A plane in Japan had to go back to the airport after a crack was found in the window at the front of the plane. The crack was only on the outside part of the window and did not cause any problems with flying the plane or keeping the air inside. Everyone on the plane was okay, and the plane landed without any trouble. People don’t know why the window cracked; maybe a bird or a big piece of ice hit it.

This problem happened not long after some other planes, called Boeing 737 MAX 9, were stopped from flying in the United States because they might not be safe. The plane in Japan was not one of these Boeing planes. A person who knows a lot about planes said the airline will need to put in a new window to make sure the plane is safe. The people flying on the plane were put on different flights, and there were 59 people and 6 people working on the plane.

The people who make sure planes are safe in the United States said the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes can’t fly for now until they check them more. This happened after a different problem on an Alaska Airlines plane where part of the inside wall came off. They said they need to stop these planes from flying to keep people safe.

Original news source: Cockpit window crack forces ANA Boeing flight in Japan to turn back (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and write a summary of the main points. They should include information about the cracked window, the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes, and the incident with the Alaska Airlines plane. After writing their summaries, they will share with the class.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: In pairs, students will discuss the following question: “What do you think caused the crack in the plane’s window?” After discussing their ideas, they will share their thoughts with the rest of the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team will take turns selecting a vocabulary word from the article. One student from the team will draw a picture to represent the word while their teammates try to guess what it is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different words from the article.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the article to their partner in one minute or less. The listener should then provide a brief summary of what they heard. After both partners have had a turn, they can compare their summaries and discuss any differences.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will discuss and make a list of the pros and cons of grounding the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes. After the discussion, each group will share their lists with the class and engage in a class-wide discussion about the topic.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to the plane in Japan?
2. Did the crack in the window cause any problems with flying the plane?
3. Why did the plane have to go back to the airport?
4. What might have caused the window to crack?
5. Why were the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes stopped from flying in the United States?
6. What will the airline need to do to make sure the plane is safe?
7. Why did the people who make sure planes are safe stop the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes from flying?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A (1)______ in Japan had to go back to the (2)______ after a crack was found in the window at the front of the plane. The crack was only on the outside part of the window and did not cause any problems with flying the plane or (3)______ the air inside. Everyone on the plane was okay, and the plane landed without any trouble. People don’t (4)______ why the window cracked; maybe a bird or a big piece of ice hit it.

This problem happened not long after some (5)______ planes, called Boeing 737 MAX 9, were stopped from flying in the United (6)______ because they might not be safe. The plane in Japan was not one of these Boeing (7)______. A person who knows a lot about planes (8)______ the airline will need to put in a new window to make sure the plane is safe. The people flying on the plane were put on (9)______ flights, and there were 59 people and 6 people working on the plane.

The people who make sure planes are (10)______ in the United States said the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes can’t fly for now until they check them more. This happened after a different problem on an Alaska Airlines plane where part of the inside wall came off. They said they need to (11)______ these planes from (12)______ to keep people safe.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a crack in a window?
2. How do you think the people on the plane felt when they found out about the crack in the window?
3. Do you think it was scary for the people on the plane when they realized there was a crack in the window? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you were on a plane and you saw a crack in the window?
5. What do you think might have caused the crack in the window?
6. Do you like flying on planes? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the people felt when they had to get off the plane and take a different flight?
8. Have you ever had to change your plans because of something unexpected? How did it make you feel?
9. Do you think it’s important for planes to be checked for safety? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the people who make sure planes are safe felt when they found out about the problems with the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes?
11. Do you think it’s a good idea to stop the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes from flying until they are checked more? Why or why not?
12. Have you ever been on a plane? What was your experience like?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. aircraft
2. detected
3. exterior
4. maintain
5. cabin
6. precaution
7. aviation
8. inspect
9. malfunction
10. grounded
11. authorities
12. passengers

Meanings:
(A) To keep something in good condition
(B) When planes are not allowed to fly
(C) The outside part of something
(D) The inside part of a plane where people sit
(E) When something doesn’t work the way it should
(F) A machine that can fly, like a plane or helicopter
(G) People or groups who are in charge
(H) To look at something carefully to make sure it’s okay
(I) Found or noticed something
(J) Everything that has to do with flying planes
(K) People who travel in a vehicle, like in a car, bus, or plane
(L) Something done to keep people or things safe
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did the plane in Japan have to go back to the airport?
(a) The engine stopped working.
(b) The passengers wanted to get off.
(c) A crack was found in the window.
(d) The pilot got lost.

2. Where was the crack in the window?
(a) On the inside part of the window.
(b) On the top part of the window.
(c) On the bottom part of the window.
(d) On the outside part of the window.

3. Did the crack cause any problems with flying the plane?
(a) No, it did not cause any problems.
(b) Yes, it made the plane crash.
(c) Yes, it made the plane go faster.
(d) No, it made the plane fly higher.

