In North Queensland, Australia, there was a big flood. People wanted to know what the weather would be like. A man named Andrew Brown helped them. He has a Facebook page called Wally’s Weather. Lots of people follow him to get weather news.

Andrew Brown is not a weather expert, but he likes to help. He tells people about the weather on the internet. Some people like him because he talks to them like a friend. But some people worry he might make mistakes. It’s important to know who to trust for weather news.

Original news source: Who should you trust for a weather forecast? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will take turns acting out different weather-related words or phrases (e.g., rain, sunny, storm) without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses what it is. This helps them learn vocabulary and encourages communication.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Write down statements related to weather forecasting (e.g., “It is good to trust social media for weather news”). Students will walk around the classroom and ask each other if they agree or disagree, then tally their findings on a chart.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., flood, weather, Facebook). One student will draw the word on the board while others guess what it is. This activity boosts vocabulary recognition and spelling.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Students will think about a time when they needed to know the weather. They will then pair up to share their experiences with each other, and finally, a few pairs will share with the whole class. This promotes speaking and listening skills.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will work in small groups to create a catchy headline for the article based on its main ideas. After they create their headlines, each group will share them with the class. This encourages writing skills and summarizing.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did the big flood happen?
2. What is the name of the man who helps with the weather?
3. What is the name of Andrew Brown’s Facebook page?
4. Why do many people follow Andrew Brown?
5. Does Andrew Brown know a lot about weather?
6. How does Andrew Brown talk to the people who follow him?
7. Why do some people worry about Andrew Brown’s weather news?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In North Queensland, Australia, there was a big flood. People (1)______ to know what the (2)______ would be like. A man named Andrew Brown (3)______ them. He has a Facebook (4)______ called Wally’s Weather. Lots of people follow him to get weather news.

Andrew Brown is not a weather expert, but he (5)______ to help. He tells people about the weather on the (6)______. Some people like him because he (7)______ to them like a friend. But some people worry he might make mistakes. It’s important to (8)______ who to trust for 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 kind of weather?

2. How would you feel if it rained all day?

3. Do you like to watch the weather on TV or online?

4. What is a flood?

5. Do you think it is good to help people? Why?

6. How do you feel when you see dark clouds in the sky?

7. Do you think friends should help each other? Why or why not?

8. What is your favorite thing to do when it is sunny?

9. How would you feel if someone gave you wrong weather news?

10. Do you think it is important to trust the weather news? Why?

11. What do you do when it is very hot outside?

12. How would you feel if you could talk to the weather man?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. flood
2. weather
3. expert
4. internet
5. follow
6. trust
7. news
8. mistake
9. important
10. friend

Meanings:
(A) A lot of water covering the land
(B) When something is not done right
(C) Someone who knows a lot about something
(D) Something that matters a lot
(E) To go after someone or something
(F) To believe someone will do the right thing
(G) What the sky and air are like, such as sunny or rainy
(H) Someone you like and spend time with
(I) A place on computers where people can share and find information
(J) Information about what is happening
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where did the big flood happen?
(a) North Queensland
(b) South Australia
(c) East Queensland
(d) West Australia

2. Who helped people know about the weather?
(a) John Smith
(b) Andrew Brown
(c) Sarah White
(d) Emily Green

3. What is the name of Andrew Brown’s Facebook page?
(a) Sunny Days
(b) Rainy Weather
(c) Weather News
(d) Wally’s Weather

4. What do many people do with Andrew Brown’s page?
(a) Follow him
(b) Ignore him
(c) Unfriend him
(d) Block him

5. Is Andrew Brown a weather expert?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Sometimes
(d) Maybe

6. How does Andrew Brown talk to people?
(a) Like a teacher
(b) Like a robot
(c) Like a stranger
(d) Like a friend

7. Why do some people worry about Andrew Brown?
(a) He is too funny
(b) He talks too much
(c) He might make mistakes
(d) He is too quiet

8. What is important to know about weather news?
(a) When it will rain
(b) How to dress
(c) Who to trust
(d) Where to go

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. He avoids people like a friend.
2. Few people follow Andrew Brown for weather updates.
3. Andrew Brown has a Facebook page called Wendy’s Weather.
4. It is unimportant to know who to trust for weather news.
5. There was a big flood in North Queensland, Australia.
6. Andrew Brown is not a weather expert.
7. Some people worry he might make mistakes.
8. A man named Andrew Brown helps people with weather news.
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. Who helped people know about the weather in North Queensland?
2. What is the name of Andrew Brown’s Facebook page?
3. Why do some people like Andrew Brown?
4. What do some people worry about when Andrew talks about the weather?
5. Why is it important to know who to trust for weather news?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where did the big flood happen?
The big flood happened in North Queensland, Australia.

2. What is the name of the man who helps with the weather?
The man’s name is Andrew Brown.

3. What is the name of Andrew Brown’s Facebook page?
The name of his Facebook page is Wally’s Weather.

4. Why do many people follow Andrew Brown?
Many people follow him to get weather news.

5. Does Andrew Brown know a lot about weather?
No, Andrew Brown is not a weather expert.

6. How does Andrew Brown talk to the people who follow him?
He talks to them like a friend.

7. Why do some people worry about Andrew Brown’s weather news?
Some people worry he might make mistakes.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) wanted
(2) weather
(3) helped
(4) page
(5) likes
(6) internet
(7) talks
(8) know
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. flood
Answer: (A) A lot of water covering the land

2. weather
Answer: (G) What the sky and air are like, such as sunny or rainy

3. expert
Answer: (C) Someone who knows a lot about something

4. internet
Answer: (I) A place on computers where people can share and find information

5. follow
Answer: (E) To go after someone or something

6. trust
Answer: (F) To believe someone will do the right thing

7. news
Answer: (J) Information about what is happening

8. mistake
Answer: (B) When something is not done right

9. important
Answer: (D) Something that matters a lot

10. friend
Answer: (H) Someone you like and spend time with
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where did the big flood happen?
Answer: (a) North Queensland

2. Who helped people know about the weather?
Answer: (b) Andrew Brown

3. What is the name of Andrew Brown’s Facebook page?
Answer: (d) Wally’s Weather

4. What do many people do with Andrew Brown’s page?
Answer: (a) Follow him

5. Is Andrew Brown a weather expert?
Answer: (b) No

6. How does Andrew Brown talk to people?
Answer: (d) Like a friend

7. Why do some people worry about Andrew Brown?
Answer: (c) He might make mistakes

8. What is important to know about weather news?
Answer: (c) Who to trust
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. He avoids people like a friend. (Answer: False)
2. Few people follow Andrew Brown for weather updates. (Answer: False)
3. Andrew Brown has a Facebook page called Wendy’s Weather. (Answer: False)
4. It is unimportant to know who to trust for weather news. (Answer: False)
5. There was a big flood in North Queensland, Australia. (Answer: True)
6. Andrew Brown is not a weather expert. (Answer: True)
7. Some people worry he might make mistakes. (Answer: True)
8. A man named Andrew Brown helps people with weather news. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