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$33 million Fabergé egg found at market (22nd March, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

An extremely rare antique, decorative egg designed by the legendary Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé has been unearthed at a second-hand goods market in the USA. A scrap dealer bought the golden egg at a bric-a-brac stall for $13,000. The unnamed trader intended to sell the egg for the scrap metal value of the gold. Fortunately for the antiques world, no one could match his asking price so the egg was not scrapped. The egg had a small watch inside it. One evening the dealer typed the name of the watch's manufacturer and the word "egg" into Google. It was then he discovered he was in possession of a priceless gem. The London-based Fabergé experts Wartski valued the egg at $33 million.

The egg was made by Fabergé for Russian Tsar Alexander III in 1887. It was last seen in public in March 1902 at an exhibition in St Petersburg. Its whereabouts since has been the cause of considerable speculation. Kieran McCarthy, director of Wartski, told reporters: "It's the most incredible discovery. We have so many discoveries but none of them are as momentous as this." He added: "For the Fabergé community…it is a wondrous event because the Easter egg is the ultimate target for every antique dealer and every enthusiast." Unfortunately, the egg might once again vanish from public view. Mr McCarthy said: "It may disappear into the deepest, darkest vaults of a collector somewhere."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://news.sky.com/story/1228581/royal-faberge-egg-worth-20m-found-at-market
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/19/scrap-dealer-bargain-turns-out-to-be-faberge-egg-worth-millions/
http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/03/19/33-million-Faberge-Egg-discovered-by-scrap-metal-dealer/UPI-74331395259208/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. ANTIQUES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about antiques. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

extremely rare / antique / egg / market / scrapped / dealer / manufacturer / priceless / in public / whereabouts / speculation / incredible discovery / enthusiast / vaults

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. COLLECT: What are the pros and cons of collecting these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Pros	Cons
Fabergé eggs
Rare stamps
Classic cars
Hollywood costumes
Visa stamps
Rock memorabilia

4. $33 MILLION: Students A strongly believe it's crazy to pay $33 million for an antique ; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. RARE: Rank these with your partner. Put the things you would most like to have at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• vintage wine

• 18th-century jewellery

• Ming dynasty china

• all the Beatles autographs

• the first ever English textbook

• the torch from the first Olympics

• a 1,000-year-old poem

• Henry VIII's wedding ring(s)

6. JEWELLERY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "jewellery". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	A rare egg-shaped jewel was found that was designed by Coco Chanel.	T / F
b.	A dealer bought the egg for $13,000.	T / F
c.	The dealer could not sell the egg for the price he wanted.	T / F
d.	He found out the egg was priceless after searching Google.	T / F
e.	The egg was made for a British queen in the 19th century.	T / F
f.	An expert said the egg is the king of thing antique dealers most want.	T / F
g.	The egg will be on permanent display at a museum in Moscow.	T / F
h.	An expert said the new owner will not keep the egg locked up.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	extremely	a.	expensive
2.	unearthed	b.	maker
3.	unnamed	c.	significant
4.	manufacturer	d.	discovered
5.	priceless	e.	display
6.	exhibition	f.	greatest
7.	whereabouts	g.	exceptionally
8.	momentous	h.	cellar
9.	ultimate	i.	location
10.	vaults	j.	anonymous

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	designed by the	a.	speculation
2.	sell the egg for the scrap	b.	of a priceless gem
3.	no one could match	c.	for every antique dealer
4.	he discovered he was in possession	d.	public in March 1902
5.	London-based Fabergé experts Wartski	e.	his asking price
6.	It was last seen in	f.	momentous as this
7.	the cause of considerable	g.	legendary Russian jeweller
8.	none of them are as	h.	vaults
9.	the ultimate target	i.	valued the egg
10.	disappear into the deepest, darkest	j.	metal value of the gold

