The Reading / Listening - Ig Nobel Prize - Level 6

Everyone is familiar with the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These are given to those who have contributed "the greatest benefit to humankind". However, fewer people are aware of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is bestowed to "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented on the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award for transportation research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to ascertain the healthiest way to relocate the animals by helicopter.

The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a pun on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other recipients of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements, conducted tests on forms of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans evolved to grow beards to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now-defunct Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Ig Nobel Prize - Level 4  or  Ig Nobel Prize - Level 5

Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ig_Nobel_Prize
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58507100
  • https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ig-nobel-prize-awards-recognise-063744595.html
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58507100
  • https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ig-nobel-prize-awards-recognise-063744595.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. NOBEL PRIZES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Nobel Prizes. 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?
       Nobel / prizes / physics / literature / peace / humankind / achievements / helicopter /
       science / humor / satirical / award / bacteria / chewing gum / beards / punch / face
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. RHINOS: Students A strongly believe we should never relocate rhinos by helicopter; Students B strongly believe it's OK. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PRIZES: Who should get prizes for these things? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Who?

Why?

Sport

 

 

Business

 

 

Politics

 

 

Environment

 

 

Entertainment

 

 

Literature

 

 

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

  • Rhinos
  • Hippos
  • Elephants
  • Buffalo
  • Lions
  • Bears
  • Cows
  • Kangaroos

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. contributed a. Move to a new place.
      2. benefit b. Gave something in order to help achieve or provide something.
      3. bestowed c. A change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.
      4. honor d. An advantage or profit gained from something.
      5. effect e. Regard with great respect.
      6. ascertain f. Gave or present an honor, right, or gift.
      7. relocate g. Find something out for certain; make sure of.

    Paragraph 2

      8. satirical h. Containing a humor to expose and criticize people's stupidity, particularly in the context of politics and other topical issues.
      9. trivial i. No longer existing or functioning.
      10. pun j. Of little value or importance.
      11. parody k. Developed gradually.
      12. recipient l. A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.
      13. evolved m. An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with exaggeration for comic effect.
      14. defunct n. A person or thing that receives or is awarded something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says there is a Nobel Prize for medicine.     T / F
  2. The article says many people are familiar with the Ig Nobel Prize.     T / F
  3. The Ig Nobel Prize is for people who make us laugh and think.     T / F
  4. Researchers looked at ways to relocate hippos by helicopter.     T / F
  5. The Ig Nobel Prize is organized by a science humor magazine.     T / F
  6. The Ig Nobel Prize was first awarded 20 years ago.     T / F
  7. An Ig Nobel winner studied chewing gum stuck to train seats.     T / F
  8. Ig Nobel Prize winners receive an old $10 trillion note.     T / F

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

  1. familiar
  2. benefit
  3. achievements
  4. effects
  5. ascertain
  6. satirical
  7. trivial
  8. recipients
  9. evolved
  10. defunct
  1. unimportant
  2. consequences
  3. obsolete
  4. find out
  5. well known
  6. beneficiaries
  7. feats
  8. developed
  9. plus point
  10. mocking

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

  1. Everyone is familiar with
  2. those who have contributed the greatest
  3. make people
  4. experimented
  5. the healthiest way to relocate the
  6. The Ig Nobel Prize is a
  7. celebrate ten unusual or
  8. Other recipients of
  9. protect themselves from punches
  10. a now-defunct Zimbabwean
  1. $10 trillion note
  2. animals by helicopter
  3. this year's award
  4. the Nobel Prizes
  5. satirical prize
  6. laugh
  7. to the face
  8. benefit to humankind
  9. trivial achievements
  10. on the effects

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
benefit
familiar
ascertain
bestowed
literature
relocate
aware
effects

Everyone is (1) _____________________ with the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, (2) _____________________, and peace. These are given to those who have contributed "the greatest (3) _____________________ to humankind". However, fewer people are (4) _____________________ of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is (5) _____________________ to "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented on the (6) _____________________ on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award for transportation research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to (7) _____________________ the healthiest way to (8) _____________________ the animals by helicopter.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
trivial
recipients
humor
beards
annually
defunct
pun
pavements

