The Reading / Listening - Life on Earth - Level 6

Humans represent a tiny fraction of all life on Earth, but are responsible for the destruction of 83 per cent of all wild mammals and half of our plant life. This is the analysis of a new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The ground-breaking report is the first investigation into the weight of every class of creature and life form on our planet. Lead researcher Professor Ron Milo explained what instigated the research. He said: "I was shocked to find there wasn't already a comprehensive, holistic estimate of all the different components of biomass." He hopes the study will provide, "a perspective on the very dominant role that humanity now plays on Earth".

There are 7.6 billion people on Earth, but they represent just 0.01% of all living things. Scientists say that is the same percentage as for termites. However, since we began walking on this planet, we have managed to cause the loss of most of its living species. Humans have also greatly changed the ratios of livestock to wild animals. Today, farmed poultry (mostly chickens) makes up 70% of all birds on the planet, with just 30% of birds being wild. Similarly, 60% of all mammals on Earth are livestock (mostly cattle and pigs), while just 4% are wild animals. Professor Milo hopes people will use his study, "as part of their world view [and] of how they consume" He said he hopes people will eat less meat.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Life on Earth - Level 4  or  Life on Earth - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/21/human-race-just-001-of-all-life-but-has-destroyed-over-80-of-wild-mammals-study
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/humans-are-just-0-01-of-life-earth-but-we-annihilated-rest-biomass-animals-mammals-plants
  • http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/05/plants-outweigh-all-other-life-earth


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. LIFE ON EARTH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about life on Earth. 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?
       humans / fraction / destruction / plant life / planet / biomass / perspective / role /
       living things / termites / species / livestock / wild animals / poultry / cattle / meat
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. REVERSE: Students A strongly believe we can reverse the damage done to our planet; Students B strongly believe that's impossible.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DAMAGE: What do you know about the damage done to the following things? How can we reverse it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Damage done

How to reverse it

Forests

 

 

Ice caps

 

 

Atmosphere

 

 

Coral

 

 

Mammal species

 

 

Rivers

 

 

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. EARTH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Earth". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SAVE THE PLANET: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways of saving the planet at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • ban logging
  • end fossil-fuel use
  • countryside living
  • hybrid cars
  • eating less meat
  • planting trees
  • recycling more
  • ban hunting

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. represent a. A small or tiny part, amount, or proportion of something.
      2. fraction b. Warm-blooded animals that have a backbone, hair or fur, milk from females for their young, and the birth of live young.
      3. destruction c. The total amount and volume of living things in a given area.
      4. mammals d. The action or process of killing or being killed.
      5. ground-breaking e. Complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.
      6. comprehensive f. Is; equal to; constitute; amount to.
      7. biomass g. Innovative; pioneering.

    Paragraph 2

      8. termites h. A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
      9. species i. The relation between two amounts showing the number of times one value contains or is contained within the other (e.g.. 8 to 1, 3:100, etc.).
      10. ratio j. Use up or eat.
      11. livestock k. Large grass-chewing animals with horns and hoofs, domesticated for meat or milk (e.g. cows).
      12. cattle l. Farm animals regarded as an asset and for profit.
      13. poultry m. Small, ant-like insects that live in large colonies inside a tall mound of cemented earth they build themselves. Many kinds feed on wood.
      14. consume n. Domestic birds we keep or breed for food, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Humans represent a large fraction of all life on Earth.     T / F
  2. A study reported human activity has killed 83% of Earth's wild animals.   T / F
  3. Researchers estimated the weight of all different types of life forms.     T / F
  4. The study is one of many to estimate the biomass weight of species.     T / F
  5. Scientists have the same biomass weight as termites.     T / F
  6. Around 70% of all birds on Earth are on farms.     T / F
  7. Around 40% of all mammals on Earth are wild animals.     T / F
  8. A professor said he turned vegetarian after finishing the report.     T / F

