A recent blackout in Sri Lanka left millions of residents without electricity, highlighting vulnerabilities in the country’s power infrastructure. The outage began around 11 a.m. local time on Sunday, affecting the entire island nation, which has a population of approximately 22 million people. The incident has drawn attention not only for its scale but also for its unusual cause: a monkey.

According to Sri Lanka’s energy minister, Kumara Jayakody, the blackout was triggered when a monkey came into contact with a grid transformer located near Colombo, the nation’s executive and judicial capital. This unexpected event created an imbalance in the electrical system, leading to the widespread power failure. In a statement to the media, Mr. Jayakody confirmed that engineers were promptly dispatched to address the issue and restore power to affected areas.

While some regions regained electricity within a few hours, many households remained without power until late Sunday evening. This incident is not an isolated occurrence; Sri Lanka has faced significant challenges with its electrical system in the past. In 2022, the country experienced extensive blackouts and electricity rationing due to an ongoing economic crisis, raising concerns about the reliability of its power supply.

Local media have commented on the peculiar nature of the incident. Jamila Husain, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mirror, humorously noted that only in Sri Lanka could a monkey’s antics lead to a nationwide power outage. This incident has sparked discussions about the need for improvements to the national power grid, which has been described as being in a weakened state. Engineers have reportedly warned successive governments about the necessity of upgrading the system to prevent frequent blackouts.

The recent blackout serves as a reminder of the fragility of Sri Lanka’s electrical infrastructure and the potential consequences of neglecting necessary upgrades. As the country continues to grapple with its power supply challenges, the incident underscores the importance of investing in a more resilient electrical system to ensure reliable service for its citizens.

Original news source: Nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka blamed on a monkey (Sky News)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group takes turns acting out key terms related to the article (e.g., blackout, monkey, electricity, infrastructure) without speaking, while the other groups guess the term. This helps students practice vocabulary in a fun way.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Present students with a statement related to the article, such as “Animals should not be allowed near power infrastructure.” Have students walk to one side of the room if they agree or the other side if they disagree. Afterward, facilitate a discussion where students explain their positions.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On the board, write the word “Blackout.” Have students brainstorm related ideas, causes, effects, and solutions, and create a mind map around the central concept. This activity enhances their ability to organize thoughts and vocabulary.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to create catchy headlines based on the article. They can work individually or in pairs. After they’ve come up with their headlines, have them share with the class, discussing why they chose their specific phrasing.

– SPEED SUMMARIZING
Instructions: In pairs, have students summarize the article in one minute. After the time is up, they should switch partners and summarize to a new partner. This activity encourages concise communication and helps students practice summarizing skills under time constraints.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What event triggered the recent blackout in Sri Lanka?
2. How many people were affected by the power outage in Sri Lanka?
3. What was the role of the energy minister, Kumara Jayakody, in relation to the blackout incident?
4. How long did some households remain without power after the blackout began?
5. What recurring issues has Sri Lanka faced with its electrical system in the past?
6. How did local media respond to the unusual cause of the blackout?
7. What warnings have engineers given to successive governments regarding the power grid?
8. What does the blackout incident highlight about the state of Sri Lanka’s electrical infrastructure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A recent (1)______ in Sri Lanka left millions of residents without electricity, highlighting vulnerabilities in the country’s power infrastructure. The outage (2)______ around 11 a.m. local time on Sunday, affecting the entire island nation, which has a population of approximately 22 million people. The incident has drawn attention not only for its scale but also for its unusual cause: a monkey.

According to Sri Lanka’s energy (3)______, (4)______ Jayakody, the blackout was triggered when a monkey came into contact with a grid transformer located near Colombo, the nation’s executive and judicial capital. This unexpected event created an imbalance in the electrical system, leading to the widespread power failure. In a statement to the media, Mr. Jayakody confirmed that engineers were promptly dispatched to address the issue and restore power to affected areas.

While some regions regained electricity within a few hours, many (5)______ remained without power until late (6)______ evening. This (7)______ is not an isolated occurrence; Sri Lanka has faced significant (8)______ with its (9)______ system in the past. In 2022, the country experienced extensive blackouts and electricity rationing due to an ongoing economic crisis, raising concerns about the (10)______ of its (11)______ supply.

Local (12)______ have commented on the peculiar nature of the incident. Jamila Husain, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mirror, humorously noted that only in Sri Lanka could a monkey’s antics lead to a nationwide power outage. This incident has sparked discussions about the need for improvements to the national power grid, which has been described as being in a (13)______ state. Engineers have reportedly (14)______ successive governments about the necessity of upgrading the system to prevent (15)______ blackouts.

