Table of Contents
In Spain, some people are worried about too many tourists. They are now using water guns to show they are unhappy.
This started in Barcelona last year. Some people protested about tourism. It was hot. They used water guns to cool down. They had fun.
Then, some people sprayed water on tourists. Many people saw pictures of this online. People started to bring water guns to other protests in Spain.
On Sunday, about 1,000 people protested in Barcelona. They walked on a street with many shops. They sprayed some tourists. They carried signs. One sign said, “One more tourist, one less resident!” Some had stickers that said, “Tourist Go Home!”
Not all protesters had water guns. Most people in Barcelona do not bother tourists. They know some tourism is good for the city.
The water guns are small and cheap. They do not hurt people.
Some tourists said it felt good to get sprayed on a hot day. But some hotel workers got angry when people sprayed them.
Vocabulary
- Worry – to be/feel concerned or nervous; to be troubled; to think a lot about a negative situation; a little scared
- Tourist – Someone who visits a place for fun and to learn about it; traveller; visitor in a new city or country
- Water gun – A toy that shoots water
- Show – to prove something or make the truth or existence of something known; confirm; demonstrate; to display; to represent
- Protest – to show/say you are unhappy; to complain strongly about something you disagree with
- Tourism – traveling for recreation/fun; the business of providing services like transport, places to stay, or entertainment for people who are on holiday
- Cool down –
- Spray – To send out small drops of liquid; to spread or shoot liquid/water into the air
- Protest – an event where people come together to show strong disapproval/disagreement about something; demonstration; rally; to fight against
- Sign – A piece of paper or board with words or pictures.
- Resident – a person who lives in a specific place; a person who lives somewhere
- Sticker – A small piece of paper that sticks to things
- Bother – To annoy or disturb someone; to inconvenience someone
- Hurt – To cause pain or damage to someone/something; to feel pain or have an injury; to have damage to the body
Discussion Questions
- Do you think using water guns is a good way to protest? Why or why not?
- Do you think it is good or bad when many tourists visit a city? Why?
- Do you think protests like this can really change how governments think about tourism?
- Imagine you are a tourist. How would you feel if someone sprayed you with a water gun?
- If people are worried about too many tourists, what else can they do to show their feelings?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
In _____, some people are worried about too many _____. They are now using water guns to show they are unhappy.
_____started in Barcelona last year. Some people protested _____tourism. It was hot. They used water guns to cool down. _____had fun.
Then, some people _____water on tourists. Many people saw pictures of _____online. People started to bring water guns to _____protests in Spain.
On Sunday, about _____people protested in Barcelona. They walked on a _____with many shops. They sprayed some tourists. They _____signs. One sign said, “One more tourist, one less resident!” Some _____stickers that said, “Tourist Go Home!”
Not all _____had water guns. Most people in Barcelona do not _____tourists. They know some tourism is good for the city.
_____water guns are small and cheap. They do not _____people.
Some tourists said it _____good to get sprayed on a hot day. But some hotel _____got angry when people sprayed them.
