The Reading / Listening - Survival - Level 6

A minister in Madagascar's government has beaten the odds to survive a helicopter crash and a marathon swim. Serge Gelle, the country's secretary of state for police, swam to the mainland on Tuesday after the helicopter he was a passenger in crashed into the Indian Ocean off the island's north-east coast. Mr Gelle was one of two passengers known to have survived the crash. They both swam for 12 hours to reach the shore. Gelle told reporters that he used one of the helicopter's seats as a flotation device. News agencies are reporting that at least 39 people perished in the disaster. A police spokesperson said rescue workers had retrieved 18 bodies. He lamented that the death toll could increase over the next few days.

Mr Gelle, 57, was in high spirits after his rescue, despite looking totally exhausted. He managed to muster up the energy to recount his ordeal to reporters. He spoke to journalists while slumped in a deck chair and still wearing his camouflage uniform. He said he ejected himself from the aircraft when he knew it was in trouble. He became police chief earlier this year after serving in the police force for three decades. His colleague offered a reason as to why he survived the crash. He said: "Gelle has always had great stamina in sport, and he's kept up this rhythm as minister, just like a 30-year-old. He has nerves of steel." Mr Gelle said: "My time to die hasn't come yet." The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Survival - Level 4  or  Survival - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/22/madagascar-minister-swims-12-hours-to-safety-after-helicopter-crash
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/serge-gelle-official-swims-12-hours-shore-helicopter-crash-madagascar/
  • https://www.dw.com/en/madagascar-minister-swims-12-hours-to-shore-after-helicopter-crash/a-60219728


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. HELICOPTER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about helicopters. 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?
       Madagascar / beat the odds / helicopter / marathon / coast / device / police / rescue
       high spirits / exhausted / energy / camouflage / uniform / trouble / stamina / nerves
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SURVIVAL SKILLS: Students A strongly believe we should all learn survival skills at school; Students B strongly believe we shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SURVIVAL: What do you need to do to survive in these situations? Would you survive? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What to Do

Would You Survive?

Lost at sea

 

 

Taken hostage

 

 

Earthquake

 

 

Bears all around

 

 

Fire

 

 

No water

 

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

  • Making fires
  • Hunting
  • Telling jokes
  • Map reading
  • Finding shelter
  • Swimming
  • Fighting
  • Thinking straight

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. odds a. A traveller on a ship, train, bus, space rocket, other than the driver, pilot, or crew.
      2. mainland b. Got or brought something back from somewhere.
      3. passenger c. The chances or likelihood of something happening or being the case.
      4. shore d. A large continuous extent of land that includes the greater part of a country (but not its islands or other territories).
      5. device e. The land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water.
      6. retrieved f. A thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.
      7. toll g. The number of deaths or casualties arising from a natural disaster, conflict, accident.

    Paragraph 2

      8. in high spirits h. A disguising to make something blend in with its surroundings.
      9. exhausted i. Very happy.
      10. muster up j. A very unpleasant and prolonged experience.
      11. ordeal k. A person with whom one works in a profession or business.
      12. camouflage l. Really, really tired and lacking energy.
      13. colleague m. The ability to keep up prolonged physical or mental effort.
      14. stamina n. Bring up a feeling, attitude, or response.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A Madagascan minister defied odds of 10-1 to survive a helicopter crash. T / F
  2. The minister was the head of Madagascar's police force.     T / F
  3. The minister used a helicopter wheel as a float.     T / F
  4. A police spokesman said more people could be found dead.     T / F
  5. The minister looked exhausted and in low spirits.     T / F
  6. The minister was still wearing his uniform when being interviewed.     T / F
  7. The minister's colleague said he was an elite sportsman.     T / F
  8. Investigators are now trying to find the cause of the crash.     T / F

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

  1. odds
  2. survived
  3. reach
  4. perished
  5. toll
  6. in high spirits
  7. recount
  8. stamina
  9. cause
  10. investigation
  1. tell
  2. died
  3. cheerful
  4. count
  5. examination
  6. get to
  7. source
  8. probability
  9. endurance
  10. pulled through

