A website for women called Jezebel was closed, but now it has been bought by another company. This new company likes music and wants to make Jezebel start again. The old company that had Jezebel said they had to close it because they didn’t have enough money. The new company is looking for people to work for Jezebel so they can open it again. People who liked reading Jezebel are sad it was closed, but they are happy it will come back.

Jezebel was sold because making money from ads on the internet is hard now. Big companies like Amazon and Google get most of the ad money. Even though it’s hard, the new company thinks they can keep Jezebel going. They say lots of people still visit Jezebel every month. They did not tell everyone how much money they paid to buy Jezebel.

Original news source: Feminist site Jezebel to be revived after sale (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Read the article to the students, or have them read it independently.
2. Ask the students to summarize the main points of the article in a few sentences.
3. Have the students share their summaries with a partner or in a small group.
4. Optional: Have a few students share their summaries with the whole class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Choose 5-10 vocabulary words from the article.
2. Write each word on a separate piece of paper and put them in a hat or container.
3. Have students take turns picking a word from the container.
4. The student must then draw a picture that represents the word without using any letters or numbers.
5. The rest of the class tries to guess the word based on the drawing.
6. Repeat with different students and words.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions:
1. Choose 5-10 keywords from the article.
2. Write each keyword on the board, leaving spaces for the letters.
3. Have students take turns guessing letters to fill in the spaces.
4. If a guessed letter is correct, write it in the correct position(s). If it is incorrect, start drawing the hangman.
5. The students must guess the word before the hangman is completed.
6. Repeat with different keywords.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
1. Ask the students to think about their opinion on the closure and re-opening of Jezebel.
2. Pair up the students and have them share their thoughts with each other.
3. After sharing, ask each pair to share their thoughts with the whole class.
4. Encourage students to ask questions or engage in a discussion about the topic.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Ask the students to think about what they think will happen to Jezebel in the future.
2. In pairs or small groups, have them discuss their predictions and reasons behind them.
3. Have each group share their predictions with the class.
4. Encourage students to ask questions or engage in a discussion about the different predictions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to the website Jezebel?
2. Why did the old company have to close Jezebel?
3. What does the new company like?
4. What is the new company going to do with Jezebel?
5. Why are people happy that Jezebel will come back?
6. Why is it hard to make money from ads on the internet?
7. Do lots of people still visit Jezebel every month?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A (1)______ for women called Jezebel was closed, but now it has been bought by another company. This new company (2)______ music and wants to make Jezebel start again. The old company that had Jezebel (3)______ they had to (4)______ it because they didn’t have enough money. The new company is looking for people to work for Jezebel so they can open it again. People who liked reading Jezebel are sad it was closed, but they are happy it will come back.

Jezebel was sold because (5)______ (6)______ from ads on the internet is hard now. Big companies like Amazon and Google get most of the ad money. Even though it’s hard, the new company (7)______ they can keep Jezebel going. They say (8)______ of people still visit Jezebel every month. They did not tell everyone how much money they paid to buy Jezebel.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Jezebel?
2. How would you feel if your favorite website was closed?
3. Do you like reading articles on the internet? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the new company buying Jezebel?
5. How do you think the new company will make money from Jezebel?
6. Do you know any other big companies like Amazon and Google?
7. Why do you think it’s hard to make money from ads on the internet?
8. Have you ever visited Jezebel before? What did you think of it?
9. Do you think the new company will be successful in keeping Jezebel going? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the people who used to work for Jezebel feel now that it’s coming back?
11. Why do you think the new company didn’t tell everyone how much money they paid to buy Jezebel?
12. If you could buy any website, which one would you choose and why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. website
2. closed
3. bought
4. company
5. money
6. open
7. ads
8. visit

Meanings:
(a) A group of people who work together
(b) Go to a place to see or do something
(c) Not closed anymore
(d) Pictures and words that try to make you want to buy something
(e) Someone gave money to get something
(f) Something you need to buy things
(g) A place on the computer where you can read and look at things
(h) Not open anymore
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the website that was closed and then bought by another company?
(a) Amazon
(b) Google
(c) Music
(d) Jezebel

