The Reading / Listening - Balloons and Aliens - Level 3

Strange goings-on are happening in the skies above North America. This month, US fighter jets have shot down four UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in US and Canadian airspace. Officials said the objects were balloons that were causing a danger to airplanes. They were flying at an altitude of around 40,000 feet (12,200 metres). The White House said yesterday that there were no signs the objects were linked to alien life. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: "I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these crafts." Earlier in the week, a US official said aliens could not be counted out as a possible explanation for the balloons.

The balloon saga has created tit-for-tat exchanges between the USA and China. US officials suspect the balloons were being used for spying. However, they have no proof of this. Rescue teams have gathered debris from the balloons off the US coast. Experts are currently looking at the electronics they have found. China said the balloons were for tracking weather patterns. It has denied they were spy balloons. Beijing has claimed that US high-altitude balloons have flown in China's airspace without permission more than ten times in the past year. The White House said this was untrue. A balloon shooting in early February resulted in US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a visit to China.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Balloons and Aliens - Level 0,  Balloons and Aliens - Level 1   or  Balloons and Aliens - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-14/spy-balloon-alien-white-house-china-surveillance-aircraft/101969384
  • https://theconversation.com/no-indication-of-aliens-spy-balloon-saga-continues-to-surprise-amid-rising-us-china-tension-199769
  • https://english.news.cn/20230205/fbbeecffa7ff48119880de4170d97495/c.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BALLOONS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about balloons. 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?
       strange / skies / North America / UFO / flying / airplanes / aliens / life / balloons
       tit-for-tat / spying / rescue / coast / experts / electronics / weather / the past / China
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ALIENS: Students A strongly believe aliens exist; Students B strongly believe aliens do not sexist. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ALIEN LANDING: If aliens landed on Earth, what should we show them? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What?

Why?

Food

 

 

Famous sight

 

 

A building

 

 

A sport

 

 

A concert

 

 

Technology

 

 
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. BALLOON: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "balloon". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. WEATHER: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst weather at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Boiling hot
  • Raining cats and dogs
  • Heavy snow
  • Strong winds
  • Freezing cold
  • Overcast and cloudy
  • Stormy
  • Foggy

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. goings-on a. Regarding; as regards; with reference to.
      2. unidentified b. A thing that can be seen and touched.
      3. object c. Not recognized or known.
      4. altitude d. Not included something in something else.
      5. with respect to e. Events or behaviour, especially of an unusual or suspect nature.
      6. craft f. The height of an object or point above sea level or ground level.
      7. counted out g. A boat, ship, aircraft or spaceship.

    Paragraph 2

      8. saga h. Something that shows that a fact is true.
      9. tit-for-tat i. Following the movements of someone or something to find out about their course.
      10. suspect j. The parts of something that was destroyed that fell across a wide area.
      11. proof k. One bad action following another bad action.
      12. debris l. The action of allowing someone to do something.
      13. tracking m. A long, involved story, account, or series of incidents.
      14. permission n. Think something is true, but not being 100% sure.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said there were comings and goings in the sky above the US.  T / F
  2. The acronym "UFO" means Uninvited Flying Object.     T / F
  3. The balloons were at a height of over 12,000 metres.     T / F
  4. A National Security Spokesperson was worried about aliens.     T / F
  5. The USA believes the balloons may have been used for spying.     T / F
  6. Rescue teams are looking for the balloons, but have not found any.     T / F
  7. China says the balloons were used for monitoring the weather.     T / F
  8. China accused the US of flying balloons in Chinese airspace.     T / F

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

  1. goings-on
  2. danger
  3. altitude
  4. linked
  5. explanation
  6. saga
  7. suspect
  8. proof
  9. tracking
  10. resulted in
  1. story
  2. reason
  3. risk
  4. led to
  5. connected
  6. evidence
  7. events
  8. following
  9. think
  10. height

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

  1. Strange
  2. fighter
  3. They were flying at an altitude
  4. the objects were linked
  5. I don't think the American people
  6. The balloon saga has created tit-for-tat
  7. they have no proof
  8. Rescue teams have gathered
  9. the balloons were for tracking
  10. cancelling a visit
  1. debris
  2. of around 40,000 feet
  3. weather patterns
  4. jets
  5. exchanges
  6. to China
  7. goings-on
  8. need to worry
  9. of this
  10. to alien life

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
life
causing
possible
goings-on
signs
respect
shot
flying

