The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Scientists have found one answer to water shortages. It is a new material that collects water from the air. They got the idea from a beetle that lives in an African desert. The deserts in Namibia are very dry, but the Namib beetle is an expert at surviving in dry conditions. Its shell is covered in small bumps that collect drops of water from the air. It is enough to keep the beetle alive. Scientists studied the shape and material of the bumps. They now want to make their own materials that can collect water from the air. This will help people who live in very dry areas.

The scientists say this technology could help in many areas of our life. They said it could help power plants. It could also help with heating and air conditioning. One scientist, Philseok Kim, said: "Thermal power plants, for example, rely on [things] to quickly convert steam to liquid water. [Our] design could help speed up that process and even allow for operation at a higher temperature." Another scientist, Joanna Aizenberg, said she was looking forward to getting more new technologies from nature. She said: "Everybody is excited about bio-inspired materials research."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.pulseheadlines.com/scientists-developed-material-water-air/18647/
  • http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/20230/20160326/desert-beetles-cacti-inspire-new-water-harvesting-techniques.htm
  • http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/scientists-steal-designs-nature-new-water-collecting-material


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.

Scientists have found one answer

a.

at surviving

2.

a new material that

b.

from a beetle

3.

They got the idea

c.

in very dry areas

4.

the Namib beetle is an expert

d.

the beetle alive

5.

Its shell is covered in

e.

to water shortages

6.

It is enough to keep

f.

their own materials

7.

They now want to make

g.

collects water

8.

help people who live

h.

small bumps



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.

help in many areas

a.

up that process

2.

air

b.

to getting more

3.

quickly convert steam

c.

of our life

4.

help speed

d.

temperature

5.

at a higher

e.

materials research

6.

she was looking forward

f.

conditioning

7.

new technologies from

g.

nature

8.

Everybody is excited about bio-inspired

h.

to liquid water

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Scientists have found (1) ___________________ water shortages. It is a new material that collects water (2) ___________________. They got the idea from a beetle that lives in an African desert. The deserts in Namibia (3) ___________________, but the Namib beetle is an expert at surviving in dry conditions. Its shell is covered in small bumps that (4) ___________________ water from the air. It is enough to keep (5) ___________________. Scientists studied the shape and material of the bumps. They now want to make their own materials that can collect water from the air. This will help people who live in (6) ___________________.

The scientists say this technology could help (7) _______________ of our life. They said it could help power plants. It could also help with heating and (8) ___________________. One scientist, Philseok Kim, said: "Thermal power plants, for example, rely on [things] (9) ___________________ steam to liquid water. [Our] design could help speed up that process (10) __________________ for operation at a higher temperature." Another scientist, Joanna Aizenberg, said she was (11) ___________________ getting more new technologies from nature. She said: "Everybody (12) ___________________ bio-inspired materials research."

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Scientistshavefoundoneanswertowatershortages.Itisanewmaterialt
hatcollectswaterfromtheair.Theygottheideafromabeetlethatlivesina
nAfricandesert.ThedesertsinNamibiaareverydry,buttheNamibbeetl
eisanexpertatsurvivingindryconditions.Itsshelliscoveredinsmallbu
mpsthatcollectdropsofwaterfromtheair.Itisenoughtokeepthebeetle
alive.Scientistsstudiedtheshapeandmaterialofthebumps.Theynoww
anttomaketheirownmaterialsthatcancollectwaterfromtheair.Thiswil
lhelppeoplewholiveinverydryareas.Thescientistssaythistechnologyc
ouldhelpinmanyareasofourlife.Theysaiditcouldhelppowerplants.Itc
ouldalsohelpwithheatingandairconditioning.Onescientist,PhilseokKi
m,said:"Thermalpowerplants,forexample,relyon[things]toquicklyc
onvertsteamtoliquidwater.[Our]designcouldhelpspeedupthatproce
ssandevenallowforoperationatahighertemperature."Anotherscienti
st,JoannaAizenberg,saidshewaslookingforwardtogettingmorenewt
echnologiesfromnature.Shesaid:"Everybodyisexcitedaboutbio-
inspiredmaterialsresearch."

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 water 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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