Extreme temperatures are causing problems at live music events, like what happened at a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro. It was really hot, over 40C, and people got sick from the heat and not having enough water. One person even died from a heart attack. People are talking about how the concert organizers should have done more to keep everyone safe.

People who went to the concert are mad at the company that put it on, Tickets for Fun (T4F), because they didn’t do a good job preparing for the heat. They didn’t let people bring water bottles, and only a few people near the front got cups of water. Now, there’s a campaign asking for free water bottles at concerts to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, is also mad at T4F and wants to do something about it. T4F said that the hot weather was because of climate change and they need to do better, but people are saying that’s not a good excuse for not taking care of the fans.

This isn’t the first time that extreme weather has messed up music events in South America. In Chile, it was really hot at the Lollapalooza festival and people passed out. In Brazil, a storm canceled the second day of the Tomorrowland festival. Concert organizers and authorities need to do more to keep people safe in extreme weather, like having shaded areas, places to get water, and letting people bring their own water.

Original news source: Are extreme temperatures threatening live music events? (BBC)

Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Article Timeline
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a printed copy of the article. Ask the groups to create a timeline of events based on the information in the article. They should include key details such as the date of the Taylor Swift concert, the temperature, the problems that occurred, and any reactions or responses from the concert organizers and authorities. After a designated time, have each group present their timelines to the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g. extreme temperatures, live music events, campaign, climate change). Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a set of index cards or small pieces of paper. One student from each pair should draw a picture representing one of the vocabulary words, while the other student guesses the word. After a certain amount of time, have the pairs switch roles. The pair with the most correct guesses wins.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a set of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think concert organizers should provide free water bottles at events?” or “Should authorities enforce stricter safety measures for extreme weather conditions at outdoor concerts?” Divide the class into pairs or small groups and ask them to discuss and share their opinions on each question. After a designated time, have each group present their opinions to the class and facilitate a class discussion.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: Choose a keyword from the article, such as “heat” or “water bottles.” Write a series of dashes on the board to represent the letters in the keyword. Divide the class into teams and have them take turns guessing letters to complete the keyword. If a team guesses a correct letter, write it in the appropriate position on the board. If a team guesses a wrong letter, draw part of a hangman. The team that successfully guesses the keyword wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a printed copy of the article. Set a timer for a short amount of time (e.g. 2 minutes) and ask the pairs to read the article quickly and silently. After the time is up, one student from each pair should summarize the main points of the article to their partner. Then, the pairs should switch roles and repeat the activity. After a few rounds, open up a class discussion to share the main points and clarify any questions or misunderstandings.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did people get sick at the Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro?
2. What did the concert organizers not allow people to bring to the event?
3. Why are people angry at the company Tickets for Fun?
4. What is the campaign asking for at concerts to prevent similar incidents?
5. Who is upset with Tickets for Fun and wants to take action?
6. What reason did T4F give for not being prepared for the heat?
7. What happened at the Lollapalooza festival in Chile?
8. What measures should concert organizers and authorities take to keep people safe in extreme weather?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Extreme temperatures are causing (1)______ at live music events, like what (2)______ at a Taylor (3)______ concert in Rio de Janeiro. It was really hot, over 40C, and people got sick from the heat and not (4)______ enough water. One person even died from a heart attack. People are talking about how the concert organizers should have done more to keep everyone safe.

People who went to the concert are mad at the (5)______ that put it on, (6)______ for Fun (T4F), because they didn’t do a good job preparing for the heat. They didn’t let people bring water bottles, and only a few people near the (7)______ got cups of water. Now, there’s a campaign asking for free water bottles at (8)______ to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, is also mad at T4F and wants to do something about it. T4F said that the hot weather was because of (9)______ change and they need to do better, but (10)______ are saying that’s not a good excuse for not taking care of the fans.

