Reading
1a. Look at the pictures and discuss the questions.
1. What are the names of the two planets in pictures A and B?
2. How do you think the pictures are different?
b. Read the text below and check your answers.
1. Mars is called the Red Planet because of its reddish surface. There have been many explorations to Mars by humans since the mid-20th century. Scientists hope that we can find another planet to accommodate human life.
2. There are major reasons why the climate on Mars is unsuitable for human life. Temperatures on Mars can be as low as -87 degrees Celsius and rarely get above 0 degrees Celsius. But the bigger problem is the lack of oxygen. 95% of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide (CO2), and this is poisonous to breathe. Moreover, there is no water on Mars even though scientists have found traces of it.
3. However, as early as the mid-19th century, scientists discovered that Mars had some similarities to Earth. A day on Mars is 24 hours, 39 minutes and 35 seconds, almost the same as a day on Earth. Mars also experiences seasons just as Earth does. However, the seasons are twice as long because a year on Mars lasts about twice as long as an Earth year.
2. Match the highlighted words in the text with their meanings
1. causing death or illness
2. two times
3. has, goes through
4. marks or signs showing that something happened
5. the outside or top layer of something
6. weather conditions of a particular place
7. provide a place to live
3. Match the headings with the paragraphs (1-3). There is one extra.
A. Reasons why we may be able to live on Mars.
B. Reasons why we may not be able to live on Mars.
C. Explanation for the name of Mars.
D. Reasons for explorations of Mars.
4. Read the text again and answer the questions.
1. What is the other name for Mars?
2. What are the lowest and the highest temperatures on Mars?
3. Why is it poisonous to live on Mars?
4. Which is longer, a day on Earth or a day on Mars?
5. How long is a year on Mars?
Speaking
5. Work in pairs. One is a human and the other is a Martian. Use the suggestions below to ask and answer about life on Earth and life on Mars.
| Human | Martian | |
| Food | rice, bread, meat,… | tablets, rocks... |
| Drink | water, juice,... | liquid from under the rock... |
| Sleep | 6-8 hours/night... | 2-3 hours/ night… |
| Travel | bicycle,car... | flying car, space buggy, UFO... |
| Environment | forests, lakes, oceans, mountains, cities,... | dry, dessert, rocky landscape, caves... |
| Problems | diseases, pollution, overpopulation... | survival, lonliness... |
Example:
A: So what kind of food do you eat?
B: Well, we eat things like rice, bread, cooked meat. And you?
