The rugby team that survived a plane crash

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: The rugby team that survived a plane crash

Warm-up

What plane crashes do you remember?

Vocabulary Match

survivors •• fell
freezing •• people alive
shocking •• very cold
honours •• surprising
crashed •• decision
choice •• remembers

Vocabulary Answers

survivorspeople alive
freezingvery cold
shockingsurprising
honoursremembers
crashedfell
choicedecision

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

In 1972, a plane ________ in the Andes Mountains. On board were 45 people, including a Uruguayan rugby team. The ________ had no food and faced ________ weather. After many days, they made a ________ ________ to stay alive: they ate the bodies of those who had died.

Two men, Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa, walked for 10 days through the mountains to find help. After 72 days, 16 people were rescued.

Now, the two rugby clubs meet every year to play the Friendship Cup. It ________ the game they were travelling to play but never could.

In 1972, a plane crashed in the Andes Mountains. On board were 45 people, including a Uruguayan rugby team. The survivors had no food and faced freezing weather. After many days, they made a shocking choice to stay alive: they ate the bodies of those who had died.

Two men, Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa, walked for 10 days through the mountains to find help. After 72 days, 16 people were rescued.

Now, the two rugby clubs meet every year to play the Friendship Cup. It honours the game they were travelling to play but never could.

Quiz

  1. How many people were on the plane?
  2. What difficult choice did the survivors make to stay alive?
  3. How long did Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa walk to find help?
  4. What is the name of the cup the rugby clubs play every year?

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. 45 people
  2. They ate the bodies of those who had died.
  3. 10 days
  4. The Friendship Cup

True or False

  1. A train crashed in the Andes Mountains. T F
  2. The survivors put food in a freezer. T F
  3. The Friendship Cup is played every year. T F

True or False Answers

  1. False
  2. False
  3. True

Conversation

A:Nando, can you believe we made it out alive?
B:I know, Roberto! It really feels like a miracle.
A:Do you remember that long walk through the mountains?
B:How could I forget? My feet still hurt!
A:At least we have the Friendship Cup now.
B:Yeah, it's a good way to remember the people we lost.

Discussion

  1. Have you ever played rugby or another team sport?
  2. What would you do if you were stuck in the mountains?
  3. Do you think you could walk for 10 days straight?
  4. What's the longest time you've ever been without food?
  5. Would you like to visit the Andes Mountains someday?

Further Reading

https://www.world.rugby/news/770898/a-story-of-tragedy-and-disaster-hope-and-survival-the-miracle-in-the-andes-remembered-50-years-on

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