A bull was seen running down train tracks in New Jersey, causing delays for morning commuters. It is unclear how the bull ended up on the tracks, but local news reports suggest that it may have escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse. Multiple law enforcement agencies were able to capture the bull, sedate it, and transport it to an animal sanctuary. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The incident took place on Thursday morning and caused disruptions for New Jersey Transit train commuters. The bull’s appearance on the tracks was unexpected and led to delays in train services. However, authorities were quick to respond and safely remove the bull from the area.

The exact circumstances of how the bull ended up on the tracks remain unknown. However, it is believed that it may have escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse. This speculation was reported by a local CBS news station. The bull’s presence on the tracks caused concern for both commuters and authorities.

Law enforcement agencies worked together to capture the bull and ensure the safety of both the animal and the commuters. They were able to sedate the bull and transport it to an animal sanctuary where it will be cared for. The successful resolution of the situation prevented any injuries or further disruptions to train services.

In conclusion, a bull running down train tracks in New Jersey caused delays for commuters. It is believed that the bull escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse. Law enforcement agencies were able to capture and sedate the bull, transporting it to an animal sanctuary. No injuries were reported, and train services resumed as normal.

Original news source: Bull spotted galloping down New Jersey train tracks (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article or write the main points on the board.
3. Ask the groups to read the article and summarize it in their own words.
4. After a few minutes, have each group share their summary with the class.
5. Encourage discussion and compare the different summaries.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Ask each group to come up with a question related to the article.
3. Have each group take turns asking their question to another group.
4. Each group should record the responses from the other groups.
5. After all the questions have been asked, have a class discussion about the different opinions and responses.

– Keyword Hangman

Instructions:
1. Write a few keywords from the article on the board, leaving out some letters.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. Choose a student from one team to come to the front of the class.
4. The student must guess the missing letters to complete the keyword.
5. If the student guesses a correct letter, write it in the correct place on the board. If the student guesses a wrong letter, write it on the board and draw a body part of a hangman.
6. The student has a limited number of guesses to complete the keyword.
7. If the student successfully completes the keyword, their team earns a point. If not, the other team can try to guess the missing letters and earn a point.

– Think-Pair-Share

Instructions:
1. Ask the class to think about the possible reasons why the bull ended up on the train tracks.
2. Pair up the students and give them a few minutes to discuss their ideas.
3. After the discussion, have each pair share their thoughts with the rest of the class.
4. Encourage students to listen to and respond to each other’s ideas, promoting a classroom discussion.

– Future Predictions

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Ask each group to discuss and come up with their predictions for what might happen next in the story.
3. Give the groups a few minutes to discuss and write down their predictions.
4. After the discussion, have each group share their predictions with the class.
5. Encourage students to explain their reasoning behind their predictions.
6. As a class, discuss and compare the different predictions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What caused delays for morning commuters in New Jersey?
2. Where is it believed that the bull escaped from?
3. How did law enforcement agencies capture the bull?
4. Where was the bull transported after it was captured?
5. Were there any injuries reported as a result of the bull on the train tracks?
6. How did the bull’s presence on the tracks affect train services?
7. What did authorities do to ensure the safety of both the animal and the commuters?
8. What was the outcome of the situation with the bull on the train tracks?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A bull was seen running down train tracks in New Jersey, causing delays for morning commuters. It is unclear how the bull ended up on the tracks, but local news reports (1)______ that it may have escaped from a (2)______ slaughterhouse. Multiple law enforcement agencies were able to capture the bull, sedate it, and (3)______ it to an animal sanctuary. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The (4)______ took place on (5)______ morning and caused disruptions for New Jersey (6)______ train (7)______. The bull’s appearance on the tracks was unexpected and led to delays in train services. However, authorities were quick to respond and safely remove the bull from the area.

The exact circumstances of how the bull ended up on the tracks (8)______ unknown. However, it is believed that it may have escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse. This speculation was reported by a local CBS news station. The bull’s (9)______ on the tracks (10)______ concern for both commuters and (11)______.

Law enforcement agencies worked together to capture the bull and ensure the safety of both the (12)______ and the commuters. They were able to sedate the bull and transport it to an animal sanctuary where it will be cared for. The successful resolution of the situation prevented any injuries or further (13)______ to train services.