GAP FILL

An (1) ____________ rare antique, decorative egg designed by the legendary Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé has been (2) ____________ at a second-hand goods market in the USA. A scrap dealer bought the golden egg at a bric-a-brac stall for $13,000. The (3) ____________ trader intended to sell the egg for the scrap metal value of the gold. Fortunately for the (4) ____________ world, no one could match his (5) ____________ price so the egg was not scrapped. The egg had a small watch inside it. One evening the dealer (6) ____________ the name of the watch's manufacturer and the word "egg" into Google. It was then he discovered he was in (7) ____________ of a (8) ____________ gem. The London-based Fabergé experts Wartski valued the egg at $33 million.

possession
antiques
unearthed
priceless
extremely
typed
unnamed
asking

The egg was made by Fabergé for Russian Tsar Alexander III in 1887. It was last seen in (9) ____________ in March 1902 at an exhibition in St Petersburg. Its whereabouts since has been the cause of considerable (10) ____________. Kieran McCarthy, director of Wartski, told reporters: "It's the most incredible (11) ____________. We have so many discoveries but none of them are as (12) ____________ as this." He added: "For the Fabergé community…it is a wondrous event because the Easter egg is the (13) ____________ target for every antique dealer and every (14) ____________." Unfortunately, the egg might once again vanish from public (15) ____________. Mr McCarthy said: "It may disappear into the deepest, darkest (16) ____________ of a collector somewhere."

momentous
vaults
speculation
enthusiast
discovery
view
public
ultimate

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	An extremely rare antique, ______
	a. decorating egg b. decorative egg c. decorated egg d. decoration egg
2)	designed by the legendary ______
	a. Russian jewellery b. Russian jewellers c. Russian jeweller d. Russian jewel are
3)	Fortunately for the antiques world, no one could match ______
	a. his basking price b. his tasking price c. his cask in price d. his asking price
4)	the egg was ______
	a. not scraped b. not scrapped c. not scrambled d. not fried
5)	It was then he discovered he was in possession ______
	a. of a priceless gem b. of a priceless germ c. of a priceless gent d. of a priceless jam
6)	It was last seen in public in March 1902 ______
	a. at an exhibit b. at an exhibition c. at an exhibiting d. at an exhibitioner
7)	Its whereabouts since has been the cause of ______
	a. considerably speculation b. consider a ball speculation c. considerable speculation d. consider able speculation
8)	It's the most ______
	a. incredible discovery b. incredible discovered c. incredible discover me d. incredible discovering
9)	We have so many discoveries but none of them ______
	a. are so momentous b. areas momentous c. are as momentous d. are as momentum
10)	the ultimate target for every antique dealer ______
	a. and every enthusiastic b. and every enthusiast c. and every enthusiasts d. and every enthusiasm

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

An extremely (1) ___________________ egg designed by the legendary Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé has (2) ___________________ a second-hand goods market in the USA. A scrap dealer bought the golden egg at a bric-a-brac stall for $13,000. The unnamed trader intended to sell the egg for (3) ___________________ of the gold. Fortunately for the antiques world, no one could (4) ___________________ so the egg was not scrapped. The egg had a small watch inside it. One evening the dealer typed the name of the watch's manufacturer and the word "egg" into Google. It was then he discovered he (5) ___________________ a priceless gem. The London-based Fabergé experts Wartski (6) ___________________ $33 million.

