Breaking News English Lesson on Short-Sightedness

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Half of world population will be short-sighted (24th February, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Researchers predicted in a new report published in the journal Opthalmology that by 2050, half of the world's population will be short-sighted. The medical term for this condition is myopia. It is also known as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty focusing on objects that are far away from us. The researchers say that around 4.8 billion people will suffer from myopia. This is a seven-fold increase in cases from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of the Chinese population was short-sighted. Now, almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and young adults have trouble seeing faraway objects. A recent survey found that up 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

The researchers said they could not pinpoint definite reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be a combination of factors. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be a leading cause. Researchers said the sudden rise in myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near-work activities". Science journalist Sarah Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, reduces the onset of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the report, offered some advice. He said: "You could spend a long time reading computers and screens, but also spend two hours outdoors."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.sciencealert.com/half-the-world-s-population-will-be-short-sighted-by-2050
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myopia
http://www.treehugger.com/family/remarkable-reason-why-nearsightedness-has-more-doubled-50-years.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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about short-sightedness. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

researchers / journal / short-sightedness / medical / focusing / population / survey / reasons / combination / factors / outdoors / science / journalist / childhood / advice

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. EYES: What do you know about these conditions? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I know	How to help
Short-sightedness
Colour blindness
Black eye
Cataracts
Double vision
Snow blindness

4. FAR-SIGHTEDNESS: Students A strongly believe far-sightedness isn't as bad as near-sightedness; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

5. LOOK: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to look at at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• babies

• tropical fish

• the sky

• kittens

• flowers

• movies

• art

• mountains

6. POPULATION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "population". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Researchers said half the world would be shortsighted within 10 years.	T / F
b.	The medical name for near-sightedness is myopia.	T / F
c.	Around 4.8 billion people will be short-sighted by 2050.	T / F
d.	Almost half of South Korean teenagers are near-sighted.	T / F
e.	Researchers say the rise in short-sightedness is only due to computers.	T / F
f.	Researchers say spending less time outdoors affects our eyesight.	T / F
g.	A journalist suggested children should spend more time indoors.	T / F
h.	The report's co-author said people needed to spend 2 hours outdoors.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	predicted	a.	occurrence
2.	term	b.	distant
3.	objects	c.	exact
4.	faraway	d.	name
5.	found	e.	main
6.	definite	f.	discovered
7.	phenomenon	g.	particularly
8.	leading	h.	forecast
9.	especially	i.	guidance
10.	advice	j.	things

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	The medical term for this	a.	for this phenomenon
2.	focusing	b.	seeing faraway objects
3.	This is a seven-	c.	childhood
4.	have trouble	d.	condition is myopia
5.	95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea	e.	rise in myopia
6.	pinpoint definite reasons	f.	of factors
7.	it could be a combination	g.	are near-sighted
8.	the sudden	h.	outdoors
9.	especially in early	i.	fold increase
10.	spend two hours	j.	on objects

GAP FILL

Researchers predicted in a new report (1) ____________ in the journal Opthalmology that by 2050, half of the world's population will be short-sighted. The medical (2) ____________ for this condition is myopia. It is also known as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty (3) ____________ on objects that are far away from us. The researchers say that around 4.8 billion people will (4) ____________ from myopia. This is a seven-fold increase in (5) ____________ from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of the Chinese (6) ____________ was short-sighted. Now, almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and young adults have (7) ____________ seeing faraway objects. A recent (8) ____________ found that up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

focusing
cases
published
trouble
term
survey
suffer
population

The researchers said they could not pinpoint (9) ____________ reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be a combination of (10) ____________. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be a leading (11) ____________. Researchers said the sudden rise in myopia may be (12) ____________ to "lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time (13) ____________ and increased near-work activities". Science journalist Sarah Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in (14) ____________ childhood, reduces the onset of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the report, offered some (15) ____________. He said: "You could spend a long time reading computers and screens, but also (16) ____________ two hours outdoors."

