Coral reefs around the world are experiencing a devastating phenomenon known as coral bleaching. This occurs when coral becomes stressed due to high water temperatures and turns white. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed that this is the fourth global mass coral bleaching event. Coral reefs are crucial for ocean life, fishing, and generating trillions of dollars in revenue annually. Scientists from the US, Australia, Kenya, and Brazil have expressed dismay and anger as they witness the coral they love being threatened or killed by warm oceans.

The first signs of coral bleaching were observed in the Caribbean last year, when bathers found that the water off the coast of Florida was as warm as a hot tub. Since then, the phenomenon has spread to more than half of the world’s coral, including the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, coastlines in Tanzania, Mauritius, Brazil, Pacific islands, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. Rising sea surface temperatures caused by climate change and the natural climate event El Niño have contributed to this global mass bleaching event. The global average ocean temperature broke its all-time record last August and has remained above average almost every day since.

Coral is essential for the planet as it provides habitats for 25% of all marine species. However, stressed coral can die if it experiences temperatures 1°C above its thermal limit for two months. Once coral dies, fish and other creatures that rely on coral for navigation can struggle to find their way home. Coral can recover from heat stress, but it requires several years to do so. As bleaching events become more frequent and intense, the window for recovery narrows. The last mass global bleaching event occurred from 2014 to 2016, and since then, ocean temperatures have continued to rise.

While there is some hope that coral living in cooler, deeper water can survive longer than shallow corals as the planet warms, coral scientists agree that reefs as we know them will permanently change. Small-scale restoration efforts are not enough to save coral globally. The only way to ensure the survival of coral is through a rapid and global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to limit ocean warming. Coral reefs serve as an early warning system for the impacts of a warming planet on nature, and we must learn from this to prevent similar damage to other ecosystems.

Original news source: World’s coral turns white from deadly ocean heat (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, ask each group to write a summary of the article, highlighting the main points and key information. Afterward, have each group share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the class form pairs or small groups. Assign each group a specific topic related to the article (e.g., the impact of coral bleaching on ocean life, the role of climate change in coral bleaching, etc.). Ask each group to come up with a few poll questions related to their topic. Have the groups take turns asking their poll questions to the rest of the class, and encourage the class to discuss and share their opinions on each question.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down a list of vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper and put them in a hat or bowl. Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns sending one member to draw a word from the hat and then draw a picture representing that word on the board. The rest of the team must try to guess the word within a certain time limit. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group the task of listing the pros of coral bleaching (e.g., increased awareness of climate change, potential for new species to thrive, etc.), and the other group the task of listing the cons (e.g., loss of biodiversity, negative impact on tourism, etc.). After a few minutes, have each group present their lists to the class, and encourage a discussion on the different perspectives.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have the class form pairs or small groups. Ask each group to discuss and make predictions about the future of coral reefs based on the information in the article. They can consider questions such as: Will coral reefs disappear completely? How will this impact ocean ecosystems? What can be done to prevent further damage? Afterward, have each group share their predictions with the class and facilitate a class discussion on the various possibilities.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is coral bleaching and what causes it?
2. How many global mass coral bleaching events have there been?
3. Which countries have scientists expressed dismay and anger about the coral bleaching phenomenon?
4. Where were the first signs of coral bleaching observed?
5. What factors have contributed to the global mass bleaching event?
6. Why is coral essential for the planet?
7. How long does it take for coral to recover from heat stress?
8. What is the only way to ensure the survival of coral?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

(1)______ reefs around the world are (2)______ a devastating phenomenon known as coral bleaching. This occurs when coral becomes stressed due to high water temperatures and turns (3)______. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed that this is the fourth global mass coral bleaching event. Coral reefs are crucial for ocean life, fishing, and generating trillions of dollars in revenue annually. Scientists from the US, (4)______, Kenya, and Brazil have expressed dismay and anger as they witness the coral they love being threatened or killed by warm oceans.

The first signs of coral bleaching were observed in the Caribbean last year, when bathers found that the water off the coast of Florida was as warm as a hot tub. Since then, the (5)______ has spread to more than half of the world’s coral, including the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, coastlines in Tanzania, Mauritius, Brazil, Pacific islands, the Red Sea, and the (6)______ Gulf. Rising sea surface temperatures caused by (7)______ change and the natural climate event El Niño have contributed to this (8)______ mass bleaching event. The global average ocean temperature broke its all-time record last August and has remained above average almost every day since.

