A tourist village in China, famous for its beautiful snowy views, recently apologized for using fake materials to make it look like there was snow. This happened in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, during the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of January. Because of unusually warm weather, the village couldn’t provide the real snow that many visitors were hoping to see.

To keep the winter vibe alive, the Chengdu Snow Village used cotton wool and soapy water to create the fake snow. They posted pictures on social media showing big piles of cotton spread out across the village and on rooftops. However, many tourists were upset because they felt tricked, as the village didn’t make it clear that the snow was not real. Some people even pointed out the funny situation of a “snow village without snow.”

After receiving a lot of criticism, the village apologized on WeChat, a popular social media platform in China. They admitted that their attempts to create a snowy atmosphere disappointed many visitors and offered refunds to those who felt misled. The village recognized that their plan to create a winter wonderland didn’t go as expected and left a bad impression on tourists.

This situation has highlighted the bigger issue of climate change in China, where weather is becoming more unpredictable. The weather bureau has reported that the country is facing longer heat waves and sudden heavy rains. These changes are affecting seasonal activities and tourism, making it harder for businesses to attract visitors. In response, the Chengdu Snow Village has removed the fake snow and is reminded of the difficulties tourist spots face in adapting to changing climate while still meeting visitor expectations.

Original news source: Snow village in China apologises for using fake snow during unusually warm weather (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the students into two teams. Each team takes turns acting out different phrases related to the article, such as “fake snow,” “Lunar New Year,” or “climate change,” without speaking. The other team must guess what the phrase is. This will help students practice vocabulary and context clues.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Pose the question, “Is it acceptable for a tourist destination to use fake materials to enhance the visitor experience?” Have students walk around the classroom and ask each other for their opinions. Afterward, come together as a class to discuss the results and reasons behind their viewpoints.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In small groups, ask students to create a catchy headline for the article. Encourage them to think creatively while incorporating key elements from the story. After they have created their headlines, each group will present their headline to the class, explaining the reasoning behind their choice.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On the board, draw a large circle in the center labeled “Chengdu Snow Village.” Have students work in pairs to brainstorm and write down related words and phrases that connect to the article, such as “fake snow,” “apology,” “climate change,” and “tourism.” This activity helps with vocabulary retention and understanding complex topics.

– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student will think of two true statements and one false statement about the article’s content. They will share their three statements with a partner, who must guess which one is the lie. This activity encourages critical thinking and comprehension of the article.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What materials did the Chengdu Snow Village use to create the fake snow?

2. Why did the village feel the need to create fake snow for visitors?

3. How did tourists react to the discovery that the snow was not real?

4. What social media platform did the village use to apologize to visitors?

5. What did the village offer to those who felt misled by the fake snow?

6. How has climate change affected the weather in China, according to the article?

7. What challenges do tourist spots face due to changing weather conditions?

8. Why is the situation at the Chengdu Snow Village considered a reflection of a larger issue?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A tourist village in (1)______, famous for its beautiful (2)______ views, recently apologized for using fake materials to make it look like there was snow. This happened in (3)______, the capital of (4)______ province, during the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of January. Because of unusually warm weather, the village couldn’t provide the real snow that many visitors were hoping to see.

To keep the winter vibe alive, the Chengdu Snow Village used cotton wool and soapy (5)______ to (6)______ the fake snow. They posted pictures on social media showing big piles of cotton spread out across the (7)______ and on rooftops. However, many (8)______ were upset because they felt tricked, as the village didn’t make it clear that the snow was not real. Some people even pointed out the funny situation of a “snow village without snow.”

After receiving a lot of criticism, the village apologized on WeChat, a popular social (9)______ platform in China. They (10)______ that their attempts to create a snowy atmosphere disappointed many visitors and offered refunds to those who felt misled. The village recognized that their plan to create a winter wonderland didn’t go as (11)______ and left a bad impression on tourists.

