The Reading / Listening - Body Repairs - Level 6

The medical world sees another example of science fiction coming true. Scientists have revealed a "breakthrough technology" that repaired cells and organs in mice and pigs with a 90 per cent success rate. Researchers at Ohio State University in the USA have developed a device barely a centimeter wide that is full of tiny microchips called nanochips. The new device is a pad that is placed on the skin. It initiates the process of repairing damaged organs and healing serious wounds. The nanochips "reprogramme" damaged cells to restore them to their functional state. Researcher Dr Chandan Sen said: "With this technology, we can convert skin cells into elements of any organ with just one touch."

The new technology is called tissue nano-transfection (TNT). It is a non-invasive procedure, which means surgeons do not have to cut the body. It works by placing the pad of nanochips over a damaged area of the body. A small electric current then injects DNA into the skin's cells in less than a second. This transforms the cells into building blocks that then regenerate any nearby damaged tissue, such as skin, arteries, or even organs like the liver, lungs and heart. Researchers say it could replace the need for patients needing reconstructive surgery and revitalize organs that are prematurely aging. It could even help repair the brain. Testing will begin on humans next year.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Body Repairs - Level 4  or  Body Repairs - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/08/07/penny-sized-nanochip-pad-regrow-organs-heal-injuries/
  • https://www.news-medical.net/news/20170807/Nanotechnology-wonders-Organ-healing-with-a-single-touch!.aspx
  • http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318841.php


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. REPAIRING THE BODY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about repairing the body. 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?

       medical / science fiction / coming true / mice / pigs / microchips / healing / wounds /
       tissue / surgeons / DNA / building blocks / skin / heart / patients / aging / testing

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

3. REGENERATING: Students A strongly believe it is wrong that technology can regenerate body parts; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. SCIENCE FICTION: What do you think medicine will be like for these things in the future? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What medicine will be like

Good or Bad?

Transplants

 

 

Obesity

 

 

Teeth

 

 

Pregnancy

 

 

Brain disease

 

 

Looks

 

 

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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5. ORGAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "organ". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. BREAKTHROUGHS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best medical breakthroughs at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • easy transplants
  • no more headaches
  • resistance to viruses
  • no sleep pill
  • looking young
  • no tooth decay
  • no obesity
  • cancer cure

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says science fiction is coming true in the medical world.     T / F
  2. A device repaired organs with 90% success in pigs and mice.     T / F
  3. The new device has microchips in it.     T / F
  4. The device can transform skin cells into elements of any organ.     T / F
  5. The new technology still needs surgeons to cut the body.     T / F
  6. The procedure involves injecting DNA into the skin's cells.     T / F
  7. The technology will not be effective on the brain.     T / F
  8. Testing will begin on humans in five years from now.     T / F

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

  1. breakthrough
  2. barely
  3. initiates
  4. convert
  5. elements
  6. procedure
  7. placing
  8. regenerate
  9. prematurely
  10. repair
  1. launches
  2. fix
  3. components
  4. revive
  5. advance
  6. putting
  7. untimely
  8. change
  9. method
  10. hardly

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

  1. another example of science fiction
  2. breakthrough
  3. a 90 per cent success
  4. healing serious
  5. restore them to their functional
  6. It is a non-invasive
  7. A small electric current then injects
  8. building
  9. reconstructive
  10. prematurely
  1. rate
  2. surgery
  3. state
  4. technology
  5. blocks
  6. aging
  7. coming true
  8. procedure
  9. wounds
  10. DNA into the skin's cells

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
rate
healing
barely
elements
example
functional
initiates
repaired

The medical world sees another (1) ____________ of science fiction coming true. Scientists have revealed a "breakthrough technology" that (2) ____________ cells and organs in mice and pigs with a 90 per cent success (3) ____________. Researchers at Ohio State University in the USA have developed a device (4) ____________ a centimeter wide that is full of tiny microchips called nanochips. The new device is a pad that is placed on the skin. It (5) ____________ the process of repairing damaged organs and (6) ____________ serious wounds. The nanochips "reprogramme" damaged cells to restore them to their (7) ____________ state. Researcher Dr Chandan Sen said: "With this technology, we can convert skin cells into (8) ____________ of any organ with just one touch."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
patients
second
area
blocks
procedure
aging
arteries
injects

