The Reading / Listening - Doomsday Clock - Level 1

Scientists from the BPA have said the world is more dangerous in 2017. BPA scientists are experts on nuclear weapons, climate change and new technology. They set the Doomsday Clock, which shows how close the world is to disaster. The BPA changed the clock's time to two-and-a-half minutes to midnight. This is the closest it has been to midnight (the Apocalypse) since 1953, when the USA and Russia tested hydrogen bombs.

The BPA said President Donald Trump's views on climate change, nuclear weapons, immigration and terrorism added to global risk. It warned: "The probability of global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon." The BPA chief hoped the clock's new time would help people around the world to, "hold their leaders responsible for delivering a safer and healthier planet".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Doomsday Clock - Level 0 Doomsday Clock - Level 2   or  Doomsday Clock - Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-38760792
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/01/26/the-doomsday-clock-just-moved-again-its-now-two-and-a-half-minutes-to-midnight/
  • http://thebulletin.org/sites/default/files/Final%202017%20Clock%20Statement.pdf


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. the world is more
  2. BPA scientists
  3. nuclear
  4. shows how close the
  5. The BPA changed the clock's
  6. two-and-a-half minutes
  7. This is the closest it has
  8. the USA and Russia tested
  1. world is to disaster
  2. weapons
  3. been to midnight
  4. to midnight
  5. dangerous
  6. hydrogen bombs
  7. are experts
  8. time

Paragraph 2

  1. views
  2. terrorism added
  3. The probability of global catastrophe
  4. reduce the risks
  5. the clock's new
  6. help people around
  7. hold their leaders
  8. delivering a safer and
  1. is very high
  2. responsible
  3. on climate change
  4. healthier planet
  5. the world
  6. of disaster
  7. to global risk
  8. time

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists from the BPA have (1) ___________________ is more dangerous in 2017. BPA scientists (2) ___________________ on nuclear weapons, climate (3) ___________________ technology. They set the Doomsday Clock, which shows how close the world is to disaster. The BPA changed (4) ___________________ to two-and-a-half minutes to midnight. This (5) ________________ it has been to midnight (the Apocalypse) since 1953, when the USA and Russia (6) ___________________ bombs.

The BPA said President Donald Trump's (7) _________________ climate change, nuclear weapons, immigration and terrorism (8) ___________________ risk. It warned: "The (9) ___________________ global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed (10) ___________________ risks of disaster must be taken very soon." The BPA chief hoped the clock's new time would (11) ___________________ around the world to, "hold their leaders responsible (12) ___________________ safer and healthier planet".

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ScientistsfromtheBPAhavesaidtheworldismoredangerousin2017.BP
Ascientistsareexpertsonnuclearweapons,climatechangeandnewtec
hnology.TheysettheDoomsdayClock,whichshowshowclosetheworld
istodisaster.TheBPAchangedtheclock'stimetotwo-and-a-halfmin
utestomidnight.Thisistheclosestithasbeentomidnight(theApocalyps
e)since1953,whentheUSAandRussiatestedhydrogenbombs.TheBPAsaidP
residentDonaldTrump'sviewsonclimatechange,nuclearweapons,im
migrationandterrorismaddedtoglobalrisk.Itwarned:"Theprobability
ofglobalcatastropheisveryhigh,andtheactionsneededtoreducetheris
ksofdisastermustbetakenverysoon."TheBPAchiefhopedtheclock'sne
wtimewouldhelppeoplearoundtheworldto,"holdtheirleadersrespons
iblefordeliveringasaferandhealthierplanet".

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 — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

Write about this topic 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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