The Reading / Listening - Our Homeland - Level 3

A new study claims that the origin of modern humans is in Botswana. The study is published in the journal 'Nature'. Researchers in the study said they used DNA to find out where modern humans came from. The researchers believe we all have roots in a region of northern Botswana, south of the Zambezi River. Humans were there 200,000 years ago. They lived there for at least 70,000 years before they moved around the African continent. They then started migrating to what is now Europe and Asia. Researcher Professor Vanessa Hayes, from the University of Sydney in Australia, said: "We've known for a long time that modern humans originated in Africa roughly 200,000 years ago."

The researchers pinpointed an area called Okavango as being the place we come from. There used to be a huge lake there but it is now salt flats. The people had access to water, hunting and farmland. Scientists analyzed DNA samples from 200 people who live near the area today. They are from the Khoisan people. The Khoisan now live in modern-day South Africa and Namibia. They had a lot of DNA called L0, which is the oldest form of DNA known to be inside humans. Professor Hayes explained why L0 is important. She said: "Every time a new migration occurs, that migration event is recorded in our [L0 and] DNA as a time-stamp.... Everyone walking around today...comes from this region."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Our Homeland - Level 0,  Our Homeland - Level 1   or  Our Homeland - Level 2

Sources
  • https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/29/ancestral-homeland-earliest-human-ancestors-traced-botswana-11005209/
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ancestral-homeland-modern-humans-botswana-study-finds-191028162233348.html
  • https://newatlas.com/science/dna-study-human-homeland-southern-african-wetland/


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. YOUR HOMELAND: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about your homeland. 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?
       origin / humans / DNA / Botswana / moved / researcher / long time / modern / years
       area / lake / water / hunting / farmland / important / migration / time-stamp / today
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ORIGINS: Students A strongly believe it is essential we know more about our origins; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. JOURNALS: What do you think these journals are about? Would you like to read them? Why / Why not? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What Is It About?

Do You Want to Read It?

Why (Not)?

Nature

 

 

 

Cosmos

 

 

 

The Body

 

 

 

The Mind

 

 

 

Climate

 

 

 

Crime

 

 

 
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. DNA: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "DNA". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MIGRATION: Rank these with your partner. Put the best place to migrate to at the top at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Botswana
  • Dubai
  • Sydney
  • San Francisco
  • Buenos Aires
  • Shanghai
  • Hyderabad
  • London

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. claim a. The family, ethnic, or cultural beginnings; where people can trace their family history back to.
      2. origin b. Moving to a new area or country in order to find work or a better life.
      3. journal c. Say or state that something is the true or is the case.
      4. roots d. A newspaper or magazine that deals with a particular subject or professional activity.
      5. region e. The point or place where something begins.
      6. continent f. An area or part of a country or part of the world.
      7. migrating g. One of the world's main areas of land (Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America).

    Paragraph 2

      8. pinpointed h. Very, very, very big.
      9. huge i. The action or process of getting or having something.
      10. access j. Happen; take place.
      11. analyzed k. Found or located exactly.
      12. sample l. A record of the time a particular event happened.
      13. occur m. A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.
      14. time-stamp n. Checked and studied in detail to find something out.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The research was published in a journal called 'Origins'.     T / F
  2. Modern humans originated in an area north of the Zambezi River.     T / F
  3. Humans lived in the area in Botswana for 200,000 years.     T / F
  4. The professor in the article is from the University of Botswana.     T / F
  5. The area that is our origins are salt flats today.     T / F
  6. Scientists looked at the DNA of 200 people local to the area for our origins.  T / F
  7. A form of DNA called L0 acts as a time stamp in our body.     T / F
  8. A professor said most people today come from that region.     T / F

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

  1. origin
  2. came from
  3. region
  4. migrating
  5. roughly
  6. pinpointed
  7. analyzed
  8. near
  9. occurs
  10. recorded
  1. moving
  2. examined
  3. about
  4. happens
  5. originated
  6. shown
  7. beginnings
  8. found
  9. close to
  10. area

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

  1. the origin
  2. The study is published in
  3. we all have roots in a
  4. They lived there for at
  5. in Africa roughly
  6. The researchers pinpointed
  7. The people had access
  8. They had a lot of
  9. Every time a new migration
  10. a time-
  1. least 70,000 years
  2. DNA
  3. 200,000 years ago
  4. occurs
  5. to water
  6. of modern humans
  7. stamp
  8. the journal 'Nature'
  9. an area called Okavango
  10. region of northern Botswana

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
migrating
where
journal
roughly
least
known
origin
region

