The Reading / Listening - Younger Looking Skin - Level 3

People around the world spend billions of dollars every year trying to look younger. Companies produce thousands of creams, pills and treatments for our skin to look younger. In addition, scientists have worked for decades on trying to slow down the ageing process. This week, scientists made a breakthrough. They have developed a method to "time jump" cells in human skin. The scientists are from the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK. They say they can turn back the ageing clock in cells by 30 years. They added that this could make skin look younger. Skin cells in their tests kept all of the important functions. The scientists say their work is still at an early stage, but it could help people look younger in the future.

The technique developed by the scientists could change medicine and health. The lead researcher, Dr Diljeet Gill, said: "So far, we've only tested this technique in skin cells. We're excited to see if we can translate it across other cell types." This means it could be used to treat skin problems, such as burns, acne and eczema. The scientists hope their technique could also be used to help other parts of the body. Their new method could additionally help to heal cuts more quickly, especially in older people. Researcher Dr Wolf Reik said: "If you cut yourself, it'll take quicker to heal the wound." The scientists said their work might one day help us look younger. It could actually reverse the ageing process.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Younger Looking Skin - Level 0,  Younger Looking Skin - Level 1   or  Younger Looking Skin - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.newscientist.com/article/2315485-anti-ageing-technique-makes-skin-cells-act-30-years-younger/
  • https://www.genengnews.com/topics/omics/old-fibroblasts-cellular-age-and-function-rejuvenated-by-30-years/
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-rewind-the-age-of-human-skin-cells-back-30-years


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. YOUNGER LOOKING SKIN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about younger looking skin. 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?
       the world / billions of dollars / creams / pills / breakthrough / scientists / the future /
       technique / skin / cells / acne / parts of the body / older people / wound / ageing
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NATURAL: Students A strongly believe it is better to age naturally than to change nature with medicines; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. LOOKING YOUNGER: How good are these things at keeping people young looking? What do you do about these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Good?

What You Do?

Exercise

 

 

Food

 

 

Sleep

 

 

Creams

 

 

Sun

 

 

Drink

 

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

  • More money
  • More memories
  • More family
  • More time
  • More wisdom
  • More friends
  • More confidence
  • More stuff

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. billion a. A point, period, or step in a process or development.
      2. pills b. 1,000,000,000
      3. treatment c. A sudden, big, and important discovery or event.
      4. decade d. A small round medicine that you swallow.
      5. breakthrough e. A period of 10 years.
      6. cell f. Medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury.
      7. stage g. The smallest part of the body of a human, animal, fish, etc, or of a plant.

    Paragraph 2

      8. lead h. Most important; in charge.
      9. technique i. Make something the opposite of what it was.
      10. translate j. A special way of doing something.
      11. burn k. An injury in which the skin is cut or broken.
      12. heal l. Make a process for one thing work for another thing.
      13. wound m. An injury to the body because of fire or very hot water.
      14. reverse n. Make a physical or mental injury better.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Someone spent a billion dollars on looking younger.     T / F
  2. Scientists have worked for a long time to slow down the ageing process.  T / F
  3. Scientists say they can turn back the ageing clock by three decades.     T / F
  4. Scientists said they have nearly finished all their work.     T / F
  5. The work of the scientists could change medicine.     T / F
  6. The scientists have tested their technique on other cell types.     T / F
  7. The new technique could help heal cuts and wounds more quickly.     T / F
  8. Scientists doubt if their technique will help us to look younger.     T / F

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

  1. trying
  2. produce
  3. decade
  4. breakthrough
  5. functions
  6. technique
  7. treat
  8. especially
  9. wound
  10. reverse
  1. cure
  2. advance
  3. attempting
  4. cut
  5. make
  6. turn around
  7. method
  8. roles
  9. particularly
  10. ten years

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

  1. thousands of creams, pills
  2. trying to slow down the ageing
  3. scientists made a
  4. this could make skin
  5. their work is still at
  6. The technique developed
  7. skin
  8. treat skin problems, such
  9. help to heal
  10. their work might one
  1. cuts more quickly
  2. by the scientists
  3. an early stage
  4. as burns, acne and eczema
  5. process
  6. cells
  7. look younger
  8. day help us
  9. breakthrough
  10. and treatments

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
decades
pills
early
back
billions
future
method
look

