Scientists have found liquid water on Mars, deep within the planet’s outer crust. This discovery was made using data collected by NASA’s Insight lander, which has been on Mars since 2018. By studying vibrations and Mars quakes, researchers identified the presence of liquid water, a first for Mars.

While frozen water exists at the Martian poles and there is water vapor in the atmosphere, this is the first time liquid water has been found on Mars. The research has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The Insight mission, which aimed to study rocky planets like Earth and Mars, ended in December 2022 after providing valuable data on Mars’ seismic activity.

The analysis of the data showed that there are water reservoirs located between six to twelve miles deep in Mars’ crust. Knowing about liquid water on Mars is important for understanding the planet’s climate and history. Scientists believe water plays a crucial role in a planet’s evolution, helping to solve the mystery of what happened to Mars’ water over billions of years.

Even though there is evidence of ancient rivers and lakes on Mars, the planet has been dry for about three billion years. The discovery of water deep inside Mars suggests there might be habitable environments underground, which could be explored in the future. However, accessing water resources buried 10-20km below the surface poses challenges for any plans to colonize Mars.

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: Divide the students into two teams. Write down key words related to the article on separate pieces of paper (e.g., Mars, water, NASA, InSight lander). One student from each team will pick a piece of paper and act out the word without speaking while their team tries to guess what it is.

– News Summary
Instructions: Ask students to work in pairs and summarize the article about liquid water on Mars in their own words. Encourage them to focus on the main points and key information. After a few minutes, have some pairs share their summaries with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on the board (e.g., Insight lander, seismic activity, habitable). Divide the students into teams and have them take turns choosing a word to draw while their teammates guess the word. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary retention.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and have them discuss their opinions on the discovery of liquid water on Mars. Encourage them to consider the implications of this discovery and whether they think it could lead to future exploration or colonization efforts. After the discussion, each group can share their main points with the class.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Ask students to work individually and make a list of the pros and cons of finding liquid water on Mars. After a few minutes, have them pair up and discuss their lists, sharing their ideas with each other. Finally, open up the discussion to the whole class and explore different perspectives on the topic.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did scientists find on Mars recently?
2. How did NASA’s Insight lander help in making this discovery?
3. Where is the liquid water found on Mars located?
4. Why is it significant to find liquid water on Mars?
5. How long has Mars been dry according to the article?
6. What role does water play in a planet’s evolution according to scientists?
7. What challenges might arise from accessing water resources deep inside Mars?
8. What do scientists hope to explore in the future following this discovery?
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🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Scientists have found liquid (1)______ on Mars, deep within the planet’s outer crust. This discovery was made (2)______ data (3)______ by NASA’s (4)______ lander, which has been on Mars since 2018. By studying vibrations and Mars quakes, researchers identified the presence of liquid water, a first for Mars.

While frozen water exists at the Martian poles and there is water vapor in the (5)______, this is the first time liquid water has been found on Mars. The (6)______ has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of (7)______. The Insight (8)______, which aimed to study rocky planets like Earth and Mars, ended in December 2022 after providing valuable data on Mars’ seismic activity.

The analysis of the data showed that there are water reservoirs located between six to twelve miles deep in Mars’ (9)______. (10)______ about liquid water on Mars is important for understanding the planet’s climate and history. Scientists (11)______ water (12)______ a crucial role in a planet’s evolution, helping to solve the mystery of what happened to Mars’ water over billions of years.

