The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The number of insects has fallen by 45 per cent in the past 35 years. This could be dangerous for humans. A report on this has been published in the journal 'Science'. It says the human population has doubled since 1980. The number of insects has nearly halved. One of the biggest reasons is deforestation. Land is disappearing because of new cities and farms. Another reason is global warming. In the UK, the number of beetles, butterflies, bees and wasps has fallen by up to 60 per cent. Many countries are worried about the fall in number of bees and butterflies.

Scientists say fewer insects will make many problems for humans. One of the biggest dangers is that there will be fewer insects to pollinate flowers. Farmers will have problems growing food. The lead author of the report said falling numbers of insects could also lead to more disease. He said rats and mice would have less food so they will move to cities and bring diseases with them. A professor said we must stop more insects from dying. He said scientists must understand, "what species are winning and losing in the fight for survival". This will help us to protect the "helpful" insects.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/10989198/Creepy-crawlies-decline-as-human-population-soars.html
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2704973/Insect-population-45-just-35-years-Scientists-fear-drop-harm-planet-vital-role-play.html#ixzz38XUJsEL2
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/end-world-predicted-scientists-who-3913927#ixzz38XUjx9pp


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.

The number of insects has

a.

since 1980

2.

in the past

b.

global warming

3.

This could be dangerous

c.

35 years

4.

the human population has doubled

d.

in number of bees

5.

The number of insects has nearly

e.

wasps

6.

Another reason is

f.

fallen by 45 per cent

7.

beetles, butterflies, bees and

g.

halved

8.

worried about the fall

h.

for humans



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.

fewer insects will make many

a.

and losing

2.

One of the biggest

b.

problems for humans

3.

there will be fewer insects

c.

for survival

4.

The lead author

d.

to pollinate flowers

5.

move to cities and bring

e.

of the report

6.

what species are winning

f.

insects

7.

the fight

g.

diseases with them

8.

protect the "helpful"

h.

dangers

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The number of insects (1) ___________________ 45 per cent in the past 35 years. This could be dangerous for humans. A report on this has (2) ___________________ the journal 'Science'. It says the human population (3) ___________________ 1980. The number of insects (4) ___________________. One of the biggest reasons is deforestation. Land is disappearing because of new cities and farms. Another reason (5) ___________________. In the UK, the number of beetles, butterflies, bees and wasps has fallen by up to 60 per cent. Many countries are worried (6) ___________________ number of bees and butterflies.

Scientists say fewer insects will (7) ___________________ for humans. One of the biggest dangers is that there will be fewer insects (8) ___________________. Farmers will have problems growing food. The lead author of the report said falling numbers of insects could also (9) ___________________. He said rats and mice would have (10) ___________________ will move to cities and bring diseases with them. A professor said we must stop more insects from dying. He said scientists must understand, "what species are winning and (11) ___________________ for survival". This will help us to protect (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thenumberofinsectshasfallenby45percentinthepast35years.Thiscouldbeda
ngerousforhumans.Areportonthishasbeenpublishedinthejournal'Science'.It
saysthehumanpopulationhasdoubledsince1980.Thenumberofinsectshasne
arlyhalved.Oneofthebiggestreasonsisdeforestation.Landisdisappearingbec
auseofnewcitiesandfarms.Anotherreasonisglobalwarming.IntheUK,thenu
mberofbeetles,butterflies,beesandwaspshasfallenbyupto60percent.Manyc
ountriesareworriedaboutthefallinnumberofbeesandbutterflies.Scientistssa
yfewerinsectswillmakemanyproblemsforhumans.Oneofthebiggestdangersi
sthattherewillbefewerinsectstopollinateflowers.Farmerswillhaveproblemsg
rowingfood.Theleadauthorofthereportsaidfallingnumbersofinsectscouldals
oleadtomoredisease.Hesaidratsandmicewouldhavelessfoodsotheywillmove
tocitiesandbringdiseaseswiththem.Aprofessorsaidwemuststopmoreinsects
fromdying.Hesaidscientistsmustunderstand,"whatspeciesarewinningandlo
singinthefightforsurvival".Thiswillhelpustoprotectthe"helpful"insects.

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)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about bugs 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