The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Help may be at hand for those of us who want to keep the wrinkles and grey hair at bay and slow down the process of aging. New research suggests that eating green vegetables can ward off the signs of aging. Researchers say that broccoli, cabbage and avocado in particular contain a compound that helps slow down the rate at which we age. The key compound, present in green fruit and vegetables, is called NMN. It helps slow down the physical signs of getting old. Scientists say NMN can also rejuvenate the metabolism. It helps replenish levels of energy production in our body that deteriorate as we age. It also helps reduce weight gain and the deterioration of vision.

The research was conducted by scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in the USA. Researcher professor Shinichiro Imai said: "We have shown a way to slow the physiological decline that we see in aging mice. This means older mice have metabolism and energy levels resembling that of younger mice." Professor Imai said tests on mice showed that NMN reduced typical signs of aging, including a decline in the strength of skeletal muscle, poor liver function, lower bone density and weakening eyesight. The reason our metabolism changes over time and leads to reduced energy levels has baffled scientists for decades. This latest research casts new light on this mystery.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/10/28/compound-in-broccoli-may-slow-signs-aging.html
  • http://www.techtimes.com/articles/184088/20161029/natural-compound-derived-from-broccoli-avocado-shows-promise-in-reducing-signs-of-aging.htm
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3879000/Why-BROCCOLI-reverse-signs-aging-Compound-vegetable-slows-vision-loss-middle-age-spread.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. AGING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about aging. 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?

       help / wrinkles / research / broccoli / aging / compound / metabolism / vision /
       scientists / professor / decline / mice / energy / typical / density / eyesight / mystery

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

3. LONG LIFE: Students A strongly believe nature should take its course and scientists should not do things to make us live longer; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. LONG LIFE: How can these things help us to live longer? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Internet
  • Friends
  • Gardens
  • Hobbies
  • Food
  • Travel
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

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

6. AGING SIGNS: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • poor eyesight
  • losing teeth
  • thinning hair / baldness
  • hearing loss
  • wrinkles
  • grey hair
  • memory loss
  • muscle weakness

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists have found a way to stop hair from going grey.     T / F
  2. Only two vegetables can help slow down the aging process.     T / F
  3. A compound called NMN does not affect the metabolism.     T / F
  4. The compound NMN helps us keep our eyesight longer.     T / F
  5. Researchers conducted tests on how mice age.     T / F
  6. Older mice had energy levels similar to those in younger mice.     T / F
  7. The compound NMN can slow down the decline of liver function.     T / F
  8. The article says the mystery of our changing metabolism is in the dark.   T / F

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

  1. at hand
  2. at bay
  3. rate
  4. rejuvenate
  5. deteriorate
  6. conducted
  7. resembling
  8. baffled
  9. casts
  10. mystery
  1. being similar to
  2. restore
  3. worsen
  4. puzzle
  5. away
  6. puzzled
  7. close by
  8. throws
  9. carried out
  10. speed

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

  1. keep the wrinkles and grey hair
  2. helps slow down the rate
  3. slow down the physical signs
  4. rejuvenate the
  5. weight
  6. The research was conducted
  7. slow the physiological
  8. energy levels resembling that of younger
  9. a decline in the strength
  10. baffled
  1. by scientists
  2. metabolism
  3. decline
  4. scientists
  5. at bay
  6. at which we age
  7. of skeletal muscle
  8. gain
  9. of getting old
  10. mice

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
particular
hand
rejuvenate
key
signs
vision
bay
physical

Help may be at (1) ____________ for those of us who want to keep the wrinkles and grey hair at (2) ____________ and slow down the process of aging. New research suggests that eating green vegetables can ward off the (3) ____________ of aging. Researchers say that broccoli, cabbage and avocado in (4) ____________ contain a compound that helps slow down the rate at which we age. The (5) ____________ compound, present in green fruit and vegetables, is called NMN. It helps slow down the (6) ____________ signs of getting old. Scientists say NMN can also (7) ____________ the metabolism. It helps replenish levels of energy production in our body that deteriorate as we age. It also helps reduce weight gain and the deterioration of (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
way
typical
scientists
light
resembling
decline
reduced
poor

