A lot of people in Africa really love Formula 1 (F1) and want to see a race happen there. Right now, Africa is the only continent that doesn’t have an F1 race. So, many African fans have to travel to the Middle East to watch the races in person. One reason why F1 is getting more popular in Africa is because of a show on Netflix called “Drive to Survive.” It’s introduced the sport to more people outside of Europe. Also, during the Covid-19 pandemic, more people started watching F1 while they were stuck at home. Technology has also helped the sport grow in Africa. Fans can now watch the races live on streaming services and TV channels they subscribe to. Some fans even go to special parties to watch the races with other fans. In Nairobi, there are places that compete to be the best spot for fans to hang out during race weekends. It’s become a really popular thing to do. Another cool thing is that more girls are getting into F1, even though it’s mostly been a sport for guys. They’re interested in the engineering side of it. Even though F1 has a big following in Africa, there hasn’t been an official race there for more than 30 years. African fans, along with Lewis Hamilton, who is the most successful and only black driver in the sport, are pushing for a race to happen in Africa. There have been some reports that F1 might go back to Morocco or maybe even race in Rwanda or Zanzibar. But the best place for it would be the Kyalami circuit in South Africa. It’s a really famous track that has hosted F1 races before. Unfortunately, negotiations to bring F1 back to South Africa didn’t work out because of political reasons. African fans believe that if F1 came to Africa, it would attract a huge audience and make the sport a true world championship.

Original news source: Africa’s new F1 fans who want a race on the continent (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Assign each group a specific aspect or event mentioned in the article (e.g. popularity of F1 in Africa, the impact of “Drive to Survive” on F1 viewership, the absence of an F1 race in Africa, etc.). Instruct the groups to summarize their assigned aspect or event in a few sentences. After a designated time, have each group present their summary to the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the class form pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a list of statements related to F1 in Africa (e.g. “F1 should have a race in Africa,” “The popularity of F1 in Africa is due to ‘Drive to Survive’,” “More girls are becoming interested in F1,” etc.). Instruct each group to discuss the statements and indicate whether they agree or disagree. After a designated time, facilitate a class discussion where groups share their opinions and provide reasons for their stance.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “F1” on the board. Instruct the class to brainstorm as many words or phrases as they can that they associate with F1 and its potential race in Africa. Encourage them to think creatively and outside the box. After a designated time, have students share their associations, explaining their reasoning if necessary.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Instruct each group to choose a specific aspect or event mentioned in the article (e.g. F1’s popularity in Africa, the absence of an F1 race in Africa, the impact of “Drive to Survive,” etc.) and create a visual representation of it through a sketch or drawing. After a designated time, have each group present their sketch to the class, explaining the connection to the chosen aspect or event.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a sentence or two from the article related to F1 in Africa (e.g. “Africa is the only continent without an F1 race,” “More girls are becoming interested in F1,” “F1 might race in Rwanda or Zanzibar,” etc.). Instruct each group to summarize the given information as quickly as possible, without sacrificing accuracy. After a designated time, have groups take turns presenting their speedy summaries to the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why do many African fans of Formula 1 have to travel to the Middle East to watch the races in person?
2. How has the show “Drive to Survive” on Netflix helped increase the popularity of Formula 1 in Africa?
3. How did the Covid-19 pandemic contribute to more people in Africa watching Formula 1?
4. How has technology helped the growth of Formula 1 in Africa?
5. What do some African fans do to watch the races together with other fans?
6. Why are more girls becoming interested in Formula 1?
7. Why haven’t there been any official Formula 1 races in Africa for over 30 years?
8. Why didn’t negotiations to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa work out?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A lot of people in (1)______ really love Formula 1 (F1) and want to see a race happen there. Right now, Africa is the only continent that doesn’t have an F1 race. So, many African fans have to travel to the (2)______ East to watch the races in person. One reason why F1 is getting more popular in Africa is because of a show on Netflix (3)______ “Drive to (4)______.” It’s introduced the sport to more people outside of Europe. Also, during the Covid-19 pandemic, more (5)______ started (6)______ F1 while they were stuck at home. Technology has also (7)______ the sport grow in Africa. Fans can now watch the races live on streaming services and TV channels they subscribe to. Some fans even go to special parties to watch the races with other fans. In (8)______, there are places that compete to be the best spot for fans to hang out during race weekends. It’s become a really popular thing to do. Another cool thing is that more (9)______ are (10)______ into F1, even though it’s mostly been a sport for guys. They’re interested in the (11)______ side of it. Even though F1 has a big following in Africa, there hasn’t been an official race there for more than 30 years. African fans, along with (12)______ Hamilton, who is the most successful and only black driver in the sport, are pushing for a race to happen in Africa. There have been some reports that F1 might go back to Morocco or maybe even race in Rwanda or Zanzibar. But the best (13)______ for it would be the Kyalami circuit in South Africa. It’s a really famous track that has hosted F1 races before. Unfortunately, negotiations to bring F1 back to South Africa didn’t work out because of political (14)______. (15)______ fans believe that if F1 came to Africa, it would attract a huge audience and make the sport a true (16)______ championship.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Formula 1 (F1) and why do you think it is so popular worldwide?
2. Have you ever watched a Formula 1 race? If so, how did you feel while watching it?
3. How do you think the show “Drive to Survive” on Netflix has helped to popularize F1 in Africa?
4. Do you think it is important for Africa to have its own F1 race? Why or why not?
5. How do you think technology, such as streaming services and TV channels, has contributed to the growth of F1 in Africa?
6. Have you ever been to a special event or party to watch a sports event with other fans? How was the experience?
7. Why do you think more girls are becoming interested in F1, even though it has been mostly a sport for guys?
8. How do you feel about Lewis Hamilton being the most successful and only black driver in F1? Why is this significant?
9. Do you think it is fair that Africa hasn’t had an official F1 race for more than 30 years? Why or why not?
10. How do you think having an F1 race in Africa would impact the popularity of the sport worldwide?
11. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of hosting an F1 race in Morocco, Rwanda, Zanzibar, or South Africa?
12. How does politics sometimes interfere with sporting events? Can you think of any other examples?
13. If you could choose any city in Africa to host an F1 race, which one would you choose and why?
14. How would you feel if you had the opportunity to attend an F1 race in person? Why?
15. Do you think F1 should be considered a true world championship if it doesn’t have a race in Africa? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. continent
2. pandemic
3. streaming
4. subscribe
5. engineering
6. official
7. circuit
8. negotiations
9. political
10. audience
11. championship
12. technology
13. introduced
14. popular
15. attract

