The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Researchers have found the key to a happy marriage. This secret ingredient could be a difference in height between the two partners. South Korea's professor Kitae Sohn said the taller the husband is, the happier the wife is. Mr Sohn said: "A greater height difference in a couple was positively related to the wife's happiness." He added that the attraction of a tall husband does not last forever. He said it disappears after 18 years or so of marriage.

Professor Sohn did not know why women preferred taller men. He said: "Although it has been known that women prefer tall men in mating for evolutionary reasons, no study has investigated whether a taller husband makes his wife happier." He wrote: "Women simply like tall men….This is similar to people favoring fatty, salty and sugary foods without knowing exactly why." However, the BBC said shorter men can be better husbands.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 5 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/30670636/a-tall-husband-may-be-the-key-to-a-happy-marriage
  • http://mic.com/articles/129663/science-says-women-care-quite-a-bit-about-their-partners-height#.WC13q53Ui
  • http://voicetelegraph.com/2015/12/04/the-secret-to-a-happy-marriage-its-all-in-your-height.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.

the key to a

a.

in a couple

2.

This secret

b.

after

3.

a difference

c.

happiness

4.

A greater height difference

d.

so of marriage

5.

positively related to the wife's

e.

happy marriage

6.

the attraction of a tall husband does

f.

in height

7.

He said it disappears

g.

not last forever

8.

18 years or

h.

ingredient



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

1.

Professor Sohn did not know

a.

like tall men

2.

women preferred

b.

investigated

3.

mating for evolutionary

c.

better husbands

4.

no study has

d.

foods

5.

a taller husband makes

e.

taller men

6.

Women simply

f.

why

7.

sugary

g.

his wife happier

8.

shorter men can be

h.

reasons

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Researchers have found (1) ___________________ happy marriage. This secret ingredient could be a difference (2) ___________________ the two partners. South Korea's professor Kitae Sohn (3) ___________________ husband is, the (4) ___________________ is. Mr Sohn said: "A greater height difference in a couple was positively (5) ___________________ wife's happiness." He added that the attraction of a tall husband does not last forever. He said it disappears after (6) ___________________ of marriage.

Professor Sohn did (7) ___________________ women preferred taller men. He said: "Although (8) ___________________ known that women prefer tall men in mating for evolutionary reasons, no study has (9) ___________________ a taller husband makes his wife happier." He wrote: "Women (10) ___________________ men….This is similar to people favoring fatty, salty (11) ___________________ without knowing exactly why." However, the BBC said shorter men (12) ___________________ husbands.

MARRIAGE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about marriage 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.

 

 

 

 

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 marriage for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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