Chat With Whale

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Level 3 - 28th December 2023

Scientists 'talk' with a whale for 20 minutes
FREE online quizzes, mp3 listening and more for this lesson here:
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2312/231228-chat-with-whale.html
Contents
The Article 2 Discussion (Student-Created Qs) 15
Warm-Ups 3 Language Work (Cloze) 16
Vocabulary 4 Spelling 17
Before Reading / Listening 5 Put The Text Back Together 18
Gap Fill 6 Put The Words In The Right Order 19
Match The Sentences And Listen 7 Circle The Correct Word 20
Listening Gap Fill 8 Insert The Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) 21
Comprehension Questions 9 Punctuate The Text And Add Capitals 22
Multiple Choice - Quiz 10 Put A Slash ( / ) Where The Spaces Are 23
Role Play 11 Free Writing 24
After Reading / Listening 12 Academic Writing 25
Student Survey 13 Homework 26
Discussion (20 Questions) 14 Answers 27
Please try Levels 0, 1 and 2 (they are easier).
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THE ARTICLE
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2312/231228-chat-with-whale.html
Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also
say the chat could help them to one day talk to aliens. The scientists are
from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI
(Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations
teamed up and spoke to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to
her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took
place after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the coast
of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research
boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication between
humans and humpback whales.
The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a deep one.
Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a series of greetings.
Whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they are. The
scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute period. Each
time, Twain responded by calling back. She even matched the intervals
between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told the
Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to
aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on this planet. By
studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might
be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours."
Sources: https://www.boredpanda.com/scientist-claim-having-20-minute-conversation-whale/
https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale-
named-twain/
https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/news/freeview-best-takeaway-for-watching-tv-556889-
20231218
Level 3 Scientists 'talk' with a whale for 20 minutes – 28th December 2023
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2023 2
WARM-UPS
1. WHALES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about whales.
Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will
the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
scientists / conversation / aliens / intelligence / whale / language / ocean / research /

greetings / contact / 20 minutes / intervals / diverse / planet / understand / exactly
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TALK TO THE ANIMALS: Students A strongly believe it is important we

learn how to talk to animals; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again
and talk about your conversations.
4. ANIMAL LEARNING: What could we learn from these creatures if we could

communicate with them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often
and share what you wrote.
What We Could Learn Usefulness
Whales
Bats
Foxes
Bees
Butterflies
Crabs
5. INTELLIGENCE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you
associate with the word "intelligence". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about
them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CHAT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to talk to at the top.
Change partners often and share your rankings.
• Whales • Cockroaches
• Snakes • Jellyfish
• Eagles • Lions
• Ants • Koalas
VOCABULARY MATCHING/
Paragraph 1
1. conversation a. An organization like a charity that helps

people or carries out research.
2. extra-terrestrial b. The part of the land next to or near the sea.
3. foundation c. A talk between two or more people, in which

news and ideas are exchanged.
4. organization d. Of or from outside the earth.
5. took place e. A group of people with a particular purpose,

such as a business or government
department.
6. coast f. Happened.
7. responded g. Say something in reply.
Paragraph 2
8. deep h. A space between two things.
9. series i. Of an emotion or feeling intensely felt.
10. greetings j. Made or was harmonious.
11. matched k. Very different.
12. interval l. A number of events, objects, or people of a

similar or related kind coming one after
another.
13. diverse m. Used to say how accurate something is.
14. exactly n. Polite words or signs of welcome.
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
1. The scientists in the article hope to chat to aliens one day. T/F
2. The scientists spoke to a blue whale. T/F
3. The scientists and the whale communicated in a giant pool. T/F
4. This is the second time scientists have chatted to a humpback whale. T/F
5. The conversation with the whale was in deep water. T/F
6. The whale responded to 36 calls the scientists made in the water. T/F
7. The whale matched the intervals of the scientists' calls. T/F
8. A scientist said our intelligence is the same as alien intelligence. T/F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: (The words in bold are from the news article.)
1. conversation a. sequence
2. teamed up b. happened
3. named c. extra-terrestrial
4. took place d. replied
5. responded e. collaborated
6. series f. precisely
7. intervals g. called
8. diverse h. gaps
9. alien i. varied
10. exactly j. chat
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1. the chat could help them to one a. teamed up

