Some people who were working in a big hole in the ground got stuck because the ground fell down on them. They were stuck for many days, more than two weeks. People outside talked to them and gave them air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink. They waited a long time to be saved. Then, people came to help them get out.

When the workers came out of the hole, someone made a video of them. They were in the hole from November 12 until November 28. People who helped them made sure they had everything they needed and were safe. The workers are now free because the people who saved them worked very hard and knew what to do. Everyone is happy that the workers are safe now.

Original news source: Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Moment Indian workers freed after weeks (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Choose a few key words from the article (e.g. hole, stuck, saved) and write them on small pieces of paper. One person from each group will pick a word and act it out without speaking, while the rest of the group tries to guess the word. Rotate roles within the group until everyone has had a turn.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have the students take turns summarizing the article. They should try to include the main events and key details. Encourage them to use their own words and keep their summaries concise.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students to form pairs or small groups. Have them discuss and answer the following question based on the article: “How do you think the workers felt while they were stuck in the hole?” After the discussion, each group can share their opinions and reasons with the class, or you can have a class-wide discussion.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a few key words from the article on the board (e.g. hole, stuck, saved). Divide the class into small groups and give each group a piece of paper and markers. One person from each group will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it, while the rest of the group tries to guess the word. Rotate roles within the group until everyone has had a turn.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2 minutes and have one student in each pair read the article silently. When the timer starts, the other student must summarize the article as quickly as possible, using their own words. After 2 minutes, have the pairs switch roles and repeat the activity.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to the people who were working in the big hole?
2. How long were the people stuck in the hole?
3. What did the people outside give to the workers?
4. How long did the workers wait to be saved?
5. What did someone do when the workers came out of the hole?
6. How long were the workers in the hole for?
7. Why is everyone happy now?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some (1)______ who were working in a big hole in the ground got stuck because the ground fell down on them. They were stuck for (2)______ days, more than two weeks. People outside (3)______ to them and (4)______ them air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink. They waited a long time to be saved. Then, people came to help them get out.

When the workers came out of the hole, someone made a (5)______ of them. They were in the hole from November 12 until November 28. People who (6)______ them made sure they had everything they needed and were (7)______. The workers are now (8)______ because the people who saved them worked very hard and knew what to do. Everyone is happy that the workers are safe now.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think it would feel like to be stuck in a big hole?
2. How would you feel if you were stuck in a hole for many days?
3. Do you like being outside or inside better? Why?
4. What do you think the workers ate while they were stuck in the hole?
5. How would you feel if someone gave you air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink?
6. Do you think it was scary for the workers to be stuck in the hole? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the workers did to pass the time while they were stuck?
8. How do you think the workers felt when they were finally saved?
9. Do you like watching videos? Why or why not?
10. What do you think the people who saved the workers had to do to help them?
11. How would you feel if you were the person who made the video of the workers coming out of the hole?
12. Do you think it’s important to help people when they are in trouble? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. hole
2. stuck
3. ground
4. breathe
5. food
6. water
7. video
8. safe

Meanings:
(a) Not able to move or get out
(b) Something you drink to stay alive
(c) Not in danger or harm
(d) Something you eat to stay alive
(e) The dirt or surface that you walk on
(f) A deep, empty space in the earth
(g) Taking air into your body
(h) A moving picture that you can watch
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How long were the workers stuck in the hole?
(a) More than two weeks
(b) One day
(c) One hour
(d) One month

2. What did people give the workers while they were stuck?
(a) Air, food, and water
(b) Toys and games
(c) Books and magazines
(d) Clothes and shoes

3. When did the workers come out of the hole?
(a) November 12
(b) December 1
(c) October 31
(d) November 28

4. What did someone do when the workers came out of the hole?
(a) Took a picture of them
(b) Made a video of them
(c) Gave them a hug
(d) Gave them a medal

5. What did the people who helped the workers make sure of?
(a) They had lots of money
(b) They had new clothes
(c) They had everything they needed and were safe
(d) They had a big party

6. Why are the workers free now?
(a) Because they found a secret door
(b) Because the people who saved them worked very hard and knew what to do
(c) Because they climbed out by themselves
(d) Because they used a magic spell

7. How did everyone feel when the workers were safe?
(a) Sad
(b) Angry
(c) Scared
(d) Happy

8. What did the workers do when they came out of the hole?
(a) Went back to work in the hole
(b) Went on a vacation
(c) Celebrated and thanked the people who saved them
(d) Cried and hugged each other

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The people who endangered them neglected their needs and put them in danger.
2. No one bothered to film the workers when they emerged from the hole.
3. People outside talked to them and gave them air, food, and water.
4. Ultimately, no one came to assist them in getting out.
5. The workers were stuck in the hole from November 12 to November 28.
6. Some people were working in a big hole and got stuck when the ground fell down on them.
7. They were stuck in the hole for more than two weeks.
8. They were promptly saved without any time to wait.
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 happened to the people who were working in the big hole?
2. How long were the people stuck in the hole?
3. What did the people outside give to the workers?
4. How long did the workers have to wait to be saved?
5. Why are people happy now?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to the people who were working in the big hole?
They got stuck because the ground fell down on them.

2. How long were the people stuck in the hole?
They were stuck for more than two weeks, from November 12 until November 28.

3. What did the people outside give to the workers?
They gave them air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink.

4. How long did the workers wait to be saved?
They waited a long time to be saved.

5. What did someone do when the workers came out of the hole?
Someone made a video of them.

6. How long were the workers in the hole for?
They were in the hole for more than two weeks, from November 12 until November 28.

7. Why is everyone happy now?
Everyone is happy now because the workers are safe and free.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) many
(3) talked
(4) gave
(5) video
(6) helped
(7) safe
(8) free
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. hole
Answer: (f) A deep, empty space in the earth

2. stuck
Answer: (a) Not able to move or get out

3. ground
Answer: (e) The dirt or surface that you walk on

4. breathe
Answer: (g) Taking air into your body

5. food
Answer: (d) Something you eat to stay alive

6. water
Answer: (b) Something you drink to stay alive

7. video
Answer: (h) A moving picture that you can watch

8. safe
Answer: (c) Not in danger or harm
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How long were the workers stuck in the hole?
Answer: (a) More than two weeks

2. What did people give the workers while they were stuck?
Answer: (a) Air, food, and water

3. When did the workers come out of the hole?
Answer: (d) November 28

4. What did someone do when the workers came out of the hole?
Answer: (b) Made a video of them

5. What did the people who helped the workers make sure of?
Answer: (c) They had everything they needed and were safe

6. Why are the workers free now?
Answer: (b) Because the people who saved them worked very hard and knew what to do

7. How did everyone feel when the workers were safe?
Answer: (d) Happy

8. What did the workers do when they came out of the hole?
Answer: (c) Celebrated and thanked the people who saved them
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The people who endangered them neglected their needs and put them in danger. (Answer: False)
2. No one bothered to film the workers when they emerged from the hole. (Answer: False)
3. People outside talked to them and gave them air, food, and water. (Answer: True)
4. Ultimately, no one came to assist them in getting out. (Answer: False)
5. The workers were stuck in the hole from November 12 to November 28. (Answer: True)
6. Some people were working in a big hole and got stuck when the ground fell down on them. (Answer: True)
7. They were stuck in the hole for more than two weeks. (Answer: True)
8. They were promptly saved without any time to wait. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