©AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever watched an acrobat perform in person or on TV? If so, what did the acrobat do? If not, would you like to?
- Have you ever seen someone fall while doing a performance or sport? If so, what happened next? If not, what do you think might happen?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- well-known /WEL-nohn/
- appreciate /uh-PREE-shee-eyt/
- reliability /ri-lahy-uh-BIL-i-tee/
- concern /kuhn-SURN/
- positive /POZ-i-tiv/
[adjective] – known or recognized by many people
The Eiffel Tower is a well-known building in France.
[verb] – to understand how good something or someone is
I appreciate your help with my homework.
[noun] – the quality of being able to be trusted or believed
The car’s reliability is important for long trips.
[noun] – a feeling of worry about something important
The noise caused concern among the neighbors.
[adjective] – feeling happy about life or future events
He stays positive even during hard times.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Red Panda, a well-known Chinese American acrobat, was injured on the night of July 1, 2025, at the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final in Minneapolis. The performer, also known as Rong Niu, fell while doing her famous bowl-flipping act on an eight-foot unicycle. She landed hard on the court and held her left wrist. Doctors later confirmed it was fractured. Staff quickly helped her off the court using a wheelchair, and she was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Her agent explained that the fall happened because of a problem with the equipment during travel. She stayed in the hospital for 11 hours, with two Lynx staff members giving support. The incident occurred during the match between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx. The Fever won the game.
Red Panda’s performances are appreciated for their skill and cultural meaning. She often appears at large basketball events such as the NBA Finals. The injury has led to more talk about safety rules and equipment reliability. Many fans expressed concern and sent supportive messages. Basketball player Caitlin Clark also shared her thoughts online. Red Panda is expected to go through treatment and rest. Her agent said she remains positive and hopes to return to performing next season.
Red Panda’s performances are appreciated for their skill and cultural meaning. She often appears at large basketball events such as the NBA Finals. The injury has led to more talk about safety rules and equipment reliability. Many fans expressed concern and sent supportive messages. Basketball player Caitlin Clark also shared her thoughts online. Red Panda is expected to go through treatment and rest. Her agent said she remains positive and hopes to return to performing next season.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Who is the well-known Chinese American acrobat mentioned in the article?
- When did the injury happen?
- Where did the accident happen?
- What act was Red Panda performing when she fell?
- What part of her body did she hurt?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever been to a hospital because of an accident? If so, what happened? If not, what should you do in an accident?
- Have you ever watched a sports game with a performer like a dancer or acrobat? If so, what did you enjoy? If not, would you like to see one?
- Do you agree that performers need strong safety rules?
- Why is equipment reliability important for acrobats?
- Why do people appreciate cultural acts like Red Panda’s show?