The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the science (9) _____________________ magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded (10) _____________________ since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or (11) _____________________ achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a (12) _____________________ on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other (13) _____________________ of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to (14) _____________________, conducted tests on forms of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans evolved to grow (15) _____________________ to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now- (16) _____________________ Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Everyone is familiar with the Nobel Prizes, which are ______
     a.  awarded for physic
     b.  awarded of physics
     c.  awarded for physics
     d.  awarded from physic
2)  These are given to those who have contributed the greatest ______
     a.  benefit to humane kind
     b.  benefit to who man kind
     c.  benefit two humans kind
     d.  benefit to humankind
3)  One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented _____
     a.  on the effects
     b.  in the effects
     c.  at the effects
     d.  non the effects
4)  The rhino study won the award for ______
     a.  transport lotion research
     b.  transport ration research
     c.  transport nation research
     d.  transportation research
5)  were trying to ascertain the healthiest way to ______
     a.  reel locate the animals
     b.  real locate the animals
     c.  relocates the animals
     d.  relocate the animals

6)  The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded ______
     a.  annual since 1991
     b.  annul since 1991
     c.  a know-all since 1991
     d.  annually since 1991
7)  The name of the award is a pun on the Nobel Prize, ______
     a.  which it parodies
     b.  which it paradise
     c.  which it presides
     d.  which it parades
8)  recipients of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum ______
     a.  struck to pavements
     b.  stuck two pavements
     c.  stuck to pavements
     d.  struck to pavement
9)  whether humans evolved to grow beards to protect themselves from ______ face
     a.  bunches to the
     b.  punch its to the
     c.  punches to the
     d.  punishes to the
10)  All award winners receive a now-defunct Zimbabwean ______
     a.  $10 trillion note
     b.  $10 trillion oat
     c.  $10 trillion not
     d.  $10 trillion ate

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Everyone (1) ____________________ the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, (2) ____________________. These are given to those who have contributed "the greatest benefit to humankind". However, (3) ____________________ aware of the Ig Nobel Prize. This (4) ____________________ "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists (5) ____________________ the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award for transportation research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to ascertain the healthiest (6) ____________________ the animals by helicopter.

The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the (7) ____________________ Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is (8) ____________________ awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten (9) ____________________ achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is (10) ____________________ the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other recipients of this year's award studied the (11) ____________________ gum stuck to pavements, conducted tests on forms of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans (12) ____________________ beards to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now-defunct Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

Comprehension questions

  1. Who does the article say is familiar with the Nobel Prizes?
  2. Who does the article say is familiar with the Ig Nobel Prize?
  3. What do the Ig Nobel Prizes honor besides making people laugh?
  4. What award did the rhino researchers win?
  5. Where were the researchers from?
  6. When was the first Ig Nobel Prize awarded?
  7. How many Ig Nobel categories are there?
  8. Which animal's communication did researchers look at?
  9. What did researchers look at the evolution of in humans?
  10. What do the winners of the Ig Nobel receive?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who does the article say is familiar with the Nobel Prizes?
a) fewer people
b) Nobel Prize winners
c) everyone
d) Norwegian people
2) Who does the article say is familiar with the Ig Nobel Prize?
a) fewer people
b) Nobel Prize winners
c) everyone
d) Norwegian people
3) What do the Ig Nobel Prizes honor besides making people laugh?
a) raising eyebrows
b) making people think
c) making people sigh in disbelief
d) intelligence
4) What award did the rhino researchers win?
a) Gravity Research
b) the Wildlife Prize
c) the Upside Down Prize
d) Transportation Research
5) Where were the researchers from?
a) Oslo University
b) the Sorbonne
c) Cornell University
d) Tokyo University

6) When was the first Ig Nobel Prize awarded?
a) 1990
b) 1991
c) 1992
d) 1993
7) How many Ig Nobel categories are there?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
8) Which animal's communication did researchers look at?
a) goldfish
b) cats
c) dogs
d) parrots
9) What did researchers look at the evolution of in humans?
a) the brain
b) the growth of beards
c) smiling
d) the big toe
10) What do the winners of the Ig Nobel receive?
a) a defunct Zimbabwean $10 trillion note
b) a statue of a brain
c) a cheese sandwich
d) nothing

Role play

Role  A – Rhinos
You think rhinos are the best animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): hippos, bears or kangaroos.

