The Reading / Listening - Pig-heart Transplant - Level 3

Doctors in the USA have transplanted a pig's heart into a man. It is the first time this has happened. The doctors are from the University of Maryland Medical Center. They say David Bennett, 57, is doing well after his operation. Mr Bennett was very ill. The doctors said giving him the pig's heart was the only chance of keeping him alive. Bennett spoke to doctors the day before the operation. He said: "It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last choice." The pig's heart came from a genetically-modified pig. Scientists changed the genes of the pig so its heart would be more suitable for a transplant into a human.

The transplant operation took seven hours. Doctors received special permission from U.S. authorities for the experimental surgery. Without it, Mr Bennett would have died. Scientists have been researching pig-organ transplants for years. They believe Mr Bennett's transplant means more transplants could take place in the future. They said this could bring the world, "one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis". Surgeon Dr Bartley Griffith said: "We are also optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new option for patients in the future." Mr Bennett hopes his transplant will allow him to live longer. He said: "I look forward to getting out of bed after I recover."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Pig-heart Transplant - Level 0,  Pig-heart Transplant - Level 1   or  Pig-heart Transplant - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59944889
  • https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/breakthrough-pig-heart-transplant-performed-in-us-20220111-p59ncw.html
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/us-surgeons-successfully-implant-pig-heart-into-a-human-with-end-stage-heart-disease


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. HEART TRANSPLANTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about heart transplants. 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?
       doctors / pig / heart / transplant / ill / operation / a shot in the dark / choice / genes /
       permission / experimental / the future / shortage / crisis / optimistic / option / bed
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ANIMAL ORGANS: Students A strongly believe it is great we can use animal organs for transplants; Students B strongly believe that's not a good idea. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. OPTIMISTIC: Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Optimistic

Pessimistic

Pandemics

 

 

Health

 

 

Climate

 

 

Technology

 

 

War

 

 

Family

 

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

  • Heart
  • Lungs
  • Brain
  • Skin
  • Kidney
  • Liver
  • Stomach
  • Pancreas

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. transplanted a. Right for a particular person, purpose, or situation.
      2. operation b. Took something from one body and put it in another body.
      3. ill c. An action whose result cannot know.
      4. alive d. An act of doctors cutting someone's body to make it better.
      5. a shot in the dark e. Living, not dead.
      6. genes f. Being sick or having a disease; feeling unwell.
      7. suitable g. The thing in our body that holds information about us and passes that information on to babies.

    Paragraph 2

      8. permission h. The action of allowing someone to do a particular thing.
      9. take place i. Return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.
      10. organ j. Happen.
      11. shortage k. Hopeful and confident about the future.
      12. crisis l. A part of the body (like the heart lungs, brain, etc.) that has a special function.
      13. optimistic m. A situation where there is not enough of something.
      14. recover n. A time of great difficulty or danger.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Doctors in China carried out the first pig-heart transplant.     T / F
  2. The man who needed the heart was very ill before the operation.     T / F
  3. The man said the transplant was his last choice.     T / F
  4. Scientists did not need to change the genes of the pig.     T / F
  5. The heart transplant took 17 hours.     T / F
  6. Doctors needed special permission from the WHO to do the transplant.    T / F
  7. Pig organs could help to solve a shortage in organs for transplant.     T / F
  8. The man is looking forward to getting out of bed.     T / F

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

  1. happened
  2. operation
  3. chance
  4. die
  5. suitable
  6. permission
  7. believe
  8. closer
  9. provide
  10. recover
  1. pass away
  2. nearer
  3. acceptable
  4. think
  5. occurred
  6. get better
  7. surgery
  8. give
  9. clearance
  10. opportunity

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

  1. It is the first time this
  2. doing well after
  3. I know it's a shot
  4. Scientists changed the genes
  5. its heart would
  6. The transplant operation
  7. one step closer to solving the organ
  8. provide an important new option for
  9. his transplant will allow him
  10. I look forward to getting
  1. took seven hours
  2. patients
  3. of the pig
  4. out of bed
  5. has happened
  6. his operation
  7. to live longer
  8. be more suitable
  9. shortage
  10. in the dark

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
choice
time
ill
genes
either
suitable
well
chance

Doctors in the USA have transplanted a pig's heart into a man. It is the first (1) _____________________ this has happened. The doctors are from the University of Maryland Medical Center. They say David Bennett, 57, is doing (2) _____________________ after his operation. Mr Bennett was very (3) _____________________. The doctors said giving him the pig's heart was the only (4) _____________________ of keeping him alive. Bennett spoke to doctors the day before the operation. He said: "It was (5) _____________________ die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last (6) _____________________." The pig's heart came from a genetically-modified pig. Scientists changed the (7) _____________________ of the pig so its heart would be more (8) _____________________ for a transplant into a human.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
place
optimistic
operation
recover
crisis
longer
surgery
option

