Breaking News English Lesson: Plant Sounds

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Scientists say plants 'scream' when stressed (3rd April 2023)

The Reading / Listening - Plant Sounds - Level 6

Plant lovers believe that talking to plants helps them grow. Scientists have discovered there could be a grain of truth in this belief. Researchers have discovered that plants emit sounds when they are stressed. The noises are akin to a human cry or scream. The scientists believe the sounds are specific enough for us to be able to interpret them and to attend to their needs. Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too high a frequency for the human ear to pick up. Humans can only hear frequencies of up to 16 kilohertz. The scientists used special AI algorithms to detect ultrasonic sounds emitted by plants that were up to 250 kilohertz. The AI also differentiated between different types of plant sounds.

The research was conducted in an acoustic chamber in an adapted greenhouse at Israel's Tel Aviv University. Scientists discovered that vibrations from stressed tobacco and tomato plants turned into sound waves. Lead researcher Professor Lilach Hadany said: "Plants usually emit sounds when they are under stress. Each plant and each type of stress is associated with a specific identifiable sound." She suggested that fields of crops could be quite noisy, saying: "While imperceptible to the human ear, the sounds emitted by plants can be heard by…bats, mice, and insects." Interpreting these sounds could help us understand when crops are dehydrated. Farmers could irrigate their crops more efficiently, and thus conserve water.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Plant Sounds - Level 4 or Plant Sounds - Level 5

Sources

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plants-emit-a-rather-noisy-cry-for-help-when-under-stress-scientists-find/
https://www.sciencealert.com/plants-really-do-scream-out-loud-we-just-never-heard-it-until-now
https://gizmodo.com/plants-make-popping-sounds-when-stressed-study-1850283774

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. PLANTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about plants. 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?
plants / lovers / truth / belief / scream / frequency / human ear / ultrasonic / sounds /
research / acoustic / greenhouse / stress / crops / bats / farmers / dehydrated / water
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PLANT CHAT: Students A strongly believe we should spend more money on researching how we can talk to plants; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. INTERPRETING PLANTS: What would these plants want to say? What would you want to ask them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What They Would Say	What You Would Ask Them
A tomato plant
Bamboo
Cactus
Grass
A rose
Moss

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. SCREAM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "scream". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PLANT HELP: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways plants could help us if we understood them at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Farm irrigation
Better medicines
Tastier food
Pest control
Colour
Climate change
Mental health
Water conservation

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	grain	a.	Produce and discharge something, especially gas or radiation.
2.	emit	b.	The rate per second of a vibration constituting a wave, such as a sound wave.
3.	akin to	c.	Clearly defined or identified.
4.	specific	d.	Of similar character.
5.	frequency	e.	The smallest possible quantity or amount of a quality.
6.	algorithm	f.	Recognized or found out what makes someone or something unlike someone of something else.
7.	differentiated	g.	A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.

Paragraph 2

8.	acoustic	h.	Having lost a large amount of water to the extent of needing some.
9.	chamber	i.	Relating to sound or the sense of hearing.
10.	vibration	j.	Understanding an action, mood, or way of behaving as having a particular meaning.
11.	imperceptible	k.	Stop the wasteful overuse of a resource.
12.	interpreting	l.	An instance of moving continuously and rapidly to and fro.
13.	dehydrated	m.	So slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be sensed, understood or felt.
14.	conserve	n.	A room used for a special purpose, especially in science.

Before reading / listening

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

Talking to plants makes people better lovers. T / F
Scientists said it was true that grains emit sounds. T / F
Scientists said plant sounds are too high-pitched for us to hear. T / F
Scientists said plants make different types of sounds. T / F
The research was conducted in a special greenhouse. T / F
The scientists said farmers' fields could be quite noisy to bats and mice. T / F
Understanding plant sounds could help us to hydrate them. T / F
Understanding plant sounds could help us to save water. T / F

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

lovers
emit
akin to
detect
differentiated
conducted
stress
imperceptible
interpreting
irrigate

unnoticeable
distinguished
carried out
release
water
similar
decoding
fans
strain
notice

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

there could be a grain of
The noises are akin
plant sounds are at too high a frequency
detect ultrasonic
The AI also differentiated between
research was conducted in
Plants usually emit sounds when they
imperceptible to the
help us understand when crops
Farmers could

to a human cry
an acoustic chamber
different types
human ear
are dehydrated
for the human ear
irrigate their crops
are under stress
sounds
truth in this belief

