The Reading / Listening - Fog Harvesting - Level 3

Many regions in the world have very little rain. It is a daily challenge for people to get water. Scientists have found a new way that could help some of the driest towns and cities in the world. Capturing water from fog could provide drinking water to millions of people. Researchers in Chile have been studying how fog harvesting could help to collect water. Fog harvesting is a simple process. Water from fog is collected on large mesh screens that are hung between poles. When fog and clouds pass through the screens, droplets of water stick to the mesh. This water then drips into pipes below the screens and ends up in storage tanks. It is a cheap and easy way of collecting water in dry areas.

The researchers are from Universidad Mayor, a private university in the capital city Santiago. They have been testing fog harvesting in the desert town of Alto Hospicio. The town gets an average of less than 5 mm of rainfall a year. Many people who live there get their drinking water delivered by truck. Researcher Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini said fog harvesting could bring a "new era" to the town. She said her research "represents a notable shift in the perception of fog water use – from a rural, rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource for cities". She added: "Water from the clouds could enhance our cities' resilience to climate change, while improving access to clean water."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Fog Harvesting - Level 0,  Fog Harvesting - Level 1   or  Fog Harvesting - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1072950
  • https://www.sciencenews.org/article/fog-collection-water-stress-desert
  • https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-style-fog-collectors-could-provide-water-to-the-worlds-driest-cities-2000564828


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. FOG AND WATER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about fog and water. 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?
       regions / rain / challenge / drinking water / fog / mesh / clouds / storage tanks / dry /
       researchers / capital city / desert / era / rural / solution / resource / climate change
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. RAINY PLACES: Students A strongly believe people who live in places with little rain should move to places where it rains; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. REGIONS: What are the good and bad things about living in these regions? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Desert

 

 

Rainforest

 

 

Mountain top

 

 

Beach

 

 

Riverside

 

 

Arctic tundra

 

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

  • Fog
  • Heavy rain
  • Hurricanes
  • Heatwaves
  • Heavy snow
  • Sleet and hail
  • Dust storm
  • Drought

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. regions a. Taking and keeping something.
      2. daily b. Very small drops of liquid.
      3. capturing c. Large areas of land, like parts of a country or the world.
      4. process d. Happening every day.
      5. mesh e. A series of steps to do something.
      6. droplets f. Material made of many small holes, like a net.
      7. ends up g. Finally goes to a place or situation.

    Paragraph 2

      8. capital city h. A change from one thing to another.
      9. desert i. The most important city in a country, where the government is.
      10. delivered j. A long period of time in history.
      11. era k. How someone understands or sees something.
      12. shift l. A very dry place with little rain and few plants.
      13. perception m. The ability to be strong and recover from problems.
      14. resilience n. Brought to a place by someone.

 

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 regions in the world will get very little rain.     T / F
  2. It is easy to collect water by using fog harvesting.     T / F
  3. With fog harvesting, water sticks to poles that hang between screens.     T / F
  4. Fog harvesting is an expensive way of collecting water.     T / F
  5. The fog harvesting experiment took place in the capital city of Chile.     T / F
  6. Many people in the town of Alto Hospicio get water from a truck.     T / F
  7. A researcher said fog harvesting could help cities one day.     T / F
  8. Fog harvesting could be useful to protect us against climate change.     T / F

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

  1. regions
  2. challenge
  3. provide
  4. collect
  5. cheap
  6. testing
  7. delivered
  8. era
  9. rural
  10. improving
  1. age
  2. gather
  3. trialling
  4. problem
  5. countryside
  6. inexpensive
  7. areas
  8. making better
  9. give
  10. brought

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

  1. Many regions in the world
  2. provide drinking water
  3. Fog harvesting is a simple
  4. This water then drips
  5. It is a cheap and easy way of collecting
  6. in the capital
  7. The town gets an average of
  8. get their drinking water delivered
  9. a practical water resource
  10. improving access
  1. water in dry areas
  2. to clean water
  3. have very little rain
  4. less than 5 mm of rainfall
  5. city Santiago
  6. process
  7. for cities
  8. to millions of people
  9. into pipes below
  10. by truck

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
provide
large
pipes
driest
collect
easy
regions
droplets