Strange (1) _____________________ are happening in the skies above North America. This month, US fighter jets have (2) _____________________ down four UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in US and Canadian airspace. Officials said the objects were balloons that were (3) _____________________ a danger to airplanes. They were (4) _____________________ at an altitude of around 40,000 feet (12,200 metres). The White House said yesterday that there were no (5) _____________________ the objects were linked to alien (6) _____________________. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: "I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with (7) _____________________ to these crafts." Earlier in the week, a US official said aliens could not be counted out as a (8) _____________________ explanation for the balloons.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
proof
altitude
exchanges
visit
coast
untrue
suspect
tracking

The balloon saga has created tit-for-tat (9) _____________________ between the USA and China. US officials (10) _____________________ the balloons were being used for spying. However, they have no (11) _____________________ of this. Rescue teams have gathered debris from the balloons off the US (12) _____________________. Experts are currently looking at the electronics they have found. China said the balloons were for (13) _____________________ weather patterns. It has denied they were spy balloons. Beijing has claimed that US high-(14) _____________________ balloons have flown in China's airspace without permission more than ten times in the past year. The White House said this was (15) _____________________. A balloon shooting in early February resulted in US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a (16) _____________________ to China.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Strange goings-on are happening in ______
     a.  the skies above
     b.  the skies alive
     c.  the skies a buff
     d.  the sky's a buzz
2)  jets have shot down four UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in US ______
     a.  and Canadian airs space
     b.  and Canadian airs pace
     c.  and Canadian airs paced
     d.  and Canadian airspace
3)  The White House said yesterday that there were no signs the objects were linked _____
     a.  to alien lifer
     b.  to alien alive
     c.  to alien life
     d.  to alien live
4)  I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect ______
     a.  to them crafts
     b.  to this crafts
     c.  to trees crafts
     d.  to these crafts
5)  a US official said aliens could not be counted out as ______
     a.  a possible explanation
     b.  a possibly explanation
     c.  a posse ball explanation
     d.  a possibility explanation

6)  The balloon saga has created tit-______
     a.  for-tat exchange is
     b.  for-tat exchanges
     c.  for-tat exchangers
     d.  for-tat ex change is
7)  officials suspect the balloons were being used for spying. However, they have no ______
     a.  prove of this
     b.  poof of this
     c.  probe of this
     d.  proof of this
8)  Rescue teams have gathered debris from the balloons off ______
     a.  the US cost
     b.  the US cast
     c.  the US coast
     d.  the US coats
9)  US high-altitude balloons have flown in China's ______
     a.  airspace within permission
     b.  airspace wither permission
     c.  airspace without permission
     d.  airspace withered permission
10)  resulted in US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a ______
     a.  visitor China
     b.  visit to China
     c.  visit on China
     d.  visit of China

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Strange goings-on are happening in (1) ____________________ North America. This month, US fighter (2) ____________________ down four UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in US and Canadian airspace. Officials said the objects were balloons that were (3) ____________________ to airplanes. They were flying at an altitude of around 40,000 feet (12,200 metres). The White House said yesterday that there were no signs the (4) ____________________ to alien life. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: "I don't think the American people need to worry about (5) ____________________ to these crafts." Earlier in the week, a US official said aliens could not be counted out (6) ____________________ explanation for the balloons.

The balloon (7) ____________________ tit-for-tat exchanges between the USA and China. US officials suspect the balloons were being used for spying. However, they have (8) ____________________ this. Rescue teams have gathered debris from the balloons off the US coast. Experts (9) ____________________ at the electronics they have found. China said the balloons were for tracking weather patterns. It has (10) ____________________ spy balloons. Beijing has claimed that US high-altitude balloons have flown in China's airspace without (11) ____________________ ten times in the past year. The White House said this was untrue. A balloon shooting in early February resulted in US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (12) ____________________ to China.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say is happening in the skies above N. America?
  2. What does the acronym UFO mean?
  3. How high were the balloons flying?
  4. What did the White House say Americans need not worry about?
  5. When did an official say aliens could not be counted out?
  6. What kind of exchanges did the USA and China take part in?
  7. What do USA officials suspect the balloons were being used for?
  8. What does China say it was using the balloons for?
  9. How many times did China say US balloons flew in Chinese airspace?
  10. What did the US Secretary of State cancel?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say is happening in the skies above N. America?
a) star wars
b) strange goings-on
c) balloon wars
d) comings and goings
2) What does the acronym UFO mean?
a) Unidentified Floating Object
b) Uninvited Flying Object
c) Uninvited Floating Object
d) Unidentified Flying Object
3) How high were the balloons flying?
a) around 40,000 thumbs
b) around 40,000 fingers
c) around 40,000 feet
d) around 40,000 toes
4) What did the White House say Americans need not worry about?
a) aliens
b) money
c) safety
d) China
5) When did an official say aliens could not be counted out?
a) last week
b) earlier in the week
c) the week before last
d) last month