The research was conducted by (9) ____________ at the Washington University School of Medicine in the USA. Researcher professor Shinichiro Imai said: "We have shown a (10) ____________ to slow the physiological (11) ____________ that we see in aging mice. This means older mice have metabolism and energy levels (12) ____________ that of younger mice." Professor Imai said tests on mice showed that NMN reduced (13) ____________ signs of aging, including a decline in the strength of skeletal muscle, (14) ____________ liver function, lower bone density and weakening eyesight. The reason our metabolism changes over time and leads to (15) ____________ energy levels has baffled scientists for decades. This latest research casts new (16) ____________ on this mystery.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Help may be at hand for those of us who want to keep the wrinkles and ______
     a.  grey hair at pay
     b.  grey hair at bay
     c.  grey hair at pray
     d.  grey hair at buy

2)  research suggests that eating green vegetables can ______ of aging
     a.  ward on the signs
     b.  ward of the signs
     c.  ward all the signs
     d.  ward off the signs

3)  contain a compound that helps slow down the ______ age
     a.  rate at which we
     b.  rate so which we
     c.  rate on which we
     d.  rate of which we

4)  It helps replenish levels of energy production in our body that ______ age
     a.  deteriorates as we
     b.  deteriorated as we
     c.  deterioration as we
     d.  deteriorate as we

5)  It also helps reduce weight gain and the ______
     a.  deterioration of visionaries
     b.  deterioration of visions
     c.  deterioration of vision
     d.  deterioration of visionary

6)  We have shown a way to slow the physiological decline that we ______ mice
     a.  seeing aging
     b.  seeing in age in
     c.  see in aging
     d.  see in age in

7)  older mice have metabolism and energy levels resembling ______ mice
     a.  that off younger
     b.  that if younger
     c.  that of younger
     d.  that for younger

8)  NMN reduced typical signs of aging, including a decline in the strength ______ muscle
     a.  of skeleton
     b.  of skill at all
     c.  of skull at all
     d.  of skeletal

9)  …changes over time and leads to reduced energy levels ______ scientists
     a.  has waffled
     b.  has baffled
     c.  has muffled
     d.  has ruffled

10)  This latest research casts new ______ mystery
     a.  lights on this
     b.  light of this
     c.  light on this
     d.  light on these

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Help may be at hand (1) ___________________ who want to keep the wrinkles and grey hair at bay and slow (2) ___________________ of aging. New research suggests that eating green vegetables can ward off the signs of aging. Researchers say that broccoli, cabbage and avocado in particular contain a compound that helps slow down (3) ___________________ we age. The key compound, present in green fruit and vegetables, is called NMN. It helps slow down the physical (4) ___________________ old. Scientists say NMN can also rejuvenate the metabolism. It helps replenish levels of energy production in our body (5) ___________________ as we age. It also helps reduce (6) ___________________ the deterioration of vision.

The research (7) ___________________ scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in the USA. Researcher professor Shinichiro Imai said: "We have (8) ___________________ slow the physiological decline that (9) ___________________ aging mice. This means older mice have metabolism and energy levels resembling that of younger mice." Professor Imai said tests on mice showed that NMN (10) ___________________ of aging, including a decline in the strength of skeletal muscle, poor liver function, (11) ___________________ and weakening eyesight. The reason our metabolism changes over time and leads to reduced energy levels has baffled scientists for decades. This latest research (12) ___________________ on this mystery.

Comprehension questions

  1. What may be at hand for those who don't want wrinkles?
  2. What other vegetable was mentioned besides broccoli and avocado?
  3. What is the name of the compound that slows down aging?
  4. What does the compound rejuvenate?
  5. What does the compound help reduce the deterioration of?
  6. What school of medicine conducted the research?
  7. What animals did researchers conduct tests on?
  8. What kind of muscle was mentioned in the article?
  9. What has the reason for our changing metabolism done to scientists?
  10. What has this research cast on the mystery of our metabolism?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What may be at hand for those who don't want wrinkles?
a) vegetables
b) help
c) fruit
d) metabolism

2) What other vegetable was mentioned besides broccoli and avocado?
a) capsicum
b) cauliflower
c) carrots
d) cabbage

3) What is the name of the compound that slows down aging?
a) NMN
b) NMM
c) MNM
d) MMN

4) What does the compound rejuvenate?
a) the legs
b) the brain
c) the metabolism
d) the skin

5) What does the compound help reduce the deterioration of?
a) weight gain
b) vision
c) age
d) energy

6) What school of medicine conducted the research?
a) Miami
b) Las Vegas
c) Washington
d) New York

7) What animals did researchers conduct tests on?
a) guinea pigs
b) monkeys
c) rats
d) mice

8) What kind of muscle was mentioned in the article?
a) skeletal muscle
b) biceps muscle
c) stomach muscle
d) brain muscle

9) What has the reason for our changing metabolism done to scientists?
a) baffled them
b) reduced them
c) energised them
d) researched them

10) What has this research cast on the mystery of our metabolism?
a) energy
b) new light
c) puzzles
d) decades

Role play

Role A —Wrinkles

You think getting wrinkles is the worst sign of aging. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't as bad with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): memory loss, poor eyesight or muscle weakness.