The transplant (9) _____________________ took seven hours. Doctors received special permission from U.S. authorities for the experimental (10) _____________________. Without it, Mr Bennett would have died. Scientists have been researching pig-organ transplants for years. They believe Mr Bennett's transplant means more transplants could take (11) _____________________ in the future. They said this could bring the world, "one step closer to solving the organ shortage (12) _____________________". Surgeon Dr Bartley Griffith said: "We are also (13) _____________________ that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new (14) _____________________ for patients in the future." Mr Bennett hopes his transplant will allow him to live (15) _____________________. He said: "I look forward to getting out of bed after I (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Doctors in the USA have transplanted a pig's heart ______
     a.  onto a man
     b.  unto a man
     c.  into a man
     d.  as to a man
2)  The doctors said giving him the pig's heart was the only chance of ______
     a.  keep ping him alive
     b.  keep ping him lively
     c.  keeping him a life
     d.  keeping him alive
3)  It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot ______
     a.  in the dark
     b.  in the bark
     c.  in the lark
     d.  in the park
4)  The pig's heart came from a genetically-______
     a.  modify pig
     b.  muddy fried pig
     c.  nodding fried pig
     d.  modified pig
5)  Scientists changed the genes of the pig so its heart would ______
     a.  be more sue table
     b.  be more suitable
     c.  be more suit a ball
     d.  beam ore soot table

6)  special permission from U.S. authorities for ______
     a.  the experiment all surgery
     b.  the ex perimeter surgery
     c.  the experimental surgery
     d.  the ex pear-rim mental surgery
7)  this could bring the world one step closer to solving the ______
     a.  organ shortages crises
     b.  organ short age crises
     c.  organ shore stage cry sis
     d.  organ shortage crisis
8)  optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an ______
     a.  important new option
     b.  importance new option
     c.  important news option
     d.  important new operation
9)  Mr Bennett hopes his transplant will allow him ______
     a.  tool live longer
     b.  too life longer
     c.  to lively longer
     d.  to live longer
10)  I look forward to getting out of bed ______
     a.  after I recovers
     b.  after I recover
     c.  after I recovery
     d.  after I re-cover

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Doctors in the USA have transplanted a pig's heart (1) ____________________. It is the first time this has happened. The doctors are from the University of Maryland Medical Center. They say David Bennett, 57, is (2) ____________________ his operation. Mr Bennett was very ill. The doctors said giving him the pig's heart was the (3) ____________________ keeping him alive. Bennett spoke to doctors the day before the operation. He said: "It was (4) ____________________ do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's (5) ____________________." The pig's heart came from a genetically-modified pig. Scientists changed the genes of the pig so its heart would be (6) ____________________ a transplant into a human.

The transplant operation (7) ____________________. Doctors received special permission from U.S. authorities for the experimental surgery. Without it, Mr Bennett (8) ____________________. Scientists have been researching pig-organ transplants for years. They believe Mr Bennett's transplant means more transplants could (9) ____________________ the future. They said this could bring the world, "one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis". Surgeon Dr Bartley Griffith said: "We are also optimistic (10) ____________________-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new option for patients in the future." Mr Bennett hopes his transplant will allow him (11) ____________________. He said: "I look forward to getting out of bed (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. In which country did this operation take place?
  2. How old is the heart transplant patient?
  3. When did Mr Bennett speak to doctors?
  4. What kind of pig did the heart come from?
  5. What did scientists change in the pig?
  6. How long did the operation take?
  7. Who did doctors need special permission from?
  8. What crisis might the world be one step closer to solving?
  9. How does the man's surgeon feel?
  10. What is the man looking forward to doing?

Multiple choice quiz

1) In which country did this operation take place?
a) Venezuela
b) China
c) the USA
d) Namibia
2) How old is the heart transplant patient?
a) 57
b) 56
c) 55
d) 59
3) When did Mr Bennett speak to doctors?
a) during his operation
b) the day before his operation
c) after his operation
d) he didn't speak to doctors
4) What kind of pig did the heart come from?
a) a pink one
b) a big one
c) a prize pig
d) a genetically-modified pig
5) What did scientists change in the pig?
a) its colour
b) its tail
c) its genes
d) its skin

6) How long did the operation take?
a) six hours
b) seven hours
c) five hours
d) nine hours
7) Who did doctors need special permission from?
a) the man's family
b) a pig farmer
c) the WHO
d) U.S. authorities
8) What crisis might the world be one step closer to solving?
a) overpopulation
b) the organ-shortage crisis
c) climate change
d) a serious crisis
9) How does the man's surgeon feel?
a) happy
b) optimistic
c) sad
d) pessimistic

10) What is the man looking forward to doing?
a) getting out of bed
b) eating dinner
c) swimming
d) thanking his doctors

Role play

Role  A – Heart
You think the heart is the most difficult organ to transplant. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their organ is not so difficult to transplant. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): brain, skin or stomach.

Role  B – Brain
You think the brain is the most difficult organ to transplant. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their organ is not so difficult to transplant. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): heart, skin or stomach.

Role  C – Skin
You think the skin is the most difficult organ to transplant. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their organ is not so difficult to transplant. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): brain, heart or stomach.

Role  D – Stomach
You think the stomach is the most difficult organ to transplant. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their organ is not so difficult to transplant. Also, tell the others which is the most difficult of these (and why): brain, skin or heart.

After reading / listening

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

'pig'

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

    • and 'heart'.

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

    • • 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:

    • first
    • well
    • alive
    • either
    • dark
    • suitable
    • special
    • years
    • believe
    • crisis
    • option
    • forward

    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 - Pig-heart Transplant

    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 'pig'?
    3. What do you know about pigs?
    4. What do you think of heart transplants?
    5. What do you think of heart transplants using pig hearts?
    6. Would you have made the same decision as the man?
    7. What do you think of genetically modifying animals?
    8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of organ transplants?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    10. What advice do you have for Mr Bennett?

    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 'heart'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of pigs?
    5. What do you think of surgeons?
    6. Do you think there will be more animal organ transplants in the future?
    7. How would you feel before having an organ transplant?
    8. Will doctors be able to replace all our body parts in the future?
    9. Do you always look forward to getting out of bed?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the doctors?

    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)

    Doctors in the USA have transplanted a pig's heart into (1) ____  man. It is the first time this has happened. The doctors are from the University of Maryland Medical Center. They say David Bennett, 57, is doing (2) ____ after his operation. Mr Bennett was very ill. The doctors said giving him the pig's heart was the only           (3) ____ of keeping him alive. Bennett spoke to doctors the day before the operation. He said: "It was either (4) ____ or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last (5) ____." The pig's heart came from a genetically-modified pig. Scientists changed the genes of the pig so its heart would (6) ____ more suitable for a transplant into a human.

    The transplant (7) ____ took seven hours. Doctors received special permission from U.S. authorities for the experimental surgery. Without it, Mr Bennett would (8) ____ died. Scientists have been researching pig-organ transplants for years. They believe Mr Bennett's transplant means more transplants could take (9) ____ in the future. They said this could bring the world, "one step closer to solving the organ shortage (10) ____". Surgeon Dr Bartley Griffith said: "We are also optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new option for patients (11) ____ the future." Mr Bennett hopes his transplant will allow him to live longer. He said: "I look forward to getting out (12) ____ bed after I recover."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     a     (b)     that     (c)     this     (d)     the    
    2. (a)     good     (b)     well     (c)     goodly     (d)     wellness    
    3. (a)     chants     (b)     charge     (c)     change     (d)     chance    
    4. (a)     death     (b)     die     (c)     dead     (d)     dying    
    5. (a)     choices     (b)     chosen     (c)     choose     (d)     choice    
    6. (a)     have     (b)     do     (c)     be     (d)     take    
    7. (a)     operation     (b)     surgical     (c)     force     (d)     enterprise    
    8. (a)     do     (b)     be     (c)     have     (d)     very    
    9. (a)     everyone     (b)     it     (c)     all     (d)     place    
    10. (a)     crisis     (b)     cries     (c)     crimes     (d)     critics    
    11. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     as    
    12. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     on

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the first time this has aephenpd
    2. the day before the oroatenpi
    3. It was erhiet die or do this transplant
    4. it's my last ociceh
    5. Scientists changed the eseng of the pig
    6. its heart would be more ibuetlsa

    Paragraph 2

    1. Doctors received special onsprsiemi
    2. U.S. shiioutaret
    3. tleerxpienma surgery
    4. solving the organ shortage sriics
    5. We are also tmciospiit
    6. getting out of bed after I roeevrc

    Put the text back together

    (...)  of keeping him alive. Bennett spoke to doctors the day before the operation. He said: "It was either die
    (...)  be more suitable for a transplant into a human.
    (...)  or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last
    (...)  well after his operation. Mr Bennett was very ill. The doctors said giving him the pig's heart was the only chance
    (...)  from U.S. authorities for the experimental surgery. Without it, Mr Bennett would have died. Scientists have been
    (...)  happened. The doctors are from the University of Maryland Medical Center. They say David Bennett, 57, is doing
    (...)  choice." The pig's heart came from a genetically-modified pig. Scientists changed the genes of the pig so its heart would
    (...)  The transplant operation took seven hours. Doctors received special permission
    (...)  to solving the organ shortage crisis". Surgeon Dr Bartley Griffith said: "We are also optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will
    (...)  him to live longer. He said: "I look forward to getting out of bed after I recover."
    (...)  researching pig-organ transplants for years. They believe Mr Bennett's transplant means more
    (...)  provide an important new option for patients in the future." Mr Bennett hopes his transplant will allow
    (...)  transplants could take place in the future. They said this could bring the world, "one step closer
    (  1  ) Doctors in the USA have transplanted a pig's heart into a man. It is the first time this has

    Put the words in the right order

    1. in   Doctors   transplanted   heart   .   pig's   a   the   USA
    2. is   It   the   first   happened   .   time   this   has
    3. only   The   alive   .   keeping   him   of   chance
    4. a   know   I   dark   .   shot   in   it's   the
    5. into   human   .   suitable   a   for   More   a   transplant
    6. authorities   .   Doctors   permission   from   received   special   U.S.
    7. take   in   could   the   future   .   More   transplants   place
    8. to   shortage   the   organ   Closer   solving   crisis   .
    9. to   him   longer   .   His   transplant   will   live   allow
    10. forward   out   to   of   I   look   getting   bed   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Doctors in the USA have transplanted a pig's heart onto / into a man. It is the first time this has happening / happened. The doctors are from the University of Maryland Medical Center. They say David Bennett, 57, is doing well / good after his operation. Mr Bennett was very illness / ill. The doctors said giving him the pig's heart was the only chance / change of keeping him alive. Bennett spoke for / to doctors the day before the operation. He said: "It was either / neither die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the light / dark, but it's my last choice." The pig's heart came from a genetically-modified pig. Scientists changed the jeans / genes of the pig so its heart would be more suitable / suits for a transplant into a human.

    The transplant operation gave / took seven hours. Doctors received special permission from U.S. authorities for the experimental sugary / surgery. Without it, Mr Bennett would have died / dead. Scientists have been researching pig-organ transplants for / four years. They believe Mr Bennett's transplant means more transplants could take place on / in the future. They said this could bring the word / world, "one step closer to solving / solve the organ shortage crisis". Surgeon Dr Bartley Griffith said: "We are also optimism / optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new adoption / option for patients in the future." Mr Bennett hopes his transplant will allow him to live longer. He said: "I look forwarding / forward to getting out of bed after I recover."

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

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

         D_ct_rs  _n  th_  _S_  h_v_  tr_nspl_nt_d  _  p_g's  h__rt  _nt_  _  m_n.  _t  _s  th_  f_rst  t_m_  th_s  h_s  h_pp_n_d.  Th_  d_ct_rs  _r_  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  M_ryl_nd  M_d_c_l  C_nt_r.  Th_y  s_y  D_v_d  B_nn_tt,  57,  _s  d__ng  w_ll  _ft_r  h_s  _p_r_t__n.  Mr  B_nn_tt  w_s  v_ry  _ll.  Th_  d_ct_rs  s__d  g_v_ng  h_m  th_  p_g's  h__rt  w_s  th_  _nly  ch_nc_  _f  k__p_ng  h_m  _l_v_.  B_nn_tt  sp_k_  t_  d_ct_rs  th_  d_y  b_f_r_  th_  _p_r_t__n.  H_  s__d:  "_t  w_s  __th_r  d__  _r  d_  th_s  tr_nspl_nt.  _  w_nt  t_  l_v_.  _  kn_w  _t's  _  sh_t  _n  th_  d_rk,  b_t  _t's  my  l_st  ch__c_."  Th_  p_g's  h__rt  c_m_  fr_m  _  g_n_t_c_lly-m_d_f__d  p_g.  Sc__nt_sts  ch_ng_d  th_  g_n_s  _f  th_  p_g  s_  _ts  h__rt  w__ld  b_  m_r_  s__t_bl_  f_r  _  tr_nspl_nt  _nt_  _  h_m_n.

