The Reading / Listening - Volcanoes - Level 6

Predicting volcanic eruptions is never easy. For centuries, volcanologists and seismologists have studied the activity beneath Earth that might indicate an eruption. Forecasting when a volcano might erupt has been somewhat unreliable. However, scientists from NASA and the Smithsonian Institution say they are a step closer to providing more accurate forecasts of when a volcano might blow. NASA used images from space to detect changes in the colour of leaves. The research was based on a 2019 study from McGill University. This study showed that an increase in carbon dioxide levels emitted by two active volcanoes in Costa Rica had an impact on the colour of leaves in the surrounding areas.

Current methods of predicting an imminent volcanic explosion include checking seismic activity, changes in ground height, and carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions. NASA said the new method of monitoring changes in the colour of foliage from space could help in foretelling eruptions. The science behind this is fairly straightforward. As magma moves upwards through Earth's crust, it releases carbon dioxide. Trees absorb this and their leaves become greener and more vibrant. The LiveScience website said: "These signs can help to protect communities against the worst effects of volcanic blasts, including lava flows, ejected rocks, ashfalls, mudslides, and toxic gas clouds."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Volcanoes - Level 4  or  Volcanoes - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/volcanos/the-closer-a-volcano-is-to-erupting-the-greener-the-trees-around-it-look-from-space
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/trees-may-be-able-to-warn-us-when-a-volcano-is-about-to-erupt
  • https://scitechdaily.com/volcanoes-send-secret-signals-through-trees-and-nasa-satellites-can-see-them/


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. VOLCANOES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about volcanoes. 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?
       volcanic eruptions / volcanologists / activity / scientists / space / carbon dioxide /
       explosions / seismic activity / carbon dioxide / foliage / leaves / lava / rocks / gas
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VOLCANO CAPS: Students A strongly believe scientists should make caps for volcanoes to stop eruptions; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ~OLOGISTS: How important are these ~ologists? Would you like to do this job. Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Importance

Me

Volcanologists

 

 

Seismologists

 

 

Epidemiologist

 

 

Zoologists

 

 

Psychologists

 

 

Astrologists

 

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

  • Volcanoes
  • Tsunami
  • Hurricanes
  • Blizzards
  • Earthquakes
  • Heatwaves
  • Record cold
  • Avalanches

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. predicting a. Correct and without mistakes.
      2. eruption b. A strong effect or change something has.
      3. seismologist c. Saying what you think will happen in the future.
      4. accurate d. A scientist who studies earthquakes and how the ground moves.
      5. detect e. When a volcano suddenly throws out fire, rocks, and smoke.
      6. emitted f. To find or notice something that is not easy to see.
      7. impact g. Sent out (like light, gas, or sound).

    Paragraph 2

      8. imminent h. The leaves on a plant or tree.
      9. foliage i. Hot, melted rock inside the Earth.
      10. magma j. Bright and full of life or colour.
      11. crust k. Going to happen very soon.
      12. absorb l. Hot, melted rock that comes out of a volcano.
      13. vibrant m. To take in (like a sponge or plant takes in water or gas).
      14. lava n. The hard, outside layer of the Earth (or of bread).

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says predicting volcanic eruptions is relatively easy.     T / F
  2. Volcanologists and seismologists study the activity beneath Earth.     T / F
  3. NASA said the colour of trees might help to predict volcanic eruptions.     T / F
  4. Two volcanic eruptions in Costa Rica changed the colour of trees.     T / F
  5. Volcanologists check levels of carbon and sulphur dioxide.     T / F
  6. The article says the science behind NASA's new method is confusing.     T / F
  7. A website said the new method could help to protect communities.     T / F
  8. The website mentioned earthquakes as a bad effect of volcanoes.     T / F

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

  1. predicting
  2. indicate
  3. unreliable
  4. accurate
  5. surrounding
  6. imminent
  7. foliage
  8. absorb
  9. vibrant
  10. toxic
  1. impending
  2. precise
  3. adjacent
  4. poisonous
  5. be evidence of
  6. soak up
  7. forecasting
  8. vivid
  9. questionable
  10. leaves

