A strange streak of light was seen in the sky in southern California on April 2nd. No one knows for sure what caused it, but some people think it could be debris from a SpaceX launch or a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft. The BBC is trying to find out the real cause of the streaks.

Lots of people in southern California saw the streaks of light and recorded videos of it. The lights seemed to be moving in a weird pattern across the sky. Some people said it looked like a shower of lights, while others thought it was like shooting stars.

People are guessing about what caused the lights because both SpaceX and the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft were doing things in space around the same time as the sighting. But it’s important to know that there isn’t any solid proof connecting these events to the streaks of light.

The mystery of the streaks of light has made people really curious and excited. Everyone is waiting for an official explanation of what caused it. Until then, we don’t know for sure and it’s fun to wonder about what could have made those lights in the sky.

Original news source: Mysterious streaks of light in California sky (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then write a short summary of the main points. They can include information such as the date, location, possible causes, and the reaction of people. Afterward, they can share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a list of possible explanations for the streaks of light. Students will discuss and rank the explanations from most likely to least likely. Afterward, each group will present their rankings to the class and explain their reasoning.

– Sketch It
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns describing the streaks of light to their partner. Their partner will then try to sketch what they think it looked like based on the description. Afterward, they can compare their sketches and discuss the similarities and differences.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down a list of vocabulary words from the article related to the streaks of light (e.g. debris, spacecraft, sighting). Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a word. They must then draw a picture of the word on the board, and their team members must guess the word. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a role: SpaceX supporter or skeptic. Students will then discuss and write down the pros and cons of the theory that the streaks of light were caused by SpaceX. Afterward, each group will present their arguments to the class and engage in a friendly debate.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was seen in the sky in southern California on April 2nd?
2. Why do some people think the streak of light could be debris from a SpaceX launch or a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft?
3. What did the lights in the sky look like to some people?
4. Why are people guessing about what caused the lights?
5. Is there any solid proof connecting the streaks of light to SpaceX or the Chinese spacecraft?
6. How have people reacted to the mystery of the streaks of light?
7. What are people waiting for in regards to the streaks of light?
8. Why is it fun to wonder about what caused the lights in the sky?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A strange streak of light was seen in the sky in southern (1)______ on (2)______ 2nd. No one knows for sure what caused it, but some people think it could be debris from a (3)______ launch or a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft. The BBC is (4)______ to find out the real cause of the streaks.

Lots of people in southern California saw the streaks of light and recorded (5)______ of it. The lights (6)______ to be moving in a (7)______ pattern across the sky. Some people said it looked like a shower of lights, while (8)______ thought it was like shooting stars.

People are (9)______ about what caused the lights because both SpaceX and the Chinese (10)______ spacecraft were doing things in space around the same time as the sighting. But it’s (11)______ to know that there isn’t any solid proof (12)______ these events to the (13)______ of light.

The mystery of the streaks of light has made people really curious and excited. Everyone is waiting for an (14)______ explanation of what (15)______ it. Until then, we don’t know for sure and it’s fun to wonder about what could have made those (16)______ in the sky.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think caused the strange streak of light in southern California?
2. Have you ever seen something unusual in the sky? If so, what was it and how did you feel?
3. How would you feel if you saw a shower of lights moving across the sky?
4. Do you think it’s important to find out the real cause of the streaks of light? Why or why not?
5. Have you ever recorded a video of something interesting? If so, what was it?
6. What would you do if you saw shooting stars in the sky?
7. How do you think people in southern California felt when they saw the streaks of light?
8. Do you like mysteries and unexplained phenomena? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever been curious about something that you couldn’t explain?
10. What do you think it means when people say they are excited about a mystery?
11. If you were in southern California and saw the streaks of light, what would you do?
12. How do you think the BBC is trying to find out the cause of the streaks of light?
13. Do you believe in aliens or extraterrestrial life? Why or why not?
14. If you had the chance to go to space, would you take it? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the streaks of light in the sky will be remembered in the future?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. streak
2. debris
3. spacecraft
4. module
5. sighting
6. pattern
7. shower
8. shooting stars
9. guessing
10. solid
11. mystery
12. curious
13. official
14. explanation
15. wonder

Meanings:
(A) A reason or justification given for something
(B) Firm, strong, or substantial
(C) Making an educated guess or forming an opinion without certain knowledge
(D) Coming from someone in authority, recognized as correct
(E) A long, thin line or mark that is a different color or texture from the surface around it
(F) To think deeply about something; to be filled with curiosity or doubt
(G) A sudden heavy fall of rain or, metaphorically, anything resembling this
(H) Broken pieces or fragments, typically of something wrecked or destroyed
(I) A vehicle designed for travel or operation in outer space
(J) A separate unit or section, especially one that is part of a larger spacecraft
(K) A repeated decorative design or sequence
(L) Having a strong desire to know or learn something
(M) Something that is not understood or known about; something that arouses curiosity or speculation
(N) The act of seeing or observing something, especially something rare or unusual
(O) Bright spots in the night sky that appear to be moving quickly, often thought to grant wishes
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was seen in the sky in southern California on April 2nd?
(a) A strange streak of light
(b) A meteor shower
(c) A UFO
(d) A rainbow

2. What are some possible explanations for the streaks of light?
(a) Shooting stars
(b) Debris from a SpaceX launch or a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft
(c) A shower of lights
(d) All of the above

3. What did people in southern California do when they saw the streaks of light?
(a) Took pictures of it
(b) Called the police
(c) Ignored it
(d) Recorded videos of it

4. How did the lights in the sky appear to be moving?
(a) In a straight line
(b) In a weird pattern
(c) In a circular motion
(d) They were stationary

