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Moon vacations possible by 2024 (2nd October, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

A website that provides price comparisons for flights, hotels and car hire across the globe has made some bold predictions for what travel will look like in a decade from now. Perhaps the most mouthwatering destination for 2024 holidaymakers will be a trip to the Moon or a stay in space. The site Skyscanner.com has just released a report of what holidays in the not-too-distant future might look like. The report is titled 'The Future of Travel 2024' and outlines a whole series of previously unimaginable vacation choices for the thrill-seeking traveller and those who just want to get there quicker. The report is a result of the collaboration between travel experts and international technology experts.

Holidays in space are perhaps the most spectacular of Skyscanner's predictions. Its report says: "Orbital space travel will be the next hot ticket, and commercial companies are lining up to make it a more affordable proposition." Indeed, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are already accepting bookings. The cost of a seat on the Virgin craft (round trip, of course) is $250,000. Skyscanner also predicts an explosion in the number of underwater hotel rooms, which it says will become a mainstream travel option. Other things to look forward to include a supersonic aircraft that will fly London-Sydney in two hours and the emergence of "danger-zone" tourism. We can also expect futuristic advances in shopping and dining.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.skyscanner2024.com/resources/screenshots/futureairport-digitalwall-low.jpg
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/09/29/new-travel-report-says-well-be-vacationing-on-moon-by-2024/
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/sep/29/predicting-future-of-travel-holidays

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. TRAVEL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about travel. 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?

website / price comparisons / predictions / travel / vacation choices / collaboration / spectacular / space travel / hotel rooms / supersonic aircraft / danger zone / dining

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. FUTURE TRAVEL: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Advantages	Disadvantages
Moon tourism
Intercontinental rail links
Airplanes 20 times faster
No passports
Drone air-taxis
Personal virtual tour guides

4. TOURISM: Students A strongly believe tourism is beneficial to local cultures; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. DESTINATIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best destinations at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• the Moon

• hotels in space

• Great Barrier Reef resort

• Mt Everest summit hotel

• Antarctica resort

• Buckingham Palace

• Sahara desert

• heart of the Amazon

6. GLOBE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "globe". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	A hotel chain made predictions about travelling in the future.	T / F
b.	The article said there will be water on the Moon in 2024.	T / F
c.	The travel report should please people who want excitement.	T / F
d.	The report was written by travel and technology experts.	T / F
e.	The report says tickets for space travel will be heated.	T / F
f.	A seat on a Virgin Galactic space flight is $250,000.	T / F
g.	The report says underwater hotel rooms will be common in the future.	T / F
h.	The report says there will be little change to how we shop or dine.	T / F

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

1.	provides	a.	inexpensive
2.	hire	b.	forecasts
3.	predictions	c.	normal
4.	unimaginable	d.	joint effort
5.	collaboration	e.	eye-catching
6.	spectacular	f.	makes available
7.	affordable	g.	arrival
8.	explosion	h.	unheard of
9.	mainstream	i.	increase
10.	emergence	j.	rental

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

1.	A website that provides price	a.	tourism
2.	car	b.	seeking traveller
3.	in the not-too-	c.	between travel experts
4.	the thrill-	d.	travel option
5.	the collaboration	e.	proposition
6.	lining	f.	comparisons for flights
7.	make it a more affordable	g.	in shopping and dining
8.	become a mainstream	h.	distant future
9.	the emergence of "danger-zone"	i.	up
10.	futuristic advances	j.	hire

GAP FILL

A website that provides price (1) ____________ for flights, hotels and car hire across the globe has made some (2) ____________ predictions for what travel will look like in a (3) ____________ from now. Perhaps the most (4) ____________ destination for 2024 holidaymakers will be a trip to the Moon or a stay in space. The site Skyscanner.com has just released a report of what holidays in the not-too-(5) ____________ future might look like. The report is titled 'The Future of Travel 2024' and outlines a whole series of (6) ____________ unimaginable vacation choices for the (7) ____________ -seeking traveller and those who just want to get there quicker. The report is a result of the (8) ____________ between travel experts and international technology experts.

mouthwatering
comparisons
distant
decade
bold
previously
collaboration
thrill

Holidays in space are perhaps the most (9) ____________ of Skyscanner's predictions. Its report says: "Orbital space travel will be the next hot ticket, and commercial companies are (10) ____________ up to make it a more (11) ____________ proposition." Indeed, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are already accepting (12) ____________. The cost of a seat on the Virgin craft (round trip, of course) is $250,000. Skyscanner also predicts an (13) ____________ in the number of underwater hotel rooms, which it says will become a (14) ____________ travel option. Other things to look forward to include a supersonic aircraft that will fly London-Sydney in two hours and the (15) ____________ of "danger-zone" tourism. We can also expect (16) ____________ advances in shopping and dining.

