A company called Sports Illustrated is having big problems. The company that makes the magazine can’t do it anymore. People who work there might lose their jobs, and no one knows what will happen to the magazine. The owner says the magazine will keep going, and they are talking to other companies about it.

Sports Illustrated started in 1954 and is very famous for sports news. But it’s having trouble because people are reading online instead of buying magazines. A group called Authentic Brands Group bought it in 2019 for a lot of money. But now there are problems because the company making the magazine didn’t pay what they owed.

The company that makes Sports Illustrated and other magazines is not doing well. They had a big problem because they used computers to write stories, and people got very upset. They had to say sorry and fire some bosses. They also said they need to let go of more than 100 people because they owe too much money. A group that helps the workers wants the owners to make sure the magazine keeps being made.

Original news source: Sports Illustrated in further turmoil after AI scandal (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article and then write a short summary of the main points. Encourage them to include important details and use their own words.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a list of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each pair will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it, while the other student guesses the word. Encourage students to use their knowledge of the article to choose relevant words.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Pair up students and have them take turns summarizing the article to their partner. Each student will have one minute to summarize as much as they can remember. After one minute, they switch roles. Encourage students to focus on the main points and use their own words.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. One group will come up with the pros of reading magazines, while the other group will come up with the cons. Give each group a few minutes to brainstorm and then have them present their ideas to the class. Encourage students to use the information from the article to support their arguments.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and make predictions about the future of magazines like Sports Illustrated. They should consider factors such as the rise of online reading, the decline of print media, and changing consumer habits. After their discussion, each group can share their predictions with the class. Encourage students to use their critical thinking skills and provide reasons for their predictions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the company that is having problems?
2. Why are people worried about their jobs at the company?
3. What is the name of the magazine that the company makes?
4. Why is the magazine having trouble?
5. Who bought Sports Illustrated in 2019?
6. Why did the company that makes the magazine get in trouble before?
7. What does a group want the owners to do?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A company (1)______ Sports Illustrated is having big problems. The company that makes the magazine can’t do it anymore. People who work there might lose their jobs, and no one knows what will happen to the magazine. The owner (2)______ the magazine will (3)______ going, and they are talking to other companies about it.

Sports Illustrated started in 1954 and is very famous for sports news. But it’s having trouble because (4)______ are reading online instead of buying magazines. A (5)______ called (6)______ Brands Group bought it in 2019 for a lot of money. But now there are (7)______s because the company making the magazine didn’t pay what they owed.

The company that makes Sports Illustrated and other (8)______ is not doing well. They had a big problem because they used (9)______ to write stories, and people got very upset. They had to say (10)______ and fire some (11)______. They also said they need to let go of more than 100 people because they owe too much money. A group that helps the workers wants the owners to (12)______ sure the magazine keeps being made.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Sports Illustrated?
2. How would you feel if you lost your job?
3. Do you like reading magazines? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about reading news online?
5. How do you think the people who work at Sports Illustrated feel right now?
6. What would you do if you owed a lot of money?
7. Do you think it’s important for companies to apologize when they make mistakes? Why or why not?
8. How do you think the workers at Sports Illustrated feel about the situation?
9. What is something you would do to help the workers at Sports Illustrated?
10. Do you think magazines will still be popular in the future? Why or why not?
11. How would you feel if you were the owner of Sports Illustrated right now?
12. What do you think the future holds for Sports Illustrated?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. difficulties
2. authentic
3. upset
4. owed
5. bosses
6. fired
7. workers
8. magazines
9. famous
10. purchased
11. ensures
12. debts

Meanings:
(A) People who are in charge at work
(B) Bought something
(C) Makes certain that something will happen
(D) Needed to give someone money because you borrowed from them
(E) Books with pictures and articles that come out every week or month
(F) People who do jobs for money
(G) Feeling sad or angry
(H) Known by many people
(I) Lost their job
(J) Hard times or problems
(K) Real or genuine; not fake
(L) Money that is owed to others
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the company having problems?
(a) Authentic Brands Group
(b) Sports Illustrated
(c) The owner
(d) The workers

2. When did Sports Illustrated start?
(a) 2019
(b) 2000
(c) 1985
(d) 1954

3. Why is Sports Illustrated having trouble?
(a) They owe too much money
(b) The owner wants to sell the company
(c) People are reading online instead of buying magazines
(d) The workers are not doing their jobs well

4. Who bought Sports Illustrated in 2019?
(a) Authentic Brands Group
(b) The owner
(c) The workers
(d) The company making the magazine