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

  1. represent
  2. destruction
  3. ground-breaking
  4. instigated
  5. components
  6. cause
  7. ratio
  8. wild
  9. view
  10. consume
  1. innovative
  2. outlook
  3. elements
  4. devastation
  5. proportion
  6. untamed
  7. constitute
  8. eat
  9. create
  10. brought about

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

  1. Humans represent a tiny
  2. the weight of every
  3. a comprehensive, holistic
  4. all the different components
  5. the very dominant role that humanity
  6. cause the loss of most of its living
  7. farmed poultry
  8. while just 4% are wild
  9. livestock
  10. use his study as part of
  1. their world view
  2. animals
  3. now plays
  4. (mostly cattle and pigs)
  5. estimate
  6. class of creature
  7. fraction of all life on Earth
  8. (mostly chickens)
  9. species
  10. of biomass

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
analysis
provide
fraction
instigated
plays
mammals
estimate
class

Humans represent a tiny (1) ____________ of all life on Earth, but are responsible for the destruction of 83 per cent of all wild (2) ____________ and half of our plant life. This is the (3) ____________ of a new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The ground-breaking report is the first investigation into the weight of every (4) ____________ of creature and life form on our planet. Lead researcher Professor Ron Milo explained what (5) ____________ the research. He said: "I was shocked to find there wasn't already a comprehensive, holistic (6) ____________ of all the different components of biomass." He hopes the study will (7) ____________, "a perspective on the very dominant role that humanity now (8) ____________ on Earth".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
loss
represent
cattle
planet
wild
consume
percentage
poultry

There are 7.6 billion people on Earth, but they (9) ____________ just 0.01% of all living things. Scientists say that is the same (10) ____________ as for termites. However, since we began walking on this (11) ____________, we have managed to cause the (12) ____________ of most of its living species. Humans have also greatly changed the ratios of livestock to wild animals. Today, farmed (13) ____________ (mostly chickens) makes up 70% of all birds on the planet, with just 30% of birds being (14) ____________. Similarly, 60% of all mammals on Earth are livestock (mostly (15) ____________ and pigs), while just 4% are wild animals. Professor Milo hopes people will use his study, "as part of their world view [and] of how they (16) ____________ " He said he hopes people will eat less meat.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Humans represent a tiny ______ life
     a.  fraction of all
     b.  faction of all
     c.  fracture off all
     d.  fractious off all
2)  the destruction of 83 per cent of all wild mammals and half of ______
     a.  your plant life
     b.  their plant life
     c.  its plant life
     d.  our plant life
3)  The ground-breaking report is the first investigation ______
     a.  onto the weight
     b.  into the weight
     c.  unto the weight
     d.  as to the weight
4)  I was shocked to find there wasn't already a comprehensive, ______
     a.  fantastic estimate
     b.  holistic estimate
     c.  elastic estimate
     d.  caustic estimate
5)  provide a perspective on the very dominant role that humanity ______
     a.  now plays
     b.  now pays
     c.  now ploys
     d.  now plaids

6)  There are 7.6 billion people on Earth, but they represent just 0.01% ______ things
     a.  offer living
     b.  off all living
     c.  of all living
     d.  offal living
7)  Scientists say that is the same percentage ______
     a.  has for termites
     b.  was for termites
     c.  that's for termites
     d.  as for termites
8)  Humans have also greatly changed the ratios of livestock ______
     a.  twiddle animals
     b.  two wild animals
     c.  too wild animals
     d.  to wild animals
9)  60% of all mammals on Earth are livestock (mostly ______ )
     a.  rattle and pigs
     b.  tattle and pigs
     c.  cattle and pigs
     d.  battle and pigs
10)  Milo hopes people will use his study as part of their world view and of ______
     a.  how they assume
     b.  how they consume
     c.  how they resume
     d.  how they presume

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Humans represent a tiny (1) ___________________ life on Earth, but are responsible for the destruction of 83 per cent of (2) ___________________ and half of our plant life. This is (3) ___________________ a new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The ground-breaking report is the first investigation into the (4) ___________________ class of creature and life form on our planet. Lead researcher Professor Ron Milo explained what instigated the research. He said: "I was (5) ___________________ there wasn't already a comprehensive, holistic estimate of all the different components of biomass." He hopes the (6) ___________________, "a perspective on the very dominant role that humanity now plays on Earth".

