Unit 5 / Are We Alone?

Suggested by Teacher Na3im, March 2021

1-Ideas to grasp.

 Telecommunication satellites make it possible for us to make phone calls and watch live TV as well.
 Astronomy is a science while astrology is a belief.
 Our planet is part of the solar system which moves as a single unit in the same direction.
 There’s serious disagreement about the usefulness of space programs. Critics say believe that the huge budget
spent on these programs could be better used to ease the sufferings of mankind. Advocates argue that space
research might save humanity from an upcoming ELE.

2-Vocabulary to integrate. ( you can stretch this list out as you’re learning new voc-items )

Verb Noun Adjective

to communicate Communication Communicative
To organize Organization Organized
To transmit Transmission Transmitted
To differ Difference Different

To move Movement Movable

To explode Explosion Explosive
To suppose Supposition Supposable / ed
To revolve Revolution Revolving

3-Grammar to master.

A-Rewrite sentence ‘b’ so that it means the same as sentence ‘a’.

1a-“We can’t carry on wasting billions on space research,” the president declared.
1b-The president declared that..........................................
2a-“Is it possible for life to exist somewhere in the universe?” our teacher always asks us.
2b-Our teacher always asks us ..............................................
3a-New pictures are sent every day.
3b-The Hubble telescope ..............
4a-NASA should stop sending astronauts to the outer space.
4b-It’s high time ...................................................................
5a-If serious research is not made, man will never find out about the origins of life.
5b-Unless ...................................................................................................................
6a-“Why didn’t your company hire more workers as you promised?” the journalist asked the manager.
6b-The journalist asked the manager ..............................................

B-Ask the questions that the underlined words answer.

 Telecommunication satellites keep people connected.

 Critics do not like the scientist’s new theory.

D-Divide the following words into roots and affixes.

 Unpredictable - malfunctioning - predominant - fulfilling - atypical - original.

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 Text Study N° 1 p 206.
A-Comprehension.

Part I. §§ 1,2,3 and 4.

1-The text is taken from:

a-A book b-A newspaper c-The web.

2-Copy the letter that best completes the sentence.

A-Satellites hover around: a-the moon b-the Earth c-the Sun.
B-Satellites receive signals from: a-Viewers homes b-Earth stations c-Intelsat.

3-Are the following sentences true or false in the text?

a. Dozens of satellites hover under the Equator.
b. Intelsat tells member countries about the use of satellites.
c. Satellites send signals to people’s homes.

4-Answer the following questions according to the text.

a. What do satellites offer?
b. What happens to radio signals before they are sent to viewers’ homes?

5-Activity1p137: Reorder the following ideas according to their occurrence in the text.

Part II. §5
1-Activity2p137. Answer the following questions according to the text.

2-What or who do the words in bold refer to?

…find their way.
…which orbits...
…which it carries…

B-Text Exploration.

1-Find words or phrases that are closet in meaning to:

a-Simultaneously §1 b-take place §4 c-for instance §4 d-stronger §4.

2-Supply the opposites of the following words keeping the same roots.
Familiar - united - material - secure - formal - perfect.

3-Ask the questions that the underlined words answer.

Thermometers are used for measuring body temperature.

The Russians launched the first manned mission to the outer space.
Last night’s movie lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Supporters think space programs are not a waste of money.
We have had a series of crashes since 2010 in this part of the country.

4-Classify the following words according to the number of their syllables and then to their stressed syllables.
Mechanic - tragic - station - physical - declare - business.

5-Fill in the gaps with only 4 words from the list given.
made instrument stars observe using eyes.

A telescope is an optical …1… that makes distant objects appear magnified by …2… an arrangement of lenses or
curved mirrors and lenses, or various devices used to …3… distant objects. A telescope is …4… of plastic and glass.

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 Text Study N° 2 p 143 .
A-Comprehension.
Part I. §§ 1,2 and 3.

1-Are the following sentences true or false in the text?

a. Asteroids are smaller than meteors.
b. Planets and satellites are the only elements in the solar system.
c. These heavenly bodies go in opposing directions.

2-Answer the following questions according to the text. ( A, B and C p142 )

3-In which paragraph are the heavenly bodies listed?

4-What or who do the words in bold refer to in the text?

