The Reading / Listening - Time Travel - Level 6

Time travelers have been invited to attend the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking. The legendary physicist, cosmologist and author died on March 14. Thousands of fans and well-wishers lined the streets in Cambridge, England for his funeral two weeks later. His family has now arranged a special ceremony to allow people to remember and celebrate his life, and time travelers have been invited. Hawking famously wrote in his book "A Brief History of Time" that: "If time travel is possible, where are the tourists from the future?" Now they have the opportunity to travel back in time. The online entry form for the memorial allows people with birth dates up to December 31, 2038 to take part.

The concept of time travel had fascinated and intrigued Professor Hawking over the decades. In 2009, he staged a glitzy party for time travelers at Cambridge University. He arranged champagne and snacks, and a banner saying: "Welcome time travelers". No one from the future attended that particular event. A spokesman for the Stephen Hawking Foundation, which is organizing the memorial service, said he had yet to receive a response from any time travelers to attend the memorial service. The deadline to reserve a place at the June 15 event at London's Westminster Abbey is today. The spokesman said it was still possible. He said: "We cannot exclude the possibility of time travel as it has not been disproven to our satisfaction."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Time Travel - Level 4  or  Time Travel - Level 5

Sources
  • http://metro.co.uk/2018/05/14/time-travellers-invited-attend-stephen-hawkings-memorial-service-7543567/
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/stephen-hawking-s-memorial-service-is-open-to-time-travellers
  • https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/05/12/610688433/tardis-optional-time-travelers-invited-to-stephen-hawking-service


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. TIME TRAVEL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about time travel. 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?
       time / traveler / time travelers / cosmology / fans / funeral / ceremony / tourist / birth
       concept / intrigued / decades / party / champagne / the future / deadline / possible
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. A GOOD THING: Students A strongly believe time travel would be a good thing; Students B strongly believe it wouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TIME: What would it be like to travel to these times? What would you do there? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What would it be like?

What would you do there?

Dinosaur times

 

 

Iron Age

 

 

2018 years ago

 

 

The 1800s

 

 

The 1960s

 

 

The year 2099

 

 

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. FUTURE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "future". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BEST YEAR: Rank these with your partner. Put the best year to time travel to at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • 1776
  • 1066
  • 2025
  • 2118
  • 3000 BC
  • 100
  • 25000 BC
  • 3000

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. attend a. The ceremonies honoring a dead person, typically involving burial or cremation.
      2. legendary b. Someone who studies or is an expert on space and the origins of the universe.
      3. cosmologist c. Remarkable enough to be famous; very well known.
      4. lined d. A situation that makes it possible to do something; chance.
      5. funeral e. Go to and be present at an event, meeting, or function.
      6. celebrate f. Stood at intervals along a road or route.
      7. opportunity g. Acknowledge a significant or happy day or event with a social gathering or enjoyable activity.

    Paragraph 2

      8. concept h. A verbal or written answer.
      9. intrigued i. Removed from consideration; ruled out.
      10. glitzy j. The latest time or date by which something should be completed.
      11. response k. Arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinated.
      12. deadline l. Prove that something is false.
      13. exclude m. An abstract idea; a general notion.
      14. disproven n. Looking glamorous but only for show.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Time travelers have been invited to Stephen Hawking's funeral.     T / F
  2. Stephen Hawking's funeral was two weeks after his death.     T / F
  3. Hawking once asked where the tourists from the future were.     T / F
  4. People born in 2035 can attend Stephen Hawking's memorial service.     T / F
  5. Stephen Hawking first got interested in time travel two years ago.     T / F
  6. Hawking once arranged a champagne party for time travelers.     T / F
  7. Three time travelers have replied to the memorial service organizers.     T / F
  8. The memorial event will take place at St Paul's Cathedral in London.     T / F

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

  1. attend
  2. legendary
  3. celebrate
  4. opportunity
  5. entry
  6. concept
  7. arranged
  8. event
  9. deadline
  10. exclude
  1. organized
  2. honor
  3. rule out
  4. notion
  5. famous
  6. time limit
  7. application
  8. go to
  9. function
  10. chance

