The Reading / Listening - Factor X - Level 3

Scientists say there could be something under frozen ground that contains many deadly diseases. Ancient microbes have been trapped for millennia in the permafrost that covers large areas of Earth. Permafrost is ground that stays completely frozen for at least two years. It is common high in mountains and near the North and South Poles. The scientists say the permafrost is melting because of climate change. The result could be the release of unknown, harmful viruses, which scientists are calling 'Factor X'. Birgitta Evengard, a professor in infectious diseases at a university in Sweden, said we know little about Factor X and the biological dangers trapped in Earth's permafrost.

Virologist Jean-Michel Claverie says there are viruses deep in the permafrost that are more than 50,000 years old. He said these could be harmful to humans. Professor Claverie said "ancient viruses up to a million years old" would be the most terrifying because they are unknown and we have never encountered them before. He added that deadly bacterial diseases like smallpox and anthrax could be released on a large scale. Factor X could pose even bigger problems. However, many scientists agree that a bigger danger from melting permafrost is the release of methane. This is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more harmful than CO2.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Factor X - Level 0,  Factor X - Level 1   or  Factor X - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.newsweek.com/scientists-fear-cataclysmic-disease-emerge-earth-permafrost-climate-change-pandemic-1842724
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/a-dangerous-factor-x-could-be-lurking-in-earths-ice-scientist-warns
  • https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/rising-global-temperature-could-awaken-ancient-pathogens-in-russian-permafrost/ar-AA1jS25C


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. WORLD THREATS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about world threats. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       scientists / frozen / deadly diseases / microbes / permafrost / the North Pole / virus /
       virologist / ancient / terrifying / smallpox / anthrax / methane / greenhouse gas / CO2
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. PREPARATION: Students A strongly believe we should start preparing to protect ourselves from Factor X; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DISEASES: What do you know about these diseases? How can we deal with them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

How to Deal with Them

Heart disease

 

 

Diabetes

 

 

Alzheimer's

 

 

Malaria

 

 

Tuberculosis

 

 

Cholera

 

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

  • Melting permafrost
  • Viruses
  • The Internet
  • Nuclear War
  • Climate change
  • Water shortages
  • Overpopulation
  • Migration

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. frozen a. Periods of a thousand years old.
      2. ancient b. A micro-organism, especially bacteria causing disease or fermentation.
      3. microbes c. Very, very, very old.
      4. trapped d. Of a disease that can pass from person to person.
      5. millennia e. Turned into ice as a result of extreme cold.
      6. melting f. In a place that is difficult to escape from.
      7. infectious g. Turning from ice (or a frozen state) to water or a non-frozen state.

    Paragraph 2

      8. virus h. Unexpectedly be faced with or experience something dangerous or difficult.
      9. harmful i. Have the same opinion about something.
      10. terrifying j. Be a problem or danger.
      11. encountered k. Causing or likely to cause physical or mental damage, pain or injury.
      12. pose l. Set free.
      13. agree m. A (harmful) tiny biological agent that is able to multiply in the living cells of a host.
      14. release n. Very, very, very scary.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Scientists say there could be deadly diseases on the permafrost.     T / F
  2. The article says ancient bacteria has been trapped for billions of years.   T / F
  3. Permafrost is found near the North and South Poles.     T / F
  4. Scientists say they know a lot about Factor X.     T / F
  5. The deadliest viruses are in permafrost that is 50,000 years old.     T / F
  6. The diseases anthrax and smallpox are trapped in the permafrost.     T / F
  7. Melting permafrost is a bigger danger than the release of methane.     T / F
  8. Methane is 80 times more harmful than CO2.     T / F

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

  1. under
  2. deadly
  3. common
  4. release
  5. infectious
  6. harmful
  7. ancient
  8. encountered
  9. pose
  10. danger
  1. freeing
  2. experienced
  3. contagious
  4. fatal
  5. peril
  6. beneath
  7. present
  8. damaging
  9. widespread
  10. very old

