The Reading / Listening - Photos of the Sun - Level 0

Scientists used a telescope to take the best-ever photos of the Sun's surface. They show lots of details. There are hundreds of areas that look like twisters of fire. These could help us know more about the Sun's energy. A scientist said the Sun was a "unique laboratory". He said it can help us understand some basic laws of physics.

The photos are the closest ever to zoom in on the Sun. Scientists are interested in the borders between dark and bright regions of the Sun. This is where huge spirals of fire are made. These create lots of energy. Similar energy is created with ocean waves. Scientists say the photos will help us predict space weather one day.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Photos of the Sun - Level 1 Photos of the Sun - Level 2   or  Photos of the Sun - Level 3

Sources
  • https://physics.aps.org/articles/v19/112
  • https://www.space.com/astronomy/sun/sharpest-image-of-the-sun-ever-captured-space-photo-of-the-day-for-aug-10-2026
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c36d4376nd2o


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. Scientists used a
  2. take the best-ever photos
  3. They show lots of
  4. There are hundreds
  5. look like twisters of
  6. These could help us know
  7. A scientist said the Sun was a
  8. basic laws of
  1. fire
  2. details
  3. "unique laboratory"
  4. of the Sun's surface
  5. of areas
  6. physics
  7. telescope
  8. more

Paragraph 2

  1. the closest ever to zoom
  2. Scientists are
  3. the borders between dark
  4. huge spirals of
  5. These create lots
  6. energy is created with ocean
  7. Scientists say the photos will
  8. predict space
  1. and bright regions
  2. weather one day
  3. fire
  4. in on the Sun
  5. help us
  6. interested
  7. waves
  8. of energy

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists (1) _________________________________________________ to take the best-ever photos of the Sun's surface. They show (2) _________________________________________________. There (3) _________________________________________________ areas that look (4) _________________________________________________ fire. These could help us know more about the Sun's energy. A scientist said the Sun was (5) _________________________________________________. He said it can help us understand some basic (6) _________________________________________________.

The photos are (7) _________________________________________________ to zoom in on the Sun. Scientists are interested (8) _________________________________________________ between dark (9) _________________________________________________ of the Sun. This is where huge (10) _________________________________________________ are made. These create lots of energy. Similar (11) _________________________________________________ with ocean waves. Scientists say the photos will help us predict space (12) _________________________________________________.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Scientistsusedatelescopetotakethebest-everphotosoftheSun'ssurfa
ce.Theyshowlotsofdetails.Therearehundredsofareasthatlookliketwi
stersoffire.ThesecouldhelpusknowmoreabouttheSun'senergy.Ascie
ntistsaidtheSunwasa"uniquelaboratory".Hesaiditcanhelpusunderst
andsomebasiclawsofphysics.Thephotosaretheclosestevertozoomin
ontheSun.Scientistsareinterestedinthebordersbetweendarkandbrig
htregionsoftheSun.Thisiswherehugespiralsoffirearemade.Thesecreate
lotsofenergy.Similarenergyiscreatedwithoceanwaves.Scientists
saythephotoswillhelpuspredictspaceweatheroneday.

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 — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You