Luxembourg to develop asteroid mining

The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Other countries are looking for new places to mine. In 2015, the USA made a law to let companies mine space resources. The European Space Agency plans a research base on the Moon. Asteroid mining will allow greater exploration of space, and protect resources on Earth. However, the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 says that natural resources in space are part of our 'common heritage'. This means companies may not be allowed to mine asteroids.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 0, Level 2 or Level 3

Sources

http://mashable.com/2016/02/04/luxembourg-asteroid-mining-initiative/#bOJUuel.UgqM
http://www.mining-technology.com/news/newsluxembourg-plans-legal-framework-asteroid-mining-4801653
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Luxembourgs_ultimate_offshore_investment_Space_mining_999.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.	a new player in the space	a.	unexplored mineral resources
2.	mine asteroids for water	b.	race
3.	This will help future trips to outer	c.	rocks
4.	Luxembourg is	d.	and minerals
5.	a leader in	e.	habitats
6.	previously	f.	looking at projects
7.	lifeless	g.	this new industry
8.	without damaging natural	h.	space

MY e-BOOK

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.	looking for new	a.	space
2.	the USA made	b.	Treaty of 1967
3.	a research	c.	places to mine
4.	greater exploration of	d.	allowed to mine asteroids
5.	protect resources	e.	base on the Moon
6.	the Outer Space	f.	heritage
7.	part of our common	g.	a law
8.	companies may not be	h.	on Earth

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

(1) ___________________ Luxembourg is a new player in the (2) ___________________. Its government is putting money into the asteroid mining industry. Companies (3) ___________________ asteroids for water and minerals. This will help future trips to (4) ___________________. Luxembourg is looking at projects to become a leader in this new industry. It said: "Our (5) ___________________ open access to a wealth of previously unexplored mineral resources on lifeless rocks…without damaging (6) ___________________."

Other countries (7) ___________________ new places to mine. In 2015, the USA made (8) ___________________ companies mine space resources. The European Space Agency plans a research base on the Moon. Asteroid mining (9) ___________________ greater exploration of space, and protect (10) ___________________ Earth. However, the Outer Space Treaty of (11) ___________________ natural resources in space are part of our 'common heritage'. This means companies may not be (12) ___________________ asteroids.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThenationofLuxembourgisanewplayerinthespacerace.Itsgovernme
ntisputtingmoneyintotheasteroidminingindustry.Companieswillmin
easteroidsforwaterandminerals.Thiswillhelpfuturetripstoouterspac
e.Luxembourgislookingatprojectstobecomealeaderinthisnewindust
ry.Itsaid:"Ouraimistoopenaccesstoawealthofpreviouslyunexplored
mineralresourcesonlifelessrocks…withoutdamagingnaturalhabitats
."Othercountriesarelookingfornewplacestomine.In2015,theUSAma
dealawtoletcompaniesminespaceresources.TheEuropeanSpaceAge
ncyplansaresearchbaseontheMoon.Asteroidminingwillallowgreater
explorationofspace,andprotectresourcesonEarth.However,theOute
rSpaceTreatyof1967saysthatnaturalresourcesinspacearepartofour'
commonheritage'.Thismeanscompaniesmaynotbeallowedtomineas
teroids.

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 asteroid mining for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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