         Th_  tr_nspl_nt  _p_r_t__n  t__k  s_v_n  h__rs.  D_ct_rs  r_c__v_d  sp_c__l  p_rm_ss__n  fr_m  _.S.  __th_r_t__s  f_r  th_  _xp_r_m_nt_l  s_rg_ry.  W_th__t  _t,  Mr  B_nn_tt  w__ld  h_v_  d__d.  Sc__nt_sts  h_v_  b__n  r_s__rch_ng  p_g-_rg_n  tr_nspl_nts  f_r  y__rs.  Th_y  b_l__v_  Mr  B_nn_tt's  tr_nspl_nt  m__ns  m_r_  tr_nspl_nts  c__ld  t_k_  pl_c_  _n  th_  f_t_r_.  Th_y  s__d  th_s  c__ld  br_ng  th_  w_rld,  "_n_  st_p  cl_s_r  t_  s_lv_ng  th_  _rg_n  sh_rt_g_  cr_s_s".  S_rg__n  Dr  B_rtl_y  Gr_ff_th  s__d:  W_  _r_  _ls_  _pt_m_st_c  th_t  th_s  f_rst-_n-th_-w_rld  s_rg_ry  w_ll  pr_v_d_  _n  _mp_rt_nt  n_w  _pt__n  f_r  p_t__nts  _n  th_  f_t_r_."  Mr  B_nn_tt  h_p_s  h_s  tr_nspl_nt  w_ll  _ll_w  h_m  t_  l_v_  l_ng_r.  H_  s__d:  "_  l__k  f_rw_rd  t_  g_tt_ng  __t  _f  b_d  _ft_r  _  r_c_v_r."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

         doctors in the usa have transplanted a pigs heart into a man it is the first time this has happened the doctors are from the university of maryland medical center they say david bennett 57 is doing well after his operation mr bennett was very ill the doctors said giving him the pigs heart was the only chance of keeping him alive bennett spoke to doctors the day before the operation he said it was either die or do this transplant i want to live i know its a shot in the dark but its my last choice the pigs heart came from a geneticallymodified pig scientists changed the genes of the pig so its heart would be more suitable for a transplant into a human

         the transplant operation took seven hours doctors received special permission from us authorities for the experimental surgery without it mr bennett would have died scientists have been researching pigorgan transplants for years they believe mr bennetts transplant means more transplants could take place in the future they said this could bring the world one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis surgeon dr bartley griffith said we are also optimistic that this firstintheworld surgery will provide an important new option for patients in the future mr bennett hopes his transplant will allow him to live longer he said i look forward to getting out of bed after i recover

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    DoctorsintheUSAhavetransplantedapig'sheartintoaman.Itisthefirst
    timethishashappened.ThedoctorsarefromtheUniversityofMaryland
    MedicalCenter.TheysayDavidBennett,57,isdoingwellafterhisoperati
    on.MrBennettwasveryill.Thedoctorssaidgivinghimthepig'sheartwas
    theonlychanceofkeepinghimalive.Bennettspoketodoctorsthedaybef
    oretheoperation.Hesaid:"Itwaseitherdieordothistransplant.Iwantto
    live.Iknowit'sashotinthedark,butit'smylastchoice."Thepig'sheartca
    mefromagenetically-modifiedpig.Scientistschangedthegenesofthep
    igsoitsheartwouldbemoresuitableforatransplantintoahuman.Thetra
    nsplantoperationtooksevenhours.Doctorsreceivedspecialpermissio
    nfromU.S.authoritiesfortheexperimentalsurgery.Withoutit,MrBenn
    ettwouldhavedied.Scientistshavebeenresearchingpig-organtran
    splantsforyears.TheybelieveMrBennett'stransplantmeansmoretran
    splantscouldtakeplaceinthefuture.Theysaidthiscouldbringtheworld,
    "onestepclosertosolvingtheorganshortagecrisis".SurgeonDrBartley
    Griffithsaid:Wearealsooptimisticthatthisfirst-in-the-worldsurgeryw
    illprovideanimportantnewoptionforpatientsinthefuture."MrBennett
    hopeshistransplantwillallowhimtolivelonger.Hesaid:"Ilookforwardt
    ogettingoutofbedafterIrecover."

    Free writing

    Write about pig-heart transplant for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Animal organ transplants will help people in the future. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. HEART TRANSPLANTS: Make a poster about heart transplants. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. PIG-HEART TRANSPLANTS: Write a magazine article about pig-heart transplants. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.
    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 heart transplants. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on pig-heart transplants. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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