Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Earth has lost half its trees because of humans (5th September, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

There is good news and bad news regarding the number of trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven times more trees on Earth than we thought. Until a few years ago, scientists estimated that the world had around 400 billion trees. However, a new study from Yale University estimates that there are around three trillion trees. That's a three followed by 12 zeroes. That means there are more than 420 trees for every person alive today. Lead researcher Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that the new estimate will not change anything. He said: "It's not like we've discovered a load of new trees. 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 around six trillion trees. Human activity has cut in half the number of trees on the planet. A good example of this is the fact that Europe used to be one giant forest. Now much of it is farmland, fields, cities and towns. Dr Crowther said people are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees over the past several thousand years. Humans are destroying around 15 billion more trees every year because of deforestation and the demand for farmland. The scientists said this figure is "considerably higher" than just 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 easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. TREES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about trees. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

good news / bad news / planet / estimated / trillion / zeroes / change / number / human / activity / example / Europe / farmland / deforestation / a century ago / effort

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. HUMAN ACTIVITY: What have humans done to the earth and how can we reverse the damage? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	The damage	How we can reverse it
Forests
Rivers
Oceans
Air
Animals
Mountains

4. HEALTHY: Students A strongly believe humans can make the earth healthy again; Students B strongly believe not. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. EARTH: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important for Earth at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• frogs

• trees

• fish

• humans

• birds

• animals

• grass

• flowers

6. NEWS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "news". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	There is only bad news regarding the number of trees on Earth.	T / F
b.	There are seven times more trees on Earth than scientists thought.	T / F
c.	There are around three trillion trees on Earth.	T / F
d.	There are around 420 trees on Earth for each person alive today.	T / F
e.	The earth used to have over 10 trillion trees.	T / F
f.	Europe used to be one very big forest.	T / F
g.	Humans are destroying 400 billion trees a year.	T / F
h.	The rate of deforestation is smaller today than it was 100 years ago.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	regarding	a.	living
2.	estimated	b.	made
3.	around	c.	number
4.	alive	d.	guessed
5.	produced	e.	a lot
6.	cut in half	f.	globally
7.	figure	g.	concerning
8.	considerably	h.	work
9.	effort	i.	halved
10.	worldwide	j.	about

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	good news	a.	few years ago
2.	there are seven times more trees on Earth	b.	half
3.	Until a	c.	by 12 zeroes
4.	a three followed	d.	activity
5.	420 trees for every	e.	effort is needed
6.	Human	f.	and bad news
7.	cut in	g.	be one giant forest
8.	Europe used to	h.	person alive today
9.	this figure is considerably	i.	than we thought
10.	much more	j.	higher

GAP FILL

There is good news and bad news (1) ____________ the number of trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven (2) ____________ more trees on Earth than we thought. Until a few years ago, scientists (3) ____________ that the world had around 400 billion trees. However, a new study from Yale University estimates that there are around three trillion trees. That's a three (4) ____________ by 12 (5) ____________. That means there are more than 420 trees for every person alive today. Lead researcher Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that the new estimate will not (6) ____________ anything. He said: "It's not like we've discovered a (7) ____________ of new trees. It's not good news for the world or bad news that we've produced this new (8) ____________."

times
zeroes
load
estimated
number
regarding
change
followed

The bad news is that thousands of years (9) ____________, the earth had around six trillion trees. Human (10) ____________ has cut in half the number of trees on the planet. A good example of this is the (11) ____________ that Europe used to be one giant forest. Now much of it is farmland, (12) ____________, cities and towns. Dr Crowther said people are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees over the past (13) ____________ thousand years. Humans are destroying around 15 billion more trees every year because of deforestation and the (14) ____________ for farmland. The scientists said this figure is "considerably (15) ____________ " than just a century ago. Dr Crowther warned that: "This study highlights how much more effort is needed if we are to restore (16) ____________ forests worldwide."