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

  1. invited to attend the memorial
  2. The legendary physicist,
  3. Thousands of fans and well-wishers
  4. remember and
  5. the opportunity to travel
  6. time travel had fascinated and
  7. yet to
  8. The deadline to reserve
  9. We cannot exclude the possibility
  10. it has not been
  1. lined the streets
  2. receive a response
  3. celebrate his life
  4. intrigued Professor Hawking
  5. of time travel
  6. cosmologist and author
  7. a place
  8. disproven
  9. service
  10. back in time

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
lined
famously
online
legendary
birth
celebrate
tourists
funeral

Time travelers have been invited to attend the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking. The (1) ____________ physicist, cosmologist and author died on March 14. Thousands of fans and well-wishers (2) ____________ the streets in Cambridge, England for his (3) ____________ two weeks later. His family has now arranged a special ceremony to allow people to remember and (4) ____________ his life, and time travelers have been invited. Hawking (5) ____________ wrote in his book "A Brief History of Time" that: "If time travel is possible, where are the (6) ____________ from the future?" Now they have the opportunity to travel back in time. The (7) ____________ entry form for the memorial allows people with (8) ____________ dates up to December 31, 2038 to take part.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
banner
intrigued
still
yet
satisfaction
glitzy
particular
deadline

The concept of time travel had fascinated and (9) ____________ Professor Hawking over the decades. In 2009, he staged a (10) ____________ party for time travelers at Cambridge University. He arranged champagne and snacks, and a (11) ____________ saying: "Welcome time travelers". No one from the future attended that (12) ____________ event. A spokesman for the Stephen Hawking Foundation, which is organizing the memorial service, said he had (13) ____________ to receive a response from any time travelers to attend the memorial service. The (14) ____________ to reserve a place at the June 15 event at London's Westminster Abbey is today. The spokesman said it was (15) ____________ possible. He said: "We cannot exclude the possibility of time travel as it has not been disproven to our (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Time travelers have been invited to attend the ______
     a.  memory all service
     b.  memorial serviced
     c.  memorial service
     d.  memory all serviced
2)  Thousands of fans and well-wishers ______ in Cambridge, England
     a.  aligned the streets
     b.  outlined the streets
     c.  lined the streets
     d.  maligned the streets
3)  arranged a special ceremony to allow people to remember and ______
     a.  celebrates his live
     b.  celebrate this life
     c.  celebrate his life
     d.  celebrate his live
4)  If time travel is possible, where are the tourists ______?
     a.  from a future
     b.  from then future
     c.  from the future
     d.  from that future
5)  The online entry form for the memorial allows people with ______ December 31
     a.  birth dates upper to
     b.  birthing dates up to
     c.  birthing dates up two
     d.  birth dates up to

6)  The concept of time travel had fascinated and intrigued Professor Hawking ______
     a.  over the decadence
     b.  over the decades
     c.  over the decade is
     d.  over their decades
7)  He arranged champagne and snacks, ______
     a.  and a banner
     b.  and a banter
     c.  and a burner
     d.  and a banal
8)  No one from the future attended that ______
     a.  particularly event
     b.  particularize event
     c.  particularity event
     d.  particular event
9)  The deadline to reserve a place at the ______
     a.  June 15 even
     b.  June 15 eventual
     c.  June 15 event
     d.  June 15 events
10)  We cannot exclude the possibility of time travel as it has not ______
     a.  been this proven
     b.  been this proof and
     c.  been disproven
     d.  been miss proving

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Time travelers have been (1) ___________________ the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking. The legendary physicist, cosmologist and author died on March 14. Thousands of fans and well-wishers (2) ___________________ in Cambridge, England for his funeral two weeks later. His family has now arranged a special ceremony (3) ___________________ to remember and celebrate his life, and time travelers have been invited. Hawking (4) ___________________ his book "A Brief History of Time" that: "If time travel is possible, where are the tourists from the future?" Now they (5) ___________________ to travel back in time. The online entry form for the memorial (6) ___________________ birth dates up to December 31, 2038 to take part.