affordable
lining
explosion
emergence
spectacular
futuristic
bookings
mainstream

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A website that provides price ______ flights
	a. comparisons for b. comparisons from c. comparison for d. comparison from
2)	bold predictions for what travel will look ______
	a. like on a decade b. like inner decade c. like in the decade d. like in a decade
3)	holidays in the not-too-______
	a. distance future b. distant future c. distances future d. distanced future
4)	a whole series of previously unimaginable ______
	a. vacation choice is b. vacation chooses c. vacation choices d. vacation choices is
5)	The report is a result of the collaboration ______
	a. between travel expertise b. between travel expert is c. between travel expats d. between travel experts
6)	Orbital space travel will be the ______
	a. next hotel ticket b. next hot ticket c. next shot ticket d. next not ticket
7)	commercial companies are lining up to make it a ______
	a. more affordable preposition b. more affordable proper session c. more affordable proposition d. more affordable propose station
8)	Indeed, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are already ______
	a. acceptance bookings b. accepting bookings c. accept in bookings d. accept tin bookings
9)	Other things to look forward to include a ______
	a. subsonic aircraft b. supersonic aircraft c. soup a sonic aircraft d. supersonics aircraft
10)	We can also expect futuristic advances in ______
	a. shop in and dine in b. shopping and dine in c. shop pin and dining d. shopping and dining

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A website that provides (1) ___________________ flights, hotels and car hire across the globe has made some bold predictions for what travel will look (2) ___________________ from now. Perhaps the most mouthwatering destination for 2024 holidaymakers will be a trip to the Moon or a stay in space. The site Skyscanner.com (3) ___________________ report of what holidays in the not-too-distant future might look like. The report is titled 'The Future of Travel 2024' and outlines (4) ___________________ previously unimaginable vacation choices for the thrill-seeking traveller and those who just want (5) ___________________. The report is a result of the collaboration between (6) ___________________ international technology experts.

Holidays in space are perhaps (7) ___________________ Skyscanner's predictions. Its report says: "Orbital space travel will be the next hot ticket, and commercial companies are (8) ___________________ it a more affordable proposition." Indeed, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are already accepting bookings. The (9) ___________________ the Virgin craft (round trip, of course) is $250,000. Skyscanner also predicts an explosion in the number of underwater hotel rooms, which (10) ___________________ mainstream travel option. Other things to look forward to include a supersonic (11) ___________________ London-Sydney in two hours and the emergence of "danger-zone" tourism. We can also (12) ___________________ in shopping and dining.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What does the website provide for flights, hotels and car hire?
2.	What did the site say will be the most mouthwatering place to visit?
3.	What did the website release?
4.	What kind of traveller did the website mention?
5.	Who collaborated to make the report?
6.	What did the report say would be the next "hot ticket"?
7.	What are companies lining up to do?
8.	How much is a seat on a Virgin Galactic space flight?
9.	What will become mainstream in the future?
10.	How long might it take to fly from London to Sydney?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What does the website provide for flights, hotels and car hire?	6.	What did the report say would be the next "hot ticket"?
	a) free upgrades b) price comparisons c) discounts d) online bookings		a) the Sun b) resorts on the Equator c) orbital space travel d) holidays to volcanoes
2.	What did the site say will be the most mouthwatering place to visit?	7.	What are companies lining up to do?
	a) the Great Barrier Reef b) the world's largest restaurant c) an underwater hotel d) the Moon		a) produce travel reports b) build underwater hotels c) accept bookings for 2024 d) make space travel cheaper
3.	What did the website release?	8.	How much is a seat on a Virgin Galactic space flight?
	a) a report b) a warning c) a profits warning d) a new version of its software		a) $250,000 b) $500,000 c) a million dollars d) $99,999
4.	What kind of traveller did the website mention?	9.	What will become mainstream in the future?
	a) the luxury traveller b) the average tourist c) the thrill seeker d) the budget traveller		a) underwater hotel rooms b) online shopping c) day trips to space d) futuristic dining
5.	Who collaborated to make the report?	10.	How long might it take to fly from London to Sydney?
	a) guide book writers b) travel and technology experts c) hotel management CEOs d) Virgin Galactic and Hilton Hotels		a) 20 minutes b) 2 hours c) 4½ hours d) 7 hours and 11 minutes

ROLE PLAY

Role A – The Moon

You think the Moon is the best place to stay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): an Antarctica resort, Buckingham Palace or a hotel on the summit of Mt Everest.

