The Reading / Listening - Deep-Sea Creatures - Level 6

Scientists have found dozens of strange-looking deep-sea creatures off the coast of Australia. The underwater beasts live in total darkness four kilometres below the surface of the ocean. The researchers used a special submarine that could cope with the crushing pressure of being so deep in the ocean. The difficult environment and conditions mean it is a difficult place to explore. Researcher Dr Tim O'Hara said: "Australia's deep-sea environment is larger in size than the mainland, and until now, almost nothing was known about life [there]. We're really excited about the discoveries that we've made and are thrilled that we can now share them with the Australian and international public."

The scientists are surprised at how odd-looking many of the sea creatures are. The research team gave them some similarly odd names. They discovered a red coffin fish, a cookie cutter shark, zombie worms, tripod fish and sea pigs. Some of these creatures may be new species. Researchers are particularly interested in the coffin fish. They say it has blue eyes, red fins, and a unique method for catching prey in the dark. The scientists said it uses a "fishing rod tipped with a fluffy bait on top of its head". The researchers also found, "highly concerning levels of rubbish" including, "debris from the days when steamships plied our waters". They said: "The seafloor has 200 years of rubbish on it."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Deep-Sea Creatures - Level 4  or  Deep-Sea Creatures - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.pulseheadlines.com/scientists-dozens-oddlooking-deep-sea-creatures-coast-australia/64424/
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/06/20/australian-scientists-went-looking-for-deep-sea-creatures-and-pulled-up-your-nightmares-instead/?utm_term=.4b5ed7d842f1
  • http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/australia/australias-freaky-deep-sea-creatures.aspx


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. DEEP-SEA CREATURES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about deep-sea creatures. 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?

       dozens / deep sea / underwater / creatures / submarine / environment / mainland /
       research / odd / shark / blue eyes / catching prey / rubbish / debris / steamships

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

3. DEBRIS AND WASTE: Students A strongly believe debris and waste will never seriously damage the oceans; Students B strongly believe they will.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. NEW CREATURES: What do you think these creatures look like and do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What they look like

How they live

Red coffin fish

 

 

Cookie cutter shark

 

 

Zombie worm

 

 

Tripod fish

 

 

Sea pigs

 

 

Faceless fish

 

 

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

6. POLLUTION: Rank these with your partner. Put the things most affected by pollution at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • glaciers
  • reefs
  • jungles
  • arctic areas
  • oceans
  • rivers
  • deserts
  • cities

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The new sea creatures live in a brightly-lit reef.     T / F
  2. Deep-sea divers swam near the creatures and took photos of them.     T / F
  3. Australia's deep-sea environment is larger than Australia itself.     T / F
  4. The scientists do not want to share the photos yet.     T / F
  5. The scientists were not surprised at the creatures' appearance.     T / F
  6. Some of the creatures may be new species.     T / F
  7. The coffin fish has red eyes and blue fins.     T / F
  8. Scientists found 200-year-old rubbish on the seafloor.     T / F

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

  1. strange
  2. total
  3. cope with
  4. explore
  5. thrilled
  6. similarly
  7. catching
  8. fluffy
  9. concerning
  10. debris
  1. excited
  2. investigate
  3. woolly
  4. comparably
  5. odd
  6. waste / garbage
  7. worrying
  8. complete
  9. ensnaring
  10. manage

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

  1. off the coast
  2. The underwater beasts live in
  3. four kilometres below the
  4. the crushing pressure of being so
  5. larger in size than
  6. surprised at how odd-looking many of
  7. Some of these creatures may be new
  8. a unique method for catching
  9. highly concerning levels of rubbish including
  10. The seafloor has 200 years
  1. the mainland
  2. deep in the ocean
  3. prey
  4. total darkness
  5. debris
  6. of rubbish on it
  7. of Australia
  8. species
  9. the sea creatures are
  10. surface of the ocean

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
explore
dozens
thrilled
beasts
public
pressure
mainland
surface

