Magnus Carlsen is a very good chess player. He left a big chess game in New York. He left because he wore jeans, and they said he couldn’t. They wanted him to pay money and change his pants. Magnus didn’t want to change, so he left.

Magnus was in a hurry and forgot about the jeans rule. He changed his shirt and shoes but forgot his pants. He didn’t want to fight about it and just wanted to move on. Magnus joked about going somewhere nice and warm. People still watch what Magnus does because he is famous.

Original news source: World chess number one Magnus Carlsen quits tournament after refusing to change jeans (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students take turns acting out the scenario from the article without speaking. Other students guess what is happening. For example, a student could act out Magnus Carlsen changing clothes or leaving the chess game.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Ask students if they think it is fair to have a dress code for chess tournaments. Students will raise their hands to indicate their opinions (agree, disagree, or unsure). Afterward, discuss the results as a class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students work in pairs to come up with a catchy headline for the article. Encourage them to use simple language and think creatively. Each pair can share their headline with the class.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., chess, jeans, famous, rules). One student draws a picture representing a word while the others guess the word. Rotate roles until all words are used.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Ask students to think about what they would do if they were in Magnus’s situation. They will first think quietly for a minute, then pair up with a partner to share their thoughts, and finally, a few pairs will share their ideas with the whole class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
2. Where did Magnus leave a big chess game?
3. What kind of pants did Magnus wear?
4. Why did Magnus leave the chess game?
5. Did Magnus change his shirt and shoes?
6. What did Magnus joke about?
7. Why do people watch what Magnus does?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Magnus Carlsen is a very good chess player. He left a big chess game in New York. He left because he (1)______ (2)______, and they said he couldn’t. They (3)______ him to pay money and (4)______ his pants. Magnus didn’t want to change, so he left.

Magnus was in a hurry and forgot about the jeans rule. He (5)______ his shirt and shoes but forgot his pants. He didn’t want to (6)______ about it and just wanted to move on. Magnus joked about going somewhere (7)______ and warm. People still watch what Magnus (8)______ because he is famous.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite game to play?
2. Do you like wearing jeans? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you forgot to wear pants?
4. Do you think rules are important? Why?
5. What is a funny thing that happened to you?
6. Do you like to change your clothes? Why?
7. How would you feel if you had to pay money for clothes?
8. Do you think it is okay to leave a game? Why or why not?
9. What is your favorite thing to wear?
10. How would you feel if you were famous?
11. Do you like to joke with your friends? Why?
12. What is a place you would like to go that is warm?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. chess
2. player
3. jeans
4. money
5. change
6. hurry
7. forgot
8. fight
9. famous
10. warm

Meanings:
(A) When people are angry and argue or hit each other
(B) When something feels nice and not cold
(C) Didn’t remember something
(D) A game with pieces like kings and queens
(E) Moving quickly because you don’t have much time
(F) Someone who plays a game or sport
(G) Pants made of denim
(H) Coins and paper used to buy things
(I) When many people know who you are
(J) To make something different
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is a good chess player?
(a) John Smith
(b) Sarah Brown
(c) Magnus Carlsen
(d) Tim Lee

2. Where did Magnus leave a big chess game?
(a) London
(b) Paris
(c) Tokyo
(d) New York

3. What did Magnus wear that was not allowed?
(a) Shorts
(b) Jeans
(c) Skirt
(d) Dress

4. What did Magnus change before the game?
(a) Hat and gloves
(b) Socks and belt
(c) Shirt and shoes
(d) Watch and ring

5. How did Magnus feel about changing his pants?
(a) He didn’t want to change
(b) He was happy to change
(c) He didn’t care
(d) He was excited

6. What did Magnus joke about?
(a) Going to school
(b) Going somewhere warm
(c) Going to bed
(d) Going to the store

7. Why do people watch Magnus?
(a) Because he is funny
(b) Because he is tall
(c) Because he is young
(d) Because he is famous

8. What did Magnus want to do after leaving the game?
(a) Move on
(b) Go home
(c) Eat food
(d) Call a friend

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Many people watch Magnus because he is infamous.
2. They wanted him to pay money and change his pants.
3. Magnus Carlsen is a good chess player.
4. The people at the game said he could wear jeans.
5. Magnus wanted to change his pants.
6. He was in New York for a big chess game.
7. He joked about going somewhere cold.
8. Magnus wore jeans to the game.
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 is Magnus Carlsen?
2. Where did Magnus leave a big chess game?
3. What did Magnus forget to change?
4. Why did Magnus leave the chess game?
5. What did Magnus want to do instead of fighting?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
Magnus Carlsen is a very good chess player.

2. Where did Magnus leave a big chess game?
Magnus left a big chess game in New York.

3. What kind of pants did Magnus wear?
Magnus wore jeans.

4. Why did Magnus leave the chess game?
Magnus left because they said he couldn’t wear jeans.

5. Did Magnus change his shirt and shoes?
Yes, Magnus changed his shirt and shoes.

6. What did Magnus joke about?
Magnus joked about going somewhere nice and warm.

7. Why do people watch what Magnus does?
People watch Magnus because he is famous.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) wore
(2) jeans
(3) wanted
(4) change
(5) changed
(6) fight
(7) nice
(8) does
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. chess
Answer: (D) A game with pieces like kings and queens

2. player
Answer: (F) Someone who plays a game or sport

3. jeans
Answer: (G) Pants made of denim

4. money
Answer: (H) Coins and paper used to buy things

5. change
Answer: (J) To make something different

6. hurry
Answer: (E) Moving quickly because you don’t have much time

7. forgot
Answer: (C) Didn’t remember something

8. fight
Answer: (A) When people are angry and argue or hit each other

9. famous
Answer: (I) When many people know who you are

10. warm
Answer: (B) When something feels nice and not cold
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is a good chess player?
Answer: (c) Magnus Carlsen

2. Where did Magnus leave a big chess game?
Answer: (d) New York

3. What did Magnus wear that was not allowed?
Answer: (b) Jeans

4. What did Magnus change before the game?
Answer: (c) Shirt and shoes

5. How did Magnus feel about changing his pants?
Answer: (a) He didn’t want to change

6. What did Magnus joke about?
Answer: (b) Going somewhere warm

7. Why do people watch Magnus?
Answer: (d) Because he is famous

8. What did Magnus want to do after leaving the game?
Answer: (a) Move on
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Many people watch Magnus because he is infamous. (Answer: False)
2. They wanted him to pay money and change his pants. (Answer: True)
3. Magnus Carlsen is a good chess player. (Answer: True)
4. The people at the game said he could wear jeans. (Answer: False)
5. Magnus wanted to change his pants. (Answer: False)
6. He was in New York for a big chess game. (Answer: True)
7. He joked about going somewhere cold. (Answer: False)
8. Magnus wore jeans to the game. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