Dartitis is a problem that makes it hard for dart players to throw their darts. Kevin, a darts champion, couldn’t let go of his dart during a game. This problem is not because of a hurt arm but because of stress and worry. A doctor says it is like other worry problems and can be helped with therapy. Kevin is trying therapy to get better.

Kevin is also using hypnotherapy to help him throw darts again. He felt better after some sessions but had trouble again during a TV game. His helper, Chris, uses special ways to make athletes feel strong again. Another player, Jack, had the same problem but got better by using his other hand. Kevin and Jack’s stories show that talking about these problems can help athletes feel better.

Original news source: Dartitis: The condition where you try to throw a dart – but can’t (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students take turns acting out different sports-related words or phrases without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses what it is. Include terms like “dart,” “throw,” “champion,” and “stress.”

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates if they play any sports and how they feel when they compete. They will record the answers and share their findings with the class.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Write key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., “dartitis,” “therapy,” “stress”) on slips of paper. Students take turns drawing the word and illustrating it on the board while others guess the word.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose the question, “How do you think stress can affect athletes?” Students first think about their answers, then pair up to discuss before sharing their thoughts with the whole class.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Students discuss what they think will happen to Kevin after he uses therapy and hypnotherapy. They can work in pairs or small groups to come up with different scenarios and then share their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is dartitis?
2. Who is Kevin?
3. Why couldn’t Kevin throw his dart?
4. What does Kevin do to feel better?
5. Who helps Kevin feel strong again?
6. What did Jack do to get better?
7. How can talking help athletes like Kevin and Jack?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Dartitis is a (1)______ that makes it hard for dart players to throw their darts. Kevin, a darts champion, couldn’t let go of his dart during a (2)______. This problem is not because of a hurt arm but because of (3)______ and worry. A (4)______ says it is like other worry problems and can be helped with therapy. Kevin is trying therapy to get better.

Kevin is also using hypnotherapy to help him throw darts again. He felt better after some sessions but had trouble again during a TV game. His (5)______, (6)______, uses special ways to make athletes feel strong again. Another player, Jack, had the same problem but got better by using his other hand. (7)______ and Jack’s stories (8)______ that talking about these problems can help athletes feel better.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a dart?
2. Do you like playing games? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you could not throw a ball?
4. Do you think talking helps when you feel worried? Why?
5. What is a champion?
6. Have you ever felt scared or worried? What happened?
7. Do you like to try new things, like new games? Why?
8. How would you feel if you won a game?
9. What is therapy?
10. Do you think it is good to ask for help? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever tried to do something with your other hand? How did it go?
12. What do you do when you feel sad or worried?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. dartitis
2. champion
3. therapy
4. hypnotherapy
5. session
6. athlete
7. stress
8. worry
9. helper
10. problem

Meanings:
(A) A trouble that makes it hard to throw darts
(B) Talking to someone to feel better
(C) A time when you meet someone to get help
(D) Something that needs fixing or solving
(E) Someone who gives you a hand
(F) Thinking too much about bad things
(G) Feeling tense and nervous
(H) A special way to help people feel better by relaxing their mind
(I) Someone who wins a lot in sports
(J) A person who plays sports
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is dartitis?
(a) A problem for dart players
(b) A type of food
(c) A kind of game
(d) A type of animal

2. Who is Kevin?
(a) A doctor
(b) A teacher
(c) A player of soccer
(d) A darts champion

3. What does Kevin have trouble doing?
(a) Eating food
(b) Running fast
(c) Throwing darts
(d) Sleeping at night

4. What helps Kevin feel better?
(a) Watching TV
(b) Therapy
(c) Playing games
(d) Eating snacks

5. What is hypnotherapy?
(a) A way to help people feel better
(b) A type of food
(c) A kind of game
(d) A sport

6. Who helps Kevin?
(a) Jack
(b) Chris
(c) Mike
(d) Tom

7. What did Jack do to get better?
(a) Stopped playing darts
(b) Ate more food
(c) Ran away
(d) Used his other hand

8. What do Kevin and Jack’s stories show?
(a) Playing is fun
(b) Eating is good
(c) Talking can help
(d) Sleeping is important

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Dartitis makes it easy for people to throw darts.
2. Kevin is trying therapy and hypnotherapy to feel better.
3. Kevin could easily let go of his dart during a game.
4. Another player named Jack did not have the same problem as Kevin.
5. Talking about problems can help athletes feel better.
6. A doctor says therapy cannot help with dartitis.
7. Dartitis is caused by stress and worry, not a hurt arm.
8. Kevin is a champion who plays darts.
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 is dartitis?
2. Who is Kevin?
3. How does Kevin feel when he plays darts?
4. What does Kevin do to help himself feel better?
5. Who is Jack and what did he do to get better?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is dartitis?
Dartitis is a problem that makes it hard for dart players to throw their darts.

2. Who is Kevin?
Kevin is a darts champion.

3. Why couldn’t Kevin throw his dart?
Kevin couldn’t throw his dart because he was stressed and worried.

4. What does Kevin do to feel better?
Kevin is trying therapy and hypnotherapy to feel better.

5. Who helps Kevin feel strong again?
Kevin’s helper, Chris, helps him feel strong again.

6. What did Jack do to get better?
Jack got better by using his other hand to throw darts.

7. How can talking help athletes like Kevin and Jack?
Talking can help athletes feel better and deal with their problems.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) problem
(2) game
(3) stress
(4) doctor
(5) helper
(6) Chris
(7) Kevin
(8) show
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. dartitis
Answer: (A) A trouble that makes it hard to throw darts

2. champion
Answer: (I) Someone who wins a lot in sports

3. therapy
Answer: (B) Talking to someone to feel better

4. hypnotherapy
Answer: (H) A special way to help people feel better by relaxing their mind

5. session
Answer: (C) A time when you meet someone to get help

6. athlete
Answer: (J) A person who plays sports

7. stress
Answer: (G) Feeling tense and nervous

8. worry
Answer: (F) Thinking too much about bad things

9. helper
Answer: (E) Someone who gives you a hand

10. problem
Answer: (D) Something that needs fixing or solving
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is dartitis?
Answer: (a) A problem for dart players

2. Who is Kevin?
Answer: (d) A darts champion

3. What does Kevin have trouble doing?
Answer: (c) Throwing darts

4. What helps Kevin feel better?
Answer: (b) Therapy

5. What is hypnotherapy?
Answer: (a) A way to help people feel better

6. Who helps Kevin?
Answer: (b) Chris

7. What did Jack do to get better?
Answer: (d) Used his other hand

8. What do Kevin and Jack’s stories show?
Answer: (c) Talking can help
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Dartitis makes it easy for people to throw darts. (Answer: False)
2. Kevin is trying therapy and hypnotherapy to feel better. (Answer: True)
3. Kevin could easily let go of his dart during a game. (Answer: False)
4. Another player named Jack did not have the same problem as Kevin. (Answer: False)
5. Talking about problems can help athletes feel better. (Answer: True)
6. A doctor says therapy cannot help with dartitis. (Answer: False)
7. Dartitis is caused by stress and worry, not a hurt arm. (Answer: True)
8. Kevin is a champion who plays darts. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