5. What did the company that makes Sports Illustrated do wrong?
(a) Didn’t pay what they owed
(b) Fired some bosses
(c) Used computers to write stories
(d) Let go of more than 100 people

6. What does the group that helps the workers want?
(a) The company to close down
(b) The workers to find new jobs
(c) The owner to sell the company
(d) The owners to make sure the magazine keeps being made

7. What might happen to the people who work at Sports Illustrated?
(a) They might lose their jobs
(b) They might get a pay raise
(c) They might become bosses
(d) They might start a new company

8. What is Sports Illustrated famous for?
(a) Fashion news
(b) Sports news
(c) Cooking recipes
(d) Movie reviews

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The company that bought Sports Illustrated in 2019 is called Inauthentic Brands Group.
2. The company had a success because they used computers to write stories, which pleased people.
3. Sports Illustrated is an unknown magazine that was created in 1954 and is known for its fashion news.
4. The company has a surplus of money and needs to hire more than 100 people to improve their financial situation.
5. The people who work at Sports Illustrated might lose their jobs because of the company’s troubles.
6. The owner of Sports Illustrated is trying to find other companies to help keep the magazine going.
7. The company that makes Sports Illustrated and other magazines is not doing well financially.
8. Sports Illustrated is a company that is facing big problems and might not be able to continue making their magazine.
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 is the name of the company that is having problems?
2. Why are people not buying magazines anymore?
3. Who bought Sports Illustrated in 2019?
4. Why did the company that makes the magazine have to say sorry?
5. What does the group that helps the workers want the owners to do?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the company that is having problems?
The company is called Sports Illustrated.

2. Why are people worried about their jobs at the company?
People are worried because the company might not be able to continue making the magazine, which could mean they could lose their jobs.

3. What is the name of the magazine that the company makes?
The magazine is called Sports Illustrated.

4. Why is the magazine having trouble?
The magazine is having trouble because fewer people are buying magazines and instead reading news online.

5. Who bought Sports Illustrated in 2019?
Authentic Brands Group bought Sports Illustrated in 2019.

6. Why did the company that makes the magazine get in trouble before?
The company got in trouble before because they upset people by using computers to write stories instead of people, and they also owed a lot of money.

7. What does a group want the owners to do?
A group wants the owners to make sure the magazine continues to be made.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) says
(3) keep
(4) people
(5) group
(6) Authentic
(7) problem
(8) magazines
(9) computers
(10) sorry
(11) bosses
(12) make
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. difficulties
Answer: (J) Hard times or problems

2. authentic
Answer: (K) Real or genuine; not fake

3. upset
Answer: (G) Feeling sad or angry

4. owed
Answer: (D) Needed to give someone money because you borrowed from them

5. bosses
Answer: (A) People who are in charge at work

6. fired
Answer: (I) Lost their job

7. workers
Answer: (F) People who do jobs for money

8. magazines
Answer: (E) Books with pictures and articles that come out every week or month

9. famous
Answer: (H) Known by many people

10. purchased
Answer: (B) Bought something

11. ensures
Answer: (C) Makes certain that something will happen

12. debts
Answer: (L) Money that is owed to others
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the company having problems?
Answer: (b) Sports Illustrated

2. When did Sports Illustrated start?
Answer: (d) 1954

3. Why is Sports Illustrated having trouble?
Answer: (c) People are reading online instead of buying magazines

4. Who bought Sports Illustrated in 2019?
Answer: (a) Authentic Brands Group

5. What did the company that makes Sports Illustrated do wrong?
Answer: (c) Used computers to write stories

6. What does the group that helps the workers want?
Answer: (d) The owners to make sure the magazine keeps being made

7. What might happen to the people who work at Sports Illustrated?
Answer: (a) They might lose their jobs

8. What is Sports Illustrated famous for?
Answer: (b) Sports news
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The company that bought Sports Illustrated in 2019 is called Inauthentic Brands Group. (Answer: False)
2. The company had a success because they used computers to write stories, which pleased people. (Answer: False)
3. Sports Illustrated is an unknown magazine that was created in 1954 and is known for its fashion news. (Answer: False)
4. The company has a surplus of money and needs to hire more than 100 people to improve their financial situation. (Answer: False)
5. The people who work at Sports Illustrated might lose their jobs because of the company’s troubles. (Answer: True)
6. The owner of Sports Illustrated is trying to find other companies to help keep the magazine going. (Answer: True)
7. The company that makes Sports Illustrated and other magazines is not doing well financially. (Answer: True)
8. Sports Illustrated is a company that is facing big problems and might not be able to continue making their magazine. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