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Level 6 - 4th January, 2021

2021 to be huge for space exploration

FREE online quizzes, mp3 listening and more for this lesson here:
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Contents
The Article 2 Discussion (Student-Created Qs) 15
Warm-Ups 3 Language Work (Cloze) 16
Vocabulary 4 Spelling 17
Before Reading / Listening 5 Put The Text Back Together 18
Gap Fill 6 Put The Words In The Right Order 19
Match The Sentences And Listen 7 Circle The Correct Word 20
Listening Gap Fill 8 Insert The Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) 21
Comprehension Questions 9 Punctuate The Text And Add Capitals 22
Multiple Choice - Quiz 10 Put A Slash ( / ) Where The Spaces Are 23
Role Play 11 Free Writing 24
After Reading / Listening 12 Academic Writing 25
Student Survey 13 Homework 26
Discussion (20 Questions) 14 Answers 27

Please try Levels 4 and 5 (they are easier).

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THE ARTICLE

From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Cosmologists, astronomers and space engineers are predicting that 2021

will be a great year for space exploration. An increasing number of

countries and commercial companies are investing in technology to

venture into the heavens. Entrepreneurs like SpaceX's Elon Musk and

Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are setting their sights on space tourism

and sending astronauts to Mars. What once seemed like science fiction is

quickly becoming space fact. Such are the advances in technology, we

might no longer be surprised at news of asteroids being mined, Mars

being colonised, or of new forms of holidays, such as getaway weekend

breaks to the Moon.

The year will start with an exciting project that will help scientists better

understand the universe. NASA will launch its Q-PACE probe on January

the 15th. This will study the collision of small particles in space to provide

an insight into how planets originally formed. A month later, NASA's

Perseverance rover will land on Mars. This mission will test for signs of

possible past microbial life. NASA said: "Returning samples of Mars to

Earth has been a goal of planetary scientists since the early days of the

space age." In October, the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor

to the Hubble Telescope, will launch into space. Its mission is to observe

the first galaxies that formed in the early universe.

Sources: https://www.salon.com/2020/12/29/all-the-space-missions-to-look-forward-to-in-2021/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/30/2021-space-events-plan/
https://newatlas.com/space/year-space-2020-retrospective/

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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WARM-UPS

1. SPACE EXPLORATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other
students about space exploration. 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?

cosmologist / astronomer / a great year / the heavens / space tourism / asteroids /

project / the universe / collision / an insight / mission / microbial life / space / galaxy

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

3. THE HEAVENS: Students A strongly believe it is essential for humans to

explore the heavens; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk
about your conversations.

4. EXPLORATION: How important is it to explore these things? Why? Complete

this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

How Important? Why?

The Moon

Mars

The deep oceans

The human brain

Deep space

Artificial intelligence

5. MARS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with
the word "Mars". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put
the words into different categories.

6. SCIENCE FICTION: Rank these with your partner. Put the best futuristic
things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• Jetpacks • Reverse-ageing machine

• Robot police • Teletransportation
• Drone cars • Computer-assisted brains
• Moon holidays • 100% sustainability

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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VOCABULARY MATCHING
Paragraph 1

1. astronomer a. Saying or estimating that a specified thing

will happen in the future.

2. predicting b. A person who organizes and operates a

business or businesses, taking on greater
than normal financial risks to do that.

3. venture c. The sky, especially where the sun, moon,

stars, and planets are situated.

4. the heavens d. Dare to do something or go somewhere that

may be dangerous.

5. entrepreneur e. An expert of student the branch of science

which deals with space, and the physical
universe.

6. asteroid f. Sent a group of settlers to a place and

establish political control over it.

7. colonised g. A small rocky object orbiting the sun.

Paragraph 2

8. launch h. A person or thing that takes over from

another.

9. probe i. Sent a missile, satellite, or spacecraft on its

course or into orbit.

10. collision j. Relating to or characteristic of a micro-

organism.

11. insight k. A system of millions or billions of stars.

