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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 3 / B1
Published
Title
Hot Dog Eating Contest
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-07-06-hot-dog-eating-contest/

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.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • 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 champion breaks a world record.

b) A food contest happens during a national celebration.

c) A city cancels an eating contest because of hot weather.

Plates of hot dogs in front of a crowd at a hot dog eating contest.
A lot of hot dogs.

Ask: (1) What do you like to eat? (2) Have you ever had an American-style hot dog?

VOCAB LIST

crowd (n.) — A large group of people in one place.
throw up (phr. v.) — To bring food or liquid back up from the stomach and out of the mouth.
gather (v.) — To come together in one place.
patriotic (adj.) — Showing love for your country.
poncho (n.) — A loose piece of clothing worn over the body to keep a person dry.
competitor (n.) — A person who takes part in a contest.
dang (interj.) — An informal word used to show surprise or disappointment.
disappointed (adj.) — Unhappy because something was not as good as you hoped.

Reading

Crowds gathered in the summer heat in Coney Island, New York, on Saturday, as the United States celebrated its 250th birthday. They were there to watch Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

Joey Chestnut won the men’s competition after eating 66 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. The 42-year-old won the contest for the 18th time. The 13 other competitors came from across the United States and from countries such as the Czech Republic, Australia, and South Korea.

Before the competition, Chestnut called competitive hot dog eating “the most patriotic sport we’ve got.” After winning, he said the event was “a dream” and “electric,” adding that there was no better place on Earth.

In the women’s competition, Miki Sudo won the title for the 12th time. Both champions said the heat made the contest more difficult. The temperature reached about 32 degrees Celsius.

A large crowd still came to watch. Some fans wore foam hot dogs on their heads, while people standing closest to the stage wore ponchos to protect themselves in case a competitor threw up.

Despite winning again, Chestnut was disappointed that he did not beat his own record of 76 hot dogs. After the contest, he said, “Dang, I got so much room left.”

Hot Dog Eating Contest

Level 3 Source: apnews.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Plates of hot dogs in front of a crowd at a hot dog eating contest.
A lot of hot dogs.

Crowds gathered in the summer heat in Coney Island, New York, on Saturday, as the United States celebrated its 250th birthday. They were there to watch Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

Joey Chestnut won the men’s competition after eating 66 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. The 42-year-old won the contest for the 18th time. The 13 other competitors came from across the United States and from countries such as the Czech Republic, Australia, and South Korea.

Before the competition, Chestnut called competitive hot dog eating “the most patriotic sport we’ve got.” After winning, he said the event was “a dream” and “electric,” adding that there was no better place on Earth.

In the women’s competition, Miki Sudo won the title for the 12th time. Both champions said the heat made the contest more difficult. The temperature reached about 32 degrees Celsius.

A large crowd still came to watch. Some fans wore foam hot dogs on their heads, while people standing closest to the stage wore ponchos to protect themselves in case a competitor threw up.

Despite winning again, Chestnut was disappointed that he did not beat his own record of 76 hot dogs. After the contest, he said, “Dang, I got so much room left.”

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:45  Watch on YouTube

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 on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Crowds gathered in the (1) heat in Coney Island, New York, on Saturday, as the United States celebrated its 250th birthday. They were there to watch Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest.

Joey Chestnut won the men's (2) after eating 66 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. The 42-year-old won the contest for the 18th time. The 13 other competitors came from across the United States and from countries such as the Czech Republic, Australia, and South Korea.

Before the competition, Chestnut called competitive hot dog eating "the most (3) sport we've got." After winning, he said the event was "a dream" and "electric," adding that there was no better place on Earth.

In the women's competition, Miki Sudo won the title for the 12th time. Both champions said the (4) made the contest more difficult. The temperature reached about 32 degrees Celsius.

A large crowd still came to watch. Some fans wore foam hot dogs on their heads, while people standing closest to the (5) wore ponchos to protect themselves in case a competitor threw up.

Despite winning again, Chestnut was disappointed that he did not beat his own (6) of 76 hot dogs. After the contest, he said, "Dang, I got so much room left."

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • Two former champions won a hot dog eating contest again. Correct answer
  • New competitors surprised everyone at an international food contest.
  • Hot weather caused a popular eating contest to end early.
True or False

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

  • The hot dog eating contest took place in Coney Island on Saturday.
    Crowds gathered in Coney Island on Saturday to watch the contest.
  • Joey Chestnut ate 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
    He ate 66 hot dogs and buns. His record is 76.
  • Competitors came from both the United States and other countries.
    The competitors came from across the United States and countries including the Czech Republic, Australia, and South Korea.
  • Chestnut was completely satisfied with his result after winning.
    He won the contest, but he was disappointed that he did not beat his record.

