The Reading / Listening - Level 2

There is good and bad news about the number of trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven times more trees than we thought. Until a few years ago, scientists estimated that the world had 400 billion trees. However, a new study estimates that there are around three trillion trees. That's a three followed by 12 zeroes. There are over 420 trees for every person alive today. Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that this new number changes nothing. He said: "It's not good news for the world or bad news that we've produced this new number."

The bad news is that thousands of years ago, the earth had six trillion trees. Humans have cut the number of trees in half. An example of this is Europe. It used to be a giant forest. Now much of it is fields and cities. Dr Crowther said people are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees. Another 15 billion trees are lost each year because of deforestation and farmland. The scientists said this figure is "considerably higher" than a century ago. Dr Crowther warned that: "This study highlights how much more effort is needed if we are to restore healthy forests worldwide."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34134366
  • http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/02/scientists-reveal-there-are-3tn-trees-in-world-new-count
  • http://www.livescience.com/52070-global-tree-census-human-impacts.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

good and

a.

on our planet

2.

the number of trees

b.

changes nothing

3.

seven times more trees

c.

trillion trees

4.

there are around three

d.

by 12 zeroes

5.

a three followed

e.

this new number

6.

over 420 trees for

f.

than we thought

7.

this new number

g.

bad news

8.

we've produced

h.

every person alive



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Humans have cut the number of trees

a.

of deforestation

2.

It used to be a giant

b.

and cities

3.

Now much of it is fields

c.

more effort is needed

4.

responsible for the loss

d.

forest

5.

lost each year because

e.

forests worldwide

6.

considerably

f.

of three trillion trees

7.

This study highlights how much

g.

in half

8.

restore healthy

h.

higher

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

There is good and bad news (1) ___________________ trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven times more trees (2) ___________________. Until a few years ago, scientists estimated that the world (3) ___________________ trees. However, a new study estimates that there are around three trillion trees. That's a three (4) ___________________. There are over 420 trees for every person alive today. Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that this new (5) ___________________. He said: "It's not good news for the world or bad news that (6) ___________________ new number."

The (7) ___________________ thousands of years ago, the earth had six trillion trees. Humans have cut the (8) ___________________. An example of this is Europe. It used to be a giant forest. Now (9) ___________________ fields and cities. Dr Crowther said people are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees. Another 15 billion trees (10) ___________________ because of deforestation and farmland. The scientists said this figure is "(11) ___________________" than a century ago. Dr Crowther warned that: "This study highlights how much more effort is needed if we (12) ___________________ healthy forests worldwide."

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thereisgoodandbadnewsaboutthenumberoftreesonourplanet.Theg
oodnewsisthatthereareseventimesmoretreesthanwethought.Untila
fewyearsago,scientistsestimatedthattheworldhad400billiontrees.H
owever,anewstudyestimatesthattherearoundthreetrilliontrees.That
'sathreefollowedby12zeroes.Thereareover420treesforeveryperson
alivetoday.DrThomasCrowthertoldtheBBCthatthisnewnumberchan
gesnothing.Hesaid:"It'snotgoodnewsfortheworldorbadnewsthatwe'
veproducedthisnewnumber."Thebadnewsisthatthousandsofyearsa
go,theearthhadsixtrilliontrees.Humanshavecutthenumberoftreesin
half.AnexampleofthisisEurope.Itusedtobeagiantforest.Nowmuchofi
tisfieldsandcities.DrCrowthersaidpeopleareresponsibleforthelossoft
hreetrilliontrees.Another15billiontreesarelosteachyearbecauseofde
forestationandfarmland.Thescientistssaidthisfigureis"considerably
higher"thanacenturyago.DrCrowtherwarnedthat:"Thisstudyhighlig
htshowmuchmoreeffortisneededifwearetorestorehealthyforestswor
ldwide."

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about trees for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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