The (7) ___________________ travel had fascinated and intrigued Professor Hawking over the decades. In 2009, he (8) ___________________ party for time travelers at Cambridge University. He arranged champagne and snacks, and a banner saying: "Welcome time travelers". No one from the future attended (9) ___________________. A spokesman for the Stephen Hawking Foundation, which is organizing the memorial service, said he had yet to (10) ___________________ from any time travelers to attend the memorial service. The (11) ___________________ a place at the June 15 event at London's Westminster Abbey is today. The spokesman said it was still possible. He said: "We cannot exclude the possibility of time travel as it has not (12) ___________________ our satisfaction."

Comprehension questions

  1. When did Stephen Hawking die?
  2. How long after his death was Stephen Hawking's funeral?
  3. What was Stephen Hawking's book a brief history of?
  4. What kind of tourists did Stephen Hawking enquire about?
  5. What is the birth date limit for time travelers to apply?
  6. What intrigued and fascinated Stephen Hawking?
  7. What drink did Stephen Hawking provide for time travelers at a party?
  8. How many travelers have so far responded to the invitation?
  9. Where in London will the memorial service take place?
  10. What did a spokesman say could not be excluded?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  When did Stephen Hawking die?
a) March 20
b) March 14
c) March 18
d) March 16
2)  How long after his death was Stephen Hawking's funeral?
a) four days
b) a week
c) two weeks
d) 10 days
3)  What was Stephen Hawking's book a brief history of?
a) physics
b) the cosmos
c) space
d) time
4)  What kind of tourists did Stephen Hawking enquire about?
a) package-holiday tourists
b) tourists from the future
c) eco-tourists
d) American tourists
5)  What is the birth date limit for time travelers to apply?
a) December 31, 2028
b) December 31, 2038
c) December 31, 2018
d) December 31, 2098

6)  What intrigued and fascinated Stephen Hawking?
a) the notion of time travel
b) Cambridge University
c) adventure travel
d) tourism
7)  What drink did Stephen Hawking provide for time travelers at a party?
a) milk
b) beer
c) Antarctic water
d) champagne
8)  How many travelers have so far responded to the invitation?
a) 2
b) 1
c) 0
d) 42
9)  Where in London will the memorial service take place?
a) Wembley Stadium
b) Big Ben
c) St Paul's Cathedral
d) Westminster Abbey
10)  What did a spokesman say could not be excluded?
a) the year 2018
b) the possibility of time travel
c) a party
d) a Stephen Hawking Day

Role play

Role  A – 3000 BC
You think 3000 BC is the best year to travel to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their years. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these years (and why): the year zero, 2025 or 3018.

Role  B – The Year Zero
You think the year zero is the best year to travel to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their years. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these years (and why): 3000BC, 2025 or 3018.

Role  C – 2025
You think 2025 is the best year to travel to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their years. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these years (and why): the year zero, 3000BC or 3018.

Role  D – 3018
You think 3018 is the best year to travel to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their years. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these years (and why):  the year zero, 2025 or 3000BC.

After reading / listening

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

'time'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'travel'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • concept
    • 2009
    • particular
    • yet
    • still
    • exclude
    • legendary
    • lined
    • life
    • tourists
    • opportunity
    • online

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Time travelers invited to Stephen Hawking memorial

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'time'?
    3. What do you know about Stephen Hawking?
    4. What should happen at the memorial service?
    5. Would you like to be a time traveler?
    6. If you went back in time, what historical event would you change?
    7. How would you explain the history of time?
    8. What would you ask a tourist from the future?
    9. What would time travelers from the past think of today's world?
    10. What do you think of the concept of time travel?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'travel'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about the cosmos?
    5. What period in time would you like to go back or forward to?
    6. Would you prefer to travel back or forward in time?
    7. How can we prove or disprove time travel?
    8. What would time travelers from the future think of today's world?
    9. Do you think time travel will be possible one day?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a time traveler?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Time travelers have been (1) ____ to attend the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking. The legendary physicist, (2) ____ and author died on March 14. Thousands of fans and well-wishers (3) ____ the streets in Cambridge, England for his funeral two weeks later. His family has now arranged a special ceremony to allow people to remember and (4) ____ his life, and time travelers have been invited. Hawking (5) ____ wrote in his book "A Brief History of Time" that: "If time travel is possible, where are the tourists from the future?" Now they have the opportunity to travel back in time. The online entry (6) ____ for the memorial allows people with birth dates up to December 31, 2038 to take part.