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

  1. there could be something under
  2. Ancient microbes have been trapped
  3. Permafrost is ground that
  4. The result could be the release of unknown,
  5. the biological dangers trapped
  6. ancient viruses up
  7. deadly bacterial diseases
  8. Factor X could pose
  9. a bigger danger from melting permafrost is
  10. a greenhouse gas that is 80 times
  1. harmful viruses
  2. stays completely frozen
  3. even bigger problems
  4. in Earth's permafrost
  5. the release of methane
  6. like smallpox and anthrax
  7. frozen ground
  8. more harmful than CO2
  9. to a million years old
  10. for millennia

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
calling
trapped
areas
infectious
frozen
common
microbes
melting

Scientists say there could be something under (1) _____________________ ground that contains many deadly diseases. Ancient (2) _____________________ have been trapped for millennia in the permafrost that covers large (3) _____________________ of Earth. Permafrost is ground that stays completely frozen for at least two years. It is (4) _____________________ high in mountains and near the North and South Poles. The scientists say the permafrost is (5) _____________________ because of climate change. The result could be the release of unknown, harmful viruses, which scientists are (6) _____________________ 'Factor X'. Birgitta Evengard, a professor in (7) _____________________ diseases at a university in Sweden, said we know little about Factor X and the biological dangers (8) _____________________ in Earth's permafrost.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bacterial
deep
terrifying
pose
gas
harmful
agree
scale

Virologist Jean-Michel Claverie says there are viruses (9) _____________________ in the permafrost that are more than 50,000 years old. He said these could be (10) _____________________ to humans. Professor Claverie said "ancient viruses up to a million years old" would be the most (11) _____________________ because they are unknown and we have never encountered them before. He added that deadly (12) _____________________ diseases like smallpox and anthrax could be released on a large (13) _____________________. Factor X could (14) _____________________ even bigger problems. However, many scientists (15) _____________________ that a bigger danger from melting permafrost is the release of methane. This is a greenhouse (16) _____________________ that is 80 times more harmful than CO2.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) there could be something under frozen ground that contains ______
     a.  many death diseases
     b.  many deadly diseases
     c.  many dead diseases
     d.  many deadly disease
2)  trapped for millennia in the permafrost that covers large ______
     a.  arenas of Earth
     b.  areas of Earth
     c.  areas off Earth
     d.  arenas off Earth
3)  Permafrost is ground that stays completely frozen for at ______
     a.  last two years
     b.  lest two years
     c.  lost two years
     d.  least two years
4)  The scientists say the ______
     a.  permafrost is melding
     b.  permafrost is meeting
     c.  permafrost is melting
     d.  permafrost is smelting
5)  calling 'Factor X'. Birgitta Evengard, a professor ______
     a.  to infectious diseases
     b.  in infectious diseases
     c.  an infectious diseases
     d.  ring infectious diseases

6)  Claverie said ancient viruses up to a million years old would be ______
     a.  the most terrifying
     b.  the must terrifying
     c.  the mast terrifying
     d.  the mist terrifying
7)  because they are unknown and we have never ______
     a.  encountered them afore
     b.  encountered them beef or
     c.  encountered them be four
     d.  encountered them before
8)  deadly bacterial diseases like smallpox and anthrax could be released on ______
     a.  a large skull
     b.  a large stale
     c.  a large scale
     d.  a large shale
9)  a bigger danger from melting permafrost is the ______
     a.  release off methane
     b.  real lease of methane
     c.  reel lease of methane
     d.  real ease of methane
10)  This is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more ______
     a.  harm fuel than CO2
     b.  harms full than CO2
     c.  harmed full than CO2
     d.  harmful than CO2

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists say there could be something (1) ____________________ that contains many deadly diseases. Ancient microbes have been trapped for millennia in the permafrost that (2) ____________________ of Earth. Permafrost is ground that stays completely frozen for at least two years. It is (3) ____________________ mountains and near the North and South Poles. The scientists say the permafrost (4) ____________________ of climate change. The result could be the release of unknown, harmful viruses, which scientists are calling 'Factor X'. Birgitta Evengard, a professor (5) ____________________ at a university in Sweden, said we know little about Factor X (6) ____________________ dangers trapped in Earth's permafrost.