True or False

1. The hot dog eating contest took place in Coney Island on Saturday. TRUEFALSE True

2. Joey Chestnut ate 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. TRUEFALSE False

3. Competitors came from both the United States and other countries. TRUEFALSE True

4. Chestnut was completely satisfied with his result after winning. TRUEFALSE False

Multiple Choice

1. Why did some people near the stage wear ponchos?

   a) To protect themselves in case a competitor threw upCorrect

   b) To celebrate the national holiday

   c) To protect themselves from the sun

   d) To show support for Joey Chestnut

2. What made the contest more difficult for both champions?

   a) The large number of international competitors

   b) The short 10-minute time limit

   c) The hot weatherCorrect

   d) The noisy crowd

3. How many times has Miki Sudo won the women's title in total?

   a) 10 times

   b) 12 timesCorrect

   c) 13 times

   d) 18 times

4. Why was Chestnut disappointed after winning?

   a) He did not beat his own record.Correct

   b) He ate fewer hot dogs than Miki Sudo.

   c) The crowd was too small.

   d) The contest ended early.

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Winf) the title

2. Eate) hot dogs and buns

3. Calld) it patriotic

4. Wearc) a poncho

5. Beatb) a record

6. Reacha) 32 degrees Celsius

a) 32 degrees Celsius

b) a record

c) a poncho

d) it patriotic

e) hot dogs and buns

f) the title

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. I would not join an eating contest I do not like eating too fast.

    and / because / but / so

    I would not join an eating contest because I do not like eating too fast.

  2. Eating contests can be fun to watch, they also seem unhealthy to me.

    and / because / but / so

    Eating contests can be fun to watch, but they also seem unhealthy to me.

  3. I would rather go to a food festival than try to break a record.

    Personally, / For example, / However, / Because

    Personally, I would rather go to a food festival than try to break a record.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. If I joined B. because C. noodles D. an eating contest, E. to eat fast. F. they are easy G. I would choose

    If I joined an eating contest, I would choose noodles because they are easy to eat fast.

  2. A. food contests B. feel stranger C. to me. D. Compared with E. more memorable F. sports events, G. but

    Compared with sports events, food contests feel stranger but more memorable to me.

  3. A. to public events B. by going C. In my country, D. people often celebrate E. with music F. and food. G. national holidays

    In my country, people often celebrate national holidays by going to public events with music and food.

Discussion Questions

  1. How many hot dogs could you eat in 10 minutes?
  2. Do you think eating contests are entertaining, unhealthy, or both? Why?
  3. Would you ever join an eating contest? Why or why not?
  4. If you joined an eating contest, what food would you choose?
  5. Why do you think Joey Chestnut called hot dog eating, 'the most patriotic sport we've got'?
  6. Why was Chestnut still disappointed after winning?
  7. What kinds of events are popular in your country on national holidays?
  8. Would you like to try to break a record? What would you do?
  9. Have you been to a food or drink festival? If so, talk about it.
  10. The United States is 250 years old. Is that old or young compared with your country?

Answers Hot Dog Eating Contest / Level 3

Think Ahead: b

Listening: (1) summer, (2) competition, (3) patriotic, (4) heat, (5) stage, (6) record

Main Idea: Two former champions won a hot dog eating contest again.

True or False:

  1. True. Crowds gathered in Coney Island on Saturday to watch the contest.
  2. False. He ate 66 hot dogs and buns. His record is 76.
  3. True. The competitors came from across the United States and countries including the Czech Republic, Australia, and South Korea.
  4. False. He won the contest, but he was disappointed that he did not beat his record.

Multiple Choice: a, c, b, a

Vocabulary:

  1. Win: the title
  2. Eat: hot dogs and buns
  3. Call: it patriotic
  1. Wear: a poncho
  2. Beat: a record
  3. Reach: 32 degrees Celsius

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast. 3) Opinion.

  1. because
  2. but
  3. Personally,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. If I joined an eating contest, I would choose noodles because they are easy to eat fast.
  2. Compared with sports events, food contests feel stranger but more memorable to me.
  3. In my country, people often celebrate national holidays by going to public events with music and food.

eslnewsstories.com