People around the world spend (1) _____________________ of dollars every year trying to look younger. Companies produce thousands of creams, (2) _____________________ and treatments for our skin to look younger. In addition, scientists have worked for (3) _____________________ on trying to slow down the ageing process. This week, scientists made a breakthrough. They have developed a (4) _____________________ to "time jump" cells in human skin. The scientists are from the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK. They say they can turn (5) _____________________ the ageing clock in cells by 30 years. They added that this could make skin (6) _____________________ younger. Skin cells in their tests kept all of the important functions. The scientists say their work is still at an (7) _____________________ stage, but it could help people look younger in the (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
types
quickly
developed
other
reverse
technique
yourself
acne

The technique (9) _____________________ by the scientists could change medicine and health. The lead researcher, Dr Diljeet Gill, said: "So far, we've only tested this (10) _____________________ in skin cells. We're excited to see if we can translate it across other cell (11) _____________________." This means it could be used to treat skin problems, such as burns, (12) _____________________ and eczema. The scientists hope their technique could also be used to help (13) _____________________ parts of the body. Their new method could additionally help to heal cuts more (14) _____________________, especially in older people. Researcher Dr Wolf Reik said: "If you cut (15) _____________________, it'll take quicker to heal the wound." The scientists said their work might one day help us look younger. It could actually (16) _____________________ the ageing process.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) People around the world spend billions of dollars every year trying ______
     a.  to looking young geer
     b.  at look younger
     c.  too look young gear
     d.  to look younger
2)  Companies produce thousands of creams, ______
     a.  pill sand treatments
     b.  pill send treatment
     c.  pills and treatments
     d.  pill sand treat meant
3)  scientists have worked for decades on trying to slow down ______
     a.  the age in pro cyst
     b.  the age gin process
     c.  the ageing pros cyst
     d.  the ageing process
4)  They say they can turn back the ageing clock in cells ______
     a.  by 30 years
     b.  buy 30 years
     c.  bye 30 years
     d.  be 30 years
5)  The scientists say their work is still at ______
     a.  a gnarly stage
     b.  a nearly stage
     c.  an eerie stage
     d.  an early stage

6)  The technique developed by the scientists could change ______
     a.  medics in and health
     b.  medics sin and health
     c.  medicine end health
     d.  medicine and health
7)  So far, we've only tested this technique ______
     a.  ink skin cells
     b.  ins kin cells
     c.  in skin cells
     d.  in skins cells
8)  This means it could be used to ______
     a.  threat skin problems
     b.  treat skin problems
     c.  treats skin problems
     d.  treats akin problems
9)  Their new method could additionally help ______
     a.  to feel cuts
     b.  tooth heal cuts
     c.  to heal cuts
     d.  tooth eel cuts
10)  If you cut yourself, it'll take quicker to ______
     a.  heel the wound
     b.  feel the wound
     c.  heal the wound
     d.  hail the wound

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

People around the world spend (1) ____________________ every year trying to look younger. Companies produce thousands of creams, pills and treatments for our skin (2) ____________________. In addition, scientists have worked for decades on trying to slow down the ageing process. This week, scientists (3) ____________________. They have developed a method to "time jump" cells in human skin. The scientists are from the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK. They say they can turn back (4) ____________________ in cells by 30 years. They added that this could make skin look younger. Skin cells in (5) ____________________ all of the important functions. The scientists say their work is still at an early stage, but it could help people look younger (6) ____________________.

The technique developed by the scientists could change (7) ____________________. The lead researcher, Dr Diljeet Gill, said: "So far, we've only tested this technique in skin cells. We're (8) ____________________ if we can translate it across other cell types." This means it could be used to (9) ____________________, such as burns, acne and eczema. The scientists hope their technique could also be used to help (10) ____________________ the body. Their new method could additionally help to heal cuts more quickly, especially in older people. Researcher Dr Wolf Reik said: "If you cut yourself, it'll take (11) ____________________ the wound." The scientists said their work might one day help us look younger. It could actually (12) ____________________ process.

Comprehension questions

  1. How much money do people spend on trying to look younger?
  2. For how long have scientists tried to slow down the ageing process?
  3. What does the article say scientists made this week?
  4. What do scientists say they can turn back by 30 years?
  5. At what stage did the scientists say there work is?
  6. What could this new technique change?
  7. On what kinds of cells did scientists carry out their tests?
  8. What skin problems could the technique help besides acne and eczema?
  9. What could heal more quickly because of the new technique?
  10. What do scientists think their technique might one day reverse?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much money do people spend on trying to look younger?
a) billions of dollars
b) millions of dollars
c) hundreds and thousands of dollars
d) thousands of dollars
2) For how long have scientists tried to slow down the ageing process?
a) years
b) centuries
c) decades
d) months
3) What does the article say scientists made this week?
a) a new cell
b) a breakthrough
c) a new cream
d) a lot of money
4) What do scientists say they can turn back by 30 years?
a) the atomic clock
b) time
c) cells
d) the ageing clock
5)  At what stage did the scientists say there work is?
a) the early stage
b) in the middle
c) in the later stages
d) the final stage

