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: 30 March 2016
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Egyptian Hijacker Had Fake Suicide Belt
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- hijacker: a person who stops or takes control over a moving vehicle using force or threats
- divert: to take a different route than planned
- lone: working or acting by oneself
- hostage: a person who is held as prisoner by someone who has demands
- cockpit: the part of a plane where the pilots operate from
- surrender: to give oneself up to the authorities
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Egyptian Hijacker Had Fake Suicide Belt
Comprehension Questions
- Why did this Egyptian jet land in Cyprus instead of its intended destination?
- What was the hijacker’s motive?
- How did the ordeal end?
Discussion Questions: One of the hostages took a selfie with the hostage taker. What do you think this hostage’s purpose was, and what can be assumed from this behaviour?
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Egyptian Hijacker Had Fake Suicide Belt
An Egyptian passenger jet carrying 81 people, including 21 foreigners and 15 crew members was diverted to Cyprus on Tuesday due to a hijacking. The lone hijacker claimed to be wearing a suicide belt, but it turned out to be fake. The motive of the hijacker is unknown, but officials are not calling it an act of terrorism. During the ordeal, several of the hostages were released and one escaped out of a cockpit window. All of the hostages on the EgyptAir plane were eventually released safely and the hijacker surrendered.
- This Egyptian jet landed in Cyprus instead of its intended destination because a hijacker claimed to be wearing a suicide vest.
- The hijacker’s motive is unknown, but officials are not calling it an act of terrorism.
- The ordeal ended peacefully. All of the hostages were released safely and the hijacker surrendered.
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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