Massive coral reef found in Amazon River

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Scientists have found a huge coral reef in the Amazon River. The scientists were on an expedition to learn more about plumes. These are the areas where a river meets the sea, and the freshwater and saltwater mix. The reef covers an area of 5,800 square kilometres. It stretches from the French Guiana coast to the Brazilian rainforest. Reefs are rarely found in rivers because the water is usually too muddy. It also does not contain enough salt.

The scientists explored just 10 per cent of the reef. They found 73 species of reef fish, some carnivorous. They also found sponges, creatures and other marine life that had adapted to life in the dark water. A researcher said: "We brought up the most amazing and colorful animals I have ever seen." However, the area will be explored for oil. The researcher warned that the impact of ocean warming and oil exploration will put the whole system at risk.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/23/world/amazon-river-coral-reef-irpt/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/220416-Amazon-coral-reef-Brazil-ocean-river-fish/
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/22/huge-coral-reef-discovered-at-amazon-river-mouth

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 a huge	a.	mix
2.	The scientists were on	b.	French Guiana coast
3.	the areas where a river	c.	an expedition
4.	freshwater and saltwater	d.	area of 5,800 sq kilometres
5.	The reef covers an	e.	found in rivers
6.	It stretches from the	f.	coral reef
7.	Reefs are rarely	g.	enough salt
8.	It also does not contain	h.	meets the sea

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.	The scientists explored just	a.	in the dark water
2.	They found 73 species	b.	life
3.	other marine	c.	warming
4.	adapted to life	d.	for oil
5.	the most amazing and	e.	10 per cent of the reef
6.	the area will be explored	f.	at risk
7.	the impact of ocean	g.	of reef fish
8.	put the whole system	h.	colorful animals

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Scientists (1) ___________________ huge coral reef in the Amazon River. The scientists (2) ___________________ expedition to learn more about plumes. These are the areas where (3) ___________________ the sea, and the freshwater and saltwater mix. The reef (4) ___________________ of 5,800 square kilometres. (5) ___________________ the French Guiana coast to the Brazilian rainforest. Reefs are rarely found in rivers because the water is usually too muddy. It also does (6) ___________________ salt.

The scientists (7) ___________________ per cent of the reef. They found 73 species of reef fish, some carnivorous. They (8) ___________________, creatures and (9) ___________________ that had adapted to life in the dark water. A researcher said: "We (10) ___________________ most amazing and colorful animals I have ever seen." However, the (11) ___________________ for oil. The researcher warned that the impact of ocean warming and oil exploration will put the whole (12) ___________________.

CORAL REEFS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about coral reefs 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.

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)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about coral reefs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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