The new technology is called tissue nano-transfection (TNT). It is a non-invasive (9) ____________, which means surgeons do not have to cut the body. It works by placing the pad of nanochips over a damaged (10) ____________ of the body. A small electric current then (11) ____________ DNA into the skin's cells in less than a (12) ____________. This transforms the cells into building (13) ____________ that then regenerate any nearby damaged tissue, such as skin, (14) ____________, or even organs like the liver, lungs and heart. Researchers say it could replace the need for (15) ____________ needing reconstructive surgery and revitalize organs that are prematurely (16) ____________. It could even help repair the brain. Testing will begin on humans next year.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The medical world sees another example of science fiction ______
     a.  come in true
     b.  coming truth
     c.  coming in true
     d.  coming true

2)  Scientists have revealed a "breakthrough technology" that repaired ______
     a.  cells sand organs
     b.  cell sand organ
     c.  cells and organs
     d.  cells and organ

3)  It initiates the process of repairing damaged organs and healing ______
     a.  seriously wounds
     b.  serious wounds
     c.  series wounds
     d.  serious wands

4)  The nanochips "reprogramme" damaged cells to restore them to their ______
     a.  function all state
     b.  functionally state
     c.  functionally states
     d.  functional state

5)  we can convert skin cells into elements of any organ with ______
     a.  just one touch
     b.  just once touch
     c.  just won touch
     d.  just wane touch

6)  The new technology is called tissue ______
     a.  nano-transaction
     b.  nano-transition
     c.  nano-infection
     d.  nano-transfection

7)  It is a non-invasive procedure, which means surgeons do not have to ______
     a.  cut the bodily
     b.  cut the body
     c.  cut the bodice
     d.  cut the embody

8)  A small electric current then injects DNA into the skin's cells in ______ second
     a.  fewer than a
     b.  less than a
     c.  lower than a
     d.  least than a

9)  building blocks that then regenerate any nearby damaged tissue, such ______
     a.  as skin, art a rise
     b.  as skins, arteries
     c.  as skinned, arteries
     d.  as skin, arteries

10) needing reconstructive surgery and revitalize organs that are ______
     a.  premature lea aging
     b.  prematurely age in
     c.  prematurely aging
     d.  prematurely aged in

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The medical world (1) ___________________ of science fiction coming true. Scientists have revealed a "breakthrough technology" that repaired cells and (2) ___________________ pigs with a 90 per cent success rate. Researchers at Ohio State University in the USA have (3) ___________________ barely a centimeter wide that is full of tiny microchips called nanochips. The new (4) ___________________ that is placed on the skin. It initiates the process of repairing damaged organs and healing (5) ___________________. The nanochips "reprogramme" damaged cells to restore them to their functional state. Researcher Dr Chandan Sen said: "With this technology, we can convert skin cells (6) ___________________ any organ with just one touch."

The new technology is called tissue nano-transfection (TNT). It is a            (7) ___________________ procedure, which means surgeons do not have to cut the body. It works by placing the pad of (8) ___________________ damaged area of the body. A small electric current then injects DNA into the skin's (9) ___________________ than a second. This transforms the cells into building blocks that then (10) ___________________ nearby damaged tissue, such as skin, arteries, (11) ___________________ like the liver, lungs and heart. Researchers say it could replace the need for patients needing reconstructive surgery and (12) ___________________ that are prematurely aging. It could even help repair the brain. Testing will begin on humans next year.

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of fiction did the article say this news was an example of?
  2. What kind of success did the tests have on mice and pigs?
  3. What is the device made up of?
  4. What does the device heal besides organs?
  5. Who is Dr Chandan Sen?
  6. What does the technology mean surgeons do not have to do?
  7. What does the device inject into the skin?
  8. What do the building blocks regenerate?
  9. What kind of organs could the device revitalize?
  10. When will testing on humans begin?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of fiction did the article say this news was an example of?
a) light fiction
b) modern fiction
c) pulp fiction
d) science fiction

2) What kind of success did the tests have on mice and pigs?
a) reasonable success
b) 90% success
c) sporadic success
d) no success

3) What is the device made up of?
a) porcelain
b) silicon
c) plastic
d) nanochips

4) What does the device heal besides organs?
a) relationships
b) headaches
c) serious wounds
d) hearts

5) Who is Dr Chandan Sen?
a) a hospital owner
b) a nanochip maker
c) an inventor
d) a researcher

 

6) What does the technology mean surgeons do not have to do?
a) study so hard
b) work long hours
c) cut the body
d) use microchips

7) What does the device inject into the skin?
a) DNA
b) nanochips
c) adrenalin
d) cells

8) What do the building blocks regenerate?
a) proteins
b) youth
c) nearby damaged tissue
d) hair

9) What kind of organs could the device revitalize?
a) healthy organs
b) prematurely aging
c) regenerative organs
d) DNA

10) When will testing on humans begin?
a) next year
b) 2024
c) next week
d) once researchers get funds

 

FromWord

Role play

Role  A – Staying Young Looking

You think staying young looking is the most desired medical breakthrough. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their breakthroughs. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): no obesity, easy transplants or a no-sleep pill.

