The Reading / Listening - Wild Boars - Level 6

Radioactive wild boars have been roaming the forests of Germany for decades. Scientists believed their radioactivity was due to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. However, the animals' radioactivity has long mystified scientists because while levels of radioactive caesium in other animals has decreased over the years, radioactivity in wild boars has persisted at high levels. Scientists have dubbed this mystery the "wild boar paradox". New research now attributes the contamination of Germany's wild boars to nuclear weapons tests from the mid-20th century. The Chernobyl reactor produced caesium-137, which has a much shorter life than the caesium-135 created by nuclear weapons.

Scientists believe the reason wild boars have remained so radioactive compared to other forest creatures is their love of the delicacy truffle mushrooms. Radioactive particles accumulate in these underground fungi, which form part of the boars' diet. The high levels of caesium in boars make the animals too dangerous to be eaten under German law. This has resulted in a reduction in the hunting of the animals, which has led to a proliferation of their numbers. Geochemist James Kaste asks why the effects of nuclear weapons testing on the environment have been "under-studied and largely forgotten". He said: "This is one of the ultimate case studies showing how legacy soil pollution can haunt generations to come."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Wild Boars - Level 4  or  Wild Boars - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.science.org/content/article/germany-s-radioactive-boars-are-bristly-reminder-nuclear-fallout
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/wild-pigs-in-germany-are-mysteriously-radioactive-and-we-finally-know-why
  • https://au.news.yahoo.com/mystery-radioactive-bavarian-boar-solved-162014981.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. RADIOACTIVITY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about radioactivity. 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?
       radioactivity / wild boars / forests / nuclear disaster / mystery / contamination / life /
       scientists / forest / creatures / delicacy / fungi / hunting / soil / pollution / legacy
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NO NUCLEAR: Students A strongly believe nuclear power is too risky; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

4. MYSTERY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "mystery". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
5. FOREST CREATURES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best forest creatures at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Wild boar
  • Deer
  • Squirrels
  • Foxes
  • Bears
  • Raccoons
  • Owls
  • Rabbits

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. roaming a. Totally bewilder or perplex someone.
      2. mystified b. A contradiction or inconsistency.
      3. persisted c. Gave an unofficial name or nickname to.
      4. dubbed d. Continued to exist; prolonged.
      5. paradox e. Moving about aimlessly or unsystematically, especially over a wide area.
      6. contamination f. A structure in which material can be made to undergo a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear reaction to release of energy.
      7. reactor g. The action or state of making or being made impure by polluting or poisoning.

    Paragraph 2

      8. creature h. The long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.
      9. delicacy i. An animal, as distinct from a human being.
      10. accumulate j. Being the best or most extreme example of its kind.
      11. proliferation k. Of something unpleasant that continues to affect or cause problems for.
      12. ultimate l. Gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of.
      13. legacy m. A rapid increase in the number or amount of something.
      14. haunt n. A delicious, expensive food.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. There have been radioactive wild boars in Germany for over a century.    T / F
  2. Other creatures in the forest are just as radioactive as wild boars.     T / F
  3. Scientists were puzzled as to why the wild boars were radioactive.     T / F
  4. The radioactive materials caesium 137 has the longest life.     T / F
  5. Mushrooms are the probable cause for the wild boars' radioactivity.     T / F
  6. German law says the wild boars are too radioactive to be eaten.     T / F
  7. The number of wild boars in Germany's forests has increased.     T / F
  8. The effect of weapons tests on the environment has had little research.   T / F

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

  1. roaming
  2. mystified
  3. persisted
  4. dubbed
  5. attributes
  6. creatures
  7. delicacy
  8. proliferation
  9. ultimate
  10. haunt
  1. animals
  2. nicknamed
  3. greatest
  4. puzzled
  5. gourmet food
  6. credits
  7. wandering
  8. trouble
  9. rapid increase
  10. continued

