The Reading / Listening - Moon Flashes - Level 6

Scientists across the world are puzzled as to why there are flashes appearing on the surface of the moon. This unusual phenomenon has been happening several times a week. Sometimes the flashes of light are very short, while at other times the light lasts longer. Scientists have also observed that on occasion, there are places on the moon's surface that darken temporarily. Experts on the moon have been speculating on what is behind the flashes. One scientist said the impact of a meteorite can cause the moon's surface to glow briefly. Another scientist wondered whether the flashes occurred when electrically charged particles of solar wind reacted with moon dust.

A lunar telescope has been set up in Spain to observe what is happening on the moon. The head of the team behind the telescope is Hakan Kayal, a professor of space technology. He said: "Seismic activities were observed on the moon. When the surface moves, gases that reflect sunlight could escape from the interior of the moon. This would explain the luminous phenomena, some of which last for hours." He added: "The so-called transient lunar phenomena have been known since the 1950s, but they have not been sufficiently observed." Professor Kayal said: "Anyone who wants to build a lunar base at some point must of course be familiar with the local conditions."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Moon Flashes - Level 4  or  Moon Flashes - Level 5

Sources
  • https://phys.org/news/2019-05-moon.html
  • https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/31/mysterious-unexplained-flashes-light-spotted-moon-9768936/
  • https://futurism.com/the-byte/flashes-moon-scientists


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 :-)

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?
       puzzled / surface / moon / phenomenon / light / occasion / experts / glow / wind /
       lunar / observe / telescope / sunlight / gases / transient / build / local / conditions
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. MOON AND SUN: Students A strongly believe the moon is more interesting than the sun; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. UNUSUAL PHENOMENA: What are the things in the table below? Why do people believe it? Do you believe it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What Is It?

Why Do People Believe It?

Do You Believe It?

Moon flashes

 

 

 

The sixth sense

 

 

 

Bermuda Triangle

 

 

 

Ghosts

 

 

 

UFOs

 

 

 

Déjà vu

 

 

 

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. FLASH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "flash". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MOON LIFE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about living on the moon at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • no pollution
  • the excitement
  • scientific discoveries
  • the cheese
  • the view of Earth
  • weightlessness
  • exploration
  • the unknown

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. surface a. A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is not totally understood.
      2. phenomenon b. For a limited period of time; not permanently.
      3. on occasion c. A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
      4. expert d. From time to time; sometimes.
      5. temporarily e. The outside part or top layer of something.
      6. glow f. Responded or behaved in a particular way in response to something.
      7. reacted g. Give out a steady light without a flame.

    Paragraph 2

      8. lunar h. To an adequate degree; enough.
      9. observe i. About, of, or resembling the moon.
      10. reflect j. Lasting only for a short time.
      11. interior k. A place used as a center of operations by the armed forces or others; a headquarters.
      12. transient l. Throw back heat, light, or sound without absorbing it.
      13. sufficiently m. The inland part of a country or region.
      14. base n. Notice or perceive something and think of it as being significant.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists are making a flashing puzzle about the moon.     T / F
  2. The flashes on the moon happen just once a week.     T / F
  3. Apart from flashes, some places on the moon become dark for a while.    T / F
  4. A scientist said the flashes were solar dust reacting with moon wind.     T / F
  5. The article said a solar telescope has been set up in Spain.     T / F
  6. The flashes could be due to the moon's surface moving.     T / F
  7. Scientists have been observing moon flashes for over 50 years.     T / F
  8. A professor had a message for potential moon-base builders.   T / F

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

  1. puzzled
  2. appearing
  3. on occasion
  4. temporarily
  5. glow
  6. set up
  7. happening
  8. transient
  9. sufficiently
  10. base
  1. adequately
  2. briefly
  3. short-lived
  4. occurring
  5. sometimes
  6. shine
  7. perplexed
  8. established
  9. station
  10. becoming visible

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

  1. puzzled
  2. places on the moon's surface that
  3. speculating on what is
  4. cause the moon's surface
  5. particles of solar wind reacted
  6. seismic
  7. gases that reflect
  8. escape from the interior
  9. lunar phenomena have been
  10. be familiar with
  1. behind the flashes
  2. of the moon
  3. with moon dust
  4. known since the 1950s
  5. the local conditions
  6. as to why
  7. darken temporarily
  8. activities
  9. to glow briefly
  10. sunlight

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
several
temporarily
surface
glow
occasion
particles
impact
times

