Thieves Steal Crown Jewels from the Louvre

Level: 1

How to study

Warm-up Questions: (1) What items do museums usually have? (2) Do you enjoy going to museums? Why or why not?

The Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Louvre Museum in Paris.

Thieves stole priceless jewelry from the Louvre museum in Paris in only seven minutes. The raid happened soon after the museum opened on Sunday. The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world.

The robbers used a truck with a ladder to reach the Apollo Gallery, one of the most famous rooms. They broke two strong glass cases and took items from the French Crown Jewels, from the time of Napoleon.

Four people took part. They did not have guns, but they scared the security guards. They tried to take nine items. Eight are still missing.

A tiara and a necklace are among the missing pieces. One crown, from Empress Eugénie, was left behind and damaged. It has 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, officials said.

A Louvre guard also stopped a fire. One of the robbers tried to burn the truck used in the raid. No one was hurt.

President Emmanuel Macron said “everything is being done” to catch the suspects. The interior ministry said the items are very important for France’s history.

Police opened an investigation for organized theft. Officers are asking the public for tips and video to help find the robbers.

Published:

Source: edition.cnn.com, abcnews.go.com

For source links, see the article on ESLNewsStories.com

*Not printing well with Safari

Audio

Hear the article spoken:

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

Thieves stole priceless jewelry from the Louvre museum in (1) __________ in only seven minutes. The raid happened soon after the museum opened on Sunday. The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world.

The robbers used a truck with a (2) __________ to reach the Apollo Gallery, one of the most famous rooms. They broke two strong glass cases and took items from the French Crown Jewels, from the time of Napoleon.

Four people took part. They did not have guns, but they scared the security guards. They tried to take nine items. (3) __________ are still missing.

A tiara and a necklace are among the missing pieces. One crown, from Empress Eugénie, was left behind and damaged. It has 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, officials said.

A Louvre guard also stopped a fire. One of the robbers tried to burn the truck used in the raid. No one was hurt.

President Emmanuel Macron said “(4) __________ is being done” to catch the suspects. The interior ministry said the items are very important for France’s history.

Police opened an (5) __________ for organized theft. Officers are asking the public for tips and video to help find the robbers.

Comprehension

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click Check Answers to see your results.

  • The raid at the Louvre took about seven minutes.
    The article says the raid took seven minutes.
  • The thieves had guns.
    They did not have guns.
  • A guard stopped someone from burning the truck.
    A Louvre guard stopped a fire attempt on the truck.
  • All nine items are still missing.
    Eight are missing; one crown was left behind and damaged.

Comprehension

1. The raid at the Louvre took about seven minutes. TRUE/FALSE

2. The thieves had guns. TRUE/FALSE

3. A guard stopped someone from burning the truck. TRUE/FALSE

4. All nine items are still missing. TRUE/FALSE

Vocabulary n = noun, v = verb, adj = adjective, adv = adverb, prep = preposition, phr. v = phrasal verb, pl = plural

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocabulary

Match each vocabulary word with a definition:

1. Museum (n)

2. Gallery (n)

3. Ladder (n)

4. Crown (n)

5. Tiara (n)

6. Necklace (n)

7. Jewels (n)

8. Suspect (n)

a) A person who may have done a crime.

b) Very valuable stones like diamonds and emeralds.

c) Jewelry worn around the neck.

d) A small, light crown for a woman.

e) A special hat for a king or queen.

f) Steps used to climb up or down.

g) A room or area inside a museum.

h) A place that shows art or history to the public.

Discussion

  1. What do you know about Paris?
  2. What should the police do first after a museum theft?
  3. Do you think the thieves will be caught?
  4. How would you feel if your city lost a famous item?
  5. Why do people steal art or jewels?
  6. Do you enjoy movies about thieves or police? Why or why not?
  7. The Mona Lisa is in the Louvre. Would you like to see that famous painting?
  8. Which vocabulary word from this article was new to you, and how will you remember it?

Answers

Listening:

  1. Paris
  2. ladder
  3. Eight
  4. everything
  5. investigation

Comprehension:

  1. True. The article says the raid took seven minutes.
  2. False. They did not have guns.
  3. True. A Louvre guard stopped a fire attempt on the truck.
  4. False. Eight are missing; one crown was left behind and damaged.

Vocabulary:

  1. Museum (n): A place that shows art or history to the public.

  2. Gallery (n): A room or area inside a museum.

  3. Ladder (n): Steps used to climb up or down.

  4. Crown (n): A special hat for a king or queen.

  5. Tiara (n): A small, light crown for a woman.

  6. Necklace (n): Jewelry worn around the neck.

  7. Jewels (n): Very valuable stones like diamonds and emeralds.

  8. Suspect (n): A person who may have done a crime.

eslnewsstories.com