-If you were… §1

-There would be…§2
-…that they were moving…§3

5-Copy the right answer. The text is: a-Descriptive. b-Argumentative. c-Expository.

Part II. §§4, 5 and6. P144

1-Are the following sentences true or false in the text?

a. The Sun is the biggest star in the universe.
b. Without the Sun’s light the other plants wouldn’t appear to us.
c. More distant planets go faster.

2-Fill in the following table with information from the text.

Heavenly body Distance Weight Composition Temperatures

The Sun

3- Answer the following questions according to the text. ( D and E p142 )

B-Text Exploration.

1-Divide the following words into roots and affixes.

Planetary - unluckily - improved - universal.

2-Rewrite sentence ‘b’ so that it means the same as sentence ‘a’

1a-‘The solar system moves like a single unit,” scientists found out.
1b-Scientists found out that …………………………………………
2a-Stars can be better observed during the night.
2b-We ………………………………………….
3a-It’s high time you read about astronomy.
3b-You …………………………………..

3-Reoder the following sentences to make a coherent paragraph.

a-It was thought to be the 9th planet of our system for 75 years
b-that led to its demotion from a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006.
c-Pluto is the largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System.
d-until the discovery of Eris and other similar objects

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 Text Study N°3 p 156.
A-Comprehension.
Part I §§ 1, 2 and 3.

1-Are the following statements true or false in the text?

a. NASA shot missed its target.

b. The crater in the comet will keep its secrets.
c. Some people think NASA shouldn’t have shot at the comet.
d. Others think the shooting is harmless.

2-Answer the following questions according to the text. ( A and B 1p158 )

3-What or who do the words in bold refer to in the text.

 They say ... §2 You would... §3

4-Find in the text words that are closet in meaning to:

a-crater §1 b-saluting §2 c-demolished §3.

Part II §§ 4, 5 and 6.

1-Copy the letter that best completes the sentence.

A-The ‘Deep Impact’ mission will: a-collect comets. b-study comets. c-draw comets.
B-Dinosaurs disappeared because: a-they chose to. b-they lost a fight. c-failed to escape.

2-Answer the following questions according to the text. ( C and D 1p158 )

3-In which paragraph is the age of the solar system mentioned?

4-What or who do the words in bold refer to in the text.

 alter its course... §4 like those that ...§5

5-Find in the text words that are closet in meaning to:

a-change §4 b-explain §5 c-vanished §6.

Activities about the whole text.

1-act1 p156.

2-Fill in the following table with information from the text.

Mission’s name. Agency’s name. Date? Goals.

3-Reorder the following ideas according to their occurrence in the text.

a. Deep Impact is not approved by everyone.

b. Technology and science will save us.
c. Deep Impact might enlighten us about our past.
d. NASA’s motives.

4-Copy the right answer. The text is mostly: a-Argumentative b-Narrative c-Descriptive.

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 Writing

Topic1-

The Moon has always been a source of inspiration and fascination for men. But, what do we really know about it?
Using the following notes, write an objective description – about 70words - of this fascinating satellite.

 Earth satellite / 4.6 billion years old.

 orbit west-to-east direction.
 Diameter 3 476 km -surface gravity 1/6 – Mass 1/18 that of the Earth.
 Average distance : 384 402 km.
 Rock / no atmosphere / no water.
 Extreme temperatures.

Topic2-

About 65 million years ago, a massive asteroid collided with Earth. The consequences were disastrous. What would
happen if a similar body crossed our planet’s path again?
Use the following notes to write your scenario of that day! ( about 70 words )

 Violent impact / cause crater.

 Volcanic eruptions everywhere.
 Tsunami / flooding / earthquakes.
 Climate change / great freeze.
 Extinction of life.

Topic3-

Some people think that the budget devoted to space exploration is just wasted money. Others, however, believe it’s a
vital necessity for man to explore the universe.
Using the following notes, write a newspaper article of about 70 words in which you expose the two views and then
give your opinion about this subject.

 Arguments against space research :

Huge sums of money gone in smoke,
Enough problems on Earth,
Medical research / a priority.

 Arguments in favour of space exploration:

Predicting weather, catastrophes …
Predicting dangers from heavenly bodies
More Scientific discoveries.

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