This morning, people going to work in New Jersey had to wait because a bull was on the train tracks. No one knows how the bull got there, but it might have run away from a place where animals are kept before they are used for meat. Police and other groups worked together to catch the bull, make it sleep, and take it to a safe place where animals are protected. No one was hurt.

Because of the bull, trains in New Jersey did not run on time, and this made it hard for people to get to work. This shows that people need to be more careful to stop things like this from happening again. People are also asking if the places where animals are kept before they are used for meat are safe enough because the bull was able to get out and walk onto the train tracks.

In the end, the bull was caught and is now living in a place where it will be looked after. This story tells us that it is important to take good care of animals and to make sure they are kept in places where they cannot get out. It also shows that when something strange happens, different groups of people who work to keep us safe can work well together to help animals and people.

Original news source: Bull spotted galloping down New Jersey train tracks (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a few minutes to read the article. Then, ask each pair to summarize the article in their own words. Afterward, have a few pairs share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the class to form small groups. Give each group a few minutes to discuss their opinions on the article. Then, have each group choose a spokesperson to present their opinions to the class. Encourage the class to ask questions and engage in a discussion about the topic.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a word from the list and ask them to draw a picture to represent the word. The other groups should try to guess the word based on the drawing. Encourage the use of English vocabulary during the activity.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Choose a few keywords from the article and write a series of dashes on the board to represent each letter of the word. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Have one person from each group come to the board and guess a letter. If the letter is in the word, write it in the correct position. If the letter is not in the word, start drawing a hangman. The group that correctly guesses the keyword wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the class to take a moment to think about the article. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their thoughts and opinions on the topic. After a few minutes, ask a few pairs to share their thoughts with the class. Encourage the use of English during the discussion.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did people have to wait this morning in New Jersey?
2. How did the bull get on the train tracks?
3. What did the police and other groups do to catch the bull?
4. Why were the trains in New Jersey not running on time?
5. What are people asking about the places where animals are kept before they are used for meat?
6. Where is the bull living now?
7. What does this story teach us about taking care of animals and working together to help others?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

This morning, people going to work in New Jersey had to (1)______ because a bull was on the train (2)______. No one knows how the bull got there, but it might have run away from a place where animals are kept before they are used for meat. Police and other (3)______ worked together to catch the bull, make it sleep, and take it to a safe place where animals are (4)______. No one was hurt.

Because of the bull, trains in New (5)______ did not run on time, and this made it hard for people to get to work. This shows that people need to be more careful to stop (6)______ like this from happening again. People are also (7)______ if the places where animals are kept before they are used for meat are safe enough because the bull was able to get out and (8)______ onto the train tracks.

In the end, the bull was (9)______ and is now living in a place where it will be looked after. This story tells us that it is important to take good care of animals and to make sure they are kept in places where they cannot get out. It also shows that when something (10)______ happens, different groups of people who (11)______ to keep us (12)______ can work well together to help animals and people.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a bull?
2. How would you feel if you saw a bull on the train tracks?
3. Do you like animals? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to take good care of animals? Why or why not?
5. What do you think the bull was feeling when it was on the train tracks?
6. Have you ever seen a wild animal? How did it make you feel?
7. How do you think the police and other groups caught the bull?
8. Do you think the places where animals are kept before they are used for meat are safe enough? Why or why not?
9. What would you do if you saw a wild animal in a place it shouldn’t be?
10. How do you think the people felt when the trains didn’t run on time because of the bull?
11. Have you ever had a strange experience? Can you tell us about it?
12. Why do you think it’s important for different groups of people to work together to help animals and people?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. bull
2. tracks
3. police
4. capture
5. tranquilize
6. sanctuary
7. unharmed
8. punctual
9. cautious
10. facilities
11. escaped
12. cooperation

Meanings:
(A) A big animal that is often found on farms
(B) The metal rails that trains move on
(C) The people who help keep us safe and make sure rules are followed
(D) Places built for a specific purpose, like where animals live
(E) Working together with others to get something done
(F) Got out or ran away from where it was supposed to be
(G) Being careful to avoid danger or mistakes
(H) To catch something or someone
(I) Being on time
(J) To make someone or something calm or go to sleep with medicine
(K) A safe place where people take care of animals or someone can go to feel peaceful
(L) Not hurt
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did people in New Jersey have to wait this morning?
(a) The trains were not running.
(b) A bull was on the train tracks.
(c) There was a big storm.
(d) The roads were closed.

2. How did the bull get onto the train tracks?
(a) It is not known.
(b) It jumped over a fence.
(c) It walked through a tunnel.
(d) It was put there by someone.

3. What did the police and other groups do to catch the bull?
(a) They called for help.
(b) They worked together.
(c) They ran away.
(d) They hid in a building.

4. Why were trains in New Jersey delayed?
(a) Because of bad weather.
(b) Because of a train crash.
(c) Because of the bull.
(d) Because of construction work.

