The Reading / Listening - Level 1

There is good and bad news about trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven times more than we thought. Scientists estimated that the world had 400 billion trees. A new study says we have three trillion trees. That's a three followed by 12 zeroes. There are over 420 trees for every person alive today. A researcher said: "It's not good news for the world or bad news that we've produced this new number."

The bad news is that the earth once had six trillion trees. Humans have cut that number in half. Europe used to be a giant forest. Now much of it is fields and cities. We are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees. Another 15 billion trees are lost each year. Scientists said this number is a lot higher than 100 years ago. The researcher warned that we must try harder to bring back healthy forests worldwide.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34134366
  • http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/02/scientists-reveal-there-are-3tn-trees-in-world-new-count
  • http://www.livescience.com/52070-global-tree-census-human-impacts.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.

good news and bad news about

a.

person alive today

2.

seven times

b.

have three trillion trees

3.

Scientists estimated that the world had

c.

for the world

4.

A new study says we

d.

more than we thought

5.

a three followed

e.

this new number

6.

420 trees for every

f.

trees on our planet

7.

good news

g.

by 12 zeroes

8.

we've produced

h.

400 billion trees



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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.

Humans have cut that number

a.

of three trillion trees

2.

Europe used to

b.

try harder

3.

much of it is fields

c.

in half

4.

We are responsible for the loss

d.

forests

5.

15 billion trees are

e.

be a giant forest

6.

this number is a

f.

lost each year

7.

The researcher warned that we must

g.

and cities

8.

bring back healthy

h.

lot higher

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

There (1) ___________________ news about trees on our planet. The good news is that there are (2) _________________ we thought. Scientists (3) ___________________ the world had 400 billion trees. A new study says we have three trillion trees. That's a three (4) ___________________. There are over 420 trees for every (5) ___________________. A researcher said: "It's not good news for the world or bad news (6) ____________ this new number."

The bad news is that (7) ___________________ six trillion trees. Humans have (8) ___________________ half. Europe used to be a giant forest. Now (9) ___________________ fields and cities. We are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees. Another 15 billion trees (10) ___________________. Scientists said this number (11) ___________________ than 100 years ago. The researcher warned that we must try harder (12) _____________ forests worldwide.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thereisgoodandbadnewsabouttreesonourplanet.Thegoodnewsisth
atthereareseventimesmorethanwethought.Scientistsestimatedthat
theworldhad400billiontrees.Anewstudysayswehavethreetrilliontree
s.That'sathreefollowedby12zeroes.Thereareover420treesforeveryp
ersonalivetoday.Aresearchersaid:"It'snotgoodnewsfortheworldorb
adnewsthatwe'veproducedthisnewnumber."Thebadnewsisthatthee
arthoncehadsixtrilliontrees.Humanshavecutthatnumberinhalf.Euro
peusedtobeagiantforest.Nowmuchofitisfieldsandcities.Wearerespo
nsibleforthelossofthreetrilliontrees.Another15billiontreesarelosteac
hyear.Scientistssaidthisnumberisalothigherthan100yearsago.Ther
esearcherwarnedthatwemusttryhardertobringbackhealthyforestsw
orldwide.

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 trees 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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