The egg was made by Fabergé for Russian Tsar Alexander III in 1887. It was (7) ___________________ March 1902 at an exhibition in St Petersburg. Its whereabouts since has been the cause of (8) ___________________. Kieran McCarthy, director of Wartski, told reporters: "It's the most incredible discovery. We have so many discoveries (9) ___________________ are as momentous as this." He added: "For the Fabergé community…it is a wondrous event because the Easter egg (10) ___________________ for every antique dealer and every enthusiast." Unfortunately, the egg might once again (11) ___________________. Mr McCarthy said: "It may disappear into the deepest, (12) ___________________ collector somewhere."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Who designed the egg that was recently discovered?
2.	How much did the scrap dealer pay for the egg at the market?
3.	What was inside the egg?
4.	How did the scrap dealer find out it was a priceless antique?
5.	Who said the egg was worth $33 million?
6.	When was the egg made?
7.	When and where was it last seen in public?
8.	What word did Kieran McCarthy use to describe the event?
9.	For whom is the egg the ultimate target?
10.	Where might the egg end up?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who designed the egg that was recently discovered?	6.	When was the egg made?
	a) Daniel Swarovski b) Peter Carl Fabergé c) Marc Chagall d) Coco Chanel		a) 1887 b) 1888 c) 1889 d) 1886
2.	How much did the scrap dealer pay for the egg at the market?	7.	When and where was it last seen in public?
	a) $22,000 b) $18,000 c) $15,000 d) $13,000		a) 1902 in Moscow b) 1903 in St Petersburg c) 1902 in St Petersburg d) 1903 in Moscow
3.	What was inside the egg?	8.	What word did Kieran McCarthy use to describe the event?
	a) blue diamonds b) yolk c) a watch d) chocolates		a) wondrous b) diamond c) eggy d) sparkling
4.	How did the scrap dealer find out it was a priceless antique?	9.	For whom is the egg the ultimate target?
	a) he Googled it b) he saw it on TV c) he got an anonymous e-mail d) from a local jewellery shop		a) cat burglars b) a Russian businessman c) Oprah Winfrey d) antique dealers
5.	Who said the egg was worth $33 million?	10.	Where might the egg end up?
	a) his local jewellery shop b) a London-based expert c) e-Bay d) Google		a) in a frying pan b) the Harrods store in London c) in a vault d) in Russia's Hermitage Museum

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Vintage wine

You think vintage wine would be the most valuable to thing to own in 500 years from now. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why they're things won't be so valuable. Also, tell the others which will be the least valuable of these (and why): Ming dynasty china, the Beatles autographs or the first Olympics torch.

Role B – Ming dynasty china

You think Ming dynasty china would be the most valuable to thing to own in 500 years from now. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why they're things won't be so valuable. Also, tell the others which will be the least valuable of these (and why): vintage wine, the Beatles autographs or the first Olympics torch.

Role C – the Beatles autographs

You think the Beatles autographs would be the most valuable to thing to own in 500 years from now. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why they're things won't be so valuable. Also, tell the others which will be the least valuable of these (and why): Ming dynasty china, vintage wine or the first Olympics torch.

Role D – The first Olympics torch

You think the first Olympics torch would be the most valuable to thing to own in 500 years from now. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why they're things won't be so valuable. Also, tell the others which will be the least valuable of these (and why): Ming dynasty china, the Beatles autographs or vintage wine.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'rare' and 'antique'.

rare

antique

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

extremely
second
sell
watch
gem
based

1887
1902
most
event
once
darkest

ANTIQUES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about antiques in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

ANTIQUES DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'antique'?
c)	What do you know about Fabergé eggs?
d)	Do you think any antique is worth $33 million?
e)	How interested are you in jewellery?
f)	How can something that is "priceless" be valued at $33 million?
g)	Do you like antiques?
h)	How will the scrap dealer's life change?
i)	How do you become an expert in valuing priceless objects?
j)	Have you ever been very surprised after a Google search?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Where would you put the egg if you owned it (and why)?
c)	Is priceless jewellery always extremely beautiful?
d)	What would life as an antique dealer be like?
e)	What jewellery would you really like to have?
f)	Should the egg go to a museum for the public to see it?
g)	How sad would it be if the egg ended up in a vault?
h)	What kind of antique objects interest you most?
i)	What things that are made today will become antiques?
j)	What questions would you like to ask a Fabergé expert?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

An (1) ____ rare antique, decorative egg designed by the legendary Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé has been (2) ____ at a second-hand goods market in the USA. A scrap dealer bought the golden egg at a bric-a-brac stall for $13,000. The (3) ____ trader intended to sell the egg for the scrap metal value of the gold. Fortunately for the antiques world, no one could (4) ____ his asking price so the egg was not (5) ____. The egg had a small watch inside it. One evening the dealer typed the name of the watch's manufacturer and the word "egg" into Google. It was then he discovered he was in (6) ____ of a priceless gem. The London-based Fabergé experts Wartski valued the egg at $33 million.

