The Reading / Listening - Level 1

The number of insects has fallen by 45 per cent since 1980. The number of humans has doubled. This could be dangerous. A report in the journal 'Science' says one of the biggest reasons for disappearing insects is deforestation. There are more new cities and farms, and less land for insects. Another reason is global warming. In the UK, the number of some bugs has fallen by 60 per cent. Many countries are worried about disappearing bees and butterflies.

Fewer insects will make problems for humans. There will be fewer insects to pollinate flowers, so farmers will have problems growing food. Falling numbers of insects could also lead to more disease. Rats and mice will have less food so they will move to cities and bring diseases with them. We must stop insects from dying. Scientists must understand which insects are surviving and which are dying. This will help us to protect the "helpful" insects.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/10989198/Creepy-crawlies-decline-as-human-population-soars.html
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2704973/Insect-population-45-just-35-years-Scientists-fear-drop-harm-planet-vital-role-play.html#ixzz38XUJsEL2
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/end-world-predicted-scientists-who-3913927#ixzz38XUjx9pp


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

fallen by 45 per cent

a.

for insects

2.

The number of

b.

has fallen

3.

A report in the

c.

humans has doubled

4.

There are more new cities

d.

disappearing bees

5.

less land

e.

journal 'Science'

6.

Another reason is global

f.

since 1980

7.

the number of some bugs

g.

warming

8.

worried about

h.

and farms

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Fewer insects will make problems

a.

disease

2.

fewer insects to pollinate

b.

and which are dying

3.

farmers will have problems

c.

flowers

4.

lead to more

d.

the "helpful" insects

5.

they will move to cities and bring

e.

growing food

6.

We must stop insects

f.

diseases with them

7.

which insects are surviving

g.

for humans

8.

This will help us to protect

h.

from dying

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The number of insects (1) ___________________ per cent since 1980. The number of (2) ___________________. This could be dangerous. A (3) ___________________ 'Science' says one of the biggest reasons for disappearing insects is deforestation. There are more new cities and farms (4) ___________________ insects. Another reason (5) ___________________. In the UK, the number of some bugs has fallen by 60 per cent. Many countries are worried about disappearing (6) ___________________.

Fewer insects will (7) ___________________ humans. There will be fewer insects (8) ___________________, so farmers will have problems growing food. Falling numbers of insects could also lead (9) ___________________. Rats and mice will have less food so they will move to cities and bring (10) ___________________. We must stop (11) ___________________. Scientists must understand which insects are surviving and which are dying. This will help us to protect (12) ___________________.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thenumberofinsectshasfallenby45percentsince1980.Thenumberofhumans
hasdoubled.Thiscouldbedangerous.Areportinthejournal'Science'saysoneof
thebiggestreasonsfordisappearinginsectsisdeforestation.Therearemorene
wcitiesandfarms,andlesslandforinsects.Anotherreasonisglobalwarming.Int
heUK,thenumberofsomebugshasfallenby60percent.Manycountriesareworri
edaboutdisappearingbeesandbutterflies.Fewerinsectswillmakeproblemsfor
humans.Therewillbefewerinsectstopollinateflowers,sofarmerswillhaveprobl
emsgrowingfood.Fallingnumbersofinsectscouldalsoleadtomoredisease.Rat
sandmicewillhavelessfoodsotheywillmovetocitiesandbringdiseaseswiththe
m.Wemuststopinsectsfromdying.Scientistsmustunderstandwhichinsectsar
esurvivingandwhicharedying.Thiswillhelpustoprotectthe"helpful"insects.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about bugs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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