Role B —Memory Loss

You think memory loss is the worst sign of aging. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't as bad with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): getting wrinkles, poor eyesight or muscle weakness.

Role C —Poor Eyesight

You think poor eyesight is the worst sign of aging. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't as bad with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): memory loss, getting wrinkles or muscle weakness.

Role D —Muscle Weakness

You think muscle weakness is the worst sign of aging. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't as bad with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why):  memory loss, poor eyesight or getting wrinkles.

After reading / listening

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

'aging'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'process'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • conducted
    • way
    • older
    • typical
    • reason
    • light
    • hand
    • ward
    • particular
    • present
    • production
    • vision

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Broccoli and avocado slow down aging

    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 'ageing'?
    3. How worried are you about aging?
    4. Why do we age?
    5. Do you eat enough green vegetables?
    6. Would you like to live forever?
    7. What are the benefits of agiing?
    8. How can we keep wrinkles at bay?
    9. How can we ward off deteriorating eyesight?
    10. Will you now eat more broccoli and avocados?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of broccoli and avocado?
    3. What things do you dislike about aging?
    4. How are your levels of energy?
    5. What do you know about metabolism?
    6. Is it wrong to try and slow down the natural process of aging?
    7. What is the best age to be?
    8. Why do we think it is so important to stay young?
    9. What do you do to stay young and healthy?
    10. 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)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Help may be at (1) ____ for those of us who want to keep the wrinkles and grey hair at (2) ____ and slow down the process of aging. New research suggests that eating green vegetables can ward off the signs of aging. Researchers say that broccoli, cabbage and avocado in (3) ____ contain a compound that helps slow down the rate at which we age. The (4) ____ compound, present in green fruit and vegetables, is called NMN. It helps slow down the physical signs of getting old. Scientists say NMN can also rejuvenate the metabolism. It helps replenish levels of energy production in our body that deteriorate (5) ____ we age. It also helps reduce weight gain and the deterioration of (6) ____.

    The research was conducted (7) ____ scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in the USA. Researcher professor Shinichiro Imai said: "We have shown a way to slow the physiological (8) ____ that we see in aging mice. This means older mice have metabolism and energy levels resembling that of younger mice." Professor Imai said tests on mice showed that NMN reduced (9) ____ signs of aging, including a decline in the strength of skeletal muscle, (10) ____ liver function, lower bone density and weakening eyesight. The reason our metabolism changes over time and leads to reduced energy levels has (11) ____ scientists for decades. This latest research (12) ____ new light on this mystery.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     foot     (b)     stomach     (c)     hand     (d)     mouth    
    2. (a)     bay     (b)     day     (c)     hay     (d)     pay    
    3. (a)     particular     (b)     peculiar     (c)     particularly     (d)     peculiarly    
    4. (a)     key     (b)     chain     (c)     lock     (d)     combination    
    5. (a)     is     (b)     was     (c)     has     (d)     as    
    6. (a)     envision     (b)     visionaries     (c)     envisions     (d)     vision    
    7. (a)     by     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     cline     (b)     recline     (c)     incline     (d)     decline    
    9. (a)     typical     (b)     typically     (c)     typecast     (d)     typing    
    10. (a)     poverty     (b)     poor     (c)     poorly     (d)     impoverish    
    11. (a)     waffled     (b)     baffled     (c)     raffled     (d)     waffles    
    12. (a)     casts     (b)     dusts     (c)     masts     (d)     mists

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. keep the rskwnlei and grey hair at bay
    2. cabbage and avocado in rpucaitrla
    3. a modnoucp that helps slow down the rate
    4. rejuvenate the osbmimtale
    5. It helps eelinsprh levels of energy
    6. the dtiorainroeet of vision

    Paragraph 2

    1. The research was conducted by ncttiseiss
    2. slow the physiological deelnci
    3. energy levels bernmislge that of younger mice
    4. the strength of skeletal eumslc
    5. lower bone eyidtns
    6. casts new light on this yeymrst

    Put the text back together

    (    )     decline that we see in aging mice. This means older mice have metabolism and energy levels resembling

    (    )     of aging. Researchers say that broccoli, cabbage and avocado in particular contain a compound that helps slow down the rate

    (    )     at which we age. The key compound, present in green fruit and vegetables, is called NMN. It helps slow down the physical

    (    )     gain and the deterioration of vision.

