The Reading / Listening - Jellyfish - Level 3

Scientists think they have found an answer to the problem of food shortages. One solution could be for us to eat jellyfish. This could also help to protect fish and other sea life that are endangered. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia conducted a study of fishing around the world. They discovered that fishing nets caught 92 endangered species of seafood and 11 species of marine life classed as "critically endangered". The researchers said this was not illegal as the creatures were not protected. Researcher Dr Leslie Robertson said: "Despite national and international commitments to protect threatened species, we actively fish for many of these threatened species."

The researchers warned we are eating species of fish and other sea life that are on the brink of extinction. They suggested that eating jellyfish could help protect fish that are in danger of disappearing from our seas and oceans. Jellyfish could become a common sight on menus, and we could ask for jellyfish and chips instead of fish and chips. The researchers said jellyfish could be a sustainable alternative at seafood restaurants and fish shops. Dr Robertson said seafood is "not as sustainable as consumers would like to think". She added: "It is possible to manage our fisheries sustainably and eat species that can survive the fishing pressure. We just have to care about weird-looking squishy things like sea cucumbers."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Jellyfish - Level 0,  Jellyfish - Level 1   or  Jellyfish - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/jellyfish-fish-and-chips-takeaway-endangered-seafood-b530261.html
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/stop-eating-threatened-seafood-and-eat-jellyfish-instead-says-scientists
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-23/jellyfish-sustainable-fishing-nutritional-delicacy-queensland/12692542


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. JELLYFISH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about jellyfish. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       scientists / food shortages / jellyfish / endangered / fishing / seafood / nets / illegal /
       species / on the brink / extinction / danger / menus / fish and chips / survive / weird
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. JELLYFISH DISHES: Students A strongly believe we should all eat jellyfish to save the planet; Students B strongly believe this is unnecessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. EXTINCT FOOD: These foods could become extinct in the future. How important are they to you? Why? How would you feel if they became extinct? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Important

Why?

How You Would Feel If They Became Extinct

Bluefin Tuna

 

 

 

Chocolate

 

 

 

Bananas

 

 

 

Soy beans

 

 

 

Honey

 

 

 

Coffee

 

 

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

  • Jellyfish
  • Plankton
  • Tuna
  • Whales
  • Seahorses
  • Dolphins
  • Shrimps
  • Oysters

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. shortage a. An answer of way of solving a problem or difficult situation.
      2. solution b. Of a species seriously at risk of disappearing or of extinction.
      3. protect c. An animal, but not a human being.
      4. endangered d. Keep safe from harm or injury.
      5. net e. To a potentially disastrous level.
      6. critically f. A state or situation in which someone cannot get enough of something they really need.
      7. creature g. A piece of material used for catching fish or other sea animals or insects.

    Paragraph 2

      8. on the brink h. Where a species of animals, plants, fish, etc. totally die out.
      9. extinction i. Of an animal or plant found or living in relatively large numbers; not rare.
      10. common j. Soft and moist.
      11. sustainable k. One or more things available as another possibility.
      12. alternative l. Keeping a balance in the environment by not reducing natural resources.
      13. weird m. At a point at which something bad is about to happen.
      14. squishy n. Very strange; bizarre.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists have found the answer to food shortages.     T / F
  2. The research is from a university in Sydney, Australia.     T / F
  3. Over 100 endangered species of marine life are caught in fishing nets.     T / F
  4. It is not illegal to catch the endangered species.     T / F
  5. Researchers said we are eating fish that are in danger of extinction.     T / F
  6. Jellyfish and chips could soon be on restaurant menus.     T / F
  7. Researchers said jellyfish are not a sustainable alternative to fish.     T / F
  8. A researcher said we shouldn't care about squishy sea cucumbers.     T / F

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

  1. answer
  2. shortage
  3. endangered
  4. discovered
  5. commitments
  6. brink
  7. extinction
  8. common
  9. alternative
  10. squishy
  1. widespread
  2. found
  3. promises
  4. lack
  5. dying out
  6. soft
  7. solution
  8. substitute
  9. at risk
  10. edge

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

  1. an answer to the problem
  2. help to protect fish and other
  3. 11 species
  4. not illegal as the creatures were not
  5. national and international
  6. on the brink of
  7. disappearing from our seas
  8. jellyfish could be a sustainable
  9. It is possible to manage our fisheries
  10. weird-looking squishy things
  1. alternative
  2. protected
  3. commitments
  4. sustainably
  5. of marine life
  6. and oceans
  7. like sea cucumbers
  8. of food shortages
  9. extinction
  10. sea life