linked
factors
early
definite
spend
outdoors
advice
cause

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The medical term for this condition is myopia. It is also known ______
	a. as near-sightedness b. as near-sightedness c. as near-sightedness d. as near-sightedness
2)	It is when we have difficulty focusing on objects that are ______
	a. far away from us b. far away from us c. far away from us d. far away from us
3)	This is a seven-fold increase ______ 2000 to 2050
	a. in causes from b. in cases from c. in case is from d. in cause is from
4)	almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and young adults have trouble ______
	a. seeing for away object b. seeing faraway objectives c. seeing for away objects d. seeing faraway objects
5)	A recent survey found that up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea ______
	a. are nearly-sighted b. are now-sighted c. are an ear sighted d. are near-sighted
6)	The researchers said they could not pinpoint definite reasons ______
	a. for this phenomenon b. for this phenomena c. for this phenomenal d. for this phenomenally
7)	They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be ______
	a. a leading case b. a leading cause c. a leading course d. a leading curse
8)	resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased ______
	a. nearly-work activities b. near-works activities c. near-work activities d. nearly-works activities
9)	Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, reduces ______ myopia"
	a. the on set of b. the onside of c. the onset of d. the once set of
10)	You could spend a long time reading computers and screens, but also spend ______
	a. two hours out of doors b. two hours outdoors c. two hours in doors d. two hours outer doors

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Researchers predicted (1) ___________________ published in the journal Opthalmology that by 2050, half of the world's population will be short-sighted. The medical term (2) ___________________ is myopia. It is also known as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty (3) ___________________ that are far away from us. The researchers say that around 4.8 billion people (4) ___________________ myopia. This is a seven-fold increase in cases from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of the Chinese population was short-sighted. Now, almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers (5) ___________________ have trouble (6) ___________________ objects. A recent survey found that up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

The researchers said they could not pinpoint (7) ___________________ this phenomenon and say it could be a combination of factors. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones (8) ___________________ cause. Researchers said (9) ___________________ myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased (10) ___________________". Science journalist Sarah Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, reduces the onset of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, (11) ___________________ report, offered some advice. He said: "You could spend a long time reading computers and screens, but (12) ___________________ hours outdoors."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What kind of publication was the report published in?
2.	What is the medical name for short-sightedness?
3.	How many people will be short-sighted by 2050?
4.	When was it that 15% of the Chinese population was short-sighted?
5.	In which country are almost 95% of teenagers near-sighted?
6.	What could researchers not pinpoint regarding this phenomenon?
7.	What has decreased because of lifestyle changes?
8.	What is Sarah Zhang's job?
9.	When do people particularly need to spend time outside?
10.	How many hours did the co-author say people should spend outside?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What kind of publication was the report published in?	6.	What could researchers not pinpoint regarding this phenomenon?
	a) a book b) a newspaper c) an in-flight magazine d) a journal		a) exact terms b) figures c) definite reasons d) numbers
2.	What is the medical name for short-sightedness?	7.	What has decreased because of lifestyle changes?
	a) myriad b) myopia c) bipolar d) bionic		a) time spent outdoors b) eyeballs c) the outdoors d) inside
3.	How many people will be short-sighted by 2050?	8.	What is Sarah Zhang's job?
	a) around 4.9 billion b) around 4.6 billion c) around 4.3 billion d) around 4.8 billion		a) dentist b) ophthalmologist c) journalist d) researcher
4.	When was it that 15% of the Chinese population was short-sighted?	9.	When do people particularly need to spend time outside?
	a) in the 1600s b) 1600 c) 60 years ago d) 16 years ago		a) lunch times b) in early childhood c) at night d) in the morning
5.	In which country are almost 95% of teenagers near-sighted?	10.	How many hours did the co-author say people should spend outside?
	a) Bolivia b) Angola c) China d) South Korea		a) 2 b) 3 c) 4 d) 5

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Babies

You think babies are the best things to look at. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to look at (and why): the sky, movies or art.

Role B – The sky

You think the sky is the best thing to look at. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to look at (and why): babies, movies or art.

Role C – Movies

You think movies are the best things to look at. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to look at (and why): the sky, babies or art.

