The Plesiosaur

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35115195 : 18/12/2015

200-year-old fossil mystery resolved

Scientists have reconstructed how an ancient reptile swam in the oceans at the time of the dinosaurs.

Discussion

1. What dinosaurs do you know of?
2. What's your favourite dinosaur?
3. When were they alive on earth?
4. Have you ever been to a dinosaur museum?
5. What's your favourite dinosaur movie?
6. What do you know of the Loch Ness Monster?

New Words:

plesiosaur (n)   a limb (n)  gait (n)

unveil (v)  palaeontologist (n)  Jurrassic (adj)

hind (adj)  forelimb-dominated (adj)

manoeuvrability (n)  palaeobiology (n) 

 ferocious (adj)

Read the article and answer this question:

1. What is it about? 

Read it again in detail and answer the questions at the end.

Computer simulations suggest the plesiosaur moved through the water like a penguin, using its front limbs as paddles and back limbs for steering.

The creature's swimming gait has been a mystery since bones of the first known specimen were dug out of a Dorset cliff 200 years ago.

Watch the video of how it moved here.

The plesiosaur was discovered by the fossil hunter Mary Anning in 1821.

At the time even the name dinosaur had not been invented.

A scientific paper unveiling Anning's find a few years later raised the question of how the marine creature swam, given its unusual pairs of wing-like flippers.

The debate has continued until today, with a computer simulation based on a Jurassic fossil specimen providing evidence in favour of penguin-like motion.

Dr Adam Smith of Nottingham Natural History Museum, Wollaton Hall, worked on the study.

He explained that palaeontologists were divided on whether the marine creature used its four limbs in a rowing action like the oars of a boat; a flight stroke similar to modern penguins and turtles; or some sort of combination of the two.

"Our study shows the up-and-down movement is more likely," he told BBC News.

"That's how turtles and penguins swim today.

"Penguins are literally flying through the water."

The study, published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, is based on a computer simulation of a Jurassic fossil from Germany.

The fossil is unusual in being an almost complete skeleton with all four limbs preserved.

It is smaller than many other members of the plesiosaur family, at about 3m long.

The computer model shows the animal's hind limbs provided "relatively weak thrust", say Dr Smith and co-researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, US.

"We conclude that plesiosaurs were forelimb-dominated swimmers that used their hind limbs mainly for manoeuvrability and stability," they report.

The plesiosaurs were predatory marine reptiles that lived at the time of the dinosaurs.

They are unique in the animal kingdom for having two pairs of large wing-like flippers.

Palaeobiology expert Dr David Martill of the University of Portsmouth said the new work suggested that in the small plesiosaur at least, the forelimbs did all the work.

He said it remained to be seen if the same was true of the largest plesiosaurs, which were ferocious marine predators.

"These beasts probably fed by twist feeding like the large crocodiles of today," he said.

"If this were the case, then the hind limbs may have been used to spin the animal on its long axis."

Questions:

1. When were the bones of the first specimen found?

2. Who found them and where?

3. Why is the time of this finding especially interesting?

4. What two ways of swimming were suggested to be the way of motion through water of the dinosaur?

5. Which way is chosen by Dr Adam Smith of Nottingham Natural History Museum?

6. What is special about the fossil found in Germany?

7. What does the computer model show?

8. Is this the same for small and large plesiosaurs?

9. How is it thought that they feed?

Discussion / Writing Ideas

1. Write a story abut a dinosaur set in modern day. How did it get here? What happens? How many people does it eat? Can it get home? Happy or sad ending?

2. Do you think we will ever be able to clone dinosaurs like in the movie Jurassic Park? Do you think we should, or not?

3. Do you think the Loch Ness Monster may have been a plesiosaur?

Last UK Guantanamo Bay Detainee Comes Home

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34675324

In October 2015, after 13 years, Shaker Aamer finally came home to the UK.