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

frequency
akin
lovers
grain
algorithms
specific
types
emit

Plant (1) _____________________ believe that talking to plants helps them grow. Scientists have discovered there could be a (2) _____________________ of truth in this belief. Researchers have discovered that plants (3) _____________________ sounds when they are stressed. The noises are (4) _____________________ to a human cry or scream. The scientists believe the sounds are (5) _____________________ enough for us to be able to interpret them and to attend to their needs. Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too high a (6) _____________________ for the human ear to pick up. Humans can only hear frequencies of up to 16 kilohertz. The scientists used special AI (7) _____________________ to detect ultrasonic sounds emitted by plants that were up to 250 kilohertz. The AI also differentiated between different (8) _____________________ of plant sounds.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

vibrations
conserve
associated
dehydrated
acoustic
crops
waves
mice

The research was conducted in an (9) _____________________ chamber in an adapted greenhouse at Israel's Tel Aviv University. Scientists discovered that (10) _____________________ from stressed tobacco and tomato plants turned into sound (11) _____________________. Lead researcher Professor Lilach Hadany said: "Plants usually emit sounds when they are under stress. Each plant and each type of stress is (12) _____________________ with a specific identifiable sound." She suggested that fields of (13) _____________________ could be quite noisy, saying: "While imperceptible to the human ear, the sounds emitted by plants can be heard by…bats, (14) _____________________, and insects." Interpreting these sounds could help us understand when crops are (15) _____________________. Farmers could irrigate their crops more efficiently, and thus (16) _____________________ water.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Scientists have discovered there could be a grain of truth ______
     a. in this believe
     b. in this belief
     c. in his belief
     d. in this relief
2) Researchers have discovered that ______
     a. plant termite sounds
     b. plant summit sounds
     c. plants emit sounds
     d. plants omit sounds
3) The scientists believe the sounds are specific enough for us to be able ______
     a. to interpret then
     b. to interpreter them
     c. toing turnip them
     d. to interpret them
4) Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too ______
     a. high a frequency
     b. higher frequency
     c. hire frequency
   d. high the frequency
5) The AI also differentiated ______
     a. between different tripes
     b. between different tips
     c. between different types
     d. between different ties

6) The research was conducted in an acoustic chamber in ______
     a. an adapted greenhouse
     b. an adopted greenhouse
     c. an redacted greenhouse
     d. an alerted greenhouse
7) vibrations from stressed tobacco and tomato plants turned ______
     a. unto sound weaves
     b. onto sound doves
     c. into sound waves
     d. as to sound vapes
8) Each plant and each type of stress is associated with a ______
     a. specific identi-pliable sound
     b. specific identi-flyable sound
     c. specific I dent fallible sound
     d. specific identifiable sound
9) the sounds emitted by plants can be heard by…bats, ______
     a. mice, and insect
     b. mouse, and insects
     c. nice, and insects
     d. mice, and insects
10) help us understand when crops are dehydrated. Farmers could ______
     a. irrigate their crops
     b. irrigate their crocs
     c. irrigate their claps
     d. irrigate their clops

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Plant lovers believe that (1) ____________________ helps them grow. Scientists have discovered there could be a (2) ____________________ in this belief. Researchers have discovered that plants emit sounds when they are stressed. The noises (3) ____________________ a human cry or scream. The scientists believe the sounds are specific enough for us to be able to interpret them and (4) ____________________ their needs. Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too high a frequency for the human ear to pick up. Humans can only hear (5) ____________________ to 16 kilohertz. The scientists used special AI algorithms (6) ____________________ sounds emitted by plants that were up to 250 kilohertz. The AI also differentiated between different types of plant sounds.

The research was conducted in (7) ____________________ in an adapted greenhouse at Israel's Tel Aviv University. Scientists discovered (8) ____________________ stressed tobacco and tomato plants turned into sound waves. Lead researcher Professor Lilach Hadany said: "Plants (9) ____________________ when they are under stress. Each plant and each type of stress (10) ____________________ a specific identifiable sound." She suggested that fields of crops could be quite noisy, saying: "While (11) ____________________ human ear, the sounds emitted by plants can be heard by…bats, mice, and insects." Interpreting these sounds could help us understand when crops are dehydrated. Farmers could (12) ____________________ more efficiently, and thus conserve water.

Comprehension questions

What do plant lovers believe plants do when they talk to them?
What do scientists believe there is a grain of in a belief about plants?
When do researchers say plants emit sound?
At what frequency can humans hear?
What's the highest frequency that plants make a sound at?
In what kind of place was the researcher conducted?
What turned into sound waves?
What did the researcher suggest could be quite noisy?
What does the article say can hear plants?
What could farmers do to their crops if we understood plants more?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What do plant lovers believe plants do when they talk to them?
a) They smile.
b) They cry.
c) They grow.
d) They flower sooner.

