Download this free A2–B1 English worksheet PDF for English learners and teachers. This lesson explores an unusual board game challenge, long-term hobbies and what keeps people motivated to continue difficult projects.
The article introduces two friends from Newcastle, James Purcell and Andy Taeger, who have started playing The Campaign for North Africa, a complicated Second World War board game first published in 1979.
Students read about the enormous scale of the game. It has a three-metre map, around 1,600 pieces, and rules so detailed that even a small part of the game can take a very long time to complete.
The friends paid £970 for their copy and spent 18 months playing only six turns as a practice game. They began the full game in October 2026 and believe it could take 20 to 30 years to finish.
The worksheet also looks at why they are willing to spend so much time on the project. They record their progress on a podcast called War With a Mate and hope listeners will encourage them to continue.
The discussion section gives students opportunities to talk about hobbies, difficult games, learning new skills, spending money on interests and whether the experience of a long project can matter more than actually finishing it.
Level: A2–B1
Date: 5 November 2026
Focus: Reading comprehension, vocabulary and discussion about hobbies, motivation and long-term projects
This free worksheet includes:
- A three-paragraph reading article about The Campaign for North Africa and its 30-year board game challenge
- Eight True/False reading-comprehension questions
- A Synonym Match activity with 10 useful vocabulary items
- A Use the New Language activity in which students write their own sentences
- 16 discussion questions divided between Student A and Student B
- Speaking topics including hobbies, difficult games, shared interests and long-term projects
- A complete answer key
- Example sentences showing how the target vocabulary can be used naturally
Useful vocabulary from the worksheet includes unusual, difficult, enormous, expensive, plan, started, perhaps, carefully, finish and enjoy.
A useful classroom focus is the idea that a hobby does not always need a quick result. The worksheet encourages students to discuss whether people can enjoy a project even if it takes many years or is never completed.
Worksheet preview
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