The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Researchers have found what they think is a key to a happy marriage. The secret ingredient for marital bliss could be a difference in height between the two partners. South Korea's professor Kitae Sohn said the taller a woman's husband is, the happier she is. Mr Sohn said: "A greater height difference in a couple was positively related to the wife's happiness." However, he said the attraction of a tall husband did not last forever and diminishes over time. He said he was surprised that it took around 18 years of marriage for this appeal to disappear.

Professor Sohn was intrigued as to why women preferred taller men. He said: "Although it has been known that women prefer tall men in mating for evolutionary reasons, no study has investigated whether a taller husband makes his wife happier." He analysed data from 7,850 Indonesian women. They did not know why they preferred a taller mate. Sohn wrote: "Women simply like tall men….This is similar to people favoring fatty, salty and sugary foods without knowing exactly why." However, the BBC noted that shorter men can be more stable, better husbands.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/30670636/a-tall-husband-may-be-the-key-to-a-happy-marriage
  • http://mic.com/articles/129663/science-says-women-care-quite-a-bit-about-their-partners-height#.WC13q53Ui
  • http://voicetelegraph.com/2015/12/04/the-secret-to-a-happy-marriage-its-all-in-your-height.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.

a key to a happy

a.

happiness

2.

he taller a woman's husband is,

b.

was surprised

3.

A greater height

c.

marriage

4.

positively related to the wife's

d.

of marriage

5.

the attraction of a tall husband did

e.

the happier she is

6.

diminishes over

f.

not last forever

7.

He said he

g.

difference

8.

around 18 years

h.

time



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.

Professor Sohn was intrigued

a.

salty and sugary foods

2.

evolutionary

b.

why

3.

a taller husband makes

c.

reasons

4.

They did not know why

d.

better husbands

5.

Women simply

e.

his wife happier

6.

This is similar to people favoring fatty,

f.

as to why

7.

without knowing exactly

g.

like tall men

8.

shorter men can be more stable,

h.

they preferred a taller mate

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Researchers have found what they (1) ___________________ to a happy marriage. The secret ingredient (2) ___________________ could be a difference in height between the two partners. South Korea's professor Kitae Sohn (3) ___________________ a woman's husband is, the happier she is. Mr Sohn said: "A greater height difference (4) ___________________ positively related to the wife's happiness." However, he said the attraction of a tall husband did (5) ___________________ and diminishes over time. He said he was surprised that it took around 18 years of marriage for this (6) ___________________.

Professor Sohn was (7) ___________________ why women preferred taller men. He said: "Although it has been known that women (8) ___________________ mating for evolutionary reasons, no study has investigated (9) ___________________ husband makes his wife happier." He analysed data from 7,850 Indonesian women. They did not know why they (10) ___________________ mate. Sohn wrote: "Women simply like tall men….This is similar to people favoring fatty, (11) ___________________ foods without knowing exactly why." However, the BBC noted that shorter men (12) ___________________, better husbands.

MARRIAGE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about marriage 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.

 

 

 

 

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)

________________________________________________________

 

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

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You