12. microbial l. An instance of one moving object or person

striking violently against another.

13. successor m. A deep understanding of a person or thing.

14. galaxy n. An unmanned exploratory spacecraft

designed to transmit information about its
environment.

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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BEFORE READING / LISTENING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

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

a. Cosmologists doubt that 2021 will be great for space exploration. T/F
b. Companies are investing in technology to get us to heaven. T/F
c. The article says science fiction is turning out to be real life. T/F
d. The article says we will not be surprised by our colonising Mars. T/F
e. A NASA probe called Q-PACE will study the collision of small particles. T/F
f. Another NASA probe will look for microbial life on the Moon. T/F
g. NASA said scientists have wanted samples of Mars for a long time. T/F
h. The Hubble Telescope will re-launch in October. T/F

2. SYNONYM MATCH:
Match the following synonyms. The words in bold are from the news article.

1. predicting a. impact
2. commercial b. journey
3. venture c. enterprise
4. advances d. vacations
5. breaks e. cosmos
6. project f. forecasting
7. collision g. specimens
8. samples h. next-in-line
9. successor i. private enterprise
10. universe j. breakthroughs

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

1. investing in technology to venture a. microbial life

2. setting their sights b. being mined
3. science fiction is quickly becoming c. in the early universe
4. surprised at news of asteroids d. into the heavens
5. getaway weekend e. space fact
6. the collision of small f. scientists
7. an insight into how planets g. particles in space
8. test for signs of possible past h. breaks to the Moon
9. planetary i. originally formed
10. observe the first galaxies that formed j. on space tourism

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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GAP FILL
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Cosmologists, astronomers and space engineers are venture

(1) _____________________ that 2021 will be a great year for space mined
exploration. An increasing (2) _____________________ of countries and
once
commercial companies are investing in technology to
predicting
(3) _____________________ into the heavens. Entrepreneurs like

SpaceX's Elon Musk and Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are getaway

setting their (4) _____________________ on space tourism and sending number

astronauts to Mars. What (5) _____________________ seemed like fact

science fiction is quickly becoming space (6) _____________________.
sights
Such are the advances in technology, we might no longer be

surprised at news of asteroids being (7) _____________________, Mars

being colonised, or of new forms of holidays, such as

(8) _____________________ weekend breaks to the Moon.

The year will start with an exciting (9) _____________________ that will land

help scientists better understand the universe. NASA will launch its project
Q-PACE (10) _____________________ on January the 15th. This will
successor
study the collision of small particles in space to provide an
insight
(11) _____________________ into how planets originally formed. A

month later, NASA's Perseverance rover will goal

(12) _____________________ on Mars. This mission will test for signs of probe

possible past (13) _____________________ life. NASA said: "Returning galaxies

samples of Mars to Earth has been a (14) _____________________ of
microbial
planetary scientists since the early days of the space age." In

October, the James Webb Space Telescope, the

(15) _____________________ to the Hubble Telescope, will launch into

space. Its mission is to observe the first (16) _____________________

that formed in the early universe.

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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LISTENING – Guess the answers. Listen to check.
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

1) commercial companies are investing in technology to ______ heavens

a. adventure into the
b. vent your into the
c. venture into the
d. vent tour into the
2) and Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are setting their ______
a. sights son space
b. sights Sun space
c. sighs on space
d. sights on space
3) What once seemed like science fiction is quickly ______
a. becoming space fact
b. becoming space farce
c. becoming space factual
d. becoming space fat
4) the advances in technology, we might no longer be surprised at news of ______
a. asteroids be in mined
b. asteroids being mined
c. asteroids been mined
d. asteroids bin mined
5) or of new forms of holidays, such as ______
a. get the way weekend breaks
b. getaway weekend breaks
c. get a way weekend breaks
d. gets away weekend breaks
6) This will study the collision of small ______
a. particles Sun space
b. particles on space
c. particles in space
d. particle sin space
7) rover will land on Mars. This mission will test for signs of possible ______
a. past microbe be all life
b. past micro vial life
c. past micro bile life
d. past microbial life
8) Returning samples of Mars to Earth has been a goal ______
a. of plant a tree scientists
b. of plan a tree scientists
c. of planet tree scientists
d. of planetary scientists
9) In October, the James Webb Space Telescope, the ______ Hubble Telescope
a. successor to the
b. successive to the
c. succession to the
d. success or to the
10) Its mission is to observe the first galaxies that formed in ______
a. the yearning universe
b. the earthly universe
c. the early universe
d. the twirly universe

