The Reading / Listening - Tea Bags - Level 3

Over half of British people take tea bags with them when they leave Britain to go on holiday or go on a business trip. British people are famous for loving tea and need their cup of tea even when travelling overseas. A survey found that tea bags were the most popular comfort item Britons pack in their suitcase when going abroad. The survey is from a car rental company. It asked over 1,000 holidaymakers what essentials they need when visiting other countries. Around 55 per cent of them said tea bags. Other items Britons couldn't do without are toilet paper, fluffy towels, potato chips and bacon. Britons also take their favourite biscuits, presumably to dip into their morning cuppa.

One of the people who took part in the survey explained why he took tea bags with him. Richard Ellis, 39, said: "I always take my favourite tea bags on holiday, I took them to Thailand last year. It doesn't matter where I am, the tea bags go with me – even to my parents who live down the road from me but don't drink the same tea as me." Another person wondered why people needed to take things from home. Sue Smith said: "We can buy things from home in other countries. We should try the food and drinks of the culture we are visiting." The car rental company said: "It's really interesting to see what holidaymakers decide to take with them." The company added: "A fifth of people admitted they pack too much."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Tea Bags - Level 0,  Tea Bags - Level 1   or  Tea Bags - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3132842/Pack-tea-bags-going-holiday-Half-Brits-admit-need-proper-cuppa-abroad.html
  • https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/996145/holiday-essentials-tea bags-biscuits-pillows-brits-abroad
  • https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/biscuits-crisps-and-tea-the-top-10-foods-irish-travellers-confess-they-take-on-holidays-37134522.html


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. TEA BAGS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about tea bags. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       half / tea bags / business trips / overseas / comfort / suitcase / towels / chips / bacon
       survey / holiday / parents / other countries / car rental / interesting / a fifth / pack
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TEA: Students A strongly believe tea is better than coffee; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. COMFORT ITEMS: Why might people take these things on holiday? How much do you think they need them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Why take these?

How necessary are they?

Tea bags

 

 

Toilet paper

 

 

Fluffy towels

 

 

Potato chips

 

 

Ketchup

 

 

Pillow

 

 
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. HOLIDAY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "holiday". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PACKING: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to take on holiday at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • potato chips
  • chocolate
  • playing cards
  • washing powder
  • a book
  • tea bags
  • a pillow
  • ketchup

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. trip a. An investigation of the opinions or experiences of a group of people, based on different questions.
      2. famous b. Of, like, or covered with very soft cotton.
      3. overseas c. An act of going to a place and returning.
      4. survey d. In, from or to a foreign country.
      5. comfort e. Known about by many people.
      6. essentials f. A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.
      7. fluffy g. The things that we totally, totally need.

    Paragraph 2

      8. explained h. Is of importance.
      9. matter i. Wanted to know about something or someone.
      10. wondered j. Said something was true.
      11. culture k. Made an idea, situation, or problem clearer to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts or ideas.
      12. rental l. Fill a suitcase or bag, especially with clothes and other items needed when away from home.
      13. admitted m. The amount of money paid for the use of something (like a house, room, car, DVD, etc.).
      14. pack n. The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular country, people, or other social group.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. British people don't take tea bags on business trips.     T / F
  2. Tea bags are the second most popular comfort item for Britons.     T / F
  3. Over 10,000 people were asked about what they take on holiday.     T / F
  4. Many British people take bacon with them when they go abroad.     T / F
  5. A 39-year-old said he always takes tea bags with him on holiday.     T / F
  6. The 39-year-old takes tea bags when he visits his parents.     T / F
  7. A woman said we should try foreign food when travelling.     T / F
  8. A quarter of British people say they pack too much.     T / F

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

  1. trip
  2. famous
  3. popular
  4. essentials
  5. dip
  6. took part
  7. wondered
  8. buy
  9. decide
  10. admitted
  1. thought about
  2. immerse
  3. participated
  4. well known
  5. confessed
  6. vacation
  7. choose
  8. well liked
  9. purchase
  10. necessities

