A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
- Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
- Reading Read the main text.
- Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A man is hunting whales.
b) A man is fishing with his father.
c) A father and son are rafting.
Ask: (1) Read the headline. What do you think happened? (2) Do you like being on or in water? Why or why not?
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Adrián Simancas and his father were packrafting in southern Chile. The weather was cloudy and the sea was rough. Suddenly, a humpback whale came out of the water and seemed to swallow Adrián.
His father recorded everything on video. A few seconds later, Adrián came back to the surface with his small inflatable boat.
“I felt something hit me from behind (all this happened in a second), something dark blue or white enveloped me, and a slimy texture brushed my face,” Mr. Simancas said. “Then it closed completely and I started to sink… I realized that I was in something’s mouth and I had been eaten.”
Adrián is 23 and a computer engineering student. He and his father, Dell, 49, enjoy outdoor activities together. They live in Chile and had planned this trip for months. They were in the Strait of Magellan, near Cape Froward.
“I turned the camera on to record the waves… I turned around and couldn’t see Adrián,” Dell said. “Suddenly I saw him emerge from the water along with what looked like an animal.”
Experts say it’s very rare for whales to come into contact with people. Humpback whales are filter feeders and cannot swallow humans.
“My guess is that the whale was just as surprised,” said whale expert Jooke Robbins.
Chile’s government called the event “very unusual” and reminded people to stay away from marine animals. There are laws against disturbing them.
Adrián had never seen a whale before. He is not angry about what happened. “If it happens again, I hope it isn’t quite so close up,” he said.
Man Almost Swallowed by Whale
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A man is hunting whales.
b) A man is fishing with his father.
c) A father and son are rafting.
Ask: (1) Read the headline. What do you think happened? (2) Do you like being on or in water? Why or why not?
-
Packrafting (n.)
-
Rough (adj.)
-
Inflatable (adj.)
-
Envelop (v.)
-
Texture (n.)
-
Strait (n.)
-
Emerge (v.)
-
Filter feeder (n.)
-
Disturb (v.)
-
Unusual (adj.)
Adrián Simancas and his father were packrafting in southern Chile. The weather was cloudy and the sea was rough. Suddenly, a humpback whale came out of the water and seemed to swallow Adrián.
His father recorded everything on video. A few seconds later, Adrián came back to the surface with his small inflatable boat.
“I felt something hit me from behind (all this happened in a second), something dark blue or white enveloped me, and a slimy texture brushed my face,” Mr. Simancas said. “Then it closed completely and I started to sink… I realized that I was in something’s mouth and I had been eaten.”
Adrián is 23 and a computer engineering student. He and his father, Dell, 49, enjoy outdoor activities together. They live in Chile and had planned this trip for months. They were in the Strait of Magellan, near Cape Froward.
“I turned the camera on to record the waves… I turned around and couldn’t see Adrián,” Dell said. “Suddenly I saw him emerge from the water along with what looked like an animal.”
Experts say it’s very rare for whales to come into contact with people. Humpback whales are filter feeders and cannot swallow humans.
“My guess is that the whale was just as surprised,” said whale expert Jooke Robbins.
Chile’s government called the event “very unusual” and reminded people to stay away from marine animals. There are laws against disturbing them.
Adrián had never seen a whale before. He is not angry about what happened. “If it happens again, I hope it isn’t quite so close up,” he said.
Two ways to use this audio:
- Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
- Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Adrián Simancas and his father were packrafting in southern Chile. The weather was (1) and the sea was rough. Suddenly, a humpback whale came out of the water and seemed to swallow Adrián.
His father recorded everything on video. A few seconds later, Adrián came back to the (2) with his small inflatable boat.
"I felt something hit me from behind (all this happened in a second), something dark blue or white enveloped me, and a slimy (3) brushed my face," Mr. Simancas said. "Then it closed completely and I started to sink… I realized that I was in something's mouth and I had been eaten."
Adrián is 23 and a computer engineering student. He and his father, Dell, 49, enjoy outdoor activities together. They live in Chile and had (4) this trip for months. They were in the Strait of Magellan, near Cape Froward.
"I turned the camera on to record the waves… I turned around and couldn't see Adrián," Dell said. "Suddenly I saw him (5) from the water along with what looked like an animal."
Experts say it's very rare for whales to come into contact with people. Humpback whales are filter feeders and cannot swallow humans.
"My (6) is that the whale was just as surprised," said whale expert Jooke Robbins.
Chile's government called the event "very unusual" and reminded people to stay away from (7) animals. There are laws against disturbing them.
Adrián had never seen a whale before. He is not angry about what happened. "If it happens again, I hope it isn't quite so (8) up," he said.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Adrián Simancas and his father were using a motorboat when the whale appeared. TRUEFALSE False
2. Adrián said he felt something hit him from behind and then everything went dark. TRUEFALSE True
3. Humpback whales often eat large animals like humans. TRUEFALSE False
4. The Chilean government warned people to stay away from marine animals after the event. TRUEFALSE True
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. Roughf) With strong winds or big waves; not calm or smooth (used to talk about water or weather).
2. Inflatablee) Something that can be filled with air to make it bigger and strong enough to use.
3. Envelopd) To completely cover or surround something or someone.
4. Emergec) To come out of or appear from somewhere.
5. Filter feederb) An animal that eats by taking in water and then separating small food (like fish or krill) from it.
6. Unusuala) Not normal or common; different from what usually happens.
a) Not normal or common; different from what usually happens.
b) An animal that eats by taking in water and then separating small food (like fish or krill) from it.
c) To come out of or appear from somewhere.
d) To completely cover or surround something or someone.
e) Something that can be filled with air to make it bigger and strong enough to use.
f) With strong winds or big waves; not calm or smooth (used to talk about water or weather).
Discussion Questions
- What did you think about this story? Was there any surprising information?
- Do you think Adrián was lucky? Why?
- What do you think Adrián will remember most about this trip?
- Do you enjoy being in nature? Why or why not?
- Who would you take with you on a trip in nature?
- Would you like to see a whale in real life? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, how intelligent are whales?
- How would you feel if a big animal came very close to you?
- What kinds of activities are fun around water?
- What are some good rules for staying safe in nature?
Discussion Questions
- What did you think about this story? Was there any surprising information?
- Do you think Adrián was lucky? Why?
- What do you think Adrián will remember most about this trip?
- Do you enjoy being in nature? Why or why not?
- Who would you take with you on a trip in nature?
- Would you like to see a whale in real life? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, how intelligent are whales?
- How would you feel if a big animal came very close to you?
- What kinds of activities are fun around water?
- What are some good rules for staying safe in nature?
Answers
Think Ahead: c
Listening: (1) cloudy, (2) surface, (3) texture, (4) planned, (5) emerge, (6) guess, (7) marine, (8) close
True or False:
- False. They were using small inflatable boats called packrafts.
- True. He used different words, but he basically said the above.
- False. Humpback whales are filter feeders and cannot swallow something as large as a human.
- True. The government reminded people to stay away from marine animals.
Vocabulary:
- Rough: With strong winds or big waves; not calm or smooth (used to talk about water or weather).
- Inflatable: Something that can be filled with air to make it bigger and strong enough to use.
- Envelop: To completely cover or surround something or someone.
- Emerge: To come out of or appear from somewhere.
- Filter feeder: An animal that eats by taking in water and then separating small food (like fish or krill) from it.
- Unusual: Not normal or common; different from what usually happens.