Coral is essential for the planet as it provides habitats for 25% of all marine species. However, stressed coral can die if it experiences (9)______ 1°C above its thermal limit for two months. Once coral dies, fish and other creatures that rely on coral for navigation can struggle to find their way home. Coral can (10)______ from heat stress, but it requires several years to do so. As bleaching events become more frequent and intense, the (11)______ for (12)______ narrows. The last mass global bleaching event occurred from 2014 to 2016, and since then, ocean temperatures have continued to rise.

While there is some hope that coral living in (13)______, deeper water can survive longer than shallow corals as the planet warms, coral scientists agree that reefs as we know them will permanently (14)______. Small-scale restoration efforts are not enough to save coral globally. The only way to ensure the survival of coral is through a rapid and global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to limit ocean warming. Coral reefs serve as an early warning system for the (15)______ of a warming planet on (16)______, and we must learn from this to prevent similar damage to other ecosystems.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is coral bleaching and why is it a devastating phenomenon?
2. How would you feel if you witnessed the coral reefs you love being threatened or killed by warm oceans?
3. Do you think the current global mass coral bleaching event is a result of climate change? Why or why not?
4. What do you think are the consequences of coral bleaching for ocean life, fishing, and revenue generation?
5. How do you think rising sea surface temperatures and El Niño contribute to global mass coral bleaching?
6. Do you think coral reefs can recover from heat stress? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the loss of coral reefs can impact fish and other marine species?
8. What are some potential long-term effects of coral bleaching on the planet?
9. How do you think coral living in cooler, deeper water can survive longer than shallow corals?
10. Do you believe small-scale restoration efforts are enough to save coral globally? Why or why not?
11. How do you think a rapid and global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can ensure the survival of coral?
12. What can we learn from coral reefs as an early warning system for the impacts of a warming planet on nature?
13. How do you think we can prevent similar damage to other ecosystems?
14. Do you think governments and individuals should prioritize the protection of coral reefs? Why or why not?
15. What actions do you think should be taken to address the issue of coral bleaching on a global scale?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. phenomenon
2. dismay
3. coastlines
4. navigation
5. thermal
6. frequent
7. restoration
8. emissions
9. habitats
10. ecosystems
11. reduction
12. marine
13. global
14. revenue
15. stressed

Meanings:
(A) The areas where land meets the sea
(B) A feeling of unhappiness and disappointment
(C) Relating to the whole world
(D) Happening often or repeatedly
(E) Substances released into the air, especially by vehicles and industrial processes
(F) The process or activity of accurately finding one’s way
(G) Experiencing pressure or tension due to adverse conditions
(H) Related to the sea or ocean
(I) The act of making something smaller in size, amount, or degree
(J) The process of returning something to its original condition
(K) Communities of living organisms and their physical environments
(L) An observable event or occurrence, especially one that is remarkable or unusual
(M) Related to heat
(N) Natural environments where organisms live and grow
(O) Income generated from business activities
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main cause of coral bleaching?
(a) Pollution
(b) Overfishing
(c) High water temperatures
(d) Coral disease

2. How many global mass coral bleaching events have occurred?
(a) Two
(b) Four
(c) Six
(d) Eight

3. Which organization has confirmed the global mass coral bleaching event?
(a) WHO
(b) UNESCO
(c) NOAA
(d) Greenpeace

4. Where were the first signs of coral bleaching observed?
(a) Caribbean
(b) Great Barrier Reef
(c) Pacific islands
(d) Red Sea

5. What percentage of marine species rely on coral for habitats?
(a) 50%
(b) 25%
(c) 75%
(d) 100%

6. What is the impact of coral bleaching on fish and other creatures?
(a) They become more resilient
(b) They become more aggressive
(c) They migrate to cooler waters
(d) They struggle to find their way home

7. How long does it take for coral to recover from heat stress?
(a) Several months
(b) Several weeks
(c) It cannot recover
(d) Several years

8. What is the most effective way to ensure the survival of coral?
(a) Global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
(b) Small-scale restoration efforts
(c) Increased fishing regulations
(d) Introducing new coral species