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

  1. British people are famous
  2. the most popular comfort
  3. what essentials
  4. Other items Britons couldn't
  5. dip into their morning
  6. the people who took
  7. It doesn't
  8. car
  9. A fifth
  10. they pack
  1. they need
  2. matter where I am
  3. too much
  4. item
  5. of people
  6. do without
  7. part in the survey
  8. cuppa
  9. for loving tea
  10. rental company

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
survey
rental
loving
dip
trip
half
do
suitcase

Over (1) ____________ of British people take tea bags with them when they leave Britain to go on holiday or go on a business (2) ____________. British people are famous for (3) ____________ tea and need their cup of tea even when travelling overseas. A (4) ____________ found that tea bags were the most popular comfort item Britons pack in their (5) ____________ when going abroad. The survey is from a car (6) ____________ company. It asked over 1,000 holidaymakers what essentials they need when visiting other countries. Around 55 per cent of them said tea bags. Other items Britons couldn't (7) ____________ without are toilet paper, fluffy towels, potato chips and bacon. Britons also take their favourite biscuits, presumably to (8) ____________ into their morning cuppa.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
try
part
down
fifth
always
interesting
wondered
matter

One of the people who took (9) ____________ in the survey explained why he took tea bags with him. Richard Ellis, 39, said: "I (10) ____________ take my favourite tea bags on holiday. I took them to Thailand last year. It doesn't (11) ____________ where I am, the tea bags go with me – even to my parents who live (12) ____________ the road from me but don't drink the same tea as me." Another person (13) ____________ why people needed to take things from home. Sue Smith said: "We can buy things from home in other countries. We should (14) ____________ the food and drinks of the culture we are visiting." The car rental company said: "It's really (15) ____________ to see what holidaymakers decide to take with them." The company added: "A (16) ____________ of people admitted they pack too much."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  British people are famous for loving tea and need their cup of tea even when ______
     a.  travel in overseas
     b.  travelling oversea
     c.  travelling over the seas
     d.  travelling overseas
2)  A survey found that tea bags were the most popular comfort item Britons ____ suitcase
     a.  back in their
     b.  pack in their
     c.  hack in their
     d.  tack in their
3)  It asked over 1,000 holidaymakers what ______ need
     a.  essentially they
     b.  essential is they
     c.  essential as they
     d.  essentials they
4)  Other items Britons couldn't do without are toilet paper, ______, potato chips and bacon
     a.  floppy towels
     b.  fluffy towels
     c.  flossy towels
     d.  flappy towels
5)  Britons also take their favourite biscuits, presumably to ______ morning cuppa
     a.  dip into their
     b.  dip onto their
     c.  dip inter their
     d.  dip unto their

6)  One of the people who took part in the survey ______
     a.  explained why
     b.  explained what
     c.  explained way
     d.  explained whey
7)  I took them to Thailand last year. It doesn't ______
     a.  matters when I am
     b.  matter where I am
     c.  mattered where I am
     d.  matter when I am
8)  Another person wondered why people needed to take ______ home
     a.  thing from
     b.  things form
     c.  things frame
     d.  things from
9)  It's really interesting to see what holidaymakers decide to ______
     a.  takes with them
     b.  take within them
     c.  take within then
     d.  take with them
10)  A fifth of people admitted they ______
     a.  pack two much
     b.  pack to much
     c.  pack too much
     d.  pack tomb much

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Over half of British people take tea bags (1) ___________________ they leave Britain to go on holiday or (2) ___________________ business trip. British people are famous for loving tea and need their cup of tea even when travelling overseas. A (3) ___________________ tea bags were the most popular comfort item Britons pack in their suitcase when going abroad. The survey (4) ___________________ car rental company. It asked over 1,000 holidaymakers what essentials they need when visiting other countries. Around 55 per cent (5) ___________________ tea bags. Other items Britons couldn't do without are toilet paper, fluffy towels, potato chips and bacon. Britons also take their favourite biscuits, presumably (6) ___________________ their morning cuppa.

