Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 02 December 2014
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
New Star Wars Trailer Released
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- trailer: a film preview; used for advertising before the release of a film
- reunite: bring together again
- footage: a length of video
- prequel: the story that comes before
- Stormtrooper: a Star Wars soldier
- droid: a science fiction robot in Star Wars
- trilogy: a three-part story
Comprehension Questions
- What is the title of the upcoming Star Wars film?
- Who is JJ Abrams?
- How has George Lucas’s role changed?
Discussion Questions: Do you think this film will be worth the wait? Have you ever found it difficult to wait for a sequel to come out (in film or print)? Did it live up to your expectations?
show Answershide Answers
New Star Wars Trailer Released
A movie trailer for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released this week, approximately one year in advance of the film’s scheduled launch. The film will reunite some of the original Star Wars actors, including Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia). The story takes place approximately 30 years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Footage of Stormtroopers, droids, X-Wing fighters, and the Millennium Falcon, suggests that the film will more closely resemble the original three films rather than the prequels. The Force Awakens is directed by JJ Abrams, the director of the Star Trek films. George Lucas, the director and writer of the previous Star Wars episodes, recently sold Lucasfilm to Disney. He is working on the new trilogy as a creative consultant.
- The title of the upcoming Star Wars film is The Force Awakens.
- JJ Abrams is the director of the upcoming Star Wars film. He is known for directing the Star Trek films.
- George Lucas directed and wrote the previous Star Wars films. He sold Lucasfilm to Disney, and is now working as a creative consultant on the new Star Wars trilogy.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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