Role  B – No Obesity

You think no obesity is the most desired medical breakthrough. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their breakthroughs. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): staying young looking, easy transplants or a no-sleep pill.

Role  C – Easy Transplants

You think easy transplants is the most desired medical breakthrough. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their breakthroughs. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): no obesity, staying young looking or a no-sleep pill.

Role  D – A No-Sleep Pill

You think a no-sleep pill is the most desired medical breakthrough. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their breakthroughs. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): no obesity, easy transplants or staying young looking.

After reading / listening

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

'body'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'repair'.

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

    • non-
    • cut
    • area
    • blocks
    • heart
    • testing
    • fiction
    • mice
    • barely
    • process
    • restore
    • convert

    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 - Nano-chips may heal organs with one touch

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'body'?
    3. What do you think of science fiction?
    4. What do you think of scientific breakthroughs in medicine?
    5. How hopeful are you this technology works?
    6. How could this technology save the world?
    7. How much like science fiction is this breakthrough?
    8. Would you volunteer to have this new technology tested on you?
    9. What do you think of the idea of skin self-repair kits?
    10. What would the next stage of this technology be?

    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 'repair'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How could this technology change the world?
    5. Would you be happy if this device lets us live to be 200?
    6. Have you ever had surgery?
    7. Could technology one day replace all doctors?
    8. How do you think the testing will go on humans?
    9. How might this device change your life?
    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)

    The medical world sees another example (1) ____ science fiction coming true. Scientists have revealed a "breakthrough technology" that repaired cells and organs in mice and pigs (2) ____ a 90 per cent success rate. Researchers at Ohio State University in the USA have developed a device (3) ____ a centimeter wide that is full of tiny microchips called nanochips. The new device is a pad that is placed on the skin. It (4) ____ the process of repairing damaged organs and healing serious (5) ____. The nanochips "reprogramme" damaged cells to restore them to their functional state. Researcher Dr Chandan Sen said: "With this technology, we can convert skin cells into elements of (6) ____ organ with just one touch."

    The new technology is called tissue nano-transfection (TNT). It is a (7) ____-invasive procedure, which means surgeons do not have to cut the body. It works by (8) ____ the pad of nanochips over a damaged area of the body. A small electric current then (9) ____ DNA into the skin's cells in less than a second. This transforms the cells into building blocks that then regenerate any (10) ____ damaged tissue, such as skin, arteries, or even organs like the liver, lungs and heart. Researchers say it could replace the need for patients (11) ____ reconstructive surgery and revitalize organs that are prematurely aging. It could even help repair the brain. Testing will begin (12) ____ humans next year.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    2. (a)     as     (b)     with     (c)     by     (d)     that    
    3. (a)     bares     (b)     bare     (c)     bared     (d)     barely    
    4. (a)     inculcates     (b)     initiates     (c)     instigates     (d)     inebriates    
    5. (a)     wands     (b)     wends     (c)     winds     (d)     wounds    
    6. (a)     many     (b)     some     (c)     any     (d)     all    
    7. (a)     non     (b)     not     (c)     no     (d)     none    
    8. (a)     placed     (b)     place     (c)     placing     (d)     places    
    9. (a)     reject     (b)     infect     (c)     disinfect     (d)     inject    
    10. (a)     nearby     (b)     nearly     (c)     neared     (d)     nearing    
    11. (a)     needing     (b)     needy     (c)     needs     (d)     need    
    12. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     by     (d)     at

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. revealed a rbgohhkutrae technology
    2. developed a ecveid
    3. It iaetinits the process
    4. restore them to their aniclutonf state
    5. we can ncvoert skin cells
    6. emeesltn of any organ

    Paragraph 2

    1. It is a non-invasive dcourpeer
    2. A small electric rnrtecu
    3. building blocks that then ererngatee
    4. tissue such as skin, aitserer, or …
    5. patients needing reconstructive grusery
    6. organs that are rmepyltareu aging

