The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The USA has put into space the world's most advanced and powerful weather satellite. Scientists say it will revolutionize how we predict the weather and how we look at weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said its $1 billion Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) will take weather photographs five times faster than other satellites, and with four times higher image quality. The NOAA said: "Without a doubt, GOES-R will revolutionize weather forecasting as we know it." A weather forecaster said the difference in the speed and quality of the satellite's images is like the difference between old black and white TV pictures and today's HD televisions.

The new satellite will give us powerful, real-time images and information. These will make the world a safer place. Airline pilots will receive better data to stay away from turbulence. The satellite will be able to zoom in on severe weather events to get much more detailed and accurate pictures. This will help emergency services to warn people more quickly and reduce the costs to human life and property. People will have better information about hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash clouds, and wildfires. A scientist at the NOAA said: "It will give the weather as it's looking now rather than the weather that happened 15 to 30 minutes ago." The NOAA said weather forecasters couldn't wait to use it.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/20/atlas-5-launches-the-most-advanced-u-s-weather-satellite-in-history/
  • http://www.cbsnews.com/news/high-power-weather-satellite-set-for-launch/
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38050916


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. WEATHER FORECASTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about weather forecasts. 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?

       advanced / powerful / predict / environmental / image / quality / difference / HD TV /
       real-time information / pilots / turbulence / accurate / property / flooding / hurricanes

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. $1 BILLION: Students A strongly believe spending $1 billion on a satellite is good; Students B strongly believe the money should have been spent on health and education.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. WEATHER: What are the good and bad things about these types of weather? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Rain
  • Strong wind
  • Snow
  • Heat wave
  • Fog
  • Sunshine
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5. SATELLITE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "satellite". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. WEATHER EVENTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most dangerous at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • landslide
  • drought
  • dust storm
  • wildfires
  • hurricane
  • blizzard
  • heat wave
  • flood

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists say the satellite will cause a revolution in space.     T / F
  2. The satellite cost a billion dollars.     T / F
  3. The satellite can take photos ten times faster than other satellites.     T / F
  4. The pictures from the satellite are like those from black and white TVs.    T / F
  5. The satellite will give us real-time photos of the weather.     T / F
  6. The satellite will help airplanes to avoid turbulence.     T / F
  7. We will not have to rely on weather information that is 15 minutes old.    T / F
  8. Weather forecasters will wait patiently to use the satellite.     T / F

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

  1. advanced
  2. revolutionize
  3. quality
  4. image
  5. difference
  6. receive
  7. turbulence
  8. reduce
  9. property
  10. happened
  1. lower
  2. picture
  3. occurred
  4. gap
  5. modern
  6. rough air
  7. excellence
  8. buildings
  9. get
  10. transform

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

  1. it will revolutionize how we
  2. weather
  3. four times higher image
  4. Without a
  5. old black and white
  6. give us powerful, real-
  7. stay away from
  8. The satellite will be able to zoom
  9. emergency
  10. forecasters couldn't wait
  1. turbulence
  2. TV pictures
  3. doubt
  4. time images
  5. services
  6. events
  7. in
  8. predict the weather
  9. to use it
  10. quality

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
faster
quality
advanced
billion
today's
other
predict
doubt

The USA has put into space the world's most (1) ____________ and powerful weather satellite. Scientists say it will revolutionize how we (2) ____________ the weather and how we look at weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said its $1 (3) ____________ Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) will take weather photographs five times (4) ____________ than (5) ____________ satellites, and with four times higher image quality. The NOAA said: "Without a (6) ____________, GOES-R will revolutionize weather forecasting as we know it." A weather forecaster said the difference in the speed and (7) ____________ of the satellite's images is like the difference between old black and white TV pictures and (8) ____________ HD televisions.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
turbulence
flooding
real
ago
safer
accurate
rather
property

The new satellite will give us powerful, (9) ____________-time images and information. These will make the world a (10) ____________ place. Airline pilots will receive better data to stay away from (11) ____________. The satellite will be able to zoom in on severe weather events to get much more detailed and (12) ____________ pictures. This will help emergency services to warn people more quickly and reduce the costs to human life and (13) ____________. People will have better information about hurricanes, tornadoes, (14) ____________, volcanic ash clouds, and wildfires. A scientist at the NOAA said: "It will give the weather as it's looking now (15) ____________ than the weather that happened 15 to 30 minutes (16) ____________." The NOAA said weather forecasters couldn't wait to use it.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  how we predict the weather and how we look at ______
     a.  weather event
     b.  weathers events
     c.  weathered events
     d.  weather events

2)  five times faster than other satellites, and with four times higher ______
     a.  images qualities
     b.  image quality
     c.  image qualities
     d.  images quality

3)  Without a doubt, GOES-R will revolutionize weather forecasting ______
     a.  was we know it
     b.  has we know it
     c.  as we know it
     d.  is we know it

4)  the difference in the speed and quality of the ______
     a.  satellite's imaged
     b.  satellite's images
     c.  satellite is image
     d.  satellite is images

5)  the difference between old black and white TV pictures and ______ televisions
     a.  todays HD
     b.  today's HD
     c.  todays' HD
     d.  two day's HD

6)  Airline pilots will receive better data to stay away ______
     a.  from turbulence
     b.  from turbans
     c.  from trampolines
     d.  from tumblers

7)  zoom in on severe weather events to get much more detailed and ______
     a.  accuracy pictures
     b.  accurate picture
     c.  accuracy picture
     d.  accurate pictures

8)  warn people more quickly and reduce the costs to human ______
     a.  live and properties
     b.  life and property
     c.  live and propertied
     d.  life and propertied

9)  information about hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash ______ wildfires
     a.  clouds, and
     b.  shrouds, and
     c.  shards, and
     d.  crowds, and

10)  The NOAA said weather forecasters couldn't ______
     a.  wait to used it
     b.  wait to use them
     c.  waits to use it
     d.  wait to use it

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The USA has (1) ___________________ the world's most advanced and powerful weather satellite. Scientists say it will revolutionize how we predict the weather and (2) ___________________ weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (3) ___________________ Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) will take weather photographs five (4) ___________________ other satellites, and with four times higher image quality. The NOAA said: "Without a doubt, GOES-R will revolutionize weather forecasting (5) ___________________." A weather forecaster said the difference in the speed and quality of the satellite's (6) ___________________ the difference between old black and white TV pictures and today's HD televisions.

The new satellite will give us powerful, (7) ___________________ and information. These will make the world a safer place. Airline pilots will receive better (8) ___________________ away from turbulence. The satellite will be able (9) ___________________ severe weather events to get much more detailed and accurate pictures. This will help emergency services to warn people more quickly and reduce the (10) ___________________ life and property. People will have better information about hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash (11) ___________________. A scientist at the NOAA said: "It will give the weather as it's looking now rather than the weather that happened 15 to 30 minutes ago." The NOAA said weather forecasters couldn't (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. Which country launched the satellite?
  2. How much did the satellite cost?
  3. How much faster are the satellite's photos than those of other satellites?
  4. How many times better is the image quality?
  5. What did a weather forecaster compare today's HD televisions to?
  6. What will be a safer place because of the satellite's images?
  7. What will the satellite help airplanes to avoid?
  8. What kind of weather events will the satellite zoom in on?
  9. What kind of ash was mentioned in the article?
  10. Who can't wait to use the satellite?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Which country launched the satellite?
a) China
b) UAE
c) USA
d) EU

2) How much did the satellite cost?
a) $1 billion
b) $1 million
c) $1 trillion
d) $1 quadrillion

3) How much faster are the satellite's photos than those of other satellites?
a) 4 times faster
b) 3.5 times faster
c) 3 times faster
d) 5 times faster

4) How many times better is the image quality?
a) 4.5 times
b) 4 times
c) 3.5 times
d) 5 times

5) What did a weather forecaster compare today's HD televisions to?
a) paper
b) telescopes
c) black and white TV
d) iPhones

6) What will be a safer place because of the satellite's images?
a) TVs
b) the world
c) space
d) weather forecasters

7) What will the satellite help airplanes to avoid?
a) crashes
b) terrorism
c) high oil prices
d) turbulence

8) What kind of weather events will the satellite zoom in on?
a) cloudy ones
b) severe ones
c) good ones
d) colourful ones

9) What kind of ash was mentioned in the article?
a) volcanic ash
b) cigarette ash
c) hot ash
d) burnt ash

10) Who can't wait to use the satellite?
a) NASA
b) John
c) astronauts
d) weather forecasters

Role play

Role A — Hurricanes

You think hurricanes are the most dangerous weather events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather events aren't so dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): heat waves, floods or wildfires.

Role B —Heat Waves

You think heat waves are the most dangerous weather events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather events aren't so dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): hurricanes, floods or wildfires.

Role C — Floods

You think floods are the most dangerous weather events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather events aren't so dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): heat waves, hurricanes or wildfires.

Role D — Wildfires

You think wildfires are the most dangerous weather events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their weather events aren't so dangerous. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): heat waves, floods or hurricanes.

After reading / listening

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

'weather'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'event'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • real
    • place
    • zoom
    • costs
    • ash
    • wait
    • most
    • billion
    • five
    • doubt
    • speed
    • HD

    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 - Seriously powerful weather satellite put into space

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'weather'?
    3. What's your favourite weather, and why?
    4. What weather do you hate the most?
    5. How is the world's weather changing?
    6. How important are weather forecasts to you?
    7. What do you think about what you read?
    8. How do you think the new satellite will change our life?
    9. What has the weather been like recently?
    10. What's the worst weather you've ever known?

    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 weather forecasts on TV?
    3. Do you have a favourite weather forecaster?
    4. How useful are weather apps?
    5. What do you think of air turbulence in airplanes?
    6. How can people better survive a hurricane?
    7. What can people do to keep safe during floods?
    8. What do you think of photos of weather events?
    9. What does a weather forecaster do all day?
    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)

    The USA has put (1) ____ space the world's most advanced and powerful weather satellite. Scientists say it will revolutionize how we (2) ____ the weather and how we look at weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said its $1 billion Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) will (3) ____ weather photographs five times faster than other satellites, and with four times higher image (4) ____. The NOAA said: "Without a doubt, GOES-R will revolutionize weather forecasting (5) ____ we know it." A weather forecaster said the difference in the speed and quality of the satellite's images is like the difference between old black and white TV pictures and (6) ____ HD televisions.

    The new satellite will give us powerful, (7) ____-time images and information. These will make the world a safer place. Airline pilots will receive better data to stay away from turbulence. The satellite will be able to zoom (8) ____ on severe weather events to get much more detailed and accurate pictures. This will help emergency services to warn people more quickly and reduce the (9) ____ to human life and (10) ____. People will have better information about hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash clouds, and wildfires. A scientist at the NOAA said: "It will give the weather (11) ____ it's looking now rather than the weather that happened 15 to 30 minutes ago." The NOAA said weather forecasters couldn't (12) ____ to use it.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     ante     (b)     onto     (c)     unto     (d)     into    
    2. (a)     precinct     (b)     dictate     (c)     predate     (d)     predict    
    3. (a)     fake     (b)     take     (c)     bake     (d)     make    
    4. (a)     qualify     (b)     quantity     (c)     quality     (d)     quash    
    5. (a)     was     (b)     is     (c)     as     (d)     has    
    6. (a)     today's     (b)     two days     (c)     todays'     (d)     todays'    
    7. (a)     really     (b)     real     (c)     reality     (d)     realism    
    8. (a)     in     (b)     up     (c)     at     (d)     with    
    9. (a)     prices     (b)     costs     (c)     benefits     (d)     expenses    
    10. (a)     properly     (b)     prosperously     (c)     property     (d)     propelling    
    11. (a)     has     (b)     was     (c)     as     (d)     is    
    12. (a)     hold     (b)     endure     (c)     patient     (d)     wait

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. denaadcv and powerful weather satellite
    2. how we reitdpc the weather
    3. $1 binlilo
    4. Without a dutbo
    5. four times higher igeam quality
    6. the edferfcnie in the speed and quality

    Paragraph 2

    1. Airline tlospi
    2. stay away from rtuebeclnu
    3. vseere weather events
    4. more detailed and ctaarecu pictures
    5. the costs to human life and ptreopyr
    6. hurricanes, tornadoes, lgdifoon

    Put the text back together

    (    )     place. Airline pilots will receive better data to stay away from turbulence. The satellite will be able to zoom

    (    )     how we predict the weather and how we look at weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric

    1  )     The USA has put into space the world's most advanced and powerful weather satellite. Scientists say it will revolutionize

    (    )     services to warn people more quickly and reduce the costs to human life and property. People will have better

    (    )     at the NOAA said: "It will give the weather as it's looking now rather than the weather that happened 15

    (    )     between old black and white TV pictures and today's HD televisions.

    (    )     take weather photographs five times faster than other satellites, and with four times higher image

    (    )     The new satellite will give us powerful, real-time images and information. These will make the world a safer

    (    )     to 30 minutes ago." The NOAA said weather forecasters couldn't wait to use it.

    (    )     Administration (NOAA) said its $1 billion Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) will

    (    )     it." A weather forecaster said the difference in the speed and quality of the satellite's images is like the difference

    (    )     in on severe weather events to get much more detailed and accurate pictures. This will help emergency

    (    )     quality. The NOAA said: "Without a doubt, GOES-R will revolutionize weather forecasting as we know

    (    )     information about hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash clouds, and wildfires. A scientist

    Put the words in the right order

    1. The   satellite   weather   powerful   and   advanced   most   world's   .
    2. the   predict   we   how   revolutionize   will   It   weather   .
    3. GOES-R   will   photographs   faster   weather   times   take   five   .
    4. we   forecasting  know   as   it   GOES-R   will   weather  revolutionize  .
    5. and   pictures   HD   black  TV   today's   Old   white  and   televisions   .
    6. powerful   us   give   will  satellite   new  The  images  time  -  real   ,   .
    7. the   make   will   These   place   safer   a   world   .
    8. This   people   warn   to   services   emergency   help   will   .
    9. it's   give   looking   the   now   weather   It   as   will   .
    10. couldn't   to   it   forecasters   wait   use   Weather   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The USA has put into / onto space the world's most advanced and powerful weather satellite. Scientists say it will revolutionize how / now we predict the weather and how we look / watch at weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said its / that's $1 billion Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) will take weather photographs five times faster than another / other satellites, and with four times higher image quantity / quality. The NOAA said: "Without a doubt / rout, GOES-R will revolutionize weather forecasting as we know it / them." A weather forecaster said the difference in / on the speed and quality of the satellite's images is like the difference among / between old black and white TV pictures and today's HD televisions.

    The new satellite will give us / they powerful, real-time images and information. These will make the / a world a safer place. Airline pilots will receive better data to stay away for / from turbulence. The satellite will be able to zoom in / up on severe weather events to get much more detailed and accuracy / accurate pictures. This will help emergency services to warn / warm people more quickly and reduce the costs to human live / life and property. People will have better information about / around hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, volcanic ash clouds, and wildfires. A scientist at the NOAA said: "It will give the weather as it's looking now prefer / rather than the weather that happened 15 to 30 minutes ago." The NOAA said weather forecasters couldn't wait / await to use it.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_ _S_ h_s p_t _nt_ sp_c_ th_ w_rld's m_st _dv_nc_d _nd p_w_rf_l w__th_r s_t_ll_t_. Sc__nt_sts s_y _t w_ll r_v_l_t__n_z_ h_w w_ pr_d_ct th_ w__th_r _nd h_w w_ l__k _t w__th_r _v_nts. Th_ N_t__n_l _c__n_c _nd _tm_sph_r_c _dm_n_str_t__n (N___) s__d _ts $1 b_ll__n G__st_t__n_ry _p_r_t__n_l _nv_r_nm_nt_l S_t_ll_t_ (G__S-R) w_ll t_k_ w__th_r ph_t_gr_phs f_v_ t_m_s f_st_r th_n _th_r s_t_ll_t_s, _nd w_th f__r t_m_s h_gh_r _m_g_ q__l_ty. Th_ N___ s__d: "W_th__t _ d__bt, G__S-R w_ll r_v_l_t__n_z_ w__th_r f_r_c_st_ng _s w_ kn_w _t." _ w__th_r f_r_c_st_r s__d th_ d_ff_r_nc_ _n th_ sp__d _nd q__l_ty _f th_ s_t_ll_t_'s _m_g_s _s l_k_ th_ d_ff_r_nc_ b_tw__n _ld bl_ck _nd wh_t_ TV p_ct_r_s _nd t_d_y's HD t_l_v_s__ns.

    Th_ n_w s_t_ll_t_ w_ll g_v_ _s p_w_rf_l, r__l-t_m_ _m_g_s _nd _nf_rm_t__n. Th_s_ w_ll m_k_ th_ w_rld _ s_f_r pl_c_. __rl_n_ p_l_ts w_ll r_c__v_ b_tt_r d_t_ t_ st_y _w_y fr_m t_rb_l_nc_. Th_ s_t_ll_t_ w_ll b_ _bl_ t_ z__m _n _n s_v_r_ w__th_r _v_nts t_ g_t m_ch m_r_ d_t__l_d _nd _cc_r_t_ p_ct_r_s. Th_s w_ll h_lp _m_rg_ncy s_rv_c_s t_ w_rn p__pl_ m_r_ q__ckly _nd r_d_c_ th_ c_sts t_ h_m_n l_f_ _nd pr_p_rty. P__pl_ w_ll h_v_ b_tt_r _nf_rm_t__n _b__t h_rr_c_n_s, t_rn_d__s, fl__d_ng, v_lc_n_c _sh cl__ds, _nd w_ldf_r_s. _ sc__nt_st _t th_ N___ s__d: "_t w_ll g_v_ th_ w__th_r _s _t's l__k_ng n_w r_th_r th_n th_ w__th_r th_t h_pp_n_d 15 t_ 30 m_n_t_s _g_." Th_ N___ s__d w__th_r f_r_c_st_rs c__ldn't w__t t_ _s_ _t.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the usa has put into space the world's most advanced and powerful weather satellite scientists say it will revolutionize how we predict the weather and how we look at weather events the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa) said its $1 billion geostationary operational environmental satellite (goes-r) will take weather photographs five times faster than other satellites and with four times higher image quality the noaa said "without a doubt goes-r will revolutionize weather forecasting as we know it" a weather forecaster said the difference in the speed and quality of the satellite's images is like the difference between old black and white tv pictures and today's hd televisions

    the new satellite will give us powerful real-time images and information these will make the world a safer place airline pilots will receive better data to stay away from turbulence the satellite will be able to zoom in on severe weather events to get much more detailed and accurate pictures this will help emergency services to warn people more quickly and reduce the costs to human life and property people will have better information about hurricanes tornadoes flooding volcanic ash clouds and wildfires a scientist at the noaa said "it will give the weather as it's looking now rather than the weather that happened 15 to 30 minutes ago" the noaa said weather forecasters couldn't wait to use it

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheUSAhasputintospacetheworld'smostadvancedandpowerfulweat
    hersatellite.Scientistssayitwillrevolutionizehowwepredicttheweathe
    randhowwelookatweatherevents.TheNationalOceanicandAtmosphe
    ricAdministration(NOAA)saidits$1billionGeostationaryOperationalE
    nvironmentalSatellite(GOES-R)willtakeweatherphotographsfivet
    imesfasterthanothersatellites,andwithfourtimeshigherimagequality
    .TheNOAAsaid:"Withoutadoubt,GOES-Rwillrevolutionizeweatherf
    orecastingasweknowit."Aweatherforecastersaidthedifferenceinthes
    peedandqualityofthesatellite'simagesislikethedifferencebetweenol
    dblackandwhiteTVpicturesandtoday'sHDtelevisions.Thenewsatellit
    ewillgiveuspowerful,real-timeimagesandinformation.Thesewillma
    ketheworldasaferplace.Airlinepilotswillreceivebetterdatatostayawa
    yfromturbulence.Thesatellitewillbeabletozoominonsevereweathere
    ventstogetmuchmoredetailedandaccuratepictures.Thiswillhelpeme
    rgencyservicestowarnpeoplemorequicklyandreducethecoststohum
    anlifeandproperty.Peoplewillhavebetterinformationabouthurricane
    s,tornadoes,flooding,volcanicashclouds,andwildfires.Ascientistatth
    eNOAAsaid:"Itwillgivetheweatherasit'slookingnowratherthanthewe
    atherthathappened15to30minutesago."TheNOAAsaidweatherforec
    asterscouldn'twaittouseit.

    Free writing

    Write about weather forecast for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Weather forecasts are more important than financial markets forecasts. 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. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. WEATHER FORECASTS: Make a poster about weather forecasts. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. WEATHER SATELLITE: Write a magazine article about the new weather satellite. Include imaginary interviews with the scientists who made it.

    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 weather forecasts. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on why weather forecasts are so important. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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