The Reading / Listening - Dolphin Senses - Level 3

It is common knowledge that we have five senses. Some people believe they have six senses. They say their sixth sense is the ability to know something without using the ordinary five senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Scientists have just discovered that some dolphins have seven senses. Researchers in Germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced by their prey. The dolphins can detect the electric pulses produced by the heart beats of other sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find their next meal. Dolphins also use their excellent eyesight and sonar to sense what is around them. This seventh sense may also help them to navigate using Earth's magnetic field.

The researchers conducted a study on two dolphins named Dolly and Donna. Experiments tested what kinds of electricity the dolphins could detect. Dolly and Donna could sense both kinds of electricity – direct current and alternating current. They were a lot better at picking up direct current. All organisms produce direct current electricity in water. The researchers say being able to detect this means dolphins may be able to sense the location of most kinds of fish that are near them. The dolphins could use their seventh sense to hunt, even if they cannot see or hear well, or if they cannot use their other senses. The study has been published in the "Journal of Experimental Biology".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Dolphin Senses - Level 0,  Dolphin Senses - Level 1   or  Dolphin Senses - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.iflscience.com/bottlenose-dolphins-become-one-of-few-known-mammals-with-a-seventh-sense-71824
  • https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bottlenosed-dolphins-sense-electric-fields-hunt-prey
  • https://gizmodo.com/bottlenose-dolphins-can-sense-electricity-study-finds-1851062859


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. SENSES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about senses. 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?
       knowledge / five senses/ sight / hearing / smell / touch / taste / electricity / sonar /
       study / experiment / current / water / location / fish / dolphins / journal / hunt
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SIGHT: Students A strongly believe sight is the most important sense; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SIX SENSES: Why are these senses important? How would life be different if the senses were much, much better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Importance

Life with a Stronger Sense

Sight

 

 

Hearing

 

 

Smell

 

 

Touch

 

 

Taste

 

 

ESP

 

 
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. KNOWLEDGE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "knowledge". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. OTHER SENSES: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important senses at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Pain
  • Balance
  • Ego
  • Hunger
  • Movement
  • Temperature
  • Fear
  • Love

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. common knowledge a. Finding your way from one place to another.
      2. ordinary b. The ability or power of being able to see.
      3. sight c. An animal that is caught and killed by another for food.
      4. touch d. Something that everyone knows about.
      5. prey e. A quick, short movement of sound, electric current, light, or other wave.
      6. pulse f. What is usual or standard.
      7. navigate g. The ability of understanding things through physical contact, especially with the fingers.

    Paragraph 2

      8. conducted h. An individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
      9. detect i. A particular place or position.
      10. current j. Of a book, journal, piece of music, etc. that is prepared and sold or given to people.
      11. organism k. Discover or find the presence or existence of.
      12. location l. Follow and kill (a wild animal) for sport or food.
      13. hunt m. A flow of electricity.
      14. published n. Carried out an activity like research or a survey, etc.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says most people know we have five senses.     T / F
  2. The dolphin's seventh sense is to generate electricity.     T / F
  3. Electricity from the hearts of fish could attract dolphins to them.     T / F
  4. Dolphins might be able to move around by using Earth's magnetic field.   T / F
  5. Researchers experimented on two dolphins called Donny and Dolla.     T / F
  6. One dolphin was better at detecting electricity than the other one.     T / F
  7. All sea creatures produce direct current electricity.     T / F
  8. The research is published in the "Journal of Dolphin Biology".     T / F

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

  1. common
  2. ordinary
  3. discovered
  4. pulses
  5. navigate
  6. conducted
  7. organisms
  8. location
  9. near
  10. published
  1. did
  2. living things
  3. normal
  4. issued
  5. beats
  6. close by
  7. general
  8. travel across
  9. position
  10. found

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

  1. common
  2. using the ordinary five
  3. electric pulses produced
  4. Dolphins also use their excellent
  5. Earth's magnetic
  6. what kinds of electricity the
  7. They were a lot better at picking
  8. sense the location of
  9. dolphins could use their seventh sense
  10. The study has been
  1. published
  2. eyesight and sonar
  3. field
  4. most kinds of fish
  5. senses
  6. to hunt
  7. knowledge
  8. up direct current
  9. dolphins could detect
  10. by the heart beats

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
sixth
ordinary
eyesight
meal
common
field
pulses
discovered