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
study
answer
caught
national
protect
actively
solution
illegal

Scientists think they have found an (1) _____________________ to the problem of food shortages. One (2) _____________________ could be for us to eat jellyfish. This could also help to (3) _____________________ fish and other sea life that are endangered. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia conducted a (4) _____________________ of fishing around the world. They discovered that fishing nets (5) _____________________ 92 endangered species of seafood and 11 species of marine life classed as "critically endangered". The researchers said this was not (6) _____________________ as the creatures were not protected. Researcher Dr Leslie Robertson said: "Despite (7) _____________________ and international commitments to protect threatened species, we (8) _____________________ fish for many of these threatened species."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
alternative
survive
brink
squishy
menus
species
danger
consumers

The researchers warned we are eating (9) _____________________ of fish and other sea life that are on the (10) _____________________ of extinction. They suggested that eating jellyfish could help protect fish that are in (11) _____________________ of disappearing from our seas and oceans. Jellyfish could become a common sight on (12) _____________________, and we could ask for jellyfish and chips instead of fish and chips. The researchers said jellyfish could be a sustainable (13) _____________________ at seafood restaurants and fish shops. Dr Robertson said seafood is "not as sustainable as (14) _____________________ would like to think". She added: "It is possible to manage our fisheries sustainably and eat species that can (15) _____________________ the fishing pressure. We just have to care about weird-looking (16) _____________________ things like sea cucumbers."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Scientists think they have found an answer to the problem ______
     a.  of food shortage
     b.  of food shortage is
     c.  of food shortages
     d.  of food short age is
2)  This could also help to protect fish and other sea life ______
     a.  that are endangers
     b.  that are in danger
     c.  that are endangered
     d.  that are on dangerous
3)  nets caught 92 endangered species of seafood and 11 species ______
     a.  of marine life
     b.  of main life
     c.  of mean life
     d.  of moaning life
4)  The researchers said this was not illegal as the creatures ______
     a.  were not protected
     b.  were not project it
     c.  were non-protected
     d.  were not projected
5)  commitments to protect threatened species, we actively fish for ______
     a.  many of they
     b.  many of them
     c.  many of these
     d.  many of this

6)  we are eating species of fish and other sea life that are on the ______
     a.  blink of extinction
     b.  brink of extinction
     c.  blank of extinction
     d.  bank of extinction
7)  protect fish that are in danger of disappearing from our ______
     a.  seas end oceans
     b.  seas in oceans
     c.  seas on oceans
     d.  seas and oceans
8)  sight on menus, and we could ask for jellyfish and chips ______
     a.  instead of fish
     b.  instead off fish
     c.  instead oft fish
     d.  instead over fish
9) manage our fisheries sustainably and eat species that can survive ______
     a.  the fishing press sure
     b.  the fishing pressured
     c.  the fishing pressure
     d.  the fishing press shore
10)  We just have to care about weird-looking ______
     a.  squish things
     b.  squish sea things
     c.  squish seething
     d.  squishy things

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists think they have (1) ____________________ to the problem of food shortages. One solution could be for us to eat jellyfish. This could also help (2) ____________________ and other sea life that are endangered. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia (3) ____________________ of fishing around the world. They discovered that fishing nets caught 92 endangered species of seafood and 11 species of (4) ____________________ as "critically endangered". The researchers said this was not illegal (5) ____________________ were not protected. Researcher Dr Leslie Robertson said: "Despite national and international commitments to protect threatened species, (6) ____________________ for many of these threatened species."

The researchers warned we are (7) ____________________ fish and other sea life that are on the (8) ____________________. They suggested that eating jellyfish could help protect fish that are in (9) ____________________ from our seas and oceans. Jellyfish could become a common sight on menus, and we could ask for jellyfish and chips (10) ____________________ and chips. The researchers said jellyfish could be a sustainable alternative at seafood restaurants and fish shops. Dr Robertson said seafood is "not as sustainable (11) ____________________ like to think". She added: "It is possible to manage our fisheries sustainably and eat species that can survive the fishing pressure. We just have to care about (12) ____________________ things like sea cucumbers."