There are 7.6 billion people on Earth, but (7) ___________________ 0.01% of all living things. Scientists say that is the same percentage as for termites. However, (8) ___________________ walking on this planet, we have managed to cause the (9) ___________________ of its living species. Humans have also greatly changed the (10) ___________________ to wild animals. Today, farmed poultry (mostly chickens) makes up 70% of all birds on the planet, with just 30% of (11) ___________________. Similarly, 60% of all mammals on Earth are livestock (mostly cattle and pigs), while just 4% are wild animals. Professor Milo hopes people will use his study, "as part of their world view [and] of (12) ___________________ " He said he hopes people will eat less meat.

Comprehension questions

  1. What fraction of all living things on Earth do humans represent?
  2. What percentage of wild mammals have humans destroyed?
  3. What did researchers find out for every class of creature on Earth?
  4. What was a professor shocked not to find and estimate on?
  5. What did a professor say plays a very dominant role on Earth?
  6. What percentage of all living things on Earth are humans?
  7. What do we share the same biomass percentage as?
  8. What percentage of the world's birds is raised on farms?
  9. What two animals form most of the world's livestock?
  10. What does a professor hope we eat less of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What fraction of all living things on Earth do humans represent?
a) a third
b) half
c) a tiny fraction
d) three-quarters
2) What percentage of wild mammals have humans destroyed?
a) 83%
b) 60%
c) 30%
d) 4%
3) What did researchers find out for every class of creature on Earth?
a) its Latin name
b) its biomass
c) its DNA
d) birth weights
4) What was a professor shocked not to find and estimate on?
a) the ratio of poultry to livestock
b) the number of creatures
c) the number of species
d) components of biomass
5) What did a professor say plays a very dominant role on Earth?
a) plant life
b) wild animals
c) humanity
d) livestock

6) What percentage of all living things on Earth are humans?
a) 0.001%
b) 0.01%
c) 0.1%
d) 1%
7) What do we share the same biomass percentage as?
a) bacteria
b) cattle
c) wild mammals
d) termites
8) What percentage of the world's birds is raised on farms?
a) 30%
b) 70%
c) 60%
d) 83%
9) What two animals form most of the world's livestock?
a) sheep and goats
b) cattle and pigs
c) sheep and pigs
d) goats and cattle
10) What does a professor hope we eat less of?
a) meat
b) beef
c) endangered animals
d) factory chickens

Role play

Role  A – Eating Less Meat
You think eating less meat is the best way to help save Earth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): planting trees, ending fossil-fuel use or countryside living.

Role  B – Planting Trees
You think planting trees is the best way to help save Earth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): eating less meat, ending fossil-fuel use or countryside living.

Role  C – Ending Fossil-Fuel Use
You think ending fossil-fuel use is the best way to help save Earth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): planting trees, eating less meat or countryside living.

Role  D – Countryside Living
You think countryside living is the best way to help save Earth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why):  planting trees, ending fossil-fuel use or eating less meat.

After reading / listening

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

'life'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'Earth'.

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

    • billion
    • walking
    • greatly
    • being
    • study
    • meat
    • tiny
    • new
    • weight
    • find
    • shocked
    • role

    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 - Half of life on Earth gone since humans arrived

    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 'life'?
    3. How important are humans to this world?
    4. What will future generations think of the destruction?
    5. What do you think of nature?
    6. What can we do to reverse the loss of biodiversity?
    7. What role should humans play on Earth?
    8. What are your favourite creatures?
    9. What would Earth be like without humans?
    10. What three adjectives best describe this article?