Role  B – Hippos
You think hippos are the best animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): rhinos, bears or kangaroos.

Role  C – Bears
You think bears are the best animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): hippos, rhinos or kangaroos.

Role  D – Kangaroos
You think kangaroos are the best animals. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): hippos, bears or rhinos.

After reading / listening

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

'rhino'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'prize'.

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

    • familiar
    • greatest
    • first
    • effects
    • transportation
    • relocate
    • magazine
    • annually
    • trivial
    • pun
    • carried
    • note

    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 - Ig Nobel Prize

    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 'prize'?
    3. What do you know about the Nobel Prizes?
    4. Who has contributed the most to benefit humankind?
    5. What have you contributed to humankind?
    6. What do you think of the Ig Nobel prizes?
    7. Why are scientists relocating rhinoceroses?
    8. What do you think is the best way to relocate rhinoceroses?
    9. What is the effect on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down?
    10. How can we keep rhinoceroses safe in the wild?

    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 'rhino'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of the Nobel Prizes?
    5. How do you think the Ig Nobel winners feel about winning?
    6. How can knowledge of the bacteria in chewing gum help us?
    7. Why is research on cat communication important?
    8. Do you think humans developed beards to protect themselves?
    9. What do you think of the Ig Nobel prize?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Ig Nobel committee?

    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)

    Everyone is familiar (1) ____ the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These are given to (2) ____ who have contributed "the greatest benefit to humankind". However, fewer people are aware of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is (3) ____ to "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented (4) ____ the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award for (5) ____ research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to (6) ____ the healthiest way to relocate the animals by helicopter.

    The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded (7) ____ since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a (8) ____ on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other (9) ____ of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements, conducted tests on (10) ____ of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans (11) ____ beards to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now-(12) ____ Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     with     (d)     at    
    2. (a)     those     (b)     they     (c)     them     (d)     which    
    3. (a)     bestowed     (b)     stowed     (c)     stowage     (d)     stowaway    
    4. (a)     on     (b)     to     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    5. (a)     transports     (b)     transported     (c)     transportable     (d)     transportation    
    6. (a)     locale     (b)     seasonal     (c)     premium     (d)     ascertain    
    7. (a)     annually     (b)     annul     (c)     annual     (d)     annualize    
    8. (a)     sun     (b)     fun     (c)     bun     (d)     pun    
    9. (a)     recipients     (b)     incipient     (c)     ingredients     (d)     gradients    
    10. (a)     farms     (b)     forms     (c)     firms     (d)     frames    
    11. (a)     revolved     (b)     evolved     (c)     involved     (d)     solved    
    12. (a)     defunct     (b)     debunked     (c)     debauched     (d)     deepened

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Everyone is ariilmfa with the Nobel Prizes
    2. medicine, tureteilar, and peace
    3. the greatest inbefet to humankind
    4. This is estbdweo to honor achievements
    5. eptirdnemxee on the effects
    6. trying to acainrest the healthiest way

    Paragraph 2

    1. The Ig Nobel Prize is a lraitasci prize
    2. unusual or rtiavil achievements
    3. a pun on the Nobel Prize, which it aroiesdp
    4. Other trpnieicse of this year's award
    5. humans vdeloev to grow beards
    6. a now-tdfencu Zimbabwean $10 trillion note

