The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The world's most common banana could become extinct, which is bad for banana lovers and the banana industry. A fungus called TP4 is killing millions of Cavendish banana plants. The Cavendish is the world's most common banana. The fungus blocks water tubes inside the plant, so the banana cannot get the water it needs and it dies. Scientists first discovered TP4 in Malaysia in 1990. It quickly spread to other parts of Asia, and then to Australia and Africa. TP4 is carried by the wind, water, cars and even people's boots. A tiny amount of it spreads across large areas very quickly.

Before we started eating the Cavendish banana, we ate a variety called the Gros Michel. Fifty years ago, it was the world's main banana. However, a fungus called Panama Disease killed it and it became extinct in 1965. Banana growers changed to the Cavendish banana. The problem for the banana industry is that burning all their banana plants will not help the situation. This is because the fungus stays in the ground, so new plants cannot grow. Scientists say one answer is genetically modified (GM) bananas that are resistant to diseases like TP4 and Panama Disease.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.theinertia.com/health/big-problem-bananas-are-going-extinct/
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/banana-fungus-could-be-potentially-devastating-if-it-spreads-across-the-americas-warn-experts-a6830956.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-35131751


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 world's most

a.

discovered TP4 in Malaysia

2.

bad for banana lovers and

b.

the wind

3.

The fungus blocks water

c.

common banana

4.

the banana cannot

d.

tubes inside the plant

5.

Scientists first

e.

across large areas

6.

It quickly spread to other

f.

the banana industry

7.

carried by

g.

parts of Asia

8.

A tiny amount of it spreads

h.

get the water it needs



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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.

we ate a variety

a.

stays in the ground

2.

it was the world's

b.

modified

3.

it became extinct

c.

called the Gros Michel

4.

The problem for

d.

like TP4

5.

This is because the fungus

e.

main banana

6.

new plants cannot

f.

the banana industry

7.

genetically

g.

grow

8.

resistant to diseases

h.

in 1965

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The world's most common banana (1) ___________________, which is bad (2) ___________________ and the banana industry. A fungus called TP4 is killing millions of Cavendish banana plants. The Cavendish is the world's most common banana. The fungus (3) ___________________ inside the plant, so the banana cannot get the water (4) ___________________ dies. Scientists first discovered TP4 in Malaysia in 1990. It quickly spread (5) ___________________ of Asia, and then to Australia and Africa. TP4 is carried by the wind, water, cars and even people's boots. A tiny amount of it spreads (6) ___________________ very quickly.

Before we started eating the Cavendish banana, (7) ___________________ called the Gros Michel. Fifty years ago, it was the world's main banana. However, (8) ___________________ Panama Disease killed it and it became extinct in 1965. Banana (9) ___________________ to the Cavendish banana. The problem for the banana industry is (10) ___________________ their banana plants will not help the situation. This is because the fungus stays in the ground, (11) ___________________ cannot grow. Scientists say one answer is genetically modified (GM) bananas (12) ___________________ to diseases like TP4 and Panama Disease.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Theworld'smostcommonbananacouldbecomeextinct,whichisbadfor
bananaloversandthebananaindustry.AfunguscalledTP4iskillingmilli
onsofCavendishbananaplants.TheCavendishistheworld'smostcom
monbanana.Thefungusblockswatertubesinsidetheplant,sothebana
nacannotgetthewateritneedsanditdies.ScientistsfirstdiscoveredTP4
inMalaysiain1990.ItquicklyspreadtootherpartsofAsia,andthentoAus
traliaandAfrica.TP4iscarriedbythewind,water,carsandevenpeople's
boots.Atinyamountofitspreadsacrosslargeareasveryquickly.Before
westartedeatingtheCavendishbanana,weateavarietycalledtheGros
Michel.Fiftyyearsago,itwastheworld'smainbanana.However,afungu
scalledPanamaDiseasekilleditanditbecameextinctin1965.Bananagr
owerschangedtotheCavendishbanana.Theproblemforthebananaind
ustryisthatburningalltheirbananaplantswillnothelpthesituation.This
isbecausethefungusstaysintheground,sonewplantscannotgrow.Sci
entistssayoneanswerisgeneticallymodified(GM)bananasthatareresi
stanttodiseaseslikeTP4andPanamaDisease.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

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c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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g)

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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 bananas 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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