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Cosmologists, astronomers and space engineers (1) ____________________

2021 will be a great year for space exploration. An increasing number of

countries and commercial companies (2) ____________________ technology

to venture into the heavens. Entrepreneurs like SpaceX's Elon Musk and

Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are (3) ____________________ on space

tourism and sending astronauts to Mars. What once seemed like science

(4) ____________________ becoming space fact. Such are the advances in

technology, we might no longer be surprised at (5) ____________________

being mined, Mars being colonised, or of new forms of holidays,

(6) ____________________ weekend breaks to the Moon.

The year will start with (7) ____________________ that will help scientists

better understand the universe. NASA will launch its Q-PACE probe on

January the 15th. This will study (8) ____________________ small particles

in space to provide an insight into how planets originally formed. A month

later, NASA's Perseverance (9) ____________________ on Mars. This

mission will test for signs of possible past microbial life. NASA said:

"Returning samples of Mars to Earth has been a (10) ____________________

scientists since the early days of the space age." In October, the James

Webb Space Telescope, (11) ____________________ the Hubble Telescope,

will launch into space. Its mission is to observe the first galaxies

(12) ____________________ the early universe.

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

1. Who is predicting a great 2021 besides cosmologists and astronomers?

2. Where do commercial companies want to venture into?

3. Where do entrepreneurs want to send astronauts?

4. What does the article say science fiction is becoming?

5. Where might we be going for weekend breaks?

6. What will NASA launch on January the 15th?

7. In what month will NASA launch its rover?

8. What will NASA's Perseverance rover test for signs of?

9. When will the James Webb Space Telescope launch into space?

10. What is the mission of the James Webb Space Telescope?

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

1) Who is predicting a great 2021 6) What will NASA launch on January

besides cosmologists and the 15th?
astronomers? a) a new website
a) coders b) its Q-PACE probe
b) enthusiasts c) the Perseverance rover
c) space engineers d) a telescope
d) astrologers
7) In what month will NASA launch its
2) Where do commercial companies rover?
want to venture into? a) October
a) the heavens b) July
b) new markets c) March
c) time travel d) February
d) the past
8) What will NASA's Perseverance
3) Where do entrepreneurs want to rover test for signs of?
send astronauts? a) water
a) Neptune b) possible past microbial life
b) another galaxy c) human existence
c) Mercury d) gas
d) Mars
9) When will the James Webb Space
4) What does the article say science Telescope launch into space?
fiction is becoming? a) October
a) illogical b) September
b) space fact c) August
c) fantasy d) July
d) difficult to understand
10) What is the mission of the James
5) Where might we be going for Webb Space telescope?
weekend breaks? a) to look at Earth
a) Mount Everest b) to find new galaxies
b) Mars c) to find new light
c) the Moon d) to observe the earliest galaxies
d) Saturn

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ROLE PLAY
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Role A – Jetpacks
You think jetpacks are the most desirable things to have in the
future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is
wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which are the least
desirable of these (and why): Moon holidays, drone cars or
robot police.

Role B – Drone Cars

You think drone cars are the most desirable things to have in
the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is
wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which are the least
desirable of these (and why): jetpacks, Moon holidays or robot
police.

Role C – Moon Holidays

You think Moon holidays are the most desirable things to have
in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what
is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which are the
least desirable of these (and why): drone cars, jetpacks or
robot police.