fields
ago
demand
higher
fact
healthy
activity
several

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	good news and bad news regarding the number of trees ______
	a. on your planet b. on hour planet c. on our planet d. on owe planet
2)	The good news is that there are seven times more trees on Earth ______
	a. than we fought b. than we thought c. than we thinking d. than we think
3)	a new study from Yale University estimates that there are ______ trees
	a. abound three trillion b. around three trillion c. surround three trillion d. confound three trillion
4)	That means there are more than 420 trees for every ______
	a. person living today b. person lively today c. person alive today d. person a life today
5)	It's not good news for the world or bad news that we've produced ______
	a. this new number b. this news number c. this newly number d. this anew number
6)	The bad news is that thousands of years ago, the earth had ______ trees
	a. around six trillion b. around sixty trillion c. around sixteen trillion d. around sixth trillion
7)	Human activity has cut in half the number ______ planet
	a. of trees on the b. of trees in the c. of trees to the d. of trees by the
8)	people are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees over the ______ years
	a. passed several thousand b. past several thousand c. parsed several thousand d. post several thousand
9)	The scientists said this figure is "considerably higher" than ______ ago
	a. just the century b. justly century c. just all century d. just a century
10)	This study highlights how much more effort is needed if we are to restore ______
	a. health forests worldwide b. healthiest forests worldwide c. healthier forests worldwide d. healthy forests worldwide

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

There is good news and bad news (1) ___________________ of trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven times more trees on Earth than we thought. (2) ___________________ ago, scientists estimated that the world had around 400 billion trees. However, a new study from Yale University (3) ___________________ are around three trillion trees. That's a three followed by 12 zeroes. That means there (4) ___________________ trees for every person alive today. Lead researcher Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that (5) ___________________ not change anything. He said: "It's not like we've discovered a load of new trees. It's not good news for the world or bad news that we've produced (6) ___________________."

The bad news (7) ___________________ of years ago, the earth had around six trillion trees. Human activity (8) ___________________ the number of trees on the planet. A good example of this is the fact that Europe used to be one giant forest. Now much of it is farmland, (9) ___________________. Dr Crowther said people are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees (10) ___________________ several thousand years. Humans are destroying around 15 billion more trees every year because of deforestation and the demand for farmland. The scientists said this figure (11) ___________________ than just a century ago. Dr Crowther warned that: "This study highlights how much more effort is needed (12) ___________________ healthy forests worldwide."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How many times more trees are there than we thought?
2.	How many trees did scientists originally think we had?
3.	How many trees do scientists now think we have?
4.	How many trees are there for each person in the world today?
5.	What did a scientist say the new number of trees would change?
6.	How many trees were there on Earth thousands of years ago?
7.	What does the article say Europe use to be?
8.	How many trees are humans destroying each year?
9.	What period of time did scientists compare the annual loss of trees to?
10.	What is needed to restore healthy forests worldwide?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How many times more trees are there than we thought?	6.	How many trees were there on Earth thousands of years ago?
	a) 7 b) 8 c) 9 d) 10		a) 3 trillion b) 4 trillion c) 5 trillion d) 6 trillion
2.	How many trees did scientists originally think we had?	7.	What does the article say Europe use to be?
	a) 200 billion b) 300 billion c) 400 billion d) 500 billion		a) a desert b) united c) a giant forest d) islands
3.	How many trees do scientists now think we have?	8.	How many trees are humans destroying each year?
	a) 6 trillion b) 5 trillion c) 4 trillion d) 3 trillion		a) 14 billion b) 15 billion c) 16 billion d) 17 billion
4.	How many trees are there for each person in the world today?	9.	What period of time did scientists compare the annual loss of trees to?
	a) 410 b) 420 c) 430 d) 440		a) a thousand years ago b) 500 years ago c) 100 years ago d) 10 years ago
5.	What did a scientist say the new number of trees would change?	10.	What is needed to restore healthy forests worldwide?
	a) nothing b) trees c) everything d) populations		a) money b) effort c) ideas d) seeds

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Frogs

You think frogs are the most important things for the earth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their thngs are not so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): insects, humans or trees.

Role B – Insects

You think insects are the most important things for the earth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their thngs are not so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): frogs, humans or trees.

Role C – Humans

You think humans are the most important things for the earth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their thngs are not so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): insects, frogs or trees.