In conclusion, a bull running down train (14)______ in New Jersey caused delays for commuters. It is believed that the bull escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse. Law (15)______ agencies were able to capture and sedate the bull, transporting it to an animal sanctuary. No injuries were reported, and train services (16)______ as normal.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your opinion on animals escaping from slaughterhouses?
2. How would you feel if you were a commuter on one of the delayed trains?
3. Do you think it is important for law enforcement agencies to prioritize the safety of animals in situations like this? Why or why not?
4. What do you think should happen to animals that escape from slaughterhouses?
5. Have you ever witnessed an unexpected event like this in your city or town? If so, what was it and how did it affect you?
6. Do you think the bull should be returned to the slaughterhouse or kept in the animal sanctuary? Why?
7. What measures do you think should be taken to prevent animals from escaping from slaughterhouses?
8. How do you think the bull ended up on the train tracks?
9. Have you ever visited an animal sanctuary? If so, what was your experience like?
10. Do you think the bull should be given a name? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the bull felt when it was running down the train tracks?
12. What do you think the reaction of the commuters was when they saw the bull on the tracks?
13. Do you think incidents like this should be given more media coverage? Why or why not?
14. How do you think the bull’s escape and capture could have been prevented?
15. Do you think animals have the ability to sense danger and act accordingly? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. commuters
2. disruptions
3. speculation
4. sanctuary
5. slaughterhouse
6. sedate
7. transport
8. authorities
9. presence
10. resolution
11. injuries
12. speculation
13. sanctuary
14. commuters
15. disruptions

Meanings:
(A) A facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products
(B) To calm or put to sleep, typically with the use of drugs
(C) Individuals or organizations that have the power to enforce laws and ensure public order
(D) Interruptions or disturbances that affect an event, activity, or process
(E) A place of refuge or safety, especially for animals
(F) A place of refuge or safety, especially for animals
(G) The fact of being in a particular place
(H) People who travel some distance to work on a regular basis
(I) The act of forming theories or conjectures without firm evidence
(J) Physical harm or damage to someone’s body
(K) To move or carry from one place to another
(L) The act of forming theories or conjectures without firm evidence
(M) Interruptions or disturbances that affect an event, activity, or process
(N) The act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, or contentious matter
(O) People who travel some distance to work on a regular basis
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What caused delays for morning commuters in New Jersey?
(a) Construction on the tracks
(b) A bull running down train tracks
(c) A power outage
(d) A train derailment

2. How did law enforcement agencies capture the bull?
(a) They worked together to sedate the bull
(b) They used a helicopter to corral the bull
(c) They lured the bull with food
(d) They used a tranquilizer dart to immobilize the bull

3. Where was the bull transported to?
(a) A zoo
(b) A farm
(c) A veterinary clinic
(d) An animal sanctuary

4. What day did the incident take place?
(a) Monday
(b) Wednesday
(c) Thursday
(d) Friday

5. What caused disruptions for New Jersey Transit train commuters?
(a) A signal failure
(b) The bull on the tracks
(c) A strike by train workers
(d) A severe storm

6. How did authorities respond to the bull on the tracks?
(a) They waited for the bull to leave on its own
(b) They called in animal control to handle the situation
(c) They halted train services until the bull was captured
(d) They quickly removed the bull from the area

7. What is the speculation about how the bull ended up on the tracks?
(a) It was intentionally released by someone
(b) It wandered onto the tracks from a nearby field
(c) It escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse
(d) It was being transported on a train and escaped

8. Were there any injuries reported?
(a) No
(b) Yes
(c) It is unclear
(d) The article does not mention injuries

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Global news reports suggest that the bull may have escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse.
2. Train services resumed as normal after the bull was removed from the area.
3. Injuries were reported as a result of the bull’s presence on the tracks.
4. A cow was running down train tracks in New Jersey, causing delays for morning commuters.
5. The bull was unsuccessfully sedated and transported to an animal sanctuary.
6. The incident took place on a Thursday morning.
7. Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in capturing the bull and ensuring the safety of both the animal and the commuters.
8. The bull’s presence on the tracks was unexpected and led to disruptions in train services.
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. How did the bull’s presence on the train tracks in New Jersey cause disruptions for commuters?
2. What is the speculation about how the bull ended up on the tracks?
3. How did law enforcement agencies respond to the situation with the bull on the tracks?
4. Where was the bull transported after it was captured and sedated?
5. Were there any injuries reported as a result of the bull’s presence on the train tracks?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What caused delays for morning commuters in New Jersey?
A bull running down train tracks caused delays for morning commuters in New Jersey.

