Magnus Carlsen, the current world chess champion, recently dropped out of an important tournament because of a disagreement about what he was wearing. This happened during the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York, where Carlsen was trying to defend his titles. Tournament officials told him that wearing jeans was against the dress code, and they asked him to change into something more suitable. However, the 34-year-old grandmaster decided not to follow their request.

Because he refused to change, Carlsen was fined $200 (£159) by FIDE, the organization that runs chess tournaments. Things got more serious when officials warned him that he couldn’t compete unless he followed the dress code. Carlsen explained that he was in a hurry to get ready for the tournament after having lunch and didn’t think about whether his jeans were appropriate. He had already changed into a shirt and jacket but forgot about his pants.

Carlsen said he was willing to change his outfit the next day since he didn’t realize the jeans would be a problem. But the officials insisted he change right away, which made it a matter of principle for him. He mentioned that he didn’t want to appeal the decision because he felt he was too mature to worry too much about it. Carlsen stated that if the tournament organizers were strict about their rules, he was ready to accept the consequences.

In a funny twist, Carlsen later posted a picture of his outfit on social media, calling it “OOTD” (outfit of the day). The photo showed his jeans and jacket, showing that he didn’t take the situation too seriously. FIDE defended their actions by saying they enforce the dress code fairly, pointing out another player who was fined for not changing his shoes. This isn’t the first time Carlsen has faced controversy in chess; he previously accused another player of cheating, leading to a big legal dispute. Now, it seems like Carlsen is ready to move on from this tournament and find a more enjoyable setting.

Original news source: World chess number one Magnus Carlsen quits tournament after refusing to change jeans (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns miming key phrases or actions from the article, such as “wearing jeans,” “tournament,” or “fined $200.” The opposing team must guess what is being acted out. This will help students recall and visualize the content.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a set of statements related to the article, such as “Dress codes are important in professional settings.” Students will walk around the room and ask their classmates whether they agree or disagree, tallying responses. This encourages speaking practice and opinion sharing.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In pairs, students will brainstorm and create catchy headlines for the article. They should consider what aspect of the story stands out the most. After they create their headlines, each pair will share theirs with the class, promoting discussion on what makes a good headline.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article, such as “disagreement,” “dress code,” or “consequences.” Students will take turns drawing the words on the board while their classmates guess what they are. This reinforces vocabulary understanding through visual representation.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “What would you do if you were in Carlsen’s situation?” Students will first think about their answer individually, then pair up to discuss their thoughts before sharing with the larger group. This encourages critical thinking and speaking practice.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the reason Magnus Carlsen dropped out of the tournament?
2. How much was Carlsen fined for not following the dress code?
3. What did Carlsen say about his outfit when he was told to change?
4. Why did Carlsen feel it was a matter of principle to not change his outfit immediately?
5. How did Carlsen respond to the situation after it happened?
6. What did FIDE say about their actions regarding the dress code?
7. Can you explain what “OOTD” means and how Carlsen used it?
8. What previous controversy has Carlsen been involved in related to chess?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Magnus Carlsen, the current world chess champion, recently dropped out of an important tournament because of a disagreement about what he was wearing. This happened during the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York, where Carlsen was trying to defend his titles. (1)______ officials told him that wearing jeans was against the dress code, and they asked him to (2)______ into something more suitable. However, the 34-year-old (3)______ decided not to (4)______ their request.

Because he refused to change, Carlsen was fined $200 (£159) by FIDE, the organization that runs chess (5)______s. Things got more serious when (6)______ warned him that he couldn’t compete unless he followed the dress code. Carlsen explained that he was in a (7)______ to get ready for the tournament after having lunch and didn’t think about whether his jeans were appropriate. He had already (8)______ into a shirt and jacket but forgot about his pants.

Carlsen said he was willing to change his outfit the next day since he didn’t realize the jeans would be a problem. But the officials insisted he change right away, which made it a matter of principle for him. He (9)______ that he didn’t want to appeal the decision because he felt he was too mature to worry too much about it. (10)______ stated that if the tournament organizers were strict about their rules, he was ready to accept the consequences.

