The Reading / Listening - Coral Reefs - Level 6

Marine biologists have unearthed a spectacular coral reef off the coast of Tahiti in the South Pacific. The 3km-long reef lies at a depth of 30 metres. The scientists believe the array of corals and ocean vegetation contains previously undiscovered marine species. They have already found hundreds of rose-shaped coral, some of which measure over two metres in diameter. Deep-sea diver Alexis Rosenfeld said he was stunned when he came across the reef. He wrote: "It was magical to witness giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch for as far as the eye can see. It was like a work of art." Scientist Laetitia Hedouin said: "It's a very healthy reef. In the middle of the biodiversity crisis, this is very good news."

Scientists say the location of the Tahiti reef means it is in pristine condition. Most of the world's reefs are in warmer waters. This makes them prone to the bleaching effects of global warming. Tahiti's reef is deep enough to protect it from bleaching. There is still sufficient sunlight at 30 metres for coral to grow and reproduce. UNESCO said: "We think that deeper reefs may be better protected from global warming." It believes the Tahiti reef is "one of the most extensive healthy coral reefs on record". It added that more mapping of the deep ocean needs to be undertaken. It said: "We know more about the surface of the Moon or the surface of Mars than the deeper part of the ocean."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Coral Reefs - Level 4  or  Coral Reefs - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/20/pristine-reef-of-giant-rose-shaped-corals-found-off-tahiti
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-of-the-worlds-largest-coral-reefs-discovered-in-twilight-zone-off-tahiti/
  • https://www.newscientist.com/article/2305315-pristine-coral-reef-discovered-in-deep-water-off-the-coast-of-tahiti/


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. CORAL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about coral. 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?
       marine biologists / coral / reef / South Pacific / species / rose / magical / good news /
       Tahiti / pristine / bleaching / global warming / mapping / deep ocean / Moon / Mars
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. OCEAN RESEARCH: Students A strongly believe more money should be spent on ocean research than on space research; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ISLANDS: What do you know about these island nations? What might make them a good place to live? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

A Good Place to Live

Tahiti

 

 

Sri Lanka

 

 

The U.K.

 

 

Japan

 

 

Madagascar

 

 

Bahrain

 

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

  • Coral
  • Fishing
  • Beaches
  • Sunsets
  • Sailing
  • Colour
  • Tides
  • Marine life

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. unearthed a. Beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way.
      2. spectacular b. Astonished or shocked someone so that they are temporarily unable to react.
      3. array c. A time of intense difficulty or danger.
      4. stunned d. An impressive display or range of a particular type of thing.
      5. witness e. The variety of plant and animal life in the world.
      6. biodiversity f. Discover something hidden, lost, or kept secret by investigation or searching.
      7. crisis g. See an event as it happens.

    Paragraph 2

      8. pristine h. Likely or liable to suffer from, do, or experience something unpleasant.
      9. prone i. A process in which something (hair, coral, etc.) becomes whiter or lighter by a chemical process or by exposure to sunlight.
      10. bleaching j. Representing an area on a map.
      11. sufficient k. Create more babies, young or offspring.
      12. reproduce l. Enough; adequate.
      13. extensive m. In its original condition; unspoilt.
      14. mapping n. Covering or affecting a large area.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The newly-found coral reef is 30km long.     T / F
  2. The scientists say they have founds dozens of new marine species.     T / F
  3. A diver said it was magical to see giant rose-shaped corals.     T / F
  4. A scientist said the discovery could end the biodiversity crises.     T / F
  5. The Tahiti reef has been damaged by bleaching from the sun.     T / F
  6. The article says there is enough sunlight for life to reproduce in the reef. T / F
  7. UNESCO said there was a need to map more of the ocean.     T / F
  8. UNESCO said we know more about Mars than about the deep ocean.     T / F

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

  1. unearthed
  2. spectacular
  3. stunned
  4. witness
  5. crisis
  6. pristine
  7. prone
  8. protect
  9. extensive
  10. undertaken
  1. conducted
  2. discovered
  3. substantial
  4. susceptible
  5. astounded
  6. impressive
  7. immaculate
  8. critical point
  9. safeguard
  10. observe

