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GENERAL ENGLISH · GENERAL ISSUES · ADVANCED (C1-C2)

ASTRONOMERS
DETECT POSSIBLE
‘WATERWORLD’

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1 Warm up

What do you know about space exploration? Test your knowledge with the quiz below.

1. What is the name of our galaxy?

a. Andromeda b. Triangulum c. Milky Way

2. What type of telescope is the James Webb Space Telescope?

a. radio telescope b. infrared telescope c. ultraviolet telescope

3. What is the term for a group of stars forming a recognisable pattern in the sky?

a. constellation b. galaxy c. nebula

4. What is a supernova?

a. a type of asteroid b. an explosion of a star c. a small moon

5. What is the distance of a light year?

a. the distance light emitted b. the speed of light from c. how far light travels in
from the sun can travel the nearest star to Earth one year

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2 Vocabulary

Match the words and phrases underlined with the correct definitions.

1. The detective discovered chemical signatures at the crime scene, pointing to the presence of a
specific substance.

2. The bicycle’s wheel had a radius of 14 inches, contributing to its smooth and stable ride.

3. As the sun set, the beach became balmy, creating a perfect evening for a seaside stroll.

4. The politician’s sudden change of stance on the issue made his motives questionable in the eyes
of the public.

5. The telescope captured starlight, carefully filtered through its advanced lenses.

6. The technician provided detailed breakdowns of the complex machinery, helping the team understand
its functioning.

7. Ongoing space exploration may deplete resources for future missions.

8. Despite numerous attempts, the researchers couldn’t pin down the exact cause of the mysterious
phenomenon.

a. the distance from the centre to the outer edge of a circular object

b. doubtful or uncertain; open to doubt or inquiry

c. pleasantly warm or mild in temperature

d. passed through a device or material designed to remove unwanted elements

e. detailed analyses or explanations, often referring to complex information

f. reduce or empty, often in the context of resources or substances

g. precisely determine or identify

h. distinctive markers indicating the presence of specific chemicals

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3 Listening for gist

Listen to the news report and decide what is the main idea.

1. ✷ astronomers have observed a distant galaxy, which might be covered by a deep-water ocean
2. ✷ how the James Webb Space Telescope gathers information about distant planets
3. ✷ scientists have located a new exoplanet that is potentially comprised of extremely hot water

4 Listening for comprehension

Listen to the audio again and answer the following questions.

1. Which two gases were found in the exoplanet’s atmosphere?

2. How far away is the exoplanet?

3. What is the name of the planet?

4. What breakdowns are captured by the satellite?

5. What is lacking in the atmosphere that provides evidence for the existence of an ocean?

6. Which substance is believed to make up the seabed?

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5 The James Webb Space Telescope

Read the short text, then label the diagram of the satellite using the underlined words.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) operates by combining various key components.
The larger primary mirror, spanning 6.5 meters, collects and focuses incoming light. Its
counterpart, the secondary mirror, directs this focused light onto the cutting-edge scientific
instruments strategically positioned on the spacecraft bus. To provide a degree of steadiness,
the JWST incorporates stabilisation flaps. These play a crucial role in minimising vibrations,
facilitating the telescope’s ability to capture intricate details. Complementing its optics, a
sunshade shields the telescope from the Sun’s intense heat and light. The antenna serves
as the communication nexus between the telescope and Earth. It plays a pivotal role in
transmitting the telescope’s groundbreaking observations back to scientists on our home
planet.

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6 Scanning for specific information

Scan the article on page six about the discovery of eighty-five potential exoplanets and write what
the numbers below relate to.

1.4 25 700

a. the sample size of stars (in millions) that was analysed using the initial
algorithm
b. time (in days) that one of the eighty-five new exoplanets might take to orbit
their host star
c. the number of exoplanets discovered by independent research teams

7 Reading for context

Read the article on page five again and put the following extracts in the correct gaps 1-5. There is
one sentence you do not need to use.

A. Researchers say that some of the planets are far enough away from their host stars that they
could be the right temperature to sustain life.