2. The three organizations b. deep one
3. Their conversation took c. of Alaska
4. off the coast d. by calling back
5. it was the first e. like ours
6. their conversation with Twain was not a f. day talk to aliens
7. 36 times over g. on this planet
8. Twain responded h. ever
9. There are diverse intelligences i. a 20-minute period
10. they are not going to be exactly j. place
GAP FILL
Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They named
also say the (1) _____________________ could help them to one day chat
talk to (2) _____________________. The scientists are from the
swam
University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI
place
(Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations
(3) _____________________ up and spoke to a humpback whale humans
(4) _____________________ Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback aliens

language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took
teamed
(5) _____________________ after the scientists sent a "contact call" into
coast
the ocean off the (6) _____________________ of Alaska. Twain heard
the call and responded. She (7) _____________________ to the
research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever
communication between (8) _____________________ and humpback
whales.
The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a (9) period
_____________________ one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was research
more like a series of (10) _____________________. Whales use contact
greetings
calls to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made
exactly
the same call 36 times over a 20-minute (11) _____________________.
Each time, Twain responded by calling back. She even matched planet
the (12) _____________________ between each call the researchers intervals

made. Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that
deep
her (13) _____________________ could make it easier to talk to aliens.
intelligence
She said: "There are diverse intelligences on this
(14) _____________________. By studying them, we can better
understand what an alien (15) _____________________ might be like
because they are not going to be (16) _____________________ like
ours."
LISTENING – Guess the answers. Listen to check.
1) They also say the chat could help them to one day ______
a. talk two aliens
b. talks to aliens
c. talk to aliens
d. take to aliens
2) the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for ______)
a. Extra-terrestrial Intelligence
b. Extra-terror stool Intelligence
c. Extra-tries trial Intelligence
d. Extra-terrors-trial Intelligence
3) The three organizations teamed up and spoke to a humpback ______
a. whale maimed Twain
b. whale named Twain
c. whale meme Twain
d. whale name Twain
4) scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the ______
a. cost of Alaska
b. crest of Alaska
c. caste of Alaska
d. coast of Alaska
5) Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research ______
a. boat and chat it
b. boat and charted
c. boat and chatted
d. boat and chattel
6) The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not ______
a. a depth one
b. a deeps one
c. a deep once
d. a deep one
7) Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a ______
a. series of greetings
b. series of greet tins
c. series of greet things
d. series of glee tins
8) The scientists made the same call 36 times over a ______
a. 20-minutes period
b. 20-minutely period
c. 20-minute period
d. 20-minutia period
9) There are diverse intelligences ______
a. on this plan net
b. on this plan it
c. on his planet
d. on this planet
10) an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be ______
a. exact like ours
b. exact real like ours
c. exactly likes ours
d. exactly like ours
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
Scientists say they have (1) ____________________ with a whale. They also
say the chat could help them to one day (2) ____________________. The
scientists are from the University of California, the
(3) ____________________, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial
Intelligence). The three organizations (4) ____________________ spoke to a
humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language"
for 20 minutes. Their conversation took place after the scientists sent
(5) ____________________ into the ocean off the coast of Alaska. Twain
heard the call and responded. She swam to the research boat and chatted.
SETI said it was (6) ____________________ communication between
humans and humpback whales.
The scientists say their conversation with Twain was
(7) ____________________ one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was
more like a series of greetings. Whales (8) ____________________ to let
other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36
times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain
(9) ____________________ back. She even (10) ____________________
between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told the
Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to
aliens. She said: "(11) ____________________ intelligences on this planet.
By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might
be like because they are not going to be (12) ____________________."
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. What do scientists hope to chat to one day?
2. What does the organization SETI look for?
3. What's the name of the whale in the article?
4. Where did the scientists talk to the whale?
5. How many times have scientists now spoken to a humpback whale?
6. How did the scientists describe their conversation with the whale?
7. How many contact calls did the whale make to the whale?
8. What did the whale match?
9. With what website did a professor talk about the whale?
10. What did a professor say was diverse on our planet?
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
1) What do scientists hope to chat to 6) How did the scientists describe

