The Reading / Listening - Level 1

A record number of people applied to be a NASA astronaut. Over 18,300 people applied for 14 jobs. This is a record. NASA will now spend 18 months choosing the best people. It will announce the successful applicants in the middle of 2017. NASA said: "It's [great] to know so many people recognize what a great opportunity this is to be part of NASA's exciting mission. I look forward to meeting the men and women talented enough to rise to the top."

Many people want to work on the space program. NASA said: "So many Americans from diverse backgrounds want to personally contribute to…our journey to Mars." The top applicants will have an interview and then get two years of training. They will learn things such as spacewalking, teamwork and operating spacecraft. They will also learn Russian. They could go to the International Space Station or work for space tourism companies, such as SpaceX.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • https://thespacereporter.com/2016/02/nasa-receives-record-number-astronaut-applications/
  • http://www.space.com/31987-nasa-astronaut-applications-smash-record.html
  • http://www.themonitordaily.com/nasa-astronaut-application-pool-reached-18300-record/210868/


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 record number

a.

record

2.

be a NASA

b.

to the top

3.

Over 18,300 people applied

c.

the best people

4.

This is a

d.

for 14 jobs

5.

spend 18 months choosing

e.

of people applied

6.

It will announce the successful

f.

this is

7.

recognize what a great opportunity

g.

astronaut

8.

talented enough to rise

h.

applicants

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Many people want

a.

Station

2.

the space

b.

training

3.

diverse

c.

such as SpaceX

4.

our journey

d.

backgrounds

5.

get two years of

e.

to work

6.

They will learn things such

f.

to Mars

7.

the International Space

g.

program

8.

space tourism companies,

h.

as spacewalking

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A record number (1) ___________________ to be a NASA astronaut. (2) ___________________ people applied for 14 jobs. This is a record. NASA (3) ___________________ 18 months choosing the best people. It will announce the successful applicants in (4) ___________________ 2017. NASA said: "It's [great] to know so many people recognize what a great opportunity this (5) ___________________ NASA's exciting mission. I look forward to meeting the men and women talented enough to (6) ___________________."

Many people (7) ___________________ the space program. NASA said: "So many Americans from (8) __________________ want to personally (9) ___________________ journey to Mars." The top applicants will have (10) ___________________ then get two years of training. They will learn (11) _______________ spacewalking, teamwork and operating spacecraft. They will also learn Russian. They could go to the International Space Station or (12) ___________________ tourism companies, such as SpaceX.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ArecordnumberofpeopleappliedtobeaNASAastronaut.Over18,300p
eopleappliedfor14jobs.Thisisarecord.NASAwillnowspend18months
choosingthebestpeople.Itwillannouncethesuccessfulapplicantsinth
emiddleof2017.NASAsaid:"It's[great]toknowsomanypeoplerecogni
zewhatagreatopportunitythisistobepartofNASA'sexcitingmission.Ilo
okforwardtomeetingthemenandwomentalentedenoughtorisetothet
op."Manypeoplewanttoworkonthespaceprogram.NASAsaid:"Soma
nyAmericansfromdiversebackgroundswanttopersonallycontributet
o…ourjourneytoMars."Thetopapplicantswillhaveaninterviewandthe
ngettwoyearsoftraining.Theywilllearnthingssuchasspacewalking,te
amworkandoperatingspacecraft.TheywillalsolearnRussian.Theycou
ldgototheInternationalSpaceStationorworkforspacetourismcompan
ies,suchasSpaceX.

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 astronauts for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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