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Blue most common eye colour in Britain (2nd September, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Scientists have made a map of the eye colour of people in Britain. They found out that the most common colour is blue. The scientists say that thousands of years ago, all British people's eyes were brown. The researchers found that 48 per cent of British people have blue eyes, 30 per cent of people have green eyes and 22 per cent have brown. The area around Edinburgh in Scotland was the place where most people had blue eyes. Over half (57 per cent) of those in and around Edinburgh have blue eyes. The southwest of England has the fewest blue-eyed people. Just 35 per cent of people living there are blue eyed. The scientists say they do not know why some regions of Britain have a lot of blue-eyed people.

Alistair Moffat, the lead researcher of the study, said the number of people with blue eyes is increasing because people find them more attractive. This means people with blue eyes are more successful at finding a partner and having children with blue eyes. He compares blue eyes to the tail of a peacock, saying a more colourful tail will get a peacock more mates. Dr Moffat says people are attracted to the sparkle in blue eyes. He said light reacts with blue eyes to give a glitter effect. Darker eyes absorb light so they generally have less sparkle. Another scientist, Hans Eiberg, offers an explanation why blue eyes are popular. He said: "There is something attractive about blue eyes, maybe because they used to be so rare."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2738224/Is-rise-blue-eyes-attractive-Scientists-believe-colour-dominant-like-peacocks-tail.html
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/blue-eyes-are-more-common-any-other-colour-britain-1463258
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scots-are-ol-blue-eyes-says-study.25122864

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. BLUE EYES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about blue eyes. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

scientists / eye colour / common / researchers / brown eyes / fewest / regions / increasing / successful / finding a partner / peacock / colourful / sparkle / attractive

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

3. EYES: How different are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What kinds?	How nice are they?	How do we change them?
size
eye lashes
eye brows
colour
shape
blinking

4. BLUE-EYED: Students A strongly believe blue-eyed people are more attractive; Students B strongly believe this is so untrue. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. COLOUR: Rank these with your partner. Put the things you would like to change the colour of most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• eyes

• fingernails

• teeth

• skin

• hair

• lips

• cheeks

• other ______

6. MAP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "map". 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.	Scientists mapped the colour of people's eyes in Britain.	T / F
b.	Thousands of years ago, all British people's eyes were brown.	T / F
c.	London has the highest percentage of blue-eyed people in Britain.	T / F
d.	Scientists know why different areas of Britain have blue-eyed people.	T / F
e.	The number of blue-eyed British people is falling.	T / F
f.	A scientist said blue-eyed people find partners more easily.	T / F
g.	The scientist said people like the way light reacts in brown eyes.	T / F
h.	A scientist said blue eyes are popular because they used to be rare.	T / F

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

1.	common	a.	region
2.	found	b.	well liked
3.	area	c.	location
4.	place	d.	going up
5.	a lot of	e.	discovered
6.	study	f.	good-looking
7.	increasing	g.	widespread
8.	attractive	h.	soak up
9.	absorb	i.	research
10.	popular	j.	many

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

1.	Scientists have made	a.	colour is blue
2.	the most common	b.	sparkle in blue eyes
3.	those in and	c.	of the study
4.	the fewest	d.	a map
5.	some regions of	e.	to be so rare
6.	lead researcher	f.	around Edinburgh
7.	people find	g.	light
8.	people are attracted to the	h.	Britain have a lot
9.	Darker eyes absorb	i.	them more attractive
10.	they used	j.	blue-eyed people

GAP FILL

Scientists have made a (1) ____________ of the eye colour of people in Britain. They found out that the most (2) ____________ colour is blue. The scientists say that thousands of years ago, all British people's eyes were brown. The (3) ____________ found that 48 per cent of British people have blue eyes, 30 per cent of people have green eyes and 22 per cent have brown. The area (4) ____________ Edinburgh in Scotland was the place where most people had blue eyes. Over (5) ____________ (57 per cent) of those in and around Edinburgh have blue eyes. The (6) ____________ of England has the (7) ____________ blue-eyed people. Just 35 per cent of people living there are blue eyed. The scientists say they do not know why some (8) ____________ of Britain have a lot of blue-eyed people.

fewest
half
researchers
regions
map
southwest
common
around

Alistair Moffat, the (9) ____________ researcher of the study, said the number of people with blue eyes is (10) ____________ because people find them more attractive. This means people with blue eyes are more successful at (11) ____________ a partner and having children with blue eyes. He (12) ____________ blue eyes to the tail of a peacock, saying a more colourful tail will get a peacock more mates. Dr Moffat says people are attracted to the (13) ____________ in blue eyes. He said light reacts with blue eyes to give a glitter effect. Darker eyes (14) ____________ light so they generally have less sparkle. Another scientist, Hans Eiberg, offers an (15) ____________ why blue eyes are popular. He said: "There is something attractive about blue eyes, maybe because they used to be so (16) ____________."