    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 'Earth'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What will happen if the human population increases?
    5. What do you know about termites?
    6. What have humans done to cause so much loss to nature?
    7. Does it matter that most birds on Earth are on farms?
    8. How will the numbers in the article change in the next 100 years?
    9. Will you now reconsider what you eat
    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)

    Humans represent a tiny (1) ____ of all life on Earth, but are responsible for the destruction of 83 per cent of all (2) ____ mammals and half of our plant life. This is the analysis of a new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The ground-(3) ____ report is the first investigation into the weight of every class of creature and life form on our planet. Lead researcher Professor Ron Milo explained what (4) ____ the research. He said: "I was shocked to find there wasn't already a comprehensive, (5) ____ estimate of all the different components of biomass." He hopes the study will provide, "a perspective on the very dominant role that humanity now (6) ____ on Earth".

    There are 7.6 billion people on Earth, but they represent just 0.01% of all living things. Scientists say that is the same percentage (7) ____ for termites. However, since we began walking on this planet, we have managed to cause the (8) ____ of most of its living species. Humans have also greatly changed the (9) ____ of livestock to wild animals. Today, farmed poultry (mostly chickens) makes up 70% of all birds on the planet, with just 30% of birds (10) ____ wild. Similarly, 60% of all mammals on Earth are (11) ____ (mostly cattle and pigs), while just 4% are wild animals. Professor Milo hopes people will use his study, "as part of their world (12) ____ [and] of how they consume" He said he hopes people will eat less meat.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     fracture     (b)     fractious     (c)     fractal     (d)     fraction    
    2. (a)     wilderness     (b)     wilds     (c)     wildly     (d)     wild    
    3. (a)     breached     (b)     breaking     (c)     breaching     (d)     broken    
    4. (a)     investigated     (b)     instilled     (c)     instigated     (d)     institution    
    5. (a)     holy     (b)     holdall     (c)     holistic     (d)     holdout    
    6. (a)     plays     (b)     does     (c)     is     (d)     makes    
    7. (a)     was     (b)     as     (c)     has     (d)     is    
    8. (a)     loss     (b)     lost     (c)     lose     (d)     loose    
    9. (a)     ratings     (b)     ratios     (c)     ratifies     (d)     rations    
    10. (a)     were     (b)     been     (c)     being     (d)     are    
    11. (a)     reptiles     (b)     assets     (c)     livestock     (d)     portfolio    
    12. (a)     gaze     (b)     watch     (c)     look     (d)     view

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a tiny otrncifa of all life
    2. the esirodtntuc of 83 per cent
    3. the lsiyanas of a new study
    4. every class of reeutacr
    5. a comprehensive, holistic iaemestt
    6. the study will provide a epvepsrteci

    Paragraph 2

    1. the same tnceeperga
    2. most of its living pcesies
    3. farmed ytpolru
    4. 60% of all mlmamsa
    5. sieokltcv (mostly cattle and pigs)
    6. of how they unoecms

    Put the text back together

    (...)  on the very dominant role that humanity now plays on Earth".
    (...)  study, "as part of their world view [and] of how they consume" He said he hopes people will eat less meat.
    (...)  in Israel. The ground-breaking report is the first investigation into the weight of every class of creature and life
    (...)  form on our planet. Lead researcher Professor Ron Milo explained what instigated the research. He said: "I was
    (...)  shocked to find there wasn't already a comprehensive, holistic estimate
    (...)  There are 7.6 billion people on Earth, but they represent just 0.01% of all living
    (...)  livestock (mostly cattle and pigs), while just 4% are wild animals. Professor Milo hopes people will use his
    (...)  things. Scientists say that is the same percentage as for termites. However, since we began walking on this
    (...)  planet, we have managed to cause the loss of most of its living species. Humans have also greatly
    1  ) Humans represent a tiny fraction of all life on Earth, but are responsible for the destruction of 83 per cent of all wild
    (...)  mammals and half of our plant life. This is the analysis of a new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science
    (...)  up 70% of all birds on the planet, with just 30% of birds being wild. Similarly, 60% of all mammals on Earth are
    (...)  of all the different components of biomass." He hopes the study will provide, "a perspective
    (...)  changed the ratios of livestock to wild animals. Today, farmed poultry (mostly chickens) makes