The recent blackout serves as a (16)______ of the fragility of Sri Lanka’s electrical infrastructure and the potential consequences of neglecting necessary upgrades. As the country continues to grapple with its power supply challenges, the incident underscores the importance of investing in a more resilient electrical system to ensure reliable service for its citizens.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a common cause of power outages in your country, and how do people usually react to them?
2. How would you feel if you experienced a blackout that lasted for an extended period of time?
3. Do you think it is important for countries to invest in their electrical infrastructure? Why or why not?
4. What is a memorable experience you have had during a power outage?
5. How do you think communities can prepare for unexpected events like blackouts?
6. Do you like the idea of using humor to cope with serious situations, such as a nationwide blackout? Why or why not?
7. What is a significant challenge your country faces regarding its energy supply?
8. How would you feel if a small animal caused a major disruption in your city, similar to the monkey incident in Sri Lanka?
9. Do you think people in your country are aware of the vulnerabilities in their power supply? Why or why not?
10. What is a solution you would propose to improve the reliability of electrical systems in developing countries?
11. How do you think frequent blackouts affect daily life and businesses in a country?
12. Do you believe that governments should prioritize upgrading infrastructure over other issues, like education or healthcare? Why or why not?
13. What is a lesson that can be learned from the monkey incident in Sri Lanka regarding infrastructure management?
14. How would you feel if you were responsible for managing a country’s power grid during a crisis?
15. Do you think that unusual incidents, like the monkey causing a blackout, can lead to positive changes in infrastructure? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. blackout
2. vulnerabilities
3. infrastructure
4. imbalance
5. dispatched
6. isolated
7. extensive
8. reliability
9. peculiar
10. antics
11. sparked
12. fragility
13. consequences
14. neglecting
15. resilient

Meanings:
(A) Sent off to a destination for a specific purpose
(B) The quality of being easily broken or damaged
(C) A period when there is no electricity supply
(D) Weaknesses or areas that are susceptible to harm
(E) Outcomes or effects that follow an event
(F) The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society
(G) The quality of being dependable or consistent
(H) Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions
(I) Playful or mischievous behavior
(J) Separated from others; unique or rare
(K) Covering a large area or affecting many things
(L) Strange or unusual
(M) Initiated or caused a reaction or event
(N) Failing to care for properly
(O) A lack of proportion or balance
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What caused the recent blackout in Sri Lanka?
(a) A storm
(b) A power plant failure
(c) A monkey
(d) Human error

2. When did the blackout in Sri Lanka begin?
(a) 11 a.m. local time on Sunday
(b) 8 a.m. local time on Saturday
(c) 3 p.m. local time on Sunday
(d) Midnight local time on Friday

3. How many people approximately live in Sri Lanka?
(a) 15 million
(b) 30 million
(c) 10 million
(d) 22 million

4. Who is the energy minister of Sri Lanka mentioned in the article?
(a) Mahinda Rajapaksa
(b) Kumara Jayakody
(c) Gotabaya Rajapaksa
(d) Ranil Wickremesinghe

5. What was the response of engineers to the blackout?
(a) They were on strike
(b) They were unavailable due to the holiday
(c) They ignored the problem
(d) They were promptly dispatched to address the issue

6. What other issue has Sri Lanka faced in 2022 related to its electrical system?
(a) Extensive blackouts and electricity rationing
(b) A complete overhaul of the system
(c) A new energy source discovery
(d) A reduction in energy prices

7. What did local media comment on regarding the blackout incident?
(a) The government’s response
(b) The economic implications
(c) The unusual cause involving a monkey
(d) The weather conditions

8. What is a key takeaway from the recent blackout in Sri Lanka?
(a) The effectiveness of the current power system
(b) The need for improvements to the national power grid
(c) The reliability of monkey-proofing electrical systems
(d) The sufficiency of the existing infrastructure

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The blackout began around 1 p.m. local time on a Sunday.
2. The energy minister of Sri Lanka, Kumara Jayakody, confirmed the cause of the blackout in a media statement.
3. Local media have solemnly commented on the unusual cause of the blackout, noting the peculiar nature of the incident.
4. Sri Lanka has faced significant challenges with its electrical system in the past, including extensive blackouts in 2022.
5. The cause of the blackout was a monkey coming into contact with a grid transformer near Colombo.
6. Some regions of Sri Lanka regained electricity within a few hours, while others remained without power until late Sunday evening.
7. The recent blackout has sparked debates about the need for improvements to Sri Lanka’s national power grid.
8. A recent blackout in Sri Lanka affected thousands of residents and highlighted vulnerabilities in the country’s power infrastructure.
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 unusual event caused the recent blackout in Sri Lanka?
2. How did the blackout affect the residents of Sri Lanka in terms of electricity restoration?
3. What previous challenges has Sri Lanka faced regarding its electrical system?
4. What did local media say about the incident, and how did it reflect on the country’s situation?
5. What are the implications of the blackout for the future of Sri Lanka’s power infrastructure?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What event triggered the recent blackout in Sri Lanka?
A monkey came into contact with a grid transformer near Colombo.

