     (c)     way     (d)     method    
    4. (a)     desert     (b)     dessert     (c)     desserts     (d)     deserts    
    5. (a)     encounter     (b)     encountered     (c)     encountering     (d)     encounters    
    6. (a)     loads     (b)     lot     (c)     much     (d)     plenty    
    7. (a)     for     (b)     to     (c)     that     (d)     by    
    8. (a)     greeted     (b)     greet     (c)     greeting     (d)     greets    
    9. (a)     loner     (b)     loneliness     (c)     alone     (d)     along    
    10. (a)     to     (b)     up     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    11. (a)     good     (b)     such     (c)     for     (d)     so    
    12. (a)     make     (b)     making     (c)     makes     (d)     made

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. tlemodcep an amazing 28-year walk
    2. He started his runedeatv
    3. During his ourenjy
    4. sedrtse, mountains, and jungles
    5. polar bears and psdapnkier
    6. problems with money, visas, and drrbsoe

    Paragraph 2

    1. people ldwmeeoc Mr Bushby home
    2. the cheering wrcdo
    3. congratulated him on his iaveenhmect
    4. Bushby's determination and fielbe
    5. crossing four snoinecttn
    6. A deunmrcoaty will be made

    Put the text back together

    (    )   A British man has completed an amazing 28-year walk around the world. Former soldier Karl Bushby, 57, arrived
    (    )   belief in himself. Bushby told the Guardian newspaper that he wasn't so interested in walking. He said: "It's boring as
    (    )   cars, boats, buses, trains, or airplanes. During his journey, he travelled about 58,000 kilometres
    (    )   done it alone. Britain's Prime Minister congratulated him on his achievement. He praised Bushby's determination and
    (    )    encountering polar bears and kidnappers, and spending time in a Russian prison. His journey was expected
    (    )   hell." That didn't stop him crossing four continents. A documentary will be made about Bushby's adventure called "Walk of Life".
    (    )   home in the city of Hull in England on Monday. He started his adventure in
    (    )   November 1998 in Chile, South America. His plan was to walk all the way home without using
    (    )   the cheering crowd that many people around the world had helped him get home. He said he could not have
    (    )   Thousands of people welcomed Mr Bushby home. He was very happy to finally finish his journey. His mother was
    (    )   through 29 countries. He crossed frozen seas, deserts, mountains, and jungles. He also faced many dangers. These included
    (    )   to take 12 years. However, problems with money, visas, and borders made his trip a lot longer.
    (    )   waiting outside his childhood home to greet him. Bushby joked: "Sorry to keep you waiting." He also told
    (  1  )   A British man has completed an amazing 28-year walk around the world. Former soldier Karl Bushby, 57, arrived

    Put the words in the right order

    1. 28-year   A   amazing   an   completed   has   man   walk   .
    2. all   plan   the   to   His   walk   was   way   .
    3. about   During   he   journey,   his   kilometres   58,000   travelled   .
    4. a   included   in   prison   Russian   spending   This   time   .
    5. 12   expected   His   journey   take   to   was   years   .
    6. finish   happy   He   his   journey   to   was   very   .
    7. childhood   His   home   his   mother   outside   was   waiting   .
    8. had   him   Many   helped   people   the   world   around   .
    9. alone   he   couldn't   He   have   it   done   said   .
    10. continents   crossing   didn't   four   him   stop   That   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A British man has completed / completion an amazing 28-year walk around the world. Former / Farmer soldier Karl Bushby, 57, arrived home in the city of Hull in England on Monday. He started his adventure on / in November 1998 in Chile, South America. His plan is / was to walk all the way home without / with using cars, boats, buses, trains, or airplanes. During his journey, he travelled / travelling about 58,000 kilometres through 29 countries. He crossed frozen seas, desserts / deserts, mountains, and jungles. He also faced many dangerous / dangers. These included encountering polar bears and kidnappers, and spending time in a Russian prison. His journey was expected to give / take 12 years. However, problems with money, visas, and borders made his trip a lot / much longer.

    Thousands of people welcoming / welcomed Mr Bushby home. He was very happy to finally / final finish his journey. His mother was waiting out / outside his childhood home to greet him. Bushby joked: "Sorry to keep you wait / waiting." He also told the cheering crowd that many people around / about the world had helped him get home. He said he could not have done it lonely / alone. Britain's Prime Minister congratulated him in / on his achievement. He praised Bushby's determination and belief / believe in himself. Bushby told the Guardian newspaper that he wasn't so interested in walking. He said: "It's boring was / as hell." That didn't stop him crossing four continents. A documentary will being / be made about Bushby's adventure called "Walk of Life".

