Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.

dateline: 25 September 2019

NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈

Massive Starfish Airport Opens in Beijing

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

  • massive: very big
  • public: everyday people
  • facial recognition: technology that identifies people by features of the face
  • coincide: to occur at the same time
  • anniversary: a date that is marked at the same time each year

Massive Starfish Airport Opens in Beijing

A huge new airport officially opened to the public in Beijing this week. Beijing Daxing International, the second major airport, was designed in the shape of a starfish. It was designed this way to save time for travellers who need to get from one area of the airport to another. The multimillion dollar airport has many high-tech features, including recognition for security. By 2020, China will likely pass the US as the world’s largest air travel . The grand opening of the airport coincides with the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on 1.

Comprehension Questions

1. Beijing's new airport is the shape of a

Correct! Wrong!

Beijing's new airport is the shape of a starfish.

2. The Daxing airport has security features that use

Correct! Wrong!

The Daxing airport has security features that use facial recognition.

3. October 1 is the

Correct! Wrong!

October 1 is the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

Discussion Question

Do you think it makes sense for a massive airport to be designed with this unique shape? Why or why not?

show Answers

Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
© EnglishClub.com
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