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

  1. beaten the odds
  2. the country's secretary of
  3. one
  4. at least 39 people
  5. the death
  6. Mr Gelle, 57, was in
  7. He managed to muster
  8. still wearing his camouflage
  9. Gelle has always had great
  10. The cause of the crash is currently
  1. uniform
  2. toll could increase
  3. under investigation
  4. of two passengers
  5. state for police
  6. up the energy
  7. high spirits
  8. stamina in sport
  9. to survive
  10. perished

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
coast
odds
perished
toll
state
device
rescue
reach

A minister in Madagascar's government has beaten the (1) _____________________ to survive a helicopter crash and a marathon swim. Serge Gelle, the country's secretary of (2) _____________________ for police, swam to the mainland on Tuesday after the helicopter he was a passenger in crashed into the Indian Ocean off the island's north-east (3) ____________________. Mr Gelle was one of two passengers known to have survived the crash. They both swam for 12 hours to (4) _____________________ the shore. Gelle told reporters that he used one of the helicopter's seats as a flotation (5) _____________________. News agencies are reporting that at least 39 people (6) _____________________ in the disaster. A police spokesperson said (7) _____________________ workers had retrieved 18 bodies. He lamented that the death (8) _____________________ could increase over the next few days.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ordeal
ejected
spirits
colleague
uniform
muster
under
steel

Mr Gelle, 57, was in high (9) _____________________ after his rescue, despite looking totally exhausted. He managed to (10) _____________________ up the energy to recount his (11) _____________________ to reporters. He spoke to journalists while slumped in a deck chair and still wearing his camouflage (12) _____________________. He said he (13) _____________________ himself from the aircraft when he knew it was in trouble. He became police chief earlier this year after serving in the police force for three decades. His (14) _____________________ offered a reason as to why he survived the crash. He said: "Gelle has always had great stamina in sport, and he's kept up this rhythm as minister, just like a 30-year-old. He has nerves of (15) _____________________." Mr Gelle said: "My time to die hasn't come yet." The cause of the crash is currently (16) _____________________ investigation.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A minister in Madagascar's government has beaten the ______
     a.  oddities to survive
     b.  oddness to survive
     c.  odds to survive
     d.  odours to survive
2) he was a passenger in crashed into the Indian Ocean off the island's ______
     a.  north-east coasts
     b.  north-east cost
     c.  north-east coast
     d.  north-east caste
3)  They both swam for 12 hours to ______
     a.  reach the sure
     b.  reach the shore
     c.  reach the shorn
     d.  reach the swore
4)  Gelle told reporters that he used one of the helicopter's seats as ______
     a.  a float tea-shun device
     b.  a flow traction device
     c.  a flotation device
     d.  a flotilla device
5)  He lamented that the death ______
     a.  tail could increase
     b.  toll could increase
     c.  doll could increase
     d.  teal could increase

6)  Mr Gelle, 57, was in high spirits after his rescue, despite ______
     a.  looking totally exhausted
     b.  looking totally exhaust it
     c.  looking totally exhaustive
     d.  looking totally exertive
7)  He managed to muster up the energy to recount his ______
     a.  audio to reporters
     b.  order to reporters
     c.  ordeal to reporters
     d.  awed eel to reporters
8)  while slumped in a deck chair and still wearing ______
     a.  his cam more flask uniform
     b.  his clamour flask uniform
     c.  his camouflage uniform
     d.  his camel forage uniform
9)  He became police chief earlier this year after serving in the police force ______
     a.  fourty-three decades
     b.  fourteen decades
     c.  four three decades
     d.  for three decades
10)  he's kept up this rhythm as minister, just like a 30-year-old. He has ______
     a.  nerves off steel
     b.  nerves of steel
     c.  nerve soft steel
     d.  knaves of steel

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A minister in Madagascar's government has (1) ____________________ to survive a helicopter crash and a marathon swim. Serge Gelle, the country's (2) ____________________ for police, swam to the mainland on Tuesday after the helicopter he was a passenger in crashed into the Indian Ocean off the island's north-east coast. Mr Gelle was one of two passengers known (3) ____________________ the crash. They both swam for 12 hours to reach the shore. Gelle told reporters that he used one of the helicopter's seats as (4) ____________________. News agencies are reporting that at least 39 people (5) ____________________ disaster. A police spokesperson said rescue workers had retrieved 18 bodies. He lamented that the (6) ____________________ increase over the next few days.

