The Reading / Listening - Olympic Torch Relay - Level 6

The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics is finally under way. The 2020 Summer Games were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic but organizers have been determined to ensure they go ahead in July. Members of the Japan women's football team ran as torchbearers in the first leg of the relay on Thursday. It began in Fukushima Prefecture, which was devastated by the triple disasters of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown. The relay torch is made of aluminium recycled from prefabricated housing built for survivors of the triple calamity. Fukushima was chosen as the start of the relay to show the area has recovered, although many people say claims of recovery are a little premature.

The head of Japan's Olympic organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, opened the torch relay ceremony. She said in her opening address: "The flame will embark on a 121-day journey and will carry the hopes of the Japanese people and wishes for peace." Japanese people are being encouraged to look at live broadcasts of the relay and refrain from travelling to watch it amid fears of a spike in COVID 19 cases. Spectators must wear face masks, and are being urged to clap rather than cheer. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated his commitment to stage a "safe and secure" Olympics in spite of the pandemic. He said: "We will do our utmost on coronavirus measures."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Olympic Torch Relay - Level 4  or  Olympic Torch Relay - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.npr.org/2021/03/25/981136160/torch-relay-kicks-off-for-troubled-tokyo-olympic-games
  • https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/03/3ba87be7576c-tokyo-olympic-torch-relay-to-begin-amid-covid-19-fears.html
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/24/sport/japan-olympics-fukushima-torch-relay-covid-hnk-intl-dst/index.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. THE OLYMPICS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Olympics. 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?
       torch / relay / coronavirus / pandemic / disasters / earthquake / tsunami / recovery /
       committee / ceremony / flame / peace / spike / face masks / clap / cheer / pandemic
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THE GREATEST: Students A strongly believe the Olympic Games is the greatest sporting event in the world; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SPORTING EVENTS: How good are these sporting events? What are the good and bad things about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Good?

Good Things

Bad Things

The Summer Olympics

 

 

 

The Winter Olympics

 

 

 

The FIFA World Cup

 

 

 

Wimbledon tennis

 

 

 

Formula 1 racing

 

 

 

The Tour de France

 

 

 
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. TORCH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "torch". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. EVENTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best events at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Marathon
  • Weightlifting
  • Sailing
  • Archery
  • Judo
  • Gymnastics
  • 100 metres
  • Hockey

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. under way a. Having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change.
      2. postponed b. An event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster.
      3. determined c. Having started and in progress; being done or carried out.
      4. devastated d. Cause or arrange for (something) to take place at a time later than that first scheduled.
      5. prefabricated e. Destroyed or ruined.
      6. calamity f. Pre-made sections of (a building or piece of furniture) to enable quick assembly on site.
      7. premature g. Happening or done before the usual or proper time; too early.

    Paragraph 2

      8. address h. A person who watches at a show, game, or other event.
      9. embark i. A formal speech delivered to an audience.
      10. refrain j. A sharp increase in something.
      11. spike k. Recommend something strongly.
      12. spectator l. Begin a course of action.
      13. urged m. The biggest effort one is capable of.
      14. utmost n. Stop oneself from doing something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Japan's men's football team kicked off the Olympic Torch Relay.     T / F
  2. The Olympic Torch Relay began in Tokyo and will end in Osaka.     T / F
  3. The torch for the relay is made of recycled aluminium.     T / F
  4. Many people say Fukushima hasn't recovered from the 2011 earthquake. T / F
  5. Japan's Prime Minister opened the Olympic Torch Relay ceremony.     T / F
  6. The Olympic Torch Relay will take 121 days.     T / F
  7. Spectators along the relay route should clap but not cheer.     T / F
  8. Japan's leader said the utmost is being done for coronavirus.     T / F

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

  1. under way
  2. determined
  3. devastated
  4. calamity
  5. premature
  6. address
  7. journey
  8. refrain
  9. spike
  10. utmost
  1. rise
  2. disaster
  3. too early
  4. intent on
  5. speech
  6. hold back
  7. in process
  8. best
  9. destroyed
  10. trip