Role D – Robot Police

You think robot police are the most desirable things to have in
the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is
wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which are the least
desirable of these (and why): Moon holidays, drone cars or
jetpacks.

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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AFTER READING / LISTENING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'space' and
'exploration'.

space exploration

• 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:

• predicting • start
• investing • small
• sights • later
• seemed • goal
• surprised • launch
• breaks • first

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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SPACE EXPLORATION SURVEY
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Write five GOOD questions about space exploration 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.

STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3

_____________ _____________ _____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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SPACE EXPLORATION DISCUSSION
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 'space'?
3. What do you know about space?
4. What do you want to know about space?
5. How important is space exploration?
6. How good is the job of an astronomer?
7. How have commercial companies changed space exploration?
8. What motivates space entrepreneurs?
9. Does science fiction always become space fact?
10. What do you think of getaway weekend breaks to the Moon?

2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

Thousands more free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPACE EXPLORATION DISCUSSION
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12. What do you think of when you hear the word 'exploration'?
13. What do you think about what you read?
14. How excited are you about space exploration?
15. How do you think the early universe started?
16. Why is space exploration important?
17. What would happen if alien life came to Earth?
18. What do you know about the Hubble Telescope?
19. What do you think space exploration will be like in 100 years?
20. What questions would you like to ask the astronomers?

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________
Copyright © breakingnewsenglish.com 2021

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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LANGUAGE - CLOZE
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Cosmologists, astronomers and space engineers are (1) ____ that 2021 will be a
great year for space exploration. An (2) ____ number of countries and commercial
companies are investing in technology to (3) ____ into the heavens. Entrepreneurs
like SpaceX's Elon Musk and Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are (4) ____ their
sights on space tourism and sending astronauts to Mars. What once seemed like
science fiction is quickly becoming space fact. Such are the advances (5) ____
technology, we might no longer be surprised at news of asteroids being mined,
Mars being colonised, or of new forms of holidays, such (6) ____ getaway weekend
breaks to the Moon.

The year will start with an exciting project that will help scientists better understand
the universe. NASA will launch its Q-PACE (7) ____ on January the 15th. This will
study the collision of small (8) ____ in space to provide an insight into how planets
originally formed. A month later, NASA's Perseverance rover will land on Mars. This
mission will test for signs of possible past (9) ____ life. NASA said: "Returning
samples of Mars to Earth has been a goal of (10) ____ scientists since the early days
of the space age." In October, the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor
(11) ____ the Hubble Telescope, will launch into space. Its mission is to observe the
first galaxies that formed in the (12) ____ universe.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. (a) predicts (b) predictive (c) prediction (d) predicting

2. (a) increasable (b) increase (c) increases (d) increasing

3. (a) vulture (b) venture (c) votive (d) vacuous

4. (a) letting (b) betting (c) setting (d) wetting

5. (a) at (b) in (c) on (d) as

6. (a) as (b) is (c) was (d) has

7. (a) prove (b) probe (c) prose (d) prone

8. (a) particles (b) sights (c) sighting (d) sightseer

9. (a) macro (b) microbial (c) macro (d) mic

10. (a) planter (b) planting (c) planetary (d) plants

11. (a) at (b) of (c) to (d) on

12. (a) slow (b) late (c) fast (d) early

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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SPELLING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Paragraph 1

1. Cosmologists, rsroaenmots and space engineers

2. micalomrec companies

3. enevutr into the heavens

4. nrrpereeesnut like SpaceX's Elon Musk

5. adascven in technology

6. news of odsaretsi being mined

Paragraph 2

7. study the oliislnco of small particles

8. provide an tiinghs into

9. signs of possible past acomrbiil life

10. a goal of laaetrnyp scientists

11. the ousserccs to the Hubble Telescope

12. the first axagslei that formed

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Number these lines in the correct order.

( ) advances in technology, we might no longer be surprised at news of

asteroids being mined, Mars being

( ) into space. Its mission is to observe the first galaxies that formed
in the early universe.

