A cold wind from the Arctic has made the UK very chilly, with snow falling in places like Scotland and Northern Ireland. The weekend is expected to be very cold, with lots of snow and strong winds. Because of this, a health alert has been given for all of England, warning that people might get sick, especially those who are older or already unwell. The NHS is telling people to stay indoors during early mornings when it’s icy, as snow and ice warnings are in place for most of the UK.

This cold weather is very different from the warm Christmas when it was 11C to 13C. Now, it’s much colder, about 5C below normal for January, and the wind makes it feel even colder. The UK Health Security Agency is watching out for people who might be at risk, like older adults. Age UK is worried about the government not giving enough help for heating costs, and they want older people to keep warm, even if it means spending more on heating.

Snow is expected in many parts of the UK, including southern England and Wales, with up to 30cm in some high places. By Sunday, Scotland will likely see more snow. Before this cold, there was a lot of rain and flooding, especially in Greater Manchester, where many people had to leave their homes. This cold snap shows how the weather is changing, as December was one of the warmest on record, showing how extreme weather is a big challenge in the UK.

Original news source: Temperatures drop across UK as arctic blast brings more snow (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group takes turns acting out words or phrases related to winter weather (e.g., snow, cold wind, health alert) without speaking, while the other groups guess what they are.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to cold weather (e.g., “I like snow,” “I dislike cold temperatures”). Students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates to agree or disagree, tallying the results for each statement.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article (e.g., “How do you feel about extreme weather changes?”). Students think about their answers individually, discuss with a partner, and then share their thoughts with the class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, ask students to read the article and come up with a catchy headline that summarizes the main points. They can then share their headlines with the class.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Choose key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., chilly, health alert, heating costs). Students take turns drawing these words on the board while their classmates guess what they are.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Where is the cold wind coming from that is making the UK chilly?
2. What type of weather is expected for the weekend in the UK?
3. Who is the health alert warning about getting sick?
4. What does the NHS suggest people do during early mornings when it’s icy?
5. How much colder is it now compared to the normal temperature for January?
6. What is Age UK worried about regarding older people’s heating costs?
7. What happened in Greater Manchester before this cold weather?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A cold (1)______ from the Arctic has made the UK very chilly, with snow falling in places like Scotland and Northern Ireland. The weekend is expected to be very cold, with lots of snow and strong winds. Because of this, a (2)______ alert has been given for all of England, (3)______ that people might get sick, especially those who are older or already unwell. The NHS is telling people to stay indoors during early mornings when it’s icy, as snow and ice warnings are in place for most of the UK.

This cold weather is very different from the warm Christmas when it was 11C to (4)______ Now, it’s much (5)______, about 5C below normal for January, and the wind (6)______ it feel even colder. The UK Health Security Agency is watching out for people who might be at risk, like (7)______ adults. Age UK is worried about the government not giving (8)______ help for (9)______ costs, and they want older people to keep warm, even if it means spending more on heating.

Snow is expected in many parts of the UK, including southern England and Wales, with up to 30cm in some high places. By Sunday, Scotland will likely see more snow. Before this (10)______, there was a lot of rain and flooding, especially in Greater (11)______, where many (12)______ had to leave their homes. This cold snap shows how the weather is changing, as December was one of the warmest on record, showing how extreme weather is a big challenge in the UK.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite season of the year? Why do you like it?
2. How would you feel if it snowed every day for a week?
3. Do you like playing in the snow? Why or why not?
4. What is a fun activity you enjoy when it is cold outside?
5. How do you stay warm when it is very cold?
6. Do you think people should stay indoors when it is icy? Why?
7. What do you think is the best thing about winter?
8. Have you ever seen a lot of snow? What was it like?
9. How would you feel if you had to leave your home because of bad weather?
10. Do you think the government should help people with heating costs? Why or why not?
11. What is your favorite thing to do during winter?
12. How do you feel about extreme weather, like really hot or really cold?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Arctic
2. chilly
3. alert
4. icy
5. normal
6. risk
7. agency
8. costs
9. flooding
10. snap
11. extreme
12. challenge

Meanings:
(A) Very big or very strong
(B) Usual or regular
(C) When too much water covers the land
(D) A little bit cold
(E) A warning to be careful
(F) A short period of something happening
(G) A very cold area at the top of the world
(H) The amount of money you need to pay
(I) A group that helps or does work for the government
(J) Something that is hard to do or deal with
(K) Covered with ice
(L) The chance of something bad happening
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is causing the UK to be very chilly?
(a) A cold wind from the Arctic
(b) A warm wind from the south
(c) Heavy rain
(d) A heatwave

