The Reading / Listening - Snakes - Level 6

The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research institutions in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we pass water.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hope it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Snakes - Level 4  or  Snakes - Level 5

Sources
  • https://gizmodo.com/scientists-have-cracked-the-mystery-of-snake-pee-2000675053
  • https://www.popsci.com/science/reptile-pee-kidney-stones/
  • https://www.iflscience.com/reptiles-pee-crystals-but-what-are-they-made-of-scientists-wanted-to-find-out-81278


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. SNAKES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about snakes. 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?
       the natural world / bounty / remedies / reptiles / by-product / nitrogen / acid / water /
       study / chemists / amphibians / microcrystals / kidney / desire / disease prevention
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NATURAL REMEDIES: Students A strongly believe natural remedies are better than those from drug companies; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. THE NATURAL WORLD: How can these animals help our health? Check on the Internet and write your answers. Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How These Animals Help Us

Internet Check

Cows

 

 

Leeches

 

 

Bees

 

 

Frogs

 

 

Sharks

 

 

Spiders

 

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

  • Komodo dragon
  • Iguana
  • Chameleon
  • Python
  • Cobra
  • Crocodile
  • Tortoise
  • Sea turtle

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. untapped a. Things that make you better when you are sick.
      2. bounty b. Clean or wash away with a lot of water.
      3. remedies c. Of a resource not used yet.
      4. excrete d. A large amount of something good.
      5. by-product e. Get rid of waste from your body.
      6. flush f. Something that is made while making something else.
      7. pass water g. Urinate; pee (informal)

    Paragraph 2

      8. reptiles h. More than is needed; too much/many.
      9. amphibians i. Animals with dry skin and scales, like snakes and lizards.
      10. species j. The act of getting rid of something.
      11. elimination k. A sickness that makes your joints (especially in the feet) very painful.
      12. excess l. Animals that live in water and on land, like frogs.
      13. gout m. Make someone feel excited or want to do something.
      14. inspire n. A group of animals or plants that are the same type.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says most natural medicinal remedies have been discovered.  T / F
  2. Reptiles largely excrete crystals rather than liquid urine.     T / F
  3. The "pee crystals" largely consist of amino and citric acids.     T / F
  4. Doctors use nitrogen injections to treat problems like kidney stones.     T / F
  5. A herpetologist is someone who studies excreta.     T / F
  6. Scientists looked at the excretion processes of over 20 reptile species.     T / F
  7. A researcher said her research could treat a problem called gout.     T / F
  8. The researcher said she wants humans to excrete waste safely.     T / F

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

  1. untapped
  2. remedies
  3. ailments
  4. excrete
  5. flush
  6. examined
  7. elimination
  8. excess
  9. inspired
  10. hope
  1. investigated
  2. illnesses
  3. motivated
  4. removal
  5. treatments
  6. belief
  7. wash out
  8. untouched
  9. surplus
  10. pass

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

  1. a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped
  2. help treat human
  3. The crystals are a solid
  4. a potentially harmful by-
  5. when we pass
  6. A team of organic chemists
  7. scientists who study reptiles and
  8. examined the excreta and waste elimination
  9. They focused their attention
  10. new approaches to disease prevention
  1. product
  2. water
  3. processes
  4. and treatment
  5. amphibians
  6. bounty of remedies
  7. form of uric acid
  8. on the excess nitrogen
  9. ailments
  10. and herpetologists

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ailments
product
yet
down
latest
form
pass
place

The natural world contains a (1) _________________________________-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors. The (2) _________________________________ discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research institutions in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human (3) _________________________________. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in (4) _________________________________ of urine to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid (5) _________________________________ of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-(6) _________________________________ created when the body breaks (7) _________________________________ nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we (8) _________________________________ water.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
attention
approaches
amphibians
findings
inspired
chemists
excreta
treat

The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic (9) _________________________________ and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and (10) _________________________________) examined the (11) _________________________________ and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their (12) _________________________________ on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's (13) _________________________________ could help us better understand and (14) _________________________________ uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really (15) _________________________________ by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hope it might inspire new (16) _________________________________ to disease prevention and treatment."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The natural world contains a yet-to-be-______
     a.  discovered, untapped bountiful
     b.  discovered, untrapped bounty
     c.  discovery, untapped bounty
     d.  discovered, untapped bounty
2)  comes from researchers from Georgetown University and ______
     a.  other researched institutions
     b.  other research institutions
     c.  other research institution
     d.  another research institutions
3)  their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help ______
     a.  treat human ailments
     b.  treat human nail mints
     c.  threat human ailments
     d.  treat humane ailments
4)  The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially ______
     a.  harmful buy-a-product
     b.  harmed full by-product
     c.  harmful by-production
     d.  harmful by-product
5)  Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away ______
     a.  when we paste water
     b.  when we parse water
     c.  when we pass water
     d.  when we past water

