Scientists found water on Mars! They used a special machine from NASA to listen to Mars’ ground. The machine heard sounds that showed there is water deep under Mars’ surface. This is the first time they found liquid water there. Before, they knew about ice and water in the air.

The mission to study Mars ended in 2022. It helped scientists learn about Mars and Earth. They found the water is very deep, like 6 to 12 miles down. This helps us understand Mars better. It also makes us think about life on Mars.

Mars used to have rivers and lakes. Now, the water is deep underground. This makes it hard for people to live there. But it helps us learn about Mars’ history. Scientists are excited to keep looking for signs of life.

Original news source: Reservoir of liquid water found deep in Martian rocks (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Have students act out different words related to the article, such as “NASA,” “Mars,” “water,” “scientist,” “machine,” “ice,” “ground,” “surface,” “life,” “underground,” “history,” etc. Encourage the rest of the class to guess the word being acted out.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a list of vocabulary words from the article. One student from each pair will choose a word and draw it while their partner tries to guess the word. Set a time limit for each round and switch roles.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask students how they feel about the discovery of water on Mars. Have them write down their opinions and then share them with a partner. Encourage them to ask follow-up questions to each other to practice speaking and listening skills.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: In small groups, ask students to come up with a catchy headline for the news about water on Mars. Encourage them to be creative and use some of the key vocabulary from the article. Afterward, have each group share their headline with the class.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have each student come up with two true statements and one false statement related to the article. They will take turns sharing these statements with a partner, who has to guess which statement is the lie. This activity encourages speaking and listening skills while also reviewing the article content.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did scientists find on Mars?
2. How did they find the water on Mars?
3. Where is the water on Mars?
4. Why is it hard for people to live on Mars?
5. What did Mars used to have?
6. What did the special machine from NASA do?
7. Why are scientists excited?
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🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Scientists found water on Mars! They (1)______ a special machine from NASA to listen to Mars’ ground. The machine heard sounds that showed there is water deep under Mars’ (2)______. This is the first time they found liquid (3)______ there. Before, they (4)______ about ice and water in the air.

The mission to study Mars ended in 2022. It helped scientists learn about Mars and Earth. They (5)______ the water is very deep, like 6 to 12 miles down. This helps us understand Mars better. It also makes us think about life on Mars.

Mars used to have (6)______ and lakes. Now, the water is deep underground. This makes it hard for people to live there. But it (7)______ us learn about Mars’ (8)______. Scientists are excited to keep looking for signs of life.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. Do you think Mars is interesting?
2. How would you feel if you found water on Mars?
3. What do you think scientists use to listen to Mars’ ground?
4. Do you like learning about space?
5. Why do you think it’s important to study Mars?
6. What is liquid water?
7. Do you think there are aliens on Mars?
8. Why do you think it’s hard for people to live on Mars?
9. How do you think scientists feel when they find something new on Mars?
10. What do you think Mars looked like when it had rivers and lakes?
11. Why do you think scientists are excited to keep looking for signs of life on Mars?
12. How would you feel if you could visit Mars one day?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. scientists
2. machine
3. surface
4. mission
5. study
6. deep
7. underground
8. history
9. excited
10. signs

Meanings:
(A) Far down from the top
(B) People who learn about how things work
(C) To learn about something by looking at it closely
(D) The top part of something
(E) A tool or device that helps do work
(F) Feeling very happy and eager
(G) A big job or task to do
(H) Things that happened a long time ago
(I) Below the ground
(J) Clues or hints that show something is there
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did scientists find on Mars?
(a) Rocks
(b) Water
(c) Trees
(d) Cars

2. What did NASA use to listen to Mars’ ground?
(a) A rocket
(b) A bicycle
(c) A special machine
(d) A boat

3. Where did the machine find water on Mars?
(a) On top of a mountain
(b) In a cave
(c) In the sky
(d) Deep under the surface

4. When did the mission to study Mars end?
(a) 2000
(b) 2022
(c) 1995
(d) 2010

5. How deep is the water on Mars?
(a) 1 mile down
(b) 20 miles down
(c) 50 miles down
(d) 6 to 12 miles down

6. What did Mars used to have?
(a) Rivers and lakes
(b) Deserts
(c) Mountains
(d) Forests

7. Why is it hard for people to live on Mars?
(a) Water is deep underground
(b) Water is easy to find
(c) Mars has too many trees
(d) Mars has too much food

8. What are scientists excited to keep looking for on Mars?
(a) Signs of cars
(b) Signs of animals
(c) Signs of life
(d) Signs of buildings

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🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The machine from NASA observed Mars’ ground and heard sounds.
2. Scientists are not excited to stop looking for signs of life on Mars.
3. The water is shallow under Mars’ surface, about 6 to 12 miles down.
4. Finding water on Mars helps us understand Mars better.
5. Before, scientists knew about ice and water in the air on Mars.
6. Mars used to have canyons and mountains, but now the water is deep underground.
7. The mission to study Mars ended in 2022.
8. Scientists found water on Mars using a special machine.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What did scientists find on Mars?
2. How did scientists listen to Mars’ ground?
3. When did the mission to study Mars end?
4. Where is the water on Mars located?
5. Why is it hard for people to live on Mars now?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did scientists find on Mars?
Scientists found water on Mars.

2. How did they find the water on Mars?
They used a special machine from NASA to listen to Mars’ ground.

3. Where is the water on Mars?
The water is deep under Mars’ surface.

4. Why is it hard for people to live on Mars?
The water on Mars is deep underground, making it hard for people to access.

5. What did Mars used to have?
Mars used to have rivers and lakes.

6. What did the special machine from NASA do?
The special machine from NASA listened to Mars’ ground to find water deep under the surface.

7. Why are scientists excited?
Scientists are excited to keep looking for signs of life on Mars.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) used
(2) surface
(3) water
(4) knew
(5) found
(6) rivers
(7) helps
(8) history
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. scientists
Answer: (B) People who learn about how things work

2. machine
Answer: (E) A tool or device that helps do work

3. surface
Answer: (D) The top part of something

4. mission
Answer: (G) A big job or task to do

5. study
Answer: (C) To learn about something by looking at it closely

6. deep
Answer: (A) Far down from the top

7. underground
Answer: (I) Below the ground

8. history
Answer: (H) Things that happened a long time ago

9. excited
Answer: (F) Feeling very happy and eager

10. signs
Answer: (J) Clues or hints that show something is there
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did scientists find on Mars?
Answer: (b) Water

2. What did NASA use to listen to Mars’ ground?
Answer: (c) A special machine

3. Where did the machine find water on Mars?
Answer: (d) Deep under the surface

4. When did the mission to study Mars end?
Answer: (b) 2022

5. How deep is the water on Mars?
Answer: (d) 6 to 12 miles down

6. What did Mars used to have?
Answer: (a) Rivers and lakes

7. Why is it hard for people to live on Mars?
Answer: (a) Water is deep underground

8. What are scientists excited to keep looking for on Mars?
Answer: (c) Signs of life
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The machine from NASA observed Mars’ ground and heard sounds. (Answer: False)
2. Scientists are not excited to stop looking for signs of life on Mars. (Answer: False)
3. The water is shallow under Mars’ surface, about 6 to 12 miles down. (Answer: False)
4. Finding water on Mars helps us understand Mars better. (Answer: True)
5. Before, scientists knew about ice and water in the air on Mars. (Answer: True)
6. Mars used to have canyons and mountains, but now the water is deep underground. (Answer: False)
7. The mission to study Mars ended in 2022. (Answer: True)
8. Scientists found water on Mars using a special machine. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