Many (1) ______________________________________________ in the world have very little rain. It is a daily challenge for people to get water. Scientists have found a new way that could help some of the (2) ______________________________________________ towns and cities in the world. Capturing water from fog could (3) ______________________________________________ drinking water to millions of people. Researchers in Chile have been studying how fog harvesting could help to (4) ______________________________________________ water. Fog harvesting is a simple process. Water from fog is collected on (5) ______________________________________________ mesh screens that are hung between poles. When fog and clouds pass through the screens, (6) ______________________________________________ of water stick to the mesh. This water then drips into (7) ______________________________________________ below the screens and ends up in storage tanks. It is a cheap and (8) ______________________________________________ way of collecting water in dry areas.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
era
capital
improving
year
clouds
rural
delivered
desert

The researchers are from Universidad Mayor, a private university in the (9) ______________________________________________ city Santiago. They have been testing fog harvesting in the (10) ______________________________________________ town of Alto Hospicio. The town gets an average of less than 5 mm of rainfall a (11) ______________________________________________. Many people who live there get their drinking water (12) ______________________________________________ by truck. Researcher Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini said fog harvesting could bring a "new (13) ______________________________________________" to the town. She said her research "represents a notable shift in the perception of fog water use - from a (14) ______________________________________________, rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource for cities". She added: "Water from the (15) ______________________________________________ could enhance our cities' resilience to climate change, while (16) ______________________________________________ access to clean water."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Many regions in the world have ______
     a.  very few rainy
     b.  very little rained
     c.  very little rain
     d.  very small rain
2)  a new way that could help some of ______
     a.  the driest towns
     b.  the dry yeast towns
     c.  them driest towns
     d.  the driest townies
3)  Capturing water from fog could provide drinking water to ______
     a.  millions off people
     b.  millions oft people
     c.  millions of people
     d.  millions soft people
4)  Fog harvesting is ______
     a.  a simple protest
     b.  a simple processed
     c.  a simple progress
     d.  a simple process
5)  This water then drips into pipes below the screens and ends up ______
     a.  in storage tanks
     b.  in stored tanks
     c.  in-store rage tanks
     d.  in store rage tanks

6)  The researchers are from Universidad Mayor, a private university in ______
     a.  the capitals city
     b.  the capital city
     c.  a capital city
     d.  then capital city
7)  The town gets an average of less than 5 mm of ______
     a.  rain fell a year
     b.  rainfall a year
     c.  rain falls a year
     d.  rainfall the year
8)  Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini said fog harvesting could bring ______
     a.  a new ear
     b.  a new wearer
     c.  a new war
     d.  a new era
9)  a notable shift in the perception of fog water use, from a rural, rather ______
     a.  small-shale solution
     b.  small-scale solution
     c.  small-snail solution
     d.  small-school solution
10)  enhance our cities' resilience to climate change, ______
     a.  while improving access
     b.  while improving excess
     c.  while improve in access
     d.  while improved in access

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Many regions in the world have (1) __________________________________________________. It is a daily challenge for people to get water. Scientists have found a new way that could help some of (2) __________________________________________________ and cities in the world. Capturing water from fog could provide drinking water to millions of people. Researchers in Chile have (3) __________________________________________________ fog harvesting could help to collect water. Fog harvesting is a simple process. Water from fog is collected on large mesh screens that are (4) __________________________________________________. When fog and clouds pass through the screens, (5) __________________________________________________ stick to the mesh. This water then drips into pipes below the screens and ends up in storage tanks. It is a (6) __________________________________________________ way of collecting water in dry areas.

The researchers are from Universidad Mayor, a private university in (7) __________________________________________________ Santiago. They have been testing fog harvesting in the desert town of Alto Hospicio. The town gets (8) __________________________________________________ less than 5 mm of rainfall a year. Many people who live there get their drinking water (9) __________________________________________________. Researcher Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini said fog harvesting could bring a "new era" to the town. She said her research "represents (10) __________________________________________________ in the perception of fog water use - from a rural, rather small-(11) __________________________________________________ a practical water resource for cities". She added: "Water from the clouds could enhance our cities' resilience to climate change, while improving (12) __________________________________________________ water."

Comprehension questions

  1. According to the article, what has very little rain?
  2. How many people could be helped by fog harvesting?
  3. What kind of screens does fog harvesting use to capture water?
  4. What sticks to the screens?
  5. Where does the water from fog harvesting end up?
  6. In what kind of town did researchers test fog harvesting?
  7. How much rainfall does the town get each year?
  8. What did a researcher say fog harvesting could bring to the town?
  9. Where could fog harvesting provide a practical water resource?
  10. What could fog harvesting provide resilience to?

