Chuck is a man who borrowed a baseball book from the library when he was 13. He forgot to return it for a very long time. Now, he is 63 years old and wanted to give the book back. He thought it would be fun to return it on the 50th anniversary of the day it was due. He went to the library to tell them his story.

The library was very nice to Chuck. They did not make him pay any money for being late. The library had already removed the book from their system. Chuck was happy and took the book home with no problems. He decided to help others by raising money for kids to read more books.

Original news source: Detroit-area library says Chicago man can keep overdue baseball book — 50 years later (AP News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will act out the main events of Chuck’s story without speaking. Classmates will guess what event they are acting out, such as “borrowing a book,” “forgetting to return it,” or “returning the book to the library.”

– WORD ASSOCIATION
Instructions: Students will take turns saying a word related to the article. For example, one student might say “library,” and the next could say “book.” This will help them build vocabulary and think about connections in the story.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Ask students to think about how they would feel if they were in Chuck’s situation. After a minute of thinking, have them pair up with a partner to share their thoughts for a few minutes before discussing as a whole class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will create a catchy headline for the article. They can work individually or in small groups and then share their headlines with the class. This encourages creative thinking and summarization skills.

– PASS THE STORY
Instructions: Start telling the story of Chuck, but stop after a few sentences. Pass the story to the next student, who will add a sentence. Continue passing the story around the class until everyone has contributed, fostering collaborative storytelling.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How old was Chuck when he borrowed the book?
2. How many years did Chuck wait to return the book?
3. What did Chuck want to do on the 50th anniversary?
4. How did the library feel about Chuck returning the book?
5. Did Chuck have to pay money for the late book?
6. What did Chuck decide to do to help kids?
7. What kind of book did Chuck borrow from the library?
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🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Chuck is a man who borrowed a (1)______ book from the (2)______ when he was 13. He forgot to return it for a very long time. Now, he is 63 years old and wanted to (3)______ the (4)______ back. He thought it would be fun to return it on the 50th anniversary of the day it was due. He went to the library to tell them his story.

The library was very nice to Chuck. They did not (5)______ him pay any (6)______ for being late. The library had already removed the book from their system. Chuck was happy and took the book home with no (7)______. He decided to (8)______ others by raising money for kids to read more books.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite book?
2. How would you feel if you forgot to return a library book?
3. Do you like going to the library? Why or why not?
4. What is a library?
5. How do you feel when you help other people?
6. Do you think it is important to read books? Why?
7. What is your favorite story?
8. How would you feel if someone borrowed your toy and didn’t return it?
9. Do you like to tell stories? Why or why not?
10. What is a good way to help kids read more books?
11. How would you feel if you got a surprise gift?
12. Do you think it is fun to go to the library? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. borrowed
2. anniversary
3. return
4. library
5. system
6. removed
7. decided
8. raising
9. money
10. read

Meanings:
(A) Made a choice about something
(B) Taken away or not there anymore
(C) A way things are organized or work together
(D) To give something back
(E) Looking at words in a book and understanding them
(F) A special day that happens every year
(G) A place with lots of books to read or borrow
(H) Coins and paper you use to buy things
(I) Took something for a while and will give it back
(J) Making something go up or get more
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How old is Chuck now?
(a) 50
(b) 63
(c) 40
(d) 30

2. What did Chuck borrow from the library?
(a) A toy
(b) A baseball book
(c) A movie
(d) A game

3. How long did Chuck keep the book?
(a) 5 years
(b) 10 years
(c) 1 year
(d) 50 years

4. What did Chuck want to do with the book?
(a) Give it back
(b) Throw it away
(c) Sell it
(d) Keep it forever

5. What did the library say to Chuck?
(a) You must pay a lot
(b) You are bad
(c) No money needed
(d) You can’t come back

6. What did Chuck want to help?
(a) Animals
(b) Old people
(c) The library workers
(d) Kids read more books

7. What did Chuck do after he returned the book?
(a) Lost it
(b) Gave it to a friend
(c) Took it home
(d) Burned it

8. When did Chuck return the book?
(a) 50 years late
(b) 1 year late
(c) 10 years late
(d) 5 years late

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Chuck borrowed a basketball book from the library when he was 13 years old.
2. The library did not make Chuck pay for being late.
3. The library had already taken the book out of their system.
4. Chuck remembered to return the book promptly.
5. Chuck wants to discourage kids from reading books.
6. Chuck is now 53 years old.
7. The library was nice to Chuck when he returned the book.
8. Chuck wanted to return the book on the 50th anniversary of when it was due.
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. How old was Chuck when he borrowed the baseball book?
2. How many years did Chuck keep the book before he returned it?
3. Did the library make Chuck pay money for the late book?
4. What did Chuck want to do after he returned the book?
5. Why did Chuck want to help kids?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How old was Chuck when he borrowed the book?
Chuck was 13 years old.

2. How many years did Chuck wait to return the book?
Chuck waited 50 years to return the book.

3. What did Chuck want to do on the 50th anniversary?
Chuck wanted to return the book on the 50th anniversary.

4. How did the library feel about Chuck returning the book?
The library was very nice to Chuck.

5. Did Chuck have to pay money for the late book?
No, Chuck did not have to pay any money.

6. What did Chuck decide to do to help kids?
Chuck decided to raise money for kids to read more books.

7. What kind of book did Chuck borrow from the library?
Chuck borrowed a baseball book from the library.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) baseball
(2) library
(3) give
(4) book
(5) make
(6) money
(7) problems
(8) help
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. borrowed
Answer: (I) Took something for a while and will give it back

2. anniversary
Answer: (F) A special day that happens every year

3. return
Answer: (D) To give something back

4. library
Answer: (G) A place with lots of books to read or borrow

5. system
Answer: (C) A way things are organized or work together

6. removed
Answer: (B) Taken away or not there anymore

7. decided
Answer: (A) Made a choice about something

8. raising
Answer: (J) Making something go up or get more

9. money
Answer: (H) Coins and paper you use to buy things

10. read
Answer: (E) Looking at words in a book and understanding them
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How old is Chuck now?
Answer: (b) 63

2. What did Chuck borrow from the library?
Answer: (b) A baseball book

3. How long did Chuck keep the book?
Answer: (d) 50 years

4. What did Chuck want to do with the book?
Answer: (a) Give it back

5. What did the library say to Chuck?
Answer: (c) No money needed

6. What did Chuck want to help?
Answer: (d) Kids read more books

7. What did Chuck do after he returned the book?
Answer: (c) Took it home

8. When did Chuck return the book?
Answer: (a) 50 years late
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Chuck borrowed a basketball book from the library when he was 13 years old. (Answer: False)
2. The library did not make Chuck pay for being late. (Answer: True)
3. The library had already taken the book out of their system. (Answer: True)
4. Chuck remembered to return the book promptly. (Answer: False)
5. Chuck wants to discourage kids from reading books. (Answer: False)
6. Chuck is now 53 years old. (Answer: False)
7. The library was nice to Chuck when he returned the book. (Answer: True)
8. Chuck wanted to return the book on the 50th anniversary of when it was due. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