Role B – Antarctica resort

You think an Antarctica resort is the best place to stay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): the Moon, Buckingham Palace or a hotel on the summit of Mt Everest.

Role C – Buckingham Palace

You think Buckingham Palace is the best place to stay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): an Antarctica resort, the Moon or a hotel on the summit of Mt Everest.

Role D – Mt Everest summit hotel

You think a hotel on the summit of Mt Everest is the best place to stay. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): an Antarctica resort, Buckingham Palace or the Moon.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

space

travel

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:

across
now
just
series
get
result

hot
up
cost
number
fly
expect

TRAVEL SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about travel 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

TRAVEL DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'travel'?
3)	How do you usually travel?
4)	How have holidays changed over the past century?
5)	How does a vacation to the Moon sound to you?
6)	What's the most mouthwatering destination for you?
7)	What's the best place you've travelled to, and why?
8)	Do you prefer a holiday with thrills or a holiday with time to relax?
9)	Why do we like to travel so much?
10)	What are the worst things about travelling?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What would you do on a holiday in space?
13)	What would you take on a holiday to the Moon?
14)	How will holidays change over the next century?
15)	What is the attraction of staying in an underwater hotel?
16)	In what ways is tourism beneficial?
17)	In what ways is tourism harmful to local cultures?
18)	What is "danger-zone" tourism?
19)	Which dangerous country would you like to visit?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Skyscanner's CEO?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A website that provides (1) ____ comparisons for flights, hotels and car hire across the globe has made some (2) ____ predictions for what travel will look like in a decade from now. Perhaps the most (3) ____ destination for 2024 holidaymakers will be a trip to the Moon or a stay in space. The site Skyscanner.com has just released a report of what holidays in the not-too-(4) ____ future might look like. The report is titled 'The Future of Travel 2024' and outlines a whole series of previously unimaginable vacation choices for the (5) ____-seeking traveller and those who just want to get there quicker. The report is a result of the collaboration (6) ____ travel experts and international technology experts.

Holidays in space are perhaps the most spectacular of Skyscanner's predictions. Its report says: "Orbital space travel will be the next (7) ____ ticket, and commercial companies are lining (8) ____ to make it a more affordable proposition." (9) ____, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are already accepting bookings. The cost of a seat on the Virgin craft (round trip, of course) is $250,000. Skyscanner also predicts an explosion (10) ____ the number of underwater hotel rooms, which it says will become a mainstream travel option. Other things to look forward to include a supersonic aircraft that will fly London-Sydney in two hours and the (11) ____ of "danger-zone" tourism. We can also expect futuristic advances (12) ____ shopping and dining.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	pricing	(b)	priced	(c)	price	(d)	pricey
2.	(a)	bold	(b)	mold	(c)	sold	(d)	told
3.	(a)	mouthwatering	(b)	mouthwash	(c)	mouthy	(d)	mouthful
4.	(a)	distant	(b)	distance	(c)	distanced	(d)	distantly
5.	(a)	twill	(b)	till	(c)	trill	(d)	thrill
6.	(a)	outside	(b)	insider	(c)	within	(d)	between
7.	(a)	hot	(b)	scalding	(c)	lukewarm	(d)	iced
8.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	over	(d)	up
9.	(a)	Indeed	(b)	However	(c)	Although	(d)	Clearly
10.	(a)	at	(b)	in	(c)	on	(d)	as
11.	(a)	emergent	(b)	emergence	(c)	emerging	(d)	emerges
12.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	up	(d)	as

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	price ioosrcsapnm for flights
2.	bold stcnpriodie
3.	the most mouthwatering dttnineasoi for 2024
4.	just ersdaeel a report
5.	previously lmiianaguneb vacation choices
6.	the oncaaooirlltb between travel experts
Paragraph 2
7.	the most tpusalecrac
8.	omimelcacr companies
9.	a more fdeblfraao proposition
10.	an eonisloxp in the number
11.	a etamimsrna travel option
12.	tstcufriiu advances in shopping