Role D – Trees

You think trees are the most important things for the earth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their thngs are not so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): insects, humans or frogs.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'good' and 'bad'.

good

bad

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

regarding
seven
study
12
420
new

ago
six
example
15
figure
healthy

TREES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about trees in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

TREES DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'tree'?
3)	How important are trees to you?
4)	What do you think about what you read?
5)	How worried are you about the loss of Earth's trees?
6)	What problems are caused by fewer trees on Earth?
7)	Is the news in the article good or bad?
8)	How do you think scientists counted the trees?
9)	Why do you think the scientist said this is not good or bad news?
10)	What is your favourite tree, and why?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Why is it important to hug trees?
13)	What can we do to grow more trees?
14)	How can humans change so we don't lose more trees?
15)	What do you do to help the planet?
16)	How sad is it when a forest is cut down and destroyed?
17)	What do you think of the fact that we lose 15 billion trees a year?
18)	What do trees do for the planet?
19)	What will Earth be like in one thousand years from now?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

There is good news and bad news (1) ____ the number of trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven (2) ____ more trees on Earth than we thought. Until a (3) ____ years ago, scientists estimated that the world had around 400 billion trees. However, a new study from Yale University estimates that there are around three trillion trees. That's a three followed (4) ____ 12 zeroes. That means there are more than 420 trees for every person (5) ____ today. Lead researcher Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that the new estimate will not change anything. He said: "It's not like we've discovered a load of new trees. It's not good news for the world or bad news that we've produced this new (6) ____."

The bad news is that thousands of years ago, the earth had around six trillion trees. Human activity has cut in (7) ____ the number of trees on the planet. A good (8) ____ of this is the fact that Europe used to be one giant forest. Now much of it is farmland, fields, cities and towns. Dr Crowther said people are responsible (9) ____ the loss of three trillion trees over the past (10) ____ thousand years. Humans are destroying around 15 billion more trees every year because of deforestation and the demand (11) ____ farmland. The scientists said this figure is "considerably higher" than just a century ago. Dr Crowther warned that: "This study highlights how much more effort is needed if we are to restore (12) ____ forests worldwide."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	regards	(b)	regarded	(c)	regrading	(d)	regarding
2.	(a)	figures	(b)	numbers	(c)	much	(d)	times
3.	(a)	several	(b)	few	(c)	lot	(d)	many
4.	(a)	as	(b)	up	(c)	by	(d)	to
5.	(a)	lively	(b)	lifetime	(c)	alive	(d)	lived
6.	(a)	number	(b)	thing	(c)	tree	(d)	forest
7.	(a)	halved	(b)	half	(c)	halves	(d)	halve
8.	(a)	example	(b)	main	(c)	idea	(d)	aspect
9.	(a)	as	(b)	for	(c)	by	(d)	to
10.	(a)	numeral	(b)	identical	(c)	several	(d)	unreal
11.	(a)	as	(b)	to	(c)	for	(d)	at
12.	(a)	wealth	(b)	wealthy	(c)	health	(d)	healthy

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	rrngaedgi the number of trees
2.	three litroinl trees
3.	every person alevi today
4.	the new iseattem
5.	oeredvicds a load of new trees
6.	we've oeucpdrd this
Paragraph 2
7.	Human citvatyi
8.	people are snsopilbere
9.	soniytrged around 15 billion more
10.	just a nryteuc ago
11.	This study ihshilggth how
12.	retrsoe healthy forests