Meanings:
(A) Watching videos or listening to music over the internet in real-time
(B) Liked or enjoyed by many people
(C) The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
(D) Approved or recognized by authority
(E) A track or route for racing
(F) The group of people who watch or listen to something
(G) To sign up and pay for a service regularly
(H) The branch of science and technology concerned with designing and building things
(I) Related to government or public affairs
(J) Made known or brought into use for the first time
(K) Discussions aimed at reaching an agreement
(L) A widespread outbreak of a disease affecting many people
(M) To draw or bring someone or something closer
(N) A competition to find the best in a particular sport or activity
(O) One of the main landmasses on Earth, like Africa or Europe
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why do many African fans have to travel to the Middle East to watch F1 races?
(a) The Middle East has better race tracks
(b) Africa is the only continent without an F1 race
(c) F1 races in Africa are too expensive
(d) F1 races in Africa are always sold out

2. What has helped F1 become more popular in Africa?
(a) The popularity of other sports in Africa
(b) The show “Drive to Survive” on Netflix
(c) The increase in ticket prices for F1 races
(d) The lack of other entertainment options in Africa

3. How have technology advancements helped F1 grow in Africa?
(a) Fans can participate in the races through virtual reality
(b) Fans can download F1 video games on their smartphones
(c) Fans can communicate with F1 drivers through social media
(d) Fans can watch races live on streaming services and TV channels

4. What do some African fans do to watch F1 races together?
(a) Attend special parties with other fans
(b) Travel to Europe to watch the races
(c) Join F1 fan clubs in their local communities
(d) Organize their own F1 races in Africa

5. Why are more girls getting into F1?
(a) F1 has started a special program to attract female fans
(b) F1 races offer equal prize money for male and female drivers
(c) F1 has introduced a new category exclusively for female drivers
(d) They are interested in the engineering side of the sport

6. How long has it been since there was an official F1 race in Africa?
(a) Less than 10 years
(b) Exactly 20 years
(c) More than 30 years
(d) F1 has never had a race in Africa

7. Which country has been suggested as a possible location for an F1 race in Africa?
(a) Egypt
(b) Nigeria
(c) Morocco
(d) Kenya

8. Why didn’t negotiations to bring F1 back to South Africa work out?
(a) Political reasons
(b) Lack of interest from African fans
(c) Lack of suitable race tracks in South Africa
(d) F1 drivers refused to race in South Africa