Even though there is (13)______ of (14)______ rivers and lakes on Mars, the planet has been dry for about three billion years. The discovery of water deep inside Mars suggests there might be habitable environments underground, which could be (15)______ in the future. However, accessing water resources buried 10-20km below the surface poses challenges for any plans to (16)______ Mars.
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💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think it would be like to live on Mars with liquid water underground?
2. How do you feel about the idea of exploring habitable environments deep inside Mars in the future?
3. Do you think finding liquid water on Mars is important for understanding the planet’s climate?
4. Why do you think it’s challenging to access water resources buried deep below Mars’ surface?
5. How would you react if you were part of a team sent to explore the water reservoirs on Mars?
6. Do you believe there could be life forms in the underground habitable environments on Mars?
7. Why do you think studying Mars’ seismic activity is important for understanding the planet?
8. What are your thoughts on the possibility of colonizing Mars in the future?
9. How do you think finding liquid water on Mars could impact future space exploration?
10. Do you think the discovery of liquid water on Mars changes our understanding of the planet’s history?
11. Why do you think it’s significant that liquid water was found deep within Mars’ crust?
12. How important do you think water is for the evolution of a planet?
13. What are your opinions on the idea of humans eventually living on Mars?
14. How would you feel if you were a scientist working on the Insight mission studying Mars?
15. Do you like the idea of space exploration and discovering new things about other planets? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. crust
2. vibrations
3. quakes
4. vapor
5. seismic
6. reservoirs
7. evolution
8. ancient
9. habitable
10. colonize
11. data
12. discovery
13. atmosphere
14. poles
15. challenges

Meanings:
(A) A gas or mist in the air
(B) Shaking or trembling movements
(C) Finding something new or previously unknown
(D) The top or bottom ends of a planet
(E) Very old or from a long time ago
(F) Suitable for living in
(G) The outer layer of a planet
(H) The layer of gases surrounding a planet
(I) Difficulties or obstacles to overcome
(J) Large natural or artificial lakes used to store water
(K) Sudden shaking of the ground
(L) Related to earthquakes or ground movements
(M) The process of gradual change and development
(N) Information collected for analysis
(O) To establish a settlement in a new place
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🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where was liquid water found on Mars?
(a) On the surface
(b) Deep within the planet’s outer crust
(c) In the atmosphere
(d) At the poles

2. How was the discovery of liquid water on Mars made?
(a) By studying the Martian atmosphere
(b) Through satellite images
(c) Using data collected by NASA’s Insight lander
(d) By analyzing Mars rocks

3. What type of water already exists on Mars?
(a) Liquid water in rivers
(b) Hot water geysers
(c) Frozen water at the poles
(d) Water in the clouds

4. Where was the research about liquid water on Mars published?
(a) National Geographic magazine
(b) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(c) NASA’s official website
(d) Mars Exploration Journal

5. What ended in December 2022 after providing data on Mars’ seismic activity?
(a) The Mars rover mission
(b) The Mars satellite mission
(c) The Mars colonization mission
(d) The Insight mission

6. How deep are the water reservoirs found in Mars’ crust?
(a) On the surface
(b) Over 20 miles
(c) Less than a mile
(d) Between six to twelve miles

7. Why is knowing about liquid water on Mars important?
(a) To understand the planet’s climate and history
(b) To find a new source of energy
(c) To study the Martian atmosphere
(d) To plan a vacation to Mars

8. What does the discovery of water deep inside Mars suggest?
(a) There might be habitable environments underground
(b) Mars is completely dry
(c) Mars has never had water
(d) Water is only found at the poles

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Water reservoirs on Mars are located between six to twelve miles deep in the crust.
2. The Insight mission on Mars ended in December 2022 after studying volcanic activity.
3. The discovery of water deep inside Mars raises the possibility of habitable environments underground.
4. Mars has been dry for about three billion years, despite evidence of ancient water bodies.
5. Water is important for understanding Mars’ climate and history.
6. Scientists found frozen water on Mars using data from NASA’s Insight lander.
7. This discovery is the first time liquid water has been confirmed on Mars.
8. The research about frozen water on Mars was published in a scientific journal.
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 recently using data from NASA’s Insight lander?
2. Why is the discovery of liquid water on Mars important for scientists?
3. How deep is the liquid water reservoir located in Mars’ crust?
4. What role does water play in a planet’s evolution according to scientists?
5. What challenges might arise when trying to access water resources deep below Mars’ surface for colonization purposes?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

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

2. How did NASA’s Insight lander help in making this discovery?
NASA’s Insight lander helped in making this discovery by studying vibrations and Mars quakes to identify the presence of liquid water.

