The Reading / Listening - Farting - Level 3

A man in Austria has been fined for a very unusual act. His "crime" was "farting loudly in front of police officers". The unnamed man was sitting on a bench in Austria's capital Vienna. The Vienna Police Department tweeted earlier this week about the man's actions. It described what happened after police officers approached the man. It wrote: "He rose slightly from the park bench, looked at the officers, and apparently intentionally released a massive fart in the immediate vicinity of the officers." The police immediately gave the man a fine. The offence was for "violating public decency by loudly blowing a bowel in front of police officers". It was also for making, "an unduly disturbing noise".

The fine issued to the man is for 500 euro – about $560. If the man does not pay the fine within five days, he could go to prison for five days. The Austrian police have defended their actions and say the officers were right to issue the fine. A spokesperson said the man had been doing other annoying things before he farted. The police officers who issued the fine said the man was misbehaving. They said that he had been behaving in a way that would upset other people. The spokesperson said the man only had one thing on his mind when he stood up in front of police officers, and that was to fart at them. The officers said he, "let go a massive intestinal wind apparently with full intent".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Farting - Level 0,  Farting - Level 1   or  Farting - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.newsweek.com/man-vienna-austria-farted-police-officers-fine-reddit-1511208
  • https://www.ladbible.com/news/weird-austrian-man-fined-500-euros-for-deliberately-farting-at-the-police-20200617
  • https://globalnews.ca/news/7072117/man-charged-for-farting/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. FARTING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about farting. 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?
       unusual / crime / farting / capital / police / officers / park / bench / fine / noise /
       five days / prison / actions / annoying / misbehaving / spokesperson / mind / wind
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CRIME: Students A strongly believe farting in public should be a crime; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PUBLIC DECENCY: How bad is it to do these things in public? What should the police do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Bad?

What The Police Should Do

Farting

 

 

Kissing

 

 

Spitting

 

 

Not wearing a top

 

 

Eating smelly food

 

 

Nose blowing

 

 
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. POLICE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "police". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. FINES: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that most deserve a fine at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • farting in public
  • littering
  • speeding
  • public anger
  • swearing in public
  • not returning library books
  • idling car engines
  • drinking alcohol in public

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. crime a. Went near or nearer to someone or something.
      2. bench b. Got up; stood up.
      3. capital c. An action that is against the law.
      4. approached d. Behavior that everyone thinks is good and normal.
      5. rose e. A long seat for three or more people, usually made of wood or stone.
      6. massive f. The main city of a country, usually where the government is.
      7. decency g. Very, very, very big.

    Paragraph 2

      8. issued h. An aim or purpose.
      9. prison i. Gave.
      10. annoying j. A building in which people have to stay because they committed a crime.
      11. misbehaving k. The part of us that makes us aware of the world and makes us feel and think.
      12. mind l. Acting badly or in a bad way.
      13. apparently m. Causing people to get a little angry.
      14. intent n. As far as one knows or can see.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said a man was fined for doing something unusual.     T / F
  2. A man farted at police officers after getting off a park bench.     T / F
  3. The police officers were from the Austrian city of Salzburg.     T / F
  4. Police officers said the man was fined for making a disturbing noise.     T / F
  5. The man could go to prison if he does not pay the fine.     T / F
  6. Many police officers said it was wrong to fine the man.     T / F
  7. A police officer said the man was behaving well before he farted.     T / F
  8. Police officers said the man farted by accident.     T / F

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

  1. unusual
  2. approached
  3. apparently
  4. violating
  5. disturbing
  6. issued
  7. annoying
  8. behaving
  9. mind
  10. massive
  1. irritating
  2. worrying
  3. gave
  4. huge
  5. moved toward
  6. brain
  7. strange
  8. breaching
  9. acting
  10. seemingly

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

  1. fined for a very
  2. what happened after police officers
  3. The police immediately gave
  4. The offence was for violating public
  5. making an unduly
  6. The fine issued to the man
  7. he could go to
  8. the officers were right
  9. the man was
  10. he stood up in
  1. the man a fine
  2. front of police officers
  3. disturbing noise
  4. is for 500 euro
  5. to issue the fine
  6. decency
  7. misbehaving
  8. unusual act
  9. prison for five days
  10. approached the man

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bench
slightly
noise
unusual
public
described
earlier
massive

