The Reading / Listening - Tennis Stars - Level 6

Australian citizens are angered at the sight of preferential treatment being given to tennis stars. Dozens of tennis players are jetting in to Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 Australians stranded around the world waiting to return home. Many of these are frustrated at why they cannot return, while sports stars can enter Australia to play tennis. Organisers of the Australian Open have been chartering flights to ensure players and staff members can attend the event. All those who enter must have tested negative for coronavirus. They then have to stay in specially designated COVID-safe hotels. A number of stars have tested positive and so could not come.

The special treatment afforded to the stars has drawn criticism and ire from stranded Australians. There is particular consternation because Australia's government recently cut the weekly number of citizens allowed to return. An Aussie in London told the BBC: "I can't comprehend the fact that one week they announce they're halving the caps for citizens and the following week they announce they've found 1,200 spaces for tennis players and support staff." A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players and their entourage...is a risky choice, and what hurts is that they'd take that risk for sport but not for stranded Aussies." He said: "The government can no longer claim it's just about the science".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Tennis Stars - Level 4  or  Tennis Stars - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-55683035
  • https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-australians-angry-as-elite-tennis-players-arrive-in-country-despite-travel-restrictions-12189231
  • https://sg.news.yahoo.com/two-test-positive-virus-australian-041050971.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. TENNIS STARS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about tennis stars. 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?
       citizens / angered / sight / tennis / tournament / frustrated / staff / negative / positive
       special / treatment / consternation / fact / support staff / risky / government / science
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SPORTS BAN: Students A strongly believe all sporting events should be banned for three months; Students B strongly believe this is unnecessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. COVID-19: How has COVID-19 changed these things? How can we manage it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Things Have Changed

How To Deal With It

Sport

 

 

Travel

 

 

Work

 

 

Shopping

 

 

Eating

 

 

Studying

 

 
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. STAR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "star". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SAFEST SPORTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the safest sports to play during the pandemic at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Football
  • Volleyball
  • Cycling
  • Swimming
  • Skiing
  • Jogging

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. preferential a. Feeling or expressing distress and annoyance, especially because of an inability to change or achieve something.
      2. jetting in b. Officially assigned a specified status or give a specified name or quality to something or someone.
      3. stranded c. Giving better treatment to others.
      4. chartering d. Arriving somewhere by airplane.
      5. frustrated e. Reserving an aircraft, boat, or bus for private use.
      6. flight f. An act of flying; a journey made through the air or in space, especially a scheduled journey made by an airline.
      7. designated g. Being somewhere without the means to move or get out.

    Paragraph 2

      8. afforded h. A group of people attending or surrounding an important person.
      9. ire i. An upper limit imposed on spending or other activities.
      10. consternation j. Understand.
      11. comprehend k. Provided or supplied an opportunity.
      12. cap l. State or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.
      13. entourage m. Great anger.
      14. claim n. Feelings of anxiety or dismay, usually at something unexpected.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Australian tennis stars are angry at tennis players travelling to Australia. T / F
  2. Over 40,000 Australians are stranded overseas.     T / F
  3. Tournament organisers prepared special flights for the tennis stars.     T / F
  4. The tennis stars have to stay in COVID-safe hotels.     T / F
  5. Australia recently increased the number of Australians allowed to return. T / F
  6. Australia will let in 1,200 tennis players and support staff.     T / F
  7. A Twitter user said letting the tennis players in was risky.     T / F
  8. The Twitter user said Australia cannot make claims about the science.     T / F

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

  1. preferential
  2. jetting in
  3. frustrated
  4. attend
  5. designated
  6. afforded
  7. consternation
  8. caps
  9. entourage
  10. claim
  1. shock
  2. irked
  3. staff
  4. appointed
  5. special
  6. limits
  7. provided
  8. arriving
  9. argue
  10. be present at

