T E A C H E R ’ S N O T E S

April 2008

© Pearson Education Polska 2008

1

Speaking, First Reading

Depending on the level of knowledge of the class and the availability of reference materials (encyclopedias, the internet
etc.), this could be used as a mini-presentations activity where the students work in groups and produce posters on each
topic. In any case, give them time to brainstorm as much as they can before they go to the text. You could elicit the
information onto the board, or get the students to put it up on the board, before they read.

The reading itself should be quite quick - remember, the goal is for the students to scan for information here, not to read in
great detail. You may want to ask them to fold the page over or to cover the main part of the text...

Vocabulary & Speaking, Second Reading

Key:

NUUARS URANUS

OLTUP

PLUTO

UMYCRRE

MERCURY

HETRA

(THE) EARTH

EVSNU

VENUS

PUNNTEE

NEPTUNE

TNASUR SATURN

SARM

MARS

PTEURIJ

JUPITER

The discussion provides the second reading task so it is important to get some predictions/ideas from the students. You
may want to

provide some promts (‘temperature’, ‘water’, ‘atmosphere’) to help them.

Third Reading

Key:

1. As highly intelligent and technologically very advanced / No, extra-terrestrial life is likely to be very primitive
2. False. It would be ‘an astonishing event’.

3. Yes. There are very few such places in the solar system.

4. Because there does not seem to be any liquid water there.

5. It does not have water, but has rivers and seas of chemicals.

Vocabulary

Key:

1. alike

2. threatening

3. in reality

4. primitive

5. the naked eye

6. a source

7. outside of

8. slim

Key:

1. source

2. primitive

3. alike

4. In reality

5. slim

6. the naked eye

7. threatening

8. Outside of

T E A C H E R ’ S N O T E S

April 2008

© Pearson Education Polska 2008

2

Lexis

Key:

1. to

2. at

3. to

4. for

5. on

6. with

7. from

8. of

Speaking

If the class are interested, the first question would lend itself to a formal debate organisation, with speakers on both sides
and you acting as

chairperson. The second question lends itself to a personal response (‘How would you react?’) as well

as the more general question here.

Extension

The second question of the final speaking activity can be extended in several ways. The students could work in groups to
produce a news item (in newspaper, radio or television form) about a first alien contact. They could also imagine what
they would want to say to an alien if we made contact - what message could we send?

Contact

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas for future editions of Around English.

Peter Moran

[e-mail]