    Put the text back together

    (    )     cells to restore them to their functional state. Researcher Dr Chandan Sen said: "With this technology, we can

    (    )     rate. Researchers at Ohio State University in the USA have developed a device barely a centimeter

    (    )     wide that is full of tiny microchips called nanochips. The new device is a pad that is placed on the skin. It initiates the

    (    )     revealed a "breakthrough technology" that repaired cells and organs in mice and pigs with a 90 per cent success

    (    )     second. This transforms the cells into building blocks that then regenerate any nearby damaged

    (    )     area of the body. A small electric current then injects DNA into the skin's cells in less than a

    (    )     for patients needing reconstructive surgery and revitalize organs that are prematurely

    (    )     The new technology is called tissue nano-transfection (TNT). It is a non-invasive procedure, which means

    (  1  )     The medical world sees another example of science fiction coming true. Scientists have

    (    )     aging. It could even help repair the brain. Testing will begin on humans next year.

    (    )     surgeons do not have to cut the body. It works by placing the pad of nanochips over a damaged

    (    )     convert skin cells into elements of any organ with just one touch."

    (    )     process of repairing damaged organs and healing serious wounds. The nanochips "reprogramme" damaged

    (    )     tissue, such as skin, arteries, or even organs like the liver, lungs and heart. Researchers say it could replace the need

    Put the words in the right order

    1. sees   medical   fiction   of   another   world   The   science   example   .
    2. cells   a   technology'   repaired   Revealed   'breakthrough   that   .
    3. a   is   new   the   is   device   skin   placed   pad   The   on   that   .
    4. It   repairing   the   damaged   process   of   initiates   organs   .
    5. can   cells   of   We   skin   elements   organ   convert   into   any   .
    6. the   a   pad   damaged   of   area   nanochips   Placing   over   .
    7. the   small   then   into   A   current   DNA   skin   electric   injects   .
    8. blocks   transforms   cells   building   This   the   into   .
    9. It   surgery   reconstructive   the   for   replace   need   could   .
    10. year   will   on   next   Testing   begin   humans   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The medical world seen / sees another example of science fiction coming true. Scientists have revealed / revealing a "breakthrough technology" that repaired cells and organs on / in mice and pigs with a 90 per cent successful / success rate. Researchers at Ohio State University in the USA have developed a device barely / bared a centimeter wide that is full of tiny microchips called nanochips. The new device is a pad that is placing / placed on the skin. It initiates the process if / of repairing damaged organs and healing serious winds / wounds. The nanochips "reprogramme" damaged cells to restore them to their functional / function state. Researcher Dr Chandan Sen said: "With this technology, we can convert skin cells into elements of any organ with just one / once touch."

    The new technology is called issue / tissue nano-transfection (TNT). It is a non-invasive procedure / proceed, which means surgeons / surgeries do not have to cut the body. It works by placing the pad of nanochips over a damaged / damaging area of the body. A small electric currant / current then injects DNA into the skin's cells in less / fewer than a second. This transforms the cells into building blocks that then regenerate many / any nearby damaged tissue, such as skin, arteries, or even / ever organs like the liver, lungs and heart. Researchers say it could replace the need for patients needy / needing reconstructive surgery and revitalize organs that are prematurely aging. It could even help repair the brain. Testing will begin on humans / human next year.

    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)

    Th_ m_d_c_l w_rld s__s _n_th_r _x_mpl_ _f sc__nc_ f_ct__n c_m_ng tr__. Sc__nt_sts h_v_ r_v__l_d _ "br__kthr__gh t_chn_l_gy" th_t r_p__r_d c_lls _nd _rg_ns _n m_c_ _nd p_gs w_th _ 90 p_r c_nt s_cc_ss r_t_. R_s__rch_rs _t _h__ St_t_ _n_v_rs_ty _n th_ _S_ h_v_ d_v_l_p_d _ d_v_c_ b_r_ly _ c_nt_m_t_r w_d_ th_t _s f_ll _f t_ny m_cr_ch_ps c_ll_d n_n_ch_ps. Th_ n_w d_v_c_ _s _ p_d th_t _s pl_c_d _n th_ sk_n. _t _n_t__t_s th_ pr_c_ss _f r_p__r_ng d_m_g_d _rg_ns _nd h__l_ng s_r___s w__nds. Th_ n_n_ch_ps "r_pr_gr_mm_" d_m_g_d c_lls t_ r_st_r_ th_m t_ th__r f_nct__n_l st_t_. R_s__rch_r Dr Ch_nd_n S_n s__d: "W_th th_s t_chn_l_gy, w_ c_n c_nv_rt sk_n c_lls _nt_ _l_m_nts _f _ny _rg_n w_th j_st _n_ t__ch."

