In Brazil, it’s very hot right now, hotter than it’s ever been before in November. A lot of places are being told to be careful because of the heat. In Rio de Janeiro, it was so hot that it felt like it was almost 60 degrees Celsius. Many people are using more electricity to try to stay cool.

People say the heat is because of something called El Niño and changes in the weather of the whole world. It’s so hot that it’s dangerous for people’s health. The hot weather might stay until the end of the week. Everyone is trying to find ways to not be too hot.

Because it’s so hot, Brazil is using a lot of power. Everyone wants to keep their homes cool. The heat is because of El Niño and changes in the world’s weather. This hot weather is a big problem for more than 100 million people in Brazil.

Original news source: Brazil: Health warnings as country gripped by ‘unbearable’ heatwave (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will work in pairs. One student will summarize the article in their own words, while the other listens carefully. After summarizing, the listener will ask two questions about the summary to ensure understanding. Then, students will switch roles.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article, such as “The heat in Brazil is a serious problem” or “Using more electricity is the best solution to stay cool.” Students will walk around the classroom and ask their classmates whether they agree or disagree with each statement, tallying the results. Afterward, discuss the results as a class and whether students’ opinions are different or similar.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article on slips of paper (e.g., hot, electricity, cool, El Niño, weather, dangerous, health). Students will be divided into two teams. One student from each team will draw a word for their team to guess. The team that guesses the word first gets a point. Continue until all words have been drawn and guessed.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Write a list of words from the article on the board (e.g., hot, dangerous, health, electricity, weather). Divide students into two teams. One member from each team will come to the board and write a synonym for one of the words. Teams earn points for correct synonyms that are different from the other team’s answers. Repeat until all words have been used.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Based on the article, students will write three predictions about the situation in Brazil. For example, “The heat will cause more people to buy air conditioners.” Students will then share their predictions with a partner and discuss the likelihood of these predictions happening and the potential consequences for Brazil and the world.

Comprehension Questions:

1. How hot is it in Brazil right now?
2. What are people in Brazil being told to do because of the heat?
3. How hot did it feel in Rio de Janeiro?
4. Why are people using more electricity?
5. What are two reasons given for the heat in Brazil?
6. How long might the hot weather last?
7. How many people in Brazil are affected by the hot weather?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In Brazil, it’s very hot right now, hotter than it’s ever been before in November. A lot of places are being (1)______ to be careful because of the heat. In Rio de (2)______, it was so hot that it (3)______ like it was almost 60 degrees Celsius. (4)______ people are using (5)______ electricity to try to stay cool.

People say the (6)______ is because of something called El Niño and changes in the weather of the whole world. It’s so hot that it’s dangerous for people’s (7)______. The hot (8)______ might stay until the end of the week. Everyone is (9)______ to find ways to not be too hot.

Because it’s so hot, Brazil is using a lot of power. Everyone wants to (10)______ their (11)______ cool. The heat is because of El Niño and changes in the world’s weather. This hot weather is a big (12)______ for more than 100 million people in Brazil.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is El Niño?
2. How would you feel if it was almost 60 degrees Celsius where you live?
3. Do you like hot weather? Why or why not?
4. What do you do to stay cool when it is very hot outside?
5. Do you think it’s important to save electricity? Why or why not?
6. Have you ever felt too hot? What did you do?
7. Why do you think the weather is changing?
8. Do you think very hot weather can be dangerous? Why?
9. How do you think people can stay safe in hot weather?
10. What is your favorite way to cool down in the summer?
11. Do you use air conditioning or a fan when it’s hot? Which one and why?
12. Do you think we should worry about changes in the weather? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Brazil
2. hot
3. November
4. electricity
5. health
6. power
7. homes
8. problem

Meanings:
(a) A form of energy that can be used to light up homes and power machines
(b) Very warm or high temperature
(c) A difficult situation or challenge
(d) A country in South America known for its rainforests and soccer
(e) The place where people live
(f) The ability to do work or produce energy
(g) The eleventh month of the year
(h) The state of being physically and mentally well
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are people in Brazil being told to be careful?
(a) Because it’s very cold
(b) Because it’s raining a lot
(c) Because it’s snowing a lot
(d) Because it’s very hot

2. How hot did it feel in Rio de Janeiro?
(a) Almost 60 degrees Celsius
(b) Almost 10 degrees Celsius
(c) Almost 30 degrees Celsius
(d) Almost 90 degrees Celsius