It is (1) _____________________ knowledge that we have five senses. Some people believe they have six senses. They say their (2) _____________________ sense is the ability to know something without using the (3) _____________________ five senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Scientists have just (4) _____________________ that some dolphins have seven senses. Researchers in Germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced by their prey. The dolphins can detect the electric (5) _____________________ produced by the heart beats of other sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find their next (6) _____________________. Dolphins also use their excellent (7) _____________________ and sonar to sense what is around them. This seventh sense may also help them to navigate using Earth's magnetic (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
near
detect
water
published
conducted
hunt
location
current

The researchers (9) _____________________ a study on two dolphins named Dolly and Donna. Experiments tested what kinds of electricity the dolphins could (10) _____________________. Dolly and Donna could sense both kinds of electricity - direct (11) _____________________ and alternating current. They were a lot better at picking up direct current. All organisms produce direct current electricity in (12) _____________________. The researchers say being able to detect this means dolphins may be able to sense the (13) _____________________ of most kinds of fish that are (14) _____________________ them. The dolphins could use their seventh sense to (15) _____________________, even if they cannot see or hear well, or if they cannot use their other senses. The study has been (16) _____________________ in the "Journal of Experimental Biology".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) their sixth sense is the ability to know something without using the ______
     a.  ordinary five senses
     b.  order any five senses
     c.  ordinarily five senses
     d.  ordinal five senses
2)  Researchers in Germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced ______
     a.  by their pray
     b.  by their play
     c.  by their pry
     d.  by their prey
3)  This could help dolphins to find ______
     a.  there next meal
     b.  they're next meal
     c.  their next meal
     d.  them next meal
4)  Dolphins also use their excellent ______
     a.  eyesight and solar
     b.  eyesight and sofa
     c.  eyesight and sonar
     d.  eyesight and sober
5)  This seventh sense may also help them to navigate using ______
     a.  Earth's magnetic fold
     b.  Earth's magnetic yield
     c.  Earth's magnetic field
     d.  Earth's magnetic herald

6)  Experiments tested what kinds of electricity the ______
     a.  dolphins could defect
     b.  dolphins could deject
     c.  dolphins could eject
     d.  dolphins could detect
7)  They were a lot better at picking up direct current. All organisms produce ______
     a.  direct current electricity
     b.  direct currant electricity
     c.  direct currency electricity
     d.  direct client electricity
8)  researchers say being able to detect this means dolphins may be able to ______
     a.  sense the locational
     b.  sense the locating
     c.  sense the locator
     d.  sense the location
9)  The dolphins could use their seventh ______
     a.  sense to haunt
     b.  sense to hunt
     c.  sense to hate
     d.  sense to hurt
10)  The study has been published in the Journal ______
     a.  of Experimental Bibliography
     b.  of Experimental Biography
     c.  of Experimental Biology
     d.  of Experimental Biological

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

It (1) ____________________ that we have five senses. Some people believe they have six senses. They say their sixth sense is (2) ____________________ know something without using the ordinary five senses of sight, hearing, smell, (3) ____________________. Scientists have just discovered that some dolphins have seven senses. Researchers in Germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced by their prey. The dolphins can detect the (4) ____________________ by the heart beats of other sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find their next meal. Dolphins also (5) ____________________ eyesight and sonar to sense what is around them. This seventh sense may also help them (6) ____________________ Earth's magnetic field.

The researchers (7) ____________________ on two dolphins named Dolly and Donna. Experiments tested what kinds of electricity the dolphins could detect. Dolly and Donna could sense (8) ____________________ electricity - direct current and alternating current. They were a lot better at picking up direct current. (9) ____________________ direct current electricity in water. The researchers say being able to detect this means dolphins may be able to sense (10) ____________________ most kinds of fish that are near them. The dolphins could use their seventh sense (11) ____________________ if they cannot see or hear well, or if they cannot use their other senses. The study has (12) ____________________ the "Journal of Experimental Biology".

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say is common knowledge?
  2. What kind of dolphins might have a seventh sense?
  3. What could the dolphins detect in the hearts of sea creatures?
  4. What is excellent in dolphins besides their eyesight?
  5. What feature of Earth might dolphins use to move around?
  6. One of the dolphins was named Dolly. What was the other one's name?
  7. What kind of electricity could the dolphins pick up best?
  8. What do all organisms produce in water?
  9. What could dolphins use their seventh sense for?
  10. What's the name of the journal the research is published in?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the article say is common knowledge?
a) Dolphins have seven senses.
b) We have five senses.
c) Most of us have a sixth sense.
d) Humans can have seven senses.
2)  What kind of dolphins might have a seventh sense?
a) big dolphins
b) striped dolphins
c) bottlenose
d) spinner dolphins
3)  What could the dolphins detect in the hearts of sea creatures?
a) tastiness of the creature
b) heart disease
c) blood
d) electric pulses
4)  What is excellent in dolphins besides their eyesight?
a) afar
b) sonar
c) solar
d) radar
5)  What feature of Earth might dolphins use to move around?
a) its magnetic field
b) the Equator
c) the North Pole
d) tides

