The Reading / Listening - String - Level 3

Archaeologists have discovered the oldest piece of string ever found. The archaeologists are very happy about their find. The first reason they are happy is that the string they found is around 50,000 years old. The second reason is that the string shows that Neanderthals were more intelligent than we previously thought they were. Neanderthals were an early species of humans that became extinct about 35,000 years ago. The string shows that Neanderthals had a good understanding of plants and textiles. The archaeologists say Neanderthals may have used the string to make clothes, bags, rope, mats and other things. This means they were probably as intelligent as modern humans.

The piece of string that the archaeologists found was tiny but it reveals a lot about how people lived 50,000 years ago. Dr Marie-Helene Moncel, director of research at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, said: "We were able to uncover details about the fibres and we observed that they're different, twisted fibres. It is not possible to find these kinds of fibres in nature." She added: "In my opinion, different things can be related to this discovery. Obviously, the ability of Neanderthals to make cord, but also their huge knowledge about trees. They knew about vegetation, plants and trees, and had the intelligence to use different parts of the environment."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    String - Level 0 String - Level 1   or  String - Level 2

Sources
  • https://uk.news.yahoo.com/oldest-string-neanderthal-181822003.html
  • https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/13/oldest-piece-string-found-neanderthal-dwelling-12548889/
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/neanderthals-string-discovery-50000-years-old-france-scientists-abri-du-maras-a9462706.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. STRING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about string. 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?
       archaeologist / string / happy / reason / intelligent / species / humans / plants / bags
       tiny / 50,000 years ago / research / museum / nature / discovery / knowledge / trees
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. INTELLIGENCE: Students A strongly believe humans are the most intelligent creatures on the planet; Students B strongly believe they are not.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. UNDERSTANDING: How is your understanding of these things? How useful is a knowledge of these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Your Understanding

Usefulness

String

 

 

Neanderthals

 

 

Nature

 

 

Trees

 

 

Environment

 

 

Discoveries

 

 

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. REASON: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "reason". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. USES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best uses of string at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • shoelaces
  • washing line
  • tying up plants
  • violins and guitars
  • yo-yo
  • toys
  • weaving
  • kites

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. archeologist a. A group of living things that are similar and can produce babies.
      2. reason b. People.
      3. intelligent c. A person who studies human history by digging old sites and looking for very old things.
      4. previously d. A cause of something happening.
      5. species e. At an earlier time; before.
      6. textiles f. Cloth and fabric.
      7. humans g. Having or showing the ability to get and use knowledge and skills.

    Paragraph 2

      8. tiny h. Very, very big.
      9. reveals i. A belief about something.
      10. uncover j. A tiny part of tissue that is used to make fabric and cloth.
      11. fibre k. Very, very small.
      12. opinion l. Living (usually green) things that need sunlight and water, like grass, flowers, trees, herbs, moss, etc.
      13. huge m. Shows for the first time.
      14. plants n. Found something that no one knew about before.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Archaeologists are not very happy with finding the string.     T / F
  2. Scientists say Neanderthals were more intelligent than we thought.    T / F
  3. Neanderthals died out about 35,000 years ago.     T / F
  4. The archaeologists said Neanderthals used string to make silk.     T / F
  5. The string shows very little about how Neanderthals lived.     T / F
  6. A researcher found that the string was not found in nature.     T / F
  7. Neanderthals had a lot of knowledge of trees and plants.     T / F
  8. Neanderthals used different parts of the environment.     T / F

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

  1. discovered
  2. happy
  3. shows
  4. understanding
  5. intelligent
  6. tiny
  7. uncover
  8. opinion
  9. huge
  10. parts
  1. knowledge
  2. bits
  3. very small
  4. reveals
  5. find out
  6. found
  7. very big
  8. clever
  9. pleased
  10. belief

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

  1. archaeologists are very happy
  2. more intelligent than
  3. an early species
  4. make clothes, bags, rope, mats
  5. they were probably as intelligent
  6. it reveals a lot about how
  7. We were able to uncover
  8. possible to find these kinds of
  9. different things can be related
  10. use different parts
  1. of humans
  2. as modern humans
  3. of the environment
  4. people lived
  5. fibres in nature
  6. and other things
  7. to this discovery
  8. about their find
  9. details about the fibres
  10. we previously thought

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
reason
good
find
modern
discovered
mats
happy
species

