A lot of people in India are flying on planes to different places. Recently, they set a new record because 456,000 people flew on a single day! This happened because more people in India have money to travel after the pandemic. In the first three months of 2023, over 37.5 million passengers flew on domestic airlines, which is a 51.7% increase compared to last year. Even though there are many people flying, there are some problems in the airplane industry. Some airplanes have to stay on the ground because of broken parts. This is causing airlines to lose a lot of money. However, more airplanes will be made in the future to help with this problem. India is also doing better than other countries when it comes to filling up the seats in the airplanes.
Original news source: Air India, IndiGo: New record as 456,000 Indians take flights in a day (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Airplane Vocabulary
Instructions: Write the words “airplane,” “passengers,” “domestic airlines,” “ground,” and “broken parts” on the board. Have the students come up to the board and draw a picture next to each word to show their understanding of the vocabulary. Then, have the students take turns saying the words and pointing to the corresponding picture.
– Record Breaking
Instructions: Ask the students if they have ever been on a plane. Then, tell them about the record-breaking day in India. Have the students take turns sharing where they would like to travel to and why. Encourage them to use full sentences and ask follow-up questions.
– Future Airplanes (good for young learners)
Instructions: Ask the students if they think airplanes will be important in the future. Then, have them work in pairs or small groups to draw a picture of what they think a future airplane might look like. Encourage them to label the different parts of the airplane and explain how it is different from current airplanes. Have each group share their drawing and explanation with the class.
Comprehension Questions:
1. How many people recently flew on a single day in India?
2. Why are more people in India able to travel now?
3. How much did the number of domestic airline passengers increase in the first three months of 2023?
4. What is causing airlines to lose a lot of money?
5. Will more airplanes be made in the future to help with the broken parts problem?
6. Is India doing better than other countries when it comes to filling up airplane seats?
7. What do people use airplanes for in India?
8. Do you like to travel on airplanes?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A lot of people in (1)_______ are flying on planes to different places. Recently, they set a new record because 456,000 people flew on a single day! This happened because more people in India have money to travel after the (2)________. In the first three months of 2023, over 37.5 million passengers flew on domestic airlines, which is a 51.7% increase compared to (3)_______ year. Even though there are many people flying, there are some problems in the airplane industry. Some airplanes have to stay on the ground because of (4)________ parts. This is causing airlines to lose a lot of money. However, more airplanes will be made in the future to help with this (5)_______. India is also doing better than other countries when it comes to filling up the seats in the airplanes.
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Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Have you ever been on a plane?
2. Do you like flying on planes?
3. What do you think about so many people flying in India?
4. Do you think it’s good that more people can afford to travel now?
5. Have you ever traveled on a plane after the pandemic?
6. Do you think airplanes should be made better so they don’t break down?
7. What do you think about airlines losing money because of broken parts?
8. Do you think India is doing better than other countries with airplane seats?
9. What is your favorite thing about flying on a plane?
10. Do you think airplanes are safe to fly on?
11. What is the longest plane ride you have been on?
12. Have you ever seen an airplane up close?
13. What do you think about the new record of people flying in India?
14. Do you think more people will fly on planes in the future?
15. Would you like to travel on a plane someday?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. airplanes
2. passengers
3. pandemic
4. broken
5. industry
6. record
7. ground
8. money
Meanings:
A) Big machines that fly in the sky
B) Something that can be used to buy things
C) The business of making or selling things
D) The best or highest achievement
E) A disease that spread all around the world
F) Something that is not working properly
G) The surface of the Earth that we walk on
H) People who travel on airplanes
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Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What did people in India recently set a new record for?