2) What do scientists believe there is a grain of in a belief about plants?
a) truth
b) rice
c) wheat
d) sand

3) When do researchers say plants emit sound?
a) in the early morning
b) When they're stressed.
c) when people talk to them
d) when they've had no water

4) At what frequency can humans hear?
a) at 160 kilohertz
b) exactly 16 kilohertz
c) over 16 kilohertz
d) up to 16 kilohertz

5) What's the highest frequency that plants make a sound at?
a) 260 kilohertz
b) 280 kilohertz
c) 250 kilohertz
d) 270 kilohertz

6) In what kind of place was the researcher conducted?
a) a desert
b) an acoustic chamber
c) a rainforest
d) a sterile laboratory

7) What turned into sound waves?
a) water
b) the roots of plants
c) photosynthesis
d) vibrations from plants

8) What did the researcher suggest could be quite noisy?
a) the research
b) fields of crops
c) plant lovers
d) plants growing

9) What does the article say can hear plants?
a) children
b) bats, mice, and insects
c) farmers
d) birds and worms

10) What could farmers do to their crops if we understood plants more?
a) irrigate them
b) grow them
c) create hybrids
d) make them bigger

Role play

Role A – Farm Irrigation
You think farm irrigation will be the biggest benefit from communicating with plants. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't be as beneficial. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): tastier food, better medicines or mental health.

Role B – Tastier Food
You think tastier food will be the biggest benefit from communicating with plants. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't be as beneficial. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): farm irrigation, better medicines or mental health.

Role C – Better Medicines
You think better medicines will be the biggest benefit from communicating with plants. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't be as beneficial. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): tastier food, farm irrigation or mental health.

Role D – Mental Health
You think mental health will be the biggest benefit from communicating with plants. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't be as beneficial. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): tastier food, better medicines or farm irrigation.

After reading / listening

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

'plant'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'scream'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

lovers

belief

akin

attend

pick

250

adapted

usually

identifiable

noisy

mice

water

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 - Plant Sounds

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'plant'?
What do you think of plants?
Do you think plants have feelings?
What would you do if you heard a plant scream?
How much of a plant lover are you?
What do you think plants might communicate?
What would you like to ask plants?
How will life change if we can understand plants?
What advice do you have for plants?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'scream'?
What do you think about what you read?
Would you like to hear plants screaming?
What's your favourite plant?
What would plants say about climate change?
What might plants say to each other?
Would we get tastier food if we could understand plants' feelings?
Could plants help us to conserve water?
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)

Plant (1) ____ believe that talking to plants helps them grow. Scientists have discovered there could be a (2) ____ of truth in this belief. Researchers have discovered that plants emit sounds when they are stressed. The noises are (3) ____ to a human cry or scream. The scientists believe the sounds are specific enough for us to be able to interpret them and to attend (4) ____ their needs. Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too high a frequency for the human ear to pick up. Humans can only hear frequencies of (5) ____ to 16 kilohertz. The scientists used special AI algorithms to detect ultrasonic sounds emitted by plants that were up to 250 kilohertz. The AI also (6) ____ between different types of plant sounds.

The research was conducted in an (7) ____ chamber in an adapted greenhouse at Israel's Tel Aviv University. Scientists discovered that vibrations from stressed tobacco and tomato plants turned into sound (8) ____. Lead researcher Professor Lilach Hadany said: "Plants usually emit sounds when they are (9) ____ stress. Each plant and each type of stress is associated (10) ____ a specific identifiable sound." She suggested that fields of crops could be quite noisy, saying: "While imperceptible to the human ear, the sounds emitted by plants can be heard by…bats, (11) ____, and insects." Interpreting these sounds could help us understand when crops are dehydrated. Farmers could (12) ____ their crops more efficiently, and thus conserve water.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) loves (b) lovelies (c) lovers (d) love-ins
(a) grain (b) husk (c) ear (d) chaff
(a) akin (b) skin (c) aching (d) eking
(a) to (b) of (c) at (d) in
(a) as (b) up (c) on (d) down
(a) differential (b) diffident (c) differed (d) differentiated
(a) accoutrement (b) actuarial (c) acoustic (d) acolyte
(a) tides (b) currents (c) surfs (d) waves
(a) under (b) above (c) about (d) around
(a) on (b) with (c) at (d) by
(a) moose (b) mice (c) mouse (d) moussaka
(a) congregate (b) irradiate (c) irrigate (d) aggregate