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

  1. The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics is
  2. determined to ensure they
  3. in the first leg
  4. the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and
  5. claims of recovery are a little
  6. opened the torch relay
  7. The flame will embark on
  8. urged to clap
  9. stage a safe and
  10. We will do our utmost
  1. rather than cheer
  2. of the relay
  3. ceremony
  4. premature
  5. secure Olympics
  6. on coronavirus measures
  7. finally under way
  8. nuclear meltdown
  9. a 121-day journey
  10. go ahead in July

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
torchbearers
meltdown
under
premature
go
claims
triple
survivors

The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics is finally (1) _____________________ way. The 2020 Summer Games were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic but organizers have been determined to ensure they (2) _____________________ ahead in July. Members of the Japan women's football team ran as (3) _____________________ in the first leg of the relay on Thursday. It began in Fukushima Prefecture, which was devastated by the (4) _____________________ disasters of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear (5) _____________________. The relay torch is made of aluminium recycled from prefabricated housing built for (6) _____________________ of the triple calamity. Fukushima was chosen as the start of the relay to show the area has recovered, although many people say (7) _____________________ of recovery are a little (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
spike
address
utmost
ceremony
urged
refrain
reiterated
embark

The head of Japan's Olympic organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, opened the torch relay (9) _____________________. She said in her opening (10) _____________________: "The flame will (11) _____________________ on a 121-day journey and will carry the hopes of the Japanese people and wishes for peace." Japanese people are being encouraged to look at live broadcasts of the relay and (12) _____________________ from travelling to watch it amid fears of a (13) _____________________ in COVID 19 cases. Spectators must wear face masks, and are being (14) _____________________ to clap rather than cheer. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (15) _____________________ his commitment to stage a "safe and secure" Olympics in spite of the pandemic. He said: "We will do our (16) _____________________ on coronavirus measures."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics is ______
     a.  finally under way
     b.  finally over way
     c.  finally under weigh
     d.  finale udder way
2)  the Japan women's football team ran as torchbearers in ______
     a.  the first toe
     b.  the first leg
     c.  the first calf
     d.  the first thigh
3)  by the triple disasters of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami ______
     a.  and nuclear melted down
     b.  and nuclear melts down
     c.  and nuclear melting down
     d.  and nuclear meltdown
4)  recycled from prefabricated housing built for survivors of ______
     a.  the triple calamitous
     b.  the triple calamity
     c.  the triple calamitously
     d.  the triple clam
5)  although many people say claims of recovery are ______
     a.  a little immature
     b.  a little maturation
     c.  a little maturity
     d.  a little premature

6)  opened the torch relay ceremony. She said in ______
     a.  her opening address
     b.  her opening redress
     c.  her opening undress
     d.  her opening dresser
7)  encouraged to look at live broadcasts of the relay and ______
     a.  refrain of travelling
     b.  refrain to travelling
     c.  refrain as travelling
     d.  refrain from travelling
8)  to watch it amid fears of a spike in ______
     a.  COVID 19 case is
     b.  COVID 19 castes
     c.  COVID 19 case
     d.  COVID 19 cases
9)  wear face masks, and are being urged to clap ______
     a.  rather than cheers
     b.  rather than cheer
     c.  rather than cheerio
     d.  rather than cheered
10)  Olympics in spite of the pandemic. He said: "We will ______
     a.  do our  at most
     b.  do our mostly
     c.  do our utmost
     d.  do our uppermost

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics is (1) ____________________. The 2020 Summer Games were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic but organizers have been determined to ensure (2) ____________________ in July. Members of the Japan women's football team ran as torchbearers in the (3) ____________________ the relay on Thursday. It began in Fukushima Prefecture, which was devastated by (4) ____________________ of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown. The relay torch is made of aluminium recycled from prefabricated housing built for survivors of (5) ____________________. Fukushima was chosen as the start of the relay to show the area has recovered, although many people say claims of recovery are (6) ____________________.

