Trains that go from the Netherlands to London won’t run for six months starting next June. This is because the big train station in Amsterdam is getting fixed and doesn’t have room for people going to London. If you want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, you will have to change trains in Brussels. But if you are in London and want to go to the Netherlands, you can still do that like normal.
People tried to talk and make plans so the trains could keep going while the station is being fixed, but they did not agree. Eurostar, the train company, didn’t say why people can’t get on the train in Rotterdam. The time without trains is not as long as people thought; it’s only six months, not a whole year.
Original news source: Eurostar Amsterdam-to-London services to be suspended for six months (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. “train station”, “change trains”, “Netherlands”). One person from each group will act out the word or phrase without speaking, while the others try to guess what it is. The first group to guess correctly gets a point. Repeat with different words or phrases.
– News Summary
Instructions: Have the class work together to create a summary of the article. Ask different students to take turns summarizing different parts of the article in their own words. Encourage them to use simple sentences and key vocabulary from the article. Write the summary on the board as they go along.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a vocabulary word from the article (e.g. “Eurostar”, “Rotterdam”, “Amsterdam”). Have them draw a picture to represent the word without using any letters or numbers. The rest of the class must guess what word they are drawing. The student who guesses correctly gets a point, and then it is their turn to draw the next word.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Have each pair discuss their opinion on the train station closure and write down their reasons. Then, have pairs share their opinions with the class. As a class, create a chart or graph to show the different opinions and reasons.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: Give each student a strip of paper. Ask them to create a catchy headline for the article using only a few words. Then, have students share their headlines with the class and discuss why they chose those words. This activity can be done individually or in pairs.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why won’t the trains from the Netherlands to London run for six months?
2. What is happening to the train station in Amsterdam?
3. What will people have to do if they want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam?
4. Can people still go from London to the Netherlands?
5. Did people agree on a plan to keep the trains running while the station is being fixed?
6. What is the name of the train company?
7. Is the time without trains longer or shorter than people thought?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Trains that go from the Netherlands to London won’t run for six (1)______ starting next June. This is because the big train station in (2)______ is getting fixed and doesn’t have room for people going to London. If you (3)______ to go to London from Amsterdam or (4)______, you will have to change trains in Brussels. But if you are in London and want to go to the Netherlands, you can still do that like normal.
People tried to talk and make plans so the trains could (5)______ going while the station is being fixed, but they did not (6)______. Eurostar, the train company, didn’t say why people can’t get on the train in Rotterdam. The (7)______ without (8)______ is not as long as people thought; it’s only six months, not a whole year.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Do you like to ride on trains?
2. How would you feel if you couldn’t take a train from Amsterdam to London for six months?
3. What is a train station?
4. Do you think it’s fair that people have to change trains in Brussels to go from Amsterdam to London?
5. Why do you think Eurostar didn’t say why people can’t get on the train in Rotterdam?
6. How would you feel if you had to change trains to go to a different city?
7. What is Rotterdam?
8. Do you think six months is a long time to not have trains going to London?
9. How would you feel if you were in London and wanted to go to the Netherlands?
10. What is Eurostar?
11. Why do you think the train station in Amsterdam needs to be fixed?
12. How would you feel if you couldn’t take a train for a whole year?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. Trains
2. Netherlands
3. London
4. June
5. Amsterdam
6. Rotterdam
7. Brussels
8. Eurostar
Meanings:
(a) Vehicles that take people from one place to another
(b) Another city in the Netherlands
(c) The biggest city in the Netherlands
(d) The name of a train company
(e) The sixth month of the year
(f) The capital city of England
(g) A city in Belgium
(h) A country in Europe
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why won’t the trains from the Netherlands to London run for six months?
(a) The train tracks are broken and need to be repaired.
(b) The train company doesn’t want people to go to London.
(c) The trains are too old and need to be replaced.
(d) The train station in Amsterdam is being fixed and doesn’t have enough space.
2. What will people in Amsterdam and Rotterdam have to do if they want to go to London?
(a) Change trains in Brussels.
(b) Take a bus to London.
(c) Walk to London.
(d) Fly to London.
3. Can people in London still go to the Netherlands during the six months?
(a) No, they are not allowed to go to the Netherlands.
(b) Yes, they can go like normal.
(c) They have to change trains in Brussels too.
(d) They have to wait for a whole year to go to the Netherlands.