3. What is causing the hot weather in Brazil?
(a) Snowstorms and blizzards
(b) Tornadoes and hurricanes
(c) El Niño and changes in the world’s weather
(d) Earthquakes and tsunamis

4. How long might the hot weather last?
(a) Until the end of the month
(b) Until the end of the year
(c) Until the end of next year
(d) Until the end of the week

5. Why are people using more electricity?
(a) To stay warm
(b) To stay cool
(c) To conserve energy
(d) To save money

6. How many people in Brazil are affected by the hot weather?
(a) Less than 10 million
(b) Exactly 50 million
(c) More than 100 million
(d) Exactly 200 million

7. What is the main problem caused by the hot weather?
(a) It’s dangerous for animals’ health
(b) It’s dangerous for people’s health
(c) It’s dangerous for the environment
(d) It’s dangerous for buildings

8. What are people trying to do to cope with the hot weather?
(a) Find ways to not be too hot
(b) Find ways to make it even hotter
(c) Find ways to make it rain more
(d) Find ways to make it snow more

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Many people are using less electricity in order to stay cool.
2. The hot weather may continue until the end of the week.
3. Right now, Brazil is experiencing extremely hot weather, hotter than ever before in November.
4. The extreme heat is safe for people’s health.
5. People are being warned to be careful because of the intense heat.
6. Fewer than 100 million people in Brazil are affected by this problem.
7. In Rio de Janeiro, the temperature felt like it was almost 60 degrees Celsius.
8. The hot weather is not believed to be caused by something called El Niño and changes in the world’s weather.
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. How hot is it in Brazil right now?
2. What city in Brazil felt almost like 60 degrees Celsius?
3. Why do people think it is so hot in Brazil?
4. How long might the hot weather last?
5. What are people in Brazil doing because of the heat?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How hot is it in Brazil right now?
It is very hot in Brazil, hotter than it has ever been in November.

2. What are people in Brazil being told to do because of the heat?
People are being told to be careful because of the heat.

3. How hot did it feel in Rio de Janeiro?
In Rio de Janeiro, it felt like it was almost 60 degrees Celsius.

4. Why are people using more electricity?
People are using more electricity to try to stay cool.

5. What are two reasons given for the heat in Brazil?
The heat is because of El Niño and changes in the world’s weather.

6. How long might the hot weather last?
The hot weather might stay until the end of the week.

7. How many people in Brazil are affected by the hot weather?
The hot weather is a big problem for more than 100 million people in Brazil.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) told
(2) Janeiro
(3) felt
(4) Many
(5) more
(6) heat
(7) health
(8) weather
(9) trying
(10) keep
(11) homes
(12) problem
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Brazil
Answer: (d) A country in South America known for its rainforests and soccer

2. hot
Answer: (b) Very warm or high temperature

3. November
Answer: (g) The eleventh month of the year

4. electricity
Answer: (a) A form of energy that can be used to light up homes and power machines

5. health
Answer: (h) The state of being physically and mentally well

6. power
Answer: (f) The ability to do work or produce energy

7. homes
Answer: (e) The place where people live

8. problem
Answer: (c) A difficult situation or challenge
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are people in Brazil being told to be careful?
Answer: (d) Because it’s very hot

2. How hot did it feel in Rio de Janeiro?
Answer: (a) Almost 60 degrees Celsius

3. What is causing the hot weather in Brazil?
Answer: (c) El Niño and changes in the world’s weather

4. How long might the hot weather last?
Answer: (d) Until the end of the week

5. Why are people using more electricity?
Answer: (b) To stay cool

6. How many people in Brazil are affected by the hot weather?
Answer: (c) More than 100 million

7. What is the main problem caused by the hot weather?
Answer: (b) It’s dangerous for people’s health

8. What are people trying to do to cope with the hot weather?
Answer: (a) Find ways to not be too hot
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Many people are using less electricity in order to stay cool. (Answer: False)
2. The hot weather may continue until the end of the week. (Answer: True)
3. Right now, Brazil is experiencing extremely hot weather, hotter than ever before in November. (Answer: True)
4. The extreme heat is safe for people’s health. (Answer: False)
5. People are being warned to be careful because of the intense heat. (Answer: True)
6. Fewer than 100 million people in Brazil are affected by this problem. (Answer: False)
7. In Rio de Janeiro, the temperature felt like it was almost 60 degrees Celsius. (Answer: True)
8. The hot weather is not believed to be caused by something called El Niño and changes in the world’s weather. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