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: Why do you think this skateboard is special?
a) It was used in an important skateboarding moment.
b) It was made by a famous painter.
c) It was found under the ocean.
Ask: (1) Do you play any sports? (2) Which sport do you like to watch on TV?
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Tony Hawk's old skateboard now has a new owner. Julien's Auctions sold the Birdhouse "Falcon 2" deck for $1.15 million, the highest price paid for any skateboard. The auction house said the board was special.
Hawk rode this board at the 1999 X Games in San Francisco. He was 31 years old and wanted to land a new trick.
The trick was called the 900. The rider turns two and a half times in the air before landing on the ramp.
Hawk missed many tries that night. He kept calm, tried again, and finally succeeded. The big crowd cheered, and TV announcers shouted with joy.
Before that night, Hawk had already won 73 contests by age 25. He stayed the ramp skating champion for 12 years in a row. Those years were during the 1980s and 1990s.
The sale set a new record for a skateboard. Collectors say the board shows an important part of sports history.
Part of the money will help The Skatepark Project, Hawk's nonprofit group. It works with towns to build safe skateparks so young riders can practice.
Fans see the sale as a sign that Tony Hawk still matters. The board reminds people that practice, courage, and community can change a sport.
Tony Hawk's Board Sells for $1.15 Million
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: Why do you think this skateboard is special?
a) It was used in an important skateboarding moment.
b) It was made by a famous painter.
c) It was found under the ocean.
Ask: (1) Do you play any sports? (2) Which sport do you like to watch on TV?
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Auction (n.)
-
Deck (n.)
-
Trick (n.)
-
Ramp (n.)
-
Champion (n.)
-
Record (n.)
-
Nonprofit (n.)
-
Skatepark (n.)
-
Owner (n.)
Tony Hawk's old skateboard now has a new owner. Julien's Auctions sold the Birdhouse "Falcon 2" deck for $1.15 million, the highest price paid for any skateboard. The auction house said the board was special.
Hawk rode this board at the 1999 X Games in San Francisco. He was 31 years old and wanted to land a new trick.
The trick was called the 900. The rider turns two and a half times in the air before landing on the ramp.
Hawk missed many tries that night. He kept calm, tried again, and finally succeeded. The big crowd cheered, and TV announcers shouted with joy.
Before that night, Hawk had already won 73 contests by age 25. He stayed the ramp skating champion for 12 years in a row. Those years were during the 1980s and 1990s.
The sale set a new record for a skateboard. Collectors say the board shows an important part of sports history.
Part of the money will help The Skatepark Project, Hawk's nonprofit group. It works with towns to build safe skateparks so young riders can practice.
Fans see the sale as a sign that Tony Hawk still matters. The board reminds people that practice, courage, and community can change a sport.
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:
Tony Hawk's old (1) now has a new owner. Julien's Auctions sold the Birdhouse "Falcon 2" deck for $1.15 million, the highest price paid for any skateboard. The auction house said the board was special.
Hawk rode this board at the 1999 X Games in San Francisco. He was 31 years old and wanted to land a new (2) .
The trick was called the 900. The rider turns two and a half times in the air before landing on the ramp.
Hawk missed many tries that night. He kept calm, tried again, and finally succeeded. The big crowd (3) , and TV announcers shouted with joy.
Before that night, Hawk had already won 73 contests by age 25. He stayed the ramp skating (4) for 12 years in a row. Those years were during the 1980s and 1990s.
The sale set a new record for a skateboard. Collectors say the board shows an important part of sports history.
Part of the money will help The Skatepark Project, Hawk's nonprofit group. It works with towns to build safe (5) so young riders can practice.
Fans see the sale as a sign that Tony Hawk still matters. The board reminds people that practice, courage, and community can change a sport.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. The Birdhouse "Falcon 2" deck sold for $1.15 million. TRUEFALSE True
2. Hawk landed the 900 on his first try that night. TRUEFALSE False
3. Part of the sale money supports The Skatepark Project. TRUEFALSE True
4. Hawk was 25 years old when he landed the 900. TRUEFALSE False
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. Auctione) A sale where people offer prices and the highest offer wins.
2. Deckd) The flat board that you stand on when you ride a skateboard.
3. Trickc) A special move or skill that takes practice.
4. Rampb) A sloped surface that lets riders go up and down.
5. Recorda) The best or highest result that has happened so far.
a) The best or highest result that has happened so far.
b) A sloped surface that lets riders go up and down.
c) A special move or skill that takes practice.
d) The flat board that you stand on when you ride a skateboard.
e) A sale where people offer prices and the highest offer wins.
Discussion Questions
- Did you ever try to ride a skateboard? What happened?
- What do you need to be good at skateboarding?
- Do you try again when you fail? Why or why not?
- Do you see skateboarders in your town? What do they do? How do they look?
- Are there skateparks in your city? Have you seen one?
- The X Games has sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and BMX riding. Do you like those kinds of sports?
- A man paid one million dollars for a skateboard. Is that crazy or cool?
- Did you ever buy something special or expensive? What was it?
Discussion Questions
- Did you ever try to ride a skateboard? What happened?
- What do you need to be good at skateboarding?
- Do you try again when you fail? Why or why not?
- Do you see skateboarders in your town? What do they do? How do they look?
- Are there skateparks in your city? Have you seen one?
- The X Games has sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and BMX riding. Do you like those kinds of sports?
- A man paid one million dollars for a skateboard. Is that crazy or cool?
- Did you ever buy something special or expensive? What was it?
Answers
Think Ahead: a
Listening: (1) skateboard, (2) trick, (3) cheered, (4) champion, (5) skateparks
True or False:
- True. Julien's Auctions sold the deck for $1.15 million.
- False. He missed many tries before he finally landed the trick.
- True. The article says the project will receive part of the money.
- False. He was 31 years old at the 1999 X Games.
Vocabulary:
- Auction: A sale where people offer prices and the highest offer wins.
- Deck: The flat board that you stand on when you ride a skateboard.
- Trick: A special move or skill that takes practice.
- Ramp: A sloped surface that lets riders go up and down.
- Record: The best or highest result that has happened so far.