1. What do you know about Guantanamo?

2. Where is it and what kind of people are kept there?

3. Look at the picture. Describe Shaker.

New Vocabulary

detainee (n)   interrogation (n)  torture (n)

resilient (adj)  condone (v)  find one's feet  jihadist (adj)

allegations (n)  an ordeal (n)  to be charged (v)  to be tried (v)

Now watch the video and answer the question:

1. What's the video about?

Watch again and answer the following questions:

1. How many years was he held?

2. When was his son born?

3. Who campaigned for his release?

4. Had he been found guilty of any crimes?

5. When and why did he go to Afghanistan?

6. How was he captured?

7. What happened to him in Afghanistan?

8. What did the documents claim?

9. Why is what happened to him embarrassing politically?

10. Will his return be the end of his ordeal?

11. What does he say he needs to do when he gets back?

Discussion / Writing Ideas:

1. Write/say an example sentence with each of the new words.

2. What are your opinions about Guantanamo Bay? Do you think it is/was a necessary evil?

Don't forget to leave a comment and write up any new words in your vocabulary notebooks! :)

Pilot Lands Plane After Propeller Falls Off

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-34537135

1. Do you like flying? Why/ Why not?
2. Have you ever had a scary experience in a plane?
3. Have you heard or read of any dangerous things happening with planes in the news recently?
4. It is said that flying is the safest way to travel - do you agree?

Check the underlined words of the article below in a dictionary or by clicking on them to see the Google definition. On the Google definition page you can also listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the small speaker icon, and check synonyms and other useful information :) Don't forget to copy any new words into your vocabulary notebook!

Now read the article and answer this question:

1. What happened?

In October 2015, a pilot managed to glide his single-engined aeroplane to safety after the propeller fell off at 2,000ft (610m).

The man was flying between Bodmin and Roche in Cornwall when he was forced to make the emergency landing at a country club airstrip near Polzeath just after 16:00 BST on Wednesday.

The club was evacuated during the landing. The pilot later had a glass of water there, said witnesses.

The propeller was recovered from a building site in Polzeath.

The pilot, Nick Chitterdon, said the aircraft is a vintage 1936 plane.

"When the propeller went there was a loud bang and it disappeared to the left.

"I switched the fuel off and started looking for field to land in. I then remembered a private airstrip at a nearby golf course and it took sometime to glide down."

Eva Davies, one of the directors at The Point at Polzeath Club, where the aircraft landed, said: "We had a phone call from the fire service who told us to evacuate the building, which included the restaurant, golf club, health club, gym, changing rooms, and swimming pool.

"The aircraft was spotted by a few golfers as it came in. He was gliding down straight on to our airfield.

"Although he landed safely, within five minutes we had six fire engines, three police cars and  an ambulance here. They didn't know if he was injured.

"The pilot then came in and had a glass water."

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "Thankfully, he was obviously a very skilled pilot.

"The pilot has recovered the plane, and the propeller which landed in New Polzeath has been recovered by the police."

A spokesman from Bodmin Airfield said pilots were trained to glide in aircraft before "going solo" to prepare them for such incidents.

The plane was an Aeronca. The incident has been reported to The Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Now read again more slowly and answer the following questions:

1. Where did the incident happen?
2. What kind of plane was it?
3. Tell us about the pilot.
4. Why was he able to land the plane quite easily?
5. Was it luck or training that saved the pilot?

Writing/Discussion Ideas

1. Write or say example sentences using any new words you have found in this article.
2. Write a short story about someone who has a problem in their flying machine.
3. Has this article changed your opinion about flying? If so, how?
4. Would you like to be the pilot of a plane?
5. What's the difference between 'I flew in a plane,' and 'I flew a plane'?

Remember to leave a comment below with your thoughts on this story :)

1st & 2nd Conditionals

Here's a video I made recently to help students practice 1st and 2nd Conditionals with If. 

EG. 1st Conditional : "If it rains tomorrow, I will buy an umbrella."

2nd Conditional : "If I were rich, I would buy a new house."

The more you practice making sentences in your head or speaking them out loud, or writing them down, the better your English will become :)

After watching the video, try to make some conditional sentences and write them in the comments below. If I, or maybe if other students/teachers, have time I / we'll check them for you :)

Sports Discussion

You don't always need a teacher in the room to practice speaking English. Get a few friends together of about the same level and discuss the below questions. Help each other with vocabulary and try to keep the discussion going as long as possible. Try to use a wide range of grammar and vocabulary. If any of your friends/classmates makes a mistake, tell them.

Comparing and contrasting photos is a common exercise used in many speaking exams, especially Cambridge English : First. When talking about how photos are different, try to use the word 'whereas', EG, "In the first picture they are playing inside, whereas in the second picture they are playing outdoors."

