Session III  Life in Space


Task 1 Speaking


What factors do we consider when looking for habitable planets?


Task 2  Video – Could we actually live on Mars?

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMMPYkRrd4o)

Watch and answer the questions:

1.      What does one need to tolerate on Mars? What does one need to bring?


2.      Why won´t you get an ocean view on Mars?


3.      What might Mars look like today if it had surface water?


4.      Why do we believe the southern hemisphere is older?


5.      In what way are the deserts on Mars similar to those on Earth? How do they differ?


6.      What are the unique features of Mars?


7.      Why do dust storms on Mars last for months and cover the planet?


8.      How wide is Valles Marineris?


9.      What makes sunsets on Mars blue?











Task 3  Comparing and Contrasting

Use the phrases from below to complete the sentences:

as opposed to       in comparison         similar         unlike         while        difference

1.      Perseverance has a ………………… design to its predecessor rover, Curiosity, from which it was
moderately upgraded.


2.      ……………….. Curiosity has identified and continues to study environments where ancient
microbes could have lived, Perseverance will seek direct signs of ancient life and prepare
geological samples that a future mission could bring back to Earth.


3.      What are the benefits of manned space missions ……………. unmanned ones?


4.      One …………….. between humans and robots is that humans require lots of resources, such as
water, food and oxygen.


5.      …………….. humans, robots do not require radiation shielding.


6.      In terms of size, Venus is almost a twin planet of Earth.

………………., Mars is much smaller.


Use some of the phrases below to compare Venus, Earth and Mars:

twice as……. as…, compared with/to…, one similarity…, unlike…, the difference between…


                                            Venus                      Earth
Mars

Mean solar day                  116.8 Earth days

    24 hours                      24 hours 37 min


Equatorial radius (km)       6,051.8

     6,371.00

       3,389.5

Surface temperature (°C)    462

      -88/ + 58                        -153/ +20






Task 4  Speaking

You are a real-estate agent. Prepare a short talk for aliens from Venus or Mars promoting the
planet Earth as an eligible place for life.


Extra tasks:

Video: Should we live on Venus before Mars?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyAG1Oien4M