In Sri Lanka, the lights went out for many people on a Sunday. This happened because a monkey touched something important near the city of Colombo. The monkey’s touch made the electricity stop working for lots of homes. People had to wait a long time for the lights to come back on. Some places got their power back faster than others.

The problem showed that Sri Lanka’s electricity system needs fixing. In the past, the country had other big power problems, too. People are worried that the lights might go out again. Some say the government should make the electricity system stronger. A newspaper even joked about how only in Sri Lanka a monkey could turn off the lights for so many people.

Original news source: Nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka blamed on a monkey (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students take turns acting out the events from the article without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses what they are mimicking. For example, a student can act out a monkey touching something or people waiting for the lights to come back on.

– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will draw a scene from the article, such as the monkey or a dark room with people waiting for the lights. After drawing, they will share their sketch with a partner and explain what it represents.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will work in pairs to create a catchy headline for the article. They can brainstorm different options and then share their favorite with the class.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Ask students to think about how they would feel if the lights went out in their home. They will first think individually, then pair up to discuss their feelings, and finally share their thoughts with the whole class.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will be asked whether they think the government should invest in fixing the electricity system in Sri Lanka. They will raise their hands to vote for “Yes” or “No,” and then discuss their reasons in small groups.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to the lights in Sri Lanka on a Sunday?
2. Who touched something important to make the lights go out?
3. Where did the monkey touch something important?
4. How did people feel when the lights went out?
5. What do people think the government should do about the electricity?
6. Did some places get their lights back on faster than others?
7. What did a newspaper say about the monkey and the lights?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In Sri (1)______, the lights went out for (2)______ people on a Sunday. This happened because a monkey touched something important near the city of Colombo. The monkey’s touch made the electricity stop (3)______ for (4)______ of homes. People had to wait a long time for the lights to come back on. Some places got their power back faster than others.

The problem showed that Sri Lanka’s electricity system needs (5)______. In the (6)______, the country had other big power problems, too. People are worried that the lights might go out again. Some say the (7)______ should make the electricity system stronger. A newspaper even (8)______ about how only in Sri Lanka a monkey could turn off the lights for so many people.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a monkey?
2. How would you feel if the lights went out in your home?
3. Do you like when it is dark outside? Why or why not?
4. What is your favorite thing to do when the lights are off?
5. Do you think monkeys are funny? Why?
6. How would you feel if you had to wait for the lights to come back on?
7. What is a problem that you see in your home or school?
8. Do you think it is important to fix things that are broken? Why?
9. How would you feel if you were in a place with no electricity for a long time?
10. What is your favorite way to play when it is dark?
11. Do you think animals can cause problems sometimes? Why or why not?
12. How would you feel if a monkey touched something important?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. electricity
2. monkey
3. important
4. city
5. homes
6. wait
7. power
8. fixing
9. worried
10. government

Meanings:
(A) The energy that makes lights and machines work
(B) Feeling scared or nervous about something
(C) A big place where many people live and work
(D) The strength or energy to do things
(E) Making something broken work again
(F) Places where people live, like houses
(G) Something that matters a lot
(H) Staying in one place until something happens
(I) The people who make rules for a country
(J) A small animal that likes to climb trees
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What happened in Sri Lanka on a Sunday?
(a) It rained
(b) A parade happened
(c) The lights went out
(d) A monkey danced

2. What did the monkey touch?
(a) Something important
(b) A tree
(c) A car
(d) A house

3. Where is Colombo?
(a) In the ocean
(b) In the sky
(c) On a mountain
(d) Near the city

4. What did people have to do when the lights went out?
(a) Go to sleep
(b) Wait a long time
(c) Eat food
(d) Sing songs

5. What do people think about the electricity system in Sri Lanka?
(a) It needs fixing
(b) It is perfect
(c) It is too big
(d) It is very old

6. What do some people want the government to do?
(a) Build more houses
(b) Buy more monkeys
(c) Close the city
(d) Make the electricity stronger

7. What did a newspaper say about the monkey?
(a) It could fly
(b) It could turn off the lights
(c) It could swim
(d) It could talk

8. Why are people worried in Sri Lanka?
(a) It might rain
(b) They might lose their toys
(c) The lights might go out again
(d) They might get hungry

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. All places got their power back at the same time.
2. Sri Lanka’s electricity system is functioning well.
3. People are not worried about the lights going out again.
4. People had to wait a long time for the lights to come back on.
5. In Sri Lanka, the lights went out for many homes.
6. A monkey touched something important near Colombo.
7. The monkey’s touch caused the electricity to start working again.
8. A newspaper joked about the monkey turning off the lights.
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 to the lights in Sri Lanka on a Sunday?
2. Who touched something important and made the lights go out?
3. Did all the people get their lights back on at the same time?
4. Why are people worried about the lights going out again?
5. What did the newspaper say about the monkey and the lights?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to the lights in Sri Lanka on a Sunday?
The lights went out for many people.

2. Who touched something important to make the lights go out?
A monkey touched something important.

3. Where did the monkey touch something important?
Near the city of Colombo.

4. How did people feel when the lights went out?
People had to wait a long time, and they were worried.

5. What do people think the government should do about the electricity?
People think the government should make the electricity system stronger.

6. Did some places get their lights back on faster than others?
Yes, some places got their lights back on faster than others.

7. What did a newspaper say about the monkey and the lights?
The newspaper joked that only in Sri Lanka a monkey could turn off the lights for so many people.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Lanka
(2) many
(3) working
(4) lots
(5) fixing
(6) past
(7) government
(8) joked
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. electricity
Answer: (A) The energy that makes lights and machines work

2. monkey
Answer: (J) A small animal that likes to climb trees

3. important
Answer: (G) Something that matters a lot

4. city
Answer: (C) A big place where many people live and work

5. homes
Answer: (F) Places where people live, like houses

6. wait
Answer: (H) Staying in one place until something happens

7. power
Answer: (D) The strength or energy to do things

8. fixing
Answer: (E) Making something broken work again

9. worried
Answer: (B) Feeling scared or nervous about something

10. government
Answer: (I) The people who make rules for a country
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What happened in Sri Lanka on a Sunday?
Answer: (c) The lights went out

2. What did the monkey touch?
Answer: (a) Something important

3. Where is Colombo?
Answer: (d) Near the city

4. What did people have to do when the lights went out?
Answer: (b) Wait a long time

5. What do people think about the electricity system in Sri Lanka?
Answer: (a) It needs fixing

6. What do some people want the government to do?
Answer: (d) Make the electricity stronger

7. What did a newspaper say about the monkey?
Answer: (b) It could turn off the lights

8. Why are people worried in Sri Lanka?
Answer: (c) The lights might go out again
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. All places got their power back at the same time. (Answer: False)
2. Sri Lanka’s electricity system is functioning well. (Answer: False)
3. People are not worried about the lights going out again. (Answer: False)
4. People had to wait a long time for the lights to come back on. (Answer: True)
5. In Sri Lanka, the lights went out for many homes. (Answer: True)
6. A monkey touched something important near Colombo. (Answer: True)
7. The monkey’s touch caused the electricity to start working again. (Answer: False)
8. A newspaper joked about the monkey turning off the lights. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