sparkle
rare
finding
explanation
lead
compares
absorb
increasing

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	They found out that the most ______ blue.
	a. commons colour is b. come-on colour is c. common colour is d. commonly colour is
2)	The area around Edinburgh in Scotland ______
	a. was the place b. was the plaice c. was the plies d. was the palace
3)	Over half (57 per cent) of those in and ______
	a. a round Edinburgh b. all round Edinburgh c. abound Edinburgh d. around Edinburgh
4)	The southwest of England ______
	a. has the few its b. has the fewest c. has the view its d. has the views its
5)	some regions of Britain have a lot of ______
	a. blue-eyes people b. blue-eye people c. blue-eying people d. blue-eyed people
6)	the lead researcher of the study said the number of people with blue ______
	a. eyes is in crease in b. eyes is in crease sin c. eyes is increasing d. eyes is increase in
7)	people with blue eyes are more successful at ______
	a. funding a partner b. finding a partner c. founding a partner d. find in a partner
8)	He compares blue eyes to the ______ peacock
	a. tail for a b. tail at a c. tail off a d. tail of a
9)	He said light reacts with blue eyes to give ______
	a. a glitter affect b. a glitter reflect c. a glitter effect d. a glitter perfect
10)	There is something attractive about blue eyes, maybe because they used ______
	a. to be sew rare b. to be sow rare c. to be show rare d. to be so rare

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists have (1) ___________________ eye colour of people in Britain. They found out that the most common colour is blue. The scientists say that thousands (2) ___________________, all British people's eyes were brown. The researchers found that 48 per cent of British people have blue eyes, 30 (3) ___________________ have green eyes and 22 per cent have brown. The area around Edinburgh in Scotland was the place where most people had blue eyes. Over half (57 per cent) (4) ___________________ around Edinburgh have blue eyes. The southwest of England has the fewest blue-eyed people. Just 35 per cent of (5) ___________________ are blue eyed. The scientists say they do not know why (6) ___________________ Britain have a lot of blue-eyed people.

Alistair Moffat, (7) ___________________ of the study, said the number of people with blue eyes is increasing because people find them more attractive. This means people with blue eyes are (8) ___________________ finding a partner and having children with blue eyes. He compares blue eyes (9) ___________________ peacock, saying a more colourful tail will get a peacock more mates. Dr Moffat says people are attracted to the sparkle in blue eyes. He said (10) ___________________ blue eyes to give a glitter effect. Darker eyes absorb light so they generally (11) ___________________. Another scientist, Hans Eiberg, offers an explanation why blue eyes are popular. He said: "There is something attractive about blue eyes, maybe because they (12) ___________________."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What have scientists made?
2.	When were all British people's eyes brown?
3.	What percentage of British people have brown eyes?
4.	Where is it that 57% of people are blue eyed?
5.	Which region of Britain has the smallest number of blue-eyed people?
6.	Who is Alistair Moffat?
7.	What might blue-eyed people be more successful at finding?
8.	What did Dr Moffat say people are attracted to in blue eyes?
9.	What do darker eyes absorb?
10.	What did Hans Eiborg say blue eyes used to be?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What have scientists made?	6.	Who is Alistair Moffat?
	a) a new eye colour b) a map c) a new eye d) money		a) a mapmaker b) an eye surgeon c) a researcher d) winner of Mr Blue Eyes
2.	When were all British people's eyes brown?	7.	What might blue-eyed people be more successful at finding?
	a) after the Vikings came b) millions of years ago c) 1832 d) thousands of years ago		a) answers b) their contact lenses c) money d) love
3.	What percentage of British people have brown eyes?	8.	What did Dr Moffat say people are attracted to in blue eyes?
	a) 22 b) 48 c) 30 d) 57		a) sparkle b) the central retinal artery c) the pupil d) darkness
4.	Where is it that 57% of people are blue eyed?	9.	What do darker eyes absorb?
	a) Finland b) the suburbs of London c) in and around Edinburgh d) Hartlepool		a) light b) pain c) colour d) tears
5.	Which region of Britain has the smallest number of blue-eyed people?	10.	What did Hans Eiborg say blue eyes used to be?
	a) Greater London b) the southwest c) Yorkshire d) the Midlands		a) weak b) rare c) non-existent d) purple

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Blue

You think blue is the best eye colour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their eye colour isn't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): brown, green or grey/gray.