Mr Gelle, 57, was (7) ____________________ after his rescue, despite looking totally exhausted. He managed (8) ____________________ the energy to recount his ordeal to reporters. He spoke to journalists while slumped in a deck chair and still wearing (9) ____________________. He said he ejected himself from the aircraft when he knew it was in trouble. He became police chief earlier this year after serving in the police force for three decades. His colleague offered a reason (10) ____________________ he survived the crash. He said: "Gelle has always had (11) ____________________ sport, and he's kept up this rhythm as minister, just like a 30-year-old. He has (12) ____________________." Mr Gelle said: "My time to die hasn't come yet." The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the minister beat to survive?
  2. Where did the helicopter crash?
  3. How many other passengers are known to have survived?
  4. What did the minister use as a flotation device?
  5. When could the death count rise?
  6. What kind of mood was the minister in?
  7. What was he wearing?
  8. For how long has the minister served in the police force?
  9. What kinds of nerves did a colleague say the minister had?
  10. What is currently under investigation?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the minister beat to survive?
a) his chest
b) a drum
c) odds
d) a carpet
2) Where did the helicopter crash?
a) in the Indian Ocean
b) in the Pacific Ocean
c) in the Atlantic Ocean
d) in the Red Sea
3) How many other passengers are known to have survived?
a) none
b) one
c) two
d) three
4) What did the minister use as a flotation device?
a) polystyrene
b) a tyre
c) driftwood
d) a seat
5) When could the death count rise?
a) imminently
b) soon
c) in the next few days
d) it is not yet known

6) What kind of mood was the minister in?
a) he was down
b) in high spirits
c) a blue mood
d) a terrible mood
7) What was he wearing?
a) a hat
b) swimming pants
c) a broad smile
d) his camouflage uniform
8) For how long has the minister served in the police force?
a) 25 years
b) three decades
c) a few years
d) just a week
9) What kinds of nerves did a colleague say the minister had?
a) frayed nerves
b) nerves of steel
c) first-night nerves
d) tense nerves
10) What is currently under investigation?
a) the cause of the crash
b) the police
c) an investigation
d) the minister's office

Role play

Role  A – Thinking Straight
You think thinking straight is the most useful survival skill. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their skills. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): making fires, fighting or hunting.

Role  B – Making Fires
You think making fires is the most useful survival skill. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their skills. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): thinking straight, fighting or hunting.

Role  C – Fighting
You think fighting is the most useful survival skill. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their skills. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): making fires, thinking straight or hunting.

Role  D – Hunting
You think hunting is the most useful survival skill. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their skills. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): making fires, fighting or thinking straight.

After reading / listening

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

'swim'

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

    • and 'survive'.

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

    • • 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:

    • minister
    • Tuesday
    • coast
    • 12
    • device
    • few
    • totally
    • ordeal
    • himself
    • reason
    • steel
    • under

    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 - Survival

    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 'survive'?
    3. What do you know about Madagascar?
    4. Would you like to travel in a helicopter?
    5. What would you do if you were stranded in the ocean?
    6. What are your survival skills like?
    7. How good are you at swimming?
    8. Should we all learn survival skills?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story, and why?
    10. What advice do you have for Mr Gelle?

    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 'swim'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of helicopters?
    5. When was the last time you were in high spirits?
    6. How much stamina do you have?
    7. Do you have nerves of steel?
    8. Have you ever been in a very dangerous situation?
    9. What day-to-day things in life are like survival?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Gelle?

