The Reading / Listening - Tea on the Moon - Level 3

Scientists have said that it might be possible to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK believe the lunar soil is good enough for tea plants to grow in. Lead researcher Professor Nigel Mason said: "We are at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture." He added: "It is reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the great British tradition of a tea break." This is good news for astronauts who visit the Moon in the future. They will be able to have a cup of Moon-grown tea. It could also be good news for farmers who struggle to grow crops in poor soil. Researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to farm even in poor soil.

Professor Mason and his team investigated whether tea plants could grow in lunar and Martian soil. He said: "Our experiments reveal that…plants such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses, allowing inhabitants of such bases some degree of [independence] and access to fresh food." The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is close to the type of soil found on the Moon and on Mars. Fellow researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was happy with her findings. She said: "The results of this project are very encouraging, as they demonstrate that tea…can be grown in lunar soil." Unfortunately, the tea plants did not grow in the Martian soil.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Tea on the Moon - Level 0,  Tea on the Moon - Level 1   or  Tea on the Moon - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.earth.com/news/tea-plants-show-promise-for-growing-food-on-the-moon/
  • https://phys.org/news/2025-09-tea-lunar-soil.html
  • https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/tea-can-grown-moon-calls-35931787


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 MOON: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Moon. 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?
       scientists / tea / the Moon / soil / plants / research / space / agriculture / astronauts /
       Mars / greenhouses / inhabitants / independence / fresh food / happy / project / grow
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. RELAX: Students A strongly believe tea is the best drink when relaxing; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PLANTS: What do you know about these plants? How useful are they Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

How Useful

Tea

 

 

Bamboo

 

 

Turmeric

 

 

Rubber

 

 

Rice

 

 

Coconut

 

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

  • English
  • Earl Gray
  • Green Tea
  • Rooibos
  • Chamomile
  • Oolong
  • Jasmine
  • Chai

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. lunar a. Making someone feel safe or less worried.
      2. soil b. About the Moon.
      3. agriculture c. The work of growing plants and keeping animals for food.
      4. reassuring d. A time to stop work for 10-15 minutes to have a drink.
      5. tradition e. Have a hard time doing something.
      6. tea break f. The top part of the ground where plants grow.
      7. struggle g. Something people usually do in a group or family for a long time.

    Paragraph 2

      8. investigated h. Prepared land for growing plants.
      9. Martian i. Show how something works or how to do it.
      10. reveal j. People or animals that live in a place.
      11. cultivated k. Show something that was hidden or secret.
      12. greenhouses l. Glass (or clear plastic) buildings where plants are grown.
      13. inhabitants m. Looked at something carefully to find the truth.
      14. demonstrate n. About the planet Mars; a person from Mars.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists have successfully grown tea on the Moon.     T / F
  2. Scientists say they are just beginning to look into space farming.     T / F
  3. Astronauts may one day be able to have an English-style tea break.     T / F
  4. The research may help farmers who farm in poor soil.     T / F
  5. The researchers looked at growing tea on five different planets.     T / F
  6. There could one day be greenhouses on the Moon.     T / F
  7. Scientists used real soil from the Moon.     T / F
  8. The test tea grew well in Moon-like and Mars-like soil.     T / F

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

  1. believe
  2. soil
  3. agriculture
  4. tradition
  5. struggle
  6. investigated
  7. reveal
  8. degree
  9. encouraging
  10. unfortunately
  1. level
  2. farming
  3. sadly
  4. try hard
  5. show
  6. think
  7. hopeful
  8. earth
  9. looked into
  10. custom

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

  1. it might be possible to
  2. lunar soil is good
  3. We are at the very earliest
  4. the great British tradition
  5. for farmers who struggle
  6. his team investigated whether
  7. plants such as tea may be
  8. access to fresh
  9. close to the type of soil found
  10. The results of this project are very
  1. tea plants could grow
  2. stages of research
  3. on the Moon
  4. cultivated
  5. enough for tea plants to grow in
  6. food
  7. to grow crops
  8. grow tea on the Moon
  9. encouraging
  10. of a tea break

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
enough
worldwide
future
good
possible
farmers
access
earliest

Scientists have said that it might be (1) ______________________________________________ to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK believe the lunar soil is good (2) ______________________________________________ for tea plants to grow in. Lead researcher Professor Nigel Mason said: "We are at the very (3) ______________________________________________ stages of research into space agriculture." He added: "It is reassuring that we may be able to provide (4) ______________________________________________ to the great British tradition of a tea break." This is (5) ______________________________________________ news for astronauts who visit the Moon in the (6) ______________________________________________. They will be able to have a cup of Moon-grown tea. It could also be good news for (7) ______________________________________________ who struggle to grow crops in poor soil. Researchers hope farmers (8) ______________________________________________ will be able to farm even in poor soil.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
close
reveal
degree
demonstrate
results
Martian
investigated
happy