Comprehension questions

  1. What problem do scientists think they have found the answer to?
  2. In which country is the university that conducted this research?
  3. How many critically endangered species were caught in fishing nets?
  4. Why is the fishing of these endangered species not illegal?
  5. What commitments to countries have besides international ones?
  6. What did researchers say species of fish were on the brink of?
  7. Where did the article say jellyfish could become a common sight?
  8. What restaurant dish might people ask for in the future?
  9. What did a researcher say was not as sustainable as consumers think?
  10. What squishy sea creature did a researcher mention?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What problem do scientists think they have found the answer to?
a) the meaning of the life
b) global warming
c) food shortages
d) a difficult maths problem
2) In which country is the university that conducted this research?
a) Australia
b) Japan
c) Mexico
d) Argentina
3) How many critically endangered species were caught in fishing nets?
a) 92
b) 11
c) 103
d) 12
4) Why is the fishing of these endangered species not illegal?
a) fisheries
b) lawyers cannot agree
c) people like fish and chips
d) they are not protected
5) What commitments do countries have besides international ones?
a) several commitments
b) huge commitments
c) national commitments
d) serious ones

6) What did researchers say species of fish were on the brink of?
a) destruction
b) extinction
c) the edge
d) success
7) Where did the article say jellyfish could become a common sight?
a) the Arctic Ocean
b) beaches
c) rivers
d) on menus
8) What restaurant dish might people ask for in the future?
a) jellyfish curry
b) jellyfish and chips
c) jellyfish sushi
d) jellyfish soup
9) What did a researcher say was not as sustainable as consumers think?
a) fishing
b) seafood
c) fish shops
d) fish markets
10) What squishy sea creature did a researcher mention?
a) sea cucumbers
b) sea sponges
c) starfish
d) octopus

Role play

Role  A – Jellyfish
You think jellyfish are the most important marine life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): dolphins, plankton or tuna.

Role  B – Dolphins
You think dolphins are the most important marine life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): jellyfish, plankton or tuna.

Role  C – Plankton
You think plankton are the most important marine life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): dolphins, jellyfish or tuna.

Role  D – Tuna
You think tuna are the most important marine life. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): dolphins, plankton or jellyfish.

After reading / listening

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

'jelly'

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

    • and 'fish'.

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

    • • 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:

    • answer
    • shortages
    • 11
    • nets
    • illegal
    • actively
    • brink
    • danger
    • common
    • shops
    • manage
    • squishy

    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 - Jellyfish

    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 'jelly'?
    3. How serious is the problem of food shortages?
    4. What would you do about food shortages?
    5. What do you know about jellyfish?
    6. How tasty do you think jellyfish might be?
    7. How could you cook jellyfish?
    8. What do you think of people fishing for endangered species?
    9. Do you think eating jellyfish would help our world?
    10. Would you eat jellyfish?

    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 'fish'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Do you worry that fish are on the brink of extinction?
    5. What would happen if many fish became extinct?
    6. Would you order a jellyfish dish in a restaurant?
    7. Do you have a favourite fish dish?
    8. What do you think of fish?
    9. What do you think of sea cucumbers?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Scientists think they have found an (1) ____ to the problem of food shortages. One solution could be for (2) ____ to eat jellyfish. This could also help to protect fish and other sea life that are endangered. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia conducted a study (3) ____ fishing around the world. They discovered that fishing nets caught 92 endangered species of seafood and 11 species of (4) ____ life classed as "critically endangered". The researchers said this was not illegal as the (5) ____ were not protected. Researcher Dr Leslie Robertson said: "Despite national and international commitments to protect threatened species, we (6) ____ fish for many of these threatened species."

    The researchers warned we are eating species of fish and other sea life that are on the (7) ____ of extinction. They suggested that eating jellyfish could help protect fish that are (8) ____ danger of disappearing from our seas and oceans. Jellyfish could become a common sight on menus, and we could ask for jellyfish and chips instead (9) ____ fish and chips. The researchers said jellyfish could be a sustainable alternative at seafood restaurants and fish shops. Dr Robertson said seafood is "not as sustainable (10) ____ consumers would like to think". She added: "It is possible to manage our fisheries sustainably and eat species that can (11) ____ the fishing pressure. We just have to care about (12) ____-looking squishy things like sea cucumbers."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     fix     (b)     solution     (c)     reply     (d)     answer    
    2. (a)     they     (b)     them     (c)     we     (d)     us    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    4. (a)     savannah     (b)     bush     (c)     marine     (d)     country    
    5. (a)     creatives     (b)     cultures     (c)     creatures     (d)     creases    
    6. (a)     actively     (b)     active     (c)     activate     (d)     activity    
    7. (a)     blank     (b)     brink     (c)     blink     (d)     bank    
    8. (a)     in     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     as    
    9. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    10. (a)     is     (b)     was     (c)     as     (d)     has    
    11. (a)     survival     (b)     survives     (c)     survive     (d)     surviving    
    12. (a)     bird     (b)     shard     (c)     third     (d)     weird