5. What are people waiting for regarding the streaks of light?
(a) A sighting of a UFO
(b) Proof connecting the lights to SpaceX and the Chinese spacecraft
(c) An official explanation
(d) A chance to see the lights again

6. What is the current state of knowledge about the cause of the streaks of light?
(a) It was confirmed to be debris from a SpaceX launch
(b) It was confirmed to be a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft
(c) It was confirmed to be a meteor shower
(d) There isn’t any solid proof connecting the events to the streaks of light

7. How do people feel about the mystery of the streaks of light?
(a) Curious and excited
(b) Scared and worried
(c) Indifferent and bored
(d) Angry and frustrated

8. What is the article’s main message about the streaks of light?
(a) It was definitely debris from a SpaceX launch
(b) It was definitely a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft
(c) No one knows for sure what caused it
(d) It was definitely a meteor shower

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Some individuals described the lights as resembling a shower of lights, while others compared them to shooting stars.
2. However, there is currently no concrete evidence linking these events to the streaks of light.
3. Many people in southern California witnessed the streaks of light and captured videos of them.
4. The BBC is investigating to determine the true cause of the streaks.
5. There is no speculation about the cause of the lights as there is no connection between SpaceX and the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft and the sighting period.
6. A normal streak of light was seen in the sky in southern California on April 2nd.
7. The source of the streaks of light is clear, as it has been confirmed to be debris from a SpaceX launch or a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft.
8. The lights seemed stationary in a typical pattern across the sky.
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 strange event occurred in southern California on April 2nd?
2. What are some possible explanations for the streaks of light in the sky?
3. How did people in southern California react to the sighting of the streaks of light?
4. Why are people guessing about the cause of the lights?
5. Why is the mystery of the streaks of light making people curious and excited?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was seen in the sky in southern California on April 2nd?
A strange streak of light.

2. Why do some people think the streak of light could be debris from a SpaceX launch or a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft?
Because both SpaceX and the Chinese spacecraft were doing things in space around the same time as the sighting.

3. What did the lights in the sky look like to some people?
To some people, the lights looked like a shower of lights or shooting stars.

4. Why are people guessing about what caused the lights?
Because there isn’t any solid proof connecting the events to the streaks of light.

5. Is there any solid proof connecting the streaks of light to SpaceX or the Chinese spacecraft?
No, there isn’t any solid proof connecting the streaks of light to SpaceX or the Chinese spacecraft.

6. How have people reacted to the mystery of the streaks of light?
People have reacted with curiosity and excitement.

7. What are people waiting for in regards to the streaks of light?
People are waiting for an official explanation of what caused the lights.

8. Why is it fun to wonder about what caused the lights in the sky?
It is fun to wonder because it creates a sense of mystery and excitement.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) California
(2) April
(3) SpaceX
(4) trying
(5) videos
(6) seemed
(7) weird
(8) others
(9) guessing
(10) Shenzhou-15
(11) important
(12) connecting
(13) streaks
(14) official
(15) caused
(16) lights
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. streak
Answer: (E) A long, thin line or mark that is a different color or texture from the surface around it

2. debris
Answer: (H) Broken pieces or fragments, typically of something wrecked or destroyed

3. spacecraft
Answer: (I) A vehicle designed for travel or operation in outer space

4. module
Answer: (J) A separate unit or section, especially one that is part of a larger spacecraft

5. sighting
Answer: (N) The act of seeing or observing something, especially something rare or unusual

6. pattern
Answer: (K) A repeated decorative design or sequence

7. shower
Answer: (G) A sudden heavy fall of rain or, metaphorically, anything resembling this

8. shooting stars
Answer: (O) Bright spots in the night sky that appear to be moving quickly, often thought to grant wishes

9. guessing
Answer: (C) Making an educated guess or forming an opinion without certain knowledge

10. solid
Answer: (B) Firm, strong, or substantial

11. mystery
Answer: (M) Something that is not understood or known about; something that arouses curiosity or speculation

12. curious
Answer: (L) Having a strong desire to know or learn something

13. official
Answer: (D) Coming from someone in authority, recognized as correct

14. explanation
Answer: (A) A reason or justification given for something

15. wonder
Answer: (F) To think deeply about something; to be filled with curiosity or doubt
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was seen in the sky in southern California on April 2nd?
Answer: (a) A strange streak of light

2. What are some possible explanations for the streaks of light?
Answer: (b) Debris from a SpaceX launch or a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft

3. What did people in southern California do when they saw the streaks of light?
Answer: (d) Recorded videos of it

4. How did the lights in the sky appear to be moving?
Answer: (b) In a weird pattern

5. What are people waiting for regarding the streaks of light?
Answer: (c) An official explanation

6. What is the current state of knowledge about the cause of the streaks of light?
Answer: (d) There isn’t any solid proof connecting the events to the streaks of light

7. How do people feel about the mystery of the streaks of light?
Answer: (a) Curious and excited

8. What is the article’s main message about the streaks of light?
Answer: (c) No one knows for sure what caused it
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Some individuals described the lights as resembling a shower of lights, while others compared them to shooting stars. (Answer: True)
2. However, there is currently no concrete evidence linking these events to the streaks of light. (Answer: True)
3. Many people in southern California witnessed the streaks of light and captured videos of them. (Answer: True)
4. The BBC is investigating to determine the true cause of the streaks. (Answer: True)
5. There is no speculation about the cause of the lights as there is no connection between SpaceX and the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft and the sighting period. (Answer: False)
6. A normal streak of light was seen in the sky in southern California on April 2nd. (Answer: False)
7. The source of the streaks of light is clear, as it has been confirmed to be debris from a SpaceX launch or a module from the Chinese Shenzhou-15 spacecraft. (Answer: False)
8. The lights seemed stationary in a typical pattern across the sky. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