Apples in a place called Kashmir are having a big problem. There are too many bad things happening to the apples like sickness, strange weather, and money troubles. Many apples are not looking good and there are too many bad apples. The weather is making it hard to move the apples to other places. Big rocks fall and block the road.

People who grow apples are very sad and worried. They need the money from selling apples to live and help their families. But now, apples from a far place called Iran are being sold for less money. The leaders of the place said it’s okay to bring in apples from a place called America without paying extra money. This makes it even harder for the people who grow apples in Kashmir. They want the leaders to help them and make sure the things they use to keep the apples healthy are good.

Original news source: Kashmir’s famed apples face extreme weather and economic crisis (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. apple, sickness, weather, money) on small pieces of paper and put them in a bag or container. One student from each team will take turns picking a word and acting it out without speaking. The rest of their team must guess the word within a certain time limit (e.g. 1 minute). The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students take turns summarizing the article in their own words. Encourage them to include the main points and key details. After each summary, have the other students provide feedback and ask questions to ensure understanding.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front and choose a word. They must draw a picture to represent the word while their team members try to guess it. The team that guesses the word correctly earns a point. Continue until all the words have been guessed or time runs out. The team with the most points wins.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Write down key words or phrases from the article on the board, leaving blank spaces for each letter. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will take turns guessing letters to fill in the blanks. If they guess a correct letter, it will be written in the correct position(s). If they guess an incorrect letter, draw one part of a hangman on the board. The team that correctly guesses the word or phrase first wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Give each student a few minutes to think silently about the article. Then, have them pair up with a partner and share their thoughts and opinions about the article. Encourage them to use the target vocabulary words and phrases. After a few minutes, ask a few pairs to share their discussions with the whole class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some bad things happening to the apples in Kashmir?
2. Why are the people who grow apples sad and worried?
3. Where are the apples being sold for less money?
4. What did the leaders say about bringing in apples from America?
5. Why is it hard for the people in Kashmir to move the apples to other places?
6. What do the people in Kashmir want the leaders to do to help them?
7. Why do the people who grow apples need the money from selling apples?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Apples in a place called Kashmir are having a big problem. There are too (1)______ bad things happening to the apples like (2)______, strange weather, and money troubles. Many apples are not looking good and there are too many bad (3)______. The weather is making it hard to move the apples to other places. Big rocks fall and (4)______ the road.

People who grow apples are very sad and worried. They need the money from selling apples to live and (5)______ their families. But now, apples from a far place called Iran are being sold for less money. The leaders of the place said it’s (6)______ to bring in apples from a place called America without paying extra money. This makes it even harder for the (7)______ who grow apples in Kashmir. They want the leaders to help them and make sure the things they use to keep the apples (8)______ are good.
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Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is happening to the apples in Kashmir?
2. How do you think the people who grow apples feel about the bad things happening?
3. Do you like apples? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you couldn’t sell the apples you grew?
5. What do the people in Kashmir need the money from selling apples for?
6. Do you think it’s fair that apples from Iran are being sold for less money?
7. How do you think the people who grow apples in Kashmir feel about the apples from America?
8. What do the people in Kashmir want the leaders to do?
9. What do you think the leaders could do to help the people who grow apples?
10. Do you think it’s important for the apples to be healthy? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the weather affects the apples?
12. What can the people do to move the apples if the road is blocked by big rocks?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. apples
2. Kashmir
3. sickness
4. weather
5. money
6. rocks
7. people
8. leaders
9. healthy
10. worried

Meanings:
(A) Feeling scared or nervous
(B) Feeling bad or not well
(C) The coins and paper that you use to buy things
(D) The people who make the rules and tell others what to do
(E) A place where the apples are grown
(F) Being in good shape and not sick
(G) The humans who live in a place
(H) The things that happen outside like rain and sun
(I) Big, hard things that come from the mountains
(J) Round, red fruit that you can eat
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is happening to the apples in Kashmir?
(a) They are getting sick and looking bad
(b) They are growing too big
(c) They are turning into oranges
(d) They are disappearing

2. Why is it hard to move the apples to other places?
(a) The apples are too heavy
(b) The apples are too small
(c) The road is too bumpy
(d) Big rocks fall and block the road

3. Why are the people who grow apples sad and worried?
(a) They don’t like apples anymore
(b) They want to grow oranges instead
(c) They need money from selling apples to live and help their families
(d) They want to move to a different place