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

  1. Radioactive wild boars have been roaming
  2. radioactivity was due to the 1986
  3. the animals' radioactivity has long
  4. radioactivity in wild boars has persisted
  5. Scientists have dubbed this mystery
  6. their love of the delicacy
  7. led to a proliferation
  8. the effects of nuclear weapons testing
  9. This is one of the ultimate case
  10. soil pollution can haunt generations
  1. at high levels
  2. mystified scientists
  3. studies
  4. the "wild boar paradox"
  5. of their numbers
  6. the forests of Germany
  7. to come
  8. truffle mushrooms
  9. Chernobyl nuclear disaster
  10. on the environment

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
radioactivity
tests
dubbed
roaming
life
persisted
mystified
attributes

Radioactive wild boars have been (1) _____________________ the forests of Germany for decades. Scientists believed their (2) _____________________ was due to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. However, the animals' radioactivity has long (3) _____________________ scientists because while levels of radioactive caesium in other animals has decreased over the years, radioactivity in wild boars has (4) _____________________ at high levels. Scientists have (5) _____________________ this mystery the "wild boar paradox". New research now (6) _____________________ the contamination of Germany's wild boars to nuclear weapons (7) _____________________ from the mid-20th century. The Chernobyl reactor produced caesium-137, which has a much shorter (8) _____________________ than the caesium-135 created by nuclear weapons.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
diet
creatures
effects
generations
accumulate
largely
remained
reduction

Scientists believe the reason wild boars have (7) ___________________ so radioactive compared to other forest (8) _____________________ is their love of the delicacy truffle mushrooms. Radioactive particles (9) _____________________ in these underground fungi, which form part of the boars' (10) _____________________. The high levels of caesium in boars make the animals too dangerous to be eaten under German law. This has resulted in a (11) _____________________ in the hunting of the animals, which has led to a proliferation of their numbers. Geochemist James Kaste asks why the (12) _____________________ of nuclear weapons testing on the environment have been "understudied and (13) ____________________ forgotten". He said: "This is one of the ultimate case studies showing how legacy soil pollution can haunt (14) _____________________ to come."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Radioactive wild boars have been roaming the forests of ______
     a.  Germany for decades
     b.  Germany for decadence
     c.  Germany ford arcades
     d.  Germany ford decays
2)  Scientists believed their radioactivity was due to the 1986 ______
     a.  Chernobyl nucleus disaster
     b.  Chernobyl gnu clear disaster
     c.  Chernobyl nuclear disaster
     d.  Chernobyl new clear disaster
3)  However, the animals' radioactivity has ______
     a.  long mystified scientist
     b.  long mystified scientists
     c.  long mystify scientists
     d.  longs mystified scientists
4)  Scientists have dubbed this mystery the ______
     a.  wild boar paradox
     b.  wild boar parade ox
     c.  wild boar para docks
     d.  wild boar parade docks
5)  the contamination of Germany's wild boars to nuclear weapons tests from ______
     a.  the mad-20th century
     b.  the mid-20th century
     c.  the mud-20th century
     d.  the mod-20th century

6)  Scientists believe the reason wild boars have ______
     a.  remained so radioactive
     b.  remains so radioactive
     c.  remaining so radioactive
     d.  remained sew radioactive
7)  compared to other forest creatures is their love of the ______
     a.  delicious truffle mushrooms
     b.  deli cases truffle mushrooms
     c.  delicate truffle mushrooms
     d.  delicacy truffle mushrooms
8)  high levels of caesium in boars make the animals too dangerous to be eaten ______
     a.  under German law
     b.  over German law
     c.  ending German law
     d.  wonder German law
9)  weapons testing on the environment have been "under-studied ______
     a.  and large forgotten
     b.  and largely forgetting
     c.  and largely forgotten
     d.  and large life gotten
10)  one of the ultimate case studies showing how legacy soil pollution ______
     a.  can hunt generations
     b.  can gaunt generations
     c.  can haunt generations
     d.  can jaunt generations

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Radioactive wild boars have (1) ____________________ forests of Germany for decades. Scientists believed their (2) ____________________ to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. However, the animals' radioactivity has long mystified scientists because while levels of radioactive caesium in other animals (3) ____________________ the years, radioactivity in wild boars has persisted at high levels. Scientists have (4) ____________________ the "wild boar paradox". New research now attributes the contamination of Germany's wild boars to (5) ____________________ from the mid-20th century. The Chernobyl reactor produced caesium-137, which has a (6) ____________________ than the caesium-135 created by nuclear weapons.