    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)

    A minister in Madagascar's government has beaten the (1) ____ to survive a helicopter crash and a marathon swim. Serge Gelle, the country's secretary of state for police, swam to the mainland on Tuesday after the helicopter he was a passenger (2) ____ crashed into the Indian Ocean off the island's north-east coast. Mr Gelle was one of two passengers known to (3) ____ survived the crash. They both swam for 12 hours to reach the shore. Gelle told reporters that he used one of the helicopter's seats (4) ____ a flotation device. News agencies are reporting that at least 39 people perished (5) ____ the disaster. A police spokesperson said rescue workers had retrieved 18 bodies. He lamented that the death (6) ____ could increase over the next few days.

    Mr Gelle, 57, was in (7) ____ spirits after his rescue, despite looking totally exhausted. He managed to muster (8) ____ the energy to recount his ordeal to reporters. He spoke to journalists while (9) ____ in a deck chair and still wearing his camouflage uniform. He said he ejected himself from the aircraft when he knew it was in trouble. He became police chief earlier this year after (10) ____ in the police force for three decades. His colleague offered a reason (11) ____ to why he survived the crash. He said: "Gelle has always had great stamina in sport, and he's kept up this rhythm as minister, just like a 30-year-old. He has nerves of steel." Mr Gelle said: "My time to die hasn't come yet." The cause of the crash is currently (12) ____ investigation.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     odd     (b)     odds     (c)     oddness     (d)     oddities    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     by     (d)     flew    
    3. (a)     done     (b)     get     (c)     be     (d)     have    
    4. (a)     was     (b)     as     (c)     has     (d)     is    
    5. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     of     (d)     as    
    6. (a)     atoll     (b)     toil     (c)     toll     (d)     till    
    7. (a)     upper     (b)     height     (c)     high     (d)     increase    
    8. (a)     down     (b)     in     (c)     up     (d)     on    
    9. (a)     stumped     (b)     slurred     (c)     slurped     (d)     slumped    
    10. (a)     serving     (b)     serve     (c)     served     (d)     server    
    11. (a)     as     (b)     at     (c)     an     (d)     ad    
    12. (a)     over     (b)     up     (c)     under     (d)     down

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. swam to the nimlanad
    2. reach the ohsre
    3. a loafitton device
    4. 39 people rpsiehed
    5. rescue workers had tireerevd 18 bodies
    6. He amentled that the death toll could increase

    Paragraph 2

    1. Mr Gelle, 57, was in high prisits
    2. mfoualacge uniform
    3. His ellcagoue offered a reason as to why
    4. Gelle has always had great asimtna
    5. He has evrnes of steel
    6. currently under tsiinteogaivn

    Put the text back together

    (  1  ) A minister in Madagascar's government has beaten the odds to survive a helicopter crash and a marathon
    (...)  this year after serving in the police force for three decades. His colleague offered a reason as to
    (...)  why he survived the crash. He said: "Gelle has always had great stamina in sport, and he's kept up this
    (...)  shore. Gelle told reporters that he used one of the helicopter's seats as a flotation
    (...)  swim. Serge Gelle, the country's secretary of state for police, swam to the mainland on Tuesday after the helicopter he was
    (...)  rhythm as minister, just like a 30-year-old. He has nerves of steel." Mr Gelle said: "My time to
    (...)  up the energy to recount his ordeal to reporters. He spoke to journalists while slumped in a deck chair and still wearing his camouflage
    (...)  device. News agencies are reporting that at least 39 people perished in the disaster. A police spokesperson said rescue
    (...)  die hasn't come yet." The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
    (...)  passengers known to have survived the crash. They both swam for 12 hours to reach the
    (...)  Mr Gelle, 57, was in high spirits after his rescue, despite looking totally exhausted. He managed to muster
    (...)  workers had retrieved 18 bodies. He lamented that the death toll could increase over the next few days.
    (...)  a passenger in crashed into the Indian Ocean off the island's north-east coast. Mr Gelle was one of two
    (...)  uniform. He said he ejected himself from the aircraft when he knew it was in trouble. He became police chief earlier

