The Reading / Listening - Level 1

In the U.K. there will soon be babies that come from the DNA of three different people. British lawmakers voted to allow three-person babies. This will stop a disease passing from a mother to her newborn baby. The first three-person baby could be born as early as next year. There could be 150 a year. The technique will help stop an incurable disease that affects about one in 6,500 children around the world.

The technique combines DNA from the parents and a female donor who does not have the disease. Doctors swap unhealthy DNA in the mother's egg with healthy DNA from the donor. About 0.1 per cent of the baby's DNA will be from the donor. Doctors say this is "light at the end of a dark tunnel" for many families. Britain's leader said parents who want a healthy baby could now have one. Critics say this is bad and could lead to "designer babies".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/health-31069173
  • http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/three-parent-babies-could-be-born-next-year-1-3678635
  • http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/britain-votes-to-allow-world-s-first-3-parent-ivf-babies/


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 DNA of three

a.

next year

2.

stop a disease passing from a mother

b.

an incurable disease

3.

The first three-

c.

150 a year

4.

as early as

d.

the world

5.

There could be

e.

to her newborn baby

6.

The technique will help stop

f.

in 6,500 children

7.

affects about one

g.

different people

8.

around

h.

person baby


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.

a female donor who does not

a.

this is bad

2.

unhealthy DNA

b.

from the donor.

3.

healthy DNA

c.

a dark tunnel

4.

About 0.1 per cent

d.

babies

5.

light at the end of

e.

have the disease

6.

parents who want a

f.

of the baby's DNA

7.

Critics say

g.

in the mother's egg

8.

designer

h.

healthy baby

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

In the U.K. (1) ___________________ be babies that come from the (2) ___________________ different people. British lawmakers voted to allow three-person babies. This (3) ___________________ passing from a mother to her newborn baby. The first three-person baby could (4) ___________________ as next year. There could be 150 a year. The technique (5) ___________________ an incurable disease that affects about one in 6,500 children (6) ___________________.

The technique (7) ___________________ from the parents and a female donor who (8) ___________________ the disease. Doctors swap unhealthy DNA in the mother's egg with healthy DNA from the donor. About (9) ___________________ the baby's DNA will be from the donor. Doctors say (10) ___________________ the end (11) ___________________ for many families. Britain's leader said parents who want a healthy baby could now have one. Critics say this is bad and could lead to "(12) ___________________".

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

IntheU.K.therewillsoonbebabiesthatcomefromtheDNAofthreediffer
entpeople.Britishlawmakersvotedtoallowthree-personbabies.This
willstopadiseasepassingfromamothertohernewbornbaby.Thefirstth
ree-personbabycouldbebornasearlyasnextyear.Therecouldbe15
0ayear.Thetechniquewillhelpstopanincurablediseasethataffectsabo
utonein6,500childrenaroundtheworld.ThetechniquecombinesDNAfr
omtheparentsandafemaledonorwhodoesnothavethedisease.Doctor
sswapunhealthyDNAinthemother'seggwithhealthyDNAfromthedon
or.About0.1percentofthebaby'sDNAwillbefromthedonor.Doctorssa
ythisis"lightattheendofadarktunnel"formanyfamilies.Britain'sleader
saidparentswhowantahealthybabycouldnowhaveone.Criticssaythisi
sbadandcouldleadto"designerbabies".

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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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 3-parent babies 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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