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	400 billion trees. However, a new study from Yale University estimates that there are around three
( )	much more effort is needed if we are to restore healthy forests worldwide."
( )	anything. He said: "It's not like we've discovered a load of new trees. It's not good
( )	news for the world or bad news that we've produced this new number."
( )	for the loss of three trillion trees over the past several thousand years. Humans are destroying around 15 billion
( )	The bad news is that thousands of years ago, the earth had around six trillion trees. Human activity has cut in
( )	trillion trees. That's a three followed by 12 zeroes. That means there are more than 420 trees for every
( )	figure is "considerably higher" than just a century ago. Dr Crowther warned that: "This study highlights how
( )	times more trees on Earth than we thought. Until a few years ago, scientists estimated that the world had around
( )	half the number of trees on the planet. A good example of this is the fact that Europe used to be one giant
( )	forest. Now much of it is farmland, fields, cities and towns. Dr Crowther said people are responsible
( )	person alive today. Lead researcher Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that the new estimate will not change
( )	more trees every year because of deforestation and the demand for farmland. The scientists said this
( 1 )	There is good news and bad news regarding the number of trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	regarding the number of trees on our planet Bad news .
2.	Seven trees than more Earth thought times on we .
3.	the around that had billion estimated world 400 Scientists .
4.	zeroes 12 by followed three a That's .
5.	like a new not discovered of It's we've load trees .
6.	giant forest The fact that Europe used to be one .
7.	for the loss of three trillion trees People are responsible .
8.	around 15 Humans billion are more destroying trees .
9.	higher ago a than Considerably century just .
10.	needed study much is This how effort highlights more .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

There is good news and bad news regarded / regarding the number of trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven times many / more trees on Earth than we thought / thinking. Until a few years ago, scientists estimated / esteemed that the world had around 400 billion trees. However, a new studious / study from Yale University estimates that there are around three trillion trees. That's a three followed as / by 12 zeroes. That means there are more than 420 trees for every person alive / lively today. Lead researcher Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that the new estimate will not change nothing / anything. He said: "It's not like we've discovered a load / loads of new trees. It's not good news for the world or bad news that we've producing / produced this new number."

The bad news is that thousands of years age / ago, the earth had around six trillion trees. Human activity / actively has cut in half the number of trees on the planet. A good example / sample of this is the fact that Europe used to be one giant's / giant forest. Now much of it is farmland, fields, cities and towns. Dr Crowther said people are responsible for / by the loss of three trillion trees over the passed / past several thousand years. Humans are destroying around 15 billion more trees every year due / because of deforestation and the supply / demand for farmland. The scientists said this figure is "considerably / considerable higher" than just a century ago. Dr Crowther warned that: "This study highlights how much more effort is needed if we are to restore / store healthy forests worldwide."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_r_ _s g__d n_ws _nd b_d n_ws r_g_rd_ng th_ n_mb_r _f tr__s _n __r pl_n_t. Th_ g__d n_ws _s th_t th_r_ _r_ s_v_n t_m_s m_r_ tr__s _n __rth th_n w_ th__ght. _nt_l _ f_w y__rs _g_, sc__nt_sts _st_m_t_d th_t th_ w_rld h_d _r__nd 400 b_ll__n tr__s. H_w_v_r, _ n_w st_dy fr_m Y_l_ _n_v_rs_ty _st_m_t_s th_t th_r_ _rE _r__nd thr__ tr_ll__n tr__s. Th_t's _ thr__ f_ll_w_d by 12 z_r__s. Th_t m__ns th_r_ _r_ m_r_ th_n 420 tr__s f_r _v_ry p_rs_n _l_v_ t_d_y. L__d r_s__rch_r Dr Th_m_s Cr_wth_r t_ld th_ BBC th_t th_ n_w _st_m_t_ w_ll n_t ch_ng_ _nyth_ng. H_ s__d: "_t's n_t l_k_ w_'v_ d_sc_v_r_d _ l__d _f n_w tr__s. _t's n_t g__d n_ws f_r th_ w_rld _r b_d n_ws th_t w_'v_ pr_d_c_d th_s n_w n_mb_r."