6)  chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study ______)
     a.  reptiles and amphibians
     b.  reptiles and amphibious
     c.  reptile and amphibians
     d.  reptiles and amphibian
7)  examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than ______
     a.  20 reptile specials
     b.  20 reptile species
     c.  20 reptile specimen
     d.  20 reptile specs
8)  the team's findings could help us better understand and treat uric ______
     a.  acid-relate problems
     b.  acid-related problems
     c.  acid-relation problems
     d.  acid-relative problems
9)  This research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are ______
     a.  able to expect
     b.  able to excrete
     c.  able to extol
     d.  able to except
10)  in the hope it might inspire new approaches ______
     a.  to disease prevent shun
     b.  to disease preventing
     c.  too disease prevention
     d.  to disease prevention

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The natural world contains a (1) _______________________________________________, untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other (2) _______________________________________________ the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help (3) _______________________________________________. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine (4) _______________________________________________. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-product created when the body (5) _______________________________________________ in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric (6) _______________________________________________ when we pass water.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team (7) _______________________________________________ and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than (8) _______________________________________________. They focused their attention on (9) _______________________________________________ that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was (10) _______________________________________________ a desire to understand the ways reptiles are (11) _______________________________________________ this material safely, in the hope it might (12) _______________________________________________ to disease prevention and treatment."

Comprehension questions

  1. What contains a bounty of untapped remedies?
  2. Which research institution was mentioned in the article?
  3. What do the "pee crystals" replace in snakes' waste elimination process?
  4. What does the article say about uric acid?
  5. What health problem can too much uric acid lead to besides gout?
  6. What do herpetologists study?
  7. How many different reptile species did the researchers look at?
  8. What does excess nitrogen turn into?
  9. What did a researcher say the findings could help us treat?
  10. What might the study inspire new approaches to?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What contains a bounty of untapped remedies?
a) pharmacists
b) the natural world
c) the bodies of snakes
d) amphibians
2) Which research institution was mentioned in the article?
a) Harvard
b) MIT
c) Georgia University
d) Georgetown University
3) What do the "pee crystals" replace in snakes' waste elimination process?
a) sweat
b) faeces
c) urine
d) scales
4) What does the article say about uric acid?
a) It's a potentially harmful by-product.
b) It's caustic.
c) It helps regenerate muscle.
d) It helps to reduce kidney stones.
5) What health problem can too much uric acid lead to besides gout?
a) high blood pressure
b) kidney stones
c) varicose veins
d) migraines

6) What do herpetologists study?
a) reptiles and amphibians
b) reptiles and crustacea
c) invertebrates and crustacea
d) amphibians and invertebrates
7) How many different reptile species did the researchers look at?
a) twenty
b) around 20
c) more than 20
d) just fewer than 20
8) What does excess nitrogen turn into?
a) tiny microcrystals
b) has
c) scales
d) snake fat
9) What did a researcher say the findings could help us treat?
a) migraines
b) snake bites
c) skin problems
d) uric acid-related problems
10) What might the study inspire new approaches to?
a) microcrystals
b) understanding snake venom
c) disease prevention and treatment
d) toiletry habits

Role play

Role  A – Komodo Dragons
You think Komodo dragons are the most interesting reptiles. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their reptiles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): cobras, crocodiles or turtles.

Role  B – Cobras
You think cobras are the most interesting reptiles. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their reptiles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Komodo dragons, crocodiles or turtles.

Role  C – Crocodiles
You think crocodiles are the most interesting reptiles. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their reptiles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): cobras, Komodo dragons or turtles.

Role  D – Turtles
You think turtles are the most interesting reptiles. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their reptiles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): cobras, crocodiles or Komodo dragons.

After reading / listening

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

'snake'

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

    • and 'crystal'.

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

    • • 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:

    • yet
    • latest
    • human
    • solid
    • breaks
    • flush
    • published
    • organic
    • attention
    • believes
    • inspired
    • hope

    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 - Snakes

    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 'snake'?
    3. What do you know about snakes?
    4. Are natural remedies better than those from drug companies?
    5. What can we learn from snakes?
    6. What animals provide us with treatments and medicines?
    7. How interesting would it be to study snake 'pee crystals'?
    8. How many of our health problems are because of poor diet?
    9. What do you know about gout?
    10. What are your favourite reptiles and amphibians?