2. Where is it believed that the bull escaped from?
It is believed that the bull escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse.

3. How did law enforcement agencies capture the bull?
Law enforcement agencies were able to capture the bull.

4. Where was the bull transported after it was captured?
The bull was transported to an animal sanctuary after it was captured.

5. Were there any injuries reported as a result of the bull on the train tracks?
No, there were no injuries reported as a result of the bull on the train tracks.

6. How did the bull’s presence on the tracks affect train services?
The bull’s presence on the tracks caused delays and disruptions to train services.

7. What did authorities do to ensure the safety of both the animal and the commuters?
Authorities worked together to capture the bull, sedate it, and transport it to an animal sanctuary, ensuring the safety of both the animal and the commuters.

8. What was the outcome of the situation with the bull on the train tracks?
The bull was successfully captured, transported to an animal sanctuary, and there were no reported injuries. Train services resumed as normal.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) suggest
(2) nearby
(3) transport
(4) incident
(5) Thursday
(6) Transit
(7) commuters
(8) remain
(9) presence
(10) caused
(11) authorities
(12) animal
(13) disruptions
(14) tracks
(15) enforcement
(16) resumed
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. commuters
Answer: (H) People who travel some distance to work on a regular basis

2. disruptions
Answer: (D) Interruptions or disturbances that affect an event, activity, or process

3. speculation
Answer: (I) The act of forming theories or conjectures without firm evidence

4. sanctuary
Answer: (E) A place of refuge or safety, especially for animals

5. slaughterhouse
Answer: (A) A facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products

6. sedate
Answer: (B) To calm or put to sleep, typically with the use of drugs

7. transport
Answer: (K) To move or carry from one place to another

8. authorities
Answer: (C) Individuals or organizations that have the power to enforce laws and ensure public order

9. presence
Answer: (G) The fact of being in a particular place

10. resolution
Answer: (N) The act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, or contentious matter

11. injuries
Answer: (J) Physical harm or damage to someone’s body

12. speculation
Answer: (I) The act of forming theories or conjectures without firm evidence

13. sanctuary
Answer: (E) A place of refuge or safety, especially for animals

14. commuters
Answer: (H) People who travel some distance to work on a regular basis

15. disruptions
Answer: (D) Interruptions or disturbances that affect an event, activity, or process
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What caused delays for morning commuters in New Jersey?
Answer: (b) A bull running down train tracks

2. How did law enforcement agencies capture the bull?
Answer: (a) They worked together to sedate the bull

3. Where was the bull transported to?
Answer: (d) An animal sanctuary

4. What day did the incident take place?
Answer: (c) Thursday

5. What caused disruptions for New Jersey Transit train commuters?
Answer: (b) The bull on the tracks

6. How did authorities respond to the bull on the tracks?
Answer: (d) They quickly removed the bull from the area

7. What is the speculation about how the bull ended up on the tracks?
Answer: (c) It escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse

8. Were there any injuries reported?
Answer: (a) No
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Global news reports suggest that the bull may have escaped from a nearby slaughterhouse. (Answer: False)
2. Train services resumed as normal after the bull was removed from the area. (Answer: True)
3. Injuries were reported as a result of the bull’s presence on the tracks. (Answer: False)
4. A cow was running down train tracks in New Jersey, causing delays for morning commuters. (Answer: False)
5. The bull was unsuccessfully sedated and transported to an animal sanctuary. (Answer: False)
6. The incident took place on a Thursday morning. (Answer: True)
7. Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in capturing the bull and ensuring the safety of both the animal and the commuters. (Answer: True)
8. The bull’s presence on the tracks was unexpected and led to disruptions in train services. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