    Put the words in the right order

    1. tiny   fraction   life   .   represent   a   all   Humans   of
    2. report   is   The   the   first   investigation   .   ground-breaking
    3. weight   of   creature   .   The   of   every   class
    4. all   different   the   holistic   A   components   .   of   estimate
    5. The   humanity   that   now   role   very   dominant   plays   .
    6. just   represent   all   living   things   .   0.01%   of   They
    7. say   same   that   is   the   percentage   .   Scientists
    8. have   also   ratios   .   Humans   greatly   changed   the
    9. their   part   view   .   of   as   study   his   Use   world
    10. said   people   eat   less   .   will   He   hopes   he

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Humans represent a tiny / tinny fraction of all life on Earth, but are responsible for a / the destruction of 83 per cent of all wild mammals and half of our plant life. This is the analysis / analyse of a new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science in / on Israel. The ground-breaking report is the first investigation onto / into the weight of every class of creature and life form on our planet. Lead researcher Professor Ron Milo explanation / explained what instigated the research. He said: "I was shocking / shocked to find there wasn't already a comprehensive, holy / holistic estimate of all the different components of biomass." He hoping / hopes the study will provide, "a perspective on the very dominant role that humanity / humane now plays on Earth".

    There are 7.6 billion people on Earth, but they represent / representative just 0.01% of all living things. Scientists say that is the same / sane percentage as for termites. However, since they / we began walking on this planet, we have managed to case / cause the loss of most of its living species. Humans have also greatly changed the ratios / rations of livestock to wild animals. Today, farmed paltry / poultry (mostly chickens) makes up 70% of all birds on the planet, with just 30% of birds being wild / wilds. Similarly, 60% of every / all mammals on Earth are livestock (mostly cattle and pigs), while just 4% are wild animals. Professor Milo hopes people will use his study, "as part of their world viewer / view [and] of how they consume" He said he hopes people will eat less / lest meat.

    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_m_n s r_p r_s_n t _ t_n y f r_c t__ n _f _l l l_f_ _n E_r t h , b_t _r_ r_s p_n s_b l_ f_r t h_ d_s t r_c t__ n _f 8 3 p_r c_n t _f _l l w_l d m_m m_l s _n d h_l f _f __ r p l_n t l_f_. T h_s _s t h_ _n_l y s_s _f _ n_w s t_d y f r_m t h_ W__ z m_n n I n s t_t_t_ _f S c__ n c_ _n I s r__ l . T h_ g r__ n d - b r__ k_n g r_p_r t _s t h_ f_r s t _n v_s t_g_t__ n _n t_ t h_ w__ g h t _f _v_r y c l_s s _f c r__ t_r_ _n d l_f_ f_r m _n __ r p l_n_t . L__ d r_s__ r c h_r P r_f_s s_r R_n M_l_ _x p l__ n_d w h_t _n s t_g_t_d t h_ r_s__ r c h . H_ s__ d : " I w_s s h_c k_d t_ f_n d t h_r_ w_s n ' t _l r__ d y _ c_m p r_h_n s_v_, h_l_s t_c _s t_m_t_ _f _l l t h_ d_f f_r_n t c_m p_n_n t s _f b__ m_s s . " H_ h_p_s t h_ s t_d y w_l l p r_v_d_, "_ p_r s p_c t_v_ _n t h_ v_r y d_m_n_n t r_l_ t h_t h_m_n_t y n_w p l_y s _n E_r t h " .