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   survive   crash   .   to   Beaten   helicopter   a   odds
    2. in   he   a   crashed   .   The   helicopter   was   passenger
    3. survived   crash   .   known   have   Two   passengers   the   to
    4. used   He   the   one   helicopter's   seats   .   of
    5. He   that   lamented   death   the   increase   .   could   toll
    6. rescue   .   was   after   high   spirits   in   his   Gelle
    7. muster   up   managed   to   the   He   energy   .
    8. himself   said   from   he   aircraft   .   the   He   ejected
    9. Offered   as   survived   .   he   a   to   why   reason
    10. crash   The   cause   under   investigation   .   is   of   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

         A minister in Madagascar's government has battened / beaten the odds to survive a helicopter crash and a marathon swim. Serge Gelle, the country's secretary of state / stated for police, swam to the mainland on Tuesday after the helicopter he was a passenger at / in crashed into the Indian Ocean off / on the island's north-east coast. Mr Gelle was one of two passengers knowing / known to have survived the crash. They both swam for 12 hours to reach the shore / store. Gelle told reporters that he used one of the helicopter's seats as a flotation devil / device. News agencies are reporting that at least 39 people perished / pushed in the disaster. A police spokesperson said rescue workers had relieved / retrieved 18 bodies. He lamented that the death toll / atoll could increase over the next few days.

         Mr Gelle, 57, was in high / height spirits after his rescue, despite looking totally exhausted. He managed to muster down / up the energy to recount his order / ordeal to reporters. He spoke to journalists while stumped / slumped in a deck chair and still wearing his camouflage uniform. He said he ejected / rejected himself from the aircraft when he knew it was in / on trouble. He became police chief earlier this year after serving in the police force for three decadence / decades. His colleague offered a reason as to why he survived the crash. He said: "Gelle has always had great stammering / stamina in sport, and he's kept up this rhythm as / was minister, just like a 30-year-old. He has nerves of steel." Mr Gelle said: "My time to die hasn't come yet." The cause of the crash is currently over / under investigation.

    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)

         _  m_n_st_r  _n  M_d_g_sc_r's  g_v_rnm_nt  h_s  b__t_n  th_  _dds  t_  s_rv_v_  _  h_l_c_pt_r  cr_sh  _nd  _  m_r_th_n  sw_m.  S_rg_  G_ll_,  th_  c__ntry's  s_cr_t_ry  _f  st_t_  f_r  p_l_c_,  sw_m  t_  th_  m__nl_nd  _n  T__sd_y  _ft_r  th_  h_l_c_pt_r  h_  w_s  _  p_ss_ng_r  _n  cr_sh_d  _nt_  th_  _nd__n  _c__n  _ff  th_  _sl_nd's  n_rth-__st  c__st.  Mr  G_ll_  w_s  _n_  _f  tw_  p_ss_ng_rs  kn_wn  t_  h_v_  s_rv_v_d  th_  cr_sh.  Th_y  b_th  sw_m  f_r  12  h__rs  t_  r__ch  th_  sh_r_.  G_ll_  t_ld  r_p_rt_rs  th_t  h_  _s_d  _n_  _f  th_  h_l_c_pt_r's  s__ts  _s  _  fl_t_t__n  d_v_c_.  N_ws  _g_nc__s  _r_  r_p_rt_ng  th_t  _t  l__st  39  p__pl_  p_r_sh_d  _n  th_  d_s_st_r.  _  p_l_c_  sp_k_sp_rs_n  s__d  r_sc__  w_rk_rs  h_d  r_tr__v_d  18  b_d__s.  H_  l_m_nt_d  th_t  th_  d__th  t_ll  c__ld  _ncr__s_  _v_r  th_  n_xt  f_w  d_ys.