4. Where are the apples being sold for less money?
(a) America
(b) France
(c) China
(d) Iran

5. What are the leaders of Kashmir allowing to be brought in without extra money?
(a) Apples from America
(b) Oranges from Iran
(c) Bananas from France
(d) Grapes from China

6. Why is it even harder for the people who grow apples in Kashmir?
(a) Because the weather is bad
(b) Because apples from America are being sold for less money
(c) Because the leaders don’t like apples
(d) Because the apples are too big

7. What do the people who grow apples want the leaders to do?
(a) Stop selling apples from America
(b) Move to a different place
(c) Help them and make sure the things they use to keep the apples healthy are good
(d) Grow oranges instead

8. What is the main problem facing the apples in Kashmir?
(a) They are too big
(b) Sickness, strange weather, and money troubles
(c) They are disappearing
(d) They are turning into oranges

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The apples don’t look good and there are too many bad ones.
2. There are many problems happening to the apples in Kashmir.
3. They need money from selling oranges to live and help their families.
4. The leaders need to help the apple growers and make sure their things are good.
5. The apples are getting sick and the weather is strange.
6. Oranges from Iran are being sold for more money.
7. The people who grow apples are happy and confident.
8. It’s easy to move the oranges because big rocks fall and block the road.
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 apples in Kashmir?
2. Why are the people who grow apples sad and worried?
3. Where are the apples being sold for less money?
4. What are the leaders of Kashmir allowing to be brought in without extra money?
5. What do the people who grow apples want the leaders to do?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some bad things happening to the apples in Kashmir?
The apples in Kashmir are getting sick, the weather is strange, and there are too many bad apples.

2. Why are the people who grow apples sad and worried?
The people who grow apples are sad and worried because they need to sell the apples to make money for their families, but there are too many problems with the apples.

3. Where are the apples being sold for less money?
The apples from Iran are being sold for less money.

4. What did the leaders say about bringing in apples from America?
The leaders said it’s okay to bring in apples from America without paying extra money.

5. Why is it hard for the people in Kashmir to move the apples to other places?
It is hard for the people in Kashmir to move the apples to other places because big rocks fall and block the road.

6. What do the people in Kashmir want the leaders to do to help them?
The people in Kashmir want the leaders to help them and make sure the things they use to keep the apples healthy are good.

7. Why do the people who grow apples need the money from selling apples?
The people who grow apples need the money from selling apples to live and help their families.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) many
(2) sickness
(3) apples
(4) block
(5) help
(6) okay
(7) people
(8) healthy
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. apples
Answer: (J) Round, red fruit that you can eat

2. Kashmir
Answer: (E) A place where the apples are grown

3. sickness
Answer: (B) Feeling bad or not well

4. weather
Answer: (H) The things that happen outside like rain and sun

5. money
Answer: (C) The coins and paper that you use to buy things

6. rocks
Answer: (I) Big, hard things that come from the mountains

7. people
Answer: (G) The humans who live in a place

8. leaders
Answer: (D) The people who make the rules and tell others what to do

9. healthy
Answer: (F) Being in good shape and not sick

10. worried
Answer: (A) Feeling scared or nervous
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is happening to the apples in Kashmir?
Answer: (a) They are getting sick and looking bad

2. Why is it hard to move the apples to other places?
Answer: (d) Big rocks fall and block the road

3. Why are the people who grow apples sad and worried?
Answer: (c) They need money from selling apples to live and help their families

4. Where are the apples being sold for less money?
Answer: (d) Iran

5. What are the leaders of Kashmir allowing to be brought in without extra money?
Answer: (a) Apples from America

6. Why is it even harder for the people who grow apples in Kashmir?
Answer: (b) Because apples from America are being sold for less money

7. What do the people who grow apples want the leaders to do?
Answer: (c) Help them and make sure the things they use to keep the apples healthy are good

8. What is the main problem facing the apples in Kashmir?
Answer: (b) Sickness, strange weather, and money troubles
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The apples don’t look good and there are too many bad ones. (Answer: True)
2. There are many problems happening to the apples in Kashmir. (Answer: True)
3. They need money from selling oranges to live and help their families. (Answer: False)
4. The leaders need to help the apple growers and make sure their things are good. (Answer: True)
5. The apples are getting sick and the weather is strange. (Answer: True)
6. Oranges from Iran are being sold for more money. (Answer: False)
7. The people who grow apples are happy and confident. (Answer: False)
8. It’s easy to move the oranges because big rocks fall and block the road. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