Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 14 June 2011
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
Contortionist Arrested in Spain
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- contortionist: a flexible person who can bend in many ways
- shuttle bus: a bus that takes travellers to a specific destination, such as a hotel or an airport
- accomplice: partner in crime
- rummage: search for something
- struggle: to have difficulty handling something
- pick (a lock): to undo a lock with a sharp tool that is not the key
Comprehension Questions
- Where did the thief hide before stealing the items?
- What was the role of the accomplice?
- Why were the police investigating this bus route?
Discussion Question: Thieves are always thinking of new ideas to get away with stealing. Have you heard of any other tricks like this one?
show Answershide Answers
Contortionist Arrested in Spain
A man has been arrested after police found him hiding in a large suitcase at an airport bus depot in Spain. The 5’10” contortionist had been stealing property from the luggage of other passengers while the shuttle bus was in transit to Barcelona. His accomplice, who was also arrested, had been placing the heavy suitcase on the bus in Girona, and picking it up at the end of the line. Between the stops, the thief would unzip himself and rummage through other luggage searching for valuable items. He would then pack himself back in with the stolen goods before arriving at the bus depot. Police began to investigate when bus riders started reporting stolen items from their baggage. After watching a man struggle with a very heavy suitcase, they checked his bag and found the thief inside. The thief had a head lamp, a cell phone, and a sharp tool for undoing zippers and picking locks.
- The thief hid in a large suitcase under the bus before stealing the items.
- The accomplice put the suitcase on the bus and picked it up at the end of the line.
- The police were investigating this bus route because passengers had reported stolen items from their luggage.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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