6) What does the article say could this new technique change?
a) skin colour
b) the world
c) wrinkles
d) medicine and health
7) On what kinds of cells did scientists carry out their tests?
a) wrinkled cells
b) skin cells
c) wrinkles
d) prisoners' cells
8) What skin problems could the technique help besides acne and eczema?
a) itchy skin
b) rashes
c) sunburn
d) burns
9) What could heal more quickly because of the new technique?
a) society
b) the mind
c) cuts (and wounds)
d) the ageing process
10) What do scientists think their technique might one day reverse?
a) cells
b) the ageing process
c) how long we live
d) longevity

Role play

Role  A – More Money
You think having more money is the best thing about ageing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): more memories, more time or more confidence.

Role  B – More Memories
You think having more memories is the best thing about ageing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): more money, more time or more confidence.

Role  C – More Time
You think having more time is the best thing about ageing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): more memories, more money or more confidence.

Role  D – More Confidence
You think having more confidence is the best thing about ageing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): more memories, more time or more money.

After reading / listening

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

'young'

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

    • and 'skin'.

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

    • • 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:

    • billions
    • thousands
    • addition
    • jump
    • turn
    • future
    • health
    • tested
    • treat
    • parts
    • cut
    • process

    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 - Younger Looking Skin

    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 'young'?
    3. Would you like to look younger?
    4. What do you do to look after your skin?
    5. What functions does the skin carry out?
    6. Do you worry about looking older?
    7. How can we slow down the ageing process?
    8. What other body parts could this new technique help?
    9. Would you rather look younger or feel younger?
    10. What advice do you have for someone with skin problems?

    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 'skin'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do people want to look younger?
    5. Do you worry about your skin condition?
    6. What would it be like if everyone looked no older than 25?
    7. What problems do people have as they age?
    8. What are the bad things about reversing the ageing process?
    9. Would you like to live to be 200?
    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)

    People around the world spend billions of dollars every year (1) ____ to look younger. Companies produce thousands of creams, pills and treatments for our skin to look younger. In (2) ____, scientists have worked for decades (3) ____ trying to slow down the ageing process. This week, scientists made a breakthrough. They have developed a method to "time jump" cells in (4) ____ skin. The scientists are from the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK. They say they can turn back the ageing clock in cells (5) ____ 30 years. They added that this could make skin look younger. Skin cells in their tests kept all of the important functions. The scientists say their work is still at an (6) ____ stage, but it could help people look younger in the future.

    The technique (7) ____ by the scientists could change medicine and health. The lead researcher, Dr Diljeet Gill, said: "So far, we've only tested this technique in skin cells. We're excited to see if we can translate it (8) ____ other cell types." This means it could be used to treat skin problems, such (9) ____ burns, acne and eczema. The scientists hope their technique could also be used to help other parts of the body. Their new method could additionally help to (10) ____ cuts more quickly, especially in older people. Researcher Dr Wolf Reik said: "If you cut yourself, it'll take quicker to heal the (11) ____." The scientists said their work might one day help us look younger. It could actually (12) ____ the ageing process.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     trying     (b)     tried     (c)     tries     (d)     trial    
    (a)     added     (b)     adds     (c)     addition     (d)     add    
    (a)     via     (b)     as     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    (a)     humanly     (b)     humans     (c)     humane     (d)     human    
    (a)     by     (b)     as     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    (a)     ageing     (b)     early     (c)     ageless     (d)     easy    
    (a)     mired     (b)     erected     (c)     scaffolded     (d)     developed    
    (a)     crossing     (b)     across     (c)     crosses     (d)     crossly    
    (a)     was     (b)     has     (c)     as     (d)     is    
    (a)     meal     (b)     deal     (c)     peal     (d)     heal    
    (a)     sound     (b)     round     (c)     bound     (d)     wound    
    (a)     anti     (b)     reverse     (c)     backwards     (d)     retreat

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. spend siilnlbo of dollars
    2. produce audstonsh of creams
    3. pills and tnmtratsee for our skin
    4. scientists have worked for cededsa
    5. scientists made a ugokhreatbhr
    6. kept all of the important tinfcnuso

    Paragraph 2

    1. The unceithqe developed by the scientists
    2. change enediimc and health
    3. see if we can etratalsn it
    4. peleiascly in older people
    5. it'll take quicker to heal the noduw
    6. verseer the ageing process

