Intensive English 2

Unit 6: Reading Skills

 LESSON AIMS

By the end of the lesson I will be able to:

• understand the requirements of the IELTS Reading paper.
• skim texts in order to identify the topic and the organisation of ideas.
• understand verbs relating to scientific discovery.
1. Underline the action in
each pair of words that a
scientist would do first.
The first one has been done
for you.

• propose/prove
• publish/research
• calculate/measure
• observe/analyse
1. Underline the action in
each pair of words that a
scientist would do first.
The first one has been done
for you.

• propose/prove
• publish/research
• calculate/measure
• observe/analyse
USEFUL LANGUAGE
2. Complete the text with words from activity 2, using each word only
once. Add -d or -ed if necessary. Some gaps have been filled for you.

Scientists 1. proposed that there were once large areas of

water on Mars, but they couldn’t 2. __________ it. So they
used cameras to 3. observe the planet’s surface and they
4. __________ the dry rivers to see how much water they
used to contain. They used the data to 5. __________ how
much water there once was. Their research was 6.
__________ on the internet last night and it seems there
were once vast lakes there. The scientists will continue to
7. __________ the history of Mars. They want to explore
other parts of Mars, where they hope to 8. __________
samples of rock and to discover more about the history of
this planet.
propose, prove, publish, research,
calculate, measure, observe, analyse
USEFUL LANGUAGE
2. Complete the text with words from activity 2, using each word only
once. Add -d or -ed if necessary. Some gaps have been filled for you.

Scientists 1. proposed that there were once large areas of

water on Mars, but they couldn’t 2. prove it. So they used
cameras to 3. observe the planet’s surface and they 4.
measured the dry rivers to see how much water they used
to contain. They used the data to 5. calculate how much
water there once was. Their research was 6. published on
the internet last night and it seems there were once vast
lakes there. The scientists will continue to 7. research the
history of Mars. They want to explore other parts of Mars,
where they hope to 8. analyse samples of rock and to
discover more about the history of this planet.
3. These groups of words have been taken
from a text. What do you think the text is
about?

• Adverbs: closely, now, seriously

• Adjectives: great, best, remote
• Nouns: continents, Africa, discovery
• Pronouns:this, who, he
• Verbs: explore, search
4. Which groups of words were the most
helpful when you were identifying the topic?

• Adverbs: closely, now, seriously

• Adjectives: great, best, remote
• Nouns: continents, Africa, discovery
• Pronouns:this, who, he
• Verbs: explore, search
5. Look at the title, the picture
and the nouns in the first
paragraph of the reading
passage. Then decide which of
these options describe what the
passage is about.

• The migration of people

• The discovery of a new
country
• The movement of
continents
5. Look at the title, the picture
and the nouns in the first
paragraph of the reading
passage. Then decide which of
these options describe what the
passage is about.

• The migration of people

• The discovery of a new
country
• The movement of
continents
6. Skim the
reading text ‘The 1. Which paragraph describes the process of
World on the continental drift?
Move’ and answer 2. Which paragraphs are about Wegener’s life?
these questions:
6. Skim the
reading text ‘The 1. Which paragraph describes the process of
World on the continental drift? Paragraph B
Move’ and answer
2. Which paragraphs are about Wegener’s life?
these questions: Paragraphs C-H
 Tips

We will look at a flow-chart completion

task in which you need to write words in
gaps. These tips will help you complete
the activity.

1. Decide which word forms are

needed. In this activity nouns and
verbs are used.
2. For nouns, decide whether you
need to use plural forms and
articles.
3. For verbs, decide whether you need
to use an ‘s’ ending.
4. Underline key words in the flow-
chart.
5. Find sentences in the reading
passage that have similar meanings.
6. Choose a word that fits the gap and
reflects the meaning of the
sentence in the reading passage.
 READING PRACTICE
7. Complete the task below on the reading passage.
Complete the flow-chart below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each
answer.
Continental Drift
1 __________ rises in liquid rock.

Surface of the earth is pulled in different directions. Liquid

rock rises through 2 __________ in the sea bed.

Sea bed descends where it meets 3 __________.

4 __________ also makes the
sea bed move downwards.

The sea bed eventually 5 __________.