2. Why did the old company have to close Jezebel?
(a) They didn’t like the website
(b) They wanted to start a new company
(c) They didn’t have enough money
(d) They wanted to buy Amazon

3. What does the new company like?
(a) Books
(b) Music
(c) Food
(d) Toys

4. What is the new company looking for?
(a) People to work for Jezebel
(b) People to work for Amazon
(c) People to work for Google
(d) People to work for the old company

5. Why are people who liked reading Jezebel sad?
(a) Because it was closed
(b) Because they don’t like the new company
(c) Because they don’t like music
(d) Because they don’t like ads

6. Who gets most of the ad money on the internet?
(a) Small companies
(b) People who visit Jezebel
(c) People who work for Jezebel
(d) Big companies like Amazon and Google

7. What does the new company think about keeping Jezebel going?
(a) They think it’s too hard
(b) They don’t want to do it
(c) They think they can do it
(d) They want to close it again

8. How much money did the new company pay to buy Jezebel?
(a) $100
(b) They did not tell everyone
(c) $1,000,000
(d) $10

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Another company bought Jezebel because the old company didn’t have enough money.
2. People who enjoyed reading Jezebel are relieved it was closed, but they are disappointed it will come back.
3. A website called Jezebel was closed, but now it is going to start again.
4. Making money from ads on the internet is hard now.
5. The new company dislikes music and has no interest in making Jezebel successful.
6. The new company doubts they can sustain Jezebel because only a few people visit the website every month.
7. Big companies like Amazon and Google receive a small portion of the ad money.
8. The new company is looking for people to work for Jezebel.
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. What happened to the website Jezebel?
2. Why did the old company have to close Jezebel?
3. What does the new company want to do with Jezebel?
4. Why is it hard to make money from ads on the internet?
5. Why are people happy that Jezebel will come back?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to the website Jezebel?
Jezebel was closed.

2. Why did the old company have to close Jezebel?
The old company didn’t have enough money.

3. What does the new company like?
The new company likes music.

4. What is the new company going to do with Jezebel?
The new company wants to make Jezebel start again.

5. Why are people happy that Jezebel will come back?
People liked reading Jezebel and they are sad it was closed, so they are happy it will come back.

6. Why is it hard to make money from ads on the internet?
Big companies like Amazon and Google get most of the ad money.

7. Do lots of people still visit Jezebel every month?
Yes, lots of people still visit Jezebel every month.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) website
(2) likes
(3) said
(4) close
(5) making
(6) money
(7) thinks
(8) lots
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. website
Answer: (g) A place on the computer where you can read and look at things

2. closed
Answer: (h) Not open anymore

3. bought
Answer: (e) Someone gave money to get something

4. company
Answer: (a) A group of people who work together

5. money
Answer: (f) Something you need to buy things

6. open
Answer: (c) Not closed anymore

7. ads
Answer: (d) Pictures and words that try to make you want to buy something

8. visit
Answer: (b) Go to a place to see or do something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the website that was closed and then bought by another company?
Answer: (d) Jezebel

2. Why did the old company have to close Jezebel?
Answer: (c) They didn’t have enough money

3. What does the new company like?
Answer: (b) Music

4. What is the new company looking for?
Answer: (a) People to work for Jezebel

5. Why are people who liked reading Jezebel sad?
Answer: (a) Because it was closed

6. Who gets most of the ad money on the internet?
Answer: (d) Big companies like Amazon and Google

7. What does the new company think about keeping Jezebel going?
Answer: (c) They think they can do it

8. How much money did the new company pay to buy Jezebel?
Answer: (b) They did not tell everyone
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Another company bought Jezebel because the old company didn’t have enough money. (Answer: True)
2. People who enjoyed reading Jezebel are relieved it was closed, but they are disappointed it will come back. (Answer: False)
3. A website called Jezebel was closed, but now it is going to start again. (Answer: True)
4. Making money from ads on the internet is hard now. (Answer: True)
5. The new company dislikes music and has no interest in making Jezebel successful. (Answer: False)
6. The new company doubts they can sustain Jezebel because only a few people visit the website every month. (Answer: False)
7. Big companies like Amazon and Google receive a small portion of the ad money. (Answer: False)
8. The new company is looking for people to work for Jezebel. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