The egg was made by Fabergé for Russian Tsar Alexander III in 1887. It was last seen in (7) ____ in March 1902 at an exhibition in St Petersburg. Its whereabouts since has been the cause of (8) ____ speculation. Kieran McCarthy, director of Wartski, told reporters: "It's the most incredible discovery. We have so many discoveries but none of them are as (9) ____ as this." He added: "For the Fabergé community…it is a wondrous event because the Easter egg is the ultimate target for every antique dealer and every (10) ____." Unfortunately, the egg might once again (11) ____ from public view. Mr McCarthy said: "It may disappear into the deepest, darkest (12) ____ of a collector somewhere."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	extremes	(b)	extreme	(c)	extremely	(d)	extremity
2.	(a)	unearthed	(b)	delineated	(c)	precluded	(d)	inhibited
3.	(a)	unnamed	(b)	anon	(c)	unmanned	(d)	eponymous
4.	(a)	match	(b)	fix	(c)	suit	(d)	warrant
5.	(a)	scrambled	(b)	scrapped	(c)	scraped	(d)	scooped
6.	(a)	person	(b)	having	(c)	owning	(d)	possession
7.	(a)	publicity	(b)	publically	(c)	public	(d)	publicly
8.	(a)	considerate	(b)	considered	(c)	considering	(d)	considerable
9.	(a)	momentous	(b)	momentum	(c)	monument	(d)	memento
10.	(a)	aviator	(b)	enthusiast	(c)	philanthropist	(d)	layman
11.	(a)	vanquish	(b)	vanish	(c)	voracious	(d)	varnish
12.	(a)	faults	(b)	vats	(c)	vaults	(d)	flats

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	An extremely rare aiqetun, decorative egg
2.	designed by the radnyeelg Russian jeweller
3.	rehtdneau at a second-hand goods market
4.	the egg was not spdrcpae
5.	the name of the watch's aefrcuunrtam
6.	he was in opossssien of a priceless gem
Paragraph 2
7.	at an iinbiexoht in St Petersburg
8.	the cause of considerable ncalueotspi
9.	It's the most incredible rcedoviys
10.	none of them are as momountse as this
11.	every antique dealer and every tsanihsute
12.	ihnsva from public view

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	in public in March 1902 at an exhibition in St Petersburg. Its whereabouts since has been the cause of considerable
( )	discovery. We have so many discoveries but none of them are as momentous as this." He added: "For the Fabergé community…it is a wondrous
( )	manufacturer and the word "egg" into Google. It was then he discovered he was in possession of a priceless
( )	event because the Easter egg is the ultimate target for every antique dealer and every
( 1 )	An extremely rare antique, decorative egg designed by the legendary Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé has been
( )	gem. The London-based Fabergé experts Wartski valued the egg at $33 million.
( )	The egg was made by Fabergé for Russian Tsar Alexander III in 1887. It was last seen
( )	speculation. Kieran McCarthy, director of Wartski, told reporters: "It's the most incredible
( )	disappear into the deepest, darkest vaults of a collector somewhere."
( )	enthusiast." Unfortunately, the egg might once again vanish from public view. Mr McCarthy said: "It may
( )	bric-a-brac stall for $13,000. The unnamed trader intended to sell the egg for the scrap metal
( )	value of the gold. Fortunately for the antiques world, no one could match his asking price so the egg was not
( )	unearthed at a second-hand goods market in the USA. A scrap dealer bought the golden egg at a
( )	scrapped. The egg had a small watch inside it. One evening the dealer typed the name of the watch's

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	in market goods hand - second a at Unearthed USA the.
2.	Sell gold the of value metal scrap the for egg the.
3.	No price asking his match could one.
4.	discovered he was in possession of a priceless gem He.
5.	Wartski egg - experts the London Fabergé valued based.
6.	It seen in last public 1902 was in March.
7.	cause speculation has the considerable It been of since.
8.	dealer antique every for target ultimate The.
9.	from might vanish view egg again public The once.
10.	darkest It into , disappear deepest vaults may the.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