one day? their conversation with the whale?
a) plankton a) It was shallow.
b) dolphins b) It was intelligent.
c) clown fish c) It wasn't deep.
d) aliens d) It was interesting
2) What does the organization SETI 7) How many contact calls did the
look for? whale make to the whale?
a) whales a) 36
b) extra-terrestrial (alien) life b) 35
c) intelligent sea life c) 34
d) boats d) 33
3) What's the name of the whale in 8) What did the whale match?
the article? a) a world record
a) Humpy b) the colour of the research boat
b) Bob c) the intervals of contact calls
c) Train d) a perfect partner
d) Twain
9) With what website did a professor
4) Where did the scientists talk to talk about the whale?
the whale? a) Inside Business
a) Wales b) Business Insider
b) in a giant tank c) Insider Business
c) near Alaska d) Business Inside
d) in an aquarium
10) What did a professor say was
5) How many times have scientists diverse on our planet?
now spoken to a humpback whale? a) intelligences
a) five b) marine life
b) three c) whale species
c) two d) aliens
d) one
ROLE PLAY
Role A – Whales
You think whales would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell
the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with
their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least
interesting of these to talk to (and why): eagles, ants or
snakes.
Role B – Eagles
You think eagles would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the
others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their
creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of
these to talk to (and why): whales, ants or snakes.
Role C – Ants
You think ants would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the
others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their
creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of
these to talk to (and why): eagles, whales or snakes.
Role D – Snakes
You think snakes would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell
the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with
their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least
interesting of these to talk to (and why): eagles, ants or
whales.
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'scientist' and
'whale'.
scientist whale
• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down

some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.

Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new,
interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,

pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try
to recall how they were used in the text:
• day • deep
• search • greetings
• teamed • 36
• language • easier
• coast • planet
• ever • exactly
WHALES SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about whales in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student
must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3
_____________ _____________ _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
WHALES DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. What did you think when you read the headline?

2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'scientist'?
3. What do you know about whales?
4. What would you like to talk to a whale about?
5. What do whales talk to each other about?
6. How useful is this research?
7. How might this research help us talk to aliens?
8. What questions would you like to ask an alien?
9. What is your favourite species of whale?
10. What would life be like if we could talk to animals?
Scientists 'talk' with a whale for 20 minutes – 28th December 2023

Thousands more free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHALES DISCUSSION
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
11. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12. What do you think of when you hear the word 'whale'?
13. What do you think about what you read?
14. When was the last time you had a deep conversation?
15. What are your favourite forms of greetings?
16. What questions would aliens ask humans?
17. What kinds of animals would you like to talk to?
18. How can we increase our intelligence?
19. Who is the most intelligent person you know?
20. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________
Copyright © breakingnewsenglish.com 2023
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________
LANGUAGE - CLOZE
Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also say the chat
could help them to (1) ____ day talk to aliens. The scientists are from the University
of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial
Intelligence). The three organizations teamed (2) ____ and spoke to a humpback
whale (3) ____ Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes.
Their conversation took (4) ____ after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the
ocean off the (5) ____ of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to
the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication
(6) ____ humans and humpback whales.
The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a (7) ____ one. Professor
Brenda McCowan said it was more like a (8) ____ of greetings. Whales use contact
calls to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36
times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain responded (9) ____ calling back.
She even matched the intervals between each call the researchers (10) ____.
Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that her research could make
it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are (11) ____ intelligences on this planet.
By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might be
like because they are not going to be exactly (12) ____ ours."
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. (a) one (b) once (c) this (d) a
2. (a) down (b) in (c) up (d) on

3. (a) title (b) calling (c) named (d) surname
4. (a) venue (b) situation (c) location (d) place
5. (a) caste (b) cost (c) coast (d) crest

