The Reading / Listening - Baldness Cure - Level 6

Scientists say they believe they are close to finding a cure for baldness. This is welcome news for millions of people worldwide who are losing their hair or who are bald. Researchers from a medical institute in California have been working on developing stem cells that can regenerate hair growth. The scientists say their technique has been successful in implanting and developing fresh growth in a way that replicates natural hair reproduction. Researcher Alexey Terskikh said: "Our new protocol overcomes key technological challenges....Now we have a robust, highly controlled method for generating natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using an unlimited source of human stem cells."

Baldness affects approximately half of men worldwide by the age of 50. Products for hair replacement and hair transplants have developed into a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Hair transplant surgery can cost up to $50,000. Scientists have been working on finding a cure for decades. The process of hair loss usually begins in men when they are in their early twenties or thirties. This can lead to anxiety and a loss of self-confidence. Many men worry about receding hairlines, bald spots and baldness. Baldness is also a problem for women. Many women suffer from thinning hair later in life. A doctor said: "Hair loss profoundly affects many people's lives."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Baldness Cure - Level 4  or  Baldness Cure - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/baldness-stem-cell-hair-loss-breakthrough-alopecia-california-a8979066.html
  • https://news.yahoo.com/a-cure-for-baldness-could-be-coming-085830370.html
  • https://news.sky.com/story/baldness-cure-breakthrough-discovered-by-scientists-11750594


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. BALDNESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about baldness. 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 / cure / baldness / worldwide / stem cells / hair growth / challenges / skin /
       worldwide / industry / decades / process / worry / bald spots / thinning hair / doctor
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ALL BALD: Students A strongly believe life would be easier if we were all bald; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HAIR: What do you know about these hair conditions? What can we do about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What You Know

What We Can Do

Balding

 

 

Dandruff

 

 

Split ends

 

 

Graying

 

 

Greasy hair

 

 

Itching

 

 
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. CURE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "cure". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. AGE: Rank these with your partner. Put the least desirable of these "age" problems at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • weigh
  • bad back
  • poor eyesight
  • bad knees
  • balding
  • wrinkles
  • memory loss
  • lack of strength

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. welcome a. Regrow (new tissue, areas, etc.) to replace lost or injured tissue.
      2. institute b. Not restricted in terms of number, quantity, or extent.
      3. stem cell c. Very pleasing because of being much needed or desired.
      4. regenerate d. A tiny part of an organism which is capable of creating lots more cells of the same type.
      5. replicate e. A society or organization having a particular objector common factor, especially a scientific, educational, or social one.
      6. robust f. Make an exact copy of; reproduce.
      7. unlimited g. Strong and healthy.

    Paragraph 2

      8. approximately h. Economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories.
      9. industry i. The treatment of injuries or disorders of the body by incision or manipulation, especially with instruments.
      10. surgery j. Going or moving back or further away from a previous position.
      11. decade k. Used to show that something is almost, but not completely, accurate or exact.
      12. anxiety l. Extremely, very deeply, greatly...
      13. receding m. A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about a future event or something with an uncertain outcome.
      14. profoundly n. A period of ten years.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article said the possible cure is welcome news for bald people.     T / F
  2. Researchers from a university in London are behind the cure.     T / F
  3. The new cure does not replicate natural hair reproduction.     T / F
  4. The cure is not any making use whatsoever of stem cells.     T / F
  5. The article said about 50% of men suffer from baldness by the age of 50.T / F
  6. It costs an average of $50,000 for a hair transplant.     T / F
  7. The article says the balding process starts in men in their early 20s.     T / F
  8. The article says many women suffer from thinning hair later in their life.  T / F

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

  1. finding
  2. regenerate
  3. fresh
  4. robust
  5. unlimited
  6. approximately
  7. cure
  8. anxiety
  9. spots
  10. profoundly
  1. in the region of
  2. patches
  3. inexhaustible
  4. worry
  5. revitalize
  6. extremely
  7. discovering
  8. remedy
  9. new
  10. strong