Spelling

Paragraph 1

noises are kani to a human cry
be able to tetinprer them
sounds are at too high a ycrnfeeuq
scientists used special AI gamoitlrhs
detect laosunictr sounds
dttiardfineeef between different types

Paragraph 2

conducted in an asuccoit chamber
viitrnboas from stressed tobacco
specific inebdtieafil sound
eptprimeeiblc to the human ear
etepgtrnrnii these sounds
Farmers could tragriie their crops

Put the text back together

( 1 ) Plant lovers believe that talking to plants helps them grow. Scientists have discovered there could be a grain
(...) to 16 kilohertz. The scientists used special AI algorithms to detect ultrasonic sounds emitted
(...) us understand when crops are dehydrated. Farmers could irrigate their crops more efficiently, and thus conserve water.
(...) The research was conducted in an acoustic chamber in an adapted greenhouse
(...) sound." She suggested that fields of crops could be quite noisy, saying: "While imperceptible to the human
(...) a frequency for the human ear to pick up. Humans can only hear frequencies of up
(...) by plants that were up to 250 kilohertz. The AI also differentiated between different types of plant sounds.
(...) of truth in this belief. Researchers have discovered that plants emit sounds when they are
(...) enough for us to be able to interpret them and to attend to their needs. Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too high
(...) ear, the sounds emitted by plants can be heard by…bats, mice, and insects." Interpreting these sounds could help
(...) at Israel's Tel Aviv University. Scientists discovered that vibrations from stressed tobacco and tomato
(...) stressed. The noises are akin to a human cry or scream. The scientists believe the sounds are specific
(...) plants turned into sound waves. Lead researcher Professor Lilach Hadany said: "Plants usually emit sounds
(...) when they are under stress. Each plant and each type of stress is associated with a specific identifiable

Put the words in the right order

talking Plant to helps lovers them . believe plants
in grain There truth of a this is .
Plants when stressed . are sounds emit they
at high Plant sounds frequency . a too are
sounds . types differentiated AI of different The between
acoustic The research was conducted in an chamber .
when they Plants sounds usually are stressed . emit
could of quite be crops Fields noisy .
us Help crops understand are when dehydrated .
irrigate their efficiently . Farmers could more crops

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Plant lovers / loves believe that talking to plants helps them grow. Scientists have discovered there could be a grin / grain of truth in this belief. Researchers have discovered that plants omit / emit sounds when they are stressed. The noises are akin / skin to a human cry or scream. The scientists believe the sounds are specific enough for / from us to be able to interpret them and to attend of / to their needs. Unfortunately, plant sounds are at too high / height a frequency for the human ear to pick up. Humans can only hear frequencies of over / up to 16 kilohertz. The scientists used special AI algorithms to detect / defect ultrasonic sounds emitted by plants that were up to 250 kilohertz. The AI also differentiated between different type / types of plant sounds.

The research was conducted in an acoustic / accoutrement chamber in an adapted greenhouse at Israel's Tel Aviv University. Scientists discovered that vibrations / vibes from stressed tobacco and tomato plants turned onto / into sound waves. Lead researcher Professor Lilach Hadany said: "Plants usually emit sounds when they are over / under stress. Each plant and each type of stress is associate / associated with a specific identifiable sound." She suggested that fields / field of crops could be quite noisy, saying: "While imperceptible to / at the human ear, the sounds emitted by plants can be heard by…bats, mice / mouse, and insects." Interpreting these sounds could help us / them understand when crops are dehydrated. Farmers could irrigate their crops more efficiently, and thus reserve / conserve water.

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)

Pl_nt l_v_rs b_l__v_ th_t t_lk_ng t_ pl_nts h_lps th_m gr_w. Sc__nt_sts h_v_ d_sc_v_r_d th_r_ c__ld b_ _ gr__n _f tr_th _n th_s b_l__f. R_s__rch_rs h_v_ d_sc_v_r_d th_t pl_nts _m_t s__nds wh_n th_y _r_ str_ss_d. Th_ n__s_s _r_ _k_n t_ _ h_m_n cry _r scr__m. Th_ sc__nt_sts b_l__v_ th_ s__nds _r_ sp_c_f_c _n__gh f_r _s t_ b_ _bl_ t_ _nt_rpr_t th_m _nd t_ _tt_nd t_ th__r n__ds. _nf_rt_n_t_ly, pl_nt s__nds _r_ _t t__ h_gh _ fr_q__ncy f_r th_ h_m_n __r t_ p_ck _p. H_m_ns c_n _nly h__r fr_q__nc__s _f _p t_ 16 k_l_h_rtz. Th_ sc__nt_sts _s_d sp_c__l __ _lg_r_thms t_ d_t_ct _ltr_s_n_c s__nds _m_tt_d by pl_nts th_t w_r_ _p t_ 250 k_l_h_rtz. Th_ __ _ls_ d_ff_r_nt__t_d b_tw__n d_ff_r_nt typ_s _f pl_nt s__nds.