An extremely rare / rarity antique, decorative egg designed by the legendary Russian jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé has been earthed / unearthed at a second-hand goods market in the USA. A scrappy / scrap dealer bought the golden egg at a bric-a-brac stall / still for $13,000. The unnamed / unmanned trader intended to sell the egg for the scrap metal value of the gold. Fortunately for the antiques / antiquated world, no one could patch / match his asking price so the egg was not scrapped. The egg had a small watch inside it. One evening the dealer typed the name of the watch's manufacturer / manufacturing and the word "egg" into Google. It was then he discovered he was in possession / possessive of a priceless gem. The London-based Fabergé expertise / experts Wartski valued the egg at $33 million.

The egg was made / laid by Fabergé for Russian Tsar Alexander III in 1887. It was last seen in public / publicity in March 1902 at an exhibition in St Petersburg. Its wherewithal / whereabouts since has been the cause of considerable speculative / speculation. Kieran McCarthy, director of Wartski, told reporters: "It's the most incredulous / incredible discovery. We have so many discoveries but none of them are as momentous / moments as this." He added: "For the Fabergé community…it is a wondrous event because the Easter egg is the ultimate / ultimatum target for every antique dealer and every enthusiast / enthusiastic." Unfortunately, the egg might once again vanish from public viewpoint / view. Mr McCarthy said: "It may disappear into the deepest, darkest vaults / faults of a collector somewhere."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_n _xtr_m_ly r_r_ _nt_q__, d_c_r_t_v_ _gg d_s_gn_d by th_ l_g_nd_ry R_ss__n j_w_ll_r P_t_r C_rl F_b_rgé h_s b__n _n__rth_d _t _ s_c_nd-h_nd g__ds m_rk_t _n th_ _S_. _ scr_p d__l_r b__ght th_ g_ld_n _gg _t _ br_c-_-br_c st_ll f_r $13,000. Th_ _nn_m_d tr_d_r _nt_nd_d t_ s_ll th_ _gg f_r th_ scr_p m_t_l v_l__ _f th_ g_ld. F_rt_n_t_ly f_r th_ _nt_q__s w_rld, n_ _n_ c__ld m_tch h_s _sk_ng pr_c_ s_ th_ _gg w_s n_t scr_pp_d. Th_ _gg h_d _ sm_ll w_tch _ns_d_ _t. _n_ _v_n_ng th_ d__l_r typ_d th_ n_m_ _f th_ w_tch's m_n_f_ct_r_r _nd th_ w_rd "_gg" _nt_ G__gl_. _t w_s th_n h_ d_sc_v_r_d h_ w_s _n p_ss_ss__n _f _ pr_c_l_ss g_m. Th_ L_nd_n-b_s_d F_b_rgé _xp_rts W_rtsk_ v_l__d th_ _gg _t $33 m_ll__n.

Th_ _gg w_s m_d_ by F_b_rgé f_r R_ss__n Ts_r _l_x_nd_r ___ _n 1887. _t w_s l_st s__n _n p_bl_c _n M_rch 1902 _t _n _xh_b_t__n _n St P_t_rsb_rg. _ts wh_r__b__ts s_nc_ h_s b__n th_ c__s_ _f c_ns_d_r_bl_ sp_c_l_t__n. K__r_n McC_rthy, d_r_ct_r _f W_rtsk_, t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "_t's th_ m_st _ncr_d_bl_ d_sc_v_ry. W_ h_v_ s_ m_ny d_sc_v_r__s b_t n_n_ _f th_m _r_ _s m_m_nt__s _s th_s." H_ _dd_d: "F_r th_ F_b_rgé c_mm_n_ty…_t _s _ w_ndr__s _v_nt b_c__s_ th_ __st_r _gg _s th_ _lt_m_t_ t_rg_t f_r _v_ry _nt_q__ d__l_r _nd _v_ry _nth_s__st." _nf_rt_n_t_ly, th_ _gg m_ght _nc_ _g__n v_n_sh fr_m p_bl_c v__w. Mr McC_rthy s__d: "_t m_y d_s_pp__r _nt_ th_ d__p_st, d_rk_st v__lts _f _ c_ll_ct_r s_m_wh_r_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