A new study claims that the (1) ____________ of modern humans is in Botswana. The study is published in the (2) ____________ 'Nature'. Researchers in the study said they used DNA to find out (3) ____________ modern humans came from. The researchers believe we all have roots in a (4) ____________ of northern Botswana, south of the Zambezi River. Humans were there 200,000 years ago. They lived there for at (5) ____________ 70,000 years before they moved around the African continent. They then started (6) ____________ to what is now Europe and Asia. Researcher Professor Vanessa Hayes, from the University of Sydney in Australia, said: "We've (7) ____________ for a long time that modern humans originated in Africa (8) ____________ 200,000 years ago."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
samples
huge
walking
form
access
stamp
pinpointed
migration

The researchers (9) ____________ an area called Okavango as being the place we come from. There used to be a (10) ____________ lake there but it is now salt flats. The people had (11) ____________ to water, hunting and farmland. Scientists analyzed DNA (12) ____________ from 200 people who live near the area today. They are from the Khoisan people. The Khoisan now live in modern-day South Africa and Namibia. They had a lot of DNA called L0, which is the oldest (13) ____________ of DNA known to be inside humans. Professor Hayes explained why L0 is important. She said: "Every time a new (14) ____________ occurs, that migration event is recorded in our [L0 and] DNA as a time-(15) ____________.... Everyone (16) ____________ around today...comes from this region."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The study is published in ______ 'Nature'
     a.  the journaled
     b.  the journals
     c.  the journalist
     d.  the journal
2)  The researchers believe we all have ______ region
     a.  roots in a
     b.  boots in a
     c.  shoots in a
     d.  moots in a
3)  They lived there for at least 70,000 years before they moved around ______
     a.  the African continent
     b.  the African continental
     c.  the African contentment
     d.  the African containment
4)  They then started migrating to what is now ______
     a.  Europe in Asia
     b.  Europe end Asia
     c.  Europe land Asia
     d.  Europe and Asia
5) known for a long time that modern humans originated in Africa ______ ago
     a.  rough 200,000 years
     b.  roughed 200,000 years
     c.  roughen 200,000 years
     d.  roughly 200,000 years

6)  There used to be a huge lake there but it is ______
     a.  now salty flats
     b.  known salt flat
     c.  now salt flats
     d.  now salted flat
7)  The people had access to water, hunting ______
     a.  and harm land
     b.  and farmland
     c.  and farmer land
     d.  and harmer land
8)  Scientists analyzed DNA samples from 200 people who live near ______
     a.  the aerial today
     b.  the aura today
     c.  the arena today
     d.  the area today
9)  which is the oldest form of DNA known to ______
     a.  be insider humans
     b.  be inside human
     c.  be inside humans
     d.  be insider human
10)  that migration event is recorded in our [L0 and] DNA as ______
     a.  a times-stamp
     b.  a times-tramp
     c.  a time stomp
     d.  a time-stamp

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study claims that the (1) ___________________ humans is in Botswana. The study is published in the journal 'Nature'. Researchers in the study said they used (2) ___________________ out where modern humans came from. The researchers believe we all have (3) ___________________ region of northern Botswana, south of the Zambezi River. Humans were there 200,000 years ago. They lived there (4) ___________________ 70,000 years before they moved around (5) ___________________. They then started migrating to what is now Europe and Asia. Researcher Professor Vanessa Hayes, from the University of Sydney in Australia, said: "We've known for a long time that modern humans originated (6) ___________________ 200,000 years ago."

The researchers (7) ___________________ called Okavango as being the place we come from. There used to be a (8) ___________________ but it is now salt flats. The people had access to water, hunting and farmland. Scientists analyzed (9) ___________________ 200 people who live near the area today. They are from the Khoisan people. The Khoisan now live in modern-day South Africa and Namibia. They had a lot of DNA called L0, which is the (10) ___________________ DNA known to be inside humans. Professor Hayes explained why L0 is important. She said: "Every time a (11) ___________________, that migration event is recorded in our [L0 and] DNA as a time-stamp.... Everyone (12) ___________________...comes from this region."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the journal in which the research is published?
  2. What river is the homeland south of?
  3. How long did the early humans live in the homeland before moving?
  4. Where did the early humans live before they moved?
  5. Who is Vanessa Hayes?
  6. What is the name of the area the researchers pinpointed?
  7. What did people have access to besides water and hunting?
  8. How many people did the researchers analyze the DNA of?
  9. What is the name of the form of DNA the researchers analyzed?
  10. What is the DNA recorded as in our body?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the journal in which the research is published?
a) Migration
b) Origins
c) Nature
d) DNA
2) What river is the homeland south of?
a) the Zambezi
b) the Nile
c) the Congo
d) the Niger
3) How long did the early humans live in the homeland before moving?
a) 130,000 years
b) exactly 70,000 years
c) over 200,000 years
d) at least 70,000 years
4) Where did the early humans move to after Africa?
a) South America
b) Asia and Europe
c) India
d) the USA
5) Who is Vanessa Hayes?
a) a modern human
b) a journalist
c) a professor
d) a journal owner