2. Where is snow falling in the UK?
(a) Scotland and Northern Ireland
(b) London and Birmingham
(c) Manchester and Liverpool
(d) Cardiff and Bristol

3. What does the NHS advise people to do during early mornings?
(a) Go for a walk
(b) Visit friends
(c) Play outside
(d) Stay indoors

4. How much colder is it now compared to normal January weather?
(a) About 2C below normal
(b) About 5C below normal
(c) About 10C below normal
(d) About 3C below normal

5. What is Age UK worried about?
(a) Food prices for families
(b) School closures
(c) Heating costs for older people
(d) Travel problems

6. How much snow is expected in some high places?
(a) Up to 10cm
(b) Up to 30cm
(c) Up to 50cm
(d) Up to 20cm

7. What did many people in Greater Manchester have to do because of flooding?
(a) Buy new clothes
(b) Go to school
(c) Leave their homes
(d) Travel to other cities

8. What does the cold snap show about the weather?
(a) It is always the same
(b) It is getting warmer
(c) It is not important
(d) It is changing

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The weekend is expected to be very warm with strong winds.
2. A health alert has been given for some parts of England.
3. The current temperature is about 5C below normal for January.
4. Snow is falling in places like Scotland and Northern Ireland.
5. Snow is expected in many parts of the UK, including southern England and Wales.
6. Age UK is worried that older people may not get enough help for cooling costs.
7. A warm wind from the Arctic is making the UK very chilly.
8. The NHS advises people to stay indoors during early mornings when it’s icy.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What is causing the cold weather in the UK right now?
2. Why is there a health alert for people in England?
3. How cold is it compared to the normal temperature for January?
4. What does Age UK want the government to help older people with?
5. What kind of weather is expected in Scotland by Sunday?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where is the cold wind coming from that is making the UK chilly?
The cold wind is coming from the Arctic.

2. What type of weather is expected for the weekend in the UK?
The weekend is expected to be very cold, with lots of snow and strong winds.

3. Who is the health alert warning about getting sick?
The health alert is warning that older people and those who are already unwell might get sick.

4. What does the NHS suggest people do during early mornings when it’s icy?
The NHS suggests that people stay indoors during early mornings when it’s icy.

5. How much colder is it now compared to the normal temperature for January?
It is about 5C colder than normal for January.

6. What is Age UK worried about regarding older people’s heating costs?
Age UK is worried that the government is not giving enough help for heating costs for older people.

7. What happened in Greater Manchester before this cold weather?
Before this cold weather, there was a lot of rain and flooding in Greater Manchester.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) wind
(2) health
(3) warning
(4) 13C.
(5) colder
(6) makes
(7) older
(8) enough
(9) heating
(10) cold
(11) Manchester
(12) people
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Arctic
Answer: (G) A very cold area at the top of the world

2. chilly
Answer: (D) A little bit cold

3. alert
Answer: (E) A warning to be careful

4. icy
Answer: (K) Covered with ice

5. normal
Answer: (B) Usual or regular

6. risk
Answer: (L) The chance of something bad happening

7. agency
Answer: (I) A group that helps or does work for the government

8. costs
Answer: (H) The amount of money you need to pay

9. flooding
Answer: (C) When too much water covers the land

10. snap
Answer: (F) A short period of something happening

11. extreme
Answer: (A) Very big or very strong

12. challenge
Answer: (J) Something that is hard to do or deal with
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is causing the UK to be very chilly?
Answer: (a) A cold wind from the Arctic

2. Where is snow falling in the UK?
Answer: (a) Scotland and Northern Ireland

3. What does the NHS advise people to do during early mornings?
Answer: (d) Stay indoors

4. How much colder is it now compared to normal January weather?
Answer: (b) About 5C below normal

5. What is Age UK worried about?
Answer: (c) Heating costs for older people

6. How much snow is expected in some high places?
Answer: (b) Up to 30cm

7. What did many people in Greater Manchester have to do because of flooding?
Answer: (c) Leave their homes

8. What does the cold snap show about the weather?
Answer: (d) It is changing
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The weekend is expected to be very warm with strong winds. (Answer: False)
2. A health alert has been given for some parts of England. (Answer: False)
3. The current temperature is about 5C below normal for January. (Answer: True)
4. Snow is falling in places like Scotland and Northern Ireland. (Answer: True)
5. Snow is expected in many parts of the UK, including southern England and Wales. (Answer: True)
6. Age UK is worried that older people may not get enough help for cooling costs. (Answer: False)
7. A warm wind from the Arctic is making the UK very chilly. (Answer: False)
8. The NHS advises people to stay indoors during early mornings when it’s icy. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