In a race in Glasgow, someone played a trick on the runners. This person hid the signs that showed the runners where to go. Because of this, about 30 runners went the wrong way. The people who organized the race were worried. They said it could have been dangerous if someone got hurt and needed help.

The organizers want the person who did this to understand it was not funny. It could have been very bad for the runners. The runners had their warm clothes and medicine at the end of the race. The race people said sorry and gave a discount for the next race. They will try to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Original news source: Female prankster pretending to be marshal sends Glasgow runners on 2.5km detour during race (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out key actions or events from the article (like “running,” “hiding signs,” “getting lost”). The other groups will guess what they are acting out. This will help students engage with the content and practice vocabulary.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to work in pairs to create a catchy headline for the article. They can use simple phrases or words to summarize the main event. After they create their headlines, each pair will share their ideas with the class.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose important vocabulary words from the article (e.g., “race,” “runners,” “dangerous”). One student will draw a picture representing one of the words on the board while the rest of the class guesses the word. This will help reinforce vocabulary understanding.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large piece of paper or whiteboard, write the word “Race” in the center. Students will work in small groups to brainstorm and add ideas related to the race from the article, such as “runners,” “trick,” “danger,” and “organizers.” This visual activity will help them connect ideas and vocabulary.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Pose the question, “Was it funny to hide the signs in the race?” Students will walk around the classroom and ask their classmates for their opinions (yes or no). After collecting responses, students will share the results with the class. This encourages speaking and listening skills while discussing the article’s theme.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where did the race happen?
2. What did someone hide from the runners?
3. How many runners went the wrong way?
4. Why were the race organizers worried?
5. What did the runners need at the end of the race?
6. What did the race people say to the runners?
7. What will the race organizers try to do in the future?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a race in (1)______, someone (2)______ a trick on the runners. This person hid the signs that showed the runners where to go. Because of this, about 30 runners (3)______ the wrong way. The people who organized the race were (4)______. They said it could have been dangerous if someone got hurt and needed help.

The organizers want the person who did this to (5)______ it was not funny. It could have been very bad for the runners. The runners had their warm (6)______ and medicine at the end of the (7)______. The race people said sorry and (8)______ a discount for the next race. They will try to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a race?
2. Do you like to run? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you got lost during a race?
4. Do you think it is funny to trick people? Why or why not?
5. What is a sign?
6. Have you ever played a trick on someone? What did you do?
7. How would you feel if someone got hurt in a race?
8. Do you think it is important to follow signs? Why?
9. What do you do when you get lost?
10. Do you like to watch races? Why or why not?
11. What is your favorite sport?
12. How would you feel if you won a race?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. race
2. trick
3. signs
4. runners
5. organized
6. dangerous
7. medicine
8. discount
9. understand
10. happen

Meanings:
(A) Something you take to feel better when sick
(B) A lower price you pay
(C) Things that show you where to go
(D) People who run in a race
(E) Something that can hurt you
(F) To put things in order or plan them
(G) Something you do to fool or surprise someone
(H) To know what something means
(I) When something takes place or occurs
(J) A contest to see who is the fastest
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where did the race happen?
(a) Glasgow
(b) London
(c) Paris
(d) New York

2. What did someone hide during the race?
(a) Runners
(b) Signs
(c) Water
(d) Food

3. How many runners went the wrong way?
(a) 10
(b) 50
(c) 20
(d) 30

4. What did the race organizers feel?
(a) Happy
(b) Excited
(c) Worried
(d) Bored

5. What did the organizers say could happen?
(a) Someone could get hurt
(b) Everyone would win
(c) It would be fun
(d) It would be easy

6. What did the runners have at the end of the race?
(a) Toys
(b) Snacks
(c) Warm clothes
(d) Games

7. What did the race people say to the runners?
(a) Goodbye
(b) Sorry
(c) Thank you
(d) Welcome

8. What will the organizers try to do?
(a) Make it harder
(b) Change the place
(c) Give more prizes
(d) Stop this from happening again

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The organizers said it was not funny.
2. The race people did not apologize and did not offer a discount for the next race.
3. The treat was revealing the signs.
4. The race organizers were not worried.
5. Runners had warm clothes and medicine at the end.
6. There was a race in Glasgow.
7. About 30 runners went the wrong way.
8. No one played a trick on the runners.
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 happened in the race in Glasgow?
2. Why did the runners go the wrong way?
3. How many runners got lost because of the trick?
4. What did the race organizers say to the person who played the trick?
5. What did the race people give to the runners for the next race?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where did the race happen?
The race happened in Glasgow.

2. What did someone hide from the runners?
Someone hid the signs that showed where to go.

3. How many runners went the wrong way?
About 30 runners went the wrong way.

4. Why were the race organizers worried?
They were worried because it could have been dangerous for the runners.

5. What did the runners need at the end of the race?
The runners needed their warm clothes and medicine.

6. What did the race people say to the runners?
The race people said sorry and gave a discount for the next race.

7. What will the race organizers try to do in the future?
They will try to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Glasgow
(2) played
(3) went
(4) worried
(5) understand
(6) clothes
(7) race
(8) gave
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. race
Answer: (J) A contest to see who is the fastest

2. trick
Answer: (G) Something you do to fool or surprise someone

3. signs
Answer: (C) Things that show you where to go

4. runners
Answer: (D) People who run in a race

5. organized
Answer: (F) To put things in order or plan them

6. dangerous
Answer: (E) Something that can hurt you

7. medicine
Answer: (A) Something you take to feel better when sick

8. discount
Answer: (B) A lower price you pay

9. understand
Answer: (H) To know what something means

10. happen
Answer: (I) When something takes place or occurs
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where did the race happen?
Answer: (a) Glasgow

2. What did someone hide during the race?
Answer: (b) Signs

3. How many runners went the wrong way?
Answer: (d) 30

4. What did the race organizers feel?
Answer: (c) Worried

5. What did the organizers say could happen?
Answer: (a) Someone could get hurt

6. What did the runners have at the end of the race?
Answer: (c) Warm clothes

7. What did the race people say to the runners?
Answer: (b) Sorry

8. What will the organizers try to do?
Answer: (d) Stop this from happening again
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The organizers said it was not funny. (Answer: True)
2. The race people did not apologize and did not offer a discount for the next race. (Answer: False)
3. The treat was revealing the signs. (Answer: False)
4. The race organizers were not worried. (Answer: False)
5. Runners had warm clothes and medicine at the end. (Answer: True)
6. There was a race in Glasgow. (Answer: True)
7. About 30 runners went the wrong way. (Answer: True)
8. No one played a trick on the runners. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