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Rising sea surface temperatures caused by climate change and La Niña have contributed to the global mass bleaching event.
2. The phenomenon of coral bleaching has spread to less than half of the world’s coral, excluding the Great Barrier Reef.
3. Coral reefs are crucial for ocean life, fishing, and generating trillions of dollars in revenue annually.
4. Coral bleaching is a natural phenomenon caused by high water temperatures.
5. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed that this is the fourth global mass coral bleaching event.
6. The survival of coral depends on a rapid and global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to limit ocean warming.
7. Coral can recover from heat stress, but it requires several years to do so.
8. Scientists from the US, Australia, Kenya, and Brazil are indifferent about the threat of coral bleaching.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is coral bleaching and why is it a devastating phenomenon?
2. Which countries have been affected by the global mass coral bleaching event?
3. How do rising sea surface temperatures and El Niño contribute to coral bleaching?
4. Why is coral essential for the planet and what are the consequences of coral death?
5. What is the only way to ensure the survival of coral and what can we learn from coral bleaching?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Coral bleaching is when coral becomes stressed due to high water temperatures and turns white. Rising sea surface temperatures caused by climate change and the natural climate event El Niño have contributed to coral bleaching.
2. There have been four global mass coral bleaching events.
3. Scientists from the US, Australia, Kenya, and Brazil have expressed dismay and anger about the coral bleaching phenomenon.
4. The first signs of coral bleaching were observed in the Caribbean.
5. Rising sea surface temperatures caused by climate change and the natural climate event El Niño have contributed to the global mass bleaching event.
6. Coral is essential for the planet as it provides habitats for 25% of all marine species.
7. Coral can recover from heat stress, but it requires several years to do so.
8. The only way to ensure the survival of coral is through a rapid and global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to limit ocean warming.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Coral
(2) experiencing
(3) white
(4) Australia
(5) phenomenon
(6) Persian
(7) climate
(8) global
(9) temperatures
(10) recover
(11) window
(12) recovery
(13) cooler
(14) change
(15) impacts
(16) nature
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. phenomenon
Answer: (L) An observable event or occurrence, especially one that is remarkable or unusual

2. dismay
Answer: (B) A feeling of unhappiness and disappointment

3. coastlines
Answer: (A) The areas where land meets the sea

4. navigation
Answer: (F) The process or activity of accurately finding one’s way

5. thermal
Answer: (M) Related to heat

6. frequent
Answer: (D) Happening often or repeatedly

7. restoration
Answer: (J) The process of returning something to its original condition

8. emissions
Answer: (E) Substances released into the air, especially by vehicles and industrial processes

9. habitats
Answer: (N) Natural environments where organisms live and grow

10. ecosystems
Answer: (K) Communities of living organisms and their physical environments

11. reduction
Answer: (I) The act of making something smaller in size, amount, or degree

12. marine
Answer: (H) Related to the sea or ocean

13. global
Answer: (C) Relating to the whole world

14. revenue
Answer: (O) Income generated from business activities

15. stressed
Answer: (G) Experiencing pressure or tension due to adverse conditions
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the main cause of coral bleaching?
Answer: (c) High water temperatures

2. How many global mass coral bleaching events have occurred?
Answer: (b) Four

3. Which organization has confirmed the global mass coral bleaching event?
Answer: (c) NOAA

4. Where were the first signs of coral bleaching observed?
Answer: (a) Caribbean

5. What percentage of marine species rely on coral for habitats?
Answer: (b) 25%

6. What is the impact of coral bleaching on fish and other creatures?
Answer: (d) They struggle to find their way home

7. How long does it take for coral to recover from heat stress?
Answer: (d) Several years

8. What is the most effective way to ensure the survival of coral?
Answer: (a) Global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Rising sea surface temperatures caused by climate change and La Niña have contributed to the global mass bleaching event. (Answer: False)
2. The phenomenon of coral bleaching has spread to less than half of the world’s coral, excluding the Great Barrier Reef. (Answer: False)
3. Coral reefs are crucial for ocean life, fishing, and generating trillions of dollars in revenue annually. (Answer: True)
4. Coral bleaching is a natural phenomenon caused by high water temperatures. (Answer: False)
5. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed that this is the fourth global mass coral bleaching event. (Answer: True)
6. The survival of coral depends on a rapid and global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to limit ocean warming. (Answer: True)
7. Coral can recover from heat stress, but it requires several years to do so. (Answer: True)
8. Scientists from the US, Australia, Kenya, and Brazil are indifferent about the threat of coral bleaching. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