The Reading / Listening - The Big Bang - Level 6

Our planet contains mysteries that are yet to be unravelled. Many of them focus on how the Earth formed, and what is at the centre of our planet. A recent study provides clues as to what shaped Earth at the beginnings of our solar system. Scientists say they have discovered evidence that vast amounts of a rare, primordial form of the gas helium may be trapped inside Earth's core. It is called helium-3. Scientists from universities in Japan and Taiwan believe the helium-3 is from a giant cloud of gas and dust that amalgamated to create different planets. The gas has remained locked inside Earth's mantle for billions of years, but is occasionally released in volcanic eruptions.

The research paper has created considerable excitement among planetary geologists. They believe the presence of large amounts of helium-3 could unlock more secrets of the Big Bang. In particular, the scientists are speculating that there being so much helium-3 under the Earth's mantle could mean that Earth was created much more quickly than previously thought. Dr Peter Olson, a geophysicist at the University of New Mexico, shed light on the possible speed of Earth's creation. He said: "There is evidence that has been interpreted to say the Earth formed very slowly, requiring 100 million years. [However], you wouldn't get much helium deep in the Earth if the Earth formed that slowly."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    The Big Bang - Level 4  or  The Big Bang - Level 5

Sources
  • https://scitechdaily.com/earths-core-may-hold-hidden-reservoirs-of-helium-scientists-discover/
  • https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/primordial-helium-from-the-birth-of-the-solar-system-may-be-stuck-in-earths-core/ar-AA1AagXf
  • https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/centre-of-the-earth-could-hold-large-reservoir-of-iron-helium-compounds/4021097.article


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. THE EARTH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Earth. 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?
       planet / focus / Earth / solar system / evidence / helium / universities / eruptions /
       research paper / excitement / geologists / secrets / geophysicist / speed / creation
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. KNOWING: Students A strongly believe it's very important to know how long it took for Earth to form; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SPACE: What do you know about the things in the table? What do you want to know? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Want to Know

The Big Bang

 

 

Our solar system

 

 

Planets

 

 

Asteroids

 

 

The ISS

 

 

The Sun

 

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

  • The Big Bang
  • Aliens
  • Ghosts
  • The Bermuda Triangle
  • The Yeti
  • The sixth sense
  • The Pyramids
  • Life

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. unravelled a. The very middle or centre of something.
      2. evidence b. When something, like a volcano, suddenly explodes or bursts out.
      3. vast c. To become untangled or solved; when something that was confusing becomes clear.
      4. primordial d. Facts or things that show something is true.
      5. core e. Very old, from the beginning of time.
      6. amalgamated f. Joined or mixed together.
      7. eruption g. Very big or very large.

    Paragraph 2

      8. geologist h. To help people understand something better.
      9. Big Bang i. A scientist who studies the inside of the Earth.
      10. speculating j. The layer of rock inside the Earth, under the surface.
      11. mantle k. A scientist who studies rocks and the Earth.
      12. geophysicist l. Explained or understood in a certain way.
      13. shed light on m. The big explosion that scientists believe created the universe.
      14. interpreted n. Guessing about something without knowing all the facts.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says there are many unrivalled mysteries about our planet.    T / F
  2. A study conclusively found out what shaped the solar system.     T / F
  3. Helium-3 is a medieval from of the gas helium-4.     T / F
  4. Helium-3 is occasionally released when a volcano erupts.     T / F
  5. Planetary geophysicists are paying scant regard to the new research.     T / F
  6. There could be more helium-3 beneath our feet than we thought.     T / F
  7. A geophysicist helped us know more about the speed of Earth's creation. T / F
  8. The geophysicist said Earth would form faster with more helium-3.     T / F

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

  1. mysteries
  2. unravelled
  3. clues
  4. evidence
  5. amalgamated
  6. considerable
  7. speculating
  8. shed light on
  9. creation
  10. requiring
  1. proof
  2. made clearer
  3. merged
  4. theorizing
  5. solved
  6. formation
  7. pointers
  8. necessitating
  9. secrets
  10. sizeable

