©Im Soon-shuck/Yonhap via AP
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever seen a large group of insects outside? If so, what kind of insects were they? If not, where might you see them?
- Do you know any insects that are helpful to flowers or plants? If so, how do they help? If not, which animals might help flowers grow?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- capital /KAP-i-tl/
- investigate /in-ves-ti-geyt/
- nature /NEY-cher/
- sticky pad /STIK-ee pad/
- indicate /IN-di-keyt/
[noun] – a city that is the center of government of a country or smaller political area
Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
[verb] – to examine a problem or situation carefully to discover the truth
The police will investigate the missing phone.
[noun] – all the animals, plants, and other things in the world not made by people
The children enjoyed spending time in nature.
[noun phrase] – a sticky sheet or surface used to catch insects
The worker placed a sticky pad near the window to catch bugs.
[verb] – to show or point something out clearly
The sign will indicate the way to the park.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Large numbers of insects called lovebugs have returned to South Korea between late June and early July. These black insects are known for flying in pairs and are also called “honeymoon flies.” They were first seen in 2022 in the northwest part of Seoul. This year, many were seen not only in the capital but also in nearby cities like Incheon. A very large group appeared near Gyeyang Mountain, where the warm and wet weather gave them a good place to grow. Officials said that the number of insects was notable, and workers had to clean up many dead bugs. The government plans to investigate the total impact after the bugs are gone, probably by the middle of July.
Even though lovebugs do not bite or carry disease, they have caused considerable trouble. They stick to cars, buses, and buildings, making travel and cleaning more difficult. Still, they are helpful to nature. They help flowers grow and turn old plants into rich soil. The government is not using strong chemicals and instead uses water sprays and sticky pads. Experts believe the escalation in their numbers may be caused by climate change. Some scientists say this may indicate a bigger environmental problem. A more sustainable and strategic plan may be needed in the future.
Even though lovebugs do not bite or carry disease, they have caused considerable trouble. They stick to cars, buses, and buildings, making travel and cleaning more difficult. Still, they are helpful to nature. They help flowers grow and turn old plants into rich soil. The government is not using strong chemicals and instead uses water sprays and sticky pads. Experts believe the escalation in their numbers may be caused by climate change. Some scientists say this may indicate a bigger environmental problem. A more sustainable and strategic plan may be needed in the future.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What kind of insects returned to South Korea between late June and early July?
- What are lovebugs also called in the article?
- Where were lovebugs first seen in 2022?
- What other city saw many lovebugs this year?
- What kind of weather helped the lovebugs grow near Gyeyang Mountain?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever seen bugs that stick to cars or buildings? If so, how did people deal with them? If not, what might people do?
- Have you ever helped plants or flowers grow? If so, what did you do? If not, would you like to try gardening?
- Do you agree that water sprays are better than strong chemicals for nature?
- Why do you think climate change might make more bugs appear in new places?
- How can the government teach people to live with bugs in a safe way?