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

  1. preferential
  2. tennis players are jetting
  3. chartering
  4. tested
  5. A number of stars have tested
  6. The special treatment afforded
  7. drawn criticism and
  8. halving the
  9. 1,200 tennis players and
  10. claim it's just
  1. to the stars
  2. positive
  3. their entourage
  4. ire
  5. treatment
  6. caps for citizens
  7. negative
  8. about the science
  9. in to Melbourne
  10. flights

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
jetting
chartering
number
treatment
designated
angered
negative
stranded

Australian citizens are (1) _____________________ at the sight of preferential (2) _____________________ being given to tennis stars. Dozens of tennis players are (3) _____________________ in to Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 Australians (4) _____________________ around the world waiting to return home. Many of these are frustrated at why they cannot return, while sports stars can enter Australia to play tennis. Organisers of the Australian Open have been (5) _____________________ flights to ensure players and staff members can attend the event. All those who enter must have tested (6) _____________________ for coronavirus. They then have to stay in specially (7) _____________________ COVID-safe hotels. A (8) _____________________ of stars have tested positive and so could not come.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
comprehend
support
claim
halving
afforded
entourage
consternation
caps

The special treatment (9) _____________________ to the stars has drawn criticism and ire from stranded Australians. There is particular (10) _____________________ because Australia's government recently cut the weekly number of citizens allowed to return. An Aussie in London told the BBC: "I can't (11) _____________________ the fact that one week they announce they're (12) _____________________ the (13) _____________________ for citizens and the following week they announce they've found 1,200 spaces for tennis players and (14) _____________________ staff." A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players and their (15) _____________________...is a risky choice, and what hurts is that they'd take that risk for sport but not for stranded Aussies." He said: "The government can no longer (16) _____________________ it's just about the science".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Australian citizens are angered at the sight of ______
     a.  preference shall treatment
     b.  preference all treatment
     c.  prefer rental treatment
     d.  preferential treatment
2)  Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 ______
     a.  Australians strand did
     b.  Australians strand died
     c.  Australians stranded
     d.  Australians strand dead
3)  Organisers of the Australian Open have been ______
     a.  chattering flights
     b.  chartering flights
     c.  chastening flights
     d.  chatting flights
4)  All those who enter must have tested ______ coronavirus
     a.  negative for
     b.  negative form
     c.  negative four
     d.  negative fore
5)  They then have to stay in specially designated ______
     a.  COVID-safety hotels
     b.  COVID-safely hotels
     c.  COVID-safe hotels
     d.  COVID-safer hotels

6)  The special treatment afforded to the stars has drawn ______
     a.  criticism and dyer
     b.  criticism endure
     c.  criticism and dire
     d.  criticism and ire
7)  consternation because Australia's government recently cut the weekly ______
     a.  number of citizens
     b.  number of citadels
     c.  number of city dens
     d.  number of citizenry
8)  I can't comprehend the fact that one week they announce they're ______
     a.  having the caps
     b.  halving the caps
     c.  heaving the caps
     d.  heaven the caps
9)  A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players and ______"
     a.  their encourage
     b.  their inter-age
     c.  their entourage
     d.  their enter rouge
10)  The government can no longer claim it's just about ______
     a.  the sciences
     b.  the scientists
     c.  the science
     d.  the scientific

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Australian citizens are angered at (1) ____________________ preferential treatment being given to tennis stars. Dozens of tennis players (2) ____________________ to Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 Australians stranded around the world waiting to return home. Many of these (3) ____________________ why they cannot return, while sports stars can enter Australia to play tennis. Organisers of the Australian Open have been chartering (4) ____________________ players and staff members can attend the event. All those who enter must (5) ____________________ for coronavirus. They then have to stay in specially designated COVID-safe hotels. A number of stars have (6) ____________________ so could not come.