(a) eating a lot of food
(b) flying on a single day
(c) driving cars
(d) swimming in the ocean
2. Why are more people in India able to travel now?
(a) because they have less money
(b) because of the pandemic
(c) because of new laws
(d) because they have more money
3. How many passengers flew on domestic airlines in the first three months of 2023?
(a) 10,000
(b) 37.5 million
(c) 100 million
(d) 500 million
4. What is causing airlines to lose a lot of money?
(a) airplanes staying on the ground
(b) too many people flying
(c) airplanes flying too fast
(d) too much food on the planes
5. What will be done to help with the problem of broken parts on airplanes?
(a) nothing
(b) people will fix the parts themselves
(c) more airplanes will be made
(d) the airplanes will fly slower
6. How is India doing compared to other countries when it comes to filling up the seats in airplanes?
(a) worse
(b) the same
(c) better
(d) they don’t have airplanes
7. Why are there more people flying on planes in India?
(a) because of the pandemic
(b) because they want to swim in the ocean
(c) because they have more money
(d) because they like to drive cars
8. What do airlines need to do to make more money?
(a) fly fewer planes
(b) charge more money for tickets
(c) give free food to everyone
(d) let people bring their pets on the planes
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True or False Questions:
1. Fewer people in India are flying on planes to different places.
2. 456,000 people flew on a single day in India.
3. People in India have more money to travel after the pandemic.
4. Over 37.5 million passengers flew on domestic airlines in India in the first three months of 2023.
5. There has been a decrease in the number of people flying on airplanes in India compared to last year.
6. Some airplanes have to stay on the ground in India because of broken parts.
7. India is not doing well compared to other countries when it comes to filling up the seats in airplanes.
8. More airplanes will be made in the future to help airlines in India.
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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 did people in India recently do that set a new record?
2. Why are more people in India able to travel now?
3. How many passengers flew on domestic airlines in the first three months of 2023?
4. What problem is causing some airplanes to stay on the ground?
5. Is India doing better or worse than other countries in filling up airplane seats?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. How many people recently flew on a single day in India?
Answer: 456,000 people flew on a single day in India recently.
2. Why are more people in India able to travel now?
Answer: More people in India are able to travel now because they have more money after the pandemic.
3. How much did the number of domestic airline passengers increase in the first three months of 2023?
Answer: The number of domestic airline passengers increased by 51.7% in the first three months of 2023.
4. What is causing airlines to lose a lot of money?
Answer: Some airplanes have broken parts, and they have to stay on the ground, causing airlines to lose a lot of money.
5. Will more airplanes be made in the future to help with the broken parts problem?
Answer: Yes, more airplanes will be made in the future to help with the broken parts problem.
6. Is India doing better than other countries when it comes to filling up airplane seats?
Answer: Yes, India is doing better than other countries when it comes to filling up airplane seats.
7. What do people use airplanes for in India?
Answer: People in India use airplanes to travel to different places.
8. Do you like to travel on airplanes?
Answer: This question requires a personal answer.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. India
2. pandemic
3. last
4. broken
5. problem
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. airplanes
Answer: A) Big machines that fly in the sky
2. passengers
Answer: H) People who travel on airplanes
3. pandemic
Answer: E) A disease that spread all around the world
4. broken
Answer: F) Something that is not working properly
5. industry
Answer: C) The business of making or selling things
6. record
Answer: D) The best or highest achievement
7. ground
Answer: G) The surface of the Earth that we walk on
8. money
Answer: B) Something that can be used to buy things
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What did people in India recently set a new record for?
Answer: (b) flying on a single day
2. Why are more people in India able to travel now?
Answer: (d) because they have more money
3. How many passengers flew on domestic airlines in the first three months of 2023?
Answer: (b) 37.5 million
4. What is causing airlines to lose a lot of money?
Answer: (a) airplanes staying on the ground
5. What will be done to help with the problem of broken parts on airplanes?
Answer: (c) more airplanes will be made
6. How is India doing compared to other countries when it comes to filling up the seats in airplanes?
Answer: (c) better
7. Why are there more people flying on planes in India?
Answer: (c) because they have more money
8. What do airlines need to do to make more money?
Answer: (b) charge more money for tickets
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True or False Answers:
1. Fewer people in India are flying on planes to different places.
Answer: False
2. 456,000 people flew on a single day in India.
Answer: True
3. People in India have more money to travel after the pandemic.
Answer: True
4. Over 37.5 million passengers flew on domestic airlines in India in the first three months of 2023.
Answer: False
5. There has been a decrease in the number of people flying on airplanes in India compared to last year.
Answer: False
6. Some airplanes have to stay on the ground in India because of broken parts.
Answer: True
7. India is not doing well compared to other countries when it comes to filling up the seats in airplanes.
Answer: False
8. More airplanes will be made in the future to help airlines in India.
Answer: True
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