Virologist Jean-Michel Claverie says there are (7) ____________________ the permafrost that are more than 50,000 years old. He said these could be (8) ____________________. Professor Claverie said "ancient viruses up to a million years old" would be (9) ____________________ because they are unknown and we have never encountered them before. He added that (10) ____________________ like smallpox and anthrax could be released on a large scale. Factor X could pose even bigger problems. However, many scientists (11) ____________________ bigger danger from melting permafrost is the release of methane. This is a (12) ____________________ is 80 times more harmful than CO2.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say has been trapped for millennia?
  2. For how long must the ground be frozen for it to be permafrost?
  3. Where is permafrost common besides in mountains?
  4. What is Birgitta Evengard a professor in?
  5. What kind of dangers did Professor Evengard say we know little about?
  6. How old were the viruses that a professor say could be harmful to us?
  7. What did a professor say would be most terrifying?
  8. What does the article say Factor X could pose?
  9. What is a bigger danger from melting permafrost than diseases?
  10. How much more harmful is methane than CO2?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say has been trapped for millennia?
a) ancient vaccines
b) ancient fossils
c) dinosaurs
d) ancient microbes
2) For how long must the ground be frozen for it to be permafrost?
a) two thousand years
b) at least two years
c) at least 20 thousand years
d) at least 2 million years
3) Where is permafrost common besides in mountains?
a) Iceland
b) in the tropics
c) near the North and South Poles
d) in caves
4) What is Birgitta Evengard a professor in?
a) infectious diseases
b) permafrost
c) global dangers
d) Factor X
5) What kind of dangers did Professor Evengard say we know little about?
a) hidden dangers
b) microbial dangers
c) biological dangers
d) unknown dangers

6) How old were the viruses that a professor say could be harmful to us?
a) more than 40,000 years old
b) more than 50,000 years old
c) more than 60,000 years old
d) more than 70,000 years old
7) What did a professor say would be most terrifying?
a) viruses in snow
b) viruses from dinosaurs
c) the melting of all ice
d) ancient viruses up to a million years old
8) What does the article say Factor X could pose?
a) even bigger problems
b) models
c) threats to end humankind
d) a puzzle
9) What is a bigger danger from melting permafrost than diseases?
a) acid rain
b) the possibility of new volcanos
c) the release of methane
d) global floods
10) How much more harmful is methane than CO2?
a) eight times more harmful
b) eighty times more harmful
c) eighteen times more harmful
d) 800 times more harmful

Role play

Role  A – Melting Permafrost
You think melting permafrost is the biggest threat to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as big a threat. Also, tell the others which is the least threatening of these (and why): viruses, the Internet or overpopulation.

Role  B – Viruses
You think viruses are the biggest threat to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as big a threat. Also, tell the others which is the least threatening of these (and why): melting permafrost, the Internet or overpopulation.

Role  C – The Internet
You think the Internet is the biggest threat to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as big a threat. Also, tell the others which is the least threatening of these (and why): viruses, melting permafrost or overpopulation.

Role  D – Overpopulation
You think overpopulation is the biggest threat to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as big a threat. Also, tell the others which is the least threatening of these (and why): viruses, the Internet or melting permafrost.

After reading / listening

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

'disease'

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

    • and 'threat'.

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

    • • 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:

    • something
    • covers
    • common
    • change
    • calling
    • biological
    • deep
    • humans
    • most
    • scale
    • agree
    • 80

    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 - Factor X

    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 'disease'?
    3. How much do you worry about diseases?
    4. What do you know about microbes?
    5. How can we make sure microbes do not trouble us?
    6. What do you know about permafrost?
    7. What do you know about the North and South Poles?
    8. What do you think about the release of Factor X?
    9. How can we stop the permafrost melting?
    10. How big a threat is factor X compared to other global threats?

