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
- Vocab List
- Reading and Audio
- Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
- Multiple Choice Check understanding.
- Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
- New Sentences Choose words to complete sentences in new contexts.
- Discussion Builder Choose connecting expressions for discussion ideas.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: What might help someone keep fighting to survive?
a) Thinking about someone they love.
b) Waiting quietly for help.
c) Wearing warm clothes.
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Leah Stewart was swimming back to shore at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, after her regular Saturday morning swim. Then she heard another swimmer cry out. Stewart turned and saw a huge fin in the water. She quickly realized that it did not belong to a dolphin.
The shark came very close and attacked her arms and thigh. It then grabbed her leg and pulled her underwater. Stewart twisted around and began to punch the shark again and again.
During the attack, Stewart thought about her baby daughter. She told herself that she could not leave her. This thought made her even more determined to survive. Although hitting the shark felt like punching a brick wall, Stewart continued to fight back. Finally, the shark released her.
Nearby swimmers brought Stewart to shore, and she was rushed to hospital. She had severe blood loss and underwent almost a dozen surgeries. Her injuries were so serious that doctors had to amputate her left arm.
Stewart does not want people to remember her only as someone who was attacked. She prefers to describe herself as the woman who punched a shark. For her, the story is not only about what she lost, but also about how hard she fought to live.
Shark Fight
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: What might help someone keep fighting to survive?
a) Thinking about someone they love.
b) Waiting quietly for help.
c) Wearing warm clothes.
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fin (n.)
-
shore (n.)
-
determined (adj.)
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fight back (phr. v.)
-
severe blood loss (n. phrase)
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surgery (n.)
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amputate (v.)
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thigh (n.)
Leah Stewart was swimming back to shore at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, after her regular Saturday morning swim. Then she heard another swimmer cry out. Stewart turned and saw a huge fin in the water. She quickly realized that it did not belong to a dolphin.
The shark came very close and attacked her arms and thigh. It then grabbed her leg and pulled her underwater. Stewart twisted around and began to punch the shark again and again.
During the attack, Stewart thought about her baby daughter. She told herself that she could not leave her. This thought made her even more determined to survive. Although hitting the shark felt like punching a brick wall, Stewart continued to fight back. Finally, the shark released her.
Nearby swimmers brought Stewart to shore, and she was rushed to hospital. She had severe blood loss and underwent almost a dozen surgeries. Her injuries were so serious that doctors had to amputate her left arm.
Stewart does not want people to remember her only as someone who was attacked. She prefers to describe herself as the woman who punched a shark. For her, the story is not only about what she lost, but also about how hard she fought to live.
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:
Leah Stewart was swimming back to (1) at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia, after her regular Saturday morning swim. Then she heard another swimmer cry out. Stewart turned and saw a huge (2) in the water. She quickly realized that it did not belong to a dolphin.
The shark came very close and attacked her arms and thigh. It then grabbed her leg and pulled her (3) . Stewart twisted around and began to punch the shark again and again.
During the attack, Stewart thought about her baby (4) . She told herself that she could not leave her. This thought made her even more determined to survive. Although hitting the shark felt like punching a brick wall, Stewart continued to fight back. Finally, the shark released her.
Nearby (5) brought Stewart to shore, and she was rushed to hospital. She had severe blood loss and underwent almost a dozen surgeries. Her injuries were so serious that doctors had to amputate her left arm.
Stewart does not want people to remember her only as someone who was attacked. She prefers to describe herself as the woman who punched a shark. For her, the story is not only about what she lost, but also about how hard she fought to (6) .
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- The story shows how Stewart’s determination and other people’s help helped her survive. Correct answer
- The story shows how dangerous shark attacks are and how serious their injuries can be.
- The story shows how swimmers and doctors worked together to save an injured woman.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Leah Stewart was swimming toward the beach when she first noticed the danger. TRUEFALSE True
2. Stewart was pulled underwater before she tried to fight the shark. TRUEFALSE True
3. Thinking about her baby daughter made Stewart decide to stop fighting. TRUEFALSE False
4. Stewart wants people to remember only the injuries she suffered in the attack. TRUEFALSE False
Put Events in Order
Put the events in the order they happened, from first to last.
- 1 Stewart finished her regular swim and swam toward shore.
- 2 She saw a huge fin and realized the danger was not a dolphin.
- 3 The shark attacked her and pulled her underwater.
- 4 She thought about her daughter and fought back until the shark released her.
- 5 Other swimmers brought her to shore, and she was rushed to hospital.
Put Events in Order
Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):
- The shark attacked her and pulled her underwater.
- Other swimmers brought her to shore, and she was rushed to hospital.
- Stewart finished her regular swim and swam toward shore.
- She thought about her daughter and fought back until the shark released her.
- She saw a huge fin and realized the danger was not a dolphin.
- Stewart finished her regular swim and swam toward shore.
- She saw a huge fin and realized the danger was not a dolphin.
- The shark attacked her and pulled her underwater.
- She thought about her daughter and fought back until the shark released her.
- Other swimmers brought her to shore, and she was rushed to hospital.