Archaeologists have (1) ____________ the oldest piece of string ever found. The archaeologists are very happy about their (2) ____________. The first reason they are (3) ____________ is that the string they found is around 50,000 years old. The second (4) ____________ is that the string shows that Neanderthals were more intelligent than we previously thought they were. Neanderthals were an early (5) ____________ of humans that became extinct about 35,000 years ago. The string shows that Neanderthals had a (6) ____________ understanding of plants and textiles. The archaeologists say Neanderthals may have used the string to make clothes, bags, rope, (7) ____________ and other things. This means they were probably as intelligent as (8) ____________ humans.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
director
observed
different
able
trees
tiny
lot
opinion

The piece of string that the archaeologists found was (9) ____________ but it reveals a (10) ____________ about how people lived 50,000 years ago. Dr Marie-Helene Moncel, (11) ____________ of research at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, said: "We were (12) ____________ to uncover details about the fibres and we (13) ____________ that they're different, twisted fibres. It is not possible to find these kinds of fibres in nature." She added: "In my (14) ____________, different things can be related to this discovery. Obviously, the ability of Neanderthals to make cord, but also their huge knowledge about (15) ____________. They knew about vegetation, plants and trees, and had the intelligence to use (16) ____________ parts of the environment."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Archaeologists have discovered the oldest piece of ______
     a.  string never found
     b.  string ever found
     c.  string even found
     d.  string every found
2)  The archaeologists are very happy ______
     a.  about their fund
     b.  about their found
     c.  about their fond
     d.  about their find
3)  Neanderthals were more intelligent than we ______
     a.  previous thought
     b.  previously thoughtful
     c.  previous thoughtless
     d.  previously thought
4)  Neanderthals were an early species of humans that ______
     a.  became extinct
     b.  became exact
     c.  became extant
     d.  became exit
5)  used the string to make clothes, bags, rope, mats ______
     a.  and another things
     b.  and others things
     c.  and other things
     d.  and others' things

6)  The piece of string that the archaeologists found was tiny but it ______
     a.  reveal a lot
     b.  repeals a lot
     c.  reveals a lot
     d.  repeal a lot
7)  We were able to uncover details ______
     a.  about a fibres
     b.  about the fibrous
     c.  about the fibres
     d.  about the fabulous
8)  It is not possible to find these kinds of fibres ______
     a.  in nature
     b.  on nature
     c.  in natural
     d.  in natures
9)  the ability of Neanderthals to make cord, but also their ______ trees
     a.  huge knowledge about
     b.  hug knowledge about
     c.  luge knowledge about
     d.  fugue knowledge about
10)  and had the intelligence to use different ______ environment
     a.  parts of those
     b.  parts of some
     c.  parts of a
     d.  parts of the

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Archaeologists have discovered the oldest piece of (1) ___________________. The archaeologists are very happy about their find. The first reason they are happy is that the string they (2) ___________________ 50,000 years old. The second reason is that the string shows that Neanderthals were more intelligent (3) ___________________ thought they were. Neanderthals were an early species of humans that (4) ___________________ 35,000 years ago. The string shows that Neanderthals had a good understanding of (5) ___________________. The archaeologists say Neanderthals may have used the string to make clothes, bags, rope, mats and other things. This means they were probably as intelligent (6) ___________________.

The piece of string that the archaeologists found was tiny (7) ___________________ a lot about how people lived 50,000 years ago. Dr Marie-Helene Moncel, (8) ___________________ at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, said: "We were able to uncover details about the fibres and (9) ___________________ they're different, twisted fibres. It is not possible to find these kinds of fibres in nature." She added: "(10) ___________________, different things can be related to this discovery. Obviously, the ability of Neanderthals to make cord, but (11) ___________________ knowledge about trees. They knew about vegetation, plants and trees, and had (12) ___________________ use different parts of the environment."

Comprehension questions

  1. How do the archaeologists feel about finding the string?
  2. What are Neanderthals?
  3. When did Neanderthals die out?
  4. What did Neanderthals have a good understanding of?
  5. Who or what were Neanderthals probably as intelligent as?
  6. What does the string reveal about Neanderthals?
  7. What kind of fibres did a researcher say were in the string?
  8. Where did a researcher say it was not possible to find the fibres?
  9. What did a researcher say Neanderthals had a huge knowledge about?
  10. What did Neanderthals use different parts of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How do the archaeologists feel about finding the string?
a) unsure
b) sad
c) puzzled
d) happy
2) What are Neanderthals?
a) Stone Age people
b) an early species of humans
c) ancient Egyptians
d) people who ate only meat
3) When did Neanderthals die out?
a) about 50,000 years ago
b) about 45,000 years ago
c) about 40,000 years ago
d) about 35,000 years ago
4) What did Neanderthals have a good understanding of?
a) dinosaurs
b) caves
c) plants and textiles
d) the stars
5) Who or what were Neanderthals probably as intelligent as?
a) today's computers
b) dolphins
c) dogs
d) modern humans