Multiple choice quiz

1) According to the article, what has very little rain?
a) many regions of the world
b) the northern hemisphere
c) South America
d) large cities
2) How many people could be helped by fog harvesting?
a) tens of millions
b) billions
c) millions
d) hundreds of thousands
3) What kind of screens does fog harvesting use to capture water?
a) waterproof screens
b) mesh screens
c) cotton screens
d) high-tech screens
4) What sticks to the screens?
a) thick fog
b) oxygen
c) rain
d) droplets of water
5)  Where does the water from fog harvesting end up?
a) in storage tanks
b) in rivers
c) in people's baths
d) in the toilet

6) In what kind of town did researchers test fog harvesting?
a) a busy town
b) a mountaintop town
c) a coastal town
d) a desert town
7) How much rainfall does the town get each year?
a) just over 5 mm
b) less than 5 mm
c) exactly 5 mm
d) about 5 mm
8) What did a researcher say fog harvesting could bring to the town?
a) hot springs
b) hot showers
c) tourists
d) a new era
9) Where could fog harvesting provide a practical water resource?
a) cactus farms
b) hold courses
c) cities
d) swimming pools
10) What could fog harvesting provide resilience to?
a) wind
b) climate change
c) heatwaves
d) freezing temperatures

Role play

Role  A – Thick Fog
You think thick fog is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather events aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): heavy rain, heatwave or hurricane.

Role  B – Heavy Rain
You think heavy rain is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather events aren't as bad: thick fog, heatwave or hurricane.

Role  C – Heatwave
You think a heatwave is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather events aren't as bad: heavy rain, thick fog or hurricane.

Role  D – Hurricane
You think a hurricane is the worst weather event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather events aren't as bad: heavy rain, heatwave or thick fog.

After reading / listening

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

'fog'

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

    • and 'rain'.

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

    • • 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:

    • regions
    • driest
    • studying
    • process
    • large
    • cheap
    • testing
    • truck
    • era
    • shift
    • resource
    • access

    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 - Fog Harvesting

    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 'fog'?
    3. What do you know about fog?
    4. What do you think of harvesting water from fog?
    5. Does your town have any water problems?
    6. What would living in a very dry region be like?
    7. Has the amount of rainfall changed in your town?
    8. What would you do if there was little water to use?
    9. Would you rather live in a dry or rainy place?
    10. How cheap is the water in your town?

    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 'water'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Would you like to live in a desert town?
    5. What water problems are there in the world?
    6. What water problems will there be in the future?
    7. What other ways are there of collecting water?
    8. What three adjectives best describe the word 'water'?
    9. What will Earth be like after 100 years of climate change?
    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)

    Many regions in the world have (1) ____ little rain. It is a daily challenge for people to get water. Scientists have found a new way that could help some of the driest towns and cities (2) ____ the world. Capturing water from fog could provide drinking water to millions of people. Researchers in Chile have been (3) ____ how fog harvesting could help to collect water. Fog harvesting is a (4) ____ process. Water from fog is collected on large mesh screens that are hung between poles. When fog and clouds pass (5) ____ the screens, droplets of water stick to the mesh. This water then drips into pipes below the screens and (6) ____ up in storage tanks. It is a cheap and easy way of collecting water in dry areas.

    The researchers are from Universidad Mayor, a private university in the (7) ____ city Santiago. They have been testing fog harvesting in the desert town of Alto Hospicio. The town gets an average (8) ____ less than 5 mm of rainfall a year. Many people who live there get their drinking water delivered by truck. Researcher Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini said fog harvesting could bring a "(9) ____ era" to the town. She said her research "represents a notable (10) ____ in the perception of fog water use - from a rural, rather small-scale (11) ____ to a practical water resource for cities". She added: "Water from the clouds could enhance our cities' resilience to climate change, (12) ____ improving access to clean water."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     very     (b)     few     (c)     much     (d)     far    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     by    
    3. (a)     studied     (b)     studies     (c)     studying     (d)     study    
    4. (a)     sump     (b)     sample     (c)     spam     (d)     simple    
    5. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     through     (d)     under    
    6. (a)     starts     (b)     ends     (c)     follows     (d)     waters    
    7. (a)     case     (b)     capital     (c)     initial     (d)     upper    
    8. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    9. (a)     news     (b)     newt     (c)     new     (d)     newsy    
    10. (a)     relocate     (b)     cog     (c)     gear     (d)     shift    
    11. (a)     problem     (b)     puzzle     (c)     liquid     (d)     solution    
    12. (a)     that     (b)     which     (c)     what     (d)     while

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Many ergnios in the world
    2. It is a daily elgeahcnl for people
    3. podevir drinking water to millions
    4. Fog harvesting is a simple oecpssr
    5. screens that are hung between slpeo
    6. ends up in soeratg tanks