Professor Mason and his team (9) ______________________________________________ whether tea plants could grow in lunar and Martian soil. He said: "Our experiments (10) ______________________________________________ that...plants such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses, allowing inhabitants of such bases some (11) ______________________________________________ of [independence] and access to fresh food." The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is (12) ______________________________________________ to the type of soil found on the Moon and on Mars. Fellow researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was (13) ______________________________________________ with her findings. She said: "The (14) ______________________________________________ of this project are very encouraging, as they (15) ______________________________________________ that tea...can be grown in lunar soil." Unfortunately, the tea plants did not grow in the (16) ______________________________________________ soil.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Scientists have said that it might be possible to grow tea ______
     a.  in the Moon
     b.  on the Moon
     c.  at the Moon
     d.  of the Moon
2)  Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK believe the lunar soil ______
     a.  is best enough
     b.  is good enough
     c.  is well enough
     d.  is better enough
3)  We are at the very earliest stages of research ______
     a.  into spacey agriculture
     b.  into spaced agriculture
     c.  into spaces agriculture
     d.  into space agriculture
4)  It is reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the ______
     a.  great British traditional
     b.  grate British tradition
     c.  great British tradition
     d.  greet British tradition
5)  It could also be good news for farmers who struggle to grow crops ______
     a.  in poor soil
     b.  on poor soil
     c.  up poor soil
     d.  down poor soil

6)  Professor Mason and his team investigated whether tea ______
     a.  plant could grow
     b.  plants could grow
     c.  plants could glow
     d.  plants could growl
7)  plants such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soil ______
     a.  within lunar jailhouses
     b.  within lunar doghouses
     c.  within lunar powerhouses
     d.  within lunar greenhouses
8)  The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is close to the ______
     a.  typed of soil
     b.  type of soil
     c.  typing of soil
     d.  tape of soil
9)  Fellow researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was happy ______
     a.  with her find things
     b.  with her founding
     c.  with her findings
     d.  with her funding
10)  Unfortunately, the tea plants did not grow in ______
     a.  the martin soil
     b.  the mating soil
     c.  the Martian soil
     d.  the matting soil

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists have said that it might (1) __________________________________________________ grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK believe the lunar soil is (2) __________________________________________________ tea plants to grow in. Lead researcher Professor Nigel Mason said: "We are at the very earliest stages of (3) __________________________________________________ agriculture." He added: "It is reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the (4) __________________________________________________ of a tea break." This is good news for astronauts who visit the Moon in the future. They will be able to have a cup of Moon-grown tea. It could also (5) __________________________________________________ for farmers who struggle to grow crops in poor soil. Researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to (6) __________________________________________________ poor soil.

Professor Mason (7) __________________________________________________ investigated whether tea plants could grow in lunar and Martian soil. He said: "Our experiments (8) __________________________________________________ such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses, allowing inhabitants of such bases (9) __________________________________________________ [independence] and access to fresh food." The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made (10) __________________________________________________ to the type of soil found on the Moon and on Mars. Fellow researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was happy with her findings. She said: "The results (11) __________________________________________________ are very encouraging, as they demonstrate that tea... (12) __________________________________________________ in lunar soil." Unfortunately, the tea plants did not grow in the Martian soil.

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the university that conducted this research?
  2. What research are scientists in the earliest stages of?
  3. What British tradition was mentioned in the article?
  4. Who might get to enjoy a cup of tea on the moon?
  5. What do some farmers struggle to do?
  6. In what two kinds of soil did scientists try to make tea plants grow?
  7. What could greenhouses on the Moon provide astronauts access to?
  8. How did researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon feel about her findings?
  9. What did a researcher say about her test results?
  10. In what kind of soil did tea plants not grow?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the university that conducted this research?
a) Canterbury
b) Essex
c) London
d) Kent
2) What research are scientists in the earliest stages of?
a) growing rice
b) space agriculture
c) making the perfect cup of tea
d) growing coffee beans
3) What British tradition was mentioned in the article?
a) shaking hands
b) fish and chips
c) cheese rolling
d) a tea break
4) Who might get to enjoy a cup of tea on the moon?
a) everyone
b) Wallace and Gromit
c) astronauts
d) a tea plantation owner
5) What do some farmers struggle to do?
a) survive
b) make tea
c) GM food
d) farm in poor soil