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

  1. Predicting volcanic eruptions
  2. activity beneath Earth that might
  3. a step closer to providing
  4. carbon dioxide levels emitted
  5. the colour of leaves in
  6. methods of predicting an imminent
  7. checking seismic
  8. changes in the colour of
  9. magma moves upwards through Earth's
  10. lava
  1. activity
  2. more accurate forecasts
  3. the surrounding areas
  4. crust
  5. volcanic explosion
  6. is never easy
  7. flows
  8. indicate an eruption
  9. foliage
  10. by two active volcanoes

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
unreliable
detect
eruptions
areas
activity
levels
step
based

Predicting volcanic (1) _________________________________ is never easy. For centuries, volcanologists and seismologists have studied the (2) _________________________________ beneath Earth that might indicate an eruption. Forecasting when a volcano might erupt has been somewhat (3) _________________________________. However, scientists from NASA and the Smithsonian Institution say they are a (4) _________________________________ closer to providing more accurate forecasts of when a volcano might blow. NASA used images from space to (5) _________________________________ changes in the colour of leaves. The research was (6) _________________________________ on a 2019 study from McGill University. This study showed that an increase in carbon dioxide (7) _________________________________ emitted by two active volcanoes in Costa Rica had an impact on the colour of leaves in the surrounding (8) _________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
method
imminent
blasts
crust
ground
toxic
fairly
vibrant

Current methods of predicting an (9) _________________________________ volcanic explosion include checking seismic activity, changes in (10) _________________________________ height, and carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions. NASA said the new (11) _________________________________ of monitoring changes in the colour of foliage from space could help in foretelling eruptions. The science behind this is (12) _________________________________ straightforward. As magma moves upwards through Earth's (13) _________________________________, it releases carbon dioxide. Trees absorb this and their leaves become greener and more (14) _________________________________. The LiveScience website said: "These signs can help to protect communities against the worst effects of volcanic (15) _________________________________, including lava flows, ejected rocks, ashfalls, mudslides, and (16) _________________________________ gas clouds."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  volcanologists and seismologists have studied the ______
     a.  activity beneath Earth
     b.  activity behest Earth
     c.  activity beforehand Earth
     d.  activity bequeath Earth
2)  Forecasting when a volcano might erupt has ______
     a.  been somewhat unreliability
     b.  been somewhat reliability
     c.  been somewhat unreliable
     d.  been somewhat unenviable
3)  the Smithsonian Institution say they are a step closer to providing ______
     a.  mere accuracy forecasts
     b.  more accuracy forecasts
     c.  mere accurate forecasts
     d.  more accurate forecasts
4)  when a volcano might blow. NASA used images from space ______
     a.  to deselect changes
     b.  to detect changes
     c.  to defect changes
     d.  to detest changes
5)  This study showed that an increase in carbon ______
     a.  dioxide levels committed
     b.  dioxide levels emitted
     c.  dioxide levels remitted
     d.  dioxide levels submitted

6)  Current methods of predicting an imminent volcanic explosion include ______
     a.  check-in seismic activity
     b.  checking seismic active
     c.  checking seismic pact cities
     d.  checking size mic-activity
7)  NASA said the new method of monitoring changes in the ______
     a.  colour of foliage
     b.  colour of foal age
     c.  colour of fall liege
     d.  colour of foil liege
8)  As magma moves upwards ______
     a.  through Earth's trust
     b.  through Earth's crust
     c.  through Earth's crumb
     d.  through Earth's crest
9)  Trees absorb this and their leaves become greener ______
     a.  and more currant
     b.  and more vibe rant
     c.  and more febrile
     d.  and more vibrant
10)  including lava flows, ejected rocks, ashfalls, mudslides, and ______
     a.  poxy gas clouds
     b.  foxy gas clouds
     c.  toxic gas clouds
     d.  tock sick gas clouds

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Predicting volcanic (1) _______________________________________________ easy. For centuries, volcanologists and seismologists have studied the activity beneath Earth that (2) _______________________________________________ eruption. Forecasting when a volcano might erupt has been somewhat unreliable. However, scientists from NASA and the Smithsonian Institution say they are a step closer to providing more (3) _______________________________________________ when a volcano might blow. NASA used images from space to (4) _______________________________________________ the colour of leaves. The research was based on a 2019 study from McGill University. This study showed that an increase in carbon dioxide (5) _______________________________________________ two active volcanoes in Costa Rica had an impact on the colour of leaves in (6) _______________________________________________.