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

  1. Our planet contains mysteries that are yet
  2. vast amounts of a rare, primordial
  3. a giant cloud of gas and dust that
  4. The gas has remained locked inside Earth's
  5. occasionally released in volcanic
  6. The research paper has created considerable
  7. planetary
  8. unlock more secrets
  9. shed
  10. you wouldn't get much helium
  1. amalgamated
  2. mantle
  3. deep in the Earth
  4. eruptions
  5. excitement
  6. of the Big Bang
  7. light on
  8. to be unravelled
  9. geologists
  10. form of the gas

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
solar
core
eruptions
mysteries
locked
formed
vast
dust

Our planet contains  (1) _________________________________ that are yet to be unravelled. Many of them focus on how the Earth                          (2) _________________________________, and what is at the centre of our planet. A recent study provides clues as to what shaped Earth at the beginnings of our  (3) _________________________________ system. Scientists say they have discovered evidence that  (4) _________________________________ amounts of a rare, primordial form of the gas helium may be trapped inside Earth's  (5) _________________________________. It is called helium-3. Scientists from universities in Japan and Taiwan believe the helium-3 is from a giant cloud of gas and  (6) _________________________________ that amalgamated to create different planets. The gas has remained                                                    (7) _________________________________ inside Earth's mantle for billions of years, but is occasionally released in volcanic  (8) _________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
previously
presence
deep
shed
requiring
considerable
speculating
evidence

The research paper has created (9) ________________________________ excitement among planetary geologists. They believe the (10) ________________________________ of large amounts of helium-3 could unlock more secrets of the Big Bang. In particular, the scientists are (11) _________________________________ that there being so much helium-3 under the Earth's mantle could mean that Earth was created much more quickly than (12) _________________________________ thought. Dr Peter Olson, a geophysicist at the University of New Mexico, (13) _________________________________ light on the possible speed of Earth's creation. He said: "There is (14) _________________________________ that has been interpreted to say the Earth formed very slowly, (15) _________________________________ 100 million years. [However], you wouldn't get much helium (16) _________________________________ in the Earth if the Earth formed that slowly."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Our planet contains mysteries that are yet ______
     a.  to be unravelled
     b.  to be unrivalled
     c.  to be unparallelled
     d.  to be unveiled
2)  A recent study provides clues as to ______
     a.  what sharpened Earth
     b.  what scraped Earth
     c.  what scuppered Earth
     d.  what shaped Earth
3)  a rare, primordial form of the gas helium may be trapped ______
     a.  inside Earth's cor
     b.  inside Earth's care
     c.  inside Earth's core
     d.  inside Earth's chore
4)  believe the helium-3 is from a giant cloud of gas and ______
     a.  dust that amalgamate
     b.  dust that amalgamated
     c.  dust that amalgamate it
     d.  dust that amalgamate Ted
5)  Earth's mantle for billions of years, but is occasionally released ______
     a.  in volcano eruptions
     b.  in volcanic eruptions
     c.  in volcanic eruption
     d.  in volcano eruption

6)  The research paper has created considerable excitement ______
     a.  among plan it teary geologists
     b.  among planetary geologists
     c.  among planet cherry geologists
     d.  among planetary geologist
7)  the presence of large amounts of helium-3 could ______
     a.  unload more secrets
     b.  unlock more secret
     c.  unlock more secrets
     d.  unlock moor secrets
8)  Earth was created much more quickly ______
     a.  than previous thought
     b.  than previously thoughts
     c.  than previously thinking
     d.  than previously thought
9)  Olson, a geophysicist at the University of New Mexico, shed light on ______
     a.  the possibility speed
     b.  the impossible speed
     c.  the impossibility speed
     d.  the possible speed
10)  He said there is evidence that ______
     a.  has being interpreted
     b.  has been interpret it
     c.  has been interpreter
     d.  has been interpreted

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Our planet contains mysteries that are (1) _______________________________________________ unravelled. Many of them focus on how the Earth formed, and what is at the centre of our planet. A recent study (2) _______________________________________________ to what shaped Earth at the beginnings of our solar system. Scientists say they have discovered evidence that (3) _______________________________________________ a rare, primordial form of the gas helium may (4) _______________________________________________ Earth's core. It is called helium-3. Scientists from universities in Japan and Taiwan believe the helium-3 is from a giant cloud of (5) _______________________________________________ that amalgamated to create different planets. The gas has remained locked inside Earth's mantle for billions of years, but (6) _______________________________________________ in volcanic eruptions.