Role D – Art

You think art is the best thing to look at. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to look at (and why): the sky, movies or babies.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'short' and 'near'.

short

near

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

published
term
difficulty
seven
90
95

pinpoint
leading
linked
early
offered
two

SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about short-sightedness in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'eyesight'?
3)	How good is your eyesight?
4)	What do you think of wearing glasses?
5)	Which are better, glasses or contact lenses?
6)	What do you think about what you read?
7)	Do you think scientists will be able to cure myopia?
8)	Why are people from some countries more short-sighted?
9)	What problems does near-sightedness cause?
10)	What problems does far-sightedness cause?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How can we take better care of our eyes?
13)	Why do you think more and more people have failing eyesight?
14)	Are you worried about your eyesight worsening?
15)	Do you spend too long looking at screens?
16)	Would it be easy for you to spend more time outdoors?
17)	Should children be made to spend more time outdoors?
18)	How good is your lifestyle for your eyes?
19)	What other things are affecting our eyesight, besides screens?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Researchers (1) ____ in a new report published in the journal Opthalmology that by 2050, half of the world's population will be short-sighted. The medical (2) ____ for this condition is myopia. It is also known as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty focusing (3) ____ objects that are far away from us. The researchers say that around 4.8 billion people will (4) ____ from myopia. This is a seven-(5) ____ increase in cases from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of the Chinese population was short-sighted. Now, almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and young adults have trouble (6) ____ faraway objects. A recent survey found that up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

The researchers said they could not pinpoint (7) ____ reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be a combination of factors. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be a leading (8) ____. Researchers said the sudden rise in myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting from a combination (9) ____ decreased time outdoors and increased near-work activities". Science journalist Sarah Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in (10) ____ childhood, reduces the onset of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the report, (11) ____ some advice. He said: "You could spend a long time reading computers and screens, but (12) ____ spend two hours outdoors."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	predicted	(b)	predictive	(c)	prediction	(d)	predicting
2.	(a)	time	(b)	team	(c)	term	(d)	tern
3.	(a)	in	(b)	of	(c)	on	(d)	at
4.	(a)	aggravate	(b)	slip	(c)	file	(d)	suffer
5.	(a)	wild	(b)	weld	(c)	fold	(d)	mold
6.	(a)	seen	(b)	seeing	(c)	saw	(d)	sawn
7.	(a)	definitively	(b)	definite	(c)	definition	(d)	define
8.	(a)	clause	(b)	cause	(c)	course	(d)	case
9.	(a)	by	(b)	for	(c)	of	(d)	at
10.	(a)	advance	(b)	young	(c)	fast	(d)	early
11.	(a)	try	(b)	forward	(c)	put	(d)	offered
12.	(a)	alternate	(b)	as well	(c)	consider	(d)	also

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	published in the auonljr Opthalmology
2.	The dlmceai term for this
3.	have difficulty ugncofis on objects
4.	This is a vnsee-lodf increase
5.	have trouble seeing wyraaaf objects
6.	A recent esvury
Paragraph 2
7.	they could not pinpoint entifeid reasons
8.	it could be a bcntonioiam of factors
9.	eliltsyef changes
10.	Science tnloiajrus
11.	calipeslye in early childhood
12.	spend two hours souoodtr

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty focusing on objects that are far away
( )	population will be short-sighted. The medical term for this condition is myopia. It is also known
( )	said, "spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, reduces the onset
( )	of factors. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be a leading
( )	The researchers said they could not pinpoint definite reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be a combination
( )	90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and young adults have trouble seeing faraway objects. A recent
( )	survey found that up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.
( )	a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near-work activities". Science journalist Sarah Zhang
( )	cases from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of the Chinese population was short-sighted. Now, almost
( )	of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the report, offered some advice. He said: "You could spend
( )	cause. Researchers said the sudden rise in myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting from
( 1 )	Researchers predicted in a new report published in the journal Opthalmology that by 2050, half of the world's
( )	from us. The researchers say that around 4.8 billion people will suffer from myopia. This is a seven-fold increase in
( )	a long time reading computers and screens, but also spend two hours outdoors."