In a funny twist, Carlsen later posted a picture of his (11)______ on (12)______ media, calling it “OOTD” (outfit of the day). The photo showed his (13)______ and jacket, showing that he didn’t take the situation too seriously. FIDE defended their actions by saying they enforce the dress code fairly, (14)______ out another player who was fined for not changing his shoes. This isn’t the first time Carlsen has faced controversy in chess; he previously accused another player of cheating, leading to a big (15)______ dispute. Now, it seems like Carlsen is (16)______ to move on from this tournament and find a more enjoyable setting.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your opinion on dress codes at events like tournaments?

2. How would you feel if you were in a situation where you had to change your outfit unexpectedly?

3. Do you think Magnus Carlsen made the right choice by refusing to change his jeans? Why or why not?

4. Have you ever had a disagreement with someone about what you were wearing? What happened?

5. What is a time when you felt strongly about a principle, like Carlsen did with his outfit?

6. How important do you think it is for people to follow dress codes? Why?

7. Do you like the idea of posting your outfit on social media? Why or why not?

8. What would you do if you were fined for something you thought was not a big deal, like clothing?

9. Do you think athletes should be held to different standards than regular people when it comes to appearance? Why?

10. How do you think Magnus Carlsen felt after being fined for his jeans?

11. What is your opinion on the way FIDE handled the situation with Carlsen?

12. Have you ever felt that rules were unfair? Can you share your experience?

13. Do you think it’s important for public figures to set a good example with their behavior? Why?

14. How would you feel if you were in a hurry and forgot to wear something appropriate for an event?

15. What do you think about the idea of taking a lighthearted approach to serious situations, like Carlsen did with his social media post?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. tournament
2. disagreement
3. champion
4. officials
5. suitable
6. grandmaster
7. fined
8. appropriate
9. principle
10. mature
11. appeal
12. consequences
13. controversy
14. dispute
15. setting

Meanings:
(A) A serious argument or disagreement
(B) A situation that causes public disagreement or debate
(C) A basic rule or belief that guides actions
(D) Right or acceptable for a particular situation
(E) Made to pay money as a punishment
(F) A person who has won a competition or is the best in a sport or game
(G) A very skilled and experienced chess player
(H) Acting like an adult, not childish
(I) A series of games or matches to find the best player or team
(J) People in charge of making sure rules are followed
(K) Results or effects of an action
(L) A situation where people have different opinions and argue about it
(M) To ask for a decision to be changed
(N) The place or environment where something happens
(O) Right or proper for the situation
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
(a) A famous football player
(b) The current world chess champion
(c) A renowned author
(d) A popular musician

2. What event did Carlsen drop out of?
(a) FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships
(b) The Olympics
(c) A local chess tournament
(d) A charity event

3. Why did Carlsen drop out of the tournament?
(a) He was feeling unwell
(b) He had a prior engagement
(c) He lost his chess pieces
(d) He disagreed about his outfit

4. What was Carlsen wearing that violated the dress code?
(a) Jeans
(b) Shorts
(c) Sweatpants
(d) A T-shirt

5. How much was Carlsen fined for his outfit?
(a) $100
(b) $300
(c) $200
(d) $50

6. What did Carlsen say about changing his outfit the next day?
(a) He refused to change at all
(b) He didn’t have any other clothes
(c) He thought it was unnecessary
(d) He was willing to change

7. How did Carlsen respond to the tournament officials’ insistence on changing his outfit?
(a) He immediately changed his clothes
(b) He left the tournament without a word
(c) It became a matter of principle for him
(d) He argued with the officials

8. What did Carlsen post on social media after the incident?
(a) A video of his chess game
(b) A picture of his outfit
(c) A message of apology
(d) A photo of the tournament venue

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Magnus Carlsen is the current world chess champion.
2. He was in a hurry and intentionally kept his jeans on before the tournament.
3. FIDE stated they enforce the dress code unfairly and mentioned another player who was not fined.
4. Carlsen was rewarded $200 by FIDE for not following the dress code.
5. This incident is not the first controversy Carlsen has faced in chess.
6. Carlsen later posted a picture of his outfit on social media, calling it “OOTD.”
7. The tournament he left was the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York.
8. He won a tournament due to an agreement about his clothing.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. Why did Magnus Carlsen drop out of the chess tournament in New York?
2. What was the reason tournament officials gave for asking Carlsen to change his outfit?
3. How did Carlsen react to being fined for not following the dress code?
4. What did Carlsen do after the incident that showed he was not too upset about it?
5. Has Magnus Carlsen faced any other controversies in his chess career, according to the article?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was the reason Magnus Carlsen dropped out of the tournament?
Carlsen dropped out because he disagreed with the tournament officials about his outfit, specifically that he was wearing jeans, which violated the dress code.