( ) colonised, or of new forms of holidays, such as getaway weekend

breaks to the Moon.

( ) in technology to venture into the heavens. Entrepreneurs like

SpaceX's Elon Musk and

( 1 ) Cosmologists, astronomers and space engineers are predicting that

2021 will be a great year

( ) in space to provide an insight into how planets originally formed. A

month later, NASA's Perseverance rover will land

( ) The year will start with an exciting project that will help scientists
better understand the

( ) for space exploration. An increasing number of countries and

commercial companies are investing

( ) Mars. What once seemed like science fiction is quickly becoming

space fact. Such are the

( ) universe. NASA will launch its Q-PACE probe on January the 15th.
This will study the collision of small particles

( ) on Mars. This mission will test for signs of possible past microbial
life. NASA said: "Returning samples of Mars

( ) age." In October, the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor

to the Hubble Telescope, will launch

( ) to Earth has been a goal of planetary scientists since the early days
of the space

( ) Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are setting their sights on space

tourism and sending astronauts to

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

1. great that year . 2021 a will Predicting be

2. technology in into to venture Investing the heavens .

3. becoming space quickly fiction Science is fact .

4. surprised We no be news . at longer might

5. to Such the Moon . as breaks getaway weekend

6. exciting project . The with an will start year

7. originally into insight formed . planets an Provide how

8. of signs life . microbial for Test possible past

9. Since early space of the age . days the

10. early the Galaxies that universe . formed in

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Cosmologists, astronomers and space engineers are predictive / predicting

that 2021 will be a great year for space exploration. An increasing numeral /

number of countries and commercial companies are investing on / in

technology to venture into the heavens. Entrepreneurs like SpaceX's Elon

Musk and Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson are setting their sights / sounds

on space tourism and sending astronauts to / at Mars. What once seemed

like science fiction be / is quickly becoming space fact / farce. Such are the

advances on / in technology, we might no longer be surprise / surprised at

news of asteroids being mined, Mars being colonised, or of new forms of

holidays, such as getaway weekend broken / breaks to the Moon.

The year will start with an exciting / excitement project that will help

scientists better understand the universe. NASA will launch its Q-PACE prove

/ probe on January the 15th. This will study the collide / collision of small

particles in space to provide an insight / inside into how planets originally

formed. A month later, NASA's Perseverance driver / rover will land on Mars.

This mission will test for signs of possible post / past microbial life. NASA

said: "Returning samples of Mars to Earth has been a goal of plant /

planetary scientists since the early days of the space age / year." In

October, the James Webb Space Telescope, the success / successor to the

Hubble Telescope, will launch into space. Its mission is to observe the first

galaxies that formed in the early / fast universe.

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

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

C_sm_l_g_sts, _str_n_m_rs _nd sp_c_ _ng_n__rs _r_

pr_d_ct_ng th_t 2021 w_ll b_ _ gr__t y__r f_r sp_c_

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_l_n M_sk _nd V_rg_n G_l_ct_c's R_ch_rd Br_ns_n _r_

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_s g_t_w_y w__k_nd br__ks t_ th_ M__n.

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h_lp sc__nt_sts b_tt_r _nd_rst_nd th_ _n_v_rs_. N_S_

w_ll l__nch _ts Q-P_C_ pr_b_ _n J_n__ry th_ 15th.

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sp_c_ t_ pr_v_d_ _n _ns_ght _nt_ h_w pl_n_ts

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_f pl_n_t_ry sc__nt_sts s_nc_ th_ __rly d_ys _f th_

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l__nch _nt_ sp_c_. _ts m_ss__n _s t_ _bs_rv_ th_

f_rst g_l_x__s th_t f_rm_d _n th_ __rly _n_v_rs_.