4. Why did the people on the plane have to get off?
(a) The plane was too heavy.
(b) The plane needed a new window.
(c) The passengers were tired.
(d) The passengers wanted to go home.

5. How many people were on the plane?
(a) 100 people and 50 people working on the plane.
(b) 10 people and 2 people working on the plane.
(c) 30 people and 5 people working on the plane.
(d) 59 people and 6 people working on the plane.

6. What kind of planes were stopped from flying in the United States?
(a) Airbus A380 planes.
(b) Boeing 747 planes.
(c) Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes.
(d) Cessna 172 planes.

7. Why were the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes stopped from flying?
(a) They were too expensive.
(b) They might not be safe.
(c) They were too old.
(d) They were too slow.

8. What happened on the Alaska Airlines plane?
(a) Part of the inside wall came off.
(b) The engine stopped working.
(c) The passengers got sick.
(d) The plane landed without any trouble.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They know why the window cracked, and it was not caused by a bird or a big piece of ice.
2. The people flying on the plane were put on different flights.
3. The Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes in the United States can’t fly for now until they are checked more to ensure safety.
4. The crack was only on the outside of the window and didn’t cause any problems with flying the plane.
5. A plane in Japan did not have to go back to the airport because there was a crack in the front window.
6. Everyone on the plane was not okay and the plane did not land safely.
7. The airline will not need to put in a new window to make sure the plane is safe.
8. The plane in Japan was not one of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes that were stopped from flying in the United States.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What happened to the window on the plane in Japan?
2. Did the crack in the window cause any problems with flying the plane?
3. Why did the people on the plane have to get on different flights?
4. Why can’t the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes fly in the United States right now?
5. What happened on the Alaska Airlines plane that caused the Boeing planes to be stopped from flying?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to the plane in Japan?
The plane in Japan had to go back to the airport because a crack was found in the window at the front of the plane.

2. Did the crack in the window cause any problems with flying the plane?
No, the crack in the window did not cause any problems with flying the plane or keeping the air inside.

3. Why did the plane have to go back to the airport?
The plane had to go back to the airport because a crack was found in the window and they needed to make sure the plane was safe.

4. What might have caused the window to crack?
It is not known for sure, but it could have been caused by a bird or a big piece of ice hitting the window.

5. Why were the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes stopped from flying in the United States?
The Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes were stopped from flying in the United States because there were concerns about their safety.

6. What will the airline need to do to make sure the plane is safe?
The airline will need to put in a new window to make sure the plane is safe.

7. Why did the people who make sure planes are safe stop the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes from flying?
The people who make sure planes are safe stopped the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes from flying because they wanted to check them more to make sure they were safe for passengers.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) plane
(2) airport
(3) keeping
(4) know
(5) other
(6) States
(7) planes
(8) said
(9) different
(10) safe
(11) stop
(12) flying
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. aircraft
Answer: (F) A machine that can fly, like a plane or helicopter

2. detected
Answer: (I) Found or noticed something

3. exterior
Answer: (C) The outside part of something

4. maintain
Answer: (A) To keep something in good condition

5. cabin
Answer: (D) The inside part of a plane where people sit

6. precaution
Answer: (L) Something done to keep people or things safe

7. aviation
Answer: (J) Everything that has to do with flying planes

8. inspect
Answer: (H) To look at something carefully to make sure it’s okay

9. malfunction
Answer: (E) When something doesn’t work the way it should

10. grounded
Answer: (B) When planes are not allowed to fly

11. authorities
Answer: (G) People or groups who are in charge

12. passengers
Answer: (K) People who travel in a vehicle, like in a car, bus, or plane
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did the plane in Japan have to go back to the airport?
Answer: (c) A crack was found in the window.

2. Where was the crack in the window?
Answer: (d) On the outside part of the window.

3. Did the crack cause any problems with flying the plane?
Answer: (a) No, it did not cause any problems.

4. Why did the people on the plane have to get off?
Answer: (b) The plane needed a new window.

5. How many people were on the plane?
Answer: (d) 59 people and 6 people working on the plane.

6. What kind of planes were stopped from flying in the United States?
Answer: (c) Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes.

7. Why were the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes stopped from flying?
Answer: (b) They might not be safe.

8. What happened on the Alaska Airlines plane?
Answer: (a) Part of the inside wall came off.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They know why the window cracked, and it was not caused by a bird or a big piece of ice. (Answer: False)
2. The people flying on the plane were put on different flights. (Answer: True)
3. The Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes in the United States can’t fly for now until they are checked more to ensure safety. (Answer: True)
4. The crack was only on the outside of the window and didn’t cause any problems with flying the plane. (Answer: True)
5. A plane in Japan did not have to go back to the airport because there was a crack in the front window. (Answer: False)
6. Everyone on the plane was not okay and the plane did not land safely. (Answer: False)
7. The airline will not need to put in a new window to make sure the plane is safe. (Answer: False)
8. The plane in Japan was not one of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes that were stopped from flying in the United States. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