A train in India went on a long trip without any drivers. It moved fast past many places after the drivers got off. The train was supposed to stop but started moving by itself. People worked hard to stop it after it went very far.

The train was carrying heavy things and went really fast. People who take care of trains tried to stop it safely. They put wood on the tracks to make the train slow down. They are trying to find out why the train started moving so they can stop it from happening again.

Luckily, no one was hurt when the train was moving by itself. People who run the trains are looking into why this happened. They want to make sure everyone is safe on trains. This shows it’s important to be careful and make sure trains are safe.

Original news source: Runaway Indian train travels 70km without driver (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will read the article and then write a summary of the main points. They should focus on answering the questions: What happened? Why did it happen? What are the consequences? After writing their summaries, they can share with the class and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Students will work in pairs or small groups and discuss their opinions on the following questions related to the article: 1) Do you think it was a serious problem that the train moved by itself? Why or why not? 2) What do you think should be done to prevent this from happening again? Each group will then share their opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a list of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each team will come to the board and draw a picture representing one of the words. The team members must guess the word based on the drawing. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will discuss the pros and cons of using driverless trains. They should consider factors such as safety, efficiency, and cost. After the discussion, each group will share their thoughts with the class and compare their opinions.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Students will work individually and write a short paragraph predicting what they think will happen in the future regarding driverless trains. They should consider the potential benefits, challenges, and impact on society. After writing their predictions, they can share with a partner and discuss their ideas.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What happened to the train in India?
2. Why did the train start moving by itself?
3. What did people do to try and stop the train?
4. Were there any people hurt when the train was moving by itself?
5. What are the people who run the trains trying to figure out?
6. Why is it important to make sure trains are safe?
7. What did people put on the tracks to make the train slow down?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A train in India (1)______ on a long trip without any drivers. It (2)______ fast past many (3)______ after the drivers got off. The train was supposed to stop but started moving by itself. People worked hard to stop it after it went very far.

The train was carrying heavy things and went really fast. People who take (4)______ of (5)______ tried to stop it safely. They put wood on the (6)______ to make the (7)______ (8)______ down. They are trying to find out why the train started moving so they can stop it from (9)______ again.

Luckily, no one was hurt when the train was moving by itself. People who run the trains are looking into why this (10)______. They want to make sure everyone is safe on trains. This (11)______ it’s important to be (12)______ and make sure trains are safe.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a train?
2. How would you feel if you were on a train that started moving by itself?
3. Do you like trains? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the people who take care of trains should do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?
5. Have you ever been on a train? What was it like?
6. How do you think the people felt when they saw the train moving without any drivers?
7. Do you think it’s important to make sure trains are safe? Why or why not?
8. What do you think the train was carrying that made it so heavy?
9. Have you ever seen a train in real life? What did it look like?
10. How do you think the people felt when they finally stopped the train?
11. What do you think the drivers did when they realized the train was moving by itself?
12. Why do you think the people are investigating why the train started moving on its own?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. trip
2. drivers
3. places
4. safely
5. heavy
6. tracks
7. investigate
8. incident
9. important
10. careful
11. ensure
12. trains

Meanings:
(A) To make certain that something will happen
(B) People who control vehicles
(C) A journey from one place to another
(D) Vehicles that run on tracks and carry people or goods
(E) Something that weighs a lot
(F) Making sure you are paying attention to avoid danger or mistakes
(G) Different locations or areas
(H) To try to find out what happened
(I) Rails that trains run on
(J) Something that you need to pay a lot of attention to because it matters a lot
(K) In a way that keeps you from being hurt
(L) Something that happens, especially something unusual or bad
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What happened to the train in India?
(a) It went on a long trip without any drivers.
(b) It crashed into a building.
(c) It stopped at every station.
(d) It went underwater.

2. Why did the train start moving by itself?
(a) The drivers got off and it started moving.
(b) It was pushed by a strong wind.
(c) The tracks were slippery.
(d) The train was going too slow.

3. How did people try to stop the train?
(a) They called the police for help.
(b) They jumped on the train and pulled the emergency brake.
(c) They ran after the train and tried to catch it.
(d) They put wood on the tracks to make it slow down.

4. What were the people trying to find out?
(a) How to make the train go faster.
(b) Why the train started moving by itself.
(c) How to make the train stop at every station.
(d) Why the train was carrying heavy things.

5. What happened to the train when it was moving by itself?
(a) It crashed into a car.
(b) It went very far.
(c) It stopped at every station.
(d) It went underwater.

6. What did the people who run the trains want to make sure?
(a) The train goes faster.
(b) The train carries heavier things.
(c) Everyone is safe on trains.
(d) The train stops at every station.

7. Why is it important to be careful and make sure trains are safe?
(a) So that the train can go faster.
(b) So that the train can carry heavier things.
(c) So that the train can stop at every station.
(d) So that no one gets hurt.

8. What did the people put on the tracks to make the train slow down?
(a) Metal
(b) Plastic
(c) Wood
(d) Rubber

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The train was carrying heavy things and went really fast.
2. People didn’t work hard to stop the train after it went very far.
3. Luckily, no one was hurt when the train was moving on its own.
4. People put wood on the tracks to make the train slow down.
5. The train moved slowly past many places after the drivers got off.
6. The train was not supposed to stop but started moving by itself.
7. People are trying to find out why the train started moving by itself.
8. A train in India went on a short trip without any drivers.
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 to the train in India?
2. Why did the train keep moving after the drivers got off?
3. How did people try to stop the train?
4. Was anyone hurt when the train was moving by itself?
5. Why is it important to make sure trains are safe?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What happened to the train in India?
The train in India started moving by itself without any drivers.

2. Why did the train start moving by itself?
It is not known why the train started moving by itself. People are trying to find out why it happened.

3. What did people do to try and stop the train?
People put wood on the tracks to slow down the train and try to stop it.

4. Were there any people hurt when the train was moving by itself?
No, luckily no one was hurt when the train was moving by itself.

5. What are the people who run the trains trying to figure out?
The people who run the trains are trying to find out why the train started moving by itself so they can prevent it from happening again.

6. Why is it important to make sure trains are safe?
It is important to make sure trains are safe because people travel on them and we want to keep everyone safe.

7. What did people put on the tracks to make the train slow down?
People put wood on the tracks to make the train slow down.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) went
(2) moved
(3) places
(4) care
(5) trains
(6) tracks
(7) train
(8) slow
(9) happening
(10) happened
(11) shows
(12) careful
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. trip
Answer: (C) A journey from one place to another

2. drivers
Answer: (B) People who control vehicles

3. places
Answer: (G) Different locations or areas

4. safely
Answer: (K) In a way that keeps you from being hurt

5. heavy
Answer: (E) Something that weighs a lot

6. tracks
Answer: (I) Rails that trains run on

7. investigate
Answer: (H) To try to find out what happened

8. incident
Answer: (L) Something that happens, especially something unusual or bad

9. important
Answer: (J) Something that you need to pay a lot of attention to because it matters a lot

10. careful
Answer: (F) Making sure you are paying attention to avoid danger or mistakes

11. ensure
Answer: (A) To make certain that something will happen

12. trains
Answer: (D) Vehicles that run on tracks and carry people or goods
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What happened to the train in India?
Answer: (a) It went on a long trip without any drivers.

2. Why did the train start moving by itself?
Answer: (a) The drivers got off and it started moving.

3. How did people try to stop the train?
Answer: (d) They put wood on the tracks to make it slow down.

4. What were the people trying to find out?
Answer: (b) Why the train started moving by itself.

5. What happened to the train when it was moving by itself?
Answer: (b) It went very far.

6. What did the people who run the trains want to make sure?
Answer: (c) Everyone is safe on trains.

7. Why is it important to be careful and make sure trains are safe?
Answer: (d) So that no one gets hurt.

8. What did the people put on the tracks to make the train slow down?
Answer: (c) Wood
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The train was carrying heavy things and went really fast. (Answer: True)
2. People didn’t work hard to stop the train after it went very far. (Answer: False)
3. Luckily, no one was hurt when the train was moving on its own. (Answer: True)
4. People put wood on the tracks to make the train slow down. (Answer: True)
5. The train moved slowly past many places after the drivers got off. (Answer: False)
6. The train was not supposed to stop but started moving by itself. (Answer: False)
7. People are trying to find out why the train started moving by itself. (Answer: True)
8. A train in India went on a short trip without any drivers. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