The Reading / Listening - Earth's Core - Level 6

Little is known about the geology of the very centre of Earth. It was believed our planet had just one core – a scorching hot mass of molten rock and gas surrounded by a solid, rock mantle. The mantle is a ring between the earth's crust and core. The core is found 2,900 kilometres below Earth's surface. It has a radius of around 3,485 kilometres. Scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered that there may be a second core deep below our feet. Research has led geophysicist Dr Sunyoung Park to believe there is another core. She analyzed data from a 560-km-deep earthquake. Her calculations showed the possibility of a second core, consisting of a layer of fluid rock, at the bottom of the mantle.

After Dr Park studied the deep earthquake, she spoke about why she found the Earth's core so intriguing. She said: "Even though the mantle makes up the largest part of Earth, there's still a lot we don't know about it." She added: "There's a lot more we can learn by using deep earthquakes as a way to probe these questions." Ms Park explained the importance of understanding more about the centre of our planet. She said: "We want to know exactly how fast the mantle flows because that influences the evolution of the entire Earth. It affects how much heat the planet retains for how long, and how the Earth's materials are cycled over time. Our current understanding is very limited and includes a lot of assumptions."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Earth's Core - Level 4  or  Earth's Core - Level 5

Sources
  • https://scitechdaily.com/deep-earthquakes-reveal-shocking-secrets-of-the-inner-earth/
  • https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/earth-two-cores-scientists
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/after-a-20-year-search-scientists-have-finally-found-earths-true-innermost-core


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. EARTH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Earth. 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?
       geology / Earth / planet / core / molten rock / gas / scientists / data / earthquake /
       intriguing / learn / probe / questions / influences / evolution / materials / assumptions
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. RESEARCH: Students A strongly believe we should spend more money on researching the centre of Earth; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SCIENCES: How interesting are these sciences? Why? How might they help us? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Interesting

Why

How It Might Help Us

Geology

 

 

 

Seismology

 

 

 

Astrophysics

 

 

 

Genetics

 

 

 

A.I.

 

 

 

Linguistics

 

 

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

  • Geology
  • Biology
  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Physiology
  • Zoology
  • Anthropology
  • Astrology

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1. geology a. The outermost layer of rock of which a planet consists.
2. molten b. Being composed or made up of.
3. crust c. The science that deals with the earth's physical structure.
4. radius d. Especially of materials with a high melting point, such as metal and glass, that are liquefied by heat.
5. calculations e. A straight line from the centre to the circumference of a circle or sphere.
6. consisting of f. Using maths to find out the amount or number of something.
7. fluid g. Of a substance able to flow easily.

    Paragraph 2

8. intriguing h. With no part left out; whole.
9. probe i. Arousing one's curiosity or interest; fascinating.
10. flow j. The gradual development of something.
11. evolution k. Keep something in place.
12. entire l. Seek to uncover information about someone or something.
13. retain m. Things that are accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
14. assumptions n. Of a liquid, gas, or electricity that moves steadily and continuously in a current or stream.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists know a lot about Earth's core.     T / F
  2. The mantle is a flat layer of crust that consists of molten rock.     T / F
  3. The radius of Earth's core is around 2,900 km.     T / F
  4. Data from a deep earthquake fuelled belief in a second core.     T / F
  5. A geophysicist thinks Earth's core is intriguing.     T / F
  6. The mantle constitutes the bulk of Earth.     T / F
  7. Scientists want to know how fast water flows deep under the ground.     T / F
  8. What we currently know about the core is based on many assumptions.  T / F

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

  1. scorching
  2. surrounded
  3. crust
  4. calculations
  5. fluid
  6. intriguing
  7. probe
  8. evolution
  9. limited
  10. assumptions
  1. narrow
  2. sums
  3. flowing
  4. development
  5. red-hot
  6. suppositions
  7. encircled
  8. examine
  9. fascinating
  10. outer layer

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

  1. a scorching hot
  2. a ring between the earth's
  3. a radius of
  4. there may be a second core deep
  5. consisting of a layer
  6. she found the Earth's core
  7. the mantle makes up the largest
  8. exactly how fast the mantle
  9. that influences the evolution
  10. It affects how much heat
  1. crust and core
  2. the planet retains
  3. of fluid rock
  4. so intriguing
  5. flows
  6. around 3,485 kilometres
  7. mass of molten rock
  8. of the entire Earth
  9. below our feet
  10. part of Earth

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ring
deep
fluid
geology
calculations
surface
scorching
data

Little is known about the (1) _____________________ of the very centre of Earth. It was believed our planet had just one core – a (2) _____________________ hot mass of molten rock and gas surrounded by a solid, rock mantle. The mantle is a (3) _____________________ between the earth's crust and core. The core is found 2,900 kilometres below Earth's (4) _____________________. It has a radius of around 3,485 kilometres. Scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered that there may be a second core (5) _____________________ below our feet. Research has led geophysicist Dr Sunyoung Park to believe there is another core. She analyzed (6) _____________________ from a 560-km-deep earthquake. Her (7) _____________________ showed the possibility of a second core, consisting of a layer of (8) _____________________ rock, at the bottom of the mantle.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
importance
retains
flows
assumptions
probe
materials
intriguing
evolution

After Dr Park studied the deep earthquake, she spoke about why she found the Earth's core so (9) _____________________. She said: "Even though the mantle makes up the largest part of Earth, there's still a lot we don't know about it." She added: "There's a lot more we can learn by using deep earthquakes as a way to (10) _____________________ these questions." Ms Park explained the (11) _____________________ of understanding more about the centre of our planet. She said: "We want to know exactly how fast the mantle (12) _____________________ because that influences the (13) _____________________ of the entire Earth. It affects how much heat the planet (14) _____________________ for how long, and how the Earth's (15) _____________________ are cycled over time. Our current understanding is very limited and includes a lot of (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Little is known about the geology of ______
     a.  the verily centre
     b.  the berry centre
     c.  the very centre
     d.  the veering centre
2)  our planet had just one core – a scorching hot mass ______
     a.  of melting rock
     b.  of molten rock
     c.  of mole ten rock
     d.  of molding rock
3)  The mantle is a ring between the earth's ______
     a.  thrust and thaw
     b.  rust and raw
     c.  lust and law
     d.  crust and core
4)  discovered that there may be a second core deep ______
     a.  below our feet
     b.  bellow our feet
     c.  billow our feet
     d.  belie our feet
5)  the possibility of a second core, consisting of a layer ______
     a.  of fluids rock
     b.  of fluidity rock
     c.  off fluid rock
     d.  of fluid rock

6)  she spoke about why she found the Earth's ______
     a.  core so intrigue in
     b.  core so inter rigging
     c.  core so intriguing
     d.  core so trigonometry
7)  a lot more we can learn by using deep earthquakes as a way ______
     a.  to probate these
     b.  to proboscis these
     c.  to prove these
     d.  to probe these
8)  exactly how fast the mantle flows because that influences the evolution of ______
     a.  the entire Earth
     b.  the entry Earth
     c.  the un-tire Earth
     d.  the ten-tire Earth
9)  It affects how much heat ______
     a.  the planet remains
     b.  the planet regains
     c.  the planet retains
     d.  the planet retails
10)  Our current understanding is very limited and includes a ______
     a.  lot of consumption
     b.  lot of assumptions
     c.  lot of assertions
     d.  lot of resumptions

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Little is known about (1) ____________________ the very centre of Earth. It was believed our planet had just one core – a scorching hot (2) ____________________ rock and gas surrounded by a solid, rock mantle. The mantle is a ring between the earth's (3) ____________________. The core is found 2,900 kilometres below Earth's surface. It has (4) ____________________ around 3,485 kilometres. Scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered that there may be a second core deep below our feet. Research has led geophysicist Dr Sunyoung Park to believe there is another core. She (5) ____________________ a 560-km-deep earthquake. Her calculations showed the possibility of a second core, consisting of a (6) ____________________ rock, at the bottom of the mantle.

