News by Levels · Level 2 · For teachers
Teacher guide & answers
In this lesson: Separate the observation period from publication and compare model scenarios.
Satellite Colours Point to a Possible Plastic Signal
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 worksheetA 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 period do the satellite records cover?
Correct answer: C — The years from 2002 to 2022
Why: The November 5 publication examined earlier records from 2002 to 2022.
Clue in the story: A study published on November 5 examined satellite records from 2002 to 2022. Parts of the water near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch became brighter in both blue and green.
How did adding plastic affect the computer models?
Correct answer: A — It made the blue-green pattern more likely.
Why: The models produced the pattern more readily with plastic than with natural changes alone; this is not proof of the cause.
Clue in the story: Researchers used computer models to explore the change. Adding tiny plastic particles made this blue-green pattern more likely than modelling natural changes alone.
The open question: accept different answers
Ask learners: Explain what the satellites recorded and what is still needed to confirm the explanation.
One possible answer: The satellites recorded colour rather than directly counting plastic particles. Scientists still need measurements from the water to confirm the explanation.
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
A comparison with more likely than
more likely than modelling natural changes alone
More likely than compares the chances of seeing the pattern in two modelling situations. It does not state that the pattern occurs every time.