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: 01 May 2012
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN ๐
NYC Tower Surpasses Empire State Building
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- surpass: to go beyond
- column:ย a vertical beam in a building that is used for support
- milestone:ย an important achievement or event in a timeline
- skyscraper: a very tall building
Comprehension Questions
- What did this tower replace?
- Why is the timing of this milestone significant?
- Why does the report mention Dubai?
Discussion Question: Approximately half of the real estate inside the replacement tower has already been rented. Would you want to work in this tower? Why or why not?
show Answershide Answers
NYC Tower Surpasses Empire State Building
On Monday, April 30th, the new One World Trade Center tower became the tallest building in New York City when a column was added to the 100th floor. Currently under construction, the replacement tower is now 1,271 feet, just a bit higher than the Empire State Building. This milestone in construction history took place the day before the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death. When the building is complete in 2014, the One World Trade Center tower will be America’s tallest skyscraper. This record is currently held by Chicago’s Willis Tower, which stands at 1,450 feet. The new One World Trade Center, which stands close to the memorial twin pools, will be a little bit taller than the original tower that was destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001. Dubai’s Bhurj Khalifa will remain the tallest building in the world.
- This tower replaced the original One World Trade Center that was destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.
- The timing of this milestone is significant because it took place almost exactly a year after the death of Osama bin Laden.
- The report mentions Dubai because this country will still hold the record for the tallest building, even when the One World Trade Center is complete.
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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