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

  1. This is welcome news for
  2. in a way that replicates natural hair
  3. Our new protocol overcomes key
  4. highly controlled method for generating
  5. using an unlimited source
  6. Baldness affects approximately
  7. developed into a multi-billion-
  8. Hair transplant surgery can
  9. begins in men when they are
  10. Hair loss profoundly
  1. cost up to $50,000
  2. natural-looking hair
  3. affects many people's lives
  4. dollar global industry
  5. technological challenges
  6. in their early twenties
  7. millions of people
  8. of human stem cells
  9. half of men worldwide
  10. reproduction

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
stem
robust
welcome
source
replicates
close
institute
protocol

Scientists say they believe they are (1) ____________ to finding a cure for baldness. This is (2) ____________ news for millions of people worldwide who are losing their hair or who are bald. Researchers from a medical (3) ____________ in California have been working on developing (4) ____________ cells that can regenerate hair growth. The scientists say their technique has been successful in implanting and developing fresh growth in a way that (5) ____________ natural hair reproduction. Researcher Alexey Terskikh said: "Our new (6) ____________ overcomes key technological challenges....Now we have a (7) ____________, highly controlled method for generating natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using an unlimited (8) ____________ of human stem cells."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
early
cost
loss
industry
thinning
affects
hairlines
decades

Baldness (9) ____________ approximately half of men worldwide by the age of 50. Products for hair replacement and hair transplants have developed into a multi-billion-dollar global (10) ____________. Hair transplant surgery can (11) ____________ up to $50,000. Scientists have been working on finding a cure for (12) ____________. The process of hair loss usually begins in men when they are in their (13) ____________ twenties or thirties. This can lead to anxiety and a (14) ____________ of self-confidence. Many men worry about receding (15) ____________, bald spots and baldness. Baldness is also a problem for women. Many women suffer from (16) ____________ hair later in life. A doctor said: "Hair loss profoundly affects many people's lives."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  This is welcome news for millions of people worldwide ______ their hair
     a.  where losing
     b.  who losing
     c.  who all losing
     d.  who are losing
2)  developing fresh growth in a way that ______ hair
     a.  replicate snatch you all
     b.  rep lick eights natural
     c.  replicates natural
     d.  reply crates natural
3)  Alexey Terskikh said: "Our new protocol ______ technological challenges
     a.  overcome scree
     b.  overly comes key
     c.  oval comes quay
     d.  overcomes key
4)  Now we have a robust, highly ______
     a.  controlled methods
     b.  control the method
     c.  controlled method
     d.  con trolled methods
5)  hair that grows through the skin using an unlimited ______ stem cells
     a.  saws of human
     b.  soars of human
     c.  sauce of human
     d.  source of human

6)  Baldness affects approximately half of men worldwide ______ of 50
     a.  bye the aged
     b.  buy the age
     c.  by the age
     d.  by the ages
7)  Scientists have been working on finding a ______
     a.  cure for decadence
     b.  cure for decides
     c.  cure for decants
     d.  cure for decades
8)  The process of hair loss usually begins in men when they are in their ______
     a.  early twenty
     b.  earlies twenties
     c.  earlies twenty
     d.  early twenties
9)  Many men worry about receding hairlines, bald ______
     a.  sports and baldness
     b.  spits and baldness
     c.  spats and baldness
     d.  spots and baldness
10)  Many women suffer from thinning hair ______
     a.  later in life
     b.  later in live
     c.  later in alive
     d.  later in leaf

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists say they believe they are (1) ___________________ a cure for baldness. This is welcome news for millions of people worldwide who are (2) ___________________ or who are bald. Researchers from a medical institute in California have been working on (3) ___________________ that can regenerate hair growth. The scientists say their technique has been successful in implanting and developing (4) ___________________ a way that replicates natural hair reproduction. Researcher Alexey Terskikh said: "Our new (5) ___________________ technological challenges....Now we have a robust, highly controlled method for generating natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using (6) ___________________ of human stem cells."

