Scientists 'talk' with a whale for 20 minutes

 

Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also say the chat could help them to one day talk to aliens. The scientists are from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations teamed up and spoke to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took place after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the coast of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication between humans and humpback whales.

The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a deep one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a series of greetings. Whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain responded by calling back. She even matched the intervals between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on this planet. By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours."


1. TALK TO THE ANIMALS: Students A strongly believe it is important we learn how to talk to animals; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
2. ANIMAL LEARNING: What could we learn from these creatures if we could communicate with them? Complete this table

 

What We Could Learn

Usefulness

Whales

 

 

Bats

 

 

Foxes

 

 

Bees

 

 

Butterflies

 

 

Crabs

 

 

 

3.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.

conversation

a.

An organization like a charity that helps people or carries out research.

2.

extra-terrestrial

b.

The part of the land next to or near the sea.

3.

foundation

c.

A talk between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged.

4.

organization

d.

Of or from outside the earth.

5.

took place

e.

A group of people with a particular purpose, such as a business or government department.

6.

coast

f.

Happened.

7.

responded

g.

Say something in reply.

    Paragraph 2

8.

deep

h.

A space between two things.

9.

series

i.

Of an emotion or feeling intensely felt.

10.

greetings

j.

Made or was harmonious.

11.

matched

k.

Very different.

12.

interval

l.

A number of events, objects, or people of a similar or related kind coming one after another.

13.

diverse

m.

Used to say how accurate something is.

14.

exactly

n.

Polite words or signs of welcome.

 

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

  1. conversation
  2. teamed up
  3. named
  4. took place
  5. responded
  6. series
  7. responded
  8. diverse
  9. alien
  10. exactly
  1. sequence
  2. happened
  3. extra-terrestrial
  4. replied
  5. collaborated
  6. precisely
  7. called
  8. replied
  9. varied
  10. chat

5.Role play

Role  A – Whales
You think whales would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to talk to (and why):

Role  B – Eagles
You think eagles would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to talk to (and why):

Role  C – Ants
You think ants would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to talk to (and why):

Role  D – Snakes
You think snakes would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to talk to (and why):

OR

  • Cockroaches
  • Jellyfish
  • Lions
  • Koalas

6.Discussion - Whales and Aliens

  1. What do you know about whales?
  2. What would you like to talk to a whale about?
  3. What do whales talk to each other about?
  4. How useful is this research?
  5. How might this research help us talk to aliens?
  6. What questions would you like to ask an alien?
  7. What is your favourite species of whale?
  8. What would life be like if we could talk to animals?
  1. When was the last time you had a deep conversation?
  2. What are your favourite forms of greetings?
  3. What questions would aliens ask humans?
  4. What kinds of animals would you like to talk to?
  5. How can we increase our intelligence?
  6. Who is the most intelligent person you know?
  7. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

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