Level: Intermediate (ADFELPS Level 6)

Defence Air Show

Our wishes come true
Objectives
At the end of the tasks you will be able to:
•  skim to identify main ideas and supporting details
•  scan to identify key information
•  predict the meaning of vocabulary, using contextual clues
and word attack skills

Task 1
Vocabulary development - matching words/phrases

These are some of the words/phrases that you will see in this article.
Match the correct meanings by typing the letter in the box provided.

Click on 'Check Your Answers' when you have finished.

1. many patrons attended
the air show
2. was there going to be
another glitch ?
3. rain turned the parking
areas into bogs
4. there was a large
downpour on the night
before
5. this eased any concerns
6. everyone enjoyed the
stunning display
7. the last of the
enthusiasts left the airfield
8. it was the venerable
B707 tanker
9. it will be the last time the
ex-Qantas “ war horse ” will
be seen
a. an area of soft, wet
ground
b. something impressive or
great
c. a person who is very
interested in a particular
subject or activity
d. something that you can
rely or depend on
e. deserving respect
because of age or high
position
f. a spectator, or customer
g. a minor malfunction, or
problem
h. a heavy fall of rain
i. feeling less worried or
concerned

Task 1
Vocabulary development - matching words/phrases

1.F 2.G 3.A 4.G 5.I 6.B 7.C 8.E 9.D

Task 2
Reading for comprehension - true/false

Read the statements first.

Skim the article below .
Read quickly to find the correct answers.
Select true or false.

Click on 'See Text' to see the article.

Click on 'Check Your Answers' when you have finished.
Look at 'Answer feedback' if any of your answers were incorrect.

1. The last three air shows were cancelled because of terrorism and heavy rain.

True
False

  
2. The organisers were worried about cancelling again, because of grass fires.

True
False

  
3. Fortunately, the rain saved the show this time.

True
False

  
4. A big storm with strong winds developed towards the end of the show.

True
False

  
5. The spectators will probably never see the B707 again, because it will only be
used during war-related activities.

True
False

 Task 2
Reading for comprehension - true/false

Task 3
Reading for specific information

This article mentions a number of different aircraft.

Find ten aircraft and type them in the boxes provided.

Click on 'Check Your Answers' when you have finished.

Task 3
Reading for specific information

1 F 11

2. P-51 MUSTANG

3. THE WIRRAWAY

4. T28 TROJAN

5. F/A 18S

6. HAWK

7. CARIBOU

8. C-130s

9. NAVY SEAHAWK

10. B 707
Task 4
Reading for the main idea

Match each topic listed with a paragraph in the article.

The first one has been done for you.

Click on 'Check Your Answers' when you have finished

The team deserved to celebrate the

success of the air show
The most popular aircraft activity
Describing the last two cancellations 1

Listing most of the aircraft that took part

in the show
Why the air show may be cancelled
again
Why the organisers thought a large
grass fire had begun

Task 4
Reading for the main idea

1.6 2. 3 3.1 4.4 5.2 6.5

Task 5
Vocabulary - cloze activity

First read the article below.

Then complete it with the most appropriate word from the vocabulary list.
Type your answers in the boxes provided.
You will use every word given in the list provided.

Click on "Check Your Answers" when you have finished

concerns massive event stunning attended possibility downpour cancelled

Many people   the Defence Air Show in Queensland in 2004. The last two

air shows were   because of heavy rain and terrorism .   There

was a  that this air show could also be cancelled because dry grass had

caught fire in a public parking area. However, a  on the night before the

opening probably saved the show. More than 50 aircraft took part in the .

The highlight was the F-111, which put on a  display. At the end of the

show, some people thought that a grass fire had started, but it was a B707 tanker. It

left a   dust storm when it took off. It will probably be the last time that it

visits the air show.

Task 5
Vocabulary - cloze activity
1. attended 2. Cancelled 3. Concerns

4. Downpour 5. Event 6. Stunning 7. massive