This isn’t the first time that extreme weather has (11)______ up (12)______ events in South America. In Chile, it was really hot at the Lollapalooza festival and people passed out. In Brazil, a storm (13)______ the second day of the Tomorrowland festival. Concert (14)______ and authorities need to do more to keep people safe in (15)______ weather, like having shaded areas, (16)______ to get water, and letting people bring their own water.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is climate change and how does it affect live music events?
2. How would you feel if you went to a concert and it was extremely hot without enough water?
3. Do you think concert organizers should be responsible for keeping people safe in extreme weather? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever been to a live music event where the weather caused problems? Can you describe what happened?
5. Do you like going to outdoor concerts or indoor concerts better? Why?
6. What do you think concert organizers can do to better prepare for extreme weather conditions?
7. How would you feel if you were not allowed to bring your own water to a concert? Why?
8. Should concert organizers provide free water bottles to attendees to prevent heat-related illnesses? Why or why not?
9. How do you think extreme temperatures can affect the overall experience of a live music event?
10. Have you ever experienced extreme weather conditions at a concert or any other event? How did it impact your experience?
11. Do you think it’s fair to blame climate change for the problems at the Taylor Swift concert? Why or why not?
12. What measures do you think authorities should take to ensure the safety of attendees at outdoor music festivals?
13. How do you think extreme weather events can impact the reputation of concert organizers?
14. Have you ever attended a concert or event where the weather conditions made it difficult to enjoy? Can you explain what happened?
15. What steps do you think concert organizers should take to prevent heat-related illnesses and other weather-related issues at live music events?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. temperatures
2. live music events
3. concert
4. organizers
5. company
6. water bottles
7. campaign
8. mayor
9. climate change
10. excuse
11. extreme weather
12. festival
13. authorities
14. shaded areas
15. own water

Meanings:
(A) The leader of a city or town
(B) How hot or cold it is outside
(C) The long-term change in weather patterns around the world
(D) Unusual or severe weather conditions
(E) Areas with protection from the sun
(F) Water that you bring with you
(G) Containers that hold water for drinking
(H) A business that puts on events or sells tickets
(I) A group of people working together to achieve a goal
(J) People who have the power to make decisions and enforce rules
(K) A big music show with a famous singer or band
(L) A big party with music and entertainment
(M) People who plan and manage an event
(N) A reason or explanation for something that went wrong
(O) Shows where musicians perform in front of an audience
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What caused problems at the Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro?
(a) Rain
(b) Extreme temperatures
(c) Lack of security
(d) Power outage

2. Why are people mad at Tickets for Fun (T4F)?
(a) They didn’t have enough security
(b) They didn’t play Taylor Swift’s best songs
(c) They didn’t prepare well for the heat
(d) They didn’t provide enough food options

3. What is the mayor of Rio de Janeiro upset about?
(a) The high ticket prices
(b) The long lines at the concert
(c) The lack of parking spaces
(d) T4F’s lack of preparation

4. What is T4F’s excuse for not taking care of the fans?
(a) Lack of funds
(b) Lack of experience
(c) Climate change causing extreme weather
(d) Technical difficulties

5. What happened at the Lollapalooza festival in Chile?
(a) People passed out from the heat
(b) It rained heavily
(c) The stage collapsed
(d) The sound system malfunctioned

6. How did extreme weather affect the Tomorrowland festival in Brazil?
(a) A storm canceled the second day
(b) People got sunburned
(c) The performers didn’t show up
(d) The tickets were sold out

7. What measures should concert organizers and authorities take to keep people safe in extreme weather?
(a) Increase ticket prices
(b) Ban water bottles
(c) Cancel the event
(d) Provide shaded areas and water

8. What is the purpose of the campaign asking for free water bottles at concerts?
(a) To promote environmental sustainability
(b) To prevent people from getting sick from the heat
(c) To increase ticket sales
(d) To support local businesses

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. At a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro, the comfortable weather caused no problems for the attendees, with temperatures staying below 30C.
2. T4F blamed the hot weather on climate change, but people are not accepting this as a valid excuse for not ensuring the safety of the fans.
3. The concert organizers, Tickets for Fun (T4F), are facing criticism for not adequately preparing for the hot weather and not allowing people to bring water bottles.
4. Some people remained healthy and no one died from a heart attack due to the heat and lack of water at the concert.
5. People who attended the concert are angry at T4F and are demanding free water bottles at future concerts to prevent similar incidents.
6. Similar incidents have never occurred at other music events in South America, such as the Lollapalooza festival in Chile where people enjoyed the moderate heat.
7. Concert organizers and authorities need to implement measures like shaded areas, water stations, and allowing attendees to bring their own water to ensure the safety of people in extreme weather conditions.
8. The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, is happy with T4F and wants to support their actions.
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 at the Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro?
2. Why are people upset with the company Tickets for Fun?
3. What is the mayor of Rio de Janeiro’s reaction to the concert incident?
4. How have extreme weather conditions affected other music events in South America?
5. What are some suggestions for concert organizers and authorities to keep people safe in extreme weather?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did people get sick at the Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro?
People got sick because of the extremely hot temperatures, over 40C, and not having enough water.

