Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Put Events in Order, Multiple Choice
Language: Vocab Match, New Sentences
Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions
Answers
If you heard someone calling for help nearby, what would you most likely do first?
a) Call emergency services
b) Look from a safe distance to understand the problem
c) Something else
Vocab List
A woman in Bohemia, New York, was rescued after she fell into a deep sinkhole in her backyard on Thursday morning.
Danielle Tammone was walking outside when the ground suddenly sank under her feet. She fell about 8 feet into a hole with water and grass.
Tammone thought the hole might be an old well. She could not climb out because she was afraid the stones and bricks around her could fall on her.
She screamed for help. Two neighbors heard her and came to look for her. They found the small hole and called 911.
Police officers arrived soon after. They got a ladder from a nearby garage and helped Tammone climb out.
The neighbors were very worried, but Tammone was not hurt. She said she landed on soft grass and water, not stone. Her neighbor gave her a hug after she was safe.
Neighbors Help Rescue Woman From Sinkhole
If you heard someone calling for help nearby, what would you most likely do first?
a) Call emergency services
b) Look from a safe distance to understand the problem
c) Something else
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rescue (v.)
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sinkhole (n.)
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backyard (n.)
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ground (n.)
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well (n.)
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climb out (phr. v.)
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ladder (n.)
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scream (v.)
A woman in Bohemia, New York, was rescued after she fell into a deep sinkhole in her backyard on Thursday morning.
Danielle Tammone was walking outside when the ground suddenly sank under her feet. She fell about 8 feet into a hole with water and grass.
Tammone thought the hole might be an old well. She could not climb out because she was afraid the stones and bricks around her could fall on her.
She screamed for help. Two neighbors heard her and came to look for her. They found the small hole and called 911.
Police officers arrived soon after. They got a ladder from a nearby garage and helped Tammone climb out.
The neighbors were very worried, but Tammone was not hurt. She said she landed on soft grass and water, not stone. Her neighbor gave her a hug after she was safe.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- A woman was safely rescued after falling into a sinkhole, with help from neighbors and police. Correct answer
- A woman learned that an old well can be dangerous when she fell into a hole.
- Neighbors showed how quickly they can help when someone calls for help.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Danielle Tammone fell into the sinkhole while she was walking outside in her backyard. TRUEFALSE True
2. Tammone climbed out of the hole by herself before anyone arrived. TRUEFALSE False
3. The two neighbors called 911 after they found the small hole. TRUEFALSE True
4. Tammone was badly hurt when she landed at the bottom of the hole. TRUEFALSE False
Put Events in Order
Put the events in the order they happened, from first to last.
- 1 The ground sank under Danielle Tammone, and she fell into a deep hole.
- 2 She screamed for help.
- 3 Two neighbors found the hole and called 911.
- 4 Police officers brought a ladder and helped her climb out.
Put Events in Order
Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (4):
- The ground sank under Danielle Tammone, and she fell into a deep hole.
- She screamed for help.
- Two neighbors found the hole and called 911.
- Police officers brought a ladder and helped her climb out.
- The ground sank under Danielle Tammone, and she fell into a deep hole.
- She screamed for help.
- Two neighbors found the hole and called 911.
- Police officers brought a ladder and helped her climb out.
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. Why could Danielle Tammone not climb out of the hole by herself?
a) She was afraid the stones and bricks could fall on her.Correct
b) She could not find the hole in her backyard.
c) She was waiting for the police to bring water.
2. What did the police officers use to help Tammone get out?
a) A rope from a nearby house
b) A ladder from a nearby garageCorrect
c) A boat from a nearby yard
3. What did Tammone think the hole might be?
a) An old wellCorrect
b) A small garage
c) A deep pool
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
A woman in Bohemia, New York, was rescued after she fell into a deep (1) in her backyard on Thursday morning.
Danielle Tammone was walking outside when the (2) suddenly sank under her feet. She fell about 8 feet into a hole with water and grass.
Tammone thought the hole might be an old well. She could not climb out because she was afraid the stones and bricks around her could fall on her.
She screamed for help. Two neighbors heard her and came to look for her. They found the small hole and called (3) .