    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 'threat'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How can doctors help us with ancient, deadly viruses?
    5. What would you do if there was another deadly pandemic?
    6. What do you know about smallpox and anthrax?
    7. Do you like looking at movies about viruses?
    8. What do you know about methane and CO2?
    9. Are you more worried about viruses or methane?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Scientists say there could be (1) ____ under frozen ground that contains many deadly diseases. Ancient microbes have been trapped (2) ____ millennia in the permafrost that covers large (3) ____ of Earth. Permafrost is ground that stays completely frozen for at least two years. It is common high in mountains and near the North and South (4) ____. The scientists say the permafrost is melting because of climate change. The result could be the release of unknown, harmful viruses, which scientists are (5) ____ 'Factor X'. Birgitta Evengard, a professor in infectious diseases at a university in Sweden, said we know (6) ____ about Factor X and the biological dangers trapped in Earth's permafrost.

    Virologist Jean-Michel Claverie says there are viruses (7) ____ in the permafrost that are more than 50,000 years old. He said these could be (8) ____ to humans. Professor Claverie said "ancient viruses up to a million years old" would be the most (9) ____ because they are unknown and we have never encountered them (10) ____. He added that deadly bacterial diseases like smallpox and anthrax could be released on a large scale. Factor X could (11) ____ even bigger problems. However, many scientists agree that a bigger danger from melting permafrost is the release (12) ____ methane. This is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more harmful than CO2.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     nothing     (b)     thing     (c)     something     (d)     thingamajig    
    (a)     for     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     in    
    (a)     areas     (b)     auras     (c)     auroras     (d)     arenas    
    (a)     Poles     (b)     Sticks     (c)     Posts     (d)     Stakes    
    (a)     call     (b)     calling     (c)     calls     (d)     called    
    (a)     small     (b)     few     (c)     tiny     (d)     little    
    (a)     deepen     (b)     depend     (c)     deep     (d)     depth    
    (a)     harm     (b)     harms     (c)     harmed     (d)     harmful    
    (a)     terrifying     (b)     terrific     (c)     terrestrial     (d)     terror    
    (a)     earlier     (b)     before     (c)     past     (d)     previous    
    (a)     dose     (b)     pose     (c)     hose     (d)     lose    
    (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     to

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. something under neorfz ground
    2. trapped for miallnine in the permafrost
    3. It is omnmoc high in mountains
    4. the eslaeer of unknown, harmful viruses
    5. fuetnciois diseases
    6. iaollcogbi dangers

    Paragraph 2

    1. these could be harmful to shanum
    2. nteicna viruses
    3. the most ytrfgeinri
    4. we have never conereenutd them before
    5. released on a large casel
    6. a bigger danger from neglmti permafrost

    Put the text back together

    (...)   them before. He added that deadly bacterial diseases like smallpox and anthrax could be released on a large
    (...)   of climate change. The result could be the release of unknown, harmful viruses, which scientists are calling
    (...)   scale. Factor X could pose even bigger problems. However, many scientists agree
    (...)   'Factor X'. Birgitta Evengard, a professor in infectious diseases at a university in Sweden, said we know
    (...)   greenhouse gas that is 80 times more harmful than CO2. 
    (...)   mountains and near the North and South Poles. The scientists say the permafrost is melting because
    (...)   Virologist Jean-Michel Claverie says there are viruses deep in the permafrost that are more than
    (...)   of Earth. Permafrost is ground that stays completely frozen for at least two years. It is common high in
    (...)   that a bigger danger from melting permafrost is the release of methane. This is a
    (...)   50,000 years old. He said these could be harmful to humans. Professor Claverie said "ancient viruses up
    (  1  )   Scientists say there could be something under frozen ground that contains many deadly
    (...)   to a million years old" would be the most terrifying because they are unknown and we have never encountered
    (...)   little about Factor X and the biological dangers trapped in Earth's permafrost.
    (...)   diseases. Ancient microbes have been trapped for millennia in the permafrost that covers large areas