6) What kind of exchanges did the USA and China take part in?
a) tit-for-tat exchanges
b) money exchanges
c) brief exchanges
d) heated exchanges
7) What do USA officials suspect the balloons were being used for?
a) sightseeing tours
b) parties
c) spying
d) astronomy
8) What does China say it was using the balloons for?
a) tracking weather patterns
b) parties
c) flying practice
d) environmental research
9) How many times did China say US balloons flew in Chinese airspace?
a) seven
b) around eight
c) exactly nine
d) over ten
10) What did the US Secretary of State cancel?
a) his membership to a balloon club
b) his credit cards
c) a visit to China?
d) his plans for the evening

Role play

Role  A – Boiling Hot
You think boiling hot weather is the worst weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their weather. Also, tell the others which is the best of these (and why): freezing cold, raining cats and dogs or heavy snow.

Role  B – Freezing Cold
You think freezing cold weather is the worst weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their weather. Also, tell the others which is the best of these (and why): boiling hot, raining cats and dogs or heavy snow.

Role  C – Raining Cats and Dogs
You think raining cats and dogs is the worst weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their weather. Also, tell the others which is the best of these (and why): freezing cold, boiling hot or heavy snow.

Role  D – Heavy Snow
You think heavy snow is the worst weather. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their weather. Also, tell the others which is the best of these (and why): freezing cold, raining cats and dogs or boiling hot.

After reading / listening

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

'alien'

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

    • and 'balloon'.

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

    • • 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:

    • happening
    • danger
    • altitude
    • linked
    • worry
    • possible
    • saga
    • proof
    • coast
    • patterns
    • ten
    • early

    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 - Balloons and Aliens

    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 'alien'?
    3. What do you think of aliens?
    4. Why do we think aliens might exist?
    5. What do you know about the balloons in the article?
    6. Could the shootings increase tensions between the US and China?
    7. Are you happy that the balloons had no aliens?
    8. What advice do you have for the USA and China?
    9. What do you think aliens look like?
    10. What would aliens think of 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 'balloon'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why are relations between the USA and China not so good?
    5. What do you think of spying?
    6. Do you think your country spies on other countries?
    7. Should weather balloons be banned?
    8. Why would a country use spy balloons instead of satellites?
    9. What would you do if an alien was in your house?
    10. What questions would you like to ask an alien?

    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)

    Strange goings-on are happening in the skies (1) ____ North America. This month, US fighter jets have shot (2) ____ four UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in US and Canadian airspace. Officials said the objects were balloons that were causing a (3) ____ to airplanes. They were flying at an altitude of around 40,000 feet (12,200 metres). The White House said yesterday that there were no (4) ____ the objects were linked to alien life. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: "I don't think the American people (5) ____ to worry about aliens with respect to these crafts." Earlier in the week, a US official said aliens could not be counted (6) ____ as a possible explanation for the balloons.

    The balloon (7) ____ has created tit-for-tat exchanges between the USA and China. US officials suspect the balloons were being used (8) ____ spying. However, they have no proof of this. Rescue teams have gathered debris from the balloons off the US (9) ____. Experts are currently looking at the electronics they have found. China said the balloons were for tracking weather patterns. It has denied they were spy balloons. Beijing has claimed that US high-altitude balloons have (10) ____ in China's airspace without permission more than ten times in the past year. The White House said this was (11) ____. A balloon shooting in early February resulted (12) ____ US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a visit to China.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     up     (b)     above     (c)     higher     (d)     cover    
    2. (a)     in     (b)     down     (c)     on     (d)     up    
    3. (a)     endanger     (b)     dangerous     (c)     endangered     (d)     danger    
    4. (a)     looks     (b)     signs     (c)     autographs     (d)     posters    
    5. (a)     necessary     (b)     needing     (c)     needy     (d)     need    
    6. (a)     up     (b)     on     (c)     out     (d)     in    
    7. (a)     saga     (b)     sage     (c)     gaga     (d)     MAGA    
    8. (a)     of     (b)     from     (c)     for     (d)     far    
    9. (a)     toast     (b)     boast     (c)     roast     (d)     coast    
    10. (a)     flown     (b)     fly     (c)     flew     (d)     flying    
    11. (a)     untrue     (b)     truly     (c)     truths     (d)     truthfully    
    12. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     by

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. US rgfthie jets
    2. flying at an taudeitl of around 40,000 feet
    3. signs the boesjtc were linked to alien life
    4. with pcetsre to these crafts
    5. a US fifiaocl
    6. a possible nxiltaopena

