The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Scientists are surprised at how many flowers are open in the U.K. this winter. Usually, between 20 and 30 types of flowers are open. This year, scientists found 368 different flowers in bloom. Some are five months early. Scientists say this is because of climate change. Last year was the warmest year ever in Britain. A scientist said: "Fifty years ago, people looking for plants in flower at the start of the year found 20 species. This year, the total has amazed us."

The scientist said mild winters were changing when flowers open. He said: "We thought that the snow…before Christmas would have finished most flowering…but it seems not to be the case." The most common flowers to open were daisies and dandelions. Britain's weather agency said: "All months except August were warmer than average, and this was the warmest year on record for the UK. It was also wetter than average for many locations."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30754443
  • http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/2014/annual
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2904215/Wild-plants-defy-cold-numbers-flower-time-year-soaring-hundreds.html


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.

Scientists are surprised at how

a.

months early

2.

between 20 and 30 types

b.

ever

3.

scientists found 368 different flowers

c.

of flowers

4.

Some are five

d.

amazed us

5.

climate

e.

in bloom

6.

the warmest year

f.

many flowers are open

7.

20

g.

change

8.

This year, the total has

h.

species


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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

mild

a.

record for the UK

2.

the snow

b.

warmer than average

3.

it seems not to be the

c.

before Christmas

4.

The most common flowers to

d.

winters

5.

Britain's weather

e.

case

6.

All months except August were

f.

many locations

7.

the warmest year on

g.

open were daisies

8.

wetter than average for

h.

agency

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Scientists are surprised (1) ___________________ flowers are open in the U.K. this winter. Usually, (2) ___________________ types of flowers are open. This year, scientists found 368 different (3) ___________________. Some are five months early. Scientists say this is because (4) ___________________. Last year was the warmest year ever in Britain. A scientist said: "Fifty years ago, (5) ___________________ plants in flower at the start of the year found 20 species. This year, the (6) ___________________ us."

The scientist said mild winters were changing (7) ___________________. He said: "We thought that the snow…before Christmas would (8) ___________________ flowering…but it seems (9) ___________________ case." The most common (10) ___________________ were daisies and dandelions. Britain's weather agency said: "All months except August were (11) ___________________, and this was the warmest year on record for the UK. It was also wetter than average (12) ___________________."

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ScientistsaresurprisedathowmanyflowersareopenintheU.K.thiswint
er.Usually,between20and30typesofflowersareopen.Thisyear,scient
istsfound368differentflowersinbloom.Somearefivemonthsearly.Sci
entistssaythisisbecauseofclimatechange.Lastyearwasthewarmesty
eareverinBritain.Ascientistsaid:"Fiftyyearsago,peoplelookingforpla
ntsinfloweratthestartoftheyearfound20species.Thisyear,thetotalha
samazedus."Thescientistsaidmildwinterswerechangingwhenflower
sopen.Hesaid:"Wethoughtthatthesnow…beforeChristmaswouldhav
efinishedmostflowering…butitseemsnottobethecase."Themostcom
monflowerstoopenweredaisiesanddandelions.Britain'sweatheragen
cysaid:"AllmonthsexceptAugustwerewarmerthanaverage,andthisw
asthewarmestyearonrecordfortheUK.Itwasalsowetterthanaveragef
ormanylocations."

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 flowers 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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