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	says: "Orbital space travel will be the next hot ticket, and commercial companies are lining
( 1 )	A website that provides price comparisons for flights, hotels and car hire across the globe has made some bold
( )	in space. The site Skyscanner.com has just released a report of what holidays in the not-too-
( )	the emergence of "danger-zone" tourism. We can also expect futuristic advances in shopping and dining.
( )	mouthwatering destination for 2024 holidaymakers will be a trip to the Moon or a stay
( )	predictions for what travel will look like in a decade from now. Perhaps the most
( )	Holidays in space are perhaps the most spectacular of Skyscanner's predictions. Its report
( )	predicts an explosion in the number of underwater hotel rooms, which it says will become a mainstream travel
( )	option. Other things to look forward to include a supersonic aircraft that will fly London-Sydney in two hours and
( )	distant future might look like. The report is titled 'The Future of Travel 2024' and outlines a whole
( )	bookings. The cost of a seat on the Virgin craft (round trip, of course) is $250,000. Skyscanner also
( )	quicker. The report is a result of the collaboration between travel experts and international technology experts.
( )	series of previously unimaginable vacation choices for the thrill-seeking traveller and those who just want to get there
( )	up to make it a more affordable proposition." Indeed, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are already accepting

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	for that flights provides price A comparisons website .
2.	like bold what look Some for will predictions travel .
3.	Perhaps 2024 for destination mouthwatering most the .
4.	vacation series choices of previously A unimaginable whole .
5.	between result travel of experts the collaboration A .
6.	are perhaps Holidays the in most space spectacular .
7.	hot Orbital will next travel the ticket space be .
8.	An the underwater in of rooms explosion number hotel .
9.	2 in Sydney - fly will that London aircraft Supersonic hours .
10.	expect futuristic We advances can in also shopping .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A website that provides / provisions price comparisons for flights, hotels and car hire across the globe has made some bald / bold predictions for what travel will look like in / on a decade from now. Perhaps the most mouthwatering / mouth-to-mouth destination for 2024 holidaymakers will be a trip to the Moon or a stay in space. The site Skyscanner.com has just released a report of what holidays in the not-too-distant / not-too-distance future might look like. The report is titles / titled 'The Future of Travel 2024' and outlines a whole serious / series of previously unimaginable vacation choices / chooses for the thrill-seeking traveller and those who just want to get there / by quicker. The report is a result of the collaboration between / outside travel experts and international technology experts.

Holidays in space are perhaps the most spectacularly / spectacular of Skyscanner's predictions. Its report says: "Orbital space travel will be the next warm / hot ticket, and commercial companies are lining up / on to make it a more affordable preposition / proposition." Indeed, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX are already acceptance / accepting bookings. The cost of a seat on the Virgin craft (round / square trip, of course) is $250,000. Skyscanner also predictions / predicts an explosion in the number of underwater hotel rooms, which it says will become a mainstream / streaming travel option. Other things to look forward to include a supersonic aircraft that will fly London-Sydney in two hours and the convergence / emergence of "danger-zone" tourism. We can also expect futuristic advances in shopping and dining / dinning.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_ w_bs_t_ th_t pr_v_d_s pr_c_ c_mp_r_s_ns f_r fl_ghts, h_t_ls _nd c_r h_r_ _cr_ss th_ gl_b_ h_s m_d_ s_m_ b_ld pr_d_ct__ns f_r wh_t tr_v_l w_ll l__k l_k_ _n _ d_c_d_ fr_m n_w. P_rh_ps th_ m_st m__thw_t_r_ng d_st_n_t__n f_r 2024 h_l_d_ym_k_rs w_ll b_ _ tr_p t_ th_ M__n _r _ st_y _n sp_c_. Th_ s_t_ Skysc_nn_r.c_m h_s j_st r_l__s_d _ r_p_rt _f wh_t h_l_d_ys _n th_ n_t-t__-d_st_nt f_t_r_ m_ght l__k l_k_. Th_ r_p_rt _s t_tl_d 'Th_ F_t_r_ _f Tr_v_l 2024' _nd __tl_n_s _ wh_l_ s_r__s _f pr_v___sly _n_m_g_n_bl_ v_c_t__n ch__c_s f_r th_ thr_ll-s__k_ng tr_v_ll_r _nd th_s_ wh_ j_st w_nt t_ g_t th_r_ q__ck_r. Th_ r_p_rt _s _ r_s_lt _f th_ c_ll_b_r_t__n b_tw__n tr_v_l _xp_rts _nd _nt_rn_t__n_l t_chn_l_gy _xp_rts.

