Magnus Carlsen is a famous chess player. He left a big chess event in New York because of a dress code problem. The event said he couldn’t wear jeans. They fined him $200 and said he couldn’t play unless he changed.

Carlsen said he was in a hurry and forgot about the jeans. He changed his shirt and shoes but missed the jeans rule. He didn’t fight the decision and wanted to move on. He joked about going somewhere with better weather.

Carlsen has had other issues in chess before. People are still interested in what he does. He even posted a funny picture of his outfit online. The chess bosses said they have to follow the rules for everyone.

Original news source: World chess number one Magnus Carlsen quits tournament after refusing to change jeans (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students take turns acting out key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., chess, dress code, jeans) without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses the word. This helps reinforce vocabulary through movement and context.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to create a catchy headline for the article. They can work in pairs to brainstorm ideas and then share their headlines with the class. This promotes creativity and summarizing skills.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose the question, “What do you think about dress codes at events?” Students think about their answers individually, then discuss their thoughts with a partner, and finally share their opinions with the class. This encourages speaking and listening skills.

– VOCABULARY PICTIONARY
Instructions: Students draw key terms from the article (like “chess,” “fined,” “rules”) on the board while their classmates guess what they are. This visual activity supports vocabulary retention and encourages teamwork.

– SPEED SUMMARIZING
Instructions: In small groups, students take turns summarizing the article in one sentence within a time limit of 30 seconds. This activity helps improve their summarizing and speaking skills while working under pressure.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
2. Where did Magnus Carlsen leave because of a dress code problem?
3. What did the event say he couldn’t wear?
4. How much money did they fine him?
5. What did Carlsen change about his outfit?
6. What did Carlsen joke about after leaving the event?
7. Why do the chess bosses say they have to follow the rules?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Magnus Carlsen is a famous chess player. He left a big chess event in New York because of a dress code (1)______. The event (2)______ he couldn’t (3)______ jeans. They fined him $200 and said he couldn’t (4)______ unless he (5)______.

Carlsen said he was in a hurry and forgot about the jeans. He changed his shirt and shoes but (6)______ the jeans rule. He didn’t fight the decision and (7)______ to (8)______ on. He (9)______ about going somewhere with better weather.

Carlsen has had other issues in chess before. People are still interested in what he does. He even posted a funny (10)______ of his outfit (11)______. The chess (12)______ said they have to follow the rules for everyone.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite game to play?

2. How would you feel if you had to wear special clothes to an event?

3. Do you think rules about clothes are important? Why or why not?

4. Have you ever forgotten to wear something important? What happened?

5. Do you like to follow rules? Why or why not?

6. What is a dress code? Can you give an example?

7. How would you feel if someone made fun of your clothes?

8. Do you think it’s okay to change clothes during an event? Why?

9. What is your opinion about fines for not following rules?

10. Have you ever missed an important rule? What did you learn?

11. Do you think it’s funny when people joke about their mistakes? Why?

12. What would you do if you were in a hurry and forgot something important?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. event
2. dress code
3. fined
4. decision
5. issues
6. interested
7. outfit
8. bosses
9. follow
10. rules
11. forgot
12. weather

Meanings:
(A) Didn’t remember
(B) Instructions that tell you what you can or cannot do
(C) People in charge or leaders
(D) A choice made after thinking
(E) What the sky and air are like, such as sunny or rainy
(F) Problems or difficulties
(G) To do what you are told or expected to do
(H) Made to pay money as a punishment
(I) Wanting to know more about something
(J) A set of rules about what you can wear
(K) Clothes someone is wearing
(L) A special occasion or happening
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
(a) A basketball player
(b) A famous chess player
(c) A football player
(d) A tennis player

2. Where did Magnus Carlsen leave a chess event?
(a) London
(b) Paris
(c) Tokyo
(d) New York

3. Why did Magnus Carlsen leave the chess event?
(a) Because of a dress code problem
(b) Because he was tired
(c) Because he lost a game
(d) Because he wanted to eat

