Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 28 June 2011
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN π
Man Pays 1.8 Million for Michael Jackson’s Thriller Jacket
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- philanthropist: a person who is devoted to helping people or charities in need
- auction: an organized event where people can bid on certain items; the highest bidder wins
- bid: to offer to pay a certain amount for something
- zombie: a body of a dead person that is acting alive
- memorabilia: things that remind people of a certain event or time
- fundraising: working at or running events that earn money for a good cause or charity
Comprehension Questions
- Who paid over 1 million dollars for one of Michael Jackson’s coats?
- Why was this particular coat worth so much money?
- What will be done with some of the money from the sale?
Discussion Question: What one article of clothing or famous artefact would you like to own and why?
show Answershide Answers
Man Pays 1.8 Million for Michael Jackson’s Thriller Jacket
A philanthropist who runs children’s charities paid 1.8 million dollars for the red and black jacket that Michael Jackson wore in his “Thriller” video. The auction took place in Beverly Hills, two years after Michael Jackson’s death. The estimated bid for the autographed “zombie” jacket was $200,000 to $400,000. Milton Verret, a gold trader in Austin, Texas buys Hollywood and pop star memorabilia to help with his fundraising. The jacket will be on display at a children’s hospital in Texas. Some of the money from the sale will go to the Shambala Preserve. This is where Jackson’s two tigers, Thriller and Sabu, have resided since leaving Neverland.
- A philanthropist from Texas paid over 1 million dollars for one of Michael Jackson’s coats.
- This particular coat was worth so much money because this is the one Michael Jackson wore in his “Thriller” video. It is also autographed by the pop star.
- Some of the money from the sale will go toward the Shambala Preserve, where Jackson’s two tigers live.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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