Newspaper report

Newspaper report

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about reading a news report and answering some questions about it.

Cartoon rat
Air NZ passenger
found rat on knee

     A person flying Air New Zealand business class will be offered compensation after finding a rat sitting on their lap.
     The runaway rodent with a penchant for air travel was first seen on the Boeing 767-300 after it left Los Angeles on its way to Auckland through Tahiti.
     "The rat was sighted by crew but their attempts to catch it failed when it ran to the rear of the aircraft," airline spokesman Cameron Hill said. "Later in the flight a passenger in business class felt something on her right leg, lifted her blanket and found the rat on her knees."
     Yet another search failed to find the stowaway and it was seen again running about the cabin.
     Quarantine officials were called to meet the aircraft when it landed in Auckland yesterday.
     They searched passengers' hand baggage but failed to find the rat.
     The aircraft was placed under quarantine and fumigated, a process that takes 24 hours. – NZPA
 
 

 
a)

 
How many times did the rat appear during the flight?
 
__________________________
 
b)

 
Why would the airline offer "compensation" to the traveller in the headline?
 
______________________________________________________________________
 
______________________________________________________________________
 
c)

 
Newspaper reports often use the exact words someone has said. Who is quoted in this report?
 
___________________________________
 
d)

 
"A search failed to find the stowaway". What does "stowaway" mean?
 
______________________________________________________________________
 
e)

 
The article states that the rat had "a penchant for air travel".
What word could be used instead of "penchant" without changing the meaning of the sentence?
 
________________________
 
f)

 

 "The aircraft was placed under quarantine". What does "quarantine" mean?
 
______________________________________________________________________
 
______________________________________________________________________
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper.
Copyright: 
Air NZ passenger finds rat on knee - Text was first published by The Dominion newspaper, 1999. Reproduced with permission.
 
Source: The Dominion, September 1, 1999.
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
English, Making meaning, Reading
Key Competencies: 
Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
reports, inference, comprehension, vocabulary, locate information
Description of task: 
Students read a newspaper article and answer comprehension and vocabulary questions.
Curriculum Links: 
Links to the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading:
This resource helps to identify students’ ability to:
  • use comprehension strategies
as described in the Literacy Learning Progressions for Reading at: http://www.literacyprogressions.tki.org.nz/The-Structure-of-the-Progressions.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Acquiring and using information and ideas in informational texts, set 4
within the Reading Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 

Y8 (10/1999)

a)

three (times)

moderate

b)

Any 1 of:

  • Because a rat ran up her leg.
  • To make her feel a bit better (after her fright).
  • The airline was embarrassed.
  • So they won't get sued.

moderate

c)

Cameron Hill/An airline spokesman.

easy

d)

A person who hides to avoid paying (and gain free transportation).

moderate

e)

Any 1 of:

  • liking
  • inclination
  • desire
  • love
  • taste
  • "thing"

moderate

f)

Any 1 of:

  • Isolation to prevent disease spreading.
  • It was closed off.
  • No one was allowed on it.

difficult