    (    )     signs of getting old. Scientists say NMN can also rejuvenate the metabolism. It helps replenish

    (    )     levels of energy production in our body that deteriorate as we age. It also helps reduce weight

    (    )     in the USA. Researcher professor Shinichiro Imai said: "We have shown a way to slow the physiological

    1  )     Help may be at hand for those of us who want to keep the wrinkles and grey hair at bay and slow

    (    )     time and leads to reduced energy levels has baffled scientists for decades. This latest research casts new light on this mystery.

    (    )     down the process of aging. New research suggests that eating green vegetables can ward off the signs

    (    )     function, lower bone density and weakening eyesight. The reason our metabolism changes over

    (    )     The research was conducted by scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine

    (    )     NMN reduced typical signs of aging, including a decline in the strength of skeletal muscle, poor liver

    (    )     that of younger mice." Professor Imai said tests on mice showed that

    Put the words in the right order

    1. the   aging   vegetables   off   of   green   ward   signs   Eating   can   .
    2. compound   A  age  we  which   at  rate   the  down  slow   helps  that  .
    3. down   signs   old   slow   physical   getting   helps   the   of   It   .
    4. also   rejuvenate   the   metabolism   Scientists   say   NMN   can   .
    5. helps   of   in   It   levels   production   body   replenish   energy   our   .
    6. aging   the   that   in   Slow   decline   see   mice   physiological   we   .
    7. levels   that   younger   Energy   resembling   of   mice   .
    8. skeletal   in   muscle   the   Including   strength   a   of   decline   .
    9. reason   metabolism   over   The   our   changes   time   .
    10. latest   on   research   this   casts   mystery   new   This   light   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Help may be at hand / foot for those of us who want to keep the wrinkles and grey hair at bay / bat and slow down the process of aging. New research suggests that eating green vegetables can ward on / off the signs of aging. Researchers say that broccoli, cabbage and avocado in particularly / particular contain a compound that helps slow down the rate at / to which we age. The key / lock compound, present in green fruit and vegetables, is called NMN. It helps slow down the physical / physically signs of getting old. Scientists say NMN can also juvenile / rejuvenate the metabolism. It helps replenish levels of energy production in / on our body that deteriorate as we age. It also helps reduce weight gain and the deterioration of vision / visionary.

    The research was conducted by scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in the USA. Researcher professor Shinichiro Imai said: "We have showed / shown a way to slow the physiological incline / decline that we see in / on aging mice. This means older mice / mouse have metabolism and energy levels resembling / resemblance that of younger mice." Professor Imai said tests on mice showed that NMN reduced typed / typical signs of aging, including a decline in the strengthen / strength of skeletal muscle, poor liver function, lower bone / bony density and weakening eyesight. The reason our metabolism changes under / over time and leads to reduced energy levels has baffled / waffled scientists for decades. This latest research casts new light on this mystery.

    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)

    H_lp m_y b_ _t h_nd f_r th_s_ _f _s wh_ w_nt t_ k__p th_ wr_nkl_s _nd gr_y h__r _t b_y _nd sl_w d_wn th_ pr_c_ss _f _g_ng. N_w r_s__rch s_gg_sts th_t __t_ng gr__n v_g_t_bl_s c_n w_rd _ff th_ s_gns _f _g_ng. R_s__rch_rs s_y th_t br_cc_l_, c_bb_g_ _nd _v_c_d_ _n p_rt_c_l_r c_nt__n _ c_mp__nd th_t h_lps sl_w d_wn th_ r_t_ _t wh_ch w_ _g_. Th_ k_y c_mp__nd, pr_s_nt _n gr__n fr__t _nd v_g_t_bl_s, _s c_ll_d NMN. _t h_lps sl_w d_wn th_ phys_c_l s_gns _f g_tt_ng _ld. Sc__nt_sts s_y NMN c_n _ls_ r_j_v_n_t_ th_ m_t_b_l_sm. _t h_lps r_pl_n_sh l_v_ls _f _n_rgy pr_d_ct__n _n __r b_dy th_t d_t_r__r_t_ _s w_ _g_. _t _ls_ h_lps r_d_c_ w__ght g__n _nd th_ d_t_r__r_t__n _f v_s__n.