Current methods of (7) _______________________________________________ volcanic explosion include checking seismic activity, changes in ground height, and carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions. NASA said the new (8) _______________________________________________ changes in the colour of foliage from space could (9) _______________________________________________ eruptions. The science behind this is fairly straightforward. As magma moves upwards (10) _______________________________________________, it releases carbon dioxide. Trees absorb this and their leaves become greener (11) _______________________________________________. The LiveScience website said: "These signs can help to protect communities against the worst effects of volcanic blasts, including lava flows, ejected rocks, ashfalls, mudslides, and (12) _______________________________________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who studies underground activity besides volcanologists?
  2. What does the article say about forecasting volcanic eruptions?
  3. Where were NASA's images from?
  4. When was a study conducted by McGill University?
  5. Where did scientists study the CO2 levels of two active volcanoes?
  6. What kind of activity do scientists check when checking for eruptions?
  7. What gas do scientists check for besides carbon dioxide?
  8. What does the article say magma passes through?
  9. Who did a website say the new method might protect?
  10. What flows are mentioned at the end of the article?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Who studies underground activity besides volcanologists?
a) cavers
b) seismologists
c) miners
d) escapologists
2) What does the article say about forecasting volcanic eruptions?
a) It's really important.
b) It's tricky.
c) It's extremely exciting.
d) It's somewhat unreliable.
3) Where were NASA's images from?
a) space
b) jungles
c) craters
d) a library
4) When was a study conducted by McGill University?
a) 2017
b) 2018
c) 2019
d) 2020
5) Where did scientists study the CO2 levels of two active volcanoes?
a) Japan
b) Costa Rica
c) Bali
d) Hawaii

6) What kind of activity do scientists check when checking for eruptions?
a) animal activity
b) insect activity
c) seismic activity
d) magma activity
7) What gas do scientists check for besides carbon dioxide?
a) helium
b) nitrogen oxide
c) methane
d) sulphur dioxide
8) What does the article say magma passes through?
a) the Earth's crust
b) tunnels
c) pipes
d) caves
9) Who did a website say the new method might protect?
a) communities
b) seismologists
c) volcanologists
d) mountain climbers
10) What flows are mentioned at the end of the article?
a) cash flows
b) lava flows
c) water flows
d) river flows

Role play

Role  A – Volcanoes
You think volcanoes are the worst natural disasters. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their disasters. Also, tell the others which is the most manageable of these (and why): earthquakes, heatwaves or hurricanes.

Role  B – Earthquakes
You think earthquakes are the worst natural disasters. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their disasters. Also, tell the others which is the most manageable of these (and why): volcanoes, heatwaves or hurricanes.

Role  C – Heatwaves
You think heatwaves are the worst natural disasters. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their disasters. Also, tell the others which is the most manageable of these (and why): earthquakes, volcanoes or hurricanes.

Role  D – Hurricanes
You think hurricanes are the worst natural disasters. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their disasters. Also, tell the others which is the most manageable of these (and why): earthquakes, heatwaves or volcanoes.

After reading / listening

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

'volcano'

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

    • and 'tree'.

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

    • • 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:

    • predicting
    • centuries
    • step
    • space
    • increase
    • areas
    • current
    • new
    • foliage
    • vibrant
    • help
    • flows

    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 - Volcanoes

    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 'volcano'?
    3. What do you know about volcanoes?
    4. Would you like to work as a volcanologist?
    5. How did volcanoes form?
    6. Would you live near a volcano?
    7. What should residents do if a volcanic eruption is imminent?
    8. How have recent volcanic eruptions changed our lives?
    9. What volcanoes might erupt in the next century?
    10. What do you think of 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 'tree'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How good are scientists at predicting natural disasters?
    5. What do you think of greener leaves being a sign of eruptions?
    6. What do you think of lava flows?
    7. What do you know about magma?
    8. What three adjectives best describe volcanoes?
    9. Are there any good things about volcanoes?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a volcanologist?

