B1- Intermediate
An American tourist could go to prison for up to five years in India after getting arrested because he tried to visit the forbidden island of North Sentinel.
The island is home to the indigenous people known as the Sentinelese. The government prohibits any contact with the people from the tribe from outsiders to make sure the tribes people are protected from modern illnesses. The islanders are not immune to modern diseases. So, if they contract them, it could end the whole tribe’s existence.
The Sentinelese are very protective of their isolation from the outside world. They even kill tourists who have tried to visit their island in the past.
Read the article about a man who got arrested for visiting North Sentinel. Be ready to answer the questions that follow.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2504/250407-remote-island-4.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “face” mean? “He could face up to five years in prison.” Use this word in a sentence and give a synonym.
- What does “shield” mean? “The ban is to shield the people from modern illnesses.” Use this word in a sentence and give a synonym.
- What does “wipe out” mean? “A non-profit group that protects isolated tribes said: “Uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe them out.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- What is your reaction to the American tourist trying to visit the North Sentinel?
- Do you think what he did was worth it? Why or why not?
- Why is it necessary for tourists to respect a government’s ban to visit some places in their country?
- How can uncontacted indigenous people be protected from outsiders?