The head of Japan's Olympic organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, opened the torch relay ceremony. She said in (7) ____________________: "The flame will embark on a 121-day journey and will carry the hopes of the Japanese people and (8) ____________________." Japanese people are being encouraged to look at live broadcasts of the relay (9) ____________________ travelling to watch it amid fears of a spike in COVID 19 cases. Spectators must wear face masks, and are being (10) ____________________ rather than cheer. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated his commitment (11) ____________________ "safe and secure" Olympics in spite of the pandemic. He said: "We will do (12) ____________________ coronavirus measures."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who was determined the Olympics would go ahead?
  2. Who ran the first leg of the relay?
  3. Where did the Olympic Torch Relay begin?
  4. What is the Olympic flame made of?
  5. What did many people say about claims of Fukushima's recovery?
  6. Who is Seiko Hashimoto?
  7. How long will the Olympic Torch Relay take?
  8. What are Japanese people being encouraged to look at?
  9. What should spectators do instead of cheer?
  10. What did Japan's Prime Minister say he is doing about coronavirus?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who was determined the Olympics would go ahead?
a) the IOC
b) Seiko Hashimoto
c) organizers
d) Japan's government
2) Who ran the first leg of the relay?
a) members of Japan's women's football team
b) members of Japan's men's football team
c) sumo wrestlers
d) children
3) Where did the Olympic Torch Relay begin?
a) Fukushima
b) Tokyo
c) Sapporo
d) Kyoto
4) What is the Olympic torch made of?
a) gold
b) recycled aluminium
c) silver
d) recycled medals
5) What did many people say about claims of Fukushima's recovery?
a) they are false
b) they are accurate
c) there are errors
d) they are a little premature

6) Who is Seiko Hashimoto?
a) Fukushima's mayor
b) the head of Japan's Olympic organizing committee
c) an actress
d) a 100-metre runner
7) How long will the Olympic Torch Relay take?
a) 121 days
b) 122 days
c) 123 days
d) 124 days
8) What are Japanese people being encouraged to look at?
a) the news
b) newspapers
c) live broadcasts
d) the Internet
9) What should spectators do instead of cheer?
a) sing
b) wave
c) chant
d) clap
10) What did Japan's Prime Minister say he is doing about coronavirus?
a) his utmost
b) not much
c) everything
d) thinking

Role play

Role  A – The Marathon
You think the marathon is the best Olympic event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): judo, gymnastics or hockey.

Role  B – Judo
You think judo is the best Olympic event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the marathon, gymnastics or hockey.

Role  C – Gymnastics
You think gymnastics is the best Olympic event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): judo, the marathon or hockey.

Role  D – Hockey
You think hockey is the best Olympic event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their events. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): judo, gymnastics or the marathon.

After reading / listening

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

'Olympics'

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

    • and 'games'.

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

    • • 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:

    • finally
    • due
    • leg
    • meltdown
    • built
    • little
    • head
    • flame
    • live
    • face
    • stage
    • utmost

    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 - Olympic Torch Relay

    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 'Olympic'?
    3. What do you think of the Olympic Games?
    4. What are the benefits of the Olympic Games?
    5. What is your favourite event?
    6. How successful do you think the Tokyo Olympics will be?
    7. How has coronavirus affected the Olympics?
    8. Do you think the Tokyo Olympics should go ahead?
    9. What do you think of there being no international spectators?
    10. What do the Olympics do for the host city?

    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 'games'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of the Olympic Torch Relay?
    5. What does the Olympic flame symbolize?
    6. What do you know about the history of the Olympics?
    7. Why might Japanese people not want the Games to go ahead?
    8. How good is your country at Olympic events?
    9. Who is the greatest ever Olympian?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Olympics organizers?

