News by Levels · Level 1 · For teachers

Teacher guide & answers

In this lesson: Identify the colour change and the next research step.

Ocean Colour May Help Scientists Find Tiny Plastic

How to use these two pages

Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.

Student worksheet

A simple 15–20-minute lesson

Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 2 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.

Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.

Answers to the 2 questions

The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.

Which colours became brighter in some water?
Correct answer: B — Blue and green
Why: The satellite records showed brighter blue and green near the floating rubbish.
Clue in the story: Scientists studied satellite records of the Pacific Ocean. Near a large area of floating rubbish, some water became brighter in blue and green.
What do the scientists still need to check?
Correct answer: A — The water itself
Why: The final paragraph says the scientists still need to check the water itself.
Clue in the story: The study came out on November 5. Scientists still need to check the water itself. Colour alone does not prove that plastic caused the change.

The open question: accept different answers

Ask learners: Describe the colour change and give one possible explanation.

One possible answer: Some water became brighter in blue and green. Tiny pieces of plastic may help explain this change.

This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.

Grammar to discuss

May for a possible explanation

Tiny pieces of plastic may help explain the change.

May presents plastic as a possible explanation. It does not say the cause is certain.