    Put the text back together

    (...)  laugh, and then make them think". One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given
    (...)  out research on whether humans evolved to grow beards to protect themselves from punches
    (...)  says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or
    (...)  bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements, conducted tests on forms of cat communication, and carried
    (...)  to scientists who experimented on the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them
    (...)  trivial achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a pun
    (...)  to the face. All award winners receive a now-defunct Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.
    (...)  and peace. These are given to those who have contributed "the greatest benefit to humankind". However, fewer
    (...)  people are aware of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is bestowed to "honor achievements that first make people
    (...)  on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." Other recipients of this year's award studied the
    (...)  Cornell University were trying to ascertain the healthiest way to relocate the animals by helicopter.
    1  ) Everyone is familiar with the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature,
    (...)  The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia
    (...)  upside down. The rhino study won the award for transportation research. Researchers from

    Put the words in the right order

    1. awarded   familiar   peace   .   prize   with   the   Everyone   for
    2. contributed   to   the   humankind   .   Those   who   benefit   greatest
    3. achievements   people   Bestowed   honor   make   laugh   .   that   to
    4. for   the   study   rhino   transportation   .   The   won   award
    5. animals   The   by   helicopter   .   healthiest   relocate   way   to
    6. since   1991   .   It's   awarded   annually   satirical   prize   a
    7. scientific   trivial   or   research   .   in   unusual   Ten   achievements
    8. The   of   a   award   is   pun   .   the   name
    9. The   in   to   chewing   bacteria   stuck   gum   pavements   .
    10. themselves   Humans   from   protect   punches  .   evolved   to   beards

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Everyone is familiar / familiarly with the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These are given to them / those who have contributed "the greatest beneficial / benefit to humankind". However, fewer people are aware / wary of the Ig Nobel Prize. This is bestowed to "honor / honorable achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". Once / One of this year's Ig Nobel awards has been given to scientists what / who experimented on the effects on / in rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down. The rhino study won the award of / for transportation research. Researchers from Cornell University were trying to ascertain the healthiest way of / to relocate the animals by helicopter.

    The Ig Nobel prizes are organized by / as the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a soporific / satirical prize awarded annually / annual since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial / triviality achievements in scientific research." It added: "The name of the award is a bun / pun on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on / in the word ignoble (not noble)." Other recipients of this year's award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck / stricken to pavements, conducted tests in / on forms of cat communication, and carried out research on whether humans evolved / revolved to grow beards to protect themselves from punches to the face. All award winners receive a now-defunct / now-derelict Zimbabwean $10 trillion note.

    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)

    _v_ry_n_  _s  f_m_l__r  w_th  th_  N_b_l  Pr_z_s,  wh_ch  _r_  _w_rd_d  f_r  phys_cs,  ch_m_stry,  m_d_c_n_,  l_t_r_t_r_,  _nd  p__c_.  Th_s_  _r_  g_v_n  t_  th_s_  wh_  h_v_  c_ntr_b_t_d  "th_  gr__t_st  b_n_f_t  t_  h_m_nk_nd".  H_w_v_r,  f_w_r  p__pl_  _r_  _w_r_  _f  th_  _g  N_b_l  Pr_z_.  Th_s  _s  b_st_w_d  t_  "h_n_r  _ch__v_m_nts  th_t  f_rst  m_k_  p__pl_  l__gh,  _nd  th_n  m_k_  th_m  th_nk".  _n_  _f  th_s  y__r's  _g  N_b_l  _w_rds  h_s  b__n  g_v_n  t_  sc__nt_sts  wh_  _xp_r_m_nt_d  _n  th_  _ff_cts  _n  rh_n_c_r_s_s  _f  h_ng_ng  th_m  _ps_d_  d_wn.  Th_  rh_n_  st_dy  w_n  th_  _w_rd  f_r  tr_nsp_rt_t__n  r_s__rch.  R_s__rch_rs  fr_m  C_rn_ll  _n_v_rs_ty  w_r_  try_ng  t_  _sc_rt__n  th_  h__lth__st  w_y  t_  r_l_c_t_  th_  _n_m_ls  by  h_l_c_pt_r.

