ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Article
Level
2 / A2
Published
Title
Three Men Rob Pokemon Card Shop in New York
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-01-28-pokemon-card-robbery/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: True or False, Put Events in Order, Multiple Choice

Language: Vocab Match

Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

(1) Why do you think robbers target a Pokemon card shop?

a) Some rare cards can be sold for a lot of money.

b) The cards are easier to move than computers or jewelry.

c) The shop keeps cash from card tournaments overnight.

(2) Do you collect anything?

A first edition Charizard Pokémon card.
A first edition Charizard Pokémon card.

Vocab List

Rob (v.) — To steal from a person or place.
Hammer (n.) — A tool used to hit things.
Valuable (adj.) — Worth a lot of money.
Rare (adj.) — Not common and hard to find.
Pointed (v.) — Aimed something at someone or something.
Robbed (v.) — Took money or things by force.
Curtain (n.) — A piece of cloth that covers a window or door.
Reading

Three men robbed a Pokémon card shop in New York City on Wednesday evening. Pokémon cards are trading cards with small creatures on them. Some rare cards are very valuable. The shop is called Poké Court.

One man had a gun. He pointed it at the workers and customers. Another man closed the curtain at the front of the shop. He also watched the door. No one could leave. Nobody got hurt.

The men broke a glass case with a hammer. They put many cards into their bags. The cards were worth at least $110,000. One card had a picture of Charizard. Charizard is a famous Pokémon that looks like a dragon. This card alone was worth about $15,000.

The robbery took only three minutes. The men also took money from the shop. Police are looking for them. This was not the first robbery at a Pokémon card shop. Thieves have robbed other shops across the country.

Three Men Rob Pokemon Card Shop in New York

Level 2 Article Source: nytimes.com
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A first edition Charizard Pokémon card.
A first edition Charizard Pokémon card.

Three men robbed a Pokémon card shop in New York City on Wednesday evening. Pokémon cards are trading cards with small creatures on them. Some rare cards are very valuable. The shop is called Poké Court.

One man had a gun. He pointed it at the workers and customers. Another man closed the curtain at the front of the shop. He also watched the door. No one could leave. Nobody got hurt.

The men broke a glass case with a hammer. They put many cards into their bags. The cards were worth at least $110,000. One card had a picture of Charizard. Charizard is a famous Pokémon that looks like a dragon. This card alone was worth about $15,000.

The robbery took only three minutes. The men also took money from the shop. Police are looking for them. This was not the first robbery at a Pokémon card shop. Thieves have robbed other shops across the country.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:13  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Three men robbed a Pokémon card shop in New York City on Wednesday evening. Pokémon cards are (1) cards with small creatures on them. Some rare cards are very valuable. The shop is called Poké Court.

One man had a (2) . He pointed it at the workers and customers. Another man closed the curtain at the front of the shop. He also watched the (3) . No one could leave. Nobody got hurt.

The men broke a glass case with a (4) . They put many cards into their bags. The cards were worth at least $110,000. One card had a picture of Charizard. Charizard is a famous Pokémon that looks like a (5) . This card alone was worth about $15,000.

The robbery took only three minutes. The men also took money from the shop. Police are looking for them. This was not the first robbery at a Pokémon card shop. Thieves have robbed other shops across the country.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: How did this article make you feel? Surprised? Angry? Why?

    A:

  2. Q: How can shops protect expensive items?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: How did this article make you feel? Surprised? Angry? Why?

    A: The robbery lasted only three minutes, I was surprised that the thieves stole so many cards.

    so / unless / because / although

    The robbery lasted only three minutes, so I was surprised that the thieves stole so many cards.

  2. Q: How can shops protect expensive items?

    A: Shops need good security thieves want to steal expensive things.

    but / and / because

    Shops need good security because thieves want to steal expensive things.

  3. The men took many valuable cards. the police have not caught them yet.

    So, / But, / Also,

    The men took many valuable cards. But, the police have not caught them yet.

Discussion Questions
  1. How did this article make you feel? Surprised? Angry? Why?
  2. Do you know anyone who collects cards, figures, shoes, or something else?
  3. Why do you think some Pokémon cards are so expensive?
  4. Have you ever seen a robbery in a movie or on TV?
  5. How can shops protect expensive items?
  6. Would you pay a lot of money for a rare item? Why or why not?
  7. What is the most valuable thing you own?
  8. Do you think collecting things is a good hobby? Why?

Discussion Questions

  1. How did this article make you feel? Surprised? Angry? Why?
  2. Do you know anyone who collects cards, figures, shoes, or something else?
  3. Why do you think some Pokémon cards are so expensive?
  4. Have you ever seen a robbery in a movie or on TV?
  5. How can shops protect expensive items?
  6. Would you pay a lot of money for a rare item? Why or why not?
  7. What is the most valuable thing you own?
  8. Do you think collecting things is a good hobby? Why?

Answers Three Men Rob Pokemon Card Shop in New York / Level 2

Listening: (1) trading, (2) gun, (3) door, (4) hammer, (5) dragon

True or False:

  1. True. The article says the men robbed the shop on Wednesday evening.
  2. False. The article says the shop is called Poké Court, not Pokémon Palace.
  3. False. The article says nobody got hurt.

Multiple Choice: a, b, b

Put Events in Order:

  1. One man pointed a gun at the workers and customers.
  2. Another man closed the curtain and watched the door.
  3. The men broke a glass case with a hammer.
  4. The men put many cards into their bags.

Vocabulary:

  1. Rob: To steal from a person or place.
  2. Valuable: Worth a lot of money.
  3. Pointed: Aimed something at someone or something.
  1. Curtain: A piece of cloth that covers a window or door.
  2. Hammer: A tool used to hit things.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Result. 2) Reason. 3) Contrast.

  1. so
  2. because
  3. But,

eslnewsstories.com