Scientists have found (1) ____________ of strange-looking deep sea creatures off the coast of Australia. The deep-sea (2) ____________ live in total darkness four kilometres below the (3) ____________ of the ocean. The researchers used a special submarine that could cope with the crushing (4) ____________ of being so deep in the ocean. The difficult environment and conditions mean it is a difficult place to (5) ____________. Researcher Dr Tim O'Hara said: "Australia's deep-sea environment is larger in size than the (6) ____________, and until now, almost nothing was known about life [there]. We're really excited about the discoveries that we've made and are (7) ____________ that we can now share them with the Australian and international (8) ____________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
discovered
fluffy
species
debris
odd
concerning
similarly
fins

The scientists are surprised at how (9) ____________ -looking many of the sea creatures are. The research team gave them some (10) ____________ odd names. They (11) ____________ a red coffin fish, a cookie cutter shark, zombie worms, tripod fish and sea pigs. Some of these creatures may be new                  (12) ____________. Researchers are particularly interested in the coffin fish. They say it has blue eyes, red (13) ____________, and a unique method for catching prey in the dark. The scientists said it uses a "fishing rod tipped with a (14) ____________ bait on top of its head". The researchers also found, "highly                        (15) ____________ levels of rubbish" including,                     "(16) ____________ from the days when steamships plied our waters". They said: "The seafloor has 200 years of rubbish on it."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Scientists have found dozens of strange-looking deep-sea ______
     a.  creatures of the coast
     b.  creatures off a coast
     c.  creatures off the coast
     d.  creatures off that coast

2) underwater beasts live in total darkness four kilometres below the ______ ocean
     a.  surface off a
     b.  surface off the
     c.  surface of the
     d.  surface of a

3)  The researchers used a special submarine that could cope with ______
     a.  the crushed in pressure
     b.  the crushing in pressure
     c.  the crush in pressure
     d.  the crushing pressure

4)  Australia's deep-sea environment is larger in size ______
     a.  than the mainly land
     b.  than the main lands
     c.  than the mainland
     d.  than the main landed

5)  We're really excited about ______
     a.  the discovery is
     b.  the discoveries
     c.  the discover is
     d.  the discovers is

6)  The scientists are surprised at how odd-looking many of the ______
     a. sea creatures are
     b. sea creatures aren't
     c. sea creatures here
     d. sea creatures there

7)  The research team gave them some ______
     a.  similarly odd names
     b.  similar odd names
     c.  similar lead names
     d.  similar load names

8)  They say it has blue eyes, red fins, and a unique method for catching ______ dark
     a.  pray in the
     b.  play in the
     c.  pry in the
     d.  prey in the

9)  The researchers also found, "highly concerning ______"
     a.  levels of rubbish
     b.  level off rubbish
     c.  levels off rubbish
     d.  level of rubbish

10)  debris from the days when steamships ______
     a.  piled our waters
     b.  plied our waters
     c.  played our waters
     d.  plead our waters

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists have found dozens of strange-looking deep sea creatures (1) ___________________ Australia. The deep-sea beasts (2) ___________________ darkness four kilometres below the surface of the ocean. The researchers used a special submarine that (3) ___________________ the crushing pressure of being so deep in the ocean. The difficult environment and conditions mean (4) ___________________ place to explore. Researcher Dr Tim O'Hara said: "Australia's deep-sea environment is larger (5) ___________________ the mainland, and until now, almost nothing was known about life [there]. We're really excited about the discoveries that we've made (6) ___________________ that we can now share them with the Australian and international public."

The scientists are surprised at how odd-looking (7) ___________________ creatures are. The research team gave them some (8) ___________________. They discovered a red coffin fish, a cookie cutter shark, zombie worms, tripod (9) ___________________ pigs. Some of these creatures may be new species. Researchers are particularly interested in the coffin fish. They say it has blue eyes, red fins, (10) ___________________ method for catching (11) ___________________. The scientists said it uses a "fishing rod tipped with a fluffy bait on top of its head". The researchers also found, "highly concerning levels of rubbish" including, "(12) ___________________ when steamships plied our waters". They said: "The seafloor has 200 years of rubbish on it."

