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: 18 November 2014
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Napoleon’s Hat Auctioned Off
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- iconic: characteristic, well-known
- emperor: a ruler of an empire
- auction: a public sale where the person who offers the highest bid wins the item
- renovations: updates to a building or interior space
Comprehension Questions
- Who was Napoleon Bonaparte?
- Who had the winning bid?
- Who was selling this item and collection?
Discussion Questions: Do you have an antique or valuable item that would be worth auctioning off? How much do you think your item is worth? Does it have more “sentimental value” than “monetary value”?
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Napoleon’s Hat Auctioned Off
An iconic felt hat worn by Napoleon Bonaparte was auctioned off in Paris on Sunday. The French emperor’s hat, which he always wore sideways in order to be recognized on the battlefield, sold for 2 million dollars to a collector from South Korea. The highest bid was about five times more than expected. Other items from the collection, including Napoleon’s scarf and stockings, were also sold in the auction. The items belonged to Monaco’s royal family. The family’s goal was to raise money for palace renovations.
- Napoleon Bonaparte was a famous French emperor.
- A collector from South Korea had the winning bid (2.4 million dollars).
- Monaco’s royal family was selling this item and collection.
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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