Breaking News English

        

1. LIFESPAN: Walk around the class and talk to other students about lifespan. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

when you’ll die / scary question / tests / cells / lifespan / predictions / unethical / breakthroughs / heart disease / consultants / lifestyle / insurance companies / habits

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

3. BEFORE YOU DIE: What do you want to do? Complete this table and share it with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

	What you want to do	Why?
English
Family
Money
Love
Travel
The world

4. LONGEVITY: Students A strongly believe science will one day tell us exactly when we’ll die; Students B strongly believe this won’t happen.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the one you most want to know at the top. Change partners and share your rankings again.

when you’ll die where you’ll be in XX years how much money you’ll have who will be in power

what you’ll look like when you’re older how good your English will be what the world will be like in 2100 what kind of technology will exist

6. DNA: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘DNA’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	A new blood test may answer a question that scares many of us.	T / F
b.	The cost of the test will be around $7,000.	T / F
c.	Telomeres in our body kill potentially deadly bacteria and cancer.	T / F
d.	The new blood test will be of great interest to insurance companies.	T / F
e.	The test could lead to developments that will fight heart disease.	T / F
f.	A consultant said people should not be concerned about the test.	T / F
g.	The consultant said we would change our lifestyle if they took the test.	T / F
h.	The test inventor believes  it’s not useful to know your biological age.	T / F

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

1.	scary	a.	untrustworthy
2	estimate	b.	suspicious
3.	measures	c.	needing
4.	limit	d.	guess
5.	unreliable	e.	restrict
6.	breakthroughs	f.	conventional
7.	wary	g.	frightening
8.	conservative	h.	advances
9.	requiring	i.	gauges
10.	change	j.	amend

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

1.	It’s a scary	a.	divide
2	estimate how much	b.	habits
3.	how often our cells	c.	to breakthroughs
4.	the speed at which	d.	longer you will live
5.	Critics have been quick	e.	to be wary
6.	the test could lead	f.	in my lifestyle
7.	people are right	g.	question for many
8.	I'll be more conservative	h.	people
9.	insuring	i.	they are ageing
10.	change your lifestyle	j.	to attack the test

 

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Would you like to know when you’ll die? It’s a (1) ____________ question for many, but one which could be (2) ____________ using a new blood test. Spanish scientists have invented such a test that they say will (3) ____________ how much longer you will live. The $700 test measures the length of telomeres in our DNA. Telomeres control how often our cells divide to make new ones and are thus (4) ____________ for aging. They limit the length of our (5) ____________. The company behind the project, Life Length, says the test will give people an idea of the speed at which they are ageing and a (6) ____________ of when the end might come. Critics have been quick to attack the test. They say it is unethical, (7) ____________, and could lead to insurance firms demanding people take the test before (8) ____________ policies.		lifespan estimate issuing prediction scary responsible unreliable answered
Researchers say the test could (9) ____________ to breakthroughs in age-related illnesses such as Alzheimer's and heart disease. Professor Jerry Shay, a consultant for Life Length, (10) ____________ people are right to be (11) ____________ of the new test. He said: "People might say, 'If I know I'm going to die in 10 years, I'll spend all my money now', or 'If I'm going to live for 40 years, I'll be more conservative in my lifestyle'. He added: "The (12) ____________ thing is that if this information ever got to a point where it is (13) ____________, insurance companies would start requiring it in terms of insuring people.” Maria Blasco, (14) ____________ of the test, believes it is important, saying: "It will be useful for you to know your (15) ____________ age. Maybe you would change your lifestyle (16) ____________ if you find you have short telomeres."		biological admitted believable worrying lead habits inventor wary

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Would you like to _____________________? It’s a scary question for many, but one which could _____________________ new blood test. Spanish scientists have invented such a test that they say will estimate how much longer you will live. The $700 _____________________ of telomeres in our DNA. Telomeres control how often our cells divide to make new ones and are thus _____________________. They limit the length of our lifespan. The company behind the project, Life Length, says the test will give people an idea of the speed at which they are ageing and a prediction of when the end might come. Critics have been _____________________ test. They say it is unethical, unreliable, and could lead to insurance firms demanding people take the test _____________________.

Researchers say the _____________________ breakthroughs in age-related illnesses such as Alzheimer's and heart disease. Professor Jerry Shay, a consultant for Life Length, _____________________ right to be wary of the new test. He said: "People might say, 'If I know I'm going to die in 10 years, I'll _____________________ now', or 'If I'm going to live for 40 years, I'll be more conservative in my lifestyle'. He added: "The worrying thing is that if this information _____________________ where it is believable, insurance companies would start requiring it in terms of insuring people.” Maria Blasco, _____________________, believes it is important, saying: "It will be useful for you to know your biological age. Maybe you would change _____________________ if you find you have short telomeres."

 
 

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

scary

question

• 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:

scary estimate length limit speed issuing

breakthroughs consultant 10 point terms habits

STUDENT LIFESPAN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about lifespan 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.

LIFESPAN DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘longevity’?
c)	Would you like to know when you will die?
d)	Do you have a scary question that you would hate to answer?
e)	Do you think it’s OK to make this test available to the public?
f)	Is $700 a reasonable price for this kind of test?
g)	How reliable do you think this test is?
h)	Would you take this test if it was free?
i)	What can we do to live longer?
j)	Do you think insurance companies would take advantage of this test?