6)  One of the dolphins was named Dolly. What was the other one's name?
a) Donna
b) Orca
c) Bob
d) Echo
7)  What kind of electricity could the dolphins pick up best?
a) scary electricity
b) static electricity
c) alternating current electricity
d) direct current electricity
8)  What do all organisms produce in water?
a) fertilizer
b) a mess
c) direct current electricity
d) noise
9)  What could dolphins use their seventh sense for?
a) laughing
b) communicating
c) swimming faster
d) hunting for food
10)  What's the name of the journal the research is published in?
a) Journal of Dolphin Biology
b) Journal of Experimental Biology
c) Journal of Electrical Biology
d) Journal of Sea Creature Biology

Role play

Role  A – Pain
You think pain is the most important sense. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sense isn't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): hunger, temperature or fear.

Role  B – Hunger
You think hunger is the most important sense. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sense isn't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): pain, temperature or fear.

Role  C – Temperature
You think temperature is the most important sense. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sense isn't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): hunger, pain or fear.

Role  D – Fear
You think fear is the most important sense. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sense isn't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): hunger, temperature or pain.

After reading / listening

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

'sense'

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

    • and 'dolphin'.

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

    • • 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:

    • common
    • ordinary
    • prey
    • heart
    • next
    • field
    • conducted
    • tested
    • both
    • location
    • hunt
    • published

    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 - Dolphin Senses

    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 'dolphins'?
    3. What do you know about dolphins?
    4. What do you think of a sixth sense in humans?
    5. What do you think of having seven senses?
    6. How intelligent are dolphins?
    7. How useful would it be to be able to detect electricity?
    8. What is your next meal going to be?
    9. What can we learn from dolphins?
    10. What new sense would you like?

    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 'senses'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Would you like to work with dolphins?
    5. What do you know about electricity?
    6. How good are you at sensing what is near you?
    7. What sense would you like to be sharper?
    8. Would you like to read this research paper?
    9. What three adjectives best describe dolphins?
    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)

    It is (1) ____ knowledge that we have five senses. Some people believe they have six senses. They say their sixth sense is the ability to know something without (2) ____ the ordinary five senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and (3) ____. Scientists have just discovered that some dolphins have seven senses. Researchers in Germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced (4) ____ their prey. The dolphins can detect the electric pulses produced by the heart beats of other sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find their next (5) ____. Dolphins also use their excellent eyesight and sonar to sense what is around them. This seventh sense may also help them to navigate using Earth's magnetic (6) ____.

    The researchers conducted a study (7) ____ two dolphins named Dolly and Donna. Experiments tested what kinds of electricity the dolphins could detect. Dolly and Donna could (8) ____ both kinds of electricity - direct current and alternating current. They were a lot better at picking (9) ____ direct current. All organisms produce direct current electricity in water. The researchers say being able to detect this means dolphins may be able to sense the location of most kinds of fish that are (10) ____ them. The dolphins could use their seventh sense to hunt, even if they cannot see or hear well, or if they cannot use their (11) ____ senses. The study has been published (12) ____ the "Journal of Experimental Biology".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     commoner     (b)     commons     (c)     commonly     (d)     common    
    (a)     used     (b)     usage     (c)     uses     (d)     using    
    (a)     tasteful     (b)     taste     (c)     tasted     (d)     tasty    
    (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     as    
    (a)     meal     (b)     bite     (c)     eat     (d)     feed    
    (a)     field     (b)     tape     (c)     personality     (d)     appeal    
    (a)     to     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    (a)     sense     (b)     tense     (c)     dense     (d)     hence    
    (a)     on     (b)     up     (c)     in     (d)     at    
    (a)     nears     (b)     nearly     (c)     near     (d)     neared    
    (a)     others     (b)     the others     (c)     other     (d)     another    
    (a)     of     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     to

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. common olwekndeg
    2. using the iodrrnay five senses
    3. detect the electric lupses
    4. use their excellent eisgeyht
    5. This seventh sense may also help them to invatgae
    6. using Earth's mtengaic field

    Paragraph 2

    1. The researchers dnoutcecd a study
    2. both kinds of telrciicety
    3. direct rreucnt
    4. sense the coloitan of most kinds of fish
    5. published in the uojnarl
    6. experimental looibgy