The research paper (7) _______________________________________________ excitement among planetary geologists. They believe (8) _______________________________________________ large amounts of helium-3 could unlock more secrets of the Big Bang. In particular, the scientists (9) _______________________________________________ there being so much helium-3 under the Earth's (10) _______________________________________________ that Earth was created much more quickly than previously thought. Dr Peter Olson, a geophysicist at the University of New Mexico, (11) _______________________________________________ the possible speed of Earth's creation. He said: "There is evidence that has been interpreted to say the Earth formed very slowly, (12) _______________________________________________ years. [However], you wouldn't get much helium deep in the Earth if the Earth formed that slowly."

Comprehension questions

  1. What does Earth contain that hasn't been unravelled yet?
  2. How much helium-3 do scientists believe they have discovered?
  3. Where is the helium-3 trapped?
  4. What mixed with gas to form planets?
  5. How is helium-3 released from the Earth's core?
  6. Who is particularly excited about the discovery of the helium-3?
  7. What could the helium-3 unlock secrets of?
  8. What did do scientists say about the speed with which Earth formed?
  9. What is Peter Olson's job?
  10. How long did scientists think it took Earth to form?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does Earth contain that hasn't been unravelled yet?
a) string
b) mysteries
c) a black hole
d) a shooting star
2)  How much helium-3 do scientists believe they have discovered?
a) a few molecules
b) a tiny amount
c) vast amounts
d) about 23.6 kg
3)  Where is the helium-3 trapped?
a) in a cave
b) in space
c) inside a piece if rock
d) inside Earth's core
4)  What mixed with gas to form planets?
a) water
b) dust
c) ice
d) plasma
5)  How is helium-3 released from the Earth's core?
a) volcanic eruptions
b) during earthquakes
c) through geothermal activity
d) through cracks in the ground

6)  Who is particularly excited about the discovery of the helium-3?
a) planetary geologists
b) astrophysicists
c) chemistry teachers
d) helium balloon makers
7)  What could the helium-3 unlock secrets of?
a) the universe
b) the meaning of life
c) weather patterns
d) the Big Bang
8)  What did do scientists say about the speed with which Earth formed?
a) It followed normal patterns.
b) It was painfully slow.
c) It formed quicker than previously thought.
d) It was miraculously quick
9)  What is Peter Olson's job?
a) He's a biophysicist
b) He's a quantum physicist.
c) He's an astrophysicist.
d) He's a geophysicist.
10)  How long did scientists think it took Earth to form?
a) 200 million years
b) 100 million years
c) 300 million years
d) a billion years

Role play

Role  A – The Big Bang
You think the Big Bang is the biggest mystery. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so mysterious. Also, tell the others which is the least mysterious of these (and why): the Bermuda Triangle, the Pyramids or our sixth sense.

Role  B – The Bermuda Triangle
You think the Bermuda Triangle is the biggest mystery. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so mysterious. Also, tell the others which is the least mysterious of these (and why): the Big Bang, the Pyramids or our sixth sense.

Role  C – The Pyramids
You think the Pyramids are the biggest mystery. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so mysterious. Also, tell the others which is the least mysterious of these (and why): the Bermuda Triangle, the Big Bang or our sixth sense.

Role  D – Our Sixth Sense
You think our sixth sense is the biggest mystery. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so mysterious. Also, tell the others which is the least mysterious of these (and why): the Bermuda Triangle, the Pyramids or the Big Bang.

After reading / listening

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

'Earth'

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

    • and 'ancient'.

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

    • • 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:

    • contains
    • shaped
    • vast
    • giant
    • locked
    • occasionally
    • considerable
    • large
    • mean
    • shed
    • 100
    • deep

    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 - The Big Bang

    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 'Earth'?
    3. What do you know about the Big Bang?
    4. What other ideas do people have about how earth was created?
    5. How important is it to know about the creation of earth?
    6. What do you know about our solar system?
    7. Do you think there are other life forms out there?
    8. What did Earth look like 100 million years ago?
    9. What is your favourite planet?
    10. What do you know about volcanoes?