6) What does the string reveal about Neanderthals?
a) their fashion
b) their hobbies
c) how they lived
d) very little
7) What kind of fibres did a researcher say were in the string?
a) twisted fibres
b) thick fibres
c) colourful fibres
d) plain fibres
8) Where did a researcher say it was not possible to find the fibres?
a) in Europe
b) in shops
c) in nature
d) on sheep
9) What did a researcher say Neanderthals had a huge knowledge about?
a) the sea
b) trees
c) sewing
d) animals
10) What did Neanderthals use different parts of?
a) the environment
b) their body
c) flowers
d) animals

Role play

Role  A – Shoelaces
You think shoelaces are the best use of string. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which of these least need string (and why): guitars, yo-yos or kites.

Role  B – Guitars
You think guitars are the best use of string. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which of these least need string (and why): shoelaces, yo-yos or kites.

Role  C – Yo-Yos
You think yo-yos are the best use of string. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which of these least need string (and why): guitars, shoelaces or kites.

Role  D – Kites
You think kites are the best use of string. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which of these least need string (and why): guitars, yo-yos or shoelaces.

After reading / listening

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

'piece'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'string'.

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

    • ever
    • first
    • second
    • early
    • good
    • means
    • tiny
    • uncover
    • possible
    • opinion
    • huge
    • use

    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 - String

    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 'string'?
    3. How important is string?
    4. What do you use string for?
    5. When was the last time you used a piece of string?
    6. What kinds of string are there?
    7. How long is a piece of string?
    8. What do you think the 50,000-year-old string was used for?
    9. What do you know about Neanderthals?
    10. How important are textiles?

    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 ' archaeologist'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think life was like 50,000 years ago?
    5. What could we use instead of string?
    6. How interested are you in natural history?
    7. What do archaeologists do every day?
    8. Would you like to be an archaeologist?
    9. What do you know about trees?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the archaeologists?

    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)

    Archaeologists have discovered the oldest piece of string (1) ____ found. The archaeologists are very happy about their find. The (2) ____ reason they are happy is that the string they found is around 50,000 years old. The second reason is that the string shows that Neanderthals were more intelligent than we (3) ____ thought they were. Neanderthals were an early species of humans that became (4) ____ about 35,000 years ago. The string shows that Neanderthals had a good understanding of plants and textiles. The archaeologists say Neanderthals may have (5) ____ the string to make clothes, bags, rope, mats and other things. This means they were probably as intelligent (6) ____ modern humans.

    The piece of string that the archaeologists found was (7) ____ but it reveals a lot about how people lived 50,000 years ago. Dr Marie-Helene Moncel, director of research at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, said: "We were (8) ____ to uncover details about the fibres and we observed that they're different, twisted fibres. It is not possible to find (9) ____ kinds of fibres in nature." She added: "In (10) ____ opinion, different things can be related to this discovery. Obviously, the ability of Neanderthals to make cord, but also their huge (11) ____ about trees. They knew about vegetation, plants and trees, and had the intelligence to use different parts of (12) ____ environment."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     ever     (b)     even     (c)     every     (d)     never    
    2. (a)     firstly     (b)     firsts     (c)     first     (d)     thirst    
    3. (a)     precious     (b)     proves     (c)     previously     (d)     prevails    
    4. (a)     exact     (b)     exist     (c)     expert     (d)     extinct    
    5. (a)     used     (b)     use     (c)     uses     (d)     useful    
    6. (a)     was     (b)     as     (c)     is     (d)     has    
    7. (a)     toned     (b)     tainted     (c)     tinny     (d)     tiny    
    8. (a)     can     (b)     able     (c)     really     (d)     wholly    
    9. (a)     them     (b)     there     (c)     these     (d)     they    
    10. (a)     thus     (b)     my     (c)     which     (d)     how    
    11. (a)     like     (b)     growing     (c)     aware     (d)     knowledge    
    12. (a)     bit     (b)     the     (c)     whole     (d)     us

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. desoviecdr the oldest piece of string
    2. The first saerno they are happy
    3. we pvyoluires thought they were
    4. an early cpsesie of humans
    5. became ticnxte about 35,000 years ago
    6. they were probably as itinllteeng