Scientists across the world are puzzled as to why there are flashes appearing on the (1) ____________ of the moon. This unusual phenomenon has been happening (2) ____________ times a week. Sometimes the flashes of light are very short, while at other (3) ____________ the light lasts longer. Scientists have also observed that on (4) ____________, there are places on the moon's surface that darken (5) ____________. Experts on the moon have been speculating on what is behind the flashes. One scientist said the (6) ____________ of a meteorite can cause the moon's surface to (7) ____________ briefly. Another scientist wondered whether the flashes occurred when electrically charged (8) ____________ of solar wind reacted with moon dust.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
reflect
transient
familiar
head
base
luminous
lunar
sufficiently

A (9) ____________ telescope has been set up in Spain to observe what is happening on the moon. The (10) ____________ of the team behind the telescope is Hakan Kayal, a professor of space technology. He said: "Seismic activities were observed on the moon. When the surface moves, gases that (11) ____________ sunlight could escape from the interior of the moon. This would explain the (12) ____________ phenomena, some of which last for hours." He added: "The so-called (13) ____________ lunar phenomena have been known since the 1950s, but they have not been (14) ____________ observed." Professor Kayal said: "Anyone who wants to build a lunar (15) ____________ at some point must of course be (16) ____________ with the local conditions."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  This unusual phenomenon has been happening ______ week
     a.  seven at times a
     b.  sevens times a
     c.  severe all times a
     d.  several times a
2) on occasion, there are places on the moon's surface that ______
     a.  darkens temporary
     b.  darken temporarily
     c.  darkening temporary
     d.  dark in temporarily
3)  Experts on the moon have been speculating on what is ______
     a.  behind the fresh is
     b.  behind the flashes
     c.  behind the fashions
     d.  behind the fissures
4)  One scientist said the impact of a meteorite can cause the moon's surface ______
     a.  to glow briefly
     b.  to grow brief fly
     c.  to grown briefly
     d.  to glow brief fly
5) flashes occurred when electrically charged particles of solar wind ______ dust
     a.  reaction with moon
     b.  re-enacted with moon
     c.  retracted with moon
     d.  reacted with moon

6)  A lunar telescope has been set up in Spain to ______ happening
     a.  observe what is
     b.  observes that is
     c.  observed what is
     d.  observe that is
7)  When the surface moves, gases that ______
     a.  reflect sunlight
     b.  refracts sunlight
     c.  reflected sunlight
     d.  refract sunlight
8)  explain the luminous phenomena, some of which ______
     a.  last four hours
     b.  last form hours
     c.  last fort hours
     d.  last for hours
9)  The so-called transient lunar phenomena have been known ______
     a.  since the 19 and 50s
     b.  since the nine teens 50s
     c.  since the 1950s
     d.  since the 9050s
10)  Anyone who wants to build a lunar base at some point must of ______
     a.  because be familiar
     b.  course been familiar
     c.  course be familiar
     d.  course be familiarly

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists across the world are (1) ___________________ why there are flashes appearing (2) ___________________ of the moon. This unusual phenomenon has been happening several times a week. Sometimes the flashes of light are very short, while at other times the light lasts longer. Scientists have also observed (3) ___________________, there are places on the moon's surface (4) ___________________. Experts on the moon have been speculating on what is behind the flashes. One scientist said the impact of a meteorite can cause the moon's surface (5) ___________________. Another scientist wondered whether the flashes occurred when electrically charged particles of solar wind reacted (6) ___________________.

A (7) ___________________ been set up in Spain to observe what is happening on the moon. The head of the team behind the telescope is Hakan Kayal, a professor of space technology. He said: "(8) ___________________ observed on the moon. When the surface moves, gases (9) ___________________ could escape from the interior of the moon. This would explain the luminous (10) ___________________ which last for hours." He added: "The so-called transient lunar phenomena have been known since the 1950s, but they have not been sufficiently observed." Professor Kayal said: "Anyone who wants to build (11) ___________________ at some point must of course be familiar with (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. How often have the flashes been happening?
  2. How long are the flashes?
  3. What did the article say happens to the moon's surface temporarily?
  4. What could hit the moon's surface to cause it to glow briefly?
  5. What might electrically-charged particles of solar wind react with?
  6. In which country has a lunar telescope been set up?
  7. What is Hakan Kayal's job?
  8. What kind of gases could escape fro the moon's surface?
  9. When did scientists first know about transient lunar phenomena?
  10. What must potential lunar-base builders know about?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  How often have the flashes been happening?
a) a year
b) several times a week
c) two weeks
d) every now and then
2) How long are the flashes?
a) quite long
b) 10 seconds
c) a microsecond
d) some are short, some are long
3) What did the article say happens to the moon's surface temporarily?
a) it darkens
b) it turns to cheese
c) the dust blows away
d) it becomes radioactive
4) What could hit the moon's surface to cause it to glow briefly?
a) dust
b) a rocket
c) a meteorite
d) the sun
5) What might electrically-charged particles of solar wind react with?
a) craters
b) moon dust
c) moon rocks
d) gravity