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

  1. biologists have unearthed
  2. the array
  3. previously undiscovered
  4. stretch for as far as
  5. In the middle of the biodiversity
  6. it is in pristine
  7. This makes them prone
  8. There is still sufficient
  9. one of the most
  10. the surface of
  1. marine species
  2. extensive healthy coral reefs
  3. crisis
  4. condition
  5. a spectacular coral reef
  6. sunlight at 30 metres
  7. Mars
  8. of corals
  9. to the bleaching effects
  10. the eye can see

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
depth
stunned
unearthed
art
diameter
crisis
species
magical

Marine biologists have (1) _____________________ a spectacular coral reef off the coast of Tahiti in the South Pacific. The 3km-long reef lies at a (2) _____________________ of 30 metres. The scientists believe the array of corals and ocean vegetation contains previously undiscovered marine (3) _____________________. They have already found hundreds of rose-shaped coral, some of which measure over two metres in (4) _____________________. Deep-sea diver Alexis Rosenfeld said he was (5) _____________________ when he came across the reef. He wrote: "It was (6) _____________________ to witness giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch for as far as the eye can see. It was like a work of (7) _____________________." Scientist Laetitia Hedouin said: "It's a very healthy reef. In the middle of the biodiversity (8) _____________________, this is very good news."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
part
bleaching
better
pristine
mapping
prone
record
sufficient

Scientists say the location of the Tahiti reef means it is in (9) _____________________ condition. Most of the world's reefs are in warmer waters. This makes them (10) _____________________ to the bleaching effects of global warming. Tahiti's reef is deep enough to protect it from (11) _____________________. There is still (12) _____________________ sunlight at 30 metres for coral to grow and reproduce. UNESCO said: "We think that deeper reefs may be (13) _____________________ protected from global warming." It believes the Tahiti reef is "one of the most extensive healthy coral reefs on (14) _____________________". It added that more (15) _____________________ of the deep ocean needs to be undertaken. It said: "We know more about the surface of the Moon or the surface of Mars than the deeper (16) _____________________ of the ocean."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Marine biologists have unearthed a spectacular coral reef off the ______
     a.  cost of Tahiti
     b.  cast of Tahiti
     c.  coast of Tahiti
     d.  coats of Tahiti
2) the array of corals and ocean vegetation contains previously undiscovered ______
     a.  mariner species
     b.  marine specials
     c.  marring speed seas
     d.  marine species
3)  Deep-sea diver Alexis Rosenfeld said he was stunned when he came ______
     a.  across the reef
     b.  across a reef
     c.  a cross there riff
     d.  across the riff
4)  magical to witness giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch for as far as the ______
     a.  eye can see
     b.  eye can sea
     c.  eye can seen
     d.  eye can seer
5)  It's a very healthy reef. In the middle of ______
     a.  the biodiversity critics
     b.  the biodiversity cry seas
     c.  the biodiversity cry sis
     d.  the biodiversity crisis

6)  Scientists say the location of the Tahiti reef means it is ______
     a.  imp rusty condition
     b.  impish teen condition
     c.  imprints teen condition
     d.  in pristine condition
7)  This makes them prone to ______
     a.  the blanching effects
     b.  the branching effects
     c.  the bleaching effects
     d.  the broaching effects
8)  There is still sufficient sunlight at 30 metres for coral to ______
     a.  grows and reproduce
     b.  grown and reproduce
     c.  growth and reproduce
     d.  grow and reproduce
9)  It believes the Tahiti reef is "one of the most extensive healthy coral ______"
     a.  roofs on record
     b.  reefs on record
     c.  reefs in record
     d.  reefs on records
10)  It added that more mapping of the deep ocean needs ______
     a.  to be overtaken
     b.  to be retaken
     c.  to be undertaken
     d.  to be on the taken

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Marine biologists (1) ____________________ spectacular coral reef off the coast of Tahiti in the South Pacific. The 3km-long reef (2) ____________________ depth of 30 metres. The scientists believe the array of corals and ocean vegetation contains previously undiscovered marine species. They have already found hundreds of (3) ____________________, some of which measure over two metres in diameter. Deep-sea diver Alexis Rosenfeld said he was stunned when he came across the reef. He wrote: "It was (4) ____________________ giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch for as far as (5) ____________________ see. It was like a work of art." Scientist Laetitia Hedouin said: "It's a very healthy reef. In the middle of (6) ____________________, this is very good news."