The special treatment afforded to the stars (7) ____________________ and ire from stranded Australians. There is particular consternation because Australia's government recently (8) ____________________ number of citizens allowed to return. An Aussie in London told the BBC: "I can't (9) ____________________ that one week they announce they're (10) ____________________ for citizens and the following week they announce they've found 1,200 spaces for tennis players and support staff." A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players (11) ____________________...is a risky choice, and what hurts is that they'd take that risk for sport but not for stranded Aussies." He said: "The government can (12) ____________________ it's just about the science".

Comprehension questions

  1. Who does the article say is angry?
  2. How many tennis stars does the article say are jetting in to Melbourne?
  3. How many Australians are stranded overseas?
  4. What have organisers been chartering for the tennis stars?
  5. What kind of hotels are the tennis stars staying in?
  6. What has the preferential treatment drawn besides criticism?
  7. By how much did Australia cut caps on returning citizens?
  8. How many spaces did Australia find for the Australian Open?
  9. What kind of choice did a Twitter user say Australia is taking?
  10. What did the Twitter user say Australia cannot make claims about?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who does the article say is angry?
a) tennis players
b) Australian citizens
c) football players
d) tennis fans
2) How many tennis stars does the article say are jetting in to Melbourne?
a) scores
b) hundreds
c) loads
d) dozens
3) How many Australians are stranded overseas?
a) around 37,000
b) exactly 37,000
c) just over 37,000
d) just fewer than 37,000
4) What have organisers been chartering for the tennis stars?
a) balls
b) rights
c) flights
d) drafts
5) What kind of hotels are the tennis stars staying in?
a) 5-star hotels
b) COVID-safe hotels
c) resorts
d) budget hotels

6) What has the preferential treatment drawn besides criticism?
a) ire
b) comparisons
c) ridicule
d) pictures
7) By how much did Australia cut caps on returning citizens?
a) a quarter
b) two-thirds
c) half
d) a fifth
8) How many spaces did Australia find for the Australian Open?
a) 1,200
b) 1,400
c) 1,100
d) 1,300
9) What kind of choice did a Twitter user say Australia is taking?
a) a risky choice
b) a wise choice
c) an understandable choice
d) a wrong choice
10) What did the Twitter user say Australia cannot make claims about?
a) the pandemic
b) tennis
c) charter flights
d) the science

Role play

Role  A – Tennis
You think tennis is the safest sport to play during the pandemic. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sports aren't as safe. Also, tell the others which is the riskiest of these (and why): volleyball, golf or swimming.

Role  B – Volleyball
You think volleyball is the safest sport to play during the pandemic. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sports aren't as safe. Also, tell the others which is the riskiest of these (and why): tennis, golf or swimming.

Role  C – Golf
You think golf is the safest sport to play during the pandemic. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sports aren't as safe. Also, tell the others which is the riskiest of these (and why): volleyball, tennis or swimming.

Role  D – Swimming
You think swimming is the safest sport to play during the pandemic. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sports aren't as safe. Also, tell the others which is the riskiest of these (and why): volleyball, golf or tennis.

After reading / listening

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

'tennis'

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

    • and 'star'.

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

    • • 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:

    • angered
    • ahead
    • waiting
    • ensure
    • negative
    • positive
    • special
    • particular
    • fact
    • caps
    • spaces
    • claim

    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 - Tennis Stars

    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 'tennis'?
    3. What do you think of tennis?
    4. Should sports stars get better treatment than 'normal' people?
    5. What do you think of tennis players getting special treatment?
    6. Should Australian citizens be allowed to return home immediately?
    7. How would it feel to be stranded?
    8. What advice do you have for the stranded Australians?
    9. How frustrated or angry would you be if you were Australian?
    10. How important is tennis?

    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 'player'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do stars get special treatment?
    5. When was the last time you felt consternation about something?
    6. How can Australia get more of its citizens home?
    7. How risky is it to let the tennis stars in?
    8. Should international sporting events take place?
    9. Is the government ignoring the science?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Australian government?