One of the people who (7) ___________________ the survey explained why he took tea bags with him. Richard Ellis, 39, said: "I always take my favourite tea bags on holiday. I (8) ___________________ Thailand last year. It doesn't matter where I am, the tea bags go with me – even to my parents who live (9) ___________________ from me but don't drink the same tea as me." Another person (10) ___________________ needed to take things from home. Sue Smith said: "We can buy things from home in other countries. We (11) ___________________ food and drinks of the culture we are visiting." The car rental company said: "It's really interesting to see what holidaymakers decide to take with them." The company added: "A fifth of people admitted they (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where do many British people take tea bags?
  2. What are British people famous for loving?
  3. How many people took part in the survey?
  4. What kind of towels did British people take abroad with them?
  5. What do British people dip into their morning cup of tea?
  6. Which country does Richard Ellis take tea bags to?
  7. Where does Richard Ellis take tea bags to that is close to his house?
  8. What did a woman called Sue say we could buy in other countries?
  9. What did a woman called Sue say we should try in other countries?
  10. What fraction of people said they packed too much?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where do some British people take tea bags?
a) to work
b) business trips
c) restaurants
d) the beach
2) What are British people famous for loving?
a) lemonade
b) milk
c) coffee
d) tea
3) How many people took part in the survey?
a) more than 1,000
b) less than 1,000
c) about 1,000
d) exactly 1,000
4) What kind of towels did British people take abroad with them?
a) Union Jack towels
b) white towels
c) fluffy towels
d) bath towels
5) What do British people dip into their morning cup of tea?
a) toast
b) biscuits
c) honey
d) their finger

6) Which country does Richard Ellis take tea bags to?
a) Thailand
b) the USA
c) Russia
d) China
7) Where does Richard Ellis take tea bags to that is close to his house?
a) a cafe
b) his partner's house
c) his parents' house
d) a supermarket
8) What did a woman called Sue say we could buy in other countries?
a) things from home
b) tea bags
c) souvenirs
d) English mustard
9) What did a woman called Sue say we should try in other countries?
a) food and drinks
b) exotic fruits
c) shopping malls
d) fish markets
10) What fraction of people said they packed too much?
a) a tenth
b) two-thirds
c) a quarter
d) a fifth

Role play

Role  A – Tea Bags
You think tea bags are the most important things to take on holiday. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a pillow, potato chips or playing cards.

Role  B – A Pillow
You think a pillow is the most important thing to take on holiday. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): tea bags, potato chips or playing cards.

Role  C – Potato Chips
You think potato chips are the most important things to take on holiday. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a pillow, tea bags or playing cards.

Role  D – Playing Cards
You think playing cards are the most important things to take on holiday. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a pillow, potato chips or tea bags.

After reading / listening

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

'tea'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'bag'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • him
    • always
    • matter
    • home
    • try
    • fifth
    • half
    • famous
    • popular
    • 1,000
    • 55
    • morning

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Most British people take tea bags on holiday

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'tea'?
    3. What do you think of tea?
    4. What do you always take on holiday with you?
    5. What do you think of people taking tea bags on holiday?
    6. Why do people take toilet paper on holiday?
    7. Why do people take potato chips with them on vacation?
    8. Why do people go on holiday?
    9. Where is your favourite place to go on holiday?
    10. Should more people go on holiday in their own country?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'tea bag'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
    5. What do like to bring back from other countries?
    6. What food do you like from other countries?
    7. Should people try harder to eat the local food on holiday?
    8. What strange things do people take on holiday with them?
    9. Why do people take too much on holiday with them?
    10. What questions would you like to ask British holidaymakers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Over half of British people take tea bags with them when they (1) ____ Britain to go on holiday or go on a business trip. British people are famous (2) ____ loving tea and need their cup of tea even (3) ____ travelling overseas. A survey found that tea bags were the most popular comfort item Britons pack in their suitcase when going abroad. The survey is from a car rental company. It asked over 1,000 holidaymakers what (4) ____ they need when visiting other countries. Around 55 per cent of them said tea bags. Other items Britons couldn't (5) ____ without are toilet paper, fluffy towels, potato chips and bacon. Britons also take their favourite biscuits, presumably to dip (6) ____ their morning cuppa.