After Dr Park studied (7) ____________________, she spoke about why she found the Earth's (8) ____________________. She said: "Even though the mantle makes up the largest part of Earth, there's still a lot we don't know about it." She added: "There's a lot more we can learn by using deep earthquakes as a (9) ____________________ these questions." Ms Park explained the importance of understanding more about the centre of our planet. She said: "We want to know exactly how fast (10) ____________________ because that influences the (11) ____________________ entire Earth. It affects how much heat the planet retains for how long, and how the Earth's materials are (12) ____________________. Our current understanding is very limited and includes a lot of assumptions."

Comprehension questions

  1. How much is known about the geology of Earth's centre?
  2. What surrounds Earth's core?
  3. How deep is the core below the surface of the earth?
  4. What is Dr Sunyoung Park's field of expertise?
  5. What might the second core consist of?
  6. What does Dr Sunyoung Park find intriguing?
  7. What constitutes the largest part of Earth?
  8. What does Dr Park say can help us to learn more about the core?
  9. What influences the evolution of our planet?
  10. What is our limited understanding of Earth currently based on?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  How much is known about the geology of Earth's centre?
a) next to nothing
b) little
c) loads
d) everything
2)  What surrounds Earth's core?
a) lava
b) oceans
c) a (solid rock) mantle
d) a (delicate) underground ecosystem
3)  How deep is the core below the surface of the earth?
a) 29,000 km
b) 3,485 kilometres
c) 3,855 kilometres
d) 2,900 km
4)  What is Dr Sunyoung Park's field of expertise?
a) astrophysics
b)  geophysics
c) biophysics
d) quantum physics
5)  What might the second core consist of?
a)  a layer of fluid rock
b) water
c) mineral deposits
d) a vacuum

6)  What does Dr Sunyoung Park find intriguing?
a) Earth's core
b) space
c) minerals
d) rocks
7)  What constitutes the largest part of Earth?
a) the crust
b) oceans
c) mountain ranges
d) the mantle
8)  What does Dr Park say can help us to learn more about the core?
a) ChatGPT
b) the Internet
c) deep earthquakes
d) minerals
9)  What influences the evolution of our planet?
a) seismic forces
b) time
c) waves
d)  the speed of mantle flows
10)  What is our limited understanding of Earth currently based on?
a) our brain's power
b)  a lot of assumptions
c) computing power
d) not much

Role play

Role  A – Geology
You think geology is the most useful science. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sciences. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): sociology, zoology or psychology.

Role  B – Sociology
You think sociology is the most useful science. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sciences. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): geology, zoology or psychology.

Role  C – Zoology
You think zoology is the most useful science. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sciences. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): sociology, geology or psychology.

Role  D – Psychology
You think psychology is the most useful science. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sciences. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): sociology, zoology or geology.

After reading / listening

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

'Earth'

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

    • and 'core'.

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

    • • 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:

    • geology
    • solid
    • below
    • feet
    • data
    • bottom
    • found
    • part
    • learn
    • flows
    • affects
    • lot

    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 - Earth's Core

    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 'Earth'?
    3. What do you think of Earth?
    4. What do you know about the geology of Earth?
    5. What do you know about Earth's core?
    6. Why is it important to know about what's beneath our feet?
    7. How interested are you in geology?
    8. Would you like to travel deep underground?
    9. Where's the best place on Earth?
    10. What will Earth be like in the future?

    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 'core'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about earthquakes?
    5. What questions about Earth do you want answered?
    6. What other planets do you like?
    7. How was Earth created?
    8. What would Earth be like without humans?
    9. What dangers might Earth face in the future?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a geophysicist?