Baldness (7) ___________________ of men worldwide by the age of 50. Products for hair replacement and hair transplants have developed into a multi-billion-(8) ___________________. Hair transplant surgery can cost up to $50,000. Scientists have been working on finding a (9) ___________________. The process of hair loss usually begins in men when they are in their early twenties or thirties. This can (10) ___________________ and a loss of self-confidence. Many men worry (11) ___________________, bald spots and baldness. Baldness is also a problem for women. Many women suffer from thinning hair later in life. A doctor said: "Hair (12) ___________________ many people's lives."

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of news did the article say this was for bald people?
  2. Where are the researchers who conducted the research based?
  3. What do researchers say their technique replicates?
  4. What did a researcher say the technique overcame?
  5. What can researchers use an unlimited source of?
  6. What proportion of men does baldness affect?
  7. What kind of industry did the article call hair replacement?
  8. For how long have scientists been trying to find a cure for baldness?
  9. According to the article, what can hair loss lead to a loss of?
  10. How did a doctor say hair loss affects people's lives?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What kind of news did the article say this was for bald people?
a) bad news
b) welcome news
c) fake news
d) breaking news
2)  Where are the researchers who conducted the research based?
a) Sydney
b) London
c) California
d) Tokyo
3)  What do researchers say their technique replicates?
a) hair salons
b) hair from wigs
c) natural balding
d) natural hair reproduction
4)  What did a researcher say the technique overcame?
a) extreme nervousness
b) key technological challenges
c) a loss of self-confidence
d) a shortage of hair gel
5)  What can researchers use an unlimited source of?
a) human stem cells
b) hair spray
c) hair
d) combs

6)  What proportion of men does baldness affect?
a) approximately half
b) in the region of 30%
c) two thirds
d) three quarters
7)  What kind of industry did the article call hair replacement?
a) an innovative industry
b) a 21st-century industry
c) a breakthrough industry
d) a multi-billion-dollar industry
8)  For how long have scientists been trying to find a cure for baldness?
a) centuries
b) 37 years
c) decades
d) since time began
9)  According to the article, what can hair loss lead to a loss of?
a) split ends
b) dandruff
c) the forehead
d) self-confidence
10)  How did a doctor say hair loss affects people's lives?
a) profanity
b) profoundly
c) profiteering
d) profundity

Role play

Role  A – Balding
You think balding is the worst problem of ageing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't so bad. Also, tell the others which is the most manageable of these (and why): wrinkles, a bad back or memory loss.

Role  B – Wrinkles
You think wrinkles is the worst problem of ageing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't so bad. Also, tell the others which is the most manageable of these (and why): balding, a bad back or memory loss.

Role  C – Bad Back
You think a bad back is the worst problem of ageing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't so bad. Also, tell the others which is the most manageable of these (and why): wrinkles, balding or memory loss.

Role  D – Memory Loss
You think memory loss is the worst problem of ageing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't so bad. Also, tell the others which is the most manageable of these (and why): wrinkles, a bad back or balding.

After reading / listening

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

'bald'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'cure'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • age
    • multi-
    • decades
    • early
    • spots
    • life
    • close
    • millions
    • regenerate
    • fresh
    • key
    • source

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Scientists 'close' to cure for baldness