Scientists believe the reason wild boars have remained so radioactive compared to other (7) ____________________ their love of the delicacy truffle mushrooms. Radioactive particles (8) ____________________ underground fungi, which form part of the boars' diet. The high levels of caesium in boars make the animals too dangerous to (9) ____________________ German law. This has resulted in a reduction in the hunting of the animals, which has led to (10) ____________________ their numbers. Geochemist James Kaste asks why the effects of nuclear weapons testing on the environment have been "understudied and largely forgotten". He said: "This is one of (11) ____________________ studies showing how legacy soil pollution can haunt (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. For how long have radioactive wild boars been roaming German forests?
  2. What disaster happened in 1986?
  3. What did scientists call the mystery of the boars' radioactivity?
  4. When were nuclear weapons tests conducted?
  5. Where is caesium-137 created?
  6. What is the delicacy that the wild boars like?
  7. What has dictated that the wild boars are dangerous to eat?
  8. Why has the number of wild boars increased?
  9. Who is James Kaste?
  10. What will legacy soil pollution haunt?

Multiple choice quiz

1) For how long have radioactive wild boars been roaming German forests?
a) since last May
b) a century of two
c) 12 years
d) decades
2) What disaster happened in 1986?
a) forest fires
b) Chernobyl
c) floods
d) an earthquake
3) What did scientists call the mystery of the boars' radioactivity?
a) the "wild boar truffle"
b) Bob
c) the "wild boar paradox"
d) strange
4) When were nuclear weapons tests conducted?
a) in the mid-20th century
b) 1999
c) 1986
d) during WWII
5) Where is caesium-137 created?
a) the Sun
b) deep underground
c) the Chernobyl reactor
d) in a lab

6) What is the delicacy that the wild boars like?
a) marshmallows
b) truffle mushrooms
c) forest vegetables
d) leftover barbecue meat
7) What has dictated that the wild boars are dangerous to eat?
a) a restaurant chain
b) the IAEA
c) the WHO
d) German law
8) Why has the number of wild boars increased?
a) a reduction in hunting
b) a breeding programme
c) radioactivity
d) a lack of predators
9) Who is James Kaste?
a) a hunter
b) a wild boar expert
c) a geochemist
d) a farmer
10) What will legacy soil pollution haunt?
a) hunters
b) future generations
c) haunted houses
d) farmers

Role play

Role  A – Wild Boars
You think wild boars are the best forest creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): bears, deer or squirrels.

Role  B – Bears
You think bears are the best forest creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): wild boars, deer or squirrels.

Role  C – Deer
You think deer are the best forest creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): bears, wild boars or squirrels.

Role  D – Squirrels
You think squirrels are the best forest creatures. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their animals. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): bears, deer or wild boars.

After reading / listening

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

'wild'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'boar'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • roaming
    • mystified
    • over
    • dubbed
    • mid
    • life
    • reason
    • underground
    • high
    • hunting
    • forgotten
    • come

    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 - Wild Boars

    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 'radioactive'?
    3. What do you know about wild boars?
    4. What do you think of radioactive wild boars?
    5. What do you know about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster?
    6. What do you know about radioactive caesium?
    7. What are the benefits of nuclear power plants?
    8. Should the wild boars be allowed to roam the forests?
    9. What are the forests like in your country?
    10. Should countries continue to test nuclear weapons?