Scientists say the location of the Tahiti reef means it is (7) ____________________. Most of the world's reefs are in warmer waters. This makes them prone to the (8) ____________________ global warming. Tahiti's reef is deep enough to protect it from bleaching. There is still (9) ____________________ 30 metres for coral to grow and reproduce. UNESCO said: "We think that (10) ____________________ be better protected from global warming." It believes the Tahiti reef is "one of the most extensive healthy coral reefs on record". It added that more mapping of the deep ocean needs (11) ____________________. It said: "We know more about the surface of the Moon or the surface of Mars than the (12) ____________________ the ocean."

Comprehension questions

  1. How deep is the newly-discovered reef in Tahiti?
  2. What does the article say the reef might contain?
  3. What shape of corals did the scientists find?
  4. How did a diver describe witnessing the corals?
  5. What did a scientist say the discovery was made in the middle of?
  6. In what kind of condition is the reef?
  7. Where are most of the world's reefs?
  8. What does the article say corals can do at 30 metres besides grow?
  9. What did UNESCO say needed to be undertaken?
  10. What do we know more about than the deeper part of the ocean?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  How deep is the newly-discovered reef in Tahiti?
a) 13 metres
b) 30 metres
c) 300 metres
d) 3 metres
2) What does the article say the reef might contain?
a) lots of salt
b) minerals
c) pollution
d) undiscovered species
3) What shape of corals did the scientists find?
a) sunflower-shaped corals
b) tulip-shaped corals
c) rose-shaped corals
d) star-shaped corals
4) How did a diver describe witnessing the corals?
a) magical
b) scary
c) weird
d) enlightening

5) What did a scientist say the discovery was made in the middle of?
a) the sea
b) a biodiversity crisis
c) the Southern Hemisphere
d) the night

6) In what kind of condition is the reef?
a) pristine condition
b) poor condition
c) brand new condition
d) terminal condition
7) Where are most of the world's reefs?
a) the Pacific
b) the Northern Hemisphere
c) in warmer waters
d) over 30 metres deep
8) What does the article say corals can do at 30 metres besides grow?
a) reproduce
b) produce oxygen
c) destroy pollution
d) emit light
9) What did UNESCO say needed to be undertaken?
a) a clean-up of the oceans
b) more diving courses
c) education
d) more mapping of the ocean
10) What do we know more about than the deeper part of the ocean?
a) the universe
b) the human brain
c) the surface of Mars and the Moon
d) particle physics

Role play

Role  A – Coral Reefs
You think coral reefs are the best things about oceans. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these (and why): fishing, sunsets or marine life.

Role  B – Fishing
You think fishing is the best thing about oceans. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these (and why): coral reefs, sunsets or marine life.

Role  C – Sunsets
You think sunsets are the best things about oceans. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these (and why): fishing, coral reefs or marine life.

Role  D – Marine Life
You think marine life is the best thing about oceans. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these (and why): fishing, sunsets or coral reefs.

After reading / listening

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

'coral'

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

    • and 'reef'.

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

    • • 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:

    • spectacular
    • array
    • hundreds
    • stunned
    • giant
    • good
    • condition
    • prone
    • grow
    • better
    • record
    • deeper

    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 - Coral Reefs

    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 'coral'?
    3. What do you know about marine biology?
    4. What do you know about coral reefs?
    5. How important is the discovery of the coral reef?
    6. Why are coral reefs important?
    7. Would you like to be a marine biologist?
    8. What do you think of scuba diving?
    9. Have you ever witnessed anything magical?
    10. What is the biodiversity crisis?

