An athlete named Beatriz Flamini has broken a world record. She lived in a cave for 500 days with no other people. Beatriz did this to find out what happens when someone is alone for a long time. She was watched by scientists to see how she felt. When she came out, she said she did not know much about the world because she had not been talking to people. Beatriz read 60 books, knitted hats, and drew pictures while she was in the cave. She also drank 1,000 litres of water. Beatriz’s team says she has broken the world record for living in a cave for a long time. The Guinness World Records people have not said if she has broken the record yet.
Original news source: Beatriz Flamini: Athlete emerges after 500 days living in cave (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CAVEMAN/CAVEWOMAN
Instructions: Have the students pair up and pretend that they are living in a cave for 500 days. They must take turns telling each other about their day in the cave. Encourage the use of new vocabulary words and expressions related to the article.
– DRAWING CHALLENGE
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and ask them to draw a picture of what they think the inside of Beatriz Flamini’s cave looked like. After they’re done, have the students present their drawings to the class and describe what they drew.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Who broke a world record by living in a cave for 500 days?
2. Did Beatriz live with other people in the cave?
3. Why did Beatriz live in a cave for 500 days?
4. Who watched Beatriz when she was in the cave?
5. What did Beatriz do while she was in the cave?
6. How much water did Beatriz drink while she was in the cave?
7. What did Beatriz say when she came out of the cave?
8. Has Beatriz broken the world record for living in a cave for a long time?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
An athlete named (1)________ has broken a world record. She lived in a (2)________ for 500 days with no other people. Beatriz did this to find out what happens when someone is alone for a long time. She was watched by scientists to see how she felt. When she came out, she said she did not know much about the world because she had not been talking to people. Beatriz read 60 books, knitted hats, and drew pictures while she was in the cave. She also drank 1,000 (3)________ of water. Beatriz’s team says she has broken the world record for living in a cave for a long time. The (4)________ World Records people have not said if she has broken the record yet.
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Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What did Beatriz Flamini do to break a world record?
2. Why did Beatriz live in a cave for 500 days?
3. Who watched Beatriz while she was living in the cave?
4. How did Beatriz feel when she came out of the cave?
5. What did Beatriz do to keep herself busy while she was in the cave?
6. How much water did Beatriz drink while she was in the cave?
7. What does Beatriz’s team say about her world record?
8. Who decides if Beatriz has broken the world record officially?
9. Would you like to live in a cave for 500 days? Why or why not?
10. What do you think would be the hardest thing about living alone in a cave for a long time?
11. Have you ever been alone for a long time? How did it feel?
12. What are some things you like to do to keep yourself busy when you’re alone?
13. Do you think it’s important to talk to other people? Why or why not?
14. What’s one thing you think Beatriz missed while she was in the cave?
15. Do you think you could break a world record? What record would you like to break?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. athlete
2. cave
3. scientists
4. books
5. water
6. record
7. alone
8. team
Meanings:
A) A place where someone can explore underground
B) A group of people who work together
C) People who study the natural world
D) A person who is good at sports
E) A written story with many pages
F) Something that is the best, biggest, or longest
G) Not with other people
H) A clear liquid that humans need to drink to live.
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Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Who broke a world record by living in a cave for 500 days?