A man in Austria has been fined for a very (1) ____________ act. His "crime" was "farting loudly in front of police officers". The unnamed man was sitting on a (2) ____________ in Austria's capital Vienna. The Vienna Police Department tweeted (3) ____________ this week about the man's actions. It (4) ____________ what happened after police officers approached the man. It wrote: "He rose (5) ____________ from the park bench, looked at the officers, and apparently intentionally released a (6) ____________ fart in the immediate vicinity of the officers." The police immediately gave the man a fine. The offence was for "violating (7) ____________ decency by loudly blowing a bowel in front of police officers". It was also for making, "an unduly disturbing (8) ____________ ".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
defended
mind
annoying
upset
pay
them
right
way

The fine issued to the man is for 500 euro – about $560. If the man does not (9) ____________ the fine within five days, he could go to prison for five days. The Austrian police have (10) ____________ their actions and say the officers were (11) ____________ to issue the fine. A spokesperson said the man had been doing other (12) ____________ things before he farted. The police officers who issued the fine said the man was misbehaving. They said that he had been behaving in a (13) ____________ that would (14) ____________ other people. The spokesperson said the man only had one thing on his (15) ____________ when he stood up in front of police officers, and that was to fart at (16) ____________. The officers said he, "let go a massive intestinal wind apparently with full intent".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A man in Austria has been fined for a ______
     a.  very unusual acting
     b.  very unusual acted
     c.  very unusual act
     d.  very unusual acts
2)  The unnamed man was sitting on a bench in Austria's ______
     a.  cap it all Vienna
     b.  capital Vienna
     c.  cap it tall Vienna
     d.  cap italic Vienna
3)  It described what happened after police officers ______
     a.  approaches the man
     b.  approach it the man
     c.  approaching the man
     d.  approached the man
4)  apparently intentionally released a massive fart in the immediate ______ officers
     a.  vicinity of the
     b.  salinity of the
     c.  paternity of the
     d.  biscuit tin of the
5)  It was also for making, "an unduly ______"
     a.  disturb ping noise
     b.  disturb bin noise
     c.  disturb in noise
     d.  disturbing noise

6)  If the man does not pay the fine within five days, he could ______
     a.  go to prism
     b.  go to prison
     c.  go to prize on
     d.  go to present
7)  police have defended their actions and say the officers were right to ______
     a.  tissue the fine
     b.  fissure the fine
     c.  issue the fine
     d.  wish you the fine
8)  They said that he had been behaving in a way that would ______
     a.  upsets other people
     b.  upset another people
     c.  upset other people
     d.  upset others people
9)  The spokesperson said the man only had one thing ______
     a.  in his mind
     b.  on his mind
     c.  of his mind
     d.  off his mind
10)  The officers said he, "let go a massive intestinal wind apparently ______"
     a.  with fully on tent
     b.  with full on tent
     c.  with full in tent
     d.  with full intent

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A man in Austria has been fined for a (1) ___________________. His "crime" was "farting loudly in front of police officers". The unnamed man was sitting (2) ___________________ in Austria's capital Vienna. The Vienna Police Department tweeted earlier this week about the man's actions. It described what happened after police officers (3) ___________________. It wrote: "He rose slightly from the park bench, looked at the officers, and apparently intentionally (4) ___________________ fart in the immediate vicinity of the officers." The police immediately gave the man a fine. The offence was for "violating public decency (5) ___________________ a bowel in front of police officers". It was (6) ___________________, "an unduly disturbing noise".

The fine issued to the man is for 500 euro – about $560. If the man does not pay (7) ___________________ five days, he could go to prison for five days. The Austrian police have (8) ___________________ and say the officers were right to issue the fine. A spokesperson said the man had been doing (9) ___________________ before he farted. The police officers who issued the fine said the man was misbehaving. They said that he had been behaving (10) ___________________ that would upset other people. The spokesperson said the man only had one thing on his mind when he stood (11) ___________________ of police officers, and that was to fart at them. The officers said he, "let go a massive intestinal wind apparently (12) ___________________".

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the man who was given a fine for farting?
  2. What was the man sitting on before he was fined?
  3. What police department were the police offers from?
  4. What public thing did the police say the man violated?
  5. What "unduly disturbing" thing did the police say the man made?
  6. For how long could the man be imprisoned for not paying the fine?
  7. What did the police officers defend?
  8. Who did the police say the man could have upset?
  9. How many things did the police say the man had on his mind?
  10. What kind of intestinal wind did the police say the man let go?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What is the name of the man who was given a fine for farting?
a) Bob
b) the article didn't say
c) Farty
d) Engelbert
2)  What was the man sitting on before he was fined?
a) his bicycle
b) a wall
c) the grass
d) a park bench
3) What police department were the police offers from?
a) the Vienna Police Department
b) the Anti-Farting Squad
c) the Public Order Department
d) Interpol
4) What public thing did the police say the man violated?
a) police officers' noses
b) a park bench
c) decency
d) fresh air
5) What "unduly disturbing" thing did the police say the man made?
a) a crime
b) a noise
c) a smell
d) a danger