Complete the flow-chart below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each
answer.
Continental Drift
1 Heat rises in liquid rock.

Surface of the earth is pulled in different directions. Liquid

rock rises through 2 cracks in the sea bed.

Sea bed descends where it meets 3 a land mass.

4 Gravity also makes the sea
bed move downwards.

The sea bed eventually 5 breaks up.

Tips
Activity 8 asks you to answer multiple
choice questions.

1. Underline key words in the first

part of the question.
2. Skim through the reading
passage and find information
on the same topic.
3. Choose the multiple choice
option that is confirmed by the
information in the reading
passage.
4. Check that none of the other
options are a better match for
the information in the reading
passage.
 READING PRACTICE
8. Answer these questions on the reading passage.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
1. As a young man, Wegener
A. made a discovery about astronomy.
B. changed the focus of his studies. 4. During the First World War, Wegener
C. studied climate science at university. A. moved to the United States.
D. was a hard-working student B. studied animals.
C. produced a book.
D. became famous because of his ideas.
2. Wegener became famous for
A. working in dangerous conditions.
B. discovering a part of Greenland.
C. measuring air temperatures.
D. calculating the movement of glaciers.

3. Wegener’s theory of continental drift

A. was found to be incorrect.
B. was believed during his lifetime.
C. was supported with evidence.
D. was too complex to understand.
 READING PRACTICE
8. Answer these questions on the reading passage.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

5. Wegener’s explanations for 7. Wegener failed to communicate his ideas

continental drift
A. were carefully calculated.
B. changed during his lifetime.
C. were proved to be facts.
D. were accurate.
successfully because
A. his books were not translated into English.
B. he was very shy.
C. he criticised people who argued with him.
D. he didn’t speak English.

6. The main reason why Wegener’s 8. Since his death, Wegener’s ideas
concept of continental drift was not A. have not been given the recognition they
accepted was his deserve.
A. age. B. have become very well respected.
B. nationality. C. have still not been accepted by everyone.
C. attitude.
D. have helped people conduct polar
D. academic background.
research.
READING PRACTICE
8. Answer these questions on the reading passage.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
1. As a young man, Wegener
A. made a discovery about
astronomy.
B. changed the focus of his
studies.
C. studied climate science at
university.
D. was a hard-working student
2. Wegener became famous for
A. working in dangerous
conditions.
B. discovering a part of
Greenland.
C. measuring air temperatures.
D. calculating the movement of
glaciers.
3. Wegener’s theory of
continental drift
A. was found to be incorrect.
B. was believed during his
lifetime.
C. was supported with
evidence.
D. was too complex to
understand.
4. During the First World War,
Wegener
A. moved to the United
States.
B. studied animals.
C. produced a book.
D. became famous because
of his ideas.
READING PRACTICE
8. Answer these questions on the reading passage.
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
5. Wegener’s explanations for
continental drift
A. were carefully calculated.
B. changed during his lifetime.
C. were proved to be facts.
D. were accurate.
6. The main reason why
Wegener’s concept of
continental drift was not
accepted was his
A. age.
B. nationality.
C. attitude.
D. academic background.
7. Wegener failed to communicate his
ideas successfully because
A. his books were not translated into
English.
B. he was very shy.
C. he criticised people who argued
with him.
D. he didn’t speak English.
8. Since his death, Wegener’s ideas
A. have not been given the
recognition they deserve.
B. have become very well respected.
C. have still not been accepted by
everyone.
D. have helped people conduct polar
research.
9. All of the statements below
were thought to be true in the
past. Two of them were later
proved to be untrue. Which
ones do you think they were?
8

• Adults are 60 per cent

water.
• Head shape affects
personality.
• The universe is expanding.
• Light is a mixture of
colours.
• All humans have the same
personality at birth.
• Lightning is a form of
electricity.
9. All of the statements below
were thought to be true in the
past. Two of them were later
proved to be untrue. Which
ones do you think they were?

• Adults are 60 per cent

water.
• Head shape affects
personality.
• The universe is expanding.
• Light is a mixture of
colours.
• All humans have the same
personality at birth.
• Lightning is a form of
electricity.
10. Do you think that Wegener’s
discovery is more or less
impressive than the four true
statements from activity 9?