Police officers arrived soon after. They got a (4) from a nearby garage and helped Tammone climb out.
The neighbors were very worried, but Tammone was not hurt. She said she landed on soft grass and water, not stone. Her neighbor gave her a (5) after she was safe.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition, or select a word and then select its definition:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. rescuee) to save someone from a dangerous situation
2. sinkholed) a large hole in the ground that suddenly opens
3. wellc) a deep hole in the ground for getting water
4. climb outb) to get out of a place by using your hands and feet
5. laddera) a piece of equipment with steps for climbing up or down
a) a piece of equipment with steps for climbing up or down
b) to get out of a place by using your hands and feet
c) a deep hole in the ground for getting water
d) a large hole in the ground that suddenly opens
e) to save someone from a dangerous situation
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
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The firefighter used a rope to {blank} the cat from the burning building.
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After the heavy rain, a {blank} opened in the road near the school.
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The children played catch in the {blank} behind their house.
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The ball fell to the {blank} after the child dropped it.
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The workers used a {blank} to reach the top of the wall.
New Sentences
backyard / ground / ladder / rescue / sinkhole / well
- The firefighter used a rope to the cat from the burning building.
- After the heavy rain, a opened in the road near the school.
- The children played catch in the behind their house.
- The ball fell to the after the child dropped it.
- The workers used a to reach the top of the wall.
Discussion Builder
1) Sequencing actions 2) Describing how long an action continues
Q: Would you help if you heard someone calling for help outside? What would you do first?
A:Q: A neighbor gave the woman a hug after the rescue. What are other kind things people can do when someone has a frightening experience?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: Would you help if you heard someone calling for help outside? What would you do first?
A: I would call 911, because the person might be hurt.
First, / However, / For example,
First, I would call 911, because the person might be hurt.
Q: A neighbor gave the woman a hug after the rescue. What are other kind things people can do when someone has a frightening experience?
A: I would stay with them they felt calmer.
until / because / although
I would stay with them until they felt calmer.
Discussion Questions
- How do you think the woman felt when the ground suddenly sank under her feet?
- Would you help if you heard someone calling for help outside? What would you do first?
- The woman landed on grass and water. What other soft things can help make a fall less dangerous?
- Are neighbors usually helpful where you live? Can you give an example?
- A neighbor gave the woman a hug after the rescue. What are other kind things people can do when someone has a frightening experience?
- Would you rather live in a house with a backyard or an apartment without one? Why?
Discussion Questions
- How do you think the woman felt when the ground suddenly sank under her feet?
- Would you help if you heard someone calling for help outside? What would you do first?
- The woman landed on grass and water. What other soft things can help make a fall less dangerous?
- Are neighbors usually helpful where you live? Can you give an example?
- A neighbor gave the woman a hug after the rescue. What are other kind things people can do when someone has a frightening experience?
- Would you rather live in a house with a backyard or an apartment without one? Why?
Answers
Listening: (1) sinkhole, (2) ground, (3) 911, (4) ladder, (5) hug
Main Idea: A woman was safely rescued after falling into a sinkhole, with help from neighbors and police.
True or False:
- True. The ground sank under her feet while she was walking outside in her backyard.
- False. She was afraid the stones and bricks could fall on her, so she could not climb out alone.
- True. They heard Tammone scream, found the hole, and then called 911.
- False. She was not hurt because she landed on soft grass and water instead of stone.
Multiple Choice: a, b, a
Put Events in Order:
- The ground sank under Danielle Tammone, and she fell into a deep hole.
- She screamed for help.
- Two neighbors found the hole and called 911.
- Police officers brought a ladder and helped her climb out.
Vocabulary:
- rescue: to save someone from a dangerous situation
- sinkhole: a large hole in the ground that suddenly opens
- well: a deep hole in the ground for getting water
- climb out: to get out of a place by using your hands and feet
- ladder: a piece of equipment with steps for climbing up or down
New Sentences: 1. rescue; 2. sinkhole; 3. backyard; 4. ground; 5. ladder
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Sequencing actions. 2) Describing how long an action continues.
- First,
- until