In North Queensland, Australia, there was a big flood. Many people wanted to know what the weather would be like. They turned to Andrew Brown, who shares weather news on Facebook. He has a page called Wally’s Weather with many followers.
People like Andrew are becoming popular because they give local weather updates. Some people don’t trust big news channels and like getting news from people they know. But not all weather influencers are careful. Sometimes, they make weather events sound scarier than they are.
Experts say it’s important to have training to talk about the weather. Some influencers might not know enough and can make mistakes. But people like Andrew are trying hard to help their communities with the right information. It’s important to find a good balance between experts and local weather news.
Original news source: Who should you trust for a weather forecast? (BBC)
🎧 Listen:
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📖 Vocabulary:
| 1 | flood | A lot of water covering an area that is usually dry |
| 2 | followers | People who regularly watch or read someone’s posts online |
| 3 | influencers | People who have a lot of influence on others, especially online |
| 4 | updates | New information about something that has changed |
| 5 | trust | Believing someone is honest or will do what they say |
| 6 | channels | TV or online stations that show news or programs |
| 7 | events | Things that happen, especially important ones |
| 8 | experts | People who know a lot about a certain subject |
| 9 | training | Learning how to do something well |
| 10 | mistakes | Errors or things done wrong |
| 11 | communities | Groups of people living in the same area |
| 12 | balance | Having the right amount of different things to make it work well |
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will take turns acting out different weather-related words or phrases (e.g., “flood,” “sunny,” “stormy”) without using any words. The rest of the class will guess what they are acting out.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will walk around the classroom and ask their classmates simple questions about weather influencers (e.g., “Do you trust local weather news?” or “Do you prefer news from big channels or local people?”). They will record the answers and share their findings with the class.
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In pairs, students will create catchy headlines for the article about Andrew Brown and the flood in North Queensland. They will then share their headlines with the class.
– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student will write down three statements about the article: two true statements and one false statement. They will then share their statements with a partner, who will guess which one is the lie.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: As a class, students will create a mind map on the board about the topic of weather news. They will start with “Weather News” in the center and add branches for different aspects, such as sources, types of weather, and the importance of accurate information.
🤔 Comprehension Questions:
1. Where did the big flood happen?
2. Who is Andrew Brown?
3. What is the name of Andrew’s Facebook page?
4. Why do some people prefer local weather updates?
5. What can happen if weather influencers are not careful?
6. Why do experts think training is important for talking about the weather?
7. What are Andrew and others trying to do for their communities?
Go to answers ⇩
🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
In North Queensland, (1)______, there was a big (2)______. Many people wanted to know what the (3)______ would be like. They turned to Andrew Brown, who shares weather news on Facebook. He has a page called Wally’s (4)______ with many followers.
(5)______ like Andrew are becoming popular because they give local weather updates. Some (6)______ don’t trust big news channels and like getting news from people they know. But not all weather influencers are (7)______. Sometimes, they make weather events (8)______ scarier than they are.
Experts say it’s important to have (9)______ to talk about the weather. Some influencers might not know enough and can make mistakes. But people like Andrew are trying hard to (10)______ their (11)______ with the right information. It’s important to find a (12)______ balance between experts and local weather news.
Go to answers ⇩
💬 Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is your favorite way to get news?
2. How would you feel if you heard a scary weather report?
3. Do you think it’s important to trust local news? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had a bad experience with bad weather? What happened?
5. What is a good way to prepare for a storm?
6. Do you like to follow people on social media for news? Why?
7. How would you feel if someone gave you wrong weather information?
8. Do you think weather influencers should have special training? Why?
9. What is a time when you helped someone during bad weather?
10. Do you think people should listen to experts or friends for news? Why?
11. How do you feel when you see a lot of rain or snow?
12. What is a good way to stay safe during a flood?
Individual Activities
📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. flood
2. followers
3. influencers
4. updates
5. trust
6. channels
7. events
8. experts
9. training
10. mistakes
11. communities
12. balance
Meanings:
(A) TV or online stations that show news or programs
(B) People who have a lot of influence on others, especially online
(C) A lot of water covering an area that is usually dry
(D) Learning how to do something well
(E) People who know a lot about a certain subject
(F) Believing someone is honest or will do what they say
(G) Errors or things done wrong
(H) Groups of people living in the same area
(I) Things that happen, especially important ones
(J) New information about something that has changed
(K) Having the right amount of different things to make it work well
(L) People who regularly watch or read someone’s posts online
Go to answers ⇩
🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Where did the big flood happen?