    The concept of time travel had fascinated and (7) ____ Professor Hawking over the decades. In 2009, he staged a glitzy party for time travelers at Cambridge University. He arranged champagne and snacks, and a (8) ____ saying: "Welcome time travelers". No one from the future attended that particular event. A spokesman for the Stephen Hawking Foundation, which is organizing the memorial service, said he had (9) ____ to receive a response from any time travelers to attend the memorial service. The deadline to (10) ____ a place at the June 15 event at London's Westminster Abbey is today. The spokesman said it was (11) ____ possible. He said: "We cannot exclude the possibility of time travel as it has not been disproven (12) ____ our satisfaction."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     invites     (b)     inviting     (c)     invitation     (d)     invited    
    2. (a)     cosmopolitan     (b)     cosmology     (c)     cosmos     (d)     cosmologist    
    3. (a)     pined     (b)     lined     (c)     dined     (d)     fined    
    4. (a)     celebratory     (b)     celebration     (c)     celebrate     (d)     celebrated    
    5. (a)     famous     (b)     famed     (c)     famously     (d)     famed    
    6. (a)     form     (b)     paper     (c)     parchment     (d)     manuscript    
    7. (a)     fatigued     (b)     intrigued     (c)     disguised     (d)     imbibed    
    8. (a)     banner     (b)     banter     (c)     banal     (d)     banish    
    9. (a)     not     (b)     yet     (c)     early     (d)     already    
    10. (a)     deserve     (b)     conserve     (c)     reserve     (d)     serve    
    11. (a)     calm     (b)     placid     (c)     still     (d)     hush    
    12. (a)     up     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     to

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. travelers have been invited to ndtaet
    2. The glrneyeda physicist
    3. cooslomtisg and author
    4. for his anferul
    5. remember and raeebltec his life
    6. the yptrnuootpi to travel back in time

    Paragraph 2

    1. The potncce of time travel
    2. fascinated and triuigned Professor Hawking
    3. he staged a tzilgy party
    4. The eiddaenl to reserve a place
    5. We cannot cdxeleu the possibility
    6. it has not been ioenpvsrd

    Put the text back together

    1  ) Time travelers have been invited to attend the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking. The legendary
    (...)  have been invited. Hawking famously wrote in his book "A Brief History of Time" that: "If time travel
    (...)  the possibility of time travel as it has not been disproven to our satisfaction."
    (...)  The concept of time travel had fascinated and intrigued Professor Hawking over the decades. In 2009, he staged a glitzy
    (...)  to attend the memorial service. The deadline to reserve a place at the June 15 event at London's Westminster Abbey
    (...)  party for time travelers at Cambridge University. He arranged champagne and snacks, and a banner
    (...)  physicist, cosmologist and author died on March 14. Thousands of fans and well-wishers lined
    (...)  entry form for the memorial allows people with birth dates up to December 31, 2038 to take part.
    (...)  is today. The spokesman said it was still possible. He said: "We cannot exclude
    (...)  the streets in Cambridge, England for his funeral two weeks later. His family has now
    (...)  arranged a special ceremony to allow people to remember and celebrate his life, and time travelers
    (...)  which is organizing the memorial service, said he had yet to receive a response from any time travelers
    (...)  is possible, where are the tourists from the future?" Now they have the opportunity to travel back in time. The online
    (...)  saying: "Welcome time travelers". No one from the future attended that particular event. A spokesman for the Stephen Hawking Foundation,