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

cosmologists astronomers and space engineers are predicting that 2021 will

be a great year for space exploration an increasing number of countries and

commercial companies are investing in technology to venture into the

heavens entrepreneurs like spacexs elon musk and virgin galactics richard

branson are setting their sights on space tourism and sending astronauts to

mars what once seemed like science fiction is quickly becoming space fact

such are the advances in technology we might no longer be surprised at

news of asteroids being mined mars being colonised or of new forms of

holidays such as getaway weekend breaks to the moon

the year will start with an exciting project that will help scientists better

understand the universe nasa will launch its qpace probe on january the

15th this will study the collision of small particles in space to provide an

insight into how planets originally formed a month later nasas perseverance

rover will land on mars this mission will test for signs of possible past

microbial life nasa said returning samples of mars to earth has been a goal

of planetary scientists since the early days of the space age in october the

james webb space telescope the successor to the hubble telescope will

launch into space its mission is to observe the first galaxies that formed in

the early universe

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Cosmologists,astronomersandspaceengineersarepredictingthat20

21willbeagreatyearforspaceexploration.Anincreasingnumberofcou

ntriesandcommercialcompaniesareinvestingintechnologytoventure

intotheheavens.EntrepreneurslikeSpaceX'sElonMuskandVirginGala

ctic'sRichardBransonaresettingtheirsightsonspacetourismandsendi

ngastronautstoMars.Whatonceseemedlikesciencefictionisquicklybe

comingspacefact.Sucharetheadvancesintechnology,wemightnolon

gerbesurprisedatnewsofasteroidsbeingmined,Marsbeingcolonised,

orofnewformsofholidays,suchasgetawayweekendbreakstotheMoon

.Theyearwillstartwithanexcitingprojectthatwillhelpscientistsbetteru

nderstandtheuniverse.NASAwilllaunchitsQ-PACEprobeonJanuaryt

he15th.Thiswillstudythecollisionofsmallparticlesinspacetoprovidea

ninsightintohowplanetsoriginallyformed.Amonthlater,NASA'sPerse

veranceroverwilllandonMars.Thismissionwilltestforsignsofpossiblep

astmicrobiallife.NASAsaid:"ReturningsamplesofMarstoEarthhasbee

nagoalofplanetaryscientistssincetheearlydaysofthespaceage."InOc

tober,theJamesWebbSpaceTelescope,thesuccessortotheHubbleTel

escope,willlaunchintospace.Itsmissionistoobservethefirstgalaxiest

hatformedintheearlyuniverse.

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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FREE WRITING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

Write about space exploration for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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ACADEMIC WRITING
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2101/210104-space-exploration.html

It is important to spend lots of money on space exploration. Discuss.

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Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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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. SPACE EXPLORATION: Make a poster about space exploration.

Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have
similar things?

4. MONEY: Write a magazine article about spending more money on

space exploration. 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 space exploration. Ask him/her

three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on what to
explore. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your
partner(s) will answer your questions.

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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ANSWERS
VOCABULARY (p.4)
1. e 2. a 3. d 4. c 5. b 6. g 7. f
8. i 9. n 10. l 11. m 12. j 13. h 14. k

TRUE / FALSE (p.5)

a F b F c T d T e T f F g T h F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.5)

1. f 2. i 3. b 4. j 5. d

6. c 7. a 8. g 9. h 10. e

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.9) WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER (p.20)

1. Space engineers 1. Predicting that 2021 will be a great year.

2. The heavens 2. Investing in technology to venture into the
heavens.
3. Mars 3. Science fiction is quickly becoming space fact.
4. Space fact 4. We might no longer be surprised at news.
5. The Moon 5. Such as getaway weekend breaks to the Moon.
6. The Perseverance rover 6. The year will start with an exciting project.
7. October 7. Provide an insight into how planets originally
formed.
8. Possible past microbial life 8. Test for signs of possible past microbial life.
9. October 9. Since the early days of the space age.
10. Observe the earliest galaxies 10. Galaxies that formed in the early universe.

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.10)

1. c 2. a 3. d 4. b 5. c 6. d 7. b 8. d 9. a 10. d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Level 6 2021 to be huge for space exploration – 4th January, 2021

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