6) For how long could the man be imprisoned for not paying the fine?
a) 5 days
b) 5 weeks
c) 5 months
d) 5 years
7) What did the police officers defend?
a) the man
b) a park
c) their actions
d) the fresh air
8) Who did the police say the man could have upset?
a) the public
b) small children
c) birds
d) more police officers
9) How many things did the police say the man had on his mind?
a) one
b) two
c) many
d) countless things
10) What kind of intestinal wind did the police say the man let go?
a) smelly
b) stomach-based
c) hurricane force
d) massive

Role play

Role  A – Farting
You think farting in public is the thing deserves the biggest fine. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things do not deserve a fine. Also, tell the others which one of these should not be subject to a fine (and why): littering, swearing or showing anger.

Role  B – Littering
You think littering is the thing deserves the biggest fine. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things do not deserve a fine. Also, tell the others which one of these should not be subject to a fine (and why): farting, swearing or showing anger.

Role  C – Swearing
You think swearing in public is the thing deserves the biggest fine. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things do not deserve a fine. Also, tell the others which one of these should not be subject to a fine (and why): littering, farting or showing anger.

Role  D – Showing Anger
You think showing anger in public is the thing deserves the biggest fine. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things do not deserve a fine. Also, tell the others which one of these should not be subject to a fine (and why): littering, swearing or farting.

After reading / listening

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

'farting'

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

    • and 'fine'.

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

    • • 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:

    • unusual
    • earlier
    • happened
    • released
    • gave
    • noise
    • about
    • five
    • annoying
    • way
    • mind
    • wind

    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 - Farting

    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 'farting'?
    3. What do you think of the police fining the man?
    4. What do you think of farting?
    5. Why do people fart?
    6. What do people in your country think about farting?
    7. Do you think farting in public should be a crime?
    8. Why do many people say they never fart?
    9. What kind of food makes people fart?
    10. Have you ever embarrassed yourself by farting?

    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 'fine'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are the do's and don'ts of farting?
    5. How do you feel when people fart in front of you?
    6. Should scientists create medicine to stop people farting?
    7. What do you think of the word 'fart'?
    8. Why does the body make us fart?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the man who was fined?

    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)

    A man in Austria has been fined for a very unusual (1) ____. His "crime" was "farting (2) ____ in front of police officers". The unnamed man was sitting on a bench in Austria's capital Vienna. The Vienna Police Department tweeted earlier this week about the man's actions. It (3) ____ what happened after police officers approached the man. It wrote: "He (4) ____ slightly from the park bench, looked at the officers, and apparently intentionally released a massive fart in the immediate vicinity of the officers." The police immediately gave the man a fine. The offence was for "violating public decency by loudly (5) ____ a bowel in front of police officers". It was also for making, "an unduly disturbing (6) ____ ".

    The fine (7) ____ to the man is for 500 euro – about $560. If the man does not pay the fine (8) ____ five days, he could go to prison for five days. The Austrian police have defended their actions and say the officers were right to issue the fine. A spokesperson said the man had been doing other (9) ____ things before he farted. The police officers who issued the fine said the man was misbehaving. They said that he had been behaving (10) ____ a way that would upset other people. The spokesperson said the man only had one thing on his mind when he stood (11) ____ in front of police officers, and that was to fart (12) ____ them. The officers said he, "let go a massive intestinal wind apparently with full intent".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     act     (b)     active     (c)     actor     (d)     acted    
    2. (a)     loud     (b)     loudest     (c)     loudly     (d)     louder    
    3. (a)     description     (b)     descriptive     (c)     described     (d)     describes    
    4. (a)     lotus     (b)     carnation     (c)     tulip     (d)     rose   
    5. (a)     blown     (b)     blew     (c)     blowing     (d)     blows    
    6. (a)     noisy     (b)     noise     (c)     nosy     (d)     nose    
    7. (a)     sued     (b)     issued     (c)     shooed     (d)     shoed    
    8. (a)     wither     (b)     within     (c)     without     (d)     with    
    9. (a)     annoyance     (b)     annoy     (c)     annoying     (d)     annoys    
    10. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    11. (a)     in     (b)     down     (c)     on     (d)     up    
    12. (a)     up     (b)     of     (c)     via     (d)     at

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. fined for a very lnausuu act
    2. farting loudly in front of police ieforcsf
    3. sitting on a bench in Austria's tailpca Vienna
    4. police cpherpadao the man
    5. released a msasvei fart
    6. making an unduly rutbisdngi noise