an extremely rare antique decorative egg designed by the legendary russian jeweller peter carl fabergé has been unearthed at a second-hand goods market in the usa a scrap dealer bought the golden egg at a bric-a-brac stall for $13000 the unnamed trader intended to sell the egg for the scrap metal value of the gold fortunately for the antiques world no one could match his asking price so the egg was not scrapped the egg had a small watch inside it one evening the dealer typed the name of the watch's manufacturer and the word "egg" into google it was then he discovered he was in possession of a priceless gem the london-based fabergé experts wartski valued the egg at $33 million

the egg was made by fabergé for russian tsar alexander iii in 1887 it was last seen in public in march 1902 at an exhibition in st petersburg its whereabouts since has been the cause of considerable speculation kieran mccarthy director of wartski told reporters "it's the most incredible discovery we have so many discoveries but none of them are as momentous as this" he added "for the fabergé community…it is a wondrous event because the easter egg is the ultimate target for every antique dealer and every enthusiast" unfortunately the egg might once again vanish from public view mr mccarthy said "it may disappear into the deepest darkest vaults of a collector somewhere"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Anextremelyrareantique,decorativeeggdesignedbythelegendary
RussianjewellerPeterCarlFabergéhasbeenunearthedatasecond-
handgoodsmarketintheUSA.Ascrapdealerboughtthegoldeneggat
abric-a-bracstallfor$13,000.Theunnamedtraderintendedtose
lltheeggforthescrapmetalvalueofthegold.Fortunatelyfortheantiq
uesworld,noonecouldmatchhisaskingpricesotheeggwasnotscrap
ped.Theegghadasmallwatchinsideit.Oneeveningthedealertypedt
henameofthewatch'smanufacturerandtheword"egg"intoGoogle.
Itwasthenhediscoveredhewasinpossessionofapricelessgem.The
LondonbasedFabergéexpertsWartskivaluedtheeggat$33million.
TheeggwasmadebyFabergéforRussianTsarAlexanderIIIin1887.I
twaslastseeninpublicinMarch1902atanexhibitioninStPetersburg.
Itswhereaboutssincehasbeenthecauseofconsiderablespeculatio
n.KieranMcCarthy,directorofWartski,toldreporters:"It'sthemosti
ncrediblediscovery.Wehavesomanydiscoveriesbutnoneofthemar
easmomentousasthis."Headded:"FortheFabergécommunity…iti
sawondrouseventbecausetheEastereggistheultimatetargetforev
eryantiquedealerandeveryenthusiast."Unfortunately,theeggmig
htonceagainvanishfrompublicview.MrMcCarthysaid:"Itmaydisap
pearintothedeepest,darkestvaultsofacollectorsomewhere."

FREE WRITING

Write about antiques for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

If something is priceless, it should be in a museum, not someone's house. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Fabergé eggs. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ANTIQUES: Make a poster about antiques. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. FABERGÉ: Write a magazine article about Fabergé. Include imaginary interviews with people who think $33 million is a good price for the egg, and with people who don't think so.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to a Fabergé expert. Ask him/her three questions about Fabergé eggs. Give him/her three of your ideas on what should happen to the newly found egg. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	extremely	a.	expensive
2.	unearthed	b.	maker
3.	unnamed	c.	significant
4.	manufacturer	d.	discovered
5.	priceless	e.	display
6.	exhibition	f.	greatest
7.	whereabouts	g.	exceptionally
8.	momentous	h.	cellar
9.	ultimate	i.	location
10.	vaults	j.	anonymous

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Peter Carl Fabergé
2.	$13,000
3.	A watch
4.	He did a Google search
5.	The London-based Fabergé experts Wartski
6.	1887
7.	1902 in St Petersburg
8.	Wondrous
9.	Antique dealers and enthusiasts
10.	In a collector's vault

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

c

4.

a

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

d

10.

c

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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$33 million Fabergé egg found at market (22nd March, 2014)

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