Role B –Brown

You think brown is the best eye colour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their eye colour isn't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): blue, green or grey/gray.

Role C – Green

You think green is the best eye colour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their eye colour isn't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): brown, blue or grey/gray.

Role D – Grey (UK) Gray (USA)

You think grey/gray is the best eye colour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them reasons why their eye colour isn't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): brown, green or blue.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'common' and 'colour'.

common

colour

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:

map
ago
30
half
just
lot

increasing
partner
tail
sparkle
popular
rare

BLUE EYES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about blue eyes 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.

BLUE EYES 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 'eye'?
c)	What do you think about blue eyes?
d)	What do you think of your eye colour?
e)	Does eye colour change our personality?
f)	Why do people want to change their eye colour?
g)	People will change their eye colour every day in the future. Is this good or bad?
h)	Why doesn't everyone have the same colour eyes?
i)	What would you think if we could choose any eye colour?
j)	Why do you think eye colour is so different in Britain?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Do you always look at people's eyes?
c)	Are blue eyes like a peacock's tail?
d)	What do you think is more important, eye colour or hair colour?
e)	What do you think about when you look at your eyes in a mirror?
f)	Are blue eyes more attractive than other colours?
g)	Would blue eyes look strange with some people?
h)	Are blue-eyed people more successful?
i)	What colour eyes do you want your children to have
j)	What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Scientists have made a map of the eye (1) ____ of people in Britain. They found out that the most (2) ____ colour is blue. The scientists say that thousands of years (3) ____, all British people's eyes were brown. The researchers found that 48 per cent of British people have blue eyes, 30 per cent of people have green eyes and 22 per cent have brown. The area (4) ____ Edinburgh in Scotland was the place where most people had blue eyes. Over half (57 per cent) of (5) ____ in and around Edinburgh have blue eyes. The southwest of England has the fewest blue-eyed people. Just 35 per cent of people living there are blue eyed. The scientists say they do not know why (6) ____ regions of Britain have a lot of blue-eyed people.

Alistair Moffat, the lead researcher of the study, said the number of people with blue eyes (7) ____ increasing because people find them more attractive. This means people with blue eyes are more successful (8) ____ finding a partner and having children with blue eyes. He compares blue eyes (9) ____ the tail of a peacock, saying a more colourful tail will get a peacock more mates. Dr Moffat says people are (10) ____ to the sparkle in blue eyes. He said light reacts with blue eyes to give a glitter effect. Darker eyes (11) ____ light so they generally have less sparkle. Another scientist, Hans Eiberg, offers an explanation why blue eyes are popular. He said: "There is (12) ____ attractive about blue eyes, maybe because they used to be so rare."

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

1.	(a)	colouring	(b)	colour	(c)	coloured	(d)	colourful
2.	(a)	commuter	(b)	commercial	(c)	coming	(d)	common
3.	(a)	passed	(b)	ago	(c)	since	(d)	gone by
4.	(a)	neighbourhood	(b)	close	(c)	around	(d)	all over
5.	(a)	them	(b)	they	(c)	those	(d)	eyes
6.	(a)	some	(b)	lot	(c)	area	(d)	regional
7.	(a)	be	(b)	is	(c)	will	(d)	are
8.	(a)	at	(b)	to	(c)	for	(d)	on
9.	(a)	for	(b)	to	(c)	of	(d)	from
10.	(a)	attractive	(b)	attraction	(c)	attracted	(d)	attracts
11.	(a)	dampen	(b)	twist	(c)	absorb	(d)	explode
12.	(a)	things	(b)	thingy	(c)	thing	(d)	something

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	the most onocmm colour
2.	hnotusasd of years ago
3.	erarcehsser found that…
4.	Scotland was the caelp where…
5.	England has the tewesf
6.	some soeinrg of Britain have a lot
Paragraph 2
7.	people find them more titaeravct
8.	He oamrspce blue eyes to…
9.	Darker eyes basrbo light
10.	they generally have less ekpalrs
11.	Hans Eiberg offers an xopannielat
12.	blue eyes are luarpop

