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Universe
o Let’s read?
Read the following text and then answer the questions about it.
We live in an expanding Universe, vast and ancient beyond ordinary human understanding. The
galaxies it contains are rushing away from one another, the remnants of an immense explosion, the Big
Bang. Some scientists think the Universe may be one of a vast number – perhaps an infinite number – of
other closed-off universes.
There may be different laws of nature and different forms of matter in those other universes. In
many of them life may be impossible, as there are no suns and planets, or even no chemical elements
more complicated than hydrogen and helium. Others may have an intricacy, diversity, and richness that
dwarfs our own.
Our Universe is composed of some two trillion galaxies, one of which is the Milky Way. “Our
Galaxy,” we like to call it, although we certainly do not have possession of it, is composed of gas and dust
and about 400 billion suns. One of them is the Sun, our ordinary local star. Accompanying the Sun in its 250
million year journey around the center of the Milky Way is a retinue of small worlds. Some are planets,
some are moons, some asteroids, some comets. We humans are one of the 50 billion species that have
lived on a small planet, third from the Sun, that we call the Earth.
(From Billions and Billions, Carl Sagan, New York, Ballentine Books, 1998)
Circle the words you don’t know on the text and ask what their meanings are to the
teacher.
o Let’s speak?
The teacher will divide the group into 2 groups, A and B, and one is going to believe
that other planets with life similar to our own exist(A) and the other (B) will not
believe that other worlds exist. You will need to try to change the other group’s
opinion about it. The teacher will ask both groups some of the following questions and
you should answer them bearing in mind that you are for or against the lives in other
planets and also that you should convince the others to change their opinion.
o Let’s comprehend?
01) Answer the following questions about what the text says about Universe.
2) Thinking about how big the universe is, what is the importance of the human beings and the Earth?
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3) What feeling does this subject make you feel: pride, indifference, admiration or humility? Any
other?
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1) The story he told was really fantastic. It was _______________ our imagination.
a) about b) beyond c) around
3) Brazil is a very large country. It _______________ small countries like Portugal and Uruguay.
a) contains b) rushes away from c) dwarfs
6) The kids were all excited as Madonna and her _______________ were visiting their school.
a) journey b) retinue c) matter
04) The following sentences could be used as a title of each text’s paragraph. Find the
right paragraph to each sentence below. There is one extra sentence you won’t find
any good paragraph for it.
05) Match the numbers on the left to the information about the text on the right.
1) About2 trillion a) The number of galaxies in our
2) Some 400 billion Universe
3) Thirdfromthe Sun b) The number of species that have lived
4) 250 millionyearjourney on Earth
5) 50 billion c) The number of stars in the Milky Way
d) The Sun’s journey around the center
of the galaxy
e) The position of the Earth in relation to the other planets of the Solar System
o Let’s practice?
1) We call the Milky Way “Our Galaxy”, _______________ we certainly do not have possession of it.
2) Life may be impossible in those other worlds, _______________ there are no suns and planets
there.
3) _______________ it was cold and raining, the boys wanted to go to the beach.
4) _______________ it was cold and raining, the boys’ mother didn’t let them go to the beach.
5) Carmen Miranda was Born in Portugal, _______________ many people think she was Brazilian.
6) _______________ he got up late this morning, he missed the bus.
04) Complete the following sentences using “may” (possibility), “might” (remote
possibility) or “will” (certain). After this, ask your friends their opinion about the
subject. Follow an example below.
Q: RubinhoBarrichellomay be the next world champion. What do you think? (will – may - might)