    Paragraph 2

    1. The fine diseus to the man
    2. he could go to nrsoip for five days
    3. doing other nngoainy things
    4. the man was siaevgnmhib
    5. The spseroskopne said the man only…
    6. papenyrtal with full intent

    Put the text back together

    (...)  The fine issued to the man is for 500 euro – about $560. If the man does not pay
    (...)  was misbehaving. They said that he had been behaving in a way that would upset
    (...)  the fine within five days, he could go to prison for five days. The Austrian police have defended their
    (...)  happened after police officers approached the man. It wrote: "He rose slightly from the park
    (...)  loudly in front of police officers". The unnamed man was sitting on a bench in Austria's
    (  1  ) A man in Austria has been fined for a very unusual act. His "crime" was "farting
    (...)  and that was to fart at them. The officers said he, "let go a massive intestinal wind apparently with full intent".
    (...)  other people. The spokesperson said the man only had one thing on his mind when he stood up in front of police officers,
    (...)  doing other annoying things before he farted. The police officers who issued the fine said the man
    (...)  capital Vienna. The Vienna Police Department tweeted earlier this week about the man's actions. It described what
    (...)  bench, looked at the officers, and apparently intentionally released a massive fart in the immediate vicinity
    (...)  of the officers." The police immediately gave the man a fine. The offence was for "violating public decency by loudly
    (...)  blowing a bowel in front of police officers". It was also for making, "an unduly disturbing noise".
    (...)  actions and say the officers were right to issue the fine. A spokesperson said the man had been

    Put the words in the right order

    1. front   in   His   was   farting   crime   of   police   .
    2. man   sitting   unnamed   was   bench   .   on   a   The
    3. police   after   man?   the   approached   officers   What   happened
    4. He   bench   .   from   rose   the   slightly   park
    5. the   a   The   fine   .   immediately   police   man   gave
    6. the   man   fine   .   If   not   does   pay   the
    7. to   the   fine   .   issue   The   right   were   officers
    8. been   man   The   other   things   .   had   annoying   doing
    9. upset   people   .   would   in   a   that   Behaving   way
    10. one   his   thing   man   The   mind   .   on   had

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A man in Austria has been fined for a very unusually / unusual act. His "crime" was "farting loudly in / on front of police officers". The unnamed man was sitting on a bench in Austria's capitalist / capital Vienna. The Vienna Police Department tweeted earlier / faster this week about the man's actions. It described what happened after police officers approached the man. It wrote: "He rose / rise slightly from the park bench, looked at the officers, and apparently intention / intentionally released a massive fart in the immediate vacancy / vicinity of the officers." The police immediately gave the man a fine. The offence / offensive was for "violating public decency by loudly blowing a bubble / bowel in front of police officers". It was also for making, "an unduly disturbing noise / noisy".

    The fine issued at / to the man is for 500 euro – about $560. If the man does not pay / paid the fine within five days, he could go to imprison / prison for five days. The Austrian police have defended their actions and say the officers were right to / for issue the fine. A spokesperson said the man had been doing other annoying things before / then he farted. The police officers who issued the fine said the man was / did misbehaving. They said that he had been behaving in / on a way that would upset other people. The spokesperson said the man only had one thing on this / his mind when he stood up in front of police officers, and that was to fart to / at them. The officers said he, "let go a massive intestinal wind / breeze apparently with full intent".

    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)

    A m_n _n A_s t r__ h_s b__ n f_n_d f_r _ v_r y _n_s__ l _c t . H_s " c r_m_" w_s " f_r t_n g l__ d l y _n f r_n t _f p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s " . T h_ _n n_m_d m_n w_s s_t t_n g _n _ b_n c h _n A_s t r__ ' s c_p_t_l V__ n n_. T h_ V__ n n_ P_l_c_ D_p_r t m_n t t w__ t_d __ r l__ r t h_s w__ k _b__ t t h_ m_n ' s _c t__ n s . I t d_s c r_b_d w h_t h_p p_n_d _f t_r p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s _p p r__ c h_d t h_ m_n . I t w r_t_: " H_ r_s_ s l_g h t l y f r_m t h_ p_r k b_n c h , l__ k_d _t t h_ _f f_c_r s , _n d _p p_r_n t l y _n t_n t__ n_l l y r_l__ s_d _ m_s s_v_ f_r t _n t h_ _m m_d__ t_ v_c_n_t y _f t h_ _f f_c_r s . " T h_ p_l_c_ _m m_d__ t_l y g_v_ t h_ m_n _ f_n_. T h_ _f f_n c_ w_s f_r " v__ l_t_n g p_b l_c d_c_n c y b y l__ d l y b l_w_n g _ b_w_l _n f r_n t _f p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s " . I t w_s _l s_ f_r m_k_n g , "_n _n d_l y d_s t_r b_n g n__ s_" .

