Trains called Eurostar that go from the Netherlands to London will stop for six months starting in June. This is because the big train station in Amsterdam is being fixed and there’s not enough room for people going to London. People who want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam will have to switch trains in Brussels. But trains from London to the Netherlands will keep going like normal.

People from the Dutch government, the train company in the Netherlands, and Eurostar talked but did not agree on how to keep the trains going while the station is being fixed. Eurostar didn’t say why the work in Amsterdam means people can’t get on the train in Rotterdam. The time without trains will be six months, not 12 months like people first thought.

Eurostar has had to stop other train trips too because they had problems after the UK left the European Union and because they don’t have enough workers. They stopped going to Disneyland in Paris and stopped another trip that went from London to Marseille in France. Since 2020, these trains also don’t stop at two places in Kent, which is in the UK. The big trip from London to Paris has one-third fewer people riding it, the boss of Eurostar said.

Original news source: Eurostar Amsterdam-to-London services to be suspended for six months (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article together and summarize the main points in 3-5 sentences.
4. After a designated time, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. Call out one word from the list and have one student from each team come to the board.
4. The students must draw a visual representation of the word without using any letters or numbers.
5. The teams must guess the word based on the drawing.
6. The team that guesses correctly earns a point.
7. Repeat with different words until all have been guessed or time runs out.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group to discuss the pros and cons of the situation described in the article (e.g., the temporary halt of Eurostar trains from the Netherlands to London).
3. Instruct the groups to make a list of the advantages and disadvantages, and to provide reasons to support their points.
4. After a designated time, have each group share their lists and reasons with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Prepare a set of statements related to the article (e.g., “Stopping Eurostar trains from the Netherlands to London for six months is a good decision”).
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Instruct the groups to discuss each statement and decide whether they agree or disagree.
4. Have each group share their opinions and briefly explain their reasoning.
5. Encourage respectful discussion and allow for differing viewpoints.

– Sketch It
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Assign each group a section of the article to illustrate.
3. Instruct the groups to create a visual representation of the assigned section using drawings or symbols.
4. After a designated time, have each group present their illustrations to the class and explain their choices.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why will the Eurostar trains stop going from the Netherlands to London in June?
2. What will people from Amsterdam and Rotterdam have to do if they want to go to London?
3. Who talked but didn’t agree on how to keep the trains going during the station fix?
4. How long will the trains stop for?
5. Why did Eurostar have to stop other train trips?
6. Can you name two places in the UK where Eurostar trains no longer stop?
7. According to the boss of Eurostar, how many fewer people are riding the big trip from London to Paris?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Trains called Eurostar that go from the Netherlands to London will stop for six (1)______ starting in June. This is because the big train station in Amsterdam is being (2)______ and there’s not enough (3)______ for people going to London. People who want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam will have to switch trains in Brussels. But trains from London to the (4)______ will keep going like (5)______.

People from the Dutch government, the train company in the Netherlands, and Eurostar talked but did not agree on how to keep the trains going while the (6)______ is being fixed. Eurostar didn’t say why the work in Amsterdam (7)______ people can’t get on the train in Rotterdam. The time without trains will be six months, not 12 months like people first thought.

Eurostar has had to stop other train trips too because they had problems after the UK left the European (8)______ and because they don’t (9)______ enough workers. They stopped going to Disneyland in (10)______ and stopped another trip that (11)______ from London to Marseille in France. Since 2020, these (12)______ also don’t stop at two places in Kent, which is in the UK. The big trip from London to Paris has one-third fewer people riding it, the boss of Eurostar said.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Eurostar?
2. How would you feel if you had to switch trains in Brussels to go from Amsterdam to London?
3. Do you like train travel? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the decision to stop the trains for six months?
5. How do you think people in Amsterdam and Rotterdam feel about this change?
6. Do you think it’s fair that the trains from London to the Netherlands will keep going like normal?
7. What other problems has Eurostar faced recently?
8. How do you think the boss of Eurostar feels about the decrease in passengers on the London to Paris trip?
9. Have you ever been on a train? Where did you go?
10. What do you think about the idea of traveling from London to Paris by train?
11. Do you think it’s important for train companies to communicate well with the government and other organizations? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the train station in Amsterdam will be different after it’s fixed?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Eurostar
2. Netherlands
3. London
4. Amsterdam
5. Rotterdam
6. trains
7. Brussels
8. government

Meanings:
(a) Another city in the Netherlands
(b) Vehicles that run on tracks and carry people
(c) A type of train that goes to different countries
(d) The capital city of England
(e) A city in the Netherlands
(f) A city in Belgium
(g) A country in Europe
(h) The group of people who make rules for a country
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why will the Eurostar trains from the Netherlands to London stop for six months?
(a) There is not enough room for people going to London.
(b) The Dutch government wants to stop the trains.
(c) Eurostar doesn’t have enough workers.
(d) The train station in Amsterdam is being fixed.

2. What will people from Amsterdam and Rotterdam have to do if they want to go to London during the six months?
(a) Switch trains in Paris.
(b) Switch trains in Berlin.
(c) Switch trains in Brussels.
(d) Switch trains in Amsterdam.

3. Why couldn’t Eurostar and the Dutch government agree on how to keep the trains going?
(a) They couldn’t find a solution.
(b) It is not mentioned in the article.
(c) Eurostar didn’t want to continue the trips.
(d) The Dutch government didn’t want the trains to continue.