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	Is this test OK if it leads to other medical breakthroughs?
c)	What would you do differently now if you knew you would live to be 120?
d)	What would you do differently now if you knew you would die sooner than expected?
e)	How long do you want to live?
f)	Would you take drugs that ensured you lived twice as long?
g)	What’s the difference between your real age and your biological age?
h)	Would you change your lifestyle habits if you discovered you had short telomeres?
i)	Do you live life for today and not worry about tomorrow?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Dr Maria Blasco?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Would you like to know when you’ll die? It’s a (1) ____ question for many, but one which could be answered using a new blood test. Spanish scientists have invented (2) ____ a test that they say will estimate how much longer you will live. The $700 test measures the length of telomeres in our DNA. Telomeres control how often our cells divide to make new ones and are (3) ____ responsible for aging. They limit the length of our lifespan. The company (4) ____ the project, Life Length, says the test will give people an idea of the speed (5) ____ which they are ageing and a prediction of when the end might come. Critics have been quick to attack the test. They say it is unethical, unreliable, and could lead to insurance firms demanding people take the test before (6) ____ policies.

Researchers say the test could lead to breakthroughs in age-(7) ____ illnesses such as Alzheimer's and heart disease. Professor Jerry Shay, a consultant for Life Length, admitted people are right to be (8) ____ of the new test. He said: "People might say, 'If I know I'm going to die in 10 years, I'll spend all my money now', or 'If I'm going to live for 40 years, I'll be more conservative (9) ____ my lifestyle'. He added: "The worrying thing is that if this information ever got to a (10) ____ where it is believable, insurance companies would start requiring it in (11) ____ of insuring people.” Maria Blasco, inventor of the test, believes it is important, saying: "It will be useful for you to know your biological age. Maybe you would change your lifestyle (12) ____ if you find you have short telomeres."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	scary	(b)	scared	(c)	scarce	(d)	scares
2.	(a)	so	(b)	some	(c)	such	(d)	search
3.	(a)	this	(b)	thus	(c)	that	(d)	there’s
4.	(a)	being	(b)	belong	(c)	before	(d)	behind
5.	(a)	that	(b)	as	(c)	at	(d)	to
6.	(a)	issuing	(b)	issues	(c)	issued	(d)	issue
7.	(a)	relates	(b)	relative	(c)	relations	(d)	related
8.	(a)	scary	(b)	wary	(c)	teary	(d)	eerie
9.	(a)	on	(b)	by	(c)	in	(d)	at
10.	(a)	point	(b)	angle	(c)	shade	(d)	size
11.	(a)	tames	(b)	terms	(c)	tomes	(d)	teams
12.	(a)	efforts	(b)	speeds	(c)	sizes	(d)	habits

 
 

WRITING

Write about lifespan for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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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 lifespan. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. KNOWING HOW LONG: Make a poster about the test that shows you how long you have left to live. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. THE TEST: Write a magazine article about the test. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against 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. LETTER: Write a letter to a top scientist. Ask him/her three questions about the lifespan test. Give him/her three reasons to be wary about it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

 

 
 

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a.

T

b.

F

c.

F

d.

T

e.

T

f.

F

g.

T

h.

F

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	scary	a.	frightening
2	estimate	b.	guess
3.	measures	c.	gauges
4.	limit	d.	restrict
5.	unreliable	e.	untrustworthy
6.	breakthroughs	f.	advances
7.	wary	g.	suspicious
8.	conservative	h.	conventional
9.	requiring	i.	needing
10.	change	j.	amend

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	It’s a scary	a.	question for many
2	estimate how much	b.	longer you will live
3.	how often our cells	c.	divide
4.	the speed at which	d.	they are ageing
5.	Critics have been quick	e.	to attack the test
6.	the test could lead	f.	to breakthroughs
7.	people are right	g.	to be wary
8.	I'll be more conservative	h.	in my lifestyle
9.	insuring	i.	people
10.	change your lifestyle	j.	habits

GAP FILL:

Blood test predicts when you’ll die

Would you like to know when you’ll die? It’s a (1) scary question for many, but one which could be (2) answered using a new blood test. Spanish scientists have invented such a test that they say will (3) estimate how much longer you will live. The $700 test measures the length of telomeres in our DNA. Telomeres control how often our cells divide to make new ones and are thus (4) responsible for aging. They limit the length of our (5) lifespan. The company behind the project, Life Length, says the test will give people an idea of the speed at which they are ageing and a (6) prediction of when the end might come. Critics have been quick to attack the test. They say it is unethical, (7) unreliable, and could lead to insurance firms demanding people take the test before (8) issuing policies.

Researchers say the test could (9) lead to breakthroughs in age-related illnesses such as Alzheimer's and heart disease. Professor Jerry Shay, a consultant for Life Length, (10) admitted people are right to be (11) wary of the new test. He said: "People might say, 'If I know I'm going to die in 10 years, I'll spend all my money now', or 'If I'm going to live for 40 years, I'll be more conservative in my lifestyle'. He added: "The (12) worrying thing is that if this information ever got to a point where it is (13) believable, insurance companies would start requiring it in terms of insuring people.” Maria Blasco, (14) inventor of the test, believes it is important, saying: "It will be useful for you to know your (15) biological age. Maybe you would change your lifestyle (16) habits if you find you have short telomeres."

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - a

2 - c

3 - b

4 - d

5 - c

6 - a

7 - d

8 - b

9 - c

10 - a

11 - b

12 - d

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