    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 'boar'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What forest creatures do you like and dislike?
    5. What do you think of truffles?
    6. What are your favourite delicacies?
    7. What do you think of the hunting of animals?
    8. How can we deal with soil pollution?
    9. What environmental problems are we leaving for future generations?
    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)

    Radioactive wild boars have been (1) ____ the forests of Germany for decades. Scientists believed their radioactivity was due to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. However, the animals' radioactivity has (2) ____ mystified scientists because while levels of radioactive caesium in other animals has decreased (3) ____ the years, radioactivity in wild boars has persisted (4) ____ high levels. Scientists have dubbed this mystery the "wild boar paradox". New research now (5) ____ the contamination of Germany's wild boars to nuclear weapons tests from the mid-20th century. The Chernobyl (6) ____ produced caesium-137, which has a much shorter life than the caesium-135 created by nuclear weapons.

    Scientists believe the reason wild boars have (7) ____ so radioactive compared to other forest creatures is their love of the (8) ____ truffle mushrooms. Radioactive particles accumulate in these underground fungi, which form part of the boars' diet. The high levels of caesium in boars make the animals too dangerous to be eaten (9) ____ German law. This has resulted in a reduction in the hunting of the animals, which has led to a (10) ____ of their numbers. Geochemist James Kaste asks why the effects of nuclear weapons testing on the environment have been "understudied and (11) ____ forgotten". He said: "This is one of the ultimate case studies showing how legacy soil pollution can (12) ____ generations to come."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     loaming     (b)     roaming     (c)     reaming     (d)     foaming    
    (a)     short     (b)     wrong     (c)     wrung     (d)     long    
    (a)     under     (b)     over     (c)     above     (d)     below    
    (a)     on     (b)     up     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    (a)     attributes     (b)     contributes     (c)     retributes     (d)     substitutes    
    (a)     reactor     (b)     shed     (c)     factory     (d)     workshop    
    (a)     roamed     (b)     rammed     (c)     rummaged     (d)     remained    
    (a)     delicacy     (b)     assortment     (c)     starter     (d)     appetizer    
    (a)     upon     (b)     under     (c)     below     (d)     of    
    (a)     projection     (b)     punctuation     (c)     proliferation     (d)     permeation    
    (a)     sort     (b)     kind     (c)     largely     (d)     minimally    
    (a)     gaunt     (b)     haunt     (c)     daunt     (d)     jaunt

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. imaogrn the forests of Germany
    2. idtserspe at high levels
    3. Scientists have debudb this mystery
    4. the wild boar aaxdorp
    5. the cinioatmnnato of Germany's wild boars
    6. The Chernobyl oetcarr produced caesium-137

    Paragraph 2

    1. other forest rtcraseeu
    2. their love of the aecdilyc truffle mushrooms
    3. particles ulcecamtau in these underground fungi
    4. led to a lrprfoonieait of their numbers
    5. This is one of the mtletiua case studies
    6. htanu generations to come

    Put the text back together

    (...)   to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. However, the animals' radioactivity has long mystified
    (...)   of Germany's wild boars to nuclear weapons tests from the mid-20th century. The Chernobyl reactor produced
    (...)   scientists because while levels of radioactive caesium in other animals has decreased over
    (...)   why the effects of nuclear weapons testing on the environment have been "understudied and largely
    (...)   particles accumulate in these underground fungi, which form part of the boars' diet. The high
    (...)   caesium-137, which has a much shorter life than the caesium-135 created by nuclear weapons.
    (...)   levels of caesium in boars make the animals too dangerous to be eaten under German law. This has resulted in a
    (...)   creatures is their love of the delicacy truffle mushrooms. Radioactive
    (...)   reduction in the hunting of the animals, which has led to a proliferation of their numbers. Geochemist James Kaste asks
    (..1..)   Radioactive wild boars have been roaming the forests of Germany for decades. Scientists believed their radioactivity was due
    (...)   the years, radioactivity in wild boars has persisted at high levels. Scientists have dubbed this mystery
    (...)   forgotten". He said: "This is one of the ultimate case studies showing how legacy soil pollution can haunt generations to come."
    (...)   the "wild boar paradox". New research now attributes the contamination
    (...)   Scientists believe the reason wild boars have remained so radioactive compared to other forest