6. (a) middle (b) between (c) either (d) among
7. (a) depth (b) deep (c) deeps (d) deepen
8. (a) services (b) series (c) serious (d) serves

9. (a) of (b) at (c) by (d) on
10. (a) logged (b) phoned (c) called (d) made
11. (a) drivers (b) diverts (c) divots (d) diverse

12. (a) way (b) similar (c) same (d) like
SPELLING
Paragraph 1
1. a rnvcotasieon with a whale
2. talk to leians
3. sent a contact call into the ceoan
4. off the oacst of Alaska
5. Twain heard the call and osprndeed
6. the first ever muocniacitmon
Paragraph 2
7. opsefsror Brenda McCowan
8. like a erseis of greetings
9. cesitnsits made the same call 36 times
10. the tivreanls between each call
11. There are ivedsre intelligences on this planet
12. be xcaetly like ours
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( ) be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours."
( ) took place after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean
off the coast
( ) this planet. By studying them, we can better understand what an

alien intelligence might
( ) of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the
research
( ) The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a deep
one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it
( ) was more like a series of greetings. Whales use contact calls to let
other whales know where they
( ) the Business Insider website that her research could make it easier
to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on
( 1 ) Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They

also say the chat could help them to one
( ) boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication
between humans and humpback whales.
( ) SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three

organizations teamed up and spoke
( ) are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute
period. Each time, Twain responded
( ) day talk to aliens. The scientists are from the University of

California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and
( ) to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in

"humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation
( ) by calling back. She even matched the intervals between each call
the researchers made. Professor McCowan told
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
1. They with a have conversation had a whale .
2. up Organizations spoke and teamed to a humpback .
3. spoke to her They humpback in language .
4. sent The call a scientists into the ocean .
5. said the was it first SETI ever communication .
6. conversation with Twain wasn't a Their deep one .
7. scientists the The call same made 36 times .
8. easier it Research to makes to talk aliens .
9. what an alien intelligence might Understand be like .
10. going They're be to not exactly like ours .
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with / wither a whale. They
also say the chat could help them to one / once day talk to aliens. The
scientists are / be from the University of California, the Alaska Whale
Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three
organizations teamed down / up and spoke to a humpback whale name /
named Twain. They spoke to her at / in "humpback language" for 20
minutes. Their conversation took / gave place after the scientists sent a
"contact call" into the ocean off the coast / cost of Alaska. Twain heard the
call and responded. She swam at / to the research boat and chatted. SETI
said it was the first ever / every communication between humans and
humpback whales.
The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a depth / deep one.
Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a services / series of
greetings. Whales use contact calls to bet / let other whales know where
they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over / under a 20-
minute period. Each time, Twain responded by calling back. She even
matched the intervals among / between each call the researchers made.
Professor McCowan told / said the Business Insider website that her research
could make it / them easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse /
drivers intelligences on this planet. By studying them, we can better
understand / understanding what an alien intelligence might be like because
they are not going to be exact / exactly like ours."
Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and
why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.
INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
Sc__nt_sts s_y th_y h_v_ h_d _ "c_nv_rs_t__n" w_th _

wh_l_. Th_y _ls_ s_y th_ ch_t c__ld h_lp th_m t_ _n_
d_y t_lk t_ _l__ns. Th_ sc__nt_sts _r_ fr_m th_
_n_v_rs_ty _f C_l_f_rn__, th_ _l_sk_ Wh_l_ F__nd_t__n,
_nd S_T_ (S__rch f_r _xtr_-t_rr_str__l _nt_ll_g_nc_).
Th_ thr__ _rg_n_z_t__ns t__m_d _p _nd sp_k_ t_ _
h_mpb_ck wh_l_ n_m_d Tw__n. Th_y sp_k_ t_ h_r _n
"h_mpb_ck l_ng__g_" f_r 20 m_n_t_s. Th__r
c_nv_rs_t__n t__k pl_c_ _ft_r th_ sc__nt_sts s_nt _
"c_nt_ct c_ll" _nt_ th_ _c__n _ff th_ c__st _f _l_sk_.
Tw__n h__rd th_ c_ll _nd r_sp_nd_d. Sh_ sw_m t_ th_
r_s__rch b__t _nd ch_tt_d. S_T_ s__d _t w_s th_ f_rst
_v_r c_mm_n_c_t__n b_tw__n h_m_ns _nd h_mpb_ck
wh_l_s.
Th_ sc__nt_sts s_y th__r c_nv_rs_t__n w_th Tw__n w_s