    One of the people who took (7) ____ in the survey explained why he took tea bags with him. Richard Ellis, 39, said: "I always take my favourite tea bags on holiday. I took them to Thailand last year. It doesn't (8) ____ where I am, the tea bags go with me – even to my parents who live (9) ____ the road from me but don't drink the same tea as me." Another person (10) ____ why people needed to take things from home. Sue Smith said: "We can buy things from home in other countries. We should try the food and drinks of the culture we are visiting." The car rental company said: "It's (11) ____ interesting to see what holidaymakers decide to take with them." The company added: "A fifth of people admitting they (12) ____ too much."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     left     (b)     leaves     (c)     leaving     (d)     leave    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     for    
    3. (a)     by     (b)     when     (c)     as     (d)     such    
    4. (a)     essence     (b)     ess     (c)     essentials     (d)     essay    
    5. (a)     have     (b)     take     (c)     do     (d)     get    
    6. (a)     into     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     up    
    7. (a)     bit     (b)     part     (c)     write     (d)     say    
    8. (a)     matter     (b)     fault     (c)     problem     (d)     solution    
    9. (a)     in     (b)     down     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    10. (a)     wandered     (b)     wondrous     (c)     wondered     (d)     wonderful    
    11. (a)     realism     (b)     real     (c)     really     (d)     reality    
    12. (a)     pock     (b)     peck     (c)     puck     (d)     pack

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. go on a uibensss trip
    2. mafous for loving tea
    3. travelling verseoas
    4. when going boraad
    5. what nsetsaiels they need
    6. ulfffy towels

    Paragraph 2

    1. took part in the usvrey
    2. It doesn't tamter where I am
    3. Another person odwrened why
    4. the tluucre we are visiting
    5. It's really teersiitnng to see
    6. people dmittaed they pack too much

    Put the text back together

    (...)  to take things from home. Sue Smith said: "We can buy things from home in other countries. We should try the
    (...)  holidaymakers decide to take with them." The company added: "A fifth of people admitted they pack too much."
    (...)  on a business trip. British people are famous for loving tea and need their cup
    (...)  1,000 holidaymakers what essentials they need when visiting other countries. Around 55 per cent
    (...)  of tea even when travelling overseas. A survey found that tea bags were the most popular comfort
    (...)  of them said tea bags. Other items Britons couldn't do without are toilet paper, fluffy
    (...)  year. It doesn't matter where I am, the tea bags go with me – even to my parents who live down
    (...)  item Britons pack in their suitcase when going abroad. The survey is from a car rental company. It asked over
    (  1  ) Over half of British people take tea bags with them when they leave Britain to go on holiday or go
    (...)  him. Richard Ellis, 39, said: "I always take my favourite tea bags on holiday. I took them to Thailand last
    (...)  towels, potato chips and bacon. Britons also take their favourite biscuits, presumably to dip into their morning cuppa.
    (...)  food and drinks of the culture we are visiting." The car rental company said: "It's really interesting to see what
    (...)  One of the people who took part in the survey explained why he took tea bags with
    (...)  the road from me but don't drink the same tea as me." Another person wondered why people needed

