These teachers’ notes, activities and exercises for learners of English are based on the ‘Mount Kilimanjaro reading passge‘ which is in the Students’ section.
Activity 1
1. What is the name of the highest mountain in the world? Where is it? How high is it? (Everest)
2. What is the highest freestanding mountain in the world? Where is it? How high is it? (Kilimanjaro)
Activity 2
1. Why do people climb mountains?
2. Have any of you ever climbed a mountain? Tell us about it.
3. Would any of you like to climb a mountain? Where? Why?
4. What are the dangers of climbing mountains?
Activity 3
1. What would you like to know about Kilimanjaro?
2. Read the first two paragraphs. Did these paragraphs answer any of your questions?
Activity 4
Use these words to complete the sentences.
extinct – concluded – distinct – rumble / rumbles – composed of – erupt / eruption – molten – remnants – dormant
The moon is not made of cheese but if it were we could say that it was _____ cheese.
When something stands out clearly we can say that it is ____.
The things that are left over; so we can speak of the ____ of our meal last night.
An animal which has completely died out is ____ and we can also use the same word of a volcano which will never be active again.
If something explodes with great violence we describe it as an _____.
A bear that sleeps through the winter is described as being ____ and the same word can be used for a sleeping volcano.
They listened to the evidence and then ____ that the mountain could erupt again.
Our tummies sometimes ____ when we are hungry and volcanic mountains can do this as well.
When a metal or rock is very hot and is in liquid form we say that it is ____.
Activity 5
1.Read paragraphs 3 and 4; what two things must be done on the mountain? (Acclimatisation is essential so the climb must be made slowly. It is also essential to have a registered guide with you.)
2. What do the park authorities do if someone is diagnosed with water in their lungs or brain? (Rush them to a lower altitude on a stretcher.)
Activity 6
Read the remaining paragraphs and answer the following questions:
1. In what way has the park authorities been criticised? (charging per day)
2. In what ways are some local companies acting irresponsibly? Why? (encouraging people to climb without properly preparing them; underestimating the challenge)
3. What percentage of climbers reaches the summit? (30%)
4. Why is Kilimanjaro sometimes underestimated? (It’s not a technical climb. What does this expression ‘technical climb’ mean?)
5. What do you think is the one factor which makes Kilimanjaro so demanding? (The altitude is the main factor making it so difficult.)
Activity 7
Find words with the same meaning.
Para 1: completely; all; every part (entirely)
Para 2: from time to time (occasional)
Para 3: colourful; pretty; good views (scenic)
Para 4: reduce (alleviate)
Para 5: tell someone / an organisation that they are wrong (criticise)
Para 6: see; view; regard (perceive)
Activity 8
1. Several words in the passage are made by combining other words. One example is downplay. What other examples can you find in the text? (underestimate, underscoring, nevertheless)
2. Use each of them in an appropriate sentence.
3. Use the following words to make up as many new words as you can. Use one from each of the first two column. Ask students if there are any that they don’t understand?
| new news up down post | graduate set worthy trodden turn fangled agent letter cast paper born reader market beat stairs shot flash comer hill right code | newfangled newborn newcomer newsworthy newsagent newsletter newsreader newsflash upset upturn upmarket upbeat upstairs upshot uphill upright downtrodden downturn downcast downmarket downbeat downstairs downhill downright postgraduate postcode |
Activity 9
1. Work by yourself. Make a list of 20 things you would take with you if you climbed Kilimanjaro carrying all your own baggage.
2. Work in pairs. Look at each list and, again, agree on 20 items you would carry with you.
3. Join with another pair. Agree on 15 items that you would carry with you.
4. Work as a class. What are the most important 10 items that you would carry with you?
These teachers’ notes, activities and exercises for learners of English are based on the Mount Kilimanjaro reading passge which is in the Students’ section.