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'cure'?
    3. What do you think about baldness?
    4. Is baldness a problem?
    5. Why do people lose their hair?
    6. Why has there not been a cure before?
    7. How would you feel about going bald?
    8. What are the good things about baldness?
    9. How attached are you to your hair?
    10. Do bald men or bald women look best?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'baldness'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why does baldness affect mainly men?
    5. What do you think of men in their late teens going bald?
    6. What advice would you give bald men suffering from anxiety?
    7. How does 'hair loss profoundly affect many people's lives'?
    8. Would the world be different if no one was bald?
    9. How does baldness affect women differently?
    10. 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)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Scientists say they believe they are close (1) ____ finding a cure for baldness. This is (2) ____ news for millions of people worldwide who are losing their hair or who are bald. Researchers from a medical institute in California have been working (3) ____ developing stem cells that can regenerate hair growth. The scientists say their technique has been successful (4) ____ implanting and developing fresh growth in a way that replicates natural hair reproduction. Researcher Alexey Terskikh said: "Our new (5) ____ overcomes key technological challenges....Now we have a robust, highly controlled method for generating natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using an unlimited (6) ____ of human stem cells."

    Baldness (7) ____ approximately half of men worldwide by the age of 50. Products for hair replacement and hair transplants have developed into a multi-billion-dollar (8) ____ industry. Hair transplant surgery can cost up to $50,000. Scientists have been working on finding a cure for (9) ____. The process of hair loss usually begins in men when they are in their early twenties or thirties. This can lead to anxiety and a (10) ____ of self-confidence. Many men worry about (11) ____ hairlines, bald spots and baldness. Baldness is also a problem for women. Many women suffer from (12) ____ hair later in life. A doctor said: "Hair loss profoundly affects many people's lives."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     on    
    2. (a)     greetings     (b)     pleased     (c)     welcome     (d)     appreciate    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     by    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     so     (c)     as     (d)     in    
    5. (a)     privy     (b)     promenade     (c)     protocol     (d)     pronto    
    6. (a)     sauce     (b)     source     (c)     saucer     (d)     saucy    
    7. (a)     reflects     (b)     affects     (c)     effects     (d)     infects    
    8. (a)     globally     (b)     global     (c)     globalize     (d)     globe    
    9. (a)     decadence     (b)     decants     (c)     decades     (d)     decency    
    10. (a)     mislaid     (b)     defeat     (c)     forgetfulness     (d)     loss    
    11. (a)     reclusive     (b)     residential     (c)     residue     (d)     receding    
    12. (a)     shortening     (b)     contracting     (c)     slimming     (d)     thinning

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a medical tetinisut in California
    2. a way that tilespeacr natural hair
    3. Our new tcpolroo
    4. a ubostr, highly controlled method
    5. grneiengta natural-looking hair
    6. an unlimited srecuo of human stem cells

    Paragraph 2

    1. trpxapoaiymle half of men
    2. hair asnraplstnt
    3. yugrser can cost up to $50,000
    4. This can lead to nxayeti
    5. men worry about icerdneg hairlines
    6. Hair loss fndouyrpol affects many people's lives

    Put the text back together

    (...)  is also a problem for women. Many women suffer from thinning hair later in
    (...)  Baldness affects approximately half of men worldwide by the age of 50. Products for hair replacement and hair
    (...)  self-confidence. Many men worry about receding hairlines, bald spots and baldness. Baldness
    (...)  of hair loss usually begins in men when they are in their early twenties or thirties. This can lead to anxiety and a loss of
    (...)  life. A doctor said: "Hair loss profoundly affects many people's lives."
    (...)  reproduction. Researcher Alexey Terskikh said: "Our new protocol overcomes key
    (...)  grows through the skin using an unlimited source of human stem cells."
    (...)  has been successful in implanting and developing fresh growth in a way that replicates natural hair
    (...)  been working on developing stem cells that can regenerate hair growth. The scientists say their technique
    (  1  ) Scientists say they believe they are close to finding a cure for baldness. This is welcome news for millions of people
    (...)  worldwide who are losing their hair or who are bald. Researchers from a medical institute in California have
    (...)  transplants have developed into a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Hair transplant surgery can cost
    (...)  up to $50,000. Scientists have been working on finding a cure for decades. The process
    (...)  technological challenges....Now we have a robust, highly controlled method for generating natural-looking hair that

