How my dad rescued a stolen £40m da Vinci masterpiece

This is a list of key vocabulary and expressions from the article in order of how useful they are. The student must choose 6 items from the list to study in the lesson.

To find out

To deal with (someone/ something)

To pick (something/ someone) up

To be surrounded by something

The most valuable painting ever stolen

To rely on (something/ someone)

Guilty

Plenty (of something)

To be worth (something)

Valuable

Negotiation

To lead (to something)

To be stunned

To turn up

To demand (something)

To thrive

To drag (someone)

To establish (something)

A reward

To be thought to be (something)

To go through (someone’s) mind

Deceptive

To have a peek

To pull up

To be dead in the water

15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.

1.       What was stolen, and how?

2.       Who was Robbie Graham, and what was his plan to make money from the stolen painting?

3.       Did everything go according to Robbie’s plan?

4.       What was Robbie charged with, and why?

5.       Was he found guilty? Why/ why not?

6.       Do you think Robbie should have been punished?

7.       What would you do if your partner tried to do something similar to what Robbie did?

8.       ‘No painting should be worth £700,000’. Do you agree?

9.       Do you enjoy visiting art galleries?

10.     Do you have any artistic talents?

11.     Do you think that modern art is a stupid waste of time?

12.     Do you think it’s possible to develop an interest in art at a late stage in your life?

13.     Do you think it's possible for children to appreciate art?

14.     Do you know any other examples of a famous robbery?

15.     What did your parents drag you to when you were younger?