Th_ b_d n_ws _s th_t th__s_nds _f y__rs _g_, th_ __rth h_d _r__nd s_x tr_ll__n tr__s. H_m_n _ct_v_ty h_s c_t _n h_lf th_ n_mb_r _f tr__s _n th_ pl_n_t. _ g__d _x_mpl_ _f th_s _s th_ f_ct th_t __r_p_ _s_d t_ b_ _n_ g__nt f_r_st. N_w m_ch _f _t _s f_rml_nd, f__lds, c_t__s _nd t_wns. Dr Cr_wth_r s__d p__pl_ _r_ r_sp_ns_bl_ f_r th_ l_ss _f thr__ tr_ll__n tr__s _v_r th_ p_st s_v_r_l th__s_nd y__rs. H_m_ns _r_ d_str_y_ng _r__nd 15 b_ll__n m_r_ tr__s _v_ry y__r b_c__s_ _f d_f_r_st_t__n _nd th_ d_m_nd f_r f_rml_nd. Th_ sc__nt_sts s__d th_s f_g_r_ _s "c_ns_d_r_bly h_gh_r" th_n j_st _ c_nt_ry _g_. Dr Cr_wth_r w_rn_d th_t: "Th_s st_dy h_ghl_ghts h_w m_ch m_r_ _ff_rt _s n__d_d _f w_ _r_ t_ r_st_r_ h__lthy f_r_sts w_rldw_d_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

there is good news and bad news regarding the number of trees on our planet the good news is that there are seven times more trees on earth than we thought until a few years ago scientists estimated that the world had around 400 billion trees however a new study from yale university estimates that there are around three trillion trees that's a three followed by 12 zeroes that means there are more than 420 trees for every person alive today lead researcher dr thomas crowther told the bbc that the new estimate will not change anything he said "it's not like we've discovered a load of new trees 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 around six trillion trees human activity has cut in half the number of trees on the planet a good example of this is the fact that europe used to be one giant forest now much of it is farmland fields cities and towns dr crowther said people are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees over the past several thousand years humans are destroying around 15 billion more trees every year because of deforestation and the demand for farmland the scientists said this figure is "considerably higher" than just a century ago dr crowther warned that "this study highlights how much more effort is needed if we are to restore healthy forests worldwide"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thereisgoodnewsandbadnewsregardingthenumberoftreesonourpla
net.ThegoodnewsisthatthereareseventimesmoretreesonEarththan
wethought.Untilafewyearsago,scientistsestimatedthattheworldhad
around400billiontrees.However,anewstudyfromYaleUniversityesti
matesthattherearoundthreetrilliontrees.That'sathreefollowedby12z
eroes.Thatmeanstherearemorethan420treesforeverypersonaliveto
day.LeadresearcherDrThomasCrowthertoldtheBBCthatthenewesti
matewillnotchangeanything.Hesaid:"It'snotlikewe'vediscoveredalo
adofnewtrees.It'snotgoodnewsfortheworldorbadnewsthatwe'vepro
ducedthisnewnumber."Thebadnewsisthatthousandsofyearsago,the
earthhadaroundsixtrilliontrees.Humanactivityhascutinhalfthenumb
eroftreesontheplanet.AgoodexampleofthisisthefactthatEuropeused
tobeonegiantforest.Nowmuchofitisfarmland,fields,citiesandtowns.
DrCrowthersaidpeopleareresponsibleforthelossofthreebilliontreeso
verthepastseveralthousandyears.Humansaredestroyingaround15b
illionmoretreeseveryyearbecauseofdeforestationandthedemandforf
armland.Thescientistssaidthisfigureis"considerablyhigher"thanjust
acenturyago.DrCrowtherwarnedthat:"Thisstudyhighlightshowmuc
hmoreeffortisneededifwearetorestorehealthyforestsworldwide."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

We need to move out of cities to look after the countryside. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about trees. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TREES: Make a poster about trees. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. MOVING OUT OF CITIES: Write a magazine article about getting people out of cities and back to the land to work in forests and on farms. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on trees. Ask him/her three questions about trees. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to increase the number of trees in the world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	regarding	a.	concerning
2	estimated	b.	guessed
3.	around	c.	about
4.	alive	d.	living
5.	produced	e.	made
6.	cut in half	f.	halved
7.	figure	g.	number
8.	considerably	h.	a lot
9.	effort	i.	work
10.	worldwide	j.	globally

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Seven
2.	400 billion
3.	Three trillion
4.	420
5.	Nothing
6.	Six trillion
7.	A giant forest
8.	15 billion
9.	A century ago
10.	Much more effort

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Earth has lost half its trees because of humans (5th September, 2015)

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS