My
1,000 Ideas e-Book |
Breaking News EnglishHOME | HELP MY SITE | 000s MORE FREE LESSONS |
My
1,000 Ideas e-Book |
Date: Jan 24, 2007
THE ARTICLEU.S.: China missile test a danger to modern lifeChina has reopened the Star Wars debate by testing an anti-satellite missile. China's destruction of one of its defunct weather satellites using a medium-range, land-based rocket has caused quite a stir in Washington. The missile intercepted the satellite and struck with sufficient force to obliterate it without any need for explosive warheads. It is a relatively low-tech solution to targeting satellites and one which the US has had the know-how of for several decades. Regardless, a clearly irked U.S. State Department reminded the world that “modern life as we know it” depends on the security of satellites and other technologies in space and plainly stated it was opposed to “any militarization of space”. These comments are likely to confuse many of the world’s politicians and commentators who view the USA as the chief protagonist in pursing space-based military capabilities. Washington also expressed concerns about the danger of debris following the destruction of the satellite. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the explosion would: “produce extensive amounts of space debris, [which] have the potential for disturbing or accidentally disrupting communication satellites or other kinds of space vehicles that are out there.” The US Union of Concerned Scientists estimated the Chinese test produced over 40,000 fragments up to 10cm in length. Another US advisory panel warned the Chinese could launch a small-scale attack without warning, which could have “catastrophic” consequences for America. Casey acknowledged this, emphasizing the importance of space technology on everyday life. He also said satellites were vital for military communications. During the last Iraq war, 83% of communications between US forces were sent via satellites. WARM-UPS1. STAR WARS: What do you know about star wars? Find out as much as you can from your partner. Change partners often to build up your information. 2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently. 3. MODERN LIFE: Talk to your partner(s) about which of these would most affect your life if they were not there. Rank three in order of most needed. Discuss what would happen without these things.
4. QUICK DEBATE: Students A believe we should stop making space a junkyard, full of defunct and obsolete technology. Students B believe more money should be spent on space exploration, militarization and satellites. Debate this with your partners. Change partners often. 5. HEADLINES: In pairs / groups, discuss these future (or not so future headlines). Imagine they are real you have just seen them. Change partners and headlines often.
After you finish imagining, talk about how possible it might be these headlines come true one day. 6. SPACE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with space. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories. BEFORE READING / LISTENING1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
WHILE READING / LISTENINGGAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text. U.S.: China missile a danger to modern life
|
China has ______ the Star Wars debate by testing an anti-satellite missile. China's destruction of a ______ weather satellite using a medium-range, land-based rocket has caused quite a stir in Washington. The missile ______ the satellite and struck with sufficient force to obliterate it without any need for explosive warheads. It is a ______ low-tech solution to targeting satellites and one which the US has had the ______ of for several decades. Regardless, a clearly ______ U.S. State Department reminded the world that “modern life as we know it” depends on the security of satellites and other technologies in space and ______ stated it was opposed to “any militarization of space”. These comments are likely to confuse many of the world’s politicians and commentators who view the USA as the chief protagonist in pursing space-based military ______.
|
|
irked |
Washington also expressed concerns about the danger of ______ following the destruction of the satellite. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the explosion would: “produce ______ amounts of space debris, [which] have the ______ for disturbing or accidentally ______ communication satellites or other kinds of space vehicles that are ______ there.” The US Union of Concerned Scientists estimated the Chinese test produced over 40,000 fragments up to 10cm in length. Another US ______ panel warned the Chinese could launch a small-scale attack without ______, which could have “catastrophic” consequences for America. Casey acknowledged this, emphasizing the importance of space technology on everyday life. He also said satellites were ______ for military communications. During the last Iraq war, 83% of communications between US forces were sent via satellites. |
|
disrupting |
Listen and fill in the spaces.
China has reopened the Star Wars debate by testing an anti-satellite missile. China's destruction of a ___________ weather satellite using a medium-range, land-based rocket has caused quite a stir in Washington. The missile ___________ the satellite and struck with sufficient force to ___________ it without any need for explosive warheads. It is a relatively low-tech solution to targeting satellites and one which the US has had the know-how of for several decades. Regardless, a clearly ___________ U.S. State Department reminded the world that “modern life as we know it” depends on the security of satellites and other technologies in space and plainly stated it was opposed to “any ___________ of space”. These comments are likely to confuse many of the world’s politicians and commentators who view the USA as the chief ___________ in pursing space-based military capabilities.
Washington also expressed concerns about the danger of ___________ following the destruction of the satellite. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the explosion would: “produce extensive amounts of space debris, [which] have the ___________ for disturbing or accidentally ___________ communication satellites or other kinds of space vehicles that are out there.” The US Union of ___________ Scientists estimated the Chinese test produced over 40,000 ___________ up to 10cm in length. Another US advisory panel warned the Chinese could launch a small-scale attack without warning, which could have “___________” consequences for America. Casey acknowledged this, emphasizing the importance of space technology on everyday life. He also said satellites were ___________ for military communications. During the last Iraq war, 83% of communications between US forces were sent via satellites.
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘weather’ and ‘satellite’.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
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. STUDENT “STAR WARS” SURVEY: In pairs / groups, write down questions about future wars in space.
6. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:
|
|
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.
ROLE PLAY:
A discussion between different countries about space and arms.
Team up with classmates who have been assigned the same role to develop your roles and discuss ideas and “strategies” before the role play begins. Introduce yourself to the other role players. Discuss your roles after the role play ends.
Role A Chinese leader You are fed up with the West thinking you want to destroy the world. Your destruction of the satellite was a test to see how you can tidy up space. You think the US is more dangerous. - Think of more reasons why the launch was OK and the US is bad. |
Role B American leader You believe the future and safety of the planet is in danger. If China attacks American satellites, the US army will be useless. The whole world will stop except China. There MUST be an end to this. - Think of more reasons why China’s actions are very dangerous. |
Role C Swiss leader Your country has been against war for centuries. You believe all countries should disarm immediately. Crazy leaders will start WWIII. All satellites should be shared by ALL world countries but paid for by the US, China and Europe. - Think of more reasons why the world should get rid of all weapons. |
Role D Alien leader You live on a distant planet. You are fed up with the way Earth people destroy space, polluting it with space debris. You want them to stop immediately. You know many horror stories of real star wars you have seen many planets destroyed. - Think of more reasons Earthlings should vacate space. |
CORRECT WORD: Choose the correct words from ad below and write them in the article.
China has reopened the Star Wars debate by testing an anti-satellite missile. China's destruction of a (1) ____ weather satellite using a medium-range, land-based rocket has caused quite a (2) ____ in Washington. The missile intercepted the satellite and struck with sufficient force to (3) ____ it without any need for explosive warheads. It is a relatively low-tech solution to targeting satellites and one which the US has had the know-how of for several decades. Regardless, a clearly (4) ____ U.S. State Department reminded the world that “modern life as we know it” depends on the security of satellites and other technologies in space and plainly stated it was opposed to “any militarization of space”. These comments are likely to confuse many of the world’s politicians and commentators who view the USA as the
(5) ____ protagonist in pursing space-based military (6) ____.
Washington also expressed concerns about the danger of debris following the destruction of the satellite. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the explosion would: “produce (7) ____ amounts of space debris, [which] have the potential (8) ____ disturbing or accidentally disrupting communication satellites or other kinds of space vehicles that are out there.” The US Union of Concerned Scientists estimated the Chinese test produced over 40,000
(9) ____ up to 10cm in length. Another US advisory (10) ____ warned the Chinese could launch a small-scale attack (11) ____ warning, which could have “catastrophic” consequences for America. Casey acknowledged this, emphasizing the importance of space technology on everyday life. He also said satellites were (12) ____ for military communications. During the last Iraq war, 83% of communications between US forces were sent via satellites.
1. |
(a) |
defunct |
(b) |
funky |
(c) |
dethroned |
(d) |
defused |
2. |
(a) |
star |
(b) |
stir |
(c) |
store |
(d) |
spurt |
3. |
(a) |
obliterate |
(b) |
oblivious |
(c) |
oblique |
(d) |
obligate |
4. |
(a) |
harked |
(b) |
barked |
(c) |
irksome |
(d) |
irked |
5. |
(a) |
chief of staff |
(b) |
chiefly |
(c) |
chief |
(d) |
chieftain |
6. |
(a) |
capably |
(b) |
capacitors |
(c) |
capabilities |
(d) |
capacity |
7. |
(a) |
extensive |
(b) |
expensive |
(c) |
expansive |
(d) |
extremity |
8. |
(a) |
for |
(b) |
to |
(c) |
at |
(d) |
in |
9. |
(a) |
fragrances |
(b) |
fragments |
(c) |
flagships |
(d) |
flagpoles |
10. |
(a) |
jury |
(b) |
console |
(c) |
panel |
(d) |
pane |
11. |
(a) |
wither |
(b) |
within |
(c) |
without |
(d) |
with |
12. |
(a) |
vitally |
(b) |
vitals |
(c) |
vitality |
(d) |
vital |
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. STAR WARS: Search the Internet and find more information about the possibility of a real star wars not the movie. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ARTICLE: America and China have threatened to launch missiles at each other’s satellites. There are three days before this catastrophe might take place. Write a newspaper article about the crisis. Read your article to your classmates in your next lesson. Ask each other questions about what you hear.
4. LETTER: Write a letter from an Alien to China’s leader. Tell him your thoughts on why space should be left empty. Ask him three questions. Read your letter to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions. Which letter did you like best and why?
TRUE / FALSE:
a. T |
b. F |
c. F |
d. T |
e. T |
f. F |
g. T |
h. T |
SYNONYM MATCH:
a. |
defunct |
obsolete |
b. |
stir |
commotion |
c. |
obliterate |
destroy |
d. |
irked |
annoyed |
e. |
protagonist |
proponent |
f. |
debris |
junk |
g. |
extensive |
substantial |
h. |
fragments |
bits |
i. |
catastrophic |
dire |
j. |
vital |
essential |
PHRASE MATCH:
a. |
China has reopened |
the Star Wars debate |
b. |
… has caused quite |
a stir in Washington |
c. |
a clearly |
irked U.S. State Department |
d. |
opposed to |
any militarization of space |
e. |
the USA as the chief |
protagonist |
f. |
produce extensive |
amounts of space debris |
g. |
disrupting |
communication |
h. |
Another US advisory |
panel |
i. |
could have “catastrophic” |
consequences for America |
j. |
satellites were vital |
for military communications |
GAP FILL:
China has reopened the Star Wars debate by testing an anti-satellite missile. China's destruction of a defunct weather satellite using a medium-range, land-based rocket has caused quite a stir in Washington. The missile intercepted the satellite and struck with sufficient force to obliterate it without any need for explosive warheads. It is a relatively low-tech solution to targeting satellites and one which the US has had the know-how of for several decades. Regardless, a clearly irked U.S. State Department reminded the world that “modern life as we know it” depends on the security of satellites and other technologies in space and plainly stated it was opposed to “any militarization of space”. These comments are likely to confuse many of the world’s politicians and commentators who view the USA as the chief protagonist in pursing space-based military capabilities.
Washington also expressed concerns about the danger of debris following the destruction of the satellite. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the explosion would: “produce extensive amounts of space debris, [which] have the potential for disturbing or accidentally disrupting communication satellites or other kinds of space vehicles that are out there.” The US Union of Concerned Scientists estimated the Chinese test produced over 40,000 fragments up to 10cm in length. Another US advisory panel warned the Chinese could launch a small-scale attack without warning, which could have “catastrophic” consequences for America. Casey acknowledged this, emphasizing the importance of space technology on everyday life. He also said satellites were vital for military communications. During the last Iraq war, 83% of communications between US forces were sent via satellites.
LANGUAGE WORK
1 - a |
2 - b |
3 - a |
4 - d |
5 - c |
6 - c |
7 - a |
8 - a |
9 - b |
10 - c |
11 - c |
12 - d |
SHARE THIS LESSON: | RSS |