1. Do you know the names of all the above sports in English?
2. Talk about a sport that you do/ used to do.
3. Ask each other questions about their sport.
4. Why is it important / beneficial to do a sport these days?
5. Do you think people do more or less sport than before these days? Why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. What do you think about international sport, eg the World Cup, The Olympics, etc.?
7. Which do you prefer, to do sport or to watch sport? Why?
8. What do you think are the mental / psychological benefits of regular sport?
9. Can technology help us / encourage us to do sport?
10. Whats the difference between sport and exercise?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Whats the difference between team sports and individual sports?
12. What do you think about blood sports? (Boxing, Cage fighting etc)
13. What are your opinions on betting on the outcome of matches/competitions?
14. Is there much corruption in sport?
15. What do you know about doping in sports?
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
16. Do you think professional sports people get paid enough? Too much? Why?
17. Have you heard any sports news recently?
18. Why is it important to encourage sports on young people?
19. What sports are unique to your country?
20. Choose two photos on this page and compare and contrast them, saying which sport you would prefer to do and why.

If you'd like to practice writing, all you need to do is sit down and write out your answers to the above questions :) Microsoft Word will help you know if you've made a grammar spelling mistake. Feel free to write some answers in the comments and if I or maybe if someone else has time I or we can give you some feedback.

Photo credits  : 

wikinews sports  - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Acagastya

Beach volleyball : http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Team-Sport-Volley-Ball-Sports-Sport-Volleyball-2639700 

Rugby : https://health.mil/News/Articles/2016/09/28/Do-the-benefits-of-sports-participation-outweigh-the-risks

Soccer : https://blog.wikimedia.org/2016/01/06/sports-vandalism-on-wikipedia/

Parachuting : https://pixnio.com/sport/extreme-sports/parachute-lake-mountain-extreme-sport-reflection

The Story of Bill : Chapter 1 : The English Scientists

This is the first chapter of a story I wrote recently to help a 12 year old Polish boy at school in P7 here in Scotland improve his literacy skills. It's designed to help children read the page 5 words from a file called Fry Frequently Used Word List 1-600. Using key words to write sentences or even a story is a great way to help students or anyone with reading, writing and vocabulary. I've started at the back and come forwards so it should get easier as we go.

The story doesn't make much sense yet, but the point isn't about how good the story is, it's about reading the words and getting used to them in context, even if it's a weird one.

Chapter One : The English Scientists

Bill suddenly felt it can't matter too much. Perhaps the object built in the town square was made of a special, heavy material that included power in its six dark, round objects.

Am I able to rule among the thousands of people? He thought in his own language. Will I be full, filled with the power that comes from these round shapes? He stood at the base of the building and looked up. The heat from the six circles made them glow in the night. He reached out and touched one. It was dry and warm and his hand went deep inside the material, like a sponge.

But he felt no different.

I don't understand, he thought. These common people need a strong government system, not one made by English scientists.

He ran quickly around the island's streets, looking out at the deep, green sea and feeling the hot stars as if inches from his face. Suddenly he saw a boat-plane come in to land on the surface of the ocean, but he decided to stay and rest behind a building. As he watched, a person came out of the flying machine – the third he had seen in a week. Ten days ago, the English scientists had come in their machines with wheels, but even though they tried to explain - why did they bring their large, square boxes of magic? Their equations were not yet clear.

The fact was, in minutes he would be inches deep in the street, which was made of the same dark material as the orbs, so he finally decided to run to them, down the road and through the waves, taking nothing, and when he reached the boat-plane, climbed carefully inside.

The heat-filled engine of the flying machine sounded strong and powerful.

“Did you bring it?” a voice asked in English.

Bill looked behind him and saw a tall person with a fine beard. “Oh,” he said quickly, but could not finish the sentence. How can he explain? How can he make them understand? Will this boat-plane not finally fly? he thought.

But the person said, “I am a scientist. It cannot matter,” and looked out the window at the deep green waves of the ocean.

Bill looked at the streets and the roads and the building in the square with its six large black balls where he had stood minutes ago. He could have shown him them. He wanted to stay. He decided if he wanted the power of the thousands to make a new government he would have to wait.

The engine made a strong noise and the boat plane moved quickly along the surface of the ocean, before slowly rising into the air and turning left towards the full, heavy moon...

Questions

1) Who do you think Bill is?
2) What do you think the six balls in the square do?
3) Who are the English Scientists?
4) What does Bill want to do?


Read Chapter 2 : Song Of War
Read Chapter 3 : The Plan



Read Chapter 4 : Bill's Ship Sails
Read Chapter 5 : Talk To Animals.

Story © Chris Young 2018

Image credit : http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Luna-Reflection-Sea-Superluna-Night-Super-Water-1826849