4. How long will the trains from the Netherlands to London stop for?
(a) Twelve months.
(b) Three months.
(c) Six months.
(d) One month.

5. Why did Eurostar have to stop other train trips?
(a) Not enough workers.
(b) Problems after the UK left the European Union.
(c) The train company in the Netherlands didn’t agree.
(d) The train station in Amsterdam was fixed.

6. Which destination did Eurostar stop going to after the UK left the European Union?
(a) Disneyland in Paris.
(b) Rotterdam.
(c) Marseille in France.
(d) Kent in the UK.

7. Which trip has one-third fewer people riding it?
(a) The trip from Amsterdam to London.
(b) The trip from London to Marseille.
(c) The trip from London to Rotterdam.
(d) The big trip from London to Paris.

8. What is the main reason for the temporary stop of the Eurostar trains from the Netherlands to London?
(a) The train station in Amsterdam is being fixed.
(b) The Dutch government wants to stop the trains.
(c) Eurostar doesn’t have enough workers.
(d) The train company in the Netherlands didn’t agree.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. People who want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam will not have to switch trains in Brussels during this time.
2. Eurostar explained why people can get on the train in Rotterdam during this period.
3. The train service interruption will last for six months, not 12 months as initially thought.
4. Since 2020, Eurostar trains also do not stop at two places in Kent, UK, and the trip from London to Paris has seen a decrease in ridership.
5. Trains from the Netherlands to London will run as usual for six months starting in June because the train station in Amsterdam needs to be fixed.
6. Eurostar has stopped trips to Disneyland in Paris and another trip from London to Marseille in France.
7. The Dutch government, the train company in the Netherlands, and Eurostar easily agreed on a solution to keep the trains running while the station is being fixed.
8. Eurostar has faced other problems, including issues after the UK left the European Union and a shortage of workers.
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. Why will the trains from the Netherlands to London stop for six months?
2. What will people in Amsterdam and Rotterdam have to do if they want to go to London during this time?
3. Did the Dutch government, the train company, and Eurostar agree on a solution?
4. Why did Eurostar have to stop other train trips?
5. How many fewer people are riding the big trip from London to Paris?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why will the Eurostar trains stop going from the Netherlands to London in June?
The trains will stop because the train station in Amsterdam needs to be fixed.

2. What will people from Amsterdam and Rotterdam have to do if they want to go to London?
They will have to switch trains in Brussels to go to London.

3. Who talked but didn’t agree on how to keep the trains going during the station fix?
The Dutch government, the train company in the Netherlands, and Eurostar talked but didn’t agree.

4. How long will the trains stop for?
The trains will stop for six months.

5. Why did Eurostar have to stop other train trips?
Eurostar had to stop other train trips because of problems after the UK left the European Union and not having enough workers.

6. Can you name two places in the UK where Eurostar trains no longer stop?
Eurostar trains no longer stop at two places in Kent, which is in the UK.

7. According to the boss of Eurostar, how many fewer people are riding the big trip from London to Paris?
According to the boss of Eurostar, one-third fewer people are riding the big trip from London to Paris.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) months
(2) fixed
(3) room
(4) Netherlands
(5) normal
(6) station
(7) means
(8) Union
(9) have
(10) Paris
(11) went
(12) trains
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Eurostar
Answer: (c) A type of train that goes to different countries

2. Netherlands
Answer: (g) A country in Europe

3. London
Answer: (d) The capital city of England

4. Amsterdam
Answer: (e) A city in the Netherlands

5. Rotterdam
Answer: (a) Another city in the Netherlands

6. trains
Answer: (b) Vehicles that run on tracks and carry people

7. Brussels
Answer: (f) A city in Belgium

8. government
Answer: (h) The group of people who make rules for a country
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why will the Eurostar trains from the Netherlands to London stop for six months?
Answer: (d) The train station in Amsterdam is being fixed.

2. What will people from Amsterdam and Rotterdam have to do if they want to go to London during the six months?
Answer: (c) Switch trains in Brussels.

3. Why couldn’t Eurostar and the Dutch government agree on how to keep the trains going?
Answer: (b) It is not mentioned in the article.

4. How long will the trains from the Netherlands to London stop for?
Answer: (c) Six months.

5. Why did Eurostar have to stop other train trips?
Answer: (b) Problems after the UK left the European Union.

6. Which destination did Eurostar stop going to after the UK left the European Union?
Answer: (a) Disneyland in Paris.

7. Which trip has one-third fewer people riding it?
Answer: (d) The big trip from London to Paris.

8. What is the main reason for the temporary stop of the Eurostar trains from the Netherlands to London?
Answer: (a) The train station in Amsterdam is being fixed.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. People who want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam will not have to switch trains in Brussels during this time. (Answer: False)
2. Eurostar explained why people can get on the train in Rotterdam during this period. (Answer: False)
3. The train service interruption will last for six months, not 12 months as initially thought. (Answer: True)
4. Since 2020, Eurostar trains also do not stop at two places in Kent, UK, and the trip from London to Paris has seen a decrease in ridership. (Answer: True)
5. Trains from the Netherlands to London will run as usual for six months starting in June because the train station in Amsterdam needs to be fixed. (Answer: False)
6. Eurostar has stopped trips to Disneyland in Paris and another trip from London to Marseille in France. (Answer: True)
7. The Dutch government, the train company in the Netherlands, and Eurostar easily agreed on a solution to keep the trains running while the station is being fixed. (Answer: False)
8. Eurostar has faced other problems, including issues after the UK left the European Union and a shortage of workers. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