    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 'pee'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of snakes?
    5. Would you like to read the research in the journal?
    6. What do you know about amphibians?
    7. What would you like to do research on?
    8. What do you know about kidney stones?
    9. Why are people afraid of snakes?
    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)

    The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of (1) ____ to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research (2) ____ in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use (3) ____ place of urine to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a (4) ____ harmful by-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies (5) ____ most of the uric acid waste away when we (6) ____ water.

    The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of (7) ____ chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the (8) ____ and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attention (9) ____ the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and (10) ____ uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired (11) ____ a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, (12) ____ the hope it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     remediation     (b)     remedial     (c)     remedy     (d)     remedies    
    2. (a)     absolutions     (b)     restitutions     (c)     constitutions     (d)     institutions    
    3. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     of     (d)     to    
    4. (a)     potentate     (b)     potentials     (c)     potentially     (d)     potential    
    5. (a)     blush     (b)     flush     (c)     brush     (d)     trash    
    6. (a)     pass     (b)     pour     (c)     push     (d)     pain    
    7. (a)     ogre     (b)     organist     (c)     organism     (d)     organic    
    8. (a)     excreta     (b)     exacting     (c)     exert     (d)     except    
    9. (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    10. (a)     threat     (b)     threaten     (c)     treat     (d)     treatise    
    11. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     as    
    12. (a)     to     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     up

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. untapped ynoutb
    2. sreedime to help doctors
    3. how reptiles reeexct waste
    4. help treat human aeislntm
    5. when the body breaks down nntogeri
    6. problems like gout and knydie stones

    Paragraph 2

    1. A team of organic smctihse
    2. scientists who study reptiles and saihpamibn
    3. waste animientiol
    4. more than 20 reptile iecpsse
    5. This research was really snerdpii
    6. disease tprveinnoe and treatment

    Put the text back together

    (    )   ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine to excrete
    (    )   and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the excreta and waste elimination processes
    (    )   and treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired
    (    )   by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hope
    (    )   institutions in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human
    (    )   it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment."
    (    )   like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we pass water.
    (    )   microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand
    (    )   of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny
    (    )   product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems
    (  1  )   The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedies
    (    )   The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic chemists
    (    )   to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research
    (    )   waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-

    Put the words in the right order

    1. untapped   An   of   bounty   to   remedies   doctors   help   .
    2. Their   of   exploration   reptiles   how   waste   excrete   .
    3. When   body   the   down   breaks   in   nitrogen   food   .
    4. in   Nitrogen   bodies   our   lead   can   problems   to   .
    5. Flush   of   most   uric   the   waste   acid   away   .
    6. elimination   Waste   of   processes   20   over   species   reptile   .
    7. They   their   focused   on   attention   excess   the   nitrogen   .
    8. and   Understand   uric   treat   problems   acid-related   gout   like   .
    9. Inspired   a   by   to   desire   the   understand   ways   .
    10. might   It   new   inspire   to   approaches   prevention   disease   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedial / remedies to help doctors. The latest / latter discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research institutions in the USA. They believe / belief their exploration of how reptiles exert / excrete waste could help treat human ointments / ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine / saline to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid form at / of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-product / in-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney rocks / stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we push / pass water.

    The study is published up / in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic / organist chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles / reptilian and amphibians) examined the / an excreta and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attentive / attention on the excess / access nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and threaten / treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired by / to a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in / at the hope it might inspire / insipid new approaches to disease prevention and treatment."

    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)

    Th_  n_t_r_l  w_rld  c_nt__ns  _  y_t-t_-b_-d_sc_v_r_d,  _nt_pp_d  b__nty  _f  r_m_d__s  t_  h_lp  d_ct_rs.  Th_  l_t_st  d_sc_v_ry  c_m_s  fr_m  r_s__rch_rs  fr_m  G__rg_t_wn  _n_v_rs_ty  _nd  _th_r  r_s__rch  _nst_t_t__ns  _n  th_  _S_.  Th_y  b_l__v_  th__r  _xpl_r_t__n  _f  h_w  r_pt_l_s  _xcr_t_  w_st_  c__ld  h_lp  tr__t  h_m_n  __lm_nts.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  _n_lys_d  th_  t_ny  "p__  cryst_ls"  th_t  r_pt_l_s  _s_  _n  pl_c_  _f  _r_n_  t_  _xcr_t_  w_st_.  Th_  cryst_ls  _r_  _  s_l_d  f_rm  _f  _r_c  _c_d,  wh_ch  _s  _  p_t_nt__lly  h_rmf_l  by-pr_d_ct  cr__t_d  wh_n  th_  b_dy  br__ks  d_wn  n_tr_g_n  _n  f__d.  T__  m_ch  n_tr_g_n  _n  __r  b_d__s  c_n  l__d  t_  h__lth  pr_bl_ms  l_k_  g__t  _nd  k_dn_y  st_n_s.  __r  b_d__s  fl_sh  m_st  _f  th_  _r_c  _c_d  w_st_  _w_y  wh_n  w_  p_ss  w_t_r.