6) In which country has a lunar telescope been set up?
a) Argentina
b) Iceland
c) Spain
d) China
7) What is Hakan Kayal's job?
a) journalist
b) astronaut
c) light engineer
d) professor of space technology
8) What kind of gases could escape from the moon's surface?
a) gases that reflect sunlight
b) argon
c) inert gases
d) hydrogen
9) When did scientists first know about transient lunar phenomena?
a) in the 1950s
b) last month
c) in the 18th century
d) a few days ago
10) What must potential lunar-base builders know about?
a) space
b) the local conditions
c) metal screws
d) gravity

Role play

Role  A – Weightlessness
You think weightlessness would be the best thing about moon life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): the view of Earth, the unknown or no pollution.

Role  B – The View of Earth
You think the view of Earth would be the best thing about moon life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): weightlessness, the unknown or no pollution.

Role  C – The Unknown
You think the unknown would be the best thing about moon life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): the view of Earth, weightlessness or no pollution.

Role  D – No Pollution
You think no pollution would be the best thing about moon life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): the view of Earth, the unknown or weightlessness.

After reading / listening

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

'flash'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • 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:

    • set
    • behind
    • escape
    • some
    • since
    • familiar
    • surface
    • several
    • occasion
    • experts
    • briefly
    • dust

    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 - Scientists puzzled by flashes 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 'moon'?
    3. What do you know about the moon?
    4. What would you do if you visited the moon?
    5. What do you think caused the flashes on the moon?
    6. What would you think if the flashes were from aliens?
    7. What do you know about meteorites?
    8. What would you do if you had some moon dust?
    9. Why is the moon so important?
    10. What three adjectives best describe the moon and why?

    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 'flash'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about lunar telescopes?
    5. What does a professor of space technology do?
    6. What do you think when you look at the moon?
    7. What part does the moon play in your country's culture?
    8. What will humans be doing on the moon in 100 years from now?
    9. What would it be like to stay on a moon base?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    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 across the world are puzzled (1) ____ to why there are flashes appearing on the surface of the moon. This (2) ____ phenomenon has been happening several times a week. Sometimes the flashes of light are very short, while at (3) ____ times the light lasts longer. Scientists have also observed that on occasion, there are places on the moon's surface that (4) ____ temporarily. Experts on the moon have been speculating on what is behind the flashes. One scientist said the impact of a meteorite can cause the moon's surface to glow (5) ____. Another scientist wondered whether the flashes occurred when electrically charged particles of solar wind reacted (6) ____ moon dust.

    A lunar telescope has been set (7) ____ in Spain to observe what is happening on the moon. The head of the team behind the telescope is Hakan Kayal, a professor of space technology. He said: "Seismic (8) ____ were observed on the moon. When the surface moves, gases that reflect sunlight could escape from the (9) ____ of the moon. This would explain the luminous phenomena, some of which (10) ____ for hours." He added: "The so-called transient lunar phenomena have been known since the 1950s, but they have not been (11) ____ observed." Professor Kayal said: "Anyone who wants to build a lunar base at some point must of course be familiar (12) ____ the local conditions."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     as     (b)     was     (c)     is     (d)     has    
    2. (a)     usual     (b)     usually     (c)     unusual     (d)     unusually    
    3. (a)     another     (b)     others     (c)     other     (d)     the others    
    4. (a)     darkest     (b)     darks     (c)     darker     (d)     darken    
    5. (a)     brief     (b)     brevity     (c)     briefly     (d)     briefness    
    6. (a)     at     (b)     with     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    7. (a)     on     (b)     up     (c)     of     (d)     at    
    8. (a)     active     (b)     activities     (c)     activity     (d)     actioned    
    9. (a)     innards     (b)     inferior     (c)     interior     (d)     integrity    
    10. (a)     blasts     (b)     lasting     (c)     lasts     (d)     last    
    11. (a)     suffices     (b)     sufficient     (c)     suffice     (d)     sufficiently    
    12. (a)     as     (b)     to     (c)     on     (d)     with

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. This unusual nnhoneemop
    2. darken ylrmiaptoer
    3. Experts on the moon have been lgecuaptisn
    4. cause the moon's sufearc to glow
    5. electrically charged rpelatsic
    6. solar wind cedatre with moon dust