    Put the words in the right order

    1. baldness   .   to   for   cure   Close   a   finding
    2. is   for   of   welcome   news   millions   This   people   .
    3. that   hair   stem   cells   can   Developing   regenerate   growth   .
    4. that   replicates   reproduction   .   way   a   natural   In   hair
    5. an   source   cells   .   Using   human   stem   of   unlimited
    6. approximately   affects   men   Baldness   of   half   worldwide   .
    7. to   can   transplant   up   cost   surgery   Hair   $50,000   .
    8. twenties   are   their   thirties   .   early   or   in   They
    9. life   .   in   hair   Women   later   suffer   thinning   from
    10. affects   loss   many   profoundly   lives   .   Hair   people's

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists say they believe they are close / closeness to finding a cure for baldness. This is greetings / welcome news for millions of people global / worldwide who are losing their hair or who are bald. Researchers from a medical institute in California have been working on / in developing stem cells that can regenerate hair growth / grown. The scientists say their technique has been successful on / in implanting and developing fresh growth in a way that replicates natural hair reproduces / reproduction. Researcher Alexey Terskikh said: "Our new protocol overcomes key / chain technological challenges....Now we have a robot / robust, highly controlled method for generating natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using an unlimited source / sauce of human stem cells."

    Baldness affects / effects approximately half of men worldwide by the aged / age of 50. Products for hair replacement and hair transplants have development / developed into a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Hair transplant surgery / sugary can cost up to $50,000. Scientists have been working on finding a care / cure for decades. The process of hair loss usually beginnings / begins in men when they are in their early twenties or thirties. This can lead to anxiety / anxious and a loss of self-confidence. Many men worry about receding / ceding hairlines, bald spots and baldness. Baldness is also a problem for women. Many women suffer from thins / thinning hair later in life. A doctor said: "Hair loss profoundly / profundity affects many people's lives."

    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)

    S c__ n t_s t s s_y t h_y b_l__ v_ t h_y _r_ c l_s_ t_ f_n d_n g _ c_r_ f_r b_l d n_s s . T h_s _s w_l c_m_ n_w s f_r m_l l__ n s _f p__ p l_ w_r l d w_d_ w h_ _r_ l_s_n g t h__ r h__ r _r w h_ _r_ b_l d . R_s__ r c h_r s f r_m _ m_d_c_l _n s t_t_t_ _n C_l_f_r n__ h_v_ b__ n w_r k_n g _n d_v_l_p_n g s t_m c_l l s t h_t c_n r_g_n_r_t_ h__ r g r_w t h . T h_ s c__ n t_s t s s_y t h__ r t_c h n_q__ h_s b__ n s_c c_s s f_l _n _m p l_n t_n g _n d d_v_l_p_n g f r_s h g r_w t h _n _ w_y t h_t r_p l_c_t_s n_t_r_l h__ r r_p r_d_c t__ n . R_s__ r c h_r A l_x_y T_r s k_k h s__ d : " O_r n_w p r_t_c_l _v_r c_m_s k_y t_c h n_l_g_c_l c h_l l_n g_s . . . . N_w w_ h_v_ _ r_b_s t , h_g h l y c_n t r_l l_d m_t h_d f_r g_n_r_t_n g n_t_r_l - l__ k_n g h__ r t h_t g r_w s t h r__ g h t h_ s k_n _s_n g _n _n l_m_t_d s__ r c_ _f h_m_n s t_m c_l l s . "

