Study says eyelashes keep eyes from drying

Study says eyelashes keep eyes from drying (27th February, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Scientists now know the answer to why eyelashes are as long as they are. Researchers did tests on the eyelashes of 22 mammals. One used a special wind tunnel and a model eye. The tests produced mathematical models of how wind blows over eyelashes. The conclusion was that eyelashes help protect the eyes from drying out. Also, the best eyelash length is one-third of the eye's width. This was true for many mammals.

Researcher Dr Hu started his research after wondering why his baby kept on moving her eyelids. He said eyelashes in mammals have always been a mystery. There are many opinions, from catching dust to making people blink. It was the first study of eyelashes and wind. It showed that eyelashes cut evaporation of the eye by 70 per cent. They also reduce dust. Hu is good at, "looking at what everybody has looked at, and seeing what nobody has seen."

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/25/science/length-of-lashes-keeps-eyes-from-drying-study-finds.html?_r=0
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/why-do-we-have-eyelashes-mystery-finally-solved-by-scientists-1489343
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/biologists-lift-lid-eyelash-mystery-004048675.html#E3eAftO

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 now know	a.	eye's width
2.	why eyelashes are	b.	over eyelashes
3.	a special	c.	many mammals
4.	mathematical	d.	drying out
5.	how wind blows	e.	the answer
6.	protect the eyes from	f.	wind tunnel
7.	one-third of the	g.	as long as they are
8.	This was true for	h.	models

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

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	his baby kept on moving	a.	of the eye
2.	eyelashes in	b.	her eyelids
3.	making people	c.	has seen
4.	It was the first study of eyelashes	d.	mammals
5.	eyelashes cut evaporation	e.	looked at
6.	They also reduce	f.	blink
7.	looking at what everybody has	g.	and wind
8.	seeing what nobody	h.	dust

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Scientists now know (1) ___________________ why eyelashes are as long as they are. Researchers (2) ___________________ the eyelashes of 22 mammals. One (3) ___________________ wind tunnel and a model eye. The tests produced mathematical models (4) ___________________ blows over eyelashes. The conclusion was that eyelashes (5) ___________________ eyes from drying out. Also, the best eyelash length is one-third of the eye's width. This (6) ___________________ mammals.

Researcher Dr Hu (7) ___________________ after wondering why his baby (8) ___________________ her eyelids. He said eyelashes in mammals have always been a mystery. There (9) ___________________, from catching dust to making people blink. It (10) ___________________ study of eyelashes and wind. It showed that eyelashes cut evaporation of the eye by 70 per cent. They (11) ___________________. Hu is good at, "looking at what everybody has looked at, and (12) ___________________ has seen."

EYELASHES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about eyelashes 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.

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)	________________________________________________________

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

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

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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