6) What is the name of the area the researchers pinpointed?
a) Sahara
b) Okavango
c) Kalahari
d) Niger Delta
7) What did people have access to besides water and hunting?
a) natural gas
b) the sea
c) oil
d) farmland
8) How many people did the researchers analyze the DNA of?
a) 300
b) 200
c) 400
d) 100
9) What is the name of the form of DNA the researchers analyzed?
a) L0
b) L1
c) L2
d) L3
10) What is the DNA recorded as in our body?
a) energy
b) a double helix
c) protein
d) a time-stamp

Role play

Role  A – Dubai
You think Dubai is the best place to migrate to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): London, Shanghai or San Francisco.

Role  B – London
You think London is the best place to migrate to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): Dubai, Shanghai or San Francisco.

Role  C – Shanghai
You think Shanghai is the best place to migrate to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): London, Dubai or San Francisco.

Role  D – San Francisco
You think San Francisco is the best place to migrate to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): London, Shanghai or Dubai.

After reading / listening

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

'modern'

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

    • and 'human'.

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

    • • 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:

    • claims
    • journal
    • roots
    • least
    • Asia
    • roughly
    • pinpointed
    • huge
    • 200
    • known
    • time
    • walking

    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 - Modern humans came from Botswana

    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 'modern'?
    3. Where did you think humans came from?
    4. How far back do your roots go?
    5. Do you like reading journals?
    6. How important is your homeland to you?
    7. What do you know about Botswana?
    8. How do you think people lived 200,000 years ago?
    9. What is a 'modern human'?
    10. How are modern humans different from older humans?

    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 'human'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of the fact that we are all African?
    5. Would you like to visit Okavango?
    6. Are we all the same or different?
    7. Are you more of a farmer or hunter?
    8. What do you know about DNA?
    9. Where would you like to migrate to?
    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)

    A new study claims that the (1) ____ of modern humans is in Botswana. The study is published (2) ____ the journal Nature. Researchers in the study said they used DNA to find out where modern humans came from. The researchers believe we all have (3) ____ in a region of northern Botswana, south of the Zambezi River. Humans were there 200,000 years ago. They lived there for at (4) ____ 70,000 years before they moved around the African continent. They then started migrating to (5) ____ is now Europe and Asia. Researcher Professor Vanessa Hayes, from the University of Sydney in Australia, said: "We've known for a long time that modern humans originated in Africa (6) ____ 200,000 years ago."

    The researchers (7) ____ an area called Okavango as being the place we come from. There used to be a huge lake there but it is now salt flats. The people had access to water, (8) ____ and farmland. Scientists analyzed DNA samples from 200 people who live near the area today. They are from the Khoisan people. The Khoisan now live in modern-day South Africa and Namibia. They had a lot of DNA called L0, which is the oldest (9) ____ of DNA known to be inside humans. Professor Hayes explained why L0 is important. She said: "Every (10) ____ a new migration occurs, that migration event is recorded (11) ____ our [L0 and] DNA as a time-stamp.... Everyone (12) ____ around today...comes from this region."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     origin     (b)     original     (c)     originate     (d)     originated    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     by    
    3. (a)     stems     (b)     leaves     (c)     roots     (d)     petals    
    4. (a)     last     (b)     lest     (c)     lost     (d)     least    
    5. (a)     that     (b)     which     (c)     what     (d)     when    
    6. (a)     graded     (b)     roughly     (c)     coarsely     (d)     approximate    
    7. (a)     pinned     (b)     pinpointed     (c)     pointed     (d)     painted    
    8. (a)     shunting     (b)     hunting     (c)     bunting     (d)     punting    
    9. (a)     firm     (b)     farm     (c)     form     (d)     from    
    10. (a)     history     (b)     event     (c)     happen     (d)     time    
    11. (a)     for     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     in    
    12. (a)     walked     (b)     walkers     (c)     walks     (d)     walking

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the iigonr of modern humans
    2. published in the jualrno 'Nature'
    3. in a goenir of northern Botswana
    4. they moved around the African cneoittnn
    5. They then started igrinamgt
    6. hugroyl 200,000 years ago