6) In what two kinds of soil did scientists try to make tea plants grow?
a) light and heavy soil
b) acidic and alkaline soil
c) lunar and Martian soil
d) peat and clay
7) What could greenhouses on the Moon provide astronauts access to?
a) fresh food
b) heat
c) a place to relax
d) cucumbers
8) How did researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon feel about her findings?
a) sad
b) confused
c) happy
d) excited
9) What did a researcher say about her test results?
a) They were important.
b) They were encouraging.
c) They were difficult to understand.
d) They were awesome.
10) In what kind of soil did tea plants not grow?
a) Martian soil
b) soil full of weeds
c) soil with no worms
d) heavy soil

Role play

Role  A – English Tea
You think English tea is the best tea. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their tea. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): green tea, chai or jasmine tea.

Role  B – Green Tea
You think green tea is the best tea. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their tea. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): English tea, chai or jasmine tea.

Role  C – Chai
You think chai is the best tea. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their tea. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): green tea, English tea or jasmine tea.

Role  D – Jasmine Tea
You think jasmine tea is the best tea. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their tea. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): green tea, chai or English tea.

After reading / listening

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

'tea'

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

    • and 'Moon'.

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

    • • 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:

    • possible
    • enough
    • earliest
    • access
    • visit
    • struggle
    • team
    • reveal
    • allowing
    • type
    • project
    • unfortunately

    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 - Tea on the Moon

    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 'tea'?
    3. What do you think of tea?
    4. What do you think of growing tea on the Moon?
    5. Would you like to eat food grown on the Moon?
    6. What would it be like to be an astronaut?
    7. What do you think of the idea of farms on the Moon?
    8. Why is it important we learn more about space agriculture?
    9. What do you think of the idea of having tea breaks?
    10. How can we help farmers to grow better crops?

    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 'moon'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What kinds of tea do you like and dislike?
    5. Do you think Moon-grown tea would be safe?
    6. Which is better, tea or coffee?
    7. Which is better, green tea or black tea?
    8. What do you think of your country's national drink?
    9. When is the best time to drink tea?
    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)

    Scientists have said that it might be (1) ____ to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK (2) ____ the lunar soil is good enough for tea plants to grow in. Lead researcher Professor Nigel Mason said: "We are at the (3) ____ earliest stages of research into space agriculture." He added: "It is reassuring that we may (4) ____ able to provide access to the great British tradition of a tea break." This is good news for astronauts who visit the Moon in the future. They will be able to have a cup of Moon-(5) ____ tea. It could also be good news for farmers who struggle to grow crops in poor soil. Researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to farm (6) ____ in poor soil.

    Professor Mason and his team investigated (7) ____ tea plants could grow in lunar and Martian soil. He said: "Our experiments reveal that...plants such (8) ____ tea may be cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses, allowing inhabitants of such bases some degree of [independence] and access (9) ____ fresh food." The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is close to the type of soil found on the Moon and on Mars. (10) ____ researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was happy with her findings. She said: "The results of this project are very (11) ____, as they demonstrate that tea...can be grown in lunar soil." (12) ____, the tea plants did not grow in the Martian soil.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     possibly     (b)     possibles     (c)     possible     (d)     possibility    
    2. (a)     believe     (b)     believing     (c)     belief     (d)     believes    
    3. (a)     very     (b)     great     (c)     just     (d)     some    
    4. (a)     be     (b)     do     (c)     take     (d)     have    
    5. (a)     growing     (b)     grows     (c)     growth     (d)     grown    
    6. (a)     event     (b)     ever     (c)     every     (d)     even    
    7. (a)     whether     (b)     whatever     (c)     whet     (d)     whets    
    8. (a)     has     (b)     is     (c)     was     (d)     as    
    9. (a)     to     (b)     that     (c)     up     (d)     down    
    10. (a)     Fallow     (b)     Fellow     (c)     Follow     (d)     Pillow    
    11. (a)     encourage     (b)     encouraging     (c)     encouragement     (d)     encouraged    
    12. (a)     Unfortunately     (b)     Lucky     (c)     Sad     (d)     Happening

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. it might be lpeosbsi to grow tea on the Moon
    2. the rlnau soil is good enough for tea plants
    3. research into space curiuaergtl
    4. we may be able to podeivr access
    5. the great British ndritotai of a tea break
    6. farmers who elgsrtgu to grow crops