    Paragraph 2

    1. it srelave a lot
    2. find these kinds of fibres in ertanu
    3. In my nponoii
    4. their huge edwelognk about trees
    5. veeoagtitn, plants and trees
    6. different parts of the otvirnnmeen

    Put the text back together

    (...)  50,000 years old. The second reason is that the string shows that Neanderthals were more intelligent
    (...)  to uncover details about the fibres and we observed that they're different, twisted fibres. It is not
    (...)  things. This means they were probably as intelligent as modern humans.
    (...)  the intelligence to use different parts of the environment."
    (...)  than we previously thought they were. Neanderthals were an early species of humans that became
    1  ) Archaeologists have discovered the oldest piece of string ever found. The archaeologists are very happy
    (...)  knowledge about trees. They knew about vegetation, plants and trees, and had
    (...)  possible to find these kinds of fibres in nature." She added: "In my opinion, different things can
    (...)  extinct about 35,000 years ago. The string shows that Neanderthals had a good understanding of plants
    (...)  ago. Dr Marie-Helene Moncel, director of research at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, said: "We were able
    (...)  about their find. The first reason they are happy is that the string they found is around
    (...)  and textiles. The archaeologists say Neanderthals may have used the string to make clothes, bags, rope, mats and other
    (...)  The piece of string that the archaeologists found was tiny but it reveals a lot about how people lived 50,000 years
    (...)  be related to this discovery. Obviously, the ability of Neanderthals to make cord, but also their huge

    Put the words in the right order

    1. string   ever   the   Discovered   of   found   .   piece   oldest
    2. their   very   happy   about   find   .   archaeologists   are   The
    3. more   were  than   thought  .  intelligent   we  Neanderthals  previously
    4. string   Neanderthals   make   clothes   .   have   to   may   used
    5. were   humans   .   as   probably   They   as   intelligent   modern
    6. how   about   a   reveals   It   lived   .   people   lot
    7. able   about   fibres   .   details   We   were   to   uncover
    8. fibres   .   find   of   these   to   possible   Not   kinds
    9. be   things   Different   this   discovery   .   related   to   can
    10. use   of   different   Intelligence   environment   .   to   the   parts

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Archaeologists have discovered the oldest piece of string never / ever found. The archaeologists are very happy about their found / find. The first reason they are happy is that the string they found is around 50,000 years old. The second / secondly reason is that the string shows that Neanderthals were more intelligence / intelligent than we previously thought they were. Neanderthals were an early species of / to humans that became extinct about 35,000 years ago. The string shown / shows that Neanderthals had a good understanding of plants and reptiles / textiles. The archaeologists say Neanderthals may have used the string to make clothes, bag / bags, rope, mats and other things. This means they were probably / probable as intelligent as modern humans / humane.

    The piece of string that the archaeologists found was tinny / tiny but it reveals a lot about how people living / lived 50,000 years ago. Dr Marie-Helene Moncel, director of research on / at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, said: "We were able to uncover details about a / the fibres and we observed that they're different, twisted fibres. It is not possibly / possible to find these kinds of fibres in natural / nature." She added: "In my opinion, different things can be related / relation to this discovery. Obviously, the ability / able of Neanderthals to make cord, but also their huge knowledge about trees. They knew around / about vegetation, plants and trees, and had the intelligence to use different parts / party of the environment."

    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)

    A r c h__ l_g_s t s h_v_ d_s c_v_r_d t h_ _l d_s t p__ c_ _f s t r_n g _v_r f__ n d . T h_ _r c h___l_g_s t s _r_ v_r y h_p p y _b__ t t h__ r f_n d . T h_ f_r s t r__ s_n t h_y _r_ h_p p y _s t h_t t h_ s t r_n g t h_y f__ n d _s _r__ n d 5 0 , 0 0 0 y__ r s _l d . T h_ s_c_n d r__ s_n _s t h_t t h_ s t r_n g s h_w s t h_t N__ n d_r t h_l s w_r_ m_r_ _n t_l l_g_n t t h_n w_ p r_v___s l y t h__ g h t t h_y w_r_. N__ n d_r t h_l s w_r_ _n __ r l y s p_c__ s _f h_m_n s t h_t b_c_m_ _x t_n c t _b__ t 3 5 , 0 0 0 y__ r s _g_. T h_ s t r_n g s h_w s t h_t N__ n d_r t h_l s h_d _ g__ d _n d_r s t_n d_n g _f p l_n t s _n d t_x t_l_s . T h_ _r c h___l_g_s t s s_y N__ n d_r t h_l s m_y h_v_ _s_d t h_ s t r_n g t_ m_k_ c l_t h_s , b_g s , r_p_, m_t s _n d _t h_r t h_n g s . T h_s m__ n s t h_y w_r_ p r_b_b l y _s _n t_l l_g_n t _s m_d_r n h_m_n s .