B. The hope is that this will drive further research and boost the hopes of discovering new worlds.

C. Scientists have actually identified 85 new planets.

D. Habitable climates are becoming gradually less available.

E. These are caused by objects passing in front of them.

F. Professor Daniel Bayliss, also involved in the research, was enthusiastic about the potential
implications.

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The hunt for habitable worlds

Eighty-five potential exoplanets discovered

A. The discovery of the new exoplanet - TOI-270 d – that is believed to be largely made up of water, is one of many
1
in the search for extraterrestrial life. These new worlds are thought to have temperatures that would
make them cool enough to sustain life, the scientists who find them say. The exoplanets are similar in size to
Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune, and were spotted by NASA’s Transitioning Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
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B. TESS enables scientists to observe dips in the brightness of stars, known as transits. Typically, at least
three transits need to be seen to discover an exoplanet in this way, in order to determine how long they take to
orbit their star. However, in the new study, researchers looked at systems that only transit twice. This results
in planets that have longer periods of orbit, thus facilitating the discovery of exoplanets at cooler temperatures.
The 85 candidate exoplanets take between 20 and 700 days to orbit their host stars, whereas most exoplanets
observed by TESS have orbital periods of 3-10 days.
3
C. This is known as the "habitable zone". At this stage, the bodies still need to be confirmed as exoplanets, but
the researchers hope this will be achieved with future observations. Sixty of the 85 exoplanets are new discoveries,
while 25 have been detected in the TESS data by independent research teams using different techniques. Faith
Hawthorn, PhD researcher at the University of Warwick, said: "We ran an initial algorithm searching for transits
on a sample of 1.4 million stars. After a painstaking vetting process, we whittled this down to just 85 systems that
appear to host exoplanets that transit only twice in the dataset."
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D. He said, "It’s very exciting to find these planets, and to know that many of them may be in the right
temperature zone to sustain life." Many exoplanets have been spotted previously, but none had the capacity to
support living organisms. He continued, "Encompassing the collaborative spirit of the TESS mission, we have also
made our discoveries public so that astronomers across the globe can study these unique exoplanets in more
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detail." Dr Sam Gill, second author of the study, noted: "Detecting exoplanets from just two transits is
a shrewd way to find longer period exoplanets in transit surveys. It allows us to find planets that are much cooler
than can be found with traditional transit searches."

sources: independent.co.uk, earth.com

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8 Vocabulary

Match the words below with their correct definitions.

Group 1

host orbit sustain vetting whittled this down

1. : a central entity that provides an environment for other elements to coexist

or operate
2. : move in a curved path around something, typically in a regular and
predictable manner
3. : support, uphold, or maintain, especially over a prolonged period

4. : the process of carefully examining or evaluating something, often to assess

its suitability
5. : gradually reduced the number or size of something, often through a careful
selection

Group 2

algorithm dips extraterrestrial painstaking shrewd

1. : a set of step-by-step instructions or rules designed to perform a specific

task
2. : done with or employing great care and thoroughness

3. : brief decreases in intensity or magnitude

4. : relating to or originating from outside the Earth or its atmosphere

5. : having or showing sharp powers of judgement

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9 Taboo game

Read the instructions and then play the game.

1. Players are divided into two teams. Each team takes turns being the ‘clue-giving’ team and the
‘guessing’ team. The game involves a set of cards, with each card having one main word or phrase
that needs to be guessed and a list of taboo words that cannot be used when giving clues.
2. On a team’s turn, one player is the clue-giver. They draw a card and try to get their teammates
to guess the main word or phrase without using any of the taboo words listed on the card. They
have a limited amount of time to do this.
3. If the guessing team correctly guesses the main word, they earn a point. If they use a taboo word
or phrase, the opposing team receives a point. Teams take turns being the clue-givers.

10 Optional extension / homework

Read the sentence below and do the following task.

"Space exploration, although expensive, is a gateway to unforeseen possibilities, offering

solutions to challenges we may not yet comprehend."

To what extent do you agree with the above statement?

You should:

• write at least 250 words,

• check your grammar, spelling and punctuation.

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Transcripts

3. Listening for gist

Newsreader: Astronomers have observed a distant planet that could be entirely covered in a deep-
water ocean, in findings that advance the search for habitable conditions beyond
Earth. The observations, made by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, revealed
water vapour and the chemical signatures of methane and carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere of the exoplanet. It is twice Earth’s radius and about 70 light years away.
This chemical mix is consistent with a world where the ocean would span the entire
surface, according to researchers from the University of Cambridge, although they do
not envisage a balmy, inviting seascape. Its habitability is questionable, as its ocean
might reach temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius. Conditions would be very
different from those on Earth. The planet, called TOI-270 d, is tidally locked, meaning
one side permanently faces its star and the other is bathed in eternal darkness, creating
an extreme temperature contrast.