Comprehension questions

  1. How many odd-looking sea creatures did scientists find?
  2. How far below the ocean's surface do the sea creatures live?
  3. What did a submarine have to cope with being so deep?
  4. What is Australia's deep-sea environment larger than?
  5. Who will the scientists share the photos with?
  6. What was the reaction of the scientists to the sea creatures?
  7. What kind of shark did the scientists find?
  8. What colour are the eyes of the coffin fish?
  9. What is on top of a "fishing rod" on the head of the coffin fish?
  10. How old is the rubbish on the seafloor?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many odd-looking sea creatures did scientists find?
a) a few
b) 7
c) 26
d) dozens

2) How far below the ocean's surface do the sea creatures live?
a) 14 kilometres
b) 4 kilometres
c) 400 metres
d) 40,000 metres

3) What did a submarine have to cope with being so deep?
a) scuba divers
b) giant, killer jelly fish
c) oil slicks
d) crushing pressure

4) What is Australia's deep-sea environment larger than?
a) the city of Sydney
b) the Great Barrier Reef
c) Australia
d) The Indian Ocean

5) Who will the scientists share the photos with?
a) the World Wildlife Fund
b) sea creature lovers
c) other photographers
d) the Australian and international public

6) What was the reaction of the scientists to the sea creatures?
a) awe
b) shock
c) surprise
d) horror

7) What kind of shark did the scientists find?
a) a cookie cutter shark
b) a great white shark
c) a reef shark
d) an electric shark

8) What colour are the eyes of the coffin fish?
a) black
b) blue
c) red
d) white

9) What is on top of a "fishing rod" on the head of the coffin fish?
a) a hook
b) bait
c) a reel
d) fishing line

10) How old is the rubbish on the seafloor?
a) 200 years old
b) 2,000 years old
c) 20 years old
d) 158 years olds

Role play

Role  A – Oceans

You think oceans are the areas most affected by pollution. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their areas aren't affected as much. Also, tell the others which is the least affected of these (and why): deserts, jungles or arctic areas.

Role  B – Deserts

You think deserts are the areas most affected by pollution. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their areas aren't affected as much. Also, tell the others which is the least affected of these (and why): oceans, jungles or arctic areas.

Role  C – Jungles

You think jungles are the areas most affected by pollution. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their areas aren't affected as much. Also, tell the others which is the least affected of these (and why): deserts, oceans or arctic areas.

Role  D – Arctic Areas

You think arctic areas are the areas most affected by pollution. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their areas aren't affected as much. Also, tell the others which is the least affected of these (and why):  deserts, jungles or oceans.

After reading / listening

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

'deep'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'sea'.

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

    • surprised
    • cookie
    • prey
    • head
    • debris
    • 200
    • dozens
    • total
    • cope
    • size
    • nothing
    • public

    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 - Strange deep-sea creatures found near Australia

    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 'ocean'?
    3. How important are our oceans?
    4. What is your favourite sea creature?
    5. How interested are you in these new deep-sea creatures?
    6. What would it be like to live in total darkness?
    7. What do you know about pressure under the water?
    8. Why is it so difficult to explore the deep ocean?
    9. What would it be like to research deep in the oceans?
    10. What amazing creatures are there in Australia?

