Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: True or False
Language: Vocab Match
Use It: Discussion Questions
Answers
(1) What kinds of places should tourists avoid visiting?
(2) Before visiting a new place, how do you find out about local rules?
Vocab List
An American YouTuber named Mykhailo Polyakov, 24 years old, was arrested in India after visiting North Sentinel Island. This island is home to the Sentinelese, an isolated tribe that has lived there for thousands of years and avoids contact with outsiders.
Indian law prohibits anyone from coming within five kilometers of the island to protect the tribe from diseases and outside influence. Despite this, Polyakov traveled to the island on March 29, 2025. He left a can of Diet Coke and a coconut on the beach as gifts, blew a whistle to get attention, took a video, and collected sand samples. He stayed on the beach for about an hour but did not see any tribe members.
After returning to his boat, local fishermen saw him and reported the incident to the authorities. Police arrested Polyakov on March 31 in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was charged with violating laws that protect the island and its people. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine.
Officials stated that Polyakov had carefully planned his trip. He used GPS to navigate and had previously tried to reach the island twice before. Police said his actions were dangerous because the Sentinelese have no immunity to common diseases, and contact could harm them.
In the past, the Sentinelese have attacked outsiders who came to their island. In 2018, an American missionary was killed after landing there illegally. The Indian government continues to enforce strict rules to protect the tribe and their way of life.
YouTuber Arrested for Visiting Protected Island
(1) What kinds of places should tourists avoid visiting?
(2) Before visiting a new place, how do you find out about local rules?
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Arrested (v.)
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Isolated (adj.)
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Prohibit (v.)
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Authorities (n.)
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Violate (v.)
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Guilty (adj.)
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Navigate (v.)
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Immunity (n.)
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Missionary (n.)
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Enforce (v.)
An American YouTuber named Mykhailo Polyakov, 24 years old, was arrested in India after visiting North Sentinel Island. This island is home to the Sentinelese, an isolated tribe that has lived there for thousands of years and avoids contact with outsiders.
Indian law prohibits anyone from coming within five kilometers of the island to protect the tribe from diseases and outside influence. Despite this, Polyakov traveled to the island on March 29, 2025. He left a can of Diet Coke and a coconut on the beach as gifts, blew a whistle to get attention, took a video, and collected sand samples. He stayed on the beach for about an hour but did not see any tribe members.
After returning to his boat, local fishermen saw him and reported the incident to the authorities. Police arrested Polyakov on March 31 in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was charged with violating laws that protect the island and its people. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine.
Officials stated that Polyakov had carefully planned his trip. He used GPS to navigate and had previously tried to reach the island twice before. Police said his actions were dangerous because the Sentinelese have no immunity to common diseases, and contact could harm them.
In the past, the Sentinelese have attacked outsiders who came to their island. In 2018, an American missionary was killed after landing there illegally. The Indian government continues to enforce strict rules to protect the tribe and their way of life.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Polyakov gave food and drinks to the Sentinelese people. TRUEFALSE False
2. Indian law allows visitors to come close to North Sentinel Island if they don’t stay long. TRUEFALSE False
3. Polyakov was arrested two days after he visited the island. TRUEFALSE True
4. The Sentinelese people have harmed outsiders before. TRUEFALSE True
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
An American YouTuber named Mykhailo Polyakov, 24 years old, was arrested in India after visiting North Sentinel Island. This island is home to the Sentinelese, an (1) tribe that has lived there for thousands of years and avoids contact with outsiders.
Indian law prohibits anyone from coming within five kilometers of the island to protect the tribe from (2) and outside influence. Despite this, Polyakov traveled to the island on March 29, 2025. He left a can of Diet Coke and a (3) on the beach as gifts, blew a whistle to get attention, took a video, and collected sand samples. He stayed on the beach for about an hour but did not see any tribe members.
After returning to his boat, local fishermen saw him and reported the incident to the authorities. Police arrested Polyakov on March 31 in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was (4) with violating laws that protect the island and its people. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine.
Officials stated that Polyakov had carefully planned his trip. He used GPS to navigate and had previously tried to reach the island twice before. Police said his actions were (5) because the Sentinelese have no immunity to common diseases, and contact could harm them.
In the past, the Sentinelese have attacked outsiders who came to their island. In 2018, an American missionary was killed after landing there illegally. The Indian government continues to enforce (6) rules to protect the tribe and their way of life.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
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Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition, or select a word and then select its definition:
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Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. Arrestedh) Taken by the police because someone is believed to have broken the law.
2. Isolatedg) Far away from other people or places; separated from others.
3. Prohibitf) Says that something is not allowed by law or rule.
4. Authoritiese) People or organizations with power, such as the police or government.
5. Violated) To break a rule, law, or agreement.
6. Guiltyc) Officially found to have done something wrong or illegal.
7. Immunityb) The body’s ability to fight disease or not get sick from it.
8. Enforcea) To make sure people follow a rule or law.
a) To make sure people follow a rule or law.
b) The body’s ability to fight disease or not get sick from it.
c) Officially found to have done something wrong or illegal.
d) To break a rule, law, or agreement.
e) People or organizations with power, such as the police or government.
f) Says that something is not allowed by law or rule.
g) Far away from other people or places; separated from others.
h) Taken by the police because someone is believed to have broken the law.
Discussion Questions
- What did you think about this story? Was there any surprising information?
- Why do you think the Indian government wants to protect the Sentinelese tribe?
- Why did Polyakov visit the island, in your opinion? Is he brave, foolish, or something else?
- What are some possible dangers of contacting isolated groups?
- Do you think five years in prison is a fair punishment for Polyakov? Explain.
- As a YouTuber, Polyakov probably wanted views. Should content creators behave better?
- What is a missionary, and why do they sometimes enter dangerous places?
- Do you think the Sentinelese people are happy? Why or why not?
- Would you feel guilty if your actions hurt another group of people, even if you didn’t mean to?
- In modern societies, people are immune to certain diseases thanks to vaccines. At the same time, some people reject vaccines for a variety of reasons. What do you think about this issue?
Discussion Questions
- What did you think about this story? Was there any surprising information?
- Why do you think the Indian government wants to protect the Sentinelese tribe?
- Why did Polyakov visit the island, in your opinion? Is he brave, foolish, or something else?
- What are some possible dangers of contacting isolated groups?
- Do you think five years in prison is a fair punishment for Polyakov? Explain.
- As a YouTuber, Polyakov probably wanted views. Should content creators behave better?
- What is a missionary, and why do they sometimes enter dangerous places?
- Do you think the Sentinelese people are happy? Why or why not?
- Would you feel guilty if your actions hurt another group of people, even if you didn’t mean to?
- In modern societies, people are immune to certain diseases thanks to vaccines. At the same time, some people reject vaccines for a variety of reasons. What do you think about this issue?
Answers
Listening: (1) isolated, (2) diseases, (3) coconut, (4) charged, (5) dangerous, (6) strict
True or False:
- False. He left a can of soda and a coconut, but didn’t see any tribe members.
- False. The law prohibits anyone from coming within 5 kilometers.
- True. Visited on March 29, arrested on March 31.
- True. In 2018, a missionary was killed after landing there.
Vocabulary:
- Arrested: Taken by the police because someone is believed to have broken the law.
- Isolated: Far away from other people or places; separated from others.
- Prohibit: Says that something is not allowed by law or rule.
- Authorities: People or organizations with power, such as the police or government.
- Violate: To break a rule, law, or agreement.
- Guilty: Officially found to have done something wrong or illegal.
- Immunity: The body’s ability to fight disease or not get sick from it.
- Enforce: To make sure people follow a rule or law.