Tall Tales

strange news stories adapted for English language learners

Fun English language learning activities for students & teachers: CEF language level: B2

Raining Cows

Look at this headline. How can it 'rain cows'?



Now read the story.


It's the perfect end to their first wedding anniversary.

Charles and Linda Everson are driving back to their hotel at Lake Chelan, in the northwest of the USA. Around them is a rocky beautiful landscape. The road ahead is clear.

Suddenly a huge object drops from the sky. It crashes onto the bonnet of the Everson’s car.

‘What was that?’’ cries Mr. Everson. For a moment he thinks he's dreaming. But he's still driving down the empty road - with a smashed bonnet.

‘It came from above us!’ says his wife. ‘It looks like a cow!’

Escaped

Mrs Everson looks out through the passenger window. She sees the animal lying on the road behind them. Then she looks up.

‘I think it fell from there!’ she says, pointing to a cliff. It's at least 50 metres above the road.

Somehow Mr. Everson drives the car for another three kilometers until they came to a shop. Outside there is a newspaper board. It has the headline: ‘300 KILO RODEO COW ESCAPES RANCH’

Lucky

Locals take the Eversons to hospital. Amazingly neither is injured. The cow isn't so lucky

'This cow was bred for rodeo," a police spokesman later explains. "It was not a normal cow in a field.'

Mr. Everson, 49, says: 'I'm just glad to be alive. It's raining cows out here!'


Activities and a news video relating to his story are here



Do you think this story is true? Write your comments here