    Put the text back together

    (...)  more quickly, especially in older people. Researcher Dr Wolf Reik said: "If you cut
    (...)  early stage, but it could help people look younger in the future.
    (...)  hope their technique could also be used to help other parts of the body. Their new method could additionally help to heal cuts
    (...)  younger. Skin cells in their tests kept all of the important functions. The scientists say their work is still at an
    (...)  back the ageing clock in cells by 30 years. They added that this could make skin look
    (...)  a method to "time jump" cells in human skin. The scientists are from   the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK. They say they can turn
    (...)  yourself, it'll take quicker to heal the wound." The scientists said their work might one
    (  1  ) People around the world spend billions of dollars every year trying to look younger. Companies produce thousands
    (...)  far, we've only tested this technique in skin cells. We're excited to see if we can translate it across other cell
    (...)  types." This means it could be used to treat skin problems, such as burns, acne and eczema. The scientists
    (...)  The technique developed by the scientists could change medicine and health. The lead researcher, Dr Diljeet Gill, said: "So
    (...)  of creams, pills and treatments for our skin to look younger. In addition, scientists have worked for decades on
    (...)  trying to slow down the ageing process. This week, scientists made a breakthrough. They have developed
    (...)  day help us look younger. It could actually reverse the ageing process.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Thousands   and   treatments   skin   .   of   pills   our   for
    2. human   to   in   cells   time   jump   Methods   skin   .
    3. skin   They   could   make   younger   .   said   this   look
    4. early   Their   is   still   work   an   stage   .   at
    5. Help   look   younger   people   future   .   the   in
    6. by   medicine  .  developed   scientists   The  technique  could   change
    7. tested   cells   .   We've   only   skin   in   technique   this
    8. It   to   used   could   problems   .   be   skin   treat
    9. heal   to   could   more   It   cuts   help   quickly   .
    10. It   the   process   .   ageing   reverse   could   actually

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    People around the world spend billions of dollars every year trial / trying to look younger. Companies produce thousands of creams, pills / pill and treatments for our skin to look / looking younger. In addition, scientists have worked for decade / decades on trying to slow down the ageing process. This week, scientists made a breakthrough / break up. They have developed a method to "time jump" cells at / in human skin. The scientists are from the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK. They say they can turn forward / back the ageing clock in cells by / on 30 years. They added that this could make skin look younger. Skin cells in their tests kept all of the importance / important functions. The scientists say their work is still at an early stage, but it could help people look younger in / on the future.

    The technique developed by / at the scientists could change medicine and health. The lead / load researcher, Dr Diljeet Gill, said: "So for / far, we've only tested this technique in skin cells. We're excited to / for see if we can translate it across other cell tapes / types." This means it could be used to treat skin problems, such as burnt / burns, acne and eczema. The scientists hope their technique could also be / being used to help other parts of the body. Their new method could addition / additionally help to heal cuts more quickly, special / especially in older people. Researcher Dr Wolf Reik said: "If you cut yourself, it'll take quicker to heal the wound." The scientists said their work might one day help us look younger. It could actually reverse / reserve the ageing process.

    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)

    P__pl_  _r__nd  th_  w_rld  sp_nd  b_ll__ns  _f  d_ll_rs  _v_ry  y__r  try_ng  t_  l__k  y__ng_r.  C_mp_n__s  pr_d_c_  th__s_nds  _f  cr__ms,  p_lls  _nd  tr__tm_nts  f_r  __r  sk_n  t_  l__k  y__ng_r.  _n  _dd_t__n,  sc__nt_sts  h_v_  w_rk_d  f_r  d_c_d_s  _n  try_ng  t_  sl_w  d_wn  th_  _g__ng  pr_c_ss.  Th_s  w__k,  sc__nt_sts  m_d_  _  br__kthr__gh.  Th_y  h_v_  d_v_l_p_d  _  m_th_d  t_  "t_m_  j_mp"  c_lls  _n  h_m_n  sk_n.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  _r_  fr_m      th_  B_br_h_m  _nst_t_t_  _n  C_mbr_dg_,  _K.  Th_y  s_y  th_y  c_n  t_rn  b_ck  th_  _g__ng  cl_ck  _n  c_lls  by  30  y__rs.  Th_y  _dd_d  th_t  th_s  c__ld  m_k_  sk_n  l__k  y__ng_r.  Sk_n  c_lls  _n  th__r  t_sts  k_pt  _ll  _f  th_  _mp_rt_nt  f_nct__ns.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  s_y  th__r  w_rk  _s  st_ll  _t  _n  __rly  st_g_,  b_t  _t  c__ld  h_lp  p__pl_  l__k  y__ng_r  _n  th_  f_t_r_.

