White House says no aliens in weather balloons

 Watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1h543mGpXI

Strange goings-on are happening in the skies above North America. This month, US fighter jets have shot down four UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) in US and Canadian airspace. Officials said the objects were balloons that were causing a danger to airplanes. They were flying at an altitude of around 40,000 feet (12,200 metres). The White House said yesterday that there were no signs the objects were linked to alien life. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: "I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these crafts." Earlier in the week, a US official said aliens could not be counted out as a possible explanation for the balloons.

The balloon saga has created tit-for-tat exchanges between the USA and China. US officials suspect the balloons were being used for spying. However, they have no proof of this. Rescue teams have gathered debris from the balloons off the US coast. Experts are currently looking at the electronics they have found. China said the balloons were for tracking weather patterns. It has denied they were spy balloons. Beijing has claimed that US high-altitude balloons have flown in China's airspace without permission more than ten times in the past year. The White House said this was untrue. A balloon shooting in early February resulted in US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a visit to China.

1. ALIENS: Students A strongly believe aliens exist; Students B strongly believe aliens do not exist. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
2. ALIEN LANDING: If aliens landed on Earth, what should we show them? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What?

Why?

Food

 

 

Famous sight

 

 

A building

 

 

A sport

 

 

A concert

 

 

Technology

 

 


3. WEATHER: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst weather at the top.

·         Raining cats and dogs

·         Heavy snow

·         Strong winds

·         Freezing cold

·         Overcast and cloudy

·         Stormy

·         Foggy

 

4.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1.

goings-on

a.

Regarding; as regards; with reference to.

      2.

unidentified

b.

A thing that can be seen and touched.

      3.

object

c.

Not recognized or known.

      4.

altitude

d.

Not included something in something else.

      5.

with respect to

e.

Events or behaviour, especially of an unusual or suspect nature.

      6.

craft

f.

The height of an object or point above sea level or ground level.

      7.

counted out

g.

A boat, ship, aircraft or spaceship.

    Paragraph 2

      8.

saga

h.

Something that shows that a fact is true.

      9.

tit-for-tat

i.

Following the movements of someone or something to find out about their course.

      10.

suspect

j.

The parts of something that was destroyed that fell across a wide area.

      11.

proof

k.

One bad action following another bad action.

      12.

debris

l.

The action of allowing someone to do something.

      13.

tracking

m.

A long, involved story, account, or series of incidents.

      14.

permission

n.

Think something is true, but not being 100% sure.

 

5. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. goings-on
  2. danger
  3. altitude
  4. linked
  5. explanation
  6. saga
  7. suspect
  8. proof
  9. tracking
  10. resulted in
  1. story
  2. reason
  3. risk
  4. led to
  5. connected
  6. evidence
  7. events
  8. following
  9. think
  10. height

6.Role play: Weird Incidents- If you are not familiar with any of them, google them and birefly summarize what you have read 

Role  A – The Spanish Special Olympics National Basketball Team
You think that this is the weirdest incident . Tell us why.

Role  B – Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.

You think that this is the weirdest incident . Tell us why.

Role  C – Zidane Headbutting Materazzi at the 2006 World Cup Final.

You think that this is the weirdest incident . Tell us why.

Role  D –   24°C  on Christmas Day in Barcelona

You think that this is the weirdest incident . Tell us why.

7.Discussion - Balloons and Aliens

  1. Why do we think aliens might exist?
  2. What do you know about the balloons in the article?
  3. Could the shootings increase tensions between the US and China?
  4. Are you happy that the balloons had no aliens?
  5. What advice do you have for the USA and China?
  6. What do you think aliens look like?
  7. What would aliens think of humans?
  1. Why are relations between the USA and China not so good?
  2. What do you think of spying?
  3. Do you think your country spies on other countries?
  4. Should weather balloons be banned?
  5. Why would a country use spy balloons instead of satellites?
  6. What would you do if an alien was in your house?
  7. What questions would you like to ask an alien?

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