    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 when you hear the word 'creature'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do so many of the creatures look odd?
    5. What do you think zombie worms look like?
    6. What do you think a sea pig looks like?
    7. What unique ways do sea creatures have of catching prey?
    8. Which of the creatures are you most interested in?
    9. What can be done about the 200 years of rubbish on the seafloor?
    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)

    Scientists have found (1) ____ of strange-looking deep sea creatures off the coast of Australia. The deep-sea beasts live in (2) ____ darkness four kilometres below the (3) ____ of the ocean. The researchers used a special submarine that could cope with the crushing pressure of being (4) ____ deep in the ocean. The difficult environment and conditions mean it is a difficult place to explore. Researcher Dr Tim O'Hara said: "Australia's deep-sea environment is larger (5) ____ size than the mainland, and until now, almost nothing was known about life [there]. We're really excited about the discoveries that we've made and are (6) ____ that we can now share them with the Australian and international public."

    The scientists are surprised at how odd-looking many of the sea creatures are. The research team gave them some (7) ____ odd names. They discovered a red coffin fish, a cookie cutter shark, zombie worms, tripod fish and sea pigs. Some of these creatures may be new (8) ____. Researchers are particularly interested in the coffin fish. They say it has blue eyes, red fins, and a (9) ____ method for catching (10) ____ in the dark. The scientists said it uses a "fishing rod tipped with a fluffy bait on top of its head". The researchers also found, "highly (11) ____ levels of rubbish" including, "(12) ____ from the days when steamships plied our waters". They said: "The seafloor has 200 years of rubbish on it."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     dozens     (b)     denizen     (c)     denizen     (d)     dozen    
    2. (a)     totally     (b)     totaled     (c)     total     (d)     totals    
    3. (a)     superficial     (b)     suffice     (c)     surface     (d)     surfeit    
    4. (a)     slight     (b)     such     (c)     some     (d)     so    
    5. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     by    
    6. (a)     thrillingly     (b)     thrilled     (c)     trilled     (d)     tilled    
    7. (a)     similarity     (b)     similarly     (c)     assimilation     (d)     simulator    
    8. (a)     speckles     (b)     species     (c)     specs     (d)     specials    
    9. (a)     unilateral     (b)     unicast     (c)     unique     (d)     unit    
    10. (a)     ply     (b)     play     (c)     pray     (d)     prey    
    11. (a)     cornerstone     (b)     careering     (c)     cornering     (d)     concerning    
    12. (a)     debase     (b)     debacle     (c)     debriefs     (d)     debris

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. off the stcoa of Australia
    2. researchers used a special rseibnmau
    3. the crushing reprssue of being so deep
    4. it is a difficult place to polexre
    5. excited about the isdoesivrce
    6. hidertll that we can now share them

    Paragraph 2

    1. lalirmisy odd names
    2. They deoicdresv a red coffin fish
    3. these creatures may be new pcsisee
    4. a enuiqu method for catching prey
    5. highly oinccgennr
    6. levels of rubbish including esdibr

    Put the text back together

    (    )     special submarine that could cope with the crushing pressure of being so

    (    )     beasts live in total darkness four kilometres below the surface of the ocean. The researchers used a

    (    )     nothing was known about life [there]. We're really excited about the discoveries that we've made and are

    1  )     Scientists have found dozens of strange-looking deep-sea creatures off the coast of Australia. The underwater

    (    )     pigs. Some of these creatures may be new species. Researchers are particularly interested

    (    )     head". The researchers also found, "highly concerning levels of rubbish" including, "debris from the

    (    )     thrilled that we can now share them with the Australian and international public."

    (    )     days when steamships plied our waters". They said: "The seafloor has 200 years of rubbish on it."

    (    )     dark. The scientists said it uses a "fishing rod tipped with a fluffy bait on top of its

    (    )     odd names. They discovered a red coffin fish, a cookie cutter shark, zombie worms, tripod fish and sea

    (    )     deep in the ocean. The difficult environment and conditions mean it is a difficult place to explore. Researcher

    (    )     The scientists are surprised at how odd-looking many of the sea creatures are. The research team gave them some similarly

    (    )     Dr Tim O'Hara said: "Australia's deep-sea environment is larger in size than the mainland, and until now, almost

    (    )     in the coffin fish. They say it has blue eyes, red fins, and a unique method for catching prey in the

