The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The tiny nation of Luxembourg is not well known as a player in the space race. However, its government has just invested in the asteroid mining industry. Companies will mine asteroids near the Earth for water and minerals. Some of the things they mine will help future trips to Mars and beyond. Luxembourg is looking at research and development projects to become a leader in this new industry. Its minister for the economy said: "Our aim is to open access to a wealth of previously unexplored mineral resources on lifeless rocks…without damaging natural habitats."

Luxembourg is not the only country looking for new places to mine. In 2015, the US president signed a law to let American companies mine space resources. In January, the European Space Agency shared a vision for a base on the Moon for research and exploration. A US company said asteroid mining would allow greater exploration of space, while protecting resources on Earth. However, there could be problems. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 says that natural resources in space are part of our 'common heritage'. This means private companies may not be allowed to mine asteroids.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://mashable.com/2016/02/04/luxembourg-asteroid-mining-initiative/#bOJUuel.UgqM
  • http://www.mining-technology.com/news/newsluxembourg-plans-legal-framework-asteroid-mining-4801653
  • http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Luxembourgs_ultimate_offshore_investment_Space_mining_999.html


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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

the space

a.

minerals

2.

its government has just

b.

unexplored mineral resources

3.

water and

c.

race

4.

research and

d.

habitats

5.

Our aim is to

e.

invested

6.

previously

f.

rocks

7.

lifeless

g.

open

8.

natural

h.

development projects


MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

not the only country looking for new

a.

Treaty of 1967

2.

a base on the Moon for research

b.

companies

3.

allow greater exploration

c.

places to mine

4.

protecting resources on

d.

heritage

5.

The Outer Space

e.

to mine asteroids

6.

part of our common

f.

and exploration

7.

private

g.

Earth

8.

be allowed

h.

of space

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The tiny nation of Luxembourg is (1) ___________________ as a player in (2) ___________________. However, its government has just invested in the asteroid mining industry. Companies will mine asteroids near the Earth (3) ___________________ minerals. Some of the things they mine will (4) ___________________ to Mars and beyond. Luxembourg is looking at research and development projects to become (5) ___________________ this new industry. Its minister for the economy said: "Our aim is to open access to a wealth of previously unexplored mineral resources on lifeless rocks… (6) ___________________ natural habitats."

Luxembourg (7) ___________________ country looking for new places to mine. In 2015, the US president (8) ___________________ let American companies mine space resources. In January, the European Space Agency (9) ___________________ for a base on the Moon for research and exploration. A US company said asteroid mining (10) ___________________ exploration of space, while protecting resources on Earth. However, (11) ___________________ problems. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 says that natural resources in space are part of our 'common heritage'. This means private companies may (12) ___________________ to mine asteroids.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThetinynationofLuxembourgisnotwellknownasaplayerinthespacera
ce.However,itsgovernmenthasjustinvestedintheasteroidminingind
ustry.CompanieswillmineasteroidsneartheEarthforwaterandminera
ls.SomeofthethingstheyminewillhelpfuturetripstoMarsandbeyond.L
uxembourgislookingatresearchanddevelopmentprojectstobecomea
leaderinthisnewindustry.Itsministerfortheeconomysaid:"Ouraimist
oopenaccesstoawealthofpreviouslyunexploredmineralresourcesonli
felessrocks…withoutdamagingnaturalhabitats."Luxembourgisnotth
eonlycountrylookingfornewplacestomine.In2015,theUSpresidentsi
gnedalawtoletAmericancompaniesminespaceresources.InJanuary,t
heEuropeanSpaceAgencysharedavisionforabaseontheMoonforrese
archandexploration.AUScompanysaidasteroidminingwouldallowgre
aterexplorationofspace,whileprotectingresourcesonEarth.However,
therecouldbeproblems.TheOuterSpaceTreatyof1967saysthatnatur
alresourcesinspacearepartofour'commonheritage'.Thismeansprivat
ecompaniesmaynotbeallowedtomineasteroids.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You