    Put the words in the right order

    roaming   wild   forests   .   boars   been   have   Radioactive   the
    mystified   radioactivity   long   the   However,   has   scientists   .   animals'
    other   animals   of   Levels   decreased   .   radioactivity   has   in
    has   Radioactivity   at   boars   persisted   high   levels   .   in
    life   than   has   a   shorter   Caesium-137   caesium-135   .
    wild   The   radioactive   .   remained   so   boars   have   reason
    fungi   .   underground   these   particles   accumulate   Radioactive   in
    effects   of   nuclear   on   The   the   environment   .   weapons
    case   is   of   ultimate   one   This   studies   .   the
    generations   to   can   soil   Legacy   come   .   haunt   pollution

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Radioactive wild boars have been foaming / roaming the forests of Germany for decades. Scientists believed their radioactivity was due / dew to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. However, the animals' radioactivity has long / wrong mystified scientists because white / while levels of radioactive caesium in other animals has decreased under / over the years, radioactivity in wild boars has persisted on / at high levels. Scientists have dubbed / daubed this mystery the "wild boar paradox". New research now attributes / contributes the contamination of Germany's wild boars to nuclear weapons tests from the mid-20th century. The Chernobyl reactor / distractor produced caesium-137, which has a much shorter life than the caesium-135 created by / at nuclear weapons.

    Scientists believe the reason wild boars have roamed / remained so radioactive compared to other forestry / forest creatures is their love of the delicacy trifle / truffle mushrooms. Radioactive particles accumulate in these underground fungi / fungus, which form part of the boars' diet. The high levels of caesium in boars make the animals too dangerous to be eaten under / over German law. This has resulted in a reduction in the hunting of the animals, which has led to a proliferation / predilection of their numbers. Geochemist James Kaste asks why the affects / effects of nuclear weapons testing on the environment have been "understudied and largely / minimally forgotten". He said: "This is one of the ultimate case / box studies showing how legacy soil pollution can haunt generations to come / go."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    R_d___ct_v_  w_ld  b__rs  h_v_  b__n  r__m_ng  th_  f_r_sts  _f  G_rm_ny  f_r  d_c_d_s.  Sc__nt_sts  b_l__v_d  th__r  r_d___ct_v_ty  w_s  d__  t_  th_  1986  Ch_rn_byl  n_cl__r  d_s_st_r.  H_w_v_r,  th_  _n_m_ls'  r_d___ct_v_ty  h_s  l_ng  myst_f__d  sc__nt_sts  b_c__s_  wh_l_  l_v_ls  _f  r_d___ct_v_  c__s__m  _n  _th_r  _n_m_ls  h_s  d_cr__s_d  _v_r  th_  y__rs,  r_d___ct_v_ty  _n  w_ld  b__rs  h_s  p_rs_st_d  _t  h_gh  l_v_ls.  Sc__nt_sts  h_v_  d_bb_d  th_s  myst_ry  th_  "w_ld  b__r  p_r_d_x".  N_w  r_s__rch  n_w  _ttr_b_t_s  th_  c_nt_m_n_t__n  _f  G_rm_ny's  w_ld  b__rs  t_  n_cl__r  w__p_ns  t_sts  fr_m  th_  m_d-20th  c_nt_ry.  Th_  Ch_rn_byl  r__ct_r  pr_d_c_d  c__s__m-137,  wh_ch  h_s  _  m_ch  sh_rt_r  l_f_  th_n  th_  c__s__m-135  cr__t_d  by  n_cl__r  w__p_ns.