    Paragraph 2

    1. A lunar ecpesotle
    2. esismic activities
    3. gases that cetefrl sunlight
    4. escape from the rntrieoi of the moon
    5. they have not been eyfufcltinis observed
    6. be irialmaf with the local conditions

    Put the text back together

    (...)  of the moon. This unusual phenomenon has been happening several times a week. Sometimes the flashes of
    (...)  meteorite can cause the moon's surface to glow briefly. Another scientist wondered whether the flashes occurred
    (...)  1950s, but they have not been sufficiently observed." Professor Kayal said: "Anyone who wants to build
    (...)  from the interior of the moon. This would explain the luminous phenomena, some of which last for
    (...)  observed on the moon. When the surface moves, gases that reflect sunlight could escape
    (...)  team behind the telescope is Hakan Kayal, a professor of space technology. He said: "Seismic activities were
    (...)  when electrically charged particles of solar wind reacted with moon dust.
    (...)  A lunar telescope has been set up in Spain to observe what is happening on the moon. The head of the
    (...)  light are very short, while at other times the light lasts longer. Scientists have also observed that on
    (...)  speculating on what is behind the flashes. One scientist said the impact of a
    (...)  a lunar base at some point must of course be familiar with the local conditions."
    (...)  hours." He added: "The so-called transient lunar phenomena have been known since the
    1  ) Scientists across the world are puzzled as to why there are flashes appearing on the surface
    (...)  occasion, there are places on the moon's surface that darken temporarily. Experts on the moon have been

    Put the words in the right order

    1. why   flashes   to   Puzzled   as   are   appearing   .   there
    2. phenomenon   This   happening  has  several   been   times  .  unusual
    3. are   very   of   flashes   the   Sometimes   light   short   .
    4. that   Places   darken   the   temporarily   .   surface   moon's   on
    5. of   with   wind   dust   .   solar   reacted   moon   Particles
    6. happening   To   on   moon   .   is   what   the   observe
    7. the   the   head   team   behind   telescope   .   of   The
    8. observed   moon   .   were   Seismic   on   the   activities
    9. known   been   the   have   1950s   .   phenomena   Lunar   since
    10. base   .   Anyone   a   to   wants   lunar   build   who

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists across the world are puzzled as / was to why there are flashes appearing on the surface of the moon. This unusually / unusual phenomenon has been happening / happened several times a week. Sometimes the flashes of light are very shortening / short, while at other times the light lasts longer. Scientists have also observed that on / in occasion, there are places on the moon's surface that darken temporary / temporarily. Experts on the moon have been speculating in / on what is behind the flashes. One scientist said the impact for / of a meteorite can cause the moon's surface to glow briefly. Another scientist wondered whether the flashes occurrence / occurred when electrically charged particles of solar wind reacted / reactor with moon dust.

    A lunar / telescope has been set up in Spain to observe what is happening on the moon. The head of the team beyond / behind the telescope is Hakan Kayal, a professor of space technology. He said: "Seismic activates / activities were observed on the moon. When the surface / surfaced moves, gases that reflect sunlight could escape from the posterior / interior of the moon. This would explain the luminous / luminary phenomena, some of which last / lastly for hours." He added: "The so-called transient lunar phenomena have been known for / since the 1950s, but they have not been sufficiently observed." Professor Kayal said: "Anyone who wants to build a lunar basis / base at some point must of course be familiar with the local / locally conditions."

    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)

    S c__ n t_s t s _c r_s s t h_ w_r l d _r_ p_z z l_d _s t_ w h y t h_r_ _r_ f l_s h_s _p p__ r_n g _n t h_ s_r f_c_ _f t h_ m__ n . T h_s _n_s__ l p h_n_m_n_n h_s b__ n h_p p_n_n g s_v_r_l t_m_s _ w__ k . S_m_t_m_s t h_ f l_s h_s _f l_g h t _r_ v_r y s h_r t , w h_l_ _t _t h_r t_m_s t h_ l_g h t l_s t s l_n g_r . S c__ n t_s t s h_v_ _l s_ _b s_r v_d t h_t _n _c c_s__ n , t h_r_ _r_ p l_c_s _n t h_ m__ n ' s s_r f_c_ t h_t d_r k_n t_m p_r_r_l y . E x p_r t s _n t h_ m__ n h_v_ b__ n s p_c_l_t_n g _n w h_t _s b_h_n d t h_ f l_s h_s . O n_ s c__ n t_s t s__ d t h_ _m p_c t _f _ m_t__ r_t_ c_n c__ s_ t h_ m__ n ' s s_r f_c_ t_ g l_w b r__ f l y . A n_t h_r s c__ n t_s t w_n d_r_d w h_t h_r t h_ f l_s h_s _c c_r r_d w h_n _l_c t r_c_l l y c h_r g_d p_r t_c l_s _f s_l_r w_n d r__ c t_d w_t h m__ n d_s t .