2. How many people were affected by the power outage in Sri Lanka?
Approximately 22 million people were affected.

3. What was the role of the energy minister, Kumara Jayakody, in relation to the blackout incident?
He confirmed the cause of the blackout and stated that engineers were dispatched to restore power.

4. How long did some households remain without power after the blackout began?
Many households remained without power until late Sunday evening.

5. What recurring issues has Sri Lanka faced with its electrical system in the past?
Sri Lanka has faced significant challenges, including extensive blackouts and electricity rationing due to an ongoing economic crisis.

6. How did local media respond to the unusual cause of the blackout?
Local media humorously noted that only in Sri Lanka could a monkey’s antics lead to a nationwide power outage.

7. What warnings have engineers given to successive governments regarding the power grid?
Engineers have warned about the necessity of upgrading the electrical system to prevent frequent blackouts.

8. What does the blackout incident highlight about the state of Sri Lanka’s electrical infrastructure?
It highlights the fragility of the electrical infrastructure and the need for necessary upgrades to ensure reliable service.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) blackout
(2) began
(3) minister
(4) Kumara
(5) households
(6) Sunday
(7) incident
(8) challenges
(9) electrical
(10) reliability
(11) power
(12) media
(13) weakened
(14) warned
(15) frequent
(16) reminder
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. blackout
Answer: (C) A period when there is no electricity supply

2. vulnerabilities
Answer: (D) Weaknesses or areas that are susceptible to harm

3. infrastructure
Answer: (F) The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society

4. imbalance
Answer: (O) A lack of proportion or balance

5. dispatched
Answer: (A) Sent off to a destination for a specific purpose

6. isolated
Answer: (J) Separated from others; unique or rare

7. extensive
Answer: (K) Covering a large area or affecting many things

8. reliability
Answer: (G) The quality of being dependable or consistent

9. peculiar
Answer: (L) Strange or unusual

10. antics
Answer: (I) Playful or mischievous behavior

11. sparked
Answer: (M) Initiated or caused a reaction or event

12. fragility
Answer: (B) The quality of being easily broken or damaged

13. consequences
Answer: (E) Outcomes or effects that follow an event

14. neglecting
Answer: (N) Failing to care for properly

15. resilient
Answer: (H) Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What caused the recent blackout in Sri Lanka?
Answer: (c) A monkey

2. When did the blackout in Sri Lanka begin?
Answer: (a) 11 a.m. local time on Sunday

3. How many people approximately live in Sri Lanka?
Answer: (d) 22 million

4. Who is the energy minister of Sri Lanka mentioned in the article?
Answer: (b) Kumara Jayakody

5. What was the response of engineers to the blackout?
Answer: (d) They were promptly dispatched to address the issue

6. What other issue has Sri Lanka faced in 2022 related to its electrical system?
Answer: (a) Extensive blackouts and electricity rationing

7. What did local media comment on regarding the blackout incident?
Answer: (c) The unusual cause involving a monkey

8. What is a key takeaway from the recent blackout in Sri Lanka?
Answer: (b) The need for improvements to the national power grid
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The blackout began around 1 p.m. local time on a Sunday. (Answer: False)
2. The energy minister of Sri Lanka, Kumara Jayakody, confirmed the cause of the blackout in a media statement. (Answer: True)
3. Local media have solemnly commented on the unusual cause of the blackout, noting the peculiar nature of the incident. (Answer: False)
4. Sri Lanka has faced significant challenges with its electrical system in the past, including extensive blackouts in 2022. (Answer: True)
5. The cause of the blackout was a monkey coming into contact with a grid transformer near Colombo. (Answer: True)
6. Some regions of Sri Lanka regained electricity within a few hours, while others remained without power until late Sunday evening. (Answer: True)
7. The recent blackout has sparked debates about the need for improvements to Sri Lanka’s national power grid. (Answer: False)
8. A recent blackout in Sri Lanka affected thousands of residents and highlighted vulnerabilities in the country’s power infrastructure. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