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Africa is the only continent that currently does not have a Formula 1 (F1) race.
2. Special parties and hangouts have become popular among African F1 fans to watch races together.
3. Less people in Africa started watching F1 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
4. Technology has played a role in the growth of F1 in Africa, allowing fans to watch races live through streaming services and TV channels.
5. Boys are becoming more interested in F1, particularly in the engineering aspect of the sport.
6. African fans, along with Lewis Hamilton, are against an F1 race taking place in Africa, with potential locations being Morocco, Rwanda, Zanzibar, or the Kyalami circuit in South Africa.
7. The popularity of F1 in Africa has decreased due to a Netflix show called “Drive to Survive.”
8. Despite having a significant following in Africa, there hasn’t been an official F1 race there for over 30 years.
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. Why are more people in Africa becoming interested in Formula 1?
2. How has technology helped the popularity of Formula 1 in Africa?
3. What are some ways that African fans watch the races together?
4. Why are more girls becoming interested in Formula 1?
5. Why hasn’t there been an official Formula 1 race in Africa for over 30 years?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Many African fans of Formula 1 have to travel to the Middle East to watch the races in person because Africa is the only continent that doesn’t have an official Formula 1 race.
2. The show “Drive to Survive” on Netflix has helped increase the popularity of Formula 1 in Africa by introducing the sport to more people outside of Europe.
3. The Covid-19 pandemic contributed to more people in Africa watching Formula 1 because they were stuck at home and had more time to watch and follow the races.
4. Technology has helped the growth of Formula 1 in Africa by allowing fans to watch the races live on streaming services and TV channels they subscribe to.
5. Some African fans watch the races together with other fans by going to special parties or finding the best spot in their city to hang out during race weekends.
6. More girls are becoming interested in Formula 1 because they are interested in the engineering side of the sport.
7. There haven’t been any official Formula 1 races in Africa for over 30 years due to various reasons, including political issues and challenges in organizing and hosting the races.
8. Negotiations to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa didn’t work out because of political reasons, which prevented the agreement from being reached.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Africa
(2) Middle
(3) called
(4) Survive
(5) people
(6) watching
(7) helped
(8) Nairobi
(9) girls
(10) getting
(11) engineering
(12) Lewis
(13) place
(14) reasons
(15) African
(16) world
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. continent
Answer: (O) One of the main landmasses on Earth, like Africa or Europe

2. pandemic
Answer: (L) A widespread outbreak of a disease affecting many people

3. streaming
Answer: (A) Watching videos or listening to music over the internet in real-time

4. subscribe
Answer: (G) To sign up and pay for a service regularly

5. engineering
Answer: (H) The branch of science and technology concerned with designing and building things

6. official
Answer: (D) Approved or recognized by authority

7. circuit
Answer: (E) A track or route for racing

8. negotiations
Answer: (K) Discussions aimed at reaching an agreement

9. political
Answer: (I) Related to government or public affairs

10. audience
Answer: (F) The group of people who watch or listen to something

11. championship
Answer: (N) A competition to find the best in a particular sport or activity

12. technology
Answer: (C) The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes

13. introduced
Answer: (J) Made known or brought into use for the first time

14. popular
Answer: (B) Liked or enjoyed by many people

15. attract
Answer: (M) To draw or bring someone or something closer
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why do many African fans have to travel to the Middle East to watch F1 races?
Answer: (b) Africa is the only continent without an F1 race

2. What has helped F1 become more popular in Africa?
Answer: (b) The show “Drive to Survive” on Netflix

3. How have technology advancements helped F1 grow in Africa?
Answer: (d) Fans can watch races live on streaming services and TV channels

4. What do some African fans do to watch F1 races together?
Answer: (a) Attend special parties with other fans

5. Why are more girls getting into F1?
Answer: (d) They are interested in the engineering side of the sport

6. How long has it been since there was an official F1 race in Africa?
Answer: (c) More than 30 years

7. Which country has been suggested as a possible location for an F1 race in Africa?
Answer: (c) Morocco

8. Why didn’t negotiations to bring F1 back to South Africa work out?
Answer: (a) Political reasons
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Africa is the only continent that currently does not have a Formula 1 (F1) race. (Answer: True)
2. Special parties and hangouts have become popular among African F1 fans to watch races together. (Answer: True)
3. Less people in Africa started watching F1 during the Covid-19 pandemic. (Answer: False)
4. Technology has played a role in the growth of F1 in Africa, allowing fans to watch races live through streaming services and TV channels. (Answer: True)
5. Boys are becoming more interested in F1, particularly in the engineering aspect of the sport. (Answer: False)
6. African fans, along with Lewis Hamilton, are against an F1 race taking place in Africa, with potential locations being Morocco, Rwanda, Zanzibar, or the Kyalami circuit in South Africa. (Answer: False)
7. The popularity of F1 in Africa has decreased due to a Netflix show called “Drive to Survive.” (Answer: False)
8. Despite having a significant following in Africa, there hasn’t been an official F1 race there for over 30 years. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