    A l_n_r t_l_s c_p_ h_s b__ n s_t _p _n S p__ n t_ _b s_r v_ w h_t _s h_p p_n_n g _n t h_ m__ n . T h_ h__ d _f t h_ t__ m b_h_n d t h_ t_l_s c_p_ _s H_k_n K_y_l , _ p r_f_s s_r _f s p_c_ t_c h n_l_g y . H_ s__ d : " S__ s m_c _c t_v_t__ s w_r_ _b s_r v_d _n t h_ m__ n . W h_n t h_ s_r f_c_ m_v_s , g_s_s t h_t r_f l_c t s_n l_g h t c__ l d _s c_p_ f r_m t h_ _n t_r__ r _f t h_ m__ n . T h_s w__ l d _x p l__ n t h_ l_m_n__ s p h_n_m_n_, s_m_ _f w h_c h l_s t f_r h__ r s . " H_ _d d_d : " T h_ s_- c_l l_d t r_n s__ n t l_n_r p h_n_m_n_ h_v_ b__ n k n_w n s_n c_ t h_ 1 9 5 0 s , b_t t h_y h_v_ n_t b__ n s_f f_c__ n t l y _b s_r v_d . " P r_f_s s_r K_y_l s__ d : " A n y_n_ w h_ w_n t s t_ b__ l d _ l_n_r b_s_ _t s_m_ p__ n t m_s t _f c__ r s_ b_ f_m_l__ r w_t h t h_ l_c_l c_n d_t__ n s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists across the world are puzzled as to why there are flashes appearing on the surface of the moon this unusual phenomenon has been happening several times a week sometimes the flashes of light are very short while at other times the light lasts longer scientists have also observed that on occasion there are places on the moons surface that darken temporarily experts on the moon have been speculating on what is behind the flashes one scientist said the impact of a meteorite can cause the moons surface to glow briefly another scientist wondered whether the flashes occurred when electrically charged particles of solar wind reacted with moon dust

    a lunar telescope has been set up in spain to observe what is happening on the moon the head of the team behind the telescope is hakan kayal a professor of space technology he said seismic activities were observed on the moon when the surface moves gases that reflect sunlight could escape from the interior of the moon this would explain the luminous phenomena some of which last for hours he added the socalled transient lunar phenomena have been known since the 1950s but they have not been sufficiently observed professor kayal said anyone who wants to build a lunar base at some point must of course be familiar with the local conditions"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistsacrosstheworldarepuzzledastowhythereareflashesappear
    ingonthesurfaceofthemoon.Thisunusualphenomenonhasbeenhapp
    eningseveraltimesaweek.Sometimestheflashesoflightareveryshort,
    whileatothertimesthelightlastslonger.Scientistshavealsoobservedt
    hatonoccasion,thereareplacesonthemoon'ssurfacethatdarkentemp
    orarily.Expertsonthemoonhavebeenspeculatingonwhatisbehindthe
    flashes.Onescientistsaidtheimpactofameteoritecancausethemoon's
    surfacetoglowbriefly.Anotherscientistwonderedwhethertheflasheso
    ccurredwhenelectricallychargedparticlesofsolarwindreactedwithmo
    ondust.AlunartelescopehasbeensetupinSpaintoobservewhatishapp
    eningonthemoon.TheheadoftheteambehindthetelescopeisHakanKa
    yal,aprofessorofspacetechnology.Hesaid:"Seismicactivitieswereob
    servedonthemoon.Whenthesurfacemoves,gasesthatreflectsunlight
    couldescapefromtheinteriorofthemoon.Thiswouldexplainthelumino
    usphenomena,someofwhichlastforhours."Headded:"Theso-calledtr
    ansientlunarphenomenahavebeenknownsincethe1950s,buttheyha
    venotbeensufficientlyobserved."ProfessorKayalsaid:"Anyonewhow
    antstobuildalunarbaseatsomepointmustofcoursebefamiliarwiththel
    ocalconditions."

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    Humans should be setting up bases on the moon. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    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. THE MOON: Make a poster about the moon. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. MOON BASES: Write a magazine article about having bases on the moon. 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 the moon. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions 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.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You