    Put the words in the right order

    1. been   invited   to   attend   the   Travelers   service   .   have
    2. of   fans   the   lined   well-wishers   streets   .   Thousands   and
    3. special   now   His   has   arranged   a   ceremony   .   family
    4. They   opportunity   time   .   the   have   in   travel   to
    5. birth   People   ,   up   dates   2038   .   with   to   31   December
    6. him   .   concept   intrigued   time   travel   The   of   had
    7. staged   a   travelers   .   He   glitzy   for   time   party
    8. deadline   to   today   .   is   a   reserve   The   place
    9. possible   .   The   it   still   was   said   spokesman
    10. cannot   exclude   We   the   possibility   of   time   travel   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Time travelers have been / being invited to attend the memorial service for Professor Stephen Hawking. The legendary physicist, cosmologist / cosmology and author died on March 14. Thousands of fans and well-wishers lined / lines the streets in Cambridge, England for his funereal / funeral two weeks later. His family has now arranged a special / specially ceremony to allow people to remember and celebration / celebrate his life, and time travelers have been invited. Hawking famously wrote in his book "A Brief History of Time" that: "If time travel is possibility / possible, where are the tourists from the future?" Now they have the opportunity to travel back in / at time. The online entry form / from for the memorial allows people with birth dates up to December 31, 2038 to take party / part.

    The concept / conceptual of time travel had fascinated and intrigued Professor Hawking over the decadence / decades. In 2009, he staged / staggered a glitzy party for time travelers at Cambridge University. He arranged champagne and snacks, and a banter / banner saying: "Welcome time travelers". No one from the future attended / attention that particular event. A spokesman for the Stephen Hawking Foundation, which is organizing the memorial service, said he had yet for / to receive a response from any time travelers to attend the memorial service. The lifeline / deadline to reserve a place / plaice at the June 15 event at London's Westminster Abbey is today. The spokesman said it was still possible. He said: "We cannot exclude / exclusion the possibility of time travel as it has not been disproven to our satisfaction / satisfactory."

    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)

    T_m_ t r_v_l_r s h_v_ b__ n _n v_t_d t_ _t t_n d t h_ m_m_r__ l s_r v_c_ f_r P r_f_s s_r S t_p h_n H_w k_n g . T h_ l_g_n d_r y p h y s_c_s t , c_s m_l_g_s t _n d __ t h_r d__ d _n M_r c h 1 4 . T h__ s_n d s _f f_n s _n d w_l l - w_s h_r s l_n_d t h_ s t r__ t s _n C_m b r_d g_, E n g l_n d f_r h_s f_n_r_l t w_ w__ k s l_t_r . H_s f_m_l y h_s n_w _r r_n g_d _ s p_c__ l c_r_m_n y t_ _l l_w p__ p l_ t_ r_m_m b_r _n d c_l_b r_t_ h_s l_f_, _n d t_m_ t r_v_l_r s h_v_ b__ n _n v_t_d . H_w k_n g f_m__ s l y w r_t_ _n h_s b__ k " A B r__ f H_s t_r y _f T_m_" t h_t : " I f t_m_ t r_v_l _s p_s s_b l_, w h_r_ _r_ t h_ t__ r_s t s f r_m t h_ f_t_r_? " N_w t h_y h_v_ t h_ _p p_r t_n_t y t_ t r_v_l b_c k _n t_m_. T h_ _n l_n_ _n t r y f_r m f_r t h_ m_m_r__ l _l l_w s p__ p l_ w_t h b_r t h d_t_s _p t_ D_c_m b_r 3 1 , 2 0 3 8 t_ t_k_ p_r t .