Newsreader: These latest observations showcase the stunning insights James Webb is giving into
the nature of planets beyond our solar system. The telescope captures the starlight
that has been filtered through the atmospheres of orbiting planets to give detailed
breakdowns of the chemical elements present. From this, astronomers can build up
a picture of conditions at a planet’s surface – and the likelihood of life being able to
survive there. The evidence for this new exoplanet’s ocean is based on the absence of
ammonia, which basic chemistry predicts should occur naturally in a hydrogen-rich
atmosphere. Ammonia is highly soluble in water and so would be depleted in the
atmosphere if there were an ocean beneath it. The waters are likely to reach depths
of tens to hundreds of kilometres, with a high-pressure ice seabed, and beneath that
a rocky core. Further observations are needed to pin down the abundance of water
vapour in the atmosphere and clarify the likelihood of an ocean.

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Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
Discuss the answers as a class.
Information taken from: https://www.thefactsite.com/100-space-facts/

1. c. 2. b. 3. a. 4. b. 5. c.

2. Vocabulary

5 mins.
Explain to students that they should attempt the exercise unaided at first, checking the pronunciation of difficult
words and asking them to give examples.

1. → h. 2. → a. 3. → c. 4. → b.
5. → d. 6. → e. 7. → f. 8. → g.

3. Listening for gist

5 mins.
Students listen for the general idea of the audio. Discuss as a class why the other options are wrong.
Answer:
3. scientists have located a new exoplanet that is potentially comprised of extremely hot water

4. Listening for comprehension

5 mins.
Students should highlight keywords in the questions before they start.

1. carbon dioxide and methane 2. 70 light-years

3. TOI-270 d 4. the chemical elements
5. ammonia 6. ice

5. The James Webb Space Telescope

10 mins.
Students should be able to complete the diagram by following the process explained in the text. To give students
a hint, explain that the bus is the main structure on which the other components are housed.
Answers:
1. primary mirror
2. scientific instruments
3. stabilisation flaps
4. antenna
5. secondary mirror

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6. sunshade
7. spacecraft bus
Text source:
https://www.reuters.com/graphics/SPACE-EXPLORATION/TELESCOPE/klvyknwbrvg/

6. Scanning for specific information

5 mins.
Students scan the article on page six about the discovery of eighty-five potential exoplanets and write what the
numbers below relate to. They should not read the article in detail, but should instead quickly search for the
information.

a. 1.4 b. 700 c. 25

7. Reading for context

10 mins.
Students read the article again and put the following extracts to the correct gaps 1-5. Remind the students to look
for transitional phrases that indicate relationships between sentences, context clues, and logical flow, as well as
the words surrounding the gap.
Note that there is one sentence they do not need to use:
D. Habitable climates are becoming gradually less available.

1. C. Scientists have actually identified 85 new planets.

2. E. These are caused by objects passing in front of them.
3. A. Researchers say that some of the planets are far enough away from their host stars that they could be the
right temperature to sustain life.
4. F. Professor Daniel Bayliss, also involved in the research, was enthusiastic about the potential implications.
5. B. The hope is that this will drive further research and boost the hopes of discovering new worlds.
Article sources:
https://www.independent.co.uk/space/planets-alien-life-habitable-temperature-b2483462.html
https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-identified-85-new-exoplanets-that-could-harbor-life/

8. Vocabulary

5 - 10 mins.
Students match the words below with their correct definitions. Explain to students that they should attempt the
exercise unaided at first, checking the pronunciation of difficult words and asking them to give examples.
You may also want to elicit the word: facilitating - making a process or action easier or more achievable
Group 1

1. host 2. orbit
3. sustain 4. vetting
5. whittled this down
Group 2

1. algorithm 2. painstaking
3. dips 4. extraterrestrial
5. shrewd

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9. Taboo game

10 mins.
Students play the taboo game. Go through the instructions with the class, ensuring that everyone understands
the rules. Then, divide the class into two groups and keep score. All the main words have been featured in the
lesson.

10. Optional extension / homework

20 mins+.
Encourage students to use the vocabulary they have learnt in today’s lesson. Brainstorm some ideas in the class
if there is time.

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