    Paragraph 2

    1. The researchers ndeptpnioi an area
    2. The people had scaesc to water
    3. Scientists analyzed DNA asmselp
    4. sopfserro Hayes explained
    5. Every time a new migration csruoc
    6. ceerodrd in our L0 and DNA

    Put the text back together

    (...)  lake there but it is now salt flats. The people had access to water, hunting and farmland. Scientists analyzed
    (...)  form of DNA known to be inside humans. Professor Hayes explained why L0 is
    (...)  as a time-stamp.... Everyone walking around today...comes from this region."
    (...)  70,000 years before they moved around the African continent. They then started migrating
    (...)  people. The Khoisan now live in modern-day South Africa and Namibia. They had a lot of DNA called L0, which is the oldest
    (...)  The researchers pinpointed an area called Okavango as being the place we come from. There used to be a huge
    (...)  important. She said: "Every time a new migration occurs, that migration event is recorded in our [L0 and] DNA
    (...)  to what is now Europe and Asia. Researcher Professor Vanessa Hayes, from the University of Sydney in Australia,
    (...)  said: "We've known for a long time that modern humans originated in Africa roughly 200,000 years ago."
    (...)  of the Zambezi River. Humans were there 200,000 years ago. They lived there for at least
    (...)  from. The researchers believe we all have roots in a region of northern Botswana, south
    (...)  'Nature'. Researchers in the study said they used DNA to find out where modern humans came
    (  1  ) A new study claims that the origin of modern humans is in Botswana. The study is published in the journal
    (...)  DNA samples from 200 people who live near the area today. They are from the Khoisan

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Botswana   .   in   origin   The   modern   humans   of   is
    2. where   humans   Used   find   from   .   DNA   to   came
    3. at   years   .   lived   least   They   there   for   70,000
    4. what   now   They   Europe   .   migrating   started   is   to
    5. ago   .   roughly   Africa   Humans   in   originated   200,000   years
    6. The   Okavango   .   pinpointed   researchers   area   called   an
    7. there   .   to   lake   huge   a   be   used   There
    8. L0   .   of   called   DNA   had   lot   They   a
    9. a   is   That   event   time-stamp   .   recorded   migration   as
    10. walking   from   this   region   .   today   around   Everyone   comes

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new study claims / clams that the origin of modern humans is in Botswana. The study is published in / on the journal 'Nature'. Researchers in the study said they used DNA to find out where modern humans came for / from. The researchers believe we all have roots / shoots in a region of northern Botswana, south off / of the Zambezi River. Humans were there 200,000 years since / ago. They lived there for at least / last 70,000 years before they moved around the African continent. They then started migrating to what / that is now Europe and Asia. Researcher Professor Vanessa Hayes, from the University of Sydney in Australia, said: "We've known for a length / long time that modern humans originated in Africa roughly / rough 200,000 years ago."

    The researchers pointed / pinpointed an area called Okavango as being the place we come from. There used to be a enormous / huge lake there but it is now salt flats / apartments. The people had excess / access to water, hunting and farmland. Scientists analysis / analyzed DNA samples from 200 people who live near the area today. They are from the Khoisan people. The Khoisan now alive / live in modern-day South Africa and Namibia. They had a lot of DNA called L0, which is the oldest form of DNA known / knowing to be inside humans. Professor Hayes explanation / explained why L0 is important. She said: "Every time a new migration occur / occurs, that migration event is recorded in our [L0 and] DNA as a time-stamp.... Everyone walking around today...comes from this region / regional."

    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)

    A n_w s t_d y c l__ m s t h_t t h_ _r_g_n _f m_d_r n h_m_n s _s _n B_t s w_n_. T h_ s t_d y _s p_b l_s h_d _n t h_ j__ r n_l ' N_t_r_' . R_s__ r c h_r s _n t h_ s t_d y s__ d t h_y _s_d D N A t_ f_n d __ t w h_r_ m_d_r n h_m_n s c_m_ f r_m . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s b_l__ v_ w_ _l l h_v_ r__ t s _n _ r_g__ n _f n_r t h_r n B_t s w_n_, s__ t h _f t h_ Z_m b_z_ R_v_r . H_m_n s w_r_ t h_r_ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 y__ r s _g_. T h_y l_v_d t h_r_ f_r _t l__ s t 7 0 , 0 0 0 y__ r s b_f_r_ t h_y m_v_d _r__ n d t h_ A f r_c_n c_n t_n_n t . T h_y t h_n s t_r t_d m_g r_t_n g t_ w h_t _s n_w E_r_p_ _n d A s__ . R_s__ r c h_r P r_f_s s_r V_n_s s_ H_y_s , f r_m t h_ U n_v_r s_t y _f S y d n_y _n A_s t r_l__ , s__ d : " W_' v_ k n_w n f_r _ l_n g t_m_ t h_t m_d_r n h_m_n s _r_g_n_t_d _n A f r_c_ r__ g h l y 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 y__ r s _g_. "