    Put the words in the right order

    1. that   frozen   deadly  Something   ground   under   diseases  .  contains
    2. millennia   .   trapped   have   Ancient   microbes   been   for
    3. of   that   Earth   .   large   permafrost   areas   The   covers
    4. The   melting   change   .   is   permafrost   climate   of   because
    5. biological   The   Earth's   in   trapped   permafrost   .   dangers
    6. humans   .   said   these   could   harmful   He   to   be
    7. million   years   up   to   a   old   .   viruses   Ancient
    8. They   and   are   encountered   unknown   them   .   we've   never
    9. A   is   melting   from   methane   .   danger   bigger   permafrost
    10. is   more   times   It   CO2   .   80   than   harmful

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists say there could be something under frozen ground that contents / contains many deadly diseases. Ancient microbes have been / being trapped for millennia in the permafrost that covers large arenas / areas of Earth. Permafrost is ground / aground that stays completely frozen for at least / last two years. It is common high in mountains and nearly / near the North and South Poles. The scientists say the permafrost is molten / melting because of climate change. The result could be the release of unknown, harmful viruses, which scientists are calling / called 'Factor X'. Birgitta Evengard, a professor in infectiously / infectious diseases at a university in Sweden, said we know little about Factor X and the biological dangerous / dangers trapped in Earth's permafrost.

    Virologist Jean-Michel Claverie says there are viruses deeply / deep in the permafrost that are more than 50,000 years old. He said these / them could be harmful to humans / humane. Professor Claverie said "ancient viruses up to a million years old" would be the most terrific / terrifying because they are unknown and we have never counted / encountered them before. He added that deadly / dead bacterial diseases like smallpox and anthrax could be released in / on a large scale. Factor X could pose even bigger problems. However, many scientists agree that a biggest / bigger danger from melting permafrost is the release on / of methane. This is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more harmful / harmed than CO2.

    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)

    Sc__nt_sts  s_y  th_r_  c__ld  b_  s_m_th_ng  _nd_r  fr_z_n  gr__nd  th_t  c_nt__ns  m_ny  d__dly  d_s__s_s.  _nc__nt  m_cr_b_s  h_v_  b__n  tr_pp_d  f_r  m_ll_nn__  _n  th_  p_rm_fr_st  th_t  c_v_rs  l_rg_  _r__s  _f  __rth.  P_rm_fr_st  _s  gr__nd  th_t  st_ys  c_mpl_t_ly  fr_z_n  f_r  _t  l__st  tw_  y__rs.  _t  _s  c_mm_n  h_gh  _n  m__nt__ns  _nd  n__r  th_  N_rth  _nd  S__th  P_l_s.  Th_  sc__nt_sts  s_y  th_  p_rm_fr_st  _s  m_lt_ng  b_c__s_  _f  cl_m_t_  ch_ng_.  Th_  r_s_lt  c__ld  b_  th_  r_l__s_  _f  _nkn_wn,  h_rmf_l  v_r_s_s,  wh_ch  sc__nt_sts  _r_  c_ll_ng  'F_ct_r  X'.  B_rg_tt_  _v_ng_rd,  _  pr_f_ss_r  _n  _nf_ct___s  d_s__s_s  _t  _  _n_v_rs_ty  _n  Sw_d_n,  s__d  w_  kn_w  l_ttl_  _b__t  F_ct_r  X  _nd  th_  b__l_g_c_l  d_ng_rs  tr_pp_d  _n  __rth's  p_rm_fr_st.