    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)

    The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics is finally () ____ way. The 2020 Summer Games were postponed due (2) ____ the coronavirus pandemic but organizers have been determined to ensure they (3) ____ ahead in July. Members of the Japan women's football team ran as torchbearers in the first (4) ____ of the relay on Thursday. It began in Fukushima Prefecture, which was devastated by the triple disasters of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown. The relay torch is made of aluminium recycled from prefabricated housing built for survivors of the triple (5) ____. Fukushima was chosen as the start of the relay to show the area has recovered, although many people say claims of recovery are a little (6) ____.

    The head of Japan's Olympic organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, opened the torch relay ceremony. She said in her opening (7) ____: "The flame will embark on a 121-day journey and will (8) ____ the hopes of the Japanese people and wishes for peace." Japanese people are being encouraged to look at live broadcasts of the relay and (9) ____ from travelling to watch it amid fears of a spike in COVID 19 cases. Spectators must wear face masks, and are being (10) ____ to clap rather than cheer. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated his commitment to (11) ____ a "safe and secure" Olympics in spite of the pandemic. He said: "We will do our (12) ____ on coronavirus measures."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     under     (b)     about     (c)     through     (d)     over    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     to     (d)     on    
    3. (a)     carry     (b)     come     (c)     do     (d)     go    
    4. (a)     arm     (b)     leg     (c)     back     (d)     head    
    5. (a)     clam     (b)     calamitously     (c)     calamitous     (d)     calamity    
    6. (a)     immature     (b)     maturity     (c)     premature     (d)     maturation    
    7. (a)     home     (b)     address     (c)     number     (d)     details    
    8. (a)     carry     (b)     pack     (c)     transit     (d)     trip    
    9. (a)     refrain     (b)     retrain     (c)     regain     (d)     refer    
    10. (a)     purged     (b)     curbed     (c)     urged     (d)     perturbed    
    11. (a)     conform     (b)     leg     (c)     platform     (d)     stage    
    12. (a)     most     (b)     utmost     (c)     mostly     (d)     at most

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. ontoppsde due to the coronavirus pandemic
    2. organizers have been terenmided
    3. devtetdasa by the triple disasters
    4. housing built for srsvrvuoi
    5. the triple ictmyaal
    6. a little prmraeute

    Paragraph 2

    1. organizing comiettme
    2. the torch relay renmeyco
    3. rkmeab on a 121-day journey
    4. ainrref from travelling
    5. eartrdteei his commitment
    6. We will do our osmtut

    Put the text back together

    (...)  disasters of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown. The relay torch is made of aluminium recycled from prefabricated
    (...)  ceremony. She said in her opening address: "The flame will embark on a 121-day journey and will carry the
    (...)  his commitment to stage a "safe and secure" Olympics in
    (...)  housing built for survivors of the triple calamity. Fukushima was chosen as the start of the relay to show the area has
    (...)  wear face masks, and are being urged to clap rather than cheer. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated
    (...)  broadcasts of the relay and refrain from travelling to watch it amid fears of a spike in COVID 19 cases. Spectators must
    (...)  relay on Thursday. It began in Fukushima Prefecture, which was devastated by the triple
    (...)  The head of Japan's Olympic organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, opened the torch relay
    (...)  to the coronavirus pandemic but organizers have been determined to ensure they go
    (...)  spite of the pandemic. He said: "We will do our utmost on coronavirus measures."
    (  1  ) The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics is finally under way. The 2020 Summer Games were postponed due
    (...)  hopes of the Japanese people and wishes for peace." Japanese people are being encouraged to look at live
    (...)  ahead in July. Members of the Japan women's football team ran as torchbearers in the first leg of the
    (...)  recovered, although many people say claims of recovery are a little premature.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. ahead   .   ensure   Organizers   to   are   they   go   determined
    2. and   The   2011   meltdown   .   tsunami   earthquake,   nuclear
    3. torch   The   relay   recycled   made   of   aluminum   .   is
    4. survivors   built   calamity   .   Housing   of   the   for   triple
    5. recovery   a   of   are   Claims   premature   .   little
    6. on   will   a   121-day   flame   embark   journey   .   The
    7. broadcasts   .   encouraged   being   are   People   to   watch   live
    8. spike   Amid   COVID 19   cases   .   in   of   fears   a
    9. rather   to   clap   urged   People   cheer   .   are   than
    10. on   coronavirus   do   measures   .   our   will   utmost   We