Th_ r_s__rch w_s c_nd_ct_d _n _n _c__st_c ch_mb_r _n _n _d_pt_d gr__nh__s_ _t _sr__l's T_l _v_v _n_v_rs_ty. Sc__nt_sts d_sc_v_r_d th_t v_br_t__ns fr_m str_ss_d t_b_cc_ _nd t_m_t_ pl_nts t_rn_d _nt_ s__nd w_v_s. L__d r_s__rch_r Pr_f_ss_r L_l_ch H_d_ny s__d: "Pl_nts _s__lly _m_t s__nds wh_n th_y _r_ _nd_r str_ss. __ch pl_nt _nd __ch typ_ _f str_ss _s _ss_c__t_d w_th _ sp_c_f_c _d_nt_f__bl_ s__nd." Sh_ s_gg_st_d th_t f__lds _f cr_ps c__ld b_ q__t_ n__sy, s_y_ng: "Wh_l_ _mp_rc_pt_bl_ t_ th_ h_m_n __r, th_ s__nds _m_tt_d by pl_nts c_n b_ h__rd by…b_ts, m_c_, _nd _ns_cts." _nt_rpr_t_ng th_s_ s__nds c__ld h_lp _s _nd_rst_nd wh_n cr_ps _r_ d_hydr_t_d. F_rm_rs c__ld _rr_g_t_ th__r cr_ps m_r_ _ff_c__ntly, _nd th_s c_ns_rv_ w_t_r.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

plant lovers believe that talking to plants helps them grow scientists have discovered there could be a grain of truth in this belief researchers have discovered that plants emit sounds when they are stressed the noises are akin to a human cry or scream the scientists believe the sounds are specific enough for us to be able to interpret them and to attend to their needs unfortunately plant sounds are at too high a frequency for the human ear to pick up humans can only hear frequencies of up to 16 kilohertz the scientists used special ai algorithms to detect ultrasonic sounds emitted by plants that were up to 250 kilohertz the ai also differentiated between different types of plant sounds

the research was conducted in an acoustic chamber in an adapted greenhouse at israels tel aviv university scientists discovered that vibrations from stressed tobacco and tomato plants turned into sound waves lead researcher professor lilach hadany said plants usually emit sounds when they are under stress each plant and each type of stress is associated with a specific identifiable sound she suggested that fields of crops could be quite noisy saying while imperceptible to the human ear the sounds emitted by plants can be heard bybats mice and insects interpreting these sounds could help us understand when crops are dehydrated farmers could irrigate their crops more efficiently and thus conserve water

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Plantloversbelievethattalkingtoplantshelpsthemgrow.Scientistshav
ediscoveredtherecouldbeagrainoftruthinthisbelief.Researchershav
ediscoveredthatplantsemitsoundswhentheyarestressed.Thenoises
areakintoahumancryorscream.Thescientistsbelievethesoundsaresp
ecificenoughforustobeabletointerpretthemandtoattendtotheirneed
s.Unfortunately,plantsoundsareattoohighafrequencyforthehumane
artopickup.Humanscanonlyhearfrequenciesofupto16kilohertz.Thes
cientistsusedspecialAIalgorithmstodetectultrasonicsoundsemittedb
yplantsthatwereupto250kilohertz.TheAIalsodifferentiatedbetween
differenttypesofplantsounds.Theresearchwasconductedinanacousti
cchamberinanadaptedgreenhouseatIsrael'sTelAvivUniversity.Scien
tistsdiscoveredthatvibrationsfromstressedtobaccoandtomatoplants
turnedintosoundwaves.LeadresearcherProfessorLilachHadanysaid:
"Plantsusuallyemitsoundswhentheyareunderstress.Eachplantande
achtypeofstressisassociatedwithaspecificidentifiablesound."Shesug
gestedthatfieldsofcropscouldbequitenoisy,saying:"Whileimpercepti
bletothehumanear,thesoundsemittedbyplantscanbeheardby…bats,
mice,andinsects."Interpretingthesesoundscouldhelpusunderstand
whencropsaredehydrated.Farmerscouldirrigatetheircropsmoreeffic
iently,andthusconservewater.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We need to understand plants so we can create a better planet. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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. PLANTS: Make a poster about plants. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. PLANT TALK: Write a magazine article about communicating with plants. 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 plants. Ask him/her three questions about plants. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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