    Paragraph 2

    1. in the aptalic city Santiago
    2. an earvgae of less than 5 mm
    3. drinking water eerdvdeil by truck
    4. a lurar, rather small-scale solution
    5. a practical water rrcueeos for cities
    6. nchenae our cities' resilience to climate change

    Put the text back together

    (...)  rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource for cities". She added: "Water from the
    (...)  The researchers are from Universidad Mayor, a private university in the capital
    (...)  clouds could enhance our cities' resilience to climate change, while improving access to clean water."
    (...)  help to collect water. Fog harvesting is a simple process. Water from fog is collected on large mesh
    (...)  screens that are hung between poles. When fog and clouds pass through the screens, droplets
    (...)  of water stick to the mesh. This water then drips into pipes below the screens and ends up in storage
    (...)  city Santiago. They have been testing fog harvesting in the desert town of Alto Hospicio. The town gets an average
    (  1  )  Many regions in the world have very little rain. It is a daily challenge for people to get water. Scientists have
    (...)  of less than 5 mm of rainfall a year. Many people who live there get their drinking water delivered
    (...)  by truck. Researcher Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini said fog harvesting could bring a "new
    (...)  found a new way that could help some of the driest towns and cities in the world. Capturing water from fog could provide
    (...)  drinking water to millions of people. Researchers in Chile have been studying how fog harvesting could
    (...)  tanks. It is a cheap and easy way of collecting water in dry areas.
    (...)  era" to the town. She said her research "represents a notable shift in the perception of fog water use - from a rural,

    Put the words in the right order

    1. have   regions   rain   .   little   Many   in   the   world
    2. daily   for   get   challenge   to   A   people   water   .
    3. water   from   fog   water   .   drinking   provide   could   Capturing
    4. on   collected   mesh   from   Water   screens   .   fog   is
    5. areas   .   of   water   A   in   way   dry   collecting
    6. desert   .   fog   in   testing   They've   been   the   harvesting
    7. 5 mm   .   an   The   gets   less   of   than   town   average
    8. harvesting   era   .   bring   new   a   said   She   could
    9. notable   represents   her   said   She   shift   .   a   research
    10. the   clouds   enhance   could   from   cities   .   our   Water

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Many regions / region in the world have very little rain. It is a daily challenging / challenge for people to get water. Scientists have found a new way that could help some of / off the driest towns and cities in the world. Capturing water from fog could provide drink / drinking water to millions of people. Researchers in Chile have been studying how / what fog harvesting could help to collect water. Fog harvesting is a sample / simple process. Water from fog is collected on large mash / mesh screens that are hung between poles. When foggy / fog and clouds pass through the screens, droplets of water stick to the mesh. This water then drips up / into pipes below the screens and ends up in storage tanks. It is a cheap and easy way of collecting / collection water in dry areas.

    The researchers are from / of Universidad Mayor, a private university in the capital city Santiago. They have been testing / tested fog harvesting in the desert town of Alto Hospicio. The town gets an average of less / fewer than 5 mm of rainfall a year. Many people who lives / live there get their drinking water delivered by track / truck. Researcher Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini said fog harvesting could bring a "new / news era" to the town. She said her research "represents a notable shift on / in the perception of fog water use - from a rural, rather small-scale solution to / at a practical water resource for cities". She added: "Water from the clouds could enhance our cities' resilience / resilient to climate change, while improving access to clean watering / water."

    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)

    M_ny r_g__ns _n th_ w_rld h_v_ v_ry l_ttl_ r__n. _t _s _ d__ly ch_ll_ng_ f_r p__pl_ t_ g_t w_t_r. Sc__nt_sts h_v_ f__nd _ n_w w_y th_t c__ld h_lp s_m_ _f th_ dr__st t_wns _nd c_t__s _n th_ w_rld. C_pt_r_ng w_t_r fr_m f_g c__ld pr_v_d_ dr_nk_ng w_t_r t_ m_ll__ns _f p__pl_. R_s__rch_rs _n Ch_l_ h_v_ b__n st_dy_ng h_w f_g h_rv_st_ng c__ld h_lp t_ c_ll_ct w_t_r. F_g h_rv_st_ng _s _ s_mpl_ pr_c_ss. W_t_r fr_m f_g _s c_ll_ct_d _n l_rg_ m_sh scr__ns th_t _r_ h_ng b_tw__n p_l_s. Wh_n f_g _nd cl__ds p_ss thr__gh th_ scr__ns, dr_pl_ts _f w_t_r st_ck t_ th_ m_sh. Th_s w_t_r th_n dr_ps _nt_ p_p_s b_l_w th_ scr__ns _nd _nds _p _n st_r_g_ t_nks. _t _s _ ch__p _nd __sy w_y _f c_ll_ct_ng w_t_r _n dry _r__s.