    T h_ p__ c_ _f s t r_n g t h_t t h_ _r c h___l_g_s t s f__ n d w_s t_n y b_t _t r_v__ l s _ l_t _b__ t h_w p__ p l_ l_v_d 5 0 , 0 0 0 y__ r s _g_. D r M_r__ - H_l_n_ M_n c_l , d_r_c t_r _f r_s__ r c h _t t h_ N_t__ n_l M_s__ m _f N_t_r_l H_s t_r y _n P_r_s , s__ d : " W_ w_r_ _b l_ t_ _n c_v_r d_t__ l s _b__ t t h_ f_b r_s _n d w_ _b s_r v_d t h_t t h_y ' r_ d_f f_r_n t , t w_s t_d f_b r_s . I t _s n_t p_s s_b l_ t_ f_n d t h_s_ k_n d s _f f_b r_s _n n_t_r_. " S h_ _d d_d : " I n m y _p_n__ n , d_f f_r_n t t h_n g s c_n b_ r_l_t_d t_ t h_s d_s c_v_r y . O b v___s l y , t h_ _b_l_t y _f N__ n d_r t h_l s t_ m_k_ c_r d , b_t _l s_ t h__ r h_g_ k n_w l_d g_ _b__ t t r__ s . T h_y k n_w _b__ t v_g_t_t__ n , p l_n t s _n d t r__ s , _n d h_d t h_ _n t_l l_g_n c_ t_ _s_ d_f f_r_n t p_r t s _f t h_ _n v_r_n m_n t . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    archaeologists have discovered the oldest piece of string ever found the archaeologists are very happy about their find the first reason they are happy is that the string they found is around 50000 years old the second reason is that the string shows that neanderthals were more intelligent than we previously thought they were neanderthals were an early species of humans that became extinct about 35000 years ago the string shows that neanderthals had a good understanding of plants and textiles the archaeologists say neanderthals may have used the string to make clothes bags rope mats and other things this means they were probably as intelligent as modern humans

    the piece of string that the archaeologists found was tiny but it reveals a lot about how people lived 50000 years ago dr mariehelene moncel director of research at the national museum of natural history in paris said we were able to uncover details about the fibres and we observed that theyre different twisted fibres it is not possible to find these kinds of fibres in nature she added in my opinion different things can be related to this discovery obviously the ability of neanderthals to make cord but also their huge knowledge about trees they knew about vegetation plants and trees and had the intelligence to use different parts of the environment

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Archaeologistshavediscoveredtheoldestpieceofstringeverfound.The
    archaeologistsareveryhappyabouttheirfind.Thefirstreasontheyareh
    appyisthatthestringtheyfoundisaround50,000yearsold.Thesecondr
    easonisthatthestringshowsthatNeanderthalsweremoreintelligentth
    anwepreviouslythoughttheywere.Neanderthalswereanearlyspecies
    ofhumansthatbecameextinctabout35,000yearsago.Thestringshow
    sthatNeanderthalshadagoodunderstandingofplantsandtextiles.The
    archaeologistssayNeanderthalsmayhaveusedthestringtomakecloth
    es,bags,rope,matsandotherthings.Thismeanstheywereprobablyasi
    ntelligentasmodernhumans.Thepieceofstringthatthearchaeologists
    foundwastinybutitrevealsalotabouthowpeoplelived50,000yearsago
    .DrMarie-HeleneMoncel,directorofresearchattheNationalMuseumo
    fNaturalHistoryinParis,said:"Wewereabletouncoverdetailsaboutthe
    fibresandweobservedthatthey'redifferent,twistedfibres.Itisnotpossi
    bletofindthesekindsoffibresinnature."Sheadded:"Inmyopinion,diffe
    rentthingscanberelatedtothisdiscovery.Obviously,theabilityofNean
    derthalstomakecord,butalsotheirhugeknowledgeabouttrees.Theyk
    newaboutvegetation,plantsandtrees,andhadtheintelligencetousedif
    ferentpartsoftheenvironment."

    Free writing

    Write about piece of string for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We all need to carry some string with us. 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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. STRING: Make a poster about string. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. 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.
    5. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on string. Ask him/her three questions about string. 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

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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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