This situation has highlighted the bigger (12)______ of climate change in China, where weather is becoming more (13)______. The weather (14)______ has reported that the country is facing longer heat waves and sudden heavy rains. These changes are affecting seasonal activities and tourism, making it harder for businesses to attract visitors. In response, the Chengdu Snow Village has (15)______ the fake snow and is reminded of the difficulties tourist spots face in adapting to changing climate while still (16)______ visitor expectations.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your opinion on using fake materials to create something that is not real, like snow?
2. How would you feel if you traveled somewhere expecting a winter wonderland and found out it was all fake?
3. Do you think the village should have been honest about the snow being fake from the beginning? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever felt disappointed by a tourist attraction? What happened?
5. What is a memorable experience you’ve had while traveling?
6. Do you think social media plays a big role in how people choose their travel destinations? Why?
7. How would you feel if a place you visited offered refunds for a disappointing experience?
8. Do you believe that climate change is affecting tourism in your country? Why or why not?
9. What is your favorite season, and why do you like it?
10. How do you think businesses can adapt to the effects of climate change on tourism?
11. Do you enjoy winter activities like skiing or snowboarding? Why or why not?
12. What is a popular tourist spot in your country that you think could be affected by climate change?
13. How would you feel if you were in charge of a tourist village that had to deal with unpredictable weather?
14. Do you think it’s important for tourists to be aware of environmental issues when they travel? Why?
15. What is a unique way you think places can create an enjoyable experience for visitors, even without perfect weather?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. apologized
2. materials
3. vibe
4. rooftops
5. tricked
6. criticism
7. admitted
8. refunds
9. misled
10. impression
11. highlighted
12. unpredictable
13. bureau
14. seasonal
15. adapting

Meanings:
(A) Fooled or deceived someone
(B) Said sorry for something
(C) Brought attention to something important
(D) Negative comments or disapproval
(E) The tops of buildings
(F) Changing to fit new conditions or situations
(G) Things used to make or build something
(H) Related to a particular time of year
(I) Not able to be predicted or guessed
(J) Confessed or acknowledged something
(K) The feeling or atmosphere of a place
(L) The effect or influence something has on people
(M) An office or department that provides information
(N) Caused someone to believe something that wasn’t true
(O) Money given back to someone
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did the Chengdu Snow Village use to create fake snow?
(a) Plastic pellets
(b) Ice shavings
(c) Cotton wool and soapy water
(d) Paper snowflakes

2. Why did the village apologize to tourists?
(a) They ran out of tickets
(b) They used fake materials to create snow
(c) They had poor customer service
(d) They closed early

3. Where is the Chengdu Snow Village located?
(a) Chengdu
(b) Beijing
(c) Shanghai
(d) Guangzhou

4. During which holiday did this incident occur?
(a) Christmas
(b) National Day
(c) Mid-Autumn Festival
(d) Lunar New Year

5. What did the village offer to tourists who felt misled?
(a) Free meals
(b) Discounted tickets for next year
(c) Refunds
(d) Souvenirs

6. What issue does this situation highlight in China?
(a) Economic growth
(b) Urbanization
(c) Cultural heritage
(d) Climate change

7. What has the weather bureau reported about the climate in China?
(a) Colder winters and more snow
(b) Longer heat waves and sudden heavy rains
(c) Decreased rainfall and droughts
(d) More predictable weather patterns

8. What did the Chengdu Snow Village do after receiving criticism?
(a) Removed the fake snow
(b) Increased ticket prices
(c) Built more attractions
(d) Closed for the season

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They provided refunds to visitors who were satisfied with the snow.
2. The village used fake materials to create the appearance of snow.
3. Many tourists were upset because they thought the snow was real.
4. They used tissue paper and detergent to create the artificial snow.
5. The village is situated in Chongqing, the capital of Sichuan province.
6. The town expressed regret on Weibo after facing criticism.
7. A tourist village in China is known for its snowy views.
8. The situation highlights the impact of climate change on tourism in China.
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. Why did the Chengdu Snow Village use fake snow instead of real snow?
2. How did tourists react when they found out the snow was not real?
3. What action did the village take after receiving criticism from visitors?
4. What larger problem does this situation with the snow village highlight in China?
5. How might climate change affect tourism in places like Chengdu?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What materials did the Chengdu Snow Village use to create the fake snow?
They used cotton wool and soapy water to create the fake snow.