    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 'Big Bang'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about helium?
    5. How do you think the Earth was created?
    6. What do you think is in the centre of the Earth?
    7. Will it ever be possible to journey to the Earth's core?
    8. Which of Earth's mysteries would you like scientists to unravel?
    9. What will Earth be like in 100 million years from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    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)

    Our planet contains mysteries that are yet to be (1) ____. Many of them focus on how the Earth formed, and what is at the centre of our planet. A recent study (2) ____ clues as to what shaped Earth at the beginnings of our solar system. Scientists say they have discovered evidence that (3) ____ amounts of a rare, primordial (4) ____ of the gas helium may be trapped inside Earth's core. It is called helium-3. Scientists from universities in Japan and Taiwan believe the helium-3 is from a giant cloud of gas and dust that (5) ____ to create different planets. The gas has remained locked inside Earth's mantle for billions of years, but is occasionally released in volcanic (6) ____.

    The research paper has created considerable excitement among planetary geologists. They believe the (7) ____ of large amounts of helium-3 could unlock more secrets of the Big Bang. In particular, the scientists are speculating that there (8) ____ so much helium-3 under the Earth's mantle could mean that Earth was created much more quickly than previously thought. Dr Peter Olson, a geophysicist at the University of New Mexico, (9) ____ light on the possible speed of Earth's creation. He said: "There is evidence that has been interpreted (10) ____ say the Earth formed very slowly, (11) ____ 100 million years. [However], you wouldn't get much helium deep in the Earth if the Earth formed (12) ____ slowly."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     unrivalled     (b)     unravelled     (c)     rivalled     (d)     unrivalled    
    2. (a)     upends     (b)     provides     (c)     signals     (d)     hands out    
    3. (a)     baste     (b)     paste     (c)     dust     (d)     vast    
    4. (a)     frame     (b)     form     (c)     from     (d)     firm    
    5. (a)     amalgamate     (b)     amalgamates     (c)     amalgamating     (d)     amalgamated    
    6. (a)     contraptions     (b)     disruptions     (c)     eruptions     (d)     contortions    
    7. (a)     presence     (b)     presents     (c)     being     (d)     state    
    8. (a)     has     (b)     is     (c)     being     (d)     form    
    9. (a)     shelter     (b)     hut     (c)     cabin     (d)     shed    
    10. (a)     to     (b)     as     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    11. (a)     requiring     (b)     requires     (c)     required     (d)     requirement    
    12. (a)     that     (b)     what     (c)     such     (d)     unnecessarily

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. mysteries that are yet to be dleurvanle
    2. the beginnings of our srola mysets
    3. they have discovered ecedvine
    4. a rare, aoridmplir form of the gas helium
    5. gas and dust that gmatlamaade
    6. released in volcanic unotripse

    Paragraph 2

    1. created oedcnsiraelb excitement
    2. among planetary sgilogetso
    3. scientists are tgilpaesunc
    4. under the Earth's tnlame
    5. a ihpsecogyist at the University of New Mexico
    6. that has been terdnepteri

    Put the text back together

    (    )   100 million years. [However], you wouldn't get much helium deep in the Earth if the Earth formed that slowly."
    (    )   at the University of New Mexico, shed light on the possible speed of Earth's creation. He said: "There is evidence
    (    )   core. It is called helium-3. Scientists from universities in Japan and Taiwan believe the helium-3 is from a giant cloud
    (    )   created much more quickly than previously thought. Dr Peter Olson, a geophysicist
    (    )   evidence that vast amounts of a rare, primordial form of the gas helium may be trapped inside Earth's
    (    )   formed, and what is at the centre of our planet. A recent study provides clues as
    (    )   inside Earth's mantle for billions of years, but is occasionally released in volcanic eruptions.
    (    )   of gas and dust that amalgamated to create different planets. The gas has remained locked
    (    )   of large amounts of helium-3 could unlock more secrets of the Big Bang. In particular, the scientists are
    (  1  )   Our planet contains mysteries that are yet to be unravelled. Many of them focus on how the Earth
    (    )   speculating that there being so much helium-3 under the Earth's mantle could mean that Earth was
    (    )   that has been interpreted to say the Earth formed very slowly, requiring
    (    )   The research paper has created considerable excitement among planetary geologists. They believe the presence
    (    )   to what shaped Earth at the beginnings of our solar system. Scientists say they have discovered