    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)

    Little is known about the (1) ____ of the very centre of Earth. It was believed our planet had just one core – a scorching hot mass of (2) ____ rock and gas surrounded by a solid, rock mantle. The mantle is a ring between the earth's (3) ____ and core. The core is found 2,900 kilometres below Earth's surface. It has a radius of around 3,485 kilometres. Scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered that there may be a second core (4) ____ below our feet. Research has (5) ____ geophysicist Dr Sunyoung Park to believe there is another core. She analyzed data from a 560-km-deep earthquake. Her calculations showed the possibility of a second core, consisting of a (6) ____ of fluid rock, at the bottom of the mantle.

    After Dr Park studied the deep earthquake, she spoke about why she found the Earth's core so (7) ____. She said: "Even though the mantle makes up the largest part of Earth, there's still a lot we don't know about it." She added: "There's a lot more we can learn by using deep earthquakes as a way to (8) ____ these questions." Ms Park explained the importance of understanding more about the centre of our planet. She said: "We want to know exactly how fast the mantle (9) ____ because that influences the evolution of the (10) ____ Earth. It affects how much heat the planet (11) ____ for how long, and how the Earth's materials are cycled (12) ____ time. Our current understanding is very limited and includes a lot of assumptions."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     genealogy     (b)     genecology     (c)     genetics     (d)     geology    
    2. (a)     smitten     (b)     bitumen     (c)     moldy     (d)     molten    
    3. (a)     rust     (b)     crust     (c)     trust     (d)     thrust    
    4. (a)     deepen     (b)     depth     (c)     deep     (d)     deeply    
    5. (a)     pursued     (b)     followed     (c)     led     (d)     developed    
    6. (a)     layer     (b)     shallow     (c)     ground     (d)     bastion    
    7. (a)     deepening     (b)     intriguing     (c)     levelling     (d)     boring    
    8. (a)     probe     (b)     grove     (c)     lobe     (d)     lode    
    9. (a)     growls     (b)     flows     (c)     endows     (d)     shallows    
    10. (a)     mass     (b)     geology     (c)     entire     (d)     matter    
    11. (a)     pertains     (b)     stains     (c)     retains     (d)     attains    
    12. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     in     (d)     over

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Little is known about the lgyeogo
    2. a occgrhsin hot mass
    3. etnolm rock and gas
    4. a durisa of around 3,485 kilometres
    5. ieiygohscpst Dr Sunyoung Park
    6. a layer of ifdul rock

    Paragraph 2

    1. she found the Earth's core so gtninuirig
    2. deep etqeakraush
    3. a way to eropb these questions
    4. We want to know etalyxc how fast
    5. the lieuvtono of the entire Earth
    6. a lot of ssamsunoitp

    Put the text back together

    (...)   probe these questions." Ms Park explained the importance of understanding more about the centre
    (...)   Dr Sunyoung Park to believe there is another core. She analyzed data from a 560-km-deep earthquake. Her calculations
    (...)   of our planet. She said: "We want to know exactly how fast the mantle flows because that influences the
    (  1  ) Little is known about the geology of the very centre of Earth. It was believed our planet had just one
    (...)   a ring between the earth's crust and core. The core is found 2,900 kilometres below Earth's
    (...)   that there may be a second core deep below our feet. Research has led geophysicist
    (...)   After Dr Park studied the deep earthquake, she spoke about why she found the Earth's core so
    (...)   showed the possibility of a second core, consisting of a layer of fluid rock, at the bottom of the mantle.
    (...)   surface. It has a radius of around 3,485 kilometres. Scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered
    (...)   cycled over time. Our current understanding is very limited and includes a lot of assumptions."
    (...)   evolution of the entire Earth. It affects how much heat the planet retains for how long, and how the Earth's materials are
    (...)   core – a scorching hot mass of molten rock and gas surrounded by a solid, rock mantle. The mantle is
    (...)   intriguing. She said: "Even though the mantle makes up the largest part of Earth, there's still a lot we don't
    (...)   know about it." She added: "There's a lot more we can learn by using deep earthquakes as a way to

