
©(Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency via AP)
Pre-reading Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What kind of global problems do you think scientists are trying to solve today?
- If you could invent something to help the Earth, what would it be?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- chemistry /KEM-uh-stree/
[noun] – the science that studies substances and how they change when mixed or combined
She wants to study chemistry in college to become a scientist. - structure /STRUHK-cher/
[noun] – something that has been built or arranged in a particular way
Many modern structures are made of glass and steel. - trap /trap/
[verb] – to catch or hold something so it cannot escape
The researchers built a machine to trap harmful gases from factories. - moisture /MOIS-cher/
[noun] – small amounts of water in the air or on a surface
Too much moisture can damage wooden furniture. - capture /KAP-cher/
[verb] – to catch or take something, especially by using force or special methods
Scientists are trying to capture carbon dioxide to reduce pollution.
Article Reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Three scientists won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on October 8, 2025, for creating new molecular structures called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The winners are Susumu Kitagawa from Kyoto University in Japan, Richard Robson from the University of Melbourne in Australia, and Omar M. Yaghi from the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States. Their research began in the 1980s and has become an important part of modern chemistry. The Nobel Committee said their discoveries could help solve global problems such as air pollution and water shortages. The new structures can trap gases like carbon dioxide and collect moisture from the air, offering possible solutions for climate change and clean water production.
The scientists built the frameworks by combining metal atoms and organic linkers to make a structure full of tiny holes. These holes can store or release different substances depending on their size and type. The materials can be used for carbon capture, gas storage, and even drug delivery in medicine. Chemists explained that a few grams of these materials can have as much surface area as a soccer field. Experts said the discovery could change environmental technology, though large-scale use is still difficult because the materials work best under low temperatures and high pressures.
The scientists built the frameworks by combining metal atoms and organic linkers to make a structure full of tiny holes. These holes can store or release different substances depending on their size and type. The materials can be used for carbon capture, gas storage, and even drug delivery in medicine. Chemists explained that a few grams of these materials can have as much surface area as a soccer field. Experts said the discovery could change environmental technology, though large-scale use is still difficult because the materials work best under low temperatures and high pressures.
Comprehension Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What did the scientists create?
- Where is Susumu Kitagawa from?
- When did their research begin?
- What global problems could their discoveries help solve?
- What gases can the new structures trap?
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever learned about a famous scientist before? If so, who was it? If not, what kind of scientist would you like to learn about?
- Have you ever seen a science experiment at school? If so, what did you see? If not, what kind of experiment would you like to watch?
- Do you agree that young people should learn more about chemistry?
- How can young people help protect the environment in small ways?
- What do you think makes a scientist’s work successful?