2. How much was Carlsen fined for not following the dress code?
Carlsen was fined $200 (£159) for not adhering to the dress code.

3. What did Carlsen say about his outfit when he was told to change?
Carlsen explained that he had changed into a shirt and jacket but forgot about his jeans and didn’t think they would be a problem.

4. Why did Carlsen feel it was a matter of principle to not change his outfit immediately?
Carlsen felt it was a matter of principle because the officials insisted he change right away, and he wanted to stand by his choice instead of being forced to comply.

5. How did Carlsen respond to the situation after it happened?
After the situation, Carlsen posted a picture of his outfit on social media, calling it “OOTD” (outfit of the day), showing that he didn’t take the situation too seriously.

6. What did FIDE say about their actions regarding the dress code?
FIDE defended their actions by stating that they enforce the dress code fairly and mentioned that another player had been fined for not changing his shoes.

7. Can you explain what “OOTD” means and how Carlsen used it?
“OOTD” stands for “outfit of the day.” Carlsen used it to share a picture of his jeans and jacket on social media, indicating he was lighthearted about the situation.

8. What previous controversy has Carlsen been involved in related to chess?
Carlsen has previously been involved in a controversy where he accused another player of cheating, which led to a significant legal dispute.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Tournament
(2) change
(3) grandmaster
(4) follow
(5) tournament
(6) officials
(7) hurry
(8) changed
(9) mentioned
(10) Carlsen
(11) outfit
(12) social
(13) jeans
(14) pointing
(15) legal
(16) ready
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. tournament
Answer: (I) A series of games or matches to find the best player or team

2. disagreement
Answer: (L) A situation where people have different opinions and argue about it

3. champion
Answer: (F) A person who has won a competition or is the best in a sport or game

4. officials
Answer: (J) People in charge of making sure rules are followed

5. suitable
Answer: (D) Right or acceptable for a particular situation

6. grandmaster
Answer: (G) A very skilled and experienced chess player

7. fined
Answer: (E) Made to pay money as a punishment

8. appropriate
Answer: (O) Right or proper for the situation

9. principle
Answer: (C) A basic rule or belief that guides actions

10. mature
Answer: (H) Acting like an adult, not childish

11. appeal
Answer: (M) To ask for a decision to be changed

12. consequences
Answer: (K) Results or effects of an action

13. controversy
Answer: (B) A situation that causes public disagreement or debate

14. dispute
Answer: (A) A serious argument or disagreement

15. setting
Answer: (N) The place or environment where something happens
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
Answer: (b) The current world chess champion

2. What event did Carlsen drop out of?
Answer: (a) FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships

3. Why did Carlsen drop out of the tournament?
Answer: (d) He disagreed about his outfit

4. What was Carlsen wearing that violated the dress code?
Answer: (a) Jeans

5. How much was Carlsen fined for his outfit?
Answer: (c) $200

6. What did Carlsen say about changing his outfit the next day?
Answer: (d) He was willing to change

7. How did Carlsen respond to the tournament officials’ insistence on changing his outfit?
Answer: (c) It became a matter of principle for him

8. What did Carlsen post on social media after the incident?
Answer: (b) A picture of his outfit
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Magnus Carlsen is the current world chess champion. (Answer: True)
2. He was in a hurry and intentionally kept his jeans on before the tournament. (Answer: False)
3. FIDE stated they enforce the dress code unfairly and mentioned another player who was not fined. (Answer: False)
4. Carlsen was rewarded $200 by FIDE for not following the dress code. (Answer: False)
5. This incident is not the first controversy Carlsen has faced in chess. (Answer: True)
6. Carlsen later posted a picture of his outfit on social media, calling it “OOTD.” (Answer: True)
7. The tournament he left was the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York. (Answer: True)
8. He won a tournament due to an agreement about his clothing. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