    T h_ c_n c_p t _f t_m_ t r_v_l h_d f_s c_n_t_d _n d _n t r_g__ d P r_f_s s_r H_w k_n g _v_r t h_ d_c_d_s . I n 2 0 0 9 , h_ s t_g_d _ g l_t z y p_r t y f_r t_m_ t r_v_l_r s _t C_m b r_d g_ U n_v_r s_t y . H_ _r r_n g_d c h_m p_g n_ _n d s n_c k s , _n d _ b_n n_r s_y_n g : " W_l c_m_ t_m_ t r_v_l_r s " . N_ _n_ f r_m t h_ f_t_r_ _t t_n d_d t h_t p_r t_c_l_r _v_n t . A s p_k_s m_n f_r t h_ S t_p h_n H_w k_n g F__ n d_t__ n , w h_c h _s _r g_n_z_n g t h_ m_m_r__ l s_r v_c_, s__ d h_ h_d y_t t_ r_c__ v_ _ r_s p_n s_ f r_m _n y t_m_ t r_v_l_r s t_ _t t_n d t h_ m_m_r__ l s_r v_c_. T h_ d__ d l_n_ t_ r_s_r v_ _ p l_c_ _t t h_ J_n_ 1 5 _v_n t _t L_n d_n ' s W_s t m_n s t_r A b b_y _s t_d_y . T h_ s p_k_s m_n s__ d _t w_s s t_l l p_s s_b l_. H_ s__ d : " W_ c_n n_t _x c l_d_ t h_ p_s s_b_l_t y _f t_m_ t r_v_l _s _t h_s n_t b__ n d_s p r_v_n t_ __ r s_t_s f_c t__ n . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    time travelers have been invited to attend the memorial service for professor stephen hawking the legendary physicist cosmologist and author died on march 14 thousands of fans and wellwishers lined the streets in cambridge england for his funeral two weeks later his family has now arranged a special ceremony to allow people to remember and celebrate his life and time travelers have been invited hawking famously wrote in his book a brief history of time that if time travel is possible where are the tourists from the future now they have the opportunity to travel back in time the online entry form for the memorial allows people with birth dates up to december 31 2038 to take part

    the concept of time travel had fascinated and intrigued professor hawking over the decades in 2009 he staged a glitzy party for time travelers at cambridge university he arranged champagne and snacks and a banner saying welcome time travelers no one from the future attended that particular event a spokesman for the stephen hawking foundation which is organizing the memorial service said he had yet to receive a response from any time travelers to attend the memorial service the deadline to reserve a place at the june 15 event at londons westminster abbey is today the spokesman said it was still possible he said we cannot exclude the possibility of time travel as it has not been disproven to our satisfaction"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TimetravelershavebeeninvitedtoattendthememorialserviceforProfe
    ssorStephenHawking.Thelegendaryphysicist,cosmologistandautho
    rdiedonMarch14.Thousandsoffansandwell-wisherslinedthestree
    tsinCambridge,Englandforhisfuneraltwoweekslater.Hisfamilyhasno
    warrangedaspecialceremonytoallowpeopletorememberandcelebrat
    ehislife,andtimetravelershavebeeninvited.Hawkingfamouslywrotei
    nhisbook"ABriefHistoryofTime"that:"Iftimetravelispossible,wherea
    rethetouristsfromthefuture?"Nowtheyhavetheopportunitytotravelb
    ackintime.Theonlineentryformforthememorialallowspeoplewithbirt
    hdatesuptoDecember31,2038totakepart.Theconceptoftimetravelh
    adfascinatedandintriguedProfessorHawkingoverthedecades.In200
    9,hestagedaglitzypartyfortimetravelersatCambridgeUniversity.Hea
    rrangedchampagneandsnacks,andabannersaying:"Welcometimetr
    avelers".Noonefromthefutureattendedthatparticularevent.Aspokes
    manfortheStephenHawkingFoundation,whichisorganizingthememo
    rialservice,saidhehadyettoreceivearesponsefromanytimetravelerst
    oattendthememorialservice.ThedeadlinetoreserveaplaceattheJune
    15eventatLondon'sWestminsterAbbeyistoday.Thespokesmansaidit
    wasstillpossible.Hesaid:"Wecannotexcludethepossibilityoftimetrav
    elasithasnotbeendisproventooursatisfaction."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    It would be great if we could travel backwards and forwards in time. Discuss.

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    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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. STEPHEN HAWKING: Make a poster about Stephen Hawking. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TIME TRAVEL: Write a magazine article about time travel. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.
    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 time travel. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on time travel. 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

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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