    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 'reef'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Tahiti?
    5. How beautiful are coral reefs?
    6. What do you know about bleaching from global warming?
    7. Should we spend more money on ocean research than space research?
    8. What do you know about Mars?
    9. Is it more important to know about Mars or our oceans?
    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)

    Marine biologists have (1) ____ a spectacular coral reef off the coast of Tahiti in the South Pacific. The 3km-long reef (2) ____ at a depth of 30 metres. The scientists believe the (3) ____ of corals and ocean vegetation contains previously undiscovered marine species. They have already found hundreds of rose-shaped coral, some of (4) ____ measure over two metres in diameter. Deep-sea diver Alexis Rosenfeld said he was stunned when he came across the reef. He wrote: "It was magical to witness giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch for as (5) ____ as the eye can see. It was like a work of art." Scientist Laetitia Hedouin said: "It's a very healthy reef. In the middle of the biodiversity crisis, this is very (6) ____ news."

    Scientists say the location of the Tahiti reef means it is (7) ____ pristine condition. Most of the world's reefs are in warmer waters. This makes them (8) ____ to the bleaching effects of global warming. Tahiti's reef is deep enough to protect it from bleaching. There is still (9) ____ sunlight at 30 metres for coral to grow and reproduce. UNESCO said: "We think that deeper reefs may be better protected from global warming." It believes the Tahiti reef is "one of (10) ____ most extensive healthy coral reefs on record". It added that more (11) ____ of the deep ocean needs to be undertaken. It said: "We know more about the surface of the Moon or the surface of Mars than the deeper part of the (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     earthed     (b)     earthen     (c)     unearthed     (d)     earthy    
    2. (a)     lies     (b)     lees     (c)     lays     (d)     loos    
    3. (a)     array     (b)     aura     (c)     aurora     (d)     aerial    
    4. (a)     which     (b)     that     (c)     thus     (d)     that    
    5. (a)     long     (b)     far     (c)     distance     (d)     further    
    6. (a)     goods     (b)     goodness     (c)     goodly     (d)     good    
    7. (a)     on     (b)     an     (c)     in     (d)     at    
    8. (a)     drain     (b)     drone     (c)     prune     (d)     prone    
    9. (a)     sufficient     (b)     suffice     (c)     suffer     (d)     suffragette    
    10. (a)     a     (b)     the     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    11. (a)     diagram     (b)     mapping     (c)     coordinates     (d)     atlas    
    12. (a)     oceanology     (b)     oceanic     (c)     ocean     (d)     oceanographer

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Marine otbiigsols
    2. unearthed a pclteaucrsa coral reef
    3. the rryaa of corals and ocean vegetation
    4. marine csesiep
    5. It was cgalmai to witness
    6. In the middle of the iibesvrydoti crisis

    Paragraph 2

    1. it is in resnipit condition
    2. nerop to the bleaching effects
    3. iiffecstnu sunlight
    4. grow and rpueeocdr
    5. one of the most sevntieex healthy coral reefs
    6. needs to be ruedntkaen

    Put the text back together

    (...)  reproduce. UNESCO said: "We think that deeper reefs may be better protected from global warming." It believes the Tahiti reef is "one
    (...)  are in warmer waters. This makes them prone to the bleaching effects of global warming. Tahiti's reef is deep
    (...)  across the reef. He wrote: "It was magical to witness giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch for as far as
    (...)  of the most extensive healthy coral reefs on record". It added that more mapping of the deep
    (...)  enough to protect it from bleaching. There is still sufficient sunlight at 30 metres for coral to grow and
    (...)  the eye can see. It was like a work of art." Scientist Laetitia Hedouin said: "It's a
    (  1  ) Marine biologists have unearthed a spectacular coral reef off the coast of Tahiti in the South Pacific. The 3km-long reef
    (...)  lies at a depth of 30 metres. The scientists believe the array of corals and ocean vegetation contains previously
    (...)  Scientists say the location of the Tahiti reef means it is in pristine condition. Most of the world's reefs
    (...)  ocean needs to be undertaken. It said: "We know more about the surface of
    (...)  very healthy reef. In the middle of the biodiversity crisis, this is very good news."
    (...)  undiscovered marine species. They have already found hundreds of rose-shaped coral, some of
    (...)  which measure over two metres in diameter. Deep-sea diver Alexis Rosenfeld said he was stunned when he came
    (...)  the Moon or the surface of Mars than the deeper part of the ocean."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. a   spectacular   unearthed   reef   .   coral   Marine   biologists   have
    2. species  . vegetation  previously  marine  Ocean  undiscovered  contains
    3. when   reef   .   stunned   the   discovered   he   He   was
    4. can   see   .   far   For   as   the   as   eye
    5. crisis   .   the   middle   of   In   biodiversity   the
    6. them   makes   effects   .   prone   This   the   to   bleaching
    7. reefs   better   We   may   protected   .   think   deeper   be
    8. record   .   coral   on   reefs   most   healthy   The   extensive
    9. of   should   be   undertaken   .   deep   the   Mapping   ocean
    10. about   more   the   surface   the   Moon   .   Know   of