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. What happened after Stewart was injured in the water?
a) Nearby swimmers brought her to shore, and she was rushed to hospital.Correct
b) She stayed in the water until the shark disappeared.
c) A lifeguard took her home to rest.
2. What did hitting the shark feel like to Stewart?
a) Punching a brick wall.Correct
b) Swimming through strong waves.
c) Holding a heavy bag.
3. What was the result of the attack for Stewart?
a) She lost her left arm.Correct
b) She stopped swimming permanently.
c) She escaped without serious injuries.
Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. fight backe) against an attacker
2. pulld) someone underwater
3. undergoc) surgery
4. rushb) someone to hospital
5. determineda) to survive
a) to survive
b) someone to hospital
c) surgery
d) someone underwater
e) against an attacker
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
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The child noticed a bright yellow {blank} on the back of the toy fish.
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After kayaking across the lake, we rested on the {blank} and ate lunch.
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Despite failing the test twice, Maya was {blank} to improve her score.
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When the thief grabbed his bag, the man decided to {blank}.
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After hurting her knee in a cycling accident, Nina needed {blank} to repair it.
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The runner felt a sharp pain in his {blank} near the end of the race.
New Sentences
Use the words in the bank to complete the new sentences.
amputate / determined / fight back / fin / severe blood loss / shore / surgery / thigh
- The child noticed a bright yellow on the back of the toy fish.
- After kayaking across the lake, we rested on the and ate lunch.
- Despite failing the test twice, Maya was to improve her score.
- When the thief grabbed his bag, the man decided to .
- After hurting her knee in a cycling accident, Nina needed to repair it.
- The runner felt a sharp pain in his near the end of the race.
Discussion Builder
1) Expressing an opinion 2) Showing a result 3) Giving practical advice
Q: What do you think about swimming in the ocean after reading this story? Why?
A:Q: Why would thinking about a loved one help someone stay strong?
A:Q: What could nearby swimmers do to help someone in danger at the beach?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: What do you think about swimming in the ocean after reading this story? Why?
A: swimming in the ocean can still be enjoyable, but I would follow beach safety rules.
I think that / I hope that / I am surprised that / I am worried that
I think that swimming in the ocean can still be enjoyable, but I would follow beach safety rules.
Q: Why would thinking about a loved one help someone stay strong?
A: Thinking about a loved one can remind someone that they are loved; , they may find the strength to continue.
as a result / for example / however / in contrast
Thinking about a loved one can remind someone that they are loved; as a result, they may find the strength to continue.
Q: What could nearby swimmers do to help someone in danger at the beach?
A: call for help and help the person reach the shore safely.
A good idea would be for nearby swimmers to / I would be surprised if nearby swimmers could / It is unclear whether nearby swimmers should / The reason nearby swimmers acted was to
A good idea would be for nearby swimmers to call for help and help the person reach the shore safely.
Discussion Questions
- What do you think about swimming in the ocean after reading this story? Why?
- What do you think Leah Stewart felt when she first saw the fin?
- Why would thinking about a loved one help someone stay strong?
- What could nearby swimmers do to help someone in danger at the beach?
- How can a person stay safe when swimming in the ocean?
- Which situation would worry you most: seeing a shark, being far from shore, or seeing a huge wave? Why?
- Why do sharks often appear in films and stories as dangerous animals? How are they shown?
- If this story became a short film, which moment should be the most important scene? Why?
Discussion Questions
- What do you think about swimming in the ocean after reading this story? Why?
- What do you think Leah Stewart felt when she first saw the fin?
- Why would thinking about a loved one help someone stay strong?
- What could nearby swimmers do to help someone in danger at the beach?
- How can a person stay safe when swimming in the ocean?
- Which situation would worry you most: seeing a shark, being far from shore, or seeing a huge wave? Why?
- Why do sharks often appear in films and stories as dangerous animals? How are they shown?
- If this story became a short film, which moment should be the most important scene? Why?
Answers
Think Ahead: a
Listening: (1) shore, (2) fin, (3) underwater, (4) daughter, (5) swimmers, (6) live
Main Idea: The story shows how Stewart’s determination and other people’s help helped her survive.
True or False:
- True. She was swimming back to shore when another swimmer cried out and she saw a large fin.
- True. The shark grabbed her leg and pulled her underwater. Then she twisted around and punched it.
- False. Thinking about her daughter made Stewart more determined to survive, so she continued fighting.
- False. She does not want to be remembered only as a victim. She prefers to describe herself as the woman who punched a shark.
Multiple Choice: a, a, a
Put Events in Order:
- Stewart finished her regular swim and swam toward shore.
- She saw a huge fin and realized the danger was not a dolphin.
- The shark attacked her and pulled her underwater.
- She thought about her daughter and fought back until the shark released her.
- Other swimmers brought her to shore, and she was rushed to hospital.
Vocabulary:
- fight back: against an attacker
- pull: someone underwater
- undergo: surgery
- rush: someone to hospital
- determined: to survive
New Sentences: 1. fin; 2. shore; 3. determined; 4. fight back; 5. surgery; 6. thigh
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Expressing an opinion. 2) Showing a result. 3) Giving practical advice.
- I think that
- as a result
- A good idea would be for nearby swimmers to