(a) South Queensland, Australia
(b) North Sydney, Australia
(c) South Sydney, Australia
(d) North Queensland, Australia
2. Who shares weather news on Facebook?
(a) John Smith
(b) Emily White
(c) Sarah Green
(d) Andrew Brown
3. What is the name of Andrew’s weather page?
(a) Wally’s Weather
(b) Sunny Weather
(c) Rainy Days
(d) Weather Watch
4. Why do some people trust local weather updates more?
(a) They like big news channels
(b) They want to hear about other countries
(c) They know the people giving the news
(d) They don’t care about the weather
5. What do experts say is important for talking about the weather?
(a) Being funny
(b) Having training
(c) Making it sound scary
(d) Using big words
6. What can happen if weather influencers make mistakes?
(a) They can give wrong information
(b) They can become famous
(c) They can make people laugh
(d) They can get more followers
7. What is Andrew trying to do for his community?
(a) Make people scared
(b) Help with the right information
(c) Sell weather products
(d) Ignore the news
8. What is important to find between experts and local weather news?
(a) More followers
(b) More channels
(c) A good balance
(d) Less information
Go to answers ⇩
🕵️ True or False Questions:
1. Andrew is struggling to provide his community with the correct weather information.
2. All weather influencers are meticulous with their information.
3. His Facebook page is called Wally’s Weather.
4. Some people trust local weather updates more than big news channels.
5. There was a minor flood in North Queensland, Australia.
6. Experts say it is important to have training to talk about the weather.
7. Few people were interested in the weather.
8. Andrew Brown shares weather news on Facebook.
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. What happened in North Queensland, Australia?
2. Who is Andrew Brown and what does he do?
3. Why do some people prefer getting weather news from Andrew instead of big news channels?
4. What do experts say is important for people who talk about the weather?
5. Why is it important to have both experts and local weather news?
✅ Answers
🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Where did the big flood happen?
The big flood happened in North Queensland, Australia.
2. Who is Andrew Brown?
Andrew Brown is a person who shares weather news on Facebook.
3. What is the name of Andrew’s Facebook page?
The name of Andrew’s Facebook page is Wally’s Weather.
4. Why do some people prefer local weather updates?
Some people prefer local weather updates because they trust people they know more than big news channels.
5. What can happen if weather influencers are not careful?
If weather influencers are not careful, they can make weather events sound scarier than they really are.
6. Why do experts think training is important for talking about the weather?
Experts think training is important because it helps people know enough to give correct weather information.
7. What are Andrew and others trying to do for their communities?
Andrew and others are trying to help their communities by giving the right weather information.
Go back to questions ⇧
🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) Australia
(2) flood
(3) weather
(4) Weather
(5) People
(6) people
(7) careful
(8) sound
(9) training
(10) help
(11) communities
(12) good
Go back to questions ⇧
📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. flood
Answer: (C) A lot of water covering an area that is usually dry
2. followers
Answer: (L) People who regularly watch or read someone’s posts online
3. influencers
Answer: (B) People who have a lot of influence on others, especially online
4. updates
Answer: (J) New information about something that has changed
5. trust
Answer: (F) Believing someone is honest or will do what they say
6. channels
Answer: (A) TV or online stations that show news or programs
7. events
Answer: (I) Things that happen, especially important ones
8. experts
Answer: (E) People who know a lot about a certain subject
9. training
Answer: (D) Learning how to do something well
10. mistakes
Answer: (G) Errors or things done wrong
11. communities
Answer: (H) Groups of people living in the same area
12. balance
Answer: (K) Having the right amount of different things to make it work well
Go back to questions ⇧
🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Where did the big flood happen?
Answer: (d) North Queensland, Australia
2. Who shares weather news on Facebook?
Answer: (d) Andrew Brown
3. What is the name of Andrew’s weather page?
Answer: (a) Wally’s Weather
4. Why do some people trust local weather updates more?
Answer: (c) They know the people giving the news
5. What do experts say is important for talking about the weather?
Answer: (b) Having training
6. What can happen if weather influencers make mistakes?
Answer: (a) They can give wrong information
7. What is Andrew trying to do for his community?
Answer: (b) Help with the right information
8. What is important to find between experts and local weather news?
Answer: (c) A good balance
Go back to questions ⇧
🕵️✅ True or False Answers:
1. Andrew is struggling to provide his community with the correct weather information. (Answer: False)
2. All weather influencers are meticulous with their information. (Answer: False)
3. His Facebook page is called Wally’s Weather. (Answer: True)
4. Some people trust local weather updates more than big news channels. (Answer: True)
5. There was a minor flood in North Queensland, Australia. (Answer: False)
6. Experts say it is important to have training to talk about the weather. (Answer: True)
7. Few people were interested in the weather. (Answer: False)
8. Andrew Brown shares weather news on Facebook. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