2. What did the concert organizers not allow people to bring to the event?
The concert organizers did not allow people to bring water bottles.

3. Why are people angry at the company Tickets for Fun?
People are angry at Tickets for Fun because they didn’t do a good job preparing for the heat and didn’t provide enough water for the attendees.

4. What is the campaign asking for at concerts to prevent similar incidents?
The campaign is asking for free water bottles to be provided at concerts to ensure people stay hydrated and safe.

5. Who is upset with Tickets for Fun and wants to take action?
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, is upset with Tickets for Fun and wants to take action.

6. What reason did T4F give for not being prepared for the heat?
T4F said that the hot weather was because of climate change and they need to do better.

7. What happened at the Lollapalooza festival in Chile?
At the Lollapalooza festival in Chile, it was extremely hot and people passed out.

8. What measures should concert organizers and authorities take to keep people safe in extreme weather?
Concert organizers and authorities should provide shaded areas, places to get water, and allow people to bring their own water to keep them safe in extreme weather.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) problems
(2) happened
(3) Swift
(4) having
(5) company
(6) Tickets
(7) front
(8) concerts
(9) climate
(10) people
(11) messed
(12) music
(13) canceled
(14) organizers
(15) extreme
(16) places
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. temperatures
Answer: (B) How hot or cold it is outside

2. live music events
Answer: (O) Shows where musicians perform in front of an audience

3. concert
Answer: (K) A big music show with a famous singer or band

4. organizers
Answer: (M) People who plan and manage an event

5. company
Answer: (H) A business that puts on events or sells tickets

6. water bottles
Answer: (G) Containers that hold water for drinking

7. campaign
Answer: (I) A group of people working together to achieve a goal

8. mayor
Answer: (A) The leader of a city or town

9. climate change
Answer: (C) The long-term change in weather patterns around the world

10. excuse
Answer: (N) A reason or explanation for something that went wrong

11. extreme weather
Answer: (D) Unusual or severe weather conditions

12. festival
Answer: (L) A big party with music and entertainment

13. authorities
Answer: (J) People who have the power to make decisions and enforce rules

14. shaded areas
Answer: (E) Areas with protection from the sun

15. own water
Answer: (F) Water that you bring with you
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What caused problems at the Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro?
Answer: (b) Extreme temperatures

2. Why are people mad at Tickets for Fun (T4F)?
Answer: (c) They didn’t prepare well for the heat

3. What is the mayor of Rio de Janeiro upset about?
Answer: (d) T4F’s lack of preparation

4. What is T4F’s excuse for not taking care of the fans?
Answer: (c) Climate change causing extreme weather

5. What happened at the Lollapalooza festival in Chile?
Answer: (a) People passed out from the heat

6. How did extreme weather affect the Tomorrowland festival in Brazil?
Answer: (a) A storm canceled the second day

7. What measures should concert organizers and authorities take to keep people safe in extreme weather?
Answer: (d) Provide shaded areas and water

8. What is the purpose of the campaign asking for free water bottles at concerts?
Answer: (b) To prevent people from getting sick from the heat
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. At a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro, the comfortable weather caused no problems for the attendees, with temperatures staying below 30C. (Answer: False)
2. T4F blamed the hot weather on climate change, but people are not accepting this as a valid excuse for not ensuring the safety of the fans. (Answer: True)
3. The concert organizers, Tickets for Fun (T4F), are facing criticism for not adequately preparing for the hot weather and not allowing people to bring water bottles. (Answer: True)
4. Some people remained healthy and no one died from a heart attack due to the heat and lack of water at the concert. (Answer: False)
5. People who attended the concert are angry at T4F and are demanding free water bottles at future concerts to prevent similar incidents. (Answer: True)
6. Similar incidents have never occurred at other music events in South America, such as the Lollapalooza festival in Chile where people enjoyed the moderate heat. (Answer: False)
7. Concert organizers and authorities need to implement measures like shaded areas, water stations, and allowing attendees to bring their own water to ensure the safety of people in extreme weather conditions. (Answer: True)
8. The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, is happy with T4F and wants to support their actions. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