Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What space-related interests do you have that you can share?
- Do you believe that humans can live on Mars in the future? Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- moss /mos/
- function /FUHNGK-shuhn/
- rehydrate /ree-HAHY-dreyt/
- timely /TAHYM-lee/
- asteroid /AS-tuh-roid/
[noun] – small, green, non-flowering plant typically found in damp or shady locations
The old stone wall was covered in soft, green moss.
[noun] – to operate or work in the intended or expected manner
After repairing the damaged circuit, the computer was able to function perfectly again.
[verb] – to restore moisture or fluid content to something that has become dry or dehydrated
After hiking in the sun all day, the hikers rehydrated themselves with plenty of water.
[adjective] – happening at the best possible moment
Her arrival at the meeting was timely, just as the discussion turned to her area of expertise.
[noun] – one of many large rocks that circle the sun
Scientists study asteroids to understand more about the early solar system.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Scientists have found a tough desert moss in China’s Xinjiang region that could help humans live on Mars. The moss, called Syntrichia Caninervis, can survive extreme dryness, freezing cold, and high radiation, conditions similar to those on Mars. Published in The Innovation journal on July 1, a study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggests this moss could create ecosystems on Mars by making oxygen, storing carbon, and improving soil. This discovery is crucial for sustaining life on the red planet.
Researchers discovered that the moss can quickly recover its ability to make food and function after being rehydrated, even when it has lost over 98% of its water. It can also survive in extremely low temperatures, coming back to life after five years in a freezer at minus 80 degrees Celsius or a month in liquid nitrogen. Syntrichia Caninervis grows in harsh places like Xinjiang, Tibet, a desert in California, the Middle East, and polar regions. This finding is timely as China and the United States step up space exploration. China plans missions like Tianwen-2 to an asteroid next year and Tianwen-3 in 2030 to collect Mars samples. NASA has a 20-year Mars exploration plan to see if humans can live there.
Researchers discovered that the moss can quickly recover its ability to make food and function after being rehydrated, even when it has lost over 98% of its water. It can also survive in extremely low temperatures, coming back to life after five years in a freezer at minus 80 degrees Celsius or a month in liquid nitrogen. Syntrichia Caninervis grows in harsh places like Xinjiang, Tibet, a desert in California, the Middle East, and polar regions. This finding is timely as China and the United States step up space exploration. China plans missions like Tianwen-2 to an asteroid next year and Tianwen-3 in 2030 to collect Mars samples. NASA has a 20-year Mars exploration plan to see if humans can live there.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What did scientists find in China’s Xinjiang region that might be helpful for living on Mars?
- What is the name of the moss that can survive extreme conditions similar to Mars?
- What are the three conditions on Mars under which the moss can survive?
- How could moss help create ecosystems on Mars?
- Why is the discovery of Syntrichia Caninervis considered important?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever visited or lived in a place with extreme weather conditions, like a desert or a polar region? If so, what was your experience like? If not, would you be interested in visiting such a place? Why or why not?
- Have you ever heard of Syntrichia Caninervis before reading this article? If so, where did you learn about it? If not, what interests you most about this discovery?
- Do you think Syntrichia Caninervis could potentially be the key to creating self-sustaining habitats on Mars?
- What challenges do you think humans would face in trying to grow plants like Syntrichia Caninervis on Mars?
- What do scientists need to understand most about Mars before humans can live there safely?