    Th_ r_s__rch_rs _r_ fr_m _n_v_rs_d_d M_y_r, _ pr_v_t_ _n_v_rs_ty _n th_ c_p_t_l c_ty S_nt__g_. Th_y h_v_ b__n t_st_ng f_g h_rv_st_ng _n th_ d_s_rt t_wn _f _lt_ H_sp_c__. Th_ t_wn g_ts _n _v_r_g_ _f l_ss th_n 5 mm _f r__nf_ll _ y__r. M_ny p__pl_ wh_ l_v_ th_r_ g_t th__r dr_nk_ng w_t_r d_l_v_r_d by tr_ck. R_s__rch_r Dr V_rg_n__ C_rt_r G_mb_r_n_ s__d f_g h_rv_st_ng c__ld br_ng _ "n_w _r_" t_ th_ t_wn. Sh_ s__d h_r r_s__rch "r_pr_s_nts _ n_t_bl_ sh_ft _n th_ p_rc_pt__n _f f_g w_t_r _s_ - fr_m _ r_r_l, r_th_r sm_ll-sc_l_ s_l_t__n t_ _ pr_ct_c_l w_t_r r_s__rc_ f_r c_t__s". Sh_ _dd_d: "W_t_r fr_m th_ cl__ds c__ld _nh_nc_ __r c_t__s' r_s_l__nc_ t_ cl_m_t_ ch_ng_, wh_l_ _mpr_v_ng _cc_ss t_ cl__n w_t_r."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    many regions in the world have very little rain it is a daily challenge for people to get water scientists have found a new way that could help some of the driest towns and cities in the world capturing water from fog could provide drinking water to millions of people researchers in chile have been studying how fog harvesting could help to collect water fog harvesting is a simple process water from fog is collected on large mesh screens that are hung between poles when fog and clouds pass through the screens droplets of water stick to the mesh this water then drips into pipes below the screens and ends up in storage tanks it is a cheap and easy way of collecting water in dry areas

    the researchers are from universidad mayor a private university in the capital city santiago they have been testing fog harvesting in the desert town of alto hospicio the town gets an average of less than 5 mm of rainfall a year many people who live there get their drinking water delivered by truck researcher dr virginia carter gamberini said fog harvesting could bring a new era to the town she said her research represents a notable shift in the perception of fog water use from a rural rather smallscale solution to a practical water resource for cities she added water from the clouds could enhance our cities resilience to climate change while improving access to clean water

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Manyregionsintheworldhaveverylittlerain.Itisadailychallengeforpeo
    pletogetwater.Scientistshavefoundanewwaythatcouldhelpsomeoft
    hedriesttownsandcitiesintheworld.Capturingwaterfromfogcouldpro
    videdrinkingwatertomillionsofpeople.ResearchersinChilehavebeens
    tudyinghowfogharvestingcouldhelptocollectwater.Fogharvestingisa
    simpleprocess.Waterfromfogiscollectedonlargemeshscreensthatar
    ehungbetweenpoles.Whenfogandcloudspassthroughthescreens,dr
    opletsofwatersticktothemesh.Thiswaterthendripsintopipesbelowth
    escreensandendsupinstoragetanks.Itisacheapandeasywayofcollectin
    gwaterindryareas.TheresearchersarefromUniversidadMayor,apri
    vateuniversityinthecapitalcitySantiago.Theyhavebeentestingfogha
    rvestinginthedeserttownofAltoHospicio.Thetowngetsanaverageofle
    ssthan5mmofrainfallayear.Manypeoplewholivetheregettheirdrinkin
    gwaterdeliveredbytruck.ResearcherDrVirginiaCarterGamberinisaid
    fogharvestingcouldbringa"newera"tothetown.Shesaidherresearch"
    representsanotableshiftintheperceptionoffogwateruse-fromarural,r
    athersmall-scalesolutiontoapracticalwaterresourceforcities".Shead
    ded:"Waterfromthecloudscouldenhanceourcities'resiliencetoclimat
    echange,whileimprovingaccesstocleanwater."

    Free writing

    Write about fog harvesting for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    People in areas with no rainfall should move to areas with rainfall.  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. FOG AND WATER: Make a poster about fog and water. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. MOVING: Write a magazine article about moving people from very dry areas to places where there is rainfall. 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 fog. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to save water. 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.)

    Back to the top

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You