    V_r_l_g_st  J__n-M_ch_l  Cl_v_r__  s_ys  th_r_  _r_  v_r_s_s  d__p  _n  th_  p_rm_fr_st  th_t  _r_  m_r_  th_n  50,000  y__rs  _ld.  H_  s__d  th_s_  c__ld  b_  h_rmf_l  t_  h_m_ns.  Pr_f_ss_r  Cl_v_r__  s__d  "_nc__nt  v_r_s_s  _p  t_  _  m_ll__n  y__rs  _ld"  w__ld  b_  th_  m_st  t_rr_fy_ng  b_c__s_  th_y  _r_  _nkn_wn  _nd  w_  h_v_  n_v_r  _nc__nt_r_d  th_m  b_f_r_.  H_  _dd_d  th_t  d__dly  b_ct_r__l  d_s__s_s  l_k_  sm_llp_x  _nd  _nthr_x  c__ld  b_  r_l__s_d  _n  _  l_rg_  sc_l_.  F_ct_r  X  c__ld  p_s_  _v_n  b_gg_r  pr_bl_ms.  H_w_v_r,  m_ny  sc__nt_sts  _gr__  th_t  _  b_gg_r  d_ng_r  fr_m  m_lt_ng  p_rm_fr_st  _s  th_  r_l__s_  _f  m_th_n_.  Th_s  _s  _  gr__nh__s_  g_s  th_t  _s  80  t_m_s  m_r_  h_rmf_l  th_n  C_2.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists say there could be something under frozen ground that contains many deadly diseases ancient microbes have been trapped for millennia in the permafrost that covers large areas of earth permafrost is ground that stays completely frozen for at least two years it is common high in mountains and near the north and south poles the scientists say the permafrost is melting because of climate change the result could be the release of unknown harmful viruses which scientists are calling factor x birgitta evengard a professor in infectious diseases at a university in sweden said we know little about factor x and the biological dangers trapped in earths permafrost

    virologist jeanmichel claverie says there are viruses deep in the permafrost that are more than 50000 years old he said these could be harmful to humans professor claverie said ancient viruses up to a million years old would be the most terrifying because they are unknown and we have never encountered them before he added that deadly bacterial diseases like smallpox and anthrax could be released on a large scale factor x could pose even bigger problems however many scientists agree that a bigger danger from melting permafrost is the release of methane this is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more harmful than co2

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistssaytherecouldbesomethingunderfrozengroundthatcontai
    nsmanydeadlydiseases.Ancientmicrobeshavebeentrappedformillen
    niainthepermafrostthatcoverslargeareasofEarth.Permafrostisgroun
    dthatstayscompletelyfrozenforatleasttwoyears.Itiscommonhighin
    mountainsandneartheNorthandSouthPoles.Thescientistssaytheper
    mafrostismeltingbecauseofclimatechange.Theresultcouldbetherele
    aseofunknown,harmfulviruses,whichscientistsarecalling'FactorX'.B
    irgittaEvengard,aprofessorininfectiousdiseasesatauniversityinSwe
    den,saidweknowlittleaboutFactorXandthebiologicaldangerstrapped
    inEarth'spermafrost.VirologistJean-MichelClaveriesaysthereareviru
    sesdeepinthepermafrostthataremorethan50,000yearsold.Hesaidth
    esecouldbeharmfultohumans.ProfessorClaveriesaid"ancientviruses
    uptoamillionyearsold"wouldbethemostterrifyingbecausetheyareun
    knownandwehaveneverencounteredthembefore.Headdedthatdeadl
    ybacterialdiseaseslikesmallpoxandanthraxcouldbereleasedonalarg
    escale.FactorXcouldposeevenbiggerproblems.However,manyscient
    istsagreethatabiggerdangerfrommeltingpermafrostisthereleaseof
    methane.Thisisagreenhousegasthatis80timesmoreharmfulthanCO
    2.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We should start protecting ourselves from the dangers of Factor X 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. WORLD THREATS: Make a poster about world threats. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FACTOR X: Write a magazine article about taking action now to protect ourselves from Factor X. 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 Factor X. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to keep safe if Factor X is released. 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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