4. How much was the fine that Carlsen received?
(a) $100
(b) $50
(c) $200
(d) $500

5. What did Carlsen forget to change?
(a) His shoes
(b) His jeans
(c) His shirt
(d) His hat

6. How did Carlsen feel about the dress code decision?
(a) He was very angry
(b) He was confused
(c) He didn’t fight it
(d) He was happy

7. What did Carlsen joke about?
(a) Playing a different game
(b) Winning a big prize
(c) Meeting new friends
(d) Going somewhere with better weather

8. What did the chess bosses say they must do?
(a) Follow the rules for everyone
(b) Change the rules for Carlsen
(c) Ignore the dress code
(d) Let players wear anything they want

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The event required him to wear jeans.
2. The chess organizers said they must follow the rules for everyone.
3. Magnus Carlsen is a well-known chess player.
4. He swapped his shirt and shoes but overlooked the jeans.
5. Carlsen was fined $200 for not following the dress code.
6. He left a chess event in New York because of a dress code issue.
7. He posted a serious picture of his outfit on the internet.
8. Carlsen did not dispute the decision and desired to proceed.
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. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
2. What happened to Carlsen at the chess event in New York?
3. Why did Carlsen get fined $200?
4. How did Carlsen feel about the dress code rule?
5. What did Carlsen do after the event?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
Magnus Carlsen is a famous chess player.

2. Where did Magnus Carlsen leave because of a dress code problem?
He left a big chess event in New York.

3. What did the event say he couldn’t wear?
The event said he couldn’t wear jeans.

4. How much money did they fine him?
They fined him $200.

5. What did Carlsen change about his outfit?
Carlsen changed his shirt and shoes.

6. What did Carlsen joke about after leaving the event?
He joked about going somewhere with better weather.

7. Why do the chess bosses say they have to follow the rules?
They say they have to follow the rules for everyone.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) problem
(2) said
(3) wear
(4) play
(5) changed
(6) missed
(7) wanted
(8) move
(9) joked
(10) picture
(11) online
(12) bosses
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. event
Answer: (L) A special occasion or happening

2. dress code
Answer: (J) A set of rules about what you can wear

3. fined
Answer: (H) Made to pay money as a punishment

4. decision
Answer: (D) A choice made after thinking

5. issues
Answer: (F) Problems or difficulties

6. interested
Answer: (I) Wanting to know more about something

7. outfit
Answer: (K) Clothes someone is wearing

8. bosses
Answer: (C) People in charge or leaders

9. follow
Answer: (G) To do what you are told or expected to do

10. rules
Answer: (B) Instructions that tell you what you can or cannot do

11. forgot
Answer: (A) Didn’t remember

12. weather
Answer: (E) What the sky and air are like, such as sunny or rainy
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is Magnus Carlsen?
Answer: (b) A famous chess player

2. Where did Magnus Carlsen leave a chess event?
Answer: (d) New York

3. Why did Magnus Carlsen leave the chess event?
Answer: (a) Because of a dress code problem

4. How much was the fine that Carlsen received?
Answer: (c) $200

5. What did Carlsen forget to change?
Answer: (b) His jeans

6. How did Carlsen feel about the dress code decision?
Answer: (c) He didn’t fight it

7. What did Carlsen joke about?
Answer: (d) Going somewhere with better weather

8. What did the chess bosses say they must do?
Answer: (a) Follow the rules for everyone
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The event required him to wear jeans. (Answer: False)
2. The chess organizers said they must follow the rules for everyone. (Answer: True)
3. Magnus Carlsen is a well-known chess player. (Answer: True)
4. He swapped his shirt and shoes but overlooked the jeans. (Answer: False)
5. Carlsen was fined $200 for not following the dress code. (Answer: True)
6. He left a chess event in New York because of a dress code issue. (Answer: True)
7. He posted a serious picture of his outfit on the internet. (Answer: False)
8. Carlsen did not dispute the decision and desired to proceed. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