There is a big train project in Mexico called the Tren Maya. It is a long train track that will help bring more visitors and money to the area. But people who care about nature are worried. They say the work is hurting the trees and animals, like jaguars and colorful birds.

The train is costing a lot of money, more than was planned. Mexico’s president thinks it’s a very important project. But some people think he just wants to build something big to show off. The train is also causing problems for people living near it. Some people got money for their land, but others lost their farms and didn’t get anything.

The president of Mexico has big plans for trains. He wants to fix old tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country. He thinks this is very important for Mexico. But some people are worried that building too fast might ruin special places and the history of the area.

Original news source: Tren Maya: Mexico’s Yucatán mega train – world beating or environmental disaster? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article individually or in pairs. Then, ask them to write a summary of the article in their own words, focusing on the main points and key details. After they have finished, have a class discussion where students can share their summaries and compare their understanding of the article.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. train project, jaguars, farms, history). One student from each group will choose a word and draw a picture representing that word, while the other group members try to guess what it is. Encourage students to use English to describe or explain their drawings.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Assign one student to argue in favor of the Tren Maya project, and the other to argue against it. Give them a few minutes to brainstorm their arguments, using the information from the article. Then, have a debate where each student presents their arguments, taking turns to speak. Encourage them to use English expressions for giving opinions, such as “I believe that…” or “In my opinion…”.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about the potential benefits and drawbacks of the Tren Maya project individually. After a few minutes, have them pair up with a classmate to discuss their thoughts. Encourage them to use English to express their opinions and reasons. Finally, ask some pairs to share their ideas with the whole class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs or small groups. Ask them to imagine that they are in the future, 10 years from now, and the Tren Maya project has been completed. Then, have them discuss and write down their predictions about the impact of the project on the environment, economy, and local communities. After they have finished, ask some groups to share their predictions with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the Tren Maya?
2. Why are some people worried about the Tren Maya?
3. Why does Mexico’s president think the Tren Maya is important?
4. What problems is the Tren Maya causing for people living near it?
5. What are the big plans of Mexico’s president for trains?
6. Why are some people worried about building new train tracks too fast?
7. How are the trees and animals being affected by the Tren Maya?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There is a big (1)______ project in Mexico called the (2)______ Maya. It is a (3)______ train track that will help bring more visitors and money to the area. But people who care about nature are worried. They say the work is hurting the trees and animals, like jaguars and colorful birds.

The train is costing a lot of money, more than was planned. Mexico’s president thinks it’s a very important (4)______. But some (5)______ think he just wants to (6)______ something big to show off. The train is also (7)______ problems for people living near it. Some people got money for their (8)______, but others (9)______ their farms and didn’t get anything.

The president of Mexico has big plans for trains. He wants to fix old tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country. He (10)______ this is very important for Mexico. But some people are worried that (11)______ too fast might (12)______ special places and the history of the area.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is the Tren Maya?
2. How do you think the train track is affecting the trees and animals?
3. Do you think it’s important for Mexico to have a big train project? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you had to give up your land for a train project?
5. Do you think the president just wants to show off by building the train? Why or why not?
6. What do you think about the president’s plans to fix old tracks and make new ones?
7. How do you think building too fast could ruin special places and history?
8. Do you like trains? Why or why not?
9. How do you think the train will bring more visitors and money to the area?
10. Would you be worried about the train project if you cared about nature? Why or why not?
11. What do you think about the people who got money for their land but others lost their farms?
12. Do you think it’s more important to have a big train project or to protect nature? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. project
2. visitors
3. jaguars
4. colorful
5. costing
6. important
7. build
8. farms
9. plans
10. tracks
11. carrying
12. history

Meanings:
(A) To make something by putting materials together
(B) Pieces of land used for growing food
(C) Very special or needed
(D) Using money to pay for something
(E) Ideas about what someone wants to do in the future
(F) A special job or task that someone is doing
(G) Paths laid down for trains to run on
(H) Big wild cats with spots
(I) People who come to see a place
(J) Moving something from one place to another
(K) Stories about the past
(L) Having many bright colors
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the train project in Mexico?
(a) Tren Mexico
(b) Tren Jaguar
(c) Tren Colorful
(d) Tren Maya

2. What is the main concern of people who care about nature?
(a) The train is costing a lot of money
(b) The president wants to show off
(c) The work is hurting the trees and animals
(d) The train is causing problems for people living near it

3. Why does Mexico’s president think the train project is important?
(a) It will help fix old tracks
(b) It will ruin special places and the history of the area
(c) It will bring more visitors and money to the area
(d) It will help carry things across the country

4. What are some of the animals that are being affected by the train project?
(a) Jaguars and colorful birds
(b) Monkeys and snakes
(c) Elephants and tigers
(d) Dolphins and sharks