2. Why did the village feel the need to create fake snow for visitors?
The village wanted to provide a winter vibe because they couldn’t produce real snow due to unusually warm weather during the Lunar New Year holiday.

3. How did tourists react to the discovery that the snow was not real?
Many tourists were upset and felt tricked because the village didn’t clearly indicate that the snow was fake. Some found it funny to have a “snow village without snow.”

4. What social media platform did the village use to apologize to visitors?
The village used WeChat to apologize to visitors.

5. What did the village offer to those who felt misled by the fake snow?
The village offered refunds to those who felt misled by the fake snow.

6. How has climate change affected the weather in China, according to the article?
Climate change has led to longer heat waves and sudden heavy rains, making the weather more unpredictable in China.

7. What challenges do tourist spots face due to changing weather conditions?
Tourist spots face challenges in attracting visitors because changing weather conditions affect seasonal activities and their ability to meet visitor expectations.

8. Why is the situation at the Chengdu Snow Village considered a reflection of a larger issue?
The situation highlights the broader issue of climate change and its impact on tourism and seasonal activities in China, showing how businesses struggle to adapt to these changes.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) China
(2) snowy
(3) Chengdu
(4) Sichuan
(5) water
(6) create
(7) village
(8) tourists
(9) media
(10) admitted
(11) expected
(12) issue
(13) unpredictable
(14) bureau
(15) removed
(16) meeting
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. apologized
Answer: (B) Said sorry for something

2. materials
Answer: (G) Things used to make or build something

3. vibe
Answer: (K) The feeling or atmosphere of a place

4. rooftops
Answer: (E) The tops of buildings

5. tricked
Answer: (A) Fooled or deceived someone

6. criticism
Answer: (D) Negative comments or disapproval

7. admitted
Answer: (J) Confessed or acknowledged something

8. refunds
Answer: (O) Money given back to someone

9. misled
Answer: (N) Caused someone to believe something that wasn’t true

10. impression
Answer: (L) The effect or influence something has on people

11. highlighted
Answer: (C) Brought attention to something important

12. unpredictable
Answer: (I) Not able to be predicted or guessed

13. bureau
Answer: (M) An office or department that provides information

14. seasonal
Answer: (H) Related to a particular time of year

15. adapting
Answer: (F) Changing to fit new conditions or situations
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did the Chengdu Snow Village use to create fake snow?
Answer: (c) Cotton wool and soapy water

2. Why did the village apologize to tourists?
Answer: (b) They used fake materials to create snow

3. Where is the Chengdu Snow Village located?
Answer: (a) Chengdu

4. During which holiday did this incident occur?
Answer: (d) Lunar New Year

5. What did the village offer to tourists who felt misled?
Answer: (c) Refunds

6. What issue does this situation highlight in China?
Answer: (d) Climate change

7. What has the weather bureau reported about the climate in China?
Answer: (b) Longer heat waves and sudden heavy rains

8. What did the Chengdu Snow Village do after receiving criticism?
Answer: (a) Removed the fake snow
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They provided refunds to visitors who were satisfied with the snow. (Answer: False)
2. The village used fake materials to create the appearance of snow. (Answer: True)
3. Many tourists were upset because they thought the snow was real. (Answer: True)
4. They used tissue paper and detergent to create the artificial snow. (Answer: False)
5. The village is situated in Chongqing, the capital of Sichuan province. (Answer: False)
6. The town expressed regret on Weibo after facing criticism. (Answer: False)
7. A tourist village in China is known for its snowy views. (Answer: True)
8. The situation highlights the impact of climate change on tourism in China. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