    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)

    Australian citizens are angered at the sight of (1) ____ treatment being given to tennis stars. Dozens of tennis players are (2) ____ in to Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 Australians stranded around the world waiting to return home. Many of these are frustrated (3) ____ why they cannot return, while sports stars can enter Australia to play tennis. Organisers of the Australian Open have been (4) ____ flights to ensure players and staff members can attend the event. All those who enter must (5) ____ tested negative for coronavirus. They then have to stay in specially (6) ____ COVID-safe hotels. A number of stars have tested positive and so could not come.

    The special treatment (7) ____ to the stars has drawn criticism and ire from stranded Australians. There is particular (8) ____ because Australia's government recently cut the weekly number of citizens allowed to return. An Aussie in London told the BBC: "I can't comprehend the fact that one week they announce they're (9) ____ the caps for citizens and the following week they announce they've found 1,200 spaces for tennis players and support staff." A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players and their (10) ____...is a risky choice, and what hurts is that they'd (11) ____ that risk for sport but not for stranded Aussies." He said: "The government can no longer claim it's just about the (12) ____ ".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     preferential     (b)     prefer     (c)     preference     (d)     prefers    
    2. (a)     letting     (b)     setting     (c)     jetting     (d)     netting    
    3. (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    4. (a)     chastening     (b)     cheating     (c)     chatting     (d)     chartering    
    5. (a)     been     (b)     done     (c)     have     (d)     taken    
    6. (a)     competent     (b)     designated     (c)     expressed     (d)     urged    
    7. (a)     arisen     (b)     afforded     (c)     abreast     (d)     actioned    
    8. (a)     redemption     (b)     consternation     (c)     malfunction     (d)     exemption    
    9. (a)     having     (b)     heaving     (c)     halving     (d)     haven    
    10. (a)     encourage     (b)     tourists     (c)     treaties     (d)     entourage    
    11. (a)     bake     (b)     make     (c)     fake     (d)     take     
    12. (a)     germs     (b)     bacteria     (c)     biology     (d)     science

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. eernreftipal treatment
    2. the Australian Open tennis ortmaneunt
    3. Australians tnardsed around the world
    4. Many of these are urstratfed
    5. aerthricng flights
    6. specially snigeatded COVID-safe hotels

    Paragraph 2

    1. special treatment ffordaed to the stars
    2. drawn rtcciiism and ire
    3. There is particular srctontanieon
    4. announce they're alvihng the caps
    5. tennis players and their teruoange
    6. claim it's just about the ciescne

    Put the text back together

    (...)  tournament. Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 Australians stranded around the world waiting to return
    (...)  home. Many of these are frustrated at why they cannot return, while sports stars can
    (...)  members can attend the event. All those who enter must have tested negative for coronavirus. They then have to stay in specially
    (  1  ) Australian citizens are angered at the sight of preferential treatment being given to tennis stars. Dozens
    (...)  because Australia's government recently cut the weekly number of citizens allowed to return. An Aussie in London told
    (...)  designated COVID-safe hotels. A number of stars have tested positive and so could not come.
    (...)  The special treatment afforded to the stars has drawn criticism and ire from stranded Australians. There is particular consternation
    (...)  the BBC: "I can't comprehend the fact that one week they announce they're halving the
    (...)  of tennis players are jetting in to Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis
    (...)  staff." A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players and their entourage...is a risky
    (...)  caps for citizens and the following week they announce they've found 1,200 spaces for tennis players and support
    (...)  enter Australia to play tennis. Organisers of the Australian Open have been chartering flights to ensure players and staff
    (...)  choice, and what hurts is that they'd take that risk for sport but not for stranded
    (...)  Aussies." He said: "The government can no longer claim it's just about the science".