    Put the words in the right order

    1. them   when   they   bags   with   tea   Take   leave   .
    2. people   famous   are   British   for   loving   tea   .
    3. bags   most   the   were   popular   Tea   comfort   item   .
    4. essentials   need   What   visiting   when   they   other   countries   .
    5. into   dip   to   their   Presumably   morning   cuppa   .
    6. people   took   The   in   part   who   the   survey   .
    7. my   take   I   favourite   always   on   tea   holiday   .
    8. who   My   down   live   parents   the   road   .
    9. to   needed   Why   take   people   from   things   home   .
    10. interesting   It's   see   to   really   what   holidaymakers   decide   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Over half of British people take tea bags with there / them when they leave Britain to go on holiday or go on / in a business trip. British people are famous for loving tea and needy / need their cup of tea even when travelling overseas. A survey find / found that tea bags were the most popular comfort item Britons pack in their suitcase when going / gone abroad. The survey is from a car rental company. It asked more / over 1,000 holidaymakers what essentials they need when visiting other / another countries. Around 55 per cent of them said tea bags. Other items Britons couldn't have / do without are toilet paper, fluffy / fluff towels, potato chips and bacon. Britons also take their favourite biscuits, presumably to drip / dip into their morning cuppa.

    One of the people who took party / part in the survey explained why he took tea bags with him. Richard Ellis, 39, said: "I always fake / take my favourite tea bags on holiday. I took them / their to Thailand last year. It doesn't matter where I be / am, the tea bags go with me – even to my parents who live down the road from / for me but don't drink the same tea as me." Another person wondered why people needed to taken / take things from home. Sue Smith said: "We can buy things from home on / in other countries. We should try the food and drinks of the culture / couture we are visiting." The car rental company said: "It's real / really interesting to see what holidaymakers decide to take with them." The company added: "A fifth of people admitted they pack / peck too much."

    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)

    O v_r h_l f _f B r_t_s h p__ p l_ t_k_ t__ b_g s w_t h t h_m w h_n t h_y l__ v_ B r_t__ n t_ g_ _n h_l_d_y _r g_ _n _ b_s_n_s s t r_p . B r_t_s h p__ p l_ _r_ f_m__ s f_r l_v_n g t__ _n d n__ d t h__ r c_p _f t__ _v_n w h_n t r_v_l l_n g _v_r s__ s . A s_r v_y f__ n d t h_t t__ b_g s w_r_ t h_ m_s t p_p_l_r c_m f_r t _t_m B r_t_n s p_c k _n t h__ r s__ t c_s_ w h_n g__ n g _b r__ d . T h_ s_r v_y _s f r_m _ c_r r_n t_l c_m p_n y . I t _s k_d _v_r 1 , 0 0 0 h_l_d_y m_k_r s w h_t _s s_n t__ l s t h_y n__ d w h_n v_s_t_n g _t h_r c__ n t r__ s . A r__ n d 5 5 p_r c_n t _f t h_m s__ d t__ b_g s . O t h_r _t_m s B r_t_n s c__ l d n ' t d_ w_t h__ t _r_ t__ l_t p_p_r , f l_f f y t_w_l s , p_t_t_ c h_p s _n d b_c_n . B r_t_n s _l s_ t_k_ t h__ r f_v__ r_t_ b_s c__ t s , p r_s_m_b l y t_ d_p _n t_ t h__ r m_r n_n g c_p p_.