5. What is one problem that people living near the train project are facing?
(a) Some people got money for their land
(b) Some people lost their farms and didn’t get anything
(c) The train is costing a lot of money
(d) The train is hurting the trees and animals

6. What are the president’s plans for trains in Mexico?
(a) To build more houses near the train tracks
(b) To fix old tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country
(c) To build a big train station in the capital city
(d) To stop all train projects in Mexico

7. What are some concerns about building too fast?
(a) It might ruin special places and the history of the area
(b) It might bring more visitors and money to the area
(c) It might help fix old tracks
(d) It might hurt the trees and animals

8. What is the purpose of the Tren Maya project?
(a) To build something big to show off
(b) To fix old tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country
(c) To hurt the trees and animals in the area
(d) To bring more visitors and money to the area

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Some people think the president just wants to build something big to gain attention.
2. Mexico’s president thinks the Tren Maya is a very important project.
3. The Tren Maya is not causing problems for people living near it.
4. The Tren Maya is a long train track that will bring more visitors and money to the area.
5. The train project is costing more money than was planned.
6. The president of Mexico has plans to fix old train tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country.
7. People who care about nature are not concerned about the Tren Maya as it is not affecting trees and animals, like jaguars and colorful birds.
8. There is a bus project in Mexico called the Tren Maya.
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 the big train project in Mexico called?
2. Why are some people worried about the Tren Maya?
3. Why does Mexico’s president think the train project is important?
4. What problems has the train caused for people living near it?
5. What are the president’s plans for trains in Mexico?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the Tren Maya?
The Tren Maya is a big train project in Mexico. It is a long train track that will bring more visitors and money to the area.

2. Why are some people worried about the Tren Maya?
Some people are worried because they think the work is hurting the trees and animals, like jaguars and colorful birds.

3. Why does Mexico’s president think the Tren Maya is important?
Mexico’s president thinks the Tren Maya is important because it will bring more visitors and money to the area. He also wants to fix old tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country.

4. What problems is the Tren Maya causing for people living near it?
The Tren Maya is causing problems for people living near it. Some people got money for their land, but others lost their farms and didn’t get anything.

5. What are the big plans of Mexico’s president for trains?
Mexico’s president has big plans for trains. He wants to fix old tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country.

6. Why are some people worried about building new train tracks too fast?
Some people are worried that building new train tracks too fast might ruin special places and the history of the area.

7. How are the trees and animals being affected by the Tren Maya?
The trees and animals are being affected by the Tren Maya. Some people think the work is hurting the trees and animals, like jaguars and colorful birds.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) train
(2) Tren
(3) long
(4) project
(5) people
(6) build
(7) causing
(8) land
(9) lost
(10) thinks
(11) building
(12) ruin
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. project
Answer: (F) A special job or task that someone is doing

2. visitors
Answer: (I) People who come to see a place

3. jaguars
Answer: (H) Big wild cats with spots

4. colorful
Answer: (L) Having many bright colors

5. costing
Answer: (D) Using money to pay for something

6. important
Answer: (C) Very special or needed

7. build
Answer: (A) To make something by putting materials together

8. farms
Answer: (B) Pieces of land used for growing food

9. plans
Answer: (E) Ideas about what someone wants to do in the future

10. tracks
Answer: (G) Paths laid down for trains to run on

11. carrying
Answer: (J) Moving something from one place to another

12. history
Answer: (K) Stories about the past
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the train project in Mexico?
Answer: (d) Tren Maya

2. What is the main concern of people who care about nature?
Answer: (c) The work is hurting the trees and animals

3. Why does Mexico’s president think the train project is important?
Answer: (c) It will bring more visitors and money to the area

4. What are some of the animals that are being affected by the train project?
Answer: (a) Jaguars and colorful birds

5. What is one problem that people living near the train project are facing?
Answer: (b) Some people lost their farms and didn’t get anything

6. What are the president’s plans for trains in Mexico?
Answer: (b) To fix old tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country

7. What are some concerns about building too fast?
Answer: (a) It might ruin special places and the history of the area

8. What is the purpose of the Tren Maya project?
Answer: (d) To bring more visitors and money to the area
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Some people think the president just wants to build something big to gain attention. (Answer: False)
2. Mexico’s president thinks the Tren Maya is a very important project. (Answer: True)
3. The Tren Maya is not causing problems for people living near it. (Answer: False)
4. The Tren Maya is a long train track that will bring more visitors and money to the area. (Answer: True)
5. The train project is costing more money than was planned. (Answer: True)
6. The president of Mexico has plans to fix old train tracks and make new ones for carrying things across the country. (Answer: True)
7. People who care about nature are not concerned about the Tren Maya as it is not affecting trees and animals, like jaguars and colorful birds. (Answer: False)
8. There is a bus project in Mexico called the Tren Maya. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