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	eyed. The scientists say they do not know why some regions of Britain have a lot of blue-eyed people.
( )	at finding a partner and having children with blue eyes. He compares blue eyes to the tail of a
( )	peacock, saying a more colourful tail will get a peacock more mates. Dr Moffat says people are attracted
( )	light so they generally have less sparkle. Another scientist, Hans Eiberg, offers an explanation why blue eyes are
( )	colour is blue. The scientists say that thousands of years ago, all British people's eyes
( )	to the sparkle in blue eyes. He said light reacts with blue eyes to give a glitter effect. Darker eyes absorb
( )	increasing because people find them more attractive. This means people with blue eyes are more successful
( )	popular. He said: "There is something attractive about blue eyes, maybe because they used to be so rare."
( 1 )	Scientists have made a map of the eye colour of people in Britain. They found out that the most common
( )	of people have green eyes and 22 per cent have brown. The area around Edinburgh in Scotland was the place
( )	where most people had blue eyes. Over half (57 per cent) of those in and around Edinburgh have blue eyes. The southwest of
( )	were brown. The researchers found that 48 per cent of British people have blue eyes, 30 per cent
( )	Alistair Moffat, the lead researcher of the study, said the number of people with blue eyes is
( )	England has the fewest blue-eyed people. Just 35 per cent of people living there are blue

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	a made have Scientists people of colour eye the of map.
2.	found out that the most common colour is blue They.
3.	those (57 Edinburgh of around half and percent) Over in .
4.	eyed blue are there living people of cent per 35 Just.
5.	lot Britain Some eyed of have regions people blue- a of.
6.	The people eyes of blue increasing number with is.
7.	blue more This with are people eyes successful means.
8.	to the tail of a peacock He compares blue eyes.
9.	effect Light reacts with blue eyes to give a glitter.
10.	about attractive something is There eyes blue.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Scientists have made a mapping / map of the eye colour of people in Britain. They found out that the most common / commonly colour is blue. The scientists say that thousands of / for years ago, all British people's eyes were brown. The researchers found what / that 48 per cent of British people have blue eyes, 30 per cent of people have green eyes and 22 per cent have brown. The area / aura around Edinburgh in Scotland was the places / place where most people had blue eyes. Over half / halve (57 per cent) of those in and around Edinburgh have blue eyes. The southwest by / of England has the fewest blue-eyed people. Just 35 per cent of people living / live there are blue eyed. The scientists say they do not know why some region / regions of Britain have a lot of blue-eyed people.

Alistair Moffat, the lead / iron researcher of the study, said the number of people with blue eyes is increased / increasing because people find them more attractive / attractively. This means people with blue eyes are more successful at / for finding a partner and having children with blue eyes. He compares blue eyes to / at the tail of a peacock, saying a more colourful tail will get a peacock more mates. Dr Moffat says people are attraction / attracted to the sparkle in blue eyes. He said light reacts / rejects with blue eyes to give a glitter effect. Darker eyes absorb light so they generally have less / few sparkle. Another scientist, Hans Eiberg, offers / requests an explanation why blue eyes are popular. He said: "There is something attractive about blue eyes, maybe because they used to be so / such rare."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Sc__nt_sts h_v_ m_d_ _ m_p _f th_ _y_ c_l__r _f p__pl_ _n Br_t__n. Th_y f__nd __t th_t th_ m_st c_mm_n c_l__r _s bl__. Th_ sc__nt_sts s_y th_t th__s_nds _f y__rs _g_, _ll Br_t_sh p__pl_'s _y_s w_r_ br_wn. Th_ r_s__rch_rs f__nd th_t 48 p_r c_nt _f Br_t_sh p__pl_ h_v_ bl__ _y_s, 30 p_r c_nt _f p__pl_ h_v_ gr__n _y_s _nd 22 p_r c_nt h_v_ br_wn. Th_ _r__ _r__nd _d_nb_rgh _n Sc_tl_nd w_s th_ pl_c_ wh_r_ m_st p__pl_ h_d bl__ _y_s. _v_r h_lf (57 p_r c_nt) _f th_s_ _n _nd _r__nd _d_nb_rgh h_v_ bl__ _y_s. Th_ s__thw_st _f _ngl_nd h_s th_ f_w_st bl__-_y_d p__pl_. J_st 35 p_r c_nt _f p__pl_ l_v_ng th_r_ _r_ bl__ _y_d. Th_ sc__nt_sts s_y th_y d_ n_t kn_w why s_m_ r_g__ns _f Br_t__n h_v_ _ l_t _f bl__-_y_d p__pl_.