    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)

    Predicting volcanic eruptions is never easy. For centuries, volcanologists and seismologists have studied the activity (1) ____ Earth that might indicate an eruption. Forecasting when a volcano might erupt has been (2) ____ unreliable. However, scientists from NASA and the Smithsonian Institution say they are a (3) ____ closer to providing more accurate forecasts of when a volcano might (4) ____. NASA used images from space to (5) ____ changes in the colour of leaves. The research was based on a 2019 study from McGill University. This study showed that an increase in carbon dioxide levels emitted by two active volcanoes in Costa Rica had an impact (6) ____ the colour of leaves in the surrounding areas.

    Current methods of predicting an (7) ____ volcanic explosion include checking seismic activity, changes in ground height, and carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide (8) ____. NASA said the new method of monitoring changes in the colour of foliage from space could help in foretelling eruptions. The science behind this is (9) ____ straightforward. As magma moves upwards through Earth's (10) ____, it releases carbon dioxide. Trees absorb this and their leaves become greener and more (11) ____. The LiveScience website said: "These signs can help to protect communities against the worst effects of volcanic blasts, including lava (12) ____, ejected rocks, ashfalls, mudslides, and toxic gas clouds."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     beneath     (b)     bequeath     (c)     behest     (d)     benign    
    2. (a)     somewhere     (b)     sometime     (c)     somewhat     (d)     someplace    
    3. (a)     stair     (b)     steep     (c)     step     (d)     ladder    
    4. (a)     blew     (b)     bellow     (c)     below     (d)     blow    
    5. (a)     detect     (b)     defect     (c)     detest     (d)     infect    
    6. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    7. (a)     embryonic     (b)     innovation     (c)     incision     (d)     imminent    
    8. (a)     commissions     (b)     emissions     (c)     remissions     (d)     missions    
    9. (a)     finely     (b)     timely     (c)     fairly     (d)     justly    
    10. (a)     crater     (b)     lust     (c)     crumb     (d)     crust    
    11. (a)     content     (b)     exultant     (c)     errant     (d)     vibrant    
    12. (a)     blows     (b)     flows     (c)     slows     (d)     glows

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. volcanologists and isetosssomigl
    2. indicate an trpeonui
    3. been somewhat rleaeluibn
    4. providing more ceratuac forecasts
    5. an increase in carbon dioxide levels mttdiee
    6. in the dnusrruinog areas

    Paragraph 2

    1. predicting an tmnmeini volcanic
    2. changes in the colour of loeigaf
    3. agmam moves upwards
    4. Trees rbsabo this and their leaves become greener
    5. greener and more bvairnt
    6. avla flows

    Put the text back together

    (    )     absorb this and their leaves become greener and more vibrant. The LiveScience website said: "These signs
    (    )     active volcanoes in Costa Rica had an impact on the colour of leaves in the surrounding areas.
    (    )     blasts, including lava flows, ejected rocks, ashfalls, mudslides, and toxic gas clouds."
    (    )     blow. NASA used images from space to detect changes in the colour of leaves. The research was based
    (    )     can help to protect communities against the worst effects of volcanic
    (    )     changes in the colour of foliage from space could help in foretelling eruptions. The science behind this
    (    )     closer to providing more accurate forecasts of when a volcano might
    (    )     Current methods of predicting an imminent volcanic explosion include checking seismic activity, changes in ground
    (    )     erupt has been somewhat unreliable. However, scientists from NASA and the Smithsonian Institution say they are a step
    (    )     height, and carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions. NASA said the new method of monitoring
    (    )     is fairly straightforward. As magma moves upwards through Earth's crust, it releases carbon dioxide. Trees
    (    )     on a 2019 study from McGill University. This study showed that an increase in carbon dioxide levels emitted by two
    (  1  )   Predicting volcanic eruptions is never easy. For centuries, volcanologists and
    (    )     seismologists have studied the activity beneath Earth that might indicate an eruption. Forecasting when a volcano might