    Put the words in the right order

    1. given   being   treatment   to   Preferential   tennis   stars   .
    2. of   are   Dozens   in   jetting   players   to   Melbourne   .
    3. stranded   Australians   37,000   around   Around   the   world   .
    4. those   enter   All   have   must   who   tested   negative   .
    5. stars   of   number   have   A   tested   positive   .
    6. afforded   the   Treatment   has   stars   to   drawn   criticism   .
    7. recently   Australia's   the   cut   government   weekly   number   .
    8. halving   they're   They   the   announce   for   caps   citizens   .
    9. tennis   1,200   Letting   players   in   their   and   entourage   .
    10. is   What   they'd   that   hurts   take   that   risk   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Australian citizens are angered at the slight / sight of preferential treatment being given to tennis stars. Dozens of tennis players are jetted / jetting in to Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Meanwhile, there are around 37,000 Australians stranding / stranded around the world waiting to return home. Many of these are frustrated at / to why they cannot return, while sports stars can enter / entry Australia to play tennis. Organisers of the Australian Open have been chastening / chartering flights to ensure players and staff members can attend / intend the event. All those who enter must have tested negatively / negative for coronavirus. They then have to stay in specially designated / designer COVID-safe hotels. A number of stars have tested positive and so / such could not come.

    The special treatment affronted / afforded to the stars has drawn criticism and ire from stranded Australians. There is particular constellation / consternation because Australia's government recently cut the weekly number of citizens allowing / allowed to return. An Aussie in London told the BBC: "I can't comprehend the fact / factual that one week they announce they're halving / heaving the caps for citizens and the followed / following week they announce they've found 1,200 spaces for tennis players and support stuff / staff." A Twitter user wrote: "Letting in 1,200 tennis players and their encourage / entourage...is a risky choice, and what hurts is that they'd take that risk / risky for sport but not for stranded Aussies." He said: "The government can no longer calm / claim it's just about the science".

    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)

    __str_l__n  c_t_z_ns  _r_  _ng_r_d  _t  th_  s_ght  _f  pr_f_r_nt__l  tr__tm_nt  b__ng  g_v_n  t_  t_nn_s  st_rs.  D_z_ns  _f  t_nn_s  pl_y_rs  _r_  j_tt_ng  _n  t_  M_lb__rn_  _h__d  _f  th_  __str_l__n  _p_n  t_nn_s  t__rn_m_nt.  M__nwh_l_,  th_r_  _r_  _r__nd  37,000  __str_l__ns  str_nd_d  _r__nd  th_  w_rld  w__t_ng  t_  r_t_rn  h_m_.  M_ny  _f  th_s_  _r_  fr_str_t_d  _t  why  th_y  c_nn_t  r_t_rn,  wh_l_  sp_rts  st_rs  c_n  _nt_r  __str_l__  t_  pl_y  t_nn_s.  _rg_n_s_rs  _f  th_  __str_l__n  _p_n  h_v_  b__n  ch_rt_r_ng  fl_ghts  t_  _ns_r_  pl_y_rs  _nd  st_ff  m_mb_rs  c_n  _tt_nd  th_  _v_nt.  _ll  th_s_  wh_  _nt_r  m_st  h_v_  t_st_d  n_g_t_v_  f_r  c_r_n_v_r_s.  Th_y  th_n  h_v_  t_  st_y  _n  sp_c__lly  d_s_gn_t_d  C_V_D-s_f_  h_t_ls.  _  n_mb_r  _f  st_rs  h_v_  t_st_d  p_s_t_v_  _nd  s_  c__ld  n_t  c_m_.