_l_st__r M_ff_t, th_ l__d r_s__rch_r _f th_ st_dy, s__d th_ n_mb_r _f p__pl_ w_th bl__ _y_s _s _ncr__s_ng b_c__s_ p__pl_ f_nd th_m m_r_ _ttr_ct_v_. Th_s m__ns p__pl_ w_th bl__ _y_s _r_ m_r_ s_cc_ssf_l _t f_nd_ng _ p_rtn_r _nd h_v_ng ch_ldr_n w_th bl__ _y_s. H_ c_mp_r_s bl__ _y_s t_ th_ t__l _f _ p__c_ck, s_y_ng _ m_r_ c_l__rf_l t__l w_ll g_t _ p__c_ck m_r_ m_t_s. Dr M_ff_t s_ys p__pl_ _r_ _ttr_ct_d t_ th_ sp_rkl_ _n bl__ _y_s. H_ s__d l_ght r__cts w_th bl__ _y_s t_ g_v_ _ gl_tt_r _ff_ct. D_rk_r _y_s _bs_rb l_ght s_ th_y g_n_r_lly h_v_ l_ss sp_rkl_. _n_th_r sc__nt_st, H_ns __b_rg, _ff_rs _n _xpl_n_t__n why bl__ _y_s _r_ p_p_l_r. H_ s__d: "Th_r_ _s s_m_th_ng _ttr_ct_v_ _b__t bl__ _y_s, m_yb_ b_c__s_ th_y _s_d t_ b_ s_ r_r_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

scientists have made a map of the eye colour of people in britain they found out that the most common colour is blue the scientists say that thousands of years ago all british people's eyes were brown the researchers found that 48 per cent of british people have blue eyes 30 per cent of people have green eyes and 22 per cent have brown the area around edinburgh in scotland was the place where most people had blue eyes over half (57 per cent) of those in and around edinburgh have blue eyes the southwest of england has the fewest blue-eyed people just 35 per cent of people living there are blue eyed the scientists say they do not know why some regions of britain have a lot of blue-eyed people

alistair moffat the lead researcher of the study said the number of people with blue eyes is increasing because people find them more attractive this means people with blue eyes are more successful at finding a partner and having children with blue eyes he compares blue eyes to the tail of a peacock saying a more colourful tail will get a peacock more mates dr moffat says people are attracted to the sparkle in blue eyes he said light reacts with blue eyes to give a glitter effect darker eyes absorb light so they generally have less sparkle another scientist hans eiberg offers an explanation why blue eyes are popular he said "there is something attractive about blue eyes maybe because they used to be so rare"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ScientistshavemadeamapoftheeyecolourofpeopleinBritain.Theyfoun
doutthatthemostcommoncolourisblue.Thescientistssaythatthousands
ofyearsago,allBritishpeople'seyeswerebrown.Theresearchersfoundth
at48percentofBritishpeoplehaveblueeyes,30percentofpeoplehavegre
eneyesand22percenthavebrown.TheareaaroundEdinburghinScotlan
dwastheplacewheremostpeoplehadblueeyes.Overhalf(57percent)oft
hoseinandaroundEdinburghhaveblueeyes.ThesouthwestofEnglandh
asthefewestblue-eyedpeople.Just35percentofpeoplelivingthereareb
lueeyed.ThescientistssaytheydonotknowwhysomeregionsofBritainha
vealotofblue-eyedpeople.AlistairMoffat,theleadresearcherofthestud
y,saidthenumberofpeoplewithblueeyesisincreasingbecausepeoplefin
dthemmoreattractive.Thismeanspeoplewithblueeyesaremoresucces
sfulatfindingapartnerandhavingchildrenwithblueeyes.Hecomparesblu
eeyestothetailofapeacock,sayingamorecolourfultailwillgetapeacockm
oremates.DrMoffatsayspeopleareattractedtothesparkleinblueeyes.H
esaidlightreactswithblueeyestogiveaglittereffect.Darkereyesabsorblig
htsotheygenerallyhavelesssparkle.Anotherscientist,HansEiberg,offer
sanexplanationwhyblueeyesarepopular.Hesaid:"Thereissomethingat
tractiveaboutblueeyes,maybebecausetheyusedtobesorare."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Eye colour is more important than hair colour. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

3. EYE COLOUR: Make a poster about eye colour. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. BLUE EYES: Write a magazine article about blue eyes. Include imaginary interviews with people who think people with blue eyes have a better life, and with people who say eye colour does not affect your life.

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. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on blue eyes. Ask him/her three questions about blue eyes. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

T

c

F

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	common	a.	widespread
2.	found	b.	discovered
3.	area	c.	region
4.	place	d.	location
5.	a lot of	e.	many
6.	study	f.	research
7.	increasing	g.	going up
8.	attractive	h.	good-looking
9.	absorb	i.	soak up
10.	popular	j.	well liked

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	A map of the eye colour of Britain
2.	Thousands of years ago
3.	22%
4.	In and around Edinburgh
5.	The southwest
6.	The lead researcher of the study
7.	Partners
8.	The sparkle (of light)
9.	Light
10.	Rare

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Blue most common eye colour in Britain (2nd September, 2014)

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