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Seismologists   activity   the   have   beneath   Earth   studied   .
    2. A   forecasts   step   accurate   more   providing   closer   to   .
    3. NASA   detect   from   changes   space   to   used   images   .
    4. Carbon   emitted   volcanoes   two   levels   by   active   dioxide   .
    5. The   surrounding   of   in   colour   the   areas   leaves   .
    6. Current   explosion  methods   volcanic  predicting   of   an   imminent  .
    7. New   of   changes   colour   the   in   methods   monitoring   .
    8. The   this   is   straightforward   fairly   behind   science   .
    9. Trees   and   greener   their   become   absorb   this   leaves   .
    10. Protect   effects   volcanic   communities   the   against   blasts   of   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Predicting volcanic eruptions is never easy. For centuries, volcanology / volcanologists and seismologists have studied the activity behest / beneath Earth that might indicate an eruption. Forecasting when a volcano might erupt has been somewhat reliability / unreliable. However, scientists from NASA and the Smithsonian Institution say they are a step / steep closer to providing more accurate forecasts of when a volcano might bellow / blow. NASA used images from space to detect / defect changes in the colour of leaves. The research was biased / based on a 2019 study from McGill University. This study showed that an increase on / in carbon dioxide levels emitted by two active volcanoes in Costa Rica had an impact in / on the colour of leaves in / at the surrounding areas.

    Current methods / method of predicting an imminent volcanic explosion include checking seismic activity, changes in grind / ground height, and carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide remissions / emissions. NASA said the new method of monitoring changes in the colour of foliage / foil from space could help in foretelling eruptions. The science behind this is fair / fairly straightforward. As magma moves upwards through Earth's crumb / crust, it releases carbon dioxide. Trees absorb / absorption this and their leaves become greener and mere / more vibrant. The LiveScience website said: "These signs can help to protect communities against the worst effects of volcanic blisters / blasts, including lava flows, ejected rocks, ashfalls, mudslides, and toxic / hypoxic gas clouds."

    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)

    Pr_d_ct_ng  v_lc_n_c  _r_pt__ns  _s  n_v_r  __sy.  F_r  c_nt_r__s,  v_lc_n_l_g_sts  _nd  s__sm_l_g_sts  h_v_  st_d__d  th_  _ct_v_ty  b_n__th  __rth  th_t  m_ght  _nd_c_t_  _n  _r_pt__n.  F_r_c_st_ng  wh_n  _  v_lc_n_  m_ght  _r_pt  h_s  b__n  s_m_wh_t  _nr_l__bl_.  H_w_v_r,  sc__nt_sts  fr_m  N_S_  _nd  th_  Sm_ths_n__n  _nst_t_t__n  s_y  th_y  _r_  _  st_p  cl_s_r  t_  pr_v_d_ng  m_r_  _cc_r_t_  f_r_c_sts  _f  wh_n  _  v_lc_n_  m_ght  bl_w.  N_S_  _s_d  _m_g_s  fr_m  sp_c_  t_  d_t_ct  ch_ng_s  _n  th_  c_l__r  _f  l__v_s.  Th_  r_s__rch  w_s  b_s_d  _n  _  2019  st_dy  fr_m  McG_ll  _n_v_rs_ty.  Th_s  st_dy  sh_w_d  th_t  _n  _ncr__s_  _n  c_rb_n  d__x_d_  l_v_ls  _m_tt_d  by  tw_  _ct_v_  v_lc_n__s  _n  C_st_  R_c_  h_d  _n  _mp_ct  _n  th_  c_l__r  _f  l__v_s  _n  th_  s_rr__nd_ng  _r__s.