    Th_  sp_c__l  tr__tm_nt  _ff_rd_d  t_  th_  st_rs  h_s  dr_wn  cr_t_c_sm  _nd  _r_  fr_m  str_nd_d  __str_l__ns.  Th_r_  _s  p_rt_c_l_r  c_nst_rn_t__n  b_c__s_  __str_l__'s  g_v_rnm_nt  r_c_ntly  c_t  th_  w__kly  n_mb_r  _f  c_t_z_ns  _ll_w_d  t_  r_t_rn.  _n  __ss__  _n  L_nd_n  t_ld  th_  BBC:  "_  c_n't  c_mpr_h_nd  th_  f_ct  th_t  _n_  w__k  th_y  _nn__nc_  th_y'r_  h_lv_ng  th_  c_ps  f_r  c_t_z_ns  _nd  th_  f_ll_w_ng  w__k  th_y  _nn__nc_  th_y'v_  f__nd  1,200  sp_c_s  f_r  t_nn_s  pl_y_rs  _nd  s_pp_rt  st_ff."  _  Tw_tt_r  _s_r  wr_t_:  "L_tt_ng  _n  1,200  t_nn_s  pl_y_rs  _nd  th__r  _nt__r_g_..._s  _  r_sky  ch__c_,  _nd  wh_t  h_rts  _s  th_t  th_y'd  t_k_  th_t  r_sk  f_r  sp_rt  b_t  n_t  f_r  str_nd_d  __ss__s."  H_  s__d:  "Th_  g_v_rnm_nt  c_n  n_  l_ng_r  cl__m  _t's  j_st  _b__t  th_  sc__nc_".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    australian citizens are angered at the sight of preferential treatment being given to tennis stars dozens of tennis players are jetting in to melbourne ahead of the australian open tennis tournament meanwhile there are around 37000 australians stranded around the world waiting to return home many of these are frustrated at why they cannot return while sports stars can enter australia to play tennis organisers of the australian open have been chartering flights to ensure players and staff members can attend the event all those who enter must have tested negative for coronavirus they then have to stay in specially designated covidsafe hotels a number of stars have tested positive and so could not come

    the special treatment afforded to the stars has drawn criticism and ire from stranded australians there is particular consternation because australias government recently cut the weekly number of citizens allowed to return an aussie in london told the bbc i cant comprehend the fact that one week they announce theyre halving the caps for citizens and the following week they announce theyve found 1200 spaces for tennis players and support staff a twitter user wrote letting in 1200 tennis players and their entourage is a risky choice and what hurts is that theyd take that risk for sport but not for stranded aussies he said the government can no longer claim its just about the

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Australiancitizensareangeredatthesightofpreferentialtreatmentbei
    nggiventotennisstars.DozensoftennisplayersarejettingintoMelbour
    neaheadoftheAustralianOpentennistournament.Meanwhile,therear
    earound37,000Australiansstrandedaroundtheworldwaitingtoreturn
    home.Manyofthesearefrustratedatwhytheycannotreturn,whilesport
    sstarscanenterAustraliatoplaytennis.OrganisersoftheAustralianOpe
    nhavebeencharteringflightstoensureplayersandstaffmemberscanat
    tendtheevent.Allthosewhoentermusthavetestednegativeforcorona
    virus.TheythenhavetostayinspeciallydesignatedCOVID-safehotel
    s.Anumberofstarshavetestedpositiveandsocouldnotcome.Thespeci
    altreatmentaffordedtothestarshasdrawncriticismandirefromstrand
    edAustralians.ThereisparticularconsternationbecauseAustralia'sgo
    vernmentrecentlycuttheweeklynumberofcitizensallowedtoreturn.A
    nAussieinLondontoldtheBBC:"Ican'tcomprehendthefactthatonewee
    ktheyannouncethey'rehalvingthecapsforcitizensandthefollowingwe
    ektheyannouncethey'vefound1,200spacesfortennisplayersandsupp
    ortstaff."ATwitteruserwrote:"Lettingin1,200tennisplayersandtheire
    ntourage...isariskychoice,andwhathurtsisthatthey'dtakethatriskfor
    sportbutnotforstrandedAussies."Hesaid:"Thegovernmentcannolon
    gerclaimit'sjustaboutthescience".

    Free writing

    Write about tennis stars for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All sports events should be banned for three months. 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. TENNIS STARS: Make a poster about tennis stars. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BANNING SPORTS EVENTS: Write a magazine article about banning all sports events for a while. 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 tennis stars. Ask him/her three questions about tennis stars. 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.

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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