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Mysteries   yet   are   that   to   unravelled   be   .
    2. Many   them   of   focus   how   on   formed   Earth   .
    3. They   vast   discovered   amounts   gas   of   the   helium   .
    4. Gas   dust   and   amalgamated   create   to   different   planets   .
    5. The   gas   remained   has   inside   locked   Earth's   mantle   .
    6. The   paper   research   created   has   considerable   excitement   .
    7. Helium-3   unlock   could   more   secrets   the   of   Big Bang   .
    8. Earth   created   was   quickly   more   than   thought   previously   .
    9. A   shed   geophysicist   light   on   possible   the   speed   .
    10. You   wouldn't   helium   get   deep   in   Earth   the   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Our planet contains mysteries that are yet to being / be unravelled. Many of them focus on how / what the Earth formed, and what is at the centre of our planet. A recent / recently study provides clues as to what shaped Earth at the beginnings of our polar / solar system. Scientists say they have discovered evidential / evidence that vast amounts of a rare, primordial form of the gas helium may be trapped inside Earth's corps / core. It is called helium-3. Scientists from universities in Japan and Taiwan believe / belief the helium-3 is from a giant cloud of gas and rust / dust that amalgamated to create different planets. The gas has remained locked inside Earth's mantle / meddle for billions of years, but is occasionally released in volcanic eruptions / contraptions.

    The research paper has created consider / considerable excitement among planetary geologists. They believe the presents / presence of large amounts of helium-3 could unlock more secrets / secretes of the Big Bang. In / On particular, the scientists are speculating that is / there being so much helium-3 under the Earth's mantle could mean that Earth was created much more quickly / quicker than previously thought. Dr Peter Olson, a geophysicist at the University of New Mexico, shed light of / on the possible speed of Earth's creation. He said: "There is evidence what / that has been interpreted to say the Earth formed very slowly / slow, requiring 100 million years. [However], you wouldn't get many / much helium deep in the Earth if the Earth formed that slowly."

    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  pl_n_t  c_nt__ns  myst_r__s  th_t  _r_  y_t  t_  b_  _nr_v_ll_d.  M_ny  _f  th_m  f_c_s  _n  h_w  th_  __rth  f_rm_d,  _nd  wh_t  _s  _t  th_  c_ntr_  _f  __r  pl_n_t.  _  r_c_nt  st_dy  pr_v_d_s  cl__s  _s  t_  wh_t  sh_p_d  __rth  _t  th_  b_g_nn_ngs  _f  __r  s_l_r  syst_m.  Sc__nt_sts  s_y  th_y  h_v_  d_sc_v_r_d  _v_d_nc_  th_t  v_st  _m__nts  _f  _  r_r_,  pr_m_rd__l  f_rm  _f  th_  g_s  h_l__m  m_y  b_  tr_pp_d  _ns_d_  __rth's  c_r_.  _t  _s  c_ll_d  h_l__m-3.  Sc__nt_sts  fr_m  _n_v_rs_t__s  _n  J_p_n  _nd  T__w_n  b_l__v_  th_  h_l__m-3  _s  fr_m  _  g__nt  cl__d  _f  g_s  _nd  d_st  th_t  _m_lg_m_t_d  t_  cr__t_  d_ff_r_nt  pl_n_ts.  Th_  g_s  h_s  r_m__n_d  l_ck_d  _ns_d_  __rth's  m_ntl_  f_r  b_ll__ns  _f  y__rs,  b_t  _s  _cc_s__n_lly  r_l__s_d  _n  v_lc_n_c  _r_pt__ns.

