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: 16 October 2012
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Skydiver Breaks The Speed Of Sound
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- capsule: a sealed cabin or vehicle
- pressurized: providing maintained air pressure
- helium: a colourless, odourless gas
- high-tech: using advanced technology
Comprehension Questions
- Who is Felix Baumgartner?
- How did the skydiver get so high above the earth?
- How did Baumgartner’s body withstand the cold, thin air at such high altitudes?
Discussion Question: Many media outlets referred to “Fearless Felix’s” jump as “A giant leap for mankind”. Critics argue that it was merely a stunt and a marketing campaign. In your opinion, how does this jump compare to Neil Armstrong’s lunar landing?
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Skydiver Breaks The Speed Of Sound
Felix Baumgartner, a skydiver from Austria, jumped out of a capsule from 39 kilometres over the New Mexico desert and broke the speed of sound. The pressurized capsule was carried up to the edge of space by a massive helium balloon. Baumgartner’s free fall lasted for four minutes and 20 seconds before he deployed his parachute and descended for five more minutes. In addition to reaching an estimated speed of 1,342 kilometres per hour, Baumgartner also broke the record for the highest sky jump and the highest flight in a helium balloon. The pressurized suit Baumgartner wore kept him alive during the free fall, and will help scientists design future high-tech spacesuits.
- Felix Baumgartner is an Austrian skydiver.
- He rode in a pressurized capsule that was pulled 39 kilometres up by a large helium balloon.
- Baumgartner wore a pressurized suit that protected his body from the cold, thin air.
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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