    O n_ _f t h_ p__ p l_ w h_ t__ k p_r t _n t h_ s_r v_y _x p l__ n_d w h y h_ t__ k t__ b_g s w_t h h_m . R_c h_r d E l l_s , 3 9 , s__ d : " I _l w_y s t_k_ m y f_v__ r_t_ t__ b_g s _n h_l_d_y . I t__ k t h_m t_ T h__ l_n d l_s t y__ r . I t d__ s n ' t m_t t_r w h_r_ I _m , t h_ t__ b_g s g_ w_t h m_ – _v_n t_ m y p_r_n t s w h_ l_v_ d_w n t h_ r__ d f r_m m_ b_t d_n ' t d r_n k t h_ s_m_ t__ _s m_. " A n_t h_r p_r s_n w_n d_r_d w h y p__ p l_ n__ d_d t_ t_k_ t h_n g s f r_m h_m_. S__ S m_t h s__ d : " W_ c_n b_y t h_n g s f r_m h_m_ _n _t h_r c__ n t r__ s . W_ s h__ l d t r y t h_ f__ d _n d d r_n k s _f t h_ c_l t_r_ w_ _r_ v_s_t_n g . " T h_ c_r r_n t_l c_m p_n y s__ d : " I t ' s r__ l l y _n t_r_s t_n g t_ s__ w h_t h_l_d_y m_k_r s d_c_d_ t_ t_k_ w_t h t h_m . " T h_ c_m p_n y _d d_d : " A f_f t h _f p__ p l_ _d m_t t_n g t h_y p_c k t__ m_c h . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    over half of british people take tea bags with them when they leave britain to go on holiday or go on a business trip british people are famous for loving tea and need their cup of tea even when travelling overseas a survey found that tea bags were the most popular comfort item britons pack in their suitcase when going abroad the survey is from a car rental company it asked over 1000 holidaymakers what essentials they need when visiting other countries around 55 per cent of them said tea bags other items britons couldnt do without are toilet paper fluffy towels potato chips and bacon britons also take their favourite biscuits presumably to dip into their morning cuppa

    one of the people who took part in the survey explained why he took tea bags with him richard ellis 39 said i always take my favourite tea bags on holiday i took them to thailand last year it doesnt matter where i am the tea bags go with me  even to my parents who live down the road from me but dont drink the same tea as me another person wondered why people needed to take things from home sue smith said we can buy things from home in other countries we should try the food and drinks of the culture we are visiting the car rental company said its really interesting to see what holidaymakers decide to take with them the company added a fifth of people admitted they pack too much"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    OverhalfofBritishpeopletaketea bagswiththemwhentheyleaveBritai
    ntogoonholidayorgoonabusinesstrip.Britishpeoplearefamousforlovi
    ngteaandneedtheircupofteaevenwhentravellingoverseas.Asurveyfo
    undthattea bagswerethemostpopularcomfortitemBritonspackinthei
    rsuitcasewhengoingabroad.Thesurveyisfromacarrentalcompany.It
    askedover1,000holidaymakerswhatessentialstheyneedwhenvisitin
    gothercountries.Around55percentofthemsaidteabags.OtheritemsB
    ritonscouldn'tdowithoutaretoiletpaper,fluffytowels,potatochipsand
    bacon.Britonsalsotaketheirfavouritebiscuits,presumablytodipintoth
    eirmorningcuppa.Oneofthepeoplewhotookpartinthesurveyexplaine
    dwhyhetooktea bagswithhim.RichardEllis,39,said:"Ialwaystakemyf
    avouritetea bagsonholiday,ItookthemtoThailandlastyear.Itdoesn't
    matterwhereIam,thetea bagsgowithme–eventomyparentswholiv
    edowntheroadfrommebutdon'tdrinkthesameteaasme."Anotherpers
    onwonderedwhypeopleneededtotakethingsfromhome.SueSmithsai
    d:"Wecanbuythingsfromhomeinothercountries.Weshouldtrythefoo
    danddrinksoftheculturewearevisiting."Thecarrentalcompanysaid:"I
    t'sreallyinterestingtoseewhatholidaymakersdecidetotakewiththem.
    "Thecompanyadded:"Afifthofpeopleadmittedtheypacktoomuch."

    Free writing

    Write about tea bags for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    People don't need to take food from home when they go abroad. Discuss.

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    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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. TEA BAGS: Make a poster about tea bags. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. COMFORT FOOD: Write a magazine article about not taking comfort food with us when we go to other countries. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 an expert on tea bags. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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