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Back to This Month's News | Monthly News Archives		 Dateline: 1 October 2006

Story #1

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

Story #1: Crocodile Hunter Killed By Stingray
Steve Irwin, known around the world as the Crocodile Hunter, was killed by a stingray September 4th while a documentary in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef. Though stingrays have venomous tails, medical specialists confirmed it was the sharp on the tail that pierced a hole in the Australian celebrity's heart. Irwin's wife, Terri, told the media that her dare devil husband always believed he would live a short life. At the memorial the daughter Bindi, 8, told attendees that she would follow in her dad's . The road leading into the family's will be renamed Steve Irwin Way.

Comprehension Questions: Story #1

  1. What did most people call Steve Irwin before he died?
  2. What was Steve Irwin doing when he was killed?
  3. What is being done in memory of this celebrity?
Discussion Question:
Steve Irwin's death was caught on tape. His wife has decided not to release it to the media no matter how much money she is offered. Do you think Steve Irwin would support this decision knowing the money could go to environmental charities?

Story #2

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

Story #2: Captive Describes 8-year Ordeal
Natascha Kampusch, the teen who escaped at the end of August from her captor of 8 1/2 years, about her experience this month. Kampusch spent most of her time confined to a tiny underground cell where she experienced bouts of and abuse. She was permitted to read and listen to the radio, which enabled her to educate herself and plan her escape. Her captor, who committed suicide as soon as he realized Natascha had fled, took her skiing last February, but kept her under close watch her from speaking to anyone. The year old has become an overnight celebrity.

Comprehension Questions: Story #2

  1. Who is Natascha Kampusch?
  2. What was the captive allowed to do during her ordeal?
  3. Where did the captor take Natascha in public?
Discussion Question:
Though Natascha is free from her captor, she now needs security from those who want to buy her story. Do you think the world deserves to know what happened in cases such as this, or should the media leave victims alone so that they can begin life again?

Story #3

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

Story #3: Shooting Rampage at Montreal College
On September 13th, a gunman entered Dawson College, shooting random bullets into the cafeteria. Police were unable to stop the shooting rampage. While some students fled the scene, others hid under tables, or barricaded themselves inside classrooms. The man shot 19 people before turning a gun on himself. One woman was killed and six were critically injured. Jason Gill, 25, to himself as the "Angel of Death," and enjoyed playing video games. The shooting was reminiscent of the Montreal Massacre in in which 14 female students were killed by a gunman who then shot himself.

Comprehension Questions: Story #3

  1. Who did this shooter aim his bullets at?
  2. How did students react to the gunfire?
  3. According to this article, what was this incident very similar too?
Discussion Question:
Even though Jason Gill was not a student at Dawson College, many students claimed they will never go back. Would an incident like this cause you to transfer schools?

Story #4

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

Story #4: Mona Lisa Reviewed in 3D
A group of scientists have discovered evidence suggesting that Mona Lisa just prior to sitting for Leonardo da Vinci's famous portrait. Three-dimensional and infrared technology were used to examine the paint layers, revealing that Mona Lisa was wearing a gauze over her dress. This was typical of postpartum women in the 16th century. It is now believed that Mona Lisa sat for the portrait to commemorate her birth. If this is true, the can be dated to 1503. The Mona Lisa is stored in an environmentally controlled chamber in France's Louvre museum.

Comprehension Questions: Story #4

  1. What nationality were the people who made this discovery?
  2. What did the veil reveal about Mona Lisa?
  3. Where and how is the Mona Lisa portrait cared for?
Discussion Question:
What do you know about this famous portrait? Why do you think it remains so protected and popular hundreds of years after it was painted?

ANSWER CHECK

Story #1

Story #1:Crocodile Hunter Killed By Stingray
Steve Irwin, known around the world as the Crocodile Hunter, was killed by a stingray September 4th while filming a documentary in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef. Though stingrays have venomous tails, medical specialists confirmed it was the sharp barb on the tail that pierced a hole in the Australian celebrity's heart. Irwin's wife, Terri, told the media that her dare devil husband always believed he would live a short life. At the memorial the couple's daughter Bindi, 8, told attendees that she would follow in her dad's footsteps. The road leading into the family's zoo will be renamed Steve Irwin Way.

Comprehension Answers: Story #1

  1. Steve Irwin was known around the world as "The Crocodile Hunter".
  2. Steve Irwin was filming a documentary when he was killed by the stingray.
  3. A road that leads into the Irwin family zoo will be renamed Steve Irwin Way.

Story #2

Story #2: Captive Describes 8-year Ordeal
Natascha Kampusch, the Austrian teen who escaped at the end of August from her captor of 8 1/2 years, spoke out about her experience this month. Kampusch spent most of her time confined to a tiny underground cell where she experienced bouts of starvation and abuse. She was permitted to read and listen to the radio, which enabled her to educate herself and plan her escape. Her captor, who committed suicide as soon as he realized Natascha had fled, took her skiing last February, but kept her under close watch preventing her from speaking to anyone. The eighteen year old has become an overnight celebrity.

Comprehension Answers: Story #2

  1. Natascha Kampusch is the Austrian teen who just escaped after being held in a cell for 8 1/2 years.
  2. Her captor allowed her to read and listen to the radio.
  3. Natascha's captor took her skiing last February.

Story #3

Story #3: Shooting Rampage at Montreal College
On September 13th, a gunman entered Montreal's Dawson College, shooting random bullets into the cafeteria. Police on location were unable to stop the shooting rampage. While some students fled the scene, others hid under tables, or barricaded themselves inside classrooms. The man shot 19 people before turning a gun on himself. One woman was killed and six were critically injured. Jason Gill, 25, referred to himself as the "Angel of Death," and enjoyed playing violent video games. The shooting was reminiscent of the Montreal Massacre in 1989 in which 14 female students were killed by a gunman who then shot himself.

Comprehension Answers: Story #3

  1. Jason Gill shot students in the cafeteria without any specific target in mind.
  2. Some students hid under tables in the cafeteria. Others ran out of the building or hid in their classrooms.
  3. This shooting was very similar to the Montreal Massacre of 1989.

Story #4

Story #4: Mona Lisa Reviewed in 3D
A group of Canadian scientists have discovered evidence suggesting that Mona Lisa gave birth just prior to sitting for Leonardo da Vinci's famous portrait. Three-dimensional and infrared technology were used to examine the paint layers, revealing that Mona Lisa was wearing a gauze veil over her dress. This was typical of postpartum women in the 16th century. It is now believed that Mona Lisa sat for the portrait to commemorate her second son's birth. If this is true, the masterpiece can be dated to 1503. The Mona Lisa is stored in an environmentally controlled chamber in France's Louvre museum.

Comprehension Answers: Story #4

  1. The group of scientists was Canadian.
  2. The veil suggested that Mona Lisa had just given birth.
  3. Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece is kept in a protected chamber in the Louvre museum.