    Paragraph 2

    1. whheter tea plants could grow
    2. tea may be lcaedttivu
    3. nhbtaiiatns of such bases
    4. some deeegr of independence
    5. very goeucrgnian
    6. mdetoranest that tea can be grown

    Put the text back together

    (    )     agriculture." He added: "It is reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the great British tradition of a tea
    (    )     and Martian soil. He said: "Our experiments reveal that...plants such as tea may be
    (    )     break." This is good news for astronauts who visit the Moon in the future. They will be able to have a cup of Moon-
    (    )     cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses, allowing inhabitants of such bases some degree
    (    )     grown tea. It could also be good news for farmers who struggle to grow crops in poor
    (    )     happy with her findings. She said: "The results of this project are very encouraging, as they demonstrate
    (    )     of [independence] and access to fresh food." The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is close
    (    )     Professor Mason and his team investigated whether tea plants could grow in lunar
    (    )     researcher Professor Nigel Mason said: "We are at the very earliest stages of research into space
    (  1  )    Scientists have said that it might be possible to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from the
    (    )     soil. Researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to farm even in poor soil.
    (    )     that tea...can be grown in lunar soil." Unfortunately, the tea plants did not grow in the Martian soil.
    (    )     to the type of soil found on the Moon and on Mars. Fellow researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was
    (    )     University of Kent in the UK believe the lunar soil is good enough for tea plants to grow in. Lead

    Put the words in the right order

    1. have   Scientists   that   said   might   it   possible   be   .
    2. Lunar   is   soil   enough   good   tea   for   plants   .
    3. earliest   The   of   stages   into   research   agriculture   space   .
    4. The   British   great   of   tradition   tea   a   break   .
    5. struggle   Farmers   grow   to   in   crops   soil   poor   .
    6. His   investigated   team   tea   whether   could   plants   grow   .
    7. such   Plants   tea   as   be   may   cultivated   .
    8. researchers   The   tea   planted   a   in   soil   special   .
    9. The   of   type   found   soil   the   on   Moon   .
    10. plants   Tea   not   did   in   grow   soil   Martian   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists have said that it might be possibly / possible to grow tea on the Moon. Researchers from the University of Kent in the UK belief / believe the lunar soil is good / well enough for tea plants to grow / growth in. Lead researcher Professor Nigel Mason said: "We are to / at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture." He added: "It is reassure / reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the great British tradition / traditional of a tea break." This is good news for astronauts who visit the Moon on / in the future. They will be able to have a cup of Moon-grown tea. It could also be good news for farmers who conflict / struggle to grow crops in poor soil. Researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to farm ever / even in poor soil.

    Professor Mason and this / his team investigated whether tea plants could grow in lunar and Martian soil. He said: "Our experiments revealing / reveal that...plants such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses / powerhouses, allowing inhabitants of such basis / bases some degree of [independence] and access to fresh / freshly food." The researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is close to the typing / type of soil found on the Moon and on Mars. Fellow / Fallow researcher Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollon was happy to / with her findings. She said: "The results of this project are very encouraging / encourage, as they demonstrate that tea...can be grown in lunar soil." Unfortunately, the tea plants did not / never grow in the Martian soil.

    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)

    Sc__nt_sts  h_v_  s__d  th_t  _t  m_ght  b_  p_ss_bl_  t_  gr_w  t__  _n  th_  M__n.  R_s__rch_rs  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  K_nt  _n  th_  _K  b_l__v_  th_  l_n_r  s__l  _s  g__d  _n__gh  f_r  t__  pl_nts  t_  gr_w  _n.  L__d  r_s__rch_r  Pr_f_ss_r  N_g_l  M_s_n  s__d:  "W_  _r_  _t  th_  v_ry  __rl__st  st_g_s  _f  r_s__rch  _nt_  sp_c_  _gr_c_lt_r_."  H_  _dd_d:  "_t  _s  r__ss_r_ng  th_t  w_  m_y  b_  _bl_  t_  pr_v_d_  _cc_ss  t_  th_  gr__t  Br_t_sh  tr_d_t__n  _f  _  t__  br__k."  Th_s  _s  g__d  n_ws  f_r  _str_n__ts  wh_  v_s_t  th_  M__n  _n  th_  f_t_r_.  Th_y  w_ll  b_  _bl_  t_  h_v_  _  c_p  _f  M__n-gr_wn  t__.  _t  c__ld  _ls_  b_  g__d  n_ws  f_r  f_rm_rs  wh_  str_ggl_  t_  gr_w  cr_ps  _n  p__r  s__l.  R_s__rch_rs  h_p_  f_rm_rs  w_rldw_d_  w_ll  b_  _bl_  t_  f_rm  _v_n  _n  p__r  s__l.