    Put the text back together

    (...)   hunt, even if they cannot see or hear well, or if they (...)   beats of other sea creatures. This could help dolphins to find their next meal. Dolphins also use their excellent eyesight and sonar
    (...)   location of most kinds of fish that are near them. The dolphins could use their seventh sense to
    (...)   cannot use their other senses. The study has been published in the "Journal of Experimental Biology". 
    (...)   The researchers conducted a study on two dolphins named Dolly and Donna. Experiments tested what kinds of
    (...)   dolphins have seven senses. Researchers in Germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced
    (...)   electricity the dolphins could detect. Dolly and Donna could sense both kinds of electricity - direct current
    (...)   and alternating current. They were a lot better at picking up direct current. All organisms produce direct current electricity
    (...)   to sense what is around them. This seventh sense may also help them to navigate using Earth's magnetic field.
    (...)   in water. The researchers say being able to detect this means dolphins may be able to sense the
    (  1  ) It is common knowledge that we have five senses. Some people believe they have
    (...)   of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Scientists have just discovered that some
    (...)   six senses. They say their sixth sense is the ability to know something without using the ordinary five senses

    (...)   by their prey. The dolphins can detect the electric pulses produced by the heart

    Put the words in the right order

    1. senses   .   common   that   we   have   five   knowledge   It's
    2. have   they   believe   people   Some   six   senses   .
    3. electricity   Dolphins   sense   can   their   produced   by   prey   .
    4. dolphins   find   to   their   This   helps   next   meal   .
    5. navigate   them   to   using   Earth's   Help   magnetic   field   .
    6. The   researchers   on   conducted   study   a   two   dolphins   .
    7. lot   at   picking   A   better   direct   up   current   .
    8. Dolphins   be   to   may   sense   the   able   location   .
    9. sense   their   use   could   Dolphins   to   seventh   hunt   .
    10. has   study   The   the   in   published   been   journal   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    It is common / commonly knowledge that we have five senses. Some people believe they do / have six senses. They say their sixth sense is the able / ability to know something without using the / an ordinary five senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste / tasty. Scientists have just discovered that some dolphins have seven senses. Researchers in Germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced by their pray / prey. The dolphins can detect the electric pulses produced by / at the heart beats of other sea creatures. This could help dolphins to / for find their next meal. Dolphins also use their excellence / excellent eyesight and sonar to sense what is around them. This seventh sense may also help them to navigate using / use Earth's magnetic field.

    The researchers conducted a study on two dolphins names / named Dolly and Donna. Experiments tested what kinds of / to electricity the dolphins could detect. Dolly and Donna could sense both kinds / kind of electricity - direct current and alternating currant / current. They were a lot better at picking up / on direct current. All organisms produce direct current electricity in water. The researchers say being / been able to detect this means dolphins may be able to sense the locution / location of most kinds of fish that are near / nearly them. The dolphins could use their seventh sense to hunt, even if they cannot see or hear well / good, or if they cannot use their other senses. The study has been published on / in the "Journal of Experimental Biology".

    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)

    _t  _s  c_mm_n  kn_wl_dg_  th_t  w_  h_v_  f_v_  s_ns_s.  S_m_  p__pl_  b_l__v_  th_y  h_v_  s_x  s_ns_s.  Th_y  s_y  th__r  s_xth  s_ns_  _s  th_  _b_l_ty  t_  kn_w  s_m_th_ng  w_th__t  _s_ng  th_  _rd_n_ry  f_v_  s_ns_s  _f  s_ght,  h__r_ng,  sm_ll,  t__ch  _nd  t_st_.  Sc__nt_sts  h_v_  j_st  d_sc_v_r_d  th_t  s_m_  d_lph_ns  h_v_  s_v_n  s_ns_s.  R_s__rch_rs  _n  G_rm_ny  s_y  b_ttl_n_s_  d_lph_ns  c_n  s_ns_  _l_ctr_c_ty  pr_d_c_d  by  th__r  pr_y.  Th_  d_lph_ns  c_n  d_t_ct  th_  _l_ctr_c  p_ls_s  pr_d_c_d  by  th_  h__rt  b__ts  _f  _th_r  s__  cr__t_r_s.  Th_s  c__ld  h_lp  d_lph_ns  t_  f_nd  th__r  n_xt  m__l.  D_lph_ns  _ls_  _s_  th__r  _xc_ll_nt  _y_s_ght  _nd  s_n_r  t_  s_ns_  wh_t  _s  _r__nd  th_m.  Th_s  s_v_nth  s_ns_  m_y  _ls_  h_lp  th_m  t_  n_v_g_t_  _s_ng  __rth's  m_gn_t_c  f__ld.

