The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Scientists have good news - numbers of blue whales in the eastern Pacific Ocean are at their highest in over a century. Researchers say there are over 2,200 blue whales between Mexico and Alaska. Hunters nearly made them extinct until whaling became illegal in 1971. Since then, they started increasing in number. It has taken 40 years for them to recover. Dr Cole Monnahan was very happy. He said: "For us, this is a great conservation success story."

Dr Monnahan said the number of blue whales might not rise above 2,200. He said: "If there were about 2,200 whales to begin with, then that is what the environment can support." He warned that the creature still needs protection and monitoring. He said without this, the whales could become extinct. He added that the increase in numbers shows, "the ability of blue whale populations to rebuild under careful management and conservation measures".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/09/08/study-california-blue-whale-population-rebounds-from-whaling/
  • http://www.calacademy.org/sciencetoday/californias-blue-whale-population-rebounding/5516878/
  • http://time.com/3297045/california-blue-whales/


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.

Scientists have

a.

over a century

2.

the eastern

b.

illegal in 1971

3.

at their highest in

c.

good news

4.

Researchers say there are over

d.

for them to recover

5.

Hunters nearly made them

e.

story

6.

whaling became

f.

2,200

7.

It has taken 40 years

g.

Pacific Ocean

8.

this is a great conservation success

h.

extinct


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.

the number of blue whales might not

a.

to begin with

2.

there were about 2,200 whales

b.

conservation measures

3.

that is what the environment

c.

extinct

4.

the creature still

d.

can support

5.

whales could become

e.

populations to rebuild

6.

the increase

f.

rise above 2,200

7.

the ability of blue whale

g.

needs protection

8.

careful management and

h.

in numbers

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Scientists (1) ___________________ - numbers of blue whales in the eastern Pacific Ocean (2) ___________________ in over a century. Researchers say (3) ___________________ 2,200 blue whales between Mexico and Alaska. Hunters nearly made them extinct until whaling (4) ___________________ 1971. Since then, they started (5) ___________________. It has taken 40 years for them to recover. Dr Cole Monnahan was very happy. He said: "For us, (6) ___________________ conservation success story."

Dr Monnahan said (7) ___________________ blue whales might not rise above 2,200. He said: "If there were about 2,200 whales (8) ___________________, then that is what the environment can support." He warned that (9) ___________________ needs protection and monitoring. He said without this, the whales could (10) ___________________. He added that the increase in numbers shows, "(11) ___________________ blue whale populations (12) ___________________ careful management and conservation measures".

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Scientistshavegoodnews-numbersofbluewhalesintheeaste
rnPacificOceanareattheirhighestinoveracentury.Researcherssay
thereareover2,200bluewhalesbetweenMexicoandAlaska.Hunter
snearlymadethemextinctuntilwhalingbecameillegalin1971.Since
then,theystartedincreasinginnumber.Ithastaken40yearsforthe
mtorecover.DrColeMonnahanwasveryhappy.Hesaid:"Forus,thisi
sagreatconservationsuccessstory."DrMonnahansaidthenumbero
fbluewhalesmightnotriseabove2,200.Hesaid:"Iftherewereabout
2,200whalestobeginwith,thenthatiswhattheenvironmentcansup
port."Hewarnedthatthecreaturestillneedsprotectionandmonitori
ng.Hesaidwithoutthis,thewhalescouldbecomeextinct.Headdedth
attheincreaseinnumbersshows,"theabilityofbluewhalepopulatio
nstorebuildundercarefulmanagementandconservationmeasures".

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)

________________________________________________________

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about blue whales for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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