    T h_ f_n_ _s s__ d t_ t h_ m_n _s f_r 5 0 0 __ r_ – _b__ t $ 5 6 0 . I f t h_ m_n d__ s n_t p_y t h_ f_n_ w_t h_n f_v_ d_y s , h_ c__ l d g_ t_ p r_s_n f_r f_v_ d_y s . T h_ A_s t r__ n p_l_c_ h_v_ d_f_n d_d t h__ r _c t__ n s _n d s_y t h_ _f f_c_r s w_r_ r_g h t t_ _s s__ t h_ f_n_. A s p_k_s p_r s_n s__ d t h_ m_n h_d b__ n d__ n g _t h_r _n n_y_n g t h_n g s b_f_r_ h_ f_r t_d . T h_ p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s w h_ _s s__ d t h_ f_n_ s__ d t h_ m_n w_s m_s b_h_v_n g . T h_y s__ d t h_t h_ h_d b__ n b_h_v_n g _n _ w_y t h_t w__ l d _p s_t _t h_r p__ p l_. T h_ s p_k_s p_r s_n s__ d t h_ m_n _n l y h_d _n_ t h_n g _n h_s m_n d w h_n h_ s t__ d _p _n f r_n t _f p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s , _n d t h_t w_s t_ f_r t _t t h_m . T h_ _f f_c_r s s__ d h_, " l_t g_ _ m_s s_v_ _n t_s t_n_l w_n d _p p_r_n t l y w_t h f_l l _n t_n t " .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a man in austria has been fined for a very unusual act his crime was farting loudly in front of police officers the unnamed man was sitting on a bench in austrias capital vienna the vienna police department tweeted earlier this week about the mans actions it described what happened after police officers approached the man it wrote he rose slightly from the park bench looked at the officers and apparently intentionally released a massive fart in the immediate vicinity of the officers the police immediately gave the man a fine the offence was for violating public decency by loudly blowing a bowel in front of police officers it was also for making an unduly disturbing noise

    the fine issued to the man is for 500 euro  about 560 if the man does not pay the fine within five days he could go to prison for five days the austrian police have defended their actions and say the officers were right to issue the fine a spokesperson said the man had been doing other annoying things before he farted the police officers who issued the fine said the man was misbehaving they said that he had been behaving in a way that would upset other people the spokesperson said the man only had one thing on his mind when he stood up in front of police officers and that was to fart at them the officers said he let go a massive intestinal wind apparently with full intent

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AmaninAustriahasbeenfinedforaveryunusualact.His"crime"was"far
    tingloudlyinfrontofpoliceofficers".Theunnamedmanwassittingonabe
    nchinAustria'scapitalVienna.TheViennaPoliceDepartmenttweetede
    arlierthisweekabouttheman'sactions.Itdescribedwhathappenedafte
    rpoliceofficersapproachedtheman.Itwrote:"Heroseslightlyfromthep
    arkbench,lookedattheofficers,andapparentlyintentionallyreleaseda
    massivefartintheimmediatevicinityoftheofficers."Thepoliceimmedia
    telygavethemanafine.Theoffencewasfor"violatingpublicdecencybyl
    oudlyblowingabowelinfrontofpoliceofficers".Itwasalsoformaking,"a
    nundulydisturbingnoise".Thefineissuedtothemanisfor500euro–abo
    ut$560.Ifthemandoesnotpaythefinewithinfivedays,hecouldgotopris
    onforfivedays.TheAustrianpolicehavedefendedtheiractionsandsayt
    heofficerswererighttoissuethefine.Aspokespersonsaidthemanhadb
    eendoingotherannoyingthingsbeforehefarted.Thepoliceofficerswhoi
    ssuedthefinesaidthemanwasmisbehaving.Theysaidthathehadbeen
    behavinginawaythatwouldupsetotherpeople.Thespokespersonsaidt
    hemanonlyhadonethingonhismindwhenhestoodupinfrontofpoliceoff
    icers,andthatwastofartatthem.Theofficerssaidhe,"letgoamassiveint
    estinalwindapparentlywithfullintent".

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Farting in public should be illegal in all countries. 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. FARTING: Make a poster about farting. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. CRIMINAL ACT: Write a magazine article about farting in public should be a criminal act. 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 farting. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on farting in public. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

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

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