H_l_d_ys _n sp_c_ _r_ p_rh_ps th_ m_st sp_ct_c_l_r _f Skysc_nn_r's pr_d_ct__ns. _ts r_p_rt s_ys: "_rb_t_l sp_c_ tr_v_l w_ll b_ th_ n_xt h_t t_ck_t, _nd c_mm_rc__l c_mp_n__s _r_ l_n_ng _p t_ m_k_ _t _ m_r_ _ff_rd_bl_ pr_p_s_t__n." _nd__d, V_rg_n G_l_ct_c _nd Sp_c_X _r_ _lr__dy _cc_pt_ng b__k_ngs. Th_ c_st _f _ s__t _n th_ V_rg_n cr_ft (r__nd tr_p, _f c__rs_) _s $250,000. Skysc_nn_r _ls_ pr_d_cts _n _xpl_s__n _n th_ n_mb_r _f _nd_rw_t_r h_t_l r__ms, wh_ch _t s_ys w_ll b_c_m_ _ m__nstr__m tr_v_l _pt__n. _th_r th_ngs t_ l__k f_rw_rd t_ _ncl_d_ _ s_p_rs_n_c __rcr_ft th_t w_ll fly L_nd_n-Sydn_y _n tw_ h__rs _nd th_ _m_rg_nc_ _f "d_ng_r-z_n_" t__r_sm. W_ c_n _ls_ _xp_ct f_t_r_st_c _dv_nc_s _n sh_pp_ng _nd d_n_ng.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a website that provides price comparisons for flights hotels and car hire across the globe has made some bold predictions for what travel will look like in a decade from now perhaps the most mouthwatering destination for 2024 holidaymakers will be a trip to the moon or a stay in space the site skyscannercom has just released a report of what holidays in the not-too-distant future might look like the report is titled 'the future of travel 2024' and outlines a whole series of previously unimaginable vacation choices for the thrill-seeking traveller and those who just want to get there quicker the report is a result of the collaboration between travel experts and international technology experts

holidays in space are perhaps the most spectacular of skyscanner's predictions its report says "orbital space travel will be the next hot ticket and commercial companies are lining up to make it a more affordable proposition" indeed virgin galactic and spacex are already accepting bookings the cost of a seat on the virgin craft (round trip of course) is $250000 skyscanner also predicts an explosion in the number of underwater hotel rooms which it says will become a mainstream travel option other things to look forward to include a supersonic aircraft that will fly london-sydney in two hours and the emergence of "danger-zone" tourism we can also expect futuristic advances in shopping and dining

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Awebsitethatprovidespricecomparisonsforflights,hotelsandcarhirea
crosstheglobehasmadesomeboldpredictionsforwhattravelwilllooklik
einadecadefromnow.Perhapsthemostmouthwateringdestinationfor
2024holidaymakerswillbeatriptotheMoonorastayinspace.ThesiteSk
yscanner.comhasjustreleasedareportofwhatholidaysinthenot-too-
distantfuturemightlooklike.Thereportistitled'TheFutureofTravel202
4'andoutlinesawholeseriesofpreviouslyunimaginablevacationchoice
sforthethrill-seekingtravellerandthosewhojustwanttogetthereq
uicker.Thereportisaresultofthecollaborationbetweentravelexpertsa
ndinternationaltechnologyexperts.Holidaysinspaceareperhapsthe
mostspectacularofSkyscanner'spredictions.Itsreportsays:"Orbitals
pacetravelwillbethenexthotticket,andcommercialcompaniesarelinin
guptomakeitamoreaffordableproposition."Indeed,VirginGalactican
dSpaceXarealreadyacceptingbookings.ThecostofaseatontheVirginc
raft(roundtrip,ofcourse)is$250,000.Skyscanneralsopredictsanexpl
osioninthenumberofunderwaterhotelrooms,whichitsayswillbecome
amainstreamtraveloption.Otherthingstolookforwardtoincludeasupe
rsonicaircraftthatwillflyLondon-Sydneyintwohoursandtheemergen
ceof"danger-zone"tourism.Wecanalsoexpectfuturisticadvancesins
hoppinganddining.

FREE WRITING

Write about travel for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

What is "danger-zone" tourism? What are the advantages and disadvantages of it?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 travel in the future. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. SPACE TRAVEL: Make a poster about space travel. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. "DANGER-ZONE" TOURISM: Write a magazine article about "danger-zone" tourism. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 a tourism expert. Ask him/her three questions about "danger-zone" tourism. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also...

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

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

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	provides	a.	makes available
2.	hire	b.	rental
3.	predictions	c.	forecasts
4.	unimaginable	d.	unheard of
5.	collaboration	e.	joint effort
6.	spectacular	f.	eye-catching
7.	affordable	g.	inexpensive
8.	explosion	h.	increase
9.	mainstream	i.	normal
10.	emergence	j.	arrival

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Price comparisons
2.	The Moon
3.	A report
4.	The thrill-seeking traveller
5.	Travel and technology experts
6.	Orbital space travel
7.	Make space travel affordable
8.	$250,000
9.	Underwater hotel rooms
10.	2 hours

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Moon vacations possible by 2024 (2nd October, 2014)

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