    Th_  r_s__rch_rs  c_nd_ct_d  _  st_dy  _n  tw_  d_lph_ns  n_m_d  D_lly  _nd  D_nn_.  _xp_r_m_nts  t_st_d  wh_t  k_nds  _f  _l_ctr_c_ty  th_  d_lph_ns  c__ld  d_t_ct.  D_lly  _nd  D_nn_  c__ld  s_ns_  b_th  k_nds  _f  _l_ctr_c_ty  -  d_r_ct  c_rr_nt  _nd  _lt_rn_t_ng  c_rr_nt.  Th_y  w_r_  _  l_t  b_tt_r  _t  p_ck_ng  _p  d_r_ct  c_rr_nt.  _ll  _rg_n_sms  pr_d_c_  d_r_ct  c_rr_nt  _l_ctr_c_ty  _n  w_t_r.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  s_y  b__ng  _bl_  t_  d_t_ct  th_s  m__ns  d_lph_ns  m_y  b_  _bl_  t_  s_ns_  th_  l_c_t__n  _f  m_st  k_nds  _f  f_sh  th_t  _r_  n__r  th_m.  Th_  d_lph_ns  c__ld  _s_  th__r  s_v_nth  s_ns_  t_  h_nt,  _v_n  _f  th_y  c_nn_t  s__  _r  h__r  w_ll,  _r  _f  th_y  c_nn_t  _s_  th__r  _th_r  s_ns_s.  Th_  st_dy  h_s  b__n  p_bl_sh_d  _n  th_  "J__rn_l  _f  _xp_r_m_nt_l  B__l_gy".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    it is common knowledge that we have five senses some people believe they have six senses they say their sixth sense is the ability to know something without using the ordinary five senses of sight hearing smell touch and taste scientists have just discovered that some dolphins have seven senses researchers in germany say bottlenose dolphins can sense electricity produced by their prey the dolphins can detect the electric pulses produced by the heart beats of other sea creatures this could help dolphins to find their next meal dolphins also use their excellent eyesight and sonar to sense what is around them this seventh sense may also help them to navigate using the earths magnetic field

    the researchers conducted a study on two dolphins named dolly and donna experiments tested what kinds of electricity the dolphins could detect dolly and donna could sense both kinds of electricity  direct current and alternating current they were a lot better at picking up direct current all organisms produce direct current electricity in water the researchers say being able to detect this means dolphins may be able to sense the location of most kinds of fish that are near them the dolphins could use their seventh sense to hunt even if they cannot see or hear well or if they cannot use their other senses the study has been published in the journal of experimental biology

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Itiscommonknowledgethatwehavefivesenses.Somepeoplebelievet
    heyhavesixsenses.Theysaytheirsixthsenseistheabilitytoknowsomet
    hingwithoutusingtheordinaryfivesensesofsight,hearing,smell,touch
    andtaste.Scientistshavejustdiscoveredthatsomedolphinshaveseve
    nsenses.ResearchersinGermanysaybottlenosedolphinscansenseele
    ctricityproducedbytheirprey.Thedolphinscandetecttheelectricpulse
    sproducedbytheheartbeatsofotherseacreatures.Thiscouldhelpdolph
    instofindtheirnextmeal.Dolphinsalsousetheirexcellenteyesightands
    onartosensewhatisaroundthem.Thisseventhsensemayalsohelpthe
    mtonavigateusingEarth'smagneticfield.Theresearchersconducteda
    studyontwodolphinsnamedDollyandDonna.Experimentstestedwhat
    kindsofelectricitythedolphinscoulddetect.DollyandDonnacouldsens
    ebothkindsofelectricity-directcurrentandalternatingcurrent.Theywe
    realotbetteratpickingupdirectcurrent.Allorganismsproducedirectcur
    rentelectricityinwater.Theresearcherssaybeingabletodetectthismea
    nsdolphinsmaybeabletosensethelocationofmostkindsoffishthataren
    earthem.Thedolphinscouldusetheirseventhsensetohunt,evenifthey
    cannotseeorhearwell,oriftheycannotusetheirothersenses.Thestudy
    hasbeenpublishedinthe"JournalofExperimentalBiology".

    Free writing

    Write about dolphins seventh sense for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Having seven senses would be great. 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. DOLPHINS: Make a poster about dolphins. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. OUR FIVE SENSES: Write a magazine article about schools providing lessons to teach us how to use our five senses better. 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 dolphins. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. 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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