    Th_  _g  N_b_l  pr_z_s  _r_  _rg_n_z_d  by  th_  sc__nc_  h_m_r  m_g_z_n_  _nn_ls  _f  _mpr_b_bl_  R_s__rch.  W_k_p_d__  s_ys:  "Th_  _g  N_b_l  Pr_z_  _s  _  s_t_r_c_l  pr_z_  _w_rd_d  _nn__lly  s_nc_  1991  t_  c_l_br_t_  t_n  _n_s__l  _r  tr_v__l  _ch__v_m_nts  _n  sc__nt_f_c  r_s__rch."  _t  _dd_d:  "Th_  n_m_  _f  th_  _w_rd  _s  _  p_n  _n  th_  N_b_l  Pr_z_,  wh_ch  _t  p_r_d__s,  _nd  _n  th_  w_rd  _gn_bl_  (n_t  n_bl_)."  _th_r  r_c_p__nts  _f  th_s  y__r's  _w_rd  st_d__d  th_  b_ct_r__  _n  ch_w_ng  g_m  st_ck  t_  p_v_m_nts,  c_nd_ct_d  t_sts  _n  f_rms  _f  c_t  c_mm_n_c_t__n,  _nd  c_rr__d  __t  r_s__rch  _n  wh_th_r  h_m_ns  _v_lv_d  t_ gr_w b__rds  t_  pr_t_ct  th_ms_lv_s  fr_m  p_nch_s  t_  th_  f_c_.  _ll  _w_rd  w_nn_rs  r_c__v_  _  n_w-d_f_nct  Z_mb_bw__n  $10  tr_ll__n  n_t_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    everyone is familiar with the nobel prizes which are awarded for physics chemistry medicine literature and peace these are given to those who have contributed the greatest benefit to humankind however fewer people are aware of the ig nobel prize this is bestowed to honor achievements that first make people laugh and then make them think one of this years ig nobel awards has been given to scientists who experimented on the effects on rhinoceroses of hanging them upside down the rhino study won the award for transportation research researchers from cornell university were trying to ascertain the healthiest way to relocate the animals by helicopter

    the ig nobel prizes are organized by the science humor magazine annals of improbable research wikipedia says the ig nobel prize is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research it added the name of the award is a pun on the nobel prize which it parodies and on the word ignoble not noble other recipients of this years award studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements conducted tests on forms of cat communication and carried out research on whether humans evolved to grow beards to protect themselves from punches to the face all award winners receive a nowdefunct zimbabwean 10 trillion note

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    EveryoneisfamiliarwiththeNobelPrizes,whichareawardedforphysics,
    chemistry,medicine,literature,andpeace.Thesearegiventothosewho
    havecontributed"thegreatestbenefittohumankind".However,fewerp
    eopleareawareoftheIgNobelPrize.Thisisbestowedto"honorachievem
    entsthatfirstmakepeoplelaugh,andthenmakethemthink".Oneofthis
    year'sIgNobelawardshasbeengiventoscientistswhoexperimentedon
    theeffectsonrhinocerosesofhangingthemupsidedown.Therhinostud
    ywontheawardfortransportationresearch.ResearchersfromCornellU
    niversityweretryingtoascertainthehealthiestwaytorelocatetheanim
    alsbyhelicopter.TheIgNobelprizesareorganizedbythesciencehumor
    magazineAnnalsofImprobableResearch.Wikipediasays:"TheIgNobe
    lPrizeisasatiricalprizeawardedannuallysince1991tocelebratetenunu
    sualortrivialachievementsinscientificresearch."Itadded:"Thenameo
    ftheawardisapunontheNobelPrize,whichitparodies,andonthewordig
    noble(notnoble)."Otherrecipientsofthisyear'sawardstudiedthebacte
    riainchewinggumstucktopavements,conductedtestsonformsofcatco
    mmunication,andcarriedoutresearchonwhetherhumansevolvedtogr
    owbeardstoprotectthemselvesfrompunchestotheface.Allawardwinn
    ersreceiveanow-defunctZimbabwean$10trillionnote.

    Free writing

    Write about Ig Nobel Prize for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    Nobel Prizes are the most important prizes in the world.  Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    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. PRIZES: Make a poster about prizes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. IG NOBEL PRIZES: Write a magazine article about the Ig Nobel Prizes. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.
    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 prizes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what to award prizes for. 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.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You