    Put the words in the right order

    1. coast  the   off  creatures   sea  deep-   looking   strange-   of  Dozens  .
    2. live   total   The   beasts   in   darkness   underwater   .
    3. of   surface   the   below   kilometres   Four   ocean   the   .
    4. so   crushing   deep   pressure   Cope   of   with   being   the   .
    5. about   made  the   We're   discoveries   really   that   excited   we've   .
    6. may   creatures   these   of   Some   species   new   be   .
    7. coffin   the   in   interested   particularly   are   Researchers   fish   .
    8. prey  catching  for   method  unique  a   and  fins   Red  dark  the   in   .
    9. concerning   researchers  levels  also  of   found   rubbish  highly  The  .
    10. the   our   days   waters   when   Debris   steamships   from   plied   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists have found dozen / dozens of strange-looking deep sea creatures off the coast / coastal of Australia. The deep-sea beasts live in totally / total darkness four kilometres below the surface of the ocean. The researchers used a special submarine that could cape / cope with the crushing pressure of being so / such deep in the ocean. The difficult environment and conditions mean it is a difficult place for / to explore. Researcher Dr Tim O'Hara said: "Australia's deep-sea environment is larger in / on size than the mainland, and until now, almost nothing was known / knowing about life [there]. We're really excited about the discoveries that we've made and are thrilling / thrilled that we can now share them with the Australian and international public / publicly."

    The scientists are surprised at how odd-looking many / much of the sea creatures are. The research team gave them some similarly oddly / odd names. They discovered / discovery a red coffin fish, a cookie cutter shark, zombie worms, tripod fish and sea pigs. Some of these / them creatures may be new species / specimen. Researchers are particular / particularly interested in the coffin fish. They say it has blue eyes, red fins / fin, and a unique method for catching pray / prey in the dark. The scientists said it uses a "fishing rod tipped with a fluffy beat / bait on top of its head". The researchers also found, "highly concerned / concerning levels of rubbish" including, "debris from the days when steamships plied / piled our waters". They said: "The seafloor has 200 years of rubbish on it."

    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)

    Sc__nt_sts h_v_ f__nd d_z_ns _f str_ng_-l__k_ng d__p s__ cr__t_r_s _ff th_ c__st _f __str_l__. Th_ d__p-s__ b__sts l_v_ _n t_t_l d_rkn_ss f__r k_l_m_tr_s b_l_w th_ s_rf_c_ _f th_ _c__n. Th_ r_s__rch_rs _s_d _ sp_c__l s_bm_r_n_ th_t c__ld c_p_ w_th th_ cr_sh_ng pr_ss_r_ _f b__ng s_ d__p _n th_ _c__n. Th_ d_ff_c_lt _nv_r_nm_nt _nd c_nd_t__ns m__n _t _s _ d_ff_c_lt pl_c_ t_ _xpl_r_. R_s__rch_r Dr T_m _'H_r_ s__d: "__str_l__'s d__p-s__ _nv_r_nm_nt _s l_rg_r _n s_z_ th_n th_ m__nl_nd, _nd _nt_l n_w, _lm_st n_th_ng w_s kn_wn _b__t l_f_ [th_r_]. W_'r_ r__lly _xc_t_d _b__t th_ d_sc_v_r__s th_t w_'v_ m_d_ _nd _r_ thr_ll_d th_t w_ c_n n_w sh_r_ th_m w_th th_ __str_l__n _nd _nt_rn_t__n_l p_bl_c."