    Put the words in the right order

    1. very   geology   centre   Earth.   of   of   The   the
    2. was   believed   It   had   our   core.   one   planet
    3. has   a   kilometres.   It   around   of   radius   3,485
    4. second   There's   below   deep   core   our   feet.   a
    5. core   of   the   possibility   showed   Calculations   second   a   .
    6. Earth's   so   core   Why   she   the   found   intriguing.
    7. part   The   of   is   mantle   largest   the   Earth   .
    8. Using   as   probe   a   earthquakes   to   deep   way   .
    9. planet   It   heat   much   how   affects   retains.   the
    10. over   materials   are   How   cycled   Earth's   time.   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Little is known about the geology of the very / really centre of Earth. It was believed our planet had just one core – a scorching hot amass / mass of molten rock and gas surrounded by / on a solid, rock mantle. The mantle is a circular / ring between the earth's crust and core. The core is found 2,900 kilometres below Earth's surface / top. It has a radial / radius of around 3,485 kilometres. Scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered that there may be a second core deep / deeply below our feet. Research has led / followed geophysicist Dr Sunyoung Park to believe there is another core. She analyzed data from a 560-km-deep earthquake. Her calculations showed the possibility of / at a second core, consisting of / at a layer of fluid rock, at the bottom of the mantle.

    After Dr Park studied the deep earthquake, she spoke about why she found the Earth's core so intriguing / conflating. She said: "Even though the mantle makes down / up the largest part of Earth, there's still a lot we don't know about them / it." She added: "There's a lot more we can learn by usage / using deep earthquakes as a way to probe / probate these questions." Ms Park explained the importance of understanding more about the centre of our planet. She said: "We want to know exact / exactly how fast the mantle blows / flows because that influences the evolution of the entire / entirety Earth. It affects how much heat the planet retrains / retains for how long, and how the Earth's materials are cycled over time. Our current understanding is very limited and includes a lot of assumes / assumptions."

    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)

    L_ttl_  _s  kn_wn  _b__t  th_  g__l_gy  _f  th_  v_ry  c_ntr_  _f  __rth.  _t  w_s  b_l__v_d  __r  pl_n_t  h_d  j_st  _n_  c_r_  –  _  sc_rch_ng  h_t  m_ss  _f  m_lt_n  r_ck  _nd  g_s  s_rr__nd_d  by  _  s_l_d,  r_ck  m_ntl_.  Th_  m_ntl_  _s  _  r_ng  b_tw__n  th_  __rth's  cr_st  _nd  c_r_.  Th_  c_r_  _s  f__nd  2,900  k_l_m_tr_s  b_l_w  __rth's  s_rf_c_.  _t  h_s  _  r_d__s  _f  _r__nd  3,485  k_l_m_tr_s.  Sc__nt_sts  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  Ch_c_g_  h_v_  d_sc_v_r_d  th_t  th_r_  m_y  b_  _  s_c_nd  c_r_  d__p  b_l_w  __r  f__t.  R_s__rch  h_s  l_d  g__phys_c_st  Dr  S_ny__ng  P_rk  t_  b_l__v_  th_r_  _s  _n_th_r  c_r_.  Sh_  _n_lyz_d  d_t_  fr_m  _  560-km-d__p  __rthq__k_.  H_r  c_lc_l_t__ns  sh_w_d  th_  p_ss_b_l_ty  _f  _  s_c_nd  c_r_,  c_ns_st_ng  _f  _  l_y_r  _f  fl__d  r_ck,  _t  th_  b_tt_m  _f  th_  m_ntl_.