3. Where is the liquid water found on Mars located?
The liquid water found on Mars is located deep within the planet’s outer crust, between six to twelve miles deep.

4. Why is it significant to find liquid water on Mars?
Finding liquid water on Mars is significant because it helps scientists understand the planet’s climate, history, and evolution.

5. How long has Mars been dry according to the article?
According to the article, Mars has been dry for about three billion years.

6. What role does water play in a planet’s evolution according to scientists?
Scientists believe water plays a crucial role in a planet’s evolution by helping to solve the mystery of what happened to Mars’ water over billions of years.

7. What challenges might arise from accessing water resources deep inside Mars?
Challenges that might arise from accessing water resources deep inside Mars include the difficulty of reaching water reservoirs buried 10-20km below the surface, posing obstacles for any plans to colonize Mars.

8. What do scientists hope to explore in the future following this discovery?
Following this discovery, scientists hope to explore potential habitable environments underground on Mars, where liquid water has been found, for future exploration.
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🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) water
(2) using
(3) collected
(4) Insight
(5) atmosphere
(6) research
(7) Sciences
(8) mission
(9) crust
(10) Knowing
(11) believe
(12) plays
(13) evidence
(14) ancient
(15) explored
(16) colonize
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📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. crust
Answer: (G) The outer layer of a planet

2. vibrations
Answer: (B) Shaking or trembling movements

3. quakes
Answer: (K) Sudden shaking of the ground

4. vapor
Answer: (A) A gas or mist in the air

5. seismic
Answer: (L) Related to earthquakes or ground movements

6. reservoirs
Answer: (J) Large natural or artificial lakes used to store water

7. evolution
Answer: (M) The process of gradual change and development

8. ancient
Answer: (E) Very old or from a long time ago

9. habitable
Answer: (F) Suitable for living in

10. colonize
Answer: (O) To establish a settlement in a new place

11. data
Answer: (N) Information collected for analysis

12. discovery
Answer: (C) Finding something new or previously unknown

13. atmosphere
Answer: (H) The layer of gases surrounding a planet

14. poles
Answer: (D) The top or bottom ends of a planet

15. challenges
Answer: (I) Difficulties or obstacles to overcome
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where was liquid water found on Mars?
Answer: (b) Deep within the planet’s outer crust

2. How was the discovery of liquid water on Mars made?
Answer: (c) Using data collected by NASA’s Insight lander

3. What type of water already exists on Mars?
Answer: (c) Frozen water at the poles

4. Where was the research about liquid water on Mars published?
Answer: (b) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

5. What ended in December 2022 after providing data on Mars’ seismic activity?
Answer: (d) The Insight mission

6. How deep are the water reservoirs found in Mars’ crust?
Answer: (d) Between six to twelve miles

7. Why is knowing about liquid water on Mars important?
Answer: (a) To understand the planet’s climate and history

8. What does the discovery of water deep inside Mars suggest?
Answer: (a) There might be habitable environments underground
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Water reservoirs on Mars are located between six to twelve miles deep in the crust. (Answer: True)
2. The Insight mission on Mars ended in December 2022 after studying volcanic activity. (Answer: False)
3. The discovery of water deep inside Mars raises the possibility of habitable environments underground. (Answer: True)
4. Mars has been dry for about three billion years, despite evidence of ancient water bodies. (Answer: True)
5. Water is important for understanding Mars’ climate and history. (Answer: False)
6. Scientists found frozen water on Mars using data from NASA’s Insight lander. (Answer: False)
7. This discovery is the first time liquid water has been confirmed on Mars. (Answer: True)
8. The research about frozen water on Mars was published in a scientific journal. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