Chuck Hildebrandt is a 63-year-old man who lives in Chicago. When he was 13, he borrowed a book about baseball from a library in Detroit. He forgot to return it for almost 50 years! He decided to give it back during a Thanksgiving visit.

When Chuck went to the library, he talked to the director, Oksana Urban. She was very nice and didn’t make him pay a fine. The library had already removed the book from their system. Chuck was happy because he didn’t have to pay any money.

Chuck wanted to do something good after this. He decided to raise money for a group that helps kids read. He started by giving some of his own money. Chuck hopes this will help other people learn to love reading.

Original news source: Detroit-area library says Chicago man can keep overdue baseball book — 50 years later (AP News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will act out different words related to the article (e.g., “library,” “baseball,” “book,” “reading”). The rest of the class will guess the words. This helps with vocabulary recognition and encourages a fun atmosphere.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will discuss whether they think it’s important to return borrowed items on time. They can express their opinions in small groups and then share them with the class. This activity promotes speaking and critical thinking.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: After reading the article, students will create a catchy headline that summarizes Chuck’s story. They can work in pairs and then share their headlines with the class. This activity encourages summarization skills and creativity.

– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will draw a scene from the article, such as Chuck returning the book to the library or raising money for kids. After drawing, they will describe their pictures to a partner. This enhances comprehension and encourages descriptive language use.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: Students will create a mind map based on the article. They will write “Chuck’s Story” in the center and branch out with key ideas such as “library,” “baseball,” and “helping kids read.” This activity helps in organizing thoughts and connecting concepts.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How old is Chuck Hildebrandt?
2. Where did Chuck borrow the book about baseball?
3. How long did Chuck keep the book before returning it?
4. Who did Chuck talk to when he returned the book?
5. What did the library director, Oksana Urban, say about paying a fine?
6. What did Chuck decide to do after returning the book?
7. Why does Chuck want to help kids learn to read?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Chuck Hildebrandt is a 63-year-old man who lives in Chicago. When he was 13, he borrowed a book about baseball from a library in Detroit. He forgot to return it for almost 50 years! He decided to give it back during a Thanksgiving visit.

When (1)______ went to the (2)______, he talked to the director, Oksana Urban. She was very nice and didn’t make him pay a fine. The library had already removed the book from their (3)______. Chuck was (4)______ because he didn’t have to pay any money.

Chuck wanted to do something good after this. He decided to raise money for a (5)______ that (6)______ kids read. He started by giving some of his own money. Chuck hopes this will help other people learn to love reading.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite book? Why do you like it?
2. How would you feel if you forgot to return a library book for many years?
3. Do you think it’s important to return library books on time? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever borrowed something and forgotten to return it? What happened?
5. What is a good way to help kids learn to read?
6. Do you like to read? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if someone gave you money to help you read better?
8. Do you think libraries are important for communities? Why?
9. What is your favorite way to help others?
10. How would you feel if a library didn’t make you pay a fine for a late book?
11. Do you think more people should help kids learn to read? Why or why not?
12. What is a good reason to give back something you borrowed?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. borrowed
2. library
3. director
4. fine
5. removed
6. system
7. raise
8. group
9. helps
10. decided
11. visit
12. reading

Meanings:
(A) A person who is in charge of something
(B) A number of people or things that are together
(C) Makes something easier or better for someone
(D) To collect money for a cause
(E) Made a choice
(F) Looking at and understanding words in a book or paper
(G) A place where you can borrow books
(H) Taken away or deleted
(I) A set of connected things or parts
(J) Took something with permission and planned to give it back
(K) Money you pay as a punishment for breaking a rule
(L) Going to see someone or a place
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How old is Chuck Hildebrandt?
(a) 50
(b) 63
(c) 40
(d) 30