    T h_r_ _r_ 7 . 6 b_l l__ n p__ p l_ _n E_r t h , b_t t h_y r_p r_s_n t j_s t 0 . 0 1 % _f _l l l_v_n g t h_n g s . S c__ n t_s t s s_y t h_t _s t h_ s_m_ p_r c_n t_g_ _s f_r t_r m_t_s . H_w_v_r , s_n c_ w_ b_g_n w_l k_n g _n t h_s p l_n_t , w_ h_v_ m_n_g_d t_ c__ s_ t h_ l_s s _f m_s t _f _t s l_v_n g s p_c__ s . H_m_n s h_v_ _l s_ g r__ t l y c h_n g_d t h_ r_t__ s _f l_v_s t_c k t_ w_l d _n_m_l s . T_d_y , f_r m_d p__ l t r y ( m_s t l y c h_c k_n s ) m_k_s _p 7 0 % _f _l l b_r d s _n t h_ p l_n_t , w_t h j_s t 3 0 % _f b_r d s b__ n g w_l d . S_m_l_r l y , 6 0 % _f _l l m_m m_l s _n E_r t h _r_ l_v_s t_c k ( m_s t l y c_t t l_ _n d p_g s ) , w h_l_ j_s t 4 % _r_ w_l d _n_m_l s . P r_f_s s_r M_l_ h_p_s p__ p l_ w_l l _s_ h_s s t_d y , "_s p_r t _f t h__ r w_r l d v__ w [_n d ] _f h_w t h_y c_n s_m_" H_ s__ d h_ h_p_s p__ p l_ w_l l __ t l_s s m__ t .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    humans represent a tiny fraction of all life on earth but are responsible for the destruction of 83 per cent of all wild mammals and half of our plant life this is the analysis of a new study from the weizmann institute of science in israel the groundbreaking report is the first investigation into the weight of every class of creature and life form on our planet lead researcher professor ron milo explained what instigated the research he said i was shocked to find there wasnt already a comprehensive holistic estimate of all the different components of biomass he hopes the study will provide a perspective on the very dominant role that humanity now plays on earth

    there are 76 billion people on earth but they represent just 001 of all living things scientists say that is the same percentage as for termites however since we began walking on this planet we have managed to cause the loss of most of its living species humans have also greatly changed the ratios of livestock to wild animals today farmed poultry mostly chickens makes up 70 of all birds on the planet with just 30 of birds being wild similarly 60 of all mammals on earth are livestock mostly cattle and pigs while just 4 are wild animals professor milo hopes people will use his study as part of their world view and of how they consume he said he hopes people will eat less meat.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    HumansrepresentatinyfractionofalllifeonEarth,butareresponsiblefo
    rthedestructionof83percentofallwildmammalsandhalfofourplantlife
    .ThisistheanalysisofanewstudyfromtheWeizmannInstituteofScienc
    einIsrael.Theground-breakingreportisthefirstinvestigationintothew
    eightofeveryclassofcreatureandlifeformonourplanet.Leadresearche
    rProfessorRonMiloexplainedwhatinstigatedtheresearch.Hesaid:"Iw
    asshockedtofindtherewasn'talreadyacomprehensive,holisticestima
    teofallthedifferentcomponentsofbiomass."Hehopesthestudywillpro
    vide,"aperspectiveontheverydominantrolethathumanitynowplayso
    nEarth".Thereare7.6billionpeopleonEarth,buttheyrepresentjust0.0
    1%ofalllivingthings.Scientistssaythatisthesamepercentageasforter
    mites.However,sincewebeganwalkingonthisplanet,wehavemanage
    dtocausethelossofmostofitslivingspecies.Humanshavealsogreatlyc
    hangedtheratiosoflivestocktowildanimals.Today,farmedpoultry(mo
    stlychickens)makesup70%ofallbirdsontheplanet,withjust30%ofbir
    dsbeingwild.Similarly,60%ofallmammalsonEartharelivestock(most
    lycattleandpigs),whilejust4%arewildanimals.ProfessorMilohopespe
    oplewillusehisstudy,"aspartoftheirworldview[and]ofhowtheyconsu
    me"Hesaidhehopespeoplewilleatlessmeat.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    How can humans stop destroying the Earth?

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. LIFE ON EARTH: Make a poster about life on Earth. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WILD ANIMALS: Write a magazine article about all governments spending lots of money on increasing the number of wild animals on Earth. 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 life on Earth. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can better protect our planet. 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

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    Answers

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

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