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the problem of food soahgerts
    2. One olitsoun could be for us to eat jellyfish
    3. fish and other sea life that are aendrgnede
    4. this was not aligell
    5. the rucestrae were not protected
    6. threatened ipecses

    Paragraph 2

    1. on the brink of ciotxnenti
    2. disappearing from our seas and osanec
    3. seafood is not as nlasbiestau
    4. survive the fishing srespure
    5. rdwie-looking
    6. uqisshy things like sea cucumbers

    Put the text back together

    (...)  The researchers warned we are eating species of fish and other sea life that are on the brink of
    (...)  to protect threatened species, we actively fish for many of these threatened species."
    (...)  endangered. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia conducted a study of fishing around
    (...)  extinction. They suggested that eating jellyfish could help protect fish that are in danger of disappearing from our seas
    (...)  of marine life classed as "critically endangered". The researchers said this was not illegal as the
    (...)  and oceans. Jellyfish could become a common sight on menus, and we could ask for jellyfish and chips instead of
    (...)  fish and chips. The researchers said jellyfish could be a sustainable alternative at seafood restaurants
    (...)  pressure. We just have to care about weird-looking squishy things like sea cucumbers."
    (...)  and fish shops. Dr Robertson said seafood is "not as sustainable as consumers would like to
    (...)  the world. They discovered that fishing nets caught 92 endangered species of seafood and 11 species
    (  1  ) Scientists think they have found an answer to the problem of food shortages. One solution could
    (...)  creatures were not protected. Researcher Dr Leslie Robertson said: "Despite national and international commitments
    (...)  think". She added: "It is possible to manage our fisheries sustainably and eat species that can survive the fishing
    (...)  be for us to eat jellyfish. This could also help to protect fish and other sea life that are

    Put the words in the right order

    1. to   They   have   an   problem   .   the   answer   found
    2. to   jellyfish   .   is   solution   eat   us   One   for
    3. species   seafood   .   Fishing   of   92   nets   caught   endangered
    4. researchers   this   was   said   The   not   illegal   .
    5. fish   many   Actively   these   of   for   threatened   species   .
    6. life   on   Sea   brink   the   that's   of   extinction   .
    7. are   that   Protect   in   fish   of   danger   disappearing   .
    8. become   Jellyfish   common   a   could   sight   on   menus   .
    9. could   be   a   sustainable   alternative   Jellyfish   at   restaurants   .
    10. have   about   care   to   weird-looking   We   squishy   things   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists think they have found an answer / reply to the problem of food shortages. One solution could be for we / us to eat jellyfish. This could also help to protect fish and others / other sea life that are endangered. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia conduction / conducted a study of fishing around / about the world. They discovered that fishing nets catch / caught 92 endangered species of seafood and 11 species of marine life classed as / was "critically endangered". The researchers said this was not illegal as the creature / creatures were not protected. Researcher Dr Leslie Robertson said: "Despite / Spite national and international commitments to protect threatened species, we actively fish for many of these / them threatened species."

    The researchers warned we be / are eating species of fish and other sea life that are on the brink off / of extinction. They suggested that eat / eating jellyfish could help protect fish that are in / on danger of disappearing from our seas and oceans. Jellyfish could become a commonly / common sight on menus, and we could ask for jellyfish and chips rather / instead of fish and chips. The researchers said jellyfish could be a sustainable alternative at seafood restaurants and fishy / fish shops. Dr Robertson said seafood is "not as sustainable as consumers would like to thank / think". She added: "It is possible to manage our fisheries sustainably and eat species that can survival / survive the fishing pressure. We just have to care about weird-looking squishy things / thing like sea cucumbers."

    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)

    Sc__nt_sts th_nk th_y h_v_ f__nd _n _nsw_r t_ th_ pr_bl_m _f f__d sh_rt_g_s. _n_ s_l_t__n c__ld b_ f_r _s t_ __t j_llyf_sh. Th_s c__ld _ls_ h_lp t_ pr_t_ct f_sh _nd _th_r s__ l_f_ th_t _r_ _nd_ng_r_d. R_s__rch_rs fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f Q___nsl_nd _n __str_l__ c_nd_ct_d _ st_dy _f f_sh_ng _r__nd th_ w_rld. Th_y d_sc_v_r_d th_t f_sh_ng n_ts c__ght 92 _nd_ng_r_d sp_c__s _f s__f__d _nd 11 sp_c__s _f m_r_n_ l_f_ cl_ss_d _s "cr_t_c_lly _nd_ng_r_d". Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d th_s w_s n_t _ll_g_l _s th_ cr__t_r_s w_r_ n_t pr_t_ct_d. R_s__rch_r Dr L_sl__ R_b_rts_n s__d: "D_sp_t_ n_t__n_l _nd _nt_rn_t__n_l c_mm_tm_nts t_ pr_t_ct thr__t_n_d sp_c__s, w_ _ct_v_ly f_sh f_r m_ny _f th_s_ thr__t_n_d sp_c__s."