    Th_  st_dy  _s  p_bl_sh_d  _n  th_  J__rn_l  _f  th_  _m_r_c_n  Ch_m_c_l  S_c__ty.  _  t__m  _f  _rg_n_c  ch_m_sts  _nd  h_rp_t_l_g_sts  (sc__nt_sts  wh_  st_dy  r_pt_l_s  _nd  _mph_b__ns)  _x_m_n_d  th_  _xcr_t_  _nd  w_st_  _l_m_n_t__n  pr_c_ss_s  _f  m_r_  th_n  20  r_pt_l_  sp_c__s.  Th_y  f_c_s_d  th__r  _tt_nt__n  _n  th_  _xc_ss  n_tr_g_n  th_t  cryst_ll_s_d  _nt_  t_ny  m_cr_cryst_ls.  R_s__rch_r  Dr  J_nn_f_r  Sw_ft  b_l__v_s  th_  t__m's  f_nd_ngs  c__ld  h_lp  _s  b_tt_r  _nd_rst_nd  _nd  tr__t  _r_c  _c_d-r_l_t_d  pr_bl_ms  l_k_  g__t  _nd  k_dn_y  st_n_s.  Sh_  s__d:  "Th_s  r_s__rch  w_s  r__lly  _nsp_r_d  by  _  d_s_r_  t_  _nd_rst_nd  th_  w_ys  r_pt_l_s  _r_  _bl_  t_  _xcr_t_  th_s  m_t_r__l  s_f_ly,  _n  th_  h_p_  _t  m_ght  _nsp_r_  n_w  _ppr__ch_s  t_  d_s__s_  pr_v_nt__n  _nd  tr__tm_nt."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the natural world contains a yet to be discovered untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors the latest discovery comes from researchers from georgetown university and other research institutions in the usa they believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human ailments the scientists analysed the tiny pee crystals that reptiles use in place of urine to excrete waste the crystals are a solid form of uric acid which is a potentially harmful by product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we pass water

    the study is published in the journal of the american chemical society a team of organic chemists and herpetologists scientists who study reptiles and amphibians examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species they focused their attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals researcher dr jennifer swift believes the teams findings could help us better understand and treat uric acid related problems like gout and kidney stones she said this research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely in the hope it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thenaturalworldcontainsayet-to-be-discovered,untappedbountyo
    fremediestohelpdoctors.Thelatestdiscoverycomesfromresearchersf
    romGeorgetownUniversityandotherresearchinstitutionsintheUSA.T
    heybelievetheirexplorationofhowreptilesexcretewastecouldhelptre
    athumanailments.Thescientistsanalysedthetiny"peecrystals"thatre
    ptilesuseinplaceofurinetoexcretewaste.Thecrystalsareasolidformof
    uricacid,whichisapotentiallyharmfulby-productcreatedwhenthebo
    dybreaksdownnitrogeninfood.Toomuchnitrogeninourbodiescanlead
    tohealthproblemslikegoutandkidneystones.Ourbodiesflushmostoft
    heuricacidwasteawaywhenwepasswater.ThestudyispublishedintheJ
    ournaloftheAmericanChemicalSociety.Ateamoforganicchemistsand
    herpetologists(scientistswhostudyreptilesandamphibians)examine
    dtheexcretaandwasteeliminationprocessesofmorethan20reptilespe
    cies.Theyfocusedtheirattentionontheexcessnitrogenthatcrystallise
    dintotinymicrocrystals.ResearcherDrJenniferSwiftbelievestheteam'
    sfindingscouldhelpusbetterunderstandandtreaturicacid-relatedpro
    blemslikegoutandkidneystones.Shesaid:"Thisresearchwasreallyins
    piredbyadesiretounderstandthewaysreptilesareabletoexcretethism
    aterialsafely,inthehopeitmightinspirenewapproachestodiseaseprev
    entionandtreatment."

    Free writing

    Write about snake 'pee crystals' for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Governments need to spend money of disease prevention and not weapons. 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. SNAKES: Make a poster about snakes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NATURAL REMEDIES: Write a magazine article about all drugs being from natural sources and not lab-made. 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 snakes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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