n_t _ d__p _n_. Pr_f_ss_r Br_nd_ McC_w_n s__d _t
w_s m_r_ l_k_ _ s_r__s _f gr__t_ngs. Wh_l_s _s_
c_nt_ct c_lls t_ l_t _th_r wh_l_s kn_w wh_r_ th_y _r_.
Th_ sc__nt_sts m_d_ th_ s_m_ c_ll 36 t_m_s _v_r _
20-m_n_t_ p_r__d. __ch t_m_, Tw__n r_sp_nd_d by
c_ll_ng b_ck. Sh_ _v_n m_tch_d th_ _nt_rv_ls b_tw__n
__ch c_ll th_ r_s__rch_rs m_d_. Pr_f_ss_r McC_w_n t_ld
th_ B_s_n_ss _ns_d_r w_bs_t_ th_t h_r r_s__rch c__ld
m_k_ _t __s__r t_ t_lk t_ _l__ns. Sh_ s__d: "Th_r_
_r_ d_v_rs_ _nt_ll_g_nc_s _n th_s pl_n_t. By st_dy_ng
th_m, w_ c_n b_tt_r _nd_rst_nd wh_t _n _l__n
_nt_ll_g_nc_ m_ght b_ l_k_ b_c__s_ th_y _r_ n_t
g__ng t_ b_ _x_ctly l_k_ __rs."
PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
scientists say they have had a conversation with a whale they also say the
chat could help them to one day talk to aliens the scientists are from the
university of california the alaska whale foundation and seti search for
extraterrestrial intelligence the three organizations teamed up and spoke to
a humpback whale named twain they spoke to her in humpback language for
20 minutes their conversation took place after the scientists sent a contact
call into the ocean off the coast of alaska twain heard the call and responded
she swam to the research boat and chatted seti said it was the first ever
communication between humans and humpback whales
the scientists say their conversation with twain was not a deep one professor
brenda mccowan said it was more like a series of greetings whales use
contact calls to let other whales know where they are the scientists made
the same call 36 times over a 20minute period each time twain responded
by calling back she even matched the intervals between each call the
researchers made professor mccowan told the business insider website that
her research could make it easier to talk to aliens she said there are diverse
intelligences on this planet by studying them we can better understand what
an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be exactly
like ours
PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
Scientistssaytheyhavehada"conversation"withawhale.Theyalsosay
thechatcouldhelpthemtoonedaytalktoaliens.Thescientistsarefromt
heUniversityofCalifornia,theAlaskaWhaleFoundation,andSETI(Sear
chforExtra-terrestrialIntelligence).Thethreeorganizationsteamedu
pandspoketoahumpbackwhalenamedTwain.Theyspoketoherin"hu
mpbacklanguage"for20minutes.Theirconversationtookplaceafterth
escientistssenta"contactcall"intotheoceanoffthecoastofAlaska.Twai
nheardthecallandresponded.Sheswamtotheresearchboatandchatte
d.SETIsaiditwasthefirstevercommunicationbetweenhumansandhu
mpbackwhales.ThescientistssaytheirconversationwithTwainwasnot
adeepone.ProfessorBrendaMcCowansaiditwasmorelikeaseriesofgre
etings.Whalesusecontactcallstoletotherwhalesknowwheretheyare.
Thescientistsmadethesamecall36timesovera20-minuteperiod.Ea
chtime,Twainrespondedbycallingback.Sheevenmatchedtheinterval
sbetweeneachcalltheresearchersmade.ProfessorMcCowantoldtheB
usinessInsiderwebsitethatherresearchcouldmakeiteasiertotalktoali
ens.Shesaid:"Therearediverseintelligencesonthisplanet.Bystudying
them,wecanbetterunderstandwhatanalienintelligencemightbelikeb
ecausetheyarenotgoingtobeexactlylikeours."
FREE WRITING
Write about whales for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
We must communicate with aliens in the future. Discuss.
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HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the

text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to
build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news
story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. WHALES: Make a poster about whales. Show your work to your

classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. ALIEN CHAT: Write a magazine article about chatting with aliens.

Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any
new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next

stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the
next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on whales. Ask him/her three

questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what we could
talk to them about. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson.
Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
VOCABULARY (p.4)
1. c 2. d 3. a 4. e 5. f 6. b 7. g
8. i 9. l 10. n 11. j 12. h 13. k 14. m
TRUE / FALSE (p.5)

1 T 2 F 3 F 4 F 5 F 6 T 7 T 8 F
SYNONYM MATCH (p.5)
1. j 2. e 3. g 4. b 5. d
6. a 7. h 8. i 9. c 10. f
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.9) WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER (p.19)
1. Aliens 1. They have had a conversation with a whale.

2. Extra-terrestrial (alien) life 2. Organizations teamed up and spoke to a
humpback.
3. Twain 3. They spoke to her in humpback language.
4. Near Alaska 4. The scientists sent a call into the ocean.
5. One 5. SETI said it was the first ever communication.
6. It wasn't deep 6. Their conversation with Twain wasn't a deep one.
7. Thirty-six 7. The scientists made the same call 36 times.
8. The intervals of contact calls 8. Research makes it easier to talk to aliens.
9. Business Insider 9. Understand what an alien intelligence might be
like.
10. Intelligences 10. They're not going to be exactly like ours.
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.10)

1. d 2. b 3. d 4. c 5. d 6. c 7. a 8. c 9. b 10. a
ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Breaking News English.

“1,000 IDEAS & ACTIVITIES Thousands more free lessons

Level 3 - 28th December 2023

Please try Levels 0, 1 and 2 (they are easier).

(Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations

teamed up and spoke to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to

her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took

humans and humpback whales.

Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a series of greetings.

aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on this planet. By

studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might

be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours."

scientists / conversation / aliens / intelligence / whale / language / ocean / research /

3. TALK TO THE ANIMALS: Students A strongly believe it is important we

4. ANIMAL LEARNING: What could we learn from these creatures if we could

What We Could Learn Usefulness

1. conversation a. An organization like a charity that helps

3. foundation c. A talk between two or more people, in which

5. took place e. A group of people with a particular purpose,

7. responded g. Say something in reply.

8. deep h. A space between two things.

9. series i. Of an emotion or feeling intensely felt.

10. greetings j. Made or was harmonious.

11. matched k. Very different.

12. interval l. A number of events, objects, or people of a

14. exactly n. Polite words or signs of welcome.

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1. the chat could help them to one a. teamed up

(4) _____________________ Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback aliens

the (12) _____________________ between each call the researchers intervals

scientists are from the University of California, the

(3) ____________________, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial

Intelligence). The three organizations (4) ____________________ spoke to a

humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language"

SETI said it was (6) ____________________ communication between

humans and humpback whales.

The scientists say their conversation with Twain was

(7) ____________________ one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was

more like a series of greetings. Whales (8) ____________________ to let

times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain

(9) ____________________ back. She even (10) ____________________

aliens. She said: "(11) ____________________ intelligences on this planet.

By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might

be like because they are not going to be (12) ____________________."

1. What do scientists hope to chat to one day?

2. What does the organization SETI look for?

3. What's the name of the whale in the article?

4. Where did the scientists talk to the whale?

5. How many times have scientists now spoken to a humpback whale?

8. What did the whale match?

9. With what website did a professor talk about the whale?

10. What did a professor say was diverse on our planet?

1) What do scientists hope to chat to 6) How did the scientists describe

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

• Share your findings with your partners.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,

STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3

(9) back. She even (10)

_______ _ _______