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: 17 August 2016
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
French Pole Vaulter Booed By Brazilian Fans
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- pole vault: a track & field event where an athlete runs with a pole and uses it to jump over a high bar
- clear: to get over or through with success
- heckle: to boo, whistle, or shout in order to distract or annoy someone
- two thumbs down: a gesture of disapproval using two downturned thumbs
- unsportsmanlike: not kind or courteous towards other athletes
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French Pole Vaulter Booed By Brazilian Fans
Comprehension Questions
- Who are Renaud Lavillenie and Thiago da Silva?
- How did the hometown crowd behave badly?
- What did Lavillenie do during the medal ceremony?
Discussion Questions: Why is booing so unacceptable at an Olympic event, though it is accepted and expected at other events, such as a football match?
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French Pole Vaulter Booed By Brazilian Fans
France’s world-record holding pole vaulter, Renaud Lavillenie, was brought to tears while being booed by the Brazilian crowd as he stood on the podium to accept his silver medal this week. On Monday night, Brazil’s own Thiago da Silva broke an Olympic record and upset the world-record holder for the gold in the pole vaulting competition after clearing 6.03 metres. The French athlete had been heckled so much during the event itself that he eventually gave the crowd two thumbs down. IOC President Thomas Bach condemned the Brazilian fans for their unsportsmanlike behaviour.
- Renaud Lavillenie and Thiago da Silva are Olympic pole vaulters from France and Brazil.
- The hometown crowd heckled the French athlete during the competition and booed him when he received his silver medal.
- Lavillenie cried on the podium while being booed at the medal ceremony.
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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