(a) Beatriz Flamini
(b) Michael Phelps
(c) Serena Williams
(d) Usain Bolt
2. Why did Beatriz Flamini live in a cave for 500 days?
(a) To break a world record
(b) To find out what happens when someone is alone for a long time
(c) To escape from people
(d) To learn how to knit hats
3. Who watched Beatriz Flamini while she lived in the cave?
(a) Family
(b) Friends
(c) Scientists
(d) Animals
4. What did Beatriz Flamini do while she lived in the cave?
(a) Read books, knitted hats, and drew pictures
(b) Watched TV, played video games, and listened to music
(c) Slept all day, ate food, and drank water
(d) Talked to herself, exercised, and meditated
5. How much water did Beatriz Flamini drink while she lived in the cave?
(a) 10 litres
(b) 100 litres
(c) 500 litres
(d) 1,000 litres
6. What did Beatriz Flamini say when she came out of the cave?
(a) She knew a lot about the world
(b) She felt tired and sick
(c) She felt happy to see other people
(d) She did not know much about the world
7. What did Beatriz Flamini’s team say about her achievement?
(a) She broke the world record
(b) She did not break the world record
(c) She was too weak to live in the cave
(d) She cheated to break the world record
8. What did the Guinness World Records people say about Beatriz Flamini’s achievement?
(a) They said she broke the record
(b) They said she did not break the record
(c) They did not know she was living in a cave
(d) They said she broke a different record
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True or False Questions:
1. Beatriz Flamini lived in a cave for 500 days.
2. She lived in the cave with other people.
3. Beatriz wanted to find out what happens when someone is alone for a long time.
4. Scientists watched Beatriz while she was in the cave.
5. Beatriz did not read any books while she was in the cave.
6. Beatriz drank 100 litres of water.
7. Her team says she broke the world record.
8. Guinness World Records people have confirmed she broke the record.
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. Who broke a world record by living in a cave?
2. How long did Beatriz Flamini live in the cave?
3. Why did Beatriz Flamini live in a cave?
4. What did Beatriz Flamini do while she was in the cave?
5. Has Beatriz Flamini officially broken the world record yet?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Who broke a world record by living in a cave for 500 days?
– Beatriz Flamini broke the world record by living in a cave for 500 days.
2. Did Beatriz live with other people in the cave?
– No, Beatriz did not live with other people in the cave.
3. Why did Beatriz live in a cave for 500 days?
– Beatriz lived in a cave for 500 days to find out what happens when someone is alone for a long time.
4. Who watched Beatriz when she was in the cave?
– Scientists watched Beatriz when she was in the cave.
5. What did Beatriz do while she was in the cave?
– While she was in the cave, Beatriz read 60 books, knitted hats, and drew pictures.
6. How much water did Beatriz drink while she was in the cave?
– Beatriz drank 1,000 liters of water while she was in the cave.
7. What did Beatriz say when she came out of the cave?
– When she came out of the cave, Beatriz said she did not know much about the world because she had not been talking to people.
8. Has Beatriz broken the world record for living in a cave for a long time?
– Beatriz’s team says she has broken the world record for living in a cave for a long time, but the Guinness World Records people have not confirmed it yet.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) Beatriz Flamini
(2) cave
(3) litres
(4) Guinness
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. athlete
Answer: D) A person who is good at sports
2. cave
Answer: A) A place where someone can explore underground
3. scientists
Answer: C) People who study the natural world
4. books
Answer: E) A written story with many pages
5. water
Answer: H) A clear liquid that humans need to drink to live.
6. record
Answer: F) Something that is the best, biggest, or longest
7. alone
Answer: G) Not with other people
8. team
Answer: B) A group of people who work together
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Who broke a world record by living in a cave for 500 days?
Answer: (a) Beatriz Flamini
2. Why did Beatriz Flamini live in a cave for 500 days?
Answer: (b) To find out what happens when someone is alone for a long time
3. Who watched Beatriz Flamini while she lived in the cave?
Answer: (c) Scientists
4. What did Beatriz Flamini do while she lived in the cave?
Answer: (a) Read books, knitted hats, and drew pictures
5. How much water did Beatriz Flamini drink while she lived in the cave?
Answer: (d) 1,000 litres
6. What did Beatriz Flamini say when she came out of the cave?
Answer: (d) She did not know much about the world
7. What did Beatriz Flamini’s team say about her achievement?
Answer: (a) She broke the world record
8. What did the Guinness World Records people say about Beatriz Flamini’s achievement?
Answer: (b) They said she did not break the record
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Beatriz Flamini lived in a cave for 500 days.
Answer: True
2. She lived in the cave with other people.
Answer: False
3. Beatriz wanted to find out what happens when someone is alone for a long time.
Answer: True
4. Scientists watched Beatriz while she was in the cave.
Answer: True
5. Beatriz did not read any books while she was in the cave.
Answer: False
6. Beatriz drank 100 litres of water.
Answer: False
7. Her team says she broke the world record.
Answer: True
8. Guinness World Records people have confirmed she broke the record.
Answer: False
Go back to questions ⇧