    Th_  t_chn_q__  d_v_l_p_d  by  th_  sc__nt_sts  c__ld  ch_ng_  m_d_c_n_  _nd  h__lth.  Th_  l__d  r_s__rch_r,  Dr  D_lj__t  G_ll,  s__d:  "S_  f_r,  w_'v_  _nly  t_st_d  th_s  t_chn_q__  _n  sk_n  c_lls.  W_'r_  _xc_t_d  t_  s__  _f  w_  c_n  tr_nsl_t_  _t  _cr_ss  _th_r  c_ll  typ_s."  Th_s  m__ns  _t  c__ld  b_  _s_d  t_  tr__t  sk_n  pr_bl_ms,  s_ch  _s  b_rns,  _cn_  _nd  _cz_m_.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  h_p_  th__r  t_chn_q__  c__ld  _ls_  b_  _s_d  t_  h_lp  _th_r  p_rts  _f  th_  b_dy.  Th__r  n_w  m_th_d  c__ld  _dd_t__n_lly  h_lp  t_  h__l  c_ts  m_r_  q__ckly,  _sp_c__lly  _n  _ld_r  p__pl_.  R_s__rch_r  Dr  W_lf  R__k  s__d:  "_f  y__  c_t  y__rs_lf,  _t'll  t_k_  q__ck_r  t_  h__l  th_  w__nd."  Th_  sc__nt_sts  s__d  th__r  w_rk  m_ght  _n_  d_y  h_lp  _s  l__k  y__ng_r.  _t  c__ld  _ct__lly  r_v_rs_  th_  _g__ng  pr_c_ss.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    people around the world spend billions of dollars every year trying to look younger companies produce thousands of creams pills and treatments for our skin to look younger in addition scientists have worked for decades on trying to slow down the ageing process this week scientists made a breakthrough they have developed a method to time jump cells in human skin the scientists are from the babraham institute in cambridge uk they say they can turn back the ageing clock in cells by 30 years they added that this could make skin look younger skin cells in their tests kept all of the important functions the scientists say their work is still at an early stage but it could help people look younger in the future

    the technique developed by the scientists could change medicine and health the lead researcher dr diljeet gill said so far weve only tested this technique in skin cells were excited to see if we can translate it across other cell types this means it could be used to treat skin problems such as burns acne and eczema the scientists hope their technique could also be used to help other parts of the body their new method could additionally help to heal cuts more quickly especially in older people researcher dr wolf reik said if you cut yourself itll take quicker to heal the wound the scientists said their work might one day help us look younger it could actually reverse the ageing process

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Peoplearoundtheworldspendbillionsofdollarseveryyeartryingtolook
    younger.Companiesproducethousandsofcreams,pillsandtreatment
    sforourskintolookyounger.Inaddition,scientistshaveworkedfordeca
    desontryingtoslowdowntheageingprocess.Thisweek,scientistsmade
    abreakthrough.Theyhavedevelopedamethodto"timejump"cellsinhu
    manskin.ThescientistsarefromtheBabrahamInstituteinCambridge,
    UK.Theysaytheycanturnbacktheageingclockincellsby30years.They
    addedthatthiscouldmakeskinlookyounger.Skincellsintheirtestskept
    alloftheimportantfunctions.Thescientistssaytheirworkisstillatanearl
    ystage,butitcouldhelppeoplelookyoungerinthefuture.Thetechnique
    developedbythescientistscouldchangemedicineandhealth.Theleadr
    esearcher,DrDiljeetGill,said:"Sofar,we'veonlytestedthistechniquein
    skincells.We'reexcitedtoseeifwecantranslateitacrossothercelltypes.
    "Thismeansitcouldbeusedtotreatskinproblems,suchasburns,acnean
    deczema.Thescientistshopetheirtechniquecouldalsobeusedtohelpot
    herpartsofthebody.Theirnewmethodcouldadditionallyhelptohealcut
    smorequickly,especiallyinolderpeople.ResearcherDrWolfReiksaid:"
    Ifyoucutyourself,it'lltakequickertohealthewound."Thescientistssaid
    theirworkmightonedayhelpuslookyounger.Itcouldactuallyreverseth
    eageingprocess.

    Free writing

    Write about younger looking skin for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We should let our body age naturally and not slow down the ageing process.  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. YOUNGER LOOKING SKIN: Make a poster about younger looking skin. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. THE AGEING PROCESS: Write a magazine article about spending more money to slow down the ageing process. 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 younger looking skin. Ask him/her three questions about this. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to keep skin looking younger. 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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