         Mr  G_ll_,  57,  w_s  _n  h_gh  sp_r_ts  _ft_r  h_s  r_sc__,  d_sp_t_  l__k_ng  t_t_lly  _xh__st_d.  H_  m_n_g_d  t_  m_st_r  _p  th_  _n_rgy  t_  r_c__nt  h_s  _rd__l  t_  r_p_rt_rs.  H_  sp_k_  t_  j__rn_l_sts  wh_l_  sl_mp_d  _n  _  d_ck  ch__r  _nd  st_ll  w__r_ng  h_s  c_m__fl_g_  _n_f_rm.  H_  s__d  h_  _j_ct_d  h_ms_lf  fr_m  th_  __rcr_ft  wh_n  h_  kn_w  _t  w_s  _n  tr__bl_.  H_  b_c_m_  p_l_c_  ch__f  __rl__r  th_s  y__r  _ft_r  s_rv_ng  _n  th_  p_l_c_  f_rc_  f_r  thr__  d_c_d_s.  H_s  c_ll__g__  _ff_r_d  _  r__s_n  _s  t_  why  h_  s_rv_v_d  th_  cr_sh.  H_  s__d:  "G_ll_  h_s  _lw_ys  h_d  gr__t  st_m_n_  _n  sp_rt,  _nd  h_'s  k_pt  _p  th_s  rhythm  _s  m_n_st_r,  j_st  l_k_  _  30-y__r-_ld.  H_  h_s  n_rv_s  _f  st__l."  Mr  G_ll_  s__d:  "My  t_m_  t_  d__  h_sn't  c_m_  y_t."  Th_  c__s_  _f  th_  cr_sh  _s  c_rr_ntly  _nd_r  _nv_st_g_t__n.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

         a minister in madagascars government has beaten the odds to survive a helicopter crash and a marathon swim serge gelle the countrys secretary of state for police swam to the mainland on tuesday after the helicopter he was a passenger in crashed into the indian ocean off the islands northeast coast mr gelle was one of two passengers known to have survived the crash they both swam for 12 hours to reach the shore gelle told reporters that he used one of the helicopters seats as a flotation device news agencies are reporting that at least 39 people perished in the disaster a police spokesperson said rescue workers had retrieved 18 bodies he lamented that the death toll could increase over the next few days

         mr gelle 57 was in high spirits after his rescue despite looking totally exhausted he managed to muster up the energy to recount his ordeal to reporters he spoke to journalists while slumped in a deck chair and still wearing his camouflage uniform he said he ejected himself from the aircraft when he knew it was in trouble he became police chief earlier this year after serving in the police force for three decades his colleague offered a reason as to why he survived the crash he said gelle has always had great stamina in sport and hes kept up this rhythm as minister just like a 30yearold he has nerves of steel mr gelle said my time to die hasnt come yet the cause of the crash is currently under investigation

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AministerinMadagascar'sgovernmenthasbeatentheoddstosurvivea
    helicoptercrashandamarathonswim.SergeGelle,thecountry'ssecret
    aryofstateforpolice,swamtothemainlandonTuesdayafterthehelicopt
    erhewasapassengerincrashedintotheIndianOceanofftheisland'snort
    h-eastcoast.MrGellewasoneoftwopassengersknowntohavesurvive
    dthecrash.Theybothswamfor12hourstoreachtheshore.Gelletoldrep
    ortersthatheusedoneofthehelicopter'sseatsasaflotationdevice.New
    sagenciesarereportingthatatleast39peopleperishedinthedisaster.A
    policespokespersonsaidrescueworkershadretrieved18bodies.Hela
    mentedthatthedeathtollcouldincreaseoverthenextfewdays.MrGelle,
    57,wasinhighspiritsafterhisrescue,despitelookingtotallyexhausted.
    Hemanagedtomusteruptheenergytorecounthisordealtoreporters.H
    espoketojournalistswhileslumpedinadeckchairandstillwearinghisca
    mouflageuniform.Hesaidheejectedhimselffromtheaircraftwhenhek
    newitwasintrouble.Hebecamepolicechiefearlierthisyearafterserving
    inthepoliceforceforthreedecades.Hiscolleagueofferedareasonastow
    hyhesurvivedthecrash.Hesaid:"Gellehasalwayshadgreatstaminains
    port,andhe'skeptupthisrhythmasminister,justlikea30-year-old.He
    hasnervesofsteel."MrGellesaid:"Mytimetodiehasn'tcomeyet."Theca
    useofthecrashiscurrentlyunderinvestigation.

    Free writing

    Write about survival swim for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Everyone needs to be taught survival skills. 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. SURVIVAL: Make a poster about survival. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SURVIVAL SKILLS: Write a magazine article about governments teaching everyone survival skills. 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 survival. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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