    B_l d n_s s _f f_c t s _p p r_x_m_t_l y h_l f _f m_n w_r l d w_d_ b y t h_ _g_ _f 5 0 . P r_d_c t s f_r h__ r r_p l_c_m_n t _n d h__ r t r_n s p l_n t s h_v_ d_v_l_p_d _n t_ _ m_l t_- b_l l__ n - d_l l_r g l_b_l _n d_s t r y . H__ r t r_n s p l_n t s_r g_r y c_n c_s t _p t_ $ 5 0 , 0 0 0 . S c__ n t_s t s h_v_ b__ n w_r k_n g _n f_n d_n g _ c_r_ f_r d_c_d_s . T h_ p r_c_s s _f h__ r l_s s _s__ l l y b_g_n s _n m_n w h_n t h_y _r_ _n t h__ r __ r l y t w_n t__ s _r t h_r t__ s . T h_s c_n l__ d t_ _n x__ t y _n d _ l_s s _f s_l f - c_n f_d_n c_. M_n y m_n w_r r y _b__ t r_c_d_n g h__ r l_n_s , b_l d s p_t s _n d b_l d n_s s . B_l d n_s s _s _l s_ _ p r_b l_m f_r w_m_n . M_n y w_m_n s_f f_r f r_m t h_n n_n g h__ r l_t_r _n l_f_. A d_c t_r s__ d : " H__ r l_s s p r_f__ n d l y _f f_c t s m_n y p__ p l_' s l_v_s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists say they believe they are close to finding a cure for baldness this is welcome news for millions of people worldwide who are losing their hair or who are bald researchers from a medical institute in california have been working on developing stem cells that can regenerate hair growth the scientists say their technique has been successful in implanting and developing fresh growth in a way that replicates natural hair reproduction researcher alexey terskikh said our new protocol overcomes key technological challenge snow we have a robust highly controlled method for generating natural looking hair that grows through the skin using an unlimited source of human stem cells

    baldness affects approximately half of men worldwide by the age of 50 products for hair replacement and hair transplants have developed into a multibilliondollar global industry hair transplant surgery can cost up to 50000 scientists have been working on finding a cure for decades the process of hair loss usually begins in men when they are in their early twenties or thirties this can lead to anxiety and a loss of selfconfidence many men worry about receding hairlines bald spots and baldness baldness is also a problem for women many women suffer from thinning hair later in life a doctor said hair loss profoundly affects many peoples lives"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistssaytheybelievetheyareclosetofindingacureforbaldness.Th
    isiswelcomenewsformillionsofpeopleworldwidewhoarelosingtheirha
    irorwhoarebald.ResearchersfromamedicalinstituteinCaliforniahave
    beenworkingondevelopingstemcellsthatcanregeneratehairgrowth.
    Thescientistssaytheirtechniquehasbeensuccessfulinimplantingandd
    evelopingfreshgrowthinawaythatreplicatesnaturalhairreproduction
    .ResearcherAlexeyTerskikhsaid:"Ournewprotocolovercomeskeytec
    hnologicalchallenges....Nowwehavearobust,highlycontrolledmetho
    dforgeneratingnatural-lookinghairthatgrowsthroughtheskinusinga
    nunlimitedsourceofhumanstemcells."Baldnessaffectsapproximatel
    yhalfofmenworldwidebytheageof50.Productsforhairreplacementan
    dhairtransplantshavedevelopedintoamulti-billion-dollarglobalindus
    try.Hairtransplantsurgerycancostupto$50,000.Scientistshavebeen
    workingonfindingacurefordecades.Theprocessofhairlossusuallybegi
    nsinmenwhentheyareintheirearlytwentiesorthirties.Thiscanleadtoa
    nxietyandalossofself-confidence.Manymenworryaboutrecedingha
    irlines,baldspotsandbaldness.Baldnessisalsoaproblemforwomen.M
    anywomensufferfromthinninghairlaterinlife.Adoctorsaid:"Hairlossp
    rofoundlyaffectsmanypeople'slives."

    Free writing

    Write about baldness for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We should all be bald to have more time and money. Discuss.

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    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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. BALDNESS: Make a poster about baldness. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BALD: Write a magazine article about everyone being bald to save time and money. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 baldness. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on baldness. 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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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