    Th_ r_s__rch_rs w_rn_d w_ _r_ __t_ng sp_c__s _f f_sh _nd _th_r s__ l_f_ th_t _r_ _n th_ br_nk _f _xt_nct__n. Th_y s_gg_st_d th_t __t_ng j_llyf_sh c__ld h_lp pr_t_ct f_sh th_t _r_ _n d_ng_r _f d_s_pp__r_ng fr_m __r s__s _nd _c__ns. J_llyf_sh c__ld b_c_m_ _ c_mm_n s_ght _n m_n_s, _nd w_ c__ld _sk f_r j_llyf_sh _nd ch_ps _nst__d _f f_sh _nd ch_ps. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d j_llyf_sh c__ld b_ _ s_st__n_bl_ _lt_rn_t_v_ _t s__f__d r_st__r_nts _nd f_sh sh_ps. Dr R_b_rts_n s__d s__f__d _s "n_t _s s_st__n_bl_ _s c_ns_m_rs w__ld l_k_ t_ th_nk". Sh_ _dd_d: "_t _s p_ss_bl_ t_ m_n_g_ __r f_sh_r__s s_st__n_bly _nd __t sp_c__s th_t c_n s_rv_v_ th_ f_sh_ng pr_ss_r_. W_ j_st h_v_ t_ c_r_ _b__t w__rd-l__k_ng sq__shy th_ngs l_k_ s__ c_c_mb_rs."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists think they have found an answer to the problem of food shortages one solution could be for us to eat jellyfish this could also help to protect fish and other sea life that are endangered researchers from the university of queensland in australia conducted a study of fishing around the world they discovered that fishing nets caught 92 endangered species of seafood and 11 species of marine life classed as critically endangered the researchers said this was not illegal as the creatures were not protected researcher dr leslie Robertson said despite national and international commitments to protect threatened species we actively fish for many of these threatened species

    the researchers warned we are eating species of fish and other sea life that are on the brink of extinction they suggested that eating jellyfish could help protect fish that are in danger of disappearing from our seas and oceans jellyfish could become a common sight on menus and we could ask for jellyfish and chips instead of fish and chips the researchers said jellyfish could be a sustainable alternative at seafood restaurants and fish shops dr robertson said seafood is not as sustainable as consumers would like to think she added it is possible to manage our fisheries sustainably and eat species that can survive the fishing pressure we just have to care about weirdlooking squishy things like sea cucumbers

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientiststhinktheyhavefoundananswertotheproblemoffoodshortag
    es.Onesolutioncouldbeforustoeatjellyfish.Thiscouldalsohelptoprote
    ctfishandothersealifethatareendangered.ResearchersfromtheUnive
    rsityofQueenslandinAustraliaconductedastudyoffishingaroundthew
    orld.Theydiscoveredthatfishingnetscaught92endangeredspeciesofs
    eafoodand11speciesofmarinelifeclassedas"criticallyendangered".T
    heresearcherssaidthiswasnotillegalasthecreatureswerenotprotecte
    d.ResearcherDrLeslieRobertsonsaid:"Despitenationalandinternatio
    nalcommitmentstoprotectthreatenedspecies,weactivelyfishforman
    yofthesethreatenedspecies."Theresearcherswarnedweareeatingsp
    eciesoffishandothersealifethatareonthebrinkofextinction.Theysugg
    estedthateatingjellyfishcouldhelpprotectfishthatareindangerofdisa
    ppearingfromourseasandoceans.Jellyfishcouldbecomeacommonsig
    htonmenus,andwecouldaskforjellyfishandchipsinsteadoffishandchi
    ps.Theresearcherssaidjellyfishcouldbeasustainablealternativeatsea
    foodrestaurantsandfishshops.DrRobertsonsaidseafoodis"notassust
    ainableasconsumerswouldliketothink".Sheadded:"Itispossibletoma
    nageourfisheriessustainablyandeatspeciesthatcansurvivethefishing
    pressure.Wejusthavetocareaboutweird-lookingsquishythingslikese
    acucumbers."

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    We should all eat more jellyfish instead of meat and endangered fish. 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. JELLYFISH: Make a poster about jellyfish. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SEAFOOD: Write a magazine article about replacing meat with seafood. 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 jellyfish. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on jellyfish. 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.)

    Back to the top

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You