    Th_ r_s__rch w_s c_nd_ct_d by sc__nt_sts _t th_ W_sh_ngt_n _n_v_rs_ty Sch__l _f M_d_c_n_ _n th_ _S_. R_s__rch_r pr_f_ss_r Sh_n_ch_r_ _m__ s__d: "W_ h_v_ sh_wn _ w_y t_ sl_w th_ phys__l_g_c_l d_cl_n_ th_t w_ s__ _n _g_ng m_c_. Th_s m__ns _ld_r m_c_ h_v_ m_t_b_l_sm _nd _n_rgy l_v_ls r_s_mbl_ng th_t _f y__ng_r m_c_." Pr_f_ss_r _m__ s__d t_sts _n m_c_ sh_w_d th_t NMN r_d_c_d typ_c_l s_gns _f _g_ng, _ncl_d_ng _ d_cl_n_ _n th_ str_ngth _f sk_l_t_l m_scl_, p__r l_v_r f_nct__n, l_w_r b_n_ d_ns_ty _nd w__k_n_ng _y_s_ght. Th_ r__s_n __r m_t_b_l_sm ch_ng_s _v_r t_m_ _nd l__ds t_ r_d_c_d _n_rgy l_v_ls h_s b_ffl_d sc__nt_sts f_r d_c_d_s. Th_s l_t_st r_s__rch c_sts n_w l_ght _n th_s myst_ry.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    help may be at hand for those of us who want to keep the wrinkles and grey hair at bay and slow down the process of aging new research suggests that eating green vegetables can ward off the signs of aging researchers say that broccoli cabbage and avocado in particular contain a compound that helps slow down the rate at which we age the key compound present in green fruit and vegetables is called nmn it helps slow down the physical signs of getting old scientists say nmn can also rejuvenate the metabolism it helps replenish levels of energy production in our body that deteriorate as we age it also helps reduce weight gain and the deterioration of vision

    the research was conducted by scientists at the washington university school of medicine in the usa researcher professor shinichiro imai said "we have shown a way to slow the physiological decline that we see in aging mice this means older mice have metabolism and energy levels resembling that of younger mice" professor imai said tests on mice showed that nmn reduced typical signs of aging including a decline in the strength of skeletal muscle poor liver function lower bone density and weakening eyesight the reason our metabolism changes over time and leads to reduced energy levels has baffled scientists for decades this latest research casts new light on this mystery

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Helpmaybeathandforthoseofuswhowanttokeepthewrinklesandgrey
    hairatbayandslowdowntheprocessofaging.Newresearchsuggeststh
    ateatinggreenvegetablescanwardoffthesignsofaging.Researcherss
    aythatbroccoli,cabbageandavocadoinparticularcontainacompoundt
    hathelpsslowdowntherateatwhichweage.Thekeycompound,present
    ingreenfruitandvegetables,iscalledNMN.Ithelpsslowdownthephysic
    alsignsofgettingold.ScientistssayNMNcanalsorejuvenatethemetabo
    lism.Ithelpsreplenishlevelsofenergyproductioninourbodythatdeteri
    orateasweage.Italsohelpsreduceweightgainandthedeteriorationofvi
    sion.TheresearchwasconductedbyscientistsattheWashingtonUniver
    sitySchoolofMedicineintheUSA.ResearcherprofessorShinichiroImai
    said:"Wehaveshownawaytoslowthephysiologicaldeclinethatweseei
    nagingmice.Thismeansoldermicehavemetabolismandenergylevelsr
    esemblingthatofyoungermice."ProfessorImaisaidtestsonmiceshow
    edthatNMNreducedtypicalsignsofaging,includingadeclineinthestren
    gthofskeletalmuscle,poorliverfunction,lowerbonedensityandweake
    ningeyesight.Thereasonourmetabolismchangesovertimeandleadst
    oreducedenergylevelshasbaffledscientistsfordecades.Thislatestres
    earchcastsnewlightonthismystery.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Scientists shouldn't try and change the natural process of aging. Discuss.

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    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 this research. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. AGING: Make a poster about aging. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. LIVING LONGER: Write a magazine article about scientists making the whole world live much longer. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    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 aging. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can stay younger. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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