    C_rr_nt  m_th_ds  _f  pr_d_ct_ng  _n  _mm_n_nt  v_lc_n_c  _xpl_s__n  _ncl_d_  ch_ck_ng  s__sm_c  _ct_v_ty,  ch_ng_s  _n  gr__nd  h__ght,  _nd  c_rb_n  d__x_d_  _nd  s_lph_r  d__x_d_  _m_ss__ns.  N_S_  s__d  th_  n_w  m_th_d  _f  m_n_t_r_ng  ch_ng_s  _n  th_  c_l__r  _f  f_l__g_  fr_m  sp_c_  c__ld  h_lp  _n  f_r_t_ll_ng  _r_pt__ns.  Th_  sc__nc_  b_h_nd  th_s  _s  f__rly  str__ghtf_rw_rd.  _s  m_gm_  m_v_s  _pw_rds  thr__gh  __rth's  cr_st,  _t  r_l__s_s  c_rb_n  d__x_d_.  Tr__s  _bs_rb  th_s  _nd  th__r  l__v_s  b_c_m_  gr__n_r  _nd  m_r_  v_br_nt.  Th_  L_v_Sc__nc_  w_bs_t_  s__d:  "Th_s_  s_gns  c_n  h_lp  t_  pr_t_ct  c_mm_n_t__s  _g__nst  th_  w_rst  _ff_cts  _f  v_lc_n_c  bl_sts,  _ncl_d_ng  l_v_  fl_ws,  _j_ct_d  r_cks,  _shf_lls,  m_dsl_d_s,  _nd  t_x_c  g_s  cl__ds."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    predicting volcanic eruptions is never easy for centuries volcanologists and seismologists have studied the activity beneath earth that might indicate an eruption forecasting when a volcano might erupt has been somewhat unreliable however scientists from nasa and the smithsonian institution say they are a step closer to providing more accurate forecasts of when a volcano might blow nasa used images from space to detect changes in the colour of leaves the research was based on a 2019 study from mcgill university this study showed that an increase in carbon dioxide levels emitted by two active volcanoes in costa rica had an impact on the colour of leaves in the surrounding areas

    current methods of predicting an imminent volcanic explosion include checking seismic activity changes in ground height and carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions nasa said the new method of monitoring changes in the colour of foliage from space could help in foretelling eruptions the science behind this is fairly straightforward as magma moves upwards through earths crust it releases carbon dioxide trees absorb this and their leaves become greener and more vibrant the livescience website said these signs can help to protect communities against the worst effects of volcanic blasts including lava flows ejected rocks ashfalls mudslides and toxic gas clouds

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Predictingvolcaniceruptionsisnevereasy.Forcenturies,volcanologist
    sandseismologistshavestudiedtheactivitybeneathEarththatmightin
    dicateaneruption.Forecastingwhenavolcanomighterupthasbeenso
    mewhatunreliable.However,scientistsfromNASAandtheSmithsonia
    nInstitutionsaytheyareastepclosertoprovidingmoreaccurateforecas
    tsofwhenavolcanomightblow.NASAusedimagesfromspacetodetectc
    hangesinthecolourofleaves.Theresearchwasbasedona2019studyfro
    mMcGillUniversity.Thisstudyshowedthatanincreaseincarbondioxide
    levelsemittedbytwoactivevolcanoesinCostaRicahadanimpactonthec
    olourofleavesinthesurroundingareas.Currentmethodsofpredictinga
    nimminentvolcanicexplosionincludecheckingseismicactivity,change
    singroundheight,andcarbondioxideandsulphurdioxideemissions.NA
    SAsaidthenewmethodofmonitoringchangesinthecolouroffoliagefro
    mspacecouldhelpinforetellingeruptions.Thesciencebehindthisisfairl
    ystraightforward.AsmagmamovesupwardsthroughEarth'scrust,itre
    leasescarbondioxide.Treesabsorbthisandtheirleavesbecomegreene
    randmorevibrant.TheLiveSciencewebsitesaid:"Thesesignscanhelpt
    oprotectcommunitiesagainsttheworsteffectsofvolcanicblasts,includ
    inglavaflows,ejectedrocks,ashfalls,mudslides,andtoxicgasclouds."

    Free writing

    Write about volcanoes and trees for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We need to know more about volcanoes. 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. VOLCANOES: Make a poster about volcanoes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. VOLCANO PLUGS: Write a magazine article about creating giant plugs for volcanoes to stop eruptions. 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 volcanoes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on volcanoes. 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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