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Marine biologists have unearthed / earthed a spectacular coral reef off the coast of Tahiti in the South Pacific. The 3km-long reef lays / lies at a depth of 30 metres. The scientists believe the disarray / array of corals and ocean vegetation contains previously undiscovered / discovery marine species. They have already found hundreds of rose-shaped coral, some of that / which measure over two metres in diameter. Deep-sea diver Alexis Rosenfeld said he was stunning / stunned when he came across the reef. He wrote: "It was magical / magician to witness giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch for as farther / far as the eye can see. It was like a work of art." Scientist Laetitia Hedouin said: "It's a very healthy reef. In / On the middle of the biodiversity crisis, this is very well / good news."

    Scientists say the vocation / location of the Tahiti reef means it is in / on pristine condition. Most of the world's reefs are in warmer / warmth waters. This makes them prone to the bleaching effects of global warming. Tahiti's reef is deep plenty / enough to protect it from bleaching. There is still suffice / sufficient sunlight at 30 metres for coral to grow and reproduce. UNESCO said: "We think that deeper / deepen reefs may be better protected from global warming." It beliefs / believes the Tahiti reef is "one of the most extensive healthy coral reefs on / in record". It added that more mapping of the deep ocean needs to be overtaken / undertaken. It said: "We know more about the surface of the Moon or the top / surface of Mars than the deeper part of the ocean."

    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)

    Mar_n_  b__l_g_sts  hav_  _n_arth_d _  sp_ctac_lar  c_ral  r__f  _ff  th_  c_ast  _f  Tah_t_  _n  th_  S__th  Pac_f_c.  Th_  3km-l_ng  r__f  l__s _t _  d_pth  _f  30  m_tr_s.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  b_l__v_  th_ _rray  _f  c_rals _nd  _c_an  v_g_tat__n  c_nta_ns  pr_v___sly  _nd_sc_v_r_d  mar_n_  sp_c__s.  Th_y  hav_ _lr_ady  f__nd  h_ndr_ds  _f  r_s_-shap_d  c_ral,  s_m_  _f  wh_ch  m_as_r_  _v_r  tw_  m_tr_s  _n  d_am_t_r.  D__p-s_a  d_v_r _l_x_s  R_s_nf_ld  sa_d  h_  was  st_nn_d  wh_n  h_  cam_ _cr_ss  th_  r__f.  H_  wr_t_:  "_t  was  mag_cal  t_  w_tn_ss  g_ant,  b_a_t_f_l  r_s_  c_rals  wh_ch  str_tch  f_r _s  far _s  th_  _y_  can  s__.  _t  was  l_k_ _  w_rk  _f _rt."  Sc__nt_st  La_t_t_a  H_d___n  sa_d:  "_t's _  v_ry  h_althy  r__f.  _n  th_  m_ddl_  _f  th_  b__d_v_rs_ty  cr_s_s,  th_s  _s  v_ry  g__d  n_ws."