    Th_ r_s__rch p_p_r h_s cr__t_d c_ns_d_r_bl_ _xc_t_m_nt _m_ng pl_n_t_ry g__l_g_sts. Th_y b_l__v_ th_ pr_s_nc_ _f l_rg_ _m__nts _f h_l__m-3 c__ld _nl_ck m_r_ s_cr_ts _f th_ B_g B_ng. _n p_rt_c_l_r, th_ sc__nt_sts _r_ sp_c_l_t_ng th_t th_r_ b__ng s_ m_ch h_l__m-3 _nd_r th_ __rth's m_ntl_ c__ld m__n th_t __rth w_s cr__t_d m_ch m_r_ q__ckly th_n pr_v___sly th__ght. Dr P_t_r _ls_n, _ g__phys_c_st _t th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f N_w M_x_c_, sh_d l_ght _n th_ p_ss_bl_ sp__d _f __rth's cr__t__n. H_ s__d: "Th_r_ _s _v_d_nc_ th_t h_s b__n _nt_rpr_t_d t_ s_y th_ __rth f_rm_d v_ry sl_wly, r_q__r_ng 100 m_ll__n y__rs. [H_w_v_r], y__ w__ldn't g_t m_ch h_l__m d__p _n th_ __rth _f th_ __rth f_rm_d th_t sl_wly."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    our planet contains mysteries that are yet to be unravelled many of them focus on how the earth formed and what is at the centre of our planet a recent study provides clues as to what shaped earth at the beginnings of our solar system scientists say they have discovered evidence that vast amounts of a rare primordial form of the gas helium may be trapped inside earths core it is called helium3 scientists from universities in japan and taiwan believe the helium3 is from a giant cloud of gas and dust that amalgamated to create different planets the gas has remained locked inside earths mantle for billions of years but is occasionally released in volcanic eruptions

    the research paper has created considerable excitement among planetary geologists they believe the presence of large amounts of helium3 could unlock more secrets of the big bang in particular the scientists are speculating that there being so much helium3 under the earths mantle could mean that earth was created much more quickly than previously thought dr peter olson a geophysicist at the university of new mexico shed light on the possible speed of earths creation he said there is evidence that has been interpreted to say the earth formed very slowly requiring 100 million years however you wouldnt get much helium deep in the earth if the earth formed that slowly

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Ourplanetcontainsmysteriesthatareyettobeunravelled.Manyofthem
    focusonhowtheEarthformed,andwhatisatthecentreofourplanet.Arec
    entstudyprovidescluesastowhatshapedEarthatthebeginningsofours
    olarsystem.Scientistssaytheyhavediscoveredevidencethatvastamo
    untsofarare,primordialformofthegasheliummaybetrappedinsideEar
    th'score.Itiscalledhelium-3.ScientistsfromuniversitiesinJapanand
    Taiwanbelievethehelium-3isfromagiantcloudofgasanddustthatamal
    gamatedtocreatedifferentplanets.Thegashasremainedlockedinside
    Earth'smantleforbillionsofyears,butisoccasionallyreleasedinvolcani
    ceruptions.Theresearchpaperhascreatedconsiderableexcitementa
    mongplanetarygeologists.Theybelievethepresenceoflargeamounts
    ofhelium-3couldunlockmoresecretsoftheBigBang.Inparticular,thes
    cientistsarespeculatingthattherebeingsomuchhelium-3undertheEar
    th'smantlecouldmeanthatEarthwascreatedmuchmorequicklythanpr
    eviouslythought.DrPeterOlson,ageophysicistattheUniversityofNew
    Mexico,shedlightonthepossiblespeedofEarth'screation.Hesaid:"The
    reisevidencethathasbeeninterpretedtosaytheEarthformedveryslowl
    y,requiring100millionyears.[However],youwouldn'tgetmuchhelium
    deepintheEarthiftheEarthformedthatslowly."

    Free writing

    Write about primordial helium for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    It is very important to know how Earth formed. 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. THE EARTH: Make a poster about the Earth. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. EARTH'S CORE: Write a magazine article about governments spending lots of money to get to Earth's core. 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 the Earth. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on why it's important to understand Earth's origins. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    Buy my book

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    Answers

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

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