    Paragraph 2

    1. tit-for-tat ghxenaesc
    2. they have no foopr of this
    3. gathered rdeibs from the balloons
    4. It has ideden they were spy balloons
    5. flown in China's airspace without psriniosem
    6. neialnlcgc a visit to China

    Put the text back together

    (...)  official said aliens could not be counted out as a possible explanation for the balloons.
    (...)  were being used for spying. However, they have no proof of this. Rescue teams have gathered
    (...)  to alien life. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: "I don't think the American
    (...)  found. China said the balloons were for tracking weather patterns. It has denied they were spy balloons. Beijing has claimed
    (...)  February resulted in US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a visit to China.
    (...)  than 10 times in the past year. The White House said this was untrue. A balloon shooting in early
    (...)  The balloon saga has created tit-for-tat exchanges between the USA and China. US officials suspect the balloons
    (...)  down four UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in US and Canadian airspace. Officials said the objects
    (...)  were balloons that were causing a danger to airplanes. They were flying at an altitude of around
    (...)  debris from the balloons off the US coast. Experts are currently looking at the electronics they have
    (...)  40,000 feet (12,200 metres). The White House said yesterday that there were no signs the objects were linked
    (...)  people need to worry about aliens with respect to these crafts." Earlier in the week, a US
    (  1  ) Strange goings-on are happening in the skies above North America. This month, US fighter jets have shot
    (...)  that US high-altitude balloons have flown in China's airspace without permission more

    Put the words in the right order

    1. happening   in   Strange   America   .   skies   goings-on   are   above
    2. that   danger   were   a   to   airplanes   .   causing   Balloons
    3. life   .   were   objects   linked   alien   to   Signs   the
    4. I   need   to   think   don't   people   American   worry   .
    5. be   can't   explanation   .   counted   out   Aliens   an   as
    6. The   saga   balloon   exchanges   .   has   tit-for-tat   created
    7. being   for   the   balloons   were   used   Suspect   spying   .
    8. looking   are   Experts   at   currently   the   electronics   .
    9. balloons   .   spy   they   denied   were   has   It
    10. Balloons   flown   permission   .   have   without   airspace   China's   in

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Strange goings-on are happening in / up the skies above North America. This month, US fighter jets have shot / shoot down four UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in US and Canadian airspace. Officials said the subjects / objects were balloons that were causing a dangerous / danger to airplanes. They were flying at an attitude / altitude of around 40,000 feet (12,200 metres). The White House said yesterday that / what there were no signs the objects were linked to alien living / life. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: "I don't think the American people necessary / need to worry about aliens with respect to them / these crafts." Earlier in the week, a US official said aliens could not be counted out / in as a possible explanation for the balloons.

    The balloon saga has created tit-for-tat exchanges between / among the USA and China. US officials suspect / suspicious the balloons were being used for spy / spying. However, they have no proof to / of this. Rescue teams have gathered debris from / as the balloons off the US coast. Experts are currently looking at the electricity / electronics they have found. China said the balloons were for tracking weather / whether patterns. It has denied they were spy balloons. Beijing has claimed that US high-altitude balloons have flown / flying in China's airspace without permission more than ten times in / on the past year. The White House said this was untrue. A balloon shooting in early February resulted on / in US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a visit to China.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Str_ng_  g__ngs-_n  _r_  h_pp_n_ng  _n  th_  sk__s  _b_v_  N_rth  _m_r_c_.  Th_s  m_nth,  _S  f_ght_r  j_ts  h_v_  sh_t  d_wn  f__r  _F_s  (_n_d_nt_f__d  Fly_ng  _bj_cts)  _n  _S  _nd  C_n_d__n  __rsp_c_.  _ff_c__ls  s__d  th_  _bj_cts  w_r_  b_ll__ns  th_t  w_r_  c__s_ng  _  d_ng_r  t_  __rpl_n_s.  Th_y  w_r_  fly_ng  _t  _n  _lt_t_d_  _f  _r__nd  40,000  f__t  (12,200  m_tr_s).  Th_  Wh_t_  H__s_  s__d  y_st_rd_y  th_t  th_r_  w_r_  n_  s_gns  th_  _bj_cts  w_r_  l_nk_d  t_  _l__n  l_f_.  N_t__n_l  S_c_r_ty  C__nc_l  sp_k_sp_rs_n  J_hn  K_rby  s__d:  "_  d_n't  th_nk  th_  _m_r_c_n  p__pl_  n__d  t_  w_rry  _b__t  _l__ns  w_th  r_sp_ct  t_  th_s_  cr_fts."  __rl__r  _n  th_  w__k,  _  _S  _ff_c__l  s__d  _l__ns  c__ld  n_t  b_  c__nt_d  __t  _s  _  p_ss_bl_  _xpl_n_t__n  f_r  th_  b_ll__ns. 