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	myopia for this The condition medical is term .
2.	difficulty focusing on objects that are far away We have .
3.	This 2000 from cases in increase fold - seven a is .
4.	objects faraway seeing trouble have adults Young .
5.	in to near teenagers Up are of Korea 95% sighted South - .
6.	pinpoint definite They reasons could for not this .
7.	myopia may be linked to lifestyle The sudden rise in .
8.	and - outdoors near activities time increased work Decreased .
9.	outdoors childhood , especially Spending in time early .
10.	reading spend computers a long You time could .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Researchers predicted in a new / newly report published in the journal Opthalmology that by 2050, half of the world's population will be short-sighted. The medical trim / term for this condition is myopia. It is also known / knowing as near-sightedness. It is when we have difficulty / difficult focusing in / on objects that are far away from us. The researchers say that around 4.8 billion people will suffering / suffer from myopia. This is a seven-fold / seven-eleven increase in cases / causes from 2000 to 2050. Sixty years ago, around 15 per cent of the Chinese population was short-sighted. Now, almost 90 per cent of Chinese teenagers and youth / young adults have trouble seeing faraway objects. A recently / recent survey found that up to 95 per cent of teenagers in South Korea are near-sighted.

The researchers said they could not pinpoint / point definite reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be a combination for / of factors. They did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be a loading / leading cause. Researchers said the sudden / suddenly rise in myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting at / from a combination of decreased / deceased time outdoors and increased / increase near-work activities". Science journalist Sarah Zhang said, "spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, reduces the onset / insert of myopia". Professor Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the report, offered many / some advice. He said: "You could spend a long time reading computers and screens, but also / as well spend two hours outdoors."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

R_s__rch_rs pr_d_ct_d _n _ n_w r_p_rt p_bl_sh_d _n th_ j__rn_l _pth_lm_l_gy th_t by 2050, h_lf _f th_ w_rld's p_p_l_t__n w_ll b_ sh_rt-s_ght_d. Th_ m_d_c_l t_rm f_r th_s c_nd_t__n _s my_p__. _t _s _ls_ kn_wn _s n__r-s_ght_dn_ss. _t _s wh_n w_ h_v_ d_ff_c_lty f_c_s_ng _n _bj_cts th_t _r_ f_r _w_y fr_m _s. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s_y th_t _r__nd 4.8 b_ll__n p__pl_ w_ll s_ff_r fr_m my_p__. Th_s _s _ s_v_n-f_ld _ncr__s_ _n c_s_s fr_m 2000 t_ 2050. S_xty y__rs _g_, _r__nd 15 p_r c_nt _f th_ Ch_n_s_ p_p_l_t__n w_s sh_rt-s_ght_d. N_w, _lm_st 90 p_r c_nt _f Ch_n_s_ t__n_g_rs _nd y__ng _d_lts h_v_ tr__bl_ s___ng f_r_w_y _bj_cts. _ r_c_nt s_rv_y f__nd th_t _p t_ 95 p_r c_nt _f t__n_g_rs _n S__th K_r__ _r_ n__r-s_ght_d.

Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d th_y c__ld n_t p_np__nt d_f_n_t_ r__s_ns f_r th_s ph_n_m_n_n _nd s_y _t c__ld b_ _ c_mb_n_t__n _f f_ct_rs. Th_y d_d s_y th_t l__k_ng _t c_mp_t_r scr__ns _nd m_b_l_ ph_n_s c__ld b_ _ l__d_ng c__s_. R_s__rch_rs s__d th_ s_dd_n r_s_ _n my_p__ m_y b_ l_nk_d t_ "l_f_styl_ ch_ng_s r_s_lt_ng fr_m _ c_mb_n_t__n _f d_cr__s_d t_m_ __td__rs _nd _ncr__s_d n__r-w_rk _ct_v_t__s". Sc__nc_ j__rn_l_st S_r_h Zh_ng s__d, "sp_nd_ng t_m_ __td__rs, _sp_c__lly _n __rly ch_ldh__d, r_d_c_s th_ _ns_t _f my_p__". Pr_f_ss_r K_v_n N__d__, _ c_-__th_r _f th_ r_p_rt, _ff_r_d s_m_ _dv_c_. H_ s__d: "Y__ c__ld sp_nd _ l_ng t_m_ r__d_ng c_mp_t_rs _nd scr__ns, b_t _ls_ sp_nd tw_ h__rs __td__rs."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