    Sc__nt_sts  b_l__v_  th_  r__s_n  w_ld  b__rs  h_v_  r_m__n_d  s_  r_d___ct_v_  c_mp_r_d  t_  _th_r  f_r_st  cr__t_r_s  _s  th__r  l_v_  _f  th_  d_l_c_cy  tr_ffl_  m_shr__ms.  R_d___ct_v_  p_rt_cl_s  _cc_m_l_t_  _n  th_s_  _nd_rgr__nd  f_ng_,  wh_ch  f_rm  p_rt  _f  th_  b__rs'  d__t.  Th_  h_gh  l_v_ls  _f  c__s__m  _n  b__rs  m_k_  th_  _n_m_ls  t__  d_ng_r__s  t_  b_  __t_n  _nd_r  G_rm_n  l_w.  Th_s  h_s  r_s_lt_d  _n  _  r_d_ct__n  _n  th_  h_nt_ng  _f  th_  _n_m_ls,  wh_ch  h_s  l_d  t_  _  pr_l_f_r_t__n  _f  th__r  n_mb_rs.  G__ch_m_st  J_m_s  K_st_  _sks  why  th_  _ff_cts  _f  n_cl__r  w__p_ns  t_st_ng  _n  th_  _nv_r_nm_nt  h_v_  b__n  "_nd_rst_d__d  _nd  l_rg_ly  f_rg_tt_n".  H_  s__d:  "Th_s  _s  _n_  _f  th_  _lt_m_t_  c_s_  st_d__s  sh_w_ng  h_w  l_g_cy  s__l  p_ll_t__n  c_n  h__nt  g_n_r_t__ns  t_  c_m_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    radioactive wild boars have been roaming the forests of germany for decades scientists believed their radioactivity was due to the 1986 chernobyl nuclear disaster however the animals radioactivity has long mystified scientists because while levels of radioactive caesium in other animals has decreased over the years radioactivity in wild boars has persisted at high levels scientists have dubbed this mystery the wild boar paradox new research now attributes the contamination of germanys wild boars to nuclear weapons tests from the mid20th century the chernobyl reactor produced caesium137 which has a much shorter life than the caesium135 created by nuclear weapons

    scientists believe the reason wild boars have remained so radioactive compared to other forest creatures is their love of the delicacy truffle mushrooms radioactive particles accumulate in these underground fungi which form part of the boars diet the high levels of caesium in boars make the animals too dangerous to be eaten under german law this has resulted in a reduction in the hunting of the animals which has led to a proliferation of their numbers geochemist james kaste asks why the effects of nuclear weapons testing on the environment have been understudied and largely forgotten he said this is one of the ultimate case studies showing how legacy soil pollution can haunt generations to come

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    RadioactivewildboarshavebeenroamingtheforestsofGermanyfordec
    ades.Scientistsbelievedtheirradioactivitywasduetothe1986Chernob
    ylnucleardisaster.However,theanimals'radioactivityhaslongmystifi
    edscientistsbecausewhilelevelsofradioactivecaesiuminotheranimal
    shasdecreasedovertheyears,radioactivityinwildboarshaspersisteda
    thighlevels.Scientistshavedubbedthismysterythe"wildboarparadox
    ".NewresearchnowattributesthecontaminationofGermany'swildboa
    rstonuclearweaponstestsfromthemid-20thcentury.TheChernobylr
    eactorproducedcaesium-137,whichhasamuchshorterlifethanthecae
    sium-135createdbynuclearweapons.Scientistsbelievethereasonwil
    dboarshaveremainedsoradioactivecomparedtootherforestcreatures
    istheirloveofthedelicacytrufflemushrooms.Radioactiveparticlesaccu
    mulateintheseundergroundfungi,whichformpartoftheboars'diet.Th
    ehighlevelsofcaesiuminboarsmaketheanimalstoodangeroustobeeat
    enunderGermanlaw.Thishasresultedinareductioninthehuntingofthe
    animals,whichhasledtoaproliferationoftheirnumbers.GeochemistJa
    mesKasteaskswhytheeffectsofnuclearweaponstestingontheenviron
    menthavebeen"under-studiedandlargelyforgotten".Hesaid:"Thisiso
    neoftheultimatecasestudiesshowinghowlegacysoilpollutioncanhaun
    tgenerationstocome."

    Free writing

    Write about radioactive wild boars for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Nuclear power causes too much damage to the environment. 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. WILD BOARS: Make a poster about wild boars. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS: Write a magazine article about closing down all the world's nuclear power stations. 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 radioactivity. Ask him/her three questions about radioactivity. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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