    Th_  b_ll__n  s_g_  h_s  cr__t_d  t_t-f_r-t_t  _xch_ng_s  b_tw__n  th_  _S_  _nd  Ch_n_.  _S  _ff_c__ls  s_sp_ct  th_  b_ll__ns  w_r_  b__ng  _s_d  f_r  spy_ng.  H_w_v_r,  th_y  h_v_  n_  pr__f  _f  th_s.  R_sc__  t__ms  h_v_  g_th_r_d  d_br_s  fr_m  th_  b_ll__ns  _ff  th_  _S  c__st.  _xp_rts  _r_  c_rr_ntly  l__k_ng  _t  th_  _l_ctr_n_cs  th_y  h_v_  f__nd.  Ch_n_  s__d  th_  b_ll__ns  w_r_  f_r  tr_ck_ng  w__th_r  p_tt_rns.  _t  h_s  d_n__d  th_y  w_r_  spy  b_ll__ns.  B__j_ng  h_s  cl__m_d  th_t  _S  h_gh-_lt_t_d_  b_ll__ns  h_v_  fl_wn  _n  Ch_n_'s  __rsp_c_  w_th__t  p_rm_ss__n  m_r_  th_n  t_n  t_m_s  _n  th_  p_st  y__r.  Th_  Wh_t_  H__s_  s__d  th_s  w_s  _ntr__.  _  b_ll__n  sh__t_ng  _n  __rly  F_br__ry  r_s_lt_d  _n  _S  S_cr_t_ry  _f  St_t_  _nt_ny  Bl_nk_n  c_nc_ll_ng  _  v_s_t  t_  Ch_n_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    strange goingson are happening in the skies above north america this month us fighter jets have shot down four ufos unidentified flying objects in us and canadian airspace officials said the objects were balloons that were causing a danger to airplanes they were flying at an altitude of around 40000 feet 12200 metres the white house said yesterday that there were no signs the objects were linked to alien life national security council spokesperson john kirby said i dont think the american people need to worry about aliens with respect to these crafts earlier in the week a us official said aliens could not be counted out as a possible explanation for the balloons

    the balloon saga has created titfortat exchanges between the usa and china us officials suspect the balloons were being used for spying however they have no proof of this rescue teams have gathered debris from the balloons off the us coast experts are currently looking at the electronics they have found china said the balloons were for tracking weather patterns it has denied they were spy balloons beijing has claimed that us highaltitude balloons have flown in chinas airspace without permission more than ten times in the past year the white house said this was untrue a balloon shooting in early february resulted in us secretary of state antony blinken cancelling a visit to china

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Strangegoings-onarehappeningintheskiesaboveNorthAmerica.T
    hismonth,USfighterjetshaveshotdownfourUFOs(UnidentifiedFlying
    Objects)inUSandCanadianairspace.Officialssaidtheobjectswereball
    oonsthatwerecausingadangertoairplanes.Theywereflyingatanaltitu
    deofaround40,000feet(12,200metres).TheWhiteHousesaidyesterd
    aythattherewerenosignstheobjectswerelinkedtoalienlife.NationalSe
    curityCouncilspokespersonJohnKirbysaid:"Idon'tthinktheAmerican
    peopleneedtoworryaboutalienswithrespecttothesecrafts."Earlierint
    heweek,aUSofficialsaidalienscouldnotbecountedoutasapossibleexpl
    anationfortheballoons.Theballoonsagahascreatedtit-for-tatexchan
    gesbetweentheUSAandChina.USofficialssuspecttheballoonswerebe
    ingusedforspying.However,theyhavenoproofofthis.Rescueteamsha
    vegathereddebrisfromtheballoonsofftheUScoast.Expertsarecurrent
    lylookingattheelectronicstheyhavefound.Chinasaidtheballoonswere
    fortrackingweatherpatterns.Ithasdeniedtheywerespyballoons.Beiji
    nghasclaimedthatUShigh-altitudeballoonshaveflowninChina'sairsp
    acewithoutpermissionmorethantentimesinthepastyear.TheWhiteH
    ousesaidthiswasuntrue.AballoonshootinginearlyFebruaryresultedin
    USSecretaryofStateAntonyBlinkencancellingavisittoChina.

    Free writing

    Write about balloons and aliens for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Aliens exist. 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. BALLOONS: Make a poster about balloons. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ALIENS: Write a magazine article about inviting aliens to visit Earth. 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 high-altitude balloons. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on them. 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

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    Answers

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

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