    _ft_r  Dr  P_rk  st_d__d  th_  d__p  __rthq__k_,  sh_  sp_k_  _b__t  why  sh_  f__nd  th_  __rth's  c_r_  s_  _ntr_g__ng.  Sh_  s__d:  "_v_n  th__gh  th_  m_ntl_  m_k_s  _p  th_  l_rg_st  p_rt  _f  __rth,  th_r_'s  st_ll  _  l_t  w_  d_n't  kn_w  _b__t  _t."  Sh_  _dd_d:  "Th_r_'s  _  l_t  m_r_  w_  c_n  l__rn  by  _s_ng  d__p  __rthq__k_s  _s  _  w_y  t_  pr_b_  th_s_  q__st__ns."  Ms  P_rk  _xpl__n_d  th_  _mp_rt_nc_  _f  _nd_rst_nd_ng  m_r_  _b__t  th_  c_ntr_  _f  __r  pl_n_t.  Sh_  s__d:  "W_  w_nt  t_  kn_w  _x_ctly  h_w  f_st  th_  m_ntl_  fl_ws  b_c__s_  th_t  _nfl__nc_s  th_  _v_l_t__n  _f  th_  _nt_r_  __rth.  _t  _ff_cts  h_w  m_ch  h__t  th_  pl_n_t  r_t__ns  f_r  h_w  l_ng,  _nd  h_w  th_  __rth's  m_t_r__ls  _r_  cycl_d  _v_r  t_m_.  __r  c_rr_nt  _nd_rst_nd_ng  _s  v_ry  l_m_t_d  _nd  _ncl_d_s  _  l_t  _f  _ss_mpt__ns."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    little is known about the geology of the very centre of earth it was believed our planet had just one core  a scorching hot mass of molten rock and gas surrounded by a solid rock mantle the mantle is a ring between the earths crust and core the core is found 2900 kilometres below earths surface it has a radius of around 3485 kilometres scientists from the university of chicago have discovered that there may be a second core deep below our feet research has led geophysicist dr sunyoung park to believe there is another core she analyzed data from a 560kmdeep earthquake her calculations showed the possibility of a second core consisting of a layer of fluid rock at the bottom of the mantle

    after dr park studied the deep earthquake she spoke about why she found the earths core so intriguing she said even though the mantle makes up the largest part of earth theres still a lot we dont know about it she added theres a lot more we can learn by using deep earthquakes as a way to probe these questions ms park explained the importance of understanding more about the centre of our planet she said we want to know exactly how fast the mantle flows because that influences the evolution of the entire earth it affects how much heat the planet retains for how long and how the earths materials are cycled over time our current understanding is very limited and includes a lot of assumptions

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    LittleisknownaboutthegeologyoftheverycentreofEarth.Itwasbelieve
    dourplanethadjustonecore–ascorchinghotmassofmoltenrockandg
    assurroundedbyasolid,rockmantle.Themantleisaringbetweentheea
    rth'scrustandcore.Thecoreisfound2,900kilometresbelowEarth'ssurf
    ace.Ithasaradiusofaround3,485kilometres.ScientistsfromtheUniver
    sityofChicagohavediscoveredthattheremaybeasecondcoredeepbelo
    wourfeet.ResearchhasledgeophysicistDrSunyoungParktobelieveth
    ereisanothercore.Sheanalyzeddatafroma560-km-deepearthquak
    e.Hercalculationsshowedthepossibilityofasecondcore,consistingofal
    ayeroffluidrock,atthebottomofthemantle.AfterDrParkstudiedthede
    epearthquake,shespokeaboutwhyshefoundtheEarth'scoresointrigui
    ng.Shesaid:"EventhoughthemantlemakesupthelargestpartofEarth,
    there'sstillalotwedon'tknowaboutit."Sheadded:"There'salotmorewe
    canlearnbyusingdeepearthquakesasawaytoprobethesequestions."
    MsParkexplainedtheimportanceofunderstandingmoreaboutthecent
    reofourplanet.Shesaid:"Wewanttoknowexactlyhowfastthemantlefl
    owsbecausethatinfluencestheevolutionoftheentireEarth.Itaffectsho
    wmuchheattheplanetretainsforhowlong,andhowtheEarth'smaterial
    sarecycledovertime.Ourcurrentunderstandingisverylimitedandinclu
    desalotofassumptions."

    Free writing

    Write about earth's core for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    It is essential we know more about Earth's core.  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. EARTH: Make a poster about Earth. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. RESEARCH: Write a magazine article about spending lots more money on researching Earth's core. 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 Earth. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on doing more research on Earth's core. 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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