    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)

    A  Br_t_sh  man  has  c_mpl_t_d_n_maz_ng  28-y_ar  walk_r__nd  th_  w_rld.  F_rm_r  s_ld__r  Karl  B_shby,  57,_rr_v_d  h_m_  _n  th_  c_ty  _f  H_ll  _n  _ngland  _n  M_nday.  H_  start_d  h_s_dv_nt_r_  _n  N_v_mb_r  1998  _n  Ch_l_,  S__th_m_r_ca.  H_s  plan  was  t_  walk_ll  th_  way  h_m_  w_th__t  _s_ng  cars,  b_ats,  b_s_s,  tra_ns,  _r__rplan_s.  D_r_ng  h_s  j__rn_y,  h_  trav_ll_d_b__t  58,000  k_l_m_tr_s  thr__gh  29  c__ntr__s.  H_  cr_ss_d  fr_z_n  s_as,  d_s_rts,  m__nta_ns,_nd  j_ngl_s.  H__ls_  fac_d  many  dang_rs.  Th_s_  _ncl_d_d  _nc__nt_r_ng  p_lar  b_ars_nd  k_dnapp_rs,_nd  sp_nd_ng  t_m_  _n_  R_ss_an  pr_s_n.  H_s  j__rn_y  was  _xp_ct_d  t_  tak_  12  y_ars.  H_w_v_r,  pr_bl_ms  w_th  m_n_y,  v_sas,_nd  b_rd_rs  mad_  h_s  tr_p_  l_t  l_ng_r. 

    Th__sands  _f  p__pl_  w_lc_m_d  Mr  B_shby  h_m_.  H_  was  v_ry  happy  t_  f_nally  f_n_sh  h_s  j__rn_y.  H_s  m_th_r  was  wa_t_ng  __ts_d_  h_s  ch_ldh__d  h_m_  t_  gr__t  h_m.  B_shby  j_k_d:  "S_rry  t_  k__p  y__  wa_t_ng."  H__ls_  t_ld  th_  ch__r_ng  cr_wd  that  many  p__pl__r__nd  th_  w_rld  had  h_lp_d  h_m  g_t  h_m_.  H_  sa_d  h_  c__ld  n_t  hav_  d_n_  _t_l_n_.  Br_ta_n's  Pr_m_  M_n_st_r  c_ngrat_lat_d  h_m  _n  h_s_ch__v_m_nt.  H_  pra_s_d  B_shby's  d_t_rm_nat__n_nd  b_l__f  _n  h_ms_lf.  B_sby  t_ld  th_  G_ard_an  n_wspap_r  that  h_  wasn't  s_  _nt_r_st_d  _n  walk_ng.  H_  sa_d:  "_t's  b_r_ng_s  h_ll."  That  d_dn't  st_p  h_m  cr_ss_ng  f__r  c_nt_n_nts._  d_c_m_ntary  w_ll  b_  mad__b__t  B_shby's_dv_nt_r_  call_d  "Walk  _f  L_f_".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a british man has completed an amazing 28-year walk around the world former soldier karl bushby 57 arrived home in the city of hull in england on monday he started his adventure in november 1998 in chile south america his plan was to walk all the way home without using cars boats buses trains or airplanes during his journey he travelled about 58000 kilometres through 29 countries he crossed frozen seas deserts mountains and jungles he also faced many dangers these included encountering polar bears and kidnappers and spending time in a russian prison his journey was expected to take 12 years however problems with money visas and borders made his trip a lot longer

    thousands of people welcomed mr bushby home he was very happy to finally finish his journey his mother was waiting outside his childhood home to greet him bushby joked sorry to keep you waiting he also told the cheering crowd that many people around the world had helped him get home he said he could not have done it alone britains prime minister congratulated him on his achievement he praised bushbys determination and belief in himself Bushby told the guardian newspaper that he wasnt so interested in walking he said its boring as hell that didnt stop him crossing four continents a documentary will be made about bushbys adventure called walk of life

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ABritishmanhascompletedanamazing28-yearwalkaroundtheworl
    d.FormersoldierKarlBushby,57,arrivedhomeinthecityofHullinEngla
    ndonMonday.HestartedhisadventureinNovember1998inChile,Sout
    hAmerica.Hisplanwastowalkallthewayhomewithoutusingcars,boats
    ,buses,trains,orairplanes.Duringhisjourney,hetravelledabout58,00
    0kilometresthrough29countries.Hecrossedfrozenseas,deserts,mou
    ntains,andjungles.Healsofacedmanydangers.Theseincludedencoun
    teringpolarbearsandkidnappers,andspendingtimeinaRussianprison
    .Hisjourneywasexpectedtotake12years.However,problemswithmo
    ney,visas,andbordersmadehistripalotlonger.Thousandsofpeoplewel
    comedMrBushbyhome.Hewasveryhappytofinallyfinishhisjourney.Hi
    smotherwaswaitingoutsidehischildhoodhometogreethim.Bushbyjo
    ked:"Sorrytokeepyouwaiting."Healsotoldthecheeringcrowdthatma
    nypeoplearoundtheworldhadhelpedhimgethome.Hesaidhecouldnot
    havedoneitalone.Britain'sPrimeMinistercongratulatedhimonhisachi
    evement.HepraisedBushby'sdeterminationandbeliefinhimself.Busb
    ytoldtheGuardiannewspaperthathewasn'tsointerestedinwalking.He
    said:"It'sboringashell."Thatdidn'tstophimcrossingfourcontinents.A
    documentarywillbemadeaboutBushby'sadventurecalled"WalkofLife
    ".

    Free writing

    Write about walking around the world for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Walking is the best exercise. 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. WALKING: Make a poster about walking. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ADVENTURE: Write a magazine article about everyone going on an adventure. 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 walking. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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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