4. Why couldn’t the trains keep running while the station is being fixed?
(a) The train company didn’t want to keep running the trains.
(b) The train tracks were too damaged to use.
(c) People couldn’t agree on a plan.
(d) The train station in Brussels was also being fixed.
5. How long will the trains not run for?
(a) Six months.
(b) One year.
(c) Two months.
(d) Three days.
6. Who is the train company that runs the trains to London?
(a) Eurotrain.
(b) Trainstar.
(c) Trainline.
(d) Eurostar.
7. What city will people have to change trains in if they want to go to London?
(a) Paris.
(b) Brussels.
(c) Berlin.
(d) Madrid.
8. How long did people think the trains wouldn’t run for?
(a) Six months.
(b) Two years.
(c) A whole year.
(d) Three weeks.
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. If you want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, you won’t need to change trains in Brussels.
2. People tried to make plans to keep the trains running during the station’s repairs, but they couldn’t agree.
3. The train service interruption will only last for six months, not a whole year.
4. Trains from the Netherlands to London will continue running for six months starting next June.
5. The time without trains is exactly as long as people initially thought.
6. Eurostar, the train company, provided a reason for why people can get on the train in Rotterdam.
7. The train station in Amsterdam is being fixed and cannot accommodate people going to London.
8. However, if you are in London and want to go to the Netherlands, you can still do that as usual.
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 is happening to the trains that go from the Netherlands to London?
2. Why won’t the trains run for six months?
3. What is happening to the train station in Amsterdam?
4. What will people have to do if they want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam?
5. Can people still go from London to the Netherlands?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Why won’t the trains from the Netherlands to London run for six months?
The trains won’t run because the train station in Amsterdam is being fixed and there isn’t enough space for people going to London.
2. What is happening to the train station in Amsterdam?
The train station in Amsterdam is getting fixed.
3. What will people have to do if they want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam?
They will have to change trains in Brussels.
4. Can people still go from London to the Netherlands?
Yes, people can still go from London to the Netherlands like normal.
5. Did people agree on a plan to keep the trains running while the station is being fixed?
No, people did not agree on a plan to keep the trains running.
6. What is the name of the train company?
The train company is called Eurostar.
7. Is the time without trains longer or shorter than people thought?
The time without trains is shorter than people thought. It’s only six months, not a whole year.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) months
(2) Amsterdam
(3) want
(4) Rotterdam
(5) keep
(6) agree
(7) time
(8) trains
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. Trains
Answer: (a) Vehicles that take people from one place to another
2. Netherlands
Answer: (h) A country in Europe
3. London
Answer: (f) The capital city of England
4. June
Answer: (e) The sixth month of the year
5. Amsterdam
Answer: (c) The biggest city in the Netherlands
6. Rotterdam
Answer: (b) Another city in the Netherlands
7. Brussels
Answer: (g) A city in Belgium
8. Eurostar
Answer: (d) The name of a train company
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why won’t the trains from the Netherlands to London run for six months?
Answer: (d) The train station in Amsterdam is being fixed and doesn’t have enough space.
2. What will people in Amsterdam and Rotterdam have to do if they want to go to London?
Answer: (a) Change trains in Brussels.
3. Can people in London still go to the Netherlands during the six months?
Answer: (b) Yes, they can go like normal.
4. Why couldn’t the trains keep running while the station is being fixed?
Answer: (c) People couldn’t agree on a plan.
5. How long will the trains not run for?
Answer: (a) Six months.
6. Who is the train company that runs the trains to London?
Answer: (d) Eurostar.
7. What city will people have to change trains in if they want to go to London?
Answer: (b) Brussels.
8. How long did people think the trains wouldn’t run for?
Answer: (c) A whole year.
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. If you want to go to London from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, you won’t need to change trains in Brussels. (Answer: False)
2. People tried to make plans to keep the trains running during the station’s repairs, but they couldn’t agree. (Answer: True)
3. The train service interruption will only last for six months, not a whole year. (Answer: True)
4. Trains from the Netherlands to London will continue running for six months starting next June. (Answer: False)
5. The time without trains is exactly as long as people initially thought. (Answer: False)
6. Eurostar, the train company, provided a reason for why people can get on the train in Rotterdam. (Answer: False)
7. The train station in Amsterdam is being fixed and cannot accommodate people going to London. (Answer: True)
8. However, if you are in London and want to go to the Netherlands, you can still do that as usual. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