    Th_ n_w t_chn_l_gy _s c_ll_d t_ss__ n_n_-tr_nsf_ct__n (TNT). _t _s _ n_n-_nv_s_v_ pr_c_d_r_, wh_ch m__ns s_rg__ns d_ n_t h_v_ t_ c_t th_ b_dy. _t w_rks by pl_c_ng th_ p_d _f n_n_ch_ps _v_r _ d_m_g_d _r__ _f th_ b_dy. _ sm_ll _l_ctr_c c_rr_nt th_n _nj_cts DN_ _nt_ th_ sk_n's c_lls _n l_ss th_n _ s_c_nd. Th_s tr_nsf_rms th_ c_lls _nt_ b__ld_ng bl_cks th_t th_n r_g_n_r_t_ _ny n__rby d_m_g_d t_ss__, s_ch _s sk_n, _rt_r__s, _r _v_n _rg_ns l_k_ th_ l_v_r, l_ngs _nd h__rt. R_s__rch_rs s_y _t c__ld r_pl_c_ th_ n__d f_r p_t__nts n__d_ng r_c_nstr_ct_v_ s_rg_ry _nd r_v_t_l_z_ _rg_ns th_t _r_ pr_m_t_r_ly _g_ng. _t c__ld _v_n h_lp r_p__r th_ br__n. T_st_ng w_ll b_g_n _n h_m_ns n_xt y__r.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the medical world sees another example of science fiction coming true scientists have revealed a "breakthrough technology" that repaired cells and organs in mice and pigs with a 90 per cent success rate researchers at ohio state university in the usa have developed a device barely a centimeter wide that is full of tiny microchips called nanochips the new device is a pad that is placed on the skin it initiates the process of repairing damaged organs and healing serious wounds the nanochips "reprogramme" damaged cells to restore them to their functional state researcher dr chandan sen said "with this technology we can convert skin cells into elements of any organ with just one touch"

    the new technology is called tissue nano-transfection (tnt) it is a non-invasive procedure which means surgeons do not have to cut the body it works by placing the pad of nanochips over a damaged area of the body a small electric current then injects dna into the skin's cells in less than a second this transforms the cells into building blocks that then regenerate any nearby damaged tissue such as skin arteries or even organs like the liver lungs and heart researchers say it could replace the need for patients needing reconstructive surgery and revitalize organs that are prematurely aging it could even help repair the brain testing will begin on humans next year

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Themedicalworldseesanotherexampleofsciencefictioncomingtrue.S
    cientistshaverevealeda"breakthroughtechnology"thatrepairedcells
    andorgansinmiceandpigswitha90percentsuccessrate.Researchersa
    tOhioStateUniversityintheUSAhavedevelopedadevicebarelyacenti
    meterwidethatisfulloftinymicrochipscallednanochips.Thenewdevice
    isapadthatisplacedontheskin.Itinitiatestheprocessofrepairingdama
    gedorgansandhealingseriouswounds.Thenanochips"reprogramme"
    damagedcellstorestorethemtotheirfunctionalstate.ResearcherDrCh
    andanSensaid:"Withthistechnology,wecanconvertskincellsintoelem
    entsofanyorganwithjustonetouch."Thenewtechnologyiscalledtissue
    nano-transfection(TNT).Itisanon-invasiveprocedure,whichmeanss
    urgeonsdonothavetocutthebody.Itworksbyplacingthepadofnanochi
    psoveradamagedareaofthebody.AsmallelectriccurrenttheninjectsD
    NAintotheskin'scellsinlessthanasecond.Thistransformsthecellsintob
    uildingblocksthatthenregenerateanynearbydamagedtissue,suchass
    kin,arteries,orevenorgansliketheliver,lungsandheart.Researcherss
    ayitcouldreplacetheneedforpatientsneedingreconstructivesurgerya
    ndrevitalizeorgansthatareprematurelyaging.Itcouldevenhelprepair
    thebrain.Testingwillbeginonhumansnextyear.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    What would the advantages be of medical technology keeping us alive to be 200?

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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. REPAIRING THE BODY: Make a poster about repairing the body. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. ORGAN REPAIR: Write a magazine article about organ repair and how it could keep us alive until 200. 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 repairing the body. Ask him/her three questions about repairing the body. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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