    Sc__nt_sts  say  th_  l_cat__n  _f  th_  Tah_t_  r__f  m_ans  _t  _s  _n  pr_st_n_  c_nd_t__n.  M_st  _f  th_  w_rld's  r__fs _r_  _n  warm_r  wat_rs.  Th_s  mak_s  th_m  pr_n_  t_  th_  bl_ach_ng  _ff_cts  _f  gl_bal  warm_ng.  Tah_t_'s  r__f  _s  d__p  _n__gh  t_  pr_t_ct  _t  fr_m  bl_ach_ng.  Th_r_  _s  st_ll  s_ff_c__nt  s_nl_ght _t  30  m_tr_s  f_r  c_ral  t_  gr_w _nd  r_pr_d_c_.  _N_SC_  sa_d:  "W_  th_nk  that  d__p_r  r__fs  may  b_  b_tt_r  pr_t_ct_d  fr_m  gl_bal  warm_ng."  _t  b_l__v_s  th_  Tah_t_  r__f  _s  "_n_  _f  th_  m_st  _xt_ns_v_  h_althy  c_ral  r__fs  _n  r_c_rd".  _t _dd_d  that  m_r_  mapp_ng  _f  th_  d__p  _c_an  n__ds  t_  b_  _nd_rtak_n.  _t  sa_d:  "W_  kn_w  m_r_ _b__t  th_  s_rfac_  _f  th_  M__n  _r  th_  s_rfac_  _f  Mars  than  th_  d__p_r  part  _f  th_  _c_an."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    marine biologists have unearthed a spectacular coral reef off the coast of tahiti in the south pacific the 3kmlong reef lies at a depth of 30 metres the scientists believe the array of corals and ocean vegetation contains previously undiscovered marine species they have already found hundreds of roseshaped coral some of which measure over two metres in diameter deepsea diver alexis rosenfeld said he was stunned when he came across the reef he wrote it was magical to witness giant beautiful rose corals which stretch for as far as the eye can see it was like a work of art scientist laetitia hedouin said its a very healthy reef in the middle of the biodiversity crisis this is very good news

    scientists say the location of the tahiti reef means it is in pristine condition most of the worlds reefs are in warmer waters this makes them prone to the bleaching effects of global warming tahitis reef is deep enough to protect it from bleaching there is still sufficient sunlight at 30 metres for coral to grow and reproduce unesco said we think that deeper reefs may be better protected from global warming it believes the tahiti reef is one of the most extensive healthy coral reefs on record it added that more mapping of the deep ocean needs to be undertaken it said we know more about the surface of the moon or the surface of mars than the deeper part of the ocean

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Marinebiologistshaveunearthedaspectacularcoralreefoffthecoastof
    TahitiintheSouthPacific.The3km-longreefliesatadepthof30metres.T
    hescientistsbelievethearrayofcoralsandoceanvegetationcontainspr
    eviouslyundiscoveredmarinespecies.Theyhavealreadyfoundhundre
    dsofrose-shapedcoral,someofwhichmeasureovertwometresindiam
    eter.Deep-seadiverAlexisRosenfeldsaidhewasstunnedwhenhecam
    eacrossthereef.Hewrote:"Itwasmagicaltowitnessgiant,beautifulros
    ecoralswhichstretchforasfarastheeyecansee.Itwaslikeaworkofart."
    ScientistLaetitiaHedouinsaid:"It'saveryhealthyreef.Inthemiddleoft
    hebiodiversitycrisis,thisisverygoodnews."Scientistssaythelocationo
    ftheTahitireefmeansitisinpristinecondition.Mostoftheworld'sreefsar
    einwarmerwaters.Thismakesthempronetothebleachingeffectsofglo
    balwarming.Tahiti'sreefisdeepenoughtoprotectitfrombleaching.The
    reisstillsufficientsunlightat30metresforcoraltogrowandreproduce.U
    NESCOsaid:"Wethinkthatdeeperreefsmaybebetterprotectedfromgl
    obalwarming."ItbelievestheTahitireefis"oneofthemostextensivehea
    lthycoralreefsonrecord".Itaddedthatmoremappingofthedeepocean
    needstobeundertaken.Itsaid:"WeknowmoreaboutthesurfaceoftheM
    oonorthesurfaceofMarsthanthedeeperpartoftheocean."

    Free writing

    Write about Tahiti coral reef for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    More money should be spent on ocean research than on space research. 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. CORAL: Make a poster about coral. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. OCEAN OR SPACE?: Write a magazine article about spending more money on mapping our oceans than we do on space research. 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 coral. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to protect coral reefs. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    Buy my book

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    Answers

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

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