    Th_ sc__nt_sts _r_ s_rpr_s_d _t h_w _dd-l__k_ng m_ny _f th_ s__ cr__t_r_s _r_. Th_ r_s__rch t__m g_v_ th_m s_m_ s_m_l_rly _dd n_m_s. Th_y d_sc_v_r_d _ r_d c_ff_n f_sh, _ c__k__ c_tt_r sh_rk, z_mb__ w_rms, tr_p_d f_sh _nd s__ p_gs. S_m_ _f th_s_ cr__t_r_s m_y b_ n_w sp_c__s. R_s__rch_rs _r_ p_rt_c_l_rly _nt_r_st_d _n th_ c_ff_n f_sh. Th_y s_y _t h_s bl__ _y_s, r_d f_ns, _nd _ _n_q__ m_th_d f_r c_tch_ng pr_y _n th_ d_rk. Th_ sc__nt_sts s__d _t _s_s _ "f_sh_ng r_d t_pp_d w_th _ fl_ffy b__t _n t_p _f _ts h__d". Th_ r_s__rch_rs _ls_ f__nd, "h_ghly c_nc_rn_ng l_v_ls _f r_bb_sh" _ncl_d_ng, "d_br_s fr_m th_ d_ys wh_n st__msh_ps pl__d __r w_t_rs". Th_y s__d: "Th_ s__fl__r h_s 200 y__rs _f r_bb_sh _n _t."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists have found dozens of strange-looking deep sea creatures off the coast of australia the deep-sea beasts live in total darkness four kilometres below the surface of the ocean the researchers used a special submarine that could cope with the crushing pressure of being so deep in the ocean the difficult environment and conditions mean it is a difficult place to explore researcher dr tim o'hara said "australia's deep-sea environment is larger in size than the mainland and until now almost nothing was known about life [there] we're really excited about the discoveries that we've made and are thrilled that we can now share them with the australian and international public"

    the scientists are surprised at how odd-looking many of the sea creatures are the research team gave them some similarly odd names they discovered a red coffin fish a cookie cutter shark zombie worms tripod fish and sea pigs some of these creatures may be new species researchers are particularly interested in the coffin fish they say it has blue eyes red fins and a unique method for catching prey in the dark the scientists said it uses a "fishing rod tipped with a fluffy bait on top of its head" the researchers also found "highly concerning levels of rubbish" including "debris from the days when steamships plied our waters" they said "the seafloor has 200 years of rubbish on it"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistshavefounddozensofstrange-lookingdeep-seacreaturesof
    fthecoastofAustralia.Theunderwaterbeastsliveintotaldarknessfourk
    ilometresbelowthesurfaceoftheocean.Theresearchersusedaspecials
    ubmarinethatcouldcopewiththecrushingpressureofbeingsodeepinth
    eocean.Thedifficultenvironmentandconditionsmeanitisadifficultplac
    etoexplore.ResearcherDrTimO'Harasaid:"Australia'sdeep-seaenvir
    onmentislargerinsizethanthemainland,anduntilnow,almostnothing
    wasknownaboutlife[there].We'rereallyexcitedaboutthediscoveriest
    hatwe'vemadeandarethrilledthatwecannowsharethemwiththeAustr
    alianandinternationalpublic."Thescientistsaresurprisedathowodd-lo
    okingmanyoftheseacreaturesare.Theresearchteamgavethemsome
    similarlyoddnames.Theydiscoveredaredcoffinfish,acookiecuttersha
    rk,zombieworms,tripodfishandseapigs.Someofthesecreaturesmay
    benewspecies.Researchersareparticularlyinterestedinthecoffinfish.
    Theysayithasblueeyes,redfins,andauniquemethodforcatchingpreyi
    nthedark.Thescientistssaiditusesa"fishingrodtippedwithafluffybaito
    ntopofitshead".Theresearchersalsofound,"highlyconcerninglevelsof
    rubbish"including,"debrisfromthedayswhensteamshipspliedourwat
    ers".Theysaid:"Theseafloorhas200yearsofrubbishonit."

    Free writing

    Write about deep-sea creatures for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Humans will eventually destroy the oceans by polluting it. 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 news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. DEEP-SEA CREATURES: Make a poster about deep-sea creatures. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. OCEAN RUBBISH: Write a magazine article about the rubbish in the ocean.  Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    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 deep-sea creatures. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can keep their environment free from waste and pollution. 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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