2. Where does Chuck live?
(a) Detroit
(b) New York
(c) Chicago
(d) Los Angeles

3. At what age did Chuck borrow the book?
(a) 13
(b) 10
(c) 15
(d) 12

4. What did Chuck forget to return?
(a) A movie
(b) A book about baseball
(c) A toy
(d) A game

5. Who did Chuck talk to at the library?
(a) His friend
(b) A librarian
(c) A teacher
(d) Oksana Urban

6. Did Chuck have to pay a fine for the book?
(a) Yes, a little
(b) Yes, a lot
(c) No
(d) Yes, but only for a day

7. What did Chuck want to do after returning the book?
(a) Help kids read
(b) Write a book
(c) Go on vacation
(d) Buy new books

8. How did Chuck start raising money?
(a) By asking friends for money
(b) By selling his toys
(c) By doing chores
(d) By giving some of his own money

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Chuck Hildebrandt is 63 years old.
2. Chuck forgot to return the book for almost 50 years.
3. The library director was not named Oksana Urban.
4. He lives in Chicago.
5. When he was 13, he borrowed a book from a library.
6. He did not return the book during a Thanksgiving visit.
7. The library where he borrowed the book is not in Detroit.
8. Chuck does not want to help kids learn to read by raising money.
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. How old is Chuck Hildebrandt?
2. What did Chuck borrow from the library when he was 13?
3. How long did Chuck keep the book before returning it?
4. Who did Chuck talk to when he returned the book?
5. What does Chuck want to do to help kids?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How old is Chuck Hildebrandt?
Chuck Hildebrandt is 63 years old.

2. Where did Chuck borrow the book about baseball?
Chuck borrowed the book from a library in Detroit.

3. How long did Chuck keep the book before returning it?
Chuck kept the book for almost 50 years.

4. Who did Chuck talk to when he returned the book?
Chuck talked to the library director, Oksana Urban.

5. What did the library director, Oksana Urban, say about paying a fine?
Oksana Urban said that Chuck did not have to pay a fine.

6. What did Chuck decide to do after returning the book?
Chuck decided to raise money for a group that helps kids read.

7. Why does Chuck want to help kids learn to read?
Chuck wants to help kids learn to read because he hopes they will love reading, too.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Chuck
(2) library
(3) system
(4) happy
(5) group
(6) helps
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. borrowed
Answer: (J) Took something with permission and planned to give it back

2. library
Answer: (G) A place where you can borrow books

3. director
Answer: (A) A person who is in charge of something

4. fine
Answer: (K) Money you pay as a punishment for breaking a rule

5. removed
Answer: (H) Taken away or deleted

6. system
Answer: (I) A set of connected things or parts

7. raise
Answer: (D) To collect money for a cause

8. group
Answer: (B) A number of people or things that are together

9. helps
Answer: (C) Makes something easier or better for someone

10. decided
Answer: (E) Made a choice

11. visit
Answer: (L) Going to see someone or a place

12. reading
Answer: (F) Looking at and understanding words in a book or paper
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How old is Chuck Hildebrandt?
Answer: (b) 63

2. Where does Chuck live?
Answer: (c) Chicago

3. At what age did Chuck borrow the book?
Answer: (a) 13

4. What did Chuck forget to return?
Answer: (b) A book about baseball

5. Who did Chuck talk to at the library?
Answer: (d) Oksana Urban

6. Did Chuck have to pay a fine for the book?
Answer: (c) No

7. What did Chuck want to do after returning the book?
Answer: (a) Help kids read

8. How did Chuck start raising money?
Answer: (d) By giving some of his own money
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Chuck Hildebrandt is 63 years old. (Answer: True)
2. Chuck forgot to return the book for almost 50 years. (Answer: True)
3. The library director was not named Oksana Urban. (Answer: False)
4. He lives in Chicago. (Answer: True)
5. When he was 13, he borrowed a book from a library. (Answer: True)
6. He did not return the book during a Thanksgiving visit. (Answer: False)
7. The library where he borrowed the book is not in Detroit. (Answer: False)
8. Chuck does not want to help kids learn to read by raising money. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