Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- journal /JUR-nl/
- overlook /oh-ver-LOOK/
- suited /SOO-tid/
- classify /KLAS-uh-fahy/
- verify /VER-uh-fahy/
[verb] – to prove that something exists or is true, or to make certain that something is correct
Are you able to verify the police report if it’s true? - caution /KAW-shuhn/
- uninhabited /an-in-HAB-i-tid /
[noun] – a serious magazine or newspaper that is published regularly about a particular subject
My favorite author had several discussions about space in that journal.
[verb] – to fail to notice or consider something or someone
His movie was awarded for an Oscar, but Maricar herself was overlooked as best actress.
[adjective] – right for someone or something
With the information about his work experience, he would be ideally suited for the job.
[verb] – to divide things or people into groups according to their type, or to say which group or type something or someone belongs to
With the information about his work experience, he would be ideally suited for the job.
[verb] – to warn someone
The signs are displayed on the walls to caution people who pass by the construction site.
[adjective] – an uninhabited place has no people living in it
The dinosaurs died because the Earth became uninhabited.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
We learned from school that Earth is the only planet in the universe where living things can survive, but what if there’s more? Based on new research, Earth may not be the most suited place for life when you try to look at other superhabitable planets closely. And as scientists look outside of our solar system for habitable planets, planets that are like Earth may not be the most suitable answer.
Dirk Schulze-Makuch, lead study author and professor for astrobiology and planetary habitability at Washington State University, said in a study published in the journal Astrobiology, “We are so focused on finding a mirror image of Earth that we may overlook a planet that is even more well suited for life,” in an email to CNN. In the latest research, Schulze-Makuch, together with his coauthors, classified 24 exoplanets and exoplanet candidates (planets that are not yet positively verified as exoplanets). The distances of these planets are more than 100 light-years away, which could be potential superhabitable planets with situations more fitting for survival than Earth.
Nevertheless, the authors announced that it does not suggest they have proved that there is life on these planets. Rather, it means that these planets could sustain life. “We caution that while we search for superhabitable planets, that doesn’t mean that they necessarily contain life (or even complex life),” Schulze-Makuch said. “A planet can be habitable or superhabitable but uninhabited. This has to do with the natural history of the planet. There could have been a calamity (like a nearby Supernova explosion).”
For Schulze-Makuch, a superhabitable planet is “any planet that has more biomass and biodiversity than our current Earth. Essentially, it would be slightly older, bigger, warmer, and wetter than Earth.” “The habitability of our planet has also changed throughout our natural history,” he said. “For example, Earth in the Carboniferous period with all the swamps and rainforest (that produced most of our current gas and oil) was likely more habitable — superhabitable using our definition — than Earth currently.”
Dirk Schulze-Makuch, lead study author and professor for astrobiology and planetary habitability at Washington State University, said in a study published in the journal Astrobiology, “We are so focused on finding a mirror image of Earth that we may overlook a planet that is even more well suited for life,” in an email to CNN. In the latest research, Schulze-Makuch, together with his coauthors, classified 24 exoplanets and exoplanet candidates (planets that are not yet positively verified as exoplanets). The distances of these planets are more than 100 light-years away, which could be potential superhabitable planets with situations more fitting for survival than Earth.
Nevertheless, the authors announced that it does not suggest they have proved that there is life on these planets. Rather, it means that these planets could sustain life. “We caution that while we search for superhabitable planets, that doesn’t mean that they necessarily contain life (or even complex life),” Schulze-Makuch said. “A planet can be habitable or superhabitable but uninhabited. This has to do with the natural history of the planet. There could have been a calamity (like a nearby Supernova explosion).”
For Schulze-Makuch, a superhabitable planet is “any planet that has more biomass and biodiversity than our current Earth. Essentially, it would be slightly older, bigger, warmer, and wetter than Earth.” “The habitability of our planet has also changed throughout our natural history,” he said. “For example, Earth in the Carboniferous period with all the swamps and rainforest (that produced most of our current gas and oil) was likely more habitable — superhabitable using our definition — than Earth currently.”
Comprehension Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Who is the lead study author and professor for astrobiology and planetary habitability at Washington State University?
- According to Dirk Schulze-Makuch, what are we so focused on so that we may overlook a planet that is even more well suited for life?
- According to Schulze-Makuch, what is a superhabitable planet?
- Why was Earth in the Carboniferous period more habitable?
- Have Dirk Schulze-Makuch and team proven that there is life on the other exoplanets?
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- In your opinion, do you believe that there are superhabitable planets in space? Please explain your answer.
- Do you think that the Carboniferous period is really more habitable than today? Why or why not?
- How did you feel after reading the article?
- If people were to be transported to another planet in the future, would you sign up for it?
- Do you think it’s possible for a planet to be uninhabited? Why do you think so?