    T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s p_n p__ n t_d _n _r__ c_l l_d O k_v_n g_ _s b__ n g t h_ p l_c_ w_ c_m_ f r_m . T h_r_ _s_d t_ b_ _ h_g_ l_k_ t h_r_ b_t _t _s n_w s_l t f l_t s . T h_ p__ p l_ h_d _c c_s s t_ w_t_r , h_n t_n g _n d f_r m l_n d . S c__ n t_s t s _n_l y z_d D N A s_m p l_s f r_m 2 0 0 p__ p l_ w h_ l_v_ n__ r t h_ _r__ t_d_y . T h_y _r_ f r_m t h_ K h__ s_n p__ p l_. T h_ K h__ s_n n_w l_v_ _n m_d_r n - d_y S__ t h A f r_c_ _n d N_m_b__ . T h_y h_d _ l_t _f D N A c_l l_d L 0 , w h_c h _s t h_ _l d_s t f_r m _f D N A k n_w n t_ b_ _n s_d_ h_m_n s . P r_f_s s_r H_y_s _x p l__ n_d w h y L 0 _s _m p_r t_n t . S h_ s__ d : " E v_r y t_m_ _ n_w m_g r_t__ n _c c_r s , t h_t m_g r_t__ n _v_n t _s r_c_r d_d _n __ r [ L 0 _n d ] D N A _s _ t_m_- s t_m p . . . . E v_r y_n_ w_l k_n g _r__ n d t_d_y . . . c_m_s f r_m t h_s r_g__ n . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new study claims that the origin of modern humans is in botswana the study is published in the journal nature researchers in the study said they used dna to find out where modern humans came from the researchers believe we all have roots in a region of northern botswana south of the zambezi river humans were there 200000 years ago they lived there for at least 70000 years before they moved around the african continent they then started migrating to what is now europe and asia researcher professor vanessa hayes from the university of sydney in australia said weve known for a long time that modern humans originated in africa roughly 200000 years ago

    the researchers pinpointed an area called okavango as being the place we come from there used to be a huge lake there but it is now salt flats the people had access to water hunting and farmland scientists analyzed dna samples from 200 people who live near the area today they are from the khoisan people the khoisan now live in modernday south africa and namibia they had a lot of dna called l0 which is the oldest form of dna known to be inside humans professor hayes explained why l0 is important she said every time a new migration occurs that migration event is recorded in our l0 and dna as a timestamp everyone walking around todaycomes from this region

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnewstudyclaimsthattheoriginofmodernhumansisinBotswana.Thes
    tudyispublishedinthejournal'Nature'.Researchersinthestudysaidthe
    yusedDNAtofindoutwheremodernhumanscamefrom.Theresearcher
    sbelieveweallhaverootsinaregionofnorthernBotswana,southoftheZ
    ambeziRiver.Humanswerethere200,000yearsago.Theylivedtherefo
    ratleast70,000yearsbeforetheymovedaroundtheAfricancontinent.T
    heythenstartedmigratingtowhatisnowEuropeandAsia.ResearcherPr
    ofessorVanessaHayes,fromtheUniversityofSydneyinAustralia,said:
    "We'veknownforalongtimethatmodernhumansoriginatedinAfricaro
    ughly200,000yearsago."TheresearcherspinpointedanareacalledOk
    avangoasbeingtheplacewecomefrom.Thereusedtobeahugelakether
    ebutitisnowsaltflats.Thepeoplehadaccesstowater,huntingandfarml
    and.ScientistsanalyzedDNAsamplesfrom200peoplewholivenearthe
    areatoday.TheyarefromtheKhoisanpeople.TheKhoisannowliveinmo
    dern-daySouthAfricaandNamibia.TheyhadalotofDNAcalledL0,whic
    histheoldestformofDNAknowntobeinsidehumans.ProfessorHayesex
    plainedwhyL0isimportant.Shesaid:"Everytimeanewmigrationoccur
    s,thatmigrationeventisrecordedinour[L0and]DNAasatime-stamp
    ....Everyonewalkingaroundtoday...comesfromthisregion."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    It is very important to know where humans came from. 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. YOUR HOMELAND: Make a poster about your homeland. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ORIGINS: Write a magazine article about it being very important to know where humans came from. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree with this and with those who disagree with it.
    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 our homeland. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on why our homeland is important. 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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