Half of world population will be short-sighted

Half of world population will be short-sighted (24th February, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A new report predicts that by 2050, half of the world's population (around 4.8 billion people) will be short-sighted. The medical name for this is myopia. It is also called near-sightedness. It is when things that are far away from us are difficult to see. There will be seven times more people with myopia in 2050 than there were in the year 2000. Today, almost 90 per cent of young Chinese people and up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

The researchers said this increase was because of different things. Looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be a big reason. The rise may be linked to lifestyle changes resulting from spending less time outdoors. A science journalist said spending time outdoors in early childhood reduces the chances of getting myopia. A researcher of the report advised: "You could spend a long time [on] computers and screens, but also spend two hours outdoors."

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.sciencealert.com/half-the-world-s-population-will-be-short-sighted-by-2050
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myopia
http://www.treehugger.com/family/remarkable-reason-why-nearsightedness-has-more-doubled-50-years.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.	around	a.	are difficult to see
2.	The medical name for	b.	young Chinese people
3.	t is also called	c.	this is myopia
4.	things that are far away from us	d.	year 2000
5.	There will be seven times	e.	are near-sighted
6.	in the	f.	4.8 billion people
7.	almost 90 per cent of	g.	near-sightedness
8.	95% of teenagers in South Korea	h.	more people with myopia

MY e-BOOK

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

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	this increase was because	a.	getting myopia
2.	mobile phones could	b.	of different things
3.	The rise may be linked	c.	on computers
4.	spending less	d.	be a big reason
5.	in early	e.	hours outdoors
6.	reduces the chances of	f.	to lifestyle changes
7.	spend a long time	g.	childhood
8.	spend two	h.	time outdoors

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A new report predicts that by 2050, (1) ___________________ population (around 4.8 billion people) (2) ___________________. The medical name for this is myopia. It is also called near-sightedness. (3) ________________ that are far (4) ___________________ difficult to see. There will be seven times more people with myopia in 2050 than (5) ___________________ year 2000. Today, almost 90 per cent of young Chinese people and up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea (6) ___________________.

The researchers (7) ___________________ was because of different things. Looking at computer screens and mobile phones could (8) ___________________. The rise may be linked to lifestyle changes resulting (9) ___________________ time outdoors. A science journalist said spending time outdoors in early childhood (10) ___________________ of getting myopia. A researcher (11) ___________________ advised: "You could spend a long time [on] computers and screens, (12) ___________________ two hours outdoors."

SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about short-sightedness 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.

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 short-sightedness for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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