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics is finally over / under way. The 2020 Summer Games were postponed due at / to the coronavirus pandemic but organizers have been determined to reassure / ensure they go ahead in July. Members of the Japan women's football team ran as torchbearers in the first leg / arm of the relay on Thursday. It began in Fukushima Prefecture, which was devastating / devastated by the triple disasters of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown / melting. The relay torch is made of aluminium recycled from prefabricated housing building / built for survivors of the triple calamity. Fukushima was chosen / chasten as the start of the relay to show / view the area has recovered, although many people say claims of recovery are a little premature / prematurely.

    The head of Japan's Olympic organizing committee, Seiko Hashimoto, opened / unveiled the torch relay ceremony. She said in her opening address / number: "The flame will embark / disembark on a 121-day journey and will carry the hopes of the Japanese people and wishes for peace." Japanese people are being / been encouraged to look at live broadcasts of the relay and retrain / refrain from travelling to watch it middling / amid fears of a spike in COVID 19 cases. Spectators must wear face masks, and are being purged / urged to clap rather than cheer. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated his commitment to state / stage a "safe and secure" Olympics in spite / spate of the pandemic. He said: "We will do our most / utmost on coronavirus measures."

    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)

    Th_  t_rch  r_l_y  f_r  th_  T_ky_  _lymp_cs  _s  f_n_lly  _nd_r  w_y.  Th_  2020  S_mm_r  G_m_s  w_r_  p_stp_n_d  d__  t_  th_  c_r_n_v_r_s  p_nd_m_c  b_t  _rg_n_z_rs  h_v_  b__n  d_t_rm_n_d  t_  _ns_r_  th_y  g_  _h__d  _n  J_ly.  M_mb_rs  _f  th_  J_p_n  w_m_n's  f__tb_ll  t__m  r_n  _s  t_rchb__r_rs  _n  th_  f_rst  l_g  _f  th_  r_l_y  _n  Th_rsd_y.  _t  b_g_n  _n  F_k_sh_m_  Pr_f_ct_r_,  wh_ch  w_s  d_v_st_t_d  by  th_  tr_pl_  d_s_st_rs  _f  th_  2011  __rthq__k_,  ts_n_m_  _nd  n_cl__r  m_ltd_wn.  Th_  r_l_y  t_rch  _s  m_d_  _f  _l_m_n__m  r_cycl_d  fr_m  pr_f_br_c_t_d  h__s_ng  b__lt  f_r  s_rv_v_rs  _f  th_  tr_pl_  c_l_m_ty.  F_k_sh_m_  w_s  ch_s_n  _s  th_  st_rt  _f  th_  r_l_y  t_  sh_w  th_  _r__  h_s  r_c_v_r_d,  _lth__gh  m_ny  p__pl_  s_y  cl__ms  _f  r_c_v_ry  _r_  _  l_ttl_  pr_m_t_r_.

    Th_  h__d  _f  J_p_n's  _lymp_c  _rg_n_z_ng  c_mm_tt__,  S__k_  H_sh_m_t_,  _p_n_d  th_  t_rch  r_l_y  c_r_m_ny.  Sh_  s__d  _n  h_r  _p_n_ng  _ddr_ss:  "Th_  fl_m_  w_ll  _mb_rk  _n  _  121-d_y  j__rn_y  _nd  w_ll  c_rry  th_  h_p_s  _f  th_  J_p_n_s_  p__pl_  _nd  w_sh_s  f_r  p__c_."  J_p_n_s_  p__pl_  _r_  b__ng  _nc__r_g_d  t_  l__k  _t  l_v_  br__dc_sts  _f  th_  r_l_y  _nd  r_fr__n  fr_m  tr_v_ll_ng  t_  w_tch  _t  _m_d  f__rs  _f  _  sp_k_  _n  C_V_D  19  c_s_s.  Sp_ct_t_rs  m_st  w__r  f_c_  m_sks,  _nd  _r_  b__ng  _rg_d  t_  cl_p  r_th_r  th_n  ch__r.  J_p_n's  Pr_m_  M_n_st_r  Y_sh_h_d_  S_g_  r__t_r_t_d  h_s  c_mm_tm_nt  t_  st_g_  _  "s_f_  _nd  s_c_r_"  _lymp_cs  _n  sp_t_  _f  th_  p_nd_m_c.  H_  s__d:  "W_  w_ll  d_  __r  _tm_st  _n  c_r_n_v_r_s  m__s_r_s."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the torch relay for the tokyo olympics is finally under way the 2020 summer games were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic but organizers have been determined to ensure they go ahead in july members of the japan womens football team ran as torchbearers in the first leg of the relay on thursday it began in fukushima prefecture which was devastated by the triple disasters of the 2011 earthquake tsunami and nuclear meltdown the relay torch is made of aluminium recycled from prefabricated housing built for survivors of the triple calamity fukushima was chosen as the start of the relay to show the area has recovered although many people say claims of recovery are a little premature

    the head of japans olympic organizing committee seiko hashimoto opened the torch relay ceremony she said in her opening address the flame will embark on a 121day journey and will carry the hopes of the japanese people and wishes for peace japanese people are being encouraged to look at live broadcasts of the relay and refrain from travelling to watch it amid fears of a spike in covid 19 cases spectators must wear face masks and are being urged to clap rather than cheer japans prime minister yoshihide suga reiterated his commitment to stage a safe and secure olympics in spite of the pandemic he said we will do our utmost on coronavirus measures

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThetorchrelayfortheTokyoOlympicsisfinallyunderway.The2020Sum
    merGameswerepostponedduetothecoronaviruspandemicbutorgani
    zershavebeendeterminedtoensuretheygoaheadinJuly.Membersofth
    eJapanwomen'sfootballteamranastorchbearersinthefirstlegoftherel
    ayonThursday.ItbeganinFukushimaPrefecture,whichwasdevastate
    dbythetripledisastersofthe2011earthquake,tsunamiandnuclearmel
    tdown.Therelaytorchismadeofaluminiumrecycledfromprefabricated
    housingbuiltforsurvivorsofthetriplecalamity.Fukushimawaschosena
    sthestartoftherelaytoshowtheareahasrecovered,althoughmanypeo
    plesayclaimsofrecoveryarealittlepremature.TheheadofJapan'sOlym
    picorganizingcommittee,SeikoHashimoto,openedthetorchrelaycere
    mony.Shesaidinheropeningaddress:"Theflamewillembarkona121-
    dayjourneyandwillcarrythehopesoftheJapanesepeopleandwishesfo
    rpeace."Japanesepeoplearebeingencouragedtolookatlivebroadcast
    softherelayandrefrainfromtravellingtowatchitamidfearsofaspikeinC
    OVID19cases.Spectatorsmustwearfacemasks,andarebeingurgedto
    clapratherthancheer.Japan'sPrimeMinisterYoshihideSugareiterated
    hiscommitmenttostagea"safeandsecure"Olympicsinspiteofthepand
    emic.Hesaid:"Wewilldoourutmostoncoronavirusmeasures."

    Free writing

    Write about Olympic Torch Relay for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The Tokyo Olympics should definitely go ahead. 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. THE OLYMPICS: Make a poster about the Olympics. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NO INTERNATIONAL SPECTATORS: Write a magazine article about having no international spectators at the Tokyo Olympics. 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 the Olympics. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make the Games better. 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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