researchers predicted in a new report published in the journal opthalmology that by 2050 half of the world's population will be short-sighted the medical term for this condition is myopia it is also known as near-sightedness it is when we have difficulty focusing on objects that are far away from us the researchers say that around 48 billion people will suffer from myopia this is a seven-fold increase in cases from 2000 to 2050 sixty years ago around 15 per cent of the chinese population was short-sighted now almost 90 per cent of chinese teenagers and young adults have trouble seeing faraway objects a recent survey found that up to 95 per cent of teenagers in south korea are near-sighted

the researchers said they could not pinpoint definite reasons for this phenomenon and say it could be a combination of factors they did say that looking at computer screens and mobile phones could be a leading cause researchers said the sudden rise in myopia may be linked to "lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near-work activities" science journalist sarah zhang said "spending time outdoors especially in early childhood reduces the onset of myopia" professor kovin naidoo a co-author of the report offered some advice he said "you could spend a long time reading computers and screens but also spend two hours outdoors"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ResearcherspredictedinanewreportpublishedinthejournalOpthalmo
logythatby2050,halfoftheworld'spopulationwillbeshort-sighted.Th
emedicaltermforthisconditionismyopia.Itisalsoknownasnear-sig
htedness.Itiswhenwehavedifficultyfocusingonobjectsthatarefarawa
yfromus.Theresearcherssaythataround4.8billionpeoplewillsufferfro
mmyopia.Thisisaseven-foldincreaseincasesfrom2000to2050.Sixt
yyearsago,around15percentoftheChinesepopulationwasshort-sig
hted.Now,almost90percentofChineseteenagersandyoungadultshav
etroubleseeingfarawayobjects.Arecentsurveyfoundthatupto95perc
entofteenagersinSouthKoreaarenear-sighted.Theresearcherssai
dtheycouldnotpinpointdefinitereasonsforthisphenomenonandsayitc
ouldbeacombinationoffactors.Theydidsaythatlookingatcomputerscr
eensandmobilephonescouldbealeadingcause.Researcherssaidthesu
ddenriseinmyopiamaybelinkedto"lifestylechangesresultingfromaco
mbinationofdecreasedtimeoutdoorsandincreasednear-workactiv
ities".SciencejournalistSarahZhangsaid,"spendingtimeoutdoors,es
peciallyinearlychildhood,reducestheonsetofmyopia".ProfessorKovi
nNaidoo,aco-authorofthereport,offeredsomeadvice.Hesaid:"Youco
uldspendalongtimereadingcomputersandscreens,butalsospendtwo
hoursoutdoors."

FREE WRITING

Write about short-sightedness for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Short-sightedness is worse than far-sightedness. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about short-sightedness. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS: Make a poster about short-sightedness. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. EYESIGHT: Write a magazine article about near-sightedness and far-sightedness and which is worst. Include imaginary interviews with people who think near-sightedness is worse and with people who think far-sightedness is worse.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on myopia. Ask him/her three questions about short-sightedness. Give him/her three ideas on how we can avoid getting it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	predicted	a.	forecast
2.	term	b.	name
3.	objects	c.	things
4.	faraway	d.	distant
5.	found	e.	discovered
6.	definite	f.	exact
7.	phenomenon	g.	occurrence
8.	leading	h.	main
9.	especially	i.	particularly
10.	advice	j.	guidance

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	A journal
2.	Myopia
3.	Around 4.8 billion
4.	Sixty years ago
5.	South Korea
6.	Definite reasons
7.	Time outdoors
8.	Science journalist
9.	In early childhood
10.	Two

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Breaking News English Lesson on Short-Sightedness

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Half of world population will be short-sighted (24th February, 2016)

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The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

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