5. What are people asking about the places where animals are kept?
(a) If they have enough food.
(b) If they are too expensive.
(c) If they are safe enough.
(d) If they are too small.

6. Where is the bull living now?
(a) On the train tracks.
(b) In a zoo.
(c) In a farm.
(d) In a safe place.

7. What does this story tell us about taking care of animals?
(a) It is not important.
(b) It is easy.
(c) It is difficult.
(d) It is important.

8. What does this story show about different groups of people?
(a) They can work well together.
(b) They cannot work well together.
(c) They do not like each other.
(d) They do not care about animals.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The bull was eventually caught and is now living in a safe place where it will be taken care of.
2. The bull’s presence caused no delays in train schedules, making it easy for people to get to work.
3. The police and other groups worked together to catch the bull and take it to a safe place.
4. A bull was found on the train tracks in New Jersey this morning.
5. This incident obscures the need for people to be more careful to prevent similar situations from happening again.
6. This story downplays the importance of taking good care of animals and ensuring they are kept in secure locations. It also shows that different groups cannot work together effectively to help both animals and people in unusual situations.
7. It is not known how the bull got there, but it might have escaped from a place where animals are kept before being used for meat.
8. People are confirming the safety of the places where animals are kept before being used for meat, as the bull was unable to escape and walk onto the train tracks.
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 in New Jersey that made it difficult for people to get to work?
2. How did the police and other groups help with the situation?
3. Why are people questioning the safety of the places where animals are kept before they are used for meat?
4. Where is the bull now living?
5. What does this story teach us about taking care of animals and working together to help others?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did people have to wait this morning in New Jersey?
People had to wait because a bull was on the train tracks.

2. How did the bull get on the train tracks?
It is not known how the bull got on the train tracks, but it may have run away from a place where animals are kept before they are used for meat.

3. What did the police and other groups do to catch the bull?
The police and other groups worked together to catch the bull, make it sleep, and take it to a safe place where animals are protected.

4. Why were the trains in New Jersey not running on time?
The trains were not running on time because of the bull on the train tracks.

5. What are people asking about the places where animals are kept before they are used for meat?
People are asking if the places where animals are kept before they are used for meat are safe enough because the bull was able to get out and walk onto the train tracks.

6. Where is the bull living now?
The bull is living in a place where it will be looked after.

7. What does this story teach us about taking care of animals and working together to help others?
This story teaches us that it is important to take good care of animals and to make sure they are kept in places where they cannot get out. It also shows that different groups of people who work to keep us safe can work well together to help animals and people.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) wait
(2) tracks
(3) groups
(4) protected
(5) Jersey
(6) things
(7) asking
(8) walk
(9) caught
(10) strange
(11) work
(12) safe
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. bull
Answer: (A) A big animal that is often found on farms

2. tracks
Answer: (B) The metal rails that trains move on

3. police
Answer: (C) The people who help keep us safe and make sure rules are followed

4. capture
Answer: (H) To catch something or someone

5. tranquilize
Answer: (J) To make someone or something calm or go to sleep with medicine

6. sanctuary
Answer: (K) A safe place where people take care of animals or someone can go to feel peaceful

7. unharmed
Answer: (L) Not hurt

8. punctual
Answer: (I) Being on time

9. cautious
Answer: (G) Being careful to avoid danger or mistakes

10. facilities
Answer: (D) Places built for a specific purpose, like where animals live

11. escaped
Answer: (F) Got out or ran away from where it was supposed to be

12. cooperation
Answer: (E) Working together with others to get something done
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did people in New Jersey have to wait this morning?
Answer: (b) A bull was on the train tracks.

2. How did the bull get onto the train tracks?
Answer: (a) It is not known.

3. What did the police and other groups do to catch the bull?
Answer: (b) They worked together.

4. Why were trains in New Jersey delayed?
Answer: (c) Because of the bull.

5. What are people asking about the places where animals are kept?
Answer: (c) If they are safe enough.

6. Where is the bull living now?
Answer: (d) In a safe place.

7. What does this story tell us about taking care of animals?
Answer: (d) It is important.

8. What does this story show about different groups of people?
Answer: (a) They can work well together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The bull was eventually caught and is now living in a safe place where it will be taken care of. (Answer: True)
2. The bull’s presence caused no delays in train schedules, making it easy for people to get to work. (Answer: False)
3. The police and other groups worked together to catch the bull and take it to a safe place. (Answer: True)
4. A bull was found on the train tracks in New Jersey this morning. (Answer: True)
5. This incident obscures the need for people to be more careful to prevent similar situations from happening again. (Answer: False)
6. This story downplays the importance of taking good care of animals and ensuring they are kept in secure locations. It also shows that different groups cannot work together effectively to help both animals and people in unusual situations. (Answer: False)
7. It is not known how the bull got there, but it might have escaped from a place where animals are kept before being used for meat. (Answer: True)
8. People are confirming the safety of the places where animals are kept before being used for meat, as the bull was unable to escape and walk onto the train tracks. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