    Pr_f_ss_r  M_s_n  _nd  h_s  t__m  _nv_st_g_t_d  wh_th_r  t__  pl_nts  c__ld  gr_w  _n  l_n_r  _nd  M_rt__n  s__l.  H_  s__d:  "__r  _xp_r_m_nts  r_v__l  th_t...pl_nts  s_ch  _s  t__  m_y  b_  c_lt_v_t_d  _n  l_n_r  s__l  w_th_n  l_n_r  gr__nh__s_s,  _ll_w_ng  _nh_b_t_nts  _f  s_ch  b_s_s  s_m_  d_gr__  _f  [_nd_p_nd_nc_]  _nd  _cc_ss  t_  fr_sh  f__d."  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  pl_nt_d  t__  _n  _  sp_c__l  s__l  th_y  m_d_  th_t  _s  cl_s_  t_  th_  typ_  _f  s__l  f__nd  _n  th_  M__n  _nd  _n  M_rs.  F_ll_w  r_s__rch_r  Dr  S_r_  L_p_z-G_m_ll_n  w_s  h_ppy  w_th  h_r  f_nd_ngs.  Sh_  s__d:  "Th_  r_s_lts  _f  th_s  pr_j_ct  _r_  v_ry  _nc__r_g_ng,  _s  th_y  d_m_nstr_t_  th_t  t__...c_n  b_  gr_wn  _n  l_n_r  s__l."  _nf_rt_n_t_ly,  th_  t__  pl_nts  d_d  n_t  gr_w  _n  th_  M_rt__n  s__l.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists have said that it might be possible to grow tea on the moon researchers from the university of kent in the uk believe the lunar soil is good enough for tea plants to grow in lead researcher professor nigel mason said we are at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture he added it is reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the great british tradition of a tea break this is good news for astronauts who visit the moon in the future they will be able to have a cup of moongrown tea it could also be good news for farmers who struggle to grow crops in poor soil researchers hope farmers worldwide will be able to farm even in poor soil

    professor mason and his team investigated whether tea plants could grow in lunar and martian soil he said our experiments reveal that plants such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soil within lunar greenhouses allowing inhabitants of such bases some degree of independence and access to fresh food the researchers planted tea in a special soil they made that is close to the type of soil found on the moon and on mars fellow researcher dr sara lopezgomollon was happy with her findings she said the results of this project are very encouraging as they demonstrate that tea can be grown in lunar soil unfortunately the tea plants did not grow in the martian soil

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ScientistshavesaidthatitmightbepossibletogrowteaontheMoon.Res
    earchersfromtheUniversityofKentintheUKbelievethelunarsoilisgood
    enoughforteaplantstogrowin.LeadresearcherProfessorNigelMasons
    aid:"Weareattheveryearlieststagesofresearchintospaceagriculture.
    "Headded:"Itisreassuringthatwemaybeabletoprovideaccesstothegr
    eatBritishtraditionofateabreak."Thisisgoodnewsforastronautswhovi
    sittheMooninthefuture.TheywillbeabletohaveacupofMoon-grownte
    a.Itcouldalsobegoodnewsforfarmerswhostruggletogrowcropsinpoo
    rsoil.Researchershopefarmersworldwidewillbeabletofarmeveninpo
    orsoil.ProfessorMasonandhisteaminvestigatedwhetherteaplantscou
    ldgrowinlunarandMartiansoil.Hesaid:"Ourexperimentsrevealthat...
    plantssuchasteamaybecultivatedinlunarsoilwithinlunargreenhouse
    s,allowinginhabitantsofsuchbasessomedegreeof[independence]an
    daccesstofreshfood."Theresearchersplantedteainaspecialsoiltheym
    adethatisclosetothetypeofsoilfoundontheMoonandonMars.Fellowre
    searcherDrSaraLopez-Gomollonwashappywithherfindings.Shesai
    d:"Theresultsofthisprojectareveryencouraging,astheydemonstrate
    thattea...canbegrowninlunarsoil."Unfortunately,theteaplantsdidnot
    growintheMartiansoil.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Tea is the best drink when you want to relax. 